Chapter 58

"Young Lady of the side branch, let's go."

Ah Zhu tugged at Wang Yuyan's sleeve, and only then did the latter pull her gaze back from where the Central Plains Escort Agency stood.

Wang Yuyan looked at Ah Zhu in confusion: "What is it?"

Ah Zhu pursed her lips toward Murong Fu's direction.

Wang Yuyan's misty brows knit slightly: "What's wrong with Cousin again? So worked up—who's upset him this time?"

Ah Zhu and Ah Bi exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison: "No idea. Let's catch up quickly."

Wang Yuyan sighed and gave a small nod.

The departing figures of the three women were naturally caught by Jiang Sishui as well.

Or rather, he had noticed them long ago.

After all, the Fairy Sister's looks and bearing were far too outstanding and otherworldly—standing out from the crowd like a crane among chickens, impossible not to notice.

"Strange—why does Wang Yuyan seem to have her mind not on Murong Fu? Could it be that in this world she hasn't fallen for Murong Fu?"

Because the distance was too great, Jiang Sishui couldn't make out Wang Yuyan's expression, but she didn't even notice Murong Fu leaving—clearly her thoughts weren't on him at all.

This was vastly different from the original work; how could Jiang Sishui not overthink it?

If that were truly the case, then the difficulty of winning Wang Yuyan would plummet off a cliff!

Thinking of this, Jiang Sishui couldn't help feeling a surge of delight.

"Ah—Brother Shen, thank heavens you came in time, or else from now on you'd never see your brother again!"

Tang Bohu sheathed his Overlord Spear and scampered over.

The white-robed swordsman smiled faintly: "Why 'never see'? If I'd arrived a bit later, at most I'd bring an extra roast chicken and two jars of wine when I came to visit you."

"Should I also bring a couple of incense candles and a few stacks of joss paper?"

"Mm~ if you want, I'm not opposed to considering it."

"Hiss—Brother Shen, you must be trying to anger me to death so you can inherit my eight wives at home!"

"Your eight wives? Forget it. I'd rather we swap—I lie down and rest, and you bring me roast chicken and wine. The incense candles and joss paper, you can skip those."

"…"

"What's that look for, Brother Tang? If you have something to say, just say it."

"I do have something to say, but I can't bring myself to say it."

"Why can't you say it?"

"Because the current you doesn't meet the conditions."

"Oh? What is it? Out with it first—maybe I can meet your conditions right away."

"In that case, I'll be blunt."

"Go ahead."

"Your wife and daughter, I shall raise them. Go in peace."

"…"

"Brother Shen has made such a sacrifice for his brother—if I didn't do something, my conscience wouldn't let me rest."

Tang Bohu wore an utterly sincere expression.

The white-robed swordsman drew a deep breath, clapped him on the shoulder, and sighed: "Brother Tang truly lives up to his righteousness!"

Tang Bohu waved a hand, matter-of-factly: "It's only right. The Shen and Tang families are old friends, and you and I are brothers—why distinguish between yours and mine? What's yours is mine!"

The white-robed swordsman: "…"

He no longer wished to speak with Tang Bohu. He turned to look at Ding Chunqiu and said lazily: "Senior, mercy where mercy is due—let my brother off this once, how about it?"

He looked utterly nonchalant, yet Ding Chunqiu dared not underestimate him in the slightest, his gaze sweeping toward the other's waist.

A longsword hung slanted there, its scabbard battered and worn, but no one would look down on it for that.

Hearing the white-robed swordsman's words, Ding Chunqiu couldn't help being taken aback.

From their conversation, he had already learned the two were old family friends, their bond no shallow thing.

He had assumed that with Tang Bohu's reinforcement, the two would press the attack and try to save face, leaving him unable to escape a vicious fight.

He hadn't expected the white-robed swordsman to open his mouth playing peacemaker.

This left Ding Chunqiu somewhat at a loss.

Could this boy be strong outside but hollow within?

But then he recalled the power of that earlier sword strike—didn't quite seem like it!

His thoughts racing, Ding Chunqiu put on a genial expression and said: "May I ask this young hero's name?"

The white-robed swordsman replied frankly: "Shen Lang."

Shen Lang?

"It's really him!" Jiang Sishui thought.

