Tao Manwu’s tiny head rested on Xu Fengnian’s broad shoulder as they returned to the inn. Solitary joy pales in comparison to shared delight, and the little girl was eager to show the older girl her peculiar spider-box. Yet, as they approached the entrance, they found a noisy crowd. Many ruffians with greenish complexions were shouting curses and vulgarities outside. Old Master Sun stood on the steps, bowing and smiling apologetically to a burly, thickset man. The man tossed a pouch of silver coins that the innkeeper had secretly handed him. His initially scornful expression suddenly changed as he hurled the small bag of silver onto the ground, then shoved the old man in the chest. Master Sun’s wife and two daughters hid behind the inn’s gate, weeping. Witnessing their family’s pillar collapse, they dared not rush to help him, fearing the wrath of these local bullies.
Xu Fengnian inquired among the onlookers and learned the general story. It seemed that Master Sun’s wife and eldest daughter had gone to a gathering at the west side of town. In the crowd, some lecherous rogue had taken liberties, touching the daughter’s backside. The girl, modest and fiery, slapped the offender’s face. The thin ruffian, unprepared for such fierce retaliation, was knocked flat, humiliated. Since she was a stranger to him, he dared not retaliate on the spot. He summoned several idle companions from the neighborhood, trailing the Sun family to the east side of town, where they conspired with local hooligans. Learning that Master Sun had no powerful backing, they enlisted a local gang leader and gathered more than twenty companions for revenge. A few ounces of silver could not satisfy their greed. After earning money, Master Sun had become financially secure, had read some poetry and literature, and possessed a scholar’s temperament, caring deeply about appearances. The punch hurt less than the humiliation in the eyes of the neighbors, especially being seen by the three women in his household, which made him feel especially stifled and furious. He rose, grabbed a stool, and was ready to fight the ruffians to the death. The leading green-faced brute, skilled in martial arts, paid no heed to a mere stool. He executed a leg technique, splitting the stool in two and leaving Master Sun stunned. As the innkeeper hesitated whether to fetch a kitchen knife, a skinny monkey-like rogue sneaked behind him and kicked him in the buttocks, causing him to fall face-first.
The thin rogue, with prominent cheekbones and small, sunken eyes, usually relied more on words than fists during gang fights. He felt his sneak attack was quite heroic, but unfortunately, he overextended and pulled a muscle, leaving him limping aside amidst a chorus of laughter. As the rogue was about to rage, he caught sight of the gang leader’s frown from the corner of his eye and immediately shut up, retreating to the side.
Xu Fengnian set Tao Manwu down, took his hand, and approached the leader of the green-faced rogues. He swiftly handed over several ten-tael silver notes and smiled, saying, “Esteemed leader, I wonder what offense Master Sun has committed. I hope you’ll grant us the chance to dispel misfortune with wealth.”
One could ignore anyone’s face, but silver’s face could not be ignored. The green-faced brute with a fierce black tiger tattoo on his arm coldly asked, “Who are you, kid?”
Xu Fengnian smiled and replied, “I can’t compare to your grandeur, esteemed leader. I’m merely a servant to the second young master of the City Governor’s Mansion. I’m not much of anyone. The second young master fancies a dish called Five Branches Soup from this inn, and through repeated visits, I’ve developed some acquaintance with Master Sun. I came here today to fetch this signature vegetarian dish. Esteemed leader, your belly can hold a boat. Master Sun was indeed in the wrong, so please be forgiving. If I fail in this task, even if the second young master hears of it, the inn won’t be in the right. The second young master has many matters to attend to and won’t bother with such trivialities. However, my failure in handling this matter will leave a poor impression on the second young master, which will be disastrous for me, and I won’t gain even a half coin’s worth of profit. Therefore, this thirty or forty taels of silver is but a humble token, a way for me to gain your favor and seek your kindness, not to cut off my livelihood. Tomorrow, when the esteemed leader has the time, I’ll treat all the brothers to a good meal. What do you think, esteemed leader?”
The green-faced brute’s expression fluctuated, but he eventually laughed heartily, pocketed the silver notes, and patted Xu Fengnian’s shoulder, saying, “Since the young brother has admitted fault, this matter isn’t that big. I’ll consider it resolved on your behalf! In the future, when you come to the west side of the town, look me up for a drink. It’s simple, just mention the name of Feihu Town’s Western Guardian!”
With the excitement gone, the onlookers dispersed. Entering the inn, the bewildered Master Sun, still shaken, whispered, “Xu, my brother, are you really a noble from the City Governor’s Mansion?”
Xu Fengnian picked a clean table, sat down, and smiled, saying, “How could I possibly have such a noble connection with the City Governor’s Mansion? It’s just that my family has some business dealings with the steward there, and I’m not at all familiar with the Second Young Master Tan Tai. This time, I went to the City Governor’s Mansion and submitted a visiting card with some embarrassment, but I don’t know if I’ll get to see him. My family deals in humble porcelain, and the Second Young Master is an expert in this field. If I’m lucky enough to catch his eye, it might be possible to bring the Second Young Master to the inn for a meal in the future. At that time, Brother Sun, don’t charge for the food and tea, alright?”
