Commandery Princess's True Name, Her True Purpose, Wu Gan Takes a Disciple, Suspected Li Xian

Jade City is as rich and precious as a pearl, coveted by monarchs of all dynasties. Unfortunately, it is protected by natural barriers and wise scholars. Jade City never expands, but stays put and maintains good relations with the surrounding cities and villages. It is like a flawless piece of jade. If the Great Wu wants to invade, it will be at a disadvantage from the start, and it will be very difficult to attack from the outside.

The only way to break through is from within.

Commandery Princess Anyang wields the "Benevolence's Lament Sword." If she were to seize Wu Gan's Fortune, Jade City would be thrown into turmoil. Without a pillar to suppress the people's hearts, it would inevitably face the risk of disintegration. Jade City's foundation is profound, so it naturally wouldn't collapse immediately. However, it would be advantageous for subsequent schemes, allowing them to fish in troubled waters, gradually eroding and shaking Jade City's foundation. If the plan succeeds, the results will be astonishing. Li Xian pondered, "This Commandery Princess Anyang's scheme is truly grand and incredibly bold. She is Commandery Princess with immense power, yet she dares to personally take the lead in seizing fortune at this critical moment. This woman is no ordinary person!"

"Unexpectedly, her disguise Song Ya was flawless, even fooling me. This woman distrusts me greatly, and this plan involves great importance, so although I was an undercover agent for her, I was completely unaware. But if this plan succeeds, it could cost me my life."

"But she doesn't know that I am a remnant of the Candle Cult, possessing the Candle Decree. I was able to find Song Ya through Tang Meng'e, and then hear a fragment of the plan from Song Ya. In that case, isn't this a great opportunity for me?"

"By reporting this matter to Heavenly Pivot, we can keep this Commandery Princess in Jade City forever, putting her life in grave danger. This way, we can eliminate a major hidden danger and get rid of the Commandery Princess's control!"

A glint flashed in Li Xian's eyes as he said to Song Ya, "Miss Song, your master is in grave danger. We need your assistance. Are you willing?"

Song Ya nodded and said, "Of course I'm willing. Although I've lost face, and now... now I'm no longer human, utterly hideous, if my master is in danger, even if it means my death, I must step forward. If this villain uses my identity to commit crimes and truly kills my master, I... I... how can I possibly live on?" Li Xian said loudly, "Alright! You come with me first, let's leave the Ghost Market."

They immediately turned back and quickly left the Ghost Market. Shorty Mo led the way. Once outside the inner perimeter of the Ghost Market, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. The Wishful Treasure Sword had shattered his heart meridian, then pierced through his chest and flew back into Li Xian's hand. He glared at Li Xian with intense hatred and said, "You... you..."

Li Xian exhaled a breath of fresh air, washing the filth from his sword. He tucked Song Ya into his arms and used his lightness skill to flee. He knew that Shorty Mo was a vicious and cruel man, fearing power but not morality, and that it was impossible for him to turn an enemy into a friend. It was better to resolve the matter quickly and eliminate future troubles.

Ruthless and decisive, she was no less so than the lady. She discarded the donkey after it had served its purpose, swift and efficient.

The sun was high in the sky, reaching its zenith at noon. Li Xian thought, "Today is September 1st, Wu Gan's Birthday Banquet is on September 2nd. If I ride back to the west of the city now, I should arrive around evening. Once I find the real Song Ya, I will have evidence."

"We can explain the situation to Xu Shaoqian and devise a plan to kill Commandery Princess Anyang, ensuring she never returns. There's still time, but it's extremely urgent." He mounted Binds the Wind and headed west of the city. Binds the Wind had long legs and was very fast; its black hair flew wildly as it galloped, making it extremely elegant. As Li Xian rode, his thoughts raced, constantly going over the details of the case.

Although it was already quite clear, upon closer examination, doubts still lingered. Li Xian thought, "That fake Song Ya is undoubtedly Commandery Princess Anyang! This case has progressed to this point, and I've uncovered the truth. In this way, I'm now in control of Commandery Princess Anyang's fate. Since being captured by Commandery Princess Anyang, I've been subjected to poisoning, debt collection, becoming a debt slave, and even a death match... every single incident has been fraught with danger and extreme peril. Ultimately, it's all this woman's fault. If I can seize control of her, I will naturally strike hard and leave no survivors!"

