014 Imitating the Example

Ouyang Ke’s eyes lit up, his spirit stirred. Ignoring Tuolei, he smiled and said with a playful tone, “Who am I, Young Master Ouyang? Once I make a promise, how could I possibly go back on it? However, he may leave, but Miss Huazheng, you will remain here…”

“All right.”

Cheng Lingsu had long anticipated that he wouldn’t give up so easily. This was actually advantageous; she alone could still contend with Ouyang Ke and seek a way to escape. With Tuolei present, she inevitably felt some restraint. So, before he could utter any more nonsense, she cut him off and agreed immediately.

Ouyang Ke was surprised by her quick consent and laughed heartily. “That’s the spirit. Without this troublesome eyesore, we can have a proper conversation.”

Cheng Lingsu ignored him, turned her back, and took out a handkerchief embroidered with blue flowers from her bosom. She shook it slightly in the air, tied it around the torn webbing of Tuolei’s hand, then placed the two blue flowers back into her bosom. She briefly explained the situation to Tuolei and instructed him to leave first.

Tuolei’s face turned ashen. He took two steps back, suddenly drew the single-edged saber planted by his foot, and with eyes fixed on Ouyang Ke, struck fiercely into the empty space before him. “Your martial arts are superior; I am no match for you. But today, in the name of Temujin’s son, I swear upon the Sky God of the steppes that once I have eliminated those who conspired against my father, I shall face you in a decisive duel! I will avenge my sister and show you what true heroes of the grasslands are!”

As the son of a Mongol tribal chief, Tuolei was courteous and deeply loyal, unlike Dushi’s arrogant disregard. Yet his pride was no less fierce. He was Temujin’s favorite son, well aware of his father’s vast ambitions. He sought to help his father turn every corner of the clear sky into a Mongolian pasture!

To this end, he had trained in the army since childhood, never shirking a day. Yet after years of hard training, he had fallen into enemy hands and now failed to safely escort his sister who came to rescue him. Tuolei knew Cheng Lingsu was right: his priority must be the safety of Temujin, so he should return quickly to mobilize troops to aid his father. But the thought of his sister being forcibly held here filled him with such shame that his breath nearly faltered.

Mongols valued their promises above all, especially those sworn before the revered Sky God of the steppes. Though Tuolei knew he was no match in combat, his solemn oath was resolute and sincere. His words were filled with overwhelming passion. Though not a martial arts master, his battle-hardened shoulders carried the same kingly aura as Temujin’s, commanding and imposing. Even Ouyang Ke, who did not understand the exact words, was secretly taken aback.

Cheng Lingsu felt a warmth in her heart. The blood that belonged uniquely to Temujin’s daughter seemed to respond to Tuolei’s determination and unwillingness, surging through her like a torrent, warming her eyes. Without showing it, she turned slightly, blocking the direction from which Ouyang Ke might strike, and whispered, “Go quickly. Return swiftly. I have my own way to escape.”

Tuolei nodded, stepped forward, embraced her briefly, then without another glance at Ouyang Ke, turned and ran toward the camp gate.

On the way, he encountered several guards who tried to stop him as he fled the camp. With a single strike each, he cut them down to the ground.

Only after seeing Tuolei seize a horse by the camp’s edge and gallop away did Cheng Lingsu relax, sighing softly.

In her previous life, her master, the Poison Hand Medicine King, used poisons to heal and save lives but was deeply convinced of karma and reincarnation. In his later years, he embraced Buddhism, cultivating his character and mind to reach a state free of hatred and joy. Cheng Lingsu was his late disciple and profoundly influenced by him. Though she had already died, this cycle of reincarnation had brought her here, making her believe that perhaps fate held some other purpose.

Originally, she wished to avoid entanglement with people and affairs of this world. She even planned to find an opportunity to escape far away, back to the shores of Dongting Lake, to see what the White Horse Temple would look like centuries later. There, she would open a small clinic to heal and save people, living out her love and longing for that one person from her past life.