Master Sun’s heart was greatly reassured. He clapped his hands together, relieved, and said, “I would never dare to charge the Second Young Master. It would be a great honor just to have him visit the inn. Brother Xu, today, I’m truly grateful for your kind assistance. Brother, I’ll go get the silver to repay you right away. Also, no matter how many days you stay at the inn, your food, clothing, and accommodation are all on me. If you refuse, I’ll be angry with you!”
Xu Fengnian hesitated for a moment, then smiled, saying, “Brother Sun, let’s not dwell on those thirty or forty taels of silver. I’m at least the son of a merchant who can enter the Guanghan Pavilion. If you insist on being so particular, you’re not recognizing me as your brother anymore. In the future, whenever I come to Feihu City, I’ll definitely come here to eat and drink for free, and I won’t be shy about it. This isn’t a joke, Brother. Don’t worry about the cost.”
Master Sun’s chest, filled with resentment, was suddenly cleared, and he laughed heartily. He sat down and waved to his wife and daughters who were standing far away, saying, “Come, greet Brother Xu.”
Even the little girl who had previously disliked Xu Fengnian for being too old joined her mother and sister in performing a respectful bow. The three women, with tears streaming down their faces like pear blossoms in the rain, felt deep gratitude towards Xu Fengnian after the ordeal. Moreover, upon hearing that this young man, who was handsome and carried a sword, had some connection with the City Governor’s Mansion, they felt a sense of shared honor with Master Sun. The eldest daughter, who had previously been deeply ashamed of her father being easily defeated, now only felt that her father was brave and had the ability to recognize people, with no trace of resentment left. As a merchant’s wife, Master Sun’s spouse was more worldly and clever. She personally swayed her figure, returned with a pot of good wine, poured wine for her husband and Xu Fengnian, hoping to seize the opportunity to bind this wealthy and reserved young man to the inn. In the future, if conflicts arose with those green-faced ruffians, he wouldn’t have to charge into battle, but at least wouldn’t stand by indifferently. The youngest daughter of Master Sun had always been drowsy. After being pinched by her sister, she looked up and saw her sister signaling with her eyes, making a gesture of the Tan Tai eldest son. The little girl immediately became spirited and eagerly asked, “Brother Xu, if you go to the City Governor’s Mansion, can you see the Tan Tai eldest son? If you do, please remember to mention me. My name is Sun Xiaochun!”
The little girl was pinched on the arm again and immediately realized, smiling happily, and said, “And my sister, her name is Sun Zhiqiu!”
Master Sun and his wife exchanged a smile, somewhat helplessly regarding their daughters who were obsessed with the idea. The two sisters were filled with eager anticipation, disregarding any modesty or shyness. Xu Fengnian couldn’t help but laugh, and could only nod, saying, “If there’s a real opportunity, I’ll certainly speak a few kind words for the two young ladies, though I can’t guarantee that I’ll definitely see that heroic young man.”
The elder sister, Sun Zhiqiu, being more mature and understanding of social graces, smiled and nodded. The younger sister, Sun Xiaochun, wore a serious expression, solemnly saying, “You must see him!”
Their mother pretended to scold the little girl, but her eyes and tone were gentle, saying, “Don’t be rude.”
Xu Fengnian laughed and said, “Madam, it’s no problem at all. It’s just a small favor.”
Afterwards, the three women went into the room to talk about private matters, while Master Sun, with a proud smile on his face, chatted with several old friends who had come upon hearing the news. Xu Fengnian returned to his room at the inn. Tao Manwu curiously opened her little box, took out her belongings, and began counting the silver coins one by one. Xu Fengnian laughed and scolded, “If there were really thieves, would they only steal a few silver coins? They would have stolen all of them long ago.”
The little girl, who was good at managing her affairs, glared back and continued counting the money.
After finishing counting the silver, she found that not a single coin was missing. Tao Manwu then tied up her belongings, kicked off her shoes, arranged the clever little pillow, and lay on the bed, propping her cheeks with her hands, looking left and right with joy and delight.
Xu Fengnian hid his flying sword, looked at his palm where the calluses had gradually peeled off after merging with the Great Yellow Court, and thought that ordinary people who nourish their swords with blood would have their hands ruined after just a few days, let alone twelve swords. But with the Great Yellow Court cultivating the Longevity Lotus, his blood and energy were as abundant as the Guangling tide, cycling endlessly, and his injuries healed quickly. Xu Fengnian sat on the edge of the bed, leaned back, stole a moment of leisure, and closed his eyes to concentrate. Tao Manwu, after a fierce internal struggle, generously placed the porcelain pillow under his head, held the clever box with a small spider weaving a web inside, sat up, and looked at the person beside her, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Xu Fengnian, with his eyes closed, calmly asked, “Do you want to know why I, who could easily teach those ruffians a lesson, chose instead to bow and scrape, handing out silver to settle the matter peacefully?”
