The Double

A Chief Minister’s Daughter actually giving such a grand salute to a woman of the martial arts world who has no status, is already quite out of the ordinary. However, no one in the room felt that this was inappropriate. Situ Jiuyue stepped aside, frowning and said, "Every one of you, why do you all like to perform grand salutes so much? What’s the point of saying thank you? Gratitude can’t be exchanged for silver. I’ve said it before, Jih Heng has already paid her dues; let’s just consider it a fair exchange of needed services, without any emotional entanglement." Having said that, she strode out of the room without looking back.

"This girl is really..." Ye Mingyu, sitting by the door, smacked his lips and it took a long while before he uttered a word, "unconventional. But that’s how we, people of the martial arts world, are. Ah Li, you mustn’t take it to heart."

"Ah Li?" A faint voice came from inside the room. Jiang Li was jolted and looked up.

Xue Huaiyuan was seated on the side, looking at her with a dazed gaze, slowly repeating, "Ah Li?"

Jiang Li’s hand hung by her side, gripping into a fist, barely able to hold back her sobs.

"Yes, Ah Li," Ye Mingyu looked at Xue Huaiyuan and asked, "How is it, Old Master, do you know our Jiang Li?"

In the room full of people, only Jiang Li knew that what Xue Huaiyuan had said was "Ah Li" and not "Jiang Li." Perhaps it was Ye Mingyu’s words that made Xue Huaiyuan think of his daughter.

Jiang Li took two steps forward to allow Xue Huaiyuan to see her face clearly and also to get a good look at Xue Huaiyuan.