A Wandering Youth

Chapter 17

Wu San picked up the dice, then paused slightly. He then tossed the dice away.

Amidst the gasps of the crowd, the dice spun rapidly, and just as they were about to come to a stop, Chu Yi's hand gently touched the edge of the table.

(Cheng Xiang turned to look at A Gu, who raised his eyelids and said calmly, "Things have changed.")

Wu Sanshou, the dealer, took the first card. He picked up the first card, a red 2 (land card), and saw that Chu Yi had a red 8 (human card) in front of him. He grinned. Chu Yi looked at him calmly and silently.

Wu Sanshou reached into the deck of cards and took the second card. His eyes were fixed on the top layer of neatly arranged tiles, and he quickly grabbed one and put it back.

As Wu Sanshou drew his cards, Chu Yi gently flicked his bent right hand forward. Looking up at the other side, he noticed a bead of sweat on Wu Sanshou's nose. He chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed.

(Cheng Xiang looked at A Gu again, and A Gu said expressionlessly, "Too fast, I can't see clearly." Seeing Cheng Xiang glare at him, he said calmly, "If I were Wu Sanshou, I would definitely take the land card next to me when I was taking the cards. He didn't expect that the person opposite him also remembered the position of the card. Moreover, it is very likely that the person made a move that made Wu Sanshou suffer in silence and had no choice but to let go, so that he could do whatever he wanted when he took the cards again.")

Wu San gripped the two dominoes tightly, his knuckles bulging and turning white as he carefully rubbed and moved them, as nervous as a daughter-in-law meeting her in-laws for the first time. After glancing at the number on the second domino, his face turned ashen.

He flipped over his cards; the white 9 was a pair of Kings.

Wu San's hands were covered in cold sweat, and he slumped dejectedly into his chair.

The first-year student's hand moved like a gust of wind, quickly flipping over the cards: two red 8s, a pair of cards, and he smiled slightly.

Cheng Xiang on the third floor smiled slightly. A Gu lowered his eyes and looked at the young man in the crowd: "This person is not simple."

Cheng Xiang leaned over to A Gu's side, looked into his eyes, and revealed a gentle, spring-like smile. That smile bloomed quietly on her fair and delicate face, like a red poppy trembling in the wind.

All I heard was her sweet, soft voice saying, "I like it when you pretend to be clueless or silly."

A-Gu seemed a little surprised, staring blankly at Cheng Xiang. After a long while, he remembered to continue his earlier deduction: "It has the style of the 'Thousand-Handed Buddha's' Left Golden Finger."

18. To test

Wu Sanshou was respectfully invited upstairs by Chu Yi.

In front of so many gamblers, the defeated general was still so respected by his opponents. Wu San walked up the wooden ladder with his hands tucked into his sleeves, his expression clearly showing that he was still very pleased.

Facing the teacup offered by Chu Yi with both hands, he frowned coldly: "This tea is so filthy that even I find it hard to drink, yet you, young master, take a big sip without batting an eye. Just who are you, young master?"

Hearing his refined and literary language, Chu Yi's eyelids twitched involuntarily. She slowly put down her teacup and said, "Just call me A-Cheng."

"Ah Cheng broke both of his hands at the gambling table today. I can't think of anyone other than the reincarnation of the 'Thousand-Hand Buddha' who could have such an ability!"

Chu Yi gave a wry smile: "To be honest, I am a disciple of Mr. Zuo."

Wu Sanshou stood ramrod straight, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyes slightly raised, his voice brimming with pride: "Losing to the Thousand-Handed Buddha is not shameful for Agu and me."

"Do you know who Agu is, sir?"

“Ah Cheng was the one who forced Ah Gu to leave yesterday, don’t tell me you don’t recognize him!”

Chu Yi stared silently at the desktop, not saying a word, seemingly lost in thought.

Wu Sanshou's tone changed, and he said coldly, "Speak, what do you want me to do?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yi smiled and said, "Mr. Wu is indeed very straightforward."

"Hmph, a gambler, isn't it just about betting on luck?" Wu Sanshou curled his lip, looking at Chu Yi with some disdain.

Chu Yi left his seat and respectfully bowed to Wu Sanshou.

“Mr. Wu, I only came up with this clumsy plan because I overheard you here. I had no intention of offending you in the slightest. I was lucky to win by half a hand, so please forgive me.”

Wu Sanshou glanced coldly at Chu Yi and gave a cold "humph," but these words clearly made him feel much better, and his expression softened.

