You Are the Mute [Comprehensive Martial Arts] - Chapter 9

In an instant, Master Li, who had been gasping for breath and looking like he was about to faint, suddenly seemed completely recovered. His complexion turned rosy, his vigor returned, and he looked every bit like someone who could wield a wooden rod to give Li Xunhuan twenty or thirty good whacks.

“Oh, right, I’ll give you a bonus message,” Qiao Yiying said, looking at Li Xunhuan, who seemed deeply shaken, with a mischievous smile. “The Third Scholar Li Xunhuan lived just fine in the end. Despite enduring many hardships, he still managed to carry on the Li family line. So, he’s indestructible. Master Li and Eldest Li the Third Scholar needn’t worry.”

Li Xunhuan snapped out of his daze and shot Qiao Yiying a resentful look. He was still young at this time, with his father and elder brother alive, and his temperament was relatively lively. The Li Xunhuan of later years probably wouldn’t have reacted this way.

Meeting his gaze, Qiao Yiying merely blinked and smiled again. She didn’t think she had said anything wrong—Li Xunhuan was indeed incredibly resilient, indestructible even. After all, he was the protagonist. As long as he didn’t die, nothing bad would happen to him.

Compared to Li Xunhuan’s resentment, Master Li and Li the Eldest seemed far more agitated. Especially Li the Eldest, who looked like his hands were itching for action.

“Thank you, Miss Qiao,” Master Li said, his anger surging anew at the thought of the sweet and devoted Shiyin suffering such a miserable fate—all because of Li Xunhuan. He wanted nothing more than to go home right now and give his son a beating! “We have matters to attend to, so we’ll take our leave now.”

Though patience often leads to better outcomes, Master Li felt that beating his son was not something to delay. Otherwise, he might just die of rage.

Qiao Yiying was about to speak but then remembered that her divination session was over. Instead, she tapped the table with her Jade Flute.

Chief Escort Wang, who had been lost in shock, immediately snapped back to attention. “Master Li, please wait a moment.”

Master Li looked puzzled. “Why is that?”

Chief Escort Wang’s smile turned awkward. “This is Miss Qiao’s intention. As for why, I’m afraid I don’t know.” Miss Qiao hadn’t given any indication, so he was in the dark. But he knew one thing for certain—everyone present had to hear all three divinations before leaving.

Though he didn’t understand the reason, Chief Escort Wang knew one thing—Qiao Yiying’s words had to be taken seriously and never disregarded.

Master Li was eager to go home and discipline his son, but since Qiao Yiying had made her stance clear, he couldn’t very well leave immediately. Reluctantly, he sat back down, though his face burned with embarrassment. Ah, to lose face in front of outsiders—all because of his useless youngest son!

Li Xunhuan, for his part, still felt wronged. Though everyone said Qiao Yiying was the Divine Calculator, what if she had made a mistake? Even if he felt indebted and wanted to repay a favor, he would never let his cousin bear the burden. He would never do such a thing in the future—absolutely never!

Though he told himself this, a strange unease lingered in his heart. He wanted to deny it, but an odd intuition told him that Qiao Yiying’s words were indeed the future. Would his cousin truly suffer so terribly because of him?

But he would rather suffer himself than let his cousin suffer—how could he possibly give her up? The young Li Xunhuan couldn’t understand it, nor did he want to. Because he had already made up his mind that he would never let such a thing happen.

If that day ever came, he would rather die than owe his life to some so-called savior.

At this moment, Li Xunhuan swore in his heart. Much later, when he truly encountered his savior—one who fell in love with Lin Shiyin at first sight—his expression immediately darkened. He declared he could repay the debt of gratitude, but some things were absolutely out of the question.

Because he had spent every waking moment warning himself not to let the divinatory symbols come true, it had become an obsession for Li Xunhuan. Only after that person appeared did his heart gradually begin to unknot.

As for Master Li and Li the Eldest, they would have originally grown despondent over the Top Scholar affair. Combined with their already frail health and excessive worrying, they would have passed away early. But after learning of Qiao Yiying’s divination, they spent every day thinking of ways to discipline Li Xunhuan, leaving no room for idle thoughts. When they fell ill, they actively cooperated with physicians, and their health remained robust.

