Chapter 70 Using Shan He to Command Liang Ye

Liang Ye glanced at the sword in his hand; the blade wasn't even sharpened, and couldn't help but sneer. He rose from the pond, strolled leisurely to the robe rack, and took a satin robe to put on. He first said to Shan He, "Go back and wait for me." Only then did he address the newcomer, "Who are you?"

Qiu Mao squinted at his demeanor and immediately recognized who the man was. Qiu Mao forcefully raised his sword with both hands and shouted, "Call your brother out!"

When Shanhe saw this man repeatedly saying he wanted to see Liang Shao, she couldn't help but be suspicious. Although she agreed to Liang Ye's request, she didn't want to leave. She moved slowly behind the shelf, hiding half of her body, to see what this man would do next.

Qiu Mao urged again, "Call Liang Shao out!"

Liang Ye recognized him and approached him step by step: "Liang Shao is not here. He went to Beichuan."

Qiu Mao couldn't hold back any longer and shouted hysterically, "Then write a letter and tell him to come back!"

"If you have something to say, why don't you just tell me?"

"You?" Qiu Mao spat coldly, "You are even more despicable than Liang Shao!" With that, he raised his sword with both hands and slashed at Liang Ye's face.

Liang Ye deftly dodged to the side. His face darkened, and he coldly rebuked, "Qiu San! Are you insane!" Liang Ye's attack was swift, decisively striking Qiu Mao's wrist. The sword clattered to the ground, its cold light gleaming. Upon seeing this, Qiu Mao screamed and lunged at Liang Ye, grabbing his collar and trying to charge at him, but Liang Ye held his wrist, restraining him with his hands behind his back.

He kicked Qiu Mao in the calf, forcing him to kneel on the bathing stone. Though he had long since neglected his martial arts and his punches and kicks were not as swift as before, they were still more than enough to deal with a spineless coward like Qiu Mao. Qiu Mao immediately cried out in pain as he was twisted, frightening Ouyang Tongyang, who rushed forward and pleaded with Liang Ye to let go: "Jichen, quickly let go! His father is the Minister of War, and the current Prince of Qi is his cousin!"

"Ha, he bullied my Ah Shao back then, and now he dares to come looking for trouble. How can we not teach him a lesson for what he's going to do today?" With that, Liang Ye tightened his grip, twisting Qiu Mao's wrist so hard it almost twisted over. Qiu Mao gasped for breath, tears streaming down his face, calling out Liang Ye's name repeatedly, begging for mercy.

"Liang Tanhua—" A sharp voice pierced the air from not far away, "How have you been?"

Everyone turned to look and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick beard easily holding Shanhe hostage, a gleaming steel knife pressed against Shanhe's slender neck. Behind this man, a dozen or so burly men, all dressed in black and wielding steel knives, stood in neat rows. Judging from their bearing, they were clearly trained martial artists.

Liang Ye's heart tightened, and Ouyang Tongyang, who was beside him, stepped forward with a smile: "Brother Jin, how could you not let me know beforehand that you are coming? I would have been able to make preparations in advance."

It turns out that this Brother Jin, whose real name is Jin Anfu, is the owner of Wuji Casino, the largest gambling den in the capital. Previously, Ouyang Tongyang owed a gambling debt of 1,200 taels of silver at Wuji Casino, and it was Brother Jin who relentlessly pursued him, almost driving him to Ouyang's residence. Tongyang couldn't escape, so he asked Liang Ye for help to settle the debt and quell the trouble, preventing Ouyang from discovering the affair. Because Brother Jin is ruthless and has countless lives on his hands, yet has never been brought to justice, he is known in the streets as "Yama Jin" (King of Hell), and is not someone to be trifled with. Today, he has come to Wuyou Garden with so many men, indicating that he is up to no good.

Jin Anfu laughed loudly, his beautiful beard trembling: "Young Master Ouyang, you've put on quite a show!" He stared at Liang Ye with undiminished ferocity, twisting his wrist to feed the knife halfway in, and blood immediately seeped from Shanhe's neck.

Liang Ye was terrified and said urgently, "Jin Anfu! What do you want? Release her now. If you have any problems, come at me!"

Jin Anfu clicked his tongue, raised the blade, and lifted Shanhe's chin: "I thought she was just a maid, but I didn't expect her to be Master Liang's darling. It saves me a lot of trouble." He gestured towards Qiu Mao, who was kneeling on the ground, "Liang Ye, release Xiao Mao first. Only then can we talk."

Without saying a word, Liang Ye immediately released his grip and threw Qiu Mao to the ground.

Jin Anfu said, "Little Mao, is this the person who hurt you? Come on, pick up your sword and slash him. Today, your Grandpa Jin will stand up for you and settle your score!"

