Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Xiao Yu’er replied, “You idea might be brilliant, but you did not expect me to take Murong Jiu away, so since your mask is now useless, you might as well do me a favor and use it to save me.”

Du Jiao Jiao laughed, “Once I saw that it was you, I knew that you must be up to some mischief, so I was constantly keeping a watch on you. This morning, I also overheard you and Black Spider asking Murong Jiu to write a letter.”

She continued with a coquettish smile, “If not for me keeping an eye out for you outside, I’m afraid you would have been found out by that Ouyang Brothers this morning.”

Xiao Yu’er was secretly startled, but he carried on with a smile “Even if they found out, it doesn’t matter.”

Du Jiao Jiao smiled, “You’d really rather die than accept help.”

Xiao Yu’er said, “So you overheard about the letter, which is why you knew we would be at the ancestral hall at night…”

Du Jiao Jiao continued, “Besides that, I also met another person.”

Xiao Yu’er asked hoarsely, “Bai Kai Xin?”

Du Jiao Jiao smiled, ‘While you were rubbing that dirt ball, I was already looking.”

Xiao Yu’er mumbled, “Weird, how could I not have heard that you are near?”

Du Jiao Jiao smiled, “With your current skills, you should have heard, but at that time Bai Kai Xin was facing me, and I have made a secret hand signal with him, asking him to create a din to divert your attention. Besides, you were so smug with yourself then, how could you have noticed.”

Xiao Yu’er smiled bitterly, “Seems like no matter the time, a person should never be too smug.”

He paused and suddenly guffawed, “No wonder Bai Kai Xin did not ask me for the antidote earlier, because you have already told him that was only a dirt ball. He ate the dirt ball, so naturally he would want to harm me to vent his frustration.”

Du Jiao Jiao smiled, “If things were not such a coincidence, you would not have benefited from it.”

Xiao Yu’er replied with a straight face, “This may seem like a coincidence, but it is not really a coincidence, everything that happened, happened for a reason. This kind of ending is the most reasonable of all.

Du Jiao Jiao giggled, “After all these, the only one who suffered is that Jiang Bie He.”

Xiao Yu’er laughed loudly, “If someone is to be harmed, then naturally it would be more meaningful to harm someone like him. If I were to harm an honest, respectful person, I might as well stay at home and count my fingers.”

Du Jiao Jiao thought for a while and slowly nodded, “This statement sounds quite reasonable, harming a bad person is indeed more interesting than harming a good person, since they definitely will not dare to make known what had happened. Besides, if others know that you have tricked him, they would only admire you, and no one would look for you to settle scores with.”

Xiao Yu’er grinned, “So, if you learn from me, and only harm the bad people and not the good, not only can you satisfy the craving for tricking people, you need not hide or fear them looking for you. Not only is it impressive, dignified but also worthwhile.

Du Jiao Jiao giggled, “Worthwhile matters, have all been done by you, little imp.”

Xiao Yu’er wondered, “But I still can’t think why you would leave the ‘Valley of Evil.’

Du Jiao Jiao sighed again, “There are many things in the world which is unexpected.”

The same sentence, she said it twice, and each time she speaks this sentence, she would unconsciously heave a long sigh.

Xiao Yu’er thought of something, and asked, “Could it be that something unimaginable has happened in the ‘Valley of Evil’?”

Du Jiao Jiao heaved another long sigh, “Something really serious.”

Xiao Yu’er pressed on anxiously, “What is the matter, tell me quick…”

Du Jiao Jiao replied slowly, “Do you know…”

Suddenly there was a light ‘whish’, and a shadow flew from the top of the trees, exclaiming loudly, “So you are here, I had a hard time looking for you.”

The person who came, is Black Spider.

With a long sigh, Black Spider said, “I almost missed seeing you.”

Only then did Xiao Yu’er realize that his usually black satin shine clothes are now muddied, his hair disheveled, and asked hoarsely, “How did you end up looking like this?”

