Escape to Your Heart

Chapter 47: Perplexity

Fu Tingyun remained composed as she lowered her head to thread her needle. "Perhaps he met an old acquaintance?"

Zheng Sanniang set down her work. "Then I'll go serve the guest some tea."

"No need," Fu Tingyun smiled. "A Sen is there." She then casually brought up Zheng San in conversation. "From what you said earlier, it sounds like he's been to many places?"

"Yes!" Zheng Sanniang's eyes brightened at the mention of her husband. "That's how it is for those in the escort business." She continued, "The security firm he used to work for was quite large, with its headquarters in the capital. All assignments were arranged centrally—sometimes they'd escort a shipment to Jiangnan, then receive another assignment to transport goods from Jiangnan to Western Sichuan. Coming and going like that, he'd hardly return home once a year."

Fu Tingyun nodded. "Travel by land or water always carries risks. It's better to stay close to home." She then mentioned their encounter with Master Feng Four on the road. "I hardly ever travel, yet the one time I do, I run into such ill fortune. Ninth Master's injury came from that. If not for meeting the steward's employer, we might not have survived."

Zheng Sanniang quickly comforted her. "Surviving great danger brings great fortune."

"That may be so, but I don't know the background of this Feng family or whether this will lead to future enmity," Fu Tingyun said. "Could you ask Zheng San if he's heard of this family?"

She didn't mention Zhao Ling's killing.

Zheng Sanniang agreed. After preparing lunch and seeing off Yang Yucheng, who had stayed to eat, she returned to Fu Tingyun with an answer.

"My husband says that if you've truly offended this family, it would be best to advise Ninth Master to seek refuge with relatives in another province if he has any," she said, her face full of concern.

Fu Tingyun was shocked.

She had seen how wary Feng Laosi was of Zhao Ling and how easily Zhao Ling had dealt with him. How could it have escalated to the point of needing to flee their homeland to avoid trouble?

"Tell me quickly," she leaned forward anxiously. "What exactly is the situation?"

"My husband says the Feng family is one of the wealthiest in Shaanxi and the entire northwest. Originally from Gaoling, they started by smuggling salt in Lintong. Later, they connected with some official in the court and switched to dealing in government salt, but they still control the salt smugglers in Shaanxi. Their influence is immense. The Feng family has over twenty brothers, and the head is this Feng Laosi. He's cunning, ruthless, violent, loves pomp, and values face. Those who cross him often meet fatal ends. Every security firm passing through Shaanxi pays him respects. Since Ninth Master escaped from him, Feng Laosi will surely see it as a loss of face and will stop at nothing to reclaim his pride. You must urge Ninth Master to make plans early."

Fu Tingyun hummed in acknowledgment, deep in thought.

Zheng Sanniang didn't dare disturb her.

In the afternoon, calculating that Zhao Ling would have finished his nap, Fu Tingyun went to his room.

A Sen poured her tea and gave her a meaningful look, whispering, "I didn't tell Ninth Master!" with an air of secrecy.

Fu Tingyun couldn't help but laugh.

Zhao Ling also smiled faintly, like pale moonlight. "What mischief are you two up to now?" His expression was cheerful.

"I won't tell you for now," Fu Tingyun replied with a smile tinged with melancholy. "You'll find out in time, Ninth Master."

A flicker of suspicion crossed Zhao Ling's eyes.From outside came Yang Yucheng's hearty laughter: "Ninth Master, guess who I've brought with me?"

Fu Tingyun quickly stood up. "Since you have guests, I'll come back later."

Zhao Ling had A Sen escort Fu Tingyun out. At the doorway, she ran into Yang Yucheng, who was eagerly approaching.

Yang Yucheng froze momentarily, only snapping out of it when Fu Tingyun nodded at him with a smile.

Grabbing A Sen by the collar, he whispered, "Weren't you just supposed to escort her to Weinan? Why are you still with Ninth Master? Out with it—is there something we don't know about?"

