Poor Taoist Qiu Chuji

Chapter 374 Little Mengchang Punches the Old Man

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I know I was wrong!" Lin Daiyu thanked him repeatedly, and at the same time, she further corrected her attitude.

"It's alright! It's alright! You're just young and inexperienced. With your abilities, if you're a little more vigilant, even if you're outmaneuvered, it won't affect the facts. If you have the ability to sweep everything away and ignore everything, then it's nothing at all," Qiu Chuji said calmly.

That's exactly what he did back then.

No matter how the Song and Jin states slandered him as a great demon, a great killer, or a great calamity, he remained calm and simply let it pass.

Once all those who are stubborn, resentful, and show their dissatisfaction have been defeated and subdued, all the slander will naturally be reversed.

Throughout history, apart from those undeniably wicked individuals, the rest of the turmoil and chaos can only be summed up in the four words: "the victor is king, the loser is villain."

Listening to Qiu Chuji's calm words, Lin Daiyu secretly wondered what kind of background this master had.

Judging from his tone, he must have been a lawless person in the past, but I really can't think of anyone who could match him.

"What are your plans next?" Qiu Chuji asked Lin Daiyu.

He didn't intend to make any more detailed plans or arrangements for Lin Daiyu. Being a teacher is not like being a nanny, just pointing out the way is enough. Too much interference... might not produce truly talented people.

Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment and said, “I have three options now. One is to go back to the Jia family’s ship heading south and continue traveling with the fleet. With the Jia family’s name on the ship, local governments will be able to help us. No matter how bold those salt merchants are, they won’t dare to act recklessly. However, this would not only delay our journey, but also ruin our plans with Brother Lian.”

Some things don't need to be said outright. Although Jia Lian was sending her back to her hometown to see her father, he wasn't on her side.

Lin Daiyu clearly saw through the Jia family's plans.

Given Jia Lian's character, he would likely collude with officials who were involved with the salt merchants along the way. He might not directly harm her, but it was certain that he would use her to test and harm his father.

Qiu Chuji laughed upon hearing this, "Judging from your tone, you certainly wouldn't choose that."

Lin Daiyu nodded, acknowledging the conclusion.

If it were a good route, she would never have chosen to leave the fleet and instead opted for the arduous land route.

It should be noted that even if one had to detour through Suzhou first, it would still be faster to travel from the capital to Yangzhou by water... Of course, that refers to a direct route. When official boats traveled along the way, they would inevitably have dealings with local officials and government officials.

Therefore, the actual speed may not be much faster than riding a horse on land, but in terms of comfort, it is much better.

"Secondly, we will change our identity again, take a different route, and not contact anyone. We will try to get to Yangzhou as soon as possible to meet up with my father."

As she said this, there was a clear hesitation in her voice.

Clearly, she was considering this path.

After all, if the people she arranged to go to Yangzhou to support her father had problems, then most of those people would become untrustworthy. If her father relied on and trusted these people, there would probably be big trouble.

"What is the third path?" Qiu Chuji asked.

“I’ll use their scheme against them! Whatever tricks those salt merchants have laid in front of me, I’ll just step right into them and tear them apart.”

“If I can create as much of a commotion as possible, I can attract a significant amount of attention and alleviate the pressure on my father… or even expose the weaknesses of those salt merchants,” Lin Daiyu said.

"Choose it!" Qiu Chuji gave his advice directly.

Lin Daiyu: "Master, this road is not easy to walk. Aren't you worried about your disciple?"

Her tone carried a hint of girlish coquetry, which reassured Qiu Chuji somewhat. At least Lin Daiyu, though much more forthright, was still a girl through and through.

The internal energy cultivation method he created is fine; the problem lies with that good-for-nothing Jia Baoyu.

"If you want to choose the second path, can you name a third one?" Qiu Chuji countered.

Even in her original life, Lin Daiyu possessed a certain gentleness on the outside but a strong inner core. Although her fate was constantly controlled by others, she herself was actually unwilling to accept it.

Therefore, once she has mastered powerful individual strength, when faced with threats and challenges, her first choice will certainly not be to escape.

The reason there was a second option was not only because it was the most rational one, but also because she was worried about her father and afraid that something unexpected might happen.

"Don't worry! Your father has been in the position of Salt Commissioner for ten years. If he were so easily overthrown, he would have died long ago. How could he have lasted until today?"

