Song of Adolescence

Chapter 152 Bai Xiao Hall of the Martial World

The deaf girl suddenly opened her mouth, as if she was about to speak.

Generally speaking, deaf and mute were paired from birth. If a person was deaf, she’d never heard a sound before, and she didn’t know what sound was, so naturally she couldn’t make a sound either. But there were indeed precedents in the world where a deaf person could speak, except that required an effort that was a thousand times, or even ten thousand times, more than ordinary people.

Tang Lian and Lei Wujie glanced at each other and frowned slightly. Although the deaf girl stopped pressing forward, the young man named Zhu was still smiling. However, the deaf girl’s eyes were too sharp.

"It\'s been a long time since we last met." The deaf girl\'s voice seemed to be forcibly pulled out of her throat, sharp and hoarse, and they couldn\'t help but feel goose bumps when they heard it.

Tang Lian and Lei Wujie were taken aback for a moment. Then, they turned to look at Xiao Se and Xiao Se nodded. "Don\'t worry, they’re not enemies." Tang Lian and Lei Wujie exhaled with relief and stood to one side.

However, they didn’t expect that the deaf girl’s next sentence would be somewhat taunting. "How did you become like this?"

Xiao Se stretched his back and said lazily, "What\'s wrong with me now?"

"Like a waste of a person." The deaf girl\'s voice sounded horrible, and her words were even more blunt.

Zhu knocked Long Er’s back with the sword in his hand, indicating that she should face him. "Long Er, you’re being rude." His tone remained steady, and the expression on his face did not change.

Long Er\'s expression slowly eased, and she took a step back without speaking again.

Xiao Se shook his head with a smile. "Being a waste of a person has its own joy. My latent meridians are damaged, and I can’t be that ultimate expert. Now, I’m an innkeeper, and my life is not bad."

"Let’s not talk about that. Hallmaster once ordered us Bai Xiao Hall to stop tracking your whereabouts, so your whereabouts have always been a secret even to the all-knowing Bai Xiao Hall. However, a month ago, Hallmaster suddenly sent a letter to the Hall and ordered us to come and help you." Zhu smiled and faced Tang Lian. "So your friends don\'t need to be nervous. We’re not here to kill you."

"Bai Xiao Hall has never interfered with the grievances of the martial world. Why are you helping us?" Tang Lian asked.

"Because of this person next to you," Zhu said slowly. "He’s the only disciple of our Hallmaster."

"Ji Ruofeng?" Lei Wujie\'s eyes lit up. "He’s the one who evaluated the four pinnacle realms, that Ji Ruofeng? One of the most mysterious experts of the martial world, and he was your former master, Xiao Se? That’s incredible. All matters under Heaven, all matters in the martial world, they are all Bai Xiao Hall’s business. No wonder you know everything, Xiao Se. So, you came from Bai Xiao Hall?"

"Bai Xiao Hall is not worthy of having such an esteemed god in our midst. He is Hallmaster’s direct disciple, but has nothing to do with Bai Xiao Hall. But, Hallmaster only has this one disciple in his life, so we have to look after him on his behalf, after all," Zhu said.

"Since you are from Bai Xiao Hall, can you answer a few questions for me?" Ye Ruoyi suddenly said.

"The General\'s daughter? I\'ve seen you before in Heavenly Revelations City." Zhu nodded slightly, and pronounced Ye Ruoyi\'s identity in one mouthful. "But, I’m sure the lady has never seen me."

"Bai Xiao Hall is good at hiding their own whereabouts. It\'s not surprising that I haven\'t seen you." Ye Ruoyi nodded.

"What does my lady want to ask?" Zhu asked.

"Why is the Hidden River hunting us?" Ye Ruoyi asked frankly.

"A noble and distinguished person visited the Hidden River and brokered a deal with the Hidden River. Part of the deal was to kill you," Zhu replied.

"Can I ask the identity of that noble and distinguished person?" Ye Ruoyi asked next.

"No." Zhu smiled and shook his head.

"Why?"

"Because we are businessmen, just like the Hidden River. Every question you ask has its price. Although we are old friends with this Xiao brother, the price for the question you asked is a bit high. Our relationship is not that deep yet," Zhu said slowly.

Lei Wujie couldn\'t help laughing. "Xiao Se, the tone this person uses is quite similar to yours."

Zhu smiled and said, "This brother has a big heart. You’ve been hunted all the way here, yet you’re able to talk and laugh."

"Showing a face of suffering won’t help us through our difficulties." Lei Wujie smiled freely.

"Young hero, you’re right." Zhu nodded.

"Can I ask another question?" Ye Ruoyi said again.

"As long as it is not as highly priced as the question just now," Zhu replied.

"How many more waves of assassins are there lying in ambush ahead of us? How can we get to Lei Clan Fort in five days?" Ye Ruoyi looked serious.

"There are no more assassins on the road ahead. If you keep going straight, you will reach Lei Clan Fort in time," Zhu said firmly.

Everyone looked at each other and saw the incredulity and doubt in each other\'s eyes.

"Miss Ye is actually asking questions that we can\'t answer. To speak frankly, Bai Xiao Hall is just a few spies. How many more waves of assassins are ahead of you is impossible for us to know. As for how you can get to Lei Clan Fort within five days, that is your business. We have no way of knowing," Zhu added when he seemed to sense their doubt.

"Then why did you say all that earlier?" Ye Ruoyi asked in confusion.

"Because." Suddenly Zhu pulled out the long sword at his waist again. "We are here. All you have to do is just keep going forward, and leave the rest to us."

"But you just said that Bai Xiao Hall is made up of spies," Ye Ruoyi said.

When Zhu drew out his sword, the expression on his face had changed. He suddenly switched from that elegant and indifferent expression to one overflowing with murderous intent. He smiled and said, "One of us is blind and the other deaf, so we can’t be the best spies. We can only take on another role, and that’s to become Bai Xiao Hall’s knives."

"That\'s pretty poetic." Xiao Se shrugged, walked forward and patted Zhu on the shoulder. He spoke shamelessly, "Then we’re counting on you."

"You\'re welcome," Zhu said with a bow of his head.

Long Er was still staring at Xiao Se, an unspeakable anger in her eyes.

"Alright, stop looking at me like that. I’m already quite pitiful, aren’t I?" Xiao Se whispered softly, and his figure drifted past Long Er as he walked to his horse. He flipped onto the horse’s back and shouted at the people who were still stunned, "Why’re you still dallying? Let\'s go!"

Although they didn’t really understand the situation around these sudden reinforcements, they didn’t have time to think about it deeply. Tang Lian, Sikong Qianluo, and Lei Wujie immediately followed.

"Lei Wujie, don\'t forget to take some dried food along. Anyway, this shop is about to close," Xiao Se shouted.

Lei Wujie immediately turned around and went back into the teahouse to wrap up the whole bamboo steamer full of steamed buns. As he left with the steamed buns on his back, he asked Zhu with embarrassment, "Brother Zhu, should I… pay for this?"

"No." Zhu shook his head. "You have misunderstood. Your Xiao brother and I are different."

"Understood. Just one look and I can tell, you’re a person who makes a lot of money!" Lei Wujie gave him a thumbs up, and immediately ran off carrying the bag of steamed buns.

Ye Ruoyi brought up the rear and she asked Zhu one last question, "What is the price for the question I asked that you couldn’t answer?"

Long Er answered first, her muted voice pronouncing each word with pause, "When he changes back to the way he used to be."

Zhu smiled and added, "When he returns to Heavenly Revelations."

Ye Ruoyi nodded. "I understand."