You Are the Mute [Comprehensive Martial Arts] - Chapter 7

For some reason, Qiao Yiying couldn’t help but glance back. Even though her car window was closed and she couldn’t see anything, she still felt an irresistible urge to look back.

Strange, she thought. I clearly suspect that man, who asked for a ride because of his sprained ankle, might have ulterior motives. Yet I still want to look back. Hmm, maybe my mind just had a sudden lapse. With that thought, Qiao Yiying leaned back against the car wall, closing her eyes to rest.

Chief Escort Wang had always been meticulous in his arrangements, and this time was no exception. He secured the finest inn and reserved all the rooms on the second floor. He placed Qiao Yiying in the central room, with himself in the adjacent room and the rest of the escort surrounding her.

Although he knew Qiao Yiying possessed formidable martial arts skills, he maintained the proper decorum. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the nerve to ask her about the divination she had promised. This was partly because Qiao Yiying had insisted on covering all her own expenses throughout the journey, leaving Chief Escort Wang feeling somewhat uneasy.

Intelligent people tend to overthink, but Qiao Yiying didn’t mind dealing with them. It was far preferable to dealing with those who merely fancied themselves clever.

According to their original plan, they were to rest in Taiyuan for one night before continuing north to the Capital. However, after breakfast, Qiao Yiying noticed Chief Escort Wang looking troubled.

Her eyebrows arched slightly as she gazed at him with a questioning look.

Chief Escort Wang produced two invitation cards from behind his back. “Miss Qiao, someone has sent these invitations.”

So what? Qiao Yiying continued to stare at him. Just because someone sends an invitation, am I supposed to accept it? Am I supposed to meet the sender? Do I look that bored?

After mentally rattling off this string of questions, she sighed inwardly. Damn it! If only I could speak freely, these questions would sound so much more imposing! Damn it! Because she couldn’t communicate properly, Qiao Yiying often found herself sighing and feeling irritable.

Though Chief Escort Wang didn’t fully grasp her meaning, he understood enough to quickly explain, “I know Miss Qiao doesn’t want to deal with people and just wants to reach the Capital as soon as possible. But the two families who sent these invitations are no ordinary families. I thought it best to consult you first rather than make a decision on your behalf.”

Chief Escort Wang had managed Changfeng Escort Agency so successfully not only because of his martial arts skills and connections, but primarily due to his cautious nature. Some might have criticized him for being overly meticulous, but he remained steadfast in his belief that caution was paramount.

Qiao Yiying nodded in agreement, taking the invitation to examine it.

Chief Escort Wang continued, “Though you likely already know, Miss Qiao, allow me to explain the origins of these two invitations. The first is from the Taiyuan Li Family, an extraordinary scholarly lineage. Both Old Master Li and his eldest son are accomplished scholars, having both achieved the rank of Tanhua in the imperial examinations. Even Second Master Li is a learned man, leading many to believe the Li Family is destined to produce a Zhuangyuan. This Second Master Li also practices martial arts, though his master remains unknown. While his skills are undeniable, no one considers him a true Jianghu figure, given his obvious path toward imperial service.”

Hmm? Qiao Yiying’s interest piqued. A family with a father and son both holding the Tanhua title, and another son with the potential to become a Zhuangyuan while also practicing martial arts—this sounded exactly like Li Xunhuan’s family background. If so, Li Xunhuan hadn’t yet passed the imperial examinations; otherwise, they would have boasted three generations of Tanhua scholars.

Moreover, his father and elder brother were still alive at this time, meaning Li Xunhuan and Lin Shiyin weren’t the sole masters of Li Garden. With this realization, Qiao Yiying began examining the invitation cards carefully. Excellent—they were indeed requests for divination.

Qiao Yiying’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. Given the Li Family’s renowned reputation, performing divination for them would undoubtedly enhance her own prestige and advance her Mission progress. Perfect! This divination was hers alone.

She handed the invitation card to Chief Escort Wang and nodded.

Chief Escort Wang immediately understood her meaning. “Miss Qiao wishes to perform divination for Master Li, is that correct?”

Qiao Yiying nodded. Of course she would! How could she refuse?

Chief Escort Wang replied, “Very well, I will convey your message to the Li Family. As for this other invitation card, it’s from the Old Master of Wuzheng Manor. The Jianghu has always held Wuzheng Manor in high esteem. Even when Xue Yiren was causing chaos across the Jianghu, he never dared to stir trouble at Wuzheng Manor.”

Even though the people of Jiangnan tried to suppress news of Miss Qiao’s divine calculations, those truly well-informed couldn’t possibly remain completely ignorant. Moreover, since we left Jiangnan, the news has been spreading even more widely. That’s why the Li Family and Wuzheng Manor sent their formal invitations today.

One was a family of scholars, the other a martial arts clan. Their simultaneous invitations served as recognition of Miss Qiao’s extraordinary abilities.

Wuzheng Manor? Yuan Suiyun? A hint of amusement flickered across Qiao Yiying’s expression as she opened the invitation. Excellent. Yuan Dongyuan’s purpose aligns with Master Li’s—both seek a divination.

Although Wuzheng Manor’s influence in the Jianghu had waned in recent years, its lingering prestige remained considerable. Otherwise, so many wouldn’t still show deference to Yuan Dongyuan and Yuan Suiyun. If her divination for them caused a sensation throughout the Jianghu, it would further enhance her reputation and benefit her mission.

Therefore, she had no objection to divining for Yuan Dongyuan and his son. Qiao Yiying handed the invitation to Chief Escort Wang and nodded.

She didn’t discriminate based on character when performing divinations. Her readings encompassed both fortune and misfortune, life and death. The very first divination Qiao Yiying performed here had been for a deceased person.

Seeing Qiao Yiying agree to cast fortunes for the Li Family and Wuzheng Manor, Chief Escort Wang breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and said, “Building good relations with these families will benefit you as well. They are both kind and righteous, and might be able to help you in the future.”

Even though she seemed to need no assistance, Chief Escort Wang couldn’t help but worry about her well-being.

Qiao Yiying immediately chuckled. Building good relations? No, if they heard her fortunes, they’d be considered good-tempered just for not trying to kill her.

Chief Escort Wang didn’t quite understand Qiao Yiying’s smile, so he took it as agreement with his words.

“There are three fortunes to be cast today. Choose one more person,” Qiao Yiying wrote on the Water Tablet after a moment’s thought.

“I get to choose the third subject?” Chief Escort Wang pointed at himself in shock.

Qiao Yiying nodded.

“I… I… can I really do that?” Chief Escort Wang stammered, his words failing him. “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” Qiao Yiying wrote again.

Chief Escort Wang suddenly felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. “Miss Qiao, rest assured, I will choose a virtuous family. I won’t let you down.”

Qiao Yiying blinked. She actually wanted to say that any wealthy family would do; she wasn’t picky. But Chief Escort Wang’s perception of her was so idealized that she couldn’t bring herself to shatter his illusions. She simply nodded in agreement.

Oh well, it’s just one divination. No big deal.

Chief Escort Wang, having received his orders, strode out excitedly. He first informed the Li Family and Wuzheng Manor representatives that Qiao Yiying had agreed to perform a divination, then inquired about virtuous families in Taiyuan City. Regardless of his spur-of-the-moment decision, these two factions were unlikely to collude, ensuring he could select a truly worthy family.

As expected, though the Li Garden steward and Wuzheng Manor steward were somewhat surprised, they readily shared their knowledge. Both were shrewd and experienced in managing their respective families’ affairs and handling guests. Remembering Qiao Yiying’s rule of three divinations per day, they immediately understood Chief Escort Wang’s intentions.

Thus, the families they recommended were not only virtuous, as Chief Escort Wang had requested, but also believers in divination who had at least heard whispers of Qiao Yiying’s reputation as the “Dumb Divine Calculator.” After all, if the family completely disbelieved, the situation would become unbearably awkward.

Chief Escort Wang understood their good intentions and sent someone to inquire further. They selected the Wang Family, a merchant family dealing in textiles. He felt a sense of fate—both he and the family shared the surname Wang, perhaps they were distant relatives from centuries past.

Still, he cautiously consulted Qiao Yiying, assuring her he had no ulterior motives and genuinely didn’t know the family. Only after receiving her confirmation did he dispatch a messenger to the Wang Family.

Yuan Dongyuan had long known Qiao Yiying had left Jiangnan. When she stayed at the inn the previous night, he rushed from Wuzheng Manor to the vicinity. Upon receiving confirmation of her arrival, he hastily brought Yuan Suiyun along. Though Yuan Suiyun remained skeptical, dismissing fortune-telling as mere charlatanry, Yuan Dongyuan’s insistence left him no choice but to comply.

However, upon arriving at the inn, they couldn’t immediately see Qiao Yiying. Chief Escort Wang apologized, explaining they had to wait for the other two families to arrive before the fortune-telling could begin.

Yuan Dongyuan was displeased but had no choice but to endure.

The Wang Family was the second to arrive. Coincidentally, the man who came was the handsome stranger who had asked for a ride outside the city gate. He certainly didn’t look like a merchant. Yet Chief Escort Wang, recalling the Hua Family’s seven sons, reasoned that a family’s business didn’t necessarily hinder their children’s exceptional qualities.

Master Li arrived last, his eldest son having initially refused to let him come for fortune-telling. After scolding both his sons soundly, he forcibly dragged them along.