Life Going Wild With Plug-ins

Chapter 23 - This story is long and depressing. I don’t like it.


This story is long and depressing.

I don’t like it.


The bamboo chopsticks I was holding fell on the table. The four people at the table, each one having different worries on our minds, all turned to look at the noise, but no one went to pick them up.

Yun Jiangli suddenly said we were wasting too much time, and that he had to make preparations for the trip, hastily pulling Qin Chenyuan along as he left.

Ye Tan sat without saying a word, his eyes hidden behind the shadows of his hair, the sun was shining brightly outside but there was no light in those pools of clear water.


I called him: “A-Tan.”

Ye Tan slightly turned his head, but he didn’t meet my eyes as he answered mechanically: “I’m here.”

I: “How come you always have a discount? Hahahahaha.”

Ye Tan: “.....”


I asked again: “How much money did the Second Young Master buy you for?”

Ye Tan answered: “There hadn’t been another year, so the price would still be half of the previous one, which, reporting to my Master, was three hundred and twelve taels.”


If Ye Tan had a title in the Jianghu, he would surely be called: The Discounted Scapegoat Hero.

I: “Hahahahahahaha.”


Ye Tan coughed drily, his expression gradually becoming somewhat depressed.

“Is it funny?” He asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry..... This is probably a sore spot for you, right?” I forced myself to forget about this joke, thinking about how seventeen-year-old Ye Tan would have been so happy to win this title, and yet he was treated coldly because of it instead..... He clearly was the hardest working and the most gifted, surely he also took this matter to mind.

But I still couldn’t stop myself.

I spoke: “A-Tan, luckily you had a discount, otherwise I certainly wouldn’t have been able to pick up such a great bargain.”

I clearly knew this way of thinking was inappropriate, and I was a little ashamed of being happy for such selfish reasons.

Still, Ye Tan foolishly agreed: “That’s true.”


The timing of Yun Jiangli’s appearance is so perfect that I began to wonder whether or not he’d been watching and waiting for a long time. He clapped us on the shoulder and urged us to be on our way, so I stood up and said: “Brother Yun, I should thank you for not revealing that Ye Tan is the Yaksha from that whole affair.”

“No need, I still hope that you two will help us in the end.” Yun Jiangli smiled and glanced at Ye Tan, and said: “Besides, it’s been a long time since Ye Tan was that Yaksha.”

Ye Tan was confused for an instant, bowing his head to look down at himself, his eyes falling on that small, broken sword he carried, and stopping for a moment before suddenly regaining his senses and nodding.

I guess he must have been thinking of something else.


Back in the car, Qin Chenyuan said that this matter had still not been completely explained.

“Afterwards, Qinling recieved a letter from Zhongli Court. The Second Young Master said that he found out there was something strange, and that Yaksha suddenly went mad that day because somebody gave him a mind-altering medicine.”

Ye Tan froze and quietly said: “Huh?”

I understood in my heart: Oh, this is clearly bullshit. But since it was only now that Ye Tan reacted in this way, could it be that everything Qin Chenyuan said happened before was true? My mind made a hundred thousand turns, but I pretended to be interested on the outside and doubted: “Oh?”

“The Second Young Master said: If a Shadow Guard had really killed their master, how could the Nightrunner just let them live? This is the best evidence.” Qin Chenyuan said, “Mistakenly killing Yaksha is not a big deal, but if I can’t uncover the person behind Qi-ge’s murder he won’t be able to rest peacefully in the Nine Springs1 , and that would be a big deal. I have thought about it carefully, saying this isn’t wrong.”

I hurriedly said: “So, who on earth is the murderer behind the scenes?”

Qin Chenyuan paused and said: “The Second Young Master said he knew who it was, but he had missed his chance and there was no evidence left now, so he couldn’t tell us.”

.....Isn’t this the same as not saying anything?

Qin Chenyuan continued to say: “The Second Young Master said that this culprit’s identity was very sensitive, so if he were to give incomplete evidence, he would definitely be blamed for sowing discord and be attacked by both sides—but I know, since he said it like this, it must be someone from that family.”

My heart jumped.

“Taihangjian,” Qin Chenyuan wept blood with every word2 , and said with a trembling voice: “Gu Ciqu.”

When he said this point, everything suddenly became clear, and it all came together for me.


Gu Ciqu went through a lot of trouble to marry Qin Kezou. However, when Qin Kezou came back from travelling he had the intention of breaking up the engagement, I'm afraid that when Gu Ciqu received such provocation, she poisoned Ye Tan and got him to do her dirty work.


I had just had this idea, when Ye Tan suddenly opened his mouth: “Young Master Qin, you shouldn’t make baseless accusations.”

When he tried to persuade him like this, I felt like this was at least nine-tenths sure to be true.


“Where on earth is there a drug that, when eaten, makes someone kill exactly just one person?” Ye Tan’s words were calm, and he said with disdain, “Even if it could cause momentary confusion, after half a month of being pursued by your house, he should have come back to his senses long before.”

I felt a sense of deep veneration: This person, when being a scapegoat, is proactive, clearly-spoken, and makes people believe him.

Qin Kezou sighed: “You’re right...... this point, it’s really hard to explain. This is also why the elders of the family did not completely believe the Second Young Master’s words.”

I couldn’t help but inquire: “If you are sure this is the case, do you know what happened to Gu Ciqu afterwards?”

“After the wedding that day, I never saw her again.” Qin Chenyuan frowned, and sorrowfully said, “Brother Yun Pizhi has also not gotten in contact since..... He must have been the most heart-broken when this tragedy happened to Qi-ge. I only hope he doesn’t do anything foolish.”

I thought about the matter again and again. Even if Ye Tan was slipped a mind-altering drug, why would he keep quiet about it?

I suddenly felt enlightened: “A-Tan, let me ask you, of the Nightunner’s three expert Shadow Guards, Ye Yin, Ye Jun, and Yaksha, in terms of their skills in using poison, who is the most powerful?”

Ye Tan said: “Naturally, it’s Yaksha.”

“.....Is there a person who could poison Yaksha right in front of his face?” I felt bad right away.

Ye Tan proudly said: “Absolutely not.”


......It’s over, the hypothesis has been overthrown.

After decades of hard work and struggles, we’re back to the time before liberation3 .

Since Taihangjian didn’t make a fuss over the disappearance of their beloved daughter, then Gu Ciqu’s marriage must not have been deliberately planned to gain something. What’s more, since Yaksha was clear-headed the whole time, why did he kill his Master? I fell back into a muddled mess.


The more I find out, the more complex and troublesome it becomes. I really wish I could cheat and just take out the recordings to look at.

Thinking about this, I couldn’t help but cast a bitter glance towards Ye Tan, thinking about how the last time he stole a kiss from me had already been such a long time ago.

I felt bad again, If I can’t properly resolve this matter, will he never try to kiss me again?!

My whole body broke out into a cold sweat.

 

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1 Underworld, same as the Yellow Springs just a different name.Top.

2 字字泣血 , not literally weeping blood, it’s a metaphor for deep sadness.Top.

3 辛苦奮鬥幾十年，一朝回到解放前 Refers to a situation where you take a gamble and end up losing everything. It’s a historical reference regarding founding of the PRC in 1949 and the policies that came with it (the liberation) and some land reforms in the 1970s that screwed people over (veeery generally speaking, i'm no historian).Top.