Chapter Sixty-Two: The Ugly Dog of the Wasteland

“Your clothes are stained with blood. Have you been in a fight?” Xu You smiled as he saw Wan Qi standing beside him, showing no intention of leaving.

“Yes,” Wan Qi replied but said no more.

Noticing her expression, Xu You thought he might have asked an inappropriate question and said, “If it’s inconvenient to speak of, you need not say anything.”

Wan Qi gently shook her delicate head, her eyelids lowering softly. “It’s not inconvenient; I’ve just been thinking about how to tell you, my lord…”

Suddenly, Xu You understood. This woman’s nature was reserved and distant; she probably rarely spoke with unfamiliar men. In her eagerness, she found it difficult to organize her words clearly.

After a pause, she said, “Last night, by the madam’s orders, I went to an abandoned house in the western outskirts of Qiantang County to rescue someone. There were two experts guarding him, so I sustained some minor injuries…”

“Rescue someone?” Xu You asked in surprise. “As the madam’s personal attendant, who would require your direct intervention?”

“That man is named Zhan Yun, known as Ake. He is the madam’s cousin and also the only son of Lord Qi. Lord Qi is highly respected and influential in the Zhan family, so his stance is crucial to Zhan Ting.”

Xu You immediately understood. Zhan Ting had resorted to such a cruel scheme to defect to the Celestial Master Sect—a deed that would enrage both gods and men alike. He sighed quietly and said, “The madam must be heartbroken…”

Wan Qi looked at Xu You’s profile with a puzzled expression. “Why would the madam be heartbroken? Zhan Ting betrayed his family and should be dealt with according to family law.”

“That would be reasonable if people were without feelings. Harsh laws set the rules, but the emotions in one’s heart are not so easily disposed of. The madam and Zhan Ting grew up together, side by side for over ten years; even the lowest creatures would feel reluctant in such circumstances. How could she not be moved by the memories now?”

Wan Qi stood silent for a long while, her clear eyes unclouded by dust. “Indeed, just as in the stories you told, even a white snake understands gratitude; how much more so a person?”

Xu You stood with hands behind his back, the mountain wind blowing through his robes, carrying a biting chill. “I hope the madam will consider the larger picture and not be ensnared by familial affection, lest that cunning lord take advantage.”

“Rest assured, my lord,” Wan Qi replied coolly, “I have seen the madam’s decisiveness; she shows no mercy toward Zhan Ting and will not let things go awry…”

“The madam’s resolve is firm, placing justice above personal ties. I am no match for her,” Xu You praised, then turned his head. “Since you have settled the matter, why do you not stay at the Zhiyin Inn but instead return alone to the mountains? Could it be…”

He stopped himself mid-sentence. Wan Qi’s nature was aloof; she seldom chatted idly with men, often silent even when sitting face to face. Yet Xu You seemed to possess some subtle charm, his words like a spring breeze, easing defenses, and he unexpectedly pressed, “Could it be what?”

Clearing his throat, Xu You said, “Nothing.”

Wan Qi noticed his awkwardness and felt a flicker of mischief. She fixed him with a cold gaze. “Is there something my lord cannot say?”

Hearing this, Xu You had no choice but to explain, “I meant to joke, suggesting you might have hurried back just to hear the Legend of the White Snake. But knowing you are not one to take such things lightly, I refrained from saying it outright.”

Wan Qi’s face remained stern. “You are mistaken, my lord. I indeed returned just to listen to the Legend of the White Snake, which is why I acted so thoughtlessly.”

“Ah?” Xu You looked stunned, his usual composure gone. A faint smile, as delicate as spring orchids, touched Wan Qi’s lips, then vanished in an instant.

Yet in that fleeting moment, the chill in the mountain air seemed to soften just a little.

Wan Qi lowered her gaze, unwilling to meet Xu You’s eyes. “The madam instructed that once Ake was rescued, someone should be sent to notify the Zhiyin Inn. Although you have Lord Zuo by your side, an extra person might ensure greater safety.”

Xu You was a clever man and knew why Zhan Wenjun had urgently sent Wan Qi back to the mountains: partly out of mistrust toward himself, but mostly because of the white snake hidden there.

“Please rest assured on the madam’s account,” Xu You sighed. “I am merely concerned… if relations break down, without you, might the madam be in danger?”

“You overpraise me, my lord. My humble abilities are hardly worth mentioning,” Wan Qi resumed her composed demeanor. “You may not know, but Lord Zhu Rui, known as the Martial Enthusiast, is by the madam’s side. With him present, the madam will be perfectly safe.”

As Gu Yun’s ox cart arrived at the entrance of the main street, the commotion outside the Zhiyin Inn continued unabated. The steward, Bao Xi, sent someone to inquire, then lifted the curtain of the cart and quietly explained the situation.

