You Weitian took some medicine and rested for a while. Once he seemed to have regained some strength, he stood up on his own, limping, and didn’t need Hua Yan’s support as he painstakingly walked out alone.
Hua Yan followed him closely.
After a brief period of feeling better, You Weitian couldn’t help but lower his voice and say, “Have you two always been like this?”
Earlier, Lu Chengsha had disappeared after applying the medicine.
Hua Yan replied with an unfriendly tone, “Why, is there a problem?”
You Weitian smirked, “It just seems a bit amusing. I thought a holy maiden didn’t need to follow the rules. Besides, I wonder who you two are keeping these rules for. It’s better to enjoy the moment.”
Hua Yan said, “I don’t follow them, but he has to. What can I do about it?”
“I still have some lovesickness medicine, do you want it? Men are all like this. The more they try to remain chaste, the more they get used to it after a few times. I remember that Bai Shaoxia didn’t even need much medicine; he was holding on to Yin Xiangsi like he was tasting something delicious…” You Weitian paused, smiling mysteriously as if he found it amusing, “…unable to let go.”
Hua Yan felt a momentary urge but then said, “I wouldn’t drug him.” She was a bit curious, though, “I heard Yin Xiangsi went to Baiya Peak to find Bai Yujiang later?”
You Weitian nodded, raising an eyebrow, “It’s her personal interest. She enjoys watching those men feeling both shame and irresistible desire.”
Hua Yan initially wanted to say she couldn’t understand it, but if the person involved was Lu Chengsha, she suddenly could understand. However, she decided to let it go!
Hua Yan casually asked, “What was Bai Yujiang’s reaction?”
“What reaction could he have? He’s no match for Yin Xiangsi in any way. Poor guy won’t be able to recover his martial arts in this lifetime,” You Weitian’s tone held no sympathy, only a hint of ridicule, “If he was willing to humble himself and become Yin Xiangsi’s male servant, she might think of a way to help him recover some of his skills. But then, he’d never be able to leave her and could never be the young master of Baiya Peak again.”
Hua Yan wanted to ask how exactly he couldn’t leave her, but felt that asking might lead to questions about You Weitian himself.
She was curious about You Weitian and Yin Xiangsi’s relationship but knew it wasn’t appropriate to ask.
So, she changed the subject, “Where should I take you now? To find Zuo Jingshuang?”
You Weitian asked curiously, “Why go to her?”
Hua Yan said, “You’re seriously injured, and we don’t know if those pursuers will come after you again. Naturally, you need to find someone you trust to take care of you.”
You Weitian replied nonchalantly, “No need, what good is she?”
His tone was quite dismissive.
Hua Yan was taken aback for a moment.
You Weitian said, “She hasn’t figured out that I’ve been cursed, nor that there’s a problem with my martial arts. She still thinks I had some miraculous encounter. Isn’t that foolish? She believes whatever I tell her. Maybe all her talent went into martial arts, leaving her so clueless that if she weren’t Ling Tianxiao’s disciple, she’d have been tricked long ago.”
His blunt assessment made Hua Yan feel a bit indignant.
“To get you the Silver Ring Snake Fruit, she specially asked Mu Xuelang for help and went all the way to Night City…”
You Weitian said impatiently, “I didn’t ask her to go, nor did I ask her to seek Mu Xuelang’s help.”
Hua Yan was speechless for a moment and then said, “Don’t you like her? Why this attitude!”
You Weitian replied, “When did I ever say I liked her?”
Hua Yan exclaimed, “Huh?”
She had always thought his relationship with Zuo Jingshuang was similar to hers with Lu Chengsha.
You Weitian said, “We’re just former senior and junior martial siblings. There might have been some affection, but it will fade sooner or later. Just drop me off at the nearby town; I’ll find someone to meet me. I still have to continue investigating this matter.”
Hua Yan thought for a moment, still somewhat puzzled, “But she likes you, doesn’t she?”
You Weitian said, “She doesn’t like me; she likes the senior martial brother who used to be kind to her, make her laugh, and grew up with her.”
Hua Yan said, “Is there a difference?”
You Weitian laughed, “Of course there is… Alright, if I keep talking to you, Young Hero Lu will start giving me murderous looks again.”
Hua Yan wanted to say that Lu Chengsha wasn’t that petty. He wouldn’t get jealous just because she talked to someone else. It was only when someone got too close or intimate with her that Lu Chengsha got upset. But seeing that You Weitian didn’t want to continue, she didn’t press the matter.
They continued on their way to a nearby small town. Along the way, there were still pursuers, but they were easily dealt with by Lu Chengsha. Hua Yan had specifically asked him to leave some alive, but once captured, the black-clad pursuers bit down on poison and died instantly, giving no chance for interrogation, and no clues were found on their bodies.
When You Weitian reached an inn, he said, “This will do. Thank you for your help. Holy Maiden, please feel free to go about your business.”
