Chapter 38 – The Mysterious Carriage Driver

Yi Chenlan couldn’t help but laugh. Unlike his usual gentle and cool demeanor, this time he actually laughed out loud. His eyes and brows were filled with joy, making his already peerless face even more vivid and lively.

“Wan Wan is truly amazing.” he said softly. “With you here, no one would dare cause me trouble.”

Shu Wan was very happy to be praised. She had already begun to smile, but then suddenly blinked as if she had thought of something. She quickly explained: “I actually don’t like arguing or fighting, but if someone bullies me first, of course I have to fight back. They’re the ones in the wrong—that’s only fair.”

Shu Wan tried to salvage her image—she wasn’t being unkind. In fact, she wasn’t a fierce girl at all. This was… righteous heroism.

Yi Chenlan’s smile grew more relaxed, as if he was truly delighted. “I know. Everything Wan Wan does is right.”

Only then did Shu Wan smile again, her bright, watery eyes sparkling like a soft, adorable little fox.

Although she looked energetic, Yi Chenlan still noticed the faint shadows beneath her eyes. His hand moved slightly but then stopped at once. He almost couldn’t resist reaching out to touch her.

“Wan Wan, you stayed up all night taking care of me and didn’t get any proper rest. Go ahead and sleep for a bit. I’ll wake you when we arrive.” Yi Chenlan formed a loose fist and pressed it to his lips, coughing lightly.

“Hmm? Senior Brother Ah Lan, I’m not sleepy. I want to look outside.” Shu Wan lifted the carriage curtain to peer out. It was her first time riding in a horse-drawn carriage and also her first time seeing the world beyond the Zhongshan Sect. Everything was still new and exciting—she didn’t want to sleep just yet.

However, the swaying of the carriage was incredibly sleep-inducing. It didn’t take long before Shu Wan’s eyelids grew heavy and her little head began to nod forward.

Yi Chenlan saw her swaying side to side and, afraid she would bump into the carriage wall, reached out and gently supported her shoulder, guiding her body to lean toward him.

Sure enough, Shu Wan’s head soon rested on his shoulder. It seemed that now she had something to lean on, she instinctively snuggled closer and found a comfortable position, then completely drifted into deep sleep.

Seeing her nestled so obediently in his arms, Yi Chenlan couldn’t help but smile. As he watched her sleeping face, his gaze grew even more tender. At last, he could no longer resist and gently lowered his head, planting an extremely light kiss on Shu Wan’s smooth forehead.

Then, he slowly wrapped his arm around her, enclosing her soft body in his embrace.

…

In the inner hall of Zhongshan Sect, Shu Qi rubbed his temples wearily and asked in a low voice: “Still no trace of Shi Tianlei?”

Jiang Yang looked worried and bowed with cupped hands. “Reporting to Master, all the teams that returned have found nothing. However, as you instructed, this disciple has already sent letters to all the major sects in the Jianghu. Everyone is keeping an eye out, and we’ll be informed immediately if there’s any news.”

“Mm.” Shu Qi responded with his eyes closed. His expression looked rather grim.

Jiang Yang quietly glanced at Shu Qi’s expression and hesitated as he said: “Master, that day Ah Lan…”

Shu Qi shot him a cold glance.

Jiang Yang immediately stopped and corrected himself: “That day Yi Chenlan said that Shi Tianlei was at Snowy Night Mountain. Why did Master not believe it?”

“You’re not aware. Snowy Night Mountain is filled with mechanisms all over the hills—tree formations, stone forests, winding waters—each corner is mysterious and treacherous. And it is shrouded in mist all year round. It’s not a place one can simply enter. Anyone unfamiliar with formation mechanisms would be walking to their death.”

Shu Qi’s fingers slowly tapped against the table. “That Shi Tianlei may be a subordinate of Yi Heng, but he did not inherit Yi Heng’s skills in mechanisms. He is nothing more than a brute with empty strength. There’s no way he could enter Snowy Night Mountain, and Yi Chenlan even less so. For him to dream of meeting Shi Tianlei inside Snowy Night Mountain… utterly delusional.”

Jiang Yang guiltily pressed his lips together, a slight sheen of sweat forming on his forehead. “Master… why do you insist on finding Shi Tianlei? Even if— even if Yi Chenlan and he are working together, what kind of storm could they possibly stir up?”

