Ran Feize brought Su Xiaopei back to his room. Those who were gathered in front of the Linglong formation also dispersed, each to their own faction.
The Shensuan Sect wiped their tears and carried away the Jiuling Taoist’s dead body while the disciples from the Qisha Stronghold surrounded Fang Ping and Fu Yan to examine their injuries in concern. When they saw that there were no serious wounds, they too left. The Xuanqing Faction was not entangled in any grievances with the other groups, so since the other two factions already departed, they naturally didn’t linger further.
Jiang Weiying stood before the rope bridge as he looked over to the other side and then, turned to observe as both the Shensuan Sect and the Qisha Stronghold parted ways, his heart feeling terribly uncomfortable. The death of the Jiuling Taoist was quite similar to the murder case of Qisha Stronghold’s Master. The short arrow that had pierced the back of the heart was indeed deeper than the other three though it was not very obvious; despite seeing this, he didn’t voice it immediately. His first thought at the time was that this long-running dispute between the two factions which caused such disturbance within the Jianghu could perhaps finally come to an end- that this catastrophic strife and slaughter could finally be avoided. This was why he kept mum about it. If there were no others who discovered this or if they also remained silent, he had planned on keeping it under wraps. He was going to examine it in secret whether the fatal injury was indeed an accident or if Qisha Stronghold did have a hand in it; without a doubt, he planned to make clear the situation. But he was, in truth, thankful for the Qisha Stronghold incident.
It had been dragged out for too long, became too troublesome, and it was going to become harder to deal with if the factions’ quarrel progressed to drawing their weapons and slaughtering each other. He truly thought this way.
No one had spoken up. Regardless of whether others discovered it or not, no one really brought up that particular injury to the heart. Except Jiang Weiying hadn’t anticipated Ran Feize to actually step forward. And since the man boldly pointed this out, then he naturally could not deny it. As a matter of fact, if anyone else brought the matter up, he would not have denied it either.
Only Jiang Weiying recalled how the Jiuling Taoist desperately sought him to save people and then charged into the formation alone regardless other’s discouragement before he finally met this end. He had heard the remarks made by those from the Shensuan Sect, that the Jiuling Taoist only hoped to prove his innocence. The request was indeed not excessive. The Jiuling Taoist had been highly self-assured, haughty and rude, and often caused others’ displeasure. But this request of his was truly not the least bit outrageous.
Jiang Weiying sighed, feeling very ashamed.
The group of Xuanqing Sect disciples followed Jiang Weiying back to a separate courtyard. Ji Jiawen was still holding onto Ran Feize’s sword in a very depressed mood. He and the Jiuling Taoist had been the ones to guard Ran Feize and Su Xiaopei as they broke out of the formation so he believed the Taoist to be a good person. While everyone else had been unwilling to risk venturing into the barrier overnight to search for people, the Taoist had been the only one willing to go. It had been the Taoist who managed to retrieve him from the barrier when he had been fearful and unable to find his way. Night had fully settled in and he had panicked thinking Miss Su would die. It had been the Taoist who saved him and also saved Miss Su.
The more Ji Jiawen thought about it, the more his eyes burned. The Taoist’s martial skills were praiseworthy and powerful, so how could he have gone so easily? It had been too sudden and entirely unpredictable.
Xiao Qi went over to Ji Jiawen’s side and patted his head, “Eighteen, don’t be sad. Life and death are up to fate.”
Ji Jiawen nodded his head and said to Xiao Qi, “Martial Older Brother, Senior Ran’s sword is still with me so I will go return it to him.”
“Alright.” Xiao Qi nodded, but then remembered, “By the way, right before the array changed, you came rushing over calling for me. Was something the matter?”
The moment he asked, Ji Jiawen also remembered; it had been about Ran Feize offering to let him keep the sword. He had been very shy but he also wanted it, so he sought out his Martial Older Brother for advice. He had been halfway there when the array was awakened and so he hurriedly went back to look for Ran Feize without getting to ask. Now that this incident happened, he was ashamed to take the sword. Ji Jiawen shook his head and replied, “It was nothing. I had suddenly thought of something amusing at the time and wanted to tell Martial Brother.”
“Ah.” Xiao Qi nodded and didn’t mind it.
“Then I will be going now to hand over the sword and return.” When Xiao Qi consented, he ran over to Jiang Weiying to notify him as well. After Jiang Weiying also consented, Ji Jiawen took the sword and left.
