Nine-Life Thief

Zhen Estate, Listening Water Pavilion.

After recounting everything to Mr. Yu from beginning to end without omitting a single detail, Ding Songyan, Xu Chang'an, and Ding Daniu were arranged to wait here for what came next.

There were no great basins of ice or water-powered fan carts here, but not far away, water cascaded from the peak of an artificial mountain. Its splashing never ceased, and coolness spilled into the air.

Xu Chang'an sat at times, walked at times, and paced back and forth at times, restless with anxiety.

When he looked up, he saw Ding Daniu beaming as he stuffed dried meat into his mouth and chewed with great enthusiasm. Ding Songyan, meanwhile, leisurely drank tea and sampled the mung bean cakes, sesame brittle, and other treats offered by Zhen Estate.

"Second Brother Ding, aren't you, aren't you nervous or worried?" Xu Chang'an could not help asking.

Ding Songyan swept aside the floating tea leaves with his cup lid and smiled faintly.

"Being nervous won't help."

Besides, he was your master, not mine.

"I heard in a play that one who held thunder in his breast yet wore the face of a still lake could be made a great general. Second Brother Ding, you will definitely become far more than a storyteller someday," Xu Chang'an said enviously.

Ding Songyan pointed at his elder brother.

"Then what is he?"

Ding Daniu remained wholly absorbed in eating Zhen Estate's refreshments. He ignored them completely, showing not the slightest sign of nervousness or concern.

Call him slow in the head... Xu Chang'an did not dare say it aloud. Big Brother Ding's bare arm alone was as thick as his thigh.

More than half an hour later, Mr. Yu returned to Hanshui Pavilion.

He said to Old Master Zhen,

"The deceased was Zhang Rui, a notorious gang leader of thieves in the prefectural city. This book was found on him."

Having long since put down his iron balls, Zhen Qianfan took the book. The paper was tough and somewhat waterproof, covered in creases. Several large characters were written on the cover:

"Mystic Art of Ten Bodies and Hundred Hands"

Turning to the inner pages, he found a plum blossom-shaped secret mark and a name. The handwriting differed from that of the martial art itself—"Jia Yushu."

Zhen Qianfan rapidly flipped through it and saw "Steal Heavenly Secrets" written on the last page, but there were only a few sparse lines, with nothing further below.

"Though incomplete, it is enough to cultivate to the perfection of the Dayan Realm."

"Jia Yushu, Jia Yushu the 'Nine-Life Thief'?"

Mr. Yu replied,

"Not far from Zhang Rui's corpse, we dug up another body that had already become white bones. Its physical characteristics matched this martial art. It should have been Jia Yushu, the 'Nine-Life Thief.'

"He was most likely the one who stole the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas from the estate back then."

One of Old Master Zhen's four ears suddenly twitched. He nodded slightly.

"So it was him."

"Doctor Shao has examined him. He believes Jia Yushu died roughly nine months ago," Mr. Yu continued.

Old Master Zhen's expression shifted several times, and divine light surged in his eyes.

"He stole the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas only nine months ago, then died in Potter's Field almost immediately afterward?

"Useless trash!"

This... Mr. Yu was briefly stunned by what he heard.

He had served Zhen Estate for many years and knew that the old master had always kept his joy and anger hidden from his face. Why was he displaying his emotions so openly today?

He had even called Jia Yushu "useless trash"?

Amid the unspeakable silence, Zhen Qianfan muttered to himself,

"Why did the person who killed Jia Yushu not take the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas, nor take this Mystic Art of Ten Bodies and Hundred Hands?

"Hehe, Nine-Life Thief—yet even nine lives could not escape death in the end."

Mr. Yu truthfully said,

"Doctor Shao believes Jia Yushu was not killed by another. He took his own life."

"Took his own life..." Zhen Qianfan raised his eyelids, unable to conceal his shock.

An instant later, his gaze became extraordinarily complicated, as though something had occurred to him.

