Feiyu, still oblivious to danger, stretched out his hand to beckon her: “The sunflower seeds on this ship are well-roasted. Come try some?”

Tie Ci walked over, smiling warmly as she said to Guard Yu and the others while walking: “Everyone, there’s a private matter to resolve here. To avoid causing discomfort, please excuse us.”

Guard Yu saw the killing intent in her eyes and very wisely slipped away immediately, taking with him his subordinate who was drooling at Feiyu.

Tie Ci walked over, took the sunflower seeds from Feiyu’s hand, set them aside, then in the next instant pressed her elbow horizontally against him, pinning him against the cabin wall with a thud.

Feiyu laughed low.

His voice was different from before—deeper but more magnetic and mellow. The lowered tone resonating by her ear made Tie Ci, despite her current displeasure, shiver all over.

Feiyu raised his hand, pressing it on her shoulder, laughing: “Look, am I beautiful? Could you bear to beat someone this beautiful?”

Tie Ci gazed at his eyes, saying slowly: “Can’t bear to…”

Feiyu’s eyes formed an extremely beautiful curve.

“…not beat you.”

The next instant Tie Ci raised her hand, grabbed his shoulder, and flung him.

With a whoosh, Feiyu flew beyond the ship’s rail, landing with a splash that sent water shooting up several feet high.

In the splash, Tie Ci had already silently leaped into the water, grabbing hold of that figure more agile than a fish, raising her hand to tear off his mask.

His long hair, braided only on the sides, scattered loose—the hairstyle seemed somewhat familiar.

Tie Ci said: “You—the one who extorted me, fought with me, and stole my things on the small boat.”

Feiyu rolled over, swimming away from her embrace. Tie Ci reached out to grab his ankle, climbing up along his long legs and slender waist, reaching around to feel another layer of mask, which she flicked off with her finger.

“You—the one who conspired with others on Fengbo Mountain and pinched my waist.”

Feiyu rolled in the water like a beautiful large fish, slipping from her fingertips and turning back to smile at her.

That face was still blurry.

Tie Ci swam over with a whoosh, sliding her hand into his collar and after a moment pulled out two wobbly things and threw them away.

“You—the one who disguised as a woman and constantly took advantage of me.”

Feiyu said softly: “Actually I don’t need those—I can manage without them. Don’t believe me? Feel and see…”

Tie Ci covered his mouth, refusing to listen to his flirtatious words.

Following from his mouth upward, she scraped with her fingernail but couldn’t remove it—the blur on his face wasn’t actually a mask.

She turned around, pressing Feiyu forward as she swam until they reached a cluster of reefs, where she pinned him against the rocks and began vigorously rubbing his face.

Feiyu laughed: “Gently, gently—what if you rub this face raw?”

“If it gets rubbed raw, you won’t be able to swindle people anymore,” Tie Ci said. “Universal celebration.”

“If it gets rubbed raw, I won’t be worthy of you,” Feiyu said. “All my efforts have been to win you.”

Tie Ci’s hand slowed.

Then became fierce again.

This guy was probably born with maxed-out flirtation and sweet talk skills—he spoke romantic words as easily as eating cabbage.

And he always carried three parts playful meaning, making one feel uncertain of truth or falsehood, as if always keeping an escape route for himself. This was probably a habit formed from his many years of experience, but it made her somewhat displeased.

She couldn’t be easily swayed.

She rubbed for a while without success, until her fingertip followed the contour of his nose and flicked.

A translucent membrane floated away with the water.

Feiyu caught it, spreading it with both hands before her—it was actually a heart-shaped membrane piece. He said: “Look, even wearing a mask, it’s in the shape of my heart.”

Tie Ci looked at his finally clean face.

For a while she said nothing, her mind churning with countless thoughts.

All those entanglements, hesitations, self-doubts, and bewilderments now seemed so ridiculous.

After a long moment, she murmured: “The bastard who disguised as a riding and archery teacher to fool me at Yueli Academy…”

She thought she had simultaneously fallen for both Rong Wei and Feiyu.

Becoming a two-timer stepping on two boats.

In the end, the man was him, the woman was him, the extortionist was him, the fighter was him. Being a teacher was him, seductive glances were also him.

After all, what truly attracted her was that interesting and powerful soul hidden deep within. The only unchangeable thing.

It just wasted all her entanglement and self-doubt.

She gazed at him, still with unresolved doubts.