Moreover, if Temujin were in danger, the Mongol tribe where she had lived for ten years would suffer as well. Her mother and elder brother, who had cared for and raised her wholeheartedly, along with the tribespeople she saw every day, would all be imperiled. After ten years together, how could she stand by idly?

Thinking this, Cheng Lingsu sighed once more.

Noticing Cheng Lingsu gazing absently towards Tuolei’s departing figure and sighing repeatedly, Ouyang Ke raised his chin slightly and sneered, “What’s the matter? So reluctant to part?”

Catching the implication in his words, Cheng Lingsu frowned, snapped out of her reverie, and blurted, “I’m worried about my brother. Isn’t that natural?”

“Oh? He’s your brother?” Ouyang Ke raised an eyebrow, a fleeting glint of amusement at the corner of his eye. “Then… was that other boy your lover?”

“What nonsense are you—” Cheng Lingsu suddenly froze, realization dawning. “You mean Guo Jing? You knew from the start... as soon as we arrived?”

“Not you two, but you! The moment you came, I knew.” Ouyang Ke was quite pleased, evidently enjoying her reaction.

Though she had dismounted far away, his profound internal strength and sharp hearing were far beyond ordinary Mongol soldiers. He discovered her infiltration into the camp almost immediately and was about to reveal himself when he saw Ma Yu intervene, escorting both her and Guo Jing out.

Years ago, his uncle Ouyang Feng suffered a great loss at the hands of the Quanzhen Sect, so the Poison Clan bore deep resentment and caution toward their Taoist priests. Recognizing Ma Yu’s Taoist robes and recalling his uncle’s warnings, Ouyang Ke refrained from revealing himself. Instead, he hid in the shadows, watching their exchanges come and go.

He had expected Cheng Lingsu to persuade Ma Yu to storm the camp for rescue. Unaware that Ma Yu was the Quanzhen Sect’s leader, he only thought that with the camp’s overwhelming troops plus several martial artists led by Wanyan Honglie, they could hold Ma Yu down, perhaps even eliminate him, reducing the sect’s power. But to his surprise, the Taoist neither attacked the camp nor stayed, instead leaving with Guo Jing and leaving Cheng Lingsu behind.

Gradually, Cheng Lingsu pieced together the situation. “Wanyan Honglie secretly arrived here to sow discord between Sang Kun and my father, forcing the Mongol tribes into endless strife so that the Jin Empire has no threat from the north.”

Ouyang Ke had no interest in such conflicts, but seeing Cheng Lingsu speak earnestly, he nodded in agreement and added, “You really are clever, drawing conclusions from just a few clues.”

Brushing aside hair scattered by the wind, Cheng Lingsu’s gaze was as clear and sharp as the Wulan River on the steppe. “You serve Wanyan Honglie, yet you let Guo Jing go to warn others, and now you allow Tuolei to return and mobilize troops. Aren’t you afraid this will ruin his grand plan?”

Ouyang Ke laughed heartily, reaching out to lightly tap her chin. “Afraid? What concern is his plan of mine? If I can win a smile from a beauty, what does it matter?”

Cheng Lingsu did not smile but furrowed her brow and stepped back half a pace, avoiding the slender folding fan lightly hooked toward her chin. She reached out and snapped it shut, catching the jet-black fanhead in her palm. A sudden chill pierced through her skin to the bone, nearly forcing her to drop it. Only then did she realize the fan’s ribs were forged from dark iron, cold as ice.

“What’s the matter? Like this fan?” Ouyang Ke flicked his wrist casually, brushing aside her hand and reclaiming the fan. He snapped it open again and lightly waved it before him. “If you desire something else, I wouldn’t mind giving it to you. But this fan…” He paused briefly, then chuckled softly, “If you like it, all you have to do is follow me closely from now on, and you’ll see it all the time…”

Author’s note: I say, Master Ke, isn’t Miss Lingsu just fond of your fan? Yet you’re so stingy you won’t part with it—how petty!

Ouyang Ke: That’s a gift from my father… cough, uncle, actually…