Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Chapter 105: The Cheng Family

A servant, especially one whose name is remembered by the head of the household and who might have a future ahead, often shares some common traits. For example, the one before them called “Long Ge,” within a few sentences reminded Bai Zhengliu and Mei Yinghan of Ping Ge from the Chang residence. Both were eloquent and skilled at reading people.

Bai Zhengliu and Mei Yinghan first asked him about Yu Han and Han Shu’s situation. They didn’t mention that they were here because of the two’s letters, only that they had heard the two junior disciples had traveled east before. Given the route, it wasn’t strange that they had passed through this place.

Long Ge smiled and said, “I’ve only read the stories in the tales before, knowing how heroes usually uphold justice and cut down villains. I’ve seen some people of the Jianghu, but I always felt they didn’t match the elegance in the stories, which disappointed me. Until I saw Hero Yu and Hero Han, I realized it wasn’t the stories that were false—it’s that only such truly elegant heroes can be written about.”

All in all, it was praise, and it let Bai and Mei know that Yu Han and Han Shu’s stay in Jingzhou City had gone quite well. They were a bit travel-worn, but, just as the letter described, they hadn’t encountered any trouble. After staying overnight at the Cheng household, they were energetic enough to practice martial arts early the next morning.

Hearing this, the swordsman and the knife expert felt their worries for their junior disciples ease a little. And since Yu Han and Han Shu had no issues, then perhaps the problem lay elsewhere…

Bai Zhengliu looked around the Cheng courtyard and said, “Your master seems like a refined man.” He paused, then added, “Is it proper for us to intrude like this?”

Long Ge had already answered this question several times but now smiled and replied again: “If I clearly saw heroes from the Tianshan Sect and let you pass unnoticed, Master would punish me for sure!” He then diverted the topic and carefully explained the arrangements of their courtyard to the two Jianghu visitors.

“That’s right. Though our master is a traveling merchant, he still reads the words of the sages. The young gentlemen of the household also study and usually stay in the academy.” This was just an introduction; he then began describing the flowers, trees, and plants at home in detail, occasionally citing classics.

Bai Zhengliu found it amusing and said, “You certainly know a lot.”

Long Ge’s face showed a faint pride, while his words remained modest.

Bai Zhengliu noticed this and smiled wider. Looking around, his gaze was very clear.

He wasn’t particularly interested in the Cheng family’s habits—not that he had no interest—but the most important thing now was to determine whether the Cheng family was the source of the Yin energy.

If they were, he would investigate thoroughly. If not, he and Mei Yinghan would naturally not linger.

From the moment they entered, every flower, tree, blade of grass, and stone seemed to tell Bai Zhengliu that it was likely the latter.

Soon, the servant led the two into the flower hall and began serving tea and snacks, mentioning that Master had gone to check on his shop and would return later. But he had already sent someone out to notify them, so the heroes wouldn’t have to wait long.

Bai and Mei thanked him. Once the servant left with the tea, the two looked at each other and spoke almost simultaneously.

Bai Zhengliu: “No Yin energy.”

Mei Yinghan: “The Cheng family seems to have no issues…”

Bai Zhengliu sighed. “Is that good news or bad news?”

Mei Yinghan lightly tapped a finger on the table. “For the Cheng family, it should be good news.”

Bai Zhengliu: “That’s true.” He paused. “But so far, we haven’t found the source of the Yin energy from the envelope. I worry it was just encountered by the merchant caravan and is now somewhere else causing trouble.”Mei Yinghan exhaled a sigh. He knew that what his lover said was quite possible. If it were true, there was nothing they could do.

“Once the master of this household returns,” the swordsman said, “we should ask carefully whether anything happened while Yu Han and Han Shu were here—there may be some details Long Ge doesn’t know.”

At this point, Bai Zhengliu could only agree: “Right. As elder brothers, it’s only natural to care for our junior disciples. Even if we ask a lot, the Cheng family won’t think it’s inappropriate.”

So the plan was set. Later, when Master Cheng returned home, he indeed encountered a pair of Jianghu visitors concerned about their juniors.

Mei Yinghan said, “Initially we were worried, thinking this was a rare journey for Yu Han and Han Shu. They’ve traveled down from Tianshan before, but that was with many fellow disciples.”

Bai Zhengliu: “We didn’t know their situation, and then we met Long Ge and heard him speak of Yu Shimei and Han Shidi staying at your house. As elder brothers, we had no shame coming to inquire.”

Master Cheng quickly said, “How could that be called ‘inquiry’!”

Judging from his build, he was quite different from the thin and lean Master Chang of Guang’an Prefecture—they bore some resemblance to Qian Gui whom Bai and Mei had met at Tan family village. But compared to the overly plump and wealthy Qian Gui, Master Cheng seemed a “slimmer” man.