Listening Water Pavilion.

Seeing Mr. Yu enter, Xu Chang'an hurried forward. Ding Songyan set down his teacup and followed close behind.

Ding Daniu reluctantly licked his fingers and slowly rose to his feet.

"You cannot tell anyone about this. To the outside world, say only that Zhang Rui offended Zhen Estate and has fled far away to avoid disaster." Mr. Yu's gaze swept across the three of them before finally falling on Xu Chang'an. "The things on your master cannot be given to you; they were not his to begin with. As for the courtyard and silver your master left behind, you martial brothers may discuss how to divide them yourselves."

Xu Chang'an's heart finally settled back into place, and he repeatedly voiced his agreement with immense gratitude.

Mr. Yu indicated that he and Ding Daniu should leave first, keeping Ding Songyan behind alone.

Then, in a low voice, he said to Ding Songyan,

"The old master greatly appreciates how you have performed these past few days. You are sharp in judging circumstances, decisive at critical moments, and far steadier than your age would suggest.

"Aunt Qin previously helped ask about your wish to practice martial arts. The old master's meaning just now was that if you wish to enter the Xiaoming Sect, Zhen Estate can help you find a decent martial academy. You may temper your body and cultivate qi in advance, without spending any money yourself. If you wish to join Zhen Estate, then aside from the estate's secret teachings, everything else may be considered."

Ding Songyan listened very attentively, yet showed no obvious delight. From his experience, whenever such words and such good fortune appeared, they would invariably be followed by a "but." If there was no "but," he would instead be frightened and avoid it like the plague.

"But you must do one thing." Mr. Yu's tone abruptly shifted.

"What is it? Is it dangerous?" Ding Songyan, who had expected this already, asked.

"It is not dangerous. You merely need to keep your mouth shut and tell no one, including Aunt Qin, including your parents and siblings." Mr. Yu stared into Ding Songyan's eyes.

Before Ding Songyan could respond, he suddenly changed the subject.

"The Legend of the White Snake you have been telling outside Dangkang Temple these past few days is quite good. People are already discussing it in every street and alley. Yet some are dissatisfied, believing you do not follow the rules. You suddenly changed from telling old tales to recounting historical romances and legends. Had they not known you were connected to Zhen Estate, they would have long since gone to the storytellers' association to complain, and would have openly and secretly tripped you up."

Those in the same trade were enemies... Ding Songyan was not surprised in the least.

He had long prepared an explanation for any peers who might come looking for trouble:

He was young and lustful, and wanted to win Miss Xiaoqing's favor. Afterward, he would tell stories less often, putting most of his effort into martial arts training.

Seeing that Ding Songyan was neither startled, angry, nor afraid, Mr. Yu nodded faintly.

"There is an honored guest in the estate who enjoys historical romances and legends, yet does not wish anyone to know he is staying here.

"In the past, we had members of the estate collect storybooks and learn storytelling themselves to preserve secrecy. By now, that honored guest has grown tired of all the common ones. Your Legend of the White Snake has come at precisely the right time.

"If you agree to tell stories for him and do not spread word of this matter, you will count as one of Zhen Estate's own. The benefits I mentioned just now will naturally be yours."

"With Sister Nuansheng here, I was already half a member of Zhen Estate." Ding Songyan first drew closer through their connection, then carefully asked, "Does that honored guest have any other preferences?"

We sell our art, not ourselves!

It took Mr. Yu several breaths to understand Ding Songyan's hidden meaning. His expression shifted slightly.

"That honored guest has only this one preference: listening to historical romances and legends.

"If he liked anything else, would Zhen Estate be unable to find it? Would we need to look for you?"

That was good... Ding Songyan quietly murmured an acknowledgment to himself.

Mr. Yu looked at him.

"There is no need to answer in haste. Give me your reply tomorrow."

