Old Madam Mei's code name in the Crane Control Army was Hong You, while her original name had long been forgotten.
She was an assassin trained by the Crane Control Institute, with no family behind her, adrift like a floating weed at the mercy of the currents. Her martial arts were mediocre, but what allowed her to survive among the many assassins was her cunning.
The path of an assassin was cold and bloody, and cunning alone was far from enough. She still remembered that the final trial before leaving the Crane Control Institute wasn’t a mission—it was a one-on-one fight, just like when she had first entered. At that moment, everything depended on skill; no amount of scheming would help.
She knew very well that if she waited until that day, she would become nothing more than an insignificant sacrifice in the trial. Unwilling to accept that fate, before the fight, she used every underhanded trick to eliminate the three top fighters in her group. Even if she was executed for breaking the rules, it was better than having her throat slit effortlessly in the arena!
Unexpectedly, after the incident, instead of punishing her, the higher-ups publicly praised her in front of everyone.
That was when she understood a crucial truth: this path had no rules to speak of—only the living and the dead.
It was also because of this incident that the higher-ups took notice of her and decided to plant her as a spy within the Crane Control Army’s families.
"I met Yelü Quancang in Plum Blossom Village. You might not believe me, but after serving him for so many years, I still don’t understand him at all. As for that State Preceptor, I understand even less," Old Madam Mei said.
Chu Dingjiang asked, "Why did you work for him?"
"Why..." Old Madam Mei seemed momentarily lost in thought, lowering her eyes as she murmured, "If not for him, who else could I have worked for..."
Like a dodder vine, she could only stand by clinging to something else.
There were many like her in the Crane Control Army, including An Jiu—people accustomed to taking orders, accustomed to being directed, yet yearning for freedom in their hearts. But when true freedom came, they were left adrift. Old Madam Mei had grown up in that environment; outside the familiar rules, she could no longer live like an ordinary person.
"I know the current emperor is wise, but for us, there’s no turning back. One misstep, and we sink deeper and deeper."
Though she often spoke with melancholy now, drifting from one dependency to another to survive, Chu Dingjiang was not fooled into thinking she was merely a weak woman. It was just a habit. "When you contacted him, were there any signals?"
Old Madam Mei remained silent.
Chu Dingjiang knew then that whether she had submitted to Yelü Quancang or willingly pledged allegiance, once she acknowledged a master, she would maintain a certain degree of loyalty. She was definitely hiding something.
Chu Dingjiang guessed that Old Madam Mei was a lone thread in Yelü Quancang’s hands and wouldn’t know too much. Tonight, he only wanted to confirm whether she was withholding information, not to force her to talk immediately.
"Take your time to think it over, Old Madam. Until then, I’m afraid you’ll have to stay in this room," Chu Dingjiang said as he stood and left.
The smile on Old Madam Mei’s face slowly faded, and the cup in her hand shattered with a sharp crack.
Chu Dingjiang, not yet far away, heard the sound of breaking porcelain and smiled faintly before quickening his steps toward Ling Xi’s cell.
Blood Fiend approached him. "The prisoner inside is awake."
Chu Dingjiang nodded. "Take a few men to keep watch over Old Madam Mei. No matter what excuse she gives, don’t let her out—not even to use the latrine."Blood Fiend thought that killing someone was one thing, but this was downright despicable! Though he thought so, he immediately complied.
The room was pitch black, but Chu Dingjiang could navigate effortlessly in the darkness without relying on sight.
He found a stool and sat down, not far from Ling Xi. "You should understand why I’ve invited you here."
"Kidnapping is kidnapping. Don’t make it sound so polite."
"I just met with Old Madam."
"Ha, don’t tell me she confessed everything."
Ling Xi knew full well that separating them had been precisely for this purpose!
But Chu Dingjiang’s reply surprised her. "No, she refused to say anything. She only lamented her past, saying her life had been bitter."
"Bitter?" Ling Xi let out a light laugh but offered no comment.
"Truthfully, I don’t intend to force her to reveal the truth—because I believe you will." Sensing her urge to deny it, he continued, "No need to argue. After all these years as Old Madam Mei, she’s enjoyed wealth and status beyond measure. You, with martial arts surpassing hers, remain nothing but a servant. Doesn’t that stir any resentment in you?"
Ling Xi fell silent for a moment. When she spoke again, her tone was noticeably less defiant. "I’ve grown used to it… Habit is a terrifying thing. Sometimes, I truly forget that I’m actually her equal, not some lowly maid."
Ling Xi had been assigned to Old Madam Mei as an assistant. If the old madam were gone, her own existence would become unnecessary. Whether it was the Crane Control Army or Yelü Quancang, what they valued was the position of Old Madam Mei—Ling Xi had always been nothing more than an appendage.
