Chapter 88

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In which plans are made and traps are set.

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Wenren Heng was especially calm, “I really don’t know.”

He even returned with the question, “Why would you suddenly ask something like this?”

Manor Lord Wei sighed and said, “Because last time when Ghost Gentleman brought people to surround Shaolin, Jiangyue asked me if I was the white piece.”

Wenren Heng showed some surprise. “Why did he think that?”

Manor Lord Wei revealed a layer of exhaustion between his brows, waving his hands and letting out another sigh. “Xiao-Heng, we’ve been on friendly terms for this many years, so I don’t want to talk around in circles with you. I know the two of you suspect me, and that’s all right. I also won’t force you two to confront me right now. No matter what kind of misunderstanding there is between us, in the end, it’ll be fine as long as we resolve it. I won’t beg you two to tell me where Jiangyue is either. I just want to know if he’s safe.”

Wenren Heng said, “I truly don’t know where he is right now.”

At this time, Ye You stopped putting on the act of a good child and once again brought out a bit of sharpness. He interrupted with, “Manor Lord Wei, this matter has nothing to do with my Senior Brother. It was me who first started being suspicious.”

Manor Lord Wei immediately looked at him.

Wenren Heng also looked at his Junior Brother and, upon meeting the other’s eyes, tacitly understood the other’s intentions. “Stop talking nonsense. Your health still hasn’t recovered completely. Go back first.”

“You should at least let me speak,” Ye You said, “Senior Brother, you’ve always said that the Wei family has treated you well. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”

As he spoke, he switched positions with his Senior Brother, standing next to Manor Lord Wei, shoulder-to-shoulder.

The people of “Heaven’s Firmament” and Shuangji Sect couldn’t hear what was said and so reacted with a look at this movement. Upon finding that the person had simply switched positions, they diligently went back to their places.

Ye You said, “You know that, since I’ve lost my memories, I’ve had to rely on what other people say to learn about certain things. That year, the swordsman called ‘Boundless Line’ underwent a qi deviation and killed my master… this fact should be true, right?”

Manor Lord Wei said, “That’s right.”

Ye You said, “Twenty years ago, all of you elders had the opportunity to come into contact with the Lantern-Extinguishing Poison and that monster, so I don’t want to focus on this. Regardless, it simply means that everyone is suspicious. But the matter with ‘Boundless Line’ that year, the only one present was you[1]. Because I suspect that he hadn’t actually been going through a qi deviation but had instead been fed that drug. You appearing there might be a sort of coincidence or it might have been intentional. I simply had some suspicions.”

He paused for a moment and, upon seeing that this person didn’t seem angry, said, “Last time, when I guessed that the white piece would surround the mountain, Sir Wei’s stature just so happened to be somewhat similar to mine, so I switched identities with him, while also mentioning a word or two about my suspicions of you in passing. That’s why that incident happened afterwards.”

Manor Lord Wei said, “Then what about the incident this time?”

“This time, me and my Senior Brother are truly not clear on where he is,” Ye You said, “That day while we were drinking tea, before he left, he said only that he wanted to go find someone. Me and my Senior Brother couldn’t tell if this had anything to do with his disappearance, so we didn’t mention it.”

Manor Lord Wei said, “To find someone?”

Ye You said, “Yes, he didn’t say who it was, but I felt that it might have something to do with you. Because ever since I began suspecting you, he’s always wanted to find some evidence to prove that you aren’t the white piece.”

Manor Lord Wei shot a glance at Wenren Heng.

Wenren Heng nodded, indicating that what his Junior Brother said was true.

Manor Lord Wei furrowed his brows.

These people again chatted for a while longer, but Ye You and Wenren Heng knew nothing further. The sky darkened ever deeper, and the late autumn wind swept through the alleyways, bringing with it a moist, cold chill. Manor Lord Wei looked at the color of the sky and, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to receive any other answers, then turned to go back with them.

Ye You slowed his steps to look at the lanterns on either side of the street while listening to the two people in front intermittently making casual conversation. When they were about to reach the inn, he once again opened his mouth, “Oh, that’s right, there was one more thing.”

He stepped forward between the two and turned his head to look at Manor Lord Wei, “I vaguely remember that, at that time, the adventurer whom Master protected had stuffed a slip of paper into my clothes before he died.”

The three people had just walked into an unlit area, and so the expression in Manor Lord Wei’s eyes was difficult to parse as the person said, astonished, “A slip of paper? What did it say?”

“Who knows. I can’t remember. Besides, at the time, I was even ill,” Ye You carelessly said, “But perhaps a few days after my memories return, I’ll be able to remember it.”

