Chapter 19: Never Fail This Life

There’s no such thing as guarding against a thief for a thousand days.

The enigmatic Scholar in Long Robes earlier was able to accurately state critical information such as the number of guards and that only Ding Suian had just entered the Manifesting Elemental State.

Clearly, there was internal intelligence.

If Ding Suian hadn’t made preparations in advance, Jintai Temple would have been their burial ground tonight.

It hardly needed analysis; it was highly probable that Madam Wu was behind it.

This old woman was like a venomous snake lurking at one’s feet, disguised with a facade of kindness and benevolence. Not only was she dangerous, but she also couldn’t be easily dealt with.

If she were allowed to continue, they would fall into her trap at some unknown time.

Taking advantage of tonight’s chaos to finish the job once and for all was the optimal solution.

Lin Hansu could make the same judgment in a very short time, which showed a good alignment with Ding Suian’s worldview.

Outside, there was a commotion; it seemed Wang Xigui and the others had returned with a captive.

“Are you not hurt?” Ding Suian asked softly, seeing Lin Hansu covered in blood.

“No… no.”

It was her first time doing such a thing, and Lin Hansu was emotionally stirred, appearing a bit dazed.

Ding Suian then instructed, “Princess Consort and both Aunts, coordinate your statements. If anyone questions you tomorrow, the accounts must be consistent. If they ask too many details, just say you were too scared at the time and can’t remember the specifics.”

Nannies Xu and Zhang nodded repeatedly, while Lin Hansu’s Phoenix eyes remained fixed on Ding Suian.

“Very well, I’ll go out and see.”

Ding Suian turned, and before he could open the door, the dazed Lin Hansu suddenly called out softly, “Young Master~”

“Hmm?”

“This life~” Lin Hansu smiled brightly at Ding Suian, “Young Master, I will never fail you in this life!”

Her snow-white face was dotted with specks of blood, her smile like the rosy tip of a ripe peach.

Sweet and juicy.

In the adjacent courtyard, Ruan Guofan offered a piece of venison with the hand that had just killed someone.

“I’m not hungry.”

Ding Suian stared at the other’s bulbous nose for a long time before shaking his head and refusing.

Tonight, the other party disguised himself as a traveling merchant ‘coincidentally’ seeking lodging, which was naturally the result of Ding Suian’s prior contact.

Even so, he was still full of doubts, but he began his questions by addressing Ruan Guofan’s appearance, “Uncle, who altered your appearance? There isn’t a trace of makeup visible.”

Ruan Guofan put the venison in his hand into his mouth, “It’s just a minor trick of the Shadow Division to deceive others; I’ll teach you later.”

Ding Suian had been considerably shocked tonight.

For over ten years, his radius of activity had not exceeded fifty li from Chilao Alley in Central Heaven City. Before coming to Lanyang Prefecture, he hadn’t even left the City many times.

When he was young, on cool summer nights, the neighborhood Uncles would often tell stories about various profound Divine Abilities of the Rites Sect, Buddhism, and Daoism. However, the storytellers themselves had heard them from others, and repeated retellings inevitably distorted them, so the listeners mostly treated them as tales of fox spirits and monsters.

Witnessing the Goatee gather lightning in his palm and the Scholar in Long Robes seize a soul with a single word tonight, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of insignificance, as if he had ‘lived for over ten years but only understood a tiny fraction of this world’.

Ding Suian probed, “Is that colleague with the Goatee a Daoist?”

Inquiring about a Shadow Division colleague’s background was slightly taboo. Ruan Guofan raised his eyelids and glanced at Ding Suian. He neither reprimanded nor answered, instead asking, “Do you know who that Scholar in Long Robes was?”

Ding Suian shook his head, “No idea.”

Ruan Guofan slowly wiped the grease from his hands with a handkerchief, then pulled out a ‘Wanted Shadow Image’ from his In my arms.

A Wanted Shadow Image was similar to a wanted poster, with a detailed portrait and text below explaining the person’s background.

‘The Third Place Scholar Li, Jiangbei Bandit.

Autumn of Orthodox Year 44, robbed and killed seven merchants. Spring of Orthodox Year 45.’

Ding Suian didn’t finish reading the list of his crimes; he wasn’t concerned with those. “Uncle, his strange methods…”

“How can Divine Abilities of the State Religion be described as’strange’?”

“State Religion? Is he a member of the Rites Sect?”

The Rites Sect enjoyed high prestige and a strong presence among the common people of Great Wu. Whenever famine struck, the Rites Sect would provide gruel; whenever epidemics occurred, the Rites Sect would distribute medicine.

Furthermore, all court ceremonies and sacrifices were presided over by the Rites Sect. With official endorsement, the Rites Sect was not only seen as the Incarnation of saving the world and its people in the hearts of the populace but was also endowed with special divinity.

Ruan Guofan nodded, then shook his head. “Followers of the State Religion are spread throughout Great Wu. The Third Place Scholar Li may have stolen one or two Divine Abilities from the State Religion, but he is not necessarily a Cultivator of the State Religion.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The Divine Ability of the State Religion he used just now is called ‘Indoctrination’. It is said to be able to borrow the power of the Heavenly Dao to command actions and control people’s minds.”

“What is the Heavenly Dao?”

“…” This question clearly stumped Ruan Guofan. He glanced at Ding Suian and answered evasively, “The Third Place Scholar Li clearly only learned the superficial aspects. The Indoctrination Divine Ability he used could only last for two or three breaths and had a range of no more than three or four zhang. Look at this…”

Ruan Guofan tossed over a semi-circular thin copper shell. Ding Suian caught it and examined it carefully, sniffing it closely. There was a faint foul odor. “Is this the yellow smoke pellet The Third Place Scholar Li threw earlier?”

“Yes. The pellet contained Soul-Losing Incense, and perhaps other mind-confusing drugs that I haven’t identified yet. The Third Place Scholar Li probably knew his skill was not refined, which is why he specifically used this item to enhance the power of his Divine Ability.”

“Uncle, why were you all fine just now?”

“The Astral Realm allows one to hold their breath and focus their spirit. But ultimately, it’s because The Third Place Scholar Li’s skill is unrefined; if a true Cultivator of the State Religion had acted, I wouldn’t have been able to resist.” At this point, Ruan Guofan looked at Ding Suian with a half-smile, “When The Third Place Scholar Li chanted ‘A gentleman does not contend’ just now, did you suddenly feel utterly bewildered and that life was bland and meaningless?”

“.”

Ding Suian instantly remembered the sudden sharp pain in his glabella. He did have a brief headache for a few breaths, but ‘utterly bewildered and that life was bland and meaningless’? What was that about?

He had endured for eighteen years, finally reaching an age where things were looking up, his blade yet untried, filled with hope for the future. How could he feel that life was bland and meaningless?

But after a moment’s thought, Ding Suian said, “Yes.”

“Chief Officer, it’s done.”

The Goatee’s voice came from outside. Ruan Guofan stood up and brushed off the snow and mud lightly clinging to his clothes. “Alright, we’ll be leaving now.”

He had the dashing air of someone who finishes a task, brushes off his clothes, and hides his achievements and fame.

“Nephew knows Uncle finds it inconvenient to show his face, but tonight, the bandits and grunts all saw Uncle make a move. This major case tonight will certainly not be hidden from the Lanyang Prefecture Yamen; they’ll know after a brief interrogation that there were more than just the five of us from An Squad…”

“Instruct your subordinates not to speak carelessly, and those few grunts should all be killed. As for the Yamen…”

Ruan Guofan paused, then continued, “Since I was here tonight, it indicates that our West Yamen has intervened in this matter. The day after tomorrow, our people will go to the Lanyang Prefecture Yamen to take over the case…”

“No, they must be interrogated.”

Ding Suian was certain that the bandits were involved with The Du Family.

It would be best to first obtain evidence of The Du Family colluding with bandits. Once they entered the Yamen prison, with The Du Family’s influence in City, killing them to silence them would be almost a given.

That’s why Ding Suian had called out ‘keep them alive’ earlier.

“I’ve already asked them for you; they know nothing, only that everyone staying at Jintai Temple tonight was to be killed.”

“Killed everyone?” Ding Suian was surprised.

“Yes, everyone.”

Ruan Guofan saw through the former’s thoughts and continued, “Not a single survivor, including Madam Wu. Even if you hand them over to Li Fengrao, it won’t be linked to The Du Family.”

“.” Ding Suian for a moment doubted his own judgment. Could it really be unrelated to The Du Family?

“If all of you had died here tonight, no one could have suspected The Du Brothers again.” Ruan Guofan said meaningfully, “Don’t underestimate a Prince’s Mansion’s forty-plus years of operation in an area, nor underestimate the determination of parents to scheme for their children and grandchildren. Although you are safe for now, you have repeatedly thwarted Madam Wu’s plans. In the future, she will surely first find a way to eliminate you, then move against the Princess Consort of Lanyang.”

‘Don’t underestimate a Prince’s Mansion’s forty-plus years of operation’ refers to the hidden power of the Prince’s Mansion. For example, secretly raising, or even personally cultivating, a group of fierce bandits to do illicit things for them.

‘Don’t underestimate parents scheming for their children and grandchildren’ means that Madam Wu is very likely prepared to use her own life to clear her descendants of suspicion.

Ding Suian’s expression hardened, and he cupped his fists, saying, “I forgot to tell Uncle, earlier when the bandits broke into the next room, nephew was too late to rescue them. The Old Side Consort and the old woman Li both died at the hands of the bandits.”

“Ah? Oh~” Ruan Guofan’s drawn-out final syllable, he stared at Ding Suian with a playful expression for a few breaths, then suddenly burst out laughing.

Thanks to book friend: z for the reward~

Welcome to the new book, great master ‘Clever Old Chen’!