Ji Jiawen ran all the way to Ran Feize’s lodgings without stopping and arrived just as the man himself was drawing water for Su Xiaopei to wipe her face as well as hands and feet. He was wrought with worry as he observed her sluggishness and her still feverish skin. He was relieved when he saw Ji Jiawen’s arrival and quickly set him to work with ‘I am too busy to be away so please go fetch a physician’.
And so Ji Jiawen put down the sword and rushed out again to bring over a physician. When the physician arrived and examined her pulse, he remained nearby to grind writing ink, then prepared the paper and brush for the physician to provide a prescription. Once the prescription was written, he hadn’t even caught his breath yet before he rushed out once more to help retrieve the medicine.
With how obedient, thoughtful, and well-behaved he was, a greedy Ran Feize couldn’t help but tell Su Xiaopei, “How did a good child like him end up falling into the hands of the Xuanqing Sect?”
Although Su Xiaopei didn’t have much alertness or strength, she still went along with him. “Snatch him then.”
“That is not the gentleman’s way.” Ran Feize assumed a feigned manner with a look that said ‘don’t incite me’.
Su Xiaopei ignored him and instead, said, “I want congee.”
“I will make some for you soon.”
“Preserved egg and lean meat congee*.”
[TL/N: See footnote.]
“What is that?”
“There isn’t any?” Su Xiaopei was disappointed. Her mouth tasted bitter and dry, and so she wanted to eat deliciously fragrant congee.
When Ran Feize saw her pouting with a look of discontent, he became tenderhearted in a moment. “There is, there is.” From the sound of it, it seems to be congee with egg and meat.
Su Xiaopei looked at him with suspicion.
“The congee I make is definitely delicious.” He praised himself first- he’ll figure it out later.
Su Xiaopei smiled amusedly at his appearance.
“I feel very unwell.”
“Hold on for a while longer. Eighteen went to retrieve medicine. You’ll get better once you’ve taken it.”
“I feel uncomfortably dirty.”
“You’ve wiped down already. Once you’re well again, you can bathe.”
“Warrior, lend me another set of garments please.” She was still wearing the clothes she had on in the woods, which had long since become shamefully dirty and malodorous. Ran Feize was very good at finding an opportune time to quickly change into clean clothes and it was making her envious of him.
“Ah.” Ran Feize finally gave a response. Wearing dirty clothes is certainly uncomfortable but… cough cough. “I do not mind being of service to Miss at all, but while I am a gruff man I also abide by etiquette and respectful manners….”
“I will change on my own.”
Ran Feize choked. He hadn’t even finished speaking though. Why cut him off so quickly? It was the latter half of his words that was the important part!
“Hurry up.” Su Xiaopei hastened him while shooting him an aggrieved look. It was already enough that she didn’t understand his flirtatious expression, but to have the nerve to hasten him!
“Are you really fine?” She truly doesn’t need his help? He loved to do things like changing clothes.
[TL/N: Ran Feize, you being a perv on Su Xiaopei here?? = =;;;]
Su Xiaopei was truly exhausted and lacking in strength so she only looked at him with knitted brows. Ran Feize rubbed at his nose, flipped through his clothes chest and chose the newest and cleanest set. “Bear with wearing these first. I will go and purchase new garments for you soon.” He felt truly aggrieved, for he not only didn’t get any benefits but he had worked diligently and ardently to please and woo her.
Su Xiaopei took the clothes and shooed him out. Ran Feize closed the door but didn’t forget to remind her, “If you do not have enough strength and feel faint, just call and I will come in.”
“Idiot.”
The ‘idiot’ rubbed at his nose and squatted in front of the door to keep watch. There was nothing else to do other than to fall into a stupor while thinking about the maiden and about changing clothes; he would love to do that job. Alas, too bad he didn’t have a chance. While thinking too much, he suddenly felt a tingling on his back. It was the sensation left from when Su Xiaopei’s soft chest had pressed against his back. He couldn’t help but imagine the softness and her curves, and his face flushed.
Ji Jiawen returned and entered the residence to behold Ran Feize’s blushing face.
“Senior.” He couldn’t have also been poisoned, only for it to surface now, right?
“ Go, go.” Ran Feize waved at him sulkily. Why are the people around him so ignorant?
“Oh, okay.” Ji Jiawen set down the bag of medicine, took one of the packages out and said, “Then Senior, I will go decoct the medicine now.”
