Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 104

Out of the corner of her eye, she only caught a glimpse of someone dressed in black, and for a moment she couldn't figure out what was going on.

When she stood still and looked again, she was even more bewildered.

The person who saved her was indeed dressed entirely in black, completely covered from head to toe, not even a single hair showing. The only difference between him and the Japanese ninjas was the material of his black clothing. He carried a wooden box on his back, which now looked rather strange. His weapon was a longsword. An extremely simple longsword, with a wooden scabbard, a fine steel blade, and not even a tassel.

Xiao Xiao was only confused for a moment before she suddenly understood.

"My benefactor?" Xiao Xiao asked. "You are the benefactor who saved me on the East Sea, aren't you?"

The man deliberately avoided her gaze and nodded slightly.

For some reason, at that moment, I was moved beyond words. A thousand words could only be summed up in one sentence: "My benefactor!!!"

...

Waves rise from nowhere

For some reason, at that moment, I was moved beyond words. A thousand words could only be summed up in one sentence: "My benefactor!!!"

...

The man in black stiffened upon hearing the passionate and moving call.

At that moment, the three ninjas reappeared from the rain and mist and attacked.

The man in black pushed Xiao Xiao aside and swung his sword to meet the attack.

Xiao Xiao stood obediently to the side, watching the battle unfold before her. The man in black was still using the most ordinary sword techniques. Every move he made was simple, so simple that it seemed unremarkable.

Looking at the swordplay, Xiao Xiao understood something. The person before her, though he had saved her twice, didn't want her to know his true identity. His completely black clothes, his deliberately averted gaze, his simple and ordinary swordplay… no one could recognize him based on these clues alone…

Who exactly is he?

As Xiaoxiao was deep in thought, the ninja disappeared into the rain once again. The man in black stood silently, sword in hand, waiting intently.

This focus seemed familiar. Xiao Xiao suddenly felt a little dazed, recalling a night, on a rooftop, when she had seen someone with the same focus, drawing their bow and arrow…

Suddenly, the ninja appeared and swiftly attacked. The man in black dodged the attack and tried to retaliate, but the ninja disappeared into the rain again.

Xiao Xiao immediately stopped her wild thoughts and held her breath as she watched the situation before her.

At this moment, the rain lessened, and a few rays of damp sunlight pierced through the clouds. Suddenly, a light flashed before my small eyes.

A glass hairpin?! A sudden realization.

"Left!" she shouted.

Upon hearing this, the man in black swung his sword to the left without hesitation. A spray of blood mist appeared, and a ninja was struck, falling to the ground with the small glass hairpin still stuck in his arm.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiao shouted, "Japanese ninjas, I have seen through your invisibility technique! Where do you think you're hiding? Why don't you come out and face your death?"

Upon hearing this, the remaining two ninjas revealed themselves, helped up their injured companion, and fled.

She breathed a small sigh of relief. What Japanese ninjas? They were so easily fooled.

She walked up to the man in black, smiled at him, and said, "My benefactor, you have saved me again. I am deeply grateful and have no way to repay your kindness. May I ask your name?"

The man in black sheathed his sword, said nothing, and simply shook his head.

Since others don't want to talk about it, they must have their own concerns, so Xiaoxiao stopped asking.

The silence made her a little embarrassed. She glanced at the glass hairpin in her hand and said with a smile, "Thanks to this glass hairpin!"

She raised her hand to show him, somewhat smugly.

The man in black looked at her hand and frowned.

Xiao Xiao looked down at her palms and realized that she had pulled the reins too hard, and her palms were raw and bleeding, the glass hairpin stained with blood. She immediately felt the pain and frantically pulled out a silk handkerchief to stop the bleeding.

The man in black silently put down his sword, took the glass hairpin from her hand, and then bandaged her wound.

