Book 15: Chapter 34

How Can Somewhere Without Joy Be Better than the Imperial Household?

Bai Lian sounded sure and believed my deduction was reasonable. s.h.i.+fu did mention he had no other disciples, but he had a decently-skilled, sly, unscrupulous, and unreliable nephew, she said before giving me a glance and carefully asking, What do you think?

Dont say it out loud if youre worried about my feelings! Whats with that I just happened to find the right answer and what to brag about it look?! Is that what you think of me?! Dont act innocent! You got more and more into it as you spoke about it!

Thats too little information to tell, right?

Bai Lian wagged her small hand and then calmly, surely, and smugly, replied, He also said his nephew is ugly.

Okay, thats not my uncle.

Eh? He also mentioned he has a senior whos incredibly handsome, heads and shoulders above anyone else in martial arts, unbelievably smart, incredibly popular with women, and rich. He also said his senior travels a lot, and is smooth and slick. Doesnt that sound like your s.h.i.+fu?

Stop! Stop digging! Thats called irrefutable evidence, okay?! What did my appearance have anything to do with it?! How did my s.h.i.+fu not come to mind first when you know so many details! Why did an ugly nephew come to mind first?! That wasnt a deduction; I was the first person you thought of when you thought about ugly, wasnt I?!

Why would I have thought of you first when there are thousands upon thousands of ugly people in the world? The two traits were ugly and knew martial arts. I wouldnt have thought of you if I didnt combine them.

You still shouldnt have thought of me if you combined them! By your logic, Im the ugliest freak in the martial world, arent I?!

Dont act like you just realised it! You might as well outright nod!

Mm, mm, your description matches my s.h.i.+fu in every way, especially him aiding people even when he is indifferent to all affairs. He also mentioned he used to be a fiery character but calmed down as he aged, eventually becoming the man he is now.

Shes acting like she forgot about all the insults directed at me. Is disparaging me as natural as breathing to her, and so confirmation is needless? Or would it be more accurate to say hitting me would be more natural to her?

Why are you s.p.a.cing out when youre the one who asked me to think? Bai Lian clocked me over the head.

I knew it. She wanted to hit me.

If youre truly my uncles disciple, doesnt that make me

Bai Lian froze for a second, then curled her lips when she caught up to my thoughts. Youre not my senior brother! I refuse!

Whats this? Do I have myself a tsundere junior sister all of a sudden?

Mount Daluo had very few female disciples. Though we had branch female disciples, we werent exactly close. The closest we were was addressing each other by name. I always thought it was uncharacteristic of s.h.i.+fu to not have any female disciples besides Xiaer, but I eventually understood it wouldve been too hard to commit crimes of indecency under my s.h.i.+niangs watchful eyes. Of course, they couldve forbade him from taking on female disciples, as well.

Xiaer was basically a younger sister to me. Young s.h.i.+yi was the only other girl I took care of, so I never had any female juniors call me Senior Brother. Moreover, Bai Lians voice was sweet, so I was really curious how itd feel.

I refuse! Bai Lian pre-emptively struck before I could even say anything. Are you some sort of pervert?! You want to hear me call you I refuse! Lord Zi, we are leaving!

I wanted to talk a while longer, but it was getting late.

Uncle Wushan was the most similar to s.h.i.+fu in his generation in the sense that he always surprised you with his decisions. It was unlikely he would hide his disciple from s.h.i.+fu considering how much he respected s.h.i.+fu. Moreover, what he taught Bai Lian couldnt have been something he spontaneously created; it was clear that it was bespoke. I had a suspicion that not even Uncle Wushan himself fully grasped what he taught her.

I had a feeling that Bai Lians internal disciplines mental cultivation was familiar, but I couldnt form a skeleton of it. My only option was to ask Uncle Wushang myself when I saw him again. It was just that several weird things that cropped up recently all involved Mount Daluo, which made me feel uneasy. The moon and stars in the north were hard to see, making me feel even more uneasy.

s.h.i.+fu! Im done training! Lord Zi came over to bid me farewell.