"But in this case... is there really no third layer of conspiracy? The only strange thing is that Commandery Princess Anyang? I visited the Song Family's residence twice."

"During the conversation with the Song the Merchant, it became clear that he genuinely loved his daughter dearly. Whenever he talked about Song Ya's disappearance from the literary world, he was heartbroken, deeply saddened, and emotionally agitated, his regret beyond words. However, when recounting how Song Ya disappeared, his emotions were calm, almost as if he were telling a story."

"I noticed these anomalies long ago. But then I discovered a more significant clue and overlooked them. Now that I understand the main points of the matter, and we're still several hours away from the west of the city, I might as well carefully examine these details and consider more possibilities." Li Xian's Binds the Wind raced, and he thought, "I've felt several times that the Song Family is somewhat strange. Or rather, the Song the Merchant is somewhat eccentric. His daughter, Song Ya, has achieved such academic success, yet he speaks of her with no pride, only regret."

Suddenly, he asked, "Miss Song, at what age did you start learning literature?"

Song Ya asked, "Is this matter related to Master's safety?" Li Xian shook his head and smiled, "Of course not, it's just that this place is quite a distance from the west of the city, so chatting about it will make things less boring."

Song Ya said, "I showed literary talent at the age of three, but my family was poor at the time. Although my father was a military man, he did not do well and made a living as a vagrant in Jade City. My mother was the only Jade Citizen in the family, and I was barely half Jade Citizen and half Common Citizen. We could not afford to go to a private school."

"As a child, I enjoyed composing poems, copying calligraphy and paintings, and engaging in refined pursuits. Although my knowledge was limited due to my young age, I gradually began to show my talent. By the time I reached school age..."

"My father's business soon improved, and he became Jade Citizen, supporting my education. First, I went to the Clearwind Academy, a small school for children from the streets and alleys. The teacher was in his thirties, and although he hadn't passed the Fortune examinations, he was quite knowledgeable. I studied with him for three months. None of the other children at the academy were as clever as me. Soon, there was nothing left to learn."

"Paper, brushes, and ink are very expensive in Jade City. Above the private school is the ' Orthodox Academy,' and attending there is extremely costly. Although I am young, I know that the path of literature may end here. My father cannot afford to support my continued studies, so I had planned to help him manage the household."

"I remember it very clearly. My father's business made a fortune. My mother planned to expand the business, but my father was unwilling and strongly supported my studies. As a result, I studied at the Orthodox Academy for two years. I wrote poems and lyrics, cultivating a refined taste. My father always met my needs for the best in all aspects of my studies."

"Above the Orthodox Academy... there are smaller halls, middle halls, and main halls. One also needs to pass the entrance exam for the 'Academy.' The daily literary gatherings, field trips, poetry gatherings, and painting banquets... are very expensive. But fortunately, my father's business has been doing better and better, step by step, supporting me to enter the Jiyin Academy. Gradually, we have enough money to support my younger siblings, who are also pursuing both literary and martial arts paths."

Li Xian said, "Judging from your appearance, your father has a plump face and fair skin, a sign of wealth and nobility. It's no surprise that your family is thriving. I've also recently started some businesses, and perhaps we can cooperate in the future."

Song Ya said, "Gold Steward, Master is in grave danger. Let's discuss these matters another day." Li Xian smiled and said, "That's right, that's right." He lowered his head and hurried on his way, but he was convinced of the truth.

He continued to think, "This Song the Merchant has wholeheartedly supported Song Ya's studies, so he should be very supportive, proud, and pleased with Song Ya's literary achievements. But when he talked to me, he expressed endless regret about Song Ya's pursuit of literature. This contradictory feeling definitely hides something strange."

