Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 140

"I only met you today."

"Then you should have said that as soon as you saw me."

Seeing that Shi Le'er was persistent, Xiao Xiao interrupted and changed the subject, saying, "Hey, Le'er, where is Young Master Wenxi?"

Upon hearing the name, Shi Le'er frowned even more deeply. "You're looking for Wei Ying? He's with his second brother."

Xiao Xiao then remembered that the Qi family members had also been ambushed by Wei Qi and imprisoned in this branch's dungeon. Mo Yun was also injured and was currently being treated by people from the Shennong family.

"Oh, right, if the leader of the martial arts alliance were to help him, wouldn't it be much easier for him to return to Hero's Fortress?" Shi Le'er thought of something and pulled Xiao Xiao up. "Sister, why don't you and I discuss this matter properly?"

Before Xiaoxiao could refuse, she was dragged away.

Seeing this, Lian Zhao wanted to stop it, but he really had no right to do so. In the end, he could only helplessly accept it.

...

Priceless treasure

Xiao Xiao woke up very early the next morning.

Last night, Shi Le'er discussed the "Hero's Fortress Recapture Plan" with her until late into the night, so it was only natural for Xiao Xiao to stay in her room overnight. Unfortunately, Shi Le'er's sleeping posture was really not flattering, and Xiao Xiao didn't get a good night's sleep at all.

She felt only pain and helplessness. A sigh escaped her lips; whoever married Shi Le'er in the future would surely suffer a terrible fate…

Shi Le'er, on the other hand, was full of energy. After washing up, she excitedly dragged her to have breakfast.

After Lian Zhao's guidance last night, Shi Le'er became much more indifferent to the matter of the Ninth Prince. Her words and actions then returned to their feigned innocence.

However, Xiao Xiao couldn't relax at all. Especially since she had to listen to official business while eating breakfast, it made things even more difficult.

She held a bowl of glutinous rice porridge and listened attentively to Helan Qifeng sitting in front of her.

He Lan Qifeng found her alarmed expression amusing. He said, "Alliance Leader, the disciples from 'Qu Fang' responsible for investigation were all recalled last night and will be dispatched to various locations today. Wei Qi is extremely cunning; finding his whereabouts will not be easy. I just discussed this with the other sect leaders. The maidservant of Lady Qian, Xi Yuan, and Lady Xi, Zhao Yan, are both Wei Qi's subordinates; perhaps they will have clues. I have already ordered my men to interrogate them, and we should have results soon. What do you think?"

A slight sense of helplessness washed over her. What was there to say about good or bad? Her position as alliance leader was merely for show; all matters, big and small, were decided by the others. All she had to do was nod. So, she nodded earnestly.

Helan Qifeng looked at her, his smile widening. "Let's eat, Alliance Leader."

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao felt relieved and scooped up a spoonful of glutinous rice porridge. Before putting it in her mouth, she glanced at He Lan Qi Feng, as if afraid something might happen.

Helan Qifeng shook his head with a smile, feeling helpless. However, he suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, Alliance Leader, I'll leave this to you."

Xiao Xiao bit her spoon and glanced at what He Lan Qi Feng was holding, puzzled.

A square wooden box. Unadorned, utterly simple. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable. But Xiao Xiao recognized it immediately. It was the "Hanyu," crafted by the Qi family, containing fine steel, impervious to swords and blades, and unaffected by water or fire. Furthermore, it contained intricate mechanisms; without knowing how to unlock it, it could never be opened, and had been used since ancient times to transmit confidential messages.

I remember the first time I saw this wooden box at Hero's Fortress. Back then, Mo Yun, with an arrogant and indifferent attitude, stormed into the Hero's Fortress Fair. Afterwards, everyone assumed that the box contained the Nine Emperor Artifacts. But Mo Yun told Zhao Yan: "This is your dowry."

She had heard a little about Zhao Yan's affair. News from Qu Fang said that Zhao Yan lured Wei Qi to the Qi family's secluded residence, seized one of the Nine Emperor's Divine Artifacts, and imprisoned Qi Han, the head of the Qi family. Mo Yun was also seriously injured and unconscious, currently receiving treatment from the Shennong family. The matter was complicated; Zhao Yan was likely the biological daughter of Qi Han, the head of the Qi family. That exchange of a famous sword for a beauty had now turned into such a tragedy. One couldn't help but sigh at the unpredictability of life and the fickleness of human relationships…

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

Shi Le'er immediately became interested, "Rumor has it that the wooden box contains the 'Qi family's secret weapon,' I wonder what it is."

