Book 15: Chapter 13

Stupefied

“Venerable Monk’s plan failed entirely. Cold Mountain Temple’s demise is just a countdown at this point. I imagine the order to take them out will be given today.”

“It’s boring me.” Jin Zhaoying yawned, shut her eyes and let her eyelids collapse partially.

Mo Yubai returned back to Jin Zhaoying’s section of Daren Academy after she escaped. While it was designated as a temporary contact point, Jin Zhaoying’s room was a hiding spot. Since there were over a dozen maids serving Jin Zhaoying, it wouldn’t have been suspicious if there was an extra young maid or if there was more food delivered. Considering Mo Yubai’s qinggong prowess, there was no fear of being discovered if nobody knew she sneaked back in and she remained low for a while.

The bowing assassin, with her mask worn on the side of her head, had seen Li Jingan lazing around more than once, but she recognised there was something different to the usual despite the emotionless expression on the Princess’ face. However, she knew better than to comment. Even when Li Jingan behaved lazily, there was still an air of grace unlike jin Zhaoying. Today, though, there was a clear emotional difference to the usually unreadable Princess. Perhaps nobody was more qualified to speak on the topic than someone who had two identities. Neither the fighter “Mo” or the glutton “Bai” were any better than the other at reading emotions. With that said, Mo Yubai could detect the absence and presence of emotions.

Li Jingan found the report boring as she predicted Venerable Monk Jiyi was destined to fail from the start. While he looked emotionless on the surface, he was insufferably arrogant. His own arrogance limited his growth and perception. Otherwise, he had the luck to go much further.

The capital was safe and so was the imperial palace. Li Jingan understood her father’s character and fathomed what he was capable of. Although he wasn’t a man who could contrive the most convoluted machinations, he could convince people to serve him faithfully. Based on her experiences, his type was a tough type to beat.

Emperor Yuansheng was the first Emperor in Li Dynasty’s history to have the three offices so united and enthusiastic when it came to protecting him. Liu Shan Men, in particular, would choose to side with the people whenever their interests and Emperor’s Entourage’s interests opposed each other. This was in spite of the two groups having different pursuits. When it came to her father, he had his sworn brother who maintained the three offices alone.

Li Jingan remembered Shen Wuzheng’s large and warm hands, and his comforting smile. Even though he was likely incredible in martial arts, he preferred to reason with people. When violence was the only option, he had a way of ending disputes peacefully. He was a man who managed to have Wang Muren, Ye Yun and Li Linglong set aside differences to serve one man loyally. Had his existence not grown into an obstacle for the world’s order at the time, he deserved to live longer. Alas, not even his death was enough to destroy the three offices’ unity. Li Linglong departed, while Wang Muren and Ye Yun didn’t get along; however, they were still loyal to Emperor Yuansheng. For all the confidence Liaoliao had, he was a fool for not recognising that reality.

“I don’t need to hear anymore. You can leave.”

Mo Yubai bowed out, then retreated into the underground passage. She didn’t consider having to hide there by herself for a few days a form of suffering as she was used to being alone; she’d be fine for even a year as long as her other personality to come out.

Li Jingan gently poured herself a cup of tea as she analysed all the reports on the capital’s events. She had already deduced what information contradicted what and what possibilities there were as a result from them as if she had a bird’s-eye view of the events. Being able to do all that as a child was exciting, but it was too dull to even qualify as a time killer. Despite being able to control such an enormous world, her eyes were devoid of emotion.

There were very people who understood Li Jingan. Not even the mentor who taught her everything she knew could see her soul – if there even was one inside her skeleton. Nothing inside the thing called “the world” could respond to her. Her mother could’ve been considered among the top five smartest people. Had it not been for her poor health taking her too soon, the world would likely have been far more eventful. In saying that, not even her mother and elder brother, both of whom had more resources than her, could replace her.

There was no way to tell if Li Jingan’s entire family had unique views on the world due to genetics or not. Her mother saw the world as one big dream, a game to play without any emotions that she could walk away from whenever she was bored. As she sought little, she could see more. She had the mindset of a military strategist. Cyan Prince was a Prince who had the support of the people. Nobody could measure the extent of his ambitions, but he was destined to be greater than a military strategist. Li Jingan didn’t want anything. The world to her was just a black void. Her eyes suggested some sort of attachment to a desire, but it was impossible to tell what. That was the reason she was her mentor’s sole inheritor of intellect and knowledge. Whether she wanted to or not, she could find the best answer. To her, it was no different to answers being delivered to her without deliberation.

Li Jingan had a nip of tea.

Li Jingan had gone through the information dozens of times. selected the most reasonable possibilities, and emotionlessly defined her next dozens of steps. In saying that, there were some parts that were lacking information, such as Liu Shan Men, the imperial palace last night, and Taishu Hall.

As Mo Yubai returned to the academy last night, she wasn’t privy to what happened in the imperial palace in the morning. Considering it was still early in the day, it was natural for information to still be sparse. That being said, she would’ve managed to collect some information of last night’s events even as Jin Zhaoying if she tried. Nevertheless, Li Jingan chose not to ask for Mo Yubai’s opinion. She chose not to ask about Ming Feizhen even though it only required a few words.

In a second, Li Jingan could’ve imagined numerous ways Ming Feizhen died. He was defenceless against Tianhu, Liaoliao, and Gongsun Chu. She didn’t want to think about it when it was able to become a reality, though. It was as if thinking about it would save him, as if he’d mock her from somewhere. She could’ve saved him from her plot, but she wouldn’t for it was his fault.

Before one saw a flower, they didn’t know where the flower was or where the mountain it grew on was located. When they searched, the flower would be in front of them. There, howbeit, was no way of knowing how many springs it would last.

Li Jingan marinated in the void she couldn’t control.

“Hey, Lass.”

Li Jingan subtly raised her head and looked at him with a tinge of disbelief. “Fuma... you’re still alive?”

“TIanhu, Venerable Monk and Gongsun Chu all failed to kill me.” Ming Feizhen picked up a snack to start eating smugly as he always did.

“Confused? Hahaha, I have my ways.” Since he got the awkward silent treatment, Ming Feizhen said, “Wifey, it’s harder than that to kill your husband.”

“Hahahaha.”

Ming Feizhen fossilised as he watched Li Jingan bend backwards laughing.

“You’re alive. You’ve regained your martial arts. You’ve... regained your martial arts.” Li Jingan lowered her head and changed her aura to a second ago. “Great. Great.”

Li Jingan got up and strolled outside. When she turned back to take a look at Ming Feizhen, she laughed heartily again.

Is she... out of her mind?!