Chapter 563 - 313: Open!
Chapter 563: Chapter 313: Open!
The questions posed by Gentle were increasingly difficult.
How to determine if one likes someone... is this really a question a man should answer?
As Chu Qing pondered deeply, he heard Gentle whisper:
"What is liking, anyway?"
Chu Qing smacked his lips:
"Why don’t you ask your Sister Wu later?"
"Mm."
Gentle nodded and didn’t overly obsess over it. She often bursts with curiosity about certain things.
When that curiosity peaks, she will persistently dwell on it until her curiosity is fully satisfied, and only then will she calm down and return to her original state.
But since Chu Qing couldn’t provide an answer, she wouldn’t stubbornly insist he respond.
Moreover, Chu Qing had pointed her in the right direction, so she thought she might as well ask Sister Wu later.
She thought about it as she finally managed to put on Han Tingting’s clothes properly.
She helped gather some gold and silver items and brought along her personal weaponry.
Then she opened the tunnel, sneaked forward along the path, and stealthily exited the Small Cold Valley.
Having exited, they arrived at a stream.
The surroundings seemed perilous and were rarely tread by people.
After determining the direction, Chu Qing, Gentle, and Han Tingting returned to Han Qiuyuan’s burial site.
Chu Qing sent Gentle to summon Su Ningzhen, while he waited there.
In hardly any time, Su Ningzhen arrived as invited.
Seeing Chu Qing sitting under a tree with a young lady beside him, he couldn’t help but be surprised:
"Is this... the eldest daughter of Small Cold Valley?"
Not long ago, Chu Qing had introduced Su Ningzhen and Gentle to Han Tingting, so Su Ningzhen wasn’t likely to forget.
Chu Qing nodded and glanced at Su Ningzhen:
"Help me with something, and afterward... perhaps I can teach you a Martial Arts skill."
Su Ningzhen’s expression changed, and he immediately said:
"Go ahead."
"You don’t need to attend the gathering at Small Cold Valley. For the next few days, stay with Miss Han here.
"Take good care of her, and don’t neglect her.
"When the gathering at Small Cold Valley ends, you can let her leave.
"But before that, no matter what, make sure no one finds you both."
Chu Qing slowly spoke, stating his requirements and conditions clearly.
Su Ningzhen clasped his hands in agreement:
"Alright, I agree."
Chu Qing stood up:
"After the matters at Small Cold Valley are settled, you can find me to fulfill my promise."
With that said, he ignored Su Ningzhen further and walked away.
Only when it was certain that Chu Qing had indeed left did Su Ningzhen finally breathe a sigh of relief. When Gentle said Chu Qing was waiting for him here, it made him quite anxious.
The anxiety was not about what Chu Qing would do to him, but the fact that no matter what Chu Qing did, he couldn’t resist.
That’s the truly frightening part.
Luckily, Chu Qing only made this request and promised to teach him a Martial Arts skill. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t a bad deal for him.
Approaching Han Tingting, he picked her up, determined the direction, and leaped away.
Since Chu Qing said that no one should find them, he must find the most hidden place to hide. After all, the gathering at Small Cold Valley would start in a few days, and they just needed to endure until then.
...
...
Returning to their previous resting spot, he saw Wu Qianhuan and the others meditating. Yu Shiliu was curled up asleep nearby.
Liu Qingyan was startled awake and looked behind Chu Qing, somewhat puzzled:
"Why hasn’t she returned?"
"I asked her to help me with something."
Chu Qing replied:
"Once she finishes the task, she will return."
"Oh."
Liu Qingyan nodded, looking at Chu Qing, hesitating to speak.
Chu Qing smiled:
"Do you want to ask me something?"
Liu Qingyan nodded openly:
"Your life is shrouded in mystery; it inevitably piques curiosity."
"Feel free to ask."
Chu Qing sat down beside Wu Qianhuan, leaning against the tree trunk:
"But I can’t guarantee I’ll answer all your questions."
Liu Qingyan’s eyes lit up immediately:
"Han San is a false name, right? You’re not Han San. Who are you really?"
"Why do you say Han San is a false name?"
Chu Qing looked surprised.
"The name is too obscure...
"Yet your martial arts skills are extraordinarily high.
"With your abilities, I wouldn’t say you rule the martial world, but you must already have a reputation.
"But whether in Lingbei or South Ridge, I’ve never heard of a top master named Han San... so I suspect it’s an alias."
"You’re right."
Chu Qing nodded:
"I’m not Han San, and they aren’t Han Si or Han Wu."
"Then who are you really?"
Liu Qingyan looked at Chu Qing.
But Chu Qing shook his head:
"I can’t tell you that, but once we’re at Celestial Sound Mansion, you’ll know my identity."
Chu Qing had indicated earlier that he wouldn’t answer all questions, so not getting an answer wasn’t particularly disappointing.
It’s just curious... why would they discover his identity at Celestial Sound Mansion?
This person is going to Celestial Sound Mansion to heal his beloved, but if that’s all, it wouldn’t seem likely to expose his identity.
Unless... he has other important tasks at Celestial Sound Mansion?
And this task would expose his true identity.
Upon this thought, Liu Qingyan felt invigorated:
"Do you have other matters at Celestial Sound Mansion?"
Chu Qing looked at her, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his eyes:
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"Delivering a letter."
"To whom?"
"Your father."
"Who wrote the letter?"
"Not telling you."
"..."
Liu Qingyan felt momentarily frustrated, casting a somewhat annoyed glance at Chu Qing: