Chirp, chirp, chirp...
The chirping of insects on the summer night echoed outside the window.
The kitchen fire was burning brightly, steam rose from the iron wok, and a large black carp, half of it already cut up, lay on the chopping board.
Ye Xingge squatted in the kitchen doorway, watching the huge fat cat gobble down its food. His nerves were taut as he listened intently.
Why haven't they started pulling each other's hair yet...
Could Mantanghong have slipped away already...
Or has Luo Xuanqing not discovered her...
Their rooms are directly opposite each other, and Mantanghong has lost all her power and has nowhere to run. It's only a matter of time before she's discovered...
A gentleman doesn't stand beneath a crumbling wall. Maybe running away is the best plan?
Twenty years ago, the emperor of Zhou fled south, and the realm split into three, locked in a stalemate. As long as I flee to Later Zhou or Western Shu, whatever happens here won't concern me...
No, I can't. I'm not alone in the world. My parents and second uncle are still here. The monk can run, but the temple can't...
Besides, I still haven't figured out why I'll die in three days...
Creak~
As his thoughts tangled into knots, the inn's rear window suddenly opened.
Ye Xingge turned to look and saw Mantanghong's face appear at a second-floor window.
"Waiter, cook me a bowl of noodles and bring it up."
Her voice had changed from before, sounding like that of a gentle young married woman.
"Meow?"
The big black cat looked up from its meal, then lowered its head and continued eating fish.
Seeing this, Ye Xingge thought the woman was truly bold.
But the black cat hadn't recognized her, and the wanted portrait didn't show her face either. That meant the court had never seen Mantanghong's true appearance, and the same probably went for Luo Xuanqing.
So as long as she disguised her voice and didn't come face to face with Luo Xuanqing, she could probably stay hidden a little longer...
Even if she couldn't stay hidden, he still had to find out why his life was supposedly about to end...
With that thought, Ye Xingge wasted no time. He told the black cat to keep eating, quickly cooked a bowl of noodles with scallions and egg, and took the little staircase by the back door up to the inn's second floor.
The Embroidered Robe Officers had all gone out to search for the bandits. The inn was pitch-dark and so quiet a falling needle could be heard.
Ye Xingge carried the tray upstairs and first glanced at Luo Xuanqing's room. Seeing no sign of movement, he went to the door opposite with an unchanged expression.
"Honored guest, the late-night meal you ordered is ready. Shall I bring it in, or...?"
"Bring it in."
Creak~
Ye Xingge pushed the door open with his shoulder. Mantanghong was still as she had been before, leaning back sideways in her chair with her legs crossed, a trace of disdain in her eyes.
Now that he had confirmed this woman really was the head of the Mountains and Rivers Association, Ye Xingge couldn't help looking a little more solemn. He also felt a little guilty about having smacked her backside. He walked up to her, set down the noodles, and pretended to tidy the table while giving her a questioning look.
Mantanghong had lost all her power and was trapped in the room, but there was no panic in her expression. Instead, a faint arrogance showed between her brows.
"My internal force is gone, but my hearing isn't. Luo Xuanqing was struck by my Heavenly Silk Meridian Lock at Shangjin Ferry earlier. Less than a tenth of her internal force remains, and she's meditating to recover. She won't hear you if you speak quietly."
Is that so...
Seeing that the two formidable ladies had "left each other grievously wounded," Ye Xingge breathed a little easier and took the red jade pendant from his robes.
"Heroine Hong, I offended you earlier. Things aren't looking good now, so why don't you find a chance to slip away first? We can discuss the rest later..."
Hongyu took back the jade pendant and shook her head at once.
"My power hasn't recovered. It's safer here with you."
"How is it safe here with me?"
Ye Xingge looked at her incredulously and pursed his lips toward the door.
"The Flower Judge is right across the hall. Are you sure this isn't walking straight into a trap?"
Hongyu gestured toward the window. "That little hussy is staying across the hall, so the Embroidered Robe Officers can't search the inn. They're digging three feet into the ground everywhere else. Where else am I supposed to hide?"
Little hussy?
To be honest, Ye Xingge hadn't gotten that impression, but this was clearly no time to discuss it. After a moment's thought, he went straight to the point.
