Mysteries Upon Mysteries

Ding Songyan picked up the brush he had set down to polish the earlier part of the story, but it hovered over the paper, nearly dropping a bead of ink. This reflected the indescribable shock surging through his heart, sending his thoughts racing.

None of the courts or major sects in any country possessed a complete Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas, yet it seemed I had one in my hands?

Hmm, the Zhen Estate should have obtained Chen Yuliang's copy as well...

What made Chen Yuliang think this Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas was genuine and complete?

If it really was complete, or close to complete, where had this version of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas come from?

The mysteries and dangers hidden behind it were probably far greater than he had imagined!

He had previously planned to use this relatively complete Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas to trade for a chance to join the Xiaoming Sect. Now, it seemed that although the Xiaoming Sect would indeed value the contents, it would place even greater importance on who had produced this version and where it had come from...

Ding Songyan steadied himself and put brush to paper, writing down the few good lines of dialogue he had just thought of in advance so Xiaoqing would not notice the storm raging in his heart. Meanwhile, Xiaoqing repeatedly read the extremely heartbreaking scene of familial affection between Xu Xian and Xu Shilin without once looking up.

After writing those few lines, Ding Songyan furrowed his brow slightly:

Chen Yuliang's copy of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas should have fallen into the hands of the Zhen Estate. The Zhen Estate also held the aftermath of Master Xu Chang'an's death. These two matters had sunk like stones into the sea, with no further word...

Earlier, he had thought it was a relatively "common" version. The Zhen Estate had a Martial Grandmaster, so they had seen plenty of strange things; it was normal enough for there to be no follow-up. But now that he thought about it, this version of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas was so rare that it might even be the only copy in existence. Had the Zhen Estate truly noticed nothing amiss? Were they really not curious about its origins? Were they truly not going to question me and Xu Chang'an further? Wait, was Mr. Yu following me because of this, and not because of that "distinguished guest"?

Aside from this matter, Xiaoqing and the True Spirit Sect, represented by Ren Youyang, had also come to the Zhen Estate...

The Zhen Estate was still hiding an extremely mysterious and suspicious "distinguished guest"...

They said they wanted me to keep the secret strictly, yet imposed no restrictions whatsoever. They had not even made me sign a written agreement...

At this thought, Ding Songyan suddenly regretted accepting the task of telling stories to the "distinguished guest."

He felt that the Zhen Estate was currently a convergence point for turbulent currents. Something was bound to change later on; something was bound to happen.

If this had been when he had just left school, he would have been excited to take part. He would have believed that, with his intelligence and ability, he could avoid danger and gain something from it. The greater the storm, the more precious the fish.

But now, after being beaten black and blue by reality, he only wanted to hide as far away as possible. Once the problem completely erupted and everything exploded into "pieces," he could see whether there was any chance of picking something up.

Hiss, should I speed things up, finish telling stories to the distinguished guest as soon as possible, and get away early? Ding Songyan pondered.

Xiaoqing set down the papers in her hands and said, her voice clearly tinged with a nasal quality:

"When Xu Shilin pleaded bitterly outside the door but was not allowed in, I really wanted to curse Xu Xian. But when I saw how much pain Xu Xian was in behind the door, I felt... ah..."

"That reminded me of a lyric you sang before: 'Fated apart, our hands cannot meet even face-to-face.'"

"Adding another line would suit this scene perfectly:

"'Fated apart, our hands cannot meet even face-to-face; from now on, though we meet, we shall not see one another.'"

You're quite the literary type... Ding Songyan mulled it over:

"This line is good. May I add it to the storybook?"

He had to let the "God of Wealth" feel a little more involved.

"Sure." Having received his approval, Xiaoqing managed to shake off some of her dejected mood.

Ding Songyan put on an air of casual conversation and said:

"When I heard people mention the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas the day before yesterday, they said the original book had once been everywhere. Later, the various courts, sects, schools, and great clans destroyed their copies and kept only private collections. I never expected that it had been 'secret' from the very beginning, and only leaked out afterward to circulate through the martial world."

"That's how rumors in the martial world are. Truth and falsehood get mixed together, with more falsehood than truth." Xiaoqing was unconcerned. "Besides, a great tree attracts the wind. People in the martial world love cursing the top powers and pinning every problem on them. They don't dare speak directly to their faces, but they still have the courage to chew over them behind their backs."

