Chapter Seventy-Eight: Unconditional Trust

In the end, Li Suo had no choice but to compromise—how could he not, when he saw Yin Yao’s fist clenched so tightly at her side? Unless he truly wanted to see Yin Yao lose her temper, he could go on making a scene; otherwise, he had better behave and yield.

Seeing that Li Suo had finally acknowledged reality and obediently followed her instructions, Yin Yao nodded in satisfaction and released her grip. Just moments ago, she had indeed nearly lost her composure.

She shot Li Suo a warning glance before turning away.

As Yin Yao’s retreating figure gradually faded from sight, Li Suo began to pace anxiously in place. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he swiftly summoned one of his subordinates.

“Master, what are your orders?”

“I want you to wait until Yin Yao leaves and joins Chu Su Yi. Then, follow them closely—do you hear me?” Li Suo had just thought of this trick! He’d have someone serve as his eyes, keeping watch on Yin Yao and Chu Su Yi.

The subordinate looked up in disbelief, confused. “What? Master, are you sure you’ve got the right person? You really think my skills are up to tailing the mistress?”

“What, aren’t you the best tracker in the cult?” Li Suo considered.

“Master, why do you want me to tail the mistress? With my abilities, do you really think she needs protecting?” The subordinate pressed on—he truly didn’t understand! The mistress didn’t need protection, so why send someone after her?

“I’m not asking you to protect Yao’er. I know exactly what you’re capable of. Just don’t end up making her worry about protecting you instead!” Li Suo replied, unconcerned.

The subordinate was speechless. “Master, are you really sending me just to tail the mistress?”

“More or less,” Li Suo nodded.

This time, the subordinate was even more exasperated. “Master, do you know how skilled the mistress is? If I try to tail her, she’ll spot me in no time—she might even turn the tables on me! I bet the moment I begin to approach, she’ll know.”

Hearing this, Li Suo was growing impatient. “Then tell me, who could follow Yao’er without being detected?”

“Master, you’re the only one! Who else could conceal their presence from the mistress? But even you, if you leak the slightest trace of your aura, she’ll notice instantly. And at that point, she’ll definitely find you in no time.”

After hearing his subordinate’s many concerns, Li Suo finally came to his senses. In his impatience, he’d overlooked so much. If he rashly sent someone to follow Yao’er and she discovered it, how could he ever face her again?

“You may go,” Li Suo waved him away.

“We’re just cooperating, nothing more.”

Yao’er’s final words before leaving still echoed in his ears. Thinking back, her tone had already carried a hint of impatience, even anger…

Li Suo hesitated. Had he gone too far? When had he become so lacking in confidence, so fearful? Was this still him?

Perhaps Yao’er was right—it was nothing but a partnership. To choose a partner, naturally one would pick the best. In the current circumstance, Chu Su Yi was indeed the optimal choice. Did he truly have any reason to object?

Was he really so afraid that Chu Su Yi, even without his past memories, would snatch Yao’er away? Without those memories, was Chu Su Yi still such a threat?

He ought to trust Yao’er.

...

Yin Yao returned to her room, her face stiff and her gaze empty. What had she just heard? What had she just seen? Why did Li Suo trust her so little? Was she truly so unworthy of trust? Or did she simply inspire so little faith in others? How absurd.

Should she regret hiding her presence and sneaking back to observe his actions? She knew, and she understood, that Li Suo’s reaction might be intense—it was understandable. But why did he have to secretly send someone to follow her?

Yin Yao admitted, seeing Li Suo act that way made her heart ache just a little. Why, when she was willing to open her heart to him, did he have to hurt her?

Unable to bear it any longer, and fearing that the more she listened the more it would hurt, Yin Yao left before the subordinate did, her last vestige of reason keeping her from revealing her presence.

...

"Wu Ming, for the next few days, Lingyu Pavilion will be under your charge. I hope you manage its affairs well—don’t disappoint us.” After organizing the important messages, Gu Xinyu summoned Wu Ming to relay the decision she and Chu Su Yi had just made.

Wu Ming, crouched on the ground, caught a flash of light in her eyes at the news. But since her head was bowed, Gu Xinyu didn’t notice. Wu Ming looked at Gu Xinyu in astonished gratitude. “This—how can this be? I’m not worthy!”

Gu Xinyu smiled. “Wu Ming, don’t be so modest. Both Pavilion Master Chu and I will be away for a while, and the pavilion needs someone to hold the fort. Choosing you was a decision we made after long deliberation. We both believe you’re capable—don’t doubt our judgment.”

“But—but…” Wu Ming still hesitated, shaking her head as if to say she was unfit for the task.

“That’s enough, Wu Ming, no more refusals! It’s settled. Starting tomorrow, you’ll enter the inner pavilion and handle all affairs. When Pavilion Master Chu and I return, I want to see Lingyu Pavilion running smoothly under your hand.” Gu Xinyu interrupted her, issuing a command rather than a request.

With the deputy’s stance so firm, Wu Ming straightened up, cupped her fists, and replied with newfound confidence, “I will not fail you!”

“Good! Very good!” Gu Xinyu praised her repeatedly. Wu Ming truly was a heroine among women. She couldn’t help but wonder, between Wu Ming and Yin Yao, who would come out ahead?