"And as you know, your father has been poisoned. To the salt merchants, he's already a dead man. They certainly won't take any drastic measures, otherwise it would provoke the emperor," Qiu Chuji explained to Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu then made up her mind: "Alright! Then let's continue forward... However, please teach your disciple more skills, so that I won't be unworthy and ruin your reputation."

Qiu Chuji laughed heartily: "Good!"

······
Huaiyin, Guoyun Tower.

It was already dark, the city gates were locked, and the inns and restaurants along the street had all closed early.

Only the Guoyun Tower remains brightly lit, like a lighthouse in this dark ancient city.

It was the only glimmer of light in the dark night and storm.

Inside, the sounds of lively lights mingling and bustling activity emanated, offering a unique warmth in the desolate, dark, rainy night.

The clatter of horses' hooves echoed through the long street in the rainy night.

No one knows how a traveler on a night's journey managed to cross the locked city gates and bring in a fine, fast horse.

As the sound of horses' hooves drew closer, there was a brief silence inside the Guoyun Tower before the liveliness returned, even becoming a bit more boisterous.

The sound of horses' hooves stopped, and then a woman's clear laughter came from the doorway.

The laughter was undeniably pleasant, but as it entered the building, it inexplicably made all the guests feel a sense of unease.

"Distinguished guests gather from all directions, and friends from all walks of life discuss the past and present!"

"This couplet is incorrect! It should be: 'A gang of cronies calls for shameless behavior from all sides, and even petty thieves talk about the past and present!'"

As soon as he finished speaking, the mahogany carved door was kicked open, and the candlelight in the glass lamp flickered instantly.

Beside the eighteen black lacquered mother-of-pearl inlaid round tables, the previously noisy sounds of clinking glasses and exchanging toasts suddenly froze, and hundreds of gazes were fixed like arrows on the slender figure at the threshold.

The crimson gauze curtains hanging in the second-floor corridor were lifted by the draft, revealing the gold-embroidered python-patterned sleeves of a wealthy merchant draped over a sandalwood armrest.

The veins on the back of his hand throbbed slightly under the amber thumb ring, while eight towering guards behind him simultaneously pressed down on the sharkskin scabbards at their waists.

Downstairs at the thirty-six tables, the freshly served crab meat lion's head meatballs were still steaming, but no one dared to touch the ivory chopsticks.

Lin Daiyu's black brocade boots trod across the swastika pattern of the blue bricks, the soles still carrying the scent of wind and rain from outside.

At this moment, she was no longer dressed as a man, but was dressed in a plain dress, befitting a young lady from a wealthy family. However, the luxurious clothes of an official's daughter, when worn by her, did not appear complicated or fragile, but instead made her aura reach a new peak.

Like all the light, it involuntarily converges upon her.

The passive effect of the 'Flower Heart Technique' still took effect on her.

However, his direction was completely different from Jia Baoyu's.

If Jia Baoyu's appearance and temperament made people want to conquer and possess her, then Lin Daiyu's temperament at this moment made people want to submit to her and kneel down at her feet.

Both are beautiful, but some are affected and others exude an aura of dominance. Dressed as a daughter of an official, Lin Daiyu would no longer be carrying a broadsword, but rather a jade-ribbed fan. Her raven-wing-like eyelashes would droop, casting delicate shadows beneath her eyes.

This small folding fan gave everyone a sharp and assertive feeling.

"What a handsome young man!"

The wealthy merchant's laughter shook the canary cage on the beams slightly, and the three-inch-long jade pipe hit the gilded enamel spittoon, scattering a few scarlet sparks.

This was an extremely extravagant old man. He lay there reclining, attended by as many as six beautiful women. His clothes, accessories, and casual toys were all of the highest quality. Except for not exceeding the prescribed limits, he was practically 'fully equipped'.

Even a single gold thread in his body would be enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for half a year.

As the old man gave a word of praise, the night wind simultaneously poured into the sixteen carved wooden windows on the second floor, causing Lin Daiyu's moon-white silk ribbons, which were tied up in her hair, to flutter wildly.

At the same time, the door behind Lin Daiyu was pushed shut by the shop assistants, indicating that she had no way out.

This person pretended not to recognize Lin Daiyu, even acting as if he were blind, denying her current female attire and stating that she was a handsome young man.

This is blatant misrepresentation, yet they insist on continuing the charade.

After all, if Lin Daiyu made her carriage and horses public and revealed her identity, how could they fabricate charges against her and frame her?

