Keesokan harinya, Ding Songyan dan Xu Chang’an menyeberangi Jembatan Fengshui dan berjalan menuju Kuil Dangkang.
"Bantu aku mengurus masalah kecil hari ini," kata Ding Songyan tiba-tiba.
Jantung Xu Chang’an berdegup kencang seraya memaksakan senyum.
"Kakak Ding, silakan katakan."
Ding Songyan tersenyum.
"Bukankah kau masih bingung memilih balai bela diri mana yang akan kau masuki? Pergilah ke Balai Bela Didik Stone Pool hari ini. Cari tahu lebih banyak tentang tempat itu."
"Hanya itu?" Xu Chang’an agak terkejut.
Ini hanyalah rutinitas hariannya akhir-akhir ini. Bedanya, balai yang dimaksud kali ini adalah Stone Pool.
"Sudah kubilang itu masalah sepele," balas Ding Songyan dengan senyum tipis. "Jika ada yang memintamu menyampaikan pesan, ingat saja dan beritahu aku di malam hari. Terlalu banyak orang yang mengawasiku. Tidak nyaman bagiku untuk pergi sendiri."
Begitu pula sebaliknya, tidak nyaman bagi orang lain untuk mendekatinya secara langsung.
"Paham." Xu Chang’an diam-diam menghembuskan napas lega.
Setibanya di Kuil Dangkang, Ding Songyan langsung melihat Xiaoqing dalam balutan atasan putih dan rok hijau.
Ia terpaku.
Ia baru teringat akan sesuatu yang terlupakannya semalam. Ia seharusnya mengunjungi paman kedua Xiaoqing untuk menunjukkan keanehan tertentu melalui perilakunya. Namun, ia lupa di tengah jalan, tidak lama sebelum berpapasan dengan Ren Youyang.
Selain itu, ia tidak dapat mengingat pesan apa yang ia minta untuk disampaikan Xiaoqing kepada paman kedua gadis itu, atau apa rencana jelasnya sendiri sampai detik ini.
Apakah 'kenalan lama' Yan Changqing yang bertindak?
Setelah aku kembali dari kuburan massal, manusia-ngengat itu mundur dan digantikan oleh salah satu dalang utama untuk mengawasiku secara langsung?
Jika benar begitu, kemampuan mereka memanipulasi pikiran lebih hebat daripada Yan Changqing. Dulu, aku akan perlahan-lahan mengingatnya begitu meninggalkan situasi terkait. Kali ini aku hanya merasakan firasat samar bahwa ada yang tidak beres. Seluruh malam berlalu dengan beberapa kali pergantian tempat, dan butuh melihat Xiaoqing untuk memunculkan kembali sebagian ingatan... -
Lagipula, Yan Changqing dikurung di ruang bawah tanah kediaman Zhen. Ia hanya bisa menggunakan 'benih' yang telah diatur sebelumnya untuk memengaruhi pikirannya. Wajar jika ia tidak mampu mencapai hal semacam ini.
Namun, ini juga menunjukkan bahwa teknik tersebut kemungkinan besar tidak dapat menghapus ingatan yang bersangkutan, melainkan hanya menekan dan menyembunyikannya...
Saat pikiran-pikiran itu melintas di benak Ding Songyan, Xiaoqing berbalik dan menyadarinya.
Gadis itu tersenyum cerah dan melambaikan tangan.
Ding Songyan mengumpulkan fokusnya dan menuturkan kisahnya seperti biasa, melanjutkan alur cerita hingga percobaan pertama Xu Shilin yang gagal dalam menyelamatkan Nona Bai.
Satu episode lagi, mencakup percobaan penyelamatan kedua dan ketiga, dan Legenda Ular Putih akan berakhir dengan reuni keluarga.
Saat Ding Songyan mengumpulkan perak dan tembaga dari keranjang bambunya, Xiaoqing mendekat dan berbisik, "Aku disergap dalam perjalanan pulang ke Aula Tianyang semalam."
"Kau tidak apa-apa?" tanya Ding Songyan spontan.
Bahkan seseorang dengan latar belakang Xiaoqing pun diserang?
"Apa aku terlihat seperti sedang dalam masalah?" ucap Xiaoqing sambil tersenyum. "Kami hampir tidak sempat bertukar pukulan sebelum kusebut mereka mundur. Bahkan penjaga menara pengawas pun tidak sempat menyadarinya."
Ding Songyan mengamati ekspresinya, berniat menyelidiki lebih jauh, tetapi lupa apa yang ingin ia katakan.
