Chapter 21: You Corrupt Official!
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By noon, Dyer Street had grown quiet, with scarcely a soul in sight.
Ye Jingtang led his horse back toward Twin Osmanthus Alley, pondering all the while how to capture the “Wingless Owl.” The old lanes were hushed; from deep within them came the distant cooing of a bird:
“Coo-coo…”
When he reached the courtyard wall, he rose onto his toes and peered inside. The neat, spotless courtyard now contained several more household items, and the melon trellis in the far corner had been rebuilt.
A beautiful young woman in blue had gathered her skirts above her knees and was crouching beneath the trellis, using a small hoe to dig holes along the wall.
She already possessed a graceful figure, and with her skirts drawn up as she crouched, the slender waist she could have encircled with both hands gave way below to the fullness of a radiant full moon.
Meanwhile, the fluffy white “Winged Owl” busily picked up seeds from the little cloth pouch beside the young woman, hopped over to the holes, and dropped them in. Then it put on a foolish expression as if asking, “Is Birdie being good?” and opened its beak for a treat.
“What are you planting? Bitter melons?”
When Luo Ning saw Ye Jingtang return, she set down the little hoe and came to the courtyard gate, keeping watch on the mouth of the alley.
“How did your inquiry at the Black Office go today?”
She was so wary because Zhe Yunli was not at home. If Luo Ning did not keep an eye on the outside, the moment footsteps sounded, the little thief would certainly drag her indoors.
Ye Jingtang found this rather amusing. He fetched a small stool from the kitchen and sat beneath the eaves.
“Quite smoothly. I met Qiu Tianhe.”
Luo Ning’s guarded expression tightened slightly, suspicion appearing in her eyes. She did not approach.
But after Ye Jingtang described Qiu Tianhe’s appearance, her expression changed to astonishment. She came out beneath the eaves and asked:
“How did you manage to see Qiu Tianhe? Did the Black Office really let you into the dungeon that easily?”
Ye Jingtang placed another small stool beside him.
“I’m a law-abiding citizen with a spotless background and decent swordsmanship. Asking an official for a small favor so I could meet a legendary martial hero—isn’t that perfectly reasonable? What difficulty could there be? Come sit down and talk.”
“…”
Luo Ning glanced at the two stools side by side. After a moment’s hesitation, she came over, moved hers a little farther away, and sat down, letting Birdie perch between them. In a gentle voice, she asked:
“What condition is Qiu Tianhe in?”
“He’s being held on the second underground level of Mingyu Tower. Never mind the iron locks and bars—he’s also been drugged with Weakening-Bone Incense. I doubt he even has the strength to stand. As for rescuing him, you can forget it. Sneaking into that dungeon to break him out would be harder than assassinating Prince Jing directly. I doubt anyone in the world could pull it off.”
Worry appeared between Luo Ning’s brows. “I naturally know the odds are poor. Qiu Tianhe once saved Yunli’s life. If we abandon him, Yunli will be tormented by guilt for the rest of hers. Sigh…”
Ye Jingtang smiled faintly. “That said, it isn’t entirely impossible.”
“Hm?” Surprise flickered in Luo Ning’s eyes. “You have a way to save him?”
Ye Jingtang nodded, but instead of answering directly, he looked her over.
“This is a matter that could cost me my head. Heroine Luo, if you want my help, shouldn’t you show a little sincerity?”
?
Luo Ning straightened slightly and reached for the soft sword at her waist, her eyes turning cold.
“Ye Jingtang, I don’t think you’re bad by nature. That is the only reason I didn’t kill you over what happened last time. But if you fail to recognize your place, grow greedy, and try to use this as leverage…”
Ye Jingtang shook his head. “I have no improper intentions. Just answer a few questions.”
“What questions?”
“Heroine Luo, have you actually married?”
Luo Ning’s lovely face flushed with anger. In a low voice, she replied, “I have! I’ve been married for years. Everyone in the martial world knows it.”
“You don’t even know how to embrace a man, your manner is so inexperienced, and you can’t even cry out properly. How could you possibly have been married? I think you’re still a virgin…”
Shing!
Before he could finish, a gleaming sword was already pointed at his throat.
The vulgar words had turned Luo Ning’s face crimson.
“Married is married! Marriage is about the word ‘affection.’ What does it matter whether we’ve done that sort of thing? If you say anything so filthy again, I’ll cut out your tongue!”
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So she hasn’t done it… She really is a virgin…
Ye Jingtang wore an exceedingly strange expression as he pushed the sword point aside.
