===== Chapter 41 =====
The next day, Ding Songyan and Xu Chang'an crossed Fengshui Bridge and headed toward Dangkang Temple.
"Do me a small favor today," Ding Songyan said suddenly.
Xu Chang'an’s heart skipped a beat, and he forced a smile. "Go ahead, Second Brother Ding."
Ding Songyan smiled. "Aren't you still hesitating over which martial arts school to choose? Go to the Stone Pool Martial Arts School today and learn a bit more about it."
"That’s it?" Xu Chang'an was surprised.
Isn't that just his daily routine anyway? The only issue was that the school was called Stone Pool.
"I told you it was a small favor," Ding Songyan said with a faint smile. "If anyone asks you to pass on a message, just remember it and tell me tonight. I’m being watched by too many people, so it’s not very convenient for me to go over there."
Nor was it convenient for others to approach him.
"Alright." Xu Chang'an let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Upon arriving at Dangkang Temple, Ding Songyan spotted Xiaoqing, dressed in her plain clothes and green skirt, at a glance.
He froze.
He remembered what he had forgotten last night. He had intended to visit Xiaoqing’s second uncle to hint at certain issues, but he had forgotten halfway there, shortly before meeting Ren Youyang.
Moreover, even now, he could not recall what message he had intended for Xiaoqing to pass to her uncle, nor what his own clear plan had been.
"Did the 'old friend' of Yan Changqing make a move?
"After I returned from the mass grave, the 'Moth People' withdrew, replaced by one of the masterminds watching me personally?
"In terms of influencing thoughts, he is far more formidable than Yan Changqing. Before, I would remember things as soon as I left the relevant scene. This time, I only had a vague suspicion, and it took an entire night and multiple scene changes before the memories surfaced upon seeing Xiaoqing...
"Then again, Yan Changqing is locked in the Zhen Mansion dungeon and can only influence thoughts through pre-set 'seeds,' so it’s normal he couldn't achieve something like this.
"But this also shows that this technique likely cannot erase memories, only suppress and hide them..."
As these thoughts flashed through Ding Songyan’s mind, Xiaoqing turned and saw him.
The young girl smiled brightly and waved at him.
Ding Songyan composed himself and began his storytelling as usual, advancing the plot to the point where Xu Shilin failed to save Lady White for the first time.
Once more, after the second and third rescue attempts, "The Legend of the White Snake" would conclude with a family reunion.
As Ding Songyan collected the silver and copper coins from his bamboo basket, Xiaoqing leaned in and whispered:
"I was ambushed last night when I returned to the Tianyang Guild Hall."
"Are you alright?" Ding Songyan blurted out.
Even someone with Xiaoqing’s background gets ambushed?
"Do I look like I’m not alright?" Xiaoqing said with a playful smile. "We exchanged a few moves, and I forced him to retreat. Even the people at the top of the watchtower didn't have time to notice the commotion."
Ding Songyan observed Xiaoqing’s expression, wanting to probe further, but he forgot what he had intended to say.
In the end, he could only say:
"I feel like something is a bit off."
"Is that so?" Xiaoqing pondered, confused, unable to grasp his meaning.
Ding Songyan remembered something else and took out the copper coin he had sent into the Netherworld and retrieved:
"Xiaoqing, I happened to come across this item. Do you know what it’s used for?"
The coin was still covered in green rust, exceptionally gray and withered, and felt cold to the touch.
"A Yin-Yang Coin," Xiaoqing glanced at it. "If you know the corresponding technique, you can use it to summon spirits or command ghosts. If you have enough of them, they can serve as toll money when you encounter evil spirits in the Netherworld, preventing them from attacking you.
"You’d best keep it on your person and suppress it with your blood-intent and yang energy, otherwise, it will attract unclean things to your home. While most of them can’t actually harm people, they might bring you bad luck."
Before Ding Songyan could thank her, the girl looked left and right and said:
"I can’t help you watch for your stalkers today, but I’ll come find you again tonight. The Legend of the White Snake is reaching its final chapter, right? I have to see it!"
That’s fine, I already have four groups of people watching me... Ding Songyan thanked Xiaoqing, ate a bowl of braised rice nearby, and headed to the docks.
While looking for Ding Daniu, he saw an elderly man with white hair and beard, a rustic appearance, and broad shoulders—a man of imposing stature—standing in front of a warehouse. Surrounded by several attendants, he was checking cargo against a ledger and making notes with a brush.
He wore a fine linen robe and a Huayang cap, moving with the grace of a dragon and the stride of a tiger.
Ding Songyan felt a flicker of recognition, then remembered this was the person he had seen playing chess on the deck of the tower ship earlier, along with another person wearing a black veiled hat.
The old man sensed Ding Songyan’s gaze and turned his head to look.
Ding Songyan quickly cupped his hands in a gesture of apology, indicating he had not intended to pry.
The old man didn't mind and gave a kind smile before returning to his inventory.
Ding Songyan bypassed the warehouse and soon found the highly conspicuous Ding Daniu.
Using the excuse of helping his younger brother, Ding Daniu righteously found the foreman and took leave.
"You’re the best, Second Young Master!" He thanked Ding Songyan with an eager face.
Ding Songyan waved a hand.
"Go on, Big Brother."
He thought for a moment and added a special instruction:
"Take it easy."
Don't let your violent nature take over.
Ding Daniu patted his chest in assurance.
"I know, it’s not my first time going!"
