Xu Fengnian finally caught up with the Yulong Gang just before entering Liuxia City. The journey of one night and two days had not been pleasant. After being severely wounded in his energy sea by that woman, more than three hundred acupoints in his body had been thrown into chaos. Worse still, he later discovered she had implanted many sharp, sword-like foreign energies into him, making the process of extracting them like peeling silk from a cocoon extremely arduous and painstaking. To avoid delaying his sword cultivation and to remove those filthy, mixed energies, Xu Fengnian nearly went mad. It was like searching for a few ants or flying cicadas inside the vast Yanhuiguan Fortress—exceptionally difficult.
As a result, he still lost a day of sword nurturing, which caused him to curse all the way. However, amidst this misfortune, there was a silver lining: this painstaking task, so delicate and meticulous, resembled his earlier experience on Wudang Mountain, where he carved chess pieces using the techniques described in the “Green Water Pavilion Jiazi Sword Manual.” This process bore a similar benefit for deeply exploring the profound secrets of the Great Huang Ting cultivation method. The Great Huang Ting was like a nascent sword blade. The Old Man in Sheepskin, Lao Toudzi’s Two Sleeves of Green Snakes technique hammered it with immense pressure, while this process was akin to the water quenching that completed a famous sword—both were indispensable.
After reuniting with the Yulong Gang, Xu Fengnian ceased the basic secret technique of the Great Huang Ting—gently clacking his teeth and drumming his ears—and the young Wang Dashi was overjoyed. Liu Nicong and probably already returned from buying bowstrings, Gongsun Yang, both nodded at Xu Fengnian.
Liuxia City was a blooming paradise, rivaling the grandeur of the major cities in the heart of Beiliang, such as Linzhou. After the desolation beyond Daoma Pass, the Yulong Gang members could no longer harbor anger or hostility. They felt as though they had finally come back to life.
Xu Fengnian carried a forged letter from the former arms inspector, with handwriting identical to the original, although the content had been altered. The seal was genuine, even using the same rare vermilion ink from the desk of that martial officer. Few could imagine that such a rough general would favor the Kuihong vermilion ink from the Baobao Studio. This only made the letter seem all the more authentic. According to the letter, Xu Fengnian had transformed into the nephew of a noble guest of the general’s household, still bearing the surname Xu.
Naturally, Xu Fengnian knew the meeting address. Upon entering the city, he asked for directions and led the Yulong Gang to a mansion that bore the refined style of Jiangnan officials and merchants. The gatekeeper took the letter inside for confirmation. Soon, a thin old man dressed in fine silk came out hurriedly. After mutual bows, the old man had the gatekeeper settle the Yulong Gang’s group and warmly took Xu Fengnian’s arm, stepping across the threshold together with hearty laughter.
“Old man, I’ve known your Uncle Qi for many years. Your aunt’s stewed eggplant is simply divine! I still drool thinking about it. Nothing in Liuxia City can compare!”
Xu Fengnian smiled awkwardly and replied, “Auntie’s eggplant was too spicy and salty. I’m surprised Uncle Wei could even stomach it.”
The thin old man narrowed his eyes slightly, nodded, and gripped Xu Fengnian’s arm a little tighter. “Spicy and salty is just right with rice. Are Uncle Qi and Auntie in good health?”
Xu Fengnian sighed gloomily, “Auntie is fine, but Uncle has had a lingering lung ailment since his youth. It never fully heals and he coughs constantly during rainy weather. It’s quite worrying.”
The old man fell silent for a moment, then spoke softly, “I have some grade of snow lotus here. Take it back to Uncle Qi. Brew it with rock sugar—it’s good for the lungs and stomach.”
Xu Fengnian made to bow in gratitude, but the old man hurriedly stopped him, feigning anger. “You’re family! Why be so formal?”
Liuxia City might not be as valuable as the imperial capitals, but it still required six or seven thousand taels of silver to buy a decent house. The old Wei residence was a five-courtyard mansion, worth no less than one hundred and fifty thousand taels. In the capital city of Taian, such a mansion would make many senior third-grade officials envious. Passing the screen wall and artificial hills, proceeding along the central axis, the estate featured side rooms for accountants and a private school. The grand hall was luxurious, and the next courtyard housed a flower pavilion for banquets and music, with a small pond filled with lotuses—typical of Jiangnan official and merchant mansions. The courtyard was deep and serene, elegant and quiet. Xu Fengnian noticed the armrest chairs in the hall, which were not typical of Jiangnan style, and smiled, “Uncle Wei, you truly cherish old memories, otherwise you wouldn’t use these Nan Tang-style chairs.”
The old man urged Xu Fengnian, Liu Nicong, and Gongsun Yang to sit, only taking a seat himself after the guests had settled. He chuckled warmly, “I won’t be returning to my roots in this life, but I should at least remember where I came from, shouldn’t I?”
The old merchant, who owned over a dozen shops in Liuxia City, sat down briefly with Liu Nicong and Gongsun Yang, exchanging polite small talk. Compared to Xu Fengnian, who was treated like family, the conversation with the others was noticeably colder. Soon, he stood up, saying, “I should personally go check the goods. I must get a good price for the arms inspector. I can’t afford to lose face. No need to see me off—make yourselves at home.”
