Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Chapter 201: Chapter 172: Interrogation

What?

The only daughter of the King of Pingxi?

Xie Yuan froze, stopping in his tracks.

When the steward saw that Xie Yuan hadn’t kept up, he turned back and urged him on.

"Zhang Mountain, what are you gawking at? Don’t keep our honored guest waiting, or people will say we have no manners!"

Xie Yuan scratched the back of his head and asked hesitantly,

"Why would such a noble lady suddenly come to our Sect?"

He spoke of Situ Qin as if he’d never heard of her, yet referred to the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect with great intimacy. After honing his acting for so long, it was now superb.

The steward shook his head.

"I don’t know either. Maybe she wants to borrow the Sect’s grounds to cultivate? In any case, Xue Yanwen brought her up here. She brought a ton of luggage—big bags, small bags, all sorts. They’re looking for someone to help move it all. Cloud Mountain is vast; we certainly have room for one more young lady to practice."

’All this luggage... Is she planning on staying for a while?’

Xie Yuan had a vague inkling about the reason for Situ Qin’s visit, and his brow twitched.

Somehow, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was here to hold him accountable for something...

’Oh well,’ he thought. ’I haven’t seen Situ Qin in a long time anyway. She won’t recognize me with this face, so it’s a perfect chance to gather some intel first.’

Xie Yuan followed the steward toward a guest courtyard on the mountainside. They walked along a mountain path, crossed a clear stream, and soon arrived at an exquisite villa nestled between two peaks, surrounded by vibrant flowers.

Xie Yuan never knew Cloud Mountain had such a refined and tranquil guest villa. It must have been prepared specifically for honored guests.

Before they even reached the gate, Xie Yuan saw Xue Yanwen walking out from a distance, a puzzled look on his face.

"Yanwen."

"Greetings, Your Highness."

The steward and Xie Yuan greeted him, one after the other.

Xue Yanwen snapped out of his daze and waved his hand dismissively.

"We’re all here on the mountain to cultivate. Just call me Senior Brother; don’t bother with the ’Your Highness’ stuff. Hmm, I heard you’re quick on your feet and clever? You don’t really look the part... Oh well, whatever. Just help Sister Qin with her luggage. You probably won’t be needed for anything else."

Naturally, he didn’t recognize Xie Yuan. With a wave, he walked away, muttering to himself,

"She sends me away the moment I get here... Why do I feel like I was just used?"

Xie Yuan followed the steward into the courtyard. His eyes swept across the yard and landed on two large loads of luggage. Standing beside them were Situ Qin and her female housekeeper.

Today, Situ Qin wore a pale yellow dress cinched at the waist with a matching sash, accentuating a waist so slender it seemed as fragile as a willow branch, as if one could encircle it with a single hand. Her hair was styled in intricate loops that framed her face, highlighting her youthful vivacity and charm. With bright eyes and pearly teeth, cheeks flushed like fresh lychees, and a nose as smooth and pale as jade, her features were so exquisitely beautiful they seemed otherworldly, enough to take one’s breath away.

Her large eyes were especially expressive. Before her lips could even part, a simple glance seemed to speak volumes.

’It’s been a while,’ Xie Yuan thought, ’but has Situ Qin gotten even more beautiful? Or is it just because I haven’t seen her in so long?’

He took a few quick glances, then, to avoid giving himself away or being rude, he lowered his gaze and stood respectfully. He waited as the steward exchanged a few pleasantries with Situ Qin, reminded him not to neglect their honored guest, and then departed, leaving Xie Yuan behind.

Xie Yuan bowed his head and said in a muffled voice,

"What can I do for you, Miss Situ? Should I start by unloading this luggage?"

With his head lowered, he didn’t see Situ Qin’s beautiful eyes sizing him up, her gaze filled with scrutiny.

A flicker of light danced in her lively eyes. A slight smile played on her lips as she clasped her hands behind her back and said slowly,

"Master Xie, how much longer do you intend to keep up this act with me?"

"Huh?"

Xie Yuan snapped his head up. Seeing the laughter in Situ Qin’s eyes, he scratched his head in embarrassment and asked,

"Miss Qin, how did you recognize me?"

