Chapter 3: with translation of chapter title

Actually, Feng Yi spoke quite beautifully.

But he knows that if it were in that kind of modern society where people's lives are on the same level, knowing where how much gold, silver, and treasure are buried would surely make one ecstatic.

He'd wake up laughing even in his sleep!

However, in a world possessing miraculous martial arts, gold and silver wealth became, in his eyes, the most worthless thing in the world.

He clearly remembers Mei Chaofeng from The Legend of the Condor Heroes once saying: "Haha, after mastering superb martial arts, robbing rich households and looting official offices is as easy as reaching out—you can have as much as you want."

What's money anyway! Feng Yi wholeheartedly agrees.

So when Feng Yi says he's not interested in money, that's really no idle talk.

Ding Dian, as long as he doesn't fall into lovesickness, is also a top-notch clever person in the world; seeing Feng Yi mention money, he indeed showed no trace of greed, and immediately said with interest: "Leaving aside the Linked City Secret, my Divine Illumination Scripture skill is the most powerful and exquisite method among all internal arts in the world—aren't you interested?"

Feng Yi slapped his thigh, his face full of delight: "Exactly! Senior Ding, you've hit the nail on the head. I'm willing to take great risks just to cooperate with you."

"Cooperation?" Ding Dian eyed him suspiciously: "Well, go on and say it."

Feng Yi said: "You and Miss Ling are mutually devoted, your love as firm as gold, moving to behold. I wish to help you both achieve your desires, and I also want to leave this damned place, to escape Ling Tusi, and the only one I can rely on is you."

Ding Dian snorted coldly: "You say it so lightly, helping us both achieve our wishes, heh..."

Feng Yi knew gaining Ding Dian's trust was extremely difficult. The original protagonist Di Yun had lived with him in the prison for several years; in despair he hanged himself to end his life, and Ding Dian waited half an hour after his death before rescuing him, showing his cautious nature.

Unfazed by his mockery, he said softly: "Senior Ding, even if your Divine Illumination Skill hasn't reached great accomplishment, if you're determined to leave, this prison probably can't hold you, right?"

Feng Yi indeed knew that in the original plot, Ding Dian's Divine Illumination Skill reached great accomplishment only after Di Yun had been imprisoned for several years. But he thought that even without great accomplishment, a small accomplishment would suffice, and breaking out of the big prison shouldn't be difficult.

However, upon hearing this, Ding Dian turned and paced a few steps, sighing: "You brat, how could you possibly understand!"

It turned out Ding Dian only hoped to bring Ling Shuanghua to escape the cage; thus over the years he intensified his training, painstakingly practicing the Divine Illumination Scripture, hoping to achieve completion soon and not be bound by these iron shackles.

However, the Divine Illumination Skill emphasizes marvelous comprehension and naturalness; it's not achieved by mere diligent practice. Especially since his pipa bones were pierced and his hamstrings severed, it's doubly hard for him compared to others; now, without having achieved great success, facing this heavily guarded prison, he simply cannot escape.

After all, the power of a divine skill varies greatly between minor and major accomplishment; especially for Ding Dian, whose hamstrings were severed and pipa bones pierced, the difference is like heaven and earth.

However, if another martial arts master suffered Ding Dian's situation, they'd only wait to die, let alone practice.

For example, the Golden Snake Lord Xia Xueyi could only wait to die! But Ding Dian certainly wouldn't explain everything to Feng Yi, this "confidant of Ling Tusi".

Moreover, Feng Yi doesn't understand profound martial arts, and his grasp of the details of the Linked City world is somewhat off.

He thus assumed Ding Dian could easily escape prison by martial prowess, merely staying for Ling Shuanghua's sake and unwilling to leave.

That's why he tried every means to coax Ding Dian, wanting him to bring him out of here, not realizing Ding Dian's predicament.

Although Feng Yi couldn't see Ding Dian's expression, from his back turned to him it wasn't hard to imagine he wore a blissful smile, immersed in sweetness; he felt it too awkward, thinking: "In this place, to look at a flower for a day, to be happy over a chicken feather!"