“Your husband truly doesn’t know how to appreciate what he has. Could it be that he was injured and is incapable of fulfilling his marital duties?”
Luo Ning thrust the sword back toward him and glared.
“What business is that of yours? Do you think everyone is like you, with nothing but women’s bodies on the brain, believing that every married couple must sleep together? Yunli’s master treats me with far more propriety than you do. She is also better-looking than you and more skilled in martial arts…”
???
Ye Jingtang had no idea where to begin criticizing such outrageous nonsense. After holding it in for a long while, he could only say, utterly baffled:
“Why are you comparing me to your husband? Are you trying to provoke me on purpose and make me jealous?”
Luo Ning opened her mouth, realizing there was something wrong with that statement, and hastily changed the subject.
“Stop saying things that damage both our reputations! What exactly is your way of rescuing Qiu Tianhe?”
Ye Jingtang did not continue bickering with Heroine Luo. Instead, he drew a wanted notice from inside his robe.
“I went to the Black Office today because Prince Jing took a liking to me—apparently on account of my handsome looks and excellent swordsmanship. He wants me to find a chance to learn Qiu Tianhe’s sword technique and teach it to him. Since learning another man’s martial arts naturally creates an obligation, Prince Jing is willing to make an exception and release Qiu Tianhe from the dungeon, allowing him to spend his remaining years in the capital. In exchange, I’ll have to serve the imperial court from now on.”
Luo Ning listened in silence, frowning inwardly. Prince Jing’s condition appeared magnanimous, but was actually deeply cunning.
He wanted Ye Jingtang to learn the sword technique, then serve the court as its inheritor, in exchange for Qiu Tianhe’s release from the dungeon.
Once Ye Jingtang agreed, he and Qiu Tianhe would become bound by a personal obligation.
To prevent Ye Jingtang from being implicated, Qiu Tianhe would never leave the capital for the rest of his life, even without shackles—in effect, a living prisoner.
And if Ye Jingtang valued loyalty and honor, then to keep Qiu Tianhe from the executioner’s block, he would have no choice but to serve the court with all his strength.
With a single condition, Prince Jing would bind two men together completely, paying no price at all. He would even obtain Qiu Tianhe’s sword technique for free…
After pondering for a moment, Luo Ning said coldly:
“These corrupt officials are truly devious… If you agree, won’t you become a lackey of the imperial court?”
Ye Jingtang gave a slight shrug. “I’m a law-abiding citizen. Being valued by the court is an honor. And I’d get to learn an entire sword technique for free. How does that make me a lackey?”
“…”
Luo Ning thought about it and found that he had a point. Ye Jingtang was different from her; he was not a rebel. Accepting these terms did not seem to harm him. But…
“You have extraordinary talent. If you pursue an official career, you’ll always be beneath others. After struggling for half your life, you might at best become some minor official of middling rank. But in the martial world, with your talent and my connections, I can guarantee that you’ll rise swiftly and become a formidable leader of immense influence…”
Looking at Luo Ning as she tried to recruit him, Ye Jingtang asked with a smile:
“Does Heroine Luo actually want to rescue Qiu Tianhe, or do you want me to join you in the martial world?”
I want both…
After a moment’s hesitation, Luo Ning let out a soft sigh.
“Once you take this path, your road through the martial world will be cut off. From then on, the court will use Qiu Tianhe to coerce you and force you to obey. Even if you truly wish to serve the court, you and I barely know each other. Because of Yunli, binding you with Qiu Tianhe’s fate… I cannot accept that without unease.”
Ye Jingtang dragged his stool a little closer.
“If Heroine Luo feels indebted, you can always find a way to make it up to me.”
?
The sentiment that had just risen in Luo Ning’s heart vanished in an instant. Her hand closed around the hilt at her waist, and her eyes turned cold.
“What do you want?”
“I want to learn martial arts. What did you think I meant?”
I thought you wanted me to…
Luo Ning’s expression softened somewhat.
“If you truly are willing to help Yunli rescue Hero Qiu, then I can pass on everything I know to you. But from this day forward, you will be at court and I will remain in the martial world. We will part ways… Sigh.”
She did not finish the thought, but there were countless similar stories in the martial world.
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Men who had once been as close as brothers were forced to cross swords because one was devoted to duty while the other carried the spirit of chivalry within him. Reconciliation could come only after they had both returned to the underworld.
It was undoubtedly the most tragic thing in the martial world. Neither side was in the wrong, yet neither could do anything about it.
