Chapter 129: Chapter 113: Splitting Up, Increased Fitting
"When did I say I was going to show up as a ’relative of Zheng Xiu’?" The Mighty Man scratched his head and grinned. "I *am* Zheng Xiu."
By the bonfire, the air instantly fell deathly silent.
Zheng Xiu pointed to his own face and chuckled. "I’ll tell them I’m Zheng Xiu."
That’s right. It was the simplest solution.
I’ve pretended to be my uncle, my son, my older brother, my younger brother.
Zheng Xiu had long since grown accustomed to switching freely between these tangled family roles. Now that the cards were on the table, he would go back to pretending to be himself.
The head of the Shuzhou Chamber of Commerce was named Si Youqing. The last time he had met Zheng Xiu was seven or eight years ago; all subsequent contact had been through letters.
After seven or eight years, couldn’t Master Zheng, in the prime of his life, have gone through a second growth spurt? Grown taller, more formidable, more handsome? What could be more normal?
Zheng Xiu figured it wouldn’t be a problem.
Listening to Brother Zheng’s bold declaration, Yue Yan and Dou Xie’s jaws dropped in shock.
Yue Yan even found herself muttering internally, wondering if she should use her identity as Tailor Yue Yan to tattle on him to Master Zheng when she got back.
Dressed for her role, Yue Yan was Ye Weiyang. But without the disguise, she was one of the Zheng Family.
Although Yinping Town and Yizhong County were in the same general direction—south of Jiayang—one was to the southwest and the other due south, ultimately leaving them separated by several mountains. To reach their respective destinations as quickly as possible, the four of them would have to part ways at the next fork in the road.
They agreed to meet up in Yizhong County as soon as possible, in ten days. Yue Yan and Dou Xie each mounted a swift horse and rode through the night toward Yinping Town to begin their investigation into the strange case.
On the other road, only Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei were left alone.
In truth, Zheng Xiu always felt a little uncomfortable when he was alone with Feng Bei now. Her attitude was strange. Afraid of revealing his true self, Zheng Xiu chose his words with subtle caution and didn’t dare say too much.
But he had no choice. The only reason Zheng Xiu’s Incarnation could use Divine Travel to go so far was because of Feng Bei’s [Post Station] ability. He couldn’t be separated from her at all; they were bound together.
The two shared a horse, chest to back, as they rode south.
On horseback, the silent Feng Bei began to ask about the "Flying Saber" Zheng Xiu had used to pierce the Blood Crow.
"Ahem. That’s this old man’s personal treasure. It carries a heavy killing aura. Best not to look at it."
When alone with Feng Bei, Zheng Xiu had the nerve to put on the airs of a senior. At the very least, her impression of him was still that of someone from her father’s generation.
Twenty years ago, Feng Bei was just a little girl. In the blink of an eye, she was all grown up. Times had certainly changed.
Zheng Xiu felt comfortable enough in front of Feng Bei to act boldly and refer to himself as "this old man." It wasn’t a problem.
Zheng Xiu didn’t see the expression of surprise and confusion that twisted Feng Bei’s features behind him.
’Could it be... that I guessed wrong?’
’Is he... really his son?’
Amidst the wind and snow, this question lingered in Feng Bei’s mind.
They traveled the rest of the way in silence.
...
On the Game Table.
[Post Station Feng Bei] was within the borders of Shuzhou.
When he and Feng Bei got separate rooms to rest, Zheng Xiu canceled his Divine Travel and entered the Heart Prison.
He couldn’t wait to check the new changes to the [Deceit Jiazi].
First, he gestured. The yellow Paper Scroll flew out of the mist and landed on the table.
For a fleeting moment, Zheng Xiu even hoped for that pair of arms to appear.
A pity it didn’t dare show up.
’That damn Riddle Arm can go to hell.’
Zheng Xiu thought indignantly as he checked the information on the Paper Scroll.
[Host]: [Zheng Xiu]
[Path]: [Prisoner] (Jiazi · Eighth Gate)
[Fitting]: [Ten Percent]
[Derivation]: [Observing the Sky from Prison (Entry)] [Divine Travel (Entry)] [Projection (Entry)] [Unbreakable (Entry)]
[Talent]: [No merchant is honest (Masterful)]
[Experience]: [White Carp’s Initial Search for Secrets, Tumultuous Times Shock Waves (Newcomer to the Martial World)], [Chang’an’s Escape from Danger, Vast Righteous Qi (Retired from Jianghu)], [Slayed the Immortal Lady Without Mercy, Rescued the Fair Maiden in a Rage (Heroic Youth)]
The most obvious change was this:
The Fitting of the Jiazi Deceitful Object with the Host had increased.
It had risen from "five percent" to "ten percent."
