"I have taken in nine disciples in total, and among them, Xiao Shao has the coldest temperament." Yaqi Xiansheng (Mr. Yaqi) placed another piece on the board without looking up, his tone carrying the weight of reminiscence. "Back on Mount Canaan, he originally studied the art of poison-making. Even before the incident at the Brocade Hero King Manor, he bore many burdens. Though he learned poison-making, he never valued it much. In truth, he was the most gifted of my disciples. Each of my nine students mastered one of the nine supreme arts." Yaqi Xiansheng smiled. "But after the incident at the Brocade Hero King Manor, Xiao Shao knelt before me, asking to learn how to kill." His expression grew slightly wistful. "Xiao Shao's nature wasn't suited to becoming the world's greatest assassin, so I refused. That day, heavy snow fell on Mount Canaan. He knelt at the foot of the mountain for three days and nights."
Jiang Ruan's hand paused slightly before she placed her own piece. That version of Xiao Shao was one she had never seen. Yet the tragedy at the Brocade Hero King Manor must have struck him as deeply as Zhao Mei and Jiang Xin Zhi's misfortunes had struck her—a pain that pierced the heart. Now, Xiao Shao was steady and reserved, his emotions never betraying him, as if nothing could disturb the calm in his brow. But just imagining that proud youth slowly lifting his robe, kneeling in the midst of the mountain's snowfall, his back straight—that silent image was enough to move anyone.
"In the end, I agreed. Xiao Shao is ruthless with himself because he can become someone entirely unsuited to his nature. All these years in the Brocade-clad Guards, he has never once complained of hardship. I believe this is his perseverance. For so long, he has seemed to have no weaknesses." He looked at Jiang Ruan, his eyes filled with amusement. "Girl, you are the first. You are his weakness." With a decisive move, the board's situation shifted dramatically. "But I am glad you can be his weakness, because now he seems more like a 'person.'"
Jiang Ruan was silent for a moment, contemplating before placing her piece. "I won’t hurt him. He is my husband. If anyone troubles him, whether I can manage it or not, I will exhaust every ounce of my strength to avenge him." In her past life, he had shown her kindness, and in this life, mere repayment was not enough. Moreover, he had helped her once again in this lifetime—debts she could never fully settle. Perhaps it was better to remain indebted for a lifetime, since she had already bound herself to Xiao Shao.
Yaqi Xiansheng stroked his beard and swiftly placed another piece. "Girl, your protectiveness toward Xiao Shao—is it because of karma from a past life?"
Jiang Ruan's hand trembled, nearly dropping her piece. Her gaze turned cold and guarded as she stared at the old man across from her, silent.
"Xiao Shao has always been perceptive. When you were unconscious, you muttered fragments of words. He is clever—he is not unaware. He simply chooses not to ask. Since he won’t, I will ask for him. To me, Xiao Shao is not just a disciple—I see him as my own child. Though you are someone he loves, in my eyes, you still haven’t been entirely honest with him." Yaqi Xiansheng spoke slowly.Jiang Ruan's heart was in turmoil—Xiao Shao actually knew. She was well aware that Yaqi Xiansheng had no reason to lie about this, which meant Xiao Shao had likely guessed her secret. Perhaps she had inadvertently revealed something while dreaming of her past life's end. In an instant, Jiang Ruan felt an overwhelming sense of shame, as if her deepest self had been laid bare. It wouldn’t have mattered if anyone else had discovered it, but why did it have to be Xiao Shao? What would he think of her—this wretched, darkness-born version of herself?
“No need to worry, child,” Yaqi Xiansheng said gently, seemingly reading her concerns. “Since A-Shao chose not to ask, it means he doesn’t care about this matter. The one who’s always cared isn’t him—it’s you.”
“I don’t know how you came to know of this, Master,” Jiang Ruan replied with difficulty. “I didn’t mean to hide it from him. I just... couldn’t face it.”
“Is it A-Shao you can’t face, or yourself?” Yaqi Xiansheng asked.
Jiang Ruan froze. “What do you mean, Master?”
“A-Shao doesn’t care about this. No matter the outcome, he would accept it gladly. If you’re concerned about his thoughts, there’s no need—because this won’t change how he feels about you. What you truly can’t face has always been yourself.”
