You Are the Mute [Comprehensive Martial Arts] - Chapter 6

After Qiao Yiying gained fame in Jiangnan and proved herself to be an unyielding figure, those seeking her divinations began competing to present her with gifts. Whether it was night pearls the size of fists, Han Dynasty white jade, or even an entire hu of pearls dredged from the depths of the East Sea, people offered them with both hands.

Yet Qiao Yiying never altered her rules, nor did she spare anyone’s feelings. As her demands grew increasingly peculiar, her reputation spread even further, and the power of her words seemed to magnify.

At times, when facing Qiao Yiying, some felt not admiration or reverence, but fear. How could one not fear someone who could glimpse their future? Yet beneath that fear bubbled a scorching, fervent delight.

To glimpse the future—didn’t that mean one could change it? Thus, Qiao Yiying became even more sought after. However, her fame never extended beyond Jiangnan. The people of Jiangnan, recognizing her prowess, chose not to share the already scarce three divinations per day with outsiders. Outspokenly, they sealed off news of her.

This was why Qiao Yiying felt her reputation was substantial, yet her progress bar barely advanced. She remained unaware of this—but not for long.

Now, the new escort, learning of Qiao Yiying’s abilities, whispered, “If that’s the case, shouldn’t we address her as the Divine Calculator? Why does the Chief Escort keep calling her ‘Miss Qiao’?” Had it been otherwise, he wouldn’t have mistaken her for an ordinary client.

“Because she dislikes being called the Divine Calculator,” the veteran escort explained. “She prefers ‘Miss Qiao.’ Perhaps those with true skill dislike flaunting it.”

No, the truth was that Qiao Yiying, having outgrown her chuunibyou phase, found the title “Divine Calculator” far too cringeworthy.

At first, news of Qiao Yiying’s departure from Jiangnan hadn’t spread. But after two or three days, when those seeking divinations found the Qiao residence’s gates perpetually shut, they investigated—only to discover she’d left Jiangnan. The realization struck like a bolt from the blue, without the mute Divine Calculator, what were they to do?

So, they sent pursuers after her.

Seated in the carriage, Qiao Yiying listened as Chief Escort Wang mentioned the possibility of many chasing them and asked if they should hasten their journey. She was baffled. She’d assumed only Luyi would follow.

Knowing Qiao Yiying never spoke outside of divinations, Chief Escort Wang handed her a larger writing tablet, a cloth, and a charcoal pencil. “Miss Qiao, please use these.”

Qiao Yiying shot him an appreciative glance—truly, a man fit to be an escort leader, so adaptable. She wrote, “Why would many pursue us?”

“Miss Qiao, didn’t you know?” Chief Escort Wang suddenly understood. “Your reputation as the Divine Calculator was confined to Jiangnan—it never spread beyond, because its people didn’t want you to leave. I thought you were aware and had tacitly allowed it.”

He had always believed that Miss Qiao was all-knowing and must have been aware of this matter. Since she didn’t object, it meant she had tacitly approved—so it turned out she didn’t know after all. But then again, physicians couldn’t heal themselves, and perhaps diviners were the same.

Qiao Yiying’s lips twitched, and a surge of resentment rose in her heart. Know what? She knew nothing! She wouldn’t waste energy performing divination on herself, and Luyi—whose background was questionable—wouldn’t tell her either. How was she supposed to know?

Thinking this, she wiped away the previous words with a cloth and angrily wrote, “So those people want to drag me back to Jiangnan?”

“That’s naturally impossible,” Chief Escort Wang shook his head. “Your martial arts are unfathomable, and they still need you for divination—how would they dare lay a hand on you? Most likely, they just want to intercept you and beg you to return. Who knows, you might even soften and agree.”

Soft-hearted? Soft-hearted, my foot! Qiao Yiying rolled her eyes. Before, staying in Jiangnan wouldn’t have been an issue—she was perfectly accustomed to the food and climate there. But now? No way. She had a mission to complete. She had to return to her parents.

Before, she hadn’t known where the mission had gone wrong. But now that she did, she had to do it properly. If she pushed hard enough, maybe the progress bar would finally move, and the System would gather enough energy.

