Chapter 474 - 288: A Good Show
Chapter 474: Chapter 288: A Good Show
The night rain fell without end.
Huan’er drove the carriage into Tingyu Pavilion.
As they neared the central courtyard, Cui Qingwu was roused from her deep thoughts by faint voices reaching her ears.
"...I’ve been saying it all along! As long as I’m a little more diligent, my Sword Dao is bound to improve."
"Before, I was just... lying low."
"That’s right, that’s the word! I... Chun Ying, what’s with that look? You dare to laugh at me?"
"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare."
"I’d think not... Hmm? Niu Shan, what are you laughing at?"
"Young Master, I wasn’t..."
"Not laughing? I clearly saw you grinning from ear to ear..."
Listening to Chen Yunfan’s boisterous voice from inside, Cui Qingwu could easily picture him.
’He’d be wearing a thin robe, his long hair tied back messily, his handsome face lit up with a triumphant expression. He’d be laughing and cursing as he tapped the tall and burly Niu Shan with the hilt of his sword.’
As she pictured the scene, Cui Qingwu couldn’t help but smile.
The unease and agitation she had felt after meeting the General dissipated significantly.
She tapped on the carriage wall, instructing Huan’er to stop, and stepped out.
Seeing the smile on her mistress’s face, Huan’er felt a wave of relief and drove the carriage toward the stables.
Just as before, Cui Qingwu held her Oil Paper Umbrella and walked alone through the covered walkway.
Chen Yunfan, having heard her approach, shot a look at Chun Ying and the others, straightened his clothes, and went to greet her.
"Qingwu, you went to a restaurant in such heavy rain?"
He had a strong suspicion that Cui Qingwu was busy with White Tiger Guard affairs, but since it wasn’t his place to interfere, he pretended not to know.
But to his surprise, Cui Qingwu shook her head. "I... I went to the White Tiger Guard."
Chen Yunfan let out a slightly surprised "oh." "The White Tiger Guard?"
’He hadn’t expected Cui Qingwu to openly admit her identity with the White Tiger Guard right now.’
’Even when he had revealed his Martial Arts Cultivation, she hadn’t said a word.’
’Why now?’
Cui Qingwu lifted her chin slightly, her tone a little smug. "I didn’t tell you, Brother Yunfan, but I’m now a White Tiger Guard Silver Banner Officer."
"My title is—Simurgh Phoenix."
"A Silver Banner Officer? Simurgh Phoenix? A fine name."
As Chen Yunfan spoke, he studied Cui Qingwu carefully, and a few doubts surfaced in his mind.
’She seems a little different from her usual self.’
"But you’re the great young lady of the Cui Family. Why would you join the White Tiger Guard?"
"It’s a long story..."
Of course, Cui Qingwu didn’t reveal the real reason. She just said it was an arrangement by her family’s elders for her to gain experience in the White Tiger Guard.
"...I was originally assigned to the Capital Prefecture, but since Brother Yunfan happened to be coming to Shu State, I followed."
Chen Yunfan hummed in acknowledgment, but he only believed about half of her story.
"So, the White Tiger Guard summoned you tonight... Did they give you an assignment?"
Cui Qingwu nodded, then shook her head. "There’s an assignment, but I don’t want to follow their orders."
Chen Yunfan let out a short laugh. "That sounds just like you."
"Like me? Does Brother Yunfan think I’m willful?"
"Mm, a little bit."
If Chen Yi were here, he would probably cover his face and pretend he didn’t know the man.
Any man with the slightest understanding of women would never be so direct.
But this was Chen Yunfan, and he had never been one to mince words.
Seeing him admit it so directly, Cui Qingwu’s face took on a look of mock indignation. "So that’s how awful I am in Brother Yunfan’s heart."
"Well, not quite..."
After exchanging a few more jokes, Chen Yunfan didn’t press her further about the White Tiger Guard’s assignment.
It was just as he had told Chen Yi—he didn’t dislike Cui Qingwu herself, he only resented the marriage alliance between the Chen and Cui families.
For some reason, he didn’t feel that such an alliance would benefit either family.
Cui Qingwu said no more, but a great weight had been lifted from her heart now that she no longer had to hide her White Tiger Guard identity from Chen Yunfan.
Her expression relaxed considerably.
After their conversation ended, she smiled and returned to the rear residence.
The curtain of rain pattered against her Oil Paper Umbrella with a steady DRIP-DROP.
Illuminated by a few lanterns, the droplets scattered like flower petals along the small path leading to the rear residence.
Chen Yunfan watched her silhouette disappear beyond the covered walkway, the smile on his face gradually fading.
After a moment’s thought, he called for Chun Ying.
"Has anything been happening in the Prefecture City lately?"
Chun Ying’s heart seized, thinking he had found out about her sneaking out a few days prior.
"Happening? It’s the same as always."
"There’s constant news about King Landu of the Poshisu Country and the Barbarian Race launching a major invasion at the border... However, this afternoon in the East Market, someone was saying that Lv Jiunan isn’t dead."
"Lv Jiunan isn’t dead?"
An image of Chen Yi surfaced in Chen Yunfan’s mind. ’Could the White Tiger Guard’s assignment for Cui Qingwu be related to Chen Yi...’ he wondered. ’To "Liu Wu"?’
After a moment of silence, as Chun Ying waited with some trepidation, Chen Yunfan gave his order: "Investigate all the shady characters in the city. See if anything is out of the ordinary."
"Also, Ning Yu... have him continue to follow her."
Chun Ying saw him gesture toward the rear residence and understood he meant Cui Qingwu. She let out a breath of relief and nodded.
"I’ll go make the arrangements right away."
"Wait."
Chen Yunfan stopped her, adding thoughtfully, "I want to send another letter to my father."
Chun Ying hesitated, but seeing his serious expression, she nodded again.
"I’ll go and ask about it shortly."
"Good..."
...
「Meanwhile.」
Chen Yi had just left the residence on Chuansi Street with Pei Guanli.
To be precise, it was the three of them walking through the dim, unlit rain, with him carrying the Barbarian youth Asutai.
He wore a black cloak and a bamboo hat, his face concealed by a black iron mask.
Asutai remained unconscious. Slung over Chen Yi’s shoulder, his hands and feet nearly scraped the ground.
It was easy to imagine just how tall he was.
Beside him, Pei Guanli was also dressed in Night Clothes. She stuck close to Chen Yi’s side, her eyes darting about everywhere.
Her expression was one of excitement.
"Sis— My lord, where are we going now?"