[TL/N: Awwww, Jiawen, let me hug you!! Such a good child, don’t follow Ran Feize’s example! lolll]
Ran Feize was stupefied. He supposed he was complaining about the wrong issue. The kid was just tactful, too tactful. Su Xiaopei called for him from within the room and Ran Feize hurried to divert his attention back as he pushed open the doors and entered. Su Xiaopei looked beyond exhausted and had collapsed on the bed panting for breath. The dirty clothing she had changed out of were strewn on the floor.
Ran Feize tidied up the room and then felt Su Xiaopei’s forehead again. Seeing as she was so tired that she looked close to crashing, he left her to sleep. Once everything was settled, he rounded towards the kitchens in the back and saw that Ji Jiawen had not only procured a medicine decoction pot* from who knows where, but also found himself some water and even chopped some firewood. A fire was already going with the pot of medicine sitting simmering on top. When he saw his approach, the young man quickly spoke, “Senior is out of water, so I will help Senior fetch it later.”
[TL/N: See footnote.]
“Alright.” Ran Feize didn’t hold back since he needed to keep watch on Su Xiaopei and it was truly inconvenient to stray too far. He circled the kitchen interior once and then asked, “Eighteen, have you ever heard of preserved egg and lean meat congee?”
“What is this item you speak of?”
So he didn’t know either. It made Ran Feize feel much better about himself. He took out some silver taels and handed them to Ji Jiawen. “For the medicine. Go once more to help me purchase provisions: some vegetables, eggs and lean meat.”
“Okay.” Ji Jiawen got up immediately without delay and took the water bucket from the back courtyard right before he left. Ran Feize circled the kitchen again. He wanted to go ask the maiden what she meant by preserved egg and lean meat congee, but then also felt that it would be embarrassing to admit in front of the maiden that he didn’t know what it was. At the same time, he also thought as embarrassing as it was, he wanted to let the maiden eat something she wanted. Yet when he returned to the room, he found her fast asleep.
Perhaps resting on the bed was much more comfortable for she slept soundly and deeply. He couldn’t help but brush against her cheeks, “Get well quickly. I still need to rely on Miss to return Sir Taoist’s innocence.” That culprit was simply too despicable.
Ran Feize sat there watching Su Xiaopei for a good while, then went to take a look at how the medicine was decocting, and then heard Ji Jiawen’s return. He lifted his eyes and watched as the young man entered with steady steps carrying a bag of rice, eggs and vegetables in one hand while the other held a bucket of water. Ran Feize once again felt unfortunate. How did such a wonderful child end up with the Xuanqing Sect?
He originally thought that Ji Jiawen would take leave once he set everything down but in the end, the young lad spoke, “I already returned to the Sect beforehand to inform Martial Older Brother and Master that because Miss Su is ill and Senior will find it difficult to handle it alone, I will be staying to help. Master and Martial Older Brother gave their approval.”
Ran Feize nodded. If that was the case, then he truly won’t hold back. And so, he tasked him with chopping firewood. Ji Jiawen went, set up the stand, took up the hatchet, and set to work in all seriousness. Not more than a few strokes later, Ran Feize walked over, kicked his foot to widen his stance, patted his back to change his posture and made him lift his arms higher. “Wrong application of strength causes more toil than necessary.”
Ji Jiawen was befuddled, then tried to chop a few more in the new stance but found it quite difficult and couldn’t put in strength. Ran Feize shook his head, stole the hatchet from him, set up the piece of firewood and swiftly demonstrated for him to see. If he wanted a square block, then it became a square block, and if he wanted wood chips, it became so. His posture was relaxed and his movement effortless.
Ji Jiawen’s jaw dropped as he looked on with a silly expression. Senior, it’s just chopping wood, is this necessary?
When Ran Feize finished chopping a pile, he returned the hatchet to him. “If even chopping firewood can’t be done well, then what of training in the sword?”
Ji Jiawen shut his mouth, his competitive side now aroused. He set up another log and proceeded to follow the example Ran Feize had just shown. Ran Feize remained to the side watching over the medicine and preparing food, all whilst providing pointers in between.Inhibited arm movement, and an uncoordinated waist and legs will only result in the successful use of eighty percent of one’s strength. If eyes and hands don’t work as one, then one cannot accomplish what one desires.
Ji Jiawen finished chopping firewood with a sense of joy, feeling that he reaped a great deal of benefit. But he also felt a little sorry, “Senior, there’s no more firewood left to chop.” A home ought not to have so little firewood, right?
