Chapter 34: This “thought” is not that “thought,” Lin…

Chapter 34: Not the 'Missing' You'd Expect, Lin...

Lin Ye woke up to find himself in a temporarily rented secluded courtyard. Xue Li, whom he had just found not long ago, was no longer by his side.

He wavered between melancholy and emptiness.

Liang Chen walked in with a bowl of murky herbal medicine and saw the young master sitting wrapped in a quilt, looking a little lonely.

Leaning against the bedside with the quilt in his arms, Lin Ye appeared gaunt and sluggish. He glanced at Liang Chen and asked, "Where’s A Xue?"

Liang Chen coughed awkwardly.

By now, he had roughly figured out the misunderstanding and felt somewhat embarrassed facing Lin Ye’s questioning.

Lin Ye raised a hand to stop him from answering. "Let me sulk for a bit."

Liang Chen: "..."

After moping for a moment, Lin Ye turned back to Liang Chen with a whimper, "Wahh, I miss her!"

Liang Chen: ...You clearly haven’t recovered yet.

--

At this moment, the stars blazed like embers, hanging in the vast Milky Way.

Xue Li, having slipped past the guards and assassins, sneaked over to Lin Ye’s residence. As she attempted to slip in through the window, she encountered Ah Zeng, who was on duty on the roof.

Ah Zeng very much wanted to ask Xue Li what exactly her relationship with his young master was, but before he could, both of them overheard Lin Ye’s complaint to Liang Chen inside the room: "I miss her."

Ah Zeng said nothing.

Xue Li remained composed.

Ah Zeng looked up at the sky—he really didn’t want to understand the lovey-dovey nonsense of the younger generation. But Lin Ye was indeed young, and when Ah Zeng first followed him, he never imagined Lin Ye would get involved with the mysterious "Dong Jun."

"Qin Yueye" was dangerous and enigmatic, and so was Xue Li. Didn’t Lin Ye realize that?

Ah Zeng unsheathed his sword. "We have missions to handle. Since Dong Jun has already left, why seek out my young master again?"

"He’s the one who misses me," Xue Li said, eyeing Ah Zeng’s drawn blade. "Because I left without finishing our conversation."

Ah Zeng's lip curled.

In an instant, Ah Zeng’s demeanor shifted drastically—no longer the silent, nearly invisible shadow he usually was. His aura turned razor-sharp and frigid, surging toward Xue Li like crashing waves.

Xue Li tilted her head slightly, watching the wind slice toward her like knives.

Lin Ye’s side was full of surprises.

This Ah Zeng undoubtedly had his own secrets.

She wasn’t interested, but for the payout, she had to defeat Ah Zeng and go see Lin Ye.

--

Inside the bedroom, Liang Chen was explaining to Lin Ye: "When you suddenly fainted, everyone rushed over to check on you. Dong Jun bolted while she could—no one could stop her."

Liang Chen sighed. "Why did she always wear that veil before? I thought she was too ugly to show her face. If it were me, I’d show off my face all over town, letting everyone see how handsome I am."

Lin Ye remarked, "Now that’s one way to get famous, isn’t it?"

Liang Chen nodded in agreement before realizing Lin Ye was mocking him. He quickly defended himself, "Nonsense! I aim to make my mark and become legendary... I’m not relying on pretty privilege!"

Lin Ye put on a serious act, "If you had the 'peerless beauty' looks like your mother, wouldn’t you really want to take a shortcut?"

The Lus of Jianye—a noble family—was home to the Grand Chancellor’s wife: Liang Chen’s mother, the peerless beauty of the previous generation. Liang Chen, dead-set and eager, refused to ride their coattails, determined to make a name for himself.

Liang Chen snapped, "Only someone as unambitious as you would think that way."

Not wanting to dwell on his roots, Liang Chen quickly changed the subject, "Why do you call her 'A Xue'? You even found out Dong Jun’s real name—why didn’t you tell us? Why did she leave before? Why did she reappear? And why has she disappeared again now?"

The matter of the real and fake Dong Jun was still something Lin Ye was weighing.

He tapped his fingers on the bed a few times before making up his mind: he had to start dealing with the "real and fake Dong Jun" affair.

He was about to do something major in Xiangzhou.

