Ding Daniu, Refreshed and Invigorated

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

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

Xu Chang'an's heart trembled, and he forced out a smile.

"Brother Ding, tell me."

Ding Songyan smiled.

"Aren't you still deciding which martial arts school to join? Go to Stone Pool Martial Arts School today and find out a little more."

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

Wasn't that what he had been doing lately anyway? The only problem was that this particular martial hall was called Stone Pool.

"I told you it was a small favor." Ding Songyan smiled faintly. "If anyone asks you to pass on a message, remember it and tell me tonight. Too many people are watching me. It's inconvenient for me to go there."

It was inconvenient for others to approach him, too.

"All right." Xu Chang'an quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon arriving at Dangkang Temple, Ding Songyan immediately spotted Miss Xiaoqing in her plain top and green skirt.

He froze.

He remembered what he had forgotten last night. He had apparently intended to visit Miss Xiaoqing's Second Uncle to hint at certain problems, only to forget halfway there, shortly before encountering Ren Youyang.

Even now, he could not remember what he had asked Miss Xiaoqing to tell her Second Uncle, or what his clearly laid-out plan had been.

Did Yan Changqing's "old friend" make a move?

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

Then he's better than Yan Changqing at influencing thoughts. Before, my memories gradually returned once I left the relevant setting. This time, I only had a vague inkling. An entire night passed, and I went through several different settings, yet only upon seeing Miss Xiaoqing did some of my memories come surging back...

That makes sense. Yan Changqing is locked in the Zhen Estate's dungeon. He can only influence thoughts through a planted "seed." It's perfectly normal that he can't manage something like this.

But this also suggests that this technique can't erase the corresponding memories. It can only suppress and conceal them...

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

The girl smiled sweetly and waved at him.

Ding Songyan gathered his thoughts and began his usual street storytelling, taking the tale up to Xu Shilin's first failed attempt to rescue Lady White.

One more session, covering the second and third rescue attempts, would bring Legend of the White Snake to its ending, with the whole family reunited.

As Ding Songyan gathered the silver and copper coins in his Bamboo Basket, Xiaoqing approached and whispered to him:

"Someone ambushed me on my way back to Tianyang Guildhall last night."

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

Someone with Miss Xiaoqing's background and status could be attacked, too?

"Do I look hurt?" Xiaoqing said with a smile. "We only exchanged a few moves before I forced him to retreat. Even the people atop the Watchtower didn't have time to notice anything."

Ding Songyan studied Miss Xiaoqing's expression, wanting to probe further, only to forget what he meant to say.

In the end, all he could say was:

"I feel like something's not quite right."

"Really?" Xiaoqing pondered this in confusion but could make nothing of it.

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

"Miss Xiaoqing, I happened to acquire this item. Could you see what it might be useful for?"

The copper coin was still covered in green rust, strangely dull and lifeless, and cold to the touch.

"A Yin-Yang Coin." Xiaoqing glanced at it. "If you know the corresponding technique, you can use it to summon gods and command ghosts. If you have enough of them and encounter evil ghosts in the Netherworld Grounds, you can pay them as passage money and avoid being attacked."

"You'd best keep it against your skin and suppress it with the vitality of your blood and your yang energy. Otherwise, it'll attract unclean things to your home. Most of them can't hurt people, but they might bring bad luck upon your household."

Before Ding Songyan could thank her, the girl glanced around and said:

"I can't help you watch for your followers today, but I'll come find you again tonight. Legend of the White Snake is almost at its final session, right? I have to hear it early!"

That's just as well. I already have four groups watching me... Ding Songyan thanked Miss Xiaoqing, ate a huge bowl of Braised Rice nearby, and headed to the Dock.

While looking around for Ding Daniu, he spotted an old man outside a Cargo Depot. With white hair and beard, an austere, old-fashioned face, a tall frame, and broad shoulders, the man was almost imposing. Surrounded by several attendants, he held an account book and a writing brush as he checked the goods, occasionally making notes.

He wore a straight-cut robe of fine kudzu cloth and a Huayang Headscarf, and strode with the bearing of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.

Ding Songyan found him vaguely familiar, then remembered that he was one of the men he had seen playing a board game on the deck of a tower ship during his previous visit to the Dock. The other had worn a Black Gauze Veil Hat.

Noticing Ding Songyan's gaze, the old man turned his head and glanced over.

Ding Songyan hurriedly cupped his hands to show that he had not meant to pry.

The old man took no offense. He smiled kindly and resumed checking the goods.

Ding Songyan went around the Cargo Depot and soon found the conspicuous Ding Daniu.

With his younger brother's request for help as an excuse, Ding Daniu confidently sought out the foreman and asked for leave.

"You're the best, little brother!" he thanked Ding Songyan, his face eager.

Ding Songyan waved a hand.

"Go on, Big Brother."

After a moment's thought, he added a pointed warning:

"Take it easy."

Don't let your ferocity run wild.

Ding Daniu thumped his chest and promised:

"I know! It's not my first time!"

