You Are the Mute [Comprehensive Martial Arts] - Chapter 2

Qiao Yiying nodded to Green Robe, signaling that she would come shortly.

Having been with Qiao Yiying for some time, Green Robe understood immediately. “I’ll go prepare tea for the guest,” she said.

Qiao Yiying nodded again. Excellent. Green Robe understands me perfectly, unlike that clumsy one who wasted my precious speaking opportunity at the start.

After Green Robe left, Qiao Yiying didn’t immediately head to the main hall to greet the guest. Instead, she returned to her room, retrieved a jade flute, straightened her robes, and then finally stepped out, walking toward the main hall.

The jade flute itself was nothing special, aside from being rather expensive. But since it had been a gift from a fortune-telling client rather than something she’d bought herself, she didn’t mind bringing it along. So why was Qiao Yiying making such a point of carrying it? Simple: she wanted to put on a show for the guest.

As the Divine Calculator Qiao, renowned throughout the Jianghu, how could she lack sophistication and style? Clutching the jade flute, a faint smile playing on her lips and her back ramrod straight, Qiao Yiying strode toward the main hall.

Two men waited in the main hall. One, dressed in azure robes and holding a folding fan, exuded an air of effortless elegance. His eyes were as warm as spring sunlight, yet as clear as shimmering water, and his smile could captivate any heart. The other man appeared somewhat disheveled, his face covered in a pale stubble, but his eyes shone with a dark, piercing intensity.

Normally, these two men—one with a smile like a spring breeze, the other with a lazy grin—were known for their enjoyment of life. Yet now, both wore expressions tinged with anxiety and unease.

“Old stinkbug,” Hu Tiehua said, fidgeting impatiently as he glanced toward the inner chamber, “do you think the Divine Calculator will see us? Miss Green-Robe has been in there for ages without returning. Could it be that the Divine Calculator refuses to meet us and won’t tell our fortunes?”

In the past, Hu Tiehua would never have been so restless. But with lives hanging in the balance, how could he possibly remain calm?

Chu Liuxiang, equally unsettled, kept fidgeting with his fan. “She wouldn’t have sent Miss Green-Robe to report if she intended to refuse us. Since she hasn’t rejected us yet, the Divine Calculator will likely see us.”

He said this, but deep down, he wasn’t so sure. The Divine Calculator was known for her volatile temper. If a fortune-seeker said the wrong thing, she would immediately turn her back and leave. Moreover, she only performed three divinations a day, selecting her clients with seemingly arbitrary criteria.

No one could predict whether they would be chosen, nor what she might reveal. It was truly a headache.

Today, a crowd had gathered outside, all hoping for a divination. The Divine Calculator’s selection methods were utterly unpredictable. Sometimes she claimed it was because a green leaf had fallen on someone’s shoulder, other times because she simply liked their face, and once even because someone had brought a spring breeze with them. In short, there were no rules when it came to the Divine Calculator; no one could ever be certain.

Chu Liuxiang had almost given up hope when, to his surprise, their request was answered. Amidst envious and resentful glances from the crowd, he and Hu Tiehua followed Miss Green-Robe inside. But after saying she would report to the Divine Calculator, Miss Green-Robe vanished again, leaving him increasingly uneasy.

“She’s coming,” Chu Liuxiang heard footsteps and instinctively rose to his feet.

Hu Tiehua rose as well, turning toward the inner chamber.

Chu Liuxiang listened intently to the approaching footsteps, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. It was said the Divine Calculator possessed no martial arts skills, yet her steps carried a rhythmic precision. But his thoughts were quickly swept aside as the person he had come to see emerged.

A woman glided from the inner chamber, clad in a moon-white gown draped with a vermilion outer robe. Her elegant face, framed by a high-swept cloud-like bun, met his gaze. Her delicate eyebrows arched gracefully, her crimson lips shone brightly, and her pearly teeth gleamed within. She wore no jewelry, only a jade flute held in her hand. The verdant flute accentuated the luminous delicacy of her hand.

“I greet you, Miss Qiao,” Chu Liuxiang said, clasping his hands in a respectful bow.

Anyone with even a modicum of intelligence knew the Divine Calculator disliked being addressed by that title. Using it could cost one the opportunity for a divination. Chu Liuxiang, ever meticulous, would never make such a mistake.

“Greetings, Miss Qiao,” Hu Tiehua echoed, clasping his hands in a bow beside Chu Liuxiang.

Qiao Yiying glanced at the two men, then pointed her jade flute at the chairs behind them, signaling them to sit. Without waiting for their response, she settled into the seat at the head of the table. As she looked up at them, a sense of familiarity washed over her.