Situ Qin’s eyes lit up. She clapped her hands in excitement and laughed.

"I didn’t! I only just confirmed it’s you now! Master Xie, your Disguise Skill is truly flawless! I couldn’t see through it at all!"

"Huh?"

Xie Yuan was dumbfounded again, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"So you were just bluffing? How did you...?"

"That’s right!"

Situ Qin said proudly,

"Knowing your personality, I figured you’d start from the bottom as a menial disciple when you came up the mountain. So I found an excuse to have the Crown Prince summon a new recruit to help out. But with so many new recruits, how was I supposed to find you?

"I figured that even if you were trying to be low-key, Master Xie, true talent always shines through. So I just asked for the newest, most outstanding, and cleverest recruit they had. I took a wild guess, and sure enough, it was you!"

Seeing her looking so smug and cheerful, Xie Yuan shook his head, deactivated his Celestial Concealment Skill, and praised her,

"You live up to your reputation, Miss Qin. Cunning, clever, and your plans are foolproof!"

When Situ Qin saw Xie Yuan reveal his true face and aura, her eyes lit up again. Even her housekeeper, witnessing such a skill, couldn’t help but stare in astonishment.

But Situ Qin’s smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She snorted lightly and crossed her arms.

"Save the flattery! If I hadn’t gone to all this trouble, when would I have ever found you?"

Xie Yuan laughed sheepishly.

"If I had known you were on the mountain, Miss Qin, I would have found an opportunity to see you, I swear."

"Is that so? Then why haven’t I received a single letter from you in all this time? I wonder what you’ve been so busy with, Master Xie?"

Situ Qin stared at him, her voice laced with a quiet accusation.

Xie Yuan felt a prickle of unease on his back; Situ Qin’s gaze was alarmingly intense.

"Well, you know, things have been so complicated lately, a million loose ends..."

"Of course I know. Master Xie has been busy, inseparable from the Mu family’s genius female Grandmaster, facing life and death together, accomplishing great things. How could you possibly remember a simple girl like me who only knows how to play the qin?"

Situ Qin said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. It wasn’t what she had meant to say. Situ Qin wasn’t a petty person; in fact, she’d never understood the sort of veiled, resentful complaints other women made.

But upon seeing Xie Yuan, alongside her happiness, an inexplicable resentment bubbled up. The words just came out, turning her into the very type of woman she’d always looked down on. This made her even more vexed, and she pouted so deeply you could have hung a lantern from her lips.

Hearing this, Xie Yuan felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

He wiped away the non-existent sweat from his brow and stammered,

"It wasn’t... it wasn’t like that. ’Inseparable’ is an exaggeration... Everything that happened with the Escort Agency... looking back, it feels more like it was fated, something beyond my control."

Xie Yuan let out a soft sigh. The Longteng Escort Agency was born from the Mu family and died for the Mu family. It seemed to have been destined from the start.

Sensing his melancholy, Situ Qin’s anger dissipated. She frowned and said,

"By the time I went looking for you, disaster had already struck the Escort Agency. I had no idea what happened, and everything was a confusing mess. Even now, though I know the general outline, it’s like trying to see flowers through a fog... Would you be willing to tell me the whole story?"

Xie Yuan nodded.

"Of course. A lot has happened recently. I can tell it all to you, Miss Qin, if you’d treat it as just a story."

"That would be wonderful. Let me just unpack my things, and I’ll brew a pot of tea and get some snacks. We can talk while we eat."

Situ Qin clapped her hands and began unpacking with her housekeeper. When Xie Yuan offered to help, Situ Qin shot him a glare.

"These are a lady’s things, are you going to handle them? Besides, I’m probably stronger than you are. This was all just an excuse to get you over here in the first place."

Xie Yuan awkwardly pulled his hands back. Watching Situ Qin’s nimble movements, his eyebrows slowly rose.

"Miss Qin... I feel like something’s different. Did you have a breakthrough?"

"That’s right!"

Seeing that he’d noticed, Situ Qin straightened up, placed her hands on her hips, and said with a beaming smile,

"I am now Situ Qin of the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm. Can you tell what’s changed?"