As expected... so all the money goes to Mother afterward? Ding Songyan watched as Ding Daniu strode toward the North Ward with vigorous steps.
Only then did he head to the Zhen Mansion, covered himself with a black cloth, and after several twists and turns, arrived where Yan Changqing was held.
Almost simultaneously, a cool sensation dropped into his Sea of Consciousness, manifesting the figure in the green Lanshan robe.
"Did you encounter anything unusual?" Yan Changqing asked.
Ding Songyan had already prepared his response:
"After I returned from the mass grave, the 'Moth People' stopped following me, and Ren Youyang hasn't found the location of the 'Moth Father' or 'Moth Mother.'
"At night, I went out for a walk under the guise of cooling off, but I forgot what I intended to do, and even now, I haven't fully remembered."
He hoped to use the insight of an old veteran like Yan Changqing to judge the cultivation level of his so-called "old friend."
Yan Changqing paced with his hands behind his back and smiled.
"I understand. Do not worry. If a Grandmaster of the Heavenly Human Realm or even a Perfected Person of the Spirit Platform Realm had come, the situation would not be like this. The Zhen Mansion’s bluff would have been exposed long ago. How can power borrowed from external objects be controlled as easily as one's own limbs? The True Spirit Sect wouldn't just do whatever Zhen Qianfan tells them to do."
That’s good... I hope your judgment is accurate... Ding Songyan let out a slight sigh of relief.
On the surface, the strongest power in Dingjiang Prefecture was the Sect Master of the Xiaoming Sect, a figure of note within the Dharma Realm. If a true Grandmaster or Perfected Person were involved in this mess, Ding Songyan wasn't sure if the authorities could resolve it smoothly.
Seeming to sense his worry, Yan Changqing said in a calm tone:
"Don't look down on the Xiaoming Sect. If their Heavenly Stance Sword Formation has two Grandmasters as the eyes of the formation, supplemented by elite members of the Great Evolution Realm, it is enough to force back someone of the Heavenly Human Realm."
The old man then added:
"What you must do today is buy a sharp dagger and bring it with you tomorrow."
Bring a dagger? Ding Songyan’s nerves tightened.
"Bringing" it wasn't difficult; the Zhen Mansion had never searched him. The problem was, why bring a dagger?
"Senior, are we acting tomorrow?" Ding Songyan asked in a low voice.
Yan Changqing chuckled.
"The way of strategy is a mix of truth and falsehood. I cannot give you a definitive answer. When the timing is right, the false can become real; when the timing is wrong, the real can turn false.
"Are you complaining that I’m leaving you with no way to prepare? Just consider it preparation for helping me escape tomorrow."
"Yes, Senior." That was exactly what Ding Songyan was thinking.
The crisis might only be a day away...
After finishing the story of Xu Shilin and Xu Xian meeting without recognizing each other, Ding Songyan concluded his performance and left the Zhen Mansion as usual.
He listened to some martial arts gossip outside Dangkang Temple and spent three silver coins and seventy copper coins to buy a dagger forged from refined steel with a scabbard.
By evening, he returned to Chengyu Lane and knocked on the gate of Xu Chang'an’s courtyard first.
"Any news?" Ding Songyan asked, as if making idle conversation.
Xu Chang'an shook his head.
"Aside from practicing, no one is talking about anything else."
Has the Small Boat Gang just given up on Dingjiang Prefecture? They don't want revenge, and they don't want to vent their anger? From now on, everyone in the Ning Province martial arts world will know that your anger is just for show... Ding Songyan felt a bit disappointed.
He could only silently cheer the Small Boat Gang on, hoping they were just wary of being tricked by him again and were secretly preparing to deal with the Zhen Mansion. After all, the conflict between the two gangs had been reported to the authorities, making it a legitimate arena for combat.
Upon entering his home, the first thing Ding Songyan noticed was Ding Daniu, who looked refreshed while pretending to be silent.
Ding Daniu grinned, flashing a fierce but grateful smile at his brother. When Liu Yuzao looked over, he immediately lowered his head, acting obedient and well-behaved.
Before bed, Ding Songyan helped his brother move the wooden chest and lay out the bedding.
"How much did you spend?" he asked casually.
Ding Daniu glanced furtively at the east wing and whispered:
"One tael and five mace."
"That expensive?" Ding Songyan was quite surprised.
Although he hadn't visited the pleasure houses of this world, he understood the purchasing power of silver. At that price, he feared one could hire someone skilled in the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting who could provide emotional value. Ding Daniu didn't look like the type to care about such things; he was more likely to be a bull chewing on peonies, so why play the zither for a cow?
Ding Daniu grinned.
"I found seven of them; one couldn't handle me."
"..." Ding Songyan’s eyes widened as he looked his brother up and down.
Is he even human?
Ding Daniu wore a look of reminiscence, and the fierce aura on his body seemed to have faded significantly.
He’s so happy... but I, your brother, cannot be happy, and I don't even know if I’ll be alive this time tomorrow... Ding Songyan stood up, preparing to drop the door latch.
Suddenly, his gaze swept over, and he saw a black-scaled snake tail shimmering with cold light dangling from his brother’s trouser leg, which then quickly retracted.
Ding Songyan’s expression froze. He turned his body stiffly but naturally and secured the latch.
By the time he turned back, he had quietly shifted the clear mist "seed" in his Sea of Consciousness to his eyes.
The world suddenly became clear. In his vision, Ding Daniu had hooves for feet, a light coat of bristles on his body, and a black-scaled snake tail of medium length trailing from his tailbone.
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