Black Spider explained, “When I went to deliver the letter, I saw that there was not a single person in Nangong Liu’s room, so I sneaked in and placed the letter on the table…”

He did not finish his sentence, when Xiao Yu’er interrupted, “Why did you walk into the room, can’t you just throw that letter in? Their own maid has been killed and eaten; of course they will be extra cautious about their accommodation.”

Black Spider laughed bitterly, “I was too careless. I had just placed the letter on the table when suddenly a long whip curled in and snatched the letter over. I knew something was not right but by the time I wanted to escape, the doors and windows have been blocked.”

Xiao Yu’er sighed, “They deliberately left the room empty to lure you in. How else could it be possible that others can walk in and out of Nangong Liu and Murong Shuang’s room at leisure?”

Black Spider continued, “In my shock, I wanted to charge out, but I did not expect all of them to be highly skilled, and their secret weapons astonishing. Not only was I unable to escape, it seems like I will soon be injured and captured by them.”

“The secret weapons of the Murong Family really live up to it’s name…but since you managed to escape from their circle, doesn’t it mean that you are stronger than them.”

Black Spider replied with a long sigh, “How could I have escaped single handedly.”

Startled, Xiao Yu’er asked, “Could it be that there was someone else helping you?”

Black Spider added, “I saw that I was losing, and suddenly someone floated in. Yan Ren Yu’s Godly Fist can be considered a strong opponent, but this person just lightly waved his sleeve, and he flew straight out!”

Xiao Yu’er asked hoarsely, “This person’s martial arts is so powerful?”

Black Spider sighed, “This person’s martial arts is greater than anything that I have seen in my life. Even in my dreams I would not have imagined that there would be someone with such powerful martial arts.”

Xiao Yu’er stirred, “Even you are in awe of him, this is rare.”

Black Spider continued, “With a wave of his sleeve, he sent the secret weapons back out, and the strength was even greater then when they threw out the secret weapons. As they were dodging in alarm, this person has already taken me away.”

He continued with a bitter smile, “I was actually clasped under his arm, unable to move, and only saw that he flew about seventy, eighty feet with a light jump, as if he was floating on clouds.”

Xiao Yu’er laughed, “You story is getting more miraculous, how could there be someone with such superb Lightness Skill in the world.”

Black Spider said seriously, “You might not believe it, and even I, who witnessed it personally, almost could not believe my own eyes. But think about it, if this person does not possess such magnificent martial arts, would he be able to clasp me under his arms?”

Xiao Yu’er sighed, “That’s right, it’s impossible that there would be someone in the world who could clasp you under his arm.”

Du Jiao Jiao could not help but interrupt, “What does he look like?”

Black Spider replied, “This person is not very large, but has immense strength. I was only held by him for a while, but my whole body was so numb that I could not move.”

Once Du Jiao Jiao heard that this person is ‘not very large’, she heaved a sigh of relief, but Xiao Yu’er pressed on, “What about his face?”

“He was wearing a fierce and ugly looking copper mask, his pair of eyes looked extremely eerie. I’ve always considered myself brave, but with just one look at him, even my palms started breaking out in cold sweat.”

On hearing his description, Xiao Yu’er unconsciously felt the hair on his back stand as well, as if a cool breeze brushed past him, and a cold shiver ran down his spine.

Black Spider continued, “He ran up a small hill carrying me, and jumped up onto a huge tree, before putting me on a branch. My whole body was so numb that I could not move, not that I even dare to, as I was afraid I would fall once I move.”

Xiao Yu’er asked, “What about him?”

“He was also sitting on a branch, looking at me coldly, not talking. That branch looked so weak that even a child could have broken it, but he actually looked very comfortable sitting on it.”

Xiao Yu’er sighed, “That is indeed a weird person… could it be all highly skilled martial arts exponents will have some weird habits.”

Du Jiao Jiao giggled, “If you think like that, you are doomed.”

Black Spider added, “Indeed, he waited for half a day, and pressed two of my acupuncture points and left me there on that tree. With a wave of his sleeve, he disappeared.”