“There are still a few of Yi Heng’s old subordinates lingering in Snowy Night Mountain. Though they’re no more than remnants of various shady factions, hiding away in the mountain for years, their methods are just as cruel and insidious as Yi Heng’s. They could return to Jianghu at any moment and plunge it into chaos again. We must not let our guard down. Most importantly, the last person Yi Heng saw before his death was Shi Tianlei.”

As Shu Qi spoke, he silently clenched his fist. “He must have left behind some final words… Yi Heng was a man steeped in evil, cunning beyond measure. If I cannot uncover the wicked intentions he left behind, I will never find peace.”

“But it’s a pity. He was so stubborn. I imprisoned him for years, and he never uttered a single word. I just don’t understand… I kept him under such tight watch—how did he escape out of nowhere?!” Shu Qi’s face turned dark with fury as he slammed his palm onto the table.

Jiang Yang flinched in fear, his face paling. He lowered his head even further, not daring to meet Shu Qi’s eyes, thinking back on what he might have done.  

Had he known that Shi Tianlei was imprisoned in that cave, he would never have tampered with those □□.

“All right, you may leave now. If there’s any news, report immediately.” Shu Qi seemed exhausted and waved him away.

Jiang Yang quietly responded: “Yes.” and turned to leave. After just a few steps, he stopped in his tracks. After a moment of hesitation, he returned, poured Shu Qi a cup of tea, and handed it to him. “Master should take better care of your health. You’ve not rested properly for many days. If Little Junior Sister sees you like this when she returns, she’ll be heartbroken.”

Shu Qi had just taken the cup and was about to drink when he heard this. His hand suddenly slammed the teacup heavily onto the table, splashing tea everywhere. “Why are you bringing her up?! Still trying to plead for her in secret? I ordered you to send out my decree to Wulin, that I have expelled that shameless traitor from Zhongshan Sect! And yet you delay again and again, thinking I don’t know?!”

“Master, please don’t be angry.” Jiang Yang immediately knelt down and said anxiously: “Little Junior Sister is still young and cannot yet distinguish right from wrong, loyalty from treachery. She was simply immature. If Master guides her patiently, she will surely come around. How can she be expelled from the sect? This disciple feared that Master might regret it in the future, so I took it upon myself not to send out the decree. I beg Master to punish me.”

Shu Qi sneered coldly. “Regret what? Do you think the forbidden grounds are some ordinary place? Once entered, there is no return. She and Yi Chenlan know nothing about mechanisms—I’m afraid even if the gate stood wide open, they still wouldn’t find their way out. Not to mention—”

He paused, then threw out a curt command: “You need not plead further. Just do as I say.”

Jiang Yang was momentarily dazed. After a moment’s realization, panic suddenly set in. “…Can’t get out? Master! Could it be that Wan Wan is still inside the forbidden grounds?! I-It’s already been more than two days! If she doesn’t come out soon, she might die in there! Master… please, let’s open the gate and bring her out!”

“How can you be so spineless?” Shu Qi scowled in anger. “Even if she dies, it’s what she deserves! She ran off with Yi Chenlan, bringing shame to me, shame to Zhongshan Sect! And yet you still worry about her like this—truly ridiculous! Get out!”

Jiang Yang opened his mouth, but dared not say another word. He slowly stood up and walked out, dejected and with his head hung low.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw a young disciple standing outside. The disciple was momentarily startled upon seeing Jiang Yang, then cupped his hands respectfully. “Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang. I came to report to Sect Master—there’s a letter from a carrier pigeon.”

“Bring it in.” Shu Qi’s voice came from behind.

Jiang Yang took the small bamboo tube and respectfully handed it to Shu Qi. “Master, please take a look.”

Shu Qi expressionlessly accepted the bamboo tube, pulled out the letter, and unfolded it. He glanced over it casually at first, but suddenly, his gaze froze. His expression turned grave, and he reread the letter from beginning to end—twice.

Jiang Yang noticed Shu Qi’s face had changed drastically in an instant, and asked in confusion: “Master, has something serious happened?”

“Go and summon Ji Qinghe.” Shu Qi said with a frosty tone, each word wrapped in ice. “Tell him I have an urgent matter to discuss with him, and he must come immediately.”

The carriage had been moving for half a day. Shu Wan, having not paid attention to rest the day before, remained drowsy the entire time. She had fallen asleep in a rather ungraceful manner—arms wrapped around Yi Chenlan’s waist, cheek pressed against his chest, her rosy lips slightly parted, exuding a look of tender innocence.

Yi Chenlan gently stroked her hair, the smile at his lips serene and content.

