Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

For the next few days, Sun Fan remained inactive.

During the day, he would read and write at the inn, and in the evening, he would sit at the Wangjiang Tower, occasionally drinking tea and chatting about poetry with a few other scholars who had come to visit. He behaved like any young scholar who had traveled here for study—talented but not ostentatious; knowledgeable but not pretentious.

Ling Tuisi did not come to see him again.

This is perfectly normal. A prefect is busy with countless affairs of state; how could he possibly have time to spend every day with a traveling scholar? Besides, Sun Fan has already said that he will be heading north to Xiangyang in a few days, so Ling Tuisi probably feels there's no need to waste any more time on him.

But Sun Fan knew that Ling Tuisi was definitely observing him in secret.

Because Ling Tuisi is a person who remains vigilant towards any outsider appearing in Jingzhou. This is an instinct he developed after surviving the massacre of the Longsha Gang—never trust anyone, never let your guard down.

What Sun Fan needs is this kind of "normal".

A normal scholar traveling abroad shouldn't be interested in the prefect's prison, shouldn't inquire about prisoners, and shouldn't get too close to any government officials. So he did nothing but read, drink tea, and write poetry every day.

On the fourth day, Mu Xue'er brought news.

"Squad leader, I found out. Ling Tuisi's daughter, Ling Shuanghua, goes to Qingxu Temple outside the city to offer incense on the fifteenth of every month. This month, the fifteenth is the day after tomorrow."

Sun Fan put down the book in his hand and looked up at her.

"Qingxu Temple?"

"Yes." Mu Xue'er nodded. "There's an old nun in the temple who is Ling Shuanghua's master. She goes there for two days every month to eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist prayers, and pray for her mother's well-being."

Sun Fan pondered for a moment.

Ling Shuanghua.

This name belongs to one of the most heartbreaking characters in *A Deadly Secret*. She is Ling Tuisi's daughter, yet she falls in love with Ding Dian, who is imprisoned by her father. She protects Ding Dian in her own way—disfiguring herself to show her resolve and never marrying again; placing fresh flowers on the windowsill so that Ding Dian in the prison cell can see them.

She knows everything, yet she can do nothing.

Finally, she was nailed alive into the coffin by her own father and suffocated to death.

Ling Tuisi traded her daughter's life for the secret of Liancheng Jue.

Sun Fan took a deep breath and suppressed these thoughts.

"We're going to Qingxu Temple the day after tomorrow," he said, "but not to see Ling Shuanghua."

Mu Xue'er was taken aback: "Then who should we go to?"

"Find the people around Ling Shuanghua," Sun Fan said. "Ling Shuanghua herself is too sensitive; any slight movement around her will attract Ling Tuisi's attention. But the people around her are different—for example, her personal maid, or the nuns in the temple."

He paused for a moment: "What we're looking for is someone who can relay our message."

Mu Xue'er nodded thoughtfully.

On the day of the flower festival, Jingzhou City was exceptionally lively.

In the Hundred Flowers Garden in the south of the city, flowers of all colors are vying for attention, attracting throngs of visitors. This is an annual grand event in Jingzhou, drawing even literati and scholars from surrounding counties to join in the festivities.

Sun Fan changed into a moon-white scholar's robe, his hair was neatly combed, and he held a folding fan in his hand—a habit he had learned from observing the literati of Jingzhou these past few days. The scholars here, regardless of whether it was cold or hot, liked to carry a fan, as it made them appear refined.

Red Wolf was left at the inn; his face didn't resemble that of a scholar, making him easy to spot. Du Ming and Dong Dahai followed behind, one disguised as a page, the other as a guard. Mu Xue'er changed into a light green dress and wore her hair in a simple bun, looking like Sun Fan's sister.

There were many people in the Hundred Flowers Garden.

Sun Fan didn't rush to find anyone. Instead, he strolled around leisurely, looking at the flowers, the people, and the scenery. He knew that in this kind of setting, the more deliberate he was, the easier it would be for others to notice.

After walking around most of the garden, Mu Xue'er suddenly tugged at his sleeve gently.

"Squad leader, over there."

Sun Fan followed her gaze.

In a pavilion not far away, several young women sat. The one in the middle, dressed in a pale yellow dress, had delicate features and dignified manners; she was talking to the person next to her with her head down.

Standing next to her was a girl dressed as a maid, about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a round face, big eyes, and a very lively appearance.

"Is the one in the middle Ling Shuanghua?" Sun Fan asked in a low voice.

Mu Xue'er shook her head: "No. I've seen Ling Shuanghua's portrait, it's not her. The one in the yellow dress should be Ling Shuanghua's close friend—I've heard that Miss Ling has a best friend surnamed Liu, who is the daughter of the Liu family in Jingzhou."

Sun Fan nodded.

The Liu family was considered a prominent family in Jingzhou.

Old Master Liu had served as a local official for several terms. After retiring and returning to his hometown, he bought a house in Jingzhou. He was an old friend of Ling Tuisi, and the first place Ling Tuisi visited when he came to Jingzhou was the Liu family.

The two families maintained close ties, and Miss Liu and Ling Shuanghua naturally became close friends.

"Where is that maid?" Sun Fan asked.

Mu Xue'er observed carefully: "She should be Miss Liu's personal maid."

Sun Fan thought for a moment and said in a low voice, "Go and talk to that maid."

"Me?" Mu Xue'er was taken aback.

"You're a woman, so it's easier to approach you," Sun Fan said. "Find an excuse, like asking for directions or borrowing something. Get to know her first, don't rush into anything. Go to Qingxu Temple tomorrow; she should be going with Miss Liu."

Mu Xue'er nodded, straightened her clothes, and walked towards the pavilion.

Sun Fan watched from afar.

Mu Xue'er walked to the pavilion and pretended to admire the flowers. She accidentally tripped over a flower branch, and the handkerchief in her hand floated out and landed right at the maid's feet.

"Oh dear," Mu Xue'er exclaimed softly.

The maid bent down, picked up the handkerchief, and handed it back to her, saying, "Be careful, sister."

"Thank you, sister." Mu Xue'er took the handkerchief and started chatting with her with a smile.

After exchanging a few words, the maid suddenly pointed to a jade pendant at Mu Xue'er's waist and said, "Sister, this jade pendant is quite exquisite. Which shop did you buy it from?"

Mu Xue'er looked down and said, "This is from Yangzhou. It's not anything expensive, it's just pretty."

The maid's eyes lit up: "Sister, are you from Yangzhou?"

"Yes, I came to Jingzhou to study with my brother." Mu Xue'er sighed. "I've been here for many days, and I don't even have any sisters my age to talk to. I'm so bored."

The maid turned and looked at Miss Liu in the pavilion, and whispered, "My young lady is the same; she stays at home all day and rarely comes out."

Two girls of similar age became acquainted after just a few words.

Sun Fan watched from afar, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Mu Xue'er may look quiet and gentle, but she's quite shrewd.

As evening fell, Mu Xue'er returned to the inn with a smile on her face.

"It's settled," she said. "Miss Liu's maid, Cui'er, invited me to go to Qingxu Temple to see the flowers tomorrow. She said Miss Liu accompanies Miss Ling to offer incense every month, so she just needs someone to talk to."

Sun Fan nodded: "You go with them tomorrow. Don't rush, make friends first."