In the realm of love and desire, flirtatious words are often the best elixir to ignite passion between men and women. Of course, this is only true if the two parties involved are not initially repulsed by one another. Xi Yi invited the young swordsman into her chamber, largely out of necessity. After two flasks of wine and some playful banter, the atmosphere warmed, no longer bound by the cold formalities of society. This was largely due to the young swordsman’s refined manner of speech, and the fact that he had brought along a simple child, making him appear far more agreeable than the usual coarse and vulgar patrons who, upon entering a pleasure house, quickly shed their masks of civility. Even among the literati, when visiting such establishments, their gazes inevitably turned toward the women with the anticipation of seeing them stripped bare.
Xu Fengnian, having unintentionally acquired the information he sought, prepared to rise and leave the room. He would make a brief stop at the The Hydrangea Pavilion (Xiúqiú Gé), and then he could finally depart from the Moonlight Tower (Guǎnghán Lóu). Whether he could follow the trail to discover the whereabouts of the the top scholar (Zhuàngyuán Láng), the sword-selling scholar, and confirm if he was connected to the man his father Xu Xiao had instructed him to find, would all depend on fate’s decree.
Xi Yi was a master of reading people’s expressions. Seeing that Xu Fengnian had no intention of clinging on desperately, she felt relieved, though a tinge of disappointment lingered. After all, she was no longer young, and had long since lost the beauty that once drove men to madness. As she rose alongside Xu Fengnian, she caught sight of the little girl sleeping soundly on the couch, hugging a porcelain pillow shaped like a child holding a lotus. She couldn’t help but smile fondly. “Young master,” she said, “if it’s not too forward of me, I’d like to give this little girl a porcelain pillow. She’s such a lovely child, and her name is as joyous as mine. It seems we are destined to meet.”
Xu Fengnian was surprised. “Sister Xi Yi, are you sure you’re willing to part with it?”
Xi Yi sent him a coquettish glance and playfully chided, “If you asked for a black-glazed tea set, I would certainly refuse. But a porcelain pillow that doesn’t cost much silver—it’s just a small token of goodwill between the girl and me. I can spare it.”
Xu Fengnian sighed, “Sister Xi Yi, your kindness is truly appreciated. Then I shall accept it with gratitude. If I ever get the chance in the future, I will surely return the favor.”
Xi Yi waved her hand with a smile. “No, no. I give this pillow to the girl with no expectations. If you insist on repaying me, it will only lower the gesture to something less noble.”
Xu Fengnian did not press further. In his mind, he thought that if he could safely return to Beiliang, he would gladly give this kind-hearted courtesan a set of black-glazed tea cups from the Southern Tang dynasty, a set so exquisite that even the deceased emperor had clung to it in his final days. After all, letting such treasures gather dust in the mansion was a waste of their true potential. Fine tea utensils, like priceless tea figurines, must be handled and cherished, steeped in tea and touched by human hands, or they would lose their spiritual essence. It was much like how jade must be worn and nurtured to maintain its luster. However, this was all speculation for now, and he saw no need to speak of it at the moment.
He walked over and gently pinched the little girl Tao Manwu’s nose. Like most children her age, she was a heavy sleeper and notoriously grumpy upon waking. As her nose was pinched, she flailed her arms and legs in protest, until Xu Fengnian finally managed to rouse her. Seeing Xu Fengnian instead of her parents, the girl’s eyes immediately welled with tears. Xu Fengnian, unmoved, softly said, “Peach, it’s time to wake up. Sister Xi Yi thinks you’re adorable and has given you this porcelain pillow. Quickly, thank her.”
Tao Manwu wiped her tears with her sleeve and smiled as she looked up. “Thank you, Auntie Xi Yi.”
Xi Yi’s heart softened, and she gently said, “Such a sweet child.”
Xu Fengnian took out several silver notes and placed them on the table. Holding the little girl, who now clutched the porcelain pillow, he smiled apologetically. “I won’t go disturbing Miss Wei today. I’ll leave the deposit here and return tomorrow. Our little Peach here has a terrible temper when she wakes up. If I don’t let her sleep until she’s fully rested, she’ll surely make me suffer for days.”
Xi Yi, not wanting to seem impulsive, softly offered, “Why don’t you go to Miss Wei’s chamber, and let the little girl sleep here with me?”
