Chapter 28

Chapter 27: A Person as Calm as a Chrysanthemum

Upon reaching the upper floor, Song Qingshu only felt the air filled with the light dance of gauze. In the depths of the room, a vague figure could be seen. Not wanting to be abrupt, Song Qingshu could only cough lightly to indicate that someone had come up.

"Who is it?" Although Ling Shuanghua was startled, she did not show any particular reaction, just asking casually.

Feeling the coldness in her tone, Song Qingshu sighed inwardly. What a beautiful woman, almost driven to despair.

"I have been entrusted by侠客丁大侠 to visit Miss Ling," Song Qingshu thought that without a strong move, he wouldn't be able to attract her attention.

There was a thud, as if a stool had fallen to the ground. Indeed, upon hearing the news of Ding Dian, Ling Shuanghua hurriedly ran out, lifting the gauze curtain and looking at Song Qingshu anxiously: "Which Ding Dian?"

A young woman in a light yellow dress ran up, her face partially covered by a veil, but the anxiety on her face was evident. Upon closer inspection, some red scars could be seen at the edge of the veil. Song Qingshu sighed inwardly, thinking that this woman, with her graceful figure, must have been a great beauty before her disfigurement.

"Ding Dian, the great hero, has entrusted me to ask Miss Ling a few questions," Song Qingshu bowed respectfully.

"Is he... well recently?" Ling Shuanghua's voice trembled slightly.

"Uh... I'm afraid not." Song Qingshu thought, if his琵琶骨 (clavicle) was pierced, his tendons severed, and he was tortured in prison for years, it certainly wouldn't be good. "But at least he's not dead yet."

Ling Shuanghua smiled sadly: "It's all my fault, I've wronged Brother Ding..."

"Miss Ling, since the matter has already happened, now is not the time to say such things," Song Qingshu remembered his mission and hurriedly asked, "Why didn't you want to run away with Hero Ding back then?"

"Sir, as you can see, I am now like a dead person, praying to the gods every day, only hoping that Brother Ding can be safe and sound." Ling Shuanghua gently lifted the corner of her veil, revealing several ugly red scars on her pale face.

"Miss Ling, I have always admired the love between you and Hero Ding. Do you think Hero Ding would care about your appearance?" Song Qingshu frowned, those scars were indeed... somewhat glaring, but that shouldn't be the reason.

"I know he wouldn't despise me," Ling Shuanghua slowly sat down at the table, playing with a pot of flowers in front of her, a gentle smile on her lips, "But I don't want him to marry such an ugly wife."

Hearing her words, which seemed insincere, Song Qingshu didn't bother to play word games with these infatuated lovers and asked directly: "I heard that Lord Ling forced you to swear a terrible oath, saying that if you ever saw Ding Dian again, your mother's soul would suffer in the afterlife. Miss Ling, do you know that even if you hadn't taken that oath, your father wouldn't have harmed Hero Ding for the 'Lian Cheng Jue'?"

To his surprise, Ling Shuanghua's expression didn't change much. She just turned to look at Song Qingshu: "I was in a hurry just now and didn't ask your name..."

"My name is Song Qingshu." Having dealt with the business world in his previous life, Song Qingshu was a shrewd person. Seeing her expression, he knew she was suspicious and briefly explained that he was ostensibly helping Ling Tuisi to interrogate, but had actually reached a secret agreement with Ding Dian.

After confirming the secret signals known only to the two of them, Ling Shuanghua finally felt at ease and sighed softly: "To be honest, when I learned about the 'Lian Cheng Jue,' I realized this point."

"An oath, if it is based on a lie, naturally cannot be taken seriously." Song Qingshu consoled her.

Ling Shuanghua smiled faintly, though her face was disfigured, the elegant charm at the corner of her mouth still made Song Qingshu pause: "But when I took the oath, I was sincere. I didn't want to put my mother at risk."

Seeing Song Qingshu about to speak, Ling Shuanghua raised her hand to signal and continued: "There is actually another important reason I didn't tell Brother Ding. My father had betrothed me to the son of Lord Lu, the governor of Xiangyang and the安抚使 (pacification commissioner) of Jingxi. Because I fell in love with Brother Ding and disfigured myself to show my resolve, I already made my father and the Lu family very embarrassed. If I really ran away with Brother Ding, I would have completely offended the Lu family. No matter how wrong my father is, he is still my father, and I don't want to cause him such a big trouble."

"Lu Wenhuan?" Song Qingshu's heart skipped a beat. This was indeed a bit troublesome. Having been in this world for some time, he had gradually figured out many situations. Xiangyang had resisted the Mongol army for many years, and although the efforts of Guo Jing and Huang Rong and the martial artists played a role, the true pillar was Governor Lu Wenhuan. Lu Wenhuan now governed Jingxi and held a powerful army, while his brother Lu Wendeh governed the Huai River region. The two brothers, along with the Sichuan envoy Yu Jie, were known as the three major regional warlords of the Song Dynasty.

