Chapter 127: Paper Figures Connected, Hearts Linked (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

“Madam, you didn’t accidentally throw away that paper doll, did you?”

An Jing muttered.

“Husband, what are you looking for?”

At that time, Zhao Qingmei also walked into the bedroom and saw An Jing standing in front of the wardrobe, which made her a bit anxious.

As he spoke, An Jing gestured, “The paper doll I was making, about the size of a palm.”

“Really, you’re so grown up and still playing with paper dolls.”

Zhao Qingmei said somewhat grumpily, then took out the two paper dolls from the closet nearby.

“Madam, these paper dolls are no ordinary ones.”

An Jing took the paper dolls and said with a smile.

“What’s so special about them?” Zhao Qingmei asked.

That morning, she had found two paper dolls on the table, and she hadn’t cared much about it and casually put the paper dolls away.

“Here, take this.”

An Jing handed one of the paper dolls to Zhao Qingmei.

Zhao Qingmei, puzzled, took the paper doll and became somewhat curious.

“Madam, watch closely.”

An Jing smiled and then moved the arm of the paper doll he was holding.

The next moment, the arm of the paper doll in Zhao Qingmei’s hand also moved.

“Is it really that magical?”

Zhao Qingmei was somewhat amazed, then moved the arm of her paper doll, and An Jing’s paper doll’s arm also moved, “It seems quite interesting.”

“Is it fun?” An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei, who rarely showed a cute and playful side.

“It really is interesting.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded, getting more playful, and not only pinched her paper doll.

An Jing said with a smile, “Madam, these two paper dolls can move in unison no matter how far apart they are, so even if you go back to visit your parents, we can still feel each other’s presence.”

Zhao Qingmei’s heart stirred, and she said, “Husband, let’s create a secret signal.”

“Okay.”

“You see, if the left hand moves once, it means I’m missing you, and if it moves twice, it means…..”

“What about the right hand?”

“Let me think, moving the right hand once represents that I’m very well, no need to worry, moving it twice means I’m feeling very happy right now, moving it three times means I’m feeling upset.”

An Jing stared at the paper doll in his hand, as if he had thought of something, and chuckled, “Madam, what if both hands clap together?”

As he spoke, An Jing moved the paper doll in his hand.

“Clap! Clap!”

The paper doll’s hands came together, and Zhao Qingmei’s paper doll also clapped its hands.

Seeing this, Zhao Qingmei threw An Jing onto the bed and straddled him, then she crinkled her delicate nose and with watery eyes looked down at An Jing, coquettishly saying, “Husband, what does that indicate?”

An Jing, supporting Zhao Qingmei’s slim waist, replied, “How should I know if you don’t tell me?”

In the dim light, her charming face seemed to be scorched by flames, her long eyelashes slightly twinkling.

“Brother, you still say you don’t know?”

Zhao Qingmei felt something pressing against her lower body and a sly look appeared in her eyes. She leaned down beside An Jing’s ear and whispered warmly, “I see you know quite well.”

An Jing rolled over and then pinned Zhao Qingmei beneath him, looking at her attractive body and blinked, saying, “Of course, I have to listen to what madam says.”

As if flames were continuously burning, the atmosphere inside the room became even more enchanting.

Zhao Qingmei’s hand slipped inside her clothes, and soon she was trembling and whispering seductively.

“Brother, I want it~!”

Light as a dance, like the branches in the moon, her voice enchanting as broken clouds, like leaves of jade.

…….

The next day, outside Yu State City.

The sun was deeply hidden by the clouds, making the sky look rather gloomy.

“The weather isn’t good today.”

An Jing stood outside Jishi Hall, supporting his waist and couldn’t help but mutter.

At that time, a horse-drawn carriage stopped at the door.

“Not every day can be sunny, there must be some rain and wind sometimes.”

Zhao Qingmei, in a red dress and captivating eyes, also looked at the gloomy sky.

An Jing said, “Yes, the past few days were sunny, only today has it become cloudy.”

“Anyway, we’re not going out for a spring outing.”

Zhao Qingmei smiled, recalling something, and said, “Husband, I’ve packed almost everything, your clothes are all in the left wardrobe, and your two pairs of shoes were all washed yesterday, I just bought garlic for the kitchen yesterday, there’s not much left in the vegetables, I usually buy them daily, the account book was just settled three days ago, most of the herbal medicines were already bought…..”

Zhao Qingmei’s beautiful red lips kept talking, afraid that she might have forgotten something.