"If... Song the Merchant was Commandery Princess Anyang's spy, then it would make sense. Song the Merchant was originally just a vagrant who came to Jade City under the pretext of doing business, and settled Jade City. Later, he married and had a daughter, Song Ya Song Ya. Song Ya showed literary talent from a young age, Song the Merchant, relying on his daughter's status, caught the eye of Commandery Princess Anyang. "Therefore, Commandery Princess Anyang sponsored Song Ya's education. This is why Song the Merchant merchant is so remorseful whenever he mentions studying. Although he works for Commandery Princess Anyang, he loves Song Ya very much. He regrets unintentionally dragging his daughter into this matter. Therefore, Song the Merchant's business grew step by step, all orchestrated by Commandery Princess Anyang behind the scenes!"

Li Xian had a vague doubt about this, but it was immediately resolved.

"Looking back now, I arrived at the Song Residence twice. The first time, I inquired about how Song Ya disappeared and searched her room for clues. However, I found that many traces in Song Ya's Song Ya were all perfectly preserved. Jade City, and even Great Wu, focused on interrogation and questioning when investigating cases, but neglected to look for clues."

"It's highly suspicious that this Song the Merchant deliberately left traces in the room. When I arrived at the Song Residence for the second time, I glimpsed Song Ya's boudoir from afar, and everything inside had been tidied up and restored to its original state. It's as if... he deliberately left traces, waiting for me to investigate and clarify the situation before immediately cleaning it up again."

"If this assumption is true, doesn't it mean... this is directed at me?"

Li Xian slowed his pace slightly, his brow furrowed, as he continued to ponder the suspicious points, "After finding Song Ya, although I suspected Song Ya was an imposter, I pretended to rest for a while and suspend the investigation to lull the secret observers into a false sense of security."

"If the deception has been successfully dispelled, and Commandery Princess Anyang and the others believe it to be true, they will all think that I have suspended the investigation. But then, the Song the Merchant comes to my door himself, telling me that Song the Merchant Song Ya in my household might be an imposter... If this Song the Merchant is truly in contact with Commandery Princess Anyang, then he must have been sent by Commandery Princess Anyang to try to guide me to continue the investigation, fearing that I might really abandon the matter and close the case."

Why would you reveal your identity like this?

"Furthermore, if the Song the Merchant is truly Commandery Princess Anyang's spy, why would Commandery Princess Anyang go through all this trouble, going around in circles, pretending to be captured and changing her identity? This kind of identity change could be easily negotiated between the two of them and carried out secretly; why make it public knowledge?"

A gentle breeze caressed his face as Li Xian pondered deeply, suddenly realizing, "Could it be... that Commandery Princess Anyang didn't actually intend to kill Wu Gan? That ' Benevolence's Lament Sword ' was something Song Ya mentioned. But Song Ya knows nothing of martial arts; how could she know its truth? Whether the ' Benevolence's Lament Sword ' even exists in this world is uncertain." "That's it! I overheard her say... she wanted to set up a life-or-death test to see how I would handle it, and then decide whether to kill me or use me. Could it be... could it be that this test is what's happening now?"

Li Xian, with his sharp intellect, upon further analysis, said, "She wants me to misunderstand that she intends to take a risky gamble, to try and seize fate. If I were to betray her, I would certainly do everything in my power to stop her and drive her to her death. If I were not to betray her, I would go with the flow and secretly help her."

"If I try to stop her, she will immediately realize my ill intentions and then turn against me. She is very powerful and can stir up trouble. On the other hand, I have seen through her scheme in advance. If I take this opportunity to gain her trust, I may be able to leverage Commandery Princess Anyang's influence to help me navigate between different sides. My background is still very shallow. If I want to move up the ranks and acquire more resources, I will need the help of many parties."

"But... this is just my speculation. What if she really wanted to kill Wu Gan? She could just pack up and leave, and I might end up being accused of conspiring with an assassin to murder Jade City."

Li Xian put aside his distracting thoughts and rode back quickly. Around dusk, he returned to Westwind Long Road. Li Xian first went to Jujube-Pasture Residence and saw that the Song the Merchant was pacing back and forth in front of the door, looking very anxious.

When the Song the Merchant saw Li Xian rushing back, he anxiously called out, "Gold Steward, why are you only coming back now? I've been looking for you for ages! I knocked on the door for ages, but there was no response. I was so worried!"

