Une aura glaçante

Chapitre 2

"You mean, if I do something for you, you'll give me this umbrella?"

“Excellent! I only need you to make a trip to Hangzhou Prefecture for me.”

"Hmm, please elaborate."

Xue Beihai took out a brocade box in a sheepskin bag from his pocket and handed it to Xiaodao. "Go to Xinghai Garden in Hangzhou Prefecture to find my brother Xue Beifan. Give him the box in person and remind him to be wary of the Beihai faction."

What's inside the box?

"Five Diagrams of the Dragon Bone!"

Yan Xiaodao stuck out his tongue. People often say there are four treasures in the martial arts world: "Moon Sea Golden Boat, Holy Martial Emperor's Manual, Red Paper Treasure Umbrella, and Wind and Moon Without Worry." Among them, the most mysterious are the Moon Sea Golden Boat and the Holy Martial Emperor's Manual, which are said to be hidden in the North Sea Crystal Palace. And the location of this North Sea Crystal Palace is recorded on the Dragon Bone Five Diagram composed of these five dragon bones.

"It's so valuable, aren't you afraid I'll keep it all for myself if you entrust it to me?"

Xue Beihai was silent for a while before speaking, "Since we can't trust our own people, let's trust outsiders."

Xiao Dao thought for a moment, looked at the box and then at the red umbrella, "Then the red paper umbrella is mine!"

Xue Beihai nodded, gave Yan Xiaodao a high five to seal the deal, and the transaction was finalized.

...

The next morning, the heavy rain turned into a light drizzle. Yan Xiaodao, carrying a red umbrella, left the back mountain of the Beihai Sect, with the Dragon Bone Five Diagrams tucked in his arms, and rushed to Hangzhou by boat.

Xue Beihai was healing his injuries in the cave when someone quietly slipped in – it was Xue Fu.

"Master, is everything settled?"

Xue Beihai opened his eyes and nodded, "This time it was truly a narrow escape, and it's all thanks to your quick thinking that you figured out her identity."

"Master, can Yan Xiaodao really help us?"

"Of course." Xue Beihai closed his eyes slightly, calm and composed. "Next, it's up to Bei Fan."

[The Split Personality Detective and the Masked Girl]

May, a country road outside Hangzhou Prefecture.

The road was a black dirt road, paved with a layer of fine gravel, then covered with a layer of gray mudstone slabs. After a light rain, the slabs turned black, and the dirt road was no longer gray, but clean and refreshing.

On one side, a vast expanse of golden vegetable fields stretched out, rippling in the breeze like golden waves, and against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, attracting passersby to stop and admire the view.

On the other side, the fishpond is crystal clear, its mirror-like surface reflecting the sky, shimmering and stretching far into the distance. A thin mist floats on the water like drifting clouds, moving with the water and disappearing like clouds. Occasionally, a lone gull appears, sometimes spreading its wings, sometimes standing alone. Fishermen who have risen early to set out on their boats, in high spirits, might even strum a few lines of music, adding a touch of life to this morning scene in Jiangnan, making it all the more like a dream.

The talented men and women who got up early to enjoy the view were eager to compose poems and lyrics, so as to indulge in some elegance before the fog lifted.

In the midst of this serene and tranquil rural landscape, a striking splash of red appeared in the distance.

Pedestrians turned to look, and there they saw a beautiful woman on the road, holding a brightly colored red paper umbrella, riding a small donkey, slowly walking forward.

This girl is beautiful and charming, perfectly suited to the Jiangnan water scenery. The red umbrella makes her fair skin look even more rosy and lovely.

She carried a small bundle on her back, sat on the back of a donkey, and looked around, hoping to find a teahouse nearby where she could have a nice breakfast of steamed buns.

And there came Yan Xiaodao.

Finally spotting the large "Tea" sign, Yan Xiaodao quickly jumped off her donkey and chose a seat by the roadside. A waiter came to greet her, and seeing she was a pretty young woman, his voice softened unconsciously, "Are you traveling alone, young lady? Would you like breakfast?"

Xiao Dao put away the red umbrella, carefully dried it, and then asked the waiter for a bowl of tofu pudding and a steamed bun.

The waiter quickly brought it over, along with a plate of homemade pickled cucumber slices. Yan Xiaodao held her chopsticks with her fingers, picking at the cucumber slices and eating them with her steamed bun, leisurely enjoying her meal.

After eating for a while, there were more pedestrians on the road.

The Suzhou-Huzhou area has always been a hub for merchants. Businessmen who rush to do business early in the morning are always in a hurry. Once the rain stops and the sun comes out, the fairyland-like morning scenery dissipates, leaving only the bustling atmosphere and prosperity.