Arresting a woman in public for being unfaithful and having an affair with another man, and then spreading rumors and framing the only daughter of the salt commissioner, are not the same thing.

When acting, you have to follow the script!

If it is changed arbitrarily, the logic will not make sense.

"Ha! My father, Lin Ruhai, is an official in charge of salt administration. Now that I have been separated from my family, I am on my way to seek refuge with my father. May I ask if your inn... has any rooms still available?" Lin Daiyu directly revealed her identity, not playing along at all.

They've revealed their hand right away!

She even hung up a sign to incite conflict, telling everyone... she knew what was going on, but instead of hiding, she barged in and asked everyone what they planned to do.

Should we swarm her and deal with her, or pretend we don't know anything and let her come and go as she pleases... or should we treat her to good food and drink?
Behind a sandalwood screen seven steps away, the musician's pipa string snapped with a "clang".

When Lin Daiyu raised her eyes, the ram horn palace lanterns hanging in the hall flickered on and off.

But the guests in the building, those who had been laughing loudly and planning to come and "watch the show," all lowered their heads.

On the surface, they were not all people of the salt merchants; many of them originally came to speak out for justice.

Now I can finally appreciate its flavor.

Huaiyin is not far from Yangzhou!

Suddenly, the wealthy merchant sprang to his feet and overturned the table in front of him, causing the whole roasted suckling pig to roll onto the ground, splattering oil onto the peacock blue and gold-embroidered carpet.

"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you falsely claim to be a government official's wife!"

"Guards! Seize her and throw her in jail. Keep her under guard until we have spoken with Lord Lin, after which we will decide her fate," the old man roared.

If a young woman is imprisoned, and it's not in a separate women's cell, one can almost imagine what she will experience there.

Even if Lin Daiyu eventually walked out of the prison unharmed, her reputation would be ruined once this imagination took hold.

Consequently, Lin Ruhai's reputation was also greatly damaged.

This wasn't the salt merchants' most ruthless method, but it was certainly disgusting enough.

"Yes!" Four of the eight guards stepped forward and rushed towards Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu did not get entangled with them. She transformed into a gust of wind, gently blowing past and floating up to the second floor. Then, the jade-bone fan in her hand was drawn like a sword.

Bang bang bang bang! !
With four consecutive bangs, Lin Daiyu dismissed all four guards left by the old man from the building.

Then, Lin Daiyu placed the folding fan in her hand around the old man's neck.

"what do you want to do?"

"I myself have donated my official position; killing an official is a grave crime!"

"Even if your father is Lin Ruhai, he can't protect you." The old man's expression had changed drastically. Although he was not completely flustered, he no longer had the arrogance of calling a deer a horse.

"Now you acknowledge me as my father's daughter?" Lin Daiyu sneered.

The old man kept silent, but stubbornly straightened his neck.

He was initially a bit flustered, and Lin Daiyu's actions led him by the nose, which is why he let slip what he had said.

Now that he knows Lin Daiyu is only holding him hostage, he is obviously not in any danger.

Besides... what courage would a mere woman have to kill him? Or harm him?

It's all just a matter of negotiating terms!

Let's see how he operates; he'll surely fool this little girl until she's completely lost, continuing to act as a pawn.

He vowed that from this day forward, he would not only kill Lin Ruhai, but also make Lin Ruhai's foolish daughter pay a heavy price.

At the latest, within six months, he would definitely see this girl among the group of skinny horses.

Click!

The old man's arm was first twisted by Lin Daiyu.

A sharp pain surged forth after a moment of stunned silence.

"Dislocating Tendons and Bones Technique! A simple trick to dislocate tendons and bones without harming the skin or flesh. It hurts a little, but as long as I push like this..."

Click!

The old man's arm was reattached and completely healed.

"Then nothing will happen, and no injuries will be found in the examination afterwards."

"There are 206 bones in a human body. I can easily take them all off and put them back together... I guarantee it will cause you excruciating pain, but not death!"

"Want to give it a try?" Lin Daiyu chuckled again, but this time, her laughter was even more chilling.

Is this Lin Ruhai's daughter?

The daughter of that third-ranked scholar?

Wasn't it said that they were sent to the Duke's mansion in the capital to be pampered?

What the hell is this thing?
Calling her a female bandit wouldn't be an exaggeration!
What kind of den of tigers and wolves is the Rongguo Mansion that raised a young woman like this?
At this moment, those present who were unaware of the inside story felt an immense sense of dread towards the distant Jia family mansion.

(End of this chapter)