Ding Songyan’s emotions fluctuated, and he failed to break through the illusion in time to catch a glimpse of Liu Yuzao’s true state.
By the time this nominal mother of his disappeared into the corridors of the Zhen Mansion, Ding Songyan had finally calmed his thoughts and mocked himself in silence:
"My intuition is still quite sharp...
"It’s fortunate that we’ve only spent a few days together and I haven’t invested too much affection, otherwise my Dao heart would truly be shattered..."
Recalling the events that had transpired and combining them with the details he had previously deduced, Ding Songyan quickly formed a clearer understanding of the situation regarding the "Ding family":
Ding Shengyi was collaborating with "old friends" of Yan Changqing, using "Moth People" that transcended the norm to stage a series of dramas, such as the Small Boat Gang’s repeated provocations and Chen Yuliang’s audacious purchase of the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas*. This indicated that they were targeting Yan Changqing. Whether they intended to rescue him or were plotting for the potential Heavenly Emperor’s secret treasure or the whereabouts of Kunlun remained unknown—or perhaps it was both.
Before they arrived in Dingjiang Prefecture, their "relative" Qin Nansheng had already been married into the Zhen Mansion for over two years. It would not have been difficult for them to learn that the Zhen Mansion often invited storytellers, or even to know that a "distinguished guest" was held in the dungeon. Therefore, the storyteller identity of the Second Young Master Ding was almost certainly tailor-made. Ding Shengyi and Yan Changqing’s "old friends" hoped that, with Qin Nansheng’s facilitation, the Second Young Master Ding would have the opportunity to approach Yan Changqing through storytelling, laying the groundwork for a subsequent rescue.
If this deduction was correct, Ding Songyan believed that the original Second Young Master Ding was an innocent man who had simply been unlucky enough to be chosen. After all, before things actually happened, no matter who looked at it, for a storyteller not belonging to the Zhen Mansion to enter the dungeon and tell stories to Yan Changqing, he would inevitably have to undergo a meticulous inspection by the experts of the Zhen Mansion. It was not impossible that Old Master Zhen himself would come to scrutinize him. At that point, even with a divine skill capable of masking anomalies, it would likely not escape the notice of Old Master Zhen, a grandmaster who understood Yan Changqing’s cultivation techniques quite well.
Based on this judgment, finding a truly ordinary person and controlling them by implanting a "seed" of Clear Mist or constantly influencing their thoughts was far more covert and less likely to be detected by Old Master Zhen.
As for why the Zhen Mansion had been so negligent later on and failed to inspect Ding Songyan thoroughly, it was naturally because they had their own ulterior motives.
Viewed in this light, the former Second Young Master Ding was likely chosen precisely because he could tell stories and bore a slight resemblance to Ding Shengyi and Liu Yuzao, making him a tragic, almost certainly doomed pawn. Mr. Yu had likely lied earlier as well; what Yan Changqing loved to hear was probably not just legendary tales, but also stories of ancient times and anecdotes of the martial world. The Second Young Master Ding’s storytelling was also a way of catering to his interests.
Later, the "Ding family" had been in Dingjiang Prefecture for over half a year, yet Qin Nansheng had been unable to get the Zhen Mansion to hire an outside storyteller. They grew impatient, fearing that further delays would increase the variables, and decided to switch from "subtle acquisition" to "forceful intrusion." Thus, the Small Boat Gang’s repeated provocations and the "transaction" of the *Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas* between Chen Yuliang and the Second Young Master Ding occurred, all with the goal of inciting a fierce conflict between the Four Waters Gang and the Small Boat Gang, forcing Old Master Zhen to take action personally and leave the Zhen Mansion.
After being forced to participate in the "transaction," the Second Young Master Ding thought he could escape, but his escape was merely a part of the plan. If he did not flee and die in the ruined temple, the conflict would not have intensified rapidly enough.
In the end, Ding Songyan’s transmigration meant the Second Young Master Ding did not die, which shocked Yan Changqing’s "old friends" and Ding Shengyi’s group. They changed their plans on the fly, threw out Chen Yuliang to let the matter temporarily subside, and later, when Ding Songyan was invited by the Zhen Mansion to tell *The Legend of the White Snake* to Yan Changqing, the plan returned to its original track.
"The current problem is, everyone else in the 'Ding family' has a role, so what is the significance of Ding Qingyan’s existence?" Standing in the shade of a tree opposite the Zhen Mansion, Ding Songyan fell into confusion.
When he was in the state of breaking through illusions, he had not discovered any external anomalies in Ding Qingyan, which made him feel that his little sister was either an incredibly powerful expert or possessed some other special quality.
"Is she the third method prepared by the mastermind, beyond 'subtle acquisition' and 'forceful intrusion'?" Ding Songyan cast his gaze toward the east side of North Water Street, lost in thought.
Two carriages approached, their wheels grinding against the stone slabs with a rhythmic rumble. One of them had wind chimes hanging from it, emitting a crisp, melodious sound that drifted through the air.
The carriages stopped at the entrance of the Zhen Mansion. Two attendants stepped down from the lead carriage, followed by a handsome man who looked to be in his thirties. He wore a bamboo crown and a grey robe with wide sleeves; every gesture he made was elegant and refined, with no external signs of anything unusual.
Xiaoqing stepped down from the carriage behind with her maid. She had pinned up her black hair with a white silk ribbon, wore lake-blue martial attire, and stepped into white boots embroidered with patterns. She looked like a woman of the martial world—both charming and bright, yet heroic and spirited.
She seems to have taken my warning to heart; this attire is clearly suited for dealing with contingencies and engaging in combat... Ding Songyan hurried out of the shade so that he could be seen by Miss Xiaoqing.
As the gates of the Zhen Mansion slowly swung open, Xiaoqing’s beautiful eyes shifted, catching sight of Ding Songyan. She smiled and nodded at him, acknowledging his presence.
Ding Songyan’s goal was thus achieved.
Soon, welcomed by Zhen Quanwang, Xiaoqing followed her second uncle from the fully opened gates into the Zhen Mansion, bypassing the screen wall and heading toward the depths of the estate.
Their carriages moved a bit further forward and stopped where there were several hitching posts.
Before Ding Songyan could retreat back into the shade, he heard the sound of horse hooves approaching from afar.
Ren Youyang, riding a white horse and leading four guards, galloped toward them.
He was still dressed in feather robes and a high crown, his dog ears erect, but he was not accompanied by any beautiful maids.
The five horses came to a halt. Ren Youyang dismounted with relative agility, and the four guards followed suit in perfect unison.
Ren Youyang looked around, saw Ding Songyan, and actually smiled, raising a hand to wave:
"Brother Ding, you are here too?"
*Good heavens, Brother Youyang is really giving me face... In normal times, this greeting alone would be enough to get me into a non-top-tier sect and increase my status significantly...* Ding Songyan walked over, feeling both surprised and grateful.
While waiting for the reception from the Zhen Mansion, Ren Youyang smiled and said to Ding Songyan:
"Did you see the person who just entered the mansion?"
"I did." Ding Songyan was puzzled.
Ren Youyang tilted his head toward him in confusion:
"You weren't even slightly captivated, given such beauty right before your eyes?"
*I see her every morning and every evening... And this outfit and temperament aren't even Miss Xiaoqing’s most beautiful side... Perhaps, Brother Youyang, you appreciate her second uncle more?* Ding Songyan organized his thoughts and said:
"She is naturally a peerless beauty of the world, but Miss Xiaoqing comes to hear me tell stories every day, so it is not our first meeting."
At this moment, another direct descendant of the Zhen family had already brought people to the main gate, but seeing Ren Youyang and Ding Songyan chatting happily, he did not dare to interrupt.
Hearing Ding Songyan’s reply, Ren Youyang was both astonished and suddenly enlightened:
"So the legendary beauty mentioned in the street rumors is her! How did I not think of that!"
He looked annoyed, as if he were doubting his own intelligence.
To avoid being discovered by Ding Songyan, he twitched his dog ears and said proactively:
"I only learned today that the other party is from the Heavenly Maiden Sect of the Gan State."
"Heavenly Maiden Sect?" Ding Songyan was bewildered.
*Isn't Miss Xiaoqing a snake demon?*
"You didn't know?" Ren Youyang laughed. "That Miss Xiaoqing is the younger sister of 'Master Clear-Dust' Su Yunzhang, Su Qingli. She came to Dingjiang Prefecture with their second uncle, Su Chongxiao. *Hiss*, you didn't tell Su Qingli what I said about Su Yunzhang, did you? Eh, I’m overthinking it; it’s impossible for you to have met in private."
