The next day, Ding Songyan and Xu Chang'an crossed Fengshui Bridge and walked toward Duokang Temple.
"Do me a small favor today," Ding Songyan said suddenly.
Xu Chang'an's heart skipped a beat, and he forced a smile. "Tell me, Second Brother Ding."
Ding Songyan smiled faintly. "Aren't you hesitating over which martial arts school to choose? Go to Shichi Martial Arts School today and get a better feel for it."
"Just that?" Xu Chang'an was somewhat surprised.
Wasn't that just his daily routine lately? The only catch was that the school was named Shichi.
"I did say it was a small favor," Ding Songyan said with a slight smile. "If anyone asks you to pass along a message, remember it and tell me tonight. Too many eyes are on me, so it isn't very convenient for me to go over."
Nor was it convenient for others to approach him.
"All right." Xu Chang'an quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon arriving at Duokang Temple, Ding Songyan immediately spotted Miss Xiaoqing in her plain blouse and green skirt.
He froze for an instant.
He remembered what he had forgotten the previous night: he had intended to visit Miss Xiaoqing's second uncle to drop subtle hints about certain matters, yet halfway there, he had completely forgotten about it, shortly before running into Ren Youyang.
What was more, even now, he could not recall what words he had wanted Miss Xiaoqing to convey to her second uncle, nor what his clear plan had been.
*Did Yan Changqing's 'old acquaintance' make a move?*
*After I returned from the mass burial ground, the 'moth person' withdrew, replaced by one of the masterminds keeping an eye on me in person?*
*If so, in the art of influencing one's thoughts, he is far more formidable than Yan Changqing. Before, I gradually remembered things as soon as I left the relevant scene. This time, I only had a vague intuition, and it took an entire night, passing through several different settings, until I saw Miss Xiaoqing for parts of the memory to surge back...*
*Then again, Yan Changqing is locked in Zhen Manor's dungeon and can only influence my thoughts through a preset 'seed.' It makes sense that he couldn't accomplish something like this.*
*Still, this also shows that the technique probably cannot erase memories entirely—it can only suppress and conceal them...*
As these thoughts flashed through Ding Songyan's mind, Xiaoqing turned and saw him.
The young woman broke into a bright smile and waved at him.
Ding Songyan composed himself and began telling stories on open ground as usual, progressing the narrative to Xu Shilin's first failed attempt to rescue Lady White Snake.
In just one more session, covering the second and third rescue attempts, *The Legend of the White Snake* would come to its conclusion with a joyous family reunion.
As Ding Songyan gathered the silver and copper coins from the bamboo tray, Xiaoqing leaned in and said in an undertone, "Someone ambushed me when I was heading back to Tianyang Guildhall last night."
"Are you all right?" Ding Songyan blurted out.
Someone would dare attack Miss Xiaoqing, given her background?
"Do I look like anything happened to me?" Xiaoqing said with a grin. "We just traded a few quick blows, and I forced him back. Even the people atop the watchtower didn't have time to notice the commotion."
Ding Songyan observed her expression, wanting to test the waters, but forgot what he meant to say.
In the end, all he could muster was, "I feel like something is a bit off."
"Is that so?" Xiaoqing pondered with a puzzled frown, unable to grasp his meaning.
Ding Songyan recalled another matter and brought out the copper coin he had sent into the Netherworld and retrieved earlier. "Miss Xiaoqing, I came across this object by chance. Could you take a look and see what it does?"
The copper coin remained encrusted in verdigris, remarkably dull and gray, cold to the touch.
"A yin-yang coin." Xiaoqing glanced at it. "If you know the corresponding techniques, it can be used to summon deities and command spirits. If you have enough of them, they can serve as toll money when encountering vicious ghosts in the Netherworld, keeping you safe from attack.
"You'd best keep it on your person and suppress it with your vitality and yang qi. Otherwise, it will draw unclean things to your home. Most of them can't harm anyone, but they might bring your family bad luck."
Before Ding Songyan could thank her, the girl looked left and right and said, "I won't be able to help you watch for tailers today, but I'll come find you again tonight. Isn't *The Legend of the White Snake* reaching its final chapter? I have to read it in advance!"
*That's fine too. I already have four separate groups watching me now...* Ding Songyan thanked Miss Xiaoqing, ate a large bowl of braised rice nearby, and headed toward the docks.
While looking around for Ding Daniu, he noticed an elderly man standing before a warehouse. The elder had a full head of white hair and beard, a rugged, antique countenance, broad shoulders, and a towering, near-burly frame. Flanked by several attendants, he held an account ledger and a writing brush, counting goods and making entries from time to time.
He wore a fine linen straight-robe and a Huayang cap, moving with the commanding gait of a dragon or tiger.
Ding Songyan found him somewhat familiar, then remembered that when he had come to the docks earlier, he had seen this very man playing chess on the deck of a riverboat, accompanied by someone in a black gauze veiled hat.
Sensing Ding Songyan's gaze, the elder turned his head and looked over.
Ding Songyan hurriedly cupped his hands in a polite greeting, showing he had not intended to pry.
The old man took no offense, offering a genial smile before continuing to tally the goods.
Ding Songyan walked around the warehouse and soon found the conspicuous Ding Daniu.
Armed with the excuse that his younger brother needed his help, Ding Daniu approached the overseer with righteous confidence and asked for leave.
"Erlang, you're the best!" he said, thanking Ding Songyan with eager gratitude.
Ding Songyan waved a hand. "Go on, Big Brother."
After a moment's thought, he made a point to add, "Take it easy."
*Don't go letting your violent streak run wild.*
Ding Daniu thumped his chest and promised, "I know! It's not like it's my first time!"
*I knew it... And after that, every copper was handed over to Mother?* Ding Songyan watched Ding Daniu sprint toward Beili Ward with vigorous strides.
