A Wandering Youth

Chapter 55

The fortune teller sat at the left entrance of the main hall, coldly looking at the two somewhat frightened people standing in front of him: "Chef An, are you saying that the young master's poison took effect at midnight, which is why it took so long to arrive?"

An Jie chuckled awkwardly, "Steward Wu is brilliant."

"I'm afraid that's not entirely true." The fortune teller suddenly pulled a scroll from his sleeve, unfolded it, and said coldly, "Young master, you already have the intention to marry Chu Yi, how can this matter be concealed?"

“…Its leaves are dark, and the gentleman is seen…” An Jie read a few words softly, then chuckled, “An Jie doesn’t know many characters and doesn’t quite understand the meaning of this.”

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand, just answer a few questions for me."

"Please, Steward."

"I heard that you came looking for me on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"

"yes."

"What is it for?"

"Inquire about Wu Sanshou's condition and the Forget-Worry Powder."

The fortune teller stood up and stomped a few steps away. After standing still, he pondered and said, "Since you knew that the young master would have a decisive battle in a few days, why did you not stop him when you saw him expending all his inner strength to play the flute? If you are heartless and ungrateful, why did you go and inquire about the Forget-Me-Not Powder?"

Yin Guang stood silently in the courtyard, and An Jie, unaware of the situation, remained silent as well.

"I've heard that the Forget-Me-Not Powder is made from daylilies?" the fortune teller suddenly asked. Seeing An Jie nod, he added, "Aren't there daylilies in the bamboo grove of the Ye family mansion?"

An Jie was slightly surprised: "Indeed, nothing can be hidden from the steward."

The fortune teller calmly put away the scroll and said coldly, "Daylilies are colorless and odorless, and they grow by attaching themselves to the roots of bamboo. It is extremely difficult to find daylilies. The only way to find them is by tapping the bamboo joints and listening to the hollow sound. These principles are all recorded in the Ye family's medical books. You can't fool me so easily."

The fortune teller glanced at the moonlight outside the door, pondered for a moment, then turned back and said firmly, "No matter what your intentions are, young master and Chu Yi, after the decisive battle, you two must agree to one thing for me!"

Yin Guang and An Jie both looked up in surprise at the person in the center. The Divine Calculator's eyes were deep and his gaze was as cold and clear as well water. He spoke with a stern expression.

The two men below looked into the steward's eyes and felt a chill that seeped into their bones; he was no different from the ordinary young master. Under the steward's fierce gaze, they both nodded heavily in agreement.

The moonlight, cool as water, silently enveloped the desolate earth. Wu Suan and the others remained in the main hall, waiting for the young master. After a long while, a figure silently walked along the flower path.

Qiu Yeyi turned through the gate with his hands behind his back, his deep and exquisite face expressionless. He coldly swept his gaze across the main hall, finally pausing slightly when his eyes landed on An Jie's face.

An Jie was startled when he saw that icy gaze and lowered his head.

"Come here." He said to the crowd without turning around.

Leng Shuangcheng silently stepped into the hall from behind him.

The fortune teller's eyes darted out like needles. After noticing the young master staring coldly at his face, he turned his gaze away slightly.

Leng Shuangcheng stood by the door, waiting for Qiu Yeyijian to enter. She had already been impolite to step over the master of straits earlier, and now, facing the menacing steward, she dared not overstep her bounds in the slightest. Unexpectedly, after glancing at the person in the hall, Qiu Yeyijian coldly said to her, "Sit."

Leng Shuangcheng glanced ahead and, as instructed, walked to the right side of the hall and sat down. Seeing her seated, Qiu Yeyijian coldly avoided the bloodstains on the ground, then slowly walked to her side with his hands behind his back.

Leng Shuangcheng's face was ashen as he calmly examined the wounds on the two people on the ground. Qiu Ye stood tall with his sword, staring unblinkingly at the Divine Calculator. Yin Guang glanced at the group, somewhat understanding the purpose of the young master's actions—it was still to protect Chu Yi.

