Origins

Ding Songyan's emotions churned, and he failed to enter Falsehood-Piercing in time to glimpse Liu Yuzao's true state.

Only after his nominal mother disappeared into the Zhen Estate's covered walkway did Ding Songyan finally settle his thoughts and mock himself silently:

"My instincts were pretty accurate after all...

"Luckily, we've only spent a few days together, and I haven't invested too much affection yet. Otherwise, my Dao heart really would have shattered..."

Recalling everything that had happened and combining it with the details he had already deduced, Ding Songyan quickly gained a clearer understanding of the situation on the "Ding Family" side:

Ding Shengyi was working with Yan Changqing's "old friend," using the extraordinary "Mothman" to stage one drama after another: the Small Boat Gang's repeated provocations, Chen Yuliang's brazen purchase of the "Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas." This showed that Yan Changqing was their target. Whether they wanted to rescue him or coveted the possible secret treasure of the Celestial Emperor and Kunlun's whereabouts remained unknown; perhaps they wanted both.

Before they arrived in Dingjiang Prefecture, their "relative" Qin Nuangsheng had already been married into the Zhen Estate for over two years. It would have been easy for them to learn that members of the Zhen Family often went out to learn storytelling. They might even have known there was an "honored guest" in the estate's dungeon. Thus, Second Brother Ding's identity as a storyteller was almost certainly tailor-made. Ding Shengyi and Yan Changqing's "old friend" hoped that, with Qin Nuangsheng's help, Second Brother Ding could gain access to Yan Changqing through storytelling and lay the groundwork for a later rescue.

If this deduction was correct, Ding Songyan believed Second Brother Ding was an innocent man unlucky enough to be chosen. Before any of this actually happened, anyone would have assumed that a storyteller from outside the Zhen Estate would have to undergo a thorough examination by its experts before entering the dungeon to tell Yan Changqing stories. Old Master Zhen might even inspect him personally. When that happened, even a divine art capable of concealing abnormalities would probably fail to fool Old Master Zhen, a Martial Grandmaster who knew Yan Changqing's techniques quite well.

Based on that judgment, finding a genuine ordinary person and controlling him by planting a Qingmengmeng "seed" or constantly influencing his thoughts would be more discreet and less likely to attract Old Master Zhen's notice.

As for why the Zhen Estate had later been so negligent and failed to examine Ding Songyan closely, that was naturally because they had schemes of their own.

Viewed in this light, the former Second Brother Ding had probably been tragically selected simply because he could tell stories and looked somewhat like Ding Shengyi and Liu Yuzao, becoming a pawn almost certain to die. Mr. Yu had probably lied earlier, too. Yan Changqing likely enjoyed not only romances and legends, but also tales of ancient times and anecdotes from the martial world. Second Brother Ding's historical storytelling would have suited his tastes as well.

After that, the "Ding Family" had spent over half a year in Dingjiang Prefecture, yet Qin Nuangsheng still could not get the Zhen Estate to hire an outside storyteller. They grew impatient and feared that further delays would introduce more uncertainties, so they decided to switch from "cunning infiltration" to "forcible intrusion." This led to the Small Boat Gang's repeated provocations and the "trade" in the "Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas" between Chen Yuliang and Second Brother Ding. Their purpose was to spark a fierce conflict between the Four Waters Gang and the Small Boat Gang, forcing Old Master Zhen to act personally and leave the Zhen Estate.

After being forced into the "trade," Second Brother Ding thought he could escape. Little did he know that his escape was also part of the plan. If he did not flee and die in the Ruined Temple, the conflict could not escalate quickly.

In the end, Ding Songyan's transmigration had kept Second Brother Ding alive, startling Yan Changqing's "old friend," Ding Shengyi, and the others into changing their plans at short notice. They sacrificed Chen Yuliang, temporarily lowering their banners and silencing their drums. Later, when the Zhen Estate invited Ding Songyan to tell Yan Changqing the "Legend of the White Snake," the plan returned to its original course.

"The question now is, everyone else in the 'Ding Family' serves a purpose. What is Ding Qingyan there for?" Standing in the shade of a tree opposite the Zhen Estate, Ding Songyan sank into puzzlement.

