Chapter 69

Shenma's Line (69)

Perhaps her thoughts were reflected in her expression.

Zhuge Yan bowed respectfully.

"If my visit has caused any inconvenience, I sincerely apologize."

"No, it's just that I was surprised by the sudden visit of Chief Duan."

"That's a relief. I was thinking that I might be chased away without even being offered a cup of tea."

"That would never happen."

Old Duan offered her a seat, and she sat opposite him.

At Old Duan's instruction, his subordinates brought tea. Old Duan watched Zhuge Yan silently as she savored a sip of tea.

After a moment,

Old Duan asked as she put down her teacup.

"Why have you come to this humble place?"

Zhuge Yan smiled and covered her mouth with her sleeve.

She knew he had a fiery temper, but she didn't expect him to get straight to the point.

Old Duan awkwardly smiled.

"I can't help but be curious about things."

Zhuge Yan placed the documents she had brought on the table.

"What are these?"

"They are the information I possess, albeit limited. I thought they might be of some help to Chief Pasa."

Her unexpected gesture of goodwill raised Old Duan's suspicions.

He asked without even glancing at the documents.

"Why? I thought you didn't even want to speak to me."

"I regret that you misunderstood me."

Old Duan was inwardly taken aback by her brazen response.

'What a load of nonsense.'

Every time they met, she passed by with a stern face, not even greeting him. Her overtly cold attitude was unmistakable.

Among the Wu Lin Alliance's officials, no one was more arrogant and rigid than she was. Indeed, he had never seen anyone from the Five Great Families who wasn't stiff-necked.

"I heard that you received a scolding from the Alliance Leader..."

Old Duan felt a surge of anger but forced himself to suppress it.

"If you don't need my help, I'll take my leave now."

Zhuge Yan smiled and gathered the documents.

Old Duan forced a bitter smile.

Though he was reluctant, the situation left him with no other choice. His pride was secondary; his immediate priority was to resolve the problem at hand.

It was he, not she, who was troubled.

"I apologize. The matter is serious, and it has left me quite unsettled..."

As Old Duan trailed off, Zhuge Yan sat down again and pushed the documents toward him.

Old Duan began to review the contents without a word. Then, a new doubt arose.

The documents mainly contained information that seemed unrelated to the current issue.

"Why do you think this would be of help to me?"

Old Duan picked up one of the documents.

It was a report tracking the movements of the missing inspector.

"Do you remember the fire incident in Wuyi, Gansu Province?"

"Of course."

The fire at the inn used as a temporary base had claimed the lives of all the Pasa members sent there.

Old Duan had found it suspicious even at the time.

"The person who investigated that incident and submitted the initial report was Bai Yunhui."

Zhuge Yan pointed to another document.

"According to the subsequent investigators, some of the victims were people who never drank alcohol."

"So?"

"That information was deliberately omitted."

"Why would he do that?"

Zhuge Yan pointed to another document without answering.

A report stating that the figures of the Zhangluo Sect, who had been out of sight for a while, suddenly appeared and then disappeared again.

"They were last seen near Wuyi."

At this point, Old Duan began to sense something odd.

"Even if there seems to be no direct connection, when things overlap and repeat, there must be a reason."

Zhuge Yan cautiously revealed her suspicions.

"Have you heard about the young doctor who has been causing a stir recently?"

Old Duan nodded.

How could he not know about the young doctor who had cured the Alliance Leader's daughter, a case that had left all the doctors in the world at a loss?

"The young doctor is said to be from Wuyi."

"…!"

"The inspector who covered up the fire incident in Wuyi went missing, and around the same time, Fan Jiewei came to the Baijian Sect and caused a disturbance. And Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiewei…"

"Are the only two among the Ten Great Evils who have a friendship."

Both were experts with the skill to wipe out several Pasa teams with their eyes closed.

Eliminating the Zhangluo Sect would be a piece of cake.

'Suspicious indeed.'

Connecting all the seemingly unrelated incidents, a vague picture began to form in his mind.

All these incidents centered around Wuyi, Gansu Province.

Moreover, there was something that particularly troubled him.

The existence of Duan Yixian.

Old Duan, who had been deep in thought, muttered unconsciously.

"Did the young doctor of Shen cure Chao Ailiang?"

What started as a suspicion gradually solidified into a conviction.

If he had inherited his father's exceptional medical skills, it wasn't impossible. Even if it wasn't true, it was worth investigating.

Suddenly, a person came to mind.

The doctors invited to the main hall to treat the Alliance Leader's daughter.

One of them had openly provoked him, and his eyes suddenly flashed in his memory.

At the time, he hadn't paid much attention, but now, he recalled seeing that look before.

"Chao Ailiang!"

Old Duan was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a while.

