Yet, a brief moment later, that woman seemed to have noticed something, and made a light questioning sound. Immediately after, she executed a feint, then disappeared from before Zhang Chengling’s eyes. Although Zhang Chengling’s gongfu had improved, he was ultimately inexperienced; frightened, he searched his surroundings for her. That woman in black abruptly emerged behind him. Zhang Chengling felt the acupoint on his neck close to the shoulder go numb. A hand clamped over his mouth, and he was abducted by this woman.

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A bad cold, finals, thesis month, and I’m still updating. *tears streaming* I’m really too diligent!

Chapter 59: Crossing Paths Again

There was only one sentence in Zhang Chengling's mind--I'm doomed!

In the past, when he was with Zhou Zishu, anything that could happen--good, bad, or whatever shape the situation could go--would have been predicted by Zhou Zishu, who was born to expend thought and effort. Zhang Chengling, a dumb child, naturally could not keep up with the reasonings of those two, and was happy to slack off. From day to night, he thought of nothing at all, his mind empty; here, without anyone to rely on, his brain became unusually agile.

Why did that bunch of women still want to bring Gao Xiaolian along with them, he reasoned, even though they hated her that much? Were they not hesitant that she would delay their journey, and that they even had to manage her need for sustenance? Obviously, she was useful to them. Otherwise, she would have died a long time ago--what the jianghu lacked the least was savage individuals who found a single glare sufficient reason to kill someone over. If so...now that he had been captured, did they intend to interrogate him thoroughly?

Zhang Chengling made up his mind. Even if they interrogated him, he could not reveal his true identity. Otherwise, there would be huge trouble, because there were even more matters of discord about him--but what if Gao Xiaolian recognised him?

Nonsensical thoughts roared chaotically in his brain as he was dragged out of the inn like a gunny sack by that woman in black. She brought him to an unassuming corner next to the stables, but set him down all of a sudden. Hovering between surprise and suspicion, Zhang Chengling eyed her, but the woman shifted her hand and unblocked his acupoints. She yanked down the mask on her face, and asked, “Are you Zhang Chengling, that little useless thing?”

Zhang Chengling’s eyes widened, then, nearly crying out of joy, almost threw himself at her. He fought off his trembling voice, calling out, “Gu Xiang-jiejie!”

He opened his arms as though he wanted to hug her, but Gu Xiang fended him off with a hand and shoved him aside. She said solemnly, “Men and women, fat or thin, must not be improperly intimate with each other[27]. I have a spouse now, don’t get touchy-feely with me.”