While in Falsehood-Piercing, he had detected no abnormalities in Ding Qingyan's appearance. This made him feel that his little sister was either an extremely, extremely powerful expert or possessed some other special quality.

"Does she have something to do with a third method the people behind this prepared, besides 'cunning infiltration' and 'forcible intrusion'?" Deep in thought, Ding Songyan turned his gaze toward the eastern end of North Water Street.

Two carriages approached from that direction, their wheels rumbling over the stone paving. Wind chimes hung from one of them, sending clear, pleasing notes floating through the air.

The carriages stopped outside the Zhen Estate. Two attendants stepped out of the first, followed by a strikingly handsome man who looked to be only in his thirties. He wore a bamboo crown and flowing gray robes with broad sleeves. Every movement carried an air of serene, otherworldly elegance, and there were no visible abnormalities in his appearance.

Xiaoqing stepped out of the second carriage with her maid. Her black hair was tied up with a white kerchief, and she wore lake-blue fighting clothes and white boots embroidered with patterns. Dressed like a young woman of the martial world, she was both radiant and beautiful, spirited and valiant.

She seems to have taken my warning to heart. That outfit is clearly suited to handling sudden trouble and fighting... Ding Songyan hurried out of the shade so that Miss Xiaoqing could see him.

As the Zhen Estate's gates slowly opened, Xiaoqing's beautiful eyes shifted and caught sight of Ding Songyan. She smiled and nodded at him in greeting.

Ding Songyan had achieved his purpose.

Soon, with Zhen Quanwang welcoming them, Xiaoqing followed her Second Uncle through the fully opened gates of the Zhen Estate, rounded the screen wall, and headed deeper inside.

Their carriages moved a little farther along and stopped beside a row of hitching posts.

Before Ding Songyan could retreat into the shade, he heard the clatter of approaching hooves.

Ren Youyang came galloping up on a white horse, leading four guards.

He still wore feathered robes and a tall crown, his dog ears standing upright, but he had brought no beautiful maids.

The five fine horses stopped. Ren Youyang swung down with reasonable agility, and his four guards followed in perfect unison.

Ren Youyang looked around, spotted Ding Songyan, and actually smiled and raised a hand in greeting.

"Brother Ding, you're here too?"

Whoa, Brother Youyang is really giving me face... In normal times, that greeting alone would be enough to get me into any sect below the very top tier and double my standing... Both surprised and grateful, Ding Songyan walked over.

While waiting for the Zhen Estate to welcome him, Ren Youyang smiled and asked Ding Songyan:

"Did you see the people who just went inside?"

"I did." Ding Songyan had no idea what he meant.

Ren Youyang turned toward him in puzzlement.

"And you weren't utterly spellbound, with such beauty right before your eyes?"

She's right before my eyes every morning and evening... And this outfit and bearing aren't even Miss Xiaoqing at her most beautiful... Or perhaps you admire her Second Uncle more, Brother Youyang? Ding Songyan gathered his words and said:

"She is certainly a peerless beauty, but Miss Xiaoqing comes to hear my stories every day. This wasn't our first meeting."

By then, another of the Zhen Family's legitimate sons had brought people to the gate to welcome Ren Youyang. Seeing him chatting so happily with Ding Songyan, however, he did not dare interrupt.

Hearing Ding Songyan's reply, Ren Youyang was at once astonished and enlightened.

"So the generous patron in the street rumors, the one as beautiful as a heavenly immortal, was her! How did I not think of that?"

He looked thoroughly vexed, as though he had begun to question his own intelligence.

To keep Ding Songyan from noticing, he twitched his dog ears and volunteered:

"I only learned today that the other party is the Gan Kingdom's Celestial Maiden Sect."

"The Celestial Maiden Sect?" Ding Songyan was bewildered.

Wasn't Miss Xiaoqing a snake demon?

"You didn't know?" Ren Youyang laughed. "That Miss Xiaoqing is Su Qingli, the younger sister of the 'Dust-Free Young Master,' Su Yunzhang. She came to Dingjiang Prefecture with their Second Uncle, Su Chongxiao. Hiss-you didn't tell Su Qingli what I said about Su Yunzhang, did you? Ah, I'm overthinking it. You couldn't possibly have met in private."

