My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 628 - 415 Chrysanthemum Tea

Yuanfeng Building.

The crowd surged, a black mass encircling Yuanfeng Building layer after layer, with the plaques of Xique Pavilion swaying lightly in the wind.

The main hall was already in disarray, tables and chairs were thrown askew, Wei Wuque picked up a piece of broken porcelain bowl and surveyed the wreckage scattered across Yuanfeng Building.

He patiently waited, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

A fine crack had appeared on the high-grade brown wooden tea table, hinting that his patience wasn't unlimited.

"I didn't expect Yuanfeng Building to receive an honored guest from the Heavenly Family today. Lord Wei's presence—my apologies for the tardy reception."

Huang Jing stepped forward slowly, his complexion as rigid as iron.

If Xique Pavilion's men had surrounded Yuanfeng Building, it proved... they had learned Yuanfeng Building was searching for Miss Chen.

Luo Shuo took a step forward at this moment and coldly said, "Master Huang, that's quite bold of you. Even the government requires approval to search for a person, yet Yuanfeng Building bypasses government officers to act?"

Huang Jing replied, "Dialects vary across distances, and Shantong City differs from other places. Besides, it's just a petty thief—hardly worth bothering the authorities."

At this, Luo Shuo's gaze turned icy, and with a sharp motion, his blade sprang from its sheath.

The gleaming knife edge glinted across Huang Jing's face, and in an instant, the Jianghu warriors behind Huang Jing drew their blades as well. A tense atmosphere of flashing steel filled the hall, teetering on the edge of violence.

At that moment, a faint smile appeared on Wei Wuque's face. He said, "Master Huang, are you not aware you've been played?"

Huang Jing frowned slightly, puzzled.

Wei Wuque spoke slowly, "The one who took Miss Donggong wasn't a Western Jin spy. His surname is Min, and he was once a West Factory Thousand Household."

Huang Jing's expression stiffened, and the Jianghu fighters behind him murmured in shock.

After a moment, Huang Jing regained his composure, his forced smile not reaching his eyes, and asked, "How can Lord Wei be certain he isn't a spy?"

"Because he returned her."

Wei Wuque replied, enunciating each word clearly.

Huang Jing's face turned ashen. His Adam's apple bobbed, his hand gripping the stair railing with increasing force until the yellow wood splintered into cracks.

As Luo Shuo tightened his grip on his blade, anticipating Huang Jing's eruption, Huang Jing instead displayed an unexpectedly straightforward smile and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect:

"If that's the case, then indeed we failed in our considerations."

Turning his head toward the Jianghu warriors, he said:

"Everyone, sheath your weapons. These cunning spies are trying to provoke conflict between us and muddy the waters. Today, we must not let their schemes succeed.

Ultimately, it's these spies who are too clever for their own good."

Wei Wuque raised his hand to stop Luo Shuo, whose grip on his blade relaxed slightly. Witnessing this scene, Luo Shuo inwardly sighed, realizing Huang Jing was indeed no easy character to deal with.

Knowing Miss Donggong had been sent back to Cui Feng Courtyard, Huang Jing had immediately shifted his demeanor, turning the tension of drawn swords into a peaceful negotiation with just a few words.

"Lord Wei, do you have anything else to inform us?" Huang Jing turned back to Wei Wuque, clasping his hands again. "Since we're both pursuing the Lonely Smoke Sword, to prevent misunderstandings like today, I hope we can be forthcoming with each other where possible."

Wei Wuque glanced around the chaotic scene inside Yuanfeng Building,

the spies had few hiding places—likely only Gao Hai Martial Arts Hall, Yuanfeng Building, Chongyang Temple, or Miaoshang Monastery.

Now, Yuanfeng Building's suspicion seemed to be eliminated.

He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Since Master Huang sincerely seeks guidance, I will be frank. The leader of this group of spies is the third-ranking officer of the Western Jin Patrol Institute. His true name is unknown, but in the Jianghu, he once had a notorious alias—Duomian Ghost."

The lightly spoken words landed heavily, causing the formidable warriors inside Yuanfeng Building to pale. Even veterans like the elder of Liuyang Studio furrowed their brows deeply, as though burdened by a thousand-pound lock.