It seems today’s visitors are old acquaintances, she thought, nodding slightly at the pair.

“Miss Qiao, I am Zhang Xiaolin,” Chu Liuxiang said, showing no intention of sitting. “My three sisters have been kidnapped, and their whereabouts remain unknown. I implore you to divine their location. If you can help us find them, I would be eternally grateful.”

Of course, his gratitude wasn’t merely lip service; he intended to pay for the divination. Even the most reckless individuals knew better than to owe a diviner. The consequences of such debts were dire.

“Young Master Zhang?” Qiao Yiying chuckled softly. The name, the man’s appearance, and the features of the person beside “Zhang Xiaolin”—excellent. She knew exactly who her visitors were. What a coincidence—they truly were “old acquaintances.”

Though her tone was ambiguous, Chu Liuxiang felt a wave of relief. The fact that Divine Calculator Qiao had spoken meant she could perform the divination. This eased his anxiety somewhat. However, the enigmatic quality of her laughter left him on edge again.

Could something be wrong?

Qiao Yiying casually twirled the jade flute in her hands, her gaze fixed on Chu Liuxiang with a half-smile. “Commander Chu, if you didn’t want a divination, you could have simply said so. Why bother disguising yourself to meet me?”

This expression was one she had practiced hundreds of times in front of a mirror, and it was remarkably effective. Whether concealing her true feelings or dealing with clients, it never failed to work. Others would assume she was confident and in control, completely oblivious to her true intentions.

Even pretense requires time and effort. She had worked tirelessly to cultivate the image of a refined Divine Calculator. In her mind, a tiny figure of herself stood proudly, hands on hips, basking in the satisfaction of her performance.

Chu Liuxiang’s expression shifted slightly before settling into a warm, spring-like smile. “I’ve been showing off my meager skills before Miss Qiao,” he said. “I hope you won’t be offended. If there’s any displeasure, please direct it at me.”

Qiao Yiying chuckled softly, a hint of mockery in her tone. “Commander Chu, please restrain yourself. Don’t put on that charming act in front of me. I’m not so easily fooled.”

As astute as Chu Liuxiang was, he couldn’t possibly misunderstand her meaning. He looked a little embarrassed. “My apologies,” he said. “It’s just a habit.”

Chu Liuxiang’s demeanor always changed when facing women, and today he had unconsciously slipped into his usual flirtatious mode. But he’d forgotten that the woman across from him wasn’t one of his romantic companions, nearly making a grave mistake.

With this realization, he rose and bowed deeply to Qiao Yiying. “I’ve truly offended you,” he said. “Please forgive my rudeness.” He was still waiting to learn the whereabouts of Rongrong and the others from her, so he couldn’t afford to antagonize her.

An apology was a small price to pay, especially since he was genuinely in the wrong.

Though Hu Tiehua was deeply worried about Su Rongrong and the other two women, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Chu Liuxiang’s discomfited expression. “Ha ha ha! This is a rare sight indeed!” he chuckled. “I’m so glad I came along—I would have missed this otherwise!”

Chu Liuxiang glanced helplessly at his unreliable friend, Hu Tiehua, and sighed inwardly. Not only is he not helping, but he’s actually laughing at me?

Hu Tiehua returned the look with a mischievous grin. Hey, I just like to laugh. What’s wrong with that?

Chu Liuxiang: “……”

For a moment, he was speechless.

Qiao Yiying raised the jade flute in her hand. “Very well, I’ll overlook this transgression. Commander Chu, you wish to know the whereabouts of Miss Su Rongrong and the other two ladies, correct?”

“Yes,” Chu Liuxiang nodded eagerly. “I implore you, Miss Qiao, to enlighten me.”

Qiao Yiying raised an eyebrow. “First, tell me when and where they disappeared.”

“They vanished near Daming Lake in Jinan,” Chu Liuxiang replied.

Daming Lake… Qiao Yiying struggled to maintain her composure, lest her reaction betray her. Though she knew the name itself was innocuous, the overwhelming popularity of a certain television drama had etched it into her memory for years.

Though Chu Liuxiang sensed something was amiss in Qiao Yiying’s expression, his eagerness to learn the whereabouts of Su Rongrong and the others overshadowed his concern. He recounted the circumstances of their disappearance in detail, omitting nothing.

Afterward, he and Hu Tiehua fixed expectant gazes on Qiao Yiying.

Qiao Yiying’s hand paused slightly. Why do I feel like I’m about to feed a bunch of little animals?