Chapter 108: The Rules of the Diary

A small room, bare except for a bed and a small stool, contained no other furniture.

Qi Fang lay in bed, her face still grim, her brow furrowed in a look of unease.

Di Yun, meanwhile, sat on a small stool, keeping watch over Qi Fang. Perhaps it was the sheer effort of caring for Qi Fang that had him dozing off.

Huang Rong quietly opened the door and, while Di Yun was dozing, quickly slipped behind him and tapped his acupoint. Di Yun fell headfirst, like a dead pig, his face hitting the ground, his butt sticking up in the air, looking rather comical.

The noise Di Yun made startled Qi Fang, who stared in horror at Huang Rong's appearance in the room.

"You—"

"Do you have a diary? Well, you can tell me, so it seems you do." Huang Rong realized that she had successfully mentioned the diary this time, confirming that Qi Fang, like herself, was the owner.

"Diary? You, you, could it be that this diary is yours? Are you a ghost—" Qi Fang looked at Huang Rong with a pale face, her heart filled with unease.

"Huh? You look like you're frightened—ghost? You didn't mistake the diary for a ghost?" Huang Rong couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Qi Fang's fear remained lingering even as she watched Huang Rong's laughter. Or perhaps, because Huang Rong looked so beautiful, she was even more convinced that she might be a ghost. Otherwise, how could she be so beautiful? After all, according to legend, female ghosts transform into beautiful women to seduce humans.

But Qi Fang felt that this female ghost looked familiar—

"You were at the city gate earlier—you, you're not a ghost?" Qi Fang finally recognized Huang Rong.

"Of course I'm not a ghost. Okay, now I'm going to ask you a question, and you have to answer it honestly." Huang Rong, watching Qi Fang like this, felt like she was bullying her. However, Huang Rong also knew that this kind of girl was weak and not very good at lying, so it would be easier to get an answer from her.

"Yes—"

"Your name is Qi Fang, this guy is Di Yun, and your father is Qi Changfa, right?" Huang Rong kicked Di Yun, who was sticking his butt out, causing him to fall sideways and sleep on the ground.

"Yes!" Qi Fang nodded obediently.

"So, where is your diary?" Huang Rong asked again.

Hearing Huang Rong ask about the diary again, Qi Fang's eyes flashed with fear and uneasiness again. Then she reached out, and the diary appeared in her palm.

"It's a diary indeed. When did you get it? Or when did it appear before you?"

"Yesterday, last night, just as I was about to go to sleep, it seemed to be between the hours of Xu and Hai—"

Huang Rong nodded at the time Qi Fang gave, thinking she had roughly guessed the pattern of the diary's appearance.

In fact, Huang Rong had already had a rough idea before, and now Qi Fang's statement further confirmed her suspicions.

'It seems that whoever Brother Xiu writes about in the diary will receive the diary. When you write, you receive it. "

And, it seems, the people who could obtain the diary were all women—"

Huang Rong's mind flashed through Ning Zhongze, Yue Lingshan, Dongfang Bubai, Qu Feiyan, Yi Lin, Ren Yingying, even herself, and now, Qi Fang. These were all women, not a single man.

Huang Rong couldn't help but wrinkle her nose.

Furthermore, not every woman Ye Xiu mentioned could obtain the diary. For example, Ye Xiu had previously mentioned Yi Lin's master, Master Ding Yi.

Although Master Ding Yi was a nun, she was still a woman. Yet, Master Ding Yi didn't receive the diary.

Huang Rong wanted to know if Lin Xian'er, the woman Ye Xiu despised and hated, had received the diary .

Huang Rong felt that Lin Xian'er probably hadn't.

After all, given Lin Xian'er's situation, if she had obtained the diary, the martial arts world would definitely not be so peaceful, at least not on Ye Xiu's side.

Given Lin Xian'er's personality, she would definitely want to sleep with Ye Xiu.

