Chapter 251: Matters of the Heart

Lying on the bed in the east wing, Ding Songyan suddenly sensed something and sat up.

Soon, a commotion rose from the direction of the nearby watchtower.

An understanding dawned on Ding Songyan while his nerves drew taut even as anticipation stirred in him. He got out of bed and went to the west wing.

He had just reached the wooden door and had not yet raised his hand to knock when Twelfth Madam Luo’s slightly drowsy voice came from inside.

"The demoness has been driven off."

Joy surged through Ding Songyan, and all the tension drained out of him. He bowed to the door.

"I’ll never forget your great kindness, Twelfth Madam."

Inside, Twelfth Madam Luo replied with distaste, "If you really want to repay me, stop bringing me trouble."

"Yes, yes, of course," Ding Songyan answered, beaming.

Now that he was fully at ease, he noticed a lingering fragrance at the door.

It was like a vast field with a hundred flowers blooming at once, a blend of scents that refreshed the heart and lungs.

Some notes were warm and exuberant, enough to make the mind drift; others were fresh and delicate, calming body and spirit.

Did the clash with Demoness Ji knock out Twelfth Madam’s disguise for a moment? Ding Songyan thought as he returned to the east wing, composed his spirit, held to the primordial unity for a while, and lay down to sleep.

He slept soundly and sweetly all night.

In the morning, Twelfth Madam Luo, her hair in a loose bun, came out of the main building, sat behind the stone table, and watched Ding Songyan practice his sword as if bored, offering a few pointers now and then.

When Ding Songyan paused to think, she teased him in some dialect from some unknown location, "What got you up so early today?"

All thanks to you, Twelfth Madam, for returning my blue sky of freedom! Ding Songyan laughed, his mind at ease.

"With no demoness to worry about, every day feels worth looking forward to. I’m brimming with energy."

Twelfth Madam Luo’s eyes flickered with curiosity. She opened her mouth, then shut it again.

"Twelfth Madam, do you want to ask what grudge I have against the demoness?" Ding Songyan said with a smile.

Twelfth Madam Luo first shook her head quickly, then nodded honestly.

"I do, but I won’t ask, and you shouldn’t tell me.

"The more I know, the more likely I’ll be dragged into your mess. What a hassle!"

With that, the shopkeeper stood and headed to the wine shop kitchen to make breakfast.

The wine shop only did lunch and dinner service, and the two cooks wouldn’t arrive for another couple of hours.

A smart one... but I can’t tell her either. It involves the whereabouts of Kunlun and the mystery of the Celestial Thearch’s palace... Ding Songyan went back to his sword practice.

After eating the minced pork rice Twelfth Madam had stir-fried, he went back to the east wing, gathered his things, and stuffed them all into his bundle.

"Twelfth Madam, I’m moving back to the estate today." Ding Songyan shouldered the bundle and said with a smile to Luo Mingyin, who stood at the door.

Twelfth Madam Luo nodded lightly.

"Quite considerate of you."

Then the shopkeeper wore a half-smiling expression.

"So that talk the other day about staying a few more days to avoid suspicion was just you stringing me along. What you really had in mind was me shielding you from Demoness Ji."

"Isn’t it already two days? Close enough..." Ding Songyan would never admit it.

True, counting strictly it was still a day shy, but a man must learn to round off, rounding down where he should and up where he should.

Before Twelfth Madam could say more, Ding Songyan changed the subject.

"I plan to keep those two masks and my letters here. Is that all right?"

"Suit yourself." Twelfth Madam Luo turned and walked into the courtyard.

Ding Songyan, bundle on his back, had barely stepped into the estate’s side courtyard when he met the surprised stares of Li Baima and the others.

"Brother Ding, you’re back?" Fan Chunlin blurted.