Qiu Mao stumbled to his feet, his voice filled with grievance, tears already streaming down his cheeks: "Second Brother Jin, it wasn't him, it was his younger brother! He went to Beichuan, he's not here!"

Liang Ye shouted sternly, "Enough! Jin Anfu, what exactly do you intend to do!"

Jin Anfu sneered and narrowed his eyes: "Liang Ye, I have always admired scholars, let alone a talented man like you, who has won the third-highest rank in the imperial examination. On the day the results were announced, I even sent someone to deliver gifts to you, have you forgotten? Liang Ye, I, Jin, have never offended you, so why are you so persistent in pursuing this matter?"

Liang Ye pursed his lips and said, "It's not that I'm forcing you. What's relentlessly pursuing you is the law of the Great Yan."

Jin Anfu couldn't help but let out a cold snort. His rough, large hand gripped Shanhe's shoulder, causing her tears to stream down her cheeks. Jin Anfu tilted his head back, glancing sideways at Liang Ye: "Liang Ye, everyone here is my man. As far as I know, besides this little beauty, the only other person you've brought here is your servant Cheng Min, right? Tonight, you won't be leaving Wuyou Garden. If you want you and the little beauty to return safely, you'll have to do as I say."

"what are you up to?!"

Jin Anfu smiled and said, "Bring me all the files you've found these past few days that are related to my Wuji Field! Have Chengmin fetch them, and you and the little beauty will be here as hostages."

Liang Ye's pupils contracted sharply. So this was Jin Anfu's purpose for coming tonight. A thousand thoughts raced through Liang Ye's mind, but when he looked up again, his expression had gradually calmed: "And then what?"

“I will release you. However, if you cannot retrieve it—” Jin Anfu approached the trembling Shanhe, his large hand moving downwards, finally landing on Shanhe’s half-wet waist, pinching her hard, causing Shanhe to cry out in pain. Jin Anfu laughed, “You will have to leave the little beauty and your right arm behind.”

Liang Ye slowly clenched his fists at his sides, his teeth clenched, and his voice almost escaped between his teeth: "Aren't you afraid that after I get away, the authorities will send people to arrest you?"

Jin Anfu said nonchalantly, "Do you have any evidence?" He glanced at Ouyang Tongyang, who was already cowering to the side, trembling like a quail. "Or are you talking about him? Liang Ye, don't you think about how my men, who are armed, were able to enter Wuyou Garden so openly and honestly?"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Tongyang was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, facing Liang Ye and begging for mercy with his hands clasped together: "Liang Ye, good brother, it's all my fault! I really have no choice! I really can't fill the five hundred taels hole this time! Give him the dossier, and don't worry about the Wuji Field anymore! When we get back, I'll ask Father to help you get into the Menxia Province! Brother Jin said that if you get into the Menxia Province, we'll all be brothers from now on. Not only will we not cause you any trouble, but we'll also help you get promoted!"

Liang Ye suddenly realized. No wonder Ouyang Tongyang had repeatedly invited him to Wuyou Garden this time; it turned out he had been in cahoots with Jin Anfu all along and had set a trap to lure him in! A few days ago, he had helped Ouyang Tongyang pay off his gambling debts, but unexpectedly, in just a few days, he had incurred a huge debt of five hundred taels! Now he was going to sell him off, all for those five hundred taels! Liang Ye looked at Tongyang, his knuckles already clenched so tightly they turned white.

He paused for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying, "Fine! Cheng Min isn't at Yuqingquan. Find two people to come with me. I'll personally instruct Cheng Min to return to the capital immediately to retrieve the files. But she," Liang Ye looked at Shan He, "you'll have to take good care of her."

Jin Anfu laughed loudly: "If you behave, she'll still be your woman. If you don't, she'll become our bed warmer!"

Upon hearing this, Shanhe's face turned deathly pale. She had been held hostage by Jin Anfu, a steel knife already pressed against her neck, leaving a shallow cut. Shanhe trembled violently, tears streaming down her face, soaking her clothes. She watched as Liang Ye, who had already made his agreement with Jin Anfu, approached step by step, whispering, "Wait for me." Then he walked past her, leaving her alone and isolated among the wolves. Shanhe felt her heart shatter.

Jin Anfu, Qiu Mao, and eight other burly men gathered around the small hot spring, their eyes all fixed on Shan He. She could only look pleadingly at Ouyang Tongyang, the only person she recognized there, but the moment their eyes met, Tongyang immediately lowered his face, avoiding her gaze.

Jin Anfu lowered his steel knife, turned Shanhe around, and looked her up and down with a loud laugh. He laughed loudly and said, "Look at this style! The third-ranked scholar's taste is much more refined than yours, you vulgar people!" All the men echoed his words.

Qiu Mao rubbed his wrist and leaned closer, his voice gentle: "Second Brother Jin, the one I'm looking for isn't Liang Ye, it's Liang Shao."