But, unfortunately, Lin Xian'er hadn't made any move.

Huang Rong speculated that even the women mentioned in Ye Xiu's diary had a certain criteria. Only those who met this criteria would receive the diary. Otherwise, even if Ye Xiu frequently mentioned their names in the diary, he wouldn't be able to obtain the diary.

Huang Rong suspected that this criteria was the favorability system within the diary.

When the favorability system was first activated, Ye Xiu's favorability towards Dongfang Bubai, Huang Rong, Qu Feiyan, and even Ren Yingying might not have been extremely high, but it generally exceeded 30 points.

The favorability system, however, had a threshold of 30-40, with only those above 40 points receiving additional rewards.

Therefore, Huang Rong believed that only those mentioned by Ye Xiu, with whom Ye Xiu's innate favorability exceeded 30 points, would receive the diary.

Huang Rong made this inference based on the information she had gathered and her own speculation.

After receiving this answer, Huang Rong stopped asking questions like this and instead turned to Qi Fang.

"Qi Fang, this diary isn't actually a ghost or something like that. Of course, it's certainly quite mysterious..." Huang Rong briefly explained some information about the diary to Qi Fang.

Huang Rong told Qi Fang because she felt she posed no threat.

Qi Fang's soft personality made her a recognizable good person. While Huang Rong wasn't a particularly kindhearted person, she wasn't above offering a helping hand to people like Qi Fang and Di Yun.

Of course, Qi Fang was the owner of the diary, and perhaps she would gain some benefit and become a powerful figure in the future.

While Qi Fang might not be able to offer any assistance to Huang Rong at that time, at least it wouldn't hurt.

After hearing Huang Rong's words, Qi Fang's fear of the diary faded slightly, but she still hesitated to touch this mysterious object.

However, Huang Rong suggested that the diary contained some information about herself, so Qi Fang decided to take a look.

She then learned about the unfortunate Di Yun's story, and how she had been deceived and ultimately met her tragic death at the hands of Wan Gui. Similarly, Qi Fang witnessed the fate of her father, Qi Changfa.

Qi Fang was unwilling to believe all this, but the diary was so magical that maybe what was written in it would really be something that would happen in the future.

Qi Fang was even more panicked now.

Qi Fang even subconsciously wanted to seek help from Huang Rong.

"Well, how should I put it? You and Di Yun's martial arts skills are too low, and your personalities are too naive. If you continue to stay in Jingzhou City, you might get into trouble. Anyway, your father will not be in real danger for the time being. He is just faking his death. So you can go back to the countryside with Di Yun first. When your father's affairs are dealt with, he may come back to find you and Di Yun. After all, you are your father's only daughter, and Di Yun is also your father's only disciple." Huang Rong gave Qi Fang some advice, asking Qi Fang to stay away from right and wrong.

After hearing Huang Rong's words, the naive Qi Fang thought her advice was brilliant. This was mainly because after reading the diary, Qi Fang had learned so much that she was filled with fear of Jingzhou City, its inhabitants, and even her father.

She felt like a little white rabbit, surrounded by wolves. Meanwhile, Ye Xiu bid farewell to Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua and returned to Jingzhou City. Upon arriving , he spotted numerous patrols searching the city. Ye Xiu knew they were looking for Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua. 

With a quick glance, Ye Xiu deliberately created traces that led to Wan Zhenshan's mansion. He even left some special clues, so that if Ling Tui Si followed them, he would easily discover that Wan Zhenshan and his fellow disciples possessed the Liancheng Sword Manual, which held the clue to the treasure. Wan Zhenshan was no good, and Ling Tui Si was no good either. 

Ye Xiu was delighted to see them fight and kill each other; the best outcome would be mutual destruction. 

Of course, if either side emerged victorious, Ye Xiu wouldn't mind lending a hand. After all, everyone is mortal, and some people just need a little help. 

... 