Was the person who fought her in the sea, stepping on planks at the wave crests, and the one who lured her down the mountain cliff and sheathed his sword before her eyes—was that him too?

She had been puzzled about this for a long time.

The one in the sea, because he had removed his clothes, she never saw his full standing figure clearly, couldn’t judge his build and height.

The one on the cliff—too much fog, couldn’t see clearly at all.

If those two were also him, then his identity shouldn’t be that of a simple Liaodong official’s son.

That person had once seized the Abyssal Iron weapon before her eyes, and afterward her orders to the Nine Guards and maritime investigators yielded nothing.

That person had also saved Prince Ding’an, though it seemed he bore a grudge against him.

She suddenly remembered their first meeting with Feiyu, right under the Cangsheng Tower, when he leaped down from the tower and fell into her arms.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Murong Duan should still have been in the tower then.

Feiyu went alone to the Cangsheng Tower to see Murong Duan? To do what? Seek revenge? Negotiate? What was his relationship with Murong Duan?

When he jumped down then, was it because he was being pursued, or simply to prevent her from entering the tower?

Was he after the Abyssal Iron weapons?

How did he obtain that information? Such a secret matter. She had stumbled upon it by chance following a murder case, but he seemed to know something beforehand.

The specialized intelligence organization in Liaodong seemed to be the Embroidered Uniform Guard…

But if Feiyu was an important figure from Liaodong, his relationship with Great Qian would be sensitive. Why would Rong Pu lie for him?

A string of questions surged up, making her temples throb.

These doubts hadn’t just arisen today—in past days, they had also suddenly emerged from time to time. But Feiyu’s identities changed frequently, and she had just begun to fall for him, leaving her somewhat dizzy from confusion. Now that the masks were completely removed and she could reintegrate those faces with his actions, some doubts became particularly clear.

For an instant, unease rose in Tie Ci’s heart.

The confusion between male and female faded, but the shadow of identity loomed again.

If she followed his identity to its source, what if she saw an enemy camp’s banner at the end?

When that time came, would she tear down his flag, or would he destroy her camp?

He had always lingered around her these days, even willing to change into women’s clothing to approach her—was it truly because of reluctant affection, or because of certain purposes?

She didn’t want to think this way—it was desecration and defamation of those beautiful feelings. However, her suspicions about his involvement in the Abyssal Iron incident, combined with her own identity, forced her to magnify even the slightest doubt and analyze that person thoroughly.

Previously, because of emotion, she had already become dull.

Now, she couldn’t allow herself to remain intoxicated, betting the realm and future on it, could she?

She stared at his chest for so long that Feiyu thought she was aroused, quietly using his fingers to open his collar a bit more.

Tie Ci suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled it apart, looking as if she intended to tear it open.

But immediately she covered his clothes again and turned to leave.

At least at this moment, she didn’t want to tear off his vest.

She’d first restrain her heart and observe slowly.

Feiyu didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed for a moment, exhaled a long breath, and chased after her: “I’ve finally been honest with you today—can you forgive me now? Can you give me the hairpin?”

Tie Ci said: “Is that so? May I ask where your distinguished home is located, what your age is, your parents’ names, and what official position they hold?”

Feiyu laughed behind her: “Since I was honest first before, this time it should be your turn first. After you speak, I’ll speak.”

Tie Ci sighed inwardly.

Before she was certain he was Rong Wei, was that guy who always caused her trouble, she had actually wanted to find an opportunity to honestly reveal her identity.

But now, with the Abyssal Iron incident casting a shadow over her heart, she dared not open herself up.

“The son of the Minister of Imperial Stud—isn’t that enough?”

Go investigate if you have the ability.

Actually, if he wanted to investigate her, it wouldn’t be difficult at all. From his appearance, he surprisingly hadn’t investigated her identity, which Tie Ci found somewhat unexpected.

Feiyu thought of the pigeon killed by Gui Haisheng that day. By time calculation, some messages should have returned by now.

But those messages were lost at sea.

He chased after her, saying: “I’m from Liaodong, eighteen years old. I’ll answer these two items first. When you’re willing to tell me the Minister of Imperial Stud’s rise to power story, I’ll tell you my family’s rise to power story.”

Tie Ci thought: Tell what? Tell about scheming and bloody storms?

Right now I want to give you a bloody storm.

She burst from the water in a clear arc and landed on deck.

Feiyu followed behind, just about to land beside her when he heard Tie Ci say: “Guard Yu, this person’s identity is unclear. Since you’re executing important official business, I suggest not keeping him on the ship.”