Although Ling Tuisi was also a high-ranking official, he was not on the same level as Lu Wenhuan. If he offended the Lu family, Ling Tuisi would be finished.

What a filial daughter, even with such a cruel father, she still thinks of him... Song Qingshu shook his head. It seemed that to resolve Ling Shuanghua's heartache, he would have to start with her father.

"Do you believe in Buddhism or Daoism, Miss Ling?" Song Qingshu suddenly asked.

"Um... I believe in Buddhism." Ling Shuanghua was puzzled by his intention and answered hesitantly.

"Then Miss Ling must be familiar with the six realms of rebirth. Could you explain them to me?"

Seeing Song Qingshu's humble attitude, Ling Shuanghua hesitated for a moment but still answered gently: "All beings, due to their delusions and actions, are subject to the cycle of birth and death in the three realms and six paths, like a wheel turning. If they do not seek liberation, they will continue to be reborn in the six paths, endlessly..."

"Among the six paths, there are three good paths and three evil paths. What determines whether one is reborn in a good path or an evil path?" Song Qingshu suddenly asked.

Ling Shuanghua had already understood Song Qingshu's intention and smiled, continuing: "Due to the ten unwholesome actions, one falls into the three evil paths of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals. Due to the ten wholesome actions, one is reborn in the heavens and the human realm..."

Song Qingshu bowed slightly and said: "I have heard that Miss Ling's mother was a well-known benefactor in the city, doing good all her life. She certainly wouldn't fall into the three evil paths. I have never heard of her taking any evil paths, so she must be in the human or heavenly realms. In any case, she cannot be in the afterlife. Your oath said, 'If I see Brother Ding again, my mother's soul will suffer in the afterlife.' Miss Ling, do you think that with her good deeds in life, she would be suffering in the afterlife?"

"Of course not." Although the concept of ghosts and spirits is vague, Ling Shuanghua would never think her mother would fall into the lower realms.

"Then isn't that settled?" Song Qingshu spread his hands, "Miss Ling, you don't need to worry about that oath anymore."

"Thank you, Master Song, for your guidance." With his guidance, Ling Shuanghua felt a sudden clarity, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She had been so caught up in the situation that she hadn't realized this, and Ding Dian, being a rough man of the martial world, lacked such delicate thoughts, which led to the two of them being entangled by a false oath for years.

"Miss Ling, don't worry. I have a way to help you and Hero Ding become a couple." Song Qingshu finally understood the problem between the two and felt confident. Feeling that he had gained enough from this visit, he got up to take his leave.

"Thank you, Master Song, for your efforts." Ling Shuanghua stood up and returned a bow. Even with her disfigured face, her every move exuded a refined and elegant aura. Song Qingshu smiled kindly and turned to leave.

"Did you see Shuanghua?" Ding Dian, in the prison, stood up excitedly and stared at Song Qingshu, asking, "How is she recently?"

Song Qingshu shook his head irritably: "You two, the first thing you ask is the same. She is fine, but she has become somewhat thin from excessive worry."

"That's good, that's good..." Ding Dian laughed foolishly, as if enchanted.

"Stop being cute," Song Qingshu coughed lightly, "Let's talk about the 'Shenzhao Jing' (Divine Illumination Scripture) now."

Ding Dian immediately became wary, "After Shuanghua and I leave Jingzhou, we will naturally give you the 'Shenzhao Jing.'"

Song Qingshu smiled slyly, "I am weak and powerless. What if you renege on your promise?"

"Mutual trust," Ding Dian crossed his arms and snorted, "Teaching you now is also impossible."

"Alright, even if I trust you, I don't know if your 'Shenzhao Jing' can really heal my meridians," Song Qingshu put on a doubtful expression, "If I take great risks to help you and then find out that the 'Shenzhao Jing' is useless for my injuries, who will I cry to?"

"My tendons were severed by Ling Tuisi's men, and now I am still lively and active," Ding Dian pointed to his foot.

"Everything you say, but I don't know if it's true. No, no," Song Qingshu frowned and paced back and forth, suddenly his eyes lit up and he clapped his hands, "How about this, you first teach me the first half of the 'Shenzhao Jing.' After I help you and Miss Ling, you can give me the second half. How does that sound, Hero Ding? This compromise is already out of trust in your and Miss Ling's character..."

Ding Dian hesitated for a moment, knowing that empty promises wouldn't make this cunning person work hard, "Alright, Shuanghua is the love of my life. A scripture is nothing. Listen carefully."

Ding Yun, standing nearby, saw him about to transmit the martial arts and was...

Chapter 28: The Divine Illumination Scripture

"Of course not." Although the concept of ghosts and spirits is vague, Ling Shuanghua would never think her mother would fall into the lower realms.

