The Godlike Jade Rabbit Chapter 59

Song Lin’s ultimatum…

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Ch. 59 | Pleasure Hall

 
Song Lin, still holding Dandan by the shoulders, pushed him away slightly. ‘You saw… whom did you see?’

‘Yu Huan.’

Hearing this name, Song Lin suddenly felt a very disagreeable mood descending. He gazed at Dandan, his throat working before commenting, ‘You were probably hallucinating.’

‘It wasn’t a hallucination.’

Song Lin flicked his forehead. ‘After removing the suppressant, you’re thinking about him a tad much.’

‘I really did see him,’ Dandan said in a low voice. ‘I feel… I should go look for him.’

W-what…

Song Lin’s eyes widened slightly and his heart felt hollowed out all of a sudden — what did he mean by go look for him? Meaning he wanted to follow Yu Huan?

‘You want to leave?’

‘Not for good, just for a short while. I just want to know where he lives, whether he’s doing well, that’s all.’

Song Lin stared icily at him, his fine lips a thin line. ‘What business is it of yours where he lives or how he’s doing? Don’t forget, your pact owner now is me.’

‘I know…’ Dandan said, perplexed. ‘I don’t have any intention of leaving you. It’s just that I have too many questions that I need to ask Yu Huan directly. How he was killed by the Crone back then and where he’s been all these years… I want him to tell me all this himself.’

Song Lin’s eyes suddenly darkened. ‘Fine. Go and look for him.’

Dandan’s eyes widened slowly. ‘You’ve agreed?’

‘Before you go and look for him, we’ll dissolve our pact first.’

‘What?’

‘At any time, only I, Song Lin, can do the dumping. There will never be a time when anyone can dump me.’

‘You…’ Dandan frowned, ‘I’m trying to reason with you, but you just don’t understand me.’

‘That’s true, I’m not as understanding towards you as Yu Huan is.’

‘You…’ Dandan’s breath caught in his throat and stayed there. ‘You know that’s not what I mean.’

Song Lin seemed to have no intention of giving in. ‘If you want to leave, go now. The moment you step out of the Song Manor, you’re no longer my spirit beast.’

‘You…’ Already distressed, Dandan was now flustered as well. He pressed his lips together and said in a small voice, ‘You’re totally unreasonable.’

Song Lin smiled somewhat tauntingly. ‘Yup, I’m unreasonable, you’re only realising that now?’

Dandan’s chest heaved for a while and at length he gritted out, ‘Then I…’

Song Lin awaited his answer with inexorable calm¹.

He glared at Song Lin for a long time before bursting out, ‘Then I won’t go!’

Hearing him say that, Song Lin’s eyes flickered and he said, ‘Good, remember what you’ve said.’ He pinched Dandan’s chin and threatened, ‘If you break your promise, I’ll catch you, bring you back and destroy you.’

Then he left him standing there whilst he turned and went back into his own study.

Dandan stood there stupefied, gazing vacantly after Song Lin’s back for a long time.

_{¹ 好整以暇. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.}

After a time, Styx walked into the study and when he saw Song Lin, said, ‘I overheard everything that the two of you were talking about just now.’

Song Lin had been reading and when he heard this, looked up lazily and remarked, ‘Eavesdropping is not a good habit.’

Styx walked over slowly and leaned against the table. ‘The reason you won’t let Dandan leave the manor is for his safety, isn’t it?’

Song Lin lowered his head and continued to read without saying anything.

Styx sighed and commented, ‘Actually, you can just make it clear to him so that he won’t feel hurt.’

Song Lin’s fingers drummed on the table. ‘No need.’

‘When it comes to some things, the other party will never be aware of it if you don’t put it into words.’

Song Lin chuckled. ‘You’re the least qualified person to say this.’

A startled Styx asked, ‘Why do you say that, Young Master?’

‘If you’re so frank and open, why don’t you go and look for my brother?’

‘Eldest Master entrusted me with the mission of protecting you. How can I let him down?’

‘You know that’s not what I’m talking about,’ Song Lin’s gaze seemed capable of prying into one’s heart. ‘You hide your feelings for my brother very well, but they betray you once in a while.’

Styx’s face became impassive and he lowered his head, saying in a low voice, ‘Second Master is joking.’

Song Lin eyed him for a long time before saying, ‘Then take it that I was joking.’

Neither of them pursued the subject.

 
— The League —
 

Song Fuyan was in the middle of his work when Adjutant Yan came in carrying an armful of scrolls. Piled onto the desk, they were as tall as the table lamp. Song Fuyan couldn’t help feeling a headache coming on after glancing at them.

‘Lots of happenings in Ridge City lately,’ Adjutant Yan grinned.

While massaging his temple with one hand, Song Fuyan pointed at the scrolls with his other and asked, ‘How many days of reports are these?’

‘Three days’ worth.’

Just three days and there were already so many…

He took down the topmost scroll and suddenly noticed the letter stuck inside. The handwriting was Styx’s and it reported in detail Bai Yini’s description of the Crone: not old, has lived for a long time, comes from the other side of the sea.