She rose, waved goodbye to Ding Songyan, and vanished into the room like green smoke at night.

Ding Songyan, meanwhile, seemed to have just awakened from a dream, or perhaps witnessed flowers in a mirror and the moon reflected in water scatter away.

He gathered up the papers, ink, brushes, and several wooden boxes, snuffed out the oil lamp, and lay down on the bed. Gazing at the rafters washed in drifting, dim moonlight, he began to think everything through in meticulous detail.

He thought about the past, the present, the many details he had overlooked, and the developments that might occur in the future.

The next day.

When they reached Fengshui Bridge, Xu Chang'an turned his head and glanced at Ding Songyan:

"Second Brother Ding, you didn't sleep well last night?"

Ding Songyan rubbed his slightly puffy eye bags and smiled bitterly:

"Perhaps it's because I've been telling Legend of the White Snake so often lately. I actually dreamed that a huge white snake was chasing me at night."

"It's merely a case of thinking about something by day and dreaming about it by night." Xu Chang'an comforted him.

Today, he wore a light-colored straight robe and a square, flat-topped cap. He looked much less like a shifty-eyed rat.

Ding Songyan stepped onto the stone bridge and changed the subject:

"You're not working today?"

"With the money my master left me, I could go two years without working." Xu Chang'an smiled. "You were right before, Second Brother Ding. How could someone destined to become a great thief steal fruits and vegetables from an old woman or make a living writing letters for people?"

Once one had enough food and clothing, one became aware of honor and shame.

Xu Chang'an immediately grew troubled:

"I plan to visit the various martial academies and see whether there are any techniques suitable for me to practice and suitable for becoming a great thief in the future. Fortunately, I haven't opened any acupoints yet, so I don't have to worry about conflicting martial arts.

"It's just that if I do that, my money won't last two years..."

"When the boat reaches the pier, it will naturally find a way through. Learn first, then worry about the money later." Ding Songyan had originally wanted to ask Mr. Yu today when arrangements would be made for him to go to a martial academy to temper his body and cultivate his qi, but he was now somewhat afraid to go to the Zhen Estate.

Outwardly calm but inwardly restless, he glanced at Xu Chang'an and casually frightened him:

"It's good that you're not working lately. Your master has some reputation at the county office. My father came home from the office yesterday and said Constable Xue already knew that your master had offended the Zhen Estate and fled to the ends of the earth. He plans to give you youngsters a warning, so that even without anyone restraining you, you won't act too recklessly. Don't become the chicken killed to frighten the monkeys."

I'll scare you a little more and try to get you firmly onto the right path.

Xu Chang'an's face turned deathly pale, and he hurriedly said:

"I understand, I understand."

As an underworld nobody, the person Xu Chang'an had feared most in the past was Constable Xue Zhangjian.

Wait, you're that easy to scare? Seeing Xu Chang'an's exaggerated reaction, Ding Songyan asked with amusement:

"What year were you born?"

Could he merely have an old-looking face?

"I was born at the beginning of the eighteenth year of Xingping." Xu Chang'an did not understand why Second Brother Ding had suddenly asked such a strange question.

Ding Songyan froze:

"Then why do you call me Second Brother?"

He's more than a year older than this body of mine!

"You're Qingyan's older brother." Xu Chang'an wore an expression that said, What's strange about that? "Besides, over the past few days, I've often felt that you really ought to be the elder brother—more composed than me, smarter than me, more discerning than me, and more knowledgeable than me."

Stop praising me, stop praising me. When I was twenty, aside from being smart, I had none of the rest... Ding Songyan waved the hand carrying the bamboo basket, then parted ways with Xu Chang'an on the opposite side of Fengshui Bridge. One headed to Dangkang Temple, while the other went to visit martial academies.

Xiaoqing and her maid still arrived outside Dangkang Temple early to wait for the storytelling. As Ding Songyan followed yesterday's draft and recounted Xu Shilin's childhood through adolescence, he felt that the character still lacked depth, so he added several experiences from his own youth: becoming obsessed with games and being dragged back onto the right path by his parents; witnessing a crime scene and nearly being knocked down by a fugitive hurriedly fleeing from nearby; going fishing in the mountains and almost stepping into a place where someone was electrofishing...