Guard Yu had been watching and admiring these two talented people when he heard this, was stunned, then suppressed a laugh and said: “Alright.”

With a wave of his hand, he actually ordered soldiers to extend their hooked spears and force Feiyu back into the water.

A few soldiers’ hooked spears couldn’t actually drive Feiyu away, but seeing Tie Ci’s poor mood, he wisely avoided touching that bad luck.

He soaked in the water, swimming alongside the ship, calling up to the ship: “So cold!”

No response. After a moment, some fruit peels flew out of the cabin, nearly hitting his head.

Feiyu muttered: “Throwing down a few sunflower seeds would be nice too.”

He wiped the water from his face and smiled.

Usually seeing her generous and accommodating, seeming capable of embracing the world with extraordinary bearing—though good, it always seemed to lack some worldly flavor.

No one was born like that. Every time he saw her fortitude and tolerance, it made him wonder what kind of environment had shaped her, what kind of polishing had created her.

In such a process, had she experienced countless pain and suffering, heartbreak and torment?

Only then achieving this jade-like lustrous smoothness, this sea-and-sky-like vastness.

He had never seen her act like an ordinary girl—willful, coquettish, affected, throwing little tantrums.

Though perfect, it made him feel a faint heartache.

Now it was rare to see her willful—he was willing to indulge her in throwing bigger fits.

He was willing to accompany her in releasing the nature suppressed since childhood, tasting one by one all the human flavors never experienced since youth.

Starting with indulging her little temper.

He rolled over, letting himself float on the water. His thin layer of clothing, soaked and clinging to his body, outlined his beautiful abs, facing directly toward Tie Ci’s cabin window.

Though that window was tightly closed, who knew if she might be peeking through the window crack?

Tie Ci wasn’t peeking through the cabin window.

She was silently pondering when Dan Shuang looked down and said: “Unexpected—Feiyu is actually Rong Wei.”

“Didn’t expect it?”

“Completely unexpected. The difference between the two people is too great. Height, voice, even body scent, subtle habitual movements—everything is different, even gender is different. There’s no way to associate the two people together.”

“Except for equally deep scheming,” Tie Ci said. “This person switching between male and female confused our vision. To avoid my suspicion, he deliberately left the academy as Rong Wei, ran a hundred li away to have Rong Pu bring back local specialty dried fish, then returned as Feiyu. When I reached there, verifying the specialty would make me believe he had indeed passed through and gone home, so I wouldn’t connect him with Feiyu. Such thorough deceptive intent.”

Dan Shuang asked puzzled: “But I don’t understand why he needed to switch between male and female. Couldn’t he always appear as Feiyu, or always as Rong Wei? Why necessarily anger you like this?”

Tie Ci remained silent.

Feiyu became Rong Wei because academy female instructors only taught female students, and he needed to contact her, this “male student.”

Rong Wei became Feiyu again because he thought she was a cut-sleeve who had failed to turn Ye Shiba bent. So he had to approach again in female form, using a woman’s body to seduce Ye Shiba, changing methods to bend him.

Such painstaking effort.

No, perhaps there were other intentions.

She suddenly remembered Senior Brother Mu who died in the forest behind the academy.

And during their time in Dongming, the period when she and Feiyu were separated.

“When we reach shore and Xiahou meets us with the Nine Guards, have him send people to investigate several individuals.”

The messenger pigeons and personnel were all with Xiahou, scattered at the docks. They agreed to take ships in batches after the situation calmed down—Tie Ci temporarily had no chance to investigate.

Dan Shuang agreed.

Tie Ci sat by the window, slowly drinking tea. After a while, she glanced through the window crack.

After another while, she glanced again.

Late autumn seawater was rather cold.

Such a smart person wouldn’t keep soaking in seawater to suffer, right?

Of course not.

Tie Ci sat cross-legged and began practicing, having received part of Chi Fengli’s true qi that hadn’t yet merged well with her own qi, requiring time to refine.

Initially her mood was chaotic, always wanting to open her eyes to look at the window. Later she simply turned around with her back to the window and re-entered meditation.

This time she quickly entered the state, but when circulating true qi, she discovered a blocking sensation. Her original true qi always had a branching flow that collided with the newly entered true qi in opposition. Most people would let the qi circulate naturally at this point, but Tie Ci was stubborn by nature—if the newcomer wasn’t immediately accepted, she would force acceptance, pressing the new true qi forward inch by inch. This process was extremely painful, as if constantly using a small knife to dig through internal tangles, bringing fish-scale cutting pain. Any carelessness might cause her breath to dissipate.