The tea stall gradually filled up, but there were still three empty seats in front of Xiao Daoyan.

With a "snap," a large knife was placed across the table, right under Xiao Dao's nose.

The knife is three feet three inches long, with a wide-mouthed leather sheath, nine sections of binding rope, and a serial number, so it's estimated that an official has come.

Xiao Dao glanced up and saw a martial arts performer sitting in front of him. He was young, only in his early twenties, with regular features and neatly combed hair. Sweat beaded on his forehead, which he casually wiped with his sleeve. He called to the waiter, "Four steamed buns and a bowl of porridge!"

Xiao Dao tore off a small piece of steamed bun and ate it with cucumber slices, then noticed a gold medal half-hidden and half-revealed on the man's waist—he was probably a constable.

The young man wiped his sweat and waited for his food. When he looked up, he saw that the person sitting opposite him was a girl. He lowered his head shyly, not daring to look closely, and waited to eat.

Xiao Dao slightly raised the corners of his mouth—he's an honest man.

Xiao Dao ate two more bites, and the young man suddenly looked up and shouted to the waiter, "Another bowl of beef noodles, please!"

Xiao Dao stared wide-eyed at the four steamed buns and a bowl of porridge that had vanished in an instant, muttering to himself—what a glutton!

We were eating when two more people arrived.

As I stood in front of the tea stall, hesitating because there were no seats, the waiter quickly called out, "Esteemed guests, we happen to have two empty seats here!"

So one person sat down in the seat next to Xiao Dao and the constable, and the other person stood behind him.

Xiao Dao heard a slightly muffled voice say, "A pot of tea, two steamed buns."

Although the voice was muffled, it was clearly a woman's, but unlike most women, this person spoke in a cool, low voice. Xiao Dao thought the voice was pleasant, so he looked up, only to be startled.

Sitting next to Xiao Dao was a man in his twenties, who was also sizing up Xiao Dao. The man was very handsome, and Xiao Dao guessed he was someone of importance, because he exuded an air of nobility, dressed impeccably, and moved with elegance. However, what caught Xiao Dao's attention wasn't this young nobleman, but the person standing behind him.

That was a woman dressed in black and wearing a mask; she must be the one who just spoke.

She stood behind the young nobleman, like an attendant or bodyguard. She was tall and slender, but her face and expression were completely obscured by a mask, and her long black hair was hidden under her clothes. The mask was probably a ghost mask from a shamanic ritual; it was white and looked quite frightening.

Although her face was not visible, she gave off a cold and calm vibe... Xiao Dao was very curious about her.

The masked woman glanced at Xiao Dao but remained silent.

When the tea was served, the masked woman carefully tested it with a silver needle, and only after confirming it was safe did she place it before the young nobleman. She then washed his cup, poured him some tea, and returned to her position behind him.

The gluttonous constable was eating his second bowl of noodles when he saw this and said indifferently, "You have hands and feet, why do you need someone to serve you?"

Xiao Dao's lips unconsciously curled up a little more—Will they start arguing? This constable is so outspoken!

The young nobleman, resting his chin on his hand, slowly and deliberately asked, "Why has Hao Jinfeng, the Golden Knife Detective, come to Hangzhou?"

"Cough cough..."

Upon hearing the name "Hao Jinfeng," Yan Xiaodao choked on his steamed bun and pounded his chest.

The young nobleman reached out and poured her a cup of tea, handing it to her.

Xiao Dao took the knife, thanked her, and handed her the steamed bun. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the masked woman seemed to have glanced at him again.

"I'm here to capture Xue Beifan," Hao Jinfeng replied.

Yan Xiaodao had originally planned to put down the cup and leave, but upon hearing the name "Xue Beifan," she stopped sitting still. Was this the Xue Beifan she was looking for?

"Xue Beifan is a friend of mine, Shen Xinghai. He's been a guest at Xinghai Garden for the past month. I don't know what he did that made the imperial constables come all this way to arrest him?"

Yan Xiaodao clicked his tongue twice in his heart. It's true what they say, nothing is more coincidental than running into Shen Xinghai, the owner of Xinghai Garden, here.

"Xue Beifan, that lecherous scoundrel, is unforgivable. I must arrest him and bring him to justice!"

"A lecher?"

Xiao Dao couldn't help but blurt out a sentence, and both Shen Xinghai and Hao Jinfeng looked at her.

Xiao Dao quickly lowered his head.

Hao Jinfeng asked Shen Xinghai, "It is said that Xue Beihai died suddenly on the eve of his wedding, yet Xue Beifan is still eating, drinking, and having fun in Jiangnan?!"

