Chapter 10

Shen Yao Xing vaguely knew who the young master they were talking about was, and without much hesitation, she followed them.

It wasn’t her first time entering the Four Directions Association. She knew from that night how vast it was inside, but now she found it even more exaggeratedly large. With winding paths both big and small, she hadn’t eaten much early in the morning, and all this walking made her hungry.

“Hey,” Shen Yao Xing patted her stomach and called out to the person leading the way in front, “Does your young master provide meals?”

The woman leading the way turned back in confusion and asked, “What does ‘provide meals’ mean?”

Forgetting that ancient people hadn’t heard this term, Shen Yao Xing didn’t know how to explain it to her for a moment. After thinking, she simply asked directly, “Did your young master call me over to treat me to a meal?”

“…You’ll know when you get there, miss.”

She thought they would take her to the main hall or a dining area, but who knew they would wind around and bring her to a garden. At first glance, this garden was extraordinary. Shen Yao Xing had been to the imperial palace a few times and seen the imperial garden, but compared to this, it seemed slightly inferior.

Shen Yao Xing couldn’t help but sigh, thinking this was really just for show, all flowery and fancy.

The person who invited her was currently in a pavilion in the garden, playing chess. Shen Yao Xing stood far away, watching the woman who led her go to the pavilion to report. She saw the figure in the pavilion move slightly, and a young woman walked out. Wearing a light-colored long robe that looked casual, she walked towards Shen Yao Xing with arms slightly open.

“You’re here!”

That familiar call, that enthusiastic smile, if one didn’t know better, they might think the two were long-lost sisters.

“……” Wait, who are you, big sister?

“Come, please sit over here.” The young woman smiled and made a welcoming gesture.

Shen Yao Xing didn’t move, standing there scratching her face, not in the mood to beat around the bush with her: “May I ask… young master, why did you summon me?” After thinking for a moment, not knowing what to call her, she could only follow what the others called her.

Shen Yao Xing was feeling quite hungry now. If she had known it wasn’t for a meal, she would have eaten first before coming.

Ye Xi Feng lightly flicked her sleeve, put one hand behind her back, and said with a smile, “Miss, there’s no need to be so formal. My surname is Ye, given name Xi Feng. You can just call me by my name.”

Seeing that the other person had already introduced herself, Shen Yao Xing also understood the courtesy of reciprocation. She cupped her hands in a formal manner and said, “My surname is Shen, given name Xing Xing. Those with an ordinary relationship call me Miss Shen, those with an extraordinary relationship call me Xing Xing. Feel free to choose.”

This was the nickname she used outside, and no one except Meng Xin Yi knew her full name.

Ye Xi Feng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: “Miss Shen is truly an interesting person. I want to be friends with you even more now.”

Friends?

Shen Yao Xing glanced over suspiciously, wondering if she had been called over specifically for this so-called friendship.

Ye Xi Feng invited her to sit in the pavilion again. This time, Shen Yao Xing didn’t refuse. One shouldn’t refuse a smiling face, especially on someone else’s turf. Better to get it over with quickly so she could go out to eat.

Shen Yao Xing thought this way, but as she approached the pavilion, she regretted it. From her previous angle, the tree leaves had perfectly obscured the inner part of the pavilion. She knew Ye Xi Feng was playing chess but couldn’t see clearly who she was playing with.

Now, the unhealed wound gave a slight burning sensation.

Jiang Ming Yue’s indifferent gaze moved from the chessboard, looking straight at her. That casual look seemed to be appraising, his eyes deep and dark. The summer breeze gently brushed a few strands of dark hair falling by the side of his face as his thin lips moved slightly: “Miss Shen?”

“……”

Shen Yao Xing was two hundred percent certain that this guy definitely recognized her.

Ye Xi Feng’s gaze swept between the two of them, asking puzzledly, “Do you know each other?”

Neither of them spoke. Shen Yao Xing’s gaze fell on his fair and handsome face, her fingers at her side lightly rubbing against each other, wishing she could go up and slash his face right now.

The pavilion was silent for a good while before the young man broke the impasse. His voice was like the first thaw of snow, cold yet exceptionally pleasing to the ear: “I have indeed met Miss Shen once before.”

His words carried a deeper meaning.

Shen Yao Xing wasn’t sure which “meeting” he was referring to, since they had also met once at the inn, but he had only glanced at her casually then, probably not noticing her. She could only assume he meant the time when he was bathing.

Thinking of that time made her think of her disfigurement.

Shen Yao Xing’s teeth gritted audibly, almost unable to control the malice within her.

“Miss Shen, are you… alright?” Ye Xi Feng waved her hand in front of her.

“I’m fine.” The answer came out somewhat through gritted teeth.

Being on someone else’s turf, Shen Yao Xing couldn’t act out. But now she felt extremely uncomfortable and didn’t want to stay a moment longer. She casually said goodbye and turned to leave the pavilion.

However, she was blocked by people on both sides of the bridge. Shen Yao Xing frowned slightly and turned back to look at the young woman: “What is the meaning of this, Young Master Ye?”

Ye Xi Feng waved her sleeve to dismiss the two people, saying apologetically, “Please don’t misunderstand, Miss Shen. I mean no harm. I was just so impressed by your skills yesterday that I wanted to meet you today.”

Her words sounded sincere and genuine. If Shen Yao Xing left now, it would make her seem petty. Oh well, a good woman doesn’t fight with a vicious man. Thinking this way, Shen Yao Xing puffed out her chest slightly and walked back into the pavilion, sitting in the outermost position.

Jiang Ming Yue raised his long lashes slightly, seemingly casually glancing over.

During the conversation with Ye Xi Feng, the young man rarely spoke. However, Shen Yao Xing could occasionally feel a faint gaze, as if appraising, yet not quite like appraising a person, more like examining an object.

“Why is Miss Shen looking at me like that?” Jiang Ming Yue raised his eyes to meet the young woman’s gaze.

Shen Yao Xing’s eyes were wide open, her chin slightly raised, with a defiant expression, glaring at him intently. If you weren’t looking at me, how would you know I was looking at you! Those eyes kept drifting towards her, surely he must be harboring some malicious intentions.

Ye Xi Feng took a light sip of tea, her gaze sweeping lightly over the two of them. She coughed lightly and smiled, changing the subject: “Miss Shen, you’re so young yet so skilled. May I ask where you learned your martial arts?”

Shen Yao Xing’s gaze slanted towards her. She suddenly raised her hand to her neck, naturally making a motion as if stretching: “My master has been wandering the four seas for years, accustomed to a carefree life. She specifically instructed me not to reveal her name, so I hope Young Master Ye will forgive me.”

“It’s alright. If it’s inconvenient to say, then let it be.” Ye Xi Feng’s smile remained unchanged. She suddenly raised her hand to beckon someone outside the pavilion. A tall woman approached carrying a tray. She took a bronze token from the tray, with intricate patterns on it and the characters “Four Directions” clearly visible in the center.

Ye Xi Feng handed the token to her: “With the Deerskin Map in your possession, there will surely be people coveting it. Our Four Directions Association has quite a standing in the jianghu. If you encounter danger, showing this token might be of help.”

After saying this, she smiled and winked: “Consider it a gift between friends.”

The woman smiled radiantly.

Wait, did she miss something? Shen Yao Xing was a bit confused.

……