HSSB58: No Trivial Matter
Hearing that Lin Yushao might have died under the Tushita Palm, Yan Zhaoge actually felt like he saw the sun breaking through the clouds.
Sure, Yan Xu knew that Yan Zhao cultivated in the Tushita Palm. However, Yan Zhaoge likewise knew that Yan Xu, as the Principal Elder of the Eastern Tang, also trained in this martial art.
It was just that Yan Zhaoge felt that the old man shouldn’t have reached the point of being crazy enough to kill Lin Yushao himself simply for the sake of framing him.
Still, even if Yan Xu was not the killer, the framing of Yan Zhaoge and the subsequent spread of rumours had the Elder’s fingerprints all over them.
Lin Yushao’s body had been discovered by Yan Xu’s men and was now in their custody as well. If they wanted to tamper with it, it would be simplicity itself.
But if it hadn’t been Yan Xu’s bunch who killed Lin Yushao, who then was responsible for it?
Instantly, the shadow of a figure flickered through Yan Zhaoge’s mind.
“It shouldn’t be to that extent, right?…” Yan Zhaoge’s eyes narrowed into slits, his gaze turning cold.
“I’d said that I was going to gift you with a beating before handing you over to the clan, but if you really are this crazy, then I’ll just make things easier for myself and send you straight into the cycle of reincarnation.”
Very soon, Ah Hu returned.
Seeing him, Yan Zhaoge immediately asked, “Have you found that brat Ye Jing?”
Ah Hu wrung his big hands a bit dejectedly. “Young Master, I tried my best. I followed every single one of the underground rivers in the surrounding area for over five hundred kilometres.”
“That fellow didn’t leave the underground rivers at all, just letting himself be swept along by them. By the time I had found any traces of him, too much time had already passed.”
“He must’ve left the Luliao Mountains already. With him anywhere between the vast heavens and the broad earth, it would be hard for even me to find him.”
Yan Zhaoge did not blame Ah Hu, and just waved his hand dismissively. “It’s alright that you didn’t manage to find him. After all, the underground rivers extend in all directions from where that icy pool collapsed. I can’t blame you for that.”
“However, don’t stop. Continue the search.”
Once he heard the news about Lin Yushao and the rumours that were being circulated, Ah Hu made a noise through his mouth.
Having at least met Lin Yushao, learning about her death felt unpleasant for him. “Who was the one who acted against Miss Lin so venomously?”
The two walked back towards the vicinity of the crowd.
Ah Hu looked towards Feng Yunsheng with a curious expression on his face.
Feng Yunsheng gave him a graceful wave. Ah Hu was stunned for a moment, and then waved back.
Ah Hu looked over at Yan Zhaoge with a simple laugh. “So, about Young Master and Miss Sikong walking rather close to each other… Young Master, you haven’t had any thoughts in that direction, right?”
“Before entering the Luliao Mountains, I’d never seen you expressing any intentions towards Miss Sikong.”
“Still, since we’re on the topic, Miss Sikong is indeed rather beautiful. Have you ever thought about eating her up, Young Master?”
Yan Zhaoge gave him an impatient look.
“Also, Young Master, where did you abduct such a beautiful young lady from this time around?” Ah Hu snuck around to stand before Yan Zhaoge and stared at Feng Yunsheng through the corner of his eye.
“Have you eaten this one yet?” He asked in a lowered voice.
Yan Zhaoge rolled his eyes as he gave the back of Ah Hu’s head a good rap.
Hugging Little Meaty, the little black pet dog that she kept, Feng Yunsheng turned to look over at them with mock earnestness all over her face.
“I haven’t been eaten up by him yet–I’m still a proper, chaste young lady.”
“Cough, cough.” Ah Hu, who had yet to recover from just having been beaten by Yan Zhaoge, choked on his own saliva and immediately started hacking up a lung.
The corners of Yan Zhaoge’s mouth twitched twice, “A proper, chaste lady discusses this kind of thing with men while remaining so calm and relaxed? And so enthusiastically, at that?”
Feng Yunsheng stroked Little Meaty’s soft fur, saying with complete indifference, “And what should I do instead? Should I put up with men playing around with me till my face turns red and my heart starts racing, then let them try to move in for the kill? Do I just turn tail and run, or maybe grab my knife and start swinging at them?
“Or perhaps I should pretend not to hear their words–pretending that the clouds are light and the wind is gentle. How about I just don’t register anything I hear at all, allow people to talk about me as they like, and let them spit on my face without wiping it off?”
As Yan Zhaoge looked at her, Feng Yunsheng shook her head, “In these two years since I left the clan, I’ve gone to many places, seen many people, and experienced many things.”