After perusing the letter, Song Fuyan stroked his lower lip thoughtfully. The Crone… comes from the other side of the sea.

Ridge City was surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on one. That sea was so vast that it seemed boundless so how on earth had she crossed over?

Song Fuyan couldn’t help musing aloud, ‘Have you ever wondered what kind of world might lie on the other side of the sea?’

‘Huh?’ Adjutant Yan was stumped by the question. ‘The other side of the sea? That’s just too far away and so far, nobody in Ridge City has dreamed of going beyond it for at least the last hundred years. Forgive my stupidity, but I really can’t imagine what it might be like on the other side.’

‘Is that so?’ Song Fuyan suddenly realised the gravity of the situation: the Crone might not have come for a particular person only — she might have come for the whole of Ridge City which meant that that body of water… was very dangerous. If just one person like the Crone could come over, then so could countless enemies.

‘Order men to blockade the sea, not even a fly is to be let in!’

‘Yes, Sir!’

‘Also, inform the head of the Ye clan that the League wants to place a huge order of munitions from him. Tell him to get them ready.’

‘The Ye clan…’ Adjutant Yan said hesitantly, ‘I’ll take it up with them but it may fall through: after all, the Ye clan has been very unhappy ever since you took over. Even the order we placed with them last time has yet to be delivered…’

‘Do what you can and if they don’t agree, I’ll go personally to communicate with them. You can go now.’

‘Yes, Sir! Don’t forget to rest!’ Adjutant Yan saluted and was just about to turn away when he suddenly said, ‘Oh yes, one more thing. The eldest daughter from Dijiang Enterprise, Jiang Yuan, suddenly showed up this morning and asked if we could let her have any of Colonel Chen Yang’s personal effects.’

‘Personal effects?’ Song Fuyan asked coldly. ‘What personal effects did Colonel Chen Yang leave behind?’

‘Er, well, everything on his person was burnt, leaving only a leather whip.’

‘Where is Miss Jiang Yuan?’

‘I sent her away.’ Adjutant Yan scratched his head. ‘I thought that everything belonging to Colonel Chen Yang should be cremated together with him and not given to just anyone… even though they did seem to have something going on…’

Song Fuyan thought for a minute and said, ‘Never mind, just let her have it. Take it as leaving the living something to remember the dead by.’

Adjutant Yan was rather surprised but nodded and said, ‘I’ll go and see to it now.’

This particular evening, Bi An came over to ask Dandan to go drinking. Ever since Dandan’s rescue from Chen Yang’s hands, Song Lin had tacitly approved Bi An’s coming and going from the Song Manor as he pleased without being stopped by the sentries guarding the entrance.

Dandan was sitting in the garden at that moment, bored stiff² and staring into space. As soon as he heard Bi An’s voice, his eyes lit up and he said, ‘Great, I was just thinking of going out.’

_{² 百無聊賴. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.}

Then he seemed to think of something and immediately said listlessly, ‘No, I can’t. Song Lin won’t let me out of the house.’

‘It hasn’t been all that long, but Song Lin is already curtailing your personal freedom?’ Bi An rolled up his sleeves. ‘Let me go thrash this out with him!’

‘Who wants to thrash it out with me?’ Song Lin’s voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Bi An’s head swung round in fright and after a long while, he pointed at Dandan and claimed, ‘He does!’

‘Oh?’ Song Lin looked at Dandan. ‘What do you want to thrash out with me?’

Dandan glared at Bi An wordlessly then said, ‘I want to go drinking with Bi An. May I?’

‘I recall that the last time the two of you went drinking, you both wound up blind drunk and the High Priest and I ended up having to bring you two home.’

‘We won’t get drunk this time, I promise,’ Dandan vowed, holding up three fingers and looking most innocent.

Bi An hastily added, ‘Did you know that the dance hall in the heart of Ridge City recently welcomed some new dancing girls from a foreign land and everyone who’s seen them says they’re stunning beauties? Want to go take a look?’

Dandan tugged at Song Lin’s sleeve, saying, ‘Let’s go together.’

Seeing this, Styx added his voice, ‘Second Master, it’s good to go out sometimes. We can’t be living on edge all the time.’

Song Lin surveyed them coldly, his eyes giving away nothing of his thoughts before he said in a low voice, ‘Well, I’ll go take a look then.’

Dandan and Bi An clapped their hands right away.

Styx saw all three to the door, even telling them, ‘Enjoy yourselves.’ It certainly sounded much the same as if he had said ‘at last, I can get rid of these annoying brats’.

The three of them were thus driven to this Pleasure Hall which had become known far and wide. It had to be said that even at the entrance, the sound of music and dancing from within could already be heard and it was decorated in a hitherto unseen and exotically glittering golden style.

The proprietress here was a plump, middle-aged woman who sailed leisurely over to them while fanning herself. ‘My goodness, isn’t this Second Master Song? What has put you in the mood to come to our Pleasure Hall?’