"I’m no emperor who can offer you boundless riches and status. All I can give you is a chance to choose your own life."
Chu Dingjiang remembered when Plum Blossom Village was attacked—Old Madam Mei had been severely injured, and Ling Xi had fought desperately to save her. He refused to believe this was out of loyalty. Ling Xi knew that if Old Madam Mei died, everything she had would vanish. If she cared nothing for wealth or status and only wanted freedom, she wouldn’t have acted that way.
"One hundred thousand taels of gold, an estate—disappear, and the name Ling Xi will cease to exist. Only you will remain."
The offer made Ling Xi’s heart skip a beat. After a pause, she asked, "How can I trust you?"
"Tell me the truth, I’ll kill Old Madam Mei, then find someone to replace you. I’ll give you the Jiaozi money, the deed, and a household register from Hexi County. Take these and go wherever you wish. That’s my plan. Whether you want to take the gamble is up to you. I don’t have the time or energy to earn the trust of someone so suspicious."
"And if I refuse?"
"Death." In the darkness, Chu Dingjiang sat motionless, his towering frame like a tombstone.
Yelü Quancang had promised far more than what Chu Dingjiang offered, but it would come at a far greater cost. Ling Xi didn’t need to think hard to realize that even if they succeeded, her share would never match Old Madam Mei’s. Perhaps it was better to…
"I need time to think."
"I’ll await your good news." Chu Dingjiang pulled out a stack of Jiaozi money from his robe and placed it on the side table. "Fifty thousand taels of gold."
As he reached the door, he paused. "Don’t even think about running. There are two in the Transformation Realm here."
Ling Xi didn’t reply. She reached for the Jiaozi money worth fifty thousand taels of gold.The Mei family was a royal merchant house with immense wealth, and Old Madam Mei had amassed a considerable private fortune over the years since her marriage into the family. However, no matter how wealthy the Mei family was, Ling Xi, as a mere servant, had no chance of accessing it. The price Chu Dingjiang offered was highly tempting to her, and he had even promised to kill Old Madam Mei—which meant that private fortune would be...
Chu Dingjiang returned to his quarters to find An Jiu already awake, sitting at the table and eating the leftovers from lunch.
"Why are you eating cold leftovers? Couldn’t you wait even a moment?" Chu Dingjiang reached out and touched the plate. "It’s ice-cold!"
"I just wanted a few bites to tide me over while waiting for you."
"What would you like for dinner?"
"It’s late, so something simple will do."
Chu Dingjiang’s daily meals were always standard: two cold dishes, three stir-fries, one stew, and a soup, with rarely any repeats—unless it was something An Jiu particularly enjoyed.
"I’ll make you a bowl of noodles with two poached eggs, and stir-fry some beef."
"Mhm, mhm, sounds good." An Jiu nodded eagerly in satisfaction.
Chu Dingjiang flicked her forehead with his finger. "To think that I, a nobleman of high standing, would willingly stoop to this—though I never dreamed I’d fall so low."
As he turned toward the kitchen, An Jiu hesitated, then set down her chopsticks and followed him.
"Why are you tagging along?" Chu Dingjiang glanced at her sideways.
An Jiu took his hand. "I’m just curious. Where did you go earlier?"
"Guess?" Chu Dingjiang teased.
An Jiu’s mental strength was formidable—she knew exactly how many martial arts masters there were in Hexi County. How could she not notice two extra masters appearing out of nowhere in their courtyard?
"I don’t know," An Jiu admitted honestly.
Chu Dingjiang sighed. "You’re smart enough to figure it out easily—you just don’t usually bother."
An Jiu bristled at the accusation. "In your eyes, only someone like Wei Yuzhi qualifies as ‘bothering to think.’"
"I captured Old Madam Mei," Chu Dingjiang said. He hadn’t wanted to trouble her with these matters, but since she asked, he saw no reason to hide it.
An Jiu frowned. "But didn’t you say you were worried about alerting the enemy?"
"We should still be able to keep it hidden for a while." Chu Dingjiang explained, "This time, it was actually Yelü Jinglie and Yelü Huangwu conspiring together to rebel. But while news of Yelü Huangwu’s death has long been circulating, there’s been no word on Yelü Jinglie’s fate—only that he was executed. Yet witnesses clearly saw him captured alive. So I’ve been wondering why."
An Jiu had met Yelü Jinglie before. He bore a striking resemblance to Gu Jinghong, which made her pay extra attention. "Did you figure it out?"
"My guess is that Yelü Jinglie is also a medicine man."
An Jiu abruptly stopped walking. "Him too? Are you sure?"
