Chapter 528 - 308: Leave Everything to Me!

But Shen Huatang understood.

"Junior Sister, in what context do you think someone would say, ’Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything’?"

Shen Huatang pondered the question, mouthing wordlessly, "When Miss encounters a difficulty... is the young master comforting her?"

"Yes, but also no."

"I’m guessing it went like this..."

Xie Tingyun’s small mouth opened and closed repeatedly as she mouthed a scripted conversation:

"Second Sister is back. I’m afraid she will discover our affair. If she finds out, you and I..."

"Don’t worry, Eldest Sister. I’ll take care of everything."

"Mhm..."

Truth be told, Xie Tingyun’s speculation about such matters was remarkably accurate. Even Shen Huatang subconsciously believed that was exactly how it happened. However, after thinking it over, she felt it didn’t quite make sense.

"Eldest Miss isn’t that bold, not when you and I are still right here."

"Miss might not be, but the young master certainly is! He... Tell you what, if you don’t believe me, I’ll lift the curtain, and you look back."

"Based on your senior sister’s experience wandering the Jianghu, when a noble family’s daughter privately pledges herself to someone, she’s either resting in his arms or holding his hand."

Shen Huatang hesitated for a moment before nodding as if possessed.

Xie Tingyun instantly chuckled mischievously, quietly reaching out to rest her hand on the edge of the curtain.

"Junior Sister, are you ready?"

"Mhm!"

"Three, two, one, look!"

SWISH.

The curtain was suddenly lifted by a corner.

Shen Huatang cooperatively turned her head to look inside the carriage. Once she saw clearly, she whipped her head back around.

Watching her reaction, Xie Tingyun had intended to drop the curtain, but she couldn’t resist sneaking a peek herself. She froze on the spot.

Inside, Chen Yi was sitting closest to the curtain, his hand suspended in mid-air—he had clearly been preparing to lift it himself. Xiao Wan’er was sitting behind him. Although her face bore a faint blush, everything else appeared perfectly normal.

The three of them stared at each other for a moment.

Chen Yi retracted his hand and asked with a half-smile, "Fairy Tingyun, did you have something to say?"

Xie Tingyun stammered, "N-no... Ah, no, I think I wanted to say..."

"Senior Sister wanted to say that we’ve arrived at Guiyun Academy," Shen Huatang quickly interjected.

"Right, right, right! Young Master, we are almost at Guiyun Academy."

Chen Yi looked at her, then glanced at Shen Huatang, who didn’t even dare to turn her head back, and said with a smile, "I was just about to get off."

He then turned back to Xiao Wan’er and winked. "Eldest Sister, dropping me off here is fine. Don’t let me delay your business."

Xiao Wan’er gave him a reproachful glare. Noticing Xie Tingyun’s gaze, she merely murmured an acknowledgment and said, "Come back home early once you’re done."

"I’ll remember."

With that, Chen Yi stepped out of the carriage. He greeted Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang, then motioned for them to drive away.

Amidst the clattering of hooves, the carriage turned around.

Chen Yi stood by the roadside, watching as Xiao Wan’er shifted from one window to the other, and waved with a smile. Xiao Wan’er returned his smile, her eyes brimming with tenderness, before drawing the curtain closed as the carriage moved forward.

The Noon sun was shining perfectly. As the carriage drifted further away, a woman remained radiant, her captivating gaze bright and dazzling.

Chen Yi thought that he would remember a scene like this for the rest of his life. But really, what right did he have to deserve such affection?

At this thought, Chen Yi let out a self-deprecating smile. Straightening his posture, he strolled unhurriedly into Guiyun Academy. If he wasn’t worthy, who else in this world could deserve such affection?

An hour later.

Accompanied by Ma Guan, Chen Yi left Guiyun Academy. His mind had never been fully on the academy anyway, so he had merely chatted briefly with Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying. Mostly, their conversation revolved around the Annual Examination.

According to the notices issued by the government office, the scholars within Shu State Prefecture City were to participate in the Annual Examination on the twenty-eighth of this month. The venue was set in a small courtyard next to the Governor’s Office.

Having committed this to memory, Chen Yi brought up another matter—the rumor that his calligraphy was worth its weight in gold.

Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying’s aged faces immediately flushed red. They stammered out that some individuals in the academy were going through difficult times. Like Ma Guan, for instance, whose family lacked money and struggled to make ends meet when grain prices skyrocketed. Left with no other choice, the academy had sold a few of the calligraphy pieces Chen Yi had written during his lectures. They exchanged the money for grain to distribute among students from impoverished families, and even a few financially strapped instructors had benefited from this kindness.

Seeing that this was the reason, Chen Yi naturally didn’t voice any objections. In fact, he was highly supportive of Mr. Yue Ming’s approach.

"Sir, I thank you on behalf of Brother Feihong and the others," Ma Guan said.

