Chapter 12

Zhao Zhao Tianhao couldn't help but stare in surprise.

Jiang Sishui explained again, "However, this junior is rather afraid of death and worries about meeting with misfortune along the way, so I have come here to hire an escort, hoping to arrive safely."

Zhao Zhao Tianhao suddenly understood, his heart free of further doubt, and asked, "But where does young brother wish to go?"

"Leigu Mountain."

"Leigu Mountain? The Leigu Mountain where the 'Zhenlong Chess Formation' is set up?"

Zhao Zhao Tianhao looked Jiang Sishui up and down, vaguely understanding something.

"Exactly."

"Good! This Central Plains Escort Agency accepts this commission! When does young brother wish to depart?"

Jiang Sishui thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow will do, as long as I can make it to this 'Zhenlong Chess Gathering'."

Zhao Zhao Tianhao stroked his beard and smiled, "That is no problem; young brother, please set your mind at ease. Zhang Yan, go prepare a side room for this young brother."

"Yes, Chief Escort!" a spearman below immediately responded.

"This junior takes his leave!" Jiang Sishui bowed and followed the spearman away.

As he turned to leave, his gaze casually swept over the young girl standing beside Zhao Zhao Tianhao.

This tiny movement was naturally noticed by the girl who had been watching him all along.

"Zhao Zhao Qiying, do you know this young man?" It was Zhao Zhao Tianhao beside her who noticed her unusual behavior.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying came to her senses, shook her head, and said, "Daughter does not know him. However, I noticed his steps were unsteady, as if he possessed no martial arts, yet he intends to attend the 'Zhenlong Chess Gathering,' which I find strange."

Zhao Zhao Tianhao nodded, also somewhat puzzled, "Although the 'Zhenlong Chess Formation' seems unrelated to martial arts, rumors say it hides a significant opportunity behind it, one not accessible to ordinary people. That this person would wade into these waters baffles me."

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying suddenly changed the subject, "Father, do you think this person can solve the chess formation?"

Hearing this, Zhao Zhao Tianhao stared in surprise, "Zhao Zhao Qiying, why do you ask such a question? Do you think he has the ability?"

The "Zhenlong Chess Formation" has been displayed at Leigu Mountain for twenty years; printed copies have long spread throughout the twenty-eight prefectures of the Central Domain, studied by countless masters of the game, yet no one has ever broken it.

This shows just how difficult it is!

Normally, that young man just now would be no exception, so his own daughter had no need to ask such an unnecessary question.

Yet she asked.

Although it was merely a question, the fact that she could ask it meant that in her heart, she felt that person had some hope.

That was why Zhao Zhao Tianhao felt surprised.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying shook her head and said vaguely, "Daughter does not know either; I just feel he seems somewhat different from others."

Zhao Zhao Tianhao nodded slightly, stopped pressing the matter, and only instructed, "When you set out tomorrow, you must be extra..."

He suddenly fell silent, lost in thought.

"Father?" Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying called out tentatively.

Zhao Zhao Tianhao slightly regained his composure, smiled, and said, "Never mind, I will personally escort this shipment tomorrow!"

"Father is going personally?"

"Indeed! Although this young man claims to have no enemies, this journey to Leigu Mountain will inevitably encounter martial artists heading to the same 'Zhenlong Chess Gathering.' By then, dragons and snakes will mix together, and peace will be hard to maintain. If you go, I cannot rest easy."

"Father, daughter also wants to follow and see the 'Zhenlong Chess Gathering.' Besides, Second Uncle is watching over the escort agency, so there will be no problems."

"This... very well."

After following Zhang Yan out of the main hall, Jiang Sishui first paid the fee, then went to the side courtyard to find a side room to stay in.

Unwilling to stir up trouble, once he entered the side room, he stayed inside obediently and did not wander around aimlessly.

Meanwhile, at Taihu in Suzhou.

South South Murong Fu, who had been traveling outside, returned to Swallow Dock.

At this moment, South South Murong Fu was looking at the two young girls before him with a scrutinizing gaze, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed, as he said indifferently, "Speak, what exactly happened?"

The two girls exchanged glances, and one dressed in red asked in confusion, "After Young Master left, nothing significant happened at Swallow Dock; why does Young Master ask such a question?"

South South Murong Fu snorted, "Do you truly think I am a fool? Just now, when I wanted to go to Mandala Manor, you used various excuses to obstruct me in every way; do you really think I, your Young Master, cannot see through it?"

Hearing this, the two girls were startled, and a hint of panic appeared in their eyes.

Still, the girl in red was clever; her mind raced as she prepared to make up an excuse to gloss over it.

However, South South Murong Fu's eyes turned cold; he waved his hand to cut off the words she had not yet spoken and looked at the other girl dressed in green, saying, "A-Zhu, be quiet; A-Bi, you speak!"