“You’re right, Master. I really can’t face myself,” Jiang Ruan admitted. “I’m not afraid of others’ judgment—whether they see me as a monster or a ghost. But to lay such a version of myself before him... I feel nothing but shame.” Her tone was startlingly honest, devoid of even the slightest pretense. “I can’t bear the thought of standing beside him as this person, so I never planned to tell him this secret myself. If not for what happened, I would have taken it to my grave. Some things only bring unnecessary trouble when spoken, and I didn’t want to invite that.”
“And now?” Yaqi Xiansheng smiled faintly.
“As you said, Master—if he doesn’t care, why should I?” Jiang Ruan replied calmly. “This time, trapped in danger, I saw many things I didn’t understand before and grasped truths I once couldn’t. I realized I owe him a great deal. If some things are fated, why should I stand in the way? Rest assured, Master, I’ll tell him everything, exactly as it is. Whether he despises me or remains indifferent afterward—that’s his choice. I’ll respect it.”
Having spoken these words, Jiang Ruan felt as if she had finally shed a heavy burden she had carried for years. The secret of her rebirth had been buried deep in her heart since the beginning of this life. She had walked a difficult path, never once considering sharing it with anyone—not even Jiang Xin Zhi, her closest kin. She had intended to bear it alone to the end. But now, there would be someone else to share the weight. Perhaps the burden would lighten, or perhaps nothing would change. Whatever the outcome, she would accept it gladly, without sorrow.
Her candidness earned a glimmer of approval in Yaqi Xiansheng’s eyes. Slowly, he said, “Congratulations, child. You’ve conquered your inner demons.”Jiang Ruan was taken aback when Yaqi Xiansheng said, "You just mentioned that the reason you didn't tell Xiao Shao was because it was hard to face him. Now, I think it might not be a bad thing." The elderly man before her suddenly winked playfully, his tone full of mischief. "At the very least, it shows you truly care about him."
Deep in the distant woods, a man in purple reined in his horse and dismounted, addressing the handsome man still on horseback. "Third Brother, after all these years, your aim is still as precise as ever."
Xiao Shao dismounted as well. Behind his glossy-coated steed hung a string of game, among which a white wolf stood out strikingly. Its fur was pure white without a single blemish, and its massive size was impressive. An arrow pierced its throat—a clean, lethal shot. Hunting in snowy forests was already challenging, and the wolf's white fur blended seamlessly with the snow, making it nearly impossible to spot unless one had exceptional eyesight. Despite its size and agility, the wolf had met its match in Xiao Shao and ended up as his prize.
"Just a beast," Xiao Shao remarked indifferently.
Qi Feng hesitated before saying, "Third Brother, you hunted this white wolf to make a cloak for your wife, didn't you? White wolf pelts are rare and priceless. Now that she's just recovered from her illness, she needs something to keep her warm."
Xiao Shao glanced at him but said nothing. Qi Feng wasn't wrong. Unfazed by his coldness, Qi Feng chuckled and shook his head. "Though the white wolf pelt is exquisite, your wife despises the color white. A red fox fur would likely please her more."
Xiao Shao paused mid-step and turned to face him, his voice icy. "What are you trying to say?"
A bitter smile flickered across Qi Feng's face. Lately, the tension between them had been palpable—even Xia Qing, the oblivious physician, had noticed. The rift stemmed from Qi Feng's actions during Jiang Ruan's unconsciousness, which had displeased Xiao Shao. Gazing into the distance where the silhouette of Mount Canaan loomed among the rolling hills, Qi Feng said, "Third Brother, you were the third disciple on Mount Canaan. Among the nine brothers, you were the most brilliant—nothing ever stumped you. Even though I studied courtly strategies and political maneuvering, my intellect could never match yours."
Xiao Shao lowered his eyes, lost in thought. Qi Feng's voice, tinged with nostalgia, continued beside him. "Back then, you were aloof and distant, treating everyone coldly. Except for Second Brother, none of the other disciples could hold a conversation with you. We were young and hot-headed, and your demeanor made us think you were arrogant. Naturally, we kept our distance."