As he spoke, he seemed to have remembered something, and stared at Du Jiao Jiao, asking “Miss Murong has regained your senses?”

Du Jiao Jiao chuckled, “Have I recovered my senses…. I don’t know either?” She suddenly turned around and fled.

Black Spider was about to give chase when Xiao Yu’er held on to him and laughed, “Let her go, don’t bother about her, tell me what happened to you on the tree first.”

Black Spider’s eyes seemed to be clouded over, and after hesitating for a while, he finally continued, “At that time the wind was getting stronger, and my body was moving with the wind. The branch looked as if it was about to break and I could not even move my fingers, so naturally I was petrified.”

“Then how did you come down from the tree?”

Black Spider smiled bitterly, “I was just thinking of revenge when that person appeared, and as if he has read my mind, he asked ‘Were you thinking of revenge?’”

Xiao Yu’er laughed, “Even I could see what you are thinking of. Your mouth may not say anything, but your eyes have revealed it all.”

Black Spider said, “He saw through my mind, so I stared at him angrily, thinking that even if he kicked me down, it would be better than suffering on the tree. I did not expect him to laugh and say ‘I saved your life, and you did not think of repaying me, but you are thinking of how to take revenge?’”

Xiao Yu’er chortled, “These words are indeed brilliant.”

Black Spider added, “I was stunned by his words, and although revenge must be taken, I must also repay him, I cannot be an ungrateful person. However, his martial arts was so good that not only was I unable to take revenge, I don’t even know how I should repay him even if I want to. Sometimes, repaying a debt can be more difficult than seeking revenge.”

Xiao Yu’er mused, “I’m afraid he saw through what you were thinking again.”

Another sigh, and Black Spider said, “He really saw through it, I have not finished my sentence, and he already said ‘You don’t know how to repay me, right?’, I humphed, and he said ‘If you can deliver letter for others, can’t you deliver a letter for me?’. I can’t help but ask ‘Is it considered debt repaid if I deliver the letter for you?’. He actually nodded his head, took out a letter, and asked me to deliver it to…. make a guess who?”

“That I cannot guess.”

Black Spider said, “He actually wanted me to deliver a letter to Hua Wu Que.”

Xiao Yu’er’s eyes shone, and he laughed, “This is really getting more interesting, how is he related to Hua Wu Que? Why does he want you to deliver the letter for him, he obviously could have spoken to Hua Wu Que directly.”

Black Spider replied, “Maybe he does not wish to see Hua Wu Que.”

Xiao Yu’er countered, “Even if he did not wish to see Hua Wu Que, with his Lightness Skill, he could even deliver the letter right to Hua Wu Que’s bed without him realizing it.”

Black Spider suddenly said, “Maybe he knows that there is no way for me to repay the gratitude, so he thought of this errand for me.”

Xiao Yu’er heaved a deep sigh, “That is possible as well, a weird person like him, it’s possible that he would have such strange logic. You did not want to owe him a favor, so maybe he did not want another to owe him a favor as well…”

Black Spider agreed, “Exactly, I don’t owe anyone else, naturally I would not want someone to owe me anything. Without such debts, life would be a lot better. If I know that there is someone who wants to repay me, I would feel bad.”

Xiao Yu’er laughed, “Seems that the two of you have equally weird temperament, no wonder he would save you… but did you see what was written on the letter?”

Black Spider lashed out, “Am I one who will peep into another’s letter? After he released my acupuncture point, I delivered the letter to Hua Wu Que immediately. I did not even take a single look at what was written on the envelop.”

Xiao Yu’er grinned, “You are indeed a gentleman, but I’m sure Hua Wu Que said something after reading that letter.”

Black Spider replied, “It is precisely because he said something extremely bizarre after reading the letter that I was in such a hurry to find you.”

Xiao Yu’er pressed on, “What did he say?”

“He said, ‘Although I did not know Jiang Bie He for long, but we know each other very well, so how would I be swayed by rumors that he is an evil person. This Senior is overly worried.’”