Two young maids remained in the hall to serve the guests, naturally drawn closer to Xu Fengnian, who seemed more like family. As the tea cooled slightly, they sweetly asked if he wanted a fresh cup.
In the accounting room, Old Wei glanced through the window at the main hall, seemingly recalling something. With his back to the three accountants, he pulled out the secret letter, moistened his finger with saliva, and rubbed it against the seal. After sniffing it, he sighed in relief, tucked the letter back into his sleeve, and murmured, “It’s the right scent. This deal should go smoothly.”
Old Wei, who had built his fortune in Liuxia City, closed his eyes briefly, then smiled knowingly. “If he really is Old Qi’s distant nephew, then this journey must have been exhausting. As his uncle, shouldn’t I treat him to a feast at the Golden Phoenix Pavilion? I wonder what kind of girl he likes. If he prefers something simple, then the two maids, Qiushui and Chunlong, in the hall would suffice. An old man like me can’t indulge anymore. No need to let outsiders have the pleasure.”
Before entering the city, Liu Nicong had warned the gang members to be cautious and not break anything while staying as guests. In truth, she was overthinking. After traveling northward, the Yulong Gang had long lost their initial confidence when leaving Linzhou. This journey into the Northern Desert had exposed them to the arrogance and cunning of noble families, the brutal tactics of soldiers, and the flying martial artists who fought over secret manuals. They had been thoroughly humbled, especially the three young men who had accompanied Miss Liu into Yanhuiguan. They vividly described how that woman’s bare thighs and ample bosom had crushed a strong man into a crater, leaving the Yulong Gang terrified.
Old Wei, a man who had spent his life calculating numbers, was meticulous. He first sent his steward to discreetly inquire. After the nephew agreed and Miss Liu gave a tacit nod, he arranged for the Yulong Gang members to visit brothels after dinner. These were not the most luxurious establishments in the city—not because Old Wei couldn’t afford it, but because he feared trouble. Brothels were notorious for their chaos. Though he was wealthy, in the Northern Desert, money could only buy favors if it first passed through the hands of nobles. Doing business with such people was manageable, but rivaling them in brothels was dangerous—tempers flared faster than turning pages. Old Wei didn’t want to risk his reputation over a deal with the arms inspector. After all, he ran a business in Liuxia City, not Linzhou.
The Wei household intentionally placed Liu Nicong and Xu Fengnian in adjacent rooms behind the flower pavilion, separated from the Yulong Gang by a courtyard. Two delicate maids attended to Xu Fengnian’s bath and change of clothes. The young prince showed no embarrassment, though the two maids, unused to such tasks, were flustered. After dressing in fresh clothes, Xu Fengnian knocked on the door of the next room. Liu Nicong opened it silently and sat by the window, gazing at the pond. The breeze was gentle, a paradise compared to the harsh desert journey. Xu Fengnian took a bite of pear and asked, “Still angry about the Yulong Gang going to the brothels?”
Liu Nicong glared at him furiously, calling him a bastard who treated brothels like a casual meal.
Xu Fengnian chuckled, “Good thing I’m not in the Yulong Gang, or I’d be driven mad by you, future leader. We barely survived to Liuxia City, and they’re practically bursting with frustration. My dear Miss Liu, you’re a woman, so you don’t understand, but men have their needs.”
Liu Nicong snapped, “Then why don’t you go do those despicable things too?!”
Xu Fengnian suddenly looked deeply sorrowful, his face filled with grief. Liu Nicong was puzzled until, after a long stare, she seemed to discover a shocking secret. For the first time, she looked at him with sympathy and whispered, “You… can’t?”
Xu Fengnian bit into the juicy pear, feigning annoyance. “Why would that matter to you?”
Liu Nicong’s expression turned strange, as if she had confirmed something. She tactfully changed the subject. “Now that we’re in Liuxia City, there shouldn’t be any more problems, right?”
Xu Fengnian nodded. “Generally speaking, with Wei Feng’s capabilities, this deal should be secure. You’ll also receive his covert support when returning to Linzhou.”
Liu Nicong said bitterly, “If he’s so capable, why didn’t he help earlier?”
Xu Fengnian calmly replied, “Is he your father, or are you his daughter-in-law? Why should he spend money and favors to help you? Don’t tell me this deal is that important to him. For a fox like Wei Feng, who doesn’t lack money, if the Yulong Gang couldn’t deliver the goods to Liuxia City themselves, they have no right to expect his help in the future. He’s a respected figure here. Don’t think that a former arms inspector from Linzhou is some mighty lord. He’s just being polite. If the deal succeeds, everyone profits. If it fails, Wei Feng simply loses a small portion of his income. In business, besides goods, you must also weigh people’s abilities. If your Yulong Gang wants a better life, you must ultimately rely on your own strength. Once you become the top gang in Linzhou, Wei Feng might even be the one flattering you.”
Liu Nicong fell silent, her mood dark.
They sat in silence for a long while. Suddenly, following his gaze, she realized he was staring at her legs.
She blushed furiously. “Pervert! What are you looking at?!”
To her shock, he boldly slammed the table, startling her, and shamelessly replied, “Is that illegal?”
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