Childhood Friend or Destined Encounter? - Chapter 6

Yezi didn’t continue trying on clothes in the stall. After waiting about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, she figured the discussion between Feng Ya and the other woman was likely winding down, so she returned to the main hall.

“In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Eldest Miss Chu,” Feng Ya said, finishing her final sentence to Chu Mingzhu. She stood up and walked toward Yezi.

“Go on then, go on. We’ll gather again next time.” Chu Mingzhu waved her hand lazily. She pointed to the five outfits Yezi had placed back on the counter and addressed the shopkeeper waiting at the door: “You there, wrap these up for them.”

This reminded Feng Ya of her own needs. She mentally calculated the time it would take for her people to arrive for the rendezvous and, without hesitation, picked out three white robes from the side, stacking them on top of the other five. “Pack them all together,” she commanded, cutting off Yezi’s attempt to decline before she could even speak.

The shopkeeper was incredibly efficient. In no time at all, a neatly packed bundle was handed over to Feng Ya.

Once the two returned to the inn, Feng Ya explained her plan to Yezi in meticulous detail.

“In Pingyang City, the only ones capable of making so many people vanish without a trace are the members of the Baqi Pavilion. However, they are a mysterious lot. Instead of wearing ourselves out trying to find them, it’s better to let them come to us.”

“So, I’ve asked Chu Mingzhu to hire every storyteller in Pingyang to spread a bit of bait. We’ll let the Baqi Pavilion know that I have something they want.”

“When their people appear, I’ll use the excuse of a negotiation to sniff out their stronghold. I’ll keep them occupied with the bait while Chu Mingzhu’s forces slip into their nest to rescue the captives. If we run into any strange mechanisms or traps then, I’ll need your help. This way, we can ensure nothing goes wrong.”

Yezi looked at Feng Ya, her eyes shimmering at the thoroughness of the plan. Feng Ya, feeling quite smug, took this as a look of pure admiration.

“You’ve told me your entire plan without holding anything back?” Yezi felt a strange surge of emotion. They had only known each other for ten days, yet Feng Ya trusted her this much.

“You are my most important partner. If I don’t tell you, who would I tell?” Feng Ya looked at Yezi with a puzzled expression, as if she had just stated the most obvious fact in the world.

“Then why did you have me try on all those clothes earlier today?” Yezi asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“I just wanted to see you in different outfits. A girl your age should be dressed up beautifully, after all.”

It had to be said that Eldest Miss Chu was highly efficient. Within a single day, every storyteller in Pingyang City had taken on a new assignment.

Meanwhile, back at the “Somewhere” Inn, Feng Ya and Yezi sat at a corner table, listening to a storyteller with a folding fan vividly recounting Feng Ya’s “glorious deeds.”

“Rumor has it that the Master of the Baqi Pavilion has obtained the power of the Luoshu, making him a foe beyond any ordinary person’s reach!”

“But now, a young hero has emerged! I’m sure you’ve all heard her name: the famous eldest disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, Feng Ya!”

“They say Feng Ya joined the Cangxuan Sect as a child and was taken as a personal disciple by the Sect Master, who taught her everything he knew.”

“At fifteen, she entered the martial world and leveled the thirteen dens of the Black Wind Bandits with a single stroke of her Zhushui Sword.”

“At sixteen, she defeated the top young talents of every major sect to claim the title of the Youth Hero Competition champion.”

“At seventeen, she fought the Black and White Twin Terrors, who have been famous for thirty years, and held her own without falling behind.”

“At eighteen, she went into seclusion to study profound martial arts, rarely walking the world since then.”

“Now, at twenty-one, she is virtually peerless in the martial world!”

“If you wonder how she became so formidable at such a young age, opinions vary. But the most likely explanation is that the Hetu… is in her hands!”

“Her reappearance is bound to shift the balance of power and pull the Baqi Pavilion out by its roots!”

The storyteller spoke with such passion that his face turned bright red. After finishing the long speech, he quickly gulped down some tea to catch his breath.

The audience erupted in applause, seemingly hungry for more.

Yezi leaned over and whispered to Feng Ya, “Is this the storyteller you found? Blowing your horn so loudly it could wake the dead, is this even remotely reasonable?”

“As the protagonist, one must have a certain legendary quality. It caters to the audience’s tastes,” Feng Ya replied, taking a sip of tea with an expression as composed as her voice.

“But how do I remember you being heavily injured when we first met?” Yezi retorted ruthlessly.

Without waiting for an answer, Yezi pressed on: “So, are those stories he just told actually true?”

“The events are real, they’ve just been given a bit of ‘dramatic processing’.” Feng Ya popped a peanut into her mouth and chewed it with great seriousness.

“Dramatic processing? Like the part about leveling thirteen bandit dens at fifteen?”

“It was the bandit chief’s wedding day. All the guards were in the main hall, and the entire camp had drunk themselves into a stupor. I slipped in and just tied the chief up.”

“What about winning the Hero Competition at sixteen?”

“I was fighting old friends. They said if they won, they’d have to listen to the elders lecture them for weeks, and the prizes weren’t that interesting. So, we drew lots, and I was the one chosen to go up.”

“And the fight with the Twin Terrors at seventeen?”

“They lost a bet to me. I tricked them into agreeing that we wouldn’t use internal energy, otherwise, word would get out that they were bullying a junior.”

“Seclusion at eighteen?”

“I went out once and was injured by someone who came out of nowhere. My master said that from then on, I shouldn’t just throw my name around. I needed to keep a low profile to maintain a sense of mystery.”

“You really are something,” Yezi said, wide-eyed. she reached out with her chopsticks to grab a peanut to steady her nerves, only to find the dish was already empty. She pulled her chopsticks back gloomily. Still worried, she asked, “You want to lure them out, but this story is so ridiculous, will the Baqi Pavilion actually believe it?”

“When it comes to the Hetu and the Luoshu, they would rather believe a lie than risk missing the truth. Besides, every word he said was true, except the part about the Hetu being in my hands.” Feng Ya turned her chopsticks toward the dried tofu.

“I’ve heard the historical legends he mentioned, but do you even know about the Baqi Pavilion wiping out the Duni clan twelve years ago? I grew up hearing that the Duni clan was just a myth. How could you possibly know about that?” Yezi was now a bundle of curiosity, failing to notice that the second dish was almost empty too.

“It was a logical deduction based on the Baqi Pavilion’s usual style. A story needs a complete internal logic to feel rich and whole.” A dark glint flashed in Feng Ya’s eyes, vanishing in an instant. She set down her chopsticks. “I’m done. Let’s go.”

As Feng Ya stood to leave, Yezi finally noticed the empty plates on the table. “You really didn’t leave me a single bite!”

The martial world is never short of excitement or gossip. With a little artificial push, news that Feng Ya held the Hetu spread through every teahouse and tavern in Pingyang City within two days.

On the second day, Feng Ya publicly revealed her identity. She took Yezi to the most crowded parts of the city to enjoy themselves, acting very flashy to make sure the Baqi Pavilion could find her. Meanwhile, Chu Mingzhu’s people lay in ambush, watching for any sign of movement.

Currently, Feng Ya and Yezi were on the top floor of Laifeng Restaurant, the largest inn in Pingyang. They sat by the window, where a simple turn of the head revealed the lively scene of sword dances and lion performances below.

To make up for the “not a single peanut left” incident, Feng Ya had specifically ordered several of Laifeng Restaurant’s signature dishes for Yezi to try. She was the host, but Eldest Miss Chu was footed the bill.

Feng Ya placed a piece of Fengyang Stuffed Tofu into Yezi’s bowl. “I know you love tofu. While the skills here aren’t quite as exquisite as mine, it has its own unique flavor.” She didn’t miss the chance to squeeze in a bit of self-praise.

The tofu in the dish was a creamy yellow, coated in sauce and garnished with green onions. Yezi didn’t argue with Feng Ya’s strange boast. She followed her heart and took a bite; it was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and perfectly sweet and sour.

Seeing Yezi eat with satisfaction, Feng Ya felt happy as well. She pushed a ceramic jar of food that looked like fine vermicelli toward Yezi. “Try this Wensi Tofu too. It’s one of the shop’s great specialties.”

Yezi looked at the contents of the white ceramic jar. The tofu threads were as fine as hair, unfurling in the clear soup like a mist. It looked like a Chinese landscape painting, almost too beautiful to ruin.