Xiao Yu’er furrowed his brows and wondered, “How is that weird person related to Jiang Bie He? Why would he help Jiang Bie?”

Black Spider added, “After Hua Wu Que said those words, I was just about to ask him ‘Who is this Senior?’, when instead he told me ‘You are so lucky to have seen this Senior, I wonder what he looks like, was he really wearing a copper mask?’”

Xiao Yu’er mused, “Since Hua Wu Que has never seen him before, why would he listen to him?”

Black Spider replied, “I thought it was peculiar too, that the Mistress of the Floral Palace has instructed him, if he should meet a ‘Mr Copper’ in future, he must never disobey him. Whatever this ‘Mr Copper’ said, he must comply.”

Xiao Yu’er exclaimed, “So that weird man is called ‘Mr Copper’, this name is really as weird as him!”

Black Spider carried on, “The Mistress of the Floral Palace also said, this ‘Mr Copper’ is the most outstanding person in Jiang Hu since time memorial, and his martial arts is the best in the world. She even said that compared to this ‘Mr Copper’, she is far beneath him.”

Xiao Yu’er was moved, and said “The Mistress of the Floral Palace is such a haughty person, would she say such a thing? If the Mistress of the Floral Palace is so in awe of him, then this ‘Mr Copper’s’ martial arts must be really intimidating.”

Black Spider replied, “But Hua Wu Que really obeyed what that ‘Mr Copper’ said, so he would really do his utmost to help Jiang Bie He in future. With someone like him helping Jiang Bie He, it’s enough of a headache for you.”

Xiao Yu’er gave a slight smile, “That doesn’t really matter.”

Black spider stared at him for a while before he suddenly said, “Farewell, my debt may have been repaid, but my revenge has not been taken!”

Xiao Yu’er asked hoarsely, “You want to seek that ‘Mr Copper’ for revenge?”

Black Spider replied coldly, “Can’t I?”

“But… but his martial arts…”

Black Spider fumed, “Can’t I take revenge if his martial arts is better than mine? Am I a person who bullies the kind and fear the evil?” As he shouted, he flew out. Now, there are three more mysteries in Xiao Yu’er’s mind.

Firstly, where has the real Murong Jiu gone to?

Secondly, what frightening event took place at the ‘Valley of Evil’?

Thirdly, who is that ‘Mr Copper’ really? How is he connected to Jiang Bie He? Why must he insist that Jiang Bie He is a good person?

By now, the sun has risen, and Xiao Yu’er has removed the mask on his face. He does not wish to see others with Li Da Zui’s face during the day.

The streets are starting to get crowded, but nine out of ten of them were walking from the west to the east, and most of them looked like members if Jiang Hu. Some of them even tied a black cloth on their sleeve, and all of them looked excited, mumbling incomprehensibly.

Xiao Yu’er was feeling perplexed, when right then, a very elaborate but strangely designed carriage drove up from the side and stopped right in front of Xiao Yu’er.

The carriage door opened, someone stuck her head out and said, “Come up quickly.”

The sun was shining on her face, her features looked delicate but her complexion was extremely rough. It turned out to Du Jiao Jiao. Xiao Yu’er jumped up the carriage, and saw that the interior of the carriage was even more elaborately decorated, with thick, soft and wide cushions, and extremely comfortable when seated.

Xiao Yu’er could not help but laugh, “You’re really resourceful, where did you get this carriage from?”

Du Jiao Jiao did not reply, but asked, “I waited for you for almost half the day, why did you come out only now. What is there to discuss between you and that Black Spider.”

Xiao Yu’er smiled, “We were discussing about a ‘Mr Copper’, have you heard of this name?”

Du Jiao Jiao asked hoarsely, “The weird person who saved him is ‘Mr Copper’?”

“You know of this person?”

Du Jiao Jiao looked stunned, but she suddenly raised her voice “I don’t know this person, I’ve never heard of this name.”