Chapter 8

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I love how the moment the ball starts rolling on (presumably) the central mystery, everything gets like 10x more difficult to translate lmao. Well, I’ll keep trucking along.

Happy new year’s eve! <del>I’m too old to get red envelopes anymore so this day means nothing to me lmao.</del> I was actually pretty worried that I wouldn’t be able to get this out in time, but I’m glad I made it.

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The contents of those sheets of paper were all the same.

The main gist of it was that the shitty old man surnamed Wang was sanctimonious, with his actual personality not what it seemed on the surface, and that, behind people’s backs, he was utterly heartless in his dealings, yet he still somehow managed to win a good reputation. The poisoner couldn’t bear to allow the heroes of this land to continue being deceived, and so to enforce Heaven’s justice, he found the Lantern-Extinguishing Poison to let Old Wang taste the suffering from that year. And he’s soon going to reveal Old Wang’s true colors to the people, so just wait and see!

The Wang family head was so angry he was trembling, and even his eyes were red. He asked, “Who left this? Did you see the person? Catch whoever it was!”

“No,” the servant said, “These papers were all found stuck in secluded alleyways, and we also don’t know when they were put up. Many alleyways have them, and this lowly one has already sent people to tear them down.”

The Wang family head’s chest moved violently up and down. In a rough tone, he said, “Send even more people to search!”

Having received the order, the servant turned to leave, only to be called back by another seated person who keenly asked, “If the alleyways were so secluded, how did you learn that these were there?”

The servant’s lip trembled, wanting to speak but hesitant.

The Wang family head glared at him. “Speak!”

The servant could only brace himself and said, “Responding to Master, I knew because these places all had people crowding around to look.”

The Wang family head asked, “Then who did they hear about this from? Go ask, there should be a person who incited them to go.”

“That isn’t certain,” Wenren Heng interjected to say, “The perpetrator chose those places to put these up so as not to be seen, so even if we go ask now, we probably won’t learn anything useful. After he finished sticking these papers up, all he had to do was pretend to be a passerby and carelessly drop a sentence or two. Those who hear would naturally go and look, and from there, one person naturally becomes ten, and ten naturally becomes one hundred.”

The Wang family head felt his breaths get stuck in his throat. Realizing that the entire city was probably all now gossiping about his father, he especially felt like breaking some things, but knowing that the elders of renowned martial art circles were sitting in this lobby, he managed to hold in the impulse in the end. He hastily called for the steward to inform the rest of the household to hold their tongues so as to keep the matter from his father’s ears.

Wenren Heng spoke once more, “But we can’t eliminate the possibility that the person who placed these notices and the poisoner are different people. Perhaps someone wanted to borrow this sudden windfall to stir up some trouble. For the Wang family and those who are close to them, we should be more mindful of these things.”

In response, the Wang family head called over the servant again and added a few more commands before finally looking at those seated. After attempting to calm his anger, he hoarsely spoke, “These elders should be aware of how much my father has done for others. These accusations are complete slander.”

Manor Lord Wei took the initiative to answer, “Naturally. We’ve had a good relationship with your father for so many years, we couldn’t possibly distrust him, so there’s no need to get so angry.”

Looking tired beyond his years, the Wang family head nodded.

Manor Lord Wei looked at him. “It looks like the day is almost over. Other than this, I’m sure you have other business to take care of. You should go take care of those first, and everything else we can discuss on another day.”

The Wang family head gratefully said a, “Yes,” and respectfully showed them out.

 

Wenren Heng and Ye You couldn’t help but give each other a look.

Despite what Wenren Heng previously said, they were both mostly convinced that this matter had been done by the poisoner.

They wasted over ten days hurrying over to the Wang family residence. And by the time they arrived, news about the Lantern-Extinguishing Poison had already spread, so those from Jianghu who arrived in Suzhou earlier have definitely been waiting for even longer. With this many days without any new information, there were probably many who had already become impatient. However, right as their patience ran out, this announcement began widely circulating. So those who were about to leave inevitably had to stay, and those who had already left inevitably had to return.

They initially thought that the poisoner’s intent was to draw people over, and this occurrence seemed to further confirm that.

But what is he planning, doing something like this?

And what reason does he have to expose the Wang Patriarch? Is it really for the sake of enforcing Heaven’s justice, or for some other scheme?

Ye You quietly said, “Senior Brother.”

Wenren Heng said, “Yes.”

Ye You said, “I’m going to the bathroom. You can just find a random place to wait for me.”

Wenren Heng, “…”

For lack of better options, Wenren Heng was just about to say, “Senior Brother will go with you,” when he heard Manor Lord Wei calling him from outside the room. Pulling Junior Brother with him, he heard Manor Lord Wei, not unexpectedly, mention going to look for Miracle Doctor Ji to treat his Junior Brother. He said insincerely, “Isn’t Miracle Doctor Ji trying to detoxify Elder Wang? Let’s just continue waiting for a while.”

“The overall treatment is just about done.” After serious matters were over, Manor Lord Wei went back to wearing his customary Buddha-like smile. “He’s skilled with handling veins and arteries, so this matter won’t cause any delays. I’m also happy that you finally found your Junior Brother after such hardship. I’ll go talk to Miracle Doctor Ji, let him find some time to see you.”

This was precisely what Wenren Heng wanted. “Then, sorry for inconveniencing Uncle Wei.”

Manor Lord Wei said, laughing, “There’s no need to be so polite with me.”

Ye You followed behind them obediently, once again giving up the idea of going to the bathroom.

He looked at Wenren Heng’s profile and felt a slight loosening in his heart. He was finally somewhat convinced that they were Disciple-Brothers. After all, Manor Lord Wei had met Wenren Heng’s Junior Brother before, and while he’s being examined, he’ll most likely have to unravel his bandages. With how unperturbed Wenren Heng is about this situation, in all likelihood, he wasn’t lying.

Naturally, there was also the possibility that Wenren Heng’s sect members had gone ahead and warned Manor Lord Wei ahead of time in order to have him corroborate the story. However, Ye You felt that if this really was true, Wenren Heng would’ve found countless numbers of people as corroborators, all singing the same tune, so that he wouldn’t be able to tell what was true or not.

So he was still willing to believe Wenren Heng.

 

The group walked and talked, eventually reaching the rear garden.

Now that the announcement had gone out, Elder Wang couldn’t easily go anywhere, so Manor Lord Wei brought them to Miracle Doctor Ji’s residence. Even before they reached the courtyard, the group could already smell the faint scent of medicine in the air.

By lucky coincidence, Miracle Doctor Ji had not yet gone to Elder Wang’s and was currently reading a medical text. As Wenren Heng said, although this man was old, he had a robust appearance, and even the wrinkles on his face seemed to show signs of the three energies[1]. He wore white clothes, and his beard went past his chest. Like a pure-white flower, he looked like an Immortal down to his bones.

Wenren Heng simply explained their reasons for coming.

Miracle Doctor Ji stroked his beard. “Which sect is he from?”

Wenren Heng said, “Speaking honestly to this elder, this young one[2] has been separated from Junior Brother for more than ten years, and we only recently reunited. He was injured and now no longer remembers anything. On this matter, even this young one isn’t clear, but since he has been found, from now on, he will certainly stay by this young one’s side from now on.”

Manor Lord Wei also chimed in with, “Exactly. From now on, with Xiao-Heng watching him, how could anything possibly happen?”

Miracle Doctor Ji unhappily gave Manor Lord Wei a look. And before saying anything else, he began feeling Ye You’s pulse, telling the other to unravel his bandages so he could take a look. He said, “The burns aren’t serious. Just continue applying Hundred-Grass Dew and it should be fine.”

Wenren Heng made a noise in affirmation, and upon seeing that the doctor was still checking the pulse, he continued waiting patiently.

“His internal energy is certainly strange. Sometimes it’s there, sometimes it isn’t, but I can’t find any signs of internal injuries,” Miracle Doctor Ji said, “You say he doesn’t remember anything. Did he hit his head?”

Wenren Heng said, “When this young one found him, he already couldn’t remember anything.”

The implications behind his words were unclear.

Miracle Doctor Ji also thoroughly examined the arteries and veins for a while, eventually reaching the verdict that there was not much harm done to the body, and there was no internal injuries and no poisoning. Although there were some external injuries, nothing else was wrong. As for the internal energy and memory loss, he could first prescribe some medicine as a test.

He said, “Drink this for five days. After he finishes drinking it all, then come back and let me reexamine him.”

 

Manor Lord Wei had many affairs to attend to, so he saw only until halfway before he was called away by his subordinates. After Wenren Heng had rewrapped his Junior Brother’s bandages, he politely got up and took his leave, slowly walking the path they took originally to get here. He asked, “These days, with your internal energy so low, have you felt unwell?”

“No,” Ye You said, “Didn’t the Miracle Doctor also say that there was nothing wrong with me?”

Wenren Heng nodded and didn’t continue asking, but in his heart, he grew even more worried.

In these past few years, he had exchanged some blows with his Junior Brother, so he knew how frightening it was that the other’s internal energy was this low. Previously, when he had surreptitiously checked, he also didn’t think it was internal injuries, and he originally thought that Miracle Doctor Ji would have some remedy. He didn’t expect that even the doctor wouldn’t be able to find out the reason behind it. Now it’s become an actual problem.

His Junior Brother had a willful personality, and he easily offended others. Could it be that he had courted disaster while he was outside[3], which resulted in someone chasing him all the way to the Central Plains?

What a headache.

Ye You had no idea of his Senior Brother’s thoughts. He asked, “Just now, why did Miracle Doctor Ji ask about my sect?”

“Miracle Doctor Ji has a set of rules for practicing medicine, and if the rules are followed, there is no injury he won’t treat,” Wenren Heng said, “One of the rules is, ‘Without exception, nobody from the demonic faction will be treated.’ That’s why he asked you that question.”