Helan Qifeng shook his head and said, "Originally, this wooden box should have been handed over to the head of the Qi family, but he resolutely refused. And the method to open the box is probably only known to him."

"So it can't be opened?" Shi Le'er frowned.

He Lan Qifeng said, "I'm afraid we'll never have the chance to see this 'Qi Family's Ultimate Weapon'."

Shi Le'er felt a pang of regret. She picked up the wooden box and began to fiddle with it. Suddenly, with a "click," the lid of the wooden box opened, revealing a slipknot composed of a series of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

Upon seeing this, Shi Le'er was overjoyed, "It's open!"

“Not yet…” Xiao Xiao blurted out, “It’s only considered complete when the lock is opened.”

Shi Le'er and Helan Qifeng looked at her at the same time. After a moment, Shi Le'er laughed, "How could I forget? Sister is well-versed in the 'Qi Family Famous Soldiers' Manual,' so you must know how to open this box."

Xiao Xiao immediately regretted speaking so quickly. She shook her head hastily and said, "I only know the procedure. The 'Hanyu' lock requires the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches to be moved to specific positions to open. These Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are ever-changing and can be altered at any time. How could I possibly know..."

"Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches... Could it be the Nine Palaces? The Eight Trigrams?" Shi Le'er picked up the box, pondering, "Could it be the hours?"

In just a moment, something flashed through her little mind. Time?

I still remember the first time Mo Yun held up the wooden box, saying in front of everyone at the Fair that he was looking for someone. No name, no picture, only the date and time of birth. And this wooden box was Zhao Yan's dowry…

Xiao Xiao tried hard to recall. She remembered that Zhao Yan was a year older than her, so the first two characters of her birth chart were "Bing Chen"... but she couldn't remember the rest...

As she pondered, she unconsciously murmured to herself, "Bingchen Bing..."

Upon hearing this, Shi Le'er asked, "Sister, what are you reciting?"

She raised her eyes slightly and asked, "What are Miss Zhao Yan's birth dates and times?"

“Zhao Yan?” Shi Le’er asked, puzzled. “How would I know?”

Xiao Xiao scratched her head. "Young Master Mo Yun mentioned it once at the Fair of Rare Goods, but I can't remember..."

"Ah? You mean that birth chart? I know that one, it's 'Bingchen Bingshen Yiyou Renwu'," Shi Le'er replied. "Oh, I memorized that birth chart specifically to help Mo Yun find someone... Could it be that the person Mo Yun was looking for was Zhao Yan? So, Zhao Yan is the daughter of the head of the Qi family?"

Xiao Xiao nodded, a wave of melancholy washing over her. Aside from herself, very little was known about the complicated relationship between Zhao Yan and Mo Yun. Xiao Xiao couldn't help but recall the moment she uttered the name "Zhao Yan." If she hadn't spoken, what would things be like now?

"Does the Alliance Leader mean that this lock might be Zhao Yan's birth date and time?" Helan Qifeng asked.

She spoke softly, "Maybe... let's give it a try..."

She took the wooden box from Shi Le'er's hand and reached out to move the latch. The spring clicked four times, and the wooden box opened.

A beam of light shot out from the box, so bright that Xiao Xiao had to close her eyes.

He Lan Qifeng and Shi Le'er were both extremely surprised to see this, and hurried over to see what was going on.

The light from the box vanished in a flash. When Xiao Xiao opened her eyes and saw what was inside, she was stunned.

Helan Qifeng and Shi Le'er were equally stunned. After a moment, Shi Le'er spoke, her voice full of confusion, "This is the 'Qi Family's Ultimate Weapon'?"

As Xiaoxiao looked at the contents of the box, a mix of emotion—gratitude and sadness—left her somewhat agitated…

At this moment, someone hurried in, bowed to Xiaoxiao as soon as he entered, and said urgently, "Reporting to the Alliance Leader, the Qi family members were causing a disturbance just now, saying they wanted to clean house. They've gone to find Zhao Yan now, and I don't know whether I should stop them..."

Xiao Xiao was slightly startled. Then she heard Shi Le'er speak, saying, "Zhao Yan... she colluded with Wei Qi and committed many unjust acts. Even if the Qi family doesn't cause her any trouble, I will settle the score with her at Hero's Fortress. Hmph, she deserved to die!"

"Alliance Leader, you still need to handle this matter," Helan Qifeng said. "The Qi family are guests, and their arbitrary actions on the host's territory damage the Alliance Leader's prestige. Besides, Zhao Yan is an important clue..."