Having finished saying that, he then took the initiative to enter the inn first.

When he returned to the room, the waiter was just carrying in the hot water. Wenren Heng also happened to be coming upstairs and, upon seeing this, gave the waiter a look.

They had been gone for a long while, and the hot water must’ve turned cold already, but he didn’t remember instructing the waiter before leaving to replenish the water, and he didn’t believe for a moment that the inn’s proprietor would be this considerate, so someone had probably come calling.

Upon seeing this master looking at him, the waiter put on a fawning smile to say, “Esteemed guest, previously when both of you weren’t here, a young sir came by and said he was your friend. When he saw that both of you had left, he had this lowly one carry the hot water away for his own use. This lowly one didn’t dare to refuse and so hurriedly reheated some new water for you.”

Ye You laughed. “It was definitely Xie Junming. No one else would do such a thing.”

Wenren Heng also thought the same. After seeing the waiter put down the water, he gave the person a tip, before then pulling his Junior Brother behind the screen, helping his Junior Brother unravel those bandages on the face.

Ye You obediently stood there until he saw the other reaching to untie his waistband. He laughed and said, “What?”

“I’m accompanying you to bathe.” Wenren Heng kissed him on the lips and said, “That slip of paper you talked about just now…”

Ye You said, “I was just going along with what you said about following up on our victory with an attack.”

Wenren Heng raised a brow. “Then the ‘looking for someone’?”

Ye You said, “We’ll just have to see what he takes that to mean.”

Wenren Heng said, “That monster?”

Ye You said, “Who cares what he thinks. I was simply saying some random nonsense.”

Wenren Heng made a sound in agreement. He took off his Junior Brother’s clothes and indicated for the other to enter the bath. Ye You then slowly submerged himself in the warm water, leaning against the side of the basin as he watched his Senior Brother undress, eyes narrowed, his gaze completely undisguised. Wenren Heng enjoyed being stared at like this and, upon entering, he pulled the person over and dropped yet another kiss.

Ye You looked at the other and, not knowing what thought prompted him, lengthened his words, tone playful, to call out ‘Brother Heng’.

Wenren Heng laughed and said, “Let me hear you call me husband.”

Ye You said, all smiles, “Wife.”

Wenren Heng looked at him with a smile, expression especially tender. Ye You unconsciously wanted to duck out of the way but was pressed down by this person.

The inn couldn’t be considered particularly good, and those living here were also experts, so Wenren Heng knew that he couldn’t make too much noise. He simply grabbed the other’s waist and teased, only stopping his hands when this disaster softened in his arms. He lowered his head to kiss the other’s shoulder.

Ye You did his best to steady his breathing, lazily leaning against his Senior Brother, not speaking for a time.

Wenren Heng gave his reddened ears a look before asking, “What are you thinking about?”

Ye You said, “Thinking about your extremely delicate, tender and lovable…”

As he spoke, he suddenly perceived his Senior Brother’s hand sliding downwards and immediately changed his words, “Thinking about Wei Jiangrou.”

Wenren Heng let him go for now and asked again, “What about her?”

Ye You felt that the area where the other’s hand had stopped was too dangerous and so couldn’t help moving a little, but he was immediately pressed down again. After gasping out a breath, he could only say, “Thinking about why she’s able to remain here.”

Wenren Heng paused slightly.

Ye You said, “An incredibly important person to you was just kidnapped, and an even more important person arrived right afterwards. In these kinds of circumstances, if it was you, what would you do?”

Wenren Heng didn’t even need to think about it. “While other people still haven’t found out about it, send or hide the person away.”

Ye You said, “Yes. What’s more, her martial skill isn’t high, so suppressing her would be very easy.”

Wenren Heng said, “Perhaps when she came, there had already been some movement?”

Ye You said, “Who knows. It’s also possible that I’m just overthinking it.”

Wenren Heng said, “Let’s wait and see then.”

Ye You made a sound in acknowledgment, and upon perceiving that his Senior Brother’s hand had finally moved away, he thus felt more at ease and began truly enjoying his bath, before then slowly and steadily falling asleep.

The next morning, everyone left the inn to continue hurrying on the road.

Ye You observed for a moment and discovered that Wei Jiangrou and Sir Yang had gotten on Manor Lord Wei’s carriage. Evidently, the two were going along with them for now, though it wasn’t known if Manor Lord Wei would once again try to send them away later down the road.

He was just about to get on the carriage when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw “Sect Master Ye” arrive. He asked, smiling, “Is Sect Master Ye very bored today as well?”