Seeing Yezi hesitate, Feng Ya simply scooped up a spoonful and held it to Yezi’s lips. Action preceded thought; the soft, clean flavor spread across Yezi’s tongue, melting the moment it touched her palate.

One tasted the food while the other enjoyed the feeding, both finding their own pleasure. However, this happiness didn’t last long. Before Yezi could fully swallow her fifth piece of stuffed tofu, a set of footsteps approached them.

“Heroine Feng certainly lives a leisurely life. You’ve given us quite a hard time finding you.” The newcomer wore long grey robes and held a tobacco pipe. He was smiling, but his tone held no warmth. This man was Grey, the Guardian of the Black Tortoise for the Baqi Pavilion.

I’ve put myself in the most obvious place possible, and you still complain about it being hard? Feng Ya complained inwardly, though she remained expressionless.

Seeing that Feng Ya didn’t respond, Grey had to continue the act on his own. “Heroine Feng went to such great lengths to lure us here, surely she has something to say. Why don’t we… step aside to talk?”

The crowd here was indeed too thick for business. Satisfied that things were progressing as she had designed, Feng Ya followed Grey’s group into a private room. As for Yezi, who had been with Feng Ya all along, Grey didn’t pay her much mind.

The waiter added tea for everyone and left. Despite it being top-grade Longjing, no one in the room had any intention of drinking it.

“Honest people don’t use riddles. We’ve heard the Hetu is in your hands, Heroine Feng. My Master wishes to borrow it for a look.” Grey spoke directly and rudely. His pipe held no tobacco, yet wisps of smoke drifted from it.

Feng Ya gripped her Zhushui Sword, circulating her sword qi to protect herself and Yezi. Though young, she showed no fear against a veteran like Grey. She replied composedly, “A treasure like the Hetu is not something I would carry with me. I’ve been busy lately and can’t quite recall where I put it. I’ve long heard that the Baqi Pavilion’s designs are full of celestial mystery and clever mechanisms. I’ve always wanted to see them. If I’m lucky enough to visit, perhaps my mood will improve and I’ll remember where it is.”

“Then let us show you.” The moment the words left his mouth, Grey’s pipe was thrust before Feng Ya’s eyes. Colorless, odorless smoke spiraled into her nostrils before she could react.

Feng Ya’s consciousness blurred instantly. She muttered, “You… how… so unsportsmanlike…” and fainted.

Yezi couldn’t escape either and was forced to inhale the smoke. Before losing consciousness, her final thought was: So, in your plan, you expected these people to play fair?

When Feng Ya regained consciousness, she was in a dim, small room. Her limbs were tied, and every sharp object she had, including her Zhushui Sword, had been taken.

Feng Ya sat up and looked around. Aside from a few bundles of hay and some stones on the ground, there was nothing. It looked like a temporary storage closet.

With her hands tied behind her, she hopped over to the still-unconscious Yezi and nudged her awake with her shoulder.

Yezi woke up in a daze, looking at their surroundings in silence, seemingly deep in thought.

Feng Ya, having understood their current predicament, spoke up to comfort her: “This… the process of the plan hit a small snag, but fortunately, the result is the same. We have successfully infiltrated the Baqi Pavilion’s territory.”

Successfully been kidnapped into their territory, Yezi corrected in her head.

Seeing that Yezi still hadn’t said a word, Feng Ya assumed the young girl’s nerves were failing her. She continued, “Have you read any novels? The protagonist of a story always goes through setbacks and hardships to achieve anything. Smooth sailing is for side characters. Protagonists like us have to use our wit to overcome these obstacles, like this…”

As Feng Ya spoke, she didn’t stay idle. She picked up two stones and rubbed them together, hoping to start a fire. However, after several attempts, the stones showed no sign of life. She sighed, changing her tune: “Sometimes, setbacks come one after another, just like these two stones that won’t spark.”

Yezi took the stones from Feng Ya’s hands and flipped one of them over. She struck them together, and with a sharp clack, a flame sprouted.

With her lecture interrupted, Feng Ya watched wide-eyed as Yezi caught the flame on a piece of straw, burned through the knots on her wrists, and nimbly untied the restraints for both of them.

The air fell into a strange, eerie silence. Feng Ya felt that as the elder, she should take the initiative to break the tension. She searched for something to say. “Speaking of which, as a protagonist, this is actually the first time I’ve been kidnapped.”

“I can tell.”

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