Chapter 81: A Woman's Sixth Sense
Eastern City Wharf.
Liu Shipping Company.
By the window, a middle-aged man dressed in elegant robes of deep purple and black idly turned a jade thumb ring on his finger. His expression was grave as he stared at the newly raised sign of “Sun Shipping Company” across the street.
“Master, Miss Murong’s shipment has been loaded,” a young servant entered, bowing respectfully.
“No time to waste. Once night falls, have it sent out,” the man nodded, his voice low and steady.
“Yes, sir. And tonight at midnight, the Golden Fortune Gambling House will deliver another batch—twice as much as this time,” the servant continued.
“So soon?” the man replied, a hint of surprise.
The servant nodded, “I thought it strange as well. They usually deliver just once a month. This time, it’s only been a few days.”
“They must be preparing to leave,” the man stopped rubbing his jade ring, frowning in thought.
The servant waited a few moments, then asked, “Master, should we send a warning to the Sun Shipping Company?”
The man’s gaze turned cold. “Those Sun brothers are determined to oppose me.”
“Then let’s make them pay for it.”
…
Riverside Inn.
Inside a private room.
Li Yunjie weighed his sword lightly in his hand, a frown creasing his brow.
“Eleven.”
“Why does this sword feel smoother than before?” he asked.
Eleven wiped his hands and stepped forward, “Try a few moves, young master. Let me see.”
Li Yunjie obliged.
“It really is,” Eleven murmured, pacing thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on Li Yunjie’s core. A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Young master, you’ve reached the Sixth Rank.”
Is this a joke?
“That easy?” Li Yunjie looked skeptical.
“It’s that smooth,” Eleven confirmed. “If you don’t believe me, try splitting this table.”
Li Yunjie took a deep breath, swung his sword down, and instantly, a surge of icy blue sword energy burst forth, splitting the table cleanly in two.
“That’s sword energy!”
Delight lit Li Yunjie’s face. To wield sword energy was the mark of a Sixth Rank master!
“How dashing!”
Yet beneath his elation, Li Yunjie found it odd. He muttered, “Aren’t martial cultivators supposed to endure the pain of marrow cleansing with every breakthrough?”
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“But I didn’t feel a thing,” he said.
Eleven smiled gently. “That’s true if you advance through training alone. But you didn’t break through by cultivating in seclusion.”
“No one passed on their power to me either,” Li Yunjie pressed. “After the Third Rank, you need someone to transfer their cultivation, that’s what Gong Qingfeng said.”
“Have you forgotten that night with Lady Gu?” Eleven asked.
A spark of realization flashed in Li Yunjie’s eyes. He drew out the syllable, then ventured, “Could it be… the legendary dual cultivation?”
Eleven grinned knowingly, “Cultivating with a master of higher rank lets you draw on their power and subtly advance your own.”
Li Yunjie’s eyes widened in understanding. He let out a long sigh, musing, “Dual cultivation… it’s truly marvelous.”
“Indeed, it is…”
…
Lunch.
At the table, Su Qingmeng asked in confusion, “We’ve been in Jiangnan for so long; when will we finally find Gu Xian’er?”
Li Yunjie calmly helped himself to a chicken leg. “She’s already left.”
“What?” Su Qingmeng set her bowl and chopsticks down at once. “When did this happen?”
“A couple of days ago,” Li Yunjie replied after a pause.
“How do you know?”
“She told me.”
Su Qingmeng made a thoughtful sound, then frowned. “Wait, how do you even know Gu Xian’er?”
Li Yunjie pursed his lips and drew out a prescription and the secret letter Gu Xian’er had left him before her departure from his sleeve. Of course, the one he showed Su Qingmeng was the page detailing the Soul Severance Technique. As long as he didn’t mention Yun Qiwu’s connection to Gu Xian’er, there should be no reason for suspicion.
“My father asked someone to find this prescription. Gu Xian’er’s handwriting is on it,” he explained. “And here’s a letter.”
Su Qingmeng compared them. The handwriting was identical.
After a moment’s thought, her brow furrowed. “How did the Divine Healer Gu know you were seeking clues about the Soul Severance Technique?”
“That’s a question for your father, I’m afraid,” Li Yunjie answered gravely.
These past days, he had considered every possibility. Apart from Su Ming, there was no other explanation.
When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.
The two sisters stood frozen, their expressions blank.
Su Xiyan, hearing her father’s name brought up again, pouted in frustration.
“Impossible,” Su Qingmeng said in disbelief. “If Father could find Divine Healer Gu, why go to such lengths?”
“Your father couldn’t find Gu Xian’er,” Li Yunjie replied seriously, “but finding the Splendid Rivers and Mountains Map wouldn’t be difficult for him.”
“He used it as bait to draw Gu Xian’er out.”
“And then traded clues to the Soul Severance Technique in exchange.”
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“To help me bring down the Crown Prince, my esteemed father-in-law truly left no stone unturned.”
The sisters remained silent, clearly skeptical of Li Yunjie’s deductions.
“Wait,” Su Qingmeng challenged. “How could Father know you’d get your hands on the Splendid Rivers and Mountains Map?”
“Excellent point!” Li Yunjie raised his brows in surprise. “I didn’t think you’d catch that with your intelligence. Well done.” He gave her a thumbs up, approvingly.
“Less flattery, more answers!” Su Qingmeng snapped. “Speak!”
“Whether I got it or not wasn’t the point,” Li Yunjie replied. “The point is, if Gu Xian’er wanted to find the map before the Ministry of Justice confiscated it, her best option was to come to me.”
“As long as the map was really in Song Yongnian’s possession, I’d be able to find it. It was only a matter of time.”
“And it just so happened that I took the painting with me when I visited the Song estate.”
When he finished, the sisters’ faces fell even further.
“Of course,” Li Yunjie said, feigning lightness, “this is all just speculation.”
Su Xiyan wasn’t convinced, glowering at Li Yunjie as the chicken leg in her hand suddenly lost its appeal.
Su Qingmeng fell into deep thought, searching for inconsistencies in Li Yunjie’s story.
Li Yunjie shook his head, sighed softly, and turned to leave.
…
Dusk.
“Young master, Miss Qingmeng seems to be packing,” Eleven remarked languidly as he passed by next door.
Li Yunjie sighed, rose slowly, and mumbled, “Up to tricks again, are they…”
Entering the next room, he found the Su sisters with bundles on their backs, sitting at the table sipping tea—each looking busy in her own way.
“Where are you two planning to go?” Li Yunjie leaned against the doorframe.
Su Qingmeng shot him a glance, her tone sharp, “Now that Divine Healer Gu has left Jiangnan, what reason do we have to stay?”
Li Yunjie chuckled, “She said she would come back for me.”
“For us.”
Su Qingmeng caught the nuance. She rose and walked up to Li Yunjie, close enough that he could catch the faint scent of jasmine in her hair.
“Is it for me, or for us?”
Li Yunjie’s throat bobbed nervously.
At that moment, he finally understood:
Never underestimate a woman’s intuition…