An error occurred during communication with the divine spirit?
Tie Miaoqing did not comment on this. She believed she knew best whether there had been an error that time. In her view the communication with the divine spirit had been successful. It was only because she wanted to control the situation that she let this fellow mistakenly think an error had occurred.
In other words she believed Yu Qing’s divination technique was still quite accurate.
Now Yu Qing had divined another hexagram and said there was a traitor beside her. This made her heart gradually sink into an icy valley. Could there really be a traitor?
Seeing that she did not speak and was hesitating, Yu Qing continued to persuade her. “Madam boss, if the hexagram is true, the consequences would be unthinkable. It is only to verify it. There will be no loss at all.”
Tie Miaoqing looked at the metal jar in her hand that was ringing. “You make it sound easy. How could there be no loss? As soon as we try it they will think I do not trust them. What is lost is people’s hearts. Is there anything in this world more precious than people’s hearts? Miaoqing Hall is not considered a major sect in Youjiao Port and has no substantial financial power. What we can give them is not much. It is already rare that they have continued to follow us like this. Do you know? Sun Ping is my mother’s maidservant. She has been loyal to my mother and has taken care of our mother and daughter for two generations. How could I hurt her heart over something like this?”
Yu Qing pressed one hand down in front of his chest to signal her to calm down. “Madam boss you are overthinking. Rest assured that as long as we test it according to my method there will be no loss at all. As long as they are not the inner traitor they will not feel any distrust from you.”
“Oh!” Tie Miaoqing stared at him with bright eyes. “How do you plan to test it?”
Yu Qing pointed outside. “This is the reason I suddenly brought them into the cave. Assume there really is an ambush outside. These people have been holding back and not making a move. They must be waiting for us to gather all three fire crickets. How would external enemies know whether we have gathered them all? Naturally they need a signal from an inner traitor. Now that I have suddenly brought them in, as long as we keep them steady and prevent the inner traitor from contacting the outside, prolonged lack of contact from both sides will definitely cause unease.”
Listening to his detailed explanation, a thoughtful look appeared on Tie Miaoqing’s face. After roughly understanding his intention she could not help looking him up and down a couple more times. “This is not you discussing a method with me at all. Clearly you had already made up your mind and plotted to deceive me. Everyone says all pursuits are inferior except studying which is supreme. Do all scholars have so many schemes? No wonder you could pass the imperial examinations.”
“…” Yu Qing was momentarily speechless and said helplessly, “Madam boss, do you still have the mood to joke at a time like this?”
Tie Miaoqing shook her head. “I am not joking. Yes, I admit what you said makes sense. But just because someone wants to go out, to conclude that he must be the inner traitor, this accusation seems too lightly made.”
Yu Qing said, “Some matters cannot be explained clearly in a few words, but they can be seen clearly. Madam boss you are neither blind nor foolish. Whether it is true or not, you will naturally see the clues. At that time you can decide whether to have the person controlled. The decision is in your hands. You do not need to worry about anything.”
Tie Miaoqing frowned tightly and fell into deep thought. Only after a good while did she say, “If there really is an inner traitor and if there really is an ambush, will doing these things still be useful? Can we still get out?”
Yu Qing immediately reassured her, “The hexagram gives an indication. If it proves the hexagram is accurate, then I have confidence to lead everyone to escape according to the hexagram. If the hexagram is wrong, then it means there is no inner traitor and naturally everything will be smooth and worry-free.”
Tie Miaoqing pressed further, “What is the escape method indicated by the hexagram?”
Yu Qing said, “The hexagram can only be understood intuitively and cannot be spoken aloud. How can heavenly secrets be revealed clearly? Once spoken it will no longer work.”
Tie Miaoqing fell silent again.
Yu Qing on the other hand was getting a bit impatient. “Madam boss, we cannot hesitate any longer. It is only a test and there is no loss.”
“Alright then!” Tie Miaoqing could not withstand his persuasion and finally agreed.
In the end she still believed the divination. Otherwise she might not have agreed under no evidence or proof to conduct such a test against her own people.
Seeing that she had agreed, Yu Qing immediately reached behind his back, drew out three more incense sticks, lit them on the torch, and directly bent down to insert them into the ground.
Tie Miaoqing had already been made somewhat mystified by him and asked in surprise, “What is this for?”
“Oh, it is just making a mark.” Yu Qing said indifferently and pointed at the metal jar in her hand that had temporarily stopped clanging. “Madam boss, this must be left here and cannot be taken along, otherwise it will lose its effect.”
Tie Miaoqing hesitated slightly but complied with him. She bent down and gently placed it on the ground.
She did not want to do this, but if it was true, she really could not bear the consequences and had no choice but to agree to try.
Yu Qing extended his hand in invitation and returned together with her.
Along the way forward, they saw the firelight ahead in the passage and thus saw Sun Ping and the others waiting in place.
When the two sides met, Sun Ping and the others all had questions on their faces. They all wanted to know what to do next.
Yu Qing first waved to call Xu Fei and Chong’er over and handed the torch to Xu Fei. “Brother Xu, you two keep walking further inside. When you see the place where three incense sticks are inserted into the ground, stop there and wait for instructions on the spot. Do not let the fire go out on your own initiative.”
Only then did Tie Miaoqing understand the use of those three incense sticks. It turned out they really were used as markers.
Xu Fei wanted to speak but stopped. However he knew that the two of them had the least say here and it was not their place to express opinions. He could only agree obediently and led Chong’er away. The front was deep and dark. The two of them acting alone felt somewhat timid.
The group watched the two gradually walk far away. Sun Ping asked in confusion, “What is this situation?”
Tie Miaoqing did not know either, because Yu Qing had not mentioned anything about Xu Fei and Chong’er to her earlier.