Once it had enough energy, she could go home! For that alone, there was no way she’d ever soften. So, Qiao Yiying wrote, “Since they don’t dare act, there’s no need to rush. I don’t want to deal with them—you handle it when the time comes. Tell them that if they ever want another chance, they’d better scram back now!”

Chief Escort Wang looked at the words on the writing board, so forceful they seemed about to leap off, and thought, Miss Qiao is truly furious. He nodded and replied, “Rest assured, I’ll handle it properly. I won’t trouble you with this.”

Satisfied, Qiao Yiying nodded and wrote again, “Once we reach the capital, I’ll perform another divination for you.” Not give him one but perform one—meaning Chief Escort Wang would still have to pay the divination fee.

Yet Chief Escort Wang was overjoyed. “Miss Qiao need not worry. I won’t cause you any distress.”

Qiao Yiying lowered her eyelids slightly, then closed the carriage window, a faint smirk curling her lips. See? From “won’t trouble you” to “won’t cause you distress”—the shift in wording was subtle. Though Chief Escort Wang had always been dutiful out of gratitude, when his own interests were at stake, that dutifulness turned into absolute diligence, with no room for negligence.

Just as Chief Escort Wang had predicted, many from Jiangnan had caught up, pleading for Qiao Yiying to stay. They belonged to different families and factions, even competing among themselves. But no matter how they pleaded, the carriage door and windows remained shut, unmoving.

Chief Escort Wang persuaded them one by one to leave, not daring to let a single one trouble Qiao Yiying. As for those who had chased after her? Though they longed to act, they all knew they were no match for her—and since they still needed her, how could they dare lift a finger?

Thus, these people could only return empty-handed. As the convoy headed north, the pursuers from Jiangnan gradually dwindled until there were none left, and Qiao Yiying could finally step out of the carriage for some fresh air.

Although riding in the carriage spared her from the dust kicked up on the official road, sitting in it for too long made her feel dizzy and somewhat unwell. Therefore, Qiao Yiying cherished every moment she could spend outside to breathe.

Chief Escort Wang approached Qiao Yiying and said, “Miss Qiao, it looks like it’s getting dark, and it might rain soon. Should we stop in the city ahead for the night?”

Though he was the Chief Escort, he was escorting Qiao Yiying, and his attitude toward her had always been this way throughout the journey. While he would offer suggestions, he would never make decisions outright.

Qiao Yiying wrote, “What place lies ahead?”

“Taiyuan.”

Qiao Yiying smiled and nodded at Chief Escort Wang, signaling that they could proceed to Taiyuan to rest. She didn’t want to sleep in the carriage either, did she? Even though several layers of brocade quilts had been laid out, making it soft and comfortable, the constant swaying of the carriage gave her the same sensation as sleeping on a train in her past life.

She could sleep, but the rocking was unbearable—her head was practically spinning.

“May I trouble the master of the house? I’ve sprained my ankle—could I hitch a ride with you?” A clear, pleasant voice rang out.

Chief Escort Wang looked over and saw a young man dressed in a blue robe, tall and graceful, with a gentle, refined smile on his lips. He appeared to be a polite and well-mannered gentleman. After a moment’s thought, Chief Escort Wang walked to the carriage and knocked on the window frame. “Miss Qiao?”

Qiao Yiying remained completely still, as if the matter outside had nothing to do with her. For a voice to carry from the front of the convoy all the way here clearly indicated that the speaker possessed inner strength. A man with inner strength, now needing a ride because of a sprained ankle?

Hah. If she believed such words, she would have long been dead and buried without a grave.

Seeing that Qiao Yiying did not respond, Chief Escort Wang understood her stance. He cupped his hands and said, “My apologies, brother. We are currently occupied with urgent matters and cannot afford distractions, so we’re unable to assist you.”

“Then let it be,” the man replied with a smile, watching as the entire convoy moved on without him. Even after the convoy had disappeared, he continued to gaze in its direction.

“Yiying, we’ve finally met again.”