In the silence, the fortune teller coughed and spoke first: "Young master, I have something important to tell you."

"explain."

Wu Suan was traveling from Yangzhou and passed by Qixing Villa when he heard about a major event.

"Old Master Mu and his nephew, Young Master Qingxi, were assassinated in the manor three days ago. According to their family, they had only been gone for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. When they returned, both of them were already dead. Apart from the large hole in their chests, there was not a single wound on their bodies. Moreover, the two died in exactly the same way."

Leng Shuangcheng intently scanned the two figures. Up to this point, she had already seen the faces of the Seven Stars and Five Leaves—Nie Wuyou, Shui Qianmie, An Jie, Mu Shikai, and He Qingxi. The remaining two were rumored to be the celestial beauties of Hundred Flowers Valley, Hua Xi Shuangzhen. What surprised her was that while Old Master Mu was skilled with a broadsword, making him vulnerable at close range, how could He Qingxi, a master of concealed weapons, be ambushed without firing a single shot?

Qiu Yeyi glanced down at it and said coldly, "This weapon for killing is a bit strange."

After Qiu Yeyijian reminded them, everyone carefully examined the two corpses on the ground.

Mu Shikai and He Qingxi had bloody, mangled wounds on their chests, with their hearts embedded in the skin in a funnel shape. Their outer garments were scattered with tiny holes, like a sky full of cold stars. Leng Shuangcheng's heart stirred, and she unconsciously stood up, squatted down, and rubbed the star-shaped wounds between her fingers.

Qiu Yeyi's gaze fell on her back, and he frowned, saying, "Don't touch it, it's very dirty."

Leng Shuangcheng stood up silently and retreated behind Qiu Ye without saying a word.

"The steward has come to the wrong person. You should go find Nie Wuyou, the leader of the Seven Stars." Qiu Yeyijian looked at the fortune teller coldly.

Upon hearing this, An Jie rubbed his hands together and stammered, "Reporting to Young Master, Young Master Nie has been missing since February of last year. The rest of us from the Seven Stars are not very capable..."

Qiu Yeyi suddenly turned around and stared at Leng Shuangcheng, coldly saying, "Leng Shuangcheng, you've kept this a secret for a long time."

The crowd was slightly taken aback and stunned. Leng Shuangcheng's face paled, but she quickly understood his meaning—Nie Wuyou and Gu Dukaixuan had disappeared at the same time, and Qiu Yeyijian already knew his secret; he was blaming her for not even mentioning it to Wu Sanshou.

Sure enough, Qiu Yeyi turned around and stood in front of Leng Shuangcheng: "Was it Lonely Triumph who saved you at Qingshan Temple?"

Leng Shuangcheng raised her head and calmly said, "Yes."

In an instant, everyone saw Qiu Yeyi's face turn deathly pale, his handsome features from his lips to his jawline becoming as cold as ice. He raised his hand and struck Leng Shuangcheng from behind. The powerful palm wind sent Leng Shuangcheng's clothes flying, but she stood still without moving.

With a deafening crash, the tables and chairs were reduced to dust, leaving the right side of the Ye family's main hall in a chaotic mess. As everyone exchanged bewildered glances, they heard him ask coldly, "Did he change your medicine?"

After thinking for a moment, Leng Shuangcheng actually said, "They're all monks."

Qiu Yeyi pursed her thin lips, put her left hand behind her back and coldly snorted: "Don't let him fall into my hands, remember that." Then she walked to the main seat and sat down, resting her chin on her hand and staring coldly into the air.

The atmosphere in the hall was indifferent. Qiu Yeyi's handsome face shimmered with a faint light under the candlelight.

The fortune teller glanced at Leng Shuangcheng, his eyes still sharp as a leopard's, seeing through everything. Leng Shuangcheng met his gaze, feeling a chill in her heart, then turned her eyes away, focusing only on the silver light.

