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

For some inexplicable reason, Qiao Yiying couldn’t help but glance back. Even though she hadn’t opened the carriage window and couldn’t possibly see anything, she still felt an irresistible urge to look behind her.

Strange. She thought that the person who wanted a ride after twisting their ankle might have ill intentions, yet she still wanted to look back. Hmm, perhaps her mind was suddenly playing tricks on her. With this thought, Qiao Yiying leaned against the carriage wall and closed her eyes to rest.

Chief Escort Wang always handled matters meticulously, and this time was no exception. He booked the finest inn, securing all rooms on the second floor. He arranged for Qiao Yiying to stay in the central room while he occupied the adjacent one, with the rest of their party surrounding her.

Though he knew Qiao Yiying’s martial skills were formidable, he maintained proper protocol. Otherwise, he’d feel too embarrassed to ask about the promised Divination. Truth be told, he’d been feeling somewhat uneasy because Qiao Yiying had been covering all her own expenses throughout their journey.

Clever people tended to overthink things, but Qiao Yiying didn’t mind dealing with intelligent individuals—it was preferable to dealing with those who were merely self-important.

According to their original plan, they would rest in Taiyuan for one night before continuing north to the capital. However, after breakfast, Qiao Yiying noticed Chief Escort Wang wearing a troubled expression.

Her eyebrows arched slightly as she regarded him with questioning eyes.

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

So? Qiao Yiying continued staring at him. Was she supposed to accept every visiting card delivered to her? Meet every person who sent one? Did she look that idle?

After this internal tirade, Qiao Yiying sighed inwardly. Damn it! If only she could speak freely—how impressive it would sound to voice all these rhetorical questions! The daily frustration of being unable to speak properly made her sigh and seethe.

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 wishes to proceed to the capital immediately. But the families who sent these cards aren’t ordinary households. I thought I should consult you first rather than make decisions on your behalf.”

His ability to successfully manage the Longwind Security Escort Agency relied not just on martial skills and connections, but most importantly on his prudence. Some might have criticized him for being overly cautious, but Chief Escort Wang always prioritized careful consideration.

Hearing this, Qiao Yiying found his reasoning sound and took the visiting cards to examine.

Chief Escort Wang continued, “Though you likely already know, let me explain the origins of these two cards. The first comes from the Li family of Taiyuan—an extraordinary scholarly family. Both the patriarch and eldest son are accomplished scholars who achieved third place in imperial examinations. Even the second son is highly educated, with many predicting he might become the top scholar. This second son also studied martial arts. Though no one knows who his master was, his skills are known to be excellent. However, no one considers him part of the martial world—his future is clearly tied to officialdom.”

“Hmm?” Qiao Yiying became intrigued. The Li family’s father and son had both achieved the title of Tanhua, the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations, and there was another son who was a top scholar candidate skilled in both literature and martial arts. This background unmistakably pointed to Li Xunhuan’s family. That being the case, Li Xunhuan had not yet attained his official rank—otherwise, it would have been father and sons all achieving Tanhua.

Moreover, at this time, his father and elder brother were still alive, meaning the masters of Li Manor weren’t just Li Xunhuan and Lin Shiyin. Thinking this, Qiao Yiying began examining the visiting card more carefully. Excellent—it was indeed a request for divination.

Qiao Yiying curled her lips in satisfaction. Since the Li family held such prestige, performing divination for them would undoubtedly elevate her own reputation and advance her mission progress bar. Perfect—this divination was hers to claim.

She handed the visiting card to Chief Escort Wang and nodded at him.

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

Qiao Yiying nodded. Of course she would—how could she refuse?

Chief Escort Wang said, “Very well, I will relay this to the Li family. As for the other visiting card, it was sent by the old master of Wuzheng Manor. The martial world has always held Wuzheng Manor in high esteem—even when Xue Yiren stirred up chaos in the jianghu, he never dared cause trouble there.”

He mused to himself that although the people of Jiangnan had tried to suppress news of Miss Qiao’s reputation as the Divine Calculator, those with well-connected sources couldn’t possibly remain completely unaware. Moreover, after they left Jiangnan, the information had leaked even further, which was why the visiting cards from the Li family and Wuzheng Manor had arrived today.

One was a scholarly family, the other a martial arts dynasty. Their simultaneous requests were a testament to their recognition of Miss Qiao’s abilities.

Wuzheng Manor? Yuan Suiyun? Qiao Yiying’s expression turned playful as she opened the visiting card. Excellent—Yuan Dongyuan’s purpose was the same as Master Li’s, divination.

