After Shen Fengyu’s arrest, Shen Suining immediately mobilized the Thousand Machine Pavilion of Shuyu Villa, conducting an all-out search for Sheng Qingge’s whereabouts.
Injured and fleeing for her life, Sheng Qingge had been constantly changing disguises along the way while dealing with several groups of pursuers. Utterly exhausted, she was finally tracked down by Shen Suining after two full days of horseback pursuit, when discarded clothing and bloodstains were discovered in a pine forest.
Following the trail of blood, Shen Suining eventually found Sheng Qingge leaning against a massive rock.
Dressed in plain white cloth, Sheng Qingge’s left shoulder was stained red with blood. Though traces of disarray marked her face, they did nothing to diminish her reputation as the foremost beauty of Jiangnan. For such beauty, some would willingly commit murder and arson.
Shen Suining dismounted and approached Sheng Qingge.
Today she wore no disguise, clad in white robes draped with a warm black fox fur cloak. A blue mask covered her face, revealing only the lower half. Even with just this partial view, the contours of Shen Suining’s cheeks were clearly visible – smooth and translucent as jade fat, flawless in every aspect, unmistakably revealing an incomparable beauty.
Sheng Qingge looked up and froze momentarily before laughing: “I never imagined Hall Master Shen’s true appearance would be so sweet and charming. Had you revealed your real face earlier, I suspect the title of Jiangnan’s foremost beauty would have been yours.”
“I promised Qianchun Fang I wouldn’t disguise myself during your pursuit,” Shen Suining stated calmly.
Besides Chen Shilin, Shen Suining had also approached several managers of Qianchun Fang to buy time. Song Sanniang’s unexpected death had rarely united them in common cause. Unafraid of offending Shuyu Villa, it took Shen Suining repeated persuasion before they finally relented, agreeing not to pressure Chen Shilin until she brought back the true culprit. The condition was that Shen Suining must cooperate with Qianchun Fang’s people during the hunt and remain unmasked throughout.
The reason was simple: members of Bifeng Hall were all highly skilled and masters of disguise. Without this requirement, they could easily escape.
To successfully rescue Shen Fengyu, Shen Suining readily agreed, using only the mask to conceal her true features.
“Aren’t you afraid that after seeing your face, I might cause trouble for you later?”
Shen Suining leaned slightly forward, looking down at Sheng Qingge like prey awaiting slaughter, and softly replied: “That depends on whether you’ll live long enough.”
With these words, Shen Suining struck Sheng Qingge with her palm. Unable to resist, Sheng Qingge took the full force, vomiting blood before collapsing in the snow.
“I didn’t have to do this,” Shen Suining half-knelt before Sheng Qingge, lifting her face with a cold gaze. “But you killed Song Sanniang, framed me, and caused my subordinate to suffer unjust imprisonment. I’ve always been narrow-minded – since you showed no mercy, I can’t be bothered pretending to be virtuous.”
Sheng Qingge laughed bitterly.
With difficulty, she spoke: “I intended to use Song Sanniang’s death to turn Qianchun Fang and Shuyu Villa against each other. But I never expected the ever-decisive Hall Master Shen would humble herself for a mere subordinate, begging Qianchun Fang’s people… cough cough cough!”
“Watch your wording.” Shen Suining tightened her grip, forcibly cutting off Sheng Qingge’s words.
Choking on blood, Sheng Qingge coughed until her eyes turned red.
The blood flowed onto Shen Suining’s hand. She released Sheng Qingge, took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands clean, and asked, “So why did you kill Song Sanniang? Just to turn Qianchun Workshop against me?”
Sheng Qingge caught her breath and replied self-mockingly, “I hadn’t planned to kill her. But that day, while hiding in her room, I overheard your conversation.”
Shen Suining froze momentarily, quickly recalling what she had discussed with Song Sanniang that day.
“Song Sanniang was too sentimental. I knew she had been close to Shuyu Villa in her early years and feared she might betray me out of pity for you,” Sheng Qingge lifted her face, tears welling in her eyes. “Everyone wants me dead. Song Sanniang was my only chance to survive. Since even she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t betray me, I thought it better to kill her outright.”
“You’re insane.”
“What’s wrong with wanting to live!”
Sheng Qingge roared, then after a moment, let out a desolate laugh. “I was born as lowly as an ant, my wretched life worthless from the start. Yet I naively believed that even a pile of mud like me could be cherished and protected by someone. I entrusted my future and my life to him, only for him to trade me away for wealth and status, making me a plaything for those vile nobles to enjoy! I endured their commands and humiliations, and in the end, all I want is to live! I just want to live! What is so wrong with that!”
“The person you speak of—is it Princess Biyue’s consort?”