“Brother Xue dislikes getting involved in the martial world and has a distant relationship with his brother,” Shen Xinghai explained. “He spends his days boating on West Lake, carefree and at ease. I have known him for many years. Although he is romantic, he is not lewd. He is definitely not a lecher. Please investigate thoroughly and do not wrong an innocent person.”

"Injustice?"

Upon hearing those two words, Hao Jinfeng's face suddenly darkened. The man, who had been so warm and welcoming, now seemed to have fallen into an ice cellar. His voice changed too, becoming sinister, cold, and forced, "Do you think I'm the kind of corrupt official, incompetent constable, who frames innocent people, can't distinguish right from wrong, and is utterly despicable? Someone who seeks promotion and wealth by falsely accusing others?"

Shen Xinghai and Yan Xiaodao stared at him in disbelief, holding their cups—how did this constable suddenly become a different person?

Finally... Xiao Dao slurped down a mouthful of hot tea, and everyone came to their senses.

Hao Jinfeng shook his head, regaining his previous "idiot" expression, looking completely bewildered. "What did I just say?"

Shen Xinghai lowered his head and drank his tea. People say that Hao Jinfeng is good in every way, except that his temperament can change suddenly at times. It turns out that it is true.

Yan Xiaodao already knew that Xue Beifan was on a boat on West Lake. Since Hao Jinfeng, that plague god, was looking for him, he should hurry up and deliver the things, and then get as far away from him as possible.

After thinking it over, he put down two copper coins and got up to leave.

Just as Xiao Dao reached out to lead the little donkey, he heard Hao Jinfeng ask Shen Xinghai again, "Is the Dragon Bone Five Diagrams in Xue Beifan's hands?"

Shen Xinghai quickly shrugged, "I have no idea."

Yan Xiaodao paused unconsciously, but to avoid arousing suspicion, he calmly led the donkey away. Shen Xinghai and Hao Jinfeng were still talking, seemingly oblivious, except for the masked woman, who glanced at Xiaodao again.

After Xiao Dao left, Hao Jinfeng asked Shen Xinghai, "Do you know that girl from earlier?"

Shen Xinghai smiled slightly, "Such a beautiful girl, if I knew her, I would definitely remember her."

Hao Jinfeng stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "She looks familiar...where have I seen her before?"

Although Hao Jinfeng didn't remember Yan Xiaodao, Yan Xiaodao knew him, and the two even had a long history together.

Twenty years ago, Yan Xiaodao's mother, Yan Ruyu, was a renowned thief in the martial arts world, known as the Flying Fox. The imperial court dispatched Hao Jiulong, the Golden Knife Divine Constable, to capture her. However, Hao Jiulong not only failed to catch Yan Ruyu, but also lost his knife. After returning, he resigned from his official post and retired to the mountains.

Everyone in the martial arts world thought Hao Jiulong was traumatized by his defeat to the Flying Fox, but that wasn't the case. Yan Xiaodao had heard from her mother that Hao Jiulong and she had become husband and wife and had a son and a daughter. The son was Hao Jinfeng, and the daughter was naturally Yan Xiaodao. The two were one year apart in age.

In the third year of their marriage, when Xiaodao was just a month old, Yan Ruyu suspected Hao Jiulong of having affairs. The two had a big fight and then went their separate ways, each leaving their son and daughter to live separately.

Hao Jiulong then returned to the martial world, becoming the world's number one detective. This heartless man even issued a warrant for Yan Ruyu's arrest, forcing Yan Ruyu to live in seclusion in the mountains with a small knife. Hao Jinfeng probably didn't know his own background, only believing Yan Ruyu to be his father's enemy.

Xiao Dao hadn't expected to run into his own brother as soon as he entered Hangzhou, but remembering his heartless father, he decided against it. Also, Hao Jinfeng seemed a bit off? He completely changed his tune the moment he heard the word "wrongfully accused."

Lost in thought, she walked along the embankment of West Lake. The lake was dotted with painted boats; which one had Xue Beifan on it?

Seeing that there were many boatmen ahead, Xiao Dao had a sudden idea and ran to ask one of the boatmen, "Uncle, which one is Xinghai Garden's boat?"

Several boatmen simultaneously pointed to a large two-story boat painted red on the lake, "That one!"

Xiao Dao ran onto a nearby bridge and looked closely at the boat, only to see it heading straight towards him.

At that moment, a man in white was standing at the bow of the boat, holding a wine glass and admiring the scenery. Xiao Dao frowned. He looked sickly but actually quite refined. How did he end up with the reputation of a lecher?

As she was pondering this, someone behind her called out, "Little thief."

Yan Xiaodao was startled and turned around to look.