Elder Baili said, smiling, “That’s right, this lord is very bored.”

When he finished speaking, he took the initiative to enter the carriage first, his back revealing a sense of firm resolution.

Because if he didn’t sit in the same carriage as them, then he’d have to sit with Xie Junming, and the two would simply be left staring at one another in the carriage, with no way out. And the moment Xie Junming became bored, he would then be the only one around for the other to play with. But if he was with the Sect Master, Xie Junming’s attention would mostly fall upon the Sect Master, and he would be able to have space to breathe.

Ye You watched as his subordinate’s figure disappeared within before then turning to see the Xie Junming who was unhurriedly walking over. He said, in a low voice, “Don’t overdo it.”

Xie Junming said, smiling, “Feeling soft-hearted?”

Ye You said, “If you’re really that bored, why don’t you first go somewhere else to find some fun, and wait until I’m almost done here before coming back.”

Xie Junming said, “That won’t do. I obviously have to participate in something this interesting from beginning to end. Besides, we haven’t finished our talk from last time. I still have a lot of other things I want to ask you.”

The so-called ‘last time’ was referring to the time at Shaolin Temple when Ye You had gone out at night to find him.

At the beginning, Ye You had promised Xie Junming that if Xie Junming managed to uncover the Alliance Leader’s background, then he’d tell this person what he was doing. Although Xie Junming had offered only a possibility, Ye You was still satisfied all the same, as the other was able to uncover the connection between the Alliance Leader and that monster. But at that time, he had been worried about the situation and so hadn’t spoken in too much detail, simply telling Xie Junming about the white piece’s identity before leaving.

He said, “We’ll talk about this matter again in the future.”

“As long as you remember.” Once Xie Junming spoke, he also entered the carriage. Giving Elder Baili a look, he sighed and said, “Darling, I’m truly heartbroken that you’ve been trying to avoid me this much.”

Who cares about you!

Elder Baili decisively turned his head.

Xie Junming thought about how his good friend had spoken up in a rare moment and decided to show that person some respect, so he didn’t continue bothering the other.

The party maintained yesterday’s speed, continuing forward neither too slow nor too fast, and once again entered a small town before the sky turned dark. Ye You noticed that Wei Jiangrou and Sir Yang were still around and gave a quick glance before stowing away his gaze and obediently eating a meal with his Senior Brother. A day thus passed, just like usual.

The next day, those two people still had not left, looking as if they were going to continue following along. Ye You gave them a look before then not paying them any further attention, obediently hurrying along the road, with occasional bouts of weakness to maintain the impression of his own ill health.

Time passed by in an instant on this fourth day.

As the day approached noon, Wenren Heng signaled for his subordinate to pick up speed, quickly overtaking two carriages.

With a sweeping glance, he saw that the front was packed too tightly together to squeeze through, so he then grabbed his Junior Brother by the waist and tread over the remaining carriages with ease, before finally jumping onto the foremost carriage and saying, “Stop.”

The entire party immediately came to a stop.

Abbot Ciyuan, Sect Leader Xuanyang, Manor Lord Wei, Pavilion Master Ding, and the others all came out of the carriages, collectively looking at the two. Abbot Ciyuan asked, “Benefactor Wenren, this is?”

Wenren Heng didn’t reply as he let go of his Junior Brother.

Ye You straightened his clothes and said, “Abbot, we all know that the white piece is among the people here, so there was one thing that I didn’t say for fear of alerting the enemy.”

Everyone asked, “What is it?”

Ye You said, “At the time when Ghost Gentleman surrounded the mountain, Mr. Xiao was captured by Sect Master Ye. Other than revealing his connection with the Alliance Leader he also said where the drugged men were supposedly located. At that time, Sect Master Ye didn’t write that on the letter and instead actually found an opportunity to tell me about it afterwards.”

Everyone inwardly sucked in a breath. “Where is it?”

“At Wanping Weir.” Elder Baili used his lightness skill to jump to the Sect Master’s side with confident ease, standing at the top of the carriage to look down upon them from up high. He did his utmost to display the Sect Master’s usual easy confidence, lifting up the corners of his mouth to say, “From what this lord sees, it’s not even a two hour walk from here to Wanping Weir, so it won’t delay your travels. Those with enough courage can come with me to end them.”

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[1] Ye You actually uses the polite form of ‘you’ throughout his conversation with Manor Lord Wei here, something he rarely does. (He has used polite ‘you’s before, but he often drops it mid-conversation because Ye You’s Just That Kind of Person.)

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Animal Crossing has taken over my life. I now dream about Animal Crossing. What a devious, devious game.

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