“Sometimes I hid in the wilderness, sometimes in cities. In order to avoid the pursuit of Xiao Shen and the others, I’ve even stayed deep within the mountains and forests. Even hiding in marketplaces has happened quite often for me.”
Yan Zhaoge shook his head as he couldn’t resist breaking out into a smile. Looking at Feng Yunsheng, Ah Hu also chortled as he threw her a thumbs-up.
Feng Yunsheng laughed, returning the gesture.
“As for where your Young Master abducted me from–that’s a story of a hero saving a damsel in distress.”
“Young Master displayed his skill in a domineering fashion, beating up two of the Sacred Sun Clan’s Four Rising Suns, thus saving me, this weak little damsel.”
Ah Hu was stunned for a moment, as he swivelled his head over to look at Yan Zhaoge, “Two? Other than Chao Yuanlong…”
“There was also Xiao Shen,” Yan Zhaoge said like it was nothing at all. “For more specific details, you can just ask the others.”
After having finished listening to the story of Yan Zhaoge’s clashes with Chao Yuanlong and Xiao Shen as well as Yan Zhaoge’s breakthrough into the mid outer aura Martial Scholar realm, Ah Hu looked towards Yan Zhaoge with an expression of worship on his face.
“Young Master, you are really too awesome!”
“Stop it with that boot-licking. Even if you want to lick, at least make your expression a little more sincere first–it’s way too fake right now.”
As they conversed, they walked towards the Eastern Tang capital.
However, halfway there, someone suddenly called out to them from behind. It was the Eastern Tang’s Principal Elder Yan Xu.
He was actually not there to collect old debts after Yan Zhaoge had lost him face. Rather, he had also received a message from the East Elder to meet up in the Eastern Tang capital.
Looking at Yan Zhaoge, Yan Xu asked, “The East Elder coming to the Eastern Tang–what is it for?”
Yan Zhaoge said mildly, “Why are you asking me, Elder Yan? I myself am also hurrying to the Eastern Tang capital to go meet with the East Elder.”
Yan Xu’s gaze turned cold and gloomy as he looked Yan Zhaoge up and down. “The Sacred Sun Clan seems rather restless and uneasy these days. I’m afraid the East Elder’s visit has something to do with this matter.”
“There is news that even the main headquarters of the Sacred Sun Clan seems to have been alerted.”
“What have you done exactly, this time?”
Seemingly not affected by Yan Xu’s cold and gloomy gaze at all, Yan Zhaoge replied, “The East Elder must have given you instructions regarding this matter, and I’m sure he did so after heavy considerations of his own. I’m it wouldn’t be very polite of me to just casually put in a few words on top of that.”
The meaning of his words was clear: Whatever you need to know, you’ve naturally been told by the East Elder already. The things you don’t need to know, don’t try to find out about them from me–I have no need to tell you.
Yan Xu looked at Yan Zhaoge expressionlessly, slowly nodding his head, “Very well.”
Earlier, the East Elder had only warned him to be on his guard against the people of the Sacred Sun Clan and to ensure the safety of Yan Zhaoge’s group. Everything else could wait until he had arrived together with Yan Zhaoge in the Eastern Tang Kingdom.
He had specifically emphasized the safety of Yan Zhaoge’s party.
Following this train of thought, Yan Xu’s gaze now fell on Feng Yunsheng.
The only change in Yan Zhaoge’s companions between entering and leaving the Luliao Mountains was her addition.
“When this matter with the East Elder has been settled, there is also another subject that you will have to explain and clarify.” Yan Xu said, ending the conversation.
Yan Zhaoge’s expression didn’t change. “Elder Yan’s concern is much appreciated.”
By the time they set foot into the Eastern Tang Capital of Jingyang City, Broad Creed Mountain’s East Elder, the one responsible for overseeing the East Heaven Region for the clan, had already arrived.
The East Elder was currently waiting for their arrival in the mansion where Yan Xu had originally been stationed.
This was a tall, burly silver-haired old man, who, hale and hearty, didn’t give off the feeling of senility.
As they all entered the great hall, the East Elder’s bright gaze immediately fell on Feng Yunsheng.
After carefully appraising her with a glance, his gaze now fell back on Yan Zhaoge and Yan Xu.
“Zhaoge, carefully explain to me the course of events,” the East Elder said. “The main headquarters of our clan is in an uproar over this matter, and they intend to dispatch people here.”
Hearing this, Yan Xu’s gaze wavered slightly.
Something for which the East Elder was completely unable to call the shots, needing the main headquarters of the clan itself to move?
The trouble that Yan Zhaoge had stirred up this time must truly be no trivial matter indeed.