Xiao Xiao was somewhat taken aback. His actions were too natural, as if he knew her well. At this moment, the rain gradually stopped, and the warm sunlight shone all around. His eyelashes, wet with raindrops, glittered in the sunlight.

Xiao Xiao then realized that the rain had soaked her through, and the rouge and powder had dissolved in the rain, dripping down her cheeks. She must look utterly disheveled. For some reason, she suddenly felt shy, her cheeks gradually burning, and her heart pounding.

After thinking it over carefully, she asked, "My benefactor, do I know you?"

He remained silent. After bandaging her, he placed the glass hairpin back in her hand. Then, he took the wooden box from his back and handed it to her.

Xiao Xiao looked at the wooden box with a puzzled expression.

Just as she was about to ask, she heard the rapid sound of approaching hooves. She turned around and saw Yin Xiao and Li Si's group catching up in their carriage. Upon seeing the man in black beside her, Yin Xiao leaped down and landed next to her, drew his soft sword, and attacked without saying a word.

Xiao Xiao was dumbfounded and shouted, "Ah, it's a misunderstanding! He's my benefactor!"

Silver Owl sheathed his sword upon hearing the sound. "My benefactor?"

“Yes!” Xiaoxiao wiped her face with her sleeve and looked at the man in black.

The man in black put down the wooden box, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.

As he passed the carriage, his pace slowed.

There were two carriages. One had a damaged roof and was in a dilapidated state, carrying only Ye Zhihui and a coachman. The other carriage, clearly used for luggage, was carrying several people in addition to the coachman. However, the tracks left by the two carriages in the wet mud were of the same depth.

He passed the wrecked carriage, a sense of doubt creeping into his heart. Inside, Ye Zhihui was looking at him timidly, her eyes still filled with fear…

Xiao Xiao stood aside, watching him leave. Countless guesses formed in her mind, but she dismissed them one by one.

"What is this thing?" Silver Owl looked at the wooden box on the ground and poked it with the tip of his sword.

Xiao Xiao walked over and picked up the wooden box.

"Girl, be careful," Yin Xiao warned, frowning.

Xiao Xiao smiled and opened it nonchalantly, then froze.

Inside the box lay a sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument), an account book, and a package. Everything was carefully preserved, completely undamaged. She cried out in surprise, then looked up sharply in the direction the man in black had left, but he was nowhere to be seen…

...

...This is a dividing line to show that Lian Zhao is still a good kid = =+...

A sudden downpour relieved the summer heat in the city.

When Lian Zhao rode back into the city, it was already evening. He went back to his room to change his clothes, and then summoned the steward of the Ye family to inquire about the carriage.

Only then did he realize that the two carriages had been recently ordered by Ye Zhang. Moreover, Ye Zhang was quite concerned about them and would personally supervise the construction from time to time.

Just as Lian Zhao was about to ask more questions, Ye Zhang arrived.

"Nephew, I just heard that you went out of the city. Did something happen?" Ye Zhang asked seriously as he entered the room.

Lian Zhao stood up and said, "Uncle, it's nothing serious. I was just worried about the city gate defenses, so I went out to patrol around."

"Oh, my dear nephew, you do everything yourself, it's truly admirable. But next time, please bring more help, just in case." As Ye Zhang spoke, he gestured for the steward to leave.

Lian Zhao, of course, saw it clearly. He lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Uncle, I didn't encounter nothing when I left the city just now..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhang's expression changed slightly, but he remained calm and composed. "Oh?"

Lian Zhao looked up at Ye Zhang and said, "I encountered Japanese ninjas outside the city."

Ye Zhang was shocked. "What?! How is this possible?!"

Lian Zhao said, "I originally thought that after sealing off the city, we would be trapped like turtles in a jar. Now it seems that I underestimated these ninjas. ... I'm afraid that the pirates from the East Sea have already left the city."

Ye Zhang appeared somewhat uneasy after hearing this.