Moreover, how could Feng Yi not know that Miss Ling's daily various flowers never cease, indicating she accompanies Ding Dian.

But he truly couldn't comprehend this feeling! After all, Feng Yi is just a vulgar person, forever unable to understand this emotion that has been sublimated through life-and-death separation.

Of course, Feng Yi also didn't want to mock Ding Dian's kind of love, but he truly felt this ill-fated couple was too pitiful.

Clearly there are many paths to choose, yet because of some outdated rites and his own stubbornness, it leads to tragedy! He only thought Ding Dian clung to ritual, and couldn't help blurting: "Senior Ding, you are utterly devoted and sincere, your affection profound, truly admirable. But have you ever considered when this kind of life will come to an end?"

Ling Tusi has a human face but a beast's heart; to achieve his goals he can use any means; while he's with you, if he doesn't get results, if he goes after Miss Ling? What will you do then?

In Feng Yi's view, Ding Dian possesses both heroic and magnanimous spirit, but in love he's downright foolish!

Know this: Ding Dian early on felt he was a jianghu person while Ling Shuanghua was an official's daughter; they weren't a suitable match. Yet loving each other to the point of life and death, still wanting Ling Tusi to personally bless their union, this alone led to his capture, years of suffering, and later being poisoned to death, planting a hidden danger.

In this regard, he's not even as good as Zhang Wuji.

Zhang Wuji also loved Zhao Min, but he saw clearly the chasm between himself and the Prince of Ruanyang, so he never even thought of seeking his father-in-law's approval, and ultimately succeeded in winning the beauty!

But Ding Dian here suffers hardship and guilt, consorting with prisoners!

Feng Yi regarded Ding Dian as a cautionary tale and took Zhang Wuji as a guiding light, so his speech wasn't particularly polite.

Who would have thought Ding Dian didn't get angry as imagined; instead he gave a light chuckle, turned to face Feng Yi, and said with full confidence: "Kid, don't ask for a beating! You're here, deliberately slandering Ling Tusi and claiming you know the secret of the Linked City Secret—actually that can't be verified true or false; you're just trying to win my trust to obtain the Divine Illumination Skill and the Linked City Secret, as if I didn't know? Besides, even a tiger doesn't eat its own offspring; Ling Tusi, a Hanlin scholar well-versed in the classics, how could he, as you say, deal with his own daughter?"

Feng Yi burst out laughing: "Miss Ling is truly suffering eight lifetimes of bloody bad luck!"

She is beautiful and kind-hearted; after falling for you, you can't give her even a bit of joy, yet you let her share your suffering—how could that be what a heroic man ought to do?

I also don't fear to tell you frankly, you think Ling Tusi merely put her under house arrest, preventing her from going out? Now they actually want to marry Miss Ling off!

After Ding Dian was captured, Ling Shuanghua once sent her personal maid to deliver a letter, thereby learning she was confined by Ling Tusi—but that also got the maid killed by Ling Tusi, leaving him speechless. But upon hearing the last line that Ling Shuanghua would be married, he trembled and retreated two steps, his inner turmoil immense.

Feng Yi also feared his words were too stimulating, which might cause Ding Dian to slap him over; first he vigorously gave Ling Shuanghua flattery.

He was well aware that Ding Dian loved Ling Shuanghua to the marrow; as long as he spoke well of Ling Shuanghua, even if Ding Dian were angry, he wouldn't go so far as to kill him with a single palm.

Seeing Ding Dian's emotions swaying, he decided to add fuel to the fire. He steeled himself, took a deep breath, and continued: "Senior Ding, your treatment of Miss Ling is indeed pure and sincere, inspiring admiration and respect, yet it's also rather foolish! You were fortunate to inherit the legacy of Hero Mei Niansheng; knowing this is the world's greatest treasure, you still insist on having his name inscribed on a stele. As a man of honor, regarding life-and-death matters as trivial is also appropriate."

