Chapter 124
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In a sea of “this kid is truly eloquent” glances, only A’Zhu looked at Xue Yao with approval and admiration.
“Since that’s the case, we shouldn’t delay.” Xue Yao turned to meet A’Zhu’s eyes, and smilingly said, “Miss, quickly ask these two younger brothers why they disguised themselves as the sect master’s attendants last night. You should be able to find out the sect master’s whereabouts by following the clues.”
Consequently, the severe interrogation originally intended for Xue Yao shifted to the two boys serving as attendants.
Xue Yao didn’t witness the interrogation process firsthand, but judging by the efficiency, the process was likely quite brutal.
In less than an hour and a half, both attendants had confessed.
The man who impersonated the sect master last night was an elder from the Xuanye Sect, surnamed Liu.
Since the deputy sect master was detained by Gu Qingyuan, Xuanye Sect had been lacking a senior management figure. This Elder Liu and a few other elders thus began competing for the position of the new deputy sect master.
Unfortunately, Elder Liu, despite having sufficient seniority, lacked martial strength. The sect master privately advised him to withdraw from the competition after a few earnest words.
Like countless others with petty minds and cunning, Elder Liu chose to wear a smiling face on the surface while stabbing behind the scenes.
He switched sides privately, joining the archenemy’s sect. Continuously seeking opportunities to destroy Xuanye Sect, he aimed to become the deputy sect master of the rival faction through merits in their downfall.
Yesterday evening, during a chat and drink with the sect master, Elder Liu took advantage of the opportunity to drug and incapacitate the sect master.
Elder Liu hadn’t killed the sect master yet because Xuanye Sect’s martial arts not only involved studying human acupoints but also delved into forensic knowledge. This allowed them to determine the real time of death, so Elder Liu dared not kill the sect master prematurely, fearing exposure. He had to first lure a scapegoat to the crime scene before making a move.
The scapegoats arranged by Elder Liu were Xue Yao and Lu Qian — the disciples of the Sword Saint.
Elder Liu’s plan was well-thought-out. First, use Xue Yao’s name to kill the sect master, let Xue Yao go, then arrange a secret meeting to obtain the Sword Saint’s Tai Chi Mental Cultivation Technique. After that, he planned to kill Xue Yao in the name of Xuanye Sect, and ultimately, leverage the Sword Saint’s hand to avenge his disciple, annihilating the Xuanye Sect.
Unexpectedly, Lu Qian intercepted the beginning of the plan, and with the mission unaccomplished, chaos ensued.
The two boys confessed to their master’s plan, revealed the sect master’s whereabouts, and helped A’Zhu in the search for the sect master.
A’Zhu, accompanied by several elders, found the unconscious sect master in an abandoned dilapidated temple.
A’Zhu, with tears in her eyes, embraced her father. She ordered her subordinates to lift the sect master onto a carriage for the antidote. Just as she was about to express gratitude to Xue Yao on another carriage, she heard the sound of approaching hooves nearby.
A man dismounted and rushed towards A’Zhu, reporting breathlessly, “Young Miss! The Forbidden Army has surrounded us! Some sect members have already escaped. All the guards at the headquarters have been detained by the Forbidden Army!”
“Forbidden Army?” A’Zhu looked surprised. Though Xuanye Sect had offended many, most were from the martial arts world, which wouldn’t seek official help. The occasional disturbance involved petty thieves and bandits, leading to warnings from local authorities and perhaps a few constables scolding them, but it wouldn’t alert the Emperor.
“Indeed, Young Miss, it would be wise for you to lay low for now. We can plan our next move once the officials withdraw.”
A’Zhu asked in confusion, “What do they want? Who has angered the imperial forces?”
“I haven’t figured it out yet. Currently, the headquarters is surrounded by over ten thousand Imperial Guards, and more soldiers are searching in this direction!”
A’Zhu had no choice but to lead her people to the branch hall for refuge.
