Chapter 46: Origins
Ding Songyan’s emotions surged. He failed to activate his illusion-piercing in time to glimpse Liu Yuzao’s true state.
By the time his nominal mother disappeared into the Zhen estate’s covered walkways, Ding Songyan had finally gathered his thoughts. He mocked himself in silence, My instincts really were right all along... At least we only lived together for a few days. I hadn’t invested too deeply. Otherwise my resolve might genuinely have shattered...
Recalling everything that had happened and combining it with his earlier deductions, Ding Songyan rapidly formed a clearer picture of the "Ding family’s" situation.
Ding Shengyi was cooperating with Yan Changqing’s "old acquaintance." Using enhanced moth-men that exceeded normal capabilities, they had staged the entire drama—the Small Boat Gang’s repeated provocations and Chen Yuliang’s audacious purchase of the Secret Classic. This meant they had come specifically for Yan Changqing. Whether to rescue him or to claim the possible Celestial Thearch’s treasure and the location of Kunlun remained unclear. Perhaps both.
Before they even arrived in Dingjiang Prefecture, their "relative," Qin Nuansheng, had already been married into the Zhen household for over two years. Learning that the Zhen household regularly had its members study storytelling would have been trivial. They might even have known about the "distinguished guest" in the dungeon. Therefore, Ding Songyan’s identity as a storyteller was almost certainly custom-built. Ding Shengyi and Yan Changqing’s "old acquaintance" hoped that with Qin Nuansheng’s influence, the original Ding Songyan would have the chance to reach Yan Changqing through storytelling, laying the groundwork for a future rescue.
If this reasoning was correct, Ding Songyan believed the original had been an unlucky innocent chosen for the role. Before things actually unfolded, anyone would have assumed that an outside storyteller entering the dungeon to perform for Yan Changqing would inevitably undergo thorough inspection by the Zhen household’s experts. Patriarch Zhen himself might personally scrutinize the candidate. At that level, no concealment art, however powerful, could likely fool a Grandmaster so familiar with Yan Changqing’s methods.
Given this logic, finding a genuinely ordinary person and controlling them through an implanted hazy "seed" or constant thought manipulation was far more covert and far less likely to alert Patriarch Zhen.
As for why the Zhen household later proved so careless, failing to thoroughly examine Ding Songyan before sending him in, that was naturally because they had their own schemes.
Viewed this way, the original Ding Songyan was probably chosen for this tragic role simply because he could tell stories and bore some resemblance to Ding Shengyi and Liu Yuzao. He became a pawn virtually guaranteed to die. Master Yu had probably lied as well. What Yan Changqing enjoyed was likely not just legends and sagas but also historical tales and jianghu anecdotes. The original’s skill at historical narration was equally suited to Yan Changqing’s tastes.
After that, the "Ding family" had been in Dingjiang Prefecture for over half a year, yet Qin Nuansheng still could not arrange for the Zhen household to hire an outside storyteller. Growing impatient and fearing that further delay would introduce more variables, they shifted from "finesse" to "force." Hence the Small Boat Gang’s provocations, Chen Yuliang’s "transaction" with the original Ding Songyan for the Secret Classic, all designed to ignite an intense conflict between the Four Waters Brotherhood and the Small Boat Gang, forcing Patriarch Zhen to personally intervene and leave the estate.
After being compelled to participate in the "transaction," the original Ding Songyan thought he could escape. But his escape was itself part of the plan. Without his flight or death in the ruined temple, the conflict could not escalate quickly enough.
In the end, Ding Songyan’s transmigration meant the original Ding Songyan did not die. This shocked Yan Changqing’s "old acquaintance" and Ding Shengyi, forcing a temporary change of plans. They sacrificed Chen Yuliang and let the matter quiet down. The plan was later back on track when the Zhen household invited him to tell The Legend of the White Snake to Yan Changqing.
The current question is: everyone else in the ’Ding family’ has a role. What purpose does Qingyan serve? Ding Songyan stood in the shade across from the Zhen estate, lost in thought.
