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Leng Shuangcheng pressed further, "Is the steward certain?"

"The Qian hexagram is also known as the Jian hexagram. The six 'Yi' characters represent Yang, symbolizing the strength and vigor of the Heavenly Way, indicating prosperity and strength." Wu Suan stretched out his hand and explained carefully, "The 'Yi' characters correspond to the six stages of the dragon: the hidden dragon, the manifest dragon, the vigilant dragon, the leaping dragon, the flying dragon, and the soaring dragon. Huang Yu unintentionally revealed her thoughts through this: she is lurking in the abyss, waiting for the dragon to ascend to the heavens. Such an arrogant person, using the heavens as a metaphor, is truly the first time Wu Suan has ever seen."

Leng Shuangcheng remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled quietly: "My painstaking efforts were not in vain."

Wu Suan and Yin Guang looked at her with surprise and suspicion. She picked up a chess piece, held it in her hand and carefully rubbed it, savoring the warm and delicate tremor in her palm: "This time, besides trying to find out the recipe for the medicine man, I have another major purpose in infiltrating Huang Yu's ranks, which is to provoke Huang Yu Shu Xue's anger. The more she hates me, the more confident I am in leading her into a trap."

Raising her head, Leng Shuangcheng's eyes were firm, and she said resolutely, "She has offended me several times, and I will punish her severely. I have endured long enough in order to wipe her and the Tantric sect out of this place."

41. Background

The scenery inside and outside the mansion is quite different. Outside, the courtyard is full of green trees and surrounded by bamboo, with lotus flowers and flowing water reflecting on both sides, tinkling like jade pendants. Inside, a light fragrance fills the air, and the curtains are lowered, with only a gentle breeze rustling through, and glimpses of summer scenery outside the curtains.

Autumn leaves leaned against the sword, silent and still lying flat as a stone. The once indifferent face was now tinged with a heavy purplish-blue, like a piece of jade soaked in a pale purple luster, revealing an even more crystalline and bone-chilling texture.

The west wind blew the curtains, but the person on the bed remained motionless. His dark eyebrows seemed to be set in his handsome face, without the slightest tremor. Leng Shuangcheng carefully examined his face for a long time, feeling that this was the first time she had looked at him so closely, as if she were appreciating a painting with profound brushstrokes.

"Qiuye has always kept his thoughts hidden. Isn't he worried at all about keeping this appointment?"

Leng Shuangcheng had been silently pondering this question, asking Yin Guang and Wu Suan, but neither of them could offer any clues. A gentle breeze blew by, scattering strands of white hair at her temples, which fluttered in the wind. The withered white hair that swept past her eyes jolted Leng Shuangcheng out of her grief: her body was suffering from the backlash of the cold poison, and the day she would faint was drawing ever closer. If she didn't gather her strength and attend to her business soon, she feared it would be too late.

The bed curtains cast jagged shadows, and Leng Shuangcheng, dressed in a moon-white robe, sat quietly within them, her white hair standing out starkly against her face. Wu Suan gazed at Leng Shuangcheng, who stood like a silent, sculpted figure, and the withered color of her hair inexplicably reminded him of a line: "Have you not seen the bright mirror in the high hall reflecting the sorrow of white hair, black as silk in the morning, white as snow by evening?"

When confronted with his questioning, Leng Shuangcheng revealed her hidden thoughts.

Having experienced the confrontation with Qiu Ye two years ago, Leng Shuangcheng judged that Huang Yu Shuxue was eccentric. Under her repeated provocations, Huang Yu would probably lose her temper and eventually be led into her trap.

When pressed for details about the specific location and plans, Leng Shuangcheng refused to speak.

A cool, snow-like touch spread beneath his fingers, as serene as the moonlight, the fabric smooth and silky against his fingertips. Leng Shuangcheng moved his fingers unconsciously, gently caressing Qiu Yeyijian's chin and face, as if he were touching her normally.

She must remember his face. This journey is uncertain and fraught with danger. If anything goes wrong, someone else will be sent to treat him.

No one can predict tomorrow's fate; this lesson was vividly taught to her by Heaven back in Youzhou.

Wu Suan looked at Leng Shuangcheng's profile, lifted the hem of his robe, and suddenly knelt down before her.

His knees slammed onto the silent, hard marble floor, the sound of his bones snapping breaking the tranquility of the mansion. Leng Shuangcheng turned slightly, remaining seated, and frowned as he asked, "Steward Wu, what's wrong with you?"

"Wu has been indebted to Madam for a long time and should have apologized to her long ago."

Leng Shuangcheng's face paled even more, and she quickly stood up and offered a perfunctory bow to Wu Suan: "Judging from the steward's expression, it reminds me of something... Did Qiu Ye force you to treat me like this?"