As expected... And afterward, all your money had to be handed over to Mother? Ding Songyan watched Ding Daniu race toward Beili Ward, his feet flying.

Only then did he head to the Zhen Estate. With the Black Cloth over his eyes, he was led through countless turns before reaching Yan Changqing's location.

Almost simultaneously, a cool sensation sank into his Sea of Consciousness and took the shape of the figure in the Blue Lan Shirt.

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

Ding Songyan had already prepared his answer.

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

"Last night, I went out for a walk on the pretext of cooling off, but forgot what I intended to do. Even now, I haven't fully remembered."

He wanted to draw on this old hand's experience to judge exactly what realm Yan Changqing's supposed "old friend" had reached.

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

"I already know. You needn't worry. If a Great Grandmaster of the Celestial-Human Realm, or even a Perfected Person of the Spirit Platform Realm, had come, things would hardly still look like this. The Zhen Estate's bluff would certainly have been exposed. How could power borrowed from external sources respond as readily as one's own arm and fingers? The True Spirit Sect won't let Zhen Qianfan order them around and do whatever he says."

That's good... I hope your judgment is accurate... Ding Songyan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

On the surface, the strongest official force in Dingjiang Prefecture was the master of the Xiaoming Sect, a prominent figure within the Law Realm. If a Great Grandmaster or Perfected Person truly waded into these muddy waters, Ding Songyan had no idea whether the authorities could resolve the matter without much trouble.

Seemingly sensing his concern, Yan Changqing said calmly:

"Don't underestimate the Xiaoming Sect. With two Martial Grandmasters serving as the formation's anchors, supported by outstanding practitioners of the dayan realm, their Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation is enough to force back someone in the celestial-human realm."

The old man then changed the subject.

"What you must do today is buy a sharp dagger and bring it here with you tomorrow."

Bring a dagger? Ding Songyan instantly tensed.

Bringing it was not difficult. The Zhen Estate had never searched him. The question was, what would he be bringing a dagger for?

"Senior, are we acting tomorrow?" Ding Songyan asked gravely.

Yan Changqing chuckled.

"The art of strategy mingles feints with reality. Even I cannot give you a definite answer. When the timing is right, a feint can become real; when the timing is wrong, reality can become a feint."

"Are you inwardly grumbling that this leaves you unable to prepare? Simply prepare as though you were helping me escape tomorrow."

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

Perhaps there's only one day left before everything erupts...

After reaching the part where Xu Shilin and Xu Xian crossed paths without seeing each other, Ding Songyan ended that day's storytelling and left the Zhen Estate as usual.

Outside Dangkang Temple, he listened to tales of the martial world for a while, then spent three qian of silver and seventy copper coins on a Sheathed Dagger forged from refined steel.

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

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

Xu Chang'an shook his head.

"Nobody talked about anything except training."

Has the Small Boat Gang simply given up on Dingjiang Prefecture? They don't want revenge or even to vent their anger? From now on, everyone in Ning Prefecture's martial world will know that when you get angry, all you do is get angry... Ding Songyan grumbled inwardly, somewhat disappointed.

He could only silently cheer the Small Boat Gang on, hoping they merely refused to fall for his bait again and were secretly preparing to move against the Zhen Estate. After all, the dispute between the two gangs had been registered with the Government Office, so they could legitimately fight to the death.

Upon entering his home, the first thing Ding Songyan noticed was Ding Daniu, refreshed and invigorated, yet pretending to be quiet.

Ding Daniu grinned at his younger brother, his smile fierce but full of gratitude. When Liu Yuzao looked over, he immediately lowered his head again, looking meek and obedient.

Before bed, Ding Songyan helped his older brother move the wooden chests and lay out his bedding.

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

Ding Daniu sneaked a glance at the East Wing Room and answered quietly:

"One tael and five qian."

"That much?" Ding Songyan was rather surprised.

Although he had never visited this world's brothels, he knew the purchasing power of silver. That price could probably buy the company of someone skilled in several of the arts-music, chess, calligraphy, and painting-who could also offer emotional comfort. Yet however he looked at Ding Daniu, his brother hardly seemed to care about such things. It would be good enough if this ox didn't chew up the peonies. Why play the lute to an ox as well?

Ding Daniu grinned.

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

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

Is he even human?

A reminiscent expression appeared on Ding Daniu's face, and even the ferocity surrounding him seemed to have faded considerably.

You're certainly happy... But your little brother can't find anything to be happy about. I don't even know whether I'll still be alive at this time tomorrow... Ding Songyan stood up, ready to lower the door bar.

Suddenly, his sweeping gaze caught a Black-Scaled Serpent Tail dangling from his older brother's trouser cuff, gleaming coldly before swiftly withdrawing.

Ding Songyan's expression froze. Stiffly, but without behaving out of the ordinary, he turned and secured the door bar.

By the time he turned back, he had quietly moved the hazy, clear "seed" from his Sea of Consciousness into his eyes.

The world abruptly became clear. In his sight, Ding Daniu's feet resembled horse hooves, sparse bristles covered his body, and a Black-Scaled Serpent Tail of middling length extended from his tailbone.