While in his illusion-piercing state, he had found no physical abnormalities in Qingyan. This meant his "sister" was either a very, very powerful powerhouse, or special in some other way.
Related to a third approach the mastermind prepared, beyond ’finesse’ and ’force’?" Ding Songyan gazed thoughtfully toward the eastern end of North Water Street.
Two carriages approached from that direction, their wheels rolling over flagstones with a rumbling sound. One had wind chimes hanging from it, their crisp tinkling drifting pleasantly through the air.
The carriages stopped before the Zhen estate’s entrance. From the first, two attendants alighted, followed by a handsome man who appeared to be in his early thirties. He wore a bamboo crown and gray robes with wide sleeves. Every gesture carried a refined detachment. He showed no physical abnormalities.
Xiao Qing descended from the second carriage with her maidservant. A white kerchief bound her black hair. She wore a lake-blue fitted outfit with white boots embroidered with floral patterns, the very image of a jianghu swordswoman—both vividly lovely and dashingly heroic.
She took my warning to heart. That’s clearly an outfit suited for responding to trouble and fighting... Ding Songyan quickly stepped out from the tree shade to make himself visible to her.
As the Zhen estate’s main gate slowly opened, Xiao Qing’s bright eyes swept the area and found Ding Songyan. She smiled and nodded at him as a brief greeting.
Ding Songyan’s objective was achieved.
Shortly after, with Zhen Quanwang receiving them, Xiao Qing followed her second uncle through the fully opened gate, past the idolatry wall, and into the estate’s depths.
Their carriages rolled forward a short distance further, stopping at a row of hitching posts.
Before Ding Songyan could retreat back to the shade, the clatter of hooves sounded, growing rapidly closer.
Ren Youyang rode over quickly on a white horse, leading four guards.
He was still in his feathered robes and tall cap, canine ears standing erect, though without his handmaidens this time.
The five thoroughbreds halted. Ren Youyang dismounted with reasonable agility, his four guards following in neat unison.
Ren Youyang glanced around, spotted Ding Songyan, and actually raised his hand with a smile to beckon him over.
"Brother Ding! You’re here too?"
Damn, Brother Youyang really is generous with his goodwill... Under normal circumstances, just this public greeting would be enough to get me accepted into any non-top-tier sect, my stock rising overnight... Ding Songyan approached, both surprised and grateful.
Ren Youyang waited for the Zhen household’s reception while chatting with a smile.
"Did you see who just went in?"
"I did." Ding Songyan was not sure where this was going.
Ren Youyang tilted his head with puzzlement.
"You weren’t entranced? With beauty like that right before your eyes?"
I see her every morning and every night... And this outfit isn’t even her at her most beautiful... Or perhaps, Brother Youyang, you’re more taken by her second uncle? Ding Songyan organized his words.
"She is certainly a peerless beauty. But Miss Xiao Qing comes to hear my stories every day. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen her."
By now, another Zhen family heir had arrived at the gate with his retinue to receive Ren Youyang, but dared not interrupt upon seeing him chatting happily with Ding Songyan.
Hearing Ding Songyan’s answer, Ren Youyang looked both astonished and enlightened.
"So she’s who the street rumors talk of—the lavish patron that’s as beautiful as a goddess! How did I not realize!?"
He looked annoyed at himself, as though doubting his own intelligence.
To avoid letting Ding Songyan notice his self-reproach, he twitched his canine ears and volunteered, "I only learned today that the other party is the Celestial Maiden Sect from the Gan Kingdom."
"The Celestial Maiden Sect?" Ding Songyan was confused.
Isn’t Xiao Qing a snake-yao?
"You didn’t know?" Ren Youyang laughed. "That Miss Xiao Qing is Su Qingli, the younger sister of Su Yunzhang, known as the Spotless Gentleman. She came to Dingjiang Prefecture with their second uncle, Su Chongxiao. Hey, you didn’t tell Su Qingli what I said about Su Yunzhang, did you? No, I’m overthinking it. You two couldn’t possibly meet in private."