* * *

The Shenma Valley, bathed in a red sunset that seemed to be on fire.

A person entered the magnificent landscape that naturally elicited exclamations of awe.

"Doctor Duan!"

As soon as he entered the Shenma Valley, his loud voice shook the entire gorge.

Before the sound had even faded, Duan Yixian ran out from somewhere.

"Auntie!"

With a bright smile, Duan Yixian greeted Fan Jiewei, who smiled contentedly.

At that moment, Fan Jiewei's figure disappeared.

In an instant, he closed the distance, picked up Duan Yixian like a hawk snatching a chick, and placed her on his shoulder. Then, he took something out of his pocket and handed it to her.

"Eat this! It's still warm!"

Duan Yixian unwrapped the oiled paper and gasped at the contents.

"Wow!"

The crispy brown skin and the juicy white flesh inside.

The delicious aroma immediately captured her senses.

"It's Peking duck! I bought it in Peking for Doctor Duan."

As Fan Jiewei proudly explained, others began to appear.

"You didn't actually go all the way to Peking just for Peking duck, did you?"

Chao Ailiang asked, and Fan Jiewei scolded him.

"Why would I ask such an obvious question? If it's Peking duck, it must be bought in Peking."

"Peking-style duck can be found anywhere."

"I didn't buy Peking-style duck; I bought Peking duck! Doctor Duan deserves the original Peking duck!"

Chao Ailiang shook his head.

To go all the way to Peking just to buy it—typical of Fan Jiewei.

He had been smiling at Duan Yixian, but then he paused.

"Huh?"

Fan Jiewei stopped, having noticed something.

"Wait! Doctor Duan, what's this?"

Fan Jiewei grabbed Duan Yixian's wrist.

Seeing the bruise, Fan Jiewei's eyes turned cold.

"Who did this? Who dared to do this?"

Someone sighed softly at Fan Jiewei's fuss.

"It was me, you fool."

Fan Jiewei's murderous gaze turned to Chao Ailiang.

"Chao, are you crazy? How could you hurt my precious Doctor Duan?"

"I'm not crazy. And Doctor Duan isn't yours. Who here doesn't cherish Doctor Duan?"

Chao Ailiang clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction and continued.

"Would I do this if I didn't have to?"

Chao Ailiang glared at Han Xuehua and Fan Jiewei.

"Neither of you can touch a single hair on Doctor Duan's head. How can you teach martial arts if you're trembling in fear? What could I do? I had to step in."

"Is that what you call teaching? You should have controlled your strength so she wouldn't get hurt!"

"I tried my best to be careful!"

"Then why is there a bruise?"

Fan Jiewei blocked Duan Yixian.

"Enough. From now on, Chao, you're not allowed to approach Doctor Duan."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Aren't you ashamed?"

"Of what?"

"Being called Quanjie, you hit a child under the pretense of teaching martial arts…"

"Who hit who? And it wasn't intentional!"

"Then it's even more of a problem."

"…?"

"Can't control the power of your strikes? How can you be called Quanjie with such skills!"

Chao Ailiang pounded his chest in frustration.

"It was Doctor Duan's request! She asked for realistic training! You wouldn't understand unless you experienced it! Doctor Duan is so persistent!"

"Enough. Let's stop this. I'm embarrassed just listening to you."

Seeing Chao Ailiang about to collapse in a fit of rage, Duan Yixian finally stepped in.

"Please don't scold me too much. I asked for it. More importantly…"

Duan Yixian jumped off Fan Jiewei's shoulder and quickly ran to get something.

A moment later, she returned with Zemigon, her face glowing with excitement.

"I was waiting for you, Uncle Fan. I've been practicing alone, and I've hit many roadblocks. Please take a look."

"First, eat this…"

Fan Jiewei couldn't continue as Duan Yixian had already lifted Zemigon and taken her stance.

Seeing this, Chao Ailiang said,

"See? She's so dedicated that you can't stop her."

As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Yixian began to move.

"Wow!"

Fan Jiewei, who had been observing Duan Yixian's movements closely, couldn't help but exclaim.

He could immediately tell how much she had been practicing.

Her movements had noticeably improved.

Especially her skill in shifting the position of Zemigon, loading it with weight, and retracting it was far more natural than before.

Not only the connection between techniques but also her ability to take the initiative and execute them as she wished was outstanding.

Duan Yixian, breathing heavily after a series of rapid techniques, stood before Fan Jiewei.

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation and enthusiasm.

Seeing this, Fan Jiewei felt a warmth in his chest.

'This is the joy of teaching, I suppose.'

Duan Yixian's talent, like a dry sponge absorbing water, was evident in how she absorbed everything he taught.

Her relentless dedication to practice, with an almost frightening focus, was immensely satisfying.

However, there was something more urgent he needed to teach her now.