Chapter 27: Truth or Lies

Chapter 27: Truth or Lies

After grasping Li Chaofeng’s abilities, Ji Bingyan glanced at Hu Tiehua, who was noisily tucking into his meal, feeling irritated by the man’s carefree attitude.

If Chu Liuxiang was a bullheaded man who constantly sought trouble, Hu Tiehua was a thorn in the side who habitually meddled in others’ affairs. Ji Bingyan truly had no desire to deal with these two nuisances.

Turning to Chu Liuxiang, who was lazily fanning himself, Ji Bingyan warned, “Tomorrow, when we reach Old Dragon Bay, leave your horse at my stable. I have reliable men there—you can rest assured.”

Chu Liuxiang frowned. “I must bring this horse with me.”

“No,” Ji Bingyan snapped. “Why?”

“This horse is too conspicuous. It originally belonged to our enemy—carrying it is like parading a banner announcing our presence. We can’t afford that risk.”

Chu Liuxiang fell silent. Ji Bingyan pressed on, reciting arguments Chu Liuxiang should have already anticipated.

Listening to Ji Bingyan’s exasperated scolding, Li Chaofeng blinked, then closed his eyes to feign indifference.

Ji Bingyan’s intent was simple: to abandon Black Pearl discreetly. The horse’s uniqueness made it a liability—once they entered the desert, its distinctive appearance would draw unwanted attention. Yet this “clever” move was ironically reckless.

Black Pearl had merely played a prank on Chu Liuxiang. If Chu Liuxiang hadn’t encountered Hu Tiehua, the joke might have been harmless. The truth? Black Pearl, the daughter of desert king Zhamuhan, had fallen for Chu Liuxiang. His three maidservants had willingly followed her, hoping to make the unfaithful Chu Liuxiang anxious.

Had Ji Bingyan not acted recklessly, they wouldn’t have stumbled into the Kucha Kingdom’s rebellion or crossed paths with Stone Guanyin. Chu Liuxiang wouldn’t have been cornered near death at the “Emerald Villa” by Li Yuhan and Liu Wumei. Only Li Guanyu’s last-minute intervention had saved him.

Li Chaofeng said nothing. He craved witnessing martial masters in battle. With Chu Liuxiang and Hu Tiehua guarding him, even if he faltered, he’d die honorably. If Ji Bingyan’s meddling led to his demise at Stone Guanyin’s hands, Li Chaofeng would simply conclude: The Gu Long wuxia world has never had many safe places.

As owner of the Misty Waters Pavilion, Li Chaofeng had faced countless troublemakers. Ji Bingyan was the mildest—and the strongest.

The carriage rolled along the Yellow River toward Yinchuan. Within five days, they reached Old Dragon Bay. True to Ji Bingyan’s word, his estate awaited.

Chu Liuxiang bid a lingering farewell to his horse. Li Chaofeng merely glanced at his own steed—a black stallion ridden from Lanzhou—before coldly turning away. He’d long severed any empathy for animals, reasoning: If I can’t pity humans, why pity beasts?

Ji Bingyan observed Li Chaofeng’s sudden detachment. Though Chu Liuxiang and Hu Tiehua trusted this “Dragon of Yao,” Ji remained wary.

Approaching Li Chaofeng, he remarked, “You think Chu Liuxiang sentimental? Yet you know—Jianghu martial artists rely on horses. They’re inseparable companions.”

Li Chaofeng softened his expression. “I know their value. But I’m a chef. If I grew attached to livestock, I’d lose countless delicacies.” He paused, then added with a smile, “Horse meat is quite delicious too.”

Chu Liuxiang shot him a speechless glare. Still mourning his horse, he now faced a discussion on its edibility.

Sighing, Chu Liuxiang muttered, “Can’t you two take this elsewhere?”

Li Chaofeng chuckled. “Though Old Dragon Bay is vast, this courtyard is small. With the Thief Lord’s hearing, distance wouldn’t matter.”

Chu Liuxiang groaned. “You didn’t have to say that.”

Li Chaofeng’s smile deepened. “About lying—when unnecessary, it’s better to avoid it.”

The remark baffled both men. Few divided lies into “necessary” and “unnecessary.” Most saw deception as situational—forced by circumstance. Like how Li Chaofeng should have lied about disliking horse meat, sparing Chu Liuxiang’s feelings.

But Hu Tiehua interrupted, gripping Li Chaofeng’s shoulders. “After all these years, you’re still such a precocious brat! So rigid and judgmental—do you want us all dead in the desert?!”

Though they’d traveled only three months, Hu Tiehua had noted Li Chaofeng’s paradox: outwardly carefree, yet meticulous in cooking and actions. Every word was deliberate, each lie or truth weighed for consequence.

Unlike idealists who refused lies at any cost, Li Chaofeng lied freely—even admitting it—yet never shied from accountability. Truth or lies were choices, not desperate measures.

At Tiger’s Lair, Hu Tiehua’s selfishness had made Li Chaofeng a victim of his own silence. Back then, Li Chaofeng’s youthful face masked a calculating mind, leading Hu Tiehua to dismiss him as an arrogant boy. Only later did he accept Li Chaofeng’s wisdom.

Yet Li Chaofeng’s caution wasn’t mere personality—it stemmed from knowing the plot. As a transmigrator, survival meant staying silent unless invincible. Knowledge of the story was his greatest advantage.

He had no urge to alter events unless threatened—like Jiang Biehe. That villain’s mere shadow sent chills down his spine. For self-preservation, that man had to die.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end