Qi Feng smiled faintly. The nine brothers had trained together on Mount Canaan, spending their days in rigorous practice and study. At the time, they had found the life austere, but after descending the mountain and experiencing the world's glamour and treachery—its scheming and strife—they realized those mountain days had been the most precious.
"Third Brother once saved my life—right here," Qi Feng suddenly said. "I still remember how you looked then. You didn't say a word. I was terrified, but you showed no trace of panic. That was when I knew you were extraordinary, and from then on, I truly admired you."Many years ago, on a snowy day just like this, several martial brothers had gone hunting in the woods. Deep in the mountains during winter, there should have been no fierce beasts around. Yet that day, they encountered a large black bear searching for food. The bear was enormous and ferocious, and Guan Lianghan and the others were too far away to help in time. Just as Qi Feng, who only knew a few rudimentary martial arts, was about to meet his end under the bear’s sharp claws, an arrow suddenly shot through the air and pierced the bear’s mouth. Enraged, the bear turned its attention to the newcomer. With no time to nock another arrow, Xiao Shao drew his short sword and advanced without hesitation.
Even the most skilled fighter would struggle at such close quarters against a wild beast, let alone armed only with a short blade. The shorter the weapon, the greater the danger—the peril was undeniable. By the time Xiao Shao subdued the bear, he had already sustained injuries. But he always wore dark clothing, so the bloodstains were invisible. Apart from his unusually pale face, he appeared as composed and indifferent as ever.
At the time, Qi Feng had been terrified, but Xiao Shao said nothing. There had never been any deep-seated animosity between them—just youthful rivalry and pride. Yet in that moment, Xiao Shao’s calm and steadiness made Qi Feng see him in a new light. It was as if he had glimpsed something beneath his aloof senior brother’s cold exterior—a humanity that wasn’t as unfeeling as it seemed, merely unspoken. From then on, Qi Feng admired Xiao Shao’s courage wholeheartedly. That was why, after completing his training, instead of pursuing a prestigious official career as everyone expected, he joined Xiao Shao’s Brocade-clad Guards in the Bai Zhang Tower, working behind the scenes to support him. In Qi Feng’s eyes, the cause he followed under Xiao Shao’s leadership was far more honorable than any glory the imperial court could offer.
Snapping out of his memories, Qi Feng smiled faintly. "What I meant to say is, Third Brother will always be the one I admire most. I have no intention of competing for anything, nor any ulterior motives. Third Sister-in-law is the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever met." He sighed softly. "Had I met her earlier, I might not have been so willing to step aside. But since she is your wife now, she is simply my sister-in-law." His voice couldn’t conceal the melancholy in his final words.
"I never thought you had any ulterior motives," Xiao Shao interrupted, his tone as indifferent as ever. "You wouldn’t."
Those three words—"You wouldn’t"—seemingly plain and unremarkable, instantly warmed the frigid mountain air. For someone as guarded as Xiao Shao, trust did not come easily. Yet those three words carried absolute faith. Qi Feng’s heart ached inexplicably, a bitter taste filling his mouth. Shaking his head, he murmured, "I’ve always felt that none of us martial brothers could ever catch up to you. You’re simply better than all of us."Where one falls short may not simply be a matter of timing. Xiao Shao was indeed an exceptional man in this world, perfectly matched with Jiang Ruan. Today's conversation had Qi Feng opening his heart willingly, seeking to bridge the gap between them. Xiao Shao's response also made his stance clear. Though there was a pang of bitterness in his heart, a weight had ultimately been lifted. Wanting to lighten the mood, Qi Feng smiled and changed the subject: "At any rate, Third Sister-in-law has recovered. Having survived such a calamity, she'll surely be blessed with good fortune hereafter. But this matter is undoubtedly linked to the Eastern Barbarian Country. Their people must already be in the capital, preparing to act. Given Ye Li's close ties with them, he might well have had a hand in this."
"I won't let him off," Xiao Shao said.
"He's likely trying to repeat his old tricks," Qi Feng remarked. "Back then, what he did squandered all the camaraderie between us fellow disciples. Though Master has already expelled him from the sect, the mere thought of it still fills me with disgust." Qi Feng sighed. "With his vindictive nature, if the grand ambitions of the world ever fell into his hands, the first ones he wouldn't spare would be our entire Mount Canaan sect."