Lian Zhao paused for a moment, then said, "Uncle, I will lead troops out of the city tomorrow to pursue those escaped criminals. The defense of the city is in your hands."

Ye Zhang nodded, then frowned and said, "The seventy-two islands of the East China Sea have a hand in the canal transport and numerous branch strongholds. Even a centipede with a hundred legs will not fall down easily. If they really escape, they will surely regroup their forces, making it difficult to capture them again... Nephew, what do you think? Why don't I go with you..."

“Uncle…” Lian Zhao interrupted Ye Zhang.

Ye Zhang looked slightly nervous.

Lian Zhao slowly said, "What you have done, Uncle, is naturally for a reason. As a junior, I dare not speak ill of you, nor will I gossip. I left the city this time to pursue the pirates of the East Sea, and I would never harm innocent people... The imperial decree is hard to disobey. If I have offended you in any way, I hope you will forgive me."

After he finished speaking, he clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply.

Ye Zhang stared at Lian Zhao in astonishment, and after a long while, he reached out and helped him up. Ye Zhang sighed deeply and said, "Truly a worthy son of the Lian family..."

Lian Zhao's eyes were clear and bright, and his smile was even more radiant.

Ye Zhang laughed, patted Lian Zhao on the shoulder, and said, "Let's leave everything to fate..."

...

...This is a separator line indicating "Those who don't like Zhao Yan can click the X" = =+...

The imperial court's suppression of the East Sea sect is a major event in the martial arts world. Although the East Sea sect has committed many unjust acts, it is still a significant martial arts faction, and the imperial court has historically turned a blind eye to matters concerning the martial arts community. This time, the mobilization of such a large force, sending troops to encircle and suppress them, is deeply worrying. Recalling the past few months, the martial arts world has never been at peace. Every event seems to be connected by unseen forces, intertwined and interdependent.

As one of the three great families, Hero's Fortress is the leader of the righteous path. Seeing this situation, Hero's Fortress widely issued invitations, inviting fellow martial artists to discuss this matter together.

In no time, Jiangling City was filled with martial arts figures, a scene no less grand than the "Rare Goods Fair" a few months earlier.

After Master Fang's death, Lady Xi took over the management of Hero's Fortress. Such a grand occasion was beyond the capacity of Lady Xi, a woman of frail health, to handle. Furthermore, her status and position alone were insufficient to command respect.

The three heroes of Hero's Fortress then arrived at Hero's Fortress and personally took charge.

After a busy day, Lady Xi prepared wine and dishes to entertain the three heroes.

At the dinner table, Zhang Jiyuan of the Lieying Division sat in the main seat, flanked by Jiang Ji of the Zhengying Division and Luo Wu of the Qiying Division. Lady Xi sat in a lower seat, with Zhao Yan attending to her.

As soon as the group sat down, Zhang Jiyuan from the Lieying Division asked, "Madam, where is Wenxi?"

Lady Xi looked slightly embarrassed and said, "He... went out to check the accounts and has not yet returned."

Luo Wu frowned and said, "I think the Third Young Master has gone to the brothel again... He's not in the fort all day, I really don't know what he's thinking."

“It’s normal for young people to be fond of spending money…” Jiang Ji said, adding that he glanced at Madam Xi intentionally or unintentionally.

Lady tide's face grew increasingly pale. She glanced at Zhao Yan beside her, unsure of what to do.

Zhao Yan picked up the wine pot and poured wine for the three men. "Lord Sanying, please have a few drinks first. This servant will go and fetch the Third Young Master right away."

Zhang Jiyuan looked at her and then asked, "Miss Zhao, is Mo Yunke with you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan smiled and said, "What merit or ability do I, a humble servant, possess?"

Zhang Jiyuan said, "I heard that you are the person he is looking for... the daughter of Qi Han, the head of the Qi family. Is that true?"

Zhao Yan shook her head, "This servant was indeed saved by the madam eight years ago, but the second young master is probably mistaken."