Chapter 44: Different Paths, Same Destination

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Chirp chirp chirp-”

It was noon, and there were few people on Dye Workshop Street.

Ye Jingtang led his horse across the street. The white bird on the horse was leisurely eating a small piece of jerky he had just bought for it.

When they arrived at Double Osmanthus Alley, the bird couldn’t wait to fly into the deep alley. Along the way: “Chirp chirp chirp-”

“Welcome back. Are you hungry?”

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“Chirp chirp!”

A young woman’s doting voice came from behind the courtyard wall.

Ye Jingtang smiled when he heard this and led his horse into the courtyard.

There were some changes in the clean and tidy courtyard. There was a row of small flower pots under the courtyard wall, with green seedlings planted inside. He didn’t know what kind of flowers they were.

Outside the kitchen, the chopped firewood was neatly stacked. Even the smoked meat, onions, ginger, and garlic hanging under the windows were arranged in an orderly manner. As a result, when he entered, he felt that the entire courtyard was a little brighter.

Ye Jingtang had lived with his foster father since he was a baby. Both of them were martial artists. His house couldn’t be said to be dirty and messy, but it was inevitable that they weren’t too particular with cleanliness.

Seeing this scene, he suddenly felt that having a virtuous wife at home was indeed a very blissful matter.

Luo Ning, in her blue dress, walked out of the kitchen with two plates of side dishes and the bird perched on her shoulder. Her expression was as cold and elegant as when they first met. She didn’t look at Ye Jingtang, who was tethering his horse beside the vegetable trellis, and only greeted him calmly. “Yunli went out to play. Come and eat.”

Ye Jingtang felt that Luo Ning had suddenly become much closer to him and was a little surprised. He entered the kitchen and carried the stir-fried dishes to the main room. He put them down and looked at Luo Ning, who was plating the table. “Heroine Luo, why are you so gentle today?”

Luo Ning sat down on Ye Jingtang’s left, opened a small wine jar, and poured two cups of wine. She said in a casual tone, “Although our relationship isn’t very good, I really have to thank you for taking care of me these days. 1 have been in the capital for a while, but I didn’t tell my family when I went out…”

Ye Jingtang stopped taking the wine cup and retracted his hand. “You’re leaving?”

“Chirp?” The bird, who was eagerly looking at the stir-fried meat, immediately panicked when it heard this. It raised its head and looked pitifully at Sister Little Watermelons.

Luo Ning hugged the bird in her arms and rubbed it. She frowned slightly. “What do you mean by that? You still want to detain me in the capital to keep cooking and washing for you?”

This wasn’t what Ye Jingtang meant. He thought for a moment and said, “Qiu Tianhe hasn’t been fished out yet, and 1 haven’t figured out the Roaring Dragon Chart. It’s probably not appropriate for you to leave now.”

“I have to do something at home, so I have to go back. I’ve promised that as long as Qiu Tianhe is released from prison, 1 will teach you martial arts. Now, I have already taught you lightness skills. 1 don’t want the Roaring Dragon Chart either. I believe that you will keep your promise even if I’m not around…”

?

Ye Jingtang frowned and said, “Are you planning to go and not return?”

This wasn’t Luo Ning’s plan, but her expression was very serious. “You save Qiu Tianhe, and 1 teach you martial arts. This was what we agreed on in advance. I’ve already taught you lightness skills, and I don’t even want the Roaring Dragon Chart. Why would I come back?”

Ye Jingtang was stunned by this question. He tapped his fingers on the table and pondered for a moment. “When Qiu Tianhe is released from prison, he will still be trapped in the capital. It’s not a long-term solution. If 1 navigate around the Imperial Court more, 1 might be able to let him completely regain his freedom.”

?

Luo Ning was just ‘playing hard to get’ by saying that she would never come back. Then she would reluctantly agree to return in a few days so that this little thief wouldn’t pester her and not let her go.

She really didn’t expect Ye Jingtang to make such a big promise to keep her.

She felt a little embarrassed.

But she definitely couldn’t show her thoughts. Otherwise, if the little thief noticed, he would absolutely push his luck and make some improper request.

“I have something important to do at home, and someone has already been sent to inform me, so 1 have no choice but to leave early. If… if you can help Qiu Tianhe completely regain his freedom, I will come back in a few days and teach you the Fourteen Dappling Cloud Palms.”

Hearing this, Ye Jingtang smiled and asked, “What’s going on at home? Why are you in such a hurry?”

“This is my private matter and has nothing to do with you.”

“I’m just afraid that something will happen to you. You haven’t told me your identity. If you run outside, it’ll be like looking for a needle in a haystack to find you. If you accidentally die outside, I will think that you didn’t keep your word. Don’t you think so?”

Luo Ning was silent for a moment. It wasn’t appropriate for her to say that she was going to the Water Cloud Sword Pool to attend Old Master Zhou’s birthday banquet. She only said, “It’s not a big deal. Um… I’m going back to send a gift. I’ll come back after I’m done. It’s only about twenty days…”

“Twenty days…” Ye Jingtang had to accompany Third Lady out for a few days. He would first go to West King Town to cut a few people and then go to the Water Cloud Sword Pool to cut a few more people. When he returned, it would be around the middle of next month. The timing of their schedules was about the same…

Ye Jingtang thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright, I have to go out in a few days anyway. It will be very difficult to get Qiu Tianhe out in a few days. Why don’t we continue when we come back?”

?

Hearing this, Luo Ning thought that Ye Jingtang didn’t trust her and wouldn’t help if she wasn’t around. She said unhappily, “1 said I would come back, so I will. Why are you going out?”

Ye Jingtang spread his hands. “I’m an escort of Heavenly Water Bridge, not a wanderer. I have to work for my salary. 1 have to deal with some small business matters in a few days.”

Hearing this, Luo Ning didn’t ask further. After thinking for a moment, she picked up the wine pot on the table and poured wine for Ye Jingtang. “You are very talented. How can you be satisfied with being an escort? Whether it’s going into the bureaucracy or entering Jianghu, it’s better than working for others…”

She held her flowing sleeve with her hand and poured wine gently. Coupled with her considerate words, she looked like a little wife complaining about her man’s lack of ambition.

Ye Jingtang picked up his chopsticks, looked at Luo Ning, and blinked.

Luo Ning sensed something, and her eyes turned slightly cold. She put down the wine pot, picked up the filled wine cup, and took a sip.

?

Ye Jingtang was instantly speechless. He picked up the wine pot and poured himself a cup while asking casually, “I’ve even risked my life to save you. Heroine Luo, are you still unwilling to tell me the truth?”

Luo Ning covered her face with her sleeve and finished the strong wine in one gulp. As soon as she put down her wine cup, Ye Jingtang poured her wine. She didn’t refuse. “I have my reasons for not telling you my details.”

“What reasons?”

The reason why Luo Ning didn’t say anything was that the Pacifying Heaven Cult was a rebel organization. After Ye Jingtang found out, he would have to choose between ‘an official career’ and ‘following her’. If he chose an official career, the two of them would have to part ways. And Qiu Tianhe’s matter would be difficult to handle.

Second, the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master was a woman. To be honest, if she said all of this and Ye Jingtang found out that she was just a pure and innocent single big sister, there was a high chance that she wouldn’t be able to withstand this little thief’s various methods.

“Don’t ask. When Qiu Tianhe is out of danger, I will explain it to you.”

“Can’t you tell me in advance?” Ye Jingtang picked up his wine cup and sighed softly. “I feel that I’m immoral now. I’m hooking up with a married woman and violating the word chivalry. I can’t sleep at night…”

So, you do know. Luo Ning sat up straight and said solemnly, “In that case, you should rein in at the brink of the precipice and turn over a new leaf…”

Ye Jingtang raised his hand slightly. “But the matter has already happened. I reined in at the brink of the precipice and still made a mistake… 1 want to cut the Gordian knot quickly, but I’m afraid that you will think I’m a heartless person.”

Luo Ning was so angry that she laughed. She picked up her wine cup and took a sip. She couldn’t be bothered to respond to such shameless words.

Ye Jingtang poured her another cup of wine. “Marriage is something that is uncertain. I don’t have a wife or concubine yet, but as you know, I’m handsome and talented, and there are many people who have their eye on me. The Prince of Jing opened the door for me. Haven’t you thought about the reason?”