Lord Zi was drenched in sweat. After all, he a.s.siduously trained the entire time I conversed with Bai Lian. Bai Lian wanted to change his clothes for him, but the kid, with red cheeks, shook his head and proclaimed he was old enough to change by himself and forbade her from looking.

s.h.i.+fu, I have to go now. I will visit you again.

Imitating the respectable teachers out there, I nodded. Remember what you practiced today?

I do! I am just not very fluid yet. I will show you my progress next time!

You dont need to show me. I wont even remember them by then.

Lord Zi, it is cold at night. Drape this on.

Since Bai Lian didnt strip him, Zizi obeyed. s.h.i.+fu, when will I get to see you again?

If you want to see me, just come to Liu Shan Men.

s.h.i.+fu!

Zizi!

This is preposterous. You think anyone can be a Princes teacher? If youre not worried His Majesty will punish you, agree a few more times.

I didnt thoughtlessly agree. I took out the imperial decree I had in my s.h.i.+rt and waved it around in front of Bai Lian.

His Majesty is instating you as a Princes teacher?! Bai Lian lowered the decree. What can you teach? Besides having somewhat decent internal energy, what else can you teach? she asked, then pointed to Lord Zi.

Lord Zi didnt like what he heard, but he didnt want to argue with his favourite sister, so he pouted his lips, inwardly promising himself to practice diligently and show her how good his s.h.i.+fu was.

I couldnt be bothered arguing, either, so I smiled it off. His Majesty is willing to trust me, though. What can I do?

You better tread carefully. None of the Princes are people you want to be on the bad side of.

Bai Lians knitted brows indicated she knew about the Princes ways. I shouldve expected as much from the general manager of the inner palace.

Im still alive. Relax.

The a.s.sa.s.sin is still alive, too.

After I filled Bai Lian in on Blue Princes a.s.sa.s.sination attempt, she exclaimed, Feng Qizhi?! Hes one of Feng Clans best swordsmen. Are you all right?

If hes one of their best, then may heaven have mercy on them. Hes just an overgrown idiot. He was easy work.

By Bai Lians standards, we had through a crisis together. Therefore, she was familiar with my ways and level.

Dont go thinking thatll be enough to deal with them. They dont necessarily have to hire someone famous. What if they unknown faces?

Uh, I think I killed a few of them?

What if they hire a group to attack you in waves?

Wawa turned one into her maid. Uncle Huang gave earfuls to a group of them.

What if they poison your food or some other voodoo methods?

Oh, I know to be wary about that! Ive quit tangyuan!

Theres also League of a.s.sa.s.sins.

Nah, Im more professional than they are. One of them is stuck with fermented vegetables right now. He wont be a threat.

What if a highly-skilled adept comes for you?

Thats why I recruited one to take care of administrative tasks for me. I think I can return to work soon.

Youre walking a risky tightrope!

I beg to differ.

How about this. Bai Lian pushed Zizi over to me. Why dont you take Lord Zi as your student. Once you have settled on a Prince, the other Princes wont try to a.s.sa.s.sinate you anymore.

I already considered that. Zizi would be a lot less trouble than the other Princes. He was smart and pure. In addition, he was the son of a friend. I just didnt want to use the decree so soon when it was my life insurance, so I refused with a smile.

s.h.i.+fu! Why dont you want me?!

Do I need a decree to teach you martial arts? Just report in.

You have to keep your promise! You have to teach me!

I will. I will. Just come and ask for me.

Bai Lian, still worried to death for me, kept her brows together.

Its getting late. Ill hang out with you two another d-

Wait! Bai Lian paused to think, then declared, I have an idea!

I have a bad feeling about this.

Well move in to Liu Shan Men with you!

I knew my intuition was right!