A Sen hissed back, "I don't know anything! If you're so brave, ask Ninth Master yourself!"

The young man accompanying Yang Yucheng watched them with an amused smile. Though he appeared to be merely observing from a distance, his lips moved rapidly, emitting a series of soft, urgent whispers: "Stop fooling around! That Xiao Wu is glaring at us from afar!"

Yang Yucheng reluctantly released A Sen. "So what if he sees? Ninth Master and I grew up together—can't I even joke with his servant?"

This was the same answer he'd given Mo Yi at lunch when asked about his relationship with Ninth Master.

The young man shook his head, looking somewhat exasperated.

The three of them entered the side room together.

Meanwhile, Fu Tingyun pondered: That talkative one must be Yucheng, but who's the other one?

Though ordinary in appearance, he had gentle eyes that radiated kindness.

Could he be the one called Yuanbao?

She'd have to ask A Sen later!

A casual glance revealed Xiao Wu at the doorway, who suddenly beamed and rushed outside. Moments later, he returned, overjoyed, accompanying a stranger.

The man appeared to be in his late twenties, with rough, sun-darkened skin and plain features. Dressed in a simple indigo-blue coarse cloth garment, he looked like someone who toiled in the fields year-round. Yet his pitch-black eyes were as cold as autumn water, his brow exuding an unyielding, formidable aura that commanded respect.

A sense of awe struck Fu Tingyun, as if witnessing the gathering of extraordinary figures.

The man suddenly looked up, his gaze sweeping over Fu Tingyun's retreating figure before he strode into Mo Yi's room.

"Tao Mu, you're finally here!" Mo Yi's face lit up with relief. "I've been at my wit's end these past few days, waiting for you to help me figure things out!"

"Brother Mo!" The man addressed as Tao Mu bowed with a smile, the sternness in his expression softening slightly. But Mo Yi grabbed his arm. "No need for formalities—I'm in a real bind here!" He called for Xiao Wu to serve tea and dragged Tao Mu to a Grand Tutor chair. "Did you get all the messages I sent through Chen Liu?" Mo Yi's expression turned serious. "Do you have any ideas?"

"I received them all," Tao Mu replied. "With just Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu to assist you, Brother Mo, it's understandable if—"

"Enough, spare me the flattery." Mo Yi waved him off. "For this mission to find Sixteenth Master, we brought only the elite from the army. Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu—whom you trained personally—are no exception. Yet even with the three of us, we still haven't found a single lead..."As Xiao Wu served tea and quietly closed the door behind him, standing guard outside.

"I originally planned to test their intentions, which is why I agreed to let Chen Liu take A Sen to Xi'an Prefecture... The clothing shop was chosen by Chen Liu, the snack vendor was encountered along the way, and not a single extra word was spoken, let alone leaving Chen Liu's sight. Yet shortly after we returned to Linchun Town, people from Nine Mile Gulch began arriving in Linchun Town one after another, forcing us to move into the city. Staying at Rising Joy Inn was a last-minute decision—they hadn’t even spoken to the innkeeper. But within days, we unexpectedly ran into Yang Yucheng, an old acquaintance, who then brought along someone called Jin Yuanbao, claiming they were old friends. Jin Yuanbao had been stranded in Xi'an Prefecture due to the disaster and, upon hearing from Yang Yucheng that Zhao Ling was also there, insisted on coming to see him..." He rubbed his temples in frustration. "There’s no obvious flaw, but I can’t shake the feeling something’s off. Yet I can’t pinpoint anything concrete."

Tao Mu chuckled. "We’re all just passing acquaintances. The Sixteenth Master has returned safely to the estate, Brother Mo. There’s no need to dwell on it too much. When I arrived, I received a letter from Fifth Master urging us to return sooner if there’s nothing pressing..."