But this way, besides causing you and Miss Ling to suffer greatly, it's likely that all three of us will end up without a burial place! I wonder what face you have to meet Miss Ling?

Feng Yi clearly knows that, according to the original plot's timeline, after his death, Di Yun will be imprisoned, then Ling Tusi's poisonous scheme will be enacted, leading Ling Shuanghua to vow death rather than submit, thus disfiguring herself to make her resolve clear.

Of course, this concerns only them, but it's also closely related to himself.

After all, if he cannot obtain Ding Dian's secret, Ling Tusi will have to find someone else; then only a dead person can keep the secret. So he must escape the great prison as soon as possible, regardless of whether there are system tasks—he must do it!

Therefore, this final sentence is filled with indignant resentment.

Ding Dian heard Feng Yi's praise as sarcasm, though he also felt some regret for having erected a stele for Mei Niansheng, so he didn't get angry. But upon hearing Feng Yi say that Ling Shuanghua would also die without a burial place, his whole body shuddered, his expression changed drastically, his face filled with panic, and he bellowed: "You, you what are you saying?"

With a few clangs, accompanied by the rattling of shackles, Ding Dian had already seized Feng Yi's shoulder and hoisted him up from the ground.

With a few crackles, Feng Yi instantly felt a tremendous force transmitted from Ding Dian's hands to his body, his bones even ringing—truly adding insult to injury, the pain unbearable.

Feng Yi endured the pain and roared: "Ding Dian, you damn lunatic! If I die, Ling Tusi will surely immediately marry off Miss Ling; then that'll be your lifelong regret!"

Ding Dian startled at the words, his grip loosening slightly.

Normally, if Feng Yi dared call him a lunatic, he'd have already slapped him several times. But he was wholly focused on his Shuanghua maiden; anything else didn't matter.

Ding Dian quickly released his grip, stepped back two paces, and said rather sheepishly: "Sorry, I got overly excited!" Immediately his expression changed again, his face full of menace: "You explain clearly—how could Shuanghua die without a burial place? If you don't give a reason… kid, heh heh, I'll make you wish for death but never attain it!"

Feng Yi watched Ding Dian begin another face-changing stunt, silently cursing that lovesick brains are dog-like. He also secretly vowed that if he ever got a chance to go out and gain strength, he would not allow anyone to shout at him again! This was already the second time; if his original body hadn't practiced martial arts for a few days, this physique would still be fairly sturdy, but if it were his former life's body, he estimated Ding Dian's two blows would have snapped his bones.

But at this moment he himself could not resist this "love fool"; he could only suppress his displeasure and slowly say: "Senior Ding, you too are a wise person; you've been imprisoned here for three years—how much patience do you think Ling Tusi still has?"

Today it could be me, tomorrow it could be Zhang San, pretending to enter prison to win your sympathy and pry out your secret!

You could also beat us to death, insisting on not revealing the secret; Ling Tusi's goal unfulfilled, he wouldn't kill you, at most inflict some superficial injuries—your Divine Illumination Skill protecting you, you wouldn't care.

But what about Miss Ling? Do you really believe that Ling Tui Si would not harm his own child?

He said, lowering his voice further: "I'm telling you, Ling Tui Si has gone mad for the great treasure."

His eyes hold no familial affection; he's hardly human. Even before I entered, I'd heard the news: he plans to marry off Miss Ling to force you to submit! Or is your feeling for Miss Ling just that trivial?

Ding Dian, hearing this, spoke in a deep voice: "You're talking nonsense! My feelings for Shuanghua are as vast as heaven and earth—how dare you question them!"

But after saying that, thinking of Ling Tui Si's character, he broke out in a cold sweat—he wasn't afraid of ten thousand things, just afraid of the one chance.

Suddenly a flash of inspiration lit his mind, his eyes gleaming brightly as he gazed at Feng Yi, as if trying to see through his entrails.

Feng Yi, naturally unafraid, locked his eyes firmly on Ding Dian's cold, stern face.

He knew that success or failure hinged on this final twitch.

If he tried to escape now, this lovesick fool would surely beat him up again.

Seeing Feng Yi looking at him so calmly, Ding Dian's expression softened, and he asked: "According to your opinion, what should we do now?"

Feng Yi gave a light smile, sat down against the wall, and said slowly: "Actually, if I were to say it, Ling Tui Si thinks himself clever, but he's really a fool. If he had let Miss Ling directly ask you for the Divine Illumination Skill and the Linked Cities Manual as a betrothal gift, he would have gotten his wish long ago."

Feng Yi knew Ling Tui Si projected his own mindset onto others, assuming everyone was like him; he feared leaking even a hint, which would make Ding Dian wary, so he never even mentioned the Divine Illumination Scripture and the Linked Cities Manual to his daughter.

Who would have thought that, in Ding Dian's eyes, his daughter Shuanghua outweighed everything—if she spoke, he would give her anything.

Hearing Feng Yi's words, Ding Dian's face instantly lit up with excitement.

Feng Yi's praise of his devotion to Shuanghua certainly made him happy, but that Feng Yi could perceive it gave him a sense of meeting a kindred spirit—a feeling only those born with utmost sincerity possess.

However, Feng Yi was speaking from a god's-eye view, deliberately playing along.

Ding Dian, on the other hand, was truly a person of utmost feeling and nature.

Sayings like "A scholar dies for his true friend; the righteousness between men of valor is more precious than romantic love" only apply to people like them.

People like Feng Yi, who have suffered from "poisoning," always put themselves first and can never understand such feelings.

Yet Feng Yi could read expressions; seeing Ding Dian's eyes light up at him, he knew it was to his advantage, so he struck while the iron was hot, his expression solemn, eyes locked on Ding Dian, and said softly: "Sir Ding, haven't you considered that Ling Tui Si might betroth Miss Ling to someone else?"

Ding Dian raised his brows and replied in a muffled voice: "You underestimate Shuanghua—she would never agree!"

Feng Yi shrugged, gave a light chuckle, his tone deep with meaning, then shook his head: "When did I ever say that Miss Ling would agree?"

Ding Dian was utterly bewildered, unable to grasp it for a moment.

He thought, "Right, if Shuanghua refuses, could Ling Tui Si still drag her into a bridal sedan? As a Hanlin scholar and a prefect, would he really disregard his reputation? Then what sense does this kid's words make?" Seeing Ding Dian's blank stare, Feng Yi realized that Ding Dian and his beloved Shuanghua were truly a match made in heaven—both painfully upright, incapable of flexibility. Yet for his own life, he could only exclaim in frustration: "Have you considered that Miss Ling is merely a defenseless young woman, especially raised by her father, whom she regards as a deity? Even if her love for you surpasses her filial duty, what means could she possibly use to successfully oppose Ling Tui Si's arranged marriage?"

These words struck Ding Dian's ears like thunder and lightning, shocking him, his face changing dramatically, his mind greatly shaken.

Ding Dian stepped back two paces; despite his high martial prowess and deep inner strength, his body swayed a few times, and the dungeon instantly echoed with the clanking of chains.

"You mean..."

Ding Dian's lips trembled as he muttered to himself.

Feng Yi interjected: "I think the only way for her is to disfigure herself, making herself so ugly that even pigs won't bite and dogs won't snatch—there's no other method!"

Ding Dian's face suddenly darkened; he reached out with his right hand, grabbed Feng Yi's collar, and lifted him high.

Feng Yi's inner monologue was a nonstop string of "damn it," having been toyed with for the third time today by this "super lovesick fool," yet unable to resist, it was utterly humiliating; then he heard Ding Dian snarl: "Though you're young, your heart is so vicious..."

Having come to this point, Feng Yi also threw caution to the wind, cutting in directly: "Ding Dian, you fucking idiot?"

(End of chapter)