Xiao Xiao still looked at the wooden box in her hand, frowned slightly, and then nodded seriously.

...

For the past few days, Zhao Yan has stayed in her room, sitting in the corner with her knees drawn up to her chest, neither talking to anyone nor getting up to move around.

When the group broke through the branch headquarters, they saw her in this state, so they left her in the room and assigned someone to guard her.

When Qi Han and his group entered, she remained motionless, not even lifting her eyelids.

When the Qi family members saw her, they were all excited.

"Master! Please clean house!"

Qi Han remained silent, her face cold.

"Master, what are you hesitating for? She herself admitted to leading Wei Qi to the right path. My Qi family's foundation has been ruined because of her! Since you don't acknowledge her as your daughter, what are you still hesitating for?!"

Zhao Yan seemed completely deaf to the sounds around her; she sat quietly, her expression utterly numb.

Qi Han frowned, stepped forward, and said, "Get up, I have something to ask you."

Zhao Yan ignored it.

Qi Han was slightly annoyed. "Are you deaf? I'm talking to you."

Unable to get a response from her, Qi Han's expression turned sorrowful.

Seeing this, the Qi family members were at a loss. The woman before them seemed to have lost all hope; neither life nor death could move her in the slightest.

"I'll ask you one last question..." Qi Han looked down at Zhao Yan from his high position, "Was it you who led Wei Qi to the right path..."

Zhao Yan quietly closed her eyes, without saying a word.

Whispers could be faintly heard among Qi's disciples.

Qi Han took a deep breath and raised his palm.

Just as his palm was about to strike, it abruptly stopped an inch above Zhao Yan's head. He frowned, then swung his hand sharply, redirecting the force of his palm elsewhere, shattering the table in the room. Qi Han's brows furrowed even more, his fists clenched, desperately suppressing his emotions.

The atmosphere in the room was extremely heavy, and no one dared to speak rashly and break the silence.

Xiao Xiao stepped into the room at this awkward moment.

The Qi family members did not recognize her and paid her little attention when they saw her.

Xiao Xiao was about to speak when her attendant stepped forward and shouted, "How dare you! You've seen the Alliance Leader, why don't you make way!"

The Qi family members stirred for a moment, then made way for them.

Xiao Xiao walked in and saw the table, broken and shattered like a piece of trash, and Zhao Yan sitting in the corner with her knees drawn up. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Please be patient, everyone. This Miss Zhao is my guest..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qi Han said, "The Qi family's internal cleanup is none of the Alliance Leader's concern."

She glanced up at Qi Han, the melancholy in her heart deepening, wave after wave, until she wanted to sigh. Some people in this world prefer to keep their feelings to themselves, clinging to their pride, unwilling to bow their heads even when they have feelings. But how difficult it is for others to understand them! And how many people miss out because of this, regretting it for the rest of their lives…

Xiao Xiao was pondering how to continue the conversation when she heard Gui Jiu angrily say, "Qi Shi! You are merely a guest today; you should know your limits in your words and actions!"

He continued, "That's right. If you continue to be disrespectful, don't blame us for showing no mercy!"

Xiao Xiao was deeply moved upon hearing this. So, being the alliance leader means you don't even have to say a word when arguing... Amazing...

Thinking of this, Xiaoxiao felt more confident. She looked up at Qi Han, pondered for a moment, and then said, "You must be the head of the Qi family, Senior Qi Han. Would you mind letting me say a few words first?"

Qi Han glanced at her but did not answer.

Xiao Xiao said, "I've heard a little about the Qi family's affairs. And I have a slight acquaintance with Miss Zhao..."

"You don't need to beat around the bush to say what you want to say," Qi Han said impatiently.

With a slight sigh, he still smiled and said, "I just want to say that you all probably don't know Miss Zhao as well as I do."

Upon hearing this, Qi Han's expression changed, and she fell silent.

"To be honest, it was I who told Young Master Mo Yun about Miss Zhao's background back in Hero's Fortress." Xiao Xiao felt even more helpless when she talked about this. If she hadn't told him back then, perhaps many things could have been avoided.

"You?" Qi Han looked her over. "How did you find out?"

“How I know this is not important. What is important is that I know very well that if Miss Zhao had said she wanted to return to the Qi family, Young Master Mo Yun would have had no reason to refuse. However, Miss Zhao has been vehemently refusing all along…” Xiao Xiao glanced at Qi Han, “So why would she change her mind halfway and want to return to the Qi family? Such a change of heart would surely arouse Young Master Mo Yun’s suspicion. Doesn’t she understand this?”