Chapter 118

Chapter 118

The arrow had come with terrifying speed and deadly intent. Only someone like Xu Qiong, endowed with such formidable skill, could have reacted swiftly enough in that critical moment to deflect it with her veil.

Yet, how had Xu Qiong anticipated the arrow? How could she have sensed its launch just from the near-silent whistle—a sound likely inaudible to anyone else—and reacted instantaneously, using the veil as a shield? Unless… unless she had known such an attack might come?

The moment the veil vanished, the demeanor of the servants in the room transformed completely. Those who had seemed genuinely startled moments earlier were nowhere to be seen, likely ushered outside the bridal chamber. Then, from behind the densely hung red draperies and layers of crimson gauze, figures emerged, stepping out of concealment. Among them, one figure noticeably shorter than Chen Shu stood out instantly. There was no need to squint or look closely—it could be none other than Ying Wei!

Xu Qiong, now standing facing the group with her veil discarded, rose almost defensively. She positioned herself half-covering Chen Shu, shielding her protectively.

“What are you doing!” Ying Wei was the first to leap forward from the shadows, shouting indignantly. “Even if you were apprehending someone, is shielding them like this necessary?”

“There’s a mistake!” Xu Qiong insisted, her voice strained. She glanced back just as Chen Shu, her face flushed crimson, expression utterly dazed, reeking of an unshakably thick alcoholic haze, slumped heavily against her arm, going completely limp and silent. Fury flashed in Xu Qiong’s eyes. She wrapped her arm around the unconscious girl and snapped at Ying Wei, “How did you manage to get her this intoxicated?”

“I was watching her in the main hall earlier! She didn’t drink that much!” Ying Wei retorted defensively. Then he grumbled, his initial frustration shifting to sulkiness, “So we captured the wrong person. Fine. But why get so worked up?” As he stepped closer, the others emerged fully from their hiding spots, revealing nearly ten individuals. Their sudden crowding around the lavish wedding bed made the large chamber feel instantly cramped and overwhelming.

It was baffling to imagine how this entire group had managed to cram themselves into hiding spots within the corners and possibly even crawl spaces of this single room just moments before.

The tallest among them was naturally Xuan Qin. He strode swiftly forward, seemingly also recognizing Chen Shu. Reaching out, he touched the sweat beading on her brow. “This doesn’t seem like ordinary drunkenness…” he murmured, then lifted his head abruptly, locking eyes with Ying Wei. “Did He Yu from Cold Pine Glen attend?”

The torrent of questions bombarded Ying Wei, leaving him momentarily bewildered. With a puzzled frown, he squeezed his head closer, craning his neck to peer down at Chen Shu. “…Yeah, he came. Why ask about him? Could this one be from Cold Pine Glen?”

Xu Qiong’s brow furrowed in deep exasperation. Grabbing Ying Wei’s collar, she pulled him forcefully away from the wedding bed canopy. “Still can’t put it together?!” she hissed, her voice sharp and urgent. “This person isn’t any ‘strategist’! It’s Chen Shu! Stop dawdling and fetch He Yu immediately! Do you want me reporting you to the Master again?!”

The threat, likely wielded with previous weight, had its intended effect. Ying Wei visibly shrunk back. He stuck out his tongue at Xu Qiong in a swift, childish gesture, then instantly spun on his heel and bolted out the door.

The main hall stood just across the courtyard from the bridal chamber. Blessed with exceptional agility, Ying Wei vaulted over the corridor railing, scaled the eaves with effortless speed, and vanished toward the main crowd in the blink of an eye.

He Yu was at that moment rather drunk and insensible, slumped over the table unconscious. Only “You Sheng” beside him, upon hearing Ying Wei’s words, tapped He Yu’s head with a chuckle and inquired, “Does he look like he can accompany you anywhere? Whatever happened in the bridal chamber—tell me all about it!”

“…And who might you be? Hold on—aren’t you the one who lost in The Bride’s Blade Challenge?”

It was understandable that Ying Wei was befuddled. This entire wedding night, though masterminded by Xu Yuan, saw The Bride’s Blade Challenge carried out without a hitch. But come evening, while Xu Yuan was still entertaining guests in the main hall, the groom within had inexplicably gotten drunk, the bride claimed the wrong person had been captured, and the main hall was another matter entirely. The guests had been served aged, potent wine—arranged earlier by order—until they wobbled and slumped about, a picture of utter disarray.

At such a time, along came a bizarrely uninvited “You Sheng,” behaving as if he belonged. Even the most clear-headed soul would find it baffling.

Beside Ying Wei, the disciple from Qin Xin Bluff accompanying him drew his slender waist sword partway, signaling a warning.

“Oh.” This “You Sheng” appeared to finally notice, waving his hand dismissively before tearing off a layer of skin from his face, shockingly revealing a startlingly familiar visage!

—Handsome brows, eyes bright, and a smiling face—who else could it be but Yan Ji of Linbo Prefecture?