“Clunk—”

The carriage suddenly jolted violently and came to a halt. Shu Wan was immediately shaken awake. She sat up abruptly, dazed with the typical confusion of someone roused from sleep. “What’s going on, what happened?”

“It’s nothing, the carriage just hit a bump.” Yi Chenlan quickly moved to shield her head, preventing Shu Wan from hitting it and getting a bump. “Why are you being so clumsy? Be more careful.”

Shu Wan heard the thud as Yi Chenlan’s hand struck the carriage wall and, still half-asleep, reached out and gently held his hand, rubbing it. “Mmm… Senior Brother Ah Lan, I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”

Yi Chenlan had not expected such a gesture. As her soft little hands massaged his, his arm from palm to forearm went stiff. But despite the stiffness, he couldn’t help but laugh softly. “It’s not that hand. It’s this one.”

He extended his other hand toward her.

“Oh…” Shu Wan, still not quite awake, obediently let go of the first hand and gently rubbed the one he offered.

“Apologies, Young Master, Young Lady.” came Shen Ba’s voice from outside, raised to be heard through the carriage walls. “The wheel hit a stone just now and is now damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, we’re not far from Yunzhou. Please step out of the carriage, it won’t be a long walk.”

Yi Chenlan’s gaze sharpened as he looked toward the curtain at the front of the carriage. Whenever his expression went blank, his eyes always took on a hint of chill. Shu Wan had now awakened more fully. Noticing the change in Yi Chenlan’s demeanor, she was about to ask when Yi Chenlan raised his index finger to his lips.

In the very next moment, Yi Chenlan moved with lightning speed and stuffed a red pill into her mouth. The action was so sudden that she had no time to react, and with a gulp, she swallowed it down.

After swallowing, Shu Wan saw the small porcelain bottle in Yi Chenlan’s hand and immediately recognized it. Her heart nearly leapt from her chest in distress—that was the Zhù Tiān Pill! There were only three in the entire world! She wasn’t sick or injured—why on earth would Senior Brother Ah Lan feed her something like that?!

Th-this was… such a waste! Such a waste!

Shu Wan was filled with grief but had no tears to shed. With eyes full of grievance and quiet reproach, she looked at Yi Chenlan—So it was true what Brother Ge Qing said. Boys really aren’t as good at being frugal as girls.

At that moment, Shen Ba’s voice came again from outside. “Uh… this servant failed to do his duty properly. I ask Young Master and Young Lady for forgiveness. Please get out of the carriage, the vehicle is completely broken and can no longer continue.”

Yi Chenlan gave a faint smile, though his eyes were ice-cold. “If we get out, will you put away the poison in your hand?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, and a cloud of white mist rushed inward. Shen Ba’s claw-shaped hand tore through the fog and lunged toward the inside of the carriage—

Only to be caught by Yi Chenlan in an instant.

Shu Wan reacted just as quickly. Without a second thought, she struck Shen Ba in the chest with a palm. Violent Blazing Sun True Qi burst forth and sent Shen Ba flying!

“Senior Brother Ah Lan, are you all right?” Shu Wan looked at Yi Chenlan in concern.

“I’m fine.” Yi Chenlan rubbed his fingers. “Let’s go down and take a look.”

Shu Wan stepped out of the carriage and saw Shen Ba lying on the ground, coughing dryly with blood at the corner of his mouth. She stared in confusion and suspicion. “Isn’t he one of Brother Ge’s people? How could…”

Had he deceived Brother Ge Qing? Or had Brother Ge Qing deceived them?

“He’s most likely not the real Shen Ba. That’s a fake skin on his face.” Yi Chenlan examined him carefully. “Someone as meticulous as Ge Qing would never leave such a careless man in charge. He probably doesn’t know Shen Ba was replaced.”

“Didn’t expect that—you’ve got a sharp eye.” the man coughed violently twice and slowly got up from the ground. “That’s right, I’m no Shen Ba or Shen Jiu. I am the ‘Thousand-Faced Poison Saint,’ Fang Nandan!”

As soon as he made the declaration, both Shu Wan and Yi Chenlan fell into simultaneous silence.

Thousand-Faced Poison Saint? Fang Nandan?  

They’d encountered the Thousand-Faced Poison Saint this soon?

Shu Wan’s brow twitched as she stared, dumbfounded, at Fang Nandan. Then she looked blankly at Yi Chenlan, feeling as though the plot was once again taking a wildly unexpected turn.