Little did she know that Yu Qing simply wanted to send Xu Fei and Chong’er away first. There were some things he did not want the two of them to see.
“It is nothing. We will do it one by one.” After saying that Yu Qing reached behind again, took out several incense sticks, lit them on the torch, bent down to insert them at his feet, and then said to Sun Ping and the other three, “You three sit peacefully in meditation in front of these three incense sticks. Remember, the fire must not go out!” He even personally helped them light an oil lamp and placed it on the ground.
What did this mean? Cheng Shanping said in a deep voice, “What exactly are you doing with all this fiddling around?”
Tie Miaoqing spoke up at the right moment, “Stay calm and do not be impatient. Just sit down peacefully. It is all for catching the fire crickets. You will know soon.”
Yu Qing also spread his hands towards him. “If I cannot catch them, you may dispose of me as you wish.”
Sun Ping patted Cheng Shanping’s arm with the back of her hand. “Old Cheng, why are you so anxious? Since Young Master A has said this, just listen to his arrangements.”
No matter what method Yu Qing used, as long as they could catch another fire cricket it would be fine. They had already caught two before, so she still believed in him quite a bit. Facts speak louder than words after all.
Zhu Shangbiao also tugged at Cheng Shanping’s sleeve, then sat cross-legged first and inserted the torch to the side.
Cheng Shanping looked at everyone. It seemed he was the only one who had difficulty speaking, so he could only sit down in silence opposite the couple.
Tie Miaoqing said nothing. She first turned and walked deeper into the passage. Yu Qing followed.
The two did not go too far. They stopped about seven or eight zhang away, also inserted three incense sticks into the ground, and similarly sat cross-legged.
Yu Qing waved his hand and extinguished the torch. Together with Tie Miaoqing’s figure they disappeared into the darkness, leaving only the faint red glows of the burning incense visible.
Sun Ping had doubts in her heart, but she still sat down. According to Tie Miaoqing’s instructions she sat peacefully and quietly, closed her eyes to rest and conserve energy.
Cheng Shanping used all his eyesight to look at Tie Miaoqing and Yu Qing in the darkness. Looking from light to dark he could not see clearly and only saw vague shadows. He had also been instructed not to let the fire go out. Seeing that the couple opposite had both closed their eyes, he could only follow and close his own eyes.
The two sitting in the darkness however saw every single movement of the three clearly. Even subtle actions could be observed.
Yu Qing, who cultivated the Observation Character Art, was very skilled in this aspect. He knew who the inner traitor was but simply did not say it. He wanted to let Tie Miaoqing observe for herself, while he occasionally secretly observed Tie Miaoqing’s reactions.
He saw that, compared with the couple, Cheng Shanping’s slight abnormalities seemed to have already made Tie Miaoqing pay a bit more suspicious attention.
After sitting quietly for a moment, Cheng Shanping suddenly opened his eyes and said to the two beside him, “What exactly are we sitting here foolishly for?”
The couple kept their eyes closed. Sun Ping gave a faint reply, “Old Cheng, the young miss is not foolish. Just listen to the arrangements.”
Cheng Shanping did not listen and directly stood up, walking straight towards the opposite side.
The couple were not deaf either. They opened their eyes, looked at each other, and frowned. Zhu Shangbiao muttered, “What is wrong with Old Cheng? He is so restless.”
Tie Miaoqing naturally saw Cheng Shanping striding over.
The corner of Yu Qing’s mouth hooked up in a faint smile that disappeared in an instant.
Cheng Shanping soon reached in front of the two. Not daring to speak condescendingly, he half-squatted in front of Tie Miaoqing. “Madam boss, the young master is seriously injured and lying in bed, waiting for us to bring back the items to ask someone to treat him. What is the reason for dragging things out like this for no reason?”
Yu Qing interjected, “It will be soon. It will be done right away.”
Cheng Shanping said angrily, “You keep doing all these ghostly mysterious things. I do not see any use in them.”
Yu Qing said, “Do you mean that my methods cannot catch the fire crickets?”
Cheng Shanping was blocked by these words.
Tie Miaoqing’s tone became heavier. “Old Cheng, there is no rush in this moment. Sit back down and do not cause any trouble.”
Faced with her rarely seen firm gaze, Cheng Shanping’s momentum weakened. He stood up sullenly, turned and returned, then sat down opposite Sun Ping and her husband again.
Tie Miaoqing stared straight at him in the darkness.
Yu Qing raised his hand to smooth his ponytail, a slight coldness flashing in his eyes.
Previously he had not dared to be certain that there were people outside. Even after seeing the road markers left by Cheng Shanping, because the group from Miaoqing Hall had also made reasonable points, it would be difficult for people entangled in the ancient monster forest to escape. So he needed confirmation. Cheng Shanping’s current attitude had now given him that confirmation. There really was an ambush outside.
And Cheng Shanping was clearly restless. He had closed his eyes for only a short while before opening them again, and occasionally turned his head to glance towards the cave exit.
Having known each other for many years, Tie Miaoqing had some understanding of everyone’s habits in their gestures and movements. She had already vaguely sensed that Cheng Shanping seemed to really have something abnormal, though she did not know if it was because she had listened to Yu Qing’s words and formed a preconceived idea first.
The more she observed, the more uncomfortable she felt. She gradually discovered that Cheng Shanping’s abnormalities were becoming more and more obvious.
Especially when compared with the Sun Ping couple beside him, the clues became even clearer.
The couple closed their eyes and focused on meditating, conserving energy and regulating their breathing. Although Cheng Shanping beside them mostly looked the same, he was clearly absent-minded. Occasionally he would open his eyes to look in her direction, and occasionally look towards the exit, giving the feeling that he could not sit still.