The killer carried the head out of the city with ease, even whistling a tune.
He found a sturdy willow tree, retrieved a box from a crevice, and opened it to reveal wisps of cold air. Placing the head inside, he took the box and left.
An Jiu locked onto his mental strength, following from fifty zhang away.
He circled outside the city walls until nearly dawn, then led a horse out from the woods near the eastern gate. Mounting it, he galloped northward.
An Jiu, lacking the skill of qinggong, struggled to keep up. Fortunately, her formidable mental strength allowed her to track him within five li, but eventually, she suddenly lost his presence.
Continuing straight ahead, she spotted buildings shrouded in twilight—the small town and the docks.
So the docks really are suspicious! An Jiu tried again to locate him with her mental strength but found no trace.
However, aside from mental strength, she was also highly sensitive to the scent of blood. Following the smell, she turned back just as she neared the docks.
If Chu Dingjiang’s suspicions were correct, these docks were the killers' lair. Even with her past life’s combat abilities, An Jiu wouldn’t act recklessly, let alone now when facing a ninth-rank opponent would be a gamble.
By the time the city gates opened, An Jiu had returned near Jade Residence.
She sensed Chu Dingjiang’s presence approaching rapidly. Turning, she saw him drop down from a rooftop.
“Come with me,” Chu Dingjiang said.
Following him into Jade Residence, they passed through a garden path to a two-story pavilion.
The door swung open, revealing Zhu Pianxian and a richly dressed young man greeting them at the entrance.
Zhu Pianxian’s survival didn’t surprise An Jiu.
“Brother Chu,” the young man clasped his hands in greeting, then asked, “And this is…?”
“Her name is A-Jiu,” Chu Dingjiang replied.
“Miss A-Jiu, a pleasure,” the young man smiled. “I am Yu Pianfei.”
True to his name, Yu Pianfei was a refined gentleman like warm jade—slender, fair-skinned, with features that, while not individually striking, combined to exude an air of gentle elegance.
“This is my elder sister,” Yu Pianfei added.
Out of politeness, An Jiu responded, “You two are quite unique.”
Chu Dingjiang silently thought: Please don’t ask why.
“How so?” Yu Pianfei, unaware of An Jiu’s blunt honesty, inquired politely.
An Jiu said, “Her features are decent individually, but together they’re just meh. Yours aren’t much on their own, but somehow they work when combined.”
Chu Dingjiang pressed his lips together, secretly amused. Clearing his throat, he smoothed things over. “A-Jiu isn’t the best with words. Brother Yu, don’t take offense.”
“I’ve always admired straightforward people. No offense taken,” Yu Pianfei replied, his expression unreadable. “Please, come in.”
Zhu Pianxian glared fiercely at An Jiu, only to shrink back when met with her icy gaze, hiding behind Yu Pianfei.
Once seated, Chu Dingjiang said, “A-Jiu, Brother Yu and I are collaborating. What did you find tracking that Misty Villa assassin?”
An Jiu was surprised. Was Yu Pianfei insane? How could he turn around and work with the very person who had betrayed his sister?Judging by Yu Pianfei's demeanor, he wasn't a fool. In this situation, either Chu Dingjiang was exceptionally persuasive, or this man harbored ill intentions—or perhaps both were scheming against each other, testing whose skills ran deeper. If nothing else, when it came to cunning schemes, An Jiu had full confidence in that Chu fellow.
After a moment's thought, An Jiu replied, "I followed the trail to the northern part of the city, but the killer's presence vanished there. I tracked the scent of blood to the docks but didn't venture further before returning."
"It seems the killer is hiding at the docks, then," Chu Dingjiang said, deliberately omitting any mention of Misty Villa.
"Hmph!" Zhu Pianxian snorted coldly, her expression openly disdainful toward Chu Dingjiang.
Yu Pianfei pretended not to notice. "Brother Chu, do you have a plan? The docks belong to the Feng family, so our Yu family can't easily intervene."
"No need to trouble your esteemed household," Chu Dingjiang replied, his face unshaken despite Zhu Pianxian's obvious awareness of his earlier betrayal. He effortlessly maintained the pretense of friendship. "Has your family recently needed to ship goods? Why not use the Feng docks? That way, Ah Jiu and I can blend in and locate the killer when the time comes."
"That shouldn't be difficult." Yu Pianxian turned to Zhu Pianxian. "Sister, could you arrange a shipment through the Feng docks?"
"What does this have to do with me?" Zhu Pianxian nearly leapt from her chair. "Listen here, Yu Pianfei—I've seen through your little schemes since we were in the womb. Don't think you can use this as an excuse to trick me back into the Yu family! I won't touch Yu family business, not a single bit."
Outwardly, Zhu Pianxian appeared to be a graceful, middle-aged woman, while Yu Pianfei seemed a young man. In truth, however, the two were twins.
Being openly contradicted in front of outsiders didn't anger Yu Pianfei. He merely sighed in resignation. "This concerns your life, after all!"