"Heroine Hong, you said I'd die in three days. What exactly is going on?"
Hongyu gestured at the little leather whip on the table, looking at him as though he were a foolish boy who didn't recognize a treasure.
"This is a true divine weapon! The Twelve Divine Weapons choose their masters and serve them. My master was incompatible with this weapon and only made do with it in the past. But the day before yesterday, it suddenly sensed something and discovered that its true master was in Yongzhou Prefecture. Only then did my master send me to the capital to find him..."
On and on she went...
Ye Xingge had heard the name of the Twelve Divine Weapons ring like thunder in his ears, but he didn't know the details. He listened carefully and gained a rough understanding.
The Twelve Divine Weapons were created by heaven and corresponded to the Three Corpses, the Three Poisons, and the Five Constants.
Though they lacked sentience, they could sense a person's nature, and not just anyone could wield them.
The Mountains and Rivers Association's Filth-Severing Whip corresponded to the Lower Corpse, which governed the body's lust and instincts for life and death.
Thus, the master it chose had to resonate with the Lower Corpse. To put it simply:
Either a sage who had severed all lust and cast aside the instincts for life and death,
or a lecher utterly obsessed with carnal desires and possessed of a powerful will to live!
Cloud and Rain Tower and Mantanghong were incompatible with the weapon because neither was a sage without feelings or desires, nor a lustful woman obsessed with men.
As for why the Filth-Severing Whip had chosen him directly-even falling in love at first sight, chasing its husband a thousand miles, and refusing to marry anyone else-the reason was naturally...
"Uh... This divine weapon really knows how to judge people. I truly don't care for carnal pleasures!"
A complicated look entered Ye Xingge's eyes.
"But if the divine weapon recognized me as its master, the Mountains and Rivers Association recruiting me because of it is barely plausible. Why would I die because of it?"
"Hmph~"
Hongyu made no comment on his previous remark and merely gestured toward the window.
"The Heaven-Observing Pavilion can monitor the movements of famous weapons throughout the realm and roughly gauge the power of their wielders.
"This whip used to be in my master's hands, but now it has been passed to you. In three days at most, the divine weapon will be fully bound to your bloodline.
"The difference between your power and my master's is too great. The Heaven-Observing Pavilion will very likely discover that the divine weapon has changed hands. When that happens, they won't even need to investigate thoroughly.
"I disappeared in Qingxi with the whip. All they need to do is ask around Qingxi County, and they'll identify you, the handsome young man famous for miles around. What do you think will happen then?"
"..."
To possess a divine weapon was to be "guilty of carrying a jade treasure."
If outsiders learned that he had been chosen by a divine weapon and his name and address were fully exposed, then, given the appeal of the Twelve Divine Weapons, the righteous and the wicked alike would come after him. Even the Embroidered Robe Officers outside might kill him to seize the treasure.
Moreover, Cloud and Rain Tower of the Mountains and Rivers Association supported the common people in resisting tyranny. If she passed a divine weapon to him, then, unless he had the yellow robe draped over his shoulders and killed a few emperors for fun, he would be letting down the general's kindness...
So holding this thing meant ten deaths and no chance of survival!
Realizing the situation was bad, Ye Xingge frowned at once.
"Can I refuse this divine weapon?"
Hongyu looked somewhat helpless.
"It's not as if you've never read a book. A divine weapon is both a fated bond and a tribulation. Since it has recognized you as its master, it can only mean you're fated to face this tribulation. You can't escape it."
Ye Xingge had heard and seen enough in the past that he had heard this before.
Divine weapons judged the heart. Only by sincerely not needing or caring about one could a person willingly put it down.
If, deep down, its master couldn't bear to let go, then the divine weapon would remain utterly faithful. Unless its master died and the Dao vanished, no one could take it away.
And not wanting a divine weapon because one feared death didn't count.
The more circumstances forced its master into a corner, the more the divine weapon would believe its master needed it and want to lend its strength to help overcome the tribulation.
As for where the tribulation came from, the divine weapon didn't care...
"Uh..."
Ye Xingge felt this was getting troublesome. He picked up the leather whip and closed his eyes, trying to resonate with it and see whether the divine weapon had truly chosen him.
