At odds with the Zhou family? All of this was done by the fool from Jiang–zhou alone?
How ridiculous is that?
“This matter is partly my fault,” said Zhou Liu-lang. “I was the one who took her to Immortal’s Abode in the first place. Then, because of the ‘Passing Immortal’, she and Master Dou had a falling out.”
As he spoke, he looked at Cheng Jiao-niang again, with a hint of resentment in his eyes.
“Who would’ve thought she secretly planned to establish Tai Ping Residence? Quite the capable one!” he said through gritted teeth.
Secretariat Editor Liu chuckled.
“Lady Cheng truly is capable, but that’s no surprise. Anyone else wouldn’t have pulled it off. Just look at Dou Qi—he’s good-for-nothing. He inherited a strong foundation from his family and got lucky, yet even so, Immortal’s Abode can’t keep its immortals,” he said with a smile.
If an outsider were present, the scene would seem as though the tension lay between the young man and woman, while the kindly elder was simply trying to mediate and make peace.
“Those with some ability are bound to become arrogant when they succeed,” Zhou Liu-lang said, glancing at Secretariat Editor Liu. “To tell you the truth, we haven’t even informed our parents or family about this yet.”
“That’s where you’re in the wrong,” Secretariat Editor Liu said kindly, like a compassionate elder offering gentle advice. “Parents are still your parents—how could you keep this from them? Whatever the issue is, talk it through together and come up with a solution.”
“If they were capable of helping me find a solution, would I be in this situation?” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
“Enough! Do you still think this is the time to be talking like that?” Zhou Liu-lang snapped.
Secretariat Editor Liu let out a soft sigh.
“No quarreling, no quarreling,” he said, standing up and raising his hand in a calming gesture, concern lining his voice like an elder’s worry. “Let’s speak properly.”
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him and gave another formal bow.
“Master Liu, it was I who taught him the ‘Passing Immortal’. He couldn’t manage things well, which was his own failure—but then he schemed against me behind my back. Master Liu, even if he is your god-grandson, I must speak the truth. A god-grandson like that truly brings shame to your name.”
Secretariat Editor Liu laughed heartily.
“No need to worry. If he’s done wrong, I’ll discipline him. However,” he added, “we can’t go judging him just based on what others say. We need evidence, don’t we?”
“The truth lies in people’s hearts,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
“So the two of you came today, using Minister Chen’s name, to test my own intentions?” Secretariat Editor Liu asked with a faint smile—placing particular emphasis on the name Minister Chen.
The two young people fell silent for a moment, seeming somewhat hesitant.
“We’re here to apologize to you, Master Liu,” Zhou Liu-lang said. “We only hope you’ll be merciful and let this matter pass.”
Secretariat Editor Liu laughed heartily.
“You really are just children,” he said, then continued with a more serious tone, “If you’re afraid your parents will blame you, the best thing to do is to be honest. To recognize one’s mistakes and correct them—there’s no greater virtue than that. Don’t be afraid. If you’re worried about those troublemakers who were taken away by the authorities, then you should go to the magistrate and explain the situation to the magistrate, and let him judge. And another thing—at the end of the day, this whole matter is really just a street brawl. If you want the case truly dismissed, you need to go to the plaintiff. If the plaintiff no longer pursues the matter, then it naturally ends.”
“Then what would it take for the plaintiff to drop the case?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
Secretariat Editor Liu shook his head with a smile.
“That, you’ll have to ask the plaintiff yourselves,” he said kindly. Then, as if remembering something, added, “Oh yes, I heard that Lady Cheng is a direct disciple of True Master Li himself. Bringing the dead back to life and restoring severed limbs is nothing for her. Why not help him heal his arm? Wouldn’t that make everything easier to resolve?”
Zhou Liu-lang snorted.
“Nonsense!” he scoffed.
Cheng Jiao-niang was silent for a moment. Then, suddenly, she reached into her clothing and took out an embroidered sachet, pushing it forward.
“It wasn’t a Daoist patriarch, actually,” she said. “Just an extraordinary man of our time. He cured my illness and left me with this healing method.”
Secretariat Editor Liu looked on with some curiosity and nodded.
“I see. Then you are truly fortunate,” he said with a smile. His gaze shifted away from the sachet without a trace of greed or attachment.
