Chapter 1042: You Are Not Allowed to Go

In the pavilion, Chen Changsheng watched the scene with deeply furrowed brows.

They hadn't relaxed for a moment.

This truly was overturning the heavenly order!

Ruyi grabbed a couple of garments and tossed them to her.

"Here."

Dong Chiyu caught them and looked at Ruyi.

Ruyi blinked. "What are you standing around for? Change."

Dong Chiyu nodded and moved to strip off her red robes.

As the fabric slipped past her shoulders, Ruyi caught a glimpse and immediately looked away.

Dong Chiyu lowered her head at the exact same moment.

Neither harbored any improper intentions, but staring still felt awkward.

"I'll step out for a bit."

Ruyi recovered first and headed out the door.

Dong Chiyu let out a sigh of relief only after the door clicked shut.

She finished changing and stepped outside.

Ruyi tossed a wooden staff to her.

Dong Chiyu gave her a puzzled look.

"Didn't you always want to learn?" Ruyi asked.

"You're willing to teach me?"

Joy bloomed in Dong Chiyu's chest, though her face remained completely expressionless.

"I already promised you, didn't I?"

At the mention of that matter, both of them looked slightly uncomfortable.

Their thoughts inexplicably drifted to what had happened that day at the brothel.

By unspoken agreement, neither probed any further.

Once they reached the gardens of the Tang Manor, Ruyi took her stance. She ran through the spear techniques Mister Lan had previously taught her, demonstrating them for Dong Chiyu.

It had to be said that Dong Chiyu's talent was exceptional.

Countless martial artists roamed the world, yet very few could hold their own against the current Ruyi. The circumstances, however, were entirely different. Ruyi had taken a shortcut; whether in her cultivation method or her spear techniques, she had not been taught by mortals. Dong Chiyu, on the other hand, was someone who had largely carved her own path by feeling her way forward. Yet even so, she still managed to exchange a few blows with Ruyi.

"This move is called Turning to Look at the Moon."

"And this one!"

"Sweeping Spear. It's the move I used to hit that scholar the other night."

"This one..."

Dong Chiyu nodded repeatedly, memorizing every detail bit by bit.

Gradually, a complete set of spear techniques formed in her mind.

As she recalled them, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

These spear techniques were truly extraordinary. Not only did they seamlessly blend offense and defense, but every strike was filled with the unpredictable. It completely upended Dong Chiyu's understanding of the spear.

Tang Yuerong returned to the manor early today.

Upon returning, she found Ruyi practicing spear forms with the young woman.

The two of them were remarkably synchronized in their movements, every thrust and parry looking as though they were carved from the same mold.

Once they finished a round of practice, both came to a halt.

Ruyi frowned at Dong Chiyu.

Dong Chiyu blinked. "What's wrong?"

"That was it, and it took me over half a month to learn!" Ruyi said. "You picked it up in just this little while?"

Dong Chiyu glanced at the staff in her hands and said, "Maybe it's just easier to practice because the staff is light."

"You really are something else," Ruyi muttered.

She turned her head and spotted Tang Yuerong standing a short distance away.

Seeing this, Tang Yuerong walked over.

"You're back early?" Ruyi asked.

"I heard the Fifth Miss of the Dong Family was kidnapped the night before her wedding," Tang Yuerong said. "The Dong Family and the Yun Family are searching everywhere for her right now. They've even gone to the authorities."

She gave Dong Chiyu a look as she spoke.

Dong Chiyu lowered her head with a guilty conscience.

"Let them search," Ruyi said.

"She isn't going back to that place anyway," she added.

Tang Yuerong continued, "I heard something else, too. In his early years, the ancestor of the Dong Estate followed the Grand Ancestor in rebellion and earned the merit of assisting the dragon. Because years of accumulated injuries left him unable to remain in the military, the Grand Ancestor gave him a sinecure managing the water transport between Shangjing and Jiangnan. He eventually died of illness, and control of the waterways fell to others, but the web of connections he left behind still dominates that shipping line."

"Ever since Prince Jin marched north, that waterway has become a critical supply line for the military. Very few people can profit from it, which is exactly why the Yun Manor wants to borrow the Dong Estate's help. This marriage alliance between the two families was built entirely because of those lingering connections. The Yun Manor controls the salt trade, so they naturally have to put more effort into shipping. By piggybacking on the Dong Estate's remaining prestige to forge new channels, the Dong Estate could also profit from it."

"But in reality, that shipping line hasn't been the same for a long time."

Tang Yuerong took a couple of steps forward. "Half of the salt trade on this waterway is monopolized by my Tang Family Trading Firm, and the rest is in the hands of various salt merchants and officials. If the Yun Manor wants a piece of the pie, naturally, someone will object."

Dong Chiyu paused in surprise. "Who?"

"The Cui Family."

