Hidden Shadow – CH 132

Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Two: You Are Hua Rongjian

“Are you worried it is a trap? Our plan to attack this hidden point was decided on the spur of the moment; it is impossible for the information to have leaked. How could he have set up a trap beforehand?” Chu Dingjiang said.

“I am not worried about the information being leaked,” Gu Jinghong said solemnly. “Wei Yuzhi is highly intelligent, has vast knowledge and a prodigious memory, and is most skilled in setting up formations.”

Formations originated from Taoism, involving the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, and were extremely mysterious. An Jiu understood them to be roughly similar to mazes. Their functions were indeed similar, but fundamentally they were very different.

Ordinary formations had little destructive power, but legend had it that a sophisticated formation could trap and kill thousands.

In a short time, Wei Yuzhi might not be able to create any grand formations, but dealing with a master like him would be quite troublesome.

Fortunately, Gu Jinghong had already taken precautions, bringing a master with him on this trip. The man’s name was Lin Qihan, a frail middle-aged man who had spent most of his life studying formations, neglecting his internal energy cultivation, and still only possessing second-level internal strength.

“We are here!” Lin Qihan said.

The group stopped and looked around.

Ahead was still a forest, seemingly no different from anywhere else except for a thin mist.

Lin Qihan walked to a tree, squatted down, parted the grass, and dug out an earthenware jar tied with a red string from the tree roots. He broke the seal, took out a paper talisman covered in strange symbols written in cinnabar, and burned it.

The scenery before them appeared unchanged.

Lin Qihan explained to Gu Jinghong and Chu Dingjiang, “This is an illusion. By burying talismans in different positions, it can cause hallucinations in those trapped in the town. We, outside the formation, will not be affected.”

Gu Jinghong nodded.

Chu Dingjiang remained silent, appearing deep and serious, but in reality, he was currently holding An Jiu’s slender waist, feeling her soft warmth beside him, half his body going weak, his heart filled with indescribable joy.

Even at such close range, An Jiu could not see any difference in him compared to usual. She felt his body growing increasingly hot, almost unbearably so, and shifted, trying to pull her hand away.

Chu Dingjiang did not force her; sensing her struggle, he released her.

“Now we can go in to rescue them, but to be on the safe side, both of you should not act simultaneously.” Lin Qihan had only torn a small opening in the net; he could not guarantee that they would find it once inside.

“I will go in,” Chu Dingjiang said, turning to point to a few men. “You come with me.”

This was the rule in the army. Unless absolutely necessary, the commander-in-chief should remain in the central command and not always lead the charge. Although the Konghe Army differed slightly from ordinary armies, it still adhered to these general rules. Chu Dingjiang volunteered to avoid being specifically assigned later.

“Thank you.” Gu Jinghong naturally did not object. Besides following the rules, he believed Chu Dingjiang possessed profound inner strength and strong mental fortitude, making his leadership more reliable.

“I will go too.” An Jiu grabbed Chu Dingjiang’s hand.

The warmth of Chu Dingjiang’s palm shone through his thin gloves, like the gentle warmth of spring sunshine. In the instant An Jiu was stunned, he swept her up around the waist.

That familiar feeling flashed by, then was replaced by the heat emanating from his body.

“Chu Dingjiang,” An Jiu glanced behind her, noticing the others were about three zhang away, and lowered her voice, “Why do you feel so familiar? Holding your hand, I thought of someone else.”

“Another man?” Chu Dingjiang asked.

“You could say that,” An Jiu felt that only men over twenty-five could be called men; before that, they were all boys. “His name is Hua Rongjian.”

An Jiu carefully observed his reaction; there seemed to be nothing unusual. But the familiar feeling of holding Hua Rongjian’s hand was exactly the same as holding Chu Dingjiang’s.

Chu Dingjiang’s tone clearly revealed his displeasure. “He touched your hand? When?”

“Not long ago.” An Jiu steered the conversation back on track. “Do not change the subject. Who exactly are you?”

“You think I am him?” Chu Dingjiang was even more displeased. “What makes you think that? By feeling?”

“The temperature of your and his hands is different from others’.” Based on this alone, it was not enough to prove any relationship between Chu Dingjiang and Hua Rongjian. An Jiu just found it strange, because she had never felt this way before.

“Temperature,” Chu Dingjiang said calmly. “You are talking about the reason your meridians are of the fire element, right? Your meridians were originally of the fire element, but you did not generate internal energy or true qi yourself. Back then, I forcibly widened your meridians with my own internal energy, so your body thought it was your own true qi and naturally felt a sense of familiarity upon contact.”

As he spoke, he found a little comfort. It turned out he had already left his mark on her.

“That man’s meridians must also be of the fire element,” Chu Dingjiang explained, then earnestly warned, “If a man touches you inappropriately, he definitely has ill intentions! Do not have physical contact with men.”

An Jiu, still pondering his words, looked up and asked, “You are the one who’s touched me the most.”

Chu Dingjiang remained silent but thought to himself: Girl, I certainly did not have good intentions either!

“Chu Dingjiang,” An Jiu believed half of his explanation but still had doubts. His physique and demeanor were completely different from Hua Rongjian’s but somewhat similar to Hua Rongjian’s elder brother, Hua Rongtian’s. “Are you old?”

“…”

“Forty?” An Jiu guessed.

Chu Dingjiang was usually shrouded in a black cloak, and when a glimpse of his face was revealed, it was angular and sharp. Coupled with his deep voice, he seemed like a man who had experienced much hardship.

“Girl, why can you not ever say anything nice?” Chu Dingjiang had finally managed to adjust his mindset, only to be thrown back to rock bottom by her. He had to clear his name. “I am exactly twenty-five this year.”

An Jiu and Mei Jiu were used to teasing each other, sometimes blurting out whatever was on their minds. “I heard Hua Rongjian is also around twenty-four or twenty-five, but he looks like he’s twenty, while you look like you are forty.”

Comparing him to others was one thing, but this was the result! This was simply unbearable!

Chu Dingjiang took a deep breath and patiently explained, “I guess it is the difference between wild and raised animals.”

“Pretending to be young,” An Jiu said coolly.

“Good girl, shut up.” Chu Dingjiang patted her head gently. “I am afraid I will not be able to resist throwing you out later.”

“Sorry.” An Jiu felt he had always been good to her and should not upset him. “Let me say one last thing.”

“Granted.” Chu Dingjiang gave up in despair.

An Jiu comforted him. “Actually, forty is not so bad. Do not feel inferior; I did not mean it that way.”

Chu Dingjiang sighed and flicked her forehead.

At this moment, he could only think of something positive to console himself.

The array was no more than two li in radius. He had already located Lou Mingyue and the others using his mental power outside the array. Upon entering, he and An Jiu went straight there, while the other shadow figures followed ten chi¹ away. Entering the array this time also had its advantages for him; personally rescuing these trial participants was tantamount to bestowing a favor, making it easier to win over people’s hearts in the future.