“Yes, him! Gu Wenlang!” Sheng Qingge spat out the name through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with hatred and a hint of schadenfreude as she sneered, “He trampled on me to marry the princess, only to be trampled by her in the end! It’s all karma!”
Shen Suining fell silent.
Over the years, for her missions, she had often disguised herself as a man to gather intelligence in various pleasure houses. Having met many people, she understood how precious a fleeting romance could be for women trapped in such circumstances.
She had seen too many women with no control over their lives, yearning for even a sliver of warmth in love and being loved during those cold, endless nights. That borrowed warmth might be the only hope sustaining them through their long, sorrowful lives.
Yet for most of them, that hope remained nothing but an illusion—a fleeting dream.
Shen Suining sighed softly. After a long pause, she finally spoke again, “Then do you know who wants you dead? The princess? Or the consort?”
“Too many,” Sheng Qingge repeated with a low laugh. “I know too much. They all want me dead.”
Just as Shen Suining was about to press further, several hidden arrows shot from above, aimed directly at Sheng Qingge’s vital spots.
With quick reflexes, Shen Suining shoved Sheng Qingge aside and looked up toward the heights.
The dense pine needles, weighed down by accumulated snow, made it impossible to see where the assailants were hiding.
Cursing under her breath, Shen Suining lifted Sheng Qingge from the ground, slung her over the horse, mounted it herself, and galloped back.
“They’re here to kill me.”
“I’m not blind. I can see that,” Shen Suining retorted irritably. “Hold on. If you die before we reach the magistrate’s office, I’ll chop you into mincemeat and feed you to the fish!”
Sheng Qingge: “…”
The pursuers in the trees, seeing Sheng Qingge being rescued, gave chase immediately, causing snow to cascade noisily from the pine branches onto the ground.
With the enemy lurking in the shadows and intent on taking Sheng Qingge’s life, Shen Suining wasn’t entirely confident she could both fend them off and ensure Sheng Qingge’s survival.
Just then, two horses came galloping toward them.
Recognizing the riders, Shen Suining gritted her teeth. Though reluctant, she hoisted Sheng Qingge and tossed her toward them, then turned to pursue the figure in the trees.
“……” Already wounded, Sheng Qingge felt the world spin and nearly lost consciousness.
Jiang Yuchu reacted swiftly, leaping up to catch her.
“Young master, it’s Sheng Qingge!” Jiang Yuchu checked her breathing. “She’s alive.”
He Hansheng breathed a slight sigh of relief. “Take her back and hand her over to Chen Shilin.” With that, he spurred his horse and rode off without a backward glance, heading deep into the pine forest.
Freed from the burden of Sheng Qingge, Shen Suining rode much faster and soon forced the figure in the trees to reveal themselves.
Releasing the reins, Shen Suining drew a long whip from her sleeve, then used the horse’s back as a springboard to leap into the air. Her whip shot out, coiling precisely around the figure’s ankle.
Landing steadily back in the saddle, Shen Suining yanked the whip taut. The figure was violently dragged down by the horse’s momentum, tumbling several times through the snow behind her with pained cries.
But quickly, the assailant pulled out a blade, cut the whip, and seized the chance to strike at Shen Suining’s back. He Hansheng, close behind, launched a flying kick that sent the attacker sprawling several yards away, crashing hard against a tree trunk.
Remembering the ambush at Qianchun Fang that day, Shen Suining shot He Hansheng a dark look. “Busybody!”
He Hansheng was baffled but unruffled, retorting coolly, “Just doing my duty. Why so upset, Cuihua?”
The nickname only stoked her anger. She aimed a side kick at him. “Move!”
He Hansheng held his ground, and after a few exchanges, they realized the figure under the tree had vanished.
Shen Suining’s fury now turned fully on He Hansheng.
Not wanting a prolonged fight, He Hansheng retreated a few steps to evade her attacks, then mounted his horse and rode after the escapee.
Shen Suining leaped onto her horse as well.
The two galloped through the pine forest, one chasing the other, their scuffle shaking snow from the branches all along the way.
He Hansheng focused on defense. Seeing Shen Suining closing in on his prized steed, he couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. “You’re chasing me to fight—on my own blood-sweating horse, no less—and you’ll sulk if you lose.”
“Then have it back!” Shen Suining launched into a flying kick, forcing He Hansheng to leap from his saddle.
She seized his horse, while He Hansheng landed astride the blood-sweating horse she had been riding.
Now on the swift blood-sweating horse, He Hansheng quickly outpaced Shen Suining, leaving her far behind.
After pursuing for most of the day with no sign of He Hansheng, Shen Suining punched the air in frustration, then turned her horse to track the escaped assailant.
Reasoning that the killer, having come for a life, wouldn’t give up easily, she guessed they would head in the direction Jiang Yuchu had taken.