"It’s just speculation. First, Yelü Huangwu was also a direct descendant of the Yelü imperial family. Given her age, she shouldn’t have had much time left. She wasn’t the type to cling blindly to power at the expense of the bigger picture—so why rebel? Second, Yelü Huangwu had countless ways to scheme against Yelü Jinglie. She didn’t necessarily need to send Ning Yanli to assist him. By dispatching an unpredictable physician to get close to Yelü Jinglie, she must have had another motive."
"The answer is simple: Yelü Huangwu found a way to extend her life, and it involved Yelü Jinglie."An Jiu pursed her lips, images of Gu Jinghong flashing through her mind, followed by the strikingly similar face of Yelü Jinglie—even their fates seemed to...
"If I had known Gu Jinghong was determined to die last time, I think I would have stopped him." An Jiu tightened her grip on Chu Dingjiang's hand. "If I remember correctly, Yelü Jinglie is his uncle, right?"
Chu Dingjiang nodded.
"I want to save him." An Jiu knew it would be difficult, but the thought had surfaced in her heart, so she voiced it directly.
"A Jiu, his act of leaving his blood for you might not have been entirely out of goodwill." Chu Dingjiang had to confront her with the harsh truth. "He despised the main lineage—he merely wanted them to cling to a sliver of hope, only to find it forever out of reach."
Extracting blood didn’t necessarily require a Miracle Doctor. Gu Jinghong had sought out Mo Sigui precisely because of his exceptional medical skills, anticipating that he wouldn’t simply give the blood to An Jiu to consume directly. Instead, Mo Sigui would refine it into a medicinal pill tailored for her in its optimal state. This process would diminish over sixty percent of the heart blood’s potency.
"Obtaining his blood would make you a target for the Yelü main lineage’s pursuit. He never once considered your life."
"But I still benefited from it," An Jiu said.
Chu Dingjiang shook his head and fell silent, releasing her hand as he walked ahead alone.
Whether it was due to having absorbed Gu Jinghong’s heart blood or their past familiarity, An Jiu admitted her feelings toward him weren’t merely those of gratitude toward a benefactor. She couldn’t explain why, but every time she thought of him, her heart clenched slightly.
Perhaps she had come to regard him as a friend?
But An Jiu had no time to dwell on it now—because Uncle Chu seemed upset!
She found him in the kitchen, slicing beef.
In Hexi County, plow oxen were scarce—who would slaughter one for meat? An Jiu had no idea where he’d gotten such fresh beef.
His tall frame made the counter seem unusually low, forcing him to hunch over as he worked. In the flickering lamplight, his downcast eyes appeared intensely focused.
An Jiu sidled up to him. "You’re angry."
"Do you really think I’m that petty?" Chu Dingjiang asked, never slowing his rapid knife strokes.
"Then why did you walk off without a word?"
"You usually stop fantasizing about impractical things once you’re fed, so I’m hurrying to cook!" He arranged the sliced beef, scallions, and ginger neatly on a clean plate, then poured flour into a basin. After washing his hands, he began kneading the dough. "I was afraid you’d get carried away and order me to rescue someone. For you, I’d walk through fire and climb mountains of blades—but risking my life for the uncle of an old romantic rival? That’s just humiliating."
"Do you really think I’d be that unreasonable? You’re far more important to me than him—why would I sacrifice you for his sake?" Only after saying this did An Jiu register one word from his earlier statement. Blinking, she asked, "Old romantic rival?"
"That’s how I see it," Chu Dingjiang replied.
Truthfully, he wanted to ask: If it weren’t Gu Jinghong’s uncle but Gu Jinghong himself who was trapped, what would she do? But considering the man was already dead, pressing the question seemed pointless, so he let it go.
"The kindness Gu Jinghong casually showed you—it’s only fair we casually repay it. But Yelü Quancang is investigating our whereabouts for unknown reasons. Right now, Shangjing is a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair for us. Rescuing someone there wouldn’t be a casual matter—it’d mean gambling with our lives. That’s not worth it."
"Understood."Chu Dingjiang worked swiftly, having everything prepared in the time it took to speak.
He lit the stove and had An Jiu tend the fire. After the noodles were cooked, a quick stir-fry over high heat produced a sizzling plate of beef in no time.
Bringing the meal back to the room, An Jiu quickly forgot about the earlier incident and dug in with enthusiasm. Seeing her enjoy the food, Chu Dingjiang also ate a bowl of noodles.
Just as he set down his chopsticks, someone outside reported, "Sir, Ling Xi wishes to see you."
"She's quite impatient," Chu Dingjiang remarked to An Jiu. "Play for a while. I'll heat water for your bath when I return."
"No bath."
Chu Dingjiang chuckled. "Planning to cultivate mushrooms under your clothes?"
(Chu Dingjiang referred to mushrooms as "fungus.") (To be continued...)
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