TWWDS - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Xu Feiqu had originally intended to pursue the imperial examinations. After accepting the Gang Leader's assignment, the first thing she did was think of a way to contact Ying Lusheng's old friends in official circles and her former students at the academy.

After choosing suitable contacts, they jointly impeached Prefect Yang for overstepping his authority in making arrests and for deliberately interfering in academy affairs that day, which had allowed the Northern Xi delegation to escape amid the chaos. Meanwhile, word that the entire Northern Xi delegation had drowned finally reached the capital. The capital was greatly shaken, and the whole of Shouzhou's officialdom was drawn into the affair. Prefect Yang was, as Chao Qingxiu had predicted, unfortunately demoted. As for Assistant Prefect Wei Nian'an, because she was the goddaughter of Noble Lady Zheng in the capital, she ultimately came through the disaster unscathed.

Xu Feiqu also learned that, reportedly, after many members of the Northern Xi delegation had died, Sun Rujin had to visit the palace from time to time and weep as he complained to the emperor that "the two countries will inevitably go to war because of this." No one knew how many times he had said it, using those words to stir the emperor's emotions.

With the prefect's post vacant, Assistant Prefect Wei temporarily took charge of Shouzhou. Chongming Academy seized the opportunity to send gifts to Wei Nian'an and Lu Yuelou several times, hoping they would release Ying Lusheng as soon as possible.

Unlike Yang Shangxian, Wei Nian'an had no interest in taking Ying Lusheng's life, but she was unwilling to agree to her immediate release either. She was tactful and knew how to cultivate useful connections in the martial world. If she let Ying go too readily, the favor would carry little weight. So she was merely taking her time with the formalities.

For her own safety, Chao Qingxiu simply hid inside Chongming Academy while Ying Lusheng was being rescued.

Xu Feiqu's suggestion was, "For safety, Gang Leader Chao would do best to stay under the same roof as Master Shi."

Chao Qingxiu readily followed the advice. "As long as Master Shi has no objection, I will naturally follow the arrangement."

Xu Feiqu had Chao Qingxiu put on academy student clothes. By then, as far as most academy instructors were concerned, the delegation that was meant to leave had already left, and whatever they could not bear to lose had already been lost. There was no longer any need to strengthen the academy's security. Under Xu Feiqu's cover, Chao Qingxiu slipped inside, then was led all the way to Shi Sixuan's quarters.

Shi Sixuan had a background in the martial world. Though she did not ordinarily boast of her origins, she did not deliberately conceal them either, and at present she had no roommate. When Chao Qingxiu arrived, she was reading alone in the courtyard.

Xu Feiqu asked, "Master Shi, could Miss Chao stay with you for a while?"

Shi Sixuan paused, letting her gaze rest on Chao Qingxiu, then replied, "Very well."

She did not ask why Chao Qingxiu had come to the academy, nor why she had asked to be placed in Shi's keeping, but briskly gave her consent.

Once Shi Sixuan agreed, Xu Feiqu saluted, bid farewell, and left. Shi Sixuan and Chao Qingxiu were both highly dependable, and Shi Sixuan could also make up for Chao Qingxiu's shortcomings in martial arts. So long as they stayed together, Chao Qingxiu would be safe for the time being.

After Xu Feiqu left, Shi Sixuan said, "Miss Chao, come with me."

On the way there, Chao Qingxiu had already learned this Miss Shi's identity. She was not merely a direct disciple of Beicang Residence but had already been designated as its next head, and was now undergoing training in the world.

There were plenty of students with extraordinary backgrounds at Chongming Academy. Shi Sixuan, like the others who had paid a hefty tuition fee, had nevertheless been assigned only a cramped courtyard.

In the limited space stood two single beds and two wooden tables. One bed had only a layer of straw matting spread over its surface, while the other...

was also covered with only a single layer of straw matting.

Chao Qingxiu turned and looked silently at the person beside her. "Miss Shi, where did you sleep before?"

Shi Sixuan replied, "I have always spent my nights in quiet cultivation, sitting in meditation."

So whether she had bedding was plainly no concern to her.

After hearing her answer, Chao Qingxiu privately reflected on her standard of living since the Zizhuo Gang had been reconstituted. She was not given to extravagance or waste, but when it came to austerity, the orthodox sects really did put her to shame.

Reputation in the martial world and material comfort were often inversely related. Buer House, for instance, was now gradually ceasing to be regarded as a martial faction...

Shi Sixuan pointed toward the outer chamber. "If you find the days dull, Miss Chao, you may practice in the courtyard, and you may browse freely through the books in the cabinet. We have classes during the day. If you do not mind, you may come and listen with me."

"That is exactly what I had in mind." Chao Qingxiu had always felt she did not need to understand every kind of knowledge in this world, but she could not remain completely ignorant. Unfortunately, she had never before found a suitable chance to catch up.

