Chapter 13

Zhao Tianhao blinked in surprise.

Jiang Sishui added, "But I'm afraid of death—I fear meeting with misfortune along the way—so I came here to hire an escort, hoping to reach my destination safely."

Zhao Tianhao nodded in understanding, his doubts gone, and asked, "Then may I ask, young brother, where are you headed?"

"Leigushan."

"Leigushan? That Leigushan where the Zhenlongqi Puzzle is set?"

Zhao Tianhao scanned Jiang Sishui from head to toe, a faint understanding dawning in him.

"Precisely."

"Good! This escort job is accepted by the Central Plains Escort Agency! When do you wish to depart?"

Jiang Sishui thought a moment, then said, "Tomorrow. As long as I can make it in time for this Zhenlongqi Society."

Zhao Tianhao stroked his beard and smiled, "No problem, young brother, rest easy. Zhang Yan, prepare a guest room for this young man."

"Yes, Chief Escort!" A junior escort promptly answered.

"I take my leave," Jiang Sishui bowed, then followed the escort away.

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

And this tiny motion was naturally noticed by the young lady who had been watching him all along.

"Qiying, do you know this young man?" Zhao Tianhao, standing nearby, noticed her odd reaction.

Zhao Qiying snapped back to herself and shook her head, "I don't know him. But I noticed his steps are unsteady—he seems to have no martial skill at all—yet he's going to join the Zhenlongqi Society. It puzzles me."

Zhao Tianhao nodded, also puzzled: "Though the Zhenlongqi Puzzle appears unrelated to Wu Gong, rumors say it hides a significant opportunity, beyond the reach of ordinary people. Yet this man seeks it—why?"

Zhao Qiying suddenly changed the subject: "Father, do you think this man can solve the Puzzle?"

Zhao Tianhao blinked in surprise: "Qiying, why ask that? Do you think he has the ability?"

The Zhenlongqi Puzzle has stood on Leigushan for twenty years; printed copies have spread across all twenty-eight states of the Central Region, and countless chess masters have studied it—yet no one has broken it yet.

Its difficulty is evident!

Normally, that young man would be no exception—your question is unnecessary.

Yet you asked it.

Though phrased as a question, the fact you asked it means you believe he has some chance.

That's why I'm surprised.

Zhao Qiying shook her head vaguely, "I don't know. I just feel he's a little different."

Zhao Tianhao nodded slightly and dropped the matter, only warning, "Tomorrow when you set out, be sure to be extra…"

He suddenly fell silent, lost in thought.

"Father?" Zhao Qiying ventured softly.

Zhao Tianhao came back to himself and smiled, "Forget it—I'll escort that package myself."

"You'll go yourself?"

"Yes! Though this young man claims he has no enemies, the journey to Leigushan will bring him face-to-face with martial artists heading to the Zhenlongqi Society—then dragons and snakes will mix, and peace won't last. I can't trust you to go."

"Father, I want to go see the Zhenlongqi Society too. The escort agency has Uncle Er watching over it—there'll be no problem."

"This… all right."

…

Jiang Sishui followed Zhang Yan out of the main hall, paid his fee, then went to a side courtyard and found a guest room to stay in.

Unwilling to stir trouble, he stayed quietly inside the room after settling in, never wandering or loitering.

Meanwhile, in Taihu, Suzhou.

Murong Fu, who had been traveling constantly, returned to Yanziwu.

At this moment, Murong Fu was studying the two young ladies before him, his narrow eyes half-lidded, speaking coolly: "Speak. What exactly happened?"

The two girls exchanged glances; the one in red asked, confused, "Since you left, nothing unusual has occurred at Yanziwu. Why ask this?"

Murong Fu snorted, "Do you really think me foolish? Just now, when I tried to go to Mantuo Shanzhuang, you blocked me with every excuse imaginable—do you think I didn't notice?"

The two girls froze, their eyes flickering with panic.

The red-clad girl, quick-witted, quickly tried to deflect.

But Murong Fu's gaze turned icy; he waved his hand to cut off her words, then fixed his eyes on the girl in green: "Azhu, be silent. Abi, you speak."

Azhu Abi: Since we couldn't stop the cousin, let's join her.

These two girls were the two maids of Yanziwu: the one in red was Abi, the one in green was Azhu.

Murong Fu knew Azhu was clever, cunning, full of tricks—so he refused to let her answer.

Abi, by contrast, was gentle and obedient, poor at deception or clever talk—he'd get clearer answers from her.

Abi, named directly, panicked, at a loss—then saw Murong Fu glare at her.

Terrified, she blurted out the truth about the diary copy.

But what came out was: "Because the cousin misses you so much, Auntie Li is furious and says… says you're no longer allowed to go to Mantuo Shanzhuang."

Murong Fu observed her expression; seeing no lie, his demeanor softened slightly: "That's all?"

His tone was lazy, showing he didn't care at all.

Li Qingluo had never liked him—not for one day or two—and Murong Fu knew it perfectly well, yet he didn't care.

Though bound by her status as his aunt, Murong Fu still pretended a modicum of respect—but he went to Mantuo Shanzhuang whenever he pleased; what could Li Qingluo do to him?

Moreover, in this region of Taihu, Mantuo Shanzhuang relied on the Murong family's reputation to remain safe.

Li Qingluo often traveled, so many knew the mistress of Mantuo Shanzhuang was a stunningly beautiful woman.

Such a beauty had countless admirers.

Yet why had no one ever succeeded in taking her?

Is it because the waterways of Taihu are complex, making it impossible to find the hidden Mantuo Shanzhuang?

No!

No matter how complex the waterways, you can always find boatmen who know the routes.

What those people truly fear is merely the Murong family, who are related by marriage to Li Qingluo!

Once, someone indeed plotted against Li Qingluo, but as soon as their boat entered Taihu, their heads were severed.

Nothing else—because although the Murong family nominally holds only Yanziwu, in truth, nearly half the power in Taihu has long been secretly brought under Murong Fu's control.

Whoever dares to lay hands on Mantuo Shanzhuang will be discovered at once.

Facing Murong Fu's question, Abi lowered her head slightly: "Y-yes, Young Master."

Murong Fu waved his folding fan, sneered, and walked off without another word.

The two maids jointly exhaled in relief.

Azhu rose first, then pulled up Abi, whose legs were still weak, and laughed: "Good job, Abi—your little brain's gotten clever today!"

Abi smiled bitterly: "That wasn't my original words—I meant to reveal the fact that Miss Wang had given the 'Truth Water' to the diary copy, but as soon as I opened my mouth, it came out like that."

Azhu nodded; the existence of the diary copy truly could not be disclosed.

When they first obtained the diary copy, the two had planned to report it to Deng Baichuan—and something similar had happened then, so she wasn't surprised.

"Sister Azhu, do you think Miss Wang will give the 'Truth Water' to the Young Master?" Abi asked, worried.

Wang Yuyan's deep affection for Murong Fu was plain to see, and now that she had a chance to make him speak the truth, would she let it slip away?

The two maids knew full well.

Because if it were themselves, they too would be unwilling to let it go.

Then the question arises: will Murong Fu's answer satisfy Wang Yuyan?

This was precisely what Abi feared most.

For they, as bystanders, knew better than anyone how Murong Fu treated Wang Yuyan—and Abi had no confidence in Murong Fu at all.

Azhu sighed; she understood Abi's fears perfectly, and said helplessly: "We've done all we could to prevent the Young Master from meeting Miss Wang. What must come, will come—now we can only see whether the Young Master and Miss Wang have fate between them."

Abi nodded slightly; since they had done all humanly possible, what remained was now heaven's will.

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

Abi paused, hesitating: "That wouldn't be right, would it?"

"Just tell me if you want to!" Azhu urged.

Abi struggled for a moment, then finally nodded.

Azhu beamed: "Then let's go, quick!"

Saying this, she grabbed Abi's hand and rushed off to chase after Murong Fu.