"Then isn't that settled?" Song Qingshu spread his hands, "Miss Ling, you don't need to worry about that oath anymore."

"Thank you, Master Song, for your guidance." With his guidance, Ling Shuanghua felt a sudden clarity, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She had been so caught up in the situation that she hadn't realized this, and Ding Dian, being a rough man of the martial world, lacked such delicate thoughts, which led to the two of them being entangled by a false oath for years.

"Miss Ling, don't worry. I have a way to help you and Hero Ding become a couple." Song Qingshu finally understood the problem between the two and felt confident. Feeling that he had gained enough from this visit, he got up to take his leave.

"Thank you, Master Song, for your efforts." Ling Shuanghua stood up and returned a bow. Even with her disfigured face, her every move exuded a refined and elegant aura. Song Qingshu smiled kindly and turned to leave.

"Did you see Shuanghua?" Ding Dian, in the prison, stood up excitedly and stared at Song Qingshu, asking, "How is she recently?"

Song Qingshu shook his head irritably: "You two, the first thing you ask is the same. She is fine, but she has become somewhat thin from excessive worry."

"That's good, that's good..." Ding Dian laughed foolishly, as if enchanted.

"Stop being cute," Song Qingshu coughed lightly, "Let's talk about the 'Shenzhao Jing' (Divine Illumination Scripture) now."

Ding Dian immediately became wary, "After Shuanghua and I leave Jingzhou, we will naturally give you the 'Shenzhao Jing.'"

Song Qingshu smiled slyly, "I am weak and powerless. What if you renege on your promise?"

"Mutual trust," Ding Dian crossed his arms and snorted, "Teaching you now is also impossible."

"Alright, even if I trust you, I don't know if your 'Shenzhao Jing' can really heal my meridians," Song Qingshu put on a doubtful expression, "If I take great risks to help you and then find out that the 'Shenzhao Jing' is useless for my injuries, who will I cry to?"

"My tendons were severed by Ling Tuisi's men, and now I am still lively and active," Ding Dian pointed to his foot.

"Everything you say, but I don't know if it's true. No, no," Song Qingshu frowned and paced back and forth, suddenly his eyes lit up and he clapped his hands, "How about this, you first teach me the first half of the 'Shenzhao Jing.' After I help you and Miss Ling, you can give me the second half. How does that sound, Hero Ding? This compromise is already out of trust in your and Miss Ling's character..."

Ding Dian hesitated for a moment, knowing that empty promises wouldn't make this cunning person work hard, "Alright, Shuanghua is the love of my life. A scripture is nothing. Listen carefully."

Ding Yun, standing nearby, saw him about to transmit the martial arts and was...

Chapter 28: The Divine Illumination Scripture

"Of course not." Although the concept of ghosts and spirits is vague, Ling Shuanghua would never think her mother would fall into the lower realms.

"Then isn't that settled?" Song Qingshu spread his hands, "Miss Ling, you don't need to worry about that oath anymore."

"Thank you, Master Song, for your guidance." With his guidance, Ling Shuanghua felt a sudden clarity, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She had been so caught up in the situation that she hadn't realized this, and Ding Dian, being a rough man of the martial world, lacked such delicate thoughts, which led to the two of them being entangled by a false oath for years.

"Miss Ling, don't worry. I have a way to help you and Hero Ding become a couple." Song Qingshu finally understood the problem between the two and felt confident. Feeling that he had gained enough from this visit, he got up to take his leave.

"Thank you, Master Song, for your efforts." Ling Shuanghua stood up and returned a bow. Even with her disfigured face, her every move exuded a refined and elegant aura. Song Qingshu smiled kindly and turned to leave.

"Did you see Shuanghua?" Ding Dian, in the prison, stood up excitedly and stared at Song Qingshu, asking, "How is she recently?"

Song Qingshu shook his head irritably: "You two, the first thing you ask is the same. She is fine, but she has become somewhat thin from excessive worry."

"That's good, that's good..." Ding Dian laughed foolishly, as if enchanted.

"Stop being cute," Song Qingshu coughed lightly, "Let's talk about the 'Shenzhao Jing' (Divine Illumination Scripture) now."

Ding Dian immediately became wary, "After Shuanghua and I leave Jingzhou, we will naturally give you the 'Shenzhao Jing.'"

Song Qingshu smiled slyly, "I am weak and powerless. What if you renege on your promise?"

"Mutual trust," Ding Dian crossed his arms and snorted, "Teaching you now is also impossible."

"Alright, even if I trust you, I don't know if your 'Shenzhao Jing' can really heal my meridians," Song Qingshu put on a doubtful expression, "If I take great risks to help you and then find out that the 'Shenzhao Jing' is useless for my injuries, who will I cry to?"

"My tendons were severed by Ling Tu