Chao Qingxiu then rose, took bedding from the cabinet, and spread it over the wooden couch.

Shi Sixuan's living conditions were indeed austere, but Chao Qingxiu had at least lived in refugee shacks.

Shi Sixuan suddenly said, "The killing intent on you has not faded."

Chao Qingxiu stood with her back to Shi Sixuan and stiffened for an instant.

Shi Sixuan could not see Chao Qingxiu's expression, yet somehow felt a gentle, scholarly smile slowly appear on her face.

The young student stood in the room in ordinary student clothes, a dim shadow settling lightly on her sleeves like dust that could not be shaken off. At that moment, Chao Qingxiu's voice was remarkably soft:

"The Northern Xi delegation."

Shi Sixuan looked at her and nodded, clearly gratified. "Well done. If you need to act next time, you can call on me."

Chao Qingxiu had actually sought Shi Sixuan first, but Shi had been secretly following Ying Lusheng to protect her, so Chao Qingxiu had not seen her. She glanced at her and smiled. "I thought you were reserved by nature, Miss Shi."

A faint smile appeared on Shi Sixuan's face. "I wasn't originally."

Chao Qingxiu raised an eyebrow. "And then?"

Shi Sixuan answered, "Then my master sent me here to study."

Chao Qingxiu had no reply.

Some time after the matter at Chongming Academy was over, Chao Qingxiu specifically made inquiries about Shi Sixuan's reputation in the martial world. The answer she received was, "Young Mistress Shi is very quick to raise her hand and bring down the blade."

Chao Qingxiu wanted to object that "raising her hand and bringing down the blade" was not the sort of expression used to describe a personality. Never mind, she understood.

This time, taking refuge in the academy had only been an expedient measure. When Chao Qingxiu first moved in, not even she had expected to stay until the middle of July.

During this period, Jiangnan had seen several upheavals. One especially important development was that Sun Rujin had successfully stoked the emperor's displeasure and was preparing to send a group of Huaniao Envoys, in other words, the supervisory corps within the Six Doors, into Jiangnan in stages. They would be ready at any moment to seize upon some minor fault and make an arrest. The local martial world was suddenly on edge at every sound.

In truth, Sun Rujin had harbored some doubt about the affair and had secretly ordered Wu Shidao to investigate the Northern Xi delegation without drawing attention. The information he received, however, was the preposterous conclusion that Aba Gaotai and the others had gone out in the rain, and so their ship had struck a reef. This greatly reduced his chances of successfully pinning the blame on the Wenbei Sect.

The capital's efforts against the Wenbei Sect had caused some disruption, but Cen Zhaoque's martial prowess still allowed him to keep the situation under control. During this time, Li Guixian, who was the sect leader's sworn brother, seemed quite dissatisfied with Assistant Prefect Wei's slow progress. Several times, he slipped secretly into the academy with his sword in hand, discussing with his companions the possibility of breaking Ying out of jail and cutting people down.

Wei Nian'an must have sensed it as well. In the end, she relented and released Ying Lusheng.

Because she had been responsible for keeping the Defense Map, Chao Qingxiu did not leave until Ying Lusheng had returned to Chongming Academy.

That afternoon, Shi Sixuan went out to meet someone. In just a quarter-hour, she pushed the door open again and called to Chao Qingxiu, "Academy Head is back. Please go and see her."

Since her imprisonment, Ying Lusheng had been removed from her post at the government academy. Nevertheless, most people at the academy held her in the greatest respect, so they still used her former title when speaking of her.

Chao Qingxiu set down her brush.

Her desk was covered with paper and ink, stacked with books, and spread with any number of bottles and jars whose purpose was unknown. This made the already cramped student room seem even more cramped.

During this time, since she had to stay at the academy, Chao Qingxiu had been leveling up her medical skills. She also sat in on whatever classes she could and dutifully handed in her assignments, making sure not to miss any chance to give the academy instructors reason to doubt the quality of the academy's students.

"All right. I was just going to see Academy Head Ying anyway. Senior Sister Shi, I have just finished my assignment. Could you look over this essay for me?"

Shi Sixuan glanced at it casually. "I can look when I get back just as well."

Chao Qingxiu smiled. "If you refuse to look, I won't go see Academy Head Ying."

Shi Sixuan sighed, then reluctantly reached out to take the essay. Chao Qingxiu turned to hand it over, but the instant she released it, she bent her index finger without warning and lightly flicked the sheet.

The flick was as light as a wild goose skimming the water, yet in an instant, a puff of powder rose from the surface of the paper.

The powder drifted forward. In her shock, Shi Sixuan felt numbness spread through the fingers she had pressed to the paper.

At almost the same moment, Chao Qingxiu's sleeve flicked upward, and several fine needles flew from within it, straight for vital points on the front of her opponent's body.