"Rong'er? Where have you been?" Upon returning, Ye Xiu discovered Huang Rong wasn't at the inn, but he wasn't too worried about her safety. After all, while Huang Rong's martial arts skills weren't particularly impressive, she was incredibly resourceful. Especially before meeting Ye Xiu, she had been roaming the martial arts world for a long time, always safe and sound. 

Sure enough, Ye Xiu waited a moment before Huang Rong came running back from outside. 

"Brother Xiu, I heard some noise outside, so I went to check it out out of curiosity," Huang Rong said with a grin. Then, her eyes rolled. "Brother Xiu, there are so many people patrolling outside. Could it be related to you?" 

"It does have something to do with you," Ye Xiu said without hiding anything, though he didn't elaborate. 

"So, Brother Xiu, did you get what you wanted?" " 

I got it," Ye Xiu nodded with a smile. 

Huang Rong was happy to hear that Ye Xiu had gotten what he wanted. 

Later, Ling Tui Si's men searched the inn where Ye Xiu and his companions were staying, but of course, nothing was found. 

Ye Xiu and Huang Rong didn't think much of it and simply went back to sleep. They slept until dawn. 

Because of the previous night's actions, Ye Xiu and Huang Rong woke up a little late. While eating, they heard some people talking about Ling Tui Si's men attacking the Wan Mansion. 

"The Wan Mansion is finished this time." 

"Yeah, yesterday, the Wan Mansion was preparing for Wan Zhenshan's fiftieth birthday, and just one day later, the Wan Mansion was wiped out by the prefectural government. What do you think happened to Ling Tui Si? Why did he suddenly attack the Wan Mansion?" 

"It's said that someone from the Wan Mansion was harboring a fugitive." 

"I heard that Wan Zhenshan is a notorious bandit. His identity was discovered, and after that, the authorities were informed, which led to what happened last night." 

"Huh? Wan Zhenshan is a notorious bandit? No way! Wan Zhenshan has lived in Jingzhou City for over twenty years, and he's actually a notorious bandit?" 

"Hehehe, your news is all fake. I tell you, the prefectural government is targeting Wan Zhenshan because of the treasure..." 

Ye Xiu and Huang Rong listened to these people's conversation with a cheerful mood. No matter what, Ling Tui Si represented the imperial court. Even if the small Wan Mansion wasn't wiped out this time, it would inevitably be destroyed in the future. 

"I wonder how Wan Zhenshan and Qi Changfa are doing?" Huang Rong smiled. 

"I don't know, but even if they're still alive, they're definitely not in good shape." In fact, Wan Zhenshan and Qi Changfa were indeed in a bad state. Last night, Wan Zhenshan and Qi Changfa clashed, just as in the original novel. Wan Zhenshan stabbed Qi Changfa with a sword, but Qi Changfa feigned death, attempting to hide in the shadows. 

Meanwhile, Ling Tui Si, accompanied by numerous skilled servants and constables, surrounded the Wan Mansion. 

While Wan Zhenshan was a master of the innate realm, Ling Tui Si's forces were far superior. Ultimately, the Wan Mansion was razed, and Wan Zhenshan was severely wounded and captured. 

Qi Changfa, who had feigned death, attempted to escape while Wan Zhenshan was out to meet the enemy, but the Wan Mansion was surrounded. The severely wounded Qi Changfa was unable to escape and was captured. 

After the two brothers were captured, Ling Tui Si had their scapulas pierced, rendering them crippled. 

Then, whips, pepper spray, tiger benches, and other torture instruments were used on them one after another. 

Their attacks were brutal, their intent to pry open their mouths and extract the treasure's whereabouts. 

Initially, the two men were stubborn and unwilling to confess, but it turned out they had overestimated their own endurance, or perhaps Ling Tui Si's methods were too brutal. 

Soon, Wan Zhenshan and Qi Changfa began to confess. 

Unfortunately, their knowledge wasn't much more than Ling Tui Si's, making it almost useless. 

By the time the interrogation came to a temporary end, Qi Changfa and Wan Zhenshan were practically devoid of any visible flesh. By the time they were thrown back into the cells, they were near death, with no certainty of survival. 

Of course, Ling Tui Si wouldn't let them die so easily, and he even summoned a doctor to treat their injuries. 

After all, Ling Tui Si still hadn't been able to locate Ding Dian and his daughter, Ling Shuanghua. 

In reality, Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua had long since fled, and even searching Jingzhou City thoroughly would have been impossible. 

Of course, Ling Tui Si had considered that Ding Dian and his daughter might no longer be in Jingzhou City, but there was still a slight possibility they might still be there. He refused to give up on this slight possibility. 

Fortunately for Ling Tui Si, he had captured Wan Zhenshan and Qi Changfa, two of Mei Niansheng's disciples. Emperor Yuan of Liang's treasure might just be in their possession. 

Ye Xiu didn't know the situation yet; if he did, he might have celebrated the scum's suffering with a bottle of wine. 

Meanwhile, Qi Changfa's daughters, Qi Fang and Di Yun, had already left Jingzhou City. 

While Jingzhou City was under strict inspection, it wasn't completely sealed off, prohibiting entry and exit. 

However, the scrutiny would be very strict. 

Di Yun and Qi Fang, though Qi Changfa's disciple and daughter, hadn't brought them with him when he visited the Wan Mansion. Therefore, outsiders were completely unaware of Qi Changfa's two relatives, allowing them to leave Jingzhou City with ease. 

After leaving Jingzhou, Qi Fang and Di Yun decided to return to the countryside, where they lived together while awaiting the return of Qi Fang's father, Qi Changfa. 

Qi Fang decided to stay in the countryside forever, living with Di Yun, their "water spinach," until they grew old together. She even thought that if they had a child, they would name it "Cabbage."

Just as Qi Fang sincerely contemplated the thought of spending her life with Di Yun, her mind suddenly went blank. The information about the diary was instantly erased, and the diary, which was supposed to be in Qi Fang's possession, vanished. It turns

out that a diary doesn't simply disappear once it's in her possession.

If the diary's owner makes a choice, similar to Qi Fang's, choosing to abandon everything and retire with their loved one, the diary will vanish, along with the information within.

Furthermore, Huang Rong, whom Qi Fang had met through the diary, would no longer remember her due to the wiping of her memory. At most, she might find Huang Rong vaguely familiar upon seeing her.

Clearly, the diary's owner is deeply entangled with its owner, Ye Xiu, and the deeper their relationship, the greater the benefits they receive.

However, if the diary's owner's relationship with Ye Xiu becomes superficial, or even if they choose to spend their lives with someone else, the diary will simply vanish, wiping out any further ties with Ye Xiu.

This fact remains unknown.

...

"Rong'er, this Shen Zhao Jing is quite magical. Do you want to practice it?" Ye Xiu handed the secret book of Shen Zhao Jing to Huang Rong.

"Shen Zhao Jing? Is this what you, Brother Xiu, want to get this time?" Huang Rong took it without hesitation and flipped through it casually.

In Huang Rong's view, she and Ye Xiu have such a good relationship. Ye Xiu's things are her things, and her things are also Ye Xiu's. So Huang Rong would not refuse if Ye Xiu showed her the Shen Zhao Jing.

Moreover, Huang Rong herself was a little curious about the Shen Zhao Jing martial art. After all, according to what Ye Xiu said, the Shen Zhao Jing might have the magical ability to regenerate severed limbs. Huang Rong had never seen such a magical martial art.

Of course, Huang Rong was curious, but if you asked her to practice the Shen Zhao Jing well - sorry, Huang Rong really didn't have the interest.

Huang Rong herself was not very interested in things like martial arts secrets. At most, she would just take a look to satisfy her curiosity.