A Rather Unusual Way of Thinking

After Wang Yue loosed that arrow, he spotted Ling Buyi. But an arrow, once released, couldn't be called back, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Fortunately, Ling Buyi had halted in time, avoiding an accidental injury.

Still, Wang Yue was a little displeased. Who had indulged Ling Buyi into thinking he could barge into someone else's courtyard like that? He'd forced Ji Yu to punish his own men. But Wang Yue also knew that Ling Buyi never came without a reason, so he suppressed his irritation and smiled at the young ladies and Cheng Song. "Keep practicing. When we get the chance, I'll take you hunting."

Cheng Shaoshang's eyes lit up at Wang Yue's words. She hadn't expected that he planned to take them hunting instead of only teaching them in the courtyard. It made her very happy, and she trained with much more enthusiasm. Wang Ling and Wan Xiqi needed no encouragement, while Cheng Song remained as he was.

After making the arrangements, Wang Yue went to the reception hall to meet Ling Buyi. Looking at Ling Buyi's still-expressionless face, he asked impatiently, "You never come without a reason. Tell me, what is it?"

Ling Buyi's normally cold expression faltered at Wang Yue's words. Unsure what Wang Yue had heard, he replied suspiciously, "What reason? I only want one treasure from the Wan family: the Map of Shu Prefecture in General Wan's possession. General Wang, you're on good terms with the Wan family. Could you persuade them for me?"

Wang Yue's mouth twitched. He realized that some expressions didn't exist in this era, but that was beside the point. As soon as he heard what Ling Buyi wanted, he understood that Ling Buyi was preparing to act. He probed, "Is Shu Prefecture unstable?"

Seeing that