In their eyes, a scheme like this was sufficiently effective. Without exerting much effort at all, they could cause the Yun Manor and the Dong Estate to have a bitter fallout, or even forge a blood feud, saving them a tremendous amount of work.

And Dong Chiyu had simply become a game piece in this affair, suffering an undeserved calamity.

Dong Chiyu tightened her grip on the wooden staff. Though her face remained expressionless, anger had already welled up in her chest.

"Calm down."

Tang Yuerong pressed her hands down and said, "You two certainly can't handle this matter on your own. The Cui Family is an aristocratic family that has stood for hundreds of years, so their power naturally cannot be underestimated. They do not lack martial arts experts from the jianghu, and there's no telling how many death warriors they've secretly raised. If the two of you just charge in alone, it would be no different from throwing your lives away."

"However, the timing is quite fortunate."

Tang Yuerong continued, "The Cui Family has monopolized the wine business for years. Because of the war, the trade routes of my Tang Family Trading Firm were blocked, and the Cui Family took advantage of that to swallow up a huge chunk of our business, making us take an unspoken loss. If the two of you want to make a move against them, the trading firm can provide you with some manpower."

Ruyi and Dong Chiyu exchanged a glance.

Dong Chiyu said, "Going up against an aristocratic family... the risk is too high."

Tang Yuerong nodded and said, "Exactly. That's why you need to consider this carefully. If you do decide to set out on this path, you cannot just carelessly go knocking on their door."

Ruyi, however, said, "Isn't killing a few people easy enough?"

Tang Yuerong shook her head and said, "It's different this time."

"I've received word that the Cui Family has extraordinary experts watching over their estate. There are even rumors that the Cui Family is secretly in contact with Prince Jin. A lot of people in the Imperial Court suspect as much, but no one has ever been able to get their hands on the evidence."

"Why would they collude with the enemy? Isn't that just begging for death?"

"But the fact remains that no one can get their hands on the evidence."

Tang Yuerong said, "The Cui Family's methods are incredibly cunning. Given the current climate, every aristocratic family is making moves in the shadows, and my Tang Family Trading Firm is no exception. If we want to avoid being purged when the dust settles, we have to make our preparations early."

"Have even the aristocratic families given up on the Imperial Court?"

"That's exactly how it is," Tang Yuerong said. "The young emperor is utterly incompetent. Ever since Li Lin's sudden death, the Imperial Court has been a foul mess. Everyone is looking out for themselves and throwing everything into chaos. A situation like this truly makes it impossible to find any peace of mind."

These matters were not difficult to investigate.

Even without the Tang Family Trading Firm, seeking out White Night in the jianghu would quickly turn up the truth.

Tang Yuerong knew Ruyi's temperament better than anyone.

When it came to her friends, Ruyi had never been one to tolerate even the slightest wrong. She would inevitably march right up to their doorstep with the young woman, which would be nothing short of suicide.

So she figured that rather than hiding it, she should just lay the facts bare. That would serve as a wake-up call and stop them from charging in on a hotheaded impulse.

The incident at the Chancellor's Manor was still vivid in her mind.

Tang Yuerong did not want anything to happen to Ruyi, especially since she would have a very hard time explaining it to her uncle.

"What is there to be afraid of?" Ruyi said. "Worst comes to worst, I'll just go ask the Goddess of the Celestial River. We're both Uncle Chen's nieces. Getting a little help will be easy."

"Who are you going to ask?"

Chen Changsheng's voice drifted over.

Ruyi stiffened, then looked away as if she had said absolutely nothing.

Chen Changsheng reached out and rapped her on the head.

She didn't dodge. Rubbing her head, she muttered, "If I can't win a fight, of course I have to call for backup..."

Chen Changsheng shook his head with a sigh. "I told you to stay out of danger. With your temperament, you just charge straight ahead. If you make it through, great. If you don't, you'll die there."

"I really don't want the white-haired burying the black-haired."

Ruyi obediently nodded. "Uncle is right to lecture me."

Chen Changsheng looked at her, deeply worried.

He knew very well that most of the time, she didn't listen to a word he said.

When the time came, she would still be just as reckless.

Tang Yuerong smiled. "Uncle is right. As the saying goes, ten years is not too late for a gentleman's revenge. The Cui Family won't be laughing for much longer."

Ruyi just wore a cheeky grin.

But Chen Changsheng continued, "This Chen will tell you the truth. If you get hotheaded and insist on trying, This Chen will write his name backward if you even manage to reach the Cui Family without a hitch."

Ruyi blinked in surprise. "Uncle Chen is boasting, isn't he? Since when am I that easy to catch?"

Chen Changsheng glanced at her. "Is catching you supposed to be hard?"

Feeling underestimated, Ruyi grew indignant. Her mouth opened and just wouldn't stop, desperate to prove how capable she was.