Wu Suan's face was like a withered tree, but his sharp eagle eyes were as bright as candlelight: "Young master did not force me. I am kneeling to thank the madam on behalf of all the people of Wufang Island."

"Get up, Steward." Leng Shuangcheng bent down and placed his hand firmly on Wu Suan's arm. "Why do you need to cover for Qiu Ye? When has he ever failed to keep his word? He made a harsh statement to Princess Linghui a long time ago, demanding that you be the first to kowtow to me and admit your mistake... Isn't that right?"

Wu Suan stood up and bowed, saying, "In this time of crisis, Madam stepped forward and shouldered the heavy responsibility. Wu Suan truly admires her..."

"There's no need to dwell on those empty words," Leng Shuangcheng said with a slight smile. "The steward is being so polite; surely he has something to say?"

Wu Suan's gaze widened in surprise, like a lamp wick bursting in the wind, illuminating a great deal of light: "Indeed, I cannot hide it from you, Madam. I would like to inform you of one of the last precepts of Bixie Manor."

Leng Shuangcheng recalled the stone tablet in the Qingyi Camp and felt a little surprised, but said calmly, "Please, Steward."

Wu Suan crossed his hands, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: "This last precept was established by the previous lord of the manor, the great lord who is also the young master's father, Qiu Yinyuan."

"After the Grand Master inherited the Bixie Manor, he expanded it to the scale of an island nation. He also personally wrote the two characters 'Wufang,' which was his hope that the island would break free from the chaos and develop in an unconventional way. When the Grand Master was traveling, he met the young master's mother, Princess Chang Le Ye Ying. After the two returned to the island, they got married."

"The old father-in-law (Ye Ying's father) has always opposed their marriage, and even used some methods to separate the couple. I don't know the specific details... Princess Chang Le later died in childbirth. On that day, the head of the manor summoned me and Mr. Dongge, entrusting the young master to us. I still remember the day the head of the manor disappeared; his face was ashen and his expression haggard. He stared into my eyes and said to me, 'Wu Suan, Xiao Ying and I spent little time together when she was alive. Now, let me spend more time with her... I only hope that this child won't be like me when he grows up. If he falls in love with someone, he must never be indecisive, otherwise he will regret it when he loses her... I promised my father-in-law that I would entrust the child to him for upbringing. You and Dongge must provide more assistance and supervision... When the young master marries the young mistress in the future, you and Dongge must both agree.'"

After Wu Suan finished speaking in a deep voice, he noticed that Leng Shuangcheng's expression remained unchanged, showing no fluctuation whatsoever. He began to understand why Dongge had chosen her as his wife. Leng Shuangcheng paused for a moment, then asked, "Where did the Grand Master go?"

"They disappeared without a trace that very day, and there has been no news of them since."

Leng Shuangcheng slowly walked to the side of the bed and sat down, looking at Qiu Yeyi's face: "The previous generation's instructions were to establish a young mistress for the manor... So that's the reason. That's why Qiu Ye cut off her own way out and coerced you to acknowledge me."

Her voice was low and drawn out. Recalling Qiu Yeyi's schemes against Wu Suan, she gave a bitter smile.

Wu Suan carefully examined Leng Shuangcheng's face, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Young Madam, the tide will rise in two days..."

“I understand. I will set off soon to the harbor to wait for the cloud gap and return to Wufang to prepare for battle.” Leng Shuangcheng said calmly, then instructed, “Before the first battle, I would like to ask the chief steward to oversee two matters. First, order the people in the manor to organize the islanders to gather at the exit of Wufang so that they can take our return ship to evacuate; second, you must give an order to the guards that anyone with a wife, children, or elderly parents is not allowed to stay in Wufang.”

Leng Shuangcheng finished speaking calmly and stood tall, facing Wu Suan. Even the dim light shining on her moon-white robes exuded a powerful aura of authority. She stared intently into Wu Suan's sharp eyes, showing no sign of evasion: "Steward Wu, can you do it?"

Wu hesitated: "In that case, we'll have even fewer people to defend against the attack."

"Chief Steward Wu!" Leng Shuangcheng raised her voice slightly, her words striking the heart with heavy weight. "What is the point of winning this war if we cannot protect the people of the island? The Japanese assassins are coming with fierce momentum. We martial artists should bear more responsibility and contribute more. Why should we involve others who are weak and worried? As the young mistress, I order you to immediately begin to handle this matter!"

As soon as Leng Shuangcheng finished speaking with her authoritative voice, Wu Suan, who was usually unaware of her joy or sorrow, immediately bowed and said, "Yes."

When Huang Yushuxue caught Ruan Hong, four hours had passed since Qiu Yeyijian was injured.

