Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 14

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Let's go! She went out the door, looked around to make sure no one was there, and quietly closed the door, preparing to slip away.

She hadn't walked far when she saw the mark she'd drawn with the white stone. She'd originally intended to grab something before leaving, but alas, fate had other plans. Now, she had no choice but to reluctantly give it up and prioritize safety.

Just as she was about to take a step, she suddenly heard voices.

"Girl, we are truly destined to meet."

Xiao Xiao was startled. She turned around and saw the man who had provoked Master Xi Yuan in the hall. Xiao Xiao looked him up and down and said, "Great...Great hero, do we know each other?"

A sly smile played on the man's lips. "I remember the first time we met, it was under a similar moon. Are you having trouble sleeping again?"

Xiao Xiao immediately realized why his tone sounded so familiar; it turned out he was...

"Silver Owl?!" Xiao Xiao took a few steps back in surprise.

Before her voice had even finished, several streaks of silver light flashed towards them, moving so fast they were impossible to defend against. Xiao Xiao stared blankly as the silver lights grazed past, completely frozen in place.

A silvery gleam, like snow. Those struck by the needles have their blood vessels sealed, blood congealing within their bodies, leading to death within days. She almost died from those needles… How… how terrifying…

She immediately knelt down with a thud, crying, "Uncle Yin, please don't kill me! I have an eighty-year-old mother, an eight-month-old baby, and a fiancée..." The young woman stopped mid-sentence, slapping herself in the face. Heavens above! Even her master's usual lines shouldn't be used so casually! An elderly mother and a child were one thing, but a fiancée?! How could she possibly have one?!

Yin Xiao stared at her coldly, a sight that chilled her to the bone.

"Grandpa Yin, you are a magnanimous man, please spare me..." Xiao Xiao cried as she spoke, looking utterly pitiful.

Yin Xiao chuckled. "Don't worry, if I really wanted to kill you, the 'Snow-Refined Silver Light' wouldn't have missed its mark." He circled Xiao Xiao once. "With your skills, isn't it a bit too early for you to kneel and beg for mercy?"

Xiao Xiao wiped away her tears and choked out, "Grandpa Yin, your martial arts are unparalleled, how could I dare to compare with you? Grandpa, please let me go..."

"Alright, as long as you answer a few questions for me, I will definitely let you go," Silver Owl said, squatting down.

Xiao Xiao immediately nodded, "Okay, okay, what does Grandpa want to ask?"

Yin Xiao's eyes narrowed. "How can you identify the famous soldiers of the Qi family?"

She wiped away her small tears and looked up at him.

"Not just the 'Snow-Refined Silver Light,' you can name all of the Qi family's weapons, right? What exactly is your identity?!" Silver Owl asked.

“Me? I’m just a nobody from the ‘Breaking Wind Style’…” Xiao Xiao said with tears in her eyes.

Before Xiaoxiao could finish speaking, Yinxiao revealed several gleaming silver needles.

Xiao Xiao froze, "Sir...sir...please spare me..."

"Still not telling the truth?" Silver Owl chuckled and asked.

Xiao Xiao bit her lip, pondering how to answer.

"What is your relationship with Qi Han?" Yin Xiao questioned.

She shook her head slightly, "It's nothing..."

"..." Yin Xiao looked her up and down. "Could it be that you are the person the Second Young Master is looking for?!"

Xiao Xiao was terrified. "Sir, I'm innocent... I'm only sixteen this year, and I would never be the person the Second Young Master is looking for. I only know those weapons because I happened to see the Qi Family's famous weapon manual when I was a child... Sir, I've told you everything I need to say, please let me go..."

Yin Xiao looked at Xiao Xiao, who had a look of fear on her face and spoke in a pitiful manner, and did not seem to be lying at all.

"Really?" he asked.

"Really, really," Xiao Xiao answered repeatedly.

"Then how did you 'coincidentally' come to see the Qi family's famous soldiers' manual?" Yin Xiao asked again.

Xiao Xiao then realized just how precious the picture book she had been using as a sketchbook was. But how did her master get hold of that picture book? What was the story behind it?

She hadn't figured out how to answer yet. Yin Xiao, however, was getting impatient. "So, you're just giving me a perfunctory answer?"

Xiao Xiao was greatly alarmed, "How dare I? Uncle Yin, I really was just passing by. Please let me go..."