No one spoke.

Leng Shuangcheng gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak, "Young Master, is there any progress on this assassination attempt?"

Seeing that Qiu Ye Yijian remained indifferent and silent, the fortune teller interjected, "The wounds of these two men have been examined and found to have been caused by the blade scraping their chests and lungs. They have been specially sent to the Ye residence, hoping that you, young master, can discern what kind of weapon caused the injuries."

Leng Shuangcheng's eyebrows twitched, but after thinking for a moment, she still didn't speak.

Qiu Yeyi's cold, clear eyes narrowed like needles as she stared into the air, lost in thought. The Divine Calculator looked at Leng Shuangcheng, who sighed and stepped forward, calling out, "Young Master, Young Master..."

Qiu Yeyi glanced back at her calm yet somewhat bewildered expression, tapped her knee with her left hand, propped her head up, and said, "Didn't you see through everything?"

Leng Shuangcheng pursed her lips and obediently stood beside him. Qiu Ye waited until she was close enough to knee-deep before looking up at everyone in the hall with satisfaction: "If the steward wants to know anything, just ask her."

The fortune teller focused his gaze on her and said coldly, "Miss Leng, please."

Leng Shuangcheng pondered for a moment before speaking, "The wounds on these two individuals weren't simply caused by a sword. The scattered holes are from gunpowder. Logically, in a feud in the martial world, two different weapons wouldn't be used repeatedly, so I don't know where this weapon came from." He then turned and asked, "Has the young master seen it before?"

Qiu Yeyi's expression was somewhat dazed. He withdrew his gaze from Leng Shuangcheng's hair, only to see the person in front of him subtly raise his eyebrows. "Never seen it before, but I can tell it's not a weapon from the Central Plains."

Leng Shuangcheng hesitated before replying, "If Wu You is conscious, perhaps we can ask him to come and take a look."

Qiu Yeyi stood up with a straight back and said indifferently, "We'll talk about it after the battle at the Iron Tower."

With less than six days until the agreed-upon meeting at the Cloud Tower, everyone understood the crucial nature of this battle and fell silent for a moment.

Qiu Ye took two steps with the sword, then turned around and saw Leng Shuangcheng still standing in front of her seat staring at the ground. She couldn't help but shout, "Leng Shuangcheng!" Leng Shuangcheng snapped out of her daze, bowed halfway to everyone, said "Farewell," and followed her away.

After a long while, the fortune teller suddenly turned to look at the other two people in the hall and said coldly, "You've all seen it, haven't you? What do you think of Chu Yi's treatment of you, young master?"

The two remained silent.

“It seems my prediction was correct.” He looked at Yin Guang and said, “Prepare the carriage tomorrow morning. I will request an audience with Princess Linghui. This matter must not be leaked. I will hold anyone who leaks the news accountable.”

The night was hazy, a cool mist hung in the air, and the Ye residence remained utterly silent, with only occasional candlelight flickering like stars in the deep night. Leng Shuangcheng hurried along the long corridor and saw Qiu Ye standing quietly before the flowers and trees, leaning against her sword.

"Why are you acting so intimately with me in the hall, young master?" Leng Shuangcheng stopped three feet away from him.

Qiu Yeyi's right eyebrow twitched slightly, her hands were behind her back, and a smile appeared on her lips, like ripples spreading across the surface of water, the ripples extending to her eyes: "Oh? It seems I haven't been close enough with you usually."

Leng Shuangcheng cursed under his breath in annoyance, seemingly oblivious to the alluring smile on Qiu Ye's face, and persistently asked, "What are you up to now, young master?"

Qiu Yeyi slowly emerged from the shadows, startling Leng Shuangcheng, who subtly took two steps back.

"It's simple to find out, just stay with me tonight."

Leng Shuangcheng's eyes were slightly cold, flashing with a few glints of icy light, and he said coldly, "Young Master is always so undignified."