His body clearly responded. It was as though he had gained another tentacle, connected to his thoughts. He gathered his Qi and gave a slight thought, and the little whip revealed a dark golden sheen. It was no ordinary object...
Fuck...
Ye Xingge was certain it had recognized him as its master, and he couldn't give it up now. He spread his hands.
"So I'm as good as dead?"
Hongyu shook her head, adopting the air of an expert who had everything under control.
"Not necessarily. There are secret treasures in the jianghu that can conceal the workings of heaven. They can hide a divine weapon from the Heaven-Observing Pavilion."
Ye Xingge breathed a quiet sigh of relief and sat down before her, studying Mantanghong's curvaceous figure.
"Do you have such a treasure, Heroine Hong?"
Hongyu nodded slightly, her eyes full of pride.
"I came to pass the divine weapon to you, so naturally I made plans beforehand. There was just a slight hitch. I don't have the item on me, and I can't leave the city at present, so you'll have to fetch it yourself."
Ye Xingge looked toward the window.
"That's good, then. Where is it? Is it far?"
"Yang Tuyan has it."
"Yang...?"
Ye Xingge was about to ask which hall master of the Mountains and Rivers Association that was, but his expression froze. He turned to confirm.
"You mean that notorious desert bandit who tried to assassinate the emperor and is wanted throughout the realm?"
"Yes."
"I have to borrow something from him?!"
"Not borrow."
Hongyu leaned closer, speaking earnestly.
"Yang Tuyan's wrist guard is a family heirloom. Unless he's dead, there's no way he'll give it to you."
Ye Xingge blinked, thought for a moment, and sat a little straighter.
"Oh, so I have to go and take it myself. Either he dies, or I live?"
"Yes."
Hongyu gave him a look that said he was a teachable child.
"..."
Ye Xingge's expression was deeply conflicted. He looked down at his own innkeeper's outfit, his meaning roughly being:
Me? Go rob and kill a notorious bandit wanted throughout the realm?
Benbo'erba was at least a great demon who had taken human form. Do I look like a giant of the jianghu to you?
Even Hongyu was amused by his expression. Leaning sideways against the tea table, she pulled a sheet of paper from the front of her ample robes and pushed it in front of Ye Xingge.
"Yang Tuyan's martial skills aren't particularly high. It's only with help from Eight Pillars Hall that the court hasn't been able to find him. With your skills, you can kill him. I had my people investigate his recent movements a few days ago. Follow this intelligence and finding him will be easy..."
Ye Xingge took the paper, fragrant with a milky scent, and examined it. It was densely covered in writing, and the first line read:
Yang Tuyan reached Yongzhou with the help of Eight Pillars Hall, disguised himself as Imperial Uncle Cao's servant, and joined the birthday delegation for the Emperor of Yan...
Ye Xingge looked surprised. "The intelligence is this detailed?"
Hongyu gave a light snort and crossed her legs.
"The Mountains and Rivers Association has disciples throughout all three dynasties. What's a little intelligence like this? Just follow my arrangements, and I guarantee the problem will be solved as easily as a blade splitting bamboo."
Ye Xingge felt the undertaking was quite risky. After some thought, he frowned again.
"The court is searching for him throughout the realm, the county town has been sealed off, and the Flower Judge is staying at the inn. How am I supposed to sneak out and rob Yang Tuyan? Even if I can slip out, once it's done, the court will examine the corpse and the traces..."
Hongyu shook her head, looking at him as though he were a blockhead.
"How can you do this on the sly?"
Ye Xingge spread his hands. "Oh, so I have to rob him openly?!"
"That's right."
"?"
Ye Xingge was left speechless. He looked at the beauty before him, his gaze roughly saying: You really are a bandit, aren't you? Are you trying to make me present a pledge of allegiance?
That was clearly not what Hongyu meant. She lifted her chin slightly and gestured toward the door.
"The wrist guard isn't a strictly forbidden item, and you have a clean background. First, get on good terms with Luo Xuanqing and say you want to help shoulder the court's burdens, so you can get permission to leave the city. Then follow the clues in the intelligence and trace the vine to the melon.
"That way, your investigation will leave a trail the court can follow, so it won't grow suspicious. You'll be capturing a criminal for the country, and the court won't confiscate a piece of protective gear you happen to seize. It may even reward you with a good deal of silver on top of that. One fish, three meals..."