Master Li could chase Li Xunhuan with a wooden stick all across the Li Estate, and Li the Eldest even took up sword practice. Thus, their health thrived—though at the cost of Li Xunhuan’s frequent beatings—but it was still a cause for celebration.

However, all of that was still far in the future.

At this moment, Master Li and Li the Eldest felt too ashamed to show their faces, but on Qiao Yiying’s insistence, they had no choice but to sit in the main hall, restless and uneasy.

What use were two sons? What use was all the praise heaped upon them when they only brought disgrace to the family? Though Yuan Dongyuan prided himself on being broad-minded, his son’s blindness had made him the perpetual subject of pity and sympathy. Faced with Master Li, who had two fine sons, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment.

Now that Master Li had been humiliated by Li Xunhuan, though Yuan Dongyuan knew it was wrong, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of satisfaction. In his heart, he thought, My son is still better. Even blind, he is the young master praised by all in the martial world.

And as a father, he knew his son best. Yuan Suiyun would never be a wastrel like Li Xunhuan, easily manipulated by others. In Yuan Dongyuan’s eyes, Li Xunhuan—who had given away the Li Estate—was no different from a prodigal son.

As for Yuan Suiyun, he didn’t spare Li the Eldest a single glance, much less care about him. But Li Xunhuan was another matter. Not only was Li Xunhuan outstanding in character, appearance, and scholarship, but his martial skills were also exceptional. He was already gaining fame in the martial world, poised for even greater renown.

Such a brilliant young martial artist, one who still possessed the gift of sight, was the very existence Yuan Suiyun despised most. Everyone else could see, everyone else had good eyes—only he did not. How could he not hate it?

Today, seeing Li Xunhuan humiliated, how could Yuan Suiyun not rejoice? But he had always been adept at masking his emotions, so no one could detect even the slightest flaw in his demeanor. Except for two people.

One was Qiao Yiying, who already knew what kind of person Yuan Suiyun was and thus held not an ounce of goodwill toward him. However, since her first appearance, she had maintained a stern expression, and even her smiles carried sarcasm, so no one noticed her aversion to Yuan Suiyun.

The other was Li Xunhuan, who simply had keen intuition. Though everyone praised how outstanding the young master of the manor was, his instincts told him that Yuan Suiyun harbored ill will toward him. He didn’t know why, but the malice was undeniably real.

Still, Li Xunhuan thought it normal not to be liked by everyone—after all, nothing in this world was perfect—so he paid it no mind. Rather than dwelling on Yuan Suiyun, he was more concerned about the divinatory symbols Qiao Yiying had given him.

Sigh.

Qiao Yiying glanced at Yuan Dongyuan and Yuan Suiyun, father and son, then tapped her Jade Flute lightly on the table again.

Chief Escort Wang immediately spoke up, “May I ask what matter the Manor Lord and Young Master wish to divine?”

“The divination is my father’s wish. Miss Qiao need only heed his request.” Though blind, Yuan Suiyun turned toward the person he addressed as if he could see them. His tone was gentle, his expression mild, making him appear the most good-natured of men.

Yet Qiao Yiying merely gave him a cool glance, showing none of the admiration others did.

Yuan Dongyuan felt a surge of displeasure but suppressed it. He asked, “Miss Qiao, I wish to know—will my son’s eyes ever regain their sight?”

“Regain their sight?” Qiao Yiying arched a brow, her eyes glinting with an inscrutable amusement. “Yuan Suiyun will die without a grave in the future, reaping what he sowed, as justice prevails—utterly deserved. Regain his sight? Everyone in this world may recover their sight, except him, because he is unworthy.”

If Qiao Yiying’s tone had carried faint mockery when speaking of Li Xunhuan, her words about Yuan Suiyun were laced with sheer loathing. The intensity of her disgust was so palpable that everyone present understood it clearly—and was stunned.

What kind of future could make Qiao Yiying detest Yuan Suiyun so deeply?

Yuan Dongyuan abruptly stood, slamming a palm down and shattering the table beside him. “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

The next moment, a fan pressed against his throat, its edge glinting with a blue-tinted blade. “Be quiet, or you can stay silent forever.”