...

The next morning, at the entrance of Lingyu Pavilion, Chu Su Yi and Gu Xinyu each mounted a horse. After issuing the order that Wu Ming would be in charge, they parted ways at the gate, each heading toward their respective destinations.

A similar scene unfolded at the entrance to the Hidden Sect. Yin Yao and Li Suo parted company there as well, but the atmosphere was markedly different from that at Lingyu Pavilion.

Yin Yao's face was expressionless as she watched everything unfold with indifference. Li Suo wanted to approach and speak, but the chill in the air around her kept him firmly at bay. He had no choice but to remain silent.

“Hyah!” Yin Yao rode off first.

Only when her figure disappeared did Li Suo turn his horse, salute his brethren, and swiftly ride away himself.

...

Outside the imperial palace, two horses arrived in succession, converging at the same spot.

Chu Su Yi looked at Yin Yao and noticed something was off with her expression—she seemed troubled. What could have happened? When they parted yesterday, she’d seemed quite well.

“Yin Yao?”

“Mm?”

“Are you all right?”

A hollow laugh. “I’m fine.”

“That’s good!” Chu Su Yi exaggeratedly let out a sigh of relief.

Yin Yao caught his performance and realized her expression had been overly cold. She managed a smile. “Let’s prepare to infiltrate the palace. But before we seek out Ji Muyu, I need to visit Xuan Yu Palace first—is that all right?”

“Xuan Yu Palace?” Chu Su Yi was puzzled.

With a light push from her feet, Yin Yao leapt from her horse to the top of the palace wall. Chu Su Yi, unwilling to be outdone, quickly followed.

Two figures raced along the wall as swift as the wind.

“I need to see a friend—and treat her illness,” Yin Yao’s voice carried into Chu Su Yi’s ears through inner energy. If she had spoken aloud, her words would surely have been scattered by the wind.

“Treat an illness? I didn’t know you had that skill!” Chu Su Yi also communicated by secret voice.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me! Hurry; there’s a patrol ahead.” Yin Yao had spotted a group drawing near.

Her pace quickened. Choosing her footholds among the surrounding buildings, she nimbly vaulted over the patrol—light as a swallow. Chu Su Yi seized the opportunity and did the same.

From behind them, faint voices drifted:

“Hey, did you see something just now? I felt a gust overhead, like two shadows flashed by—but when I blinked, they were gone.”

“I think I saw something too…”

“What are you talking about? You must be seeing things! I didn’t see a thing. Move along, move along!”

“Oh…”

Outside Xuan Yu Palace!

The place was still heavily guarded, with both guards and assassins. Ji Muyu was clearly anxious for Wan Youxue’s safety. But such tricks were nothing to Yin Yao.

“Take down everyone inside and outside Xuan Yu Palace. Remember—no blood, just knock them out!” Yin Yao ordered Chu Su Yi.

“So you brought me here to be your laborer?” Chu Su Yi extended his senses and detected the many presences nearby, shaking his head with a wry smile.

His words were answer enough. Yin Yao darted through a window into the palace. Spying the servants within, she crept up and struck each one swiftly on the nape—one after another collapsed in a heap.

Wan Youxue, hearing a commotion, approached and saw Yin Yao. She opened her mouth to cry out, then remembered those outside her door and hastily covered her mouth.

“Yin Yao?” she whispered.

“It’s me,” Yin Yao replied, stepping into view.

“How did you get in? There are so many people outside!” Wan Youxue pointed out the window, only to witness something even more astonishing—a man in black was swiftly felling everyone outside, then nodded toward her window. Wan Youxue looked at Yin Yao in terror; surely this person knew her.

“Don’t worry, he’s a friend. We just don’t want Ji Muyu to know we’re here. I came today to treat your illness,” Yin Yao smiled kindly, explaining her purpose.

Wan Youxue’s eyes lit up in delight. “You’re going to treat me?”

“Yes, Yin Yao came especially to help you,” Chu Su Yi announced as he strode boldly through the main door.

Yin Yao glanced at him. He was fast—but with their unique skills, such speed was to be expected. If he had been slower, that would have been embarrassing.

The three sat together. Yin Yao took a medicine bottle from her robe. Wan Youxue recognized it at once—it was the same as the one Yin Yao had given her last time. Following Yin Yao’s instructions, she had taken the pills, and indeed her headaches had lessened. To avoid arousing suspicion, however, she continued to feign pain before Mu.

“Here, Youxue, you remember this. Just like before, once a day, best at dusk. There are ten pills here; every ten days, I’ll bring you more. After forty-five days, I’ll perform the most crucial procedure for your recovery. Once it’s done, your memories will return.” Yin Yao explained her plan for both Wan Youxue and Chu Su Yi.

“All right, I trust you!” Wan Youxue replied, carefully putting away the bottle with a smile.

...

Afterward, Chu Su Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you helping Wan Youxue? And what is the medicine you’re giving her?”

“The medicine is only for her headaches. The main part of the treatment is the procedure forty-five days from now,” Yin Yao paused. “As for helping her, you saw it yourself—she trusts me unconditionally.”

Unconditional trust…

—Author’s note—

Sigh, I accidentally deleted more than a thousand words while writing, so I had to start over T^T

A late update, sorry T^T