These two young girls were precisely the two maids of Swallow Dock; the one in red was A-Zhu, and the one in green was A-Bi.

South South Murong Fu knew that A-Zhu was quirky, cunning, and full of tricky ideas, so he did not want her to answer.

On the contrary, A-Bi was gentle and obedient, and not skilled in clever argumentation or deception, so it would be much easier to get the truth from her.

Being singled out and questioned by South South Murong Fu, A-Bi panicked in her heart; just as she was at a loss, she saw South South Murong Fu glare at her.

Terrified and completely disoriented, A-Bi subconsciously blurted out the matter of the diary copy.

However, what came out of her mouth was, "Because Miss Cousin misses Young Master terribly, Lady Aunt is very angry and said... said that Young Master is not allowed to visit Mandala Manor ever again."

Observing her expression and demeanor, South South Murong Fu saw that A-Bi did not seem to be lying, and his demeanor softened slightly, "Just this much?"

His tone was lazy and casual, clearly showing he did not care at all.

Li Li Qingluo's dislike for him was not something new; South South Murong Fu knew this clearly in his heart but cared not the slightest.

Although, out of respect for her status as his aunt by marriage, South South Murong Fu still needed to maintain a degree of politeness on the surface, he could still visit Mandala Manor whenever he wished; what could Li Li Qingluo do to him?

Moreover, in the Taihu region, Mandala Manor relied on the reputation of the South South Murong family to remain safe and sound.

Li Li Qingluo often traveled abroad, so many people knew that the master of Mandala Manor was a stunningly beautiful woman.

With such a rare beauty, countless people lusted after her.

But why has no one succeeded to this day?

Was it because the waterways of Taihu were complex, making it impossible to find Mandala Manor hidden deep within them?

Not at all!

No matter how complex the waterways, one can always find a boatman who knows the route.

What those people worried about was merely the South South Murong family, who were related to Li Li Qingluo by marriage!

Indeed, there were once those who plotted against Li Li Qingluo, yet just as their boat entered Taihu, their heads were severed from their bodies.

For no other reason than that, although the South South Murong family nominally occupied only Swallow Dock, in reality, nearly half the power within Taihu had long been secretly subdued by South South Murong Fu.

Anyone daring to scheme against Mandala Villa would be discovered immediately.

Facing South South Murong Fu's inquiry, Sister Sister Abi lowered her head slightly: "Y... yes, Young Master."

South South Murong Fu flicked his folding fan, let out a scoffing laugh, and walked away without another word.

The two maids exhaled in unison with relief.

Sister Sister Azhu rose first, then pulled up the weak-kneed Sister Sister Abi, smiling: "Not bad, Sister Sister Abi, your little brain has become quite nimble today!"

Sister Sister Abi smiled bitterly: "Those were not my original words; I intended to reveal that the diary duplicate rewarded Miss with 'Truth Water,' but the moment I opened my mouth, it turned into what was said."

Sister Sister Azhu nodded; it seemed the existence of the diary duplicate truly could not be disclosed.

Earlier, just after obtaining the diary duplicate, when the two had gone to report to Deng Deng Baichuan, a similar situation had occurred, so she was not surprised by this.

"Sister Sister Sister Azhu, do you think Miss will give the 'Truth Water' to the Young Master to drink?" Sister Sister Abi asked, full of worry.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan's deep devotion to South South Murong Fu was plain for all to see; given such an opportunity to make South South Murong Fu speak his true feelings, would Wang Wang Wang Yuyan let it slip away?

The two maids knew the answer clearly in their hearts.

For if it were them in her place, they probably would not wish to let it go either.

Thus arose the question: could South South Murong Fu's answer possibly satisfy Wang Wang Wang Yuyan?

This was precisely what Sister Sister Abi feared most.

For as bystanders, they knew best South South Murong Fu's attitude toward Wang Wang Wang Yuyan, and Sister Sister Abi truly had no confidence in him.

Sister Sister Azhu sighed, fully aware of Sister Sister Abi's worries, and said helplessly: "We have done our utmost to prevent the Young Master from meeting Miss; what must come will come; it now depends on whether the Young Master and Miss share any fate."

Sister Sister Abi gave a slight nod; since they had done all that lay within human power, they could only leave the rest to heaven's will.

The two women fell silent for a moment, then Sister Sister Azhu suddenly blinked: "Sister Sister Abi, do you want to..."

Sister Sister Abi froze for an instant, then hesitated: "Is that proper?"

"Just say whether you want to or not!" Sister Sister Azhu urged.

After a brief struggle, Sister Sister Abi finally nodded.

Sister Sister Azhu instantly brightened: "Then let's go quickly!"

With that, she dragged Sister Sister Abi along and set off in pursuit of South South Murong Fu.