Hidden Shadow – CH 160
by MTL TranslationChapter One-Hundred-Sixty: Martial Arts Obsession or Romantic Obsession
“This room will do,” Chu Dingjiang said.
The attendant went inside and lit the lamp, still thinking about renting out the room opposite. “There’s only one bed in the room. You are so tall, it will be a bit cramped for two people.”
“We will squeeze in for now and decide what to do tomorrow,” Chu Dingjiang said.
The attendant had seen many customers, and seeing that the two had no intention of changing their minds, he stopped trying to persuade them.
Chu Dingjiang tossed him a bag of coins. “Bring two buckets of hot water.”
The attendant weighed the bag, his face immediately lighting up with a smile. “Alright, please wait a moment, My Lord.”
An Jiu untied her bow and arrows and sat against the wall.
She did not have the habit of sleeping in a bed when on missions; she would rather stand than sit, because sitting or lying down would slow her reactions.
Chu Dingjiang pushed the window open a crack, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, and looked out. From here, he could clearly see the dock. He had used his mental power to scan the area before coming in and knew that no one lived in this room.
“You also feel that something’s off about this dock?” An Jiu asked.
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Chu Dingjiang reached out and closed the window, then sat back down opposite her. “No, the dock is a hub of information. You can find out a lot of things here.” He paused. “You said something’s off, but what is it?”
An Jiu shook her head. “I do not know, I just feel like something’s a little strange.”
Chu Dingjiang carefully recalled everything that had just happened. Apart from the fact that many people had been watching them on the road, there was nothing particularly unusual. The weapons he and An Jiu carried were covered in leather, but they were still quite conspicuous, so it was understandable that others would glance at them.
An Jiu closed her eyes and concentrated on investigating the situation on the dock.
The attendant brought in two buckets of hot water. Chu Dingjiang casually asked, “When does the dock close?”
Having just received a bribe, the attendant answered with particular patience and care. “That’s not certain. Sometimes they do not work for a day or two; sometimes they work for days and nights without rest. Yesterday afternoon, I saw several large cargo ships just dock, so I am afraid they will not be able to stop tonight. Someone will definitely be checking out tomorrow. If you still want to stay, I will reserve a good room for you both.”
“Hmm,” Chu Dingjiang did not say whether he wanted to stay or not, only, “You may leave.”
The attendant bowed slightly. “Yes, My Lord. If you need anything, just pull the red rope by the bed.”
An Jiu had already explored the entire dock. She still had the same feeling as before; she could clearly sense that everything at the dock was normal, but she vaguely felt that something was a little strange.
…
Late at night.
In a village on the outskirts of Jiangning, a newly formed mound of earth had appeared at the foot of the mountain. A woman in plain white robes and with black hair stood with her hands clasped before the grave, surrounded by dozens of burly black-clad men who stood like tombstones.
A gentle breeze rustled the grass.
A woman in a blue cloth dress approached, but no one stopped her.
“Master,” the woman said, stopping ten paces away.
Yelu Huangwu lowered her head, her voice slightly hoarse. “Ningzi.”
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She raised her hand, signaling the surrounding men to step back.
Ning Yanli gazed at the new grave. Once everyone else had gone, she approached Yelu Huangwu, pausing for a moment before saying, “My condolences.”
“Ha,” Yelu Huangwu chuckled lightly. “You overestimate his worth. Besides, I cannot afford such luxuries as ‘joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.'”
Ning Yanli slightly raised her head, her beautiful profile coming into view. “You asked me to use the drug on him back then; do you regret it now? Huangwu, there will never be anyone in this world who loves you as he did. Even without erasing his memories and mind, he would still willingly risk his life for you.”
Yelu Huangwu’s hand, hidden in her wide sleeve, clenched tightly, her scarlet nails digging into her palm, drawing blood. Her face remained impassive, even a slight smile playing on her lips.
“And what about you?” Ning Yanli grasped her wrist through her robes, her expression calm. “What good will it do you to admit defeat? I will not laugh at you. You know I can smell even the faintest trace of blood.”
She pulled Yelu Huangwu’s hand away and bandaged the wound with a strip of cloth. “If you had not saved me, Ning Yanli would not exist. My life is yours. Cui Yichen is different; he owes you nothing.”
Yelu Huangwu stared at her bandaging movements, her facade crumbling bit by bit, tears welling in her eyes and forming glistening droplets on her lashes.
“Do you know?” Yelu Huangwu said hoarsely, “I used a mind-controlling spell on him, yet he disobeyed orders and turned to shield me from an arrow.”
So Cui Yichen had never been bewitched by her mind-controlling spell. He obeyed her orders because he wanted to.
Even a madman could do something like this; even with her deepest suspicions, Yelu Huangwu believed in this sincerity.
“I have not changed!” Yelu Huangwu covered her face, tears instantly soaking the cloth strip on her hand. “I will always only believe in the dead.”
That year, Cui Yichen, dressed in a moon-white robe, his handsome face radiant, walked towards her like a banished immortal. He tied his white horse to the red willow tree in front of the tavern; as the wind blew, dappled sunlight danced on his face, and his eyes, when he smiled at her, were crystal clear.
The Liao Kingdom had never had anyone like him.
It was a beautiful and pure beginning. When they met, they did not reveal their identities to each other, casting aside all worldly concerns, chatting about everything under the sun. She, too, had been moved.
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