Jin Anfu frowned and asked, "Where is Liang Shao now?"

"Liang Ye just said that he went to Beichuan, presumably to join the army!"

Jin Anfu laughed, "Little Mao'er, that's even simpler. Going to Beichuan is a near-certain death mission. I'll just send two people over to take care of him for you—"

Shanhe was startled.

"No!" Qiu Mao threw herself onto Jin Anfu's strong arm, tilting her head up with a pitiful expression. "No, I want him alive!"

Jin Anfu patted Qiu Mao's face and laughed, "Mao'er, what a sentimental fool! Even in this situation, you're still thinking about him?"

Qiu Mao nestled in Jin Anfu's arms, concealing the disappointment in her eyes, her expression tender and alluring: "No way, I have Second Brother Jin, who would want him?"

Qiu Mao's alluring charm and unrestrained behavior surpassed even that of Lü Zhu. Shan He felt extremely uncomfortable watching her, wishing she could droop her head to the ground.

Seeing Shanhe's state, Jin Anfu felt a stirring in his heart. Although he was the owner of Wuji Brothel and had no particular preference for men or women, and had even been with the most beautiful courtesans of the brothel, he had seen countless women, accepting all kinds regardless of their appearance. While he had also encountered some elegant and refined women, seeing Shanhe today made him realize that none of his former contemporaries could compare to someone of such impeccable character. Moreover, she was someone chosen by the third-ranked scholar, Liang Ye.

However, Jin Anfu still remembered that she was Liang Ye's person, and besides, his purpose in coming today was not only to destroy the files, but more importantly, to try to win over Liang Ye. He was unwilling to let this beautiful woman go so easily.

So Jin Anfu smiled and patted Qiu Mao's face, then looked up at Shan He and said, "You, go into the water."

Shanhe stiffened, still standing there with her head down, pretending not to hear.

Jin Anfu assumed it was because he hadn't called her by name, so he asked Tong Yang, "What's her name?"

Tong Yang smiled obsequiously, "I only know that his surname is Xue."

"Oh." Jin Anfu raised his thick eyebrows. "Miss Xue, I have so many brothers, there's really no room for everyone to stand. Why don't you take a dip in the water first?" He added, "No need to take off your clothes." At this, everyone burst into laughter.

Qiu Mao glared at Shan He and secretly rolled his eyes.

Shanhe was instantly filled with shame and indignation. Tears streamed down her face, but she remained standing there motionless, neither uttering a sound nor moving an inch.

Jin Anfu was getting a little impatient: "Are you deaf?"

Tong Yang was about to help Shan He out of the predicament with a forced smile when a muffled groan came from the exit. Everyone turned to look and saw Liang Ye, his face covered in blood, pulling a steel knife from one of Jin Anfu's men, the knife stained with blood and flesh.

Liang Ye wiped the blood off the knife with his fingers, narrowed his eyes, his blood-stained eyelashes obscuring most of his vision, and smiled faintly: "Such a dull knife, it's fine for killing such scum."

The crowd was initially startled, but the remaining seven men immediately charged forward, brandishing their steel knives and surrounding Liang Ye. Jin Anfu quickly dropped Qiu Mao and grabbed Shan He as a hostage.

Liang Ye drew his sword and charged forward, engaging them in combat. However, his purpose in returning this time was not to kill; he only wanted to rescue Shan He.

He had just gone to their lodgings with the two men when he carefully observed the situation and found an opportunity to kill them and seize their weapons. Only then did he cautiously make his way back. Along the way, he discovered that all the entrances to Wuyou Garden were occupied by Jin Anfu's men, making escape difficult. Liang Ye knew he was alone and couldn't fight them head-on. His only chance of survival was to take Shanhe with him, lie in ambush, and sneak out quietly.

While Liang Ye was engaged in a fierce battle with the crowd, Qiu Mao sat on the ground, completely mesmerized by Liang Ye's heroic figure.

While observing Jin Anfu's movements, Shanhe also looked for any opportunity to break free from his grasp. In a short while, Liang Ye had already leaped down to within four or five steps of them. Seeing this opportunity, Shanhe raised her elbow and slammed it into Jin Anfu's back, but Jin Anfu only grunted and didn't move at all: "Ha, such weak strength, you still dare to show it in front of Grandpa?"

He raised his hand, about to slap Shanhe across the face.

The rough, thick palm looked painful just by looking at it, and Shanhe closed her eyes in fright.

The palm strike didn't land, because Shanhe had already been pulled into Liang Ye's arms. She opened her eyes and discovered that the steel knife Liang Ye was wielding was deeply embedded in Jin Anfu's arm.

Liang Ye, who had lost his weapon, was surrounded by the remaining five men while holding Shan He in his arms.