"Then you should handle it all the more! I'm just a helpless woman, and my husband was short-lived..." Zhu Pianxian gazed at Yu Pianfei with sorrowful eyes, tears quickly welling up. "Who can I rely on now if not my own family? And yet, my own brother schemes against me in my misery. How the world has changed, how hearts have hardened! What is left for a drifting soul like me to cling to? Back in the old days—"
"Alright, alright, I'll handle it," Yu Pianfei hastily cut her off, well-acquainted with his sister's tendency to air the family's dirty laundry if given the chance.
Zhu Pianxian calmly dabbed her nearly spilled tears with a handkerchief and took a sip of tea. "Then it's settled."
Chu Dingjiang ignored the exchange, focusing instead on finalizing the details with Yu Pianfei.
An Jiu stared at Zhu Pianxian, fascinated by how effortlessly her tears appeared and disappeared.
Noticing the absence of hostility in An Jiu's demeanor, Zhu Pianxian grew bolder and muttered under her breath, "What are you staring at?"
An Jiu frowned, her gaze turning cold.
Zhu Pianxian hastily averted her face, scooting closer to Yu Pianfei as if seeking protection.
Once Chu Dingjiang and Yu Pianfei finished their discussion, An Jiu suddenly suggested, "Have Miss Zhu come with us. She can lure out the killer, and I'll protect her."
Yu Pianfei fell silent, genuinely considering the proposal.
Recalling her brother's temperament and her own earlier theatrics, Zhu Pianxian's eyes welled up again. Pitifully, she whimpered, "Brother... you wouldn't truly abandon your sister to danger, would you?"Before Yu Pianfei could respond, An Jiu added, "Never mind, I have other ways to find someone."
Zhu Pianxian turned her tearful gaze and saw the faint curve of An Jiu's lips, her bright eyes, and an expression that clearly screamed "mischief accomplished." Instantly, her eyes burned with indignation!
Yu Pianfei observed silently but said nothing.
"Nonsense." Chu Dingjiang, seemingly lost in thought, snapped back to reality with a light remark. He clasped his fists and said, "Farewell," then left with An Jiu.
Once outside Jade Residence, the two found a quiet spot to eat.
Under the swaying willow trees, an elderly woman had set up a wonton stall by the riverside. Amidst the rustling branches and the river breeze, they watched the passing painted boats while devouring bowl after bowl.
Chu Dingjiang finished eight bowls, soup and all, before stopping. "Why did you deliberately suggest bringing Zhu Pianxian along?"
As a master of schemes, Chu Dingjiang had already conjured dozens of sinister possibilities in his mind.
An Jiu swallowed her last wonton. "I wanted to see if her tears were truly on-demand."
Chu Dingjiang paused. "And then?"
An Jiu replied, "And then—they were!"
Chu Dingjiang rubbed his forehead. "What I meant was, why did you need to confirm whether her tears were genuine?"
An Jiu hesitated for a rare moment before cautiously asking, "Because it was fun. Did this interfere with your schemes?"
"..." Chu Dingjiang corrected, "Plans!"
An Jiu's expression remained grave, still awaiting an answer.
Chu Dingjiang sighed. "No, it didn’t."
Her brow relaxed slightly. "How did you convince Yu Pianfei to collude with you?"
"It’s not collusion—"
An Jiu pondered. "Conspiracy, then?"
"Let’s stick with collusion." Chu Dingjiang steered the conversation away. "He has ambition and desires. I merely offered him the right incentives."
An Jiu wasn’t foolish. With Chu Dingjiang’s hint, she realized Yu Pianfei’s ambitions were tied to Misty Villa. "He’s aiming high."
Though the Yu family held considerable influence in Yangzhou, they paled in comparison to Misty Villa. Yu Pianfei’s aspirations seemed like a case of overreaching.
Chu Dingjiang seemed to read her thoughts. "He has courage and vision. Men like him either soar to greatness or crash spectacularly. He’s no reckless gambler—if he dares to scheme, he must have calculated the risks."
"Aren’t you afraid he’ll retaliate?" An Jiu asked.
"If he wishes, let him try." Chu Dingjiang raised his voice. "What say you, brother enjoying sweet water over there?"
With that, Chu Dingjiang exposed the hidden Shadow Guard of the Yu family. Though he could have said as much to Yu Pianfei’s face, the effect of this public revelation carried far greater weight.
The exposed guard didn’t panic but merely glanced their way before hurrying off.
Chu Dingjiang paid him no further mind, instead smiling at the unique woman hidden behind an ordinary mask. At times, her thoughts were startlingly simple, yet her judgment and actions revealed remarkable shrewdness. He couldn’t help marveling at the quirks of fate—simple minds often lacked depth, while the wise were burdened with complexity. An Jiu, however, was a rare exception that suited his tastes perfectly.
"Let’s go. I have more arrangements to make," Chu Dingjiang said.
They settled the bill and left.
As they walked, Chu Dingjiang casually bought a bag of pine nuts before stopping at a covert Crane Control Army outpost to retrieve a letter.
"When did you make outside contact?" An Jiu didn’t believe he could’ve done so under her watch."I had already made arrangements before leaving Bianjing." Chu Dingjiang handed the letter to An Jiu after reading it.
An Jiu took it and glanced at the contents, her eyes showing surprise.
Chu Dingjiang peeled pine nuts as he spoke, "There were too many arrangements to explain them all to you one by one. I didn't deliberately keep them from you." (To be continued...)
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