Chapter 96: The Old Ginger Song Yuanyi
Translator: Tim Editor: Tehrn
Chi Wanqing knew Flowing Snake was chaotic and avoided interacting with its thugs. Unlike Ning Qingxue, her military training wasn't for show. She swiftly kicked two men who underestimated her, sending them sprawling. She then delivered two more bone-cracking kicks.
Shi Wei, enraged by this defiance, watched as his men suffered broken legs at Chi Wanqing's hands. Before he could scream, she kicked his freshly plastered leg. His howl echoed for miles, but in Flowing Snake, screams went unheard.
His remaining men trembled. They'd never seen such a powerful woman. Nearby youths who'd initially considered harassing her quickly retreated after witnessing this display. They clearly understood she wouldn't hesitate to harm them after taking down Shi Wei.
Had Shi Wei attacked with all his men simultaneously, Chi Wanqing might have faced difficulty. However, his two men's arrogant approach sealed their fate.
Even if Shi Wei had been serious from the start, Chi Wanqing wouldn't have been overly concerned. At worst, she would have unleashed Little Wolf, but that would have resulted in deaths—something she wished to avoid, despite the area's lawlessness.
Amidst Shi Wei's cries, he realized this beautiful woman was formidable. Seeing she wouldn't inflict further punishment, he gritted his teeth and ordered his men, "Leave!" Chi Wanqing paid them no mind. She prepared to seek information, but a stunning woman—even more beautiful than herself—approached, flanked by several men, clearly a gang leader.
Was Flowing Snake's leader a woman? This one didn't appear to be dressed as such; she seemed more like a refined, docile young lady.
Facing a woman was preferable to facing a man. Chi Wanqing approached, intending to inquire about Ye Mo.
Upon seeing Chi Wanqing, Ning Qingxue felt a strange, indefinable yet potent sense of familiarity.
"They said Flowing Snake was chaotic. How is it that such a beautiful woman, not one bit inferior to me, is here?" she exclaimed, startled.
Fang Nan and his men, accompanying Ning Qingxue to see the pagoda, were astonished by this breathtaking woman's presence, wondering what had transpired in the area to attract two such remarkable women in two days. Fortunately, they hadn't witnessed Chi Wanqing's earlier fight.
"Excuse me, do you know a man named Ye Mo?" Chi Wanqing asked, stopping Ning Qingxue's group.
"You're looking for him too!?" Ning Qingxue, surprised, observed Chi Wanqing's captivating beauty and martial arts bearing. Her earlier intuition was confirmed.
"You are?" Chi Wanqing looked curiously at Ning Qingxue, wondering about her connection to Ye Mo.
"Oh, this is Ning Qingxue, Brother Ye's wife," Fang Nan interjected, sensing the awkwardness. He quickly introduced Ning Qingxue, noting, "Brother Ye is certainly powerful; the women he knows are extraordinary."
"Huh, Brother Ye's wife? That" Chi Wanqing suppressed the urge to call her a "woman using Brother Ye as a shield." Her impression of Ning Qingxue soured.
Ning Qingxue, sensing Chi Wanqing's animosity, remained silent, fearing the consequences of further inquiry.
The atmosphere grew heavy again.
Even Fang Nan understood their conflict over Ye Mo. He worried about getting caught in the crossfire, as both women appeared significant to Ye Mo—one likely his legal wife, the other his secret one.
He needed to diffuse the situation before a fight erupted. Wiping his brow, he said, "It's noon, and we're all starving. Let's eat first. We can talk about Brother Ye afterward."
The gang leader, accustomed to living on the edge, found himself playing peacemaker between two women.
While Chi Wanqing and Ning Qingxue searched for Ye Mo, the Song family also discussed him. Although Song Shaotan's death pointed to Ye Mo, while he could have killed Song Shaotan, killing Hu Qiu was surprising. Therefore, the Song family remained unsure of Ye Mo's culpability.
"Can we confirm the Shi Ying who appeared in Ning Hai and then vanished is Ye Mo?" Song Qiming's rage was palpable after the murders of two of his grandsons. Song Shaotan had been the most promising, and his death in Ning Hai was particularly devastating.
"We're not certain. Though he resembles Ye Mo, Shi Ying's image is blurry. Crucially, Shi Ying's power surpasses Hu Qiu's; he defeated Pu Dongheng in one move. Most suspicious is that Fang Weicheng first saw Shi Ying in Ning Du District, where Ye Mo lived," Song Hai reported.
"Regardless of whether Shi Ying is Ye Mo, he's linked to Shaotan's death. Shi Ying uses metal nails, a killing style no known ancient martial arts family employs," stated Song Qishen, a respected elder.
Though Song Qiming led the meeting, the true head was Song Yuanyi (Old Man Song). Song Shaowen's death concerned him less than Song Shaotan's—the grandson in whom he'd placed the highest hopes. His presence at this meeting demonstrated his gravity. While furious, he maintained composure. After listening, he opened his eyes and said, "Continue investigating the link between Shi Ying and Ye Mo. However, halt the hunt for Ye Mo."
When confusion spread, he clarified, "We don't need Ye Mo or Shi Ying's location; we need to make Qian Longtou aware. Ye Mo has already attracted the Ye Family's attention. Inform Qian Longtou that Ye Mo killed his son."
He paused, then continued, "Let the Ye Family know of Ye Mo's abilities, but withhold information about Qian Longtou's son. Then, we watch. Besides, was killing Hu Qiu truly so simple?"
His tone was grim.
The family understood—the oldest ginger was the spiciest. They would use Qian Longtou to destroy the Ye Family, and at the opportune moment, the Song family would deliver the final blow, aiming to shatter the Ye Family beyond recovery.
Unaware of the two women's search or the Song family's schemes, Ye Mo lived his life. He had no connection to the Ye family. He'd opened a small, unlicensed clinic in a remote, affordable location in an old house with a yard for growing his Silver Heart Grass.
His priority was cultivating the Silver Heart Grass; business came second.
On the third day, they unexpectedly received their first patient, awakened by a frantic knock in the dead of night.