"Please help me with three things, sir. I dare not presume, but I can still scrape together the money. Or, if you have any other requests in the future, I will also grant them." Chu Yi looked sincerely into Wu Sanshou's eyes, his gaze unwavering.

"Silver? That depends on whether I'll live to spend it. As for requirements, I'm a bachelor and can't expect to have a wife..." Wu Sanshou's expression was indifferent, his eyes coldly glancing at the ground.

"Please speak freely, sir."

"I have only one request: you must accept me as your apprentice."

Chu Yi lowered his eyes, pondering that today might bring unwarranted disaster to the person in front of him, and that he should try his best to consider things for him.

“…Okay.” Chu Yi made up his mind and agreed immediately.

Wu Sanshou's face lit up with joy, and he turned around to kowtow directly. Chu Yi waved his sleeve and lifted him up, saying anxiously, "If you kneel down, sir, wouldn't that be too much of a burden for me?"

"Then at least let me call you 'Master'."

Chu Yi hesitated for a moment, then said with a hint of helplessness, "Alright." He gave a perfunctory bow and invited Wu Sanshou to sit down. The two of them walked to the table and sat down one after the other.

"Master, please give your instructions."

"I would like you to make me a human skin mask, to etch patterns onto a sword, and to make me a bundle."

Chu Yi carefully gave Wu Sanshou instructions. Wu Sanshou listened attentively, his face gradually changing like a scene from a traditional opera: first, his expression was solemn, and he nodded frequently. Then, he showed an incredulous look, and finally, he was dumbfounded and speechless.

Chu Yi looked at his expression and smiled.

"Isn't Master digging his own grave?" Wu Sanshou asked blankly, completely unaware that his words went beyond what he considered "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness."

"Mr. Wu, you should think carefully about whether you want to become my disciple or not." Chu Yi said with a faint smile on his lips and a steady voice.

"A true man should never break his word!" Wu Sanshou said with great pride. After a pause, he seemed to remember something and hurriedly said, "I know you are a master when you asked me to do that. But if you touch Shadow Leng Qi, it's the same as touching the Evil-Repelling Manor."

Chu Yi's eyes were slightly lowered as he stared at the cup in front of him without saying a word.

Wu Sanshou glanced cautiously at Chu Yi's face and said hesitantly, "The third thing Master wants cannot be completed today."

"It's alright, I'll come back to see you another time."

Wu Sanshou was taken aback: "Is Master leaving?"

Chu Yi smiled, a smile as beautiful yet melancholic as a flower swaying on a cliff. Wu Sanshou looked at him with a somewhat unfocused gaze, feeling that the boy's face had become much more vivid.

"I'll take a gamble. I'll see if it's as the rumors say, that after the young master of the Evil-Slaying Sword killed him with one strike, he would never use a second one."

Prefect Ding Datong of Nuozhou has been beaming with joy these past two days, as if all the good things in the past forty-five years have happened to him in these two days. His wife scolded him, telling him to tone it down, but he said seriously, "When the opportunity comes, how can I hold back?"

The lady asked him why.

"Young Master Zhao Yingcheng, son of the Northern Chancellor of the Imperial Court, is currently staying at my residence while personally leading the expedition on behalf of His Majesty. Madam, please find some clever maids and do not neglect them."

The lady nodded in agreement.

Ding Datong laughed heartily at the air. After a while, he suddenly sighed and said, "That young master accompanying Young Master Zhao is difficult to serve. He has an even bigger air about him than Young Master Zhao, yet Young Master Zhao is always so humble and protective. If I didn't know he was the 'Young Master of Evil Repelling' mentioned by Lord Xie, I would have thought he was a prince. This person is even more difficult to offend. I need to go and tell my subordinates..."

After saying that, he hurriedly walked towards the front of the mansion.

Ding Datong, a short and stout man dressed in a blue-purple cloud-patterned robe, appeared in various courtyards of the mansion. He was scolding the servants for not delaying the two young masters when he looked up and saw several figures standing beside the rockery.

At the head of the table was a handsome young man in a bright yellow cloak, and beside him was a young master in snow-white clothes, with a cold expression and a handsome face.

Ding Datong jumped up and ran forward in small steps to greet the two young masters: "Greetings, gentlemen."

The young man in bright yellow clothes smiled slightly: "Lord Ding, please rise."

When Ding Datong finally stood up shakily, the young man in white gave him a cold, disdainful look, which made Ding Datong lower his head in fright. Then, a chilling voice rang in his ears: "Lord Ding, are you hosting a banquet for Young Master Zhao this evening?"