"That day will never come," Xiao Shao said.
"I know Third Brother won't let him succeed. None of us have forgotten what happened to Ninth Junior Sister," Qi Feng said, looking down at his sleeve. "The debts he owes will be repaid one day."
...
When Qi Feng and Xiao Shao returned to Green Willow Villa, Xia Qing, who had been outside brewing medicine, was pleasantly surprised by the game they brought back. The white wolf bones turned out to be a rare medicinal ingredient, so he immediately dragged the wolf away, promising to send the pelt back later. Xiao Shao was always generous in such matters—aside from the pelt, the rest was of no use to him—so he readily agreed.
"I heard white wolves are hard to hunt. How did you manage it?" Jiang Ruan asked. In her past life at the palace, she had once seen a white wolf pelt—one Ye Li had purchased at great expense from foreign merchants. A wolf without a single stray hair was already rare, and using arrows or blades would leave flaws in the pelt. That flawless pelt had indeed been the envy of many, though Ye Li had gifted it to Noble Consort Chen. She had turned it into a fur collar, the plush fur piled around her neck, earning much praise from the Emperor. For Xiao Shao to return from a single hunt with a white wolf naturally piqued her curiosity.
"With an arrow," Xiao Shao replied.
Jiang Ruan: "..."
Seeing her speechless expression, Xiao Shao couldn't help but chuckle softly. Jiang Ruan looked at him, realizing he was teasing her again on purpose. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "I heard from Master that you originally had nine fellow disciples. I saw the calligraphy and paintings of the others in the pavilion earlier. Why is Eighth Junior Brother missing?"
Jiang Ruan had met most of Xiao Shao's fellow disciples. Aside from Eldest Senior Brother Xue Da and Sixth Junior Brother Du Liu, who were traveling abroad and temporarily not in Dajin, the whereabouts of the eighth and ninth disciples remained unclear. Whenever Xia Qing was asked about them, he would stammer and evade the question. Xia Qing was honest to a fault and terrible at lying, so his evasiveness struck Jiang Ruan as odd. Now that the thought occurred to her, she casually brought it up.
At her words, Xiao Shao's expression shifted slightly. He didn't answer immediately, as if there were something difficult to say. Jiang Ruan paused, then said, "If you'd rather not talk about it...""Old Eight is Ye Li." Before she could finish, Xiao Shao interrupted her. "The ninth junior brother was actually a junior sister. She died because of Ye Li, and after that incident, Ye Li was expelled from the sect by our master." Xiao Shao's words were as concise as ever, yet the brief statement sent chills down the listener's spine. Even Jiang Ruan was stunned by the twists and turns, momentarily speechless. She had spent a long time with Ye Li but never knew he and Xiao Shao were fellow disciples, let alone that they had such a history.
Noticing her shocked expression, Xiao Shao reached out and took her delicate hand in his. His fingers were long and well-defined, slightly cool from being outside for so long. Jiang Ruan looked up at him, and Xiao Shao sighed softly, saying gently, "Sit down, and I'll tell you everything slowly."
Back on Mount Canaan, although Mr. Yaqi had retired from the world, he was known as the "Master of Destiny." Many sought to send their sons to Mount Canaan to study under him, but Mr. Yaqi was eccentric—he would only accept those who caught his eye. The nine disciples he took in were indeed extraordinary, each a phoenix among men.
Xue Da was a silver-tongued orator, Guan Er possessed the courage of a warrior, Xiao Shao was unmatched in assassination, Qi Si was a military strategist, Xia Wu could revive the dead with his medical skills, Du Liu crafted ingenious mechanisms and hidden weapons, Mo Qi was a prodigious genius, Ye Li carried the aura of an emperor, and Bai Jiu inherited Mr. Yaqi's mantle, mastering divination and foreseeing destiny.
Originally named Bai Zhu, Bai Jiu was an abandoned infant Mr. Yaqi found and raised as his own daughter. Though Mount Canaan had no strict gender segregation, having a female disciple among eight male ones might have drawn unwanted attention. Thus, Mr. Yaqi had Bai Zhu dress as a boy, addressing her as the "ninth junior brother" among the disciples. In truth, she was the ninth junior sister.