If Sheng Qingge couldn’t provide answers, capturing the assassin would reveal who was behind the attempt on her life.
Shen Suining rode hard until she came upon a dilapidated, abandoned temple.
A bonfire was lit inside the temple, with cooking smoke drifting out, as if someone had just entered.
Shen Suining dismounted from her horse, gripping her sleeve dagger in her palm as she stepped inside. Sure enough, she saw the assassin from earlier leaning breathlessly against the base of the Guanyin statue, glaring at her with resentful eyes.
“Four legs chasing my two legs—how dishonorable,” Zhu Wuyan gasped, still struggling to catch his breath, his voice weak.
Shen Suining strode forward and punched Zhu Wuyan in the face.
“Ouch!” Zhu Wuyan cried out in pain, clutching his face as he collapsed to the ground. “Killing in front of Guanyin will bring retribution!”
“Whether I face retribution or not remains to be seen, but yours has certainly arrived,” Shen Suining sneered, landing another punch before pressing her foot down on his shoulder and leaning in mockingly. “Your martial arts aren’t much to speak of. Relying on your mediocre lightness skill, you’ve been skulking in the shadows for so long. What trick are you trying to pull now? Hmm?”
Zhu Wuyan tilted his head back and chuckled, seemingly amused. “To be trampled by Hall Master Shen’s jade foot—I could die content.”
“Stop disgusting me!” Shen Suining stomped on his mouth. “Speak! Which sect are you from? What’s your name? Who sent you to kill Sheng Qingge?”
With his mouth blocked, Zhu Wuyan could only emit muffled grunts and groans.
Disgusted, Shen Suining released him, vigorously scraping the tip of her boot on the ground.
Zhu Wuyan lay on his back, spitting out the debris from his mouth as if enjoying himself. “I belong to no sect—just a wandering idler in the martial world. As for who sent me to kill Sheng Qingge… Hall Master Shen, you can’t just flaunt your prestigious martial background and break the rules, can you?”
“I have no interest in your employer. I just don’t want to end up tangled in unnecessary trouble. When navigating the martial world, caution is never misplaced.”
“Then Hall Master Shen need not ask further. This matter has nothing to do with Shuyu Villa,” Zhu Wuyan propped himself up halfway, looking at Shen Suining. “Sheng Qingge merely provoked someone she shouldn’t have and stumbled upon secrets she wasn’t meant to know. Someone is desperate to silence her, which is why they hastily turned to the usually cautious Shuyu Villa. Otherwise, Sheng Qingge and Shuyu Villa would have no connection whatsoever.”
“By ‘someone she shouldn’t have provoked,’ do you mean Princess Biyue, her consort, or some other powerful figure in the capital?”
Zhu Wuyan protested with three exasperated “Hey!”s. “Isn’t this unreasonable? Why must you pry into matters that don’t concern you?”
His words aligned roughly with what Song Sanniang had said, but Shen Suining felt the situation couldn’t be that simple. After all, three chests of gold had been carried straight through the villa’s gates. If this person had no prior dealings with Shuyu Villa, how could he be so familiar with the process?
After a moment of contemplation, Shen Suining spoke again: “Shuyu Villa has no intention of interfering in your transaction. It’s just that Sheng Qingge cannot be killed yet. Once she secures the release of my people from prison, Shuyu Villa will withdraw entirely from this affair.”
“Hall Master Shen, are you joking with me? If Sheng Qingge ends up in government custody, wouldn’t my efforts over the past weeks be in vain?”
Zhu Wuyan climbed to his feet, dusting off his clothes. “Alright, I understand—Hall Master Shen is stalling to ensure Sheng Qingge is safely delivered to Suzhou. Thinking about it, you and I are somewhat in sync.”
Shen Suining instantly grew wary. “What do you mean by that?”
“By my calculations, the drug in Hall Master Shen’s system should be taking effect now,” Zhu Wuyan glanced toward the nearby bonfire. “I’m aware ordinary medicines have little effect on Hall Master Shen. This dose of ‘Rouge Calamity’ is my welcoming gift to you – guaranteed to make Hall Master Shen thoroughly enjoy it.”
Shen Suining’s entire body stiffened, immediately feeling scorching heat spreading through his limbs as if countless ants were gnawing at him, while his heartbeat accelerated abruptly.
The sound of horses came from outside. Hearing this, Zhu Wuyan revealed a satisfied smile and patted Shen Suining’s shoulder. “Hall Master Shen, no need to thank me!”
Having said this, Zhu Wuyan burst through the roof and disappeared.
Author’s Note:
Updating according to the schedule this week, with three chapters total. The next chapter will be updated at 0:00 on the 18th. Come early, everyone (you know what I mean).