Heaven's will is unpredictable

"So it's like that," Fan Xue muttered as he sighed and nodded his head in understanding.

Jie Fu Lian didn't bother blurting out too many words, afraid that if he spoke too much, his lies would be uncovered.

Fan Xue was a quick-witted person so it was hard to lie to him and even harder not to be suspected by him.

"The reason why Bai YiJun started pretending to be a lunatic wasn't simply because of Bai BaoShi," Fan Xue spoke as he answered Jie Fu Lian's previous question, "The main reason was simply because he did not wish to be the next city head. It was too much responsibility and he was afraid of being targeted by people. His legs are already like this so if he were to become the next city head, he would look like an easy target and be eyed by many who'd want to kill him and take his position."

Both Jie Fu Lian and Duan Luoyang frowned as they heard this.

"Uncle Fan Xue, I have another question," Jie Fu Lian quickly spoke up and didn't even let Fan Xue respond as he asked, "Are his legs really destroyed for good? Can his condition never improve?"

Jie Fu Lian had asked this same question years ago and at that time, he had gotten an ambiguous answer which was simply wrapped up in a single sentence, 'Heaven's will is unpredictable.'

Fan Xue blinked as he stared at Jie Fu Lian and it looked like he was both surprised and a bit confused as he heard this question that he remembered hearing years ago.

He opened his mouth to say something but soon closed it like a fish, not wanting to say the words 'Heaven's will is unpredictable' again.

After a short pause, he calmly took a sip of the tea as he spoke, "So far, there hasn't been any progress. Even if there was, it is unlikely that he would tell me about it. Bai YiJun feels quite comfortable in the position he is currently in so there is nothing he wishes to change."

Jie Fu Lian couldn't help but sigh as he heard this.

Fan Xue's words really matched with Bai YiJun.

Bai YiJun didn't want to improve his condition and even if it improved, it was unlikely for him to share it with others.

It seemed that Fan Xue still knew Bai YiJun quite well.

"This might sound like a random question but I want to ask," Jie Fu Lian took a sharp breath in as he spoke, "The reason why Bai YiJun opened the information guild... Was it because the city was lacking funds or was there another reason behind it?"

Bai YiJun was quite the business mind. A profitable organization like the information guild was definitely his idea. However, Jie Fu Lian knew his friend the best and hence, he couldn't help but wonder why Bai YiJun, a lazy person who didn't even want to stand up and walk, would actually open such a troublesome business which didn't even have a permanent location or building.

"You've guessed it right," Fan Xue let out a dry chuckle as he replied, "Bai YiJun started the information guild because of his brother's death. He had deeply cherished his brother and he refused to believe that his brother had been killed by Jie Fu Lian. He thought opening an information guild would help him broaden his reach and he could gain any hint or information crucial to his brother's murder. However, I'm afraid his brother's death was truly planned with perfection. All evidence pointed at Jie Fu Lian and there was no trace of the original murderer."

Upon hearing the last sentence, Duan Luoyang's ears perked up and he enthusiastically asked, "Minister Fan, do you also believe that Jie Fu Lian wasn't the real murderer?"

Jie Fu Lian gulped as he heard this and secretly looked at Fan Xue with an expectant gaze. He already knew there weren't many that believed in his innocence but he also didn't want to hear Uncle Fan Xue also blame him for something he never did.

"At first, when the evidence was presented, I was a bit taken back and in disbelief but I eventually accepted it and thought to myself, 'not everyone who smiles is a good person'. There's no guessing what evils one is capable of behind the other's back."

Jie Fu Lian's heart quickly dropped.

"But after discussing it with GuiYing, my thoughts were changed and I could no longer stand by and believe that the boy I knew would be capable of something like that."

Jie Fu Lian's dropped heart was restored to its previous status and he looked at Fan Xue with sparkling eyes filled with admiration.

"Whether he was guilty or not, I decided to let time decide. I was no one to judge something I didn't see. What I saw was the Jie Fu Lian who would visit my house with a box of Osmanthus cakes and a wide grin. He was a warm and caring person so I can only believe in the 'him' that I saw and got to know."

In Jie Fu Lian's heart, he felt a little touched and the admiration he held for Both Fan Xue and Fan GuiYing dramatically increased.

He had never known that Fan Xue saw him under such a good light. He suddenly didn't want to correct the man and tell him, 'I actually brought those osmanthus cakes for Fan GuiYing and he is so handsome that I can't help but smile!'

Now that the name 'GuiYing' was brought up, Jie Fu Lian felt a little sad that he was yet to see the man again so he decided to take the opportunity and asked, "Fan GuiYing should be your husband, is he not?"

The answer was obvious but he still asked in order to not look odd.

When Fan Xue heard the name, he lips tugged up in a genuine smile and he nodded his head, "That's right."

Jie Fu Lian opened his mouth and let out a 'Wow~' with admiration and excitement as he immediately spoke, "I have heard about you two a lot."

Fan Xue smile slightly faltered as he heard that comment and he instinctively replied, "Not good things, I'm guessing?"

"What do you mean?" Jie Fu Lian slightly frowned as he immediately responded back, "They were all good things! There were some nonsensical rumors mixed in the bunch but I did not want to pay too much attention to that. In reality, I quite admire both of the elders. You were once a part of the phoenix sect, were you not? And Fan GuiYing was even an elder in the sect. How can I not feel impressed by such a man."

Fan Xue was a bit taken back by the man's words and looked at him with his eyes wide open as he had a feeling of Deja-Vu.

The more he talked to this man, the more this man reminded him of Jie Fu Lian.

From the way he called him 'Uncle Fan Xue' to the way he spoke the same words and asked the same questions, it was all hard not to notice.

Fan Xue lightly chuckled as he asked, "Daoist Fu, I am glad to hear your encouraging words. If you would like it then you can come over to my house for dinner today...?"

At first, Fan Xue had no intention of inviting the man over, but now, he felt that he wanted this man to meet his husband. After all, Fan GuiYing had a much better intuition and was able to predict things better than Fan Xue.

If Fan Xue felt that this man was Jie Fu Lian, there was a chance that he would be wrong, but if Fan GuiYing felt that this man was Jie Fu Lian, there was no way it could be anything other than that.

Jie Fu Lian failed to guess the real intention behind this invitation and without knowing that he was going to be tested, he gave a toothy grin as he nodded his head and agreed to accept the invitation.

"If it isn't much trouble then I would love to join you guys for dinner."

Duan Luoyang was still worried about his master who was locked up in the dungeon but when he heard about this dinner plan, he only thought of two things: Food and Fan GuiYing. He loved food and he was curious to see the so-called unearthly handsome face of Fan GuiYing so he naturally felt happy to accept this dinner invitation along with Jie Fu Lian.

Originally, Hua Tianshu had thought Jie Fu Lian would soon return for him and get him out of the dungeon but almost half a day passed and there was no sign of Jie Fu Lian. Eventually Hua Tianshu realized that he had been abandoned and would have to stay in this dungeon for a day or two.

He didn't hold any grudges against Jie Fu Lian for this.

His reaction was perfectly along the lines of 'It is what it is and accept it as it is.'

Not wanting to waste time, he crossed his legs and decided to peacefully meditate. This dungeon was quite silent and surprisingly, good for meditation.