“Qiantang Lake has many inns; there’s no fear of lacking lodgings. Go, send people to other inns and instruct them to settle these merchants within the time of an incense stick. No more gatherings or disturbances; violators will be dealt with immediately.”

Gu Yun wished to keep a low profile this time. He disembarked and stood on the left side of the street, gazing calmly at the drifting clouds above, while his mind pondered the intricacies of the Migrate Thought Sutra.

After Xu You’s detailed discussion with him that day, a door had been opened before his eyes. How far he could advance once inside would depend on his own spiritual energy and insight. So in the days since, apart from attending official duties at the hall, his time was spent much like this—deep in silent meditation.

After an unknown length of time, Bao Xi approached from behind. “The crowd has dispersed. Shall we go now, my lord?”

Though Bao Xi had served Gu Yun’s father for many years and was well experienced, now that he was in Gu Yun’s service, he no longer acted with the arrogance of seniority. Hence, he addressed him respectfully as “My lord” in all conversation, as a means of fitting in.

“Master Danya, do you think I should go?” Gu Yun asked.

Bao Xi smiled. “If you ask me, it’s better not to.”

“Oh? Why so?”

Bao Xi replied, “The Celestial Master Sect acted suddenly, with secret support from the regional governor’s office. This involves court politics and local affairs, and their motives remain unclear. As you are newly appointed, you do not yet know how deep these murky waters run. It is best to recline on your brocade couch and watch the changes quietly; there is no need to step onto the stage hastily.”

The waning sunlight cast a rosy glow on Gu Yun’s delicate, almost feminine features. His translucent skin invited admiration, and he smiled. “That was my initial plan, too. But Zhan Wenjun submitted a formal complaint to the county office, so I cannot pretend ignorance, neither in private nor in public. Besides,” his gaze rested on the eaves of the Zhiyin Inn, “Zhu Ziyu has come. How could I avoid meeting him?”

Bao Xi knew a little about the grudges between Gu Yun and Zhu Rui but understood the limits and thus did not bring it up. “The four great families of Wujun are one family. Since Lord Zhu has come to Qiantang, he will surely meet with my lord. There is no rush.”

Gu Yun shook his head. “The fact that the Zhu family sent someone here shows they have decided to side with Zhan Wenjun. This matter cannot be delayed.”

“Are you afraid that Zhu Rui will act rashly and make the situation irreparable? Though obsessed with martial arts, he is not a fool and should not go too far.”

Gu Yun smiled bitterly. “Master Danya, you have spent many years in Dongyang and know little of Wujun. It would be less worrisome if the Zhu family had sent someone else. But Zhu Ziyu… if provoked, he will not hesitate to take a life.”

Inside the Zhiyin Inn, tension remained thick. Upon hearing Gu Yun’s arrival, Li Yifeng fell silent, while the usually quiet Xi Yuanda stepped forward, fixing his gaze on Zhan Wenjun like a venomous snake ready to strike.

“Madam Guo, today’s meeting concerns the Zhan family’s affairs, yet you have involved the government. What is your intention?”

“Family affairs?” Zhan Wenjun replied coldly without looking at Xi Yuanda. “If they are family matters, what right do you, an outsider, have to attend?”

Xi Yuanda, seasoned and composed, was not embarrassed. His gaze dropped to the prominent curves of Zhan Wenjun’s chest, uttering with innuendo, “Outsiders today may become family tomorrow. There is no absolute in this world. Madam, do not speak too soon.”

As a woman, Zhan Wenjun was highly sensitive to touch and knew exactly what Xi Yuanda was insinuating. Surrounded by enemies, she had to maintain her composure; one misstep and all could be lost. No matter the humiliation, she had to endure.

Moreover, who could say whether Xi Yuanda was deliberately provoking her anger to escalate the situation beyond control?

“What right does a discarded mangy dog from the wastelands have to speak to my sister Wenjun?”

Like thunder cracking in the ears, the only person who had not yet spoken slowly rose to his feet. Towering like an iron tower, his broad, square face was carved with sharp features typical of the western tribes.

He sat at the lowest seat beside Zhan Wenjun and had been resting with eyes closed since entering, seemingly asleep and indifferent to the clamor around him.

Zhan Ting and the others did not know his identity and assumed he was a bodyguard brought by Zhan Wenjun, so they paid him no mind. However, Li Yifeng and Xi Yuanda were aware, and though they argued fiercely with Zhan Wenjun, half their attention remained fixed on this giant.

“Mangy dog from the wastelands?”

Leaning back in his chair, Xi Yuanda murmured as he stared at the ornate ceiling, “Let me think… who was the last one to speak like that? Oh yes, I cut off his limbs, poured honey into the wounds, buried him in the earth, and let worms and ants torment him for seven days and nights until he wailed in agony and died.”

He stepped close to Zhu Rui, standing barely a yard away. The hatred and rage in his eyes could turn the room into hell itself. Slowly, he said, “Zhu Rui, do you want to die?”