He altered those episodes and presented them in forms suited to the ancient setting and Xu Shilin's character:

Relying on his innate strength, he bullied his fellow disciples at a martial academy, but gradually came to understand reason after his aunt's tears and his uncle's scolding; he encountered the county office pursuing the fugitive Pacifier of the West, and though still only a youth, bravely stepped forward and killed the man with three punches; he went fishing in the mountains, encountered a fierce tiger, leaped onto its back, and gave it a thorough beating...

With all these details, when the brave, strong, and clear-minded Xu Shilin cried out as he pounded on the door, wanting to see Xu Xian one more time, every onlooker present wiped at their eyes. By the time Ding Songyan recited the concluding verse, "Fated apart, our hands cannot meet even face-to-face; from now on, though we meet, we shall not see one another," some were crying aloud.

"You tell it better than you write it." After the crowd dispersed, Xiaoqing praised Ding Songyan with reddened eyes.

I'm the sort who performs best on the spot. My previous investor was persuaded by this very talent... Before Ding Songyan could say anything to Xiaoqing, she had already disappeared into the crowd with her maid, seemingly intent on helping him catch his stalker.

He shook his head and planned to use visiting his father as an excuse to go to the county office, then decide according to the circumstances whether he should go to the Zhen Estate.

Ding Songyan had just taken a step when someone suddenly approached.

The man wore a blue robe and a small cap, dressed like an ordinary commoner. His eyelids were puffy, and he was fair and plump. He was none other than Ren Youyang, a disciple of the True Spirit Sect.

"Brother Youyang, what's this?" Ding Songyan asked in surprise.

"Don't I look more like an ordinary person now?" Ren Youyang said with a smile, pointing at himself.

"An ordinary commoner wouldn't be as... well-fed-looking as you." Ding Songyan chose his words carefully.

Ren Youyang suddenly understood:

"No wonder people always notice that something is wrong when I disguise myself as an ordinary person."

"Brother Youyang, did you need something from me?" Ding Songyan asked.

Ren Youyang's expression turned solemn. After clearing his throat, he said:

"I'll go with you to the Zhen Estate. No matter what happens, I can't promise anything else, but if all you need is for me to keep you alive, Old Master Zhen will still have to give me some consideration."

Ding Songyan was momentarily dumbfounded. He had not expected Ren Youyang to help him so much.

Catching the stalker and exposing the mastermind was fun and interesting, so it was perfectly normal for Ren Youyang to be willing to do it. But the Zhen Estate was connected to the purpose behind the True Spirit Sect's dispatch to Dingjiang Prefecture. Ren Youyang actually intended to disrupt the Zhen Estate's plans for someone he had only met by chance and encountered once.

Although this was not a direct confrontation, it would still damage their relationship somewhat.

As his thoughts raced, Ding Songyan could not help sighing:

"Brother Youyang truly has the bearing of the ancient knights-errant!"

Ren Youyang had clearly not expected such praise. He stared blankly for a moment before laughing:

"How could people like us lose to the ancients?"

His face lit up with delight, his smile brilliant.

After escorting Ding Songyan to the Zhen Estate, Ren Youyang did not continue following him. He went straight to pay his respects to Old Master Zhen.

As on the previous day, Ding Songyan was led by Mr. Yu to the small building hidden among flowers and trees. He was blindfolded, supported by someone as they wound around this way and that, and eventually arrived at the room with the heavy iron door.

Throughout the process, Mr. Yu made no mention of having gone to Beili Ward to lie in wait for Ren Youyang. He maintained his silence.

After sitting down, Ding Songyan opened his folding fan and was about to begin.

Suddenly, he once again felt as if the Gate of Heaven atop his head had opened, with a cool sensation descending into him.

That aged, hoarse voice laughed and echoed through his mind:

"You discovered that the Zhen Estate sent someone to follow you and harbored ill intentions, didn't you?"

Ding Songyan was startled at first, then suddenly understood:

The "distinguished guest" had used the art of divination yesterday to deduce his own opportunities not to prove anything at all. The true purpose had been to use this to make him "enter the game"!