Her soft red clothes were disheveled, and her hair fell across her pale face. Her once beautiful face had lost its luster, and she was especially terrified when she saw the white-clad, snow-white-haired man smiling like an immortal. "Young Master, spare me... Young Master, spare me... It's not that I didn't want to report to you, but I wanted to wait until nightfall, when others wouldn't notice, before sneaking back..."

Shuxue smiled and reached out her hand to stroke her soft, rosy face: "Good child, you're so frightened... Instead of begging in this dirty backstreet, why don't you come back with me..."

Ruan Hong burst into tears, sobbing as she said, "Thank you, young master, for sparing my life."

Shuxue continued to smile: "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened at the headquarters?"

Ruan Hong silently recalled for a moment, noticing that the young master seemed to be in a good mood, and his speech had become clear and articulate: "Leng Shuangcheng walked into the cell covered in blood, looking very angry. While she was choking me, I used the sect's secret technique, 'Turtle Breathing Technique,' to hold my breath and feign death, thus escaping death. The guards carried my body and threw it into the ditch. On the way, I closed my eyes and heard many sounds, including the hurried footsteps of passersby and many people shouting, 'Quick, quick, see what the imperial physician needs.' I dared not open my eyes until there was no more movement at the ditch before I escaped..."

Shu Xue hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How does Leng Shuangcheng look?"

"She was very angry, as if she was seriously injured, and covered in blood." Although Ruan Hong did not know the key points of the matter, she still dared not lie in front of her young master. "I heard her speaking incoherently, shouting wildly."

Shu Xue smiled gently after hearing this, extremely pleased with herself: "Good child, this news is too important." As she spoke, she clenched her slender hand and tightly gripped the soft red throat: "This time you can go well. You will not live again in my hands."

Old Jin glanced at the fallen body of Ruan Hong and asked, "Young Master, why are you so certain about the news that Young Master Qiu Ye is seriously injured and bedridden?"

Shu Xue pulled on the palace veil, gracefully moving forward like a fairy: "Didn't Bai Li say that Leng Shuangcheng is soft-hearted and wouldn't kill someone without reason? She was able to crush Ruan Hong to death with her bare hands, which shows she was quite angry. Even if she can act, how can she pretend with so many subordinates in the camp? Moreover, Ruan Hong's younger brother is in our hands, yet Ruan Hong didn't care, which shows she was indeed terrified... Numerous events indicate that Young Master Qiu Ye must have been seriously injured, and is probably lying in bed on the verge of death right now!"

Old Jin took two steps to catch up and said, "Should we send a message to General Yelü now, instructing him to prepare for battle in advance?"

“Yes,” Shuxue said confidently. “He has been waiting for this development for several days. Now that the source of the information is confirmed, I am relieved. Don’t forget to dissolve the soft red corpse.”

Old Jin glanced behind him, hesitated, and said, "Young Master, I've always had a question..."

"Speak."

"Why...why does General Yelü insist on Young Master Qiuye falling first? Is it because he doesn't want him to be able to take charge of the overall situation?"

Shu Xue suddenly smiled and said, "If both sides lose their commanders, wouldn't the battle be easier to fight?"

Old Jin sighed, "I never imagined that General Yelü was so wary of the young master..."

"Not entirely." Shu Xue chuckled lightly, her smile as radiant as a flower. "What he fears most is the last trump card that you hold in your hand, young master."

"What is it?" Old Jin asked in surprise.

"Retaining Ma Liancheng's methods of supervision and training, the forces secretly cultivated have always been rumored but never seen—the Second Snow Shadow Battalion."

42. Childhood (Part 1)

Bixie Manor, located far away on the coast of the East China Sea, was a secluded island that preserved the peace of the island nation amidst the wars of the Five Dynasties. Until 940 AD, when Princess Chang Le gave birth to a baby boy, the ancient and remote Wufang Island was shrouded in mystery.

After Ye Ying's passing, her father, Ye Cheng'an, took over the upbringing of his grandson, Qiu Ye Yijian, nurturing him behind the scenes for over a decade. According to a servant's report, at the moment of the young master's birth, a blazing sun rose over the sea, a truly auspicious sign of arrogance and dominance. Upon hearing this, Ye Cheng'an was overjoyed and richly rewarded the person who spoke the auspicious words, bestowing upon them a reward of over a hundred taels of gold. From then on, wherever the young master appeared, everyone felt a mixture of envy and trepidation, serving this young master with utmost care and devotion.

In fact, Ye Cheng'an always harbored strong selfish motives.

Long before His Majesty ascended the throne, His Majesty earnestly told him: "The situation is turbulent, and the court urgently needs talented people to govern the country and bring peace to the world. I want to start now to cultivate a group of noble sons who, when they grow up, can serve me and contribute to the government."

