Chapter 39: West Tower Under the Moon
The old man slowly emerged from the shadows, and Feng Yanyuan was startled. The man before him was clearly the trembling shop owner from a moment ago, yet now his hair and beard flowed in the wind, his demeanor calm and composed. Although he wore ordinary coarse cloth, he exuded a pure aura, like a hidden immortal in the secular world.
"This junior has just entered the martial arts world and does not want to cause trouble." Feng Yanyuan bowed and said, "I didn't expect to not only meet a troublemaker, but also enter a troublesome place. I wonder if you are here to take my life?"
The old man stroked his long, gray beard and laughed heartily, "Young Master, you're wrong. I'm already buried up to my neck in the earth. How can I take all that false fame and profit with me into the grave?" He flicked his sleeves and looked at the mess on the ground, "I was just hiding in the dark, watching the excitement!"
Yun Yuan laughed and said, "Old Master, since you say you're here to watch the fun, you don't know the reason for the mandrake in the wine and food, and the musk in the candlelight?"
The old man turned around upon hearing this and said, "What a sharp nose! I've been mixing this 'Immortal Intoxication Fragrance' for thirty years, and no one has yet been able to sniff it out." He stroked his beard again and smiled, "It's just business. Mandrake stimulates the appetite, and musk soothes the soul. I'm just asking you to have a few more drinks, what's wrong with that?"
"It seems nothing serious." Yun Yuan tapped the teacup with her fingertips. "But the old man has mastered the blend. The mandrake loosens the qi, while the musk makes the spirits high. The two effects, combined with the temperature of the candle..." She raised her eyes and looked directly at the old man. "The more intense the martial artist's power, the faster the drug takes effect. If it weren't for your quick decision, I'm afraid these people would have collapsed from exhaustion."
The old man was stunned for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "I have been setting up this scheme for twenty-three years and have witnessed dozens of Hongmen Banquets. You are the first one to see through it."
Feng Jiucai suddenly realized: So that's it! This isn't just a spectator, he's a fisherman reaping the benefits!
He stretched his arms, which were gradually regaining strength, and looked at Yun Yuan in surprise: "This tea... could it be that you made the antidote?"
Yun Yuan shook her head. "How could I possibly be so capable? This is the tea my father-in-law prepared himself. I simply smelled the antidote in it and asked for it. But you were so focused on watching the fight that you didn't even touch a drop."
Feng Jiu was confused for a moment: "They poisoned someone, prepared an antidote, and let anyone take it. What kind of logic is this?"
The old man stroked his beard and smiled, "There are three things I love most in my life: watching plays, brewing tea, and meeting friends. It's a pity that when people from the martial arts world meet, there's always a flash of swords and sabers. Who would be willing to calmly drink tea? I thought I had met a close friend today..." He feigned anger and glared at Yun Yuan, "Who knew this girl had such a sharp nose that she could smell the secret in my tea!"
Yun Yuan pursed her lips and smiled: "In this room, people are either sharpening knives or their lives are hanging by a thread. Who else can be so leisurely and elegant as this old man to ask for tea?"
Feng Yanyuan was slightly startled by this. Ever since Yun Yuan came in to inspect the candlesticks, took the tea, and tested the chopsticks, he'd been wary. He knew her ability to discern scents and poisons, and he knew even more clearly that with so many enemies surrounding him, even a secret message would be futile. Better to wait and see what happened. But when Yun Yuan took the tea, he'd assumed she'd prepared the antidote, but he hadn't imagined it was actually prepared by this old man.
He suddenly chuckled. "So that's how it is." In that case, it was he who was being rude.
Feng Yanyuan bowed and said, "Sir, you are here to save someone today. I apologize for any offense I may have caused you."
The old man twirled his beard and laughed, "Oh? Where did you get that from, Third Young Master Feng?"
Feng Yanyuan greeted with great respect, "The senior said he used this medicine to witness the entire Hongmen Banquet. I'm afraid it's more than just 'watch'; it's more than 'stop'. The magic of this medicine is—" He looked at the unconscious people, "The more you practice, the faster the effect of the medicine takes effect. Those who rush into battle will eventually fail, while those who calmly avoid fighting will prevail. The senior used medicine instead of a sword, transforming a life-and-death struggle into a decisive moment."
"Hahaha!" The old man's laughter was so resonant that it made the dust on the beams fall. "I don't deserve such praise! Today, I'm not so much here to save people as to witness your demeanor." He pointed at the crowd on the ground. "These people came here for fame, wealth, and money, and they spoke harshly. But you, the young master, repay evil with kindness. It's truly rare."
Feng Yanyuan sighed softly, "It's all the fault of the Wuliang Ranking. It's human nature to pursue wealth and fame, but do we really have to kill everyone we see? Besides..." He glanced at the unconscious people, "These people each have their own sects behind them, why bother making mortal enemies?"
The old man nodded slightly. "Young Master, you defeated the enemy without taking their lives. You established your authority without creating any grudges. Strength is paramount in the martial arts world. After this battle, these people will actually respect you." He clapped his hands in admiration. "To defeat the enemy without fighting is truly a great wisdom!"
Feng Yanyuan sighed inwardly. This wasn't some profound wisdom; it was simply the result of having suffered greatly at the hands of his brother since childhood, and having learned that acting on impulse would only backfire. He straightened his clothes and hat, and bowed solemnly, "Senior, you are too kind. I see that you have a deep understanding of the affairs of the martial arts world, and you must be no ordinary person. May I ask for your honorable title?"
The old man smiled and said, "I am an idler in the mountains, and I have a false name—" He paused, and said in a voice as clear as gold and jade, "It is Song Hezi."
Feng Yanyuan was startled, and immediately paid his respects with great respect: "You are the Senior Medical Saint! I have long admired your renown!"
Song Hezi waved his hands repeatedly, "You must be embarrassing me! I've only just heard of Young Master Feng San's name." He suddenly said seriously, "Sir, haven't you always wondered why everyone in the martial arts world recognizes you?" He then turned and led the way, "Please follow me."
Entering the second-floor inner chamber, Song Hezi unrolled a stack of portraits. In them, Feng Yanyuan appeared, either standing with his halberd or riding the wind, in over ten different poses. Even more alarming, these portraits were accompanied by lurid texts—some claiming the Wind God Halberd could communicate with spirits and recognize its master, others claiming the possessor would gain a sixty-year increase in power, and even the most absurd claiming that anyone who killed Feng Yanyuan would receive divine power.
"In just over ten days, these portraits were plastered all over the main roads of every prefecture." Song Hezi sighed and shook his head. "Even the storytellers in the teahouses were singing the story of 'Whoever possesses the Wind God Halberd will rule the world.'" He pointed to the marks on the corners of the portraits. "Even stranger still is the fact that these paintings were created by different studios, yet they appeared on the same day."
Feng Yanyuan stroked the portrait with his fingertips. He thought of the "guests" in the guesthouse—there were swordsmen from the north, Gu Masters from southern Xinjiang, and even a few who were clearly ordinary people. This overwhelming presence—he suddenly chuckled, "They must have hired half the painters in the world."
The Wind God Halberd was a Feