Volume One, Chapter 16: The Master Looks Almost Too Human Like This

“Master, are we not going to continue searching for the lady?” Yuan Yi, dressed in black, was momentarily taken aback and asked instinctively.

Yuan Kaizhi, the man in crimson, cast him a cold glance before tossing a slip of paper into his hand.

Yuan Yi glanced at it and immediately widened his eyes in shock. “Master, a woman carrying your token has entered the palace? Could it be the lady herself?”

“Who else in this world, besides that damned woman, would dare do such a thing?” Yuan Kaizhi ground his teeth, clenching his fists tightly. “That wretched woman, don’t let me catch you! Or else…”

“Um, Master, the lady is so elusive. If we rush back, hasn’t she already escaped again?” Yuan Yi asked anxiously.

Ever since that day over four years ago when the master suddenly ordered them to dig deep and search for a woman, they had been at it for four years and four months now.

Not a shred of her clothing had they ever caught, let alone the woman herself.

They didn’t even know what sort of entity this unknown lady was—she was slipperier than an eel.

They had practically turned the entire Great Yu upside down seven or eight times.

If they couldn’t find her again, they were beginning to suspect that the master was hallucinating—that the woman might not even exist.

This was the first time such a clear clue had appeared.

The master’s token—the very token he had lost for over four years—had suddenly appeared! In the hands of a young woman!

Yuan Kaizhi took a deep breath to steady himself, then let out a cold smile. “Now that we know where she is, if she escapes again, you all might as well take your lives to atone!”

Yuan Yi grimaced but shouted resolutely, “Your subordinate will do his utmost!”

The brothers in the capital were surely watching the woman’s every move closely.

Yuan Yi lit a signal flare, gathering all the nearby comrades, and together they set off straight for the capital.

Changing swift horses four times along the way, the group covered the distance in a single day and night.

Yuan Shi’er, who had come from the capital to assist, was dumbfounded. This dusty, exhausted figure with dark circles under his eyes—was he really their master, who was usually so ethereal and meticulous down to every strand of hair?

He looked too much like a mere mortal!

“Where is that woman?” Yuan Kaizhi’s voice was hoarse with fatigue as he spoke.

“She has left the city, heading toward Licheng,” Yuan Shi’er replied, his tone tinged with pity.

The master cared deeply for that girl, rushing back in such urgency to see her, only for her to slip away again.

Without even taking a sip of water, Yuan Kaizhi swung back onto his horse. “To Licheng!”

“Ah?” Yuan Shi’er hurried forward to explain, “Master, our men have been following her secretly all along. You should rest first.”

“No need!” Yuan Kaizhi gritted his teeth. “Go!”

On the carriage, Yan Weiyu, who had been dozing with her eyes half-closed, suddenly jolted awake and sneezed three times in quick succession.

She took out a handkerchief to rub her nose and asked He Yueyue, her attendant sitting beside her, “Could someone be cursing me?”

He Yueyue smiled charmingly. “There’s no doubt about it, Mistress. Quite a few people must be cursing you.”

Yan Weiyu’s expression turned serious as she quickly counted on her fingers, assuming the role of a serious seer. “By my reckoning, my mortal enemy Fu Zhaoyuan must be plotting how to kill me.”

He Yueyue covered her mouth and giggled. “Mistress, are you nervous? Anyway, Master and Miss are both very safe now. Why don’t we risk everything and utterly destroy his foundations so he can never rise again?”

Yan Weiyu shot her a sidelong glance and said earnestly, “Yueyue, we are merchants—peace brings profit. Don’t be so quick to resort to violence; too much hostility affects fortune.”

“Heh—” He Yueyue responded with a cold laugh, “You say that as if you’re so kind-hearted. Aren’t you the one who’s just itching to kill him?”

Yan Weiyu leaned back against the soft cushion lazily and sighed, “Little Ping’an and Little Kaixin are still too young. If they were ten now, I’d go all out.”

“Eh? What’s poking me?” Yan Weiyu shifted uncomfortably and pulled a token out from the cushion.

He Yueyue leaned in curiously. “Huh? Isn’t that the national adviser’s token? How did you get it?”

“If we had someone like the national adviser’s immortal-like figure aiding us, wiping out Fu Zhaoyuan would be a piece of cake.”

Yan Weiyu tossed the token to He Yueyue with a sigh. “What are you thinking? I stole this token.”

“He’s barely helping Fu Zhaoyuan to crush us. Don’t expect him to help us. Impossible.”

He Yueyue sat upright immediately, horrified. “You offended him?”

“Yan Weiyu, are you trying to die faster? You can offend anyone but not that devil!”

The girl usually played the obedient role perfectly, calling her “Mistress” sweetly. But when flustered, she called her by full name, practically wanting to smash her head.

Sigh! That man—just the mention of offending him had He Yueyue nearly jumping out of her skin.

If she knew the truth, Yan Weiyu thought, she’d owe her a beating for these years of loyalty.

Raising an eyebrow, Yan Weiyu asked with interest, “You just said he was an immortal. How did he suddenly become a devil?”

He Yueyue held the token as if it were a scorching hot potato, murmuring, “Those who obey him live in paradise on earth; those who defy him are doomed to the eighteen hells. Yan Weiyu, daring to offend him—what a feat!”

“This token can’t stay with us. Ma San, stop the carriage, stop!”

Before Yan Weiyu could say more, He Yueyue had already jumped out with the token.

Yan Weiyu leaned out to ask, “Hey, Yueyue, there’s nothing around here. You don’t plan to just throw it away, do you?”

He Yueyue smiled faintly, watching the group of riders not far behind. “No, we’re giving it to someone.”

Yan Weiyu hesitated, reaching out her hand but ultimately said nothing, lazily lying back down and closing her eyes.

This token’s sudden appearance in public made it unsuitable for her to keep any longer.

Though she had long resolved to dispose of it, when the moment came, she couldn’t quite explain the hesitation in her heart. It was better not to see it at all.

He Yueyue rested with everyone and boiled water.

Soon, the group of riders arrived nearby.

The lead guard, noticing their rest, couldn’t help but warn, “The nearest town is still half a day’s journey ahead. If you don’t hurry, you won’t reach before nightfall.”

He Yueyue waved him off. “Thanks for the reminder, brother, but we have no choice.”