Qiu Yeyijian and Zhao Yingcheng were born in the same year and were both selected for the list.

However, Ye Cheng'an did not expect that Qiu Ye Yijian would not only grow up as he had expected, but also break through all the rules and regulations in his conduct and show an extraordinary side even at a young age.

No, it's more about multiple aspects.

In the spring of 942, the wintergreen was evergreen and all trees were reviving. When Qiu Yeyijian was two years old, An Jie went to Wu Fang to become the young master's personal chef, beginning his life of hardship.

Inside the mountain villa's dining hall, the pale blue-white floor and the gleaming tableware complemented each other, creating a serene atmosphere. The young man in white had a face as white and translucent as inkstone, with dark, captivating eyes. His robes were embroidered with gold thread, and even when seated, his noble bearing gave An Jie the impression of a porcelain doll.

The young master never smiled. He sat quietly alone on the brocade-red bouquet chair, finishing his lunch without saying a word. After rinsing his mouth with tea, he said in a clear voice, "This is delicious."

An Jie wiped his sweat, his chubby face beaming with a smile: "Reporting to the young master and the steward, this dish is called 'Eight Wonders of Good Fortune,' and it is actually made with eight different ingredients, including tofu, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and chicken breast. It is soft and smooth to the touch, and refreshing without being greasy..."

Before he could finish speaking, the young master interrupted, "Soft."

An Jie was speechless. Wu Suan, who had been standing respectfully to the side of the hall with his hands at his sides, stepped forward and looked at An Jie: "Young Master said that the soft texture pleases him... From now on, you should follow this recipe."

An Jie bowed: "I dare not deceive the steward, but there is an animal rib in this dish that is not easy to find..."

The young master stared straight at An Jie, his dark eyes gleaming. An Jie turned to look at Wu Suan, and from the steward's eyes, he became even more certain of the coldness. Just as he was hesitating, the steward spoke coldly again: "If there is nothing, then send Zhao Yong to collect tonics. Make sure the young master is satisfied!"

An Jie bowed and accepted the order, then personally escorted the young master out of the hall so he could continue his studies for the day.

Everyone in the village knew that the young master was exceptionally talented, with unparalleled mastery of swordsmanship. Every day, he would go to the seabed to practice swordsmanship for several hours. As he grew older, his practice time became longer and longer, while he could not neglect the studies supervised by Master Dongge. Therefore, the young master's rest time became shorter and shorter. However, An Jie never saw the young master show any displeasure.

Five years passed like this, and the young master ate that Eight Wonders Ruyi dish for five years without ever changing his taste.

On the first day of the third month, the young master's birthday, Ye Chang'an, who was far away in Kaifeng, sent him a falcon.

The falcon had a sharp, hooked blue beak and powerful claws that seemed to crackle with lightning. The young master stared at it for a long time before suddenly saying, "Its eyes are too cold; I don't like them." He then ordered his men to strip it of its feathers.

The eagle flapped its wings in pain all night in its cage, and the next day it only had feathers on its chest and abdomen, while its wings were bald, which was extremely strange.

The young master ordered its hinges to be loosened, and the falcon swooped down, pecking fiercely at his eyes. But the young man, as straight as a poplar tree, didn't move. He threw a punch, and the falcon screeched as it fell to the ground.

“Pick it up and then throw it back to me,” he said coldly.

The falcon couldn't withstand the young master's punches several times and collapsed to the ground, barely alive. He glanced at it and, thinking it was enough, said, "Have someone take good care of it, don't let it die."

As winter turned to spring, the eagle's wings grew full and it became accustomed to the young master's fists and feet. After suffering countless injuries, the eagle finally spread its wings and flew high, no longer daring to hover low, because if it landed even an inch, a fierce palm wind would fly over and scatter its feathers in a flurry.

The hairy beast also understood a principle: to avoid being hit, it could only fly to a higher sky.

One day, the falcon disappeared. The young master stood in the courtyard and summoned everyone to question them one by one, but still could not get a result. After thinking for a while, he wrote a letter to Ye Cheng'an. After a few words, he miraculously got the falcon back.

Wu Suan asked, "How did you know, young master, that it was Lord Ye who took this beast away?"

"He was afraid I'd become obsessed with trivial things and lose my ambition." The eight-year-old boy in white didn't explain much, just said this. Wu Suan had always felt something was amiss, and after much inquiry, he finally understood what had made Ye Cheng'an change his mind.

As the young master once said: "I have personally witnessed a falcon pull out its own beak and claws, its entire body covered in blood, just to grow a new set of claws and teeth, so that it can live for another thirty years. It is not a beast; it is stronger than a human."

It was later proven that the young master did indeed witness the falcon's transformation firsthand, and he watched it intently without blinking.