"You don’t understand," Mo Yi replied, his frown deepening instead of easing. "You didn’t see Zhao Ling fighting those bandits at the City God Temple. Aside from that one strike against their leader, his moves were unremarkable. Later, when I checked his internal injuries, his qi was sluggish, like a silted river that hadn’t been dredged in years. I assumed he’d been injured by Feng Laosi and thought it impressive that he’d escaped with a child and a woman in tow. Out of respect for his skills and because the Sixteenth Master hadn’t sent word to release him, I didn’t want to sour relations. So I only gave him common remedies like Gongjian Powder—nothing that would heal him quickly, but with steady use, he’d recover in two or three months. Yet in just over ten days, he was already up and walking. Then there’s that young servant of his, A Sen, barely eight or nine years old, wielding an ordinary eyebrow-height staff with such precision—alternating orthodox and unorthodox techniques, disciplined and formidable, embodying the essence of martial arts... A Sen said Zhao Ling taught him. Both of us come from military families. Laymen watch for spectacle; experts watch for skill. Even the head instructors of our families couldn’t match that level!"

Tao Mu listened thoughtfully. "I’ve heard some news. Feng Laosi was killed, along with over twenty of his men. Feng Laosan now leads the Feng family."

"What?" Mo Yi shot to his feet.

Tao Mu met his gaze calmly. "Feng Laosi was last seen near a village called East Peace, not far from Weinan County. From there to Xialuyu in Lantian is less than fifty li—even a woman could walk it overnight. And the route from Xialuyu to Xi'an Prefecture passes right through Linchun Town!"

"Damn it!" Mo Yi clenched his fists until they creaked. "Hunting geese all day only to get pecked by one. No wonder Zhao Ling recovered so quickly—I’ve been dealing with a true master!" His tone was laced with bitter envy."Perhaps it's exactly as Brother Mo suspected," Tao Mu said. "With such a major incident, given the Feng family's former gang connections, they would have turned the world upside down to find the killer of Feng Laosi. Yet this time, the Feng family hasn't mentioned Feng Laosi's death at all, and his funeral was handled very perfunctorily." As he spoke, his expression grew increasingly serious. "For such a young master to emerge on the northwestern roads without my knowledge... I suspect he's a dragon crossing the river."

Mo Yi was taken aback. "You suspect he's from the Tengji Guard?"

Ever since Shi Wenbin became the commander of the Tengji Guard, he had recruited many young masters renowned in the martial world.

Tao Mu nodded.

"Highly unlikely!" Mo Yi said with firm confidence. "That fiancée of his carries herself with the innate dignity and pride of a noble lady—how could those wild, uncouth women of the martial world possibly imitate that? If he were from the Tengji Guard, where would he find such a woman? Don't forget, at the City God Temple, when the dagger was at her throat, had the Sixteenth Master's signal come any later, she would have perished!" He sighed. "To kill Feng Laosi and wipe out all his men in one go... such a young master, unfathomable and elusive... If he uses the Sixteenth Master's name card to join Fifth Master, fine. But if the Tengji Guard takes notice of him..." Before he could finish, Mo Yi tensed and looked at Tao Mu.

Tao Mu was already looking at him.

Years of life-and-death camaraderie allowed them to instantly understand each other's thoughts.

Zhao Ling possessed the Sixteenth Master's name card. Though the card bore no specific content, it could serve as a stepping stone to the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission or grant an audience with the Sixteenth Master. If Zhao Ling were a frail scholar, it might not matter, but he was a peerless master... The tale of Jing Ke assassinating the Qin Emperor has been told for millennia... and Zhao Ling had two companions who were clearly no ordinary individuals...

For the Sixteenth Master's safety, it was better to kill by mistake than to let slip!

"In that case, we must act without delay," Tao Mu declared, standing decisively. "I'll seek Fifth Master's instructions immediately. We may need to mobilize the God Crossbow Unit!"

A flash of ferocity crossed Mo Yi's face. "Then wait for my message."

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(End of Chapter)