She added, almost as an afterthought, “If you don’t mind, of course.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head. He felt a tug on his sleeve and saw the little girl in his arms looking up at him with reluctant eyes. He furrowed his brow, and both the young and old women in the room tensed. He certainly did not want Tao Manwu to stay with Xi Yi, who had long since mastered the art of cultivation. If something were to go wrong, Xu Fengnian would not hesitate to silence her, though the grim details of such a decision were beyond their comprehension.
As Xu Fengnian, with hearing as sharp as the finest geomancer, felt his ears twitch, he knew that, inevitably, trouble had found its way to him. Suppressing the killing intent within him, he recalled the fierce battle at the Duckhead Green Inn against the demon Xie Ling, where he had not drawn Spring Thunder, yet had gained immense spiritual energy. The blade’s aura had surged, but so had his murderous intent. However, Li Chungan had long since retired from the martial world, and was no longer by his side. Xu Fengnian wished he could ask him whether this was a blessing or a curse. He truly feared that before he could master the dragon-slaying blade intent, he might instead descend into madness and become a bloodthirsty demon.
Reciting the mantra of the Great Yellow Pavilion to calm his heart and mind, Xu Fengnian turned his gaze toward the door as a sharp knocking sound echoed. Xi Yi was greatly surprised—aside from her beloved daughter Wei Manxiu, no one would dare visit her, and even Manxiu would never knock so harshly. Taking a deep breath, she went to open the door. To her surprise, it was Cui Jie, who wore a sly smile. There were certain boundaries even Cui Jie dared not cross, and this room was one of them. Xi Yi was about to reprimand her coldly when she noticed behind Cui Jie a tall woman dressed as a man. She immediately swallowed her words and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Third Miss.”
The woman, whose appearance was far from delicate or graceful, was filled with a commanding presence. Wearing a jade-belted brocade robe like any nobleman, and with a blade at her waist, she frowned. “It’s Third Young Master!”
Xi Yi’s lips curved into a bitter smile as she lowered her head. “Greetings, Third Young Master.”
The true power behind the Moonlight Tower had arrived.
More precisely, it was the younger sister of that power. Few could imagine that the Moonlight Tower was secretly owned by the second son of the city’s governor, a secret known only to the upper echelons of Feihu City. The governor had two sons and one daughter. The eldest, Dantai Changping, was a brave and noble warrior, known for his elegant poetry, destined to become a rising star among the Northern Liang court’s favored generals. The second son, Dantai Chang’an, was a notorious wastrel—skilled in nothing but indulgence in wine, women, gambling, and cockfighting. He had spent no less than three to four thousand taels of silver on raising and trading crickets alone. Every July, countless idle ruffians scoured the city and its outskirts, hoping to unearth a valuable fighting cricket worth dozens of taels. It was even joked that Feihu City had its fifth oddity: in summer and autumn, the entire city was filled with ruffians hunting for crickets.
The youngest daughter, Dantai Konghou, preferred swords to embroidery. She often caused chaos in public gatherings, and nearly every thug in the city had suffered at her hands. They all recognized her face and avoided her at all costs, unwilling to give her another chance to beat them.
Standing before Xi Yi was none other than Dantai Konghou. Glancing past Xi Yi’s shoulder, she spotted Xu Fengnian and sneered mockingly. “Xi Yi, I heard you brought a remarkable guest into the The Hydrangea Pavilion and even showed off your skills in front of Madam Cui. I went to the The Hydrangea Pavilion and found no trace of you. I didn’t expect you to be here. Xi Yi, Xi Yi, my second brother always said you were the most decent one in Moonlight Tower, but I don’t think that’s the case. Are you now addicted to sneaking around with men? First, you take on clients on your own, and now you’re keeping one for yourself? Didn’t you swear off clients after cutting the silk ribbons, yet you’ve made an exception for this unremarkable young man? Have you gone mad with longing for a man? Madam Cui said you’ve been using jade As You Wishand other toys to pass your lonely spring days. Why don’t you bring them out and let me see them?”
The noblewoman, though of female birth, bore a domineering presence, her words sharp and cutting, each one striking like a blow to the spine.
Xi Yi forced a bitter smile. “I only shared two flasks of wine with this young master, offering the usual hospitality. I did not take a client. If I ever return to service, I will certainly inform Third Young Master beforehand.”