Li Xian observed carefully and said, "Song the Merchant, I was just about to look for you, but you came on your own. I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear?"

The Song the Merchant jumped up and down, exclaiming, "What good news or bad news? Gold Steward, things are really urgent now!"

Li Xian said, "Oh! Is this matter more important than your daughter?" He gently patted Song Ya's waist and helped her down from the horse.

The Song the Merchant was taken aback and said, "Ah... you... you found Aya?" Li Xian said, "That's good news, but there's also bad news. Your daughter's face has been peeled off."

The Song the Merchant burst into tears, embracing Song Ya and weeping bitterly. Song Ya was actually a girl not yet twenty years old. She was usually well-read and calm, but faced with this calamity and seeing her father again, how could she not feel wronged, how could she remain calm? She also broke down in tears.

Li Xian thought to himself, "Song Ya should not know that the Song the Merchant is colluding with the Commandery Princess. I observed that when the Song the Merchant saw his daughter's face was torn off, he only felt remorse and cried bitterly, but did not ask me whether the thief had been punished and arrested. It is clear that he knows the things behind it and who did it. He has no curiosity in his heart, so he did not ask any questions. This test has made me see some clues."

"This Commandery Princess Anyang is very cunning, but she probably didn't expect that I would see through Song the Merchant's identity."

The Song the Merchant wiped away his tears, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you so much, benefactor, for finding my daughter." Li Xian replied, "It's nothing, just a small favor."

The Song the Merchant said, "Oh! This interruption has brought up something important I need to tell Gold Steward. Now that my child has been found, the Song Ya in the house must be an imposter. Gold Steward, do you know who is behind this?"

Li Xian thought to herself, "This Song the Merchant is the Commandery Princess's man. Now that I know the plan was orchestrated by the Commandery Princess, I must deliberately appear loyal to Commandery Princess." She said calmly, "Of course I understand, but this matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed further with you."

The Song the Merchant said, "Understood, understood. I came here in haste because of an important matter. Although Wu Gan's birthday banquet is tomorrow, there is a smaller banquet tonight. That fake Song Ya has already gone to the smaller banquet."

"I... I was following Gold Steward's instructions to secretly keep watch over the fake Song Ya. But just this evening, I was so tired that I fell asleep. When I woke up, I learned that the fake Song Ya had already left on horseback."

"Having no idea what to do, I rushed to Jujube-Pasture Residence to wait for Gold Steward to make a decision."

Song Ya said urgently, "Gold Steward, Master is in trouble, please come to our rescue quickly."

Li Xian nodded and said, "I know what I'm doing. You can go back to your residence and wait." He was already 80% certain that "this Song the Merchant must be the Commandery Princess's spy." The Song the Merchant said, "Alright, I'll leave this matter to Gold Steward." He then took his daughter and went back.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Commandery Princess Anyang rode in a carriage to Wu Gan's small banquet. She gently removed the mask of "Song Ya" and placed it in a purple wooden box. Commandery Princess Anyang had cascading black hair, phoenix eyes that were majestic, long and slightly upturned at the corners of her eyes, and dark, deep pupils. Her skin was as white as jade, and she exuded an air of authority without anger.

Her eyebrows were the most striking feature, long and slender yet sharp, their peaks resembling distant mountains or sword blades. Her face was exceptionally beautiful, yet intimidating, inspiring awe and reluctance to look too closely. Now, revealing her true face, she exuded nobility and elegance, possessing an extraordinary air. Qingyao, in the carriage with Commandery Princess Anyang, helped comb her long hair and asked, "Commandery Princess, are you truly going to reveal your true face to attend Wu Gan's small banquet?"

Commandery Princess Anyang snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "Wu Gan is also my master, who imparted knowledge to me in the past. Although he did not grant me Fortune, the bond between master and disciple remains. He does not cultivate martial arts, and his lifespan is ultimately limited. Seeing that his lifespan is coming to an end, what is wrong with me, as his former student, participating in his birthday banquet? Who dares to say a word? In the entire Jade City, who dares to stop him? Besides, I think my master will be happy to see me."

