Zheng Zhuxi? The Zheng Zhuxi of the Xiaoming Sect whom Brother Youyang mentioned? Ding Songyan suddenly felt that, after searching high and low, he had finally found the person he sought.
He had long wanted to make direct contact with someone from the Xiaoming Sect, but had never managed it, exchanging only a few occasional words. Looking back now, his thoughts had probably been influenced by Yan Changqing's "old friend," making him "of his own accord" find all sorts of excuses to delay. Once Yan Changqing gave him the "seed," he barely even thought about it anymore.
After all those twists and turns, Zheng Zhuxi, whom Ren Youyang had called trustworthy, had actually approached him herself today.
After observing the girl's expression and bearing and recalling her tone and choice of words, Ding Songyan formed a rough judgment:
A very proud person.
That matched perfectly with the descriptions and rumors of her mother being the Xiaoming Sect's leader, her father a high-ranking Imperial Court official, and her own outstanding talent... As these thoughts flashed through Ding Songyan's mind, he cupped his hands in a deeply respectful salute to Zheng Zhuxi.
"Greetings, Heroine Zheng."
For now, he only hoped she was as Ren Youyang had described: public-spirited and righteous, particularly willing to help those without status or standing.
Zheng Zhuxi nodded lightly and asked solemnly:
"I've read your case file. Do you truly not remember what treasure you traded with Chen Yuliang?"
At these words, countless thoughts surged through Ding Songyan's mind, colliding in spark after spark.
He seized upon one, put on an expression of distress and fear, and finally spoke with hesitation:
"With Heroine Zheng before me, I wouldn't dare conceal anything. I have forgotten, but Wang Yishu mentioned at the time that it was the 'Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas.'"
With someone so proud, he had to let her discover that she could easily accomplish what others failed to do, easily elicit truths that others could not. Only then would she form a favorable impression of the person she was questioning.
Besides, Ding Songyan was taking a gamble:
In handling the aftermath of Chen Yuliang's affair, the Zhen Estate was the most likely to have obtained that Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas!
That way, the Government Office, represented by those bearing the Yi surname, and the Xiaoming Sect would inevitably make the Zhen Estate a major focus of their attention. With them watching, whatever might happen tomorrow would gain a favorable variable.
Although this would also cast suspicion on Ding Songyan himself, that was nothing compared with his other troubles. Of two evils, choose the lesser!
He was now walking a mountain ridge with cliffs on both sides. He could no longer afford to worry about everything.
Zheng Zhuxi listened quietly. A smile gradually appeared on her face, her two shallow dimples almost bright enough to rival the moon overhead.
"The 'Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas'... Why didn't you mention it earlier?"
"I heard that the major sects forbid others from secretly keeping or coming into contact with the 'Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas.' I feared I would be thrown into prison if I spoke of it," Ding Songyan answered truthfully. "But your reputation precedes you, Heroine Zheng. You have the greatest compassion for the poor and weak and would never implicate the innocent. I'm willing to trust you."
The corners of Zheng Zhuxi's mouth lifted slightly, and she nodded with a smile in her eyes.
"The Zhen Estate must have warned you not to tell anyone, too. Why speak of it anyway?"
"I fear the Zhen Estate intends to harm me." Having found a matter that neither Qingmengmeng's "seed" nor Yan Changqing's "old friend" would restrict, Ding Songyan answered without the slightest stammer. "Brother Youyang told me that the Zhen Estate has been sending an attendant to follow me."
Zheng Zhuxi murmured an acknowledgment and glanced at the exquisitely crafted Glass Palace Lantern in her hand.
"You're acquainted with Ren Youyang of the True Spirit Sect?"
"We're on friendly terms." Ding Songyan did not exaggerate.
Zheng Zhuxi's shining eyes shifted slightly.
"Then why have you still been visiting the Zhen Estate every day lately?"
Ding Songyan said tentatively:
"The Zhen Estate won't let me tell anyone."
Oh, I can say that!
On the surface, there was nothing wrong with this statement. But set against Ding Songyan's earlier willingness to tell Zheng Zhuxi about the Zhen Estate's involvement with the "Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas," the contrast immediately revealed something strange, something worth pondering:
Both matters involved the Zhen Estate, so why could he tell others about one but not the other? What was the difference? What restrictions were there?
And being able to say this also confirmed a feeling Ding Songyan had.
Ever since Zheng Zhuxi appeared carrying that lantern and its light fell upon his face, he had felt that Qingmengmeng's "seed" in his sea of consciousness was less active, as though suppressed by something that countered it. If Zheng Zhuxi's realm had not been too low and her cultivation still shallow, he might even have temporarily escaped the restrictions imposed by Yan Changqing and his "old friend."
So that's it. Many peripheral restrictions have loosened... Is this one manifestation of the "penetrating the hidden depths" trait described for the two goddesses, Xiaoming and Zhuhuo? At this thought, Ding Songyan wished he could immediately visit Zheng Zhuxi's mother, the Xiaoming Sect's leader, an expert who ranked among the notable figures of the law realm, and ask her to give him a thorough illumination with Candlelight.
Zheng Zhuxi pressed her lips together, evidently having noticed something amiss as well.
Thoughtfully, she changed her question:
"Do you know that, besides the Zhen Estate's attendant, people from the Moth God Sect who secretly controlled Chen Yuliang are also following you?"
"I know." Ding Songyan was quite frank.
"Ren Youyang told you?" Zheng Zhuxi was not surprised.
Ding Songyan considered his words before answering:
"Brother Youyang did discover another group following me, but I was the one who told him about the Moth God Sect."