So Miss Xiaoqing's full name is Su Qingli... But isn't she a snake demon? Ding Songyan remained confused.

How did a perfectly good snake demon end up joining the Celestial Maiden Sect? And she's the younger sister of this "Dust-Free Young Master," Su Yunzhang? Have I poked a whole nest of snake demons?

"My lips have remained sealed, of course." Ding Songyan had no intention of telling Ren Youyang that Su Qingli might be a snake demon. Choosing his words carefully, he said, "Miss Xiaoqing has urged me in private to write a storybook, and she even transformed to frighten me. But I remembered my promise and didn't tell her what you said, Brother Youyang."

Ren Youyang burst out laughing.

"Of course she transformed to frighten you! That's the rotten streak in the Su Family and the Celestial Maiden Sect!

"The Celestial Maiden Sect primarily cultivates the 'Celestial Fox Scripture.' Its foundational divine art is the 'Myriad Transformations All-Beguiling Demonic Art.' Those 'myriad transformations' are no empty boast."

"Myriad Transformations All-Beguiling Demonic Art"... Myriad transformations... So Miss Xiaoqing played me for a fool? She isn't a snake demon at all! The prettier a girl is, the better she lies, is that it? First Qingyan, now Miss Xiaoqing... The Celestial Maiden Sect's legacy clearly comes from the Nine-Tailed Fox. Is she making sport of all living beings? For a moment, Ding Songyan did not know whether to laugh or cry, though he was not particularly angry.

Deception over such a small matter did no real harm. Her not being a snake demon actually relieved him. After all, he was afraid of snakes.

Ren Youyang suddenly looked a little puzzled.

"Su Qingli is only sixteen and has only recently come of age. She hasn't finished either body tempering or qi training. She only came to Dingjiang Prefecture to broaden her horizons. How could she have the power to transform?"

He offered an explanation himself.

"Was an elder following her in secret, creating a Grand Void Illusion or lending her power?"

Listening to Ren Youyang mutter to himself, Ding Songyan gradually began to feel that something was wrong.

Judging by Miss Xiaoqing's reaction to the "Legend of the White Snake" and the attitude toward demons in her words, is she really not a demon?

When I used Yan Changqing's qi to enter Falsehood-Piercing outside Dangkang Temple, I seem to have seen several fluffy white tails. Were those hers, or was her Second Uncle protecting her in secret?

Worried that it might affect Miss Xiaoqing, Ding Songyan did not pursue the matter. Instead, he asked:

"Are the 'Twelve Paths of Grand Void' another divine art in the 'Celestial Fox Scripture'?"

"The 'Myriad Transformations All-Beguiling Demonic Art' is the foundation; the 'Twelve Paths of Grand Void' are its application," Ren Youyang explained quietly.

Then he smiled and teased Ding Songyan.

"If you could marry Su Qingli, who knows how many outstanding young men of the martial world would turn green with envy? The Su Family has profound foundations and over two thousand years of history. Every generation has produced Great Grandmasters of the celestial-human realm, and occasionally even Perfected Persons of the spirit platform realm. Besides, Su Qingli's aunt, Su Liudan, was once the greatest beauty in the martial world. Once Su Qingli fully blossoms, with a little more effort, she might well become just such a legend."

"What virtue or ability could make me worthy of that?" Ding Songyan laughed.

Ren Youyang chuckled.

"Actually, the Su Family is rather strange. In every generation, they either cultivate alone or prefer to find ordinary mortals or nobodies from the martial world. You're just right."

Before Ding Songyan could reply, he pointed toward the Zhen Estate's welcoming party at the gates.

"I'll go inside first, brother. I shouldn't keep them waiting."

"Please, Brother Youyang." Ding Songyan cupped his hands in farewell.

Looking at the Zhen Estate's open gates and the grand, deferential welcoming party, Ren Youyang suddenly grew reflective.

"Brother, whenever I see a scene like this, I always think of a line from an opera:

"'Once the gongs and drums sound, everyone takes the stage in powder and paint.'"

With that, he led his four guards toward the Zhen Estate's gates, one step at a time.