Though Wuzheng Manor’s standing in the martial world had declined over time, its residual influence remained strong—otherwise, so many wouldn’t still defer to Yuan Dongyuan and Yuan Suiyun. If her divination for them shook the entire jianghu, it would be another way to boost her reputation and benefit her mission.

Thus, she had no qualms about performing divination for Yuan Dongyuan and his son. Qiao Yiying handed the visiting card to Chief Escort Wang and nodded at him.

She didn’t discriminate based on the moral character of those seeking divination, because her divinatory symbols could bring fortune or ruin—those who sought her readings might live or die. The very first divination Qiao Yiying performed here had already marked someone for death.

Seeing Qiao Yiying agree to divine for the Li family and Wuzheng Manor, Chief Escort Wang inwardly sighed in relief. He smiled and said, “Forming good ties with these two families will benefit you as well.” Both were upright and benevolent households—they might prove useful to Miss Qiao in the future.

Even if she seemed not to need it, Chief Escort Wang couldn’t help wanting to consider things on her behalf.

Qiao Yiying laughed outright. Good ties? No—if they heard her divinatory symbols, not wanting to beat her to death would count as remarkable restraint.

Chief Escort Wang didn’t quite understand her laughter at this moment, so he could only take it as agreement with his words.

“Three divinations today—pick one more person.” After a moment’s thought, Qiao Yiying took out the wooden tally and wrote these words.

“Me? Choosing the subject for the third divination?” Chief Escort Wang pointed at himself in shock.

Qiao Yiying nodded.

“Me… me… can I really?” Chief Escort Wang was so flustered he could barely speak. “Am I truly allowed?”

“Naturally,” Qiao Yiying wrote again.

Chief Escort Wang immediately felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. “Miss Qiao, rest assured, I will definitely select a virtuous family. I won’t let you down.”

Qiao Yiying blinked. Actually, she wanted to say any wealthy family would do—she wasn’t picky. But Chief Escort Wang seemed to hold her in such high regard that she couldn’t bring herself to shatter his illusions, so she silently accepted his proposal.

Well, it was just one divination anyway—no big deal.

With his mission in hand, Chief Escort Wang eagerly set off. First, he informed both the Li family and the Wuzheng Manor about Qiao Yiying’s agreement to perform the divination, while also inquiring about virtuous families in Taiyuan City. No matter what, since this was a spur-of-the-moment decision, the two families wouldn’t have colluded, ensuring he could pick a suitable household.

Sure enough, though surprised, the stewards of the Li Estate and Wuzheng Manor shared what they knew. Both were experienced in managing their respective family affairs and social interactions—sharp and tactful. Recognizing Qiao Yiying’s rule of three divinations per day, they understood Chief Escort Wang’s intent.

The families they suggested not only met the criteria of being virtuous but also believed in fortune-telling and had at least heard whispers of Qiao Yiying’s reputation as the mute Divine Calculator. After all, it would be awkward if the chosen family dismissed divination entirely.

Chief Escort Wang appreciated their thoughtfulness and sent someone to investigate further. He eventually settled on the Wang family, a merchant household in the textile trade. He found it serendipitous—they shared his surname, Wang—perhaps they were distant relatives centuries ago.

Still, he cautiously sought Qiao Yiying’s approval, assuring her he had no personal ties to the family, and only proceeded after her confirmation. Then, he dispatched a messenger to the Wangs.

Yuan Dongyuan had known of Qiao Yiying’s arrival from Jiangnan since she stayed at the inn the previous night. He had rushed from Wuzheng Manor to the vicinity of the inn overnight. Upon receiving the reply, he promptly brought Yuan Suiyun along. Though Yuan Suiyun was reluctant, dismissing divination as mere charlatanry, Yuan Dongyuan insisted, leaving him no choice.

Yet, even after arriving at the inn, Yuan Suiyun couldn’t meet Qiao Yiying immediately. Chief Escort Wang apologetically explained that the divination would only begin once all three families were present.

Yuan Dongyuan was displeased but had to endure it.

The Wang family arrived second—coincidentally, the representative was the handsome man who had requested a ride outside the city gates. He hardly seemed like a merchant. But then Chief Escort Wang thought of the seventh son of the Hua family and concluded that business acumen didn’t preclude having remarkable children.

Patriarch Li was the last to arrive because his eldest son had objected to the divination. After scolding both sons, he forcibly dragged them along.