Xue Yao thought that finding the sect master would mean regaining his freedom. However, upon getting off the carriage, he realized he had been brought to an unfamiliar place.
A’Zhu and several elders were busy treating and detoxifying the sect master. Xue Yao couldn’t speak out of turn and could only wait patiently.
Rescuing the sect master this time might not be a perfect success, but it was at least seventy percent accomplished. The elders in the sect naturally changed their attitude towards Xue Yao, treating him as if he were a hero, much like how people greeted the Eighth Route Army.
The next morning, after the sect master woke up and heard the story from his daughter, he immediately arranged a feast, inviting Xue Yao to eat and chat, expressing gratitude repeatedly.
After a few rounds of drinks, the sect master asked if Xue Yao already had a wife at home.
When Xue Yao replied that he hadn’t married yet, the sect master, with a meaningful glance, looked towards his daughter, who was arranging dishes on the side.
A’Zhu immediately nodded with a shy smile, casting a slightly reproachful look at her father.
This silent play between father and daughter made Xue Yao’s scalp tingle, sensing that something was off…
A’Zhu disclosing Xue Yao’s “wealthy in the capital” financial status to the sect master may be the reason why, instead of expressing gratitude to Xue Yao with monetary appreciation for saving his life, the sect master presented him with the scriptures recovered from the two attendants, and expressed a willingness to personally teach him exclusive martial arts.
Xue Yao felt increasingly uneasy.
These matter should be shared with Lu Qian.
Despite Xue Yao politely declining the benefits that belonged to Long Aotian, the sect master insisted. He urged Xue Yao to stay in the sect for a few more days, making it convenient to impart some fundamental skills.
Not daring to forcefully refuse, especially in this less-than-reputable place, Xue Yao, bearing the identity of the Sword Saint’s disciple, couldn’t risk offending the sect master too much. He had to reluctantly accept the goodwill.
However, while learning martial arts for Lu Qian was one thing, why did A’Zhu always come to offer him tea and wipe his sweat after each practice?
The shy smile on the girl’s face made Xue Yao feel like he was getting into something!
“System, tell me, who is the only man in this world that can win A’Zhu’s favor?” Xue Yao asked in his mind.
The system dutifully responded: 【Lu Qian’s sense of security -3】
Something was off.
Something was seriously off!
If things continued to be this off, it seemed like his life might be in danger.
“I must return to the capital, otherwise, my mother will worry,” Xue Yao said with firm determination by the cool lakeside breeze.
“Will we meet again in the future?” A’Zhu asked.
“When you marry Lu Qian in the future, maybe during my visits, I can chat with my sister-in-law while I’m feeding the baby,” he thought, but said, “If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”
“Is the young master still upset about the previous misunderstanding?”
“Upset? Of course not. No discord, no concord. There’s no misunderstanding. I just don’t have the fortune to make friends with the sect master and the young lady.”
“Then why does the young master always treat me with such caution and distance?” A’Zhu, feeling disappointed, lowered her head.
“How could that be?” Xue Yao took a deep breath, teasing A’Zhu, “I naturally have a serious appearance. Don’t misunderstand, Miss.”
A’Zhu lifted her head, her charming eyes widening, locking gaze with Xue Yao.
Nervously, Xue Yao forced himself not to avoid eye contact and calmly stared back at her.
After a moment of silence, A’Zhu, feeling dejected, lowered her eyes.
Xue Yao asked in confusion, “What’s wrong, Miss?”
“Since childhood, I’ve learned to read people from the elders,” A’Zhu explained, “The first time I met the young master, his eyes were crystal clear and transparent, but now there’s a constant barrier, making it hard to see through.”
Perplexed, Xue Yao rubbed his eyes and leaned down. “Can you see clearly now? Maybe I didn’t wipe away the sleep from my eyes this morning.”
Amused by his remark, A’Zhu laughed, lifting her head to meet his gaze, her face blushing slightly.