"Otherwise?" Ding Songyan answered with righteous dignity. "I’ll finish absorbing the Tiger-Leopard Dragon-Concealing Pill tonight. What would it look like to stay at the Cheap Wine Shop? Besides, I caught that nuisance last night and taught him a lesson."

Almost seven days up and he’s moving back, not taking a bit of advantage? Fan Chunlin was filled with admiration and praised him, "Brother Ding is truly a gentleman!"

"Oh, please. Don’t flatter me." Ding Songyan waved modestly.

Don’t stop at praise. Help me spread the word.

Ding Songyan continued, "But I’ll still be visiting the Cheap Wine Shop often these days. Everyone in the neighborhood is saying Twelfth Madam and I are a couple, and some fools who don’t know better actually dare to take liberties and talk dirty. They don’t take me seriously at all. I have to catch a ringleader and make an example of him.

"Heh, once you’re Twelfth Madam’s shield, you have to keep up appearances."

How else would I ask Twelfth Madam about the Way of Name and Reality, or trade martial insights?

A word or two from her often clears my mind completely. Guidance from a Heaven-Man Supreme Master is a chance you rarely get!

What’s a little bad reputation? If Twelfth Madam could stand to lose face, I’d even say, "If you don’t mind, I would like to be your adopted son."

Wu Mo and the others deeply approved of Ding Songyan’s explanation.

Few people in the jianghu didn’t care about their reputation. He had already taken the hit for being linked with Twelfth Madam, and now someone was harassing his lover on top of that? Wasn’t that poking the bear?

He had to be taught a lesson at the very least!

Ding Songyan changed into his guard uniform and stood watch at the northeast corner gate with his colleagues.

He had planned to check Shushui Street soon for its hidden secret and drop in on Li Linquan to see whether he needed a good jolt, but after last night he set those ideas aside.

Demoness Ji was driven off by Twelfth Madam, and she may be seething and itching to get back at me. For the next few days I’ll keep my head down and stay between the estate and the Cheap Wine Shop.

Better safe than sorry!

...

The Zheng residence in Changhua Prefecture, Du Province.

Zheng Zhuxi, her hair tied up with white hemp cord, followed the housekeeper toward the gate. She was puzzled but she had a faint guess.

"The manager of Liheng Bank has something to hand over to me?

"Were my earlier worries right? Junior Brother, wary of Demoness Ji, didn’t send his letter through the Hongxin Trading Company, but asked Fifth Young Master Xie to pass it on in secret?"

When she saw the Liheng Bank manager actually hand over a letter, Zheng Zhuxi felt her guess was nearly confirmed.

Anxious and expectant, she hurried back to her room, opened the letter in the fairly bright winter morning sun, and began to read.

"Senior Sister,

"It has been a long time. I miss you very much."

Zheng Zhuxi stared at that opening line, momentarily entranced, as if waves were surging in her heart.

She steadied herself and read on, her eyes shining.

"A major event happened recently in the Flame Capital: someone in a Golden Boy mask killed Evil Beyond Measure Sun Feiyang. It reminded me of what was said in that dream. Perhaps this is heaven’s will, with someone in a Golden Boy mask avenging us.

"I heard that Sun Feiyang’s head was cut off and tossed into the courtyard. His body lay in a hidden chamber underground, the walls covered with his sword marks and holes, with no marks left behind from the one in the Golden Boy mask. And the clash between two Dharma Realm fighters somehow left the wall toward the secret passage undamaged, which is simply unbelievable and shows just how strong the Golden Boy is..."

Now you’re praising yourself? Zheng Zhuxi’s lips parted slightly, her dimples deep.

Is this really Junior Brother relaying rumors? He’s bragging to me, confirming that the Golden Boy who killed Sun Feiyang is him!

If he weren’t that Golden Boy, how would he know so much about the fight in the underground chamber?

If it had come from the Martial Prohibition Bureau, knowing Junior Brother, he wouldn’t just write "I heard." He’d say "according to the Bureau."