She kicked up a fuss, explaining this and arguing that, chattering endlessly in Chen Changsheng's ear.

Finally, Dong Chiyu tugged her arm. "I will avenge myself in the future. Do not be impulsive."

Ruyi scoffed. "I know, I know. Besides, am I an impulsive person?"

The moment she said that, everyone's gaze landed on her.

Ruyi blinked. "Why are you all looking at me?"

Nobody believed her for a second.

There was probably no one in the world with more nerve than Ruyi.

If the emperor offended her, she just might grab a spear and charge alone into the Imperial Palace to kill him.

"Ah, I really won't go! I promise! Why don't you believe me?"

Ruyi argued her case for quite a while before finally getting the group to believe her just a little.

Dong Chiyu also spoke up several times in a row, all to make Ruyi drop the idea.

That was the Cui Family. Their manpower was countless times greater than the Chancellor's Manor.

But the moment Chen Changsheng and Tang Yuerong walked away...

Ruyi nudged Dong Chiyu. "Later, we'll go take down the Cui Family."

Dong Chiyu repeatedly shook her head. "You are not allowed to go."

She enunciated every syllable, taking it very seriously.

Ruyi let out an exaggerated scoff. "Why are you so cowardly?"

Dong Chiyu said, "You will die."

"You're underestimating me, aren't you? Look, even if I can't win, I can run. My escaping skills are no joke. If you don't believe me, ask Lihua. A few years back, I sneaked into a bandit lair and killed their boss. Afterward, over three hundred people chased me for three days and three nights, and they couldn't even touch the hem of my clothes."

"You are not allowed to go."

Dong Chiyu just repeated the exact same phrase.

Looking at her completely earnest expression, Ruyi couldn't help but find her rather interesting.

This rigid, by-the-book attitude was quite a sight.

Then Dong Chiyu added, "Miss Tang said, ten years is not too late for a gentleman's revenge."

"I'm no gentleman."

"I'm a bandit!"

Dong Chiyu tried to persuade her for a long time.

However, her persuasion skills were terrible. It just boiled down to 'You are not allowed to go'. No matter what, it was simply not allowed.

At the same time, Dong Chiyu did not understand.

Why was Ruyi insisting on helping her like this?

That was the Cui Family. It was a genuinely life-threatening matter, yet from Ruyi's mouth, it sounded like no danger at all, just something she had to force her way into doing.

Especially since they had only met a short while ago.

So Dong Chiyu asked, "Why must you help me?"

"What are you saying? I'm your Master! If a disciple is bullied, naturally the Master has to step up for them. Isn't that right?"

"But..."

"No buts. Be good, and call me Master."

Dong Chiyu hesitated for a moment before uttering, "Master."

Ruyi was delighted to hear this, a bright smile blooming on her face.

"Good disciple. Heh."

She loved an obedient and sensible disciple like this.

Who would have thought Dong Chiyu's next sentence would be, "You are not allowed to go."

Ruyi clicked her tongue. "You really have a block of wood for a brain. Do you have anything else to say besides that?"

Dong Chiyu thought for a second and said, "I won't seek revenge anymore."

"That's unacceptable!"

Ruyi hurriedly said, "The principle of our sect is that all grudges must be avenged. If someone punches us, we hack them to death! Understand?"

"This..."

Dong Chiyu paused, looking at Ruyi and shaking her head.

She felt Ruyi's reasoning was completely crooked.

"Blockhead."

Ruyi stopped arguing with her. She finally realized that Dong Chiyu was incredibly stubborn—the kind who could never be reasoned with.

However, it was probably due to Dong Chiyu's persistence.

Ruyi never mentioned going to the Cui Family again. No matter what they chatted about, she didn't bring it up.

She didn't want to bring it up only to hear Dong Chiyu say 'You are not allowed to go' again. Her ears were practically growing calluses from it.

The little girl's perseverance was so strong it bordered on the absurd.

When Tang Yuerong learned of this, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief. This was for the best—shelving the matter for now and dealing with it when the time came.

Chen Changsheng, on the other hand, felt a bit dazed.

This young girl had actually managed to subdue Ruyi with a single sentence.

To be completely honest, it was unbelievable.

For someone with a bandit's temperament like Ruyi to actually be persuaded to stop—it was truly incredible.

"This little Dong girl has some skill," Chen Changsheng muttered.

But thinking about it, if someone kept nagging in his ear constantly, he probably wouldn't be able to stand it either.

Mainly because Dong Chiyu was exceptionally persistent.

It just went to show that no matter how reckless a person was, everyone had their limits, and no matter how stubborn someone was, there was a formidable strength in that stubbornness.

For the remaining days, things were much quieter.

Ruyi would either chat with Chen Changsheng or practice the spear with Dong Chiyu. Having Dong Chiyu around actually added a bit of liveliness.

Even though she didn't speak much.