Chapter 45: Rescued, Encounter with Cen Song

A raging fire!

“The fire must have been set by Han’er. She doesn’t know martial arts… I have to save her.”

“Madam, be careful!” As Xi Feng suddenly rushed toward the flames, the guards panicked, hastily blocking her way to prevent her from going any further.

“Let me through! Han’er is surely inside. Release me!” Xi Feng frantically pushed against the crowd.

Ying Die, clutching her wounded side, followed closely behind Xi Feng. “Miss, Ying Die will go with you.”

“Madam, you absolutely cannot go in!”

“If anything happens to you, how will we explain to the General?”

Everyone spoke at once, their anxious voices a cacophony. Xi Feng felt her mind buzzing, her whole body collapsing to the ground.

...

“Where am I?” Chu Junhan shielded her eyes from the light inside the room, asking instinctively.

“This is the inn where I reside. There’s no need to be afraid, young friend.”

Chu Junhan turned her head. On the opposite wooden chair sat an old man, his lips curled into a gentle, kindly smile.

“Master Cen Zi!” The little one sprang from the bed, astonished.

Cen Song fanned himself with a folding fan. “It seems you’re quite surprised to see me, young friend!”

“Thank you, sir, for saving my life.” Chu Junhan still dared not meet the elder’s gaze, instead clasping her hands and bowing her head low.

“No need for thanks. I just happened to pass by and had my retainer lend a hand.”

“May I ask who your retainer is? Junhan wishes to thank him in person!”

“He’s gone already—Yi Wuqing, the swordsman from Jiangnan.” Cen Song’s smile remained warm.

Yi Wuqing?

Chu Junhan was even more astonished, her mouth slightly agape.

Yi Wuqing wasn’t a renowned hero; his martial skills weren’t celebrated. His fame came solely from his name—‘Wuqing,’ meaning ‘heartless.’ It was said he only killed, never saved.

To become Cen Song’s retainer was surprising enough, but to think this old man could persuade Yi Wuqing to break his own code!

The saying, “He who has Cen Song has the world,” truly lived up to its reputation.

Thinking of this, Chu Junhan dropped to her knees with a thud, pressing her forehead to the floor. “Junhan thanks you for saving me, sir. I have admired your talent for so long—please, accept me as your disciple!”

“I am but a humble man from the countryside, young friend. You may have chosen the wrong person to follow.”

Was he unwilling to leave his seclusion?

“Sir, your wisdom is renowned. My father often praised you. If Junhan could enter your tutelage, it would be a blessing beyond measure!”

“Oh? My wisdom is renowned? Tell me, how am I so wise?”

Hearing this, the little one saw an opportunity and slowly raised her head, lifting her chin with pride. “Sir, do you recall that my name was suggested by you?”

The old man nodded. “I remember.”

“You must have foreseen the calamity that would befall the Chu family, so you used my name to warn the Emperor Tianwu. Junhan dares to guess, you wished to save the people from disaster, and thus took this lesser course.”

The elder stroked his goatee. “Indeed, you’re absolutely correct. But tell me—why do you call it a lesser course?”

Chu Junhan rose from the ground, her expression complex. The old man before her inspired admiration; his calculations were profound. In her past life, he must have tried to save the Chu family in the same way. Yet for all his plans, he never foresaw the catastrophe that would destroy the Chu family sixteen years later.

“Yes, it is a lesser course. Have you considered, sir, that if Emperor Tianwu dies and my father is buried with him, the Chu army will be leaderless? With enemies lurking, do you believe the current Crown Prince can defend the realm? War will break out, and the people will suffer.”

The elder’s eyelids twitched; for all his calculations, he had not seen so far ahead. The words of this young child were like a revelation, awakening him from a dream!