Only then did he head to Zhen Manor. After donning the black blindfold and taking several twists and turns, he arrived where Yan Changqing was kept.
Almost immediately, a cool sensation descended into his sea of consciousness, materializing into the figure clad in a blue scholar's robe.
"Did you encounter anything strange?" Yan Changqing asked.
Ding Songyan had already prepared his response: "After returning from the mass burial ground, the 'moth person' stopped tailing me, nor did Ren Youyang find the whereabouts of the 'moth father' or 'moth mother.'
"Last night, I went out for a walk under the pretext of cooling off, but I forgot what I intended to do. Even now, I haven't fully remembered."
He wanted to rely on this seasoned veteran's experience to gauge what realm his so-called "old acquaintance" had reached.
Yan Changqing paced with his hands behind his back and gave a faint laugh. "I see. You needn't worry. If a grand master of the Heaven-Man Realm or even a Perfected One of the Spirit Terrace Realm had arrived, things wouldn't be as they are now. Zhen Manor's bluff would have been seen through long ago. How could power borrowed from external objects be wielded as effortlessly as one's own limbs? The Zhenling Sect and the others wouldn't simply dance to Zhen Qianfan's tune."
*That's good to hear... I hope your assessment is accurate...* Ding Songyan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
On the surface, the strongest official power in Dingjiang Prefecture was the sect master of the Xiaoming Sect, a prominent figure in the Dharma Realm. If a grand master or Perfected One were truly wading into these murky waters, Ding Songyan had no idea whether the authorities could resolve the matter smoothly.
Seeming to sense his concern, Yan Changqing said in an even tone, "Don't underestimate the Xiaoming Sect. If their Tiangang Sword Formation has two grandmasters serving as formation eyes, supported by exceptional talents of the Dayan Realm, it is enough to repel the Heaven-Man Realm."
The old man then changed the subject: "What you need to do today is buy a sharp dagger and bring it here on your person tomorrow."
*Bring a dagger?* Ding Songyan's nerves tightened instantly.
"Bringing" it was not difficult; Zhen Manor never searched him. The question was, what was the dagger for?
"Senior, are we taking action tomorrow?" Ding Songyan asked in a low voice.
Yan Changqing gave a soft chuckle. "The art of stratagem is woven from truth and falsehood; I cannot give you a definitive answer. When the timing is right, the false becomes true; when the timing is wrong, the true turns false.
"Are you inwardly complaining about me, saying this leaves you with no way to prepare? Just prepare as though you are helping me break free tomorrow."
"Understood, Senior." That was precisely what Ding Songyan had been thinking.
*The crisis might erupt in just one day...*
After narrating up to Xu Shilin and Xu Xian crossing paths without recognizing each other, Ding Songyan concluded his storytelling for the day and left Zhen Manor as usual.
He listened to some jianghu anecdotes outside Duokang Temple for a while, then spent three tenths of a tael of silver plus seventy copper coins to purchase a sheathed dagger forged from fine steel.
By dusk, he returned to Chengyu Lane and first knocked on the gate of Xu Chang'an's courtyard.
"Any news?" Ding Songyan asked as if making casual conversation.
Xu Chang'an shook his head. "Aside from practicing martial arts, nobody said a word."
*Did the Xiaochuan Gang just give up on Dingjiang Prefecture? They don't want their revenge, nor do they care to vent their fury? From now on, the martial artists of Ningzhou will know that when you get angry, you're just throwing a tantrum and nothing more...* Ding Songyan grumbled inwardly with some disappointment.
He could only quietly root for the Xiaochuan Gang, hoping they merely did not want to fall for his tricks again and were secretly preparing to move against Zhen Manor. After all, the conflict between the two gangs had been reported to the authorities; they were fully permitted to fight it out in the open.
Stepping into his home, the first thing Ding Songyan noticed was a refreshed Ding Daniu, who was feigning silence.
Ding Daniu split his mouth into a ferocious yet deeply grateful smile at his brother. But the moment Liu Yuzao looked over, he instantly lowered his head, adopting the picture of a docile, obedient son.
Before going to sleep, Ding Songyan helped his elder brother move the wooden chest and spread out the bedding.
"How much did you spend?" he asked casually.
Ding Daniu cast a furtive glance toward the east wing and answered in a whisper, "One tael and five tenths."
"That expensive?" Ding Songyan was rather surprised.
Though he had never visited the brothels of this world, he understood the purchasing power of silver. For that price, one could probably hire a courtesan versed in the arts of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, someone capable of providing emotional comfort. Yet no matter how one looked at Ding Daniu, he did not seem like the type to care for such refinements. It was already a relief if an ox didn't munch on peonies—why bother playing a lute to an ox?
Ding Daniu grinned broadly. "I took on seven. One couldn't handle me."
"..." Ding Songyan's eyes widened, and he looked his elder brother up and down.
*Is he even human?*
Ding Daniu wore a look of nostalgic satisfaction, and the fierce edge about him seemed to have softened considerably.
*Must be nice... I'm the only one in this family who can't enjoy himself, wondering if I'll even be alive this time tomorrow...* Ding Songyan stood up, preparing to slide the door bolt into place.
Suddenly, his gaze caught something: extending from the cuff of his brother's trouser leg was a black-scaled snake tail gleaming with a cold sheen, which swiftly snapped back inside.
Ding Songyan's expression froze instantly. With stiff yet practiced movements, he turned his body and fastened the bolt.
When he turned back around, he had already quietly shifted the hazy, clear "seed" from his sea of consciousness into his eyes.
The world snapped into sharp clarity. In his vision, Ding Daniu had feet like horse hooves, patches of mane-like hair upon his body, and trailing from his coccyx was a black-scaled snake tail of middling length.
Chapter 41