Ding Daniu, Refreshed and Rejuvenated

The next day, Ding Songyan and Xu Chang'an crossed Fengshui Bridge and headed toward Dangkang Temple.

"Help me with a small matter today," Ding Songyan suddenly said.

Xu Chang'an's heart trembled, but he forcibly squeezed out a smile.

"Second Brother Ding, go ahead."

Ding Songyan smiled.

"Aren't you still hesitating over which martial hall to choose? Go to Stone Pool Martial Hall today and learn a little more."

"That's it?" Xu Chang'an was somewhat surprised.

Wasn't this simply what he had been doing every day lately? The only issue was that the martial hall was called Stone Pool.

"I told you, it's a small matter." Ding Songyan smiled faintly. "If someone asks you to pass along a message, remember it and tell me tonight. Too many people are watching me, so it's not convenient for me to go there."

Nor was it convenient for others to approach him.

"All right." Xu Chang'an quietly let out a breath.

When they arrived at Dangkang Temple, Ding Songyan spotted Xiaoqing at once, dressed in plain clothes and a green skirt.

He froze.

He remembered what he had forgotten last night. He had apparently intended to visit Xiaoqing's Second Uncle, using that visit to hint at certain matters. Yet he had forgotten midway through, shortly before encountering Ren Youyang.

Moreover, even now, he could not recall what message he had asked Xiaoqing to relay to her Second Uncle, nor what his own clear plan had been.

"Could Yan Changqing's 'old friend' have made a move?"

"After I returned from Potter's Field, the Mothman withdrew, and one of the masterminds personally took over watching me?"

"In terms of affecting one's thoughts, he's more formidable than Yan Changqing. Before, once I left the relevant setting, I would slowly remember. This time, I only sensed something faintly. An entire night passed, I changed locations several times, and only when I saw Xiaoqing did part of those memories surge back..."

"Then again, Yan Changqing is imprisoned in Zhen Estate's dungeon. He can only use prearranged 'seeds' to influence thoughts. It's perfectly normal that he can't do something like this."

"But this also shows that this cultivation method probably cannot erase the corresponding memories. It can only suppress them and hide them..."

As thoughts flashed through Ding Songyan's mind, Xiaoqing turned slightly and saw him.

The young woman smiled radiantly and waved at him.

Ding Songyan reined in his thoughts and, as usual, set down his things and began storytelling, advancing the tale to Xu Shilin's first failed attempt to save Lady White.

After one more installment—after the second and third rescues—Legend of the White Snake would end with the whole family reunited.

As Ding Songyan gathered the silver and copper coins from his bamboo basket, Xiaoqing came closer and whispered to him.

"Last night, when I returned to Tianyang Guildhall, someone ambushed me."

"Are you all right?" Ding Songyan blurted out.

Even someone with Xiaoqing's status and background could be attacked?

"Do I look like I'm hurt?" Xiaoqing said with a smiling gaze. "We only exchanged a few moves before I forced him back. Even the people at the top of the Watchtower didn't notice a thing."

Ding Songyan studied Xiaoqing's expression. He wanted to test her, but had forgotten what he intended to say.

In the end, he could only say, "I feel like something is a little off."

"Is that so?" Xiaoqing pondered in confusion, but failed to grasp the key point.

Ding Songyan remembered something else and took out the copper coin he had previously sent into the Netherworld and retrieved.

"Miss Xiaoqing, I happened to acquire an item like this. Could you take a look and tell me what it does?"

The copper coin was still covered in verdigris, unnaturally gray and lifeless, cold and sinister to the touch.

"A Yin-Yang Coin." Xiaoqing glanced at it. "If you know the corresponding cultivation method, you can use it when summoning gods and commanding ghosts. If you have enough of them, then when you encounter evil ghosts in places of the Netherworld, they can serve as toll money and keep you from being invaded."

"You'd better carry it close to your body and suppress it with blood essence and yang energy. Otherwise, it will attract unclean things into your home. Most of them cannot harm people, but they may bring bad luck upon your household."

Before Ding Songyan could thank her, the young woman looked around and said, "I can't help you keep watch on your stalkers today, but I'll still come find you tonight. Legend of the White Snake is about to reach its final installment, isn't it? I have to see it in advance!"

That was fine too. There were already four groups watching him now... Ding Songyan thanked Xiaoqing, ate a huge bowl of braised rice nearby, then headed for the docks.

As he looked around for Ding Daniu, he saw an elderly man before a freight warehouse. His beard and hair were both white, his features ancient and rugged, his shoulders broad and his frame nearly imposing. Holding an account book and writing brush, he stood surrounded by several attendants, inspecting the goods and making notes from time to time.

He wore a straight robe of fine ramie cloth and a Huayang Headscarf. As he walked, he carried himself with the gait of a dragon and the stride of a tiger.

Ding Songyan found him vaguely familiar, then remembered. This was the man he had seen playing chess on a tower ship's deck when he had first come to the docks. There had also been someone else wearing a black gauze veiled hat.

The old man noticed Ding Songyan's gaze, turned his head, and looked at him.

Ding Songyan hurriedly clasped his hands, indicating that he had not meant to pry.

The old man did not take offense. He smiled kindly and continued inspecting the goods.

After circling around the freight warehouse, Ding Songyan soon found the conspicuously eye-catching Ding Daniu.

With the excuse that his younger brother needed his help, Ding Daniu righteously went to the foreman and asked for leave.

"Second Brother, you're the best!" His face was full of eager gratitude as he thanked Ding Songyan.

Ding Songyan waved a hand.

"Big Brother, go on."

After thinking for a moment, he deliberately added, "Take it easy."

Don't let your feral nature run wild.

Ding Daniu patted his chest and promised, "I know. It's not like this is my first time!"

Of course... So afterward, all his money would be handed over to Mother? Ding Songyan watched Ding Daniu race toward Beili Ward with flying steps.

Only then did he head to Zhen Estate, cover his face with black cloth, and arrive at Yan Changqing's location after twisting and turning through countless routes.

Almost at the same moment, a cool sensation descended into his Sea of Consciousness, transforming into the figure in a blue scholar's robe.

"Have you encountered anything unusual?" Yan Changqing asked.

Ding Songyan had already prepared his words.

"After I returned from Potter's Field, the Mothman stopped following me. Ren Youyang has also failed to find the Moth Father or Moth Mother."

"At night, I used cooling off as an excuse to go out for a walk, but I forgot what I was supposed to do. Even now, I have yet to remember everything."

He wanted to use Yan Changqing's experience as an old hand in the martial world to judge what realm this so-called "old friend" had reached.

Yan Changqing paced with his hands behind his back, then smiled.

"This old man already knows. You need not worry. If a Great Grandmaster of the Celestial-Human Realm, or even a Transcendent One of the Spirit Platform Realm, had come, matters would not be as they are now. Zhen Estate's bluff would surely have been exposed. How could power borrowed through external means be as easy to command as one's own arm? The True Spirit Sect would not let Zhen Qianfan order them around and make them do whatever he pleased."

That was good... Hopefully, his judgment was correct... Ding Songyan let out a slight breath of relief.

On the surface, Dingjiang Prefecture's strongest official force was the Xiaoming Sect's leader, someone ranked among the notable figures of the Law Realm. If a Great Grandmaster or Transcendent One truly waded into this muddy water, Ding Songyan did not know whether the authorities could resolve the matter smoothly.

As though sensing his worry, Yan Changqing said evenly, "Do not underestimate the Xiaoming Sect. If their Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation has two Martial Grandmasters serving as its formation cores, supported by outstanding people of the Dayan Realm, it is enough to force back a Celestial-Human Realm expert."

The old man then said, "What you need to do today is buy a sharp dagger and carry it here with you tomorrow."

Bring a dagger here? Ding Songyan's mind instantly tightened.

Bringing one would not be difficult. Zhen Estate had never searched him. The question was, what did Yan Changqing want him to bring a dagger for?

"Senior, are we acting tomorrow?" Ding Songyan asked in a low voice.

Yan Changqing chuckled.

"The way of schemes is both real and unreal. This old man cannot give you a definite answer. When the timing is right, the unreal may become real; when the timing is wrong, the real may turn unreal."

"Are you secretly criticizing this old man, saying that this leaves you unable to prepare? Just prepare as though you will be helping this old man escape tomorrow."

"Yes, Senior." That was exactly what Ding Songyan had been thinking.

Perhaps only one day remained before everything erupted...

After telling of Xu Shilin and Xu Xian meeting without recognizing one another, Ding Songyan ended today's storytelling and left Zhen Estate as usual.

Outside Dangkang Temple, he listened to some martial-world anecdotes for a while, then spent three mace of silver and another seventy copper coins to buy a sheathed dagger forged from refined steel.

By evening, he returned to Chengyu Lane and first knocked on the courtyard gate of Xu Chang'an's home.

"Any news?" Ding Songyan asked, as if merely making casual conversation.

Xu Chang'an shook his head.

"Other than practicing martial arts, no one has said anything else."

Had the Small Boat Gang simply given up on Dingjiang Prefecture? They did not want revenge, nor did they want to vent their anger? In the future, all the martial artists in Ning Prefecture would know that when they got angry, they merely got angry... Ding Songyan grumbled inwardly in disappointment.

He could only quietly cheer on the Small Boat Gang, hoping they simply did not want to fall for his tricks again and were secretly preparing to deal with Zhen Estate. After all, disputes between two gangs had been reported to the authorities. They could fight openly and legitimately.

Upon entering his home, the first person Ding Songyan noticed was Ding Daniu, refreshed and rejuvenated, yet pretending to be silent.

Ding Daniu grinned, giving his younger brother a fierce but deeply grateful smile. The moment Liu Yuzao looked over, he immediately lowered his head again, putting on the appearance of an obedient, well-behaved child.

Before sleeping, Ding Songyan helped his elder brother move the wooden chest and lay out the bedding.

"How much did you spend?" he asked casually.

Ding Daniu furtively glanced toward the eastern wing and answered in a low voice.

"One tael and five mace."

"That expensive?" Ding Songyan was rather surprised.

Though he had never visited the brothels of this world, he understood the purchasing power of silver. At that price, he could probably find someone proficient in several of the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, someone who could provide emotional comfort. Yet Ding Daniu did not look like the sort to care about such things. It would already be a blessing if he did not treat a peony like fodder; why would anyone play the lute to a cow?

Ding Daniu grinned.

"I found seven. One couldn't handle me."

"..." Ding Songyan's eyes went wide as he looked his elder brother up and down.

Was he even human?

Ding Daniu wore a savoring expression, and even the ferocity around him seemed to have faded considerably.

He really was happy... Only his younger brother couldn't be happy. By this time tomorrow, he did not even know whether he would still be alive... Ding Songyan stood and prepared to fasten the door bolt.

Suddenly, his gaze swept over Ding Daniu, and he saw a black-scaled serpent tail hanging from his elder brother's trouser cuff, glinting with cold light before swiftly retracting.

Ding Songyan's expression instantly froze. He turned stiffly but normally, then secured the door bolt.

When he turned back around, he had quietly transferred the hazy "seed" in his Sea of Consciousness to his eyes.

The world abruptly became clear. In Ding Songyan's sight, Ding Daniu had horse-like hooves for feet, sparse mane-like hair on his body, and a black-scaled serpent tail of middling length trailing from his tailbone.