So Xiao Qing’s full name is Su Qingli... But isn’t she a snake-yao? Ding Songyan still did not understand.
How does a perfectly good snake-yao end up joining the Celestial Maiden Sect? And she’s the biological sister of this "Spotless Gentleman" Su Yunzhang? Did someone poke a snake-yao nest?
"My lips are sealed, naturally." Ding Songyan had no intention of telling Ren Youyang that Su Qingli might be a snake-yao. He chose his words carefully. "Miss Xiao Qing did privately pressure me to write scripts, and she used a transformation to frighten me. But I kept my promise and never told her what you said, Brother Youyang."
Ren Youyang laughed heartily.
"Her using transformations to scare you is entirely in character! That’s the Su family’s nature, the Celestial Maiden Sect’s inherent vice!
"The Celestial Maiden Sect primarily cultivates the Celestial Fox Scripture. Their fundamental divine art is the Myriad Transformations, Beguiling All Living Things Grand Method. That myriad transformations is no empty boast."
"Myriad Transformations, Beguiling All Living Things Grand Method"... Myriad transformations... Was I being played by Xiao Qing? She’s not a snake-yao at all! The prettier the girl, the better she lies. Qingyan is one, and Miss Xiao Qing is another... The Celestial Maiden Sect’s lineage clearly derives from the Nine-Tailed Fox. So she was "toying with all living things"? Ding Songyan did not know whether to laugh or cry, though he was not truly angry.
This kind of small deception was harmless. Not being a snake-yao actually relieved him, since he was afraid of snakes.
Ren Youyang suddenly looked puzzled.
"Su Qingli is only sixteen. She’s barely come of age. She hasn’t even finished body tempering and qi cultivation. She came to Dingjiang just to see the world. How could she have the ability to transform?"
He then provided his own explanation.
"An elder following in secret, creating a Great Void Illusory Realm? Or lending her power?"
Listening to Ren Youyang’s musings, Ding Songyan gradually felt something was not quite right.
Given Xiao Qing’s reaction to The Legend of the White Snake, given her attitude toward yao in conversation—is she truly not one?
When I used Yan Changqing’s qi to pierce illusions outside Dangkang Temple, I thought I glimpsed several fluffy white tails. Were those hers, or her second uncle protecting her from the shadows?
Concerned about implicating Xiao Qing, Ding Songyan did not pursue this further. Instead he asked, "Is the Twelve Ways of the Great Void another divine art from the Celestial Fox Scripture?"
"The Myriad Transformations, Beguiling All Living Things Grand Method is the substance. The Twelve Ways of the Great Void is the application," Ren Youyang explained in a low voice.
He then teased Ding Songyan with a smile.
"If you could marry Su Qingli, you’d be the envy of who knows how many young heroes. The Su family has deep foundations, over two thousand years of history. Every generation produces at least one Supreme Master at the Heaven-Man Realm. Occasionally they even produce a Sage at the Spirit Platform Realm. And Su Qingli’s aunt, Su Liudan, was once the most beautiful woman in the martial world. When Su Qingli fully comes into her own, with a little more effort, she could well become that kind of legend herself."
"What have I done to deserve such fortune?" Ding Songyan laughed.
Ren Youyang chuckled and said, "Don’t dismiss it. The Su family is actually quite peculiar. Every generation, they either cultivate alone or fall for ordinary mortals or unknown nobodies in the martial world. You fit the bill perfectly."
Before Ding Songyan could respond, Ren Youyang pointed at the Zhen household’s welcoming party at the gate.
"I should head in. Can’t keep them waiting."
"Please, Brother Youyang." Ding Songyan cupped his hands.
Ren Youyang gazed at the open gate of the Zhen estate, at the grand reception party bowing deeply before him. A sudden wistfulness crossed his face.
"Brother Ding, whenever I see a scene like this, I always think of a line from the opera: The gongs and drums sound, and all take the stage in their painted masks."
With that said, he led his four guards and walked step by step toward the Zhen estate’s gate.