Xie Yuan looked her up and down. Her smile was so radiant it made his heart race. The charming girl from before was beautiful when she smiled, but it had never been so... arresting. ’Has she become... more womanly?’

He took another look and exclaimed,

"Miss Qin, did you get taller?"

"A little. The Qi and Blood Metamorphosis naturally changes one’s body and appearance. Why else would they call it a ’metamorphosis’? That’s why I was suppressing my advancement before. I didn’t want to get old."

Situ Qin made a gesture with her thumb and forefinger to show just how little.

Xie Yuan was puzzled.

"Getting old? That’s ridiculous... But if you didn’t want to, why did you suddenly break through?"

Situ Qin didn’t answer right away. She nonchalantly adjusted her hair before saying,

"Back when you were being hunted, I wanted to send Tai Bo to help you. But everything was delayed because I lacked the strength to protect myself. I realized I was too weak, that I couldn’t be of any help."

’This...’ he thought. ’So, she did it to help me?’

A sudden warmth spread through Xie Yuan’s heart.

Her words were spoken so calmly, yet they were more moving than any Cultivation Technique or priceless treasure.

Xie Yuan looked at the slightly more mature Situ Qin and said earnestly,

"Miss Qin, you should have broken through a long time ago! I think you’re even more beautiful now."

"Really? Even more beautiful than before?"

Situ Qin’s eyes lit up.

Xie Yuan nodded sincerely.

"Yes. Before, you were charming and cute. Now... you’re beautiful. So beautiful I can’t look away."

His choice of words wasn’t particularly sophisticated, but it was sincere.

Situ Qin’s face lit up with a huge smile. She was about to tease him again, but when she looked into his sincere eyes, her cheeks suddenly reddened, and she felt an unfamiliar shyness.

’That’s strange,’ she thought. ’He’s called me beautiful before, and I was always fine with it, even letting him stare. Why does it feel so strange now...’

The two of them fell silent, and an unidentifiable tension began to build in the air.

"Miss, everything has been put away. You can go inside for tea now."

The female housekeeper suddenly appeared, her voice soft.

As if waking from a dream, they both nodded, a little awkwardly, and went inside for tea.

Once inside and seated, Xie Yuan took a sip of tea, gathered his thoughts, and began his story. He started with Mu Chaoyun seeking refuge with him, and went on to recount the destruction of the Mu family, the history of the Escort Agency, and the details of their flight from their pursuers.

However, he referred to the Black Celestial Book only as a "unique treasure," and Situ Qin was tactful enough not to press for details. He also glossed over the specifics of his time with Mu Chaoyun, though Situ Qin’s sharp eyes darted back and forth, watching him intently.

Xie Yuan felt his resolve weaken under the gaze of Situ Qin’s expressive eyes, so he quickened his pace, taking a sip of tea before concluding,

"...After I killed Yu Chunsheng, I sent you that letter and came back here to Cloud Mountain, planning to focus on my cultivation for a while."

It wasn’t that he was unwilling to tell Situ Qin about the Black Celestial Book; the matter was simply too vast, and he couldn’t yet weigh the consequences of revealing it.

Having recounted all the events of the past few months, Xie Yuan found his mouth was dry. He took another large gulp of tea and suddenly felt a great weight lift from his heart.

Apart from Mu Chaoyun, who had lived through it with him, he hadn’t told another soul. The constant running, the tension, the life-and-death partings—it had all been weighing on him. Here on Cloud Mountain, he had to hide his identity and conceal his true face, which was also a heavy burden. Now, having poured it all out to a friend who was willing to listen, his spirits felt significantly lighter.

Listening to everything Xie Yuan had been through—the numerous near-death escapes—had Situ Qin on the edge of her seat. When he finally finished, even knowing he was sitting safely in front of her, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. Seeing his calm expression, her own face softened.

A moment later, however, she seemed to drift off, mulling over his story. Then she clicked her tongue.

"So, you and that Sister Mu have really been through life and death together. That kind of bond is something special."

Xie Yuan didn’t try to deny it. No matter how he might downplay it, the fact was undeniable, and he had no desire to refute it.

Situ Qin asked suspiciously,

"Hey... you two haven’t secretly... pledged yourselves to each other, have you?"

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