Qingyao said, "Logically speaking, given the Commandery Princess's noble status, she could simply attend the birthday banquet directly. Why make such a fuss? Although Li Xian has some talent, he is ultimately just a nobody and not worth it. The Commandery Princess should test him personally. For Li Xian to condescend to disguise himself as Song Ya for a few days is truly a blessing beyond measure."

Commandery Princess Anyang's expression was strange. Recalling her Sky-Screen Mountain, she nodded and said, "Testing him is secondary. I need to find an opportunity to test my control over Jade City, to see how far my people can go. I need to see if I can coordinate and control everything as I wish."

"This young man is indeed quite remarkable; he is the legendary Ghost-Arrow Yama. I truly never imagined that a mere child I captured could possess such abilities."

Qingyao asked, "Those Seven Withered Flowers committed evil deeds outside and were chased until they had nowhere to run, so they hid in Jade City. These seven were no weaklings; were they truly all dealt with by Li Xian?" Commandery Princess Anyang's gaze shifted strangely; the warmth of their skin against each other that day still lingered in her memory. She said, "He was the one who dealt with them. This young man had a unique style when he shot arrows; it's not easy to see that elsewhere."

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "If I'm not mistaken, with this boy's abilities, he should already know that I was impersonating Song Ya." Qingyao asked, "If he really tries to stop me, will the Commandery Princess really kill him?"

Commandery Princess Anyang thought to herself, "I have come to greatly admire this young man. I most appreciate those with ability and talent, and Li Xian's abilities and talents are truly admirable. His quick wit in solving cases and composure in killing enemies are unlike anything I have ever encountered. But if he dares to attack me, there will only be one outcome." She sneered, "What is there to hesitate about killing a petty thief? Who am I, Anyang? Besides, if he were to trespass on this small banquet and fabricate baseless charges to frame me, why would I need to lift a finger? My junior brother would simply kill him alive."

Qingyao felt a chill run down her spine and was filled with fear. Commandery Princess Anyang had a junior brother named "Human Butcher Xu Bai," who was also a disciple of Wu Gan. Although Commandery Princess Anyang and he shared a bond as fellow disciples, they also had a deep-seated blood feud. Xu Bai revered Wu Gan above all else, and anyone who dared to offend Wu Gan in the slightest was as if they had killed his parents. He would retaliate with ruthless killing.

Although Commandery Princess Anyang put on a show, she genuinely only visited her teacher and attended the birthday banquet. Misled by her, Li Xian knew that if he barged into the banquet and caused trouble, he would be unable to defend himself and would be killed on the spot.

Qingyao asked again, "What if he passes the test? Knowing that the Commandery Princess is plotting something big, he the Unseen helps her."

Commandery Princess Anyang raised an eyebrow, thinking, "In that case, this boy is not without merit; he can be used, cultivated, and taught." She said nonchalantly, "This insignificant servant, passing the test is enough. What can I do with his lowly life? Do you expect me to give him some reward?" Qingyao said, "If he passes the test, this boy's loyalty is worth cultivating; he is indeed a useful talent. Why doesn't Your Commandery Princess consider giving him a little help?" Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Let's wait until he passes."

The carriage arrived at the "Dragon-Tiger Gate" of the Jiyin Academy, where guards stood watch. Qingyao alighted from the carriage, cupped her hands, and said, "Commandery Princess Anyang, I am attending a small banquet hosted by Wu Gan, a great scholar. Please go and inform him of my presence." Upon hearing the words "Commandery Princess Anyang," the guards immediately became solemn and dared not be negligent. They cupped their hands and asked Qingyao to wait a moment, then relayed the message through the ranks. After a short while, they respectfully stepped aside.

Wu Gan's small banquet was held in his own courtyard. The banquet was attended by his disciples and students, and the dishes were rather ordinary, more like a typical family feast. Tomorrow's grand banquet, to be held in front of heroes from all over the world, would be more like a formality. Only now could it be considered a true birthday celebration.

Commandery Princess Anyang's carriage stopped outside the courtyard. She alighted and casually tidied her hair. She wore a red and green court dress, her hair styled in a flowing cloud pattern, adorned with hair ornaments and delicate hairpins, exuding nobility. Her long dress trailed on the ground as she walked, displaying an air of regal authority. She strode quickly into the courtyard, opened her arms, and called out, "Teacher, I've seen you!"