Now, the Sword Discussion Tournament aside, the major sects maintained relations, exchanging resources and information. How much more Linbo Prefecture, who controlled the entire horse trade? Of course Ying Wei recognized Yan Ji. Seeing that face, though uncertain what muttered curses filled his thoughts, his expression seized momentarily before he flung his sword onto the table in a fit of vented frustration.

“It’s not that something happened…” he began. “But how could even you know Miss Chen disguised herself to enter the competition?”

“Knew it? How could I not? Anyone of discerning eye could tell that distinctive peerless skill—fist like a sword, radiating such majestic force—could only belong to that Chen Shu!” Yan Ji declared. Far from hurrying with them to the courtyard, he instead leaned back in the sandalwood chair, chuckling. “Not only did I know she disguised herself to join the fray, I also know that this whole Qin Xin Bluff, with all its numerous disciples, failed utterly to discern the essence within that fist—the very swordsmanship of Chen Shu, a swordsman renowned throughout the realm! And you call yourselves the number one sect?”

“You!”

Ying Wei burned with rage. Truly, of the many Qin Xin Bluff disciples who had come to assist, only Xu Yuan’s own daughter Xu Qiong, playing the bride, had attended the main competition; the rest had been crammed into the bridal chamber, lying in ambush all day, enduring hardships without respite—hardly free to witness the contest at the front! Yet he mastered himself, restraining his temper without defense, only glaring furiously at Yan Ji without striking. He pressed further, “Then do you know why Miss Chen… got drunk?”

This time, Yan Ji’s expression shifted.

“Drunk?” he asked, almost disbelieving, yet continued before Ying Wei could answer. “That shouldn’t be. The girl doesn’t get drunk. Unless…”

As he voiced this doubt, Ying Wei too seemed to grasp the implication. Snatching a jug of wine from the table, he gave it a hesitant sip and froze.

“…Unless your Qin Xin Bluff brew intentionally mixed milk into the wine?” Yan Ji finished, posing the startling question.

—

Amid the raucous festive clamor filling the courtyard, Yun Shen sat beneath the eaves. The moonlight fell lightly, and like any other ordinary, aging servant, he joined the many Xu family retainers chatting and keeping their night watch. He listened as they recounted old tales of the Xu mansion—how the eldest young mistress attended Qin Xin Bluff with proud diligence, how splendid this Bride’s Blade Challenge had been.

Amid the group, Yun Shen seemed somewhat dull and awkward; thus, few paid him much heed. As the feasting in the front hall gradually dwindled, the blazing courtyard torches were extinguished. One by one the small wicker stools were carried back into the rooms, until only Yun Shen remained.

Lost in unknown thoughts, he kept solitary vigil in the courtyard for a long time, uttering not a word.

Only when the final lantern within the inner courtyard finally blinked out did Yun Shen glance back. Catching the barest glimpse of a figure darting past within the night’s cloak, he was jolted from his silent reverie. Leaping up without thought, he sprinted in pursuit.

Alas, the figure moved far too swiftly. Though Yun Shen could traverse a thousand li within a day, in a mere instant the other had vaulted away, vanishing into the deep night. Where should he turn to search? Gazing only towards the low courtyard wall, Yun Shen heaved a deep sigh. He wavered faintly over seeking out Chen Shu, ultimately halting his steps and wordlessly returning to the little stool in the midst of the courtyard.

He remained sitting there the whole night through.

The next day, Chen Shu awakened. He Yu awoke likewise: one drunk on wine, the other “drunk” on milk, both were confused and dazed, taking good while to regain full lucidity. Once clarity found them, they faced a row of Qin Xin Bluff disciples seated directly across the table.

On one side was a painstakingly plotted scheme—a fortnight’s labor—unintentionally thwarted by Chen Shu. On the other, the one who had toiled through The Bride’s Blade Challenge to win it found instead that she had sprung a counter-ambush within the supposed sanctuary of the bridal chamber! Were it not for Xu Qiong’s swift alarm, disaster could very well have claimed lives.

Hence, neither quite knew how to broach the matter.

This first day after the “marriage” hung heavy with stifling tension, utterly at odds with the resplendent, flower-strewn banners and crimson décor festooning the grounds.

Chen Shu, He Yu, and Yan Ji—who had slept the longest of them all—finished their morning meal. Xu Qiong, however, proved magnanimous. Indeed, Chen Shu had already discerned her identity during the contest; Xu Qiong herself, observant as she was, had noticed something amiss during The Bride’s Blade Challenge—hence her departure from her bridal seat to check upon the commotion despite herself.

Hence of them all, she alone remained entirely unperturbed. She had helped execute the plan trapping Chen Shu, yet shielded her after within the chamber. Her ease was evident—so much so she could divert attention to properly host He Yu and Yan Ji. The awkwardness lay solely with the others.

