Thousand Dusts Ferry Me - Chapter 27

Crash!

In the pavilion, a fine white porcelain teacup shattered on the ground, splashing tea all over Yu Beiting, who remained motionless while kneeling.

Jiang Binghe coldly looked at the person kneeling on the ground, his narrow eyes showing no ripples of emotion. Had it not been someone familiar with him, they would not have detected his anger at that moment.

And sitting beside him was precisely the person who knew him best—his wife, the renowned beauty, Qin Ranqing.

Qin Ranqing had skin like white jade, bright eyes and beautiful teeth, and a graceful figure. Her brows were often slightly furrowed, shrouded in a faint melancholy that made her beauty as elusive as clouds and mist, always prompting people to want to explore further.

Seeing Jiang Binghe’s anger, Qin Ranqing reached out and gently pressed his hand. “Don’t be upset.”

Jiang Binghe held her hand in return and smiled slightly at her.

Yu Beiting knew he had made the right gamble. He had deliberately delayed for a few days, choosing a time when the sect leader and his wife were touring the garden together to report about the young master, all to avoid a beating.

Holding Qin Ranqing’s hand, Jiang Binghe asked Yu Beiting in a somewhat softened tone, “Did he say why he refuses to return?”

“No, but…” At this point, his words became hesitant.

“But what? Speak quickly.”

“The young master is very compliant with that demoness called Yun Qing.”

“What do you mean?” Jiang Binghe suddenly stood up. “Are you suggesting he has fallen in love with that demoness?”

Yu Beiting kept his head down, not daring to look at him, and answered, “This disciple only speaks of what he saw with his own eyes; he knows nothing else.”

Jiang Binghe stood with his hands behind his back, pondering for a moment, then said coldly, “This wretched son.”

Qin Ranqing asked Yu Beiting, “Is there anything else?” She always spoke gently and unhurriedly.

Yu Beiting shook his head with a wooden expression.

“Then you may leave now.”

“This disciple takes his leave.”

After Yu Beiting left, Jiang Binghe suddenly said to Qin Ranqing, “Why did this have to happen now? Tell me, do you think he might have learned something?”

Qin Ranqing rested her chin on the back of one hand, her white jade-like fingers arching in a relaxed and elegant curve. Her gaze fell on a large patch of golden chrysanthemums blooming not far away as she answered:

“Yu’er was taken away by that woman called Yun Qing. He didn’t choose this timing.”

“You’re right,” Jiang Binghe put his mind at ease, then continued, “He wouldn’t really fall in love with that demoness, would he?”

“What if he has?”

“You don’t understand. The first time I saw her, I wanted to kill her. I only held back because I feared Yu’er would resent us if he found out, thinking we didn’t care about his life or death. Looking back now, it would have been simpler to just kill her then and avoid all these complications.”

Qin Ranqing’s devastatingly beautiful face darkened, and she said coldly, “If you enjoy killing, go tell someone else. Don’t sully my ears.”

“Alright, I’ll stop,” Jiang Binghe sat beside her, raising his hand to gently stroke her back. “Calm down.”

Qin Ranqing picked up a tea lid, lightly scraping the tea foam, and lowered her head without speaking.

Jiang Binghe observed her expression and, seeing that she had calmed somewhat, continued, “That woman must be eliminated eventually. Keeping her alive will damage our reputation.”

Qin Ranqing paused in her movements. “What does that have to do with me? You did it. My reputation is fine.”

Jiang Binghe patiently explained, “I did what I had to do out of necessity. What’s done is done; there’s no need to discuss it further. Everything I’ve done was so we could be together forever, pursuing immortality together.”

Qin Ranqing’s heart softened a little. She gave him a reproachful glance.

Jiang Binghe held one of her delicate hands and squeezed it gently.

Qin Ranqing asked, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“This woman is very cunning. Considering Yu’er’s feelings, we can’t act directly. I’ll arrange a foolproof plan, but I’ll need Wife’s help.”

Qin Ranqing suddenly pulled her hand away and stood up abruptly, saying coldly, “You want me to help you kill someone?”

“Wife…”

“Jiang Binghe, you’re dreaming!”

****

Cheng Suiyan had a knack for catching fish. By the time Fu Xue had caught one, he had already caught three. He held the three fish, grinning in an extremely punchable way. Fu Xue wasn’t willing to concede, so she shook her bell, trying to find a helper.

Ding, ding, ding.

“Shining with the sun and moon,
Carried by the ranks of stars.
Compassionate clouds, Dharma rain,
The six paths heed this decree. Command!”

In the late afternoon breeze, a small black cat walked over with light, elegant steps.

The cat was entirely glossy black with snow-white paws and emerald green eyes. It sat down properly in front of Fu Xue and narrowed its eyes impatiently.

Its appearance and demeanor brought an immediate sense of familiarity, leaving Fu Xue dumbfounded.

The person and the cat spoke simultaneously:

“Why is it you again?”

Cheng Suiyan, seeing a talking cat, found it fascinating. “Little cat, you can talk?”

The cat ignored him, so he asked again, “What’s your name?”

The cat still ignored him, only saying to Fu Xue, “Don’t use the summoning spell if you lack the ability.” Its tone was quite unpleasant.

Fu Xue retorted angrily, “If you’re so capable, why don’t you just not come?”

The cat was speechless, twitched its whiskers, and said, “Dimwit.”

Fu Xue: “Idiot.”

Cat: “Fool.”

Fu Xue: “Moron.”

Cat: “You’re a pig.”

Fu Xue: “You’re a dog.”

The cat became furious. “You’re the dog!!!”