“I’m giving this to you,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “Please find a doctor and have them follow the method written here. It will heal Dou Qi’s arm.”
“This—this—why me?” Secretariat Editor Liu said in surprise, shaking his head. “It would be better for you to resolve your own conflict.”
“I’m the one who had him beaten. If I now go and heal him, that’s not reconciliation—that’s rubbing salt in the wound,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “You’re different. You’re like family to him. If you heal him, he’ll be even more grateful to you. Then if you step in to mediate between us, that would be the best resolution.”
Secretariat Editor Liu still shook his head.
“Mediating a reconciliation is just a matter of a few words. I can give it a try—there’s no need for this,” he said.
“Words alone lack sincerity,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “I’m determined to build a good life for myself, and I don’t want this incident to ruin my restaurant. I also don’t want my uncle to find out and have me dragged back to Jiang-zhou. After thinking it over, the one most convenient and effective in helping me is you, Master Liu.”
As she spoke, she bowed and pushed the sachet toward him once again.
“Please have pity on my unfortunate background. My mother died early, my father never raised me, and my relatives don’t care for me,” she said.
Zhou Liu-lang, standing to the side, looked upset but held his tongue.
Secretariat Editor Liu looked at the two before him, and finally, his gaze settled on the sachet.
“Then I’ll give it a try, for now,” he said.
This time, Cheng Jiao-niang and Zhou Liu-lang immediately bowed in thanks.
“Thank you, my lord, for your great kindness and generosity,” they said.
“You young people,” Secretariat Editor Liu said with a heartfelt tone, “When you face problems, don’t act rashly. Don’t keep things from your elders. I’ll take responsibility for now, but once Guide General returns, you’ll still need to explain everything to him. He’s your family—what’s there to be afraid of? No matter how angry or upset he gets, he’ll still want to protect you.”
Cheng Jiao-niang and Zhou Liu-lang bowed once again in gratitude.
Watching the two of them leave, Secretariat Editor Liu slowly stood up.
“Master, do you think they’re trustworthy?” a close aide emerged from the inner room and asked.
“It’s just talk. What’s there to trust or not trust?” Secretariat Editor Liu replied. “They speak, we listen. When we speak, don’t they listen too?”
“That fool from Jiang-zhou really dared to come, and with such an arrogant attitude,” the aide remarked.
Secretariat Editor Liu chuckled.
“They’re young—being arrogant is normal,” he said. “Go on, make some inquiries.”
The aide understood and responded affirmatively, then quickly left.
Secretariat Editor Liu lowered his head and looked at the embroidered sachet still lying on the seat mat.
That fool from Jiang-zhou…
If what she said was true, and Tai Ping Residence really belonged to her, then was she also the mastermind behind the shooting of those thugs last time?
What a fool indeed…
What a pity. If he had known earlier that the so-called “Passing Immortal” was actually her, then after Dou Qi entered the city, he would have adopted a humbler, more thoughtful approach. In that case, a significant portion of the money the monks at Puxiu Temple pocketed would have ended up in his hands.
Had they not already become enemies, then by his rules and habit—where all threats must be eliminated down to the root—he would’ve truly wanted to keep that girl around and make use of her talents.
But then again, it’s no great loss. Even if the person is gone, the technique remains.
“Someone, come,” Secretariat Editor Liu said, standing up straight.
Someone immediately entered from outside.
“Take this,” he said.
The young servant responded and bent down to pick up the sachet.
“Open it and have a look,” Secretariat Editor Liu said, his gaze fixed on the servant.
The servant acknowledged and opened it.
“Master, there’s only a piece of paper,” he said, unfolding the sheet in his hand.
It was covered densely with writing, but the servant couldn’t read it, so he looked up, waiting for Secretariat Editor Liu’s instructions.
Secretariat Editor Liu studied him for a moment, then nodded.
“Put it away,” he said, stepping forward. “Go summon Doctor Zhan from Yichun Hall.”
The carriage rolled onto Yudai Bridge. Watching Cheng Jiao-niang step down, Zhou Liu-lang followed after her.
“Will he believe it?” he finally couldn’t help but ask.
Cheng Jiao-niang, already walking beneath the corridor, turned back.
“Of course he’ll believe it,” she said. “Because I don’t tell lies.”