Luo Ning had once had such a friend. They had been as close as sisters, but after her friend joined the Heaven-Equaling Cult, they became strangers who would never speak again.
Regardless of what she thought of Ye Jingtang, the two of them now lived beneath the same roof. That in itself was fate. How could she not worry that they might one day fall into the same heartrending predicament?
Ye Jingtang, however, had not thought so far ahead. Seeing Luo Ning sink into melancholy, he consoled her:
“Living together in hardship is not as good as forgetting one another in the martial world. If Heroine Luo can achieve what she desires, and I have a bright future ahead of me, why trouble ourselves over what may happen someday?”
“If one day we meet again in another corner of the martial world, and you have risen to a high position while I am still a thief…”
“Then I hope Heroine Luo will take good care of yourself. If you remain as breathtakingly beautiful as you are today, I certainly won’t be cruel enough to pluck such a lovely flower.”
?
Luo Ning’s melancholy thoughts were completely obliterated by those words. Not being cruel enough to pluck the flower meant coveting her beauty and dragging her back to become a slave or concubine, to be abused and trained at his pleasure.
For a woman of the martial world, that would be worse than death.
Luo Ning’s expression darkened, and she muttered:
“You corrupt official. I would rather die than let you have your way.”
Ye Jingtang laughed twice and did not continue teasing her. Instead, he gestured toward the wanted notice.
“If I want Prince Jing’s approval, I’ll have to complete a task first and prove my ability. Heroine Luo, do you have any idea how to capture the Wingless Owl?”
Luo Ning’s icy gaze softened as she carefully examined the wanted notice.
“The Wingless Owl… He is rather famous. His lightness technique is probably no weaker than mine. With no information to go on and only a wanted notice, how are we supposed to catch him?”
Ye Jingtang was troubled by the matter as well. After thinking for a moment, he said:
“The Wingless Owl stole the Cloud Palace’s manual because he wanted to learn its lightness technique. But after succeeding, he did not lie low and continue stealing in secret. Instead, he proclaimed the deed everywhere and built himself quite a reputation. That means he is like most martial artists—he values fame and does not want to walk through the night in fine clothes, unknown to anyone.”
Luo Ning understood his meaning.
“If he values fame, then he must care about his reputation. Nothing angers people of the martial world more than someone trading on their name to deceive others and ruin their good standing. You could borrow the Wingless Owl’s name, commit some thoroughly disreputable act, and make it as scandalous as possible, stirring up gossip throughout the martial world. The Wingless Owl has been acting discreetly in the capital. Once he hears that someone is impersonating him and making a spectacle of things, he will certainly be displeased…”
Ye Jingtang nodded.
“If I were the Wingless Owl, I would probably investigate after hearing such rumors. Even if I suspected the authorities had set a trap, I would come and see what game the court was playing. As long as he makes a move, I’ll have a chance to catch him.”
Luo Ning felt the plan had a good chance of succeeding and asked:
“You’re quite the sly and devious one. What are you planning to steal to stir up rumors and lure the snake from its hole?”
Ye Jingtang took it entirely as praise and gave a slight shrug.
“Whatever I steal must be valuable, so outsiders will believe I’m the Wingless Owl and spread the story among themselves. Second, the item’s reputation must make the theft sound disgraceful, so the Wingless Owl won’t simply accept the fame and ignore it. Ideally, it should also dispel any suspicion that the authorities are using bait. I’m troubled by that part too. Do you have any good ideas, Heroine Luo?”
Luo Ning seriously considered the matter for a long while before tentatively asking:
“Hmm… The Golden-Threaded Bodice of the Lady Prince?”
What?!
Ye Jingtang froze.
Stealing Prince Jing’s bodice would indeed accomplish everything at once: it would be priceless, give idle tongues plenty to discuss, be too shameful for the Wingless Owl to claim, and clear away suspicion that the authorities had set the bait.
But how was he supposed to get his hands on such a thing? Did he have a death wish?
“What kind of joke is that? Even the Wingless Owl himself couldn’t hope to steal it. If I went there under the pretext of investigating a case and asked to borrow it, Prince Jing would have me flayed alive… Heroine Luo, are you trying to get someone else to kill me?”
Luo Ning knew the absurd suggestion would not do and frowned.
“I’m not a master thief. How would I know what embarrassing object to steal? You’re helping the authorities investigate a case. The authorities should provide something like that. Surely you don’t intend to steal it yourself?”
Ye Jingtang smiled faintly. “Actually, the golden-threaded bodice is an excellent idea. It’s just impossible to borrow… I’ll go ask at the Black Office…”
…
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