*So Miss Xiaoqing’s full name is Su Qingli... But isn't she a snake demon?* Ding Songyan remained puzzled.
*How does a perfectly good snake demon end up joining the Heavenly Maiden Sect? And she’s the younger sister of "Master Clear-Dust" Su Yunzhang? Is this some kind of snake demon nest?*
"I have naturally kept my mouth shut." Ding Songyan did not intend to tell Ren Youyang that Su Qingli might be a snake demon, and only said cautiously, "Miss Xiaoqing has asked me to write scripts in private and even used transformations to scare me, but I have kept my promise and did not tell her what you said, Brother Youyang."
Ren Youyang laughed out loud:
"It’s only natural that she used transformations to scare you; that’s the inherent flaw of the Su family and their Heavenly Maiden Sect!
"The Heavenly Maiden Sect focuses on practicing the *Heavenly Fox Scripture*, and their fundamental divine skill is the 'Great Method of Thousand Transformations and Bewitching All Living Beings.' That 'Thousand Transformations' is not just a name."
*"Great Method of Thousand Transformations and Bewitching All Living Beings"... Thousand transformations... Have I been played by Miss Xiaoqing? She isn't a snake demon at all! The prettier the girl, the more she lies, right? Qingyan is one, Miss Xiaoqing is another... Does the Heavenly Maiden Sect’s inheritance clearly stem from the Nine-Tailed Fox, and is she just toying with the world?* Ding Songyan was caught between laughter and tears, though he wasn't too angry.
Deception in such trivial matters was harmless, and the fact that she wasn't a snake demon actually made him feel relieved, as he was afraid of snakes.
Ren Youyang suddenly looked a bit doubtful:
"Su Qingli is only sixteen, having just reached the age of maturity, and she hasn't even completed Body Tempering and Qi Refining. She only came to Dingjiang Prefecture to see the world; how could she have the ability to transform?"
He provided his own explanation:
"Perhaps an elder followed her in secret and created a Great Void Illusion, or perhaps she borrowed their power?"
Listening to Ren Youyang’s muttering, Ding Songyan gradually felt that something was not quite right:
*From Miss Xiaoqing’s reaction to "The Legend of the White Snake" and her attitude toward demons in her conversation, is she really not a demon?*
*When I used Yan Changqing’s energy to break through the illusion outside the Dangkang Temple, I seemed to see several fluffy white tails. Were those hers, or was her second uncle protecting her in the shadows?*
Worried about affecting Miss Xiaoqing, Ding Songyan did not delve deeper into the matter and instead asked:
"Is the 'Twelve Paths of Great Void' another divine skill of the *Heavenly Fox Scripture*?"
"The 'Great Method of Thousand Transformations and Bewitching All Living Beings' is the essence, while the 'Twelve Paths of Great Void' is the application." Ren Youyang whispered in explanation.
He then smiled and teased Ding Songyan:
"If you could marry Su Qingli, you would be the envy of countless martial arts heroes. The Su family has a profound heritage with a history of over two thousand years. Every generation produces grandmasters of the Heavenly Human Realm, and occasionally even a Perfected Being of the Spirit Platform Realm. Moreover, her aunt, Su Liudan, was once the greatest beauty in the martial world. Once Su Qingli fully matures and you put in some effort, it’s not impossible for her to become a legend of the martial world just like her."
"What qualifications do I have?" Ding Songyan laughed.
Ren Youyang chuckled:
"Don't say that. The Su family is truly strange. Every generation either practices celibacy or loves to find ordinary mortals or nameless figures of the martial world. You fit the bill perfectly."
Before Ding Songyan could say more, he pointed to the Zhen Mansion’s greeters at the gate:
"I shall head in first, Brother. I cannot keep others waiting."
"Please, Brother Youyang." Ding Songyan bowed in salute.
Ren Youyang looked at the open gates of the Zhen Mansion and the respectful greeters who were putting on quite a show, and suddenly felt a sense of emotion:
"Brother, whenever I see a scene like this, I am always reminded of a line from an opera:
"'Once the gongs and drums sound, everyone takes the stage in full makeup.'"
With that, he led his four guards and walked step by step toward the gates of the Zhen Mansion.
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