Chapter 353: Seemingly So, Yet Not

The young lady's figure was slender and supple, and the scent of lavender lingered amidst her raven-black hair, which flowed like ocean waves. Mei Lin held onto Pulu Meiliya's thin shoulders tightly, feeling her own heart beating faster than ever before.

"... Mei Lin?" Pulu Meiliya patted her on the back.

Only then did Mei Lin snap out of her turbulent emotions. She hurriedly released her hands and took a step back, bringing her legs together and standing straight. Lowering her head, she said, "Young Lady."

A pitiful, thick barrier already stood between these two half-sisters.

Pulu Meiliya looked up at Mei Lin. Without asking why she had lost her composure, she immediately turned her gaze toward Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe, her eyes burning with intensity.

"Miss Mei Lin," Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe said, resting his chin on one hand, his voice faint. "As you can see, your young lady has returned. I have kept my promise; now it is time for you to fulfill yours."

Pulu Meiliya was somewhat surprised to hear this. Had Mei Lin actually made some kind of agreement with the master? When did that happen?

"I understand." Mei Lin let her hands fall to her sides and bowed deeply to Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe. "No later than tomorrow afternoon, the investigation report on the missing representative of the Golden Clan will be on your desk... Mr. Dai Ke."

"Very good." Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe smiled. "Go on, I await your good news."

"Young Lady, let's go." Mei Lin gently touched the young lady's shoulder.

Pulu Meiliya's gaze lingered on Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe, reluctant to look away. Her eyes swept briefly over the woman beside him, but in the end, she said nothing. She followed Mei Lin out of the room and left the Dai Ke family's airship, the Saint Abilon.

After watching the two leave, Xia Yubing leaned in toward Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Hey, Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe, what is the Golden Clan? And those two women, they looked so stuck-up... who are they?"

Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe didn't push her away, but instead asked, "Do you remember that Gambler in the opera house?"

Xia Yubing nodded.

"The Gambler's name is Ai Qu. Originally, he was a prisoner locked away by the Golden Clan in a sealed prison. But yesterday, an accident happened to a representative sent by this so-called 'Golden Clan' to Vivian Port... he went missing."

Following that came the Gambler's escape.

Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe briefly explained the principles of the rules within the mirror world of 'Zhenming Youjing' to Xia Yubing. He didn't hide anything—even if he didn't say it, Xia Yubing could find out by asking her own family later; after all, those two notebooks were originally given to Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe by Xia Chan.

Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe didn't say much about the four great families conspiring against Seeing Lan Shiwen, only telling Xia Yubing that these families had sent representatives to Vivian Port for a meeting.

"Those two women just now are the representatives sent by the 'Flimmistleth' family. You should have noticed that both of them have black hair and black eyes. They are great nobles of the old Roman double-headed eagle flag, the local power brokers of this Apennine Peninsula."

Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe continued, "Van Daike died outside the opera house. The identity of Fan Daike is in a very sensitive position right now; I might even be being watched. That's why it's not convenient for me to personally investigate the reason for the disappearance of the Golden Clan's representative, which is why I had those two handle it for me."

This move was intended both to leverage the influence of the local family behind Pulu Meiliya and to serve some of Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe's own private reasons that were not for outsiders to know.

"You mean someone is targeting you in the shadows? That person murdered the Golden Clan's representative and released the Gambler imprisoned by Zhenming Youjing, all to strip a certain ghost away from you?" After this explanation, Xia Yubing finally understood the current situation.

"Overall, that is correct." Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe closed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa, sighing. "The path of ascension, the struggle for the Dao—it is a matter of life and death. That's just how it is."

Watching Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe slumped on the sofa with a calm expression, Xia Yubing's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't bring herself to speak. After a long while, she lowered her head and called out, "Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe."

"Hmm?"

"I... I don't seem to be able to help you at all." Xia Yubing hung her head in dejection, her eyes dim.

"What do you mean?" Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe looked at her, somewhat surprised.

Xia Yubing opened her mouth, hesitating, but then said in a low voice, "During the time I was hypnotized by the Requiem, you were in the opera house the whole time, right? You were alone in peril, facing the Gambler, and having to guard against the person targeting you in the shadows. I knew you might be in danger, but I couldn't help you at all."

"Not long after I woke up, Seeing Lan Shiwen appeared here with the corpse of Fusuolesi and used the notebook to tell you about the Ta Sui worm. I don't know what that means, but it seems very important to you."

Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe did not deny it. The information about the 'Ta Sui' was indeed important—crucially so.

"And then there's that missing Golden Clan thing. You couldn't investigate it yourself because of the Fan Daike identity, and I'm just an outsider recruited by Fan Daike. With both sides constrained, you ended up reaching a cooperative deal with the local nobles of the Apennine Peninsula to let Mei Lin and the others investigate for you."

Xia Yubing's voice grew quieter as she spoke, her mood becoming frustrated and dejected. "Whether it's Seeing Lan Shiwen or Mei Lin and the others, they can all truly help you and provide you with assistance. But look at me? Nominally, I am your fiancée, yet I haven't done a single thing for you. I'm always being taken care of by you, but when you are in danger, I can only stay outside and worry, unable to help you with anything..."

"I was actually thinking just now, if I hadn't followed you away from the Nine Provinces to come here, and you had one less burden by your side, would you be more at ease when dealing with the schemes of other ascenders?"

Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe didn't interrupt. He listened quietly as Xia Yubing poured out her heart, then wrapped one arm around her shoulder and said softly, "Being able to stay by my side like this is already the greatest help to me."

"That's so cheesy." Xia Yubing scoffed. "You don't need to say such pretty words to comfort me, even if many girls fall for that."

"I am merely stating the truth." Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe shook his head. "Or do you think that, based on your understanding of me, I am the type of person who would take on a burden for no reason?"

Xia Yubing froze for a moment. Oh, right. Would Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe do something meaningless?

Generally, he would not.

Although they had known each other for only a little over a month, in Xia Yubing's impression, Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe's image had always been rational, cold, and a little mysterious, with a dangerous charm lingering about him.

Looking back at their time in Zanju Town, many of the actions Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe took that seemed meaningless at the time often turned out to have profound, critical roles upon later reflection. This was even more true now.

The struggle for the Dao is a matter of life and death. Knowing that other ascenders were lurking in the shadows, would a person like Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe really take on a useless burden for no reason?

"Logically speaking, he wouldn't, but..."

Thinking of this, Xia Yubing became even more confused. "But if you ask what help I've provided him, or what role I've played..." She really couldn't think of anything for the moment.

Could it be, just as Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe said, that her being by his side was the greatest help?

... Is that really it?

Seeing Seeing Ning Zhe just slumped on the sofa, motionless, offering no further comment.

(End of chapter)