"You dare not? It's one thing to have seen the diagrams, but you also remember all the weapons on them perfectly. Are you going to tell me that this is because you are exceptionally gifted and have a photographic memory?" Silver Owl said. "You not only saw that diagram, but you also possessed it at one time, didn't you?"

She looked at him timidly, without saying a word.

"The Qi Family's Military Manual is a family heirloom, strictly forbidden to outsiders. If you have no connection to the Qi family, how could you possibly obtain it?" Yin Xiao stood up, looking down at Zuo Xiaoxiao. "You've been following the Xingfeng Escort Agency's caravan all the way, then entered Hero's Fortress with Taiping City, and now you're wandering around the fortress at this hour. Clearly, you have something on your mind. The Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts—who in the world wouldn't covet them? It seems our goals are aligned."

Xiao Xiao was stunned. Heavens, do you have to attribute all the bad luck she encountered to her own actions? Yes, the Nine Emperor Artifacts are indeed the most precious treasures in the world, but even if everyone in the world wants them, it doesn't mean she wants them too, right? She, Zuo Xiao Xiao, isn't foolish enough to provoke such a hot potato.

"Uncle Yin... I didn't..." Xiao Xiao was about to clarify when she saw several dark figures sweep past the eaves.

Yin Xiao turned around, frowning. He reached out and quickly pressed a few small pressure points, saying, "I'll ask you when I get back."

After saying that, he leaped up and chased after the men in black.

Xiao Xiao knelt on the spot, watching Yin Xiao walk away. Then, she slowly got up and dusted herself off. She reached out, pulled open her clothes, looked at the cork pad underneath, and smiled. Striking her pressure points wouldn't be so easy! Her master said: "When venturing into the martial world, the most important thing is to be fully prepared. The important pressure points on your body must be well protected."

She rubbed her shoulders and sighed. She'd had a really bad run of luck. Looks like she'd have to find some time to go to the temple and pray.

Seeing that it was getting late, she stopped thinking about it and climbed onto the roof. She crouched low and carefully crawled across the roof. Come to think of it, what were those men in black doing here? Were they also after the Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts? This is Hero's Fortress, after all; they're really bold…

As she climbed, she suddenly knocked over a tile. She immediately meowed a few times and lay still, motionless.

"It's a stray cat..."

Just then, voices came from the gaps in the tiles.

Xiao Xiao squinted and peeked through the crack, where she saw Madam tide and Zhao Yan.

Madam tide sat at the table and said, "I never expected that Mo Yun would become his disciple. He even used 'Min Yan' to incite those martial arts figures. I'm afraid..."

"Don't worry, Madam, Yan'er will definitely not let him have his way," Zhao Yan said.

Lady Xi sighed, "Yan'er, he wanted to see you, and I didn't stop him. You won't blame me, will you?"

“Madam, Yan’er should be thanking you.” Zhao Yan’s tone was icy. “I, Zhao Yan, cannot be bought with a Qi family weapon. He looks down on everyone in the world, thinking that everything can be done to his liking. What a joke!”

"Yan'er, he is still your father, you can't possibly..."

“Madam, my surname is Zhao.” Zhao Yan’s voice was icy.

Xiao Xiao was stunned. Father? The "he" they were talking about, could it be Qi Han? Zhao Yan is Qi Han's daughter?

Rumors circulated that after Qi Han swapped the beautiful Yan Ji for Yan Ji, the two became husband and wife in name only. Soon after, Yan Ji gave birth to a child. However, twelve years ago, Yan Ji and the child suddenly disappeared, their whereabouts unknown. Some said that Qi Han grew tired of Yan Ji and abandoned them. Others said that Yan Ji was promiscuous and ran off with another man. Still others said that Qi Han gave Yan Ji away, and the child had long been abandoned.

If that's the case, it's not surprising at all that Qi Han knew Zhao Yan's birth date and time. And it's also logical that Mo Yun, as Qi Han's disciple, would use Qi family weapons to find Zhao Yan.

Good heavens, what... what's going on here? No, it's best to stay out of these things. Knowing too many secrets can lead to an early death.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao shuddered and crept away on tiptoe. She hadn't gone far when she saw lanterns lit up all over Hero's Fortress, and a commotion of voices. Several disciples ran over and knocked on the door.