Pada akhirnya, ia hanya bisa merangkumnya dalam satu kalimat.
"Rasanya ada yang tidak beres."
"Benarkah?" Xiaoqing merenungkan hal itu, kebingungan, namun tidak menemukan jawaban.
Ding Songyan teringat hal lain. Ia mengeluarkan koin tembaga yang sebelumnya sempat ia kirim ke alam baka dan berhasil ia ambil kembali.
"Nona Xiaoqing, aku tidak sengaja menemukan benda ini. Bisakah kau tebak untuk apa benda ini digunakan?"
Koin itu masih diselimuti korosi hijau, sangat kusam, dan terasa dingin saat disentuh.
"Koin yin-yang," jawab Xiaoqing sekilas. "Jika kau menguasai teknik yang sesuai, benda ini bisa digunakan saat memanggil dewa atau memerintah hantu. Jika kau punya cukup banyak, kau bisa terhindar dari serangan dengan menggunakannya sebagai uang jalan saat menemui hantu jahat di alam baka.
"Sebaiknya kau simpan benda ini di tubuhmu dan gunakan esensi darah serta energi vitalmu untuk menekannya. Jika tidak, benda itu akan menarik hal-hal najis ke rumahmu. Sebagian besar dari mereka tidak benar-benar bisa mencelakai manusia, tapi mereka mungkin mendatangkan kesialan bagi keluargamu."
Sebelum Ding Songyan sempat berterima kasih, gadis itu melirik sekeliling dan berkata, "Aku tidak bisa membantumu mengawasi penguntit hari ini. Tapi aku tetap akan mengunjungimu malam ini. Legenda Ular Putih sudah mendekati episode terakhir, kan? Aku harus membacanya duluan!"
Bisa juga. Aku sudah punya empat kelompok yang mengawasiku sekarang... Ding Songyan berterima kasih kepada Xiaoqing, menyantap semangkuk besar nasi tim di dekat sana, lalu berjalan menuju dermaga.
Sambil mencari keberadaan Si Buntal, ia melihat seorang lelaki paruh baya di depan sebuah gudang. Lelaki itu memiliki rambut dan janggut yang sepenuhnya putih, wajah kuno, bahu bidang, dan perawakan yang nyaris mengesankan. Ia memegang buku besar dan kuas, diapit oleh beberapa pelayan, tengah memeriksa barang-barang dan mencatat catatan.
Ia mengenakan jubah kain kudzu yang bagus dan topi Huayang. Cara jalannya memiliki wibawa bagaikan harimau yang sedang melangkah.
Ding Songyan merasa lelaki itu tidak asing, lalu teringat bahwa ia adalah salah satu pemain catur yang dilihatnya di geladak kapal menara pada kunjungan sebelumnya. Ada juga orang lain yang mengenakan topi kerudung kain kasual hitam.
Lelaki tua itu merasakan tatapan Ding Songyan dan menoleh.
Ding Songyan buru-buru menangkupkan tangan, mengisyaratkan bahwa ia tidak bermaksud menatap.
Lelaki tua itu tidak tersinggung. Ia tersenyum ramah dan kembali memeriksa persediaannya.
Ding Songyan berputar melewati gudang dan segera menemukan Si Buntal yang mencolok.
Dengan alasan permintaan tolong kakaknya, Si Buntal langsung berjalan menghampiri sang pengawas dan meminta izin dengan penuh keyakinan.
"Songyan, kau memang yang terbaik!" ucapnya berterima kasih kepada Ding Songyan dengan antusias.
Ding Songyan melambaikan tangannya. "Pergilah, Buntal."
Setelah berpikir sejenak, ia menambahkan sebuah pengingat, "Jangan bertindak berlebihan."
Jangan biarkan sisi beringasmu keluar.
Si Buntal menepuk dadanya sebagai jaminan.
"Aku tahu apa yang kulakukan. Ini bukan pertama kalinya bagiku!"
Sudah kuduga... Dan setelah itu, semua uang perak langsung diberikan kepada Ibu? Ding Songyan memerhatikan Si Buntal melangkah menuju kawasan hiburan Lorong Utara dengan kecepatan luar biasa.
Barulah setelah itu ia menuju ke kediaman Zhen, mengenakan penutup mata, menyusuri lorong-lorong, dan tiba di hadapan Yan Changqing.
Nyaris bersamaan, energi sejuk meresap ke dalam lautan kesadarannya, memadat menjadi sosok berjubah hijau cyan.
"Apakah terjadi sesuatu yang tidak biasa?" Yan Changqing membuka percakapan.
Ding Songyan sudah menyiapkan jawabannya.
"Setelah aku kembali dari kuburan massal, manusia-ngengat itu berhenti mengikutiku. Ren Youyang juga belum menemukan pemimpin atau ketua para ngengat.
"Semalam, aku pergi keluar dengan alasan mencari angin, tapi aku lupa apa tujuannya. Bahkan sampai sekarang, aku belum sepenuhnya mengingatnya."
Ia ingin menggunakan pengalaman Yan Changqing sebagai veteran jianghu untuk mengukur di ranah mana yang disebut "kenalan lama" ini berada.
Yan Changqing berjalan mondar-mandir dengan tangan di belakang punggung dan terkekeh pelan.
"Aku sudah tahu. Jangan khawatir. Jika yang datang adalah seorang Master Tertinggi Alam Langit-Manusia atau bahkan Sage Alam Platform Roh, situasinya sudah lama memburuk. Gertakan keluarga Zhen akan langsung ketahuan. Kekuatan yang dipinjam dari sumber eksternal tidak akan pernah bisa dikendalikan secara alami seperti milik sendiri. Sekte Roh Sejati tidak akan begitu saja menuruti apa pun yang dikatakan Zhen Qianfan."
Itu cukup melegakan... Kuharap penilaianmu akurat... Ding Songyan sedikit merasa santai.
Di permukaan, kekuatan resmi terkuat di Prefektur Dingjiang adalah Ketua Sekte Brightnight, sosok terkemuka di Alam Dharma. Jika seorang Master Tertinggi atau Sage sejati mengaduk-aduk air keruh ini, Ding Songyan tidak yakin pihak berwenang dapat menyelesaikannya dengan mulus.
Seolah merasakan kekhawatirannya, Yan Changqing berkata dengan tenang, "Jangan meremehkan Sekte Brightnight. Jika Formasi Pedang Pelindung Surgawi mereka memiliki dua Grandmaster sebagai simpul utamanya, ditambah praktisi luar biasa di ranah Perluasan Agung, itu sudah cukup untuk memaksa seorang tokoh kuat Alam Langit-Manusia mundur."
Lelaki tua itu lantas menambahkan, "Yang harus kau lakukan hari ini adalah membeli belati tajam. Bawalah bersamamu besok."
Membawa belati? Saraf Ding Songyan langsung menegang seketika.
The next day, Ding Songyan and Xu Chang’an crossed Fengshui Bridge and walked toward Dangkang Temple.
"Help me with a small matter today," Ding Songyan said suddenly.
Xu Chang’an’s heart clenched as he forced a smile.
"Brother Ding, go ahead."
Ding Songyan smiled.
"Aren’t you still deciding which martial hall to join? Go to Stone Pool Martial Hall today. Look into it more."
"That’s it?" Xu Chang’an was somewhat surprised.
This was just his daily routine lately. The only difference was that the hall in question was Stone Pool.
"I said it was something small." Ding Songyan smiled faintly. "If anyone asks you to pass along a message, just remember it and tell me in the evening. Too many people are watching me. It’s not convenient for me to go in person."
Nor was it convenient for others to approach him directly.
"Got it." Xu Chang’an quietly exhaled with relief.
Arriving at Dangkang Temple, Ding Songyan spotted Xiao Qing at once, in her white top and green skirt.
He was stunned.
He remembered what he had forgotten last night. He was supposed to visit Xiao Qing’s second uncle, to demonstrate certain abnormalities through his behavior. But he had forgotten partway there, not long before running into Ren Youyang.
Moreover, he could not recall what message he had asked Xiao Qing to convey to her second uncle, or what his own clear plan had been up to this moment.
Was it Yan Changqing’s ’old acquaintance’ who acted?
After I returned from the mass graves, the moth-men withdrew and were replaced by one of the masterminds to watch me personally?
If so, they’re better at thought manipulation than Yan Changqing. Before, I would gradually remember once I left the relevant situation. This time I only had a vague sense something was off. An entire night passed with multiple changes of scenery, and it took seeing Xiao Qing to bring back partial memories...
Then again, Yan Changqing is locked in the Zhen estate’s dungeon. He can only use the preset ’seed’ to influence my thoughts. It’s normal that he can’t achieve something like this.
But this also reveals that the art probably cannot erase the corresponding memories, only suppress and hide them...
As thoughts flashed through Ding Songyan’s mind, Xiao Qing turned and noticed him.
The girl smiled brightly and waved.
Ding Songyan gathered his focus and told his stories as usual, advancing the plot to Xu Shilin’s first failed attempt to rescue Lady Bai.
One more installment, covering the second and third rescue attempts, and The Legend of the White Snake would conclude with a family reunion.
As Ding Songyan collected the silver and copper from his bamboo basket, Xiao Qing moved closer and whispered, "I was ambushed on my way back to Tianyang Hall last night."
"Are you all right?" Ding Songyan blurted out.
Even someone with Xiao Qing’s background gets attacked?
"Do I look like something’s wrong?" Xiao Qing said with a smile. "We barely exchanged blows before I forced them to retreat. Even the watchtower sentries didn’t have time to notice."
Ding Songyan studied her expression, wanting to probe further, but forgot what he wanted to say.
In the end, he could only manage one sentence.
"I feel like something isn’t quite right."
"Really?" Xiao Qing pondered this, puzzled, but found no answers.
Ding Songyan remembered something else. He produced the copper coin he had previously sent into the netherworld and retrieved.
"Miss Xiao Qing, I happened to come across this item. Can you tell what it might be used for?"
The coin was still covered in green corrosion, extremely dull and was cold to the touch.
"An yin-yang coin." Xiao Qing glanced at it. "If you know the corresponding art, it can be used when summoning gods or commanding ghosts. If you have enough of them, you can avoid being attacked by using them as passage money when encountering malevolent ghosts in the netherworld.
"You should keep it on your person and use your lifeblood and viral energies to suppress it. Otherwise it’ll attract unclean things to your home. Most of them can’t actually harm people, but they might bring your family bad luck."
Before Ding Songyan could thank her, the girl glanced around and said, "I won’t be able to help you watch for tails today. But I’ll still visit you tonight. The Legend of the White Snake is reaching its final installment, right? I need to read it in advance!"
That works too. I already have four groups watching me now... Ding Songyan thanked Xiao Qing, ate a large bowl of braised rice nearby, then headed to the docks.
While scanning for Bull, he noticed an elderly man in front of a warehouse. The man had entirely white hair and beard, an ancient-looking face, broad shoulders, and a near-imposing frame. He held a ledger and brush, flanked by several attendants, inspecting goods and recording notes.
He wore a fine kudzu -cloth robe and a Huayang cap. His gait had the bearing of a tiger’s stride.
Ding Songyan found him vaguely familiar, then recalled this was one of the chess players he had seen on the tower ship’s deck during a previous visit. There was also another person who had worn a black gauze veiled hat.
The old man sensed Ding Songyan’s gaze and turned to look.
Ding Songyan quickly cupped his hands, indicating he had not meant to stare.
The old man took no offense. He smiled warmly and continued inspecting his inventory.
Ding Songyan circled past the warehouse and soon found the conspicuous Bull.
With his brother’s request for help as an excuse, Bull marched straight to the foreman and took his leave with complete confidence.
"Songyan, you’re the best!" he thanked Ding Songyan with eager gratitude.
Ding Songyan waved it off. "Go on, Bull."
After a moment’s thought, he added a reminder, "Take it easy."
Don’t let your violent side out.
Bull thumped his chest in assurance.
"I know what I’m doing. It’s not my first time!"
I figured as much... And afterward, all the silver goes straight to Mother? Ding Songyan watched Bull stride toward the North Lane pleasure quarter at remarkable speed.
Only then did he head to the Zhen estate, don the blindfold, wind through the passages, and arrive before Yan Changqing.
Almost simultaneously, cool energy descended into his sea of consciousness, coalescing into the figure in the cyan robe.
"Did anything unusual happen?" Yan Changqing opened.
Ding Songyan had his answer prepared.
"After I returned from the mass graves, the moth-man stopped following me. Ren Youyang hasn’t located the moth patriarch or moth matriarch either.
"Last night, I went out on the pretext of cooling off, but forgot what I intended to do. Even now, I haven’t fully remembered."
He wanted to use Yan Changqing’s experience as a jianghu veteran to gauge what realm this so-called "old acquaintance" had.
Yan Changqing paced with his hands behind his back and chuckled.
"I’m already aware. Don’t worry. If the one who came were a Heaven-Man Realm Supreme Master or even a Spirit Platform Realm Sage, the situation would have escalated long ago. The Zhen household’s bluffing would have been seen through immediately. Power borrowed from external sources can never be wielded as naturally as one’s own. The True Spirit Sect wouldn’t simply do whatever Zhen Qianfan tells them to."
That’s reassuring... I hope your assessment is accurate... Ding Songyan relaxed slightly.
On the surface, the strongest official force in Dingjiang Prefecture was the Brightnight Sect Master, a notable figure within the Dharma Realm. If a true Supreme Master or Sage were stirring these muddy waters, Ding Songyan was not sure the authorities could resolve things smoothly.
As if sensing his concern, Yan Changqing said calmly, "Don’t underestimate the Brightnight Sect. If their Celestial Guardian Sword Formation has two Grandmasters as its key nodes, supplemented by outstanding practitioners at the Great Proliferation Realm, it’s enough to force a Heaven-Man Realm powerhouse to retreat."
The old man then added, "What you need to do today is buy a sharp dagger. Bring it with you tomorrow."
Bring a dagger? Ding Songyan’s nerves instantly tightened.
"Bringing" it was not the difficult part. The Zhen household had never done a body search. The question was: bring a dagger for what?
"Senior, are we taking action tomorrow?" Ding Songyan asked gravely.
Yan Changqing chuckled and said, "Strategy is all about the real and the unreal. I cannot give you a definite answer either. If the timing is right, the unreal becomes real. If the timing is wrong, the real can switch to unreal.
"Are you silently cursing me, saying this leaves you unable to prepare? Just treat tomorrow as if you’re helping me escape, and prepare accordingly."
"Yes, Senior." That was exactly what Ding Songyan had been thinking.
The possible eruption of everything that’s problematic might only be one day away...
After narrating to the point where Xu Shilin and Xu Xian met but could not see each other, Ding Songyan concluded the day’s storytelling and left the Zhen estate as usual.
He listened to jianghu tales outside Dangkang Temple for a while, then spent three qian of silver and seventy copper coins on a sheathed dagger forged from fine steel.
By evening, he returned to Chengyu Lane and first knocked on Xu Chang’an’s door.
"Any news?" Ding Songyan asked as though making idle conversation.
Xu Chang’an shook his head.
"Nothing beyond training talk."
Has the Small Boat Gang just given up on Dingjiang Prefecture? Don’t they want revenge? Don’t they want to save face? From now on everyone in Ning Province’s martial world will know that when you get angry, it’s just bluster... Ding Songyan grumbled inwardly with some disappointment.
He could only silently root for the Small Boat Gang, hoping they simply did not want to fall for his tricks again and were secretly preparing to move against the Zhen household. After all, the conflict between the two gangs was officially registered. Legitimate combat was sanctioned.
Entering his home, the first thing Ding Songyan noticed was the refreshed and secretly radiant Bull, who was pretending to be quiet.
Bull split his mouth in a fierce but deeply grateful grin at his brother. The moment Liu Yuzao glanced over, he immediately dropped his head, the epitome of obedience.
Before bed, Ding Songyan helped his brother move the chests and lay out bedding.
"How much did you spend?" he asked casually.
Bull glanced furtively at the east wing and whispered back, "One tael and five qian ."
"That expensive?" Ding Songyan was rather taken aback.
Although he had never visited this world’s pleasure houses, he understood the purchasing power of silver. That price could probably hire someone accomplished in the refined arts like music and literature for emotional companionship. But Bull did not look like someone who valued such things. Not butchering the peony would already be impressive. Why bother playing music for a bull?
Bull grinned.
"I got seven. One couldn’t handle me."
"..." Ding Songyan’s eyes went round as he looked his brother up and down.
Is this even human?
Bull wore an expression of fond recollection. The murderous air about him seemed to have faded noticeably.
He’s quite happy, isn’t he... Meanwhile his little brother can’t find happiness at all. By this time tomorrow I might not even be alive... Ding Songyan stood, preparing to set the door bar.
Suddenly, his gaze swept downward. He saw a black-scaled serpent tail glinting with cold light slip from the cuff of Bull’s trousers, then retract in a flash.
Ding Songyan’s expression froze. He turned his body mechanically but normally, and fastened the door bar.
By the time he turned back, he had already silently moved the hazy "seed" in his sea of consciousness to both eyes.
The world sharpened instantly. In his vision, Bull’s feet were like horse hooves. Patches of coarse mane grew on his body. From his tailbone extended a half-length black-scaled serpent tail.
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