Chapter 108: My Jianghu
Chapter 108: My Jianghu
Old Classmate He Zhenzhang really couldn’t bring himself to trust Second Young Master Fang’s words and had firmly decided to leave after the meal.
But strangely, after eating, he felt a bit thirsty, so he stayed to drink tea in the Fang family’s living room. After drinking the tea, he felt somewhat tired and sat down in an official’s armchair to rest. Steward Huang himself started to feel something was odd, and when he came over kindly asking Young Master He Zhenzhang whether he would be staying overnight at the Fang residence, Fang Cun finally appeared, having changed into fresh robes. Smiling, he invited He Zhenzhang to step out together…
“He’s actually going?”
Seeing this, He Zhenzhang was so excited his hands trembled!
They were going!
He was actually really taking him!
As he stepped through the gate of the Flowing Moon Pavilion, He Zhenzhang felt like he was walking on cotton. Second Young Master Fang had actually really invited him to the Flowing Moon Pavilion. How could this be imagined? How could it be real? This was simply a pie falling from the sky, this was absolutely…
“Huh? We’re leaving already?”
Before he could even snap out of his daze from seeing the beautiful women, He Zhenzhang froze again.
He watched as Fang Cun, after just speaking a few words to the madam inside, immediately started to leave, nearly bursting into tears.
What was this all about?
If he wasn’t going to stay, why come only to leave right away?
“With so many lovely ladies accompanying us, anywhere can be the Flowing Moon Pavilion!”
Fang Cun laughed, pulling He Zhenzhang close and pointing up the stairs. He Zhenzhang watched as rows upon rows of women in sheer gauze and light skirts slowly descended, their laughter bright, their eyes seductive. He felt as if he had plunged into a dream. And he remained in that dream, watching as Second Young Master Fang booked the eighteen most elite courtesans of Flowing Moon Pavilion. He watched as the eighteen young ladies filled three entire carriages. Then, he saw Second Young Master Fang push him into one carriage packed with six courtesans, and the procession rattled back the way they came…
Before the Fang Residence, a tent had been erected. The fine silk cloth, scented perfumes, made it even more refined than the private rooms of the Flowing Moon Pavilion. On the steps of the Fang residence, smaller tables were arranged, laden with wine and dishes. Fang Cun and He Zhenzhang each took a seat behind one. Then, with a smile, Fang Cun gestured for the women to begin dancing right there in front of the Fang family gates. The more suggestive the dance, the better. The less they wore, the better…
“And playing like this right at his own front gate?”
He Zhenzhang felt dizzy and muddled, as if still dreaming, sighing in admiration: “Can’t deny it, this really has its own unique flavor…”
Watching He Zhenzhang’s enchanted, blissfully clueless expression, Fang Cun shook his head helplessly. He gently raised his cup and turned to look at the pair of stone lions flanking his family’s gate. One had its head tilted, the other seemed to grin. They looked even less proper than usual, and perhaps even happier.
……
Fang Cun poured out two brimming cups of wine, setting one cup down before each stone lion.
Honestly, he also found the act of bringing the Flowing Moon Pavilion’s ladies home humiliating, but there was no help for it.
The “gentlemen” guarding his gate were difficult to please. Once he asked for their “assistance,” he had to treat them to this kind of… proper performance…
He Zhenzhang was really just an accompanying guest, of course. He had no idea just what kind of fierce existence he was currently keeping company with.
As for Fang Cun… he actually wasn’t in much of a mood to enjoy the spectacle himself.
A phrase like, “Just do good deeds, don’t ask about the future,” might unravel some knots in the hearts of Meng Zhixue or Elder Qu. But for Fang Cun, who’d drunk far too much “inspirational soup” in his past life, it offered no practical help whatsoever. He only considered the most concrete problems…
Gazing towards the night sky in the distance, he knew that the City Governor and the Academy Dean of White Chamber Academy must still be awake now.
They were worrying about his revenge.
They probably thought he surely hated them to the core now, fearing what vengeful actions he might unleash.
But what they didn’t know was: Fang Cun didn’t hate them. They simply weren’t worthy of his hatred, insufficient in both rank and degree.
Fang Cun was merely very disappointed!
The City Governor and the Academy: one represented Order, the other represented Tradition.
These two places ought to be the protective deities of the people of Willow Lake. If only one side turned evil, people could still hold out some hope…
But what should be done if both sides were rotten to the core?
If a Qi Refiner wanted to practice Human Elixir Refinement, it would be catastrophic doom for ordinary folk; they could only rely on the City Governor and the Academy. But if the City Governor and the Academy both became accomplices in Human Elixir Refinement? Then what could these ordinary commoners do? Just wait for death?
Like he himself who was targeted for assassination – if he hadn’t kept a backup plan, wouldn’t he have just been murdered in broad daylight?
The feeling of desperately seeking escape yet finding salvation nowhere – it felt awful. At least some hope ought to remain for ordinary people…
……
A sigh escaped him. In the shadowed depths of a distant alley, the silhouette of a man standing with his hands behind his back appeared.
Fang Cun glanced beside him. He Zhenzhang was now completely thrilled and looking pleasantly dazed. He smiled ruefully, stood up, and went straight over to that figure. Master Qin stood at the alleyway’s end. Clear enough one moment he seemed visible, yet sometimes one felt he had merged completely into the darkness. Fang Cun understood: if Master Qin didn’t want to be seen, Fang Cun would not see him.
“Five thousand gold!”
Master Qin stated simply, without preamble.
Fang Cun couldn’t help but smile. “Still, just one sword?”