"You? No wonder he suddenly went to the County Yamen to request information on the Moth God Sect." Zheng Zhuxi looked at Ding Songyan in puzzlement. "How did you find out?"
Ding Songyan closed his mouth and merely smiled without speaking.
He had again forgotten what he should say.
Matters at the core were still restricted.
Zheng Zhuxi raised an eyebrow. Recalling the contradictions in his earlier words, she lowered her eyelids slightly, contemplating something unknown.
After only a few breaths, she smiled again, revealing her dimples.
At that moment, Ding Songyan felt as though he were watching the rising sun shed its own radiance.
"Do you trust me?" Zheng Zhuxi asked with a smile.
"I'm willing to trust you, Heroine Zheng," Ding Songyan replied without hesitation.
By now, he would have begged even a dog by the roadside for help, grasped even a straw floating on the river, let alone her.
Zheng Zhuxi nodded in satisfaction, handed the Glass Palace Lantern to a fellow disciple, then drew her sword from its Gold-and-Red Scabbard with a swish.
The sword resembled a pool of autumn water, which swiftly took on a dim yellow candle glow.
Zheng Zhuxi said with a faint smile:
"If you trust me, open your body and mind. I'll lend you a strand of sword intent.
"This sword intent will linger in your Shanzhong Acupoint, also known as the Middle Dantian Vermilion Palace, and can last for three days.
"During those three days, if someone uses a 'moth species,' Witchcraft and gu arts, or some other method to make you do something against your will, you can use this sword intent to penetrate your marrow sea and block it once."
When she mentioned some other method, the smile in Zheng Zhuxi's eyes deepened.
"Heroine Zheng, I cannot thank you enough!" Ding Songyan could not have wished for anything better.
This was exactly what he wanted.
His only worry was whether Zheng Zhuxi's sword intent could truly block one forcible influence from Yan Changqing or his "old friend."
According to the rumors Ding Songyan had heard over the past few days, Heroine Zheng was only twenty years old and had begun "opening orifices" barely more than half a year ago. The "exalted orchid roll" rated her a "Strange Being," meaning sixth rank-not even as high as Chen Yuliang.
If it had been her mother, Tao Wenshu, a first-rank Martial Grandmaster, Ding Songyan would certainly have been very confident.
As it was, Ding Songyan could only pray that the Xiaoming Sect's cultivation methods countered the divine art of Yan Changqing and his "old friend," producing extraordinary effects in that particular regard.
He did not ask that the sword intent truly block one forcible influence. It would be enough if it let him come to his senses in time and put up an inward struggle.
"To guard the borders and pacify the people is the Xiaoming Sect's duty." Zheng Zhuxi thrust her longsword, suffused with dim yellow candlelight, toward Ding Songyan's chest.
Ding Songyan neither dodged nor resisted. Following Zheng Zhuxi's instructions, he opened his body and mind completely.
The longsword struck his clothing and touched his skin.
The warm, yellowish light on the blade flashed once and vanished into Ding Songyan's chest, entering his Shanzhong Acupoint.
It swiftly transformed into a candle shaped like a short sword, its dim yellow flame flickering. It barely illuminated the Vermilion Palace, which already embodied heart-fire and gathered various forms of qi, driving the hidden darkness back toward its outer edges.
With a chime, Zheng Zhuxi sheathed her sword and nodded slightly to Ding Songyan.
"You truly have no martial arts cultivation.
"I've finished asking what I needed to ask. Is there anything else you'd like to say?"
Ding Songyan considered what he could and could not say, and which of the things he could say would reveal the most and draw the Xiaoming Sect's attention.
Soon, he chose to bear the risk and asked with obvious curiosity:
"Heroine Zheng, where do you think a nearly complete 'Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas' might come from?"
Oh, I can ask that question too... Have Zheng Zhuxi's cultivation methods weakened the restrictions this much, or did one of the two influencing my thoughts want this revealed in the first place? Ding Songyan was initially puzzled, but soon found an answer:
Right, Wang Yishu and Chen Yuliang were the ones who "told" me that the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas was genuine and complete! And they were jointly controlled by "Moth Father" Ding Shengyi and Yan Changqing's "old friend." If they didn't want me to have a chance to ask this question later, there was no need to mention it at all!
"Nearly complete?" Zheng Zhuxi's expression changed slightly.
Then she said thoughtfully:
"Either a powerful organization hidden in the shadows has insiders of considerable standing in all the major sects, and finally produced such a book by repeatedly comparing and piecing together each sect's 'Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas';
"Or someone found Kunlun Mountain, which disappeared long ago, and entered the Celestial Emperor's Palace."
Found Kunlun Mountain, which disappeared long ago, and entered the Celestial Emperor's Palace... Ding Songyan's gaze instantly froze, as though a bolt of lightning had struck his mind.
He still remembered Yan Changqing saying that he had betrayed his sect to seize a treasure and suffered grievous injuries, leaving him in his present state.
Doesn't that fit perfectly?
A treasure that could stir Zhen Qianfan's greed and make him betray his greatest backer was certainly no ordinary thing;
One that could make someone like Yan Changqing, who was at least a Great Grandmaster, betray his sect was rarer still.
The vanished Kunlun Mountain and the palace left behind by the Celestial Emperor could explain it all!
That Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas was probably copied by Yan Changqing himself from the Emperor-Annotated Classic of Mountains and Seas. No wonder he could divine it...
Did he leave that Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas in the Treasure Vault beforehand for someone to dig up, or did it come out of the Zhen Estate? If the latter, why did the Zhen Estate let it out?
As thoughts crowded Ding Songyan's mind, Zheng Zhuxi also fell silent, her expression visibly shifting.
PS: Happy Zongzi Festival, everyone~
Before you continue