Seeing the cat’s fur standing on end in anger, Cheng Suiyan quickly tried to mediate. “Alright, stop arguing. Little cat, would you like some fish?” He raised his hand, dangling the three fish he had caught.

“Weirdo, who wants fish?” The cat suddenly lunged forward with incredible speed, jumped in front of Cheng Suiyan, and slapped him across the face with its paw.

Cheng Suiyan: “????”

He… seemed to have… been slapped by a cat?

After slapping him, the cat landed gracefully on the ground and sauntered away.

Fu Xue watched its departing figure with her hands on her hips, shaking her head. “What nonsense! Bastard!”

The excitement of catching fish had been interrupted, but they already had four fish, perfect for one each.

Night fell, and they lit a bonfire by the river.

Fu Xue and Cheng Suiyan together gutted the fish, skewered them on wooden sticks, and marinated them with various spices. Yun Qing picked up a fish and was about to start grilling when Fu Xue screamed in alarm. “Senior Sister, don’t touch it!”

Her senior sister was good at everything except cooking, where she seemed cursed by some mysterious spell. Whatever she cooked turned out awful. If she were allowed to grill the fish, the fish would probably feel it had died in vain.

“I just want to look,” Yun Qing said sheepishly, putting it down.

Jiang Baiyu curiously picked up a skewer and, imitating Fu Xue’s method, turned and roasted it. Soon, a delicious aroma filled the air.

When he felt the timing was right, he extended his hand toward Yun Qing, “Want to try?”

Yun Qing looked at him with some doubt. “First time cooking?”

“Mm-hmm.”

She didn’t quite trust Jiang Baiyu, but the fish was right in front of her, its aroma like a hook causing her mouth to water. So she took the stick and cautiously bit off a small piece of fish meat.

Huh?

Yun Qing’s eyes immediately brightened. It was delicious!

The fish skin was crispy and fragrant, the flesh tender and juicy, the timing controlled perfectly, as if cooking it a moment earlier or later would have ruined it.

Yun Qing savored the ultimate flavor in her mouth, squinting with enjoyment.

Her expression amused Jiang Baiyu, who smiled at her face and asked, “That good?”

“Yes! Want to try?” She reached for her sword to cut him a piece.

Jiang Baiyu held her wrist. “No need.”

Fu Xue approached. “Let me try, let me try!”

She didn’t need a sword; she just took a bite directly from her senior sister’s hand, carefully savoring it, then looked slightly envious. “It’s not bad. Did you just get lucky?”

Jiang Baiyu laughed. “Perhaps.”

Fu Xue: “Let’s see you grill another one.”

Cheng Suiyan also joined in. “Grill one for me too. I want to taste how good it is.”

In the end, Jiang Baiyu grilled three fish, each one cooked to perfection. After they finished eating, everyone was full of praise.

Fu Xue had to admit there was such a thing as natural talent.

However, after grilling so many fish, he hadn’t eaten a single bite himself. Yun Qing was no longer surprised; this person had taken fasting to an extreme, regarding all food as unclean.

After finishing his grilled fish, Cheng Suiyan felt his relationship with Jiang Baiyu had improved somewhat. There was a question he had wanted to ask for a long time, and now, seeing the pleasant atmosphere, his brain heated up and he blurted out:

“Baiyu, what incense do you usually use? It smells quite nice. Would you sell the formula?”

The question caught Jiang Baiyu off guard. He shook his head and said, “I don’t use incense.”

Cheng Suiyan asked curiously, “Oh? But you have a kind of, um, lotus fragrance about you? Can’t you smell it yourself?” He looked at Yun Qing and Fu Xue. “Can’t you guys smell it either?”

They could certainly smell it.

Fu Xue said, “That’s not incense.”

“If not incense, then what?”

“Probably scented powder?”

“Ah?” Cheng Suiyan looked at Jiang Baiyu, his face clearly saying, “I didn’t realize you had such a hobby.” It was quite rare to see men using scented powder.

Jiang Baiyu glanced at Yun Qing, and her half-smiling expression made him very uncomfortable. He took a deep breath and explained:

“I don’t use incense, nor do I use scented powder…never have.” The last four words were spoken through gritted teeth.

Yun Qing was suddenly surprised, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him. “So you’re saying you naturally emit fragrance?”

“…” Jiang Baiyu’s scalp tingled, not knowing how to respond. Natural body fragrance—wasn’t that even more embarrassing than using scented powder?

He closed his eyes briefly and said resignedly, “Just assume I use scented powder.”

But it was too late; the three of them were looking at him with barely suppressed smiles.

Under their gaze, Jiang Baiyu’s ears began to redden, and he said irritably, “If you want to laugh, just laugh. Don’t make yourselves sick holding it in.”

The three burst into laughter.

Cheng Suiyan slapped his knee. “Well, it’s just that I’m inexperienced. You don’t need to be embarrassed. There must be many men in the capital who envy you, hahaha…”

Fu Xue, with one arm around Yun Qing’s shoulder, asked with a grin, “Really? What kind of men?”

“Male concubines.”

Fu Xue laughed even harder.

Jiang Baiyu looked at Yun Qing.

In the flickering firelight, her features appeared even more striking. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled like stars in the firelight, and her lips were pursed with a mischievous smile.

Her laughter was relatively restrained, but her slight smile affected him the most.

Jiang Baiyu suddenly stood up, grabbed Cheng Suiyan by the shoulder, and tossed him into the river.

Splash—

Cheng Suiyan was caught off guard and thrown into the river.

The water wasn’t deep, just reaching above his knees. He stood up from the river, looking utterly wronged. “Everyone was laughing. Why single me out?”

“Your face is long,” Jiang Baiyu replied expressionlessly.