Hua Yan said, “Are you sure it’s alright? If you’re worried, I can call over a hall master nearby to protect you for a while—seeing things through to the end, after all. By the way, I’ll inform our sect leader of your news later. I don’t know what progress he’s made on his side.”
“No need,” You Weitian cupped his fist in a salute, “If there’s any progress, please let me know.”
At this moment, he looked like a proper young hero.
Hua Yan brushed past him, but she was still a bit curious. Since she wasn’t in a hurry to leave, she took another glance.
Before long, she saw a handsome man in white robes hastily walking towards him. You Weitian’s expression changed slightly, with a hint of mockery. Hua Yan could faintly hear the man in white say, “…The sect master is asking where you’ve been and wants you to see her.”
You Weitian collected himself and said, “I’ll go right away.”
Hua Yan had heard from her mother that Yin Xiangsi’s male attendants were no different from male concubines. The only exception was that she wouldn’t extract their energy during intercourse and would even teach them some martial arts techniques for her own use. Once these male attendants were branded by Yin Xiangsi, they could never betray or escape her. However, if they grew old, lost their looks, or became injured and couldn’t recover, Yin Xiangsi would immediately abandon them and replace them with new ones. She changed them so frequently that she sometimes couldn’t remember their names and would number them instead. The old ones would leave, the new ones would take their place, and the number remained constant.
To Yin Xiangsi, these male attendants were more like tools than actual people. She quickly grew tired of them and spent her life seeking new thrills.
When her mother spoke of this, she was full of disdain. At the time, Hua Yan was too young to fully understand. Now, she felt a complex mix of emotions.
Comparing this to her own situation with Lu Chengsha, it didn’t seem so terrible.
Hua Yan called out to him.
Lu Chengsha responded, “What’s wrong?”
Hua Yan said, “Nothing, I just wanted to call you. Even if I can’t see you, it’s nice to know you’re there.”
Lu Chengsha didn’t know what to say. After a while, he said, “They… will eventually understand. You… are really special.”
Hua Yan was amused by him again. “Are you trying to comfort me? How about saying something nice to make me happy?”
She knew this would trouble Lu Chengsha, but she felt quite pleased inside.
After hesitating for a while, Lu Chengsha said, “…Even if you deceive me or drug me, it’s okay.”
Hua Yan was baffled. “…??? Do you know what you’re saying?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “Yes.”
Hua Yan blushed and said, “No! Do you know what kind of drug it is?”
Lu Chengsha said, “Poison?”
Hua Yan said, “It’s the kind you found in Migu Town last time!”
Lu Chengsha: “…”
Hua Yan said, “If you want, I can go find it for you now!”
Lu Chengsha fell into a long and profound silence.
Hua Yan said, “I knew you couldn’t do it. Forget it, let’s go!”
Lu Chengsha: “…”
***
Hua Yan originally planned to leisurely stroll around before returning to the sect.
However, this time, Xie Yingxian’s response came very quickly. Before Hua Yan could leave the city, a demonic sect disciple delivered a message to her. She thought it was Xie Yingxian’s opinion on what Yu Ye had said, but it turned out to be about something else.
After carefully reading the letter, Hua Yan casually crumpled it into pieces, her expression growing serious.
There was no time to return to the sect. Hua Yan disguised herself again and immediately set off on another path.
This matter was rather frightening.
Xie Yingxian had sent people to investigate potential locations on the old map, choosing the most astute disciples and conducting thorough searches. Although the map was ancient and he didn’t have high hopes, he surprisingly found relatives of Jiang Louyue, specifically the Jiang family.
Unfortunately, all of them were dead.
Over the past decade or so, members of the Jiang family had died one by one, either from accidents or illness. The large mansion was now empty, with only a gatekeeper remaining.
The gatekeeper had been favored by the Jiang family but didn’t know what had happened. He simply said that the family had bad luck and that a relative rarely visited, leaving him to guard the mansion alone.
Xie Yingxian, fearing he might alert anyone involved, did not send anyone to thoroughly investigate the mansion. However, he did look into the causes of death, all of which were suspicious.
For example, a young lady from the inner chambers went to a temple to offer incense but accidentally fell off a cliff and was found dead at the bottom. Or an old master who seldom drank suddenly died of alcohol poisoning, supposedly drinking to drown his sorrows over his daughter’s death. However, Xie Yingxian found this explanation far-fetched. Following this, the grieving wife hanged herself, and other relatives died similarly one after another.
The Jiang family mansion was in a remote suburb, and they seldom interacted with others. Neighbors only knew that the family was very generous and that the ladies dressed in luxurious clothes. Regular deliveries continued even after the incidents, although they became less frequent over time.
Due to their low profile, even their funerals were kept simple. No priests were invited, and there was no mourning hall. The family members were hastily buried on a purchased plot of land. Locals would only sigh when mentioning them and didn’t think much further.
Fortunately, the location wasn’t far. When Hua Yan arrived, Xie Yingxian was in an inn in the city, with Nin Yin and Jiang Lan standing guard outside. Hua Yan greeted the two before entering.
Both Xie Yingxian and Hua Yan were currently in disguise, making them look somewhat comical.
Xie Yingxian, dressed in gray, had his sleeves tucked in, his demonic face covered with a long beard, and streaks of white in his hair, posing as an old man. Hua Yan, on the other hand, was disguised as an old woman.
Hua Yan was a bit surprised that he came in person. “Is it that urgent?” she asked.
Xie Yingxian leaned against a couch, with a small table on it holding a few plates of food and a pot of tea. He looked like an old man, slowly picking up a peanut and tossing it into his mouth. Instead of answering her question, he asked, “Did anyone follow you?”
Hua Yan shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
She had been very cautious, and Lu Chengsha was keeping watch.
Using a tone that matched his appearance, Xie Yingxian said slowly, “We need to be careful not to alert anyone—someone might try to destroy the evidence. I suspect that Jiang Louyue is behind this.” As he spoke, he pushed the small table toward Hua Yan and asked, “Want some?”
Hua Yan was about to grab a piece of pastry but stopped when she heard what he said. She was startled and asked, “Why would Jiang Louyue kill his own family?”
Xie Yingxian continued in his slow tone, “Indeed, an ordinary person wouldn’t. But if this Jiang Louyue is an impostor, then the murders make sense.”
Hua Yan was stunned. “An impostor?”
Xie Yingxian smiled slightly and explained, “Based on what you told me, I did some further investigation. Jiang Louyue used to like wearing green, before that yellow, and even earlier, white. These phases lasted at least twenty to thirty years each, but the green phase was very short, less than ten years. After that, Jiang Louyue started wearing bright red clothes. It was during this period that the Jiang family members began to die mysteriously, until now almost none are left.”
Thinking of her previous encounters with Jiang Louyue, Hua Yan felt a chill run down her spine.
Xie Yingxian threw two more peanuts into his mouth, sat up a bit, and poured two cups of tea. He handed one to Hua Yan and said, “I’ve never heard of any Jiang Louyue who could fight. There have always been many guards around him. If he can fight on par with you, or even slightly better, he must be an exceptional talent. Jiang Louyue wears a mask and disguises his voice, which would allow him to make a name for himself under another identity. But he hasn’t, which is very strange. I suspect that the top spot on the list of young martial heroes, which has been vacant for many years, is one he left open for himself. Jiang Louyue either has another identity or one he cannot reveal. If he were just an ordinary member of the Jiang family, none of this would make sense.”
Hua Yan took the tea, sipped it to calm herself, and said while thinking, “Maybe the Jiang family has a rule against gaining fame under another identity.”
Xie Yingxian replied, “I thought of that too, but it wouldn’t justify killing his family members one by one. I inquired about it; Jiang Louyue’s family members couldn’t fight either. His martial skills appeared too mysteriously.”
Hua Yan asked, “So what do we do next?”
Xie Yingxian tapped his knuckles on the table and said, “We need to search the mansion for clues. The fewer people, the better. I originally planned to go alone, but since you’re here, we’ll go together.”
Hua Yan, a bit embarrassed, said, “…I think it might be three of us.”
Xie Yingxian’s tapping on the table paused. “Is he still following you?”
Hua Yan nodded slightly, hesitating. “Do you want to meet him? After all, he is kind of…”
Xie Yingxian shook his finger. “There’s no need. I fear he might not be able to control himself and might draw his sword to attack me.”
Hua Yan assured him, “He wouldn’t do that!”
“That’s uncertain,” Xie Yingxian said with a smile. “By the way, lean in, I need to tell you something.”
Without thinking much, Hua Yan leaned closer.
To her surprise, Xie Yingxian reached out and pinched her ear.
Hua Yan was startled and backed away instinctively. “What are you doing!”
Immediately, a strong murderous aura filled the inn room.
Xie Yingxian, pressing his knuckle against his nose, smiled. “So that’s where it is.”
Hua Yan realized what he was doing but felt a vague sense of foreboding.
This feeling grew stronger when they walked out, and the innkeeper greeted Xie Yingxian with a “Hello, old man,” and Xie Yingxian introduced Hua Yan, disguised as an old woman, as “my wife.” Even the innkeeper sensed something was off, shivering before quickly responding and running off after saying just a few words.
Xie Yingxian’s actions were very deliberate.
After a while, Hua Yan whispered, “Did you do that on purpose?”
Xie Yingxian whispered back, “Just trying to tease him out.”
Hua Yan thought for a moment and said, “Isn’t that a bit much?”
Xie Yingxian replied, “Actually, if you really wanted to force him out back then, I had a bad idea.”
A bad idea?
Xie Yingxian rarely described his suggestions this way.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “What was it?”
In a very calm tone, Xie Yingxian said, “You could marry me—”
Hua Yan: “…Huh???!”
Xie Yingxian raised an eyebrow and smiled. “—Of course, it would be fake, just to see if he’d come to steal you away.”