Lady tide and Zhao Yan came out.

The disciple hurriedly said, "Madam, someone has broken into the fortress. Are you alright, Madam?"

Madam tide shook her head. "It's nothing. Where are Hall Master Fang and the Third Young Master?"

"We've already sent someone to summon him."

"I'll go with you to take a look." After saying that, Madam tide led Zhao Yan away with her disciples.

Xiao frowned slightly. Could it be the man in black and Silver Owl from earlier? Being discovered so quickly clearly meant their skills weren't up to par. Oh well, it's none of her business, let's get going.

Just as she was about to leave, she looked up and saw Yue Huaijiang.

"Xiaoxiao?!" Yue Huaijiang exclaimed in surprise.

"Xiao Jiang..." Xiao Xiao gave a stiff smile, "What are you doing?"

Yue Huaijiang crouched down. "I was helping to search for suspicious individuals. Why are you lying here?"

“I… am taking a break to cool off…” Xiao Xiao said stiffly.

"To cool off?" Yue Huaijiang thought for a moment. "It's too dangerous here. Come on, let's go to the lobby."

Xiao Xiao was on the verge of tears. It seemed she still couldn't leave...

...

A major event

Xiao Xiao was pulled along by Yue Huaijiang, following him reluctantly. Before they even reached the front hall, they heard someone exclaim in surprise.

Yue Huaijiang frowned and quickly squeezed into the crowd. On the ground lay two corpses; judging from their clothing, they were disciples of Hero's Fortress.

Yue Huaijiang immediately stepped forward and squatted down. He looked at the corpse on the ground and sighed, "Such a cruel method..."

Xiao Xiao caught a glimpse of the wounds on the two people and couldn't help but be surprised.

It looked like a cut; the wound was as thin as a hair, and not a drop of blood was coming out. But beneath the skin, there were dark, bluish-purple bloodstains. She had heard her master say that only weapons from the Qi family could cause this kind of wound.

At this moment, Madam tide and Hall Master Fang arrived. Upon seeing the corpse, Madam tide turned her head away. Her face was pale, clearly frightened by the body, but she tried her best to suppress her emotions.

Master Fang stepped forward and examined the bodies. He frowned and said, "Madam, they died at the hands of the Qi family's elite soldiers."

"Qi's famous soldier..." Mrs. tide said in shock.

Sure enough… she frowned slightly. Could it be Yin Xiao? However, the wound on Cui Xue Yin Guang shouldn't look like this. Judging from the appearance, it should be a sword or similar weapon. The Qi family only possesses two swords within Hero's Fortress: the short sword "Fei" in Shi Le'er's hand, and the steel saber "Min Yan" in the hand of Wei Er Gongzi Mo Yun. But, is it possible that these two are involved?

"This matter is of utmost importance, Madam. Please immediately send a letter to summon the Three Heroes back to the fortress," said Master Fang.

Lady tide's expression changed.

The Three Heroes? Xiao Xiao had heard her master mention them before. There were Three Heroes Offices around Hero's Fortress, and the elders of each office were called the Three Heroes. Normally, the Three Heroes were responsible for guarding the safety of Hero's Fortress. Whenever there was an important matter, the Lord of Hero's Fortress would summon the Three Heroes to discuss it together.

According to Master's ledger, the most recent gathering of the Three Heroes was over a decade ago. Unexpectedly, this rare goods fair has escalated to the point of requiring the mobilization of the Three Heroes.

Lady Xi remained hesitant. Master Fang spoke up, "Madam, the Nine Emperor Artifacts have returned to the world, and now they've appeared at Hero's Fortress. Today's events are surely a harbinger of great misfortune. I fear for the foundation of Hero's Fortress..."

"No need to say anything more," Lady tide said. "Send a letter to summon the three heroes."

"Yes." After bowing, Hall Master Fang hurriedly withdrew.

Lady Xi looked around and turned to ask, "Where is the young master?"

Zhao Yan stepped forward and whispered, "This servant can't find the young master..."

Lady tide's expression changed again. She turned away angrily and left.

Xiao Xiao watched her leave, her expression somewhat bewildered.

Yue Huaijiang stood up, walked to her side, and asked, "Xiaoxiao, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

She chuckled slightly, "Uh... a little..."