Hidden Shadow

An Jiu and Chu Dingjiang carried their meal in a food box.

On their way back to their room, they noticed a woman in purple standing at the bow of the ship. Her sleeves fluttered in the wind, and she wore a black veil hat that obscured her face. Though her features were hidden, her tall and well-proportioned figure was unmistakable. The curves of her body, accentuated by the snug fit of her dress, were striking and alluring—enough to make the men of the Song Dynasty, accustomed to more reserved elegance, burn with desire.

Such a woman was a rare sight even in Bianjing, let alone on a ship. Many who had come to the deck for fresh air were tempted to approach her, but she didn’t carry the air of a courtesan, so none dared to act rashly.

An Jiu and Chu Dingjiang exchanged a glance before turning their attention to the woman in purple.

Chu Dingjiang’s gaze swept over her indifferently, and then he and An Jiu turned to enter the cabin.

Once inside, neither spoke. After finishing their meal, An Jiu finally broke the silence. “Did you notice anything?”

“Liao People,” Chu replied. People from different regions carried distinct temperaments. Over the years, Chu had encountered countless Liao People in battle—even if they were completely covered, he could recognize them, let alone with such a flimsy disguise.

As he tidied the dishes, he murmured, “This ship is getting lively.”

When they had first boarded, the situation had been far less complicated. Only a few sixth- or seventh-rank martial arts masters had been hired by the ship’s crew for protection. This woman must have booked a cabin in advance and boarded just before departure.

An Jiu paced the room to aid digestion while Chu went to return the dishes.

On his way back, he saw the woman in purple still standing at the bow. Unexpectedly, she turned around abruptly, locking eyes with him.

Her veil lifted slightly, revealing a faint smile on her red lips.

Chu knew she was looking at him, but he deliberately glanced around as if confirming her target before cupping his hands in greeting. “Could it be that we’ve met before, miss?”

The woman in purple shook her head gently, still smiling.

Chu quickly realized she was testing him. Nearly every man on the deck wanted to approach her, but her aloof demeanor had kept them at bay. Now that she was initiating contact, any man would naturally seize the opportunity.

To advance or retreat—that was the question.

A thought flashed through his mind, and with a smile, Chu strode confidently toward her. “May I ask why you were looking at me, miss?”

“You seem like a man of the martial world. Which sect do you belong to?” the woman asked.

“I’m Lin Hu, head escort of the Mighty Valor Escort Agency. And you are…?” Chu probed.

“Bai Lengqiu of the Kunlun Sect,” the woman replied with a cupped-hand salute. “This is my first time entering the Central Plains. I’m unfamiliar with the land. If our paths align, could you guide me to see the famed beauty of Jiangnan?”

The Kunlun Sect was located beyond the frontier, and she made no attempt to hide her foreign origins.

Martial artists were known for their straightforwardness, so while Bai Lengqiu’s request might have seemed abrupt, it wasn’t entirely unusual.

“So it’s Miss Bai! My apologies for not recognizing you sooner!” Chu had indeed heard of Bai Lengqiu—the Kunlun Sect leader’s personal disciple. He stored away his suspicions and replied warmly, “Where exactly do you wish to go, Miss Bai?”

“They say the beauty of Suzhou and Hangzhou is unmatched on earth, while Kunlun is the closest to the divine. I want to see for myself whether Kunlun or Jiangnan is more breathtaking.” Bai Lengqiu’s voice carried a hint of huskiness—not crystal-clear, but deeply captivating. Yet her words were filled with the naive curiosity of a young girl. This blend of sensuality and innocence only made her all the more tantalizing."Since we're fellow travelers, it's only right to help. However, I do have urgent business in Hangzhou." Chu Dingjiang paused briefly before shifting his tone. "But I have friends in Jiangning. I'll write you a letter of introduction. If you go there, my friends will surely take good care of you. I'll be staying in Hangzhou for three months—you can come find me there after you've had your fill of Jiangning."

"Much obliged." Bai Lengqiu lifted her black veil, revealing her face.

Several men nearby instantly lost their composure. The woman's beauty was striking—her narrow, alluring eyes had deep double eyelids and sunken sockets, her nose was high-bridged, and her eyebrows arched upward close to her eyes, nearly touching her temples. Her skin was as fair as snow. At first glance, her eyes appeared pitch-black, but under the lamplight, they shimmered with a faint ink-blue hue, mingling with the orange glow of the fire, so vivid they seemed to brim with liquid.

Her beauty was a rare blend of lushness and icy purity, sensuality tinged with authority.

Her features indeed didn’t resemble those of the Liao people.

Chu Dingjiang seemed momentarily stunned before growing slightly flustered. "May I ask which room you're staying in? I'll send the letter over once it's written."

"Room Four, Heaven Wing," Bai Lengqiu replied.

"I'll deliver it shortly." Chu Dingjiang hesitated, as if torn between leaving and staying. Finally, he clenched his jaw, clasped his hands in salute, and strode away.

Bai Lengqiu lowered her black veil, her ink-blue eyes filled with doubt. Could they not be from the Crane Control Army...?

Chu Dingjiang entered the cabin, walking swiftly down the narrow corridor as his mind raced.

An Jiu had just finished practicing the Tendon Severing Palm when she noticed his troubled expression. "What happened?"

"That woman in purple approached me just now, claiming to be Bai Lengqiu of the Kunlun Sect," Chu Dingjiang mused. "Her looks don’t match the Liao people, and she isn’t wearing a human skin mask..."

Nothing about her suggested any connection to the Liao Kingdom, but Chu Dingjiang trusted his instincts more. He took out paper and brush, writing a letter asking his friends in Jiangning to entertain Bai Lengqiu for a few days.

