“Are you worried it’s a trap? Our plan to attack this secret location was decided last minute. The information can’t have leaked. How could he set up an ambush in advance?” Chu Dingjiang said.
“I’m not concerned about information leaks,” Gu Jinghong replied gravely. “Wei Yuzhi is highly intelligent, knowledgeable, and skilled at creating formations.”
Formations originated from Taoism, involving the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. They were quite mystical. An Jiu understood them to be similar to mazes. While their functions were indeed comparable, there were fundamental differences.
Ordinary formations lacked killing power, but legend had it that an intricate grand formation could trap and kill thousands.
In a short time, Wei Yuzhi might not have been able to create a grand formation, but dealing with such an extraordinary person was still troublesome.
Fortunately, Gu Jinghong had prepared for this contingency by bringing along an expert named Lin Qihan. A frail middle-aged man, Lin had spent most of his life studying formations, neglecting his martial arts training. As a result, his internal energy was still only at the second level.
“We’re here!” Lin Qihan announced.
The group stopped and looked around.
The forest ahead seemed no different from elsewhere, except for some light mist.
Lin Qihan crouched by a tree, brushed aside some grass, and dug out an earthenware jar tied with a red string from its roots. He opened the seal and pulled out a paper talisman covered in strange symbols written in cinnabar. He set it alight and burned it.
The scenery before them appeared unchanged.
Lin Qihan explained to Gu Jinghong and Chu Dingjiang, “This is an illusion technique. Burying talismans at different trigram positions creates hallucinations for those trapped within. We outside the formation aren’t affected.”
Gu Jinghong nodded.
Chu Dingjiang remained silent, appearing deep in thought and serious. In reality, he was reveling in the feeling of An Jiu’s slender waist in his arms, her soft warmth against his side leaving half his body tingling with pleasure.
Even at such proximity, An Jiu couldn’t detect any difference in his demeanor from usual. She only felt his body growing increasingly hot, uncomfortably so, and shifted, trying to break free from his grasp.
Chu Dingjiang didn’t force her to stay, loosening his hold when he felt her struggle.
“We can go in to rescue them now but to be safe, the two of you shouldn’t enter at the same time,” Lin Qihan advised. He had only opened a small gap in the formation’s net and couldn’t guarantee they’d find the exit once inside.
“I’ll go in,” Chu Dingjiang said, then turned to select a few men. “You’ll come with me.”
Military rules dictated that, unless necessary, the commander should remain with the main force rather than leading every charge. Though the Crane Control Army differed somewhat from regular troops, it still largely followed these rules. Chu Dingjiang volunteered to avoid being ordered in later.
“Much obliged,” Gu Jinghong naturally didn’t object. Besides following protocol, he believed Chu Dingjiang’s deep internal energy and strong spiritual power made him the most suitable leader for this task.
“I’m going too,” An Jiu grabbed Chu Dingjiang’s hand.
The warmth from Chu Dingjiang’s palm seeped through his thin gloves, reminiscent of spring sunshine. In the moment An Jiu hesitated, he swept her up by the waist.
That familiar sensation flashed by, quickly replaced by the intense heat from his body.
“Chu Dingjiang,” An Jiu glanced back, noticing the others were about thirty feet away. She lowered her voice, “Why do you feel so familiar? Holding your hand reminds me of someone else.”
“Another man?” Chu Dingjiang asked.
“I suppose so,” An Jiu considered men over 25 to be truly “men,” with younger ones still being “boys.” “His name is Hua Rongjian.”
An Jiu carefully observed his reaction, which seemed normal. Yet the familiar feeling of holding Hua Rongjian’s hand was identical to holding Chu Dingjiang’s.
Chu Dingjiang’s tone betrayed obvious displeasure, “He touched your hand? When?”
“Not long ago,” An Jiu steered the conversation back. “Don’t change the subject. Who are you?”
“You think I’m him?” Chu Dingjiang grew more displeased. “What makes you think that? Just a feeling?”
“Your and his palm temperatures differ from others,” An Jiu admitted this alone couldn’t prove any connection between Chu Dingjiang and Hua Rongjian. She just found it strange, having never experienced this sensation before.
“Temperature,” Chu Dingjiang said flatly. “You’re referring to fire-attribute meridians, right? Your meridians were originally fire-attributed too, but you never generated internal energy or true qi. When I forcibly widened your meridians with my internal energy, your body mistook it for its true qi. Naturally, you’d feel familiar when in contact with it again.”
As he explained, he found some comfort in realizing he had already left his mark on her.
“That man’s meridians must also be fire-attributed,” Chu Dingjiang finished his lesson and admonished, “When a man touches you, he has ill intentions! Avoid physical contact with men.”
An Jiu, still pondering his earlier words, looked up and asked, “The person who touches me most is you.”
Chu Dingjiang remained silent, thinking to himself: My dear, I indeed have ulterior motives!
“Chu Dingjiang,” An Jiu half-believed his explanation but still had doubts. His build and feel were completely different from Hua Rongjian’s, but somewhat similar to Hua Rongjian’s older brother, Hua Rongtian. “Are you older?”
“…”
“Forty?” An Jiu guessed. Chu Dingjiang often covered himself entirely in a black cloak, occasionally revealing sharp, angular features. Combined with his deep voice, he seemed like a man who had weathered much in life.
“Why can’t you ever say anything nice?” Chu Dingjiang had just regained his composure, only to have it shattered again. He felt compelled to defend himself, “I’m exactly twenty-five years old, no more, no less.”
An Jiu, accustomed to bantering with Mei Jiu, sometimes spoke her thoughts aloud without a filter. “I heard Hua Rongjian is also about twenty-four or twenty-five, but he looks twenty while you look forty.”
To be compared unfavorably to another was the last straw! This was truly intolerable!
Chu Dingjiang took a deep breath and patiently explained, “I suppose it’s the difference between wild-grown and carefully cultivated.”
“You’re just trying to look younger,” An Jiu said coolly.
“Be good and keep quiet,” Chu Dingjiang patted her head gently. “I’m afraid I might not be able to resist throwing you out soon.”
“I’m sorry,” An Jiu felt she shouldn’t anger him, as he had always treated her well. “Allow me one last comment.”
“Go ahead,” Chu Dingjiang resigned himself.
An Jiu consoled him, “Actually, being forty isn’t bad. Don’t feel insecure, I didn’t mean it negatively.”
Chu Dingjiang sighed and flicked her forehead.
At this moment, he could only think of pleasant things to comfort himself.
The formation spanned no more than two li. He had already located Lou Mingyue and the others with his spiritual power before entering. Once inside, he carried An Jiu directly to their location, with the other shadow guards following about a hundred paces behind. This rescue mission was advantageous for him as well. By personally saving these initiates, he was bestowing a favor that would make it easier to win their loyalty in the future.