Tie Ci was drenched in sweat, pushing through with all her strength. With only her in the room, no one noticed that the temperature suddenly became hot, then dropped, then became cold, then tiny electric currents crackled against the mat.

After a long while, Tie Ci felt as if her dantian had suddenly been punched. With a thunderous sound, that blocking sensation disappeared. The true qi flowed backward then forward, the new qi and original qi merged into one, circulating magnificently and actively.

Tie Ci exhaled long, opened her eyes to complete darkness, realizing night had fallen.

She felt ravenously hungry but refreshed in spirit.

Previously when she practiced, though she always improved and her abilities constantly enhanced, somehow every time she practiced, there was always a somewhat stifling sensation, not quite smooth. This time felt much better.

She got up, preparing to wash and eat, when her back suddenly stiffened.

It was dark—hadn’t that guy come up yet?

Looking out the window, no one in sight.

Checking the neighboring cabin, it looked unoccupied.

Leaping onto deck, still no one.

Tie Ci stood on the ship, momentarily bewildered.

How was he still not up? That guy didn’t seem like someone who would torment himself.

Suddenly she thought of something and leaped up the mast.

On the other side of the ship’s hull, a small boat was indeed floating, with Feiyu inside, head down busy with something.

Indeed!

Tie Ci chuckled, not wanting him to see her spying, and was about to descend when Feiyu below threw something up without lifting his head.

“Catch!”

Tie Ci caught it.

“Careful, it’s hot!”

Indeed it was scalding—freshly roasted oysters over charcoal.

Oysters were already quite plump at this season. Peeling away the craggy outer shell revealed snow-white, tender oyster meat, trembling like milk pudding, each one perfectly full. She didn’t know where Feiyu had gotten the charcoal, but they were roasted with edges slightly curled, sprinkled with bright red chili flakes. The texture was soft, tender, and fat with an incomparably fresh and clean taste.

Feiyu laughed below: “Though you won’t give me food, I still have to take care of your stomach.”

Tie Ci ate one, and he threw up another. After three oysters Tie Ci was full, but he threw up a large basin of jellyfish.

Without lifting his head, Feiyu casually tossed it up. Tie Ci caught it without looking—a full basin of jellyfish swaying in the bowl, bowl stable and jellyfish unspilled. The watching soldiers below called out in approval.

The jellyfish were clear and transparent like crystal, sparkling in the moonlight, mixed with plenty of vinegar, garlic paste, and chili. They were crisp, cool, and refreshing to chew, thoroughly satisfying.

Feiyu’s cooking had always suited Tie Ci’s taste. She would never be so affected as to oppose good food. One on the ship, one below, they crunched away crisply.

The aroma spread out, and several soldiers guarding prisoners couldn’t help peeking around.

Tie Ci tossed down a copper coin: “Good work, a reward!”

Feiyu below looked up with a smile, completely innocent.

After a moment, he carried a pot of soup up the ship’s rail, climbed the mast in two or three steps with the hot soup neither spilling nor tilting. Those peeking soldiers immediately retracted their heads.

Ropes stretched crisscross across the mast. Feiyu cleverly secured the pot among the ropes between them and handed her a soup ladle.

It was seafood soup, made with local ingredients, primarily oysters. The broth was snow-white and thick, able to form a fresh skin layer. Inside were actually snow-white fish meatballs, tender and elastic, with every shellfish plump and beautiful. One sip of soup could make you dizzy with freshness.

Feiyu said: “Jellyfish are too cold. I added some vinegar to the soup—drink more.”

The two sat on either side of the mast with a pot of soup between them, each with a ladle, drinking soup while facing the vast sea and curved moon.

Sometimes the ladles clinked together, making fine, cold sounds that made this high place above sea and sky seem even more tranquil.

Neither spoke. After a moment Feiyu said: “Can we call it even on all our previous mutual deceptions?”

Tie Ci said: “Yes.”

Feiyu said: “As for afterward…”

Tie Ci said: “You may not speak, but please don’t deceive.”

Feiyu: “Agreed.”

Tie Ci was about to add a guarantee when she heard that shameless fellow say: “Then now I can… do that with you?”

Author’s Note: Just one update today, sorry for the short length. Really too many matters, too few drafts, poor health—recently can only maintain a steady trickle.