Ran Feize laughed, “Then you can return to your Sect and chop some more.”
Ji Jiawen wiped at his sweat. “There are menial workers in our residence so many of my martial brothers have never done this kind of work before.” The Xuanqing Sect’s name was renowned, so many disciples hail from prestigious families; rare are the ones who come from small-town, poor families like himself.
“So what use is there for empty posture with loose and weak limbs?”
Ji Jiawen didn’t reply, simply sitting to the side and watched Ran Feize make congee. “Is this really edible?” It looked bizarre. What would it taste like to add such ingredients in there?
Ran Feize glared at him, “You can speak ill of my knife skills, but you cannot speak ill of my congee.”
Ji Jiawen covertly pouted his lips; that just meant he couldn’t say the truth. He stared into the congee, then couldn’t help but ask Ran Feize, “Senior, how do you think Sir Taoist died?”
“He was shot to death.” Ran Feize had no doubts about this singular point.
With Sir Taoist’s powerful and lofty martial skills, just who could possibly have acted so swiftly?” Ji Jiawen’s brows creased, completely unable to make sense of it. This was the Jiuling Taoist they were speaking of and not some backwater Wulin practitioner of little importance like them.
“Someone he is not guarded against. I also suspect there were two people. One would divert his attention in conversation while the other could sneak behind him and trigger the hidden arrow-laced traps before shooting him in the back to create an illusion of an accident. The person who attacked is also one skilled in martial arts and not much inferior to the Jiuling Taoist.”
“But why do such a thing?” If it was to say that the culprit was from Qisha Stronghold, then it was completely unnecessary. Even though they believe the Jiuling Taoist to be guilty, they know that the different Wulin factions and sects will be there to bring down judgement for them so there was no need to risk committing a disreputable and heinous crime. Ji Jiawen’s frown grew deeper. He believed that the others must also think so.
Ran Feize poured a bowl of medicine out and left it to cool. He then turned to look at the youth, “Eighteen, what then even if you know the reason?”
“Sir Taoist died unjustly, then naturally the truth must be uncovered. Didn’t Senior say that this must be fulfilled? I- I also want to help.”
Ran Feize nodded, “Alright, then I’ll tell you. In the case of Qisha Stronghold Master’s death, Sir Taoist was indeed framed. Miss Su had found a clue at the mountain stream but someone wanted to permanently silence Miss Su and so, attacked us en route. If we were to die while trapped in the barrier, it would easily be attributed to an accident, and can only blame our lack of luck for being struck by the traps- the truth forever unknown even to the gods and spirits. So the tree you found was the result of someone intentionally toppling it to force us into the barrier. It was unexpected that the Jiuling Taoist came charging in midway through and even brought along people from different sects to rescue us, and thus, Miss was safely brought out without further harm. With my constant vigil and the care of many, he knows he no longer has a chance. As a result, he took the risk and attacked Sir Taoist instead. With Sir Taoist’s death, the murder case would then be closed, then no one would pursue the matter further. It was just that because the situation was dire, he had no other choice but to create another illusion of an accident. Moreover, as long as Sir Taoist died by an entrapment in front of the formation, then no one would say much even if they found the scene strange. Only he once again miscalculated the strength of the arrow’s edge.”
Ji Jiawen gaped at him, “But- but how will one investigate with so many present at the time? Furthermore, Great Swordsman Fang and Great Swordsman Fu from Qisha Stronghold were both injured. Even if they weren’t, they would be no match against the Jiuling Taoist, let alone the other two disciples.”
“I will investigate it clearly.” Ran Feize looked at the bowl of medicine; it seemed to be a very bitter one. He wondered if the maiden would take her medicine obediently.
Ji Jiawen strove to think back on everything but still couldn’t conclude who was the real culprit. Furthermore, if this was tied to the Qisha Stronghold murder case, which was already difficult to solve, then in thinking about it, everything was becoming too complicated.
Ran Feize looked at the youth’s suffering and comforted him, “Do not be stressed with troubles. Once Miss is well, she will definitely have a way. Do you not see how intelligent she is?” His tone of voice held a sense of immense pride and boastfulness, as if that wisdom was actually his own.
~~ * ~~
TL/N: Footnote:
- 皮蛋瘦肉粥- preserved egg and lean meat congee
- 药罐- medicine decoction pot