At this moment, holding back from interrupting the heroes’ conversation, he nostalgically spoke of past events: “…Had it not been for Hero Lingyun’s assistance, I fear I would not be alive today. How could there even be a family estate? How could I host you heroes?”

Bai and Mei knew not to be overly modest and quickly said, “It seems we have indeed benefited from Shishu’s help.” They then steered the conversation toward Yu Han and Han Shu.

They asked tactfully. While they spoke of whether their junior disciples had faced danger, what they really wanted to know was whether Yu Han and Han Shu had encountered trouble before or after coming to the Cheng household.

Master Cheng didn’t know these details, maintaining a cheerful demeanor while praising how elegant Yu Han and Han Shu were. He also mentioned: “My young master usually goes out to study, leaving only our only daughter by his side. She can go out with friends from other households, but Jingzhou City is small—how could it compare with other, more prosperous places?

“The other day Hero Yu came and spoke at length with our young lady about the world outside, and it captured her heart’s curiosity.”

Bai and Mei’s hearts stirred.

Bai Zhengliu smiled: “To be frank, after entering Jingzhou, we first ate at an inn and even heard half a play. It’s said to be very famous in the city—‘The Dream-Seeking Chronicle.’”

Hearing the last three words, Master Cheng was slightly taken aback, but then maintained his expression, sighing softly: “This play is indeed lively—wherever it goes, people listen.”

Bai Zhengliu asked, “I heard the troupe became famous performing at your household?”

Master Cheng’s subtle expression deepened slightly, but his smile remained: “Our young lady and her companions love listening to plays. If it’s cold outside, making it hard to go out, they sometimes arrange for a troupe at home. I remember this play—it was indeed well performed, and it’s a new script, never staged before. But the troupe was new in town, so our young lady invited them here. That it became famous at our house was a misunderstanding.”

Bai Zhengliu: “Oh—”

He quickly exchanged a glance with Mei Yinghan.

Mei Yinghan smiled: “I wonder if Yu Han and Han Shu had the chance to hear it. From what we heard at the inn, the lyrics and melody were quite good.”Master Cheng regretted: “No, they didn’t. When they arrived, the troupe had already gone out.”

Bai and Mei: “Hmm.”

Alright, it seemed the two matters were truly unrelated. After all, Yu Han had written very clearly—the location she described was the Cheng household. Now the Cheng family carried no Yin energy, and the troupe had no contact with the junior disciples. Most of the play’s content was likely coincidental. As for the Yin energy on the envelope, its source could no longer be traced.

The two were disappointed, but outwardly they still smiled and spoke with Master Cheng. Since they already knew what they wanted, the conversation shifted from Yu Han, Han Shu, and the Lishan Troupe to the situation at Tianshan Sect, and whether the Cheng family’s trading company might be interested in cooperating with Ling Xiaozi to sell snow lotus…

These topics were mainly Mei Yinghan speaking. Bai Zhengliu propped his chin on his hand, still feeling the disappointment, but a swordsman was never someone to halt progress over a small setback. He silently resolved, “If we truly encounter the source of Yin energy in the future, we will not let it go.” Afterward, he couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing how Mei Yinghan showed this side of himself—unexpected, yet vivid and interesting.

As he looked at Mei Yinghan, the swordsman naturally sensed it. When Long Ge returned to say dinner was ready and invited Master Cheng and the two heroes to the main hall, while Master Cheng answered the servant, Mei Yinghan’s hand on the table lightly and swiftly brushed Bai Zhengliu’s palm, fingertips grazing the swordsman’s hand.

The swordsman’s lips curved, forming the shape of “Yinghan,” but before he could speak it aloud, Master Cheng had already turned to invite Bai and Mei to dinner. He added, “Unfortunately, my eldest, second, and third sons are not at home—only my wife and our daughter Yao are here. Yao now…”—he paused, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Bai Zhengliu and Mei Yinghan sensed something was off. They wanted to ask, but with Master Cheng’s demeanor, it would be too abrupt to question directly. They exchanged a glance, planning to wait until dinner to find an opening.

Their plan, however, did not succeed.

Lady Cheng did not appear at the dining table, but Master Cheng’s wife was there. She seemed capable and sharp, though her features carried a trace of fatigue.

Seeing the two guests Master Cheng had invited, Lady Cheng, despite her tiredness, gathered herself and smiled: “So these are the two heroes from Tianshan that Long Ge invited?”

Strictly speaking, Bai Zhengliu wasn’t, but no one corrected her.

The two Jianghu visitors paused upon seeing Lady Cheng. Then they exhaled together, approaching the dining table—

Yin energy.

From leaving Tianshan until now, the two had never encountered it; not even in the Cheng front yard. Yet here, it emanated from Lady Cheng herself.

Author’s note:

It’s here!

The sky was still bright (not fully dark…)

Let’s say it counts as a daytime update (hey!).