A hint of scrutiny and curiosity also entered Zhao Qiying's gaze—she hadn't expected that the very person Jiang Sishui had mentioned in his diary just last night would appear before them today.

Ding Chunqiu's heart stirred, and he said slowly: "This old man has heard that in Suzhou there is a Shen family, which once produced a Shen Tianjun—invincible beneath the heavens. Because he traveled the Nine Provinces challenging grandmasters without a single defeat, people gave him the nickname 'King of the Nine Provinces.'"

Shen Lang smiled faintly: "That is indeed my late father."

The moment Shen Lang confirmed it, a stir rippled through the crowd.

Some of the local Suzhou factions reacted most strongly.

Because ever since Shen Tianjun's death, the Shen family's standing in the jianghu had plummeted, their sphere of influence shrinking rapidly—many businesses had been encroached upon, and numerous factions had clashed with them in conflicts great and small.

Now, more than a decade later, the Shen family had produced yet another martial prodigy who, at such a young age, had forced Ding Chunqiu back with a single sword—this was bound to shake up the power structure in Suzhou.

Some factions might even face retaliation and reckoning!

How could they remain calm?

Ding Chunqiu's eyes flashed, and he chuckled, "It seems the Shen family has produced another fine son, and Young Hero Shen has inherited his father's true teachings. Today's matter is merely a misunderstanding. Farewell."

Having said that, Ding Chunqiu flicked his sleeve and left without the slightest hesitation.

The Zhongxingxiu Sect disciples hurriedly followed, yet none of them dared to shout or flatter him.

Because although Ding Chunqiu loved hearing flattery the most, he also hated it most when people flattered him and got it wrong.

Anyone with eyes could see that Ding Chunqiu was wary of Shen Lang's strength and had no choice but to retreat.

One could well imagine his mood at this moment.

Going up to flatter him now would absolutely be a sign of being tired of living.

Shen Lang turned and asked Tang Bohu, "How did you end up fighting this Ding Laoguai?"

At the mention of this, Tang Bohu was both angry and proud: "This Ding Laoguai has long admired my little brother's talent and wanted to capture me to help him solve the 'Zhenlong Chess Game'."

"Oh? Brother Tang can solve that chess game?" Shen Lang was surprised.

Tang Bohu shook his head: "That's hard to say. Who knows how Mr. Congbian's Qi Society plays? You'd have to take the field yourself and try before you'd know."

Shen Lang nodded slightly.

Indeed, over the past twenty years, the "Zhenlong Chess Game" had not gone unsolved in private, but people would arrive at Leigu Mountain full of confidence, play against Mr. Congbian, and lose again.

The reason was none other than that everyone's chess style was different.

Likewise, there were also some people who had never solved it even once in private, but still came here to try their luck.

What if Mr. Congbian made a mistake, and they happened to solve it?

Precisely because of this, although the "Zhenlongqi Society" had been held many times, every session still drew a large crowd.

Especially some of the great chess masters from around Suzhou.

063 Arriving at Leigu Mountain, Ninth Journal Entry

Shen Lang intervened, Ding Chunqiu retreated, and a fine show came to an end.

Some of the watching heroes left on their own, while others stepped forward to make connections—no need for details.

Jiang Sishui had originally wanted to find Huang Yaoshi to probe indirectly about Huang Rong's matter, but suddenly noticed the appreciative look in his eyes as he watched Shen Lang, and his heart gave a start.

He immediately abandoned the thought, turned back to the carriage, lowered the curtain, and said: "Uncle Zhao, let's go."

Zhao Tianhao suspected nothing, gave the order, and the escort caravan set off.

Zhao Qiying noticed Jiang Sishui's abnormality and asked with concern: "What's wrong? You seem very unhappy."

Jiang Sishui took her soft hand, held it in his palm, and smiled: "I'm fine. I just suddenly figured some things out. You don't need to worry."

Hearing this, Zhao Qiying did not ask further, and rested her fair head on his shoulder.

She knew that if Jiang Sishui truly had something weighing on his mind that he couldn't let go of, he would most likely write it in his journal.

Jiang Sishui held the girl's warm, soft body in his arms, tenderness welling in his heart, yet a trace of coldness flickered in his eyes.