Chapter Twenty-Seven: Jiang Yuyan

At this moment, Zhu Yu only wanted to hand Jiang Yuyan over to Hua Wuqian and his companions, to part ways swiftly and then ponder whether he should eliminate Jiang Yuyan. However, unexpectedly, his casual question unearthed another surprise.

Everyone was staying at the same inn!

Zhu Yu abandoned his plan to depart alone. The group continued together, and as they approached the inn, they saw the beautiful heroine whom they'd met during the day standing at the entrance, gazing into the distance. Upon spotting Hua Wuqian, she immediately approached.

No need to ask; this was unmistakably Tie Xinlan.

Indeed, after a brief round of introductions, the heroine was confirmed to be Tie Xinlan.

Having just shared an experience, Xiao Yu'er and Tie Xinlan invited Zhu Yu to their room for a small gathering, and Zhu Yu could hardly refuse.

Once inside, Tie Xinlan, recalling the events of the day, immediately asked Jiang Yuyan,

"Weren't you searching for your family? Have you found any clues? Perhaps we can help you."

Xiao Yu'er chimed in, "Are your relatives people of the martial world? I know quite a few myself."

Jiang Yuyan nodded in response, letting out a breath of relief, "I'm looking for my father. My mother told me he is the unrivaled hero of justice, Jiang Biehe."

"Jiang Biehe!" Xiao Yu'er and Tie Xinlan exclaimed in surprise at Jiang Yuyan's answer.

Seeing their reaction, Jiang Yuyan asked softly, "You know my father? Could you take me to him?"

After some hesitation, Xiao Yu'er and his companions decided to help Jiang Yuyan.

Receiving their promise, Jiang Yuyan was overjoyed. She skipped over to Zhu Yu and said, "Master Zhu, Young Hero Yu and Young Hero Hua have agreed to help me find my father. Please come along as well. When we find him, I’ll ask him to repay you for redeeming me."

The familiar scene unfolding before his eyes made Zhu Yu recall many plotlines.

Looking at Jiang Yuyan’s joyful, radiant face, Zhu Yu wanted to tell her: finding your father is the first step toward your dark transformation.

But he couldn't say such words aloud, so he hedged, "I’m truly sorry, I have urgent matters to attend to in Dali, so I might not be able to accompany you."

Jiang Yuyan’s bright, happy face fell, and after a moment she lowered her head and murmured, "Since you’ve redeemed me, Master Zhu, I am yours now. I’ll follow you to Dali. I just hope that after you finish your business, you’ll give me some time to seek out my father."

Hearing this, Zhu Yu was instantly flustered, and at that moment all eyes in the room focused on him.

Under the scrutiny of everyone, Zhu Yu’s mind was a muddled mess, with only one thought: What happened to the plot? Where has the story gone? Why isn’t it following the script?

Just then, Yu Huatian leaned in and whispered in Zhu Yu’s ear, "Young Master, Jiang Biehe’s family lives in Wei City. We're passing through there on our way to Dali."

Though Yu Huatian’s voice was soft, everyone in the room except Jiang Yuyan possessed martial arts skills and could hear clearly, and with Jiang Yuyan so close, there was no reason she wouldn’t catch it.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuyan’s face brightened, her gaze fixed intently on Zhu Yu.

Whether Jiang Yuyan was acting or truly sincere, Zhu Yu could read in her large eyes the words: pleading, joy, hope.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "Alright."

Once everything was agreed upon, the group dispersed to rest.

...

The next day dawned bright and clear, with a gentle breeze. On the road to Dali, Zhu Yu’s party had been joined by Hua Wuqian and his companions.

At their departure, Zhu Yu’s entourage startled Xiao Yu’er and the others, and Zhu Yu had to explain that his family was wealthy, and as this was his first time traveling far, he was simply being cautious.

The others accepted this explanation with surprise, but a flicker of worry crossed Jiang Yuyan’s heart—would Master Zhu, with such a good family, look down on her? But no one else knew her concerns.

The group set off together, but Zhu Yu’s mood was far from cheerful.

Hua Wuqian and the others rode ahead, leaving only Zhu Yu and Jiang Yuyan in the carriage.

Inside, Jiang Yuyan kept her eyes fixed on Zhu Yu, occasionally lowering her head to giggle softly, a shy blush on her face, thoroughly lost in her own reverie. Who knew what she was thinking?

Zhu Yu, meanwhile, was truly sitting on pins and needles; facing the person destined to kill him in the future. He had planned to strike first, but she was still just a child by the standards of his previous life, and he couldn't bring himself to act.

He thought perhaps the matter would pass, but unexpectedly, Jiang Yuyan had taken a liking to him. If she had spoken openly, they could have discussed it frankly, but instead she simply smiled at him, unsettling Zhu Yu to his core.

"Would you like something to eat or drink?" Zhu Yu asked, forcing himself to speak.

Jiang Yuyan gently shook her head and remained silent.

"Then you stay here in the carriage. I’m going to take a walk outside," Zhu Yu said, and without waiting for her reply, he stepped out.

After leaving the carriage, Zhu Yu circled around and approached Tie Xinlan.

"Miss Tie, riding can be tiring. Why don’t you rest in the carriage for a while?"

Tie Xinlan smiled and refused, "I see you and Miss Jiang are having a delightful conversation, laughing all the way. If I intruded, wouldn’t I spoil your happiness?"

Zhu Yu replied with a pained expression, "That’s precisely the problem. I haven’t said a word this whole trip, and she just keeps smiling at me. I’m so unnerved, Miss Tie, you’re also a woman—would you go in and chat with Miss Jiang? If there’s any issue, we can resolve it. Please don’t make things difficult!"

"Ah?" Tie Xinlan looked astonished at Zhu Yu's explanation.

At this moment, Xiao Yu’er joked from the side, "Miss Jiang probably has her eye on you, Master Zhu. In a few years she’ll be an absolute beauty, and even now she’s not lacking. You’re not losing out—why not propose to her when you reach Jiang Biehe’s house?"

Tie Xinlan glared at Xiao Yu’er to stop him from saying more, then turned to Zhu Yu.

"I’ll go into the carriage and chat with Miss Jiang," she said, dismounting and entering the carriage.

Zhu Yu had just mounted his horse and was briefly relieved, but soon saw Tie Xinlan emerge from the carriage, approach him directly, and say,

"Yuyan was just frightened yesterday at Cuihong Brothel. She’s fine now. Go back to your carriage."

Zhu Yu instinctively resisted, saying, "Riding is exhausting. My carriage is comfortable—you should ride in it instead."

Tie Xinlan glanced at Hua Wuqian and said nothing more. She simply raised her slender hand in front of Zhu Yu, forming a fist and squeezing it, the sound of bones cracking emanating from her delicate fingers.

Zhu Yu forced a strained smile, "Alright, I’ll go back now."

Without further ado, he dismounted and hurried back to the carriage.

Inside, Zhu Yu found that Jiang Yuyan was no longer so dazed, which reassured him.

With the carriage rocking rhythmically, drowsiness overtook him, and before long, Zhu Yu fell asleep leaning against the side.

What Zhu Yu didn't know was that after he dozed off, Jiang Yuyan quietly moved closer, tilting her head as she gazed at him.

In her eyes shone infinite beauty.

At that moment, Jiang Yuyan thought to herself, "Apart from Mother, Master Zhu is the first person who has ever treated me so kindly. How wonderful it would be if time could stop at this moment. If I could always stay by Master Zhu’s side, I’d be willing to pay any price!"