Calculated

Song Qingshu was rendered speechless. "Very well, then treat him as a spy," he finally spoke, his tone laced with resignation.

"Aha! So he is a spy!" Ding Dian's eyes gleamed with newfound excitement, and he proceeded to deliver another brutal beating to Di Yun.

"Miss Ling is in grave danger!" Song Qingshu exclaimed, realizing that his inadvertent words had caused Di Yun to suffer further. Feeling a pang of remorse, he had to resort to a drastic measure.

"What!" Ding Dian abruptly ceased his assault, his face contorted with a grim expression. "What did you just say?"

"If you don't stop, will you let him go?" Separated by the cell, Song Qingshu remained unfazed by Ding Dian's attempt to rush out. The intention was to extract the secret that lingered within Ding Dian's heart, and Ling Tuisi believed that this simple-minded young man was easier to manipulate than Ding Dian himself.

In truth, Ding Dian had long suspected this in his mind. Dialing Ling Tuisi's number directly, he coldly snorted, "And who might you be?"

"I am a savior, weary of witnessing your suffering. I have come to offer you solace," Song Qingshu replied, casting a glance at the pitiful state of the two prisoners—emaciated and soiled. Contemplating their fate, a sense of sorrow washed over him.

"Hmph! What game is Ling Tuisi playing?" Ding Dian remained on guard, his defenses raised to their highest level.

"Ling Tuisi?" Song Qingshu sneered disdainfully. "Ding Daxia, how about we strike a deal?"

"Get lost!" Ding Dian dismissed him with a wave, now assured of Ling Tuisi's safety.

"Do you truly believe that I fear your Liancheng Jue?" Song Qingshu's smile widened. "To be frank, I am well aware of the secret behind the Liancheng Jue, the very secret you all have been fighting over."

"Oh, trying to deceive me like a child?" Ding Dian let out a dry chuckle.

"You don't believe me?" Song Qingshu rose from his seat. "I can reveal the secret of the Liancheng Jue to you. Let's see if it aligns with your understanding."

"Go ahead, then," Ding Dian replied, eyeing him suspiciously.

Song Qingshu sighed bitterly, lowering his voice. "Ding Daxia, I know your martial skills remain intact. Please listen carefully. Are there any other individuals within a radius of several meters? If Ling Tuisi's people were to hear this, I fear escaping your clutches would be an impossible feat. My meridians have been severed, rendering me devoid of any martial prowess. Thus, I kindly request you to listen attentively."

Ding Dian struggled to make sense of the situation, but unable to decipher it immediately, he closed his eyes and meticulously surveyed their surroundings. "No other individuals within a ten-foot radius, it's just you and me," he finally declared.

Song Qingshu's gaze fixed on Di Yun. "There are things he remains oblivious to that are actually safeguarding him," he murmured, prompting Ding Dian to furrow his brow and press on Di Yun's pressure point, rendering him unconscious.

With a sigh of relief, Song Qingshu proceeded to divulge the secret of Liancheng Jue. As expected, Ding Dian's expression underwent a dramatic change, his eyes fixed on Song Qingshu. "How did you come to know this?" he demanded.

"Let's not dwell on that," Song Qingshu replied. "Now, do you believe that I am not affiliated with Ling Tuisi's group?"

"In that case, why have you sought me out?" Ding Dian questioned, his confusion palpable.

"Weren't you the one proposing a deal?" Song Qingshu extended his hand. "Hurry and assess my pulse. Let's see if your miraculous medicine can cure me."

Recalling his earlier statement, Ding Dian examined Song Qingshu's pulse and muttered, "It can be cured."

Finally feeling a weight lifted off his chest, Song Qingshu remarked, "Ling Tuisi truly underestimates my discernment. If he had directly approached you, offering his daughter's hand in marriage as a betrothal gift in exchange for the secrets of Liancheng Jue, how could you have refused?"

Ling Tui seemed to believe that everyone in the world shared his mindset. Aware of Ding Dian's defensive disposition, he knew that his daughter held greater significance in Ding Dian's eyes than any treasure.

Hearing Song Qingshu's words, Ding Dian felt an unexpected camaraderie, his countenance relaxing. Unbeknownst to him, Song Qingshu had deliberately approached him.

"However, now that I know his true nature, I will never relinquish the secrets of Liancheng Jue," Ding Dian seethed, his pent-up anger palpable after all these years.

"You were not asked to surrender the secrets," Song Qingshu smiled. "Our transaction does not revolve around Ling Tuisi."

"What kind of deal?" Ding Dian's interest was finally piqued.

"I will ensure that you and Ms. Ling's lover are finally united in marriage, while you will be responsible for restoring my meridians. How does that sound?" Song Qingshu locked his gaze onto Ding Dian, his eyes burning with intensity.

However, to his dismay, Ding Dian did not display the joy he had anticipated. Instead, he let out a sigh. "Do you know why I have remained imprisoned here for all these years?"

Song Qingshu's heart skipped a beat. "Why?" he inquired.

"Before I arrived here, my martial arts were insufficient, rendering any attempts at escape futile against the impenetrable walls that surround me," Ding Dian replied, a tinge of bitterness in his smile. "Furthermore, even if I were to escape, Shuanghua would not accompany me. It is better to remain here, gazing at the chrysanthemums she places on the windowsill from a distance, alleviating my solitude." Ding Dian's gaze turned affectionate as he peered through the narrow window of his cell at the small building in the distance.

"Why doesn't she want to be with you?" Song Qingshu's understanding of the overall situation left him perplexed by these finer details.

"I don't know," Ding Dian's expression softened. "She is a lady of grace and charm. It is only natural for her to hesitate to elope with a man under uncertain circumstances, especially considering... Ling Tuisi's cruel ultimatum." As he spoke, a fierce expression crossed Ding Dian's face.

"What kind of ultimatum?" Song Qingshu felt a tinge of disapproval. He found it difficult to comprehend why the ancients resorted to such foolishness over mere oaths.

"Her father threatened her with my life and swore that she would never see me again in his lifetime. Otherwise, her mother's spirit would suffer torment day and night in the depths of the underworld," Ding Dian's voice quivered with anger, nearly grinding his teeth to dust.

"Threatened with your life?" Song Qingshu's expression turned peculiar. "Even if she refused, Ling Tuisi wouldn't dare to harm you."

"That's precisely why he feigned such cruelty!" Ding Dian struck the wall, revealing a handprint upon impact.

Song Qingshu murmured to himself, realizing the situation had become somewhat challenging.

As if reading his thoughts, Ding Dian spoke up, "If you can truly persuade Shuanghua to embark on a journey with me, I will teach you the mystical scriptures."

Song Qingshu eagerly patted his chest. "Alright, give them to me first. I will assess Miss Ling's sentiments and then discuss the method of instruction." The hope of turning the tide filled Song Qingshu with excitement, and he hastily rushed out.

Observing Song Qingshu's somewhat frenzied departure, Ding Dian smiled coldly, silently contemplating, "Shen Zhaojing, can you truly master it without enduring twenty years of hardship?" It wasn't entirely Ding Dian's fault for harboring deception; his disillusionment with the vices of human nature had rendered him distrustful of everyone.

Song Qingshu arrived at Miss Ling's humble residence, only to be halted by guards. "Master Ling has given strict orders. No one, except himself, is permitted to see Miss Ling."

Presenting a token, Song Qingshu declared, "Master Ling has entrusted me with a task within the mansion grounds. Everyone must cooperate accordingly. I believe you have received the news."

The two guards exchanged glances, their hesitation evident. Song Qingshu kept a close eye on them and forcefully pushed aside the glaive blocking his path, ascending the stairs.