He absolutely couldn’t let random crap interfere with his plans.

Lin Ye asked, "Where’s Ah Zeng? Bring him to me."

Liang Chen nodded and said Ah Zeng was on guard duty and would likely arrive soon.

Thus, while blades clashed fiercely on the eaves, inside the house, Lin Ye struggled for a moment before finally dragging himself out of bed, listless.

Liang Chen was startled, "Up so early? No more sleeping in?"

Lin Ye sighed, "Can’t sleep. I need to wear that 'beast mask' and patrol Xiangzhou a few more times."

The "beast mask" was the one he had bought from the market the day before.

In the past, General of the Shining Night wore a lion mask. But after browsing the market, Lin Ye found that most masks sold there were cheap knockoffs—only the "beast" he bought was kinda close to the lion.

The Fulan Clan were from the Western Regions and must have heard of General of the Shining Night’s reputation. He hoped they would connect the dots from the mask and seek him out.

Liang Chen didn’t quite understand what Lin Ye was doing. But after half a year of acquaintance, Liang Chen had gone from initial skepticism to absolute admiration for Lin Ye’s smarts. So far, the entire diplomatic mission had relied on Lin Ye’s schemes.

Today, sensing Lin Ye’s preoccupation, Liang Chen busied himself, playing fetch-and-carry while waiting patiently.

Lin Ye washed his face with clean water, not just wiping it dry but also applying fine white powder to conceal the faint bruises on his neck and the back of his hands. Due to self-sealing his meridians, the blood flow to his heart was insufficient, leaving his skin ghostly white—so much so that even the slightest touch left marks.

Liang Chen watched with alarm, "You just arrived in Xiangzhou yesterday—how did you get so many injuries?"

Lin Ye gave a wry smile.

Naturally, it was A Xue’s fault—accidentally.

But he wouldn’t say it, A Xue didn’t know, and neither did anyone else.

After tending to his injuries, Lin Ye began styling his raven hair. On the table were five full boxes of hair ribbons and hairpins for him to choose from. By the time Liang Chen was half-asleep, Lin Ye had finally selected the hairpin and ribbon for the day.

Next came choosing his outfit.

To Liang Chen, the clothes the young master was picking from all looked the same in color and style. Lin Ye nitpicked over the patterns on the cuffs and collars, finally settling on an outfit after Liang Chen sighed for the third time.

Then came selecting accessories and perfumes.

By the end of this ordeal, Liang Chen was ready to scream. He shifted from standing to sitting, face-planted onto the table.

Liang Chen remarked, "Ah Zeng was right—you really are a peacock."

Ignoring Liang Chen’s dig, Lin Ye continued picking his belt.

Liang Chen grumbled from behind, "I really can't understand it. You were once a renowned general on the battlefield. Throughout Southern Zhou and Northern Zhou, who wouldn’t admire the name of 'General of the Shining Night'? But after you stopped being a general, how did you become so finicky, spending all day putting on makeup? Doesn’t it bother you?"

Lin Ye: "Not at all! I find it quite fun."

Liang Chen was shocked: "From wielding a sword to handling embroidery needles—what’s fun about that?"

Lin Ye sat before the dressing mirror, threading pearls into a strand of his hair.

He said cheerfully: "Back on the battlefield, filthy and bloodstained, I simply had no choice. If I had free time like this, who’d want to be smeared in blood every day?"

Lin Ye sighed: "It wasn’t until I became a young master that I realized what kind of life I was living before."

Liang Chen stammered: "But a true man belongs on the battlefield, fighting enemies..."

"Wrong," Lin Ye said. "A general’s strength is in cunning, not muscle. Brute force isn’t worth applauding. If one can win without violence, who’d want to see death every day?"

Lin Ye fell silent for a moment.

At this moment, the young man sitting properly before the mirror dropped his usual playful act, revealing a trace of solemnity beneath. The weight of it unnerved Liang Chen.

Lin Ye smiled: "In short, everything I do now is to achieve the greatest gain with the smallest loss. You’re still young and haven’t weathered storms—you’ll understand someday."

Liang Chen said: "I’m not like you. You’re only here to secure a marriage, but I can do so much more. I want to travel the world, achieve great deeds, carve out my legacy, and leave a name for the ages so everyone will remember me!"