Master Qin was silent for a moment. “One must be honest when doing business.”
Fang Cun bowed with cupped hands, smiling. “We could do more business like this, several times over…”
Master Qin replied indifferently, “Present-day Willow Lake City is very clean.”
“Only clean for now…”
Fang Cun chuckled. “You know I’m lazy. I don’t enjoy cleaning all that often…”
Master Qin fell silent briefly. “It seems… you already have an idea…”
Fang Cun smiled. “I was thinking… back when the Immortal Emperor first founded the state, he established Academys and Prefects throughout the land: one for Tradition, one for Protection. There was also the intent for them to mutually oversee and restrain one another. But if both sides become unreliable, what then?”
Master Qin didn’t answer immediately. After a pause, he spoke slowly, “I’m just a businessman. I don’t understand the matters you speak of, nor do I wish to meddle. You and your elder brother… you’re the ones born for such things. What I can tell you is only that person’s identity. He came from Phoenix City. And the woman from Phoenix City… is somewhat troublesome. Furthermore, she’s widely known as the person who bore the most hatred for your elder brother in this world…”
Fang Cun was momentarily stunned. “Why?”
Master Qin said flatly, “Because your elder brother beat her up.”
Fang Cun: “…”
Master Qin continued, “More importantly… if Phoenix City has already set its sights on you, it’s likely others watching you are also many…”
Fang Cun understood what Master Qin implied… With Phoenix City as the example, the “others” Master Qin meant certainly wouldn’t be minor, trifling forces. The Great Xia state was founded west of the Night Plain, pioneering lands, driving back barbarians. Zhaoge stood as its heart. And the Divine Cities – Phoenix City, Kylin City, Dragon City, Sparrow City and others – guarded the eight directions. The various Divine Kings each governed their domains. Each was an existence of heaven-shaking ability…
The General Lord of Phoenix City appearing in Willow Lake meant that forces of this level had set their sights on him?
He wasn’t particularly shocked. Instead, it was almost as if he felt somewhat relieved. Smiling, he said, “Does that mean the risks for whatever I do next are even greater?”
Master Qin stated coolly, “You should understand a principle: the magnitude of your risk… has nothing to do with what you do or don’t do.”
Fang Cun was silent for a while. Suddenly, he asked, “While my elder brother was alive… did he only have enemies? No friends?”
Master Qin shook his head. “While he lived… he had many enemies. He also had many friends.”
Fang Cun replied, “Then why… do I see mostly just the…”
Master Qin answered calmly, “Because debts come chasing after… Favors, on the other hand, one must usually go seeking…”
Fang Cun let out a soft breath. “That’s an interesting thing to say.”
“Second Young Master Fang! What are you doing over there?”
Not far away, He Zhenzhang, sandwiched between two ladies offering him wine, realized Fang Cun had vanished. He looked around drunkenly, spotted Fang Cun talking to Master Qin in the alley, and immediately started waving his hand, shouting, “Hey! Come drink!”
Fang Cun replied with a smile, “Just a moment! I’m saying a few words to a friend!”
He Zhenzhang yelled, “What friend? Invite him over to drink with us!”
Fang Cun laughed, shaking his head. “I doubt he’d like to drink with us…”
He Zhenzhang was instantly displeased. “Who’s so arrogant?” He turned towards Master Qin. “Hey! You there!”
Master Qin watched He Zhenzhang with an impassive face. The drunken He Zhenzhang suddenly felt a jolt of surprise in his heart.
“I should go back and accompany the drinking…”
Fang Cun bowed towards Master Qin with a smile. “Master, please don’t worry. I’ll deliver the silver soon!”
Master Qin was silent for a beat. Suddenly, he asked, “What was that idea you had earlier?”
Fang Cun: “Hmm?”
Master Qin clarified, “If both the Academy and the City Governor prove disappointing… what do you plan to do?”
“What to do?”
Fang Cun instead posed Master Qin a question: “Have you ever heard of the Jianghu?”
Master Qin paused for a moment. “The Jianghu you speak of… seems different from the one I know?”
“Indeed different!”
Fang Cun grinned. “The Jianghu I imagine… holds righteous knights and gallant heroes. They uphold justice above all, they vanquish the strong and aid the weak. When the world encounters injustice, they wield their swords to correct it. When calamity strikes, they shoulder the burden to shield others. They pursue freedom and unbound lives, drifting outside the halls of court, dwelling hidden within the rivers and lakes. If darkness descends upon the mortal realm, they emerge to guard the last vestiges of fairness and righteousness…”
“What you describe cannot exist!”
Before Fang Cun could finish, Master Qin cut him off, his tone dismissive, devoid of interest.
“Indeed, it seems rather impossible…”
Fang Cun chuckled, looking directly at Master Qin. “But… what do you think? Could I… make one? Just for fun?”
Master Qin didn’t speak.
Fang Cun also gave a helpless little laugh. He cupped his hands respectfully in farewell, turned, and started walking back towards his gate. “I’ll… try.”
Master Qin stood within the darkness. Only as Fang Cun was almost out of sight did he suddenly speak again, his low voice cutting through the night. “I can provide help.”
Fang Cun spun around in surprise and delight.
Master Qin: “Five thousand gold per sword!”
Fang Cun’s expression instantly became wry.
“Truly… you are earning your money…”
From the darkness, a trace of emotion seemed to flicker across Master Qin’s perpetually stern face – it might have resembled… a faint smile?
Before Fang Cun could clearly make it out, however, Master Qin had already vanished into the night.