Duomian Ghost—a name that twenty years ago cast shadows across the Jianghu. He had been a bandit leader on the border between Jin Yu and Western Jin, infamous for assassination plots and coups. His mastery of blade techniques with his crescent moon saber was unparalleled, slaughtering people with the precision of cutting meat.

The elder of Liuyang Studio had sworn to eliminate banditry across the Three Mountains and Six Paths after Duomian Ghost claimed the life of his junior disciple. Yet by the time the elder ascended to the Fourth Rank and organized his closed-door disciples for vengeance, Duomian Ghost had already vanished from the scene.

Most believed Duomian Ghost had faded into the forgotten winds of Jianghu, but today, the mention of his name again stirred complex emotions among the warriors.

...…

Xuan Residence.

The sudden upheaval at Yuanfeng Building did little to affect Yin Weiyin and Lu Ying.

They were nearly uninvolved with the incident, and being esteemed guests of Master Jiangxin, they remained backstage during the chaos, avoiding the turmoil in the main hall. Upon returning peacefully to the Xuan Residence, they were left uninformed about what had transpired inside Yuanfeng Building.

Neither did they find any trace of Chen Yi.

Lu Ying took it better; she had performed a divination earlier and learned Chen Yi was fine, so she set aside most of her worries. Yin Weiyin, however, was different. Despite Jiangxin's numerous reassurances upon their return to the Xuan Residence, she remained uneasy, pacing the courtyard and repeatedly calculating divinations, circling the premises countless times—more nervous, perhaps, than during a confrontation.

She couldn't bring herself to imagine what she'd do if Chen Yi were to meet his end.

Yin Weiyin circled the courtyard endlessly, her hem brushing against fallen leaves. Her visage remained poised, but her hurried footsteps betrayed her inner turmoil. Observing her, Lu Ying couldn't help but wonder whether the Princess of Jin Yu harbored deep feelings for Chen Yi.

So much so that she finally asked aloud, "Friend Yin, are you worried about him?"

The female crown stopped in her tracks, shaking her head gently. "If it's worry, it's not exactly worry."

Lu Ying puzzled over her reply. "What do you mean by that?"

"He is deeply devoted to me, but I harbor little affection for him in return." Yin Weiyin paused briefly, then sighed. "I'm not concerned about his safety—I'm concerned about betraying his affection."

Lu Ying felt her words were enigmatic, like the lingering emotions of deep love, yet not entirely so. Truly unfathomable.

She considered that Yin Weiyin was only three or four years her senior, yet her thoughts seemed half-immortal, half-veiled in mystery, stirring an odd sense of envy within Lu Ying.

She appeared far more accomplished than herself.

For reasons unknown, Lu Ying thought it might be better if Chen Yi did not return.

But fate didn't grant her such a wish.

Chen Yi returned after all.

The servants made their announcement, and shortly after, a familiar figure stepped through the gates of the residence.

Lu Ying had started to rise to greet him but was intercepted by a graceful figure gliding past her. Like a drifting cloud, Yin Weiyin had already reached Chen Yi's side.

Yin Weiyin scrutinized Chen Yi, detecting traces of blood in the air, and asked with concern:

"What… happened to you?"

"It's a long story…" Chen Yi paused briefly, then added, "I saw Dong Gong Ruoshu."

Hearing that familiar name, Yin Weiyin's demeanor shifted slightly. As someone who had once shared a marital bond with Chen Yi, memories of past hardships resurfaced, stirring lingering unease.

"What exactly… happened?" Yin Weiyin steadied her voice and asked aloud.

Chen Yi glanced at her, his gaze causing an inexplicable pang of anxiety in her heart.

"It's a matter for later—I need to clean up first then we'll speak properly." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

As he spoke, Chen Yi pulled a silver note from his breast pocket,

"She gave me ninety taels of silver."

The snow-white silver note caught the autumn-toned gaze of Yin Weiyin, whose figure stiffened abruptly, her pupils dilating as though her three souls and seven spirits had departed on a distant journey.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind; her spine straightened rigidly.

Near her ears, a teasing voice lightly mocked:

"After a fight with bloodshed blocking my energy flow, I'll need some relief—please prepare me a cup of chrysanthemum tea, won't you?"