Wu Gan, though elderly, was overjoyed. Supported by a middle-aged man, he walked briskly with a cane, laughing, "Is that Qinghuang? Is that Qinghuang? Am I seeing things? Qinghuang has come to see me, hehe, this is truly rare." Commandery Princess Anyang smiled and said, "It is Qinghuang, teacher, you are not mistaken."

The middle-aged man was Xu Bai. He smiled insincerely and said, "It's Senior Sister! Long time no see! How have you been?" Commandery Princess Anyang's expression turned cold, and she narrowed her eyes, saying, "Senior Sister is doing very well! Good Junior Brother, long time no see!"

Xu Bai said, "Senior Sister, you must be very forgetful. How did you suddenly remember that today is Master's birthday?"

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Hmph, when have I ever forgotten my teacher's birthday? Every year at this time, although I can't see him and can't personally celebrate his birthday, I always think of him. As for you, junior brother, do you perhaps dislike your senior sister coming to celebrate our teacher's birthday?" Xu Bai smiled and said, "It's wonderful that senior sister can come!"

Wu Gan said, "Alright, I don't want to hear about your private grudges. You can settle them yourselves later, whether it's through swords and spears or life-or-death struggles. But in my birthday banquet, you all need to sit down properly and tell me about your recent situation."

It turns out that Wu Gan possessed half Fortune for fortune), and had taught many disciples. He once made a mistake by favoring a disciple, and from then on, he swore a solemn oath never to interfere in his disciples' private grudges. Wu Gan had forty-three disciples in his lifetime. They were truly recorded in his name and regarded as his own children. However, since several decades ago, he has stopped accepting disciples and only teaches and imparts knowledge.

Many students at the Jiyin Academy addressed Wu Gan as "Master" or "Teacher," but they were not considered true disciples.

This small banquet was quite simple. It included the Thirteen Sages of the Mirror, the Two Heroes of Shameful Inquiry, and the Six Heroes of Sizhu...

Commandery Princess Anyang's original name was "Wei Qinghuang". Although she was skilled in martial arts, she studied literature and Daoism under Wu Gan in her childhood to broaden her horizons and improve her strategy before turning to martial arts.

Wei Qinghuang sat down, glanced sideways at the dishes, and seeing that they were simple, made no move to eat. Xu Bai chuckled to himself, thinking, "This senior sister has remained the same all these years. Of course, with such a beautiful mouth, how could she possibly eat such vulgar food?"

Wei Qinghuang smiled and said, "Teacher, Qinghuang toasts you." Wu Gan smiled, raised his glass, and took a small sip.

Wei Qinghuang said, "These must be my students, the young talents who will inherit my mantle and become pillars of our Great Wu World in the future?"

The students returned the greeting, but being so young, they were somewhat intimidated by Wei Qinghuang's imposing presence. None of them dared to meet her gaze. Xu Bai said, "Teacher, you seem quite cheerful today. Is there something happy you want to tell us?"

Wu Gan said, "No one knows me better than Little White. Tell me, how long has it been since I took on a disciple?"

Xu Bai and Wei Qinghuang were both taken aback. "Taking on disciples?"

Xu Bai said, "It's been forty-nine years. Could it be... could it be that Master has found a promising disciple and is considering taking him on as a disciple again?"

Wu Gan nodded and said, "Yes and no." Wei Qinghuang said, "Congratulations! Congratulations! Does this mean I will have a junior brother or sister?"

Wu Gan waved his hand and said, "It's not even close to being settled yet, why offer congratulations? To be honest... this was just a spur-of-the-moment idea. That child... I've never even met him, I only caught a fleeting glance at him."

"Enough. I'll handle this myself and won't trouble you. Don't interfere. After this banquet, those who plot against the country will plot against the country, and those who plot against the throne will plot against the throne. I'm old now, and I can't be bothered with your messy affairs behind the scenes. In the end, as long as you understand your actions and are willing to bear the consequences, that's enough."