"It was the dean’s idea. It has nothing to do with me." Chen Yi patted his shoulder and added, "If you truly want to thank me, then perform exceptionally well in the upcoming Annual Examination."

Ma Guan nodded solemnly. "I will surely etch your teachings into my heart, Sir."

"You are always so... Just go back. I’m leaving."

Chen Yi had wanted to call him stubborn, but after thinking it over, he felt it was inappropriate. When Ma Guan achieved Minor Success in the Calligraphy Dao, his Dao Intent had been crystal clear—he was a scholar steadfastly adhering to the path of the "ancient gentleman." Having outsiders say too much would only cause harm, not good.

"I bid you farewell, Sir."

Chen Yi waved without looking back. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of A Wonton Shop not far from the academy. Seeing its desolate storefront, he understood the reason. At a time when prices for grain, meat, and vegetables were surging, even small eateries that solely sold wontons struggled to attract customers. Beyond that, he figured it also had something to do with Lou Yuxue’s prolonged absence.

He thought, "It really isn’t appropriate for a Silver Banner Officer of the White Tiger Guard to run a private business..."

With these thoughts in mind, Chen Yi’s pace didn’t slow. Exiting Kangning Street, he quickly made his way toward the residence on Chuansi Street. To conceal his whereabouts, he stopped and started along the way, ensuring no one noticed his tracks.

Even the wandering martial artists gathered in the Prefecture City, anxiously waiting for Immortal Bai, were mostly busy chatting and laughing. There was nothing new. No matter how much he listened, it boiled down to a few sentences:

"’Dragon Tiger’ Liu Wu killed ’Jackal’ Du Cang! This calls for a toast. Cheers, everyone!"

"I wonder how King Landu will react when he finds out."

"First Lv Jiunan died, and now Du Cang. It’s no different from severing his left and right arms."

"If I were him, even if I didn’t lead an army to invade the borders, I would definitely send someone to exact revenge."

"You can say that again..."

Hearing this, Chen Yi felt it was dull. Just as he was about to speed up, he abruptly overheard another sentence that made him slow his steps.

"Didn’t we see ’Dragon Tiger’ leading Lv Jiunan to Puyin Temple that night?"

"But when we rushed over later, we only saw Du Cang’s corpse. We didn’t find any trace of Lv Jiunan."

"Maybe he was beaten into ash by ’Liu Wu’?"

"Even so, shouldn’t there be some traces left behind?"

"That..."

Lv Jiunan’s corpse was gone?

Chen Yi frowned inwardly. He was certain that his spear strike that night had completely shattered Lv Jiunan’s heart meridians. The man was undoubtedly dead. Yet now his corpse was missing... What was going on?

Could it be that, aside from the strange swordsman flying in the sky, there were other experts hiding nearby?

No, there shouldn’t have been. At least, not before Chen Yi had left. Otherwise, given how terrifying that swordsman was, he would have definitely sensed anyone else spying on them. Therefore, it had to be a latecomer who deliberately took Lv Jiunan’s corpse away.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Yi formed a few hypotheses, though they were merely guesses rather than concrete deductions.

The first possibility was Liu Hong’s men. Lv Jiunan was connected to him and King Landu. If Liu Hong or his subordinates stumbled upon the corpse, they had every reason to take it. It was far better than letting it fall into the hands of the various government offices in Shu State.

The second possibility was the White Tiger Guard. Setting aside the fact that they were lying low in Shu State, they likely had numerous internal schemes. Taking Lv Jiunan’s body might give them leverage to negotiate with King Landu.

The third—and least likely—possibility was someone from Poshisu Country. Aside from these three, Chen Yi couldn’t think of anyone else in Shu State who would go out of their way to take Lv Jiunan’s corpse.

It couldn’t possibly be someone trying to fraudulently claim the credit for killing him, right? That would simply be too despicable.

Having reached this point in his thoughts, Chen Yi made up his mind to question the White Tiger Guard. Regardless, he needed to figure out where Lv Jiunan’s corpse had gone.

A moment later.

Taking advantage of the deserted surroundings, Chen Yi flipped over the wall into the residence. He dug out two masks to complete his disguise, then headed straight for the Spring Rain Building.

By this time, Noon had just passed. The Yanhua Lane in the South City was relatively deserted. Aside from a few hungover, philandering gentlemen and young masters who had just woken up, there were very few people walking about.

Chen Yi didn’t bother to hide his movements much, heading straight for the quiet chambers on the top floor of the Spring Rain Building. Just as he was about to look for Lou Yuxue, he spotted a figure standing at the end of the quiet, dimly lit corridor, watching him silently.

It was none other than the Golden Banner Officer of the White Tiger Guard—General!

"’Dragon Tiger’ Liu Wu?"

"Seeing you in person surpasses your reputation. I am General."