“Madam, you can rest assured.” An Jing said with a wry smile, “When I was alone, I managed everything in perfect order.”

Zhao Qingmei glared at An Jing, coquettishly saying, “How could it be the same?”

At that moment, Tan Yun, carrying two big bundles, came out looking quite comical yet also adorable.

“Miss, I’ve put all these in the carriage,” he said.

“Go ahead.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded.

Seeing this, An Jing couldn’t help but marvel inwardly, “Tan Yun’s meals are really not in vain; she does a good job.”

“Madam, you’re going back for two months, do you need to bring so much stuff?”

“Bring more clothes; I like to wear them, and some other miscellaneous items.”

Zhao Qingmei said, her expression somewhat desolate, “My husband, I am leaving.”

An Jing softly said, “It will be quick; you’ll be back soon.”

For some reason, he suddenly felt an emptiness inside.

A breeze blew past, lifting her soft hair. Zhao Qingmei’s lips curved slightly upwards, “Right, I’ll be back soon.”

“Miss, all the packages are in.”

Tan Yun said, then stood obediently to the side.

“Let’s go,” said An Jing.

Then the coachman drove off, and An Jing and Tan Yun walked with Zhao Qingmei to the south of the city.

The coachman then parked the carriage at a distance and quietly waited.

Zhao Qingmei whispered, “Husband, remember to always keep the things I gave you with you.”

“Go, be careful on the road. If something happens, remember our previous agreement.”

“Yes, I remember,” she replied.

“Remember to come back early.”

Hearing An Jing say this, Zhao Qingmei chuckled.

She often said these words to An Jing, and now it was he who said them to her.

“Why don’t you speak?”

An Jing gently touched Zhao Qingmei’s cheek and smiled.

“I understand,” she said.

Zhao Qingmei stepped up into the carriage, her nose tingling, “I will come back as soon as possible.”

After speaking, she hurriedly climbed into the carriage.

An Jing watched the figure entering the carriage, a myriad of reluctance surged in his heart.

“Doctor An, shall I depart now?” asked the coachman softly.

“Wait a moment.”

For some reason, An Jing’s heart began to race uncontrollably, a feeling of inexplicable discomfort arising; with that thought, he too climbed into the carriage.

“Qingmei!”

“What is it?”

Seeing An Jing climb in, Zhao Qingmei forced a smile, “Can’t bear to leave me, huh?”

An Jing smiled, “Yes, just wanted to take one more look at you.”

“When I come back, you can look all you want. Go on now, it’s really time to go.”

Zhao Qingmei’s face flushed slightly.

“Alright.”

Upon saying that, An Jing stepped out of the carriage and addressed the coachman, “Let’s go.”

The coachman bowed and then struck the horse with his whip, shouting, “Giddy up!”

As the hooves moved forward, the carriage wheels rolled toward the front.

An Jing watched the carriage slowly move forward, as if in a trance.

Just then, the curtain of the carriage’s rear window was lifted, revealing Zhao Qingmei’s extraordinarily beautiful face; her eyes were slightly red.

“Remember to miss me.”

After speaking, she quickly lowered the curtain.

That stretch of river always flows eastward; every departure sets the stage for the next reunion.

Tan Yun stood behind An Jing, watching that somewhat unfamiliar Zhao Qingmei.

In her memory, Zhao Qingmei had two sides: brutal and decisive, a domineering leader of the Demon Sect to others, and a gentle and virtuous lady to An Jing.

All along, she had thought this was but a façade, a disguise worn by the leader of the Demon Sect.

But today, she felt that the cruel and domineering Demon Sect leader was her true mask.

She never really understood the Sect Hierarch, yet she had always been true to herself.

An Jing watched the carriage disappear into the distance and remained standing in the same place, no matter how much time had passed.

“Son-in-law, let’s go back.”

Tan Yun whispered.

“Let’s go back,” An Jing nodded and then walked back the way they came, casually asking, “Tan Yun, did the madam say anything to you when she was leaving?”

“Yes,” she replied.

Tan Yun nodded and said, “Miss asked me to take good care of the son-in-law.”

An Jing sighed deeply, his voice heavy with sorrow, “What about dinner tonight?”

Once the lady had left, he found that even preparing dinner had become an issue.

“Son-in-law, should I cook?” Tan Yun blinked and suggested.

……

Jishi Hall.

Tan Yun touched her belly, lying contentedly on the chair and said, “Son-in-law, the taste of this steamed softshell turtle is indeed not bad.”

“That Wu Yang Tavern is the most famous restaurant in Yu State City; the food is naturally good.”

An Jing replied irritably, “I gave you three days to start learning some cooking skills…”

He naturally couldn’t have Tan Yun cook dinner, so he ended up taking her to Wu Yang Tavern for a meal.

A single meal cost Tan Yun nearly three hundred copper coins. If they dined out daily, he might need to borrow silver in less than ten days.

This was a bad sign. Did it mean he should cook himself?

“I understand,” she said.

Bowing her head as if to pump herself up, Tan Yun solemnly promised, “Don’t worry, son-in-law, I’ll definitely be able to learn.”

To win a man’s heart, one must first win over his stomach.

Thinking this, Tan Yun suddenly felt motivated.

“I hope so.”

An Jing sighed and then walked into Jishi Hall.

At that moment, a dark shadow burst from the backyard.

It was Xiao Heizi, who now ran towards Tan Yun excitedly like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins.

“Has it gone mad?” asked An Jing when he saw this.

“Woof! Woof!”

As if he heard An Jing’s words, Xiao Heizi barked furiously at him, looking quite menacing.

“This dog has grown bold…”

An Jing noted, puzzled. Previously, Xiao Heizi did bark at him, but its voice had never been so loud.

“Let’s go, let’s go cook,” Tan Yun said, taking Xiao Heizi along as she headed back, setting a small goal for herself to have Xiao Heizi approve of her cooking.

Seeing Tan Yun heading towards the backyard, Xiao Heizi hurriedly followed, but when it saw Tan Yun heading towards the kitchen, it abruptly stopped.

“Thinking of running!?”

Tan Yun grabbed Xiao Heizi by the head and dragged it straight into the kitchen.

“Owooo… owooo…”

Immediately, Xiao Heizi’s wailing filled the kitchen.

“If it gets poisoned, we might as well have dog meat,” An Jing thought to himself, picking up the medicine chest on the table and then walking toward his own room.

“Creak!”

Upon opening the medicine chest, he found not only a cloak but also eleven luminous pearls.

“I’ll give her a surprise the next time the lady visits,” An Jing murmured with a light laugh, carefully picking up the eleven pearls, instantly emptying the medicine chest.

Just then, a wilted paper figurine in the bottom of the chest caught his eye.

This paper figurine was the one Jiang Sanjia used to communicate with him, though it had been a long time since they last used it.

An Jing cautiously picked up the paper figurine, but suddenly it turned into a handful of ashes.

“This is…”

An Jing’s heart shook, as if recalling the thunderclap in his mind from yesterday.

Could it be that Jiang Sanjia was dead?

Was yesterday’s sign because of Jiang Sanjia?

After a long while, he came back to his senses, cleaned up the fragments on the floor, exhaling a turbid breath.

“Brother Sanjia might be dead, but the black fate on me has not yet dissipated. It seems I must quickly cultivate the Ghost Valley Heart Method to the Second Profound level. This additional skill might save my life if something unexpected happens in the future,” he thought.

Thinking this, An Jing took a deep breath, lit a candle, and began to contemplate the Ghost Valley Heart Method.

The transformation of the paper figurine into ashes undoubtedly sounded an alarm for him.

The black fate, ever looming and unreleased, continued to prick at his heart.

Ghost Valley Heart Method, a Heavenly Martial level mental method, was much more profound than the incomplete Daluo Heart Method; cultivating it to the Second Profound level in a short time was quite difficult, but fortunately, Jiang Sanjia’s annotations in the Ghost Valley Heart Method were helpful.

All this time, An Jing hadn’t had enough time to study it closely.

Today might be a good opportunity to thoroughly read the annotations of the Ghost Valley Heart Method and see if a breakthrough to the Second Profound could be achieved.

“The celestial patterns are in his hand, from past observations to future predictions, never tiring of salt, The Six Secret Teachings, and The Three Strategies, with endless transformations, deploying troops and arrays that even gods and spirits cannot predict…”

An Jing followed the book, deeply absorbed in his readings, grasping the deeper meanings.

The more he read, the more he felt a sense of enlightenment, as if understanding was being poured into him from above.

Before they knew it, an hour had passed, and An Jing finally closed the book.

He then sat down cross-legged, silently reciting the Ghost Valley Heart Method, and soon the qi within him also started to circulate along the designated route.

Before long, a stream of black qi emerged, followed by a stream of white qi.

Black and white, intertwining continuously.

Black and white intersected, embracing simplicity and generating life.

Unknowingly, An Jing’s spirit was immersed in it.

However, he always kept his qi mechanism contained, preventing it from spreading out.

The intertwined black and white qi streams surged continuously within his meridians, and at the same time, the Earth Flower was gradually solidifying.

His cultivation was growing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

……..

Great Yan, Northern Border, small border town.

The yellow sand whirled about, sweeping in and causing the tea house’s flag to flutter loudly.

“What do you guys think? How much longer can Old Man Xiang hold out?”

“I think he can hold out for another two to three years.”

“No matter how long he holds out, it’s pointless. There’ll be no results.”

“That Tofu He has a real foul temper, I also think it’s not very likely.”

“What did Old Man Xiang see in this tofu, anyway?”

…….

The seemingly dilapidated tea house was unusually bustling.

Groups of three or five gathered together, seemingly discussing something.

And the topic of everyone’s discussion was considered a strange and unusual occurrence in the town.

Nine years ago, an old man surnamed Xiang came to this town and opened a tea house. He enjoyed chatting and shooting the breeze with people, often boasting about his remarkable youth. According to him, he was a very formidable swordsman.

At first, the townsfolk actually believed him, but soon they realized Old Man Xiang’s stories were getting more and more exaggerated, with his tales becoming increasingly far-fetched, even claiming he was the world’s number one swordsman. Then the people realized how timid he was, nothing like a formidable swordsman, and discovered that everything he had said was just boastful talk.

However, Old Man Xiang was a very nice person, and the townsfolk got along very well with him.

Besides running the tea house, Old Man Xiang also relentlessly pursued the tofu vendor Tofu He in town.

However, this pursuit had been fruitless for many years.

“Old Man Xiang, bring a pot of tea!”

A swordsman carrying a long sword sat down and called out loudly.

“Coming! Why are you here so early today?”

Just then, an old man with gray hair and a smiling face came out with a kettle, pouring a large bowl of tea for the swordsman.

This person was the tea house owner, Old Man Xiang.

The swordsman smiled and placed his sword on the table.

“Old Man Xiang, Old Man Xiang.”

Just then, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy ran over from a distance, then walked up breathlessly.

“Zhu Kai, how did it go?”

Old Man Xiang hurriedly asked.

Many of the tea-sipping patrons also looked over, their eyes filled with a touch of anticipation.

“No good, she said you run a tea house and don’t make much money in a year, unless…”

The boy gasped heavily, held up five fingers, and whispered, “Unless this amount.”

Zhu Kai sometimes just couldn’t understand, how could the old man, already one foot in the grave, still think about marrying the old woman from the Southern Town Tofu Stand?

Had he reached an age where he just accepted his situation?

Or was it that, on the brink of death, he wanted to find a companion to spend his few remaining years with?

It’s no wonder he chose Tofu He, given his age.

But Old Man Xiang truly had perseverance. Even though Tofu He had been cold and sarcastic for years, he was relentless. Now it seemed that his perseverance was finally paying off, as Tofu He’s attitude had changed a lot over the years.

Previously she had been chilly and even taunted him, but recently she had started to soften up.

“Five hundred copper coins!?”

Old Man Xiang laughed when he heard it, “What’s difficult about that? My tea house makes fifty copper coins a day, isn’t that enough in ten days?”

The boy’s forehead vein popped as he then shouted lowly, “Are you really foolish or pretending? This is fifty silver taels, do you understand?”

Fifty silver taels, for common folks, was already considered a huge amount of money.

“Fifty taels?” Old Man Xiang muttered when he heard this, “Isn’t that too expensive? Does she think she’s still a maiden?”

“What, fifty taels?”

“This might be a bit difficult, if it were five silver taels, we might still pull together.”

“That’s just too excessive, even an old widow wants fifty taels . . .”

“Exactly, Old Man Xiang is truly sincere, and sincerity is priceless.”

…..

The surrounding people listened to this, all showing faces of indignation for Old Man Xiang.

They had long seen Old Man Xiang’s perseverance, and many people came to the tea house to drink tea mostly to check on whether Old Man Xiang’s progress was going smoothly.

An old man took a sip of tea and chuckled, “You may not know this, but Tofu He came here thirty years ago. She was already of a certain age at that time, but she was graceful and beautiful, attracting the secret adoration of many men. I heard that a commandant from South Camp took a liking to her at first sight, but she did not agree.”

“Really?” someone asked skeptically.

Zhu Kai kept nodding, “I heard from my grandfather too. Apparently, Tofu He’s beauty back then was second to none, comparable to a pristine young lady. My grandfather even said that when Tofu He was young, she must have been a beauty on par with an oiran.”

Someone else chimed in, “I was just saying, though Tofu He has a bad temper, she inherently possesses a refined elegance.”

Old Man Xiang chuckled and turned to Zhu Kai, “Go and tell Tofu He that I don’t have those fifty silver, and all I own is this small tea house; if she agrees, I am willing to give it all to her….”

“Are you really willing to give her this tea house?” Zhu Kai asked doubtfully.

“Of course, as long as she wants it, I would even give her my head,” Old Man Xiang said seriously.

“Go on, go away, not auspicious to say such a thing, Tofu He, as mean as she might be, surely wouldn’t want your head,” said a scholar by the side.

Old Man Xiang just smiled and didn’t say a word.

“I’ll go convey the message right now.”

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Kai said, “If this works out, Old Man Xiang, don’t you forget what you’ve promised me.”

Old Man Xiang slapped his chest and said, “Don’t worry, I will teach you everything I know. Not to boast, but if you learn even thirty percent of my skills, conquering the Jianghu will be no issue.”

“Oh!”

The crowd around them jeered playfully.

“Alright alright, I’m going now,” said Zhu Kai.

Hearing this, Zhu Kai felt a surge of fervor, almost wishing he could learn the swordsmanship right then and there and dominate the Jianghu immediately.

Saying so, he quickly ran towards the south of the town.

“Zhu Kai, that lad is really foolish,” someone commented.

“He actually believed Old Man Xiang’s boasting.”

“I wonder if Tofu He will relent.”

“I’m not so sure,” another remarked.

…..

The crowd burst into laughter.

Watching Zhu Kai’s retreating figure, Old Man Xiang shook his head and said, “That’s not foolishness; that’s the purity of heart.”

Everyone resumed their seats, eagerly waiting for news from Zhu Kai.

“By the way, with the caravans coming and going, I’ve heard something earth-shattering has happened in Yujing City,” said the swordsman.

“What is it? Is it more exciting than the battle between the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva and Sect Master Lin?” The crowd was all ears.

“It is indeed.”

The swordsman muttered, “Not long ago in Yujing City, the sky suddenly turned dark with dense clouds and a fierce storm, followed by a thunderbolt that split the Qintian Platform in half….”

“A thunderbolt from the blue!?”

All present had a look of great alarm upon hearing this.

Thunder was considered a heavenly phenomenon, something that throughout history often heralded ominous signs.

Old Man Xiang’s step halted as he was about to enter the house.

“Could it be that it’s the Emperor…” the scholar contorted with worry.

“Such words should not be spoken out loud,” he was promptly silenced by someone nearby.

The swordsman continued, “I heard from the caravan people that it seemed to be related to a fortune-teller from the Jianghu trying to predict the fate of Great Yan Kingdom, and he perished as a consequence.”

“The kingdom’s fate!?”

Those present grew somber upon hearing this.

News had spread that the Great Yan Emperor was severely wounded, and even the common folk felt a shadow cast over their hearts, especially those near the borders.

With many caravans passing through this place, they had heard plenty about Houjin and knew too well how sharp its tiger’s claws were, which made them feel an ominous premonition.

The crowd began a lively discussion, each airing his views.

Old Man Xiang, however, fell silent.

At that moment, he felt as though an invisible knife had pierced his heart, leaving him gasping for breath.

For that instant, he felt completely out of place among those around him.

“Old Man Xiang, Old Man Xiang….”

Just then, Zhu Kai ran over excitedly, shouting as he approached, “Tofu He agreed, she said if you make the tea house her betrothal gift, she’ll agree.”

Zhu Kai’s voice instantly filled the air, and everyone around him was visibly delighted.

“This is truly a great joyous event.”

“Can’t believe Tofu He actually agreed.”

“We’ll have the wedding tomorrow, I’ll contribute three hundred copper coins!”

“Go on, what marriage? I say they should just head straight for the bridal chamber.”

“Hahaha!”

…..

They were all genuinely happy and full of blessings.

Zhu Kai looked at Old Man Xiang, puzzled, and said, “Old Man Xiang, what’s the matter with you?”

The others too turned their gaze towards Old Man Xiang, curious and concerned.

At that moment, Old Man Xiang remained silent, showing no signs of joy whatsoever.

The old man said to Zhu Kai, “You help me deliver another message.”

“What message?”

“Tell Tofu He that when I become the world’s first swordsman, I’ll come back to find her.”

Saying this, the old man walked towards the back room.

…..

At dusk in Yu State City.

Bits of golden sunlight sprinkled across the land, as if draping a light gauze over the entirety of Yu State City.

An Jing, carrying his medical kit, made his way to the clinic. He had visited five different locations that afternoon for consultations and now couldn’t help feeling somewhat tired.

Just as he turned the corner, a familiar figure appeared ahead.

It was none other than Song Nian from Wuliang Temple.

“Doctor An!”

Song Nian greeted An Jing with a salute.

An Jing smiled and asked, “Priest Song, where are you headed?”

Song Nian was quite a contrast to the female nuns of Wuliang Daoist Temple, coming across as very polite and respectful.”

Song Nian said, “My master sent me to distribute some notices and messages from Jianghu.”

“What messages?”

Upon hearing this, An Jing’s interest was piqued.

Distributing Jianghu messages indicated that the Zhenyi Sect clearly had significant plans.

Song Nian smiled and said, “This matter pertains to the Jianghu news. I wonder, Doctor An, have you ever heard of the Ghost Swordsman’s great reputation?”

“I’ve heard some,” An Jing nodded.

I have heard more than just some…

Song Nian slowly explained, “The great master has asked me to spread the word in Yu State City and to host a grand feast to invite the Ghost Swordsman to Wuliang Temple for a discussion.”

“Oh?”

An Jing blinked upon hearing this.

This high-ranking expert from the Zhenyi Sect clearly had ulterior motives for wanting to meet him. It could be due to the death of Qi Yun or the Daluo Heart Method. Regardless of the reason, he couldn’t possibly go to Wuliang Temple.

There is never a good banquet, as the saying goes.

Song Nian shook his head and sighed, “In my view, this matter seems quite mysterious.”

The death of Qi Yun had started to slowly spread, and no matter how you looked at it, the Ghost Swordsman was inextricably linked to it. How could he possibly go to Wuliang Temple?

Moreover, the Ghost Swordsman always appeared incognito; such a skilled individual obviously didn’t want to reveal his identity.

An Jing clasped his hands helplessly and said, “I know very little about matters of Jianghu, and I’m not very clear about them.”

“Knowing little of Jianghu matters is fortunate. Doctor An, you must have returned from your consultations, and it’s getting late. I need to return and report back so I won’t disturb you any longer.”

After bowing, Song Nian then went on his way.

As An Jing watched Song Nian’s retreating figure, he began to ponder. From the information in Song Nian’s words, Wuliang Temple must now have a high-ranking expert, which otherwise wouldn’t have warranted an invitation to him.

As for the banquet at Wuliang Temple, An Jing had no plans to attend.

“Wait, could it be that the black fate on me is because of the Zhenyi Sect?”

It dawned on An Jing, causing his brows to furrow immediately.

Given the current situation, only the Zhenyi Sect and the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva in Yu State City could pose a threat to him.

They say that the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva is about to leave…

“No, that’s not right. There was a grandmaster on Three Temple Mountain, and this black fate came to me after encountering Master Jiang. Could it be that Master Jiang is that mysterious grandmaster?”

An Jing felt as though he was on to something. “But that can’t be right either. Why would the grandmaster want to kill me? I should not have exposed my identity yet.”

If his identity had been exposed, the Earth Book would have given some indication.

Before he knew it, An Jing had returned to Jishi Hall and then sat by the counter, lost in thought.

Since Zhao Qingmei left, the clinic had become much quieter, though it was still bustling with people every day.

“Son-in-law, you must try this; I made it myself,”

Just then, Tan Yun hurried out from the backyard, “I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress this time.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing tensed up completely.

He saw Tan Yun carrying a plate with simple stir-fried greens, glistening with oil, which looked perfectly normal.

“This time, it actually looks quite good,”

An Jing looked on doubtfully, feeling somewhat baffled.

In recent days, Tan Yun had been practicing her culinary skills daily in the kitchen, but the dishes she cooked were atrocious, as if she inherently lacked the knack for it. Today, however, it seemed palatable.

Tan Yun, holding a pair of chopsticks, urged, “Son-in-law, taste it. It’s delicious.”

“Really?”

An Jing was skeptical.

“I’ve already tried it.” Tan Yun nodded earnestly.

“Well then, I’ll give it a try,”

An Jing took a deep breath, picked up the chopsticks, and cautiously picked up the greens. He didn’t rush to taste it but instead watched Xiao Heizi at his side. Seeing no unusual reaction from it, he finally relaxed.

It’s always best to be cautious in all matters.

An Jing did not take it lightly, but instead stuck out his tongue and licked it.

“Hmm!?”

Feeling the deliciousness on the tip of his tongue, he then took a small bite.

“Son-in-law, what are you doing?”

Tan Yun stared with wide eyes, her voice full of indignation.

“It’s really good indeed.”

After An Jing tasted it, he couldn’t help but his eyes lit up.

The dish tasted very good and also gave him a very familiar feeling.

“Of course, it is.”

Tan Yun immediately spoke with pride: “You also did not see who I am?”

Looking at her expression, there was quite the sense of raising her eyebrows in triumph,like a petty person succeeding…

“Is that so?”

An Jing curiously responded, “Why do I feel like I have eaten this dish before?”

“I learned this from the master chef at Wuyang tavern; it’s normal that you have tasted it before.”

Tan Yun seemed to suddenly remember something and said, “I have other dishes too, let me serve them now.”

Saying this, she hurriedly walked toward the backyard.

Little Black closely followed her like a shadow.

An Jing shook his head, and just then, he felt something unusual in his sleeve and took out the paper doll.

It turned out that the paper doll’s left hand moved, which meant that his wife was thinking of him.

An Jing subconsciously smiled lightly and also moved the paper doll’s left hand to respond to Zhao Qingmei.

Afterwards, he kept fiddling with the paper doll.

….

In Great Yan, on the official road, the night was as tranquil as water.

A carriage stopped nearby, and the coachman stood beside it respectfully, hardly daring to breathe.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Qingmei held the paper doll in her hand and her lips curled into a smile.

At that moment, the paper doll began clapping continuously, seemingly unable to stop.

Seeing this, Zhao Qingmei’s smile deepened.

After some time, she finally parted the curtain and stepped down.

“Sect Hierarch!”

The coachman promptly knelt down and spoke in a trembling voice.

At this moment, his heart surged like a tumultuous tide; the Sect Hierarch had actually married the doctor from Yu State City, no wonder there had been a city-wide search for this doctor from Jishi Hall before.

Realizing he might have learned something he should not know, his forehead began to bead with cold sweat even more.

“Relax, you won’t die.”

Zhao Qingmei spoke indifferently, “After all, we will need to return here in two months.”

Hearing this, the coachman breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Qingmei continued, “Next, if you get tired along the way, switch with other masters from Human Sect, switch horses if you’re tired; I need you to get back as quickly as possible. I do not want anyone to know that I am in this carriage. If the news leaks…”

The coachman quickly responded, “Sect Hierarch, rest assured, I can travel day and night without needing a replacement.”

“Very well, when we reach Dongluo Pass, there will be a significant reward.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded.

Hearing this, the coachman’s spirit was greatly lifted.

Although rumors indicated the trustworthy Sect Hierarch was cold-blooded and ruthless, she was also known for clear rewards and punishments. The significant reward mentioned by the Sect Hierarch would certainly be extraordinary.

The coachman then bowed deeply and said, “I am willing to go through fire and water for the Sect Hierarch, without hesitation.”

“I don’t need you to go through fire and water; just drive the carriage well, let’s get going.”

Zhao Qingmei said lightly, then boarded the carriage again.

“As you command!”

The coachman saw Zhao Qingmei getting into the carriage and then sat down in his place, lightly calling out, “Drive!”

……..

An Jing chuckled softly, slowly putting away the paper doll in his hand, and then stood up to look at the moonlight outside the door.

“I wonder where my wife has reached.”

According to his calculation, she must have already left Jiangnan Dao by now.

An Jing muttered to himself, preparing to close for the day; just then, a figure appeared at the door.

“Doctor An, hold on a moment!”

A man in his forties hurried in.

“You arrived just in time, I was about to close up.”

An Jing put down the wooden board he was holding and asked, “Are you here for medicine or for a consultation?”

He recognized the man; he was the manager of the Wuyang tavern.

The manager looked at An Jing with a difficult expression and said, “Doctor An, this time I am here neither for medicine nor to see a doctor.”

An Jing furrowed his brows and asked, “You’re not here for treatment, nor for medicine? Then you are….”

“It’s like this…”

The shopkeeper clenched his teeth and said, “This afternoon your maid came and packed up some dishes from my place, saying she would pay once delivered, but when my employee came in the afternoon, your maid said she would give it tomorrow…”

“Is there really such a thing?”

Hearing this, An Jing slightly raised his eyebrows.

He wondered why today’s meal tasted so familiar….

“You this shopkeeper are really dishonest!”

Just at that moment, Tan Yun walked out furiously, “Didn’t I say I would give you the money tomorrow? Can you really not wait even one night?”

“Woof woof woof woof!”

Little Black, upon seeing this, bared his teeth at the shopkeeper, showing a fierce expression.

He displayed what it’s called fighting under patron’s backing.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper immediately whispered, “We run a small business, aim for turnover but strictly no credit, Doctor An knows this…..”

“What turnover, it seems more like…..”

“Shut up!”

Tan Yun was about to speak, but An Jing quickly silenced her with a clear call, then turned to the shopkeeper, “Shopkeeper, how much is the total payment?”

The shopkeeper glanced at the nearly bursting Tan Yun, somewhat embarrassedly said, “A total of one hundred seventy-two copper coins, Doctor An, one hundred fifty copper coins will be fine.”

An Jing pulled out the money from his purse and said, “Here is two hundred copper coins, please keep it, shopkeeper. The remainder need not be returned, given that you had to come over personally.”

“This… this can’t be done.”

The shopkeeper shook his head and said, “Doctor An has been a regular for so long, how could I possibly do such a thing? That would ruin my reputation.”

An Jing smiled and said, “If that is the case, then tomorrow you can bring some more dishes for me, and we’ll include it in the total, and I’ll compensate you then.”

The shopkeeper eagerly replied, “Yes, yes, yes. Tomorrow I’ll have the kitchen prepare some of Doctor An’s favorite dishes.”

“It’s really trouble for you, shopkeeper.”

“It’s my disturbance, Doctor An, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Take care.”

An Jing watched as the shopkeeper from the Wuyang restaurant left, then slowly made his way back to Jishi Hall.

“Son-in-law….”

Tan Yun bowed her head, her voice very soft.

This was the first time she felt An Jing get angry, a feeling somewhat different from when facing Zhao Qingmei, and it made her even more anxious.

Little Black lay on the ground, licking his own fur, curiously looking at his owner.

An Jing sat down and asked, “Now tell me, what exactly happened?”

“I…I saw that recently every day you sit there very troubled, in a very bad mood, and even stay up late with the lamp on, I wanted to make something to eat to cheer you up.”

Tan Yun said, bowing her head even lower, almost burying it under waves of emotion and said aggrievedly, “But my cooking skills have improved slowly… so I had the restaurant send over some dishes pretending they were made by me.”

The term ‘improved slowly’ is not accurate…

An Jing couldn’t help but feel both amused and annoyed, “So you didn’t have the silver to pay them today, will you have it tomorrow?”

“No.”

Tan Yun shook her head, thinking to herself: I was planning to borrow some from Han Wenxin tonight.

However, she naturally couldn’t say this out loud.

“You ah.”

An Jing sighed.

Upon hearing An Jing sigh, Tan Yun became anxious and quickly said, “Son-in-law, don’t be angry, I won’t dare next time, no, there won’t be a next time.”

An Jing shook his head, staying silent.

“Son-in-law, don’t just stay silent.”

Tan Yun bit her lip and hastily added, “Or else scold me a few times, if that doesn’t vent your anger, you can hit me a few times too.”

“Hit you, how can I hit you?”

An Jing said in exasperation, “I’m hungry, let’s eat first.”

He was never really angry; to him, it seemed just a minor issue, and moreover, Tan Yun did it out of concern for him.

Tan Yun nodded repeatedly, sticking her tongue out and said, “Right, right, right. Son-in-law, you need to eat well to have strength. The dishes I made… I ordered are all your favorite dishes, including stir-fried okra, chive and egg, and sautéed lamb kidneys…”

Who said those were my favorites!?

An Jing mockingly threatened, “Let’s go eat first, and after eating, I’ll deal with you properly. Do you know the kind of torture that prisoners in jail undergo? That will be your fate.”

Tan Yun thought of something, her face turned red, and she whispered, “Son-in-law, you’re not going to use the whip, are you? That seems not to hurt…..”

Somehow, her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

Upon hearing this, An Jing stumbled, almost falling over.

…..

Shortly after, at the Dining Hall.

“Tan Yun, why is there only dishes? Isn’t there rice too?”

“Ah… I forgot to tell the employee.”

“….”