The little girl nodded, pouting a little, feeling a bit wronged and resentful, thinking that this guy lacked even a trace of the demeanor of a chivalrous knight.
Xu Fengnian’s lips curled into a smile, speaking softly, “I, this villain, am like a rootless duckweed, drifting wherever the wind takes me, while the Sun family of four are rooted here, ordinary people who can’t leave. The ruffians of Feihu City are cunning and clever, good at adapting to circumstances, but in truth, they are cowards who only dare to bully the weak. Unless I scare them thoroughly, the moment I leave, they will harass Master Sun without end. But I have my own affairs to attend to, and I’m burdened with you, a little tag-along who can only help count silver. I can’t possibly start a big fight over every little thing. After all, each person must bear their own misfortunes. Today, I only intervened because of the kindness of a pot of tea, and I didn’t want the trouble of moving to another place to stay. Otherwise, with my indifferent nature, I wouldn’t bother playing the good guy. This is called minding one’s own business and not meddling in others’ affairs. If you’re looking for a great hero who helps the distressed to travel the world with you, I’m sorry, little girl. I’m sure to disappoint you.”
Tao Manwu softly huffed.
She had only slightly improved her opinion of him when she saw him teaching the Pipa-playing girl techniques at the teahouse. Now she felt he wasn’t that good after all!
Xu Fengnian held the little girl’s arm and quietly helped her unblock her meridians, teasing her with his sharp tongue, “People say good deeds bring good rewards, but that’s just something others say to avoid their own troubles. In reality, few truly want to do good. Usually, good people don’t get good rewards, but no one gets the chance to let you know about it.”
Tao Manwu only felt her arm warming up, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, so she endured it.
Xu Fengnian spoke indifferently, “Switch arms.”
She turned around and stretched out her arm.
After succeeding, Xu Fengnian teased, “They say men and women shouldn’t touch each other, yet you show no shame.”
Tao Manwu didn’t respond to that, sighed with an old-fashioned air, biting her lip, she said, “Uncle Dong said, ‘A nation’s Sharp Weaponshould not be shown to others. A gentleman hides his Sharp Weaponand waits for the right moment. A petty person brandishes his Sharp Weaponand keeps shouting.'”
Xu Fengnian opened his eyes and smiled, “Your fat Uncle Dong is quite the learned man who knows how to hide his talents. He must be quite similar to this young master.”
The little girl rolled her eyes, too lazy to even scold this villain who was flattering himself, and just wanted to pull her beloved porcelain pillow back.
Xu Fengnian pressed the porcelain pillow down and stubbornly said, “Not giving it back.”
Knowing she couldn’t overpower him, the little girl wore an expression of disdain, as if she didn’t want to quibble with him. After spending time with this villain, she seemed to have learned some small tricks to make her life a bit more comfortable.
The sound of commotion came from the street, and Tao Manwu curiously put on her shoes and ran to the window, standing on tiptoe to see what was happening.
Feihu City was stunned.
It was said that Tan Tai’s eldest son had actually been beaten by a fat fool!
Even more infuriating was that this damned fool had a beautiful girl by his side, who looked like his little wife.
More than a hundred fierce cavalrymen charged straight into Feihu City.
Their iron hooves crushed all the city’s romantic scenes.
Later, the officials and nobles of Feihu City, who were well-informed, changed from shock and anger to fear.
The fat fool who had recklessly brought troops to enter the city without following the law was not only a genuine general but also a leading figure in the military of the Southern Court of the Northern Desert. He held a high rank of from second grade, the most exceptional in nearly thirty years, just a step away from the three southern generals of the third grade. Not only the City Governor, but even the entire weak border army of the Longyao Province, probably no one dared to provoke this fat fool except the Jie Shi Ling. Later, one shocking piece of news after another reached their ears, making people so frightened they soiled themselves. The beautiful woman beside the fat fool was the daughter of the leader of the Ti Bing Mountain sect, one of the five major sects of the Northern Desert, and also the second wife of the fat fool. The main wife of this cursed fat fool had an even more formidable background, no wonder she could overshadow the daughter of Ti Bing Mountain. Tan Tai’s eldest son merely tried to block at the city gate with some men, but his troops were scattered, and he himself was knocked off his horse by a single move from the fairy descended from Ti Bing Mountain.
In no time, the whole city was in turmoil.
Only one teahouse, far from the chaos, listened to a blind storyteller recounting the tales of the Prince of Beiliang, oblivious to the outside world.
A scholar, who had just entered the city not long ago, sat by the window, sipping cheap tea with a worn-out book chest at his feet.
Across from him sat a middle-aged man with a sword, his face solemn.
His name was Jian Qijing.
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