The layers of flowers and trees resembled a rosy brocade, adorned with vibrant colors amidst the light gauze and emerald mist. Qiu Ye, with her sword at her side and hands behind her back, approached Leng Shuangcheng. Dressed in white, she was as graceful as a celestial being, forcing Leng Shuangcheng to retreat. As she did so, Qiu Ye smiled, revealing a dazzling smile that seemed to captivate the heavens: "So, when I secretly kissed you every night, you were awake. It seems you're not a fool after all, Leng Shuangcheng."

29. Accident

On the second day of the second month of the fourth year of the Jianlong era, at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM).

The Xingyun Iron Pagoda, located in the northeast corner of Kaifeng, is entirely covered in iron-colored glazed tiles. In the morning mist, its hanging bells tinkle in the air, creating a lively symphony. This pagoda was originally one of the eight scenic spots of Bianjing (Kaifeng), a place usually bustling with people. But today, it seems somewhat different.

Two figures stood solemnly atop the tower, facing each other on either side. A few people were scattered sparsely below, with the Imperial Guards standing in imposing formation behind them. Leng Shuangcheng looked up and gazed into the distance. The tower's top was against the blue sky, its waist entwined with white clouds, like a pillar supporting the heavens, rising from the ground and piercing the sky with a majestic air. The two figures stood on the tower's wings high above, like frozen eaves decorations.

Leng Shuangcheng stared at Qiu Yeyi's figure, feeling somewhat uneasy. It wasn't that she didn't trust Qiu Yeyi's martial arts skills, but after nearly a month of companionship, her initial vague dislike had gradually turned into some understanding, and she was indeed somewhat wary of Qiu Yeyi's domineering and persistent personality when he got angry. Although he usually liked to tease and joke with her, seeing him on the verge of life and death made her truly uneasy.

"What exactly is wrong?" Leng Shuangcheng muttered to himself.

“The surface of the glazed pagoda is extremely smooth,” Yu Xue, dressed in white, suddenly said from a distance of three or four zhang.

Leng Shuangcheng's heart stirred. Yu Xue usually didn't speak, but when she did, it was often a crucial point.

“It’s just right for Xiao Qiao’s solid lower body to launch an attack…” Zhao Yingcheng stood to Yu Xue’s right, pondering as he continued. Behind him stood the three elders, their eyes fixed intently on this unprecedented battle.

The appointed time had arrived, yet the two figures on the tower remained motionless. Lan Jun stepped forward and proclaimed in a loud voice, "Both of you are renowned martial arts masters of our time, bearing the weight of the world's expectations, representing the supreme level of two dynasties..."

Suddenly, everyone understood what Lan Jun meant and held their breath, waiting for him to continue. Qiu Yeyi and Xiao Qiao were both top experts from their respective dynasties. To prevent them from tampering with each other's weapons, they had to be fair and impartial in front of everyone.

"This battle will shake the world and be remembered for generations to come. To be fair, could you two exchange your weapons for inspection, so as to demonstrate your great trust?"

The people below the tower all nodded slightly, inwardly praising Lan Jun for her thoughtful consideration and for pointing this out first.

Leng Shuangcheng's eyes shone brightly, clearly seeing Qiu Yeyi's lips move slightly: "What does Mr. Xiao think?"

Xiao Qiao replied calmly, "Before a life-or-death battle, how can one part with the weapon of victory? However, if it is given to one person, I, Xiao, will have no worries."

"who?"

"The boy who bowed that night."

Qiu Yeyi suddenly said calmly, "Thank you."

Xiao Qiao asked curiously, "Why did you express your gratitude, young master?"

“Since Mr. Xiao trusts my wife, he is praising her honesty and integrity, and we should thank him.”

Xiao Qiao smiled calmly: "When I saw Madam risking her life to save others at the celebration, I knew that Madam was of virtuous character. It's not that I'm praising her, but that she is indeed very good." He paused, then added with a hint of lingering interest: "I hope you cherish her."