This exchange between master and servant made Liang Chen observe Lin Ye closely. Yet Lin Ye’s seriousness lasted only a moment before he reverted to his usual carefree self—

Lin Ye boasted: "I just didn’t have the chance before. Now, grooming myself is my daily routine. You wouldn’t know, but when my mother was alive, she always wanted to give me a little sister. Sadly, she and my father couldn’t manage it—they passed without leaving me one. When I was little, my mother, annoyed by my mischief, convinced me I was a girl and had to be refined."

Liang Chen was dumbfounded: *Your mother was truly a warrior.*

Lin Ye crossed his legs, swinging a hair ribbon in his hand: "The young lads on the neighboring street were completely infatuated, chasing after me every day. Me? First, I was filial, and second, still filial... So I decked myself out every day to con those boys out of candy, hahaha."

Liang Chen’s lips twitched: *You’re shameless.*

Lin Ye continued shamelessly: "Now that I’ve discovered the joy of grooming, I understand why my mother was so gentle with me back then—she even stopped hitting me with her spiked cudgel."

Liang Chen’s face nearly cracked: *Just how awful were you to make your own mother resort to violence?*

Lin Ye spouted his twisted logic: "If I weren’t so good-looking, why would you all tolerate my antics without losing your temper? I’ve realized now—victory without violence means treating myself like a pampered maiden. I enjoy being a pretty little lady..."

*Thud.*

The tightly shut window was pushed open from outside.

While Ah Zeng lay barely conscious on the roof, pondering just how far his martial arts lagged behind Xue Li’s, Xue Li herself pushed open the window and leaped into Lin Ye’s quarters.

The moment she landed, she heard Lin Ye’s shameless declaration: *"I enjoy being a pretty little lady."*

Xue Li froze mid-step.

Her eyes met Lin Ye’s. After a hesitant pause, she said softly: "My apologies, I’m a bit slow. I might’ve overstepped before."

Lin Ye, mortified, covered his face with one hand.

Under Lin Ye’s helpless gaze, Liang Chen burst into laughter and rushed out the door: "You two talk. I’ll go check on Ah Zeng."

--

During the time Lin Ye pretended to faint—then really did—Xue Li went to fill her stomach, then at dawn, tracked down the bun shop clerk who had tricked her into visiting the unlicensed prostitutes.

The clerk was terrified to see her unharmed, but he had no idea where else such places might be. Xue Li recalled Lin Ye saying the money they had now wasn’t exactly honest and needed to be reported to the authorities.

Before finding a new place to work as an unlicensed prostitute, Xue Li returned to Lin Ye.

After all, Lin Ye had mentioned wanting to hire her, and the pay was generous. She came to ask whether his offer still stood.

Xue Li, normally not one for social niceties, gave it some thought this time.

Now Xue Li asked concernedly how Lin Ye was feeling and suggested the sickly young master lie down to rest.

Lin Ye was both flattered and puzzled by her behavior but complied, gathering the blankets around himself as he sat back on the bed.

Screech.

A wooden chair scraped across the floor.

Xue Li moved a chair to the bedside and sat down, recalling how her master had cared for her when she was sick as a child. She folded her hands together before taking Lin Ye’s in hers.

Lin Ye’s fingers were cold, trembling slightly when she held them.

Xue Li felt his erratic pulse… It was unusual. Most martial artists would feel compelled to investigate.

But Xue Li didn’t. She focused only on the present: "Don’t you die on me."

Lin Ye replied earnestly, "I’m not dead."

Xue Li recalled Lin Ye’s earlier conversation with Liang Chen: "I know you’re thinking of me."

This "thinking" wasn’t the kind Lin Ye assumed. His gaze flickered away, misunderstanding: "I just got up. I haven’t started thinking of you yet."

Slept?

Xue Li found her next topic: "Then go to sleep. I’ll keep watch."

Lin Ye: …I just got up.

Xue Li: "If you can’t sleep, think about how many you’ve killed… taken. Counting them should help."

Lin Ye stayed silent.

She earnestly coaxed him, but his pulse remained erratic and weak, only growing faster instead of steadying.

