Chapter 73: Taking Matters into His Own Hands

Updated: July 5, 2013

“Hey... Pull me up! I really can't do it anymore, I won't take this job!”

Yue Lingjun listened to the cries from below the cliff, helplessly waving his hand for Qingfeng to pull the man up. Out of all those recruited, only three or four dared to descend, and after barely starting, each one gave up.

Since it was truly impossible, Yue Lingjun didn't want to make things difficult for them; he paid them as promised.

“Young master, it's not that we aren't trying, but there's simply nowhere to set our feet below. Being suspended like this is unbearable,” the man who had just been pulled up explained apologetically to Yue Lingjun, panting.

He then took out half the payment the Yue family had advanced from his pocket and handed it back, embarrassed, “I'll return this half. Judging by your urgency, something serious must have happened. If it's not pressing, perhaps consider other methods.”

“Keep the payment; it was agreed upon beforehand. Steward Yue, give him the other half as well.”

Yue Zheng responded, handing over the prepared payment. The man hesitated but finally accepted it, yet unlike the previous ones, he did not leave immediately.

Yue Lingjun looked anxiously at the sheer cliff before him. If it weren't for his aunt's insistence, he would have already gone down himself.

Qiao Zhi, waiting impatiently nearby, grumbled, “How can you all be so useless? It's just a cliff, not a sea of flames or blades. At this rate, if we keep wasting time, even if Yue'er survived the fall, she'll be spent by now.” His words made Yue Lingjun frown. “Move aside! I refuse to believe this is impossible!”

With that, he strode to the cliff's edge, grabbed the rope from the man who had just come up, and began tying it around himself.

“Your Highness, you mustn't!” A broad-browed, armored bodyguard protested, headache evident.

Qiao Zhi ignored him, continuing to secure the rope.

Watching Qiao Zhi's actions, Yue Lingjun felt deeply ashamed. Qiao Zhi was barely acquainted with Yue'er, yet he was willing to risk so much, while he, her elder brother, hesitated. Life is but a single thread; casting aside his aunt's warnings, Yue Lingjun strode to Qiao Zhi's side, declaring warmly, “I can't let Your Highness face danger alone. I'll go with you!”

“That's how it should be! A man must care for the larger picture, but courage is just as important.” Qiao Zhi was not surprised in the least; this was the true nature of the brother who doted on his little sister. Rather than sitting idle, it was better to see things for himself. Whatever the outcome, at least his conscience would be clear.

The two exchanged a smile; some things need no words—what matters is action.

“Qingfeng, Qingqiu, Qingling, Qingluan, swear to follow the young master to the end!” The four loyal retainers, known as the Green Mountains, followed Yue Lingjun without hesitation.

Qiao Zhi's guards were not to be outdone. “We are willing to go as well!”

Only Yue Zheng, though moved by their resolve, continued to fulfill his duty, advising, “Young master, Your Highness, please reconsider!”

Qiao Zhi raised his brows, replying curtly, “When has my business ever needed your concern? Better talk sense into your young master!” His narrow, sharp eyes glanced at the abyss beneath his feet, urging impatiently, “Are you coming or not? If not, I'll go first.”

Yue Zheng, a veteran of the Yue household, still spoke respectfully to Yue Lingjun, “My mind is made up, Steward Yue. No need for more words.”

Turning to Qiao Zhi, Yue Lingjun said, “Let's each take two men. The rest should stay above.”

“I agree,” Qiao Zhi said, waving at his guards, “You, and you, come with me. The rest stay up here and hold the rope tight.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The chosen guards, Dan Feng and Dan Liang, moved to Qiao Zhi’s side, tying the remaining ropes around themselves.

Yue Lingjun selected his men as well; Qingfeng and Qingling joined him. The six stood in a line, while the others paired up and took hold of the ropes behind them.

Seeing his advice had failed, Yue Zheng handed iron spikes to Yue Lingjun and Qiao Zhi.

