You Are the Mute [Comprehensive Martial Arts] - Chapter 15

Who arrived so quickly? Qiao Yiying looked at Wang Lianhua with a hint of confusion.

As if reading her mind, Wang Lianhua replied, “It’s Iron Hand. I mentioned sending him a message earlier, but I expected it would take some time. I never imagined he’d arrive so soon.”

“When Young Master Wang invites, Iron Hand naturally rushes here at full gallop,” a man said with a hearty laugh as he strode through the main gate.

Qiao Yiying looked up and saw a man with noble features and an imposing presence. His calm gaze immediately conveyed a sense of integrity and humility. A layer of dust clung to his robes, evidence of his hasty journey.

So this is Iron Hand of the Divine Marquis Manor, she thought. He’s much as I imagined.

Wang Lianhua glanced at Iron Hand and immediately countered, “If you truly received my message and rushed here, the earliest you could have arrived is tomorrow. Unless you were already in Taiyuan, there’s no way you could have gotten here so quickly. Sit down.”

His carrier pigeons were indeed capable of locating people and were remarkably swift, but they couldn’t possibly have arrived this quickly. Wang Lianhua knew without a doubt that Iron Hand must have been nearby to arrive so swiftly.

Iron Hand sat down opposite Wang Lianhua and said, “I knew it would be impossible to deceive you. Yes, I’m here on His Majesty’s orders, carrying an imperial decree for Master Li. I’d barely arrived at Li Garden when Master Li mentioned you were looking for me. Naturally, I hurried over.”

He had indeed come to Taiyuan on official business, but the Emperor had also given him a minor task. After completing his primary mission, he detoured to Li Garden in Taiyuan to find the person he was looking for. To his surprise, he arrived to find Master Li and the First Young Master Li beating someone. He felt a bit awkward, having stumbled upon a family matter.

However, seeing that the Second Young Master Li seemed neither to feel pain nor shame, Iron Hand felt much better. He recalled hearing that the Second Young Master Li had studied martial arts, and thought, “No wonder he’s not afraid of Master Li’s beating. After all, what harm could a scholar inflict?”

Iron Hand couldn’t recall any more details. He just wanted to deliver His Majesty’s decree and leave as quickly as possible. To his surprise, he learned from them that Wang Lianhua was also in the area and urgently needed to see him. He immediately rushed over.

“So my pigeon hasn’t reached you yet,” Wang Lianhua said to Iron Hand, already instructing servants to clear the table of leftover dishes and bring them fragrant tea and pastries.

“That’s right, I haven’t seen your pigeon,” Iron Hand replied, taking a sip of the tea. He marveled at the rare hospitality he was receiving from Wang Lianhua. His gaze shifted to Qiao Yiying, and after meeting her eyes, he smiled. “Young Master Wang, this is…”

He found it odd. Wang Lianhua had always kept his distance from women. In all the years they’d known each other, Iron Hand had never seen him so close to anyone. Who is this woman? Is she Wang Lianhua’s beloved? The thought made Iron Hand wonder if his mind was playing tricks on him.

It was all Zhuiming’s fault. If he hadn’t said those nonsense things before Iron Hand left the capital, he wouldn’t have let his imagination run wild. How could Wang Lianhua possibly have a beloved? Impossible, Iron Hand thought firmly.

The mention of Qiao Yiying immediately transformed Wang Lianhua’s demeanor. “This is Miss Qiao Yiying,” he declared, his voice brimming with pride. “She’s the renowned Divine Calculator.” Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might have mistaken him for the Divine Calculator himself.

Iron Hand smiled and clasped his hands in greeting. “So you’re Miss Qiao,” he said. “Your reputation precedes you like thunder. I’m Iron Hand of the Divine Marquis Manor, a friend of Young Master Wang.” Judging by Wang Lianhua’s behavior, even if Qiao Yiying wasn’t his beloved, she was clearly a close friend.

Qiao Yiying nodded politely in response.

Wang Lianhua quickly explained, “Yiying only performs three divinations a day. She never speaks outside of her calculations, so don’t take her silence personally.”

Iron Hand nodded. “I’m aware of that. News of her departure from Jiangnan spread quickly, and the Divine Marquis Manor is also aware of it.” Zhuiming had been particularly curious, vowing to get a divination himself if the opportunity arose, just to test its accuracy.

Now, unexpectedly, he had encountered her in Taiyuan. If Zhuiming ever found out, he’d never stop clamoring about it.

Qiao Yiying’s expression flickered. It seemed her hasty decision to leave Jiangnan had been the right one, proving beneficial to her mission.

Wang Lianhua, ever attentive to Qiao Yiying, noticed her subtle shift in demeanor. He sensed she seemed concerned about his notorious reputation. He resolved to ask her about it when they were alone. If needed, he would offer his assistance.

“Young Master Wang, what urgent matter brings you here?” Iron Hand asked. Wang Lianhua never sought him out without a reason, let alone sending a message by carrier pigeon. Usually, Iron Hand was the one who initiated contact.

“I wish to present you with a generous gift,” Wang Lianhua replied with a smile.

A generous gift? Iron Hand’s heart quickened. “What kind of gift?” He knew this “gift” couldn’t be a mere present. Its true nature remained uncertain, but it was undoubtedly trouble.

Despite their friendship, Iron Hand had to admit Wang Lianhua was no saint. Their bond had been forged through conflict, and Iron Hand had been humiliated by Wang Lianhua’s pranks more than once. Now, hearing him offer a “generous gift” left Iron Hand deeply apprehensive.

Seeing Iron Hand’s wary expression, Wang Lianhua instinctively glanced at Qiao Yiying, worried she might think him ill-natured. But when he saw her expression remained unchanged, he relaxed. He then snapped at Iron Hand, “Don’t be so jumpy, as if I’m plotting against you.”

Iron Hand chuckled. “Young Master Wang jests.”

Being a man of integrity, Iron Hand refrained from exposing Wang Lianhua’s true nature in front of Qiao Yiying. In truth, Qiao Yiying already knew quite a bit about him.

Wang Lianhua continued, “We’re offering you the Bat Young Master of Bat Island. Isn’t that a generous gift?”

“Bat Young Master?” At the mention of this name, Iron Hand’s previously cheerful demeanor instantly darkened. “You’ve actually captured him?” His current mission had begun when a victim filed a complaint with the Divine Marquis Manor, claiming their daughter had been abducted.

After tracing the clues, Iron Hand had finally caught the Bat Young Master’s trail. However, he had been unable to uncover the Bat Young Master’s true identity; every lead had been severed, and all related individuals had either vanished or met unknown fates. It was precisely this impasse that had led him to Li Garden.

To discover that the elusive Bat Young Master had fallen into Wang Lianhua’s hands felt like a stroke of unexpected fortune.