Ding Songyan let out a breath of relief and took the opportunity to express his gratitude to Mr. Yu for what had happened earlier.

Chengyu Lane, the Ding family courtyard.

After dinner, once the table, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks had been cleared away, Ding Songyan carried a bowl of water and a pig-bristle toothbrush to squat beneath the Chinese elm tree and clean his mouth.

His father, Ding Shengyi, was doing something similar beside him.

After gargling and spitting, Ding Songyan looked toward his father and asked thoughtfully,

"Father, are martial arts of the Yi surname not passed on to outsiders?"

Only after learning more over the past two days did he discover that the Yi surname was one of Great Zhao's "Two Sects and Three Surnames." It was a top-tier force with a Great Grandmaster, a great aristocratic clan far stronger than the Xiaoming Sect, whose influence was limited to Dingjiang Prefecture. County Commandant Yi Qincang of the county yamen was a direct descendant of the Yi family.

Ding Shengyi spat out his rinse water, turned to look at Ding Songyan, and examined him for a while before saying,

"You would have to marry into their family.

"And County Commandant Yi has no daughters, so stop dreaming, brat."

The corner of Ding Songyan's mouth twitched.

"Father, you seem not to care much about that sort of thing?"

Ding Shengyi, whose temperament was somewhat feminine, chuckled.

"When your father was down and out, I ate one full meal and went hungry for three. If the Liu Family had not taken notice of me, I might have frozen to death at home or starved by the roadside. Back then, I saw none of our ancestors protecting me."

"Perhaps being noticed by the Liu Family was our ancestors' protection," Ding Songyan offered a small rebuttal.

It sounded like his mother's family had been quite well-off in Yuejiang Prefecture?

Ding Shengyi fell silent.

After a moment, he sighed.

"The Yi family is actually quite accommodating. If you truly render meritorious service, they will permit your descendants to restore their old surname. You would only have to become a branch of the Yi family, and the inheritance of martial arts would have to follow the Yi family's rules."

Ding Songyan gave an "Mm" and changed the subject.

"Father, why did we have to leave our homeland and come to Dingjiang Prefecture to seek refuge with Sister Nuansheng?"

This was something he had always been curious about, especially after discovering just now that the Liu Family's circumstances did not seem bad.

Ding Shengyi's hands abruptly trembled. Only after a long while did he pat Ding Songyan on the shoulder.

"It is a good thing that you have forgotten..."

He paused, his expression dimming.

"When your father was down and out, I did some things that weighed on my conscience. After the Liu Family declined, someone set their sights on those matters again. We had no choice but to come to Dingjiang Prefecture and seek refuge with Nuansheng. Do not ask for the details. Rest assured, what happened to you has nothing to do with this. If it truly did, your father would already be in prison."

Having said that, he got up and returned to the main house.

That night, after lying down on his bed, Ding Songyan asked through the folding screen,

"Little Sister, why did our family leave Yuejiang Prefecture?"

Ding Qingyan laughed when she heard this.

"Only you, Father, and Mother know about it. I begged you before to tell me, but you kept your mouth so tight and refused to say anything. Now you have come to ask me instead!"

As she spoke, her voice became distant and hazy.

"At that time, we lived in a large house with three courtyards. Though the other branches of the Liu Family lived there too, and we only had half a courtyard, it was still better than now. Ceramic pipes drew water from the well and delivered it to us, and we had chamber pots with water tanks..."

Ding Songyan did not feel deeply moved by this. He only felt that his elder brother's nature was terrifying, while his father hid dangers of his own. The Ding family appeared stable for now, but wind and rain could descend at any time.

At last, he made his decision and accepted the job from Zhen Estate.

Ding Songyan no longer troubled himself over it. Just as he was about to close his eyes and sleep, a cold wind suddenly swept over him, making his whole body shudder.

"You still haven't written what you'll tell tomorrow. How can you possibly sleep?" A soft, sweet voice sounded gently by his ear.