Ye You raised his brow. “Then…”

He was originally going to ask about the Demonic Sect but after turning the words around in his head, he ended up changing his question. “Am I part of the righteous or demonic faction?”

“Who knows,” Wenren Heng’s tone was helpless, almost as if his words really were true, “Senior Brother also wants to know which faction you’re from. So isn’t there nothing to be done? Since we’re not clear on this, then for now let’s count you as part of my Shuangji Sect.”

More and more, Ye You felt like this Senior Brother of his was not only difficult to deal with but also extremely shameless. Seeing Senior Brother like this, the other seemed much more likely to be part of the demonic faction. But is he himself part of the demonic faction or does he hold a grudge against the Demonic Sect?

Spoken another way, would he really join the demonic faction?

Wenren Heng shot him a glance. “What are you thinking of?”

Ye You earnestly said, “I think that since I’m this honest and kindhearted, there’s no way I’m part of the demonic faction.”

“…” Wenren Heng looked at him. “Yes.”

 

The two arrived rather late, and many people were already staying at the Wang family residence. However, just in case, the family head had set aside a few guest rooms in reserve. Wenren Heng was naturally considered one of those people who qualified for these rooms, so he brought his Junior Brother with him to stay in one. His first priority following that was to send someone to decoct the medicine.

After being decocted, the medicine looked pitch-black. Ye You took a small sip to test it out. His brows wrinkled but his face didn’t change, though he immediately drank the entire thing in one breath.

Wenren Heng promptly poured him a cup of water. “Bitter?”

Ye You was reluctant to admit his mistakes. “It’s all right.”

Wenren Heng said, “In the past, you were especially afraid of bitterness. That year you turned into an idiot, every time you drank medicine, you would get so angry you’d smash the bowl and then roll around on the floor, crying and yelling for half a day.”

“…” Ye You was silent for a moment before deciding to face this thing head on.

He let out a sigh and was just about to ask specific details about that year when he heard knocks at the door and the scarred man entered, telling them that Manor Lord Wei had sent people over to invite them to dinner.

Wenren Heng didn’t have an opinion, but just as he got up, he felt the person beside him grab his hand.

Ye You said, “Senior Brother, in all honesty, it really is bitter.”

Wenren Heng silently stared at him, already having an inkling of what will be said next.

Sure enough, Ye You said, “It’s so bitter that I don’t have an appetite. Why don’t you go by yourself?” After he finished speaking, he let go of Wenren Heng’s hand and shakily crawled to bed, acting as if he was extremely weak.

Wenren Heng was speechless, and only after indicating to his subordinate to take care of the other did he leave.

The moment Wenren Heng left, Ye You got up and unhurriedly stepped out the doors. He looked at the scarred man following him and asked, “So my Senior Brother and Manor Lord Wei have a good relationship?”

“It’s been fairly good these past few years. Apparently previously when Sect Master’s Master had an accident, it was Manor Lord Wei who helped out.” Having received the Sect Master’s order, the scarred man would answer most general questions. “Another thing is that Manor Lord Wei’s daughter has special feelings for the Sect Master, and even Manor Lord Wei wants the Sect Master to be his son-in-law.”

Having heard this, Ye You felt that his warm interest in Manor Lord Wei wasn’t surprising. Curiously, he asked, “And my Senior Brother?”

The scarred man answered, “It’s not clear. They haven’t discussed this topic yet…” He paused. “That’s right, about half a year ago, Manor Lord Wei asked Sect Master why he hasn’t started a family yet.”

Ye You asked, “And what did my Senior Brother say?”

The scarred man gave him a look and honestly said, “Sect Master said that he hasn’t found his Junior Brother yet, so he has no inclination to get married.”

When Ye You heard this, he thought that the other was simply using him as an excuse. He said, “So in the future when my Senior Brother does get married, you Shuangji Sect members better not forget to give me a big red envelope.”

The scarred man, “…”

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[1] 透著股精氣神 I honestly wasn’t sure how to translate this properly. 精氣神 refers to the three energies (also known as “three treasures”) of Chinese medicine. There’s a wiki page about it that’ll probably explain it better than I would.

[2] 晚輩, lit. “the younger generation”. Wenren Heng is humbly referring to himself in third person here to be more polite/respectful. He also does this briefly with Manor Lord Wei in the previous chapter, but he drops it quickly enough since they’re old friends/acquaintances. Here, Wenren Heng uses this throughout.

[3] Outside of the Central Plains, aka outside the Great Wall.

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/lies down. This chapter was… really… difficult…

Wenren Heng bald-faced lying to both Miracle Doctor Ji and Ye You in this… lmao. I wonder when he’ll tell Ye You the truth.

Also, fun fact (that I hope comes across in these translations), Wenren Heng never refers to Ye You as “Ye You” whether out loud or in his head, nor does he think of Ye You as “Ah-Xiao”. He always calls him his “Junior Brother”.

I’m going to try and get out another chapter either tomorrow for New Year’s Day or for the day after, but no guarantees.

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