The Youngest Daughter, Chang Le

Chapter 28

Qiuli lowered his head and looked at the items on his lap. The paper was not the high-quality xuan paper he was accustomed to, and the crude charcoal pencil wrapped in the paper roll would never usually appear on his desk. He heard Zhu Changle's words, low but sharp and unrestrained, even in front of her parents. He gripped one end of the charcoal pencil and smiled. The disciple of the strict Zhong Ningmei was hardly a docile, easily bullied little girl in front of her parents.

Flicking the paper with his finger, Qiuli looked at Zhu Changle.

"Not enough?" Zhu Changle asked without much thought.

Qiuli nodded slightly.

"I'll get some more." Zhu Changle ran towards her elder brother Zhu Changwang's carriage, as her family would never lack for paper and writing materials.

Qiuli watched as she leaned against the carriage window, wheedling and whining at Zhu Changwang like a spoiled child. Her ruthlessness from before seemed like Qiuli had simply misjudged her.

Meeting Zhu Changwang's gaze, Qiuli's lips curved up slightly. Zhu Changwang, true blue of the Zhu family, ensured the Zhu clan had a capable successor.

Looking down at the blank paper, Qiuli's expression was indifferent. Some thought the rules were meant to constrain him, unaware that those rules were meant to preserve his life. If they were so eager to die, he was willing to oblige them, undergo another purge - it would bring peace and quiet.

He just didn't know if the current court had the capacity for such a major undertaking.

Hearing footsteps, he gripped the charcoal pencil and began writing nonchalantly.

Zhu Changle squatted beside him, murmuring, "The Twin Blade Sect has really fallen so low. Aren't they afraid their ancestors will rise from their graves to cleanse their ranks?"

"The Dragon-Breaking Sect... I've heard the old man say this sect has been quite active these past two years, absorbing two smaller nearby sects. They have lofty ambitions."

The old man? Qiuli turned to look at her.

"Oh, the old man is Dingding's great-grandfather."

Qiuli turned back and continued writing, his brushwork flowing like a soaring dragon, exceptionally beautiful.

"I'll show this to my elder brother later. He'll surely praise your calligraphy."

Qiuli's brush paused momentarily. Well, he was twenty-one now, probably, so he didn't really need others' praise to validate himself.

Changing to a new sheet of paper, Qiuli began painting. At first it seemed abstract, pieces unconnected. But when he put down his brush, the broader picture became clear - he had mapped out the locations and dynamics of the four major sects, as well as a towering pavilion looming over them all, with wisps of white silk fluttering around it in a vivid depiction.

Zhu Changle laughed. In the martial world, territorial divisions were of great importance. The Twin Blade Sect, Dragon-Breaking Sect, Sky Clarity Manor, and Returning Origin Sword Sect had divided up this territory. Any other forces passing through had to pay respects or at least give notice, according to the rules of the martial world.

But when people spoke of this region, the name that first came to mind was not any of those four sects, but rather a renowned figure: Immortal Lady Wen.

In her youth, Immortal Lady Wen had been a beauty with a gentle disposition, courteous even to beggars, earning her the name "Immortal Lady". Combined with her mastery of the Falling Flower Sword, she had countless admirers in those days, with young heroes from all over gathering wherever she appeared.

The old saying proved true for her: a beauty loves heroes. During what could hardly be called a heroic rescue, Immortal Lady Wen fell for Hu Fei, one of the Northern and Southern Twin Heroes.

It's not clear if it was simply a weakness of men, but although Hu Fei admitted to having a prior engagement, he did not reject Immortal Lady Wen's affections and travels with her for several months. Eventually, his betrothed sent back the betrothal gifts, ending their engagement. After that, no matter how Hu Fei tried to reconcile, his former fiancee would not see him. For reasons unknown, Hu Fei and Immortal Lady Wen also parted ways, and neither has married to this day.

Zhu Changle snorted, hugging her knees. "She's so ugly, why bother painting her so beautifully?"

Qiuli glanced at her, then drew a large X over the pavilion with his charcoal pencil.

Clearly, this person not only knew the various martial sects intimately, but even details unknown to outsiders. So she understood what Zhu Changle meant by "ugly".

Who was he?

After racking her brain, Zhu Changle realized he didn't seem to match anyone she knew - otherwise Dingding would have made the connection already. If he was a disciple of some reclusive master... but then he shouldn't know the martial world so well, not unless he was eavesdropping from some corner.

Zhu Changle suddenly looked up, her sleeve ready to unleash hidden projectiles.

"Young Miss." Aunt Feng landed in front of her, holding a horsewhip, followed closely by Dingding returning on horseback. Neither of them looked at ease.

Without asking questions, Zhu Changle handed each of them one of the papers. "Take a look at these."

As Dingding knew her best friend well, he immediately grasped her intentions and snickered, finding this a much better idea than being chased and trampled upon.

"Among those who attacked us earlier, I saw people from these few sects. And I also recognized a familiar face, even with their mask on."

"One of Immortal Lady Wen's people?"

"Yes."

Zhu Changle let out a cold laugh. "Which do you think she wants - to kill me and slap my master's face, or put on a compassionate front and let me thank her for her mercy?"

Aunt Feng didn't need to consider. "The latter."

"That's what I thought too."

Aunt Feng glanced back at the row of carriages behind them. "Young Miss, you can't defeat her, even with my help."

"Who said I wanted to fight her? As juniors passing through, it would be rude not to pay our respects, wouldn't it?"

Aunt Feng looked at her, understanding dawning. "Of course, we should pay our respects. I'll deliver the calling card at once."

Aunt Feng departed briskly, seemingly unconcerned about further ambushes. Zhu Changle had the servants ready the carriages and took the lead, changing their route.

The Zhu family members asked no questions, not wanting to add confusion for Zhu Changle. Qiuli also didn't ask, having guessed Zhu Changle's intentions. She acted without restraint like Zhong Ningmei, yet not quite like her either.

Zhong Ningmei used brute force, always confronting obstacles head-on, willing to lose eight to gain one thousand. Zhu Changle was different - she excelled at using opposing forces against each other.

Like him.

And like... the person whose help she would borrow next.

Halfway through the journey, Zhu Changle joined her elder brother Zhu Changwang's carriage. "Let's stop somewhere to rest. We'll stay there tonight."

Zhu Changwang put down his book and nodded with a smile. "I'll take care of the family."

That was all Zhu Changle wanted to hear. She sat cross-legged and closed her eyes to meditate. To deal with Immortal Lady Wen, she couldn't be overconfident.

Zhu Changwang stared at his book for a long while without turning a page, pondering how to break the impasse. But against overwhelming force, all plots and schemes were useless. He couldn't produce a host of martial experts, nor could he make his family completely undetectable and immune to harm.

It wasn't that he had no tricks left - Xu Zheng led a team waiting to support them up ahead. But from the first ambush, Zhu Changwang knew those men would only be throwing away their lives with no benefit, so he hadn't signaled them yet. It wasn't easy to cultivate capable followers - over the years he had only managed to train these twenty, and he didn't want them to die meaninglessly here.

From Zhu Changle's actions, it seemed their current destination was no safe haven. Yet she still chose to go, perhaps because that was where she intended to break the deadlock.