Joy touched the corners of Zheng Zhuxi’s brows and eyes as she turned back to the letter.

"The wicked will surely meet heaven’s punishment. All those villains involved in what happened to Master will meet wretched ends one by one, just like Sun Feiyang.

"The matter has caused an uproar in the Flame Capital and drawn many imitators: someone posing as the Jade Maiden killed Altar-Cleansing Dragon King Huo Minglou and a man in a Jade Maiden mask attacked Hu Chaohui, leader of the Sea-Treading Gang. There have been quite a few such cases.

"This has made the Golden Boy and Jade Maiden business less interesting. I dislike it a great deal, but dare not say so, for fear of bringing trouble to you and the sect. As a Brightnight Sect disciple, I must watch my words and conduct."

After a single read, Zheng Zhuxi picked out the meaning behind her junior brother’s words.

The Golden Boy and Jade Maiden matter could bring me trouble?

Then it can only be Demoness Ji, whom he mentioned in an earlier letter as severing his worldly ties...

He gave only two examples to show both deserve attention... The male "Jade Maiden" really is Junior Brother in disguise, trying to send me a message... Posing as the Jade Maiden means it wasn’t the real Jade Maiden, so it must really be Demoness Ji who killed Altar-Cleansing Dragon King Huo Minglou...

What exactly is her attitude toward Junior Brother? Using him?

From his tone, the situation isn’t urgent yet. He only "dares not say" for now...

If he dares not speak, given his realm and strength, Demoness Ji must truly have reached the Heaven-Man Realm, becoming a Supreme Master of Chaos arts...

Luckily I didn’t rush to help him earlier and break the temporary balance...

Zheng Zhuxi worried about Ding Songyan, yet was inexplicably happy.

The feeling of hearts in tune, of reading the true meaning in the other’s veiled words, set her mind aflutter, and she lost herself in it without noticing.

"I often go to the Cheap Wine Shop hoping for guidance from Luo Mingyin, and so the neighbors say the two of us have hooked up. Luo Mingyin thinks this helps shield her from harassment and has simply let it stand.

"I can hardly argue the point, since I still need her instruction in martial arts. Don’t laugh at me, Senior Sister. I am somewhat at fault here, knowing the rumors were out there and not keeping my distance for my own selfish ends.

"For the Way of Name and Reality, one has to pay something. A damaged reputation may be the price, but as long as you don’t misunderstand, I don’t care if I’m accused by a thousand people."

Reading this, Zheng Zhuxi blinked.

She had felt an inexplicable pang of sourness, but at that last line she forgot the earlier feeling, and her cheeks flushed hot.

Junior Brother, is Junior Brother declaring his feelings to me?

Zheng Zhuxi’s heart beat faster. She unconsciously raised her left hand to touch her cheek and eagerly looked at the rest of the letter.

"Right, what Luo Mingyin cultivates is the Name and Reality Chapters of the Nine Canons...

"Senior Sister, I read your earlier letter several times, and when I went out afterward, someone actually asked why I looked so radiant.

"This past year and more, I’ve often said to people, ’This is a letter for my senior sister,’ ’My senior sister taught me,’ ’My senior sister says to treat others with sincerity,’ ’If my senior sister were here, she would surely do this or that...’ They thought I was showing off, making things up, or making threats. But they didn’t know that really, I was more often just sighing, sighing that the person I think of constantly is not at my side."

Zheng Zhuxi was stunned. That last line was like a huge wave surging into her heart.

Just then the housekeeper came in and said to her, "Miss, the master asks for you."

Zheng Zhuxi paused, turned her head, and said with faint dimples, "All right, sorry for the trouble."

The housekeeper froze.

In her eyes, her young mistress’s cheeks were lightly flushed, her eyes like autumn water, and one sweep of those bright eyes was enough to intoxicate.

Even a married woman like herself was swayed at that moment and could not look away.

Miss is getting more beautiful by the day.

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