Hidden Shadow – CH 170

Chapter One-Hundred-Seventy: Meeting

“With the Yu family involved, it is a good opportunity to find out how many people are left at the Piaomiao Mountain mansion.” Chu Dingjiang leaned closer to her with a smile, “We just checked the docks, which will inevitably alert them. The Piaomiao Mountain mansion is also hunting Zhu Pianxian. What do you think the dockworkers will think if the Yu family, who always use the official docks, suddenly sends a shipment there?”

Chu Dingjiang wore a human skin mask. His simple, honest face paired with his towering physique made him look like a simple, honest man, which seemed particularly incongruous with his current expression.

An Jiu was already used to his cunning. “Does Yu Pianfei know about your scheme? He’s not stupid, is he?”

“He’s not stupid. Even if he does not know about this, he should understand that you have to pay the price for what you want.” Chu Dingjiang seemed thoughtful, then sighed. “This kid reminds me of my former self. If he knows what’s good for him, I will not make things difficult for him.”

Chu Dingjiang seemed to think of something, then suddenly smiled helplessly.

Night fell in Chuzhou. A boat docked, and its passengers gradually disembarked.

The group included people of all ages, a large retinue of servants, and a veiled woman; the boat appeared to belong to a family.

They left the dock and stopped at a nearby inn to rest.

The attendant, who had been dozing, perked up at the sight of the large group entering and greeted them with a forced smile.

“Are there any superior rooms available?” asked a middle-aged man in his thirties at the head of the group.

“Yes, yes, yes!” the attendant replied hastily. “How many rooms would you like, My Lord? There are only two left upstairs; the rest are quite spacious.”

“Two superior rooms and five guest rooms,” he said.

“Alright! This way, My Lord.” The attendant picked up a lantern and kicked a wall panel as he passed the stairs. “Get up and serve our honored guests!”

With that, he led the group upstairs.

The attendant first led the veiled girl into the room. He had not noticed her earlier in the dim light, but now, seeing her up close, he was momentarily stunned by her beauty. Although only her eyebrows and eyes were visible, it was clear from those beautiful eyes that she was a woman of striking beauty.

The woman noticed the attendant’s gaze and lowered her eyes. The maid beside her glared at him angrily. “What are you looking at?”

The attendant bowed apologetically. “I was rude; please forgive me, young lady.”

“Get lost,” the veiled woman said.

Offending a lady of leisure could be a serious matter if pursued. Hearing this, the attendant breathed a sigh of relief and immediately left.

The maid closed the door. She sighed, casually sat down, poured herself a cup of water, and found the pot empty. Dissatisfied, she placed it on the table. “I am exhausted; I cannot even get a drink of water!”

She glanced at the veiled woman still standing and said coolly, “Second Sister Lou. Do you want me to come and help you sit down?”

This woman was Sun Dixian, originally part of Chu Dingjiang’s team. After Chu Dingjiang was sent on a mission, Gu Jinghong took over the entire team. Sun Dixian had served under Chu Dingjiang… She was the only woman in the group, and being adept at socializing, she was well taken care of by the others. This time, Gu Jinghong had her impersonate Lou Mingyue’s maid, serving her tea and water in front of outsiders throughout the journey. What was even more infuriating was that Lou Mingyue acted as if it were all perfectly normal!

Lou Mingyue ignored her and went to the back window. Opening the window, a cool breeze carrying the fishy smell of water plants blew in, slightly alleviating her seasickness.

Sun Dixian did not easily offend anyone, but looking at Lou Mingyue’s aloof demeanor, she always felt a lump in her throat. Sun Dixian knew that the Lou family was basically wiped out. Lou Mingyue exuded a murderous aura, her heart filled with hatred, indifferent to everything else. She knew that befriending her would not be easy, and no matter how much she flattered Lou Mingyue, she would not gain anything. Therefore, she never hid her disgust in private.

However, Sun Dixian only dared to vent her anger with a few sarcastic remarks but did not dare to actually provoke Lou Mingyue.

Footsteps sounded outside, then fell silent after a moment.

The attendant, hands clasped, looked upstairs and muttered, “Truly a wealthy family; even the servants stay in guest rooms.”

Knock! Knock!

Someone tapped the table twice.

The attendant jumped in fright, turning to see a man standing in the hall. The man was tall, like a small mountain in the dim light. Just as he was about to speak, he looked closer and saw a woman standing to his right and slightly behind. The woman had her hair in a married woman’s bun, her figure completely shrouded in the shadow behind the man, giving off an eerie aura.

The newcomers were Chu Dingjiang and An Jiu, who had come to meet Gu Jinghong and the others.

“Are there any guest rooms?” Chu Dingjiang asked.

The attendant jumped. “Yes!”

“One room,” Chu Dingjiang said.

Although the two were simply dressed, the attendant, noticing they were not ordinary people, respectfully said, “Please, My Lords.”

Upon entering the house, Chu Dingjiang instructed the attendant to prepare some food.

After the attendant left, he closed the door and turned to ask, “They’ve arrived?”

An Jiu dispersed her mental energy. “I discovered over twenty experts; it should be them.”

“Rest first,” Chu Dingjiang said. “We will meet them again tomorrow morning.”

Shortly afterward, an attendant brought the food.

After eating, the two rested separately.

The morning light was just beginning to break.

An Jiu sensed the twenty-odd martial artists gathering in the main hall and opened her eyes, turning over and getting up.

Chu Dingjiang, who had been sleeping on a stool, also got up.

After a quick wash, the two went downstairs together.

Those eating breakfast in the hall heard footsteps, and several looked up.

Chu Dingjiang exchanged a brief glance with the bright-eyed, richly dressed middle-aged man, then found a table and sat down.

The group left the inn after the meal, and a while later, Chu Dingjiang and An Jiu also left after their meal.

On the official road, the two made sure there were no other martial artists around besides this group and approached the carriage ahead.

Just as they reached it, the carriage stopped.

“Please come in, both of you,” said the person inside.

Two people sat in the carriage. Although their appearances had changed, Gu Jinghong’s unforgettable eyes remained the same, and An Jiu recognized him at a glance. However, it took An Jiu a few moments to recognize the fox-eyed old man sitting next to him.

“Headmaster Sheng,” An Jiu said, staring at him.

Headmaster Sheng lazily raised his eyes, always looking sleep-deprived, truly resembling a frail old man. “Greetings, both of you.”

“Brother Chu,” Gu Jinghong clasped his hands in greeting.

Chu Dingjiang clasped his hands in a fist salute, offering no further formalities. “Let’s head straight to Yangzhou by land.”

An Jiu frowned, staring at Headmaster Sheng. Aside from those she already knew, she had only interacted with Headmaster Sheng a few times at the Konghe Academy. This man… could he be serving Gu Jinghong?

Headmaster Sheng yawned. “Do not look at me like that. I did not want to come either, but Lord Gu obtained an imperial decree, so I had no choice.”

His words subtly revealed his dissatisfaction.

“Lord Sheng, you’ve had a long journey,” Chu Dingjiang said with a smile. “Does Lord Sheng know anything about the Feng family’s shipping company in Yangzhou?”

It was Chu Dingjiang who had strongly recommended this “unambitious” Headmaster Sheng to Gu Jinghong. This man possessed an astonishing memory, holding countless secrets of the world in his mind.

Few knew that Headmaster Sheng and Chu Dingjiang had a rather close relationship. He naturally guessed who had caused his arduous journey. He looked at Chu Dingjiang with a bitter and resentful expression. “The Feng family…”