The man holding the payment, previously ignored, finally spoke up as he saw they were truly risking themselves. “Actually, you could send someone to invite Qiu Banshen from Bluestone Alley in the east part of town. He might have a solution.”

Seeing everyone’s attention turn to him, he explained quickly, “I’ve only heard of him; supposedly he once reached the bottom of this cliff. But he’s notorious for exaggerating—most of what he says is nonsense.”

“Steward Yue, send someone to ask for him. Whether true or not, bring him here,” Yue Lingjun instructed, “And pay him double the reward.”

The man hurriedly declined, “You’ve already paid enough. I’m ashamed I couldn’t help. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, he turned and left. Yue Zheng memorized his face, thinking he might repay him in the future.

Yue Lingjun and his companions wasted no more time, making their way down the cliff edge, using ropes and the iron spikes to climb step by step.

Only by experiencing it firsthand did they realize how difficult it was to stay on such a cliff. There were almost no natural footholds. At first, they could use traces left by those who descended before, but soon they relied on the four retainers, working in pairs, to forge footholds with their spikes, allowing Qiao Zhi and Yue Lingjun to slowly move downward.

“Foolishness! Utter foolishness!”

By the time Yue Shirou heard the news and arrived at the cliff supported by Lanshui, the group had already vanished from sight. Normally dignified and composed, Yue Shirou vented her anger at those who failed to restrain them, meanwhile ordering more hands to help pull the ropes.

This was no time for carelessness—the lives of a prince and a young master hung by these ropes.

Lanshui’s brows were furrowed with worry. If Yue Shirou hadn’t tightly held her hand, she would have grabbed a rope and joined them herself.

Yue Shirou was helpless; after all her warnings, she’d only left for a moment to visit a patient, and her precious nephew and the esteemed prince had already staged such a scene. Now, Yue Shirou found hope for Yue’s survival slim and hated to watch them risk themselves.

But now the men had descended; she couldn't have them pulled up again. Even if the remaining retainers listened to her, she wouldn’t dare risk it—a single pull could cause unforeseen trouble.

Not a single person brought peace of mind. To her surprise, before dawn, Li Jingru arrived on her own; to keep her out of the way, Qin Che was sent to escort her home.

According to Lanshui, Yue Shirou’s nephew’s beloved, whom she’d met only once, was lying in the carriage—Yaoyao. Poor Yaoyao, scared unconscious the day before, had slept in the grass all night unnoticed, and by morning had developed a high fever.

Fortunately, Yue Zheng had made thorough preparations this time, bringing several physicians.

Within Phoenix Ridge, Meng Chuchen glared at the letter in his hands, veins bulging, a sign of his fury.

His intuition yesterday had been right—Yue’er was indeed in trouble. The letter said only she was missing, but Meng Chuchen felt it couldn’t be that simple; he had to go himself. Between him and Yue’er was a special bond, enough to sense her direction.

“Where is the Grand Elder?” Meng Chuchen asked the air.

“In the Herb Garden,” a hoarse voice replied from nowhere, its owner unseen.

Upon hearing this, Meng Chuchen headed swiftly toward the Herb Garden.

Inside, Meng Lan was packing dark red pills into a sapphire porcelain bottle. After much experimentation, she’d finally succeeded, though she didn’t know the results yet—someone needed to try them. With these, the flaws of the Face Changing Pill could be remedied, making things much easier in the future.

For the past three years, Meng Lan rarely managed affairs in the sect, content to stay in the Herb Garden. The first two years were spent developing medicines to ease Meng Yanran’s illness, and after Meng Yanran left, she hadn’t stepped out of the Herb Garden, focusing solely on new concoctions.

Her latest creation was a pill to counteract the effects of the Face Changing Pill. She named it the Face Restoring Pill. The Face Changing Pill lasted three months, then the appearance would gradually return, but once the Face Restoring Pill was taken, the features would slowly recover—though she was unsure how long it would take.