An Jiu sat across from him. "I’ve also noticed something."

Chu Dingjiang set down his brush, waiting for her to continue.

"There’s someone on this ship whose strength I can’t gauge. So far, I’ve only encountered one such person." An Jiu said, "The Madman."

"He wasn’t here when the ship set sail—he appeared suddenly just now. It’s strange." She found the situation eerie. "What should we do?"

"There are ways to conceal one’s aura. Lu Danzhi is skilled in unorthodox tactics—hiding his strength wouldn’t be surprising." Chu Dingjiang thought for a moment. "Don’t provoke him. If we end up confronting him on the ship, we’ll be at a disadvantage."

Chu Dingjiang was a crafty old fox, and An Jiu didn’t doubt his judgment.

Unaware that his image had plummeted from "supportive uncle" to "crafty old fox," Chu Dingjiang was pleased by her trust.

"Did this woman come looking for the Madman, or did the Madman come for her?" An Jiu said firmly, "I don’t think their presence on the same ship is a coincidence."

Chu Dingjiang also strongly suspected Bai Lengqiu was Yelü Huangwu. No one would expect the mastermind to boldly enter Song territory—let alone the capital, Bianjing! But if Yelü Huangwu could devise such ruthless schemes, she might just have the audacity to do this.If this were truly the case, he would have laughed heartily to the heavens. The fact that the Liao people could freely come and go in the capital showed just how lax the defenses of the Great Song had become.

Footsteps approached from outside. An Jiu glanced at Chu Dingjiang, and moments later, someone knocked on the door.

Chu Dingjiang went to answer it.

An Jiu tightened her grip on the dagger hidden in her sleeve.

"Brother Lin, care for a drink?" Bai Lengqiu stood at the door, holding two jars of wine. She had changed out of her purple robes into a moon-white gown with wide sleeves, her dark hair cascading loosely—stunningly beautiful.

"My apologies." Chu Dingjiang stepped slightly aside, allowing her to see An Jiu. "This escort mission is rather special. I truly can't leave."

The implication was that his current job involved escorting a person.

"If the young brother doesn't mind, why not join us for a drink? The moonlight is splendid tonight." Bai Lengqiu's demeanor was anything but cold, contrary to what her name suggested.

Unlike Chu Dingjiang, An Jiu wasn't skilled at acting. If the other party was deliberately testing them, she might quickly expose their cover. So she shrank further into the shadows, signaling her refusal, and left the lies to Chu Dingjiang.

"He's rather reclusive and avoids strangers," Chu Dingjiang explained.

Bai Lengqiu smiled, unfazed. "Then I won't force the issue. I'll seek you out for a drink once we reach Hangzhou."

"Thank you for your understanding, miss." Chu Dingjiang cupped his hands in a polite gesture.

"It is I who should thank you." With a farewell, Bai Lengqiu walked alone toward the deck, still carrying the wine jars.

Chu Dingjiang watched her leave before closing the door.

If this woman was indeed Yelü Huangwu, she was truly audacious—not only moving freely within Song territory but boldly testing him like this! Initially, he had been firm in his intuition, but after three encounters with her, he was beginning to waver.

Chu Dingjiang's eyes darkened slightly. He decided that if he still couldn't confirm her identity, he would kill her to eliminate any future threats.

His stance toward Yelü Huangwu was simple: better to kill by mistake than to let her escape. Some strategists reveled in the thrill of confrontation, but he cared only for the outcome, not the process.

"Madman went to the bow," An Jiu frowned.

She was deeply wary of Madman and had been keeping an eye on him. Strangely, Madman hadn't noticed her presence.

"Let's go take a look," Chu Dingjiang said.

An Jiu was curious too. After all, if Madman's mental strength was on par with hers, he would have detected her by now. Whether she went or not made no difference, so she might as well observe.

The two left the room, and Chu Dingjiang silently carried her to the ship's mast.

People still moved about the deck.

Bai Lengqiu sat casually at the bow, the wine jar already opened. Madman crouched opposite her, clutching the jar and sobbing pitifully. "Little Chenzi is dead."

An Jiu remembered how, when she had first taken the fake Cui Yichen hostage, Madman had even tried to kill him. Yet now, his wailing didn't seem feigned. Chu Dingjiang was right—this Madman wasn't just a martial arts fanatic; he was genuinely insane.

Seeing this, Chu Dingjiang's heart skipped a beat. He wrapped an arm around An Jiu's waist and quietly retreated. He was almost certain now—this woman was Yelü Huangwu.

Lowering his voice, Chu Dingjiang said, "This woman has been testing us relentlessly. Now she doesn't even bother hiding her connection with Madman, unafraid of exposure. Either she underestimates us, or she's decided to kill us."Yelü Huangwu was no ordinary person to have thrown the Crane Control Army into chaos. Upon discovering him and An Jiu, she must have grown suspicious, yet like him, couldn’t be certain. However, she would likely choose to kill rather than risk letting them escape.

Chu Dingjiang played along because the other side had too many men, and the ship carried many innocent people. It was best not to act onboard, but if forced, he wouldn’t hesitate.

“A fight seems unavoidable,” Chu Dingjiang said, looking at An Jiu. “It’s not too late to flee now.”

Though he said this, An Jiu saw the fighting spirit in his eyes. After a brief consideration, she replied, “Fight.” (To be continued…)

Note:

Today, I had to take an elderly family member to the hospital, a three-hour journey. I woke at 5 a.m. and only just returned, utterly exhausted. Additionally, I must have eaten something bad this afternoon—severe diarrhea struck, and I endured it the entire trip. By the time I got home, I was stuck in the bathroom until I collapsed. Truly unable to update today. Will make up for it tomorrow. My apologies to all. (To be continued…)