Chapter 112 - When the Heavenly Eye Sees Mortal Striving, Each Heart Conceals a Worldly Guile - Part 3

The following evening, Bear returned to the same spot. His contact had replied with a coded mark of their own.

“Perfect,” he whispered, exhilarated to see the signal. This meant his comrade was here, and they could set their plan in motion.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

On the third night, Bear finally met up with his partner—another ten-man squad leader under the Fragrant General. This man was already a ninth rank fighter, while Bear hadn’t yet reached that level. Regardless, they both understood how vital it was to gather the right information; rivalry could wait.

After exchanging what they’d learned so far, they found most of it was common knowledge.

The top fighter in Gemhill County had once been Tie Sha, the sect master of the Blood Blade Sect. The second-strongest was Sun Jiangang, patriarch of the Sun Family. Third was the Wei Family patriarch. Fourth was Yu Chaojin, the Blood Blade Sect’s deputy master.

Now, however, there was the newly emerged Blood Blade Patriarch, who had effortlessly crushed Sun Jiangang and Wei Yang, decimating the elite troops that had invaded the inner district.

But that was no surprise to either of them; before leaving, the Fragrant General had already warned them that the plan to attack during the chaos had been scrapped because of this Blood Blade Patriarch’s sudden arrival.

“With just that info, we’ll have nothing to report,” the ninth rank soldier grumbled.

“Exactly,” Bear agreed. “We need to find out whether the Blood Blade Patriarch is still in Gemhill County—or at least close by.”

His partner slapped a hand on his thigh. “Yeah, but how do we do that?”

After a moment, he turned to Bear with a suggestive grin. “Didn’t you say your wife has connections to Elder Li? Send her into the inner district, see what she can learn. The general did say that Li fellow is no ordinary man. He may know something about the Blood Blade Patriarch.”

Seeing Bear’s hesitation, the ninth rank squad leader sidled closer with a sneer. “What’s the matter, Bear? Don’t tell me you were bluffing about your wife’s connections. You bragged about it in front of everyone, including the general. If you can’t deliver, I’ll have to report the truth.”

Bear’s expression darkened. “Watch your damn mouth. You think I’d lie about something like that?” He fell silent for a moment, then said, “Fine. I’ll give it a try.”

With that, the two parted ways, each hurrying off in a different direction. On a nearby rooftop, a small white finch watched them go. Then it spread its wings and flew away into the night.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

The same evening.

Li Yuan sat in his rocking chair, repeatedly studying the Spirit-Release Technique’s life chronicle. He’d tried every method he could imagine, even recalling how, in his previous life, a friend had deciphered texts by meticulously breaking them down. But the tangled lines weren’t any kind of energy circulation diagram; they were completely random, bearing no discernible pattern.

After a long time, he set the book aside. Beyond his door, he could hear the children practicing their martial arts. Xiao Sheng and Niu Niu were no longer training in the Return-Willow Technique but had switched to the Blood Blade Sect’s beginner techniques, while Nian Nian continued studying her father’s puppet making.

Li Yuan had gone to ask Old Tang about the intricacies of puppet making. Old Tang had explained what he could, and Li Yuan understood in theory. But actually learning it required complex calculations, almost like solving advanced math problems.

After a few days of working through equations, Li Yuan felt as if he’d been thrown back into late-night exam prep from his old life. In the end, he put it aside for now.

Suddenly, light footsteps came from outside. A petite, graceful figure slipped in, smiling. “Husband, dinner’s ready.”

Li Yuan beckoned her closer. As Yan Yu leaned in, he pulled her into his lap. She blushed at once, whispering, “The children are still outside.”

With a casual wave of his hand, Li Yuan sent a gust of energy to shut the door. Yan Yu lifted the hem of her gown and straddled him as the rocking chair continued its gentle sway. Only someone small and lithe like her could manage such a posture; if it were the Xue Ning, it wouldn’t fit so neatly.

A moment passed, then two...

“All right?” she asked, cheeks flushed like peach blossoms beneath a sunset glow, her voice half-teasing and half-admonishing. “Happy now? We’ll see how you fare tonight.”

Li Yuan pulled her against him again, prompting a playful yelp. Then he murmured, “In the next few days, if Feng’er comes looking for you, bring her into the inner district and let her spend the night in a spare room. Keep it quiet. Don’t let anyone know.”

Yan Yu’s face showed surprise. “I thought we’d severed ties. If she came for porridge, I’d call out to her publicly because that’s my job, but in private...” she trailed off, unsure.

Li Yuan spoke softly about what he had seen and what he was planning.

Yan Yu listened, eyes widening. She suddenly sat upright, staring at him in shock. “How do you even

know

all this? You haven’t left the house all day.”

He pulled her back against him, leaning to whisper in her ear. “Your husband has merged with Heaven and Earth. I’ve opened my

Heavenly Eye

.”

“Oh? Where is it?” Yan Yu teased, bracing her elbows on his chest and running her fingers playfully across his forehead, as if searching for a hidden third eye. After a moment, she giggled. “Liar.”

Sliding off his lap, she arranged her dress and said, “All right. I’ll do as you say.”

Li Yuan laughed. “Bandits are practically at the gates, and you can still joke around?”

Yan Yu leaned in close, speaking in a low voice. “Isn’t that because...my husband is the Blood Blade Patriarch himself?”

She made a chopping gesture with both hands, then put on a dead-serious look. “Whoever comes, we kill them. Blood will flow, but at least we’ll protect this place!”

Li Yuan murmured, “I’m not doing it just to protect this county...”

Yan Yu gave him a mischievous smile. “Close enough.”

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Day four, nothing happened.

Day five, Feng’er mustered the courage to visit the Ginger Tavern, asking for Yan Yu.

By chance, Yan Yu was there and personally came downstairs to greet her. Feng’er’s cheeks burned with shame; she couldn’t even meet Yan Yu’s gaze. She expected rejection, but that’s not what happened. Instead, Yan Yu took her by the hand and led her to a table. They chatted at length, mostly about the past.

The whole thing felt like a dream to Feng’er. It only got dreamier when, by late afternoon, Yan Yu invited her straight into the inner district.

Originally, Feng’er had planned to go home to Bear, complaining that she would be never let in the inner district. Yet before she could say a word, she’d already accomplished what he wanted.

They rode in a carriage at dusk.

“Yan Yu,” Feng’er whispered, voice quavering, “I...I’ll never hurt you again. I-I was so wrong.”

Yan Yu studied her in the half-light, her eyes conflicted. The night breeze stirred the carriage curtains, letting a beam of light touch Yan Yu’s face; Feng’er remained in the shadows, tears glistening.

Both wore gentle smiles, though for different reasons.

Yan Yu clasped the hand of Feng’er and finally said, in a quiet voice, “I forgive you.”

At that moment, Feng’er trembled. She gazed into a brightness she thought lost to her, feeling the old layers of bitterness in her heart suddenly washed with a little light.

She opened her mouth, eyes rimmed red. As if making a vow, she said, “No matter if I live or die—this life, the next, or the one after—I’ll never do you harm again.”

Yan Yu smiled. “I believe you.”

That evening, Feng’er finally met Li Yuan. He barely acknowledged her; nobody else spoke to her either, except Yan Yu, who kept her company at dinner and then showed her to a warm guest room for the night.

For Feng’er, that was enough. Bear wanted her to gather information, but she no longer cared. Tomorrow, she would simply tell him she found out nothing.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Late that night, a chilly gust swept into the guest room of Feng’er, waking her. Shivering, she got up to close the window but froze when she heard hushed voices drifting from somewhere nearby outside. The speakers were quiet, yet just loud enough for her to catch every word.

Feng’er overheard snatches of conversation.

“The Blood Blade Patriarch is in closed-door cultivation within the inner district; no one is allowed to disturb him.”

"There must be a blood sacrifice to temper the blade.”

...

She didn’t dare move until the voices faded. Only then did she quietly shut her window and return to her bed, her heart pounding too hard for sleep.

After all, what Bear most wanted to know was exactly this, any information about the Blood Blade Patriarch. And she had just heard it.

Feng’er lay awake, staring at the ceiling, frowning as her thoughts spun.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Day six, early morning.

Yan Yu made breakfast for Feng’er, then took her back to Silver Creek.

The moment Feng’er reached home, Bear grabbed her anxiously. “Well? Did you find anything out?”

Feng’er sighed and told him a story about sneaking out late at night and eavesdropping on a private discussion.

That same afternoon, Bear claimed he had to meet with the big merchant. He bought a fast horse, took Feng’er along, and rode straight out of Silver Creek. They left Gemhill County via the north gate of Union Town.

Above them, a white finch shadowed their journey from high in the sky, following for a night and half a day until they arrived at a barren mountain range. A rough trail climbed up, leading to a simple gate swaying in the wind, bearing a banner marked with the word

Fragrant

.

The finch circled twice but did not venture inside. Perched on a high tree branch hidden among evergreens, it watched silently.

Moments later, it spotted a man in armor. The other bandits all saluted him, calling him the Fragrant General. Through the bird’s eyes, Li Yuan saw the numbers floating around him—220~240.

In the cozy warmth of his own home, Li Yuan opened his eyes and murmured, “He’s about five points stronger than Tie Sha, impressive.” Then he exhaled with relief.

If he could defeat Tie Sha in a single slash, he could do the same to the Fragrant General. It also reassured him that Fragrant General was now unlikely to attack Gemhill County.

Meanwhile, in a brightly lit lodge among the mountains, the liquor flowed freely. Deeper within, harrowing cries pierced the night.

Bear stood among the mountain bandits, arms draped over his companions’ shoulders. He roared with laughter, “Didn’t I promise? Women are just clothes. Brothers are your real limbs. I said I’d bring one back for you to play with, and here she is. Hahaha!”

“Bear, you’re so generous!”

“Wait, he’s not just Bear anymore; he’s our captain! Captain Bear is a true friend!”

One bandit, seeming less savvy about the moment, ventured, “But she was your wife, wasn’t she? How could you bear to do this?”

Bear sneered. “Pah! I found out she was messing around behind my back while I was gone. I’ll have no shortage of women once our campaign succeeds. Why keep this cheap one?”

Raucous laughter and bitter screams mingled into a twisted night’s symphony, something that no longer startled these hardened bandits.