Ding Datong raised his head slightly: "Both gentlemen must be tired from their journey. Would you like to rest here for a while?"

Amidst the silence, Ding Datong forced a smile and said, "Recently, my subordinates heard that you, young master, have been working hard, so they reprimanded a group of beautiful Hu women for their singing and dancing during the day..."

"Okay," the voice replied immediately.

Ding Datong felt a sense of relief, but he couldn't secretly wipe his sweat in front of the two young masters, so he could only straighten his body slightly.

"My lord, you must follow this young master's arrangements in everything." Young Master Zhao stepped forward and placed his hand on Ding Datong's arm, which excited Ding Datong, who replied loudly, "Yes."

After a long while, Ding Datong raised his head and saw only a few figures receding into the distance. He rubbed his stomach blankly, muttering to himself, "Who really is the master here..."

Qiu Yeyi, dressed in flowing white robes, walked along the courtyard corridor like a celestial being from a snow-capped peak, followed closely by several people.

The guards, seeing several figures approaching from afar, had already prostrated themselves in salute.

Qiu Yeyi ignored the many worshipping figures and walked gracefully forward, her indifference as cold as the unmelting snow on the lonely peak that had stood for a thousand years.

Reaching a corner, he paused and turned back. "The three elders will stay by your side tonight, young master."

"Yes," Cangshan Sanyin nodded in response.

Qiu Yeyi turned around and took two steps forward, then turned back and said, "Young master, please don't be alarmed."

Wearing a yellow cloak, Young Master Zhao was three steps behind Qiu Yeyi. He stopped and smiled, "It's alright." After a pause, seeing that the young master of Bixie in front of him remained silent, he smiled again and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Young Master Qiu Yeyi. Please make sure to entertain Minister Wang's men well tonight."

Qiu Yeyi glanced coldly behind the young master.

Behind Young Master Zhao stood Xie Yinguang, dressed in a silver fox fur robe. He raised his hand in a gesture of respect and smiled gently, "Are you referring to Wang Huaijin, the Minister of the Six Ministries, the head of the court?"

"Thank you for your insight, young master," Young Master Zhao replied with a smile.

Young Master Yin Guang carefully observed his young master and noticed that his young master's face did not show any expression. As if encouraged by the tacit approval, he continued to ask, "Is Young Master so sure?"

"Minister Wang's policies have always been at odds with my father's. Taking advantage of this opportunity to oversee the battle, he will surely try to manipulate things and interfere with my father." Seeing that the young master of Bixie, with his cold expression, showed no intention of leaving, Young Master Zhao patiently stood by with a smile. "How did Young Master Qiuye know that there would be an assassination attempt tonight?"

"Where would a beautiful Hu woman come from in this desolate land?" Qiu Yeyijian stared coldly at a mottled green bamboo in the courtyard.

Seeing that Young Master Zhao was looking at the young master with some surprise, Yin Guang took another step forward steadily and said calmly, "My young master's idea is that since there have been some strange little troubles along the way, we might as well wipe them all out cleanly in one go. So my young master would like to ask for your cooperation, young master, to drink to your heart's content tonight and try to act freely."

Young Master Zhao was still confused by what the Silver Light Prince had said, but someone next to him heard it clearly.

Behind Qiu Yeyijian was a secluded alley, diagonally opposite the latter half of Liujie Alley, where a few elm trees stood sparsely.

Chu Yi clung tightly to an elm tree. Fortunately, this tenacious elm, still thriving in the harsh northern frontier, was lush and leafy, able to completely envelop him. The elm tree was located between the post station and the backyard of the prefectural government, offering a clear view of both sides, though it was quite far from either side.

He was tightly bound in a set of blue clothes and lay low on the tree trunk, motionless, like a large leaf embedded in an elm tree.

Seeing Qiu Yeyi approaching coldly from afar, Chu Yi seemed to hold his breath, not daring to breathe loudly. Before the group even reached him, he had already held his breath, not daring to tremble even a little.

Chu Yi heard every word of Young Master Yin Guang’s words and understood his implied meaning.

—Qiu Yeyi strengthened the defenses of the prefecture not to protect Zhao Yingcheng, but to expose their target.

—When the assassination attempt takes place tonight, Young Master Zhao must remain still, because Zhao Yingcheng is the target.

The first-year student's mind raced like lightning, and several questions immediately came to mind: