Chapter 304

Chapter 304: In the End, We Can’t Go Back

In the end, they still couldn’t go back.

Xia Ming Xia thought: [I can understand Han Lian Qiao’s difficult choice-my reputation is bad, after all.]

But she also thought: [I don’t believe I did anything wrong, and I’m not as filthy as outsiders say. I don’t want to change who I am, and I don’t want to change my ideals.] At the same time, she understood Han Lian Qiao wasn’t wrong either: [The world is like this. It’s normal for people to seek advantage and avoid harm.] What felt wrong was how the days when they supported each other, when she cheered herself on, now seemed like flowers in a mirror and the moon in water-pretty, but not real. It all felt like one big dream. Afterward, it was only that she woke up and came back to real life.

After a while, the roadblock was finally cleared. The Marquis Wu’an heir apparent personally inspected the landslide. Once he was sure it was safe, he told the convoy to move on.

After the carriages passed the slide, they stopped again. From outside came the heir apparent’s voice: “Miss, this subordinate has something to report.”

Yu Zhi Yi understood at once: [They must have found the trick behind the slide-and about that short arrow just now.]

She stepped down from the carriage. The Marquis Wu’an heir apparent walked up and lowered his voice, saying: “We found signs of people moving in the mountains. The landslide was likely man-made. As for the short arrow, Lu Qiang followed its path just now, but the tracks were wiped out halfway.”

With a guilty face he added: “I handled this poorly; please punish me, Official Yu.”

Yu Zhi Yi had expected as much, so she wasn’t angry, saying: “This isn’t your fault. We’re strangers here, and it’s our first time in this area. Compared to people who’ve lived here for decades, we don’t know the land. Losing the trail is normal.”

That reason might work for others, but not for the Marquis Wu’an heir apparent. He was a perfectionist who never whitewashed failures. To him, success was success, and failure was failure.

He said in a steady voice: “Lord, rest easy. After I escort you home, I’ll bring men back to scout this area. I believe nothing in this world leaves truly no trace. If it does, that only proves it was innocent. As long as someone did it, some mark remains.”

Yu Zhi Yi glanced at him, thoughtful, then said: “If you insist on coming back, fine…” She took out several slips of talisman paper and handed them over, saying: “If you return, bring these with you. Remember-no matter who you bring, give that person a slip too.”

The heir apparent blinked, stunned. For a heartbeat, his iron sense of duty almost loosened. Then he accepted the talisman paper, saying: “Thank you, lord.”

Even though she had been back less than half a month, Yu Zhi Yi had already deduced parts of the truth from the clues she had. But deductions didn’t count; you needed witnesses and physical evidence. And her chain of logic still had a few missing links.

They returned to Mount Ming.

No one in the Jiang family complained about Yu Zhi Yi bringing one more person back. Jiang Yu Chuan and his wife said nothing, and Jiang Liu Yi had no objections either. It was the first time she had ever brought a friend home, and they were delighted.

As for that friend’s reputation, they honestly found the rumors baffling. As a doctor, saving lives is her duty-should she refuse just because the patient is a different gender? If so, how many women would die in this world? After all, there are far more male doctors than female doctors. Among a hundred doctors, there might not even be one woman.

Xia Ming Xia had been worried that Yu Zhi Yi’s parents wouldn’t like her. Yes, Second Master Jiang’s name was always good, but many people who mocked her were also famous “heroes.” Seeing the couple’s calm faces and sincere eyes, she finally relaxed.

Yu Zhi Yi wasn’t surprised. She could feel her birth parents were broad-minded. [If they couldn’t accept Xia Ming Xia, I’d just take her to the commandery seat and find a place for her to stay for now. I brought her here; I won’t let her be wronged.] Luckily, there was no need for her backup plan.

Though Xiao Qing Xuan had been muddle-headed for years, before that she had been a known beauty and heroine of the martial world. Her heart was open, and she understood better than most how hard it is for women to stand on their own-especially women who “break the rules.” She had been such a woman herself. So she felt a tender, kindred pity for Xia Ming Xia. When she heard Xia Ming Xia would be staying in Willow Garden for a while, she ordered at once to ready a courtyard.

The spot was good. Though it was a guest yard, it wasn’t far from the masters’ residences. In particular, it was only a short walk from Yu Zhi Yi’s yard.

After settling Xia Ming Xia, Yu Zhi Yi asked her to rest, then called Jiang Liu Yi to her parents’ room. She rarely made a matter so formal; everyone’s hearts tightened.

Jiang Liu Yi asked softly: “Sister, did something happen?”

The Jiang Clan still didn’t know what had happened at Juxian Manor, so they were nervous, afraid she’d been bullied.

Yu Zhi Yi said evenly: “Something did happen.” She gave a short account of Juxian Manor, and then about the landslide and the arrow shot at their carriage. She could feel it: [All of this was aimed at me.]

When they heard the stable had collapsed and dozens had died, the Jiang family members all grew pale-shocked, scared, but also thankful they were safe. When they learned both the landslide and the arrow were man-made, they immediately understood: both were aimed at Yu Zhi Yi.

Jiang Yu Chuan slapped the table, saying: “Outrageous! I’ve stayed off the roads of the martial world for a while, and they’ve forgotten my temper. Dare to touch my daughter-seeking death!”

Though he had cultivated quietly on Mount Ming these years, it didn’t mean his temper had been smoothed away. He had never been a gentle, jade-like young lord. He still hadn’t settled accounts with the one who stole his wife’s soul, and now someone reached for his daughter-did they think he was made of clay?

Jiang Liu Yi, usually mild and elegant with a faint smile, let the corners of his lips flatten; his eyes turned as cold as a deep pond. He said, steady and calm: “These days, sister should rest well on the mountain; in a few days, I’ll take you to Tian’an Commandery to relax.” As for these next few days… they would be used to settle accounts. He would make everyone who bullied his sister pay a price.

Yu Zhi Yi blinked, then said: “Uh, I can handle it myself. What I really want to say is this: I think someone is targeting the Martial Alliance-using mystic arts.”