As the only little sister on Mount Canaan, Bai Zhu was clever and adorable, raised by Mr. Yaqi to be innocent and lively. Her senior brothers doted on her immensely. Over the years, Bai Zhu grew from a girl into a beautiful young woman.
No matter how she dressed as a boy, it couldn’t hide the fact that Bai Zhu was a girl, especially at the age when flowers bloom and hearts stir. No one knew exactly when she fell for Ye Li.
To be fair, Ye Li had been an outstanding young man on Mount Canaan. Handsome and refined, he carried the noble bearing of royalty yet remained humble and courteous. Not only Bai Zhu but all his fellow disciples genuinely admired him.
The disciples raised on Mount Canaan were free-spirited under Mr. Yaqi’s unconventional tutelage. Compared to them, Xiao Shao and Ye Li were more mature and restrained. But next to the icy Xiao Shao, the ever-smiling Ye Li was undeniably more approachable and warm.Baizhu was a carefree and innocent girl who had hardly any contact with the world beyond the mountains. Her world was one of almost transparent fragility and simplicity. When she liked someone, she made it abundantly clear—anyone could see that Baizhu had feelings for Ye Li, and naturally, Ye Li noticed too. If she didn’t like someone, she would say so outright. What she despised most was when people exploited others' affections to achieve their own hidden agendas.
Back then, Ye Li studied the art of imperial governance—fitting, as he was of royal descent. Baizhu was skilled in divination and hexagrams, yet she could never divine the fortunes of herself or those close to her. Yaqi Xiansheng (Mr. Yaqi) said this was the will of fate. The books in Mr. Yaqi’s study were freely accessible, but when teaching Ye Li, he held back one crucial secret—the celestial signs of the imperial dragon veins, the very lifeline of the royal lineage.
No one knew when Ye Li first became fixated on this matter. What was truly chilling was that he was merely a teenager at the time, yet he could suppress his desires and scheme in silence. On the surface, he maintained a facade of brotherly harmony with his fellow disciples on Mount Canaan, while secretly manipulating Bai Jiu into stealing Mr. Yaqi’s celestial charts.
At that time, Bai Jiu was merely a young girl in the bloom of youth, utterly unaware of schemes and desires, let alone understanding the implications of what Ye Li had asked her to do. She thought it was just a routine request from her senior brother—perhaps to steal some food or pocket a few coins. Yaqi Xiansheng was strict with his disciples, but he treated her with unusual leniency. Bai Jiu, with a heart full of loyalty, went to steal the Celestial Chart for Ye Li, unaware that it was no ordinary object. The chart was booby-trapped with hidden mechanisms. Though Bai Jiu knew some basic self-defense techniques, she was no match for the deadly poisoned projectiles and was struck down instantly.
The poison required an antidote within two hours. Had she been discovered sooner, she might have survived. But the Celestial Chart was hidden in a secret chamber, and only Ye Li knew Bai Jiu had gone there. Fearing exposure and repercussions, he remained silent, telling no one. Bai Jiu’s body, lifeless from the hidden weapons, was found a day later. Ye Li initially claimed ignorance, but Yaqi Xiansheng eventually uncovered the truth.
Mount Canaan did not tolerate treachery, especially from such a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Bai Jiu was the daughter of Ye Li’s own mentor and had treated him with unwavering sincerity. Yet, due to his malice and selfishness, she had lost her life in vain. Ye Li stubbornly denied his guilt, and with no concrete evidence, and with Noble Consort Chen at the height of her influence, dealing with Ye Li privately would only bring trouble to Mount Canaan’s disciples. Bai Jiu had been like a beloved little sister to all her martial brothers, cherished as family. Her tragic death left them seething with rage. Some considered taking matters into their own hands to make Ye Li pay, but in the end, it was Yaqi Xiansheng who intervened.
He revealed that he had foreseen this day—that Bai Jiu was fated to face this calamity, whether by Ye Li’s hand or another’s. Likewise, Ye Li would have his own reckoning. Those beyond the mortal world must not interfere in worldly affairs. The seeds Ye Li had sown today would one day bear bitter fruit.
(End of Chapter)
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