"..."
Ye Xingge thought it over and felt it made some sense. He looked at Mantanghong again.
"Then what you said earlier about taking me as a disciple or recruiting me as a son-in-law..."
The order Hongyu had received from her master was to come here for a matchmaking meeting. If she liked him, she was to offer herself as his wife and follow behind this brat to protect him on his path!
How could Hongyu agree to such a preposterous, incomprehensible task? She frowned, leaned back in her chair, and put on a look of disdain again.
"Your temperament is poor, your temper is contrary, and you're impervious to reason. As for recruiting you as a son-in-law, I need to assess you a little more on my master's behalf, lest one day my master be stabbed in the back by an unfilial son-in-law... stabbed..."
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Hongyu turned toward the window and listened carefully.
Worried they had been discovered, Ye Xingge also pricked up his ears.
"What is it?"
"Someone seems to have come downstairs. Luo Xuanqing will probably be roused. Go deal with it first. Take the whip with you. If necessary, I can use the divine weapon to contact you."
"Contact me?"
Ye Xingge was puzzled, but there was no time to ask more. He picked up the whip and tried to hide it.
But as soon as the thought occurred to him, the coiled whip shortened like a slithering snake, turning into a yellow strip the size of his palm.
Though it looked like poop, it was clearly a magic treasure that could sense his thoughts.
Huh?!
Ye Xingge looked surprised, but pounding had already sounded at the door downstairs-bang, bang, bang! With no time to study the divine weapon, he hurriedly shoved the yellow strip into his robes and strode out of the room.
But before he had fully closed the door, he heard a voice from across the hall:
Creeeak~
Caught off guard, Ye Xingge nearly went into cardiac arrest!
He turned to look and saw a woman in green standing just inside the doorway, a few feet away.
Unlike when he had seen her earlier, the woman had removed her cloak, revealing the full length of her smooth green satin dress.
The dress's satin surface was smooth and supple, clinging tightly to her waist and hips. It hugged her so closely that the matching belt, inlaid with jade clasps, almost blended into the dress.
Below the belt, her curves rose naturally before falling away like rippling water. With both hands on the door and her body leaning slightly forward, the line of her hips resembled a full moon in the candlelight.
Following the belt upward led to a pair of proudly curved, upturned sea bowls. Even through the fabric, one could sense the "D"-sized bounty!
But what drew even more attention was her face, her head tilted slightly and her brows knit as she looked around.
Her oval face was as white as mutton-fat jade, and her ink-black hair was gathered behind her head, held in place by a silver hairpin set at an angle. Her brows were like crescent moons, her eyes like stars, their outer corners tilting slightly upward to lend them a touch of aloofness.
Her high, straight nose deepened that aloofness, but her soft red lips brought back a woman's allure.
From a distance, her whole face seemed cold and proud, but a closer look revealed a delicate, flirtatious charm. She was like, um...
A cold yet seductive bad big sister?
Thump, thump...
Why is my heart beating so fast?
Could this be...
The feeling of getting caught hiding a wanted criminal?
Ye Xingge held the door and gazed at the woman right in front of him, so startled that he forgot to breathe!
Luo Xuanqing frowned as she looked downstairs. From the corner of her eye, she noticed the young innkeeper, a rag draped over his shoulder, staring fixedly at her without moving for quite some time. She turned back to him.
"Do I look good?"
"Uh..."
Ye Xingge forced himself to calm down and looked away.
"Forgive me, my lady. Um... it should be a guest looking for a room. That's how it is in a small place like this; there aren't many rules. I'll go deal with it right away. Please forgive the disturbance."
Luo Xuanqing had seen plenty of young men and paid no mind to Ye Xingge's "heart fluttering like a startled deer, nervous and awkward" reaction. She tilted her head slightly.
"Go open the door."
With that, she adopted the bearing of a cold, alluring judge and walked unhurriedly toward the downstairs hall.
Ye Xingge felt that something was not quite right, but he could hardly ask too many questions. He headed down the stairs first.
"Coming, coming! Stop knocking..."
Sorry to have kept everyone waiting or2!
A new journey has begun. Thank you, everyone, for your support along the way!