Xue Li lifted her gaze and saw the young master’s flushed cheeks behind the embroidered quilt, his lashes fluttering, eyes like liquid jade.

He tried to pull his hand away, but she was lost in thought, and he couldn’t break her grip.

Lin Ye turned his head away, his neck tinged pink. He muttered awkwardly, "A Xue, don’t do this."

He lowered his head, lashes trembling, whispering, "It... it scares me."

Xue Li froze.

Seizing the chance, Lin Ye snatched his hand back and retreated under the covers.

Only his upper body remained visible, his dark eyes blinking rapidly. "Just what kind of problem do you need my help with that you’d resort to a 'honey trap'?"

Xue Li blinked. "...?"

So this... was a honey trap.

Xue Li murmured, "Why would my master use a honey trap on me?"

Lin Ye choked out, "What did you say?! That old bastard did that to you..."

He stiffened, his voice rising in sudden urgency.

He leaned forward with a strange tone, and Xue Li glanced over when he said "old bastard." Lin Ye snorted and turned his face away. "A handsome old man—better?"

Her master wasn’t even old.

Xue Li didn’t want to elaborate and simply stated her current demand: "That offer to hire me—still on?"

Lin Ye lifted his gaze to look at her.

Xue Li spelled out her terms: "I’ll only stay in Xiangzhou for ten days. After ten days, you pay me in full, and we’re square."

She added kindly, "You’re here to find the girl from your past, aren’t you? What does she look like? If I happen to see her, I can help."

Lin Ye stared at her face.

His face reddened as he mumbled, "Pretty."

Xue Li: "'Pretty'? That’s it?"

--

After Xue Li left, Lin Ye sat deep in thought for a moment before calling Ah Zeng in.

Ah Zeng first informed him, "Dong Jun’s martial arts are unmatched. I can’t hold a candle to her. Among the younger generation in the world today, there’s likely no one who can rival her. As for the older generation... probably not many either."

Lin Ye chewed on that.

But that wasn’t why he had called Ah Zeng. Lin Ye said softly, "She’s not Dong Jun."

Ah Zeng didn’t bat an eye.

He wasn’t particularly surprised. Unlike trusting Liang Chen, he had long suspected something didn’t add up about Xue Li’s identity.

Lin Ye was thinking out loud, "By changing my route midway to Xiangzhou, Emperor Xuanming of Northern Zhou’s arrangements for me would be forced to shift here as well. The Northern Zhou’s plans will lag slightly due to my detour, buying me breathing room... I need you to leave Xiangzhou for a while, find the real Dong Jun, and keep her locked down."

Lin Ye continued, "Though I don’t know what moves Northern Zhou will make against me, after all this time, I at least need to ensure the real Dong Jun doesn’t meet the assassins within the peace envoy. Without their coordination from within, the delegation will remain under my control."

Ah Zeng hesitated. "If I leave, Liang Chen alone may not be enough to protect you."

Lin Ye’s eyes flickered. "Hmm, I’ve already hired a new bodyguard."

Ah Zeng chuckled. "She’ll protect you?"

Lin Ye replied innocently, "I’ll win her over with charm."

--

After settling the terms with Lin Ye, Xue Li went to meet the "Qin Yueye" operatives within the peace envoy.

Having abandoned them before, her return now necessitated reconnecting with these people.

The assassins were a little sore toward Xue Li but wouldn’t dare cross Dong Jun.

They asked where she had been all this time, and Xue Li answered lightly, "On a mission."

The assassins let it drop.

Someone of the Four Seasons Envoys’ rank naturally took off on covert ops at will. After Dong Jun’s departure, they had tried contacting Chun Jun to report her absence.

Chun Jun just said, "Sit tight—she’ll be back soon enough."

Chun Jun wouldn't reveal too many secrets to these low-ranking assassins. Before the true Dong Jun, Dou Yan, arrived in Xiangzhou, Xue Li relied on her former false identity to earn back some trust for herself.

The assassins recalled seeing Dong Jun walking with Lin Ye the previous day and asked, "Has the return of Lord Dong Jun been influenced by the young master's persuasion?"

Xue Li pondered and replied, "I was persuaded by money."

The assassins: "..."

--

With Xue Li back in the marriage envoy's group, the assassins walked taller. When speaking with the young master's shadow guards, they no longer felt suppressed as before.

Perhaps due to Lin Ye's instructions, the shadow guards treated Xue Li with deferential respect.

When Xue Li noticed Ah Zeng's disappearance, the assassins urged her to contact Chun Jun.

An assassin said, "The young master insisted on changing course to Xiangzhou to find his childhood love. Chun Jun ordered us to keep tabs on him. Now that Lord Dong Jun has returned, she should brief her."

Xue Li agreed.

She had no intention of contacting Chun Jun. But to maintain her subordinates' trust, she had to pretend to do so.

For three consecutive days, Xue Li focused on searching for underground brothels, which weren't easy to find. By noon, she entered an out-of-the-way inn to get some food.

--

Meanwhile, for three days, Lin Ye wore a fearsome beast mask and strutted through the market with Liang Chen in tow.

Countless people snuck glances at Lin Ye's mask but quickly averted their eyes, too spooked to stare longer.

After wandering for half a day, Lin Ye finally dragged Liang Chen into a tavern at noon to ask for a drink.

Once inside the reserved booth, Lin Ye slumped like a sack of rice, tossing aside his mask. "Ah, I'm exhausted."

Liang Chen's breathing remained steady, but he was tense.

The young guard leaned by the window, scanning through the cracks to check if they were being followed. "You're flaunting yourself so boldly with that mask—aren't you afraid someone will realize General of the Shining Night isn't dead?"

Liang Chen was deeply anxious. "If people suspect you're the General, won't all our efforts be wasted?"

Lin Ye sipped his tea leisurely. "Relax, no one would think I'm the General. At most, they'd assume I'm just exploiting the name."

Liang Chen wasn't convinced.

A glimmer of amusement flickered in Lin Ye's dark eyes. "Because Lin Zhao Ye and I are nothing alike."

Liang Chen froze.

Indeed, the General of the Shining Night feared no danger, while the young master Lin cried over a scratch. The General cared only for his sword, while the young master indulged in luxury. The General had slain countless enemies on the battlefield, while the young master primped like a peacock daily.

He was a completely different person now.

The delicate, mischievous, pampered young master would never become Lin Zhao Ye again.

Lin Ye said softly, "I'm not the General of the Shining Night—unless I say so myself. Even if my former subordinates faced me directly, no one would recognize me. He and I... have long since drifted apart."

The air turned heavy.

Lin Ye remained indifferent, but Liang Chen ached with sadness.

Shifting away from the window, Liang Chen blurted, changing the subject. "You sent Ah Zeng away on some mission but refused to tell me. When Dong Jun requested time off, you let her go without hesitation. If you just wanted to stroll around, you should've asked Dong Jun, not me."

Lin Ye just kept smiling.

After Liang Chen finished complaining, Lin Ye finally said, "Play backgammon with me. For every round you win, I'll tell you a truth. How about that?"

Liang Chen: "Seriously? Why not ask Dong Jun?"

Liang Chen quickly threw the dice, won, and shot Lin Ye a smug look.

"I can't ask A Xue to accompany me," Lin Ye gestured for Liang Chen to start the game, speaking slowly. "Her identity’s shady—I can’t let emotions cloud my judgment."

Lin Ye: "She’s not the real Dong Jun."

KABOOM—A lightning bolt tore through the sky.

--

As dark clouds gathered over the dense forest outside Xiangzhou, Ah Zeng was hot on a woman’s heels.

He was sure she was the real Dong Jun the young master spoke of. He absolutely couldn’t let her reach the assassins before him and cause trouble for the young master.

Dou Yan weaved through the trees, unnerved by her pursuer’s doggedness.

They had already circled the forest three times. Once she tired out, he’d overtake her for sure.

No—she had to get to Xiangzhou.

This mission from Chun Jun was life-or-death. She had already failed once before—if she messed up again, her life would be forfeit.

Dou Yan clenched her teeth, hiding three silver needles in her mouth.

As the wind howled, dark clouds swept over the lush green forest, and she suddenly turned, lunging at the expert chasing her.

--

"KABOOM—" A flash of steel cut through the air, casting an eerie light on their faces.

The wind howled as Xue Li pushed open the creaking door of the secluded inn—

A pale, beautiful proprietress, her eyes clouded with confusion, was slumped over the counter.

Thunder cracked just as the door creaked open. The proprietress startled and looked up at the guest.

The guest was a girl of seventeen or eighteen, lovely as a painting, her eyes clear as autumn water, porcelain cheeks brushed by loose strands of hair.

She looked sweet, harmless, and unremarkable. But no truly harmless girl would roam alone in these lawless times, nor would she remain so calm upon seeing such an inn.

The inn was deserted and run-down, just the proprietress—no staff in sight.

Xue Li turned to leave.

But after a moment of hesitation, the proprietress hurried forward: "Tea, honored guest? First pot’s on the house."

Xue Li slid into a corner seat.

--

In the tavern, Lin Ye and Liang Chen played backgammon.

The black and white pieces, shaped like washing bats, were arranged on either side, poised for battle. Each held their own dice.

Liang Chen mulled over the revelation Lin Ye had given him before finally asking, "If she’s not Dong Jun, why’s she impersonating her? Then who is she?"

Lin Ye: "I’ve got a pretty good guess now."

Liang Chen: "Wait, what?"

--

Xue Li slid into a corner seat, planning to bolt down a meal and go.

The proprietress hurriedly went to prepare her meal.

Xue Li heard the sound of knife sharpening from the kitchen but acted as though she heard nothing. She heard the innkeeper arguing violently with someone, followed by incessant sobbing, yet she continued to feign ignorance. She even caught the faint thuds from the wooden floor above and the faint cries of “Help!”

Xue Li calmly sipped her tea.

After a while, the innkeeper returned with wine and dishes.

The innkeeper lingered by the table, unwilling to leave. Xue Li avoided the poisoned food, drinking only tea.

The innkeeper’s heart pounded in terror. Finally, she dropped to her knees, weeping softly, "Please, spare my life, My lady. I’ve already handed over the Prefect’s son to your mistress. Why must you destroy me?"

Xue Li: "..."

Prefect. Son. Handed over to your mistress.

She instantly knew this spelled trouble.

Right now, if she covered her ears and walked away from this cursed inn, would she still make it in time?

Too late—

"Bang—"

Blades shattered the windows as assassins stormed in from all sides, targeting Xue Li and the petrified innkeeper, now crumpled on the floor.

--

"Bang—"

A gust blasted the windows open. Lin Ye tossed the dice, and Liang Chen won.

Liang Chen moved his piece first, while Lin Ye’s gaze darkened:

"Master Yulong of Qin Yueye has fallen. Below the master, there are the Four Seasons Envoys, each commanding a division. Chun Jun now acts as the acting leader. But if anyone disagrees, Chun Jun will never truly claim the title. Because above Chun Jun and below Yulong, there are still two others.

"Rumors say Yulong was killed by his own disciple, and Qin Yueye hunts this unfilial apprentice. A Xue clearly mentioned having a master and let slip the name ‘Song Wanfeng.’ A Xue infiltrated the bridal entourage, passing herself off as Dong Jun... An ordinary person wouldn’t dare impersonate Dong Jun.

"She not only had to know Qin Yueye’s plans but also ensure none in the assassin group recognized the real Dong Jun. This means she must have met the real Dong Jun and compared notes. In other words, when we were still in Jianye, A Xue hid in my carriage not to spy on the young lord—she was genuinely fleeing Qin Yueye’s pursuit."

Lin Ye’s long fingers drummed the board, brushing against the finely carved horse piece.

Lin Ye murmured, "The real Dong Jun and she aren’t allies—they’re enemies. The only ones who could suppress the real Dong Jun are—"

Liang Chen whispered, "The Wind Master, shrouded in mystery; the Snow Girl, unrivaled."

The Wind Master—unrivaled; the Snow Girl—shrouded in mystery.

Liang Chen: "She is..."

Lin Ye moved his white knight, trapping Liang Chen’s black knight. The white knight closed in from all sides, steel glinting, leaving Liang Chen no escape.

At the game’s climax, Liang Chen paled. Lin Ye pronounced, "She is the Snow Girl."

Thunder cracked, rain sheeted down, and a haze swallowed the ground.