After launching the ambush, Chao Qingxiu did not pause. She touched the floor and flew backward, straight through the window. The "Shi Sixuan" before her repeatedly struck the needles aside with sweeping palm blows, then hurried through the window after her, trying to seize her.

There were few people outside. Only one person dressed as a gardener stood beside a flowerbed. At the sight of the fight, the gardener raised a hand and drew a long saber from within the broom. Her long arm swept, and a streak of saber light rushed straight toward the "Shi Sixuan" before her. At the same time, Chao Qingxiu abruptly checked her forward rush, spun behind whoever was pursuing her, and drove both palms toward the back of "Shi Sixuan" with the force of the motion.

Chao Qingxiu rarely fought. Her most recent bout had been a single exchange with a Northern Xi warrior at Wangyue Platform.

Though she had attended classes day after day at the academy, she had never stopped studying martial arts. If anyone still judged her by the way she had fought that day, they would suffer dearly.

Poisoned during the initial ambush and beset from behind, the assailant traded more than ten moves with Chao and Yan before Chao spotted an opening.

Chao Qingxiu's left palm broke through "Shi Sixuan's" guard, and her right palm drove forward, landing a heavy blow on the Shanzhong point at the center of the chest.

As soon as the blow connected, vital energy from the Yuxuan Taiyin Scripture surged into the target. Without so much as a grunt, "Shi Sixuan" fell backward. Chao Qingxiu pulled away the covering from the impostor's face and discovered the assailant was one of the academy's senior instructors.

Indeed, Dai Lantai had not been the only Northern Xi mole planted there.

The attacker had been lying low for who knew how long, waiting patiently until now to strike at Chao Qingxiu.

Yan Kaixian struck the instructor's pressure points and prepared to take the person to Ying Lusheng for handling, but the instructor's head lolled limply to one side while black blood flowed from their mouth. They had already taken poison and died.

"This is what a Northern Xi death-sworn operative looks like."

Chao Qingxiu folded both hands into her sleeves. She lowered her gaze and seemed to sigh.

Since Ying Lusheng had been imprisoned, Chao Qingxiu had remained constantly on her guard.

When she heard that Ying was to be released that day, a suspicion immediately formed in her mind. After a disaster had passed, people's minds were often at their most relaxed. If a Northern Xi operative remained here and intended to launch a surprise attack against her, this was the ideal moment.

However, Chao Qingxiu knew that the arts of disguise and changing one's face were practiced in Northern Xi. She had therefore long made an agreement with Shi Sixuan that before either of them went inside, they would knock five times on the door, two light and three heavy, to identify one another.

Another half-hour passed before the real Shi Sixuan and Ying Lusheng finally arrived.

Nearly two months had passed since Chao had last seen Ying. Ying Lusheng had grown markedly thinner, and the clothes she had worn before hung loosely on her.

Chao Qingxiu frowned slightly. Her medical instincts told her that Ying had suffered some external injuries.

Ying Lusheng said, "Shi Sixuan has already told me what has happened in recent days. I owe it all to your care, Miss."

Chao Qingxiu replied, "When we met, Academy Head, you entrusted me with finding the Defense Map. Fortunately, I have not failed you." She drew the map, which she had kept close at hand, from inside her robe, raised it in both hands, and passed it to Ying Lusheng. Then she asked, "Have you already guessed what I wish to ask?"

Ying Lusheng considered for a moment. "If someone else had come, I should be at a loss to guess. But you are Miss Chao, and I believe I know what you have come to ask."

Chao Qingxiu looked at the woman before her and asked curiously, "Then may I ask, Academy Head, whether I have guessed right?"

Two months in prison had left Ying Lusheng's cheeks abnormally gaunt and pale, conjuring at a glance the cypress trees of late autumn. Yet now a smile as warm as spring had arisen in her eyes. "Miss Chao has known all along. Why should you worry?"

Chao Qingxiu also smiled in relief. "The matter is of grave importance, and I am truly undecided." She stepped forward and saluted. "Now that everything is done, I have household duties waiting at home. Having seen Academy Head today, Sister Yan and I will take our leave tomorrow."

At that very moment, the long-silent Detective System asserted its presence once more.

[System: The "Chongming Academy" map theft case has been resolved. The user has received 20 Detective Points and 30 Fame Points.]

[System: Congratulations. For the first time, the user has obtained at least 20 Detective Points in a single case. Reward: [Random Gift Package] x1.]

[System: The user's Fame Points are now greater than 50. Those involved in the case will be more likely to seek the user's help.]

Chao Qingxiu glanced sideways at the notification. The Northern Xi agents had simply been unlucky. If they had acted two days later, they might at least have returned to Northern Xi whole and sound. Of course, they might never have anticipated a martial world escort suddenly appearing at the academy, or an unknown detective with such an unusual part-time job...

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