Madam Cui clicked her tongue. “Sister Xi Yi, you truly are an honest soul, a faithful woman devoted to Moonlight Tower.”
Dantai Konghou snapped, “Silence! Don’t you dare pour oil on the fire. Xi Yi may not be virtuous, but you are no better than her. If she falls, how much better can you be?”
Madam Cui swallowed her words, trembling in fear.
Watching from the sidelines, Xu Fengnian inwardly chuckled. Though this young lady’s tongue was sharp, she was fair-minded and not the kind to jump to conclusions. Madam Cui’s attempt at stirring the pot had earned her some profit, but not much.
Dantai Konghou pointed at Xu Fengnian. “You are a guest, and even if you broke the rules, it’s Moonlight Tower’s fault. I won’t hold it against you. But I’ve heard you have some skill. I happen to have a servant who knows a few martial tricks. If you can last ten moves against him, then for the next three days and nights, aside from the three top courtesans—Anyang Qingnu, Wei Manxiu—you may play with any woman in the house, day or night. If you can bed a hundred women, then Moonlight Tower will admit defeat. What do you say? Just ten moves. In Feihu City, I am known for keeping my word. Do you dare?”
Xu Fengnian smiled. “I’m not too brave. The guard behind Third Young Master is clearly a master of breath and force. I’m just a poor wandering scholar looking for a pretty girl in Moonlight Tower. If I were to be knocked down immediately, I’d ruin Third Young Master’s refined mood.”
Dantai Konghou, flattered, felt a flicker of pleasure but still wore a cold expression. “Not brave? Are you even a real man?”
Xu Fengnian remained unmoved. To Madam Cui’s great disappointment, he replied with uncharacteristic humility. “If Third Young Master says so, then it is so. If not, then not.”
Dantai Konghou lost all interest. She enjoyed fighting against dozens of thugs, but bullying helpless civilians or weaklings held no appeal. Besides, her two elder brothers would surely disapprove. Sighing, she turned to leave, grumbling, “Your parents gave you a man’s body for nothing. Without courage, what else can you do besides just continuing the family line?”
Suddenly, the strong bodyguard’s expression changed drastically. He stepped protectively in front of the young lady and shouted, “Careful!”
Dantai Konghou was puzzled, watching her guard, who now looked as if facing a great enemy. She knew his background—her father had hired him for three thousand taels of silver, and he was a true expert. His father, it was said, was nearly a first-tier martial artist, a renowned master of external martial arts in the Zhongyuan region. A tiger father would not raise a dog son—this guard himself was close to second-tier strength. Why was he so tense?
The guard stared intently at the young man who had not yet drawn his blade. Even he was confused. Just now, he had clearly sensed a surge of deadly intent. In his youth, when his father was at the peak of his martial prowess, he had once witnessed a Realm of the Indestructible (Jīngāng Jìng) martial god challenge his father in three moves, leaving everyone breathless. He still remembered how, after two polite moves, the third move unleashed a terrifying killing intent that overwhelmed the entire battlefield like a river in flood, leaving him feeling like a solitary boat tossed about. Yet this young swordsman showed no sign of Majesty—where had that killing intent come from?
Dantai Konghou, who always tried to reason with others, frowned. “Father always said, ‘In times of crisis, one must remain calm.’ Yet you panic at nothing?”
The alert guard, after confirming no danger remained, let out a bitter smile and relaxed his tense muscles. The bulges in his sleeves gradually flattened as he muttered, “It must have been my imagination.”
Standing at the door, holding Tao Manwu, Xu Fengnian stood shoulder to shoulder with Xi Yi and smiled. “I’ve thought it over, and I believe I’ll take up the challenge with the expert by Third Young Master’s side. After all, the reward offered by Third Young Master is too tempting.”
Dantai Konghou glared at her guard. “See? You’ve been looked down upon!”
The guard’s heart leapt to his throat. If the young swordsman had continued to retreat, it would have been one thing—he could dismiss it as a mistake. But now that the young man had shifted from retreat to advance, if he was indeed targeting the young lady, he could not be certain of protecting her completely. If he lost, it would only harm his family’s reputation. But if the young lady were harmed in the slightest, given the governor’s protective nature and the indulgence of her two elder brothers, he would no longer be welcome in Feihu City.
Taking a deep breath, the burly guard narrowed his eyes. “A test of skill is fine. Young master, let’s find a spacious courtyard where we can fight freely, without damaging the furniture or endangering bystanders. How does that sound?”