That “marriage affair” was naturally voided. Accepting the sobering “hangover” tea Xu Qiong offered, even Chen Shu felt embarrassment ripple through her; she mumbled out some stammered explanation to the other young lady.

Over there, Xu Qiong consulted with them over the fate of the treasures. By rights, triumphing in The Bride’s Blade Challenge, all artifacts offered should fall to Chen Shu victoriously. Yet she had concealed her true identity when she entered the fray—disrupting their strategy unwittingly, besides. Those rare treasures displayed to lure participants into the challenge? Like the “matrimonial” arrangement, they were never truly intended as gifts. Some items weren’t even Martial World Alliance property—instead pledged as mere bait by various martial world figures.

These things naturally couldn’t all be handed to Chen Shu just like that—not in one quick stroke. Even if Qin Xin Bluff remained willing, or the Martial World Alliance itself did, those martial world figures who had generously donated their treasures as bait might well object.

Therefore, matters here likely required further detailed discussion.

Xu Qiong had probably long prepared to settle accounts item by item, holding not only an exhaustive inventory of those treasures but also a separate column listing their values and purchasing sources.

Judging by this situation, she seemed ready to talk from sunrise to sunset.

However, Chen Shu cared little about the worldly value of these objects. To her, the most critical thing was that sword alone. Thus, upon hearing Xu Qiong’s lengthy explanations, she showed not the slightest displeasure, merely flashing an unburdened smile before waving generously: “No need! I’m not short of gold or silver. I’ll come and ask for any of these when I want them. All I truly wish to obtain from this trip is a single sword!”

The others were aware of her quest for the sword. Hearing this, they naturally understood. Unable to hold back, Ying Wei spoke first: “So this sword is the one you’re after?”

“Should be, right?” Chen Shu tilted her head, then repeated as if convincing herself, “Should be, right!”

“Regardless, we can just bring it out for a look,” Xu Qiong interjected. Her word was law within the Martial World Alliance. As soon as she turned sideways, an attendant stepped forward toward the courtyard treasury to fetch the sword.

Thus, the table, lively mere moments ago, descended into an awkward silence once more. Chen Shu carefully lifted her teacup, took a small sip, then another, slowly draining it to the dregs. Only afterward did she remember, somewhat belatedly, that someone was missing from the gathering.

Yun Shen was nowhere to be found.

Earlier, perhaps still shaking off her earlier tipsiness, she hadn’t thought much of it. But now, aware of his absence beside her, staring out at the raging gale that seemed to snuff out daylight through the windowpanes, she felt an inexplicable unease.

This wasn’t the time to excuse herself to search for Yun Shen. She finished her tea and placed the cup gently on the table with a soft, crisp sound.

Precisely at that sound, the chamber door opened.

By uncanny coincidence, the person entering wasn’t the attendant. Instead, it was Yun Shen, whom Chen Shu had just been thinking of. Dressed in clean layers, resembling his usual composed self, he even wore the handsome robes Chen Shu had specially bought him. Were the circumstances urgent, one might have thought he had deliberately spruced himself up.

Chen Shu’s eyes brightened upon seeing him. She nearly stood to greet him, then abruptly remembered the formal proceedings and feigned a cough to cover her movement.

Yet Yun Shen, crossing the threshold, didn’t first look towards her. He went straight to the person wielding the highest authority in the room.

Behind him, the attendant dispatched to retrieve the sword also entered. Unlike Yun Shen, this man wore his anxiety plainly on his face. The instant he entered, the deep frown and stark alarm in his eyes were unmistakable.

“Last night, thieves struck this courtyard,” Yun Shen stated succinctly.

His words sent shockwaves rippling through the room.

Within this small courtyard of the Martial World Alliance, countless martial arts masters should have resided. Yet just last night, amidst the guests’ convivial feasting, the Qin Xin Bluff disciples’ exhaustion from the day’s labors, and Chen Shu’s slumber caused by that cup of wine-laced milk—

Someone had made off with every single treasure in the compound.

“The register!” Xu Qiong reacted first. “There’s a guest register from last night! All courtyard attendants are listed too! Transporting such vast amounts of valuables, hiding them… it’s no easy feat. Fetch the register! Once we match it, anyone acting suspiciously yesterday or feigning illness today will be exposed!”

Her words not yet fully spoken, the attendant who had just entered swiftly took the order and hurried out. His haste caused him to stumble almost immediately. He caught the railing beyond the door and scrambled downstairs. Moments later, the shouts of attendants summoned for inspection filled the courtyard outside, momentarily piercing the numbed confusion within the room.

At that precise moment, a hesitant voice broke the silence within the chamber.

“Someone… I know of someone. He was still roaming the compound at the third watch last night… yet vanished when the day dawned. But… he wasn’t an attendant assigned to this courtyard…”

“Who?” Ying Wei practically leapt on the table, demanding an answer from the attendant who spoke. “Who is missing? Tell us!”

“… It was the old man who often handles registration duties for the Alliance itself.”