The calm lake’s surface was disturbed by a gentle breeze, causing ripples. A petal brushed against the girl’s nose, and Xue Yao, alert, sensed that the atmosphere was off.
Hastily standing up and turning away, he awkwardly said, “I need to bid farewell to the sect master, Miss A’Zhu. Thank you for trusting me earlier. Without your cooperation, I couldn’t have proven my innocence.”
A’Zhu opened her mouth to say something to make him stay but noticed Xue Yao deliberately avoiding eye contact. She reluctantly held back her words and nodded, “Go then.”
After leaving Xuanye Sect’s branch hall, Xue Yao couldn’t shake off A’Zhu’s words from his mind.
What was different in A’Zhu’s eyes when they first met?
Why was it different this time?
Xue Yao vaguely sensed that when he was with Lu Qian, he seemed to let his guard down. That was why A’Zhu could see through him at those times.
Why was it like that?
He had been a person with deep thoughts since childhood — not malicious or cunning, but merely cautious and unwilling to relax around others.
A child without parental love often lacked sufficient security to reveal sincerity to everyone.
A miserable childhood left Xue Yao unable to let go even in this lifetime. Despite his mother’s wholehearted care in this life, it couldn’t fill the emptiness in his heart.
He was polite and distant to everyone. Even classmates who were once close said he seemed too good-natured to be real.
He never dared to show his temper to others or reveal his true nature.
Children who weren’t loved even by their parents often had a deep-rooted belief — nobody would like the real them. The real them was simply a complete mistake.
Was that the reason A’Zhu mentioned his cautious and distant demeanor?
Then why, when he was with Lu Qian, did he dare to strip away all the mature and guarded facade?
Could that feeling be the so-called sense of security?
It was that kind of trust where even if the sky falls, there was a sense that someone in the world would stand up for you.
Would Lu Qian stand up for him?
He might trick Fifth Brother into helping, but no matter what, he would definitely protect him.
A sudden and clear awakening brought to Xue Yao’s mind the moment he hid in the artificial hill, hearing Lu Qian call his name.
So, refusing to let the rebellious brat leave wasn’t about worrying for his safety, but…
He simply couldn’t be without His Highness.
Admitting this required great courage, but it also made Xue Yao feel a lot lighter.
Realizing suddenly, all the effort he put in wasn’t without return. He fiercely protected the small flame of communication within Lu Qian’s heart, and in return, Lu Qian healed the emptiness in his own heart.
Being by someone’s side, ignorant of the world, occasionally acting recklessly without worrying about being disliked — it turned out, it was such a tender happiness.
Lost in his self-reflection, Xue Yao was suddenly awakened by the neighing outside the carriage.
“Who goes there!” The carriage driver exclaimed.
Upon hearing this, Xue Yao hastily lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
The carriage was passing through a forest, and the surrounding birds scattered in alarm.
Suddenly, the fallen leaves on the ground started swirling. Xue Yao heard the nonchalant voice of a stranger from above.
“You’re my little junior brother, right?”
Following the sound, Xue Yao looked up and saw a man in a willow-green robe descending from the sky, as graceful as falling petals, stepping lightly on the swirling leaves.
The long sword in his hand spun around, carried casually on the man’s shoulder. He tilted his chin, staring at Xue Yao’s face, and said with a smile, “You look quite obedient.”
Xue Yao looked puzzled. “Who are you?”
The man in green leaped forward, instantly landing in front of Xue Yao. Startled, Xue Yao recoiled into the carriage, but the man grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling his upper body out of the carriage.
With one foot on the carriage and his elbow resting on his knee, the man held onto Xue Yao’s shirt and threatened in a low voice, “I’m here to teach a naughty kid on behalf of my master.”
Suspicious of the stranger’s intentions and driven by a survival instinct, Xue Yao, in a terrified tone, denied, “Which naughty kid? Are you mistaking me for someone else? I’m just good at taking care of my skin. Actually, I’m already forty years old.”
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