Xu Fengnian nodded. “Fine.”
Xi Yi gently stepped on his foot, her eyes filled with anxiety.
Xu Fengnian, holding Tao Manwu with one arm, secretly reached out with the other and gave Xi Yi’s bottom a light pat.
Xi Yi’s figure was somewhat slim, yet her curves were still full and inviting.
She trembled, her beautiful eyes widening.
Fortunately, everyone, including Dantai Konghou, was too focused on his face to notice the bold act of this shameless rogue.
If Dantai Konghou, who feared nothing, had seen it, she would surely have praised him for truly embodying the saying, “In times of crisis, one must remain calm.”
Xu Fengnian handed Tao Manwu to Xi Yi, who was struggling to hide her embarrassment, and softly said, “Let Peach stay with you for now. It’s not good for a child to witness violence.”
Xi Yi silently took the girl—not with affection, but with a murderous glare.
Xu Fengnian ignored her and made a gesture for Tao Manwu to stay quiet. The girl, as perceptive as ever, nodded.
Madam Cui could barely contain her glee. This young man was truly reckless, thinking he could sleep with a hundred women in Moonlight Tower? But the guard beside Third Young Master was a terrifying figure—dozens of ruffians couldn’t even get near him. What chance did a young man, only slightly stronger than a frail scholar, have of lasting ten moves? Even if he somehow survived, he’d be bedridden for months. Even if naked beauties danced before him, would his loins even rise to the occasion?
As she gloated inwardly, she suddenly looked up and saw the young man, now following behind Third Young Master and the guard, turn his head and give her a sly smile. For some reason, she felt a chill run down her spine.
Xu Fengnian watched the distracted figure trailing behind and slowly descended the Moonlight Tower, heading toward the back garden by the lake. He paid no mind to the growing number of guards joining them along the way. Dealing with a third-tier guard was merely a matter of how to control the balance. What occupied his thoughts more was the tangled web of power behind Feihu City’s governor.
In the Northern Liang Empire, the north and south were gradually merging amidst their rivalry. Apart from the complex lineages of the royal families of Yelü and Murong, the true power at the pinnacle of the empire rested with thirty-odd individuals—eight border generals, twelve great generals, and over a dozen influential ministers in the southern court. These figures represented a complex web of alliances, rivalries, and shifting loyalties, difficult to untangle.
Among the southern court officials, there were two main factions. One was the aristocratic Dragon Pass (Lóngguān) clan—conservative and proud, they considered themselves the true nobility, much like the great families of the old Spring and Autumn period. After the destruction of the Central Plains (Zhōngyuán) aristocracy during the Spring and Autumn Wars, the Dragon Pass Nobleman (Lóngguān nobility) became even more arrogant, claiming to be the true inheritors of noble blood. The Zhong family, infamous for producing the great demon Zhong Hu, was among them.
The other faction was the military, led by three great generals. One was Huang Songpu, a former Southern Spring and Autumn scholar who held equal rank with the border generals in Guse Province. He was the first to break the tradition that only northern figures could rise to high military rank. Following him were Liu Gui, praised by the Northern Liang empress as “half as capable as Xu Xiao,” and Yang Yuanzan, a commoner who rose rapidly through the ranks. These three renowned generals were stationed along a line stretching north from Guse Province, showing the Northern Liang Empire’s focus on the western front.
Governor Dantai Jinyu of Feihu City was a collateral heir of the noble Dantai clan of Dragon Pass, and had long maintained marital ties with the aristocratic Yuwen family, forming a powerful alliance.
Now, in the Southern Liang Empire, it was well known that many scholars had migrated northward, some joining the Jiangnan scholar group, others integrating into the old northern aristocracy. But few knew of an even greater wave of scholars fleeing northward like fish crossing a river, pouring into the Northern Liang Empire. Some perished due to unfamiliar climates, but most gradually integrated into the southern court, rising to prominence. Generals Huang, Liu, and Yang were among the most notable of these scholars, who had fled their fallen kingdoms and now sought revenge by returning south. And the first obstacle standing in their way was the Northern Liang, and the legendary Xu Xiao.
To the north of Northern Liang, a mighty empire watched with the ambition of swallowing the world. And after Xu Xiao, it might just be this young man walking by the shores of Jiaqing Lake who would inherit that legacy.
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