Dandan shot Song Lin a glance: Well well, even the boss recognises you. I guess you must be a regular patron here.

Song Lin turned back to look at Dandan as though he could hear what he was thinking, but he himself didn’t appear in the least bit embarrassed as he turned away to say to the boss, ‘Aunty Liu, I hear a few new dancing girls have come to your place.’

‘Ah, I’ve been wondering why so many high officials and noble lords have been gracing us with their presence so often recently. It turns out they’re all here for the new dancing girls. Master Ye was also here previously and even chatted the night away with our dancing girls.’ Aunty Liu pointed at the stage. ‘There, you see, the new girls.’

Song Lin also looked over. On a stage two metres high, five fair young ladies with light, flowing sleeves were dancing daintily to the music of the clapper beat, the Chinese dulcimer and the pipa combined. They wore diaphanous purple face veils, behind which their bewitching eyes were only faintly discernible and thus highly alluring. Sparkling gemstones of different hues hung at their waists and from their arms, flashing and winking, bedecking the entire stage with a glittering brilliance while the dancers’ nimble waists left the audience below spellbound.

Watching them, Song Lin suddenly felt uneasy. These mysterious women had appeared out of nowhere… wearing the perfume of a foreign land and bewitching the audience. No matter how you looked at it, the whole thing was very strange.

Dandan stretched out a hand and waved it in front of Song Lin’s eyes. ‘Hey, can’t move the moment you see some beauties?’

Song Lin looked away and at Dandan. ‘That’s right.’

‘…’ Dandan’s heart swelled and he turned his head aside resentfully, saying to Bi An, ‘Let’s go drinking!’

‘Okay.’ Bi An asked the boss, ‘Are there still seats available?’

‘All the seats are full unfortunately, but there are private rooms upstairs.’

Song Lin said, ‘Get me the biggest one then.’

‘Certainly. Shall I get those dancing girls to come and chat with you all as well?’

Dandan said, ‘No need, thanks.’

Song Lin said, ‘Yes.’

Both of them answered at the same time.

Dandan: ‘…???’ He glared at Song Lin and bit out each word, ‘What an interest you’re taking in them, Second Master Song!’

Watching from the side, Bi An silently mopped his forehead — why did he feel as though he shouldn’t have come today?

When they entered the private room, they found that besides a table, there was also a bed. They suddenly realised what Aunty Liu meant by ‘chatting’ when she said that Master Ye had ‘chatted the night away with our dancing girls’.

Very soon, the waiters had laid out a spread of fine food and wine on the table. Bi An stared at it, his eyes nearly falling out of his head as he said, ‘Y-you’re too kind, Second Master Song…’

‘Don’t worry, another day you can ask your teacher to select a few magic weapons from his Chamber of Daoist Treasures for me as payment for this meal.’

‘Ah?!’ Bi An froze halfway while chewing on a chicken drumstick.

Dandan said, ‘Don’t worry, he’s just bluffing you.’

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

‘Come in.’

The door was pushed open and one of the dancing girls sauntered in. She was still wearing her dancing costume and a diaphanous veil, her eyes were big and luminous and as she walked over, the bells around her ankles tinkled pleasantly.

‘Hello, young masters.’ Her voice, clear and melodious, was pleasant to hear.

Song Lin patted the seat next to him and said, ‘Sit down.’

Bi An whispered to Dandan, ‘Always thought that Second Master Song didn’t care much for women, but it turns out he prefers this type.’

Dandan was fuming so hard that both his cheeks were puffed up. ‘Impossible, he prefers my type.’

‘…’ Bi An blinked. ‘Huh?’

When the dancing girl sat down beside Song Lin, he discovered that her eyes were glittering, which made them as arresting a sight as the jewels she was wearing.

‘What’s your name?’

‘Faye.’

‘Faye?’ Song Lin hesitated. ‘Do you have a family name?’

‘We don’t need family names over there.’ A smile unfurled on Faye’s face and everything instantly seemed to be brighter and more colourful³.

‘Where are you from?’ Song Lin continued asking.

Faye poured him a cup of wine with both hands and answered, ‘I’ve come from the other side of the sea.’

_{³ 流光溢彩. Please consider reading from hiding in plain sight rather than from novelscraping sites.}

Dandan didn’t want to watch them flirting so he tapped Bi An on the shoulder and said, ‘I’m going outside for a bit.’

‘What are you going to do outside?’ Bi An asked doubtfully.

‘Wee-wee!’ After saying that, he opened the door and went out.

Bi An looked baffled: Strange, he hasn’t even had a drop of wine, why would he need to pee?

Dandan wandered up and down the corridor alone. From his vantage point, the dancing girls below were really very lovely, their twirling skirts blooming like one flower after another. Just then, he suddenly saw a flash of green in the crowd below.

‘W-what…’ He rubbed his eyes hard and saw that there really was a man in a sea-green gown sitting there.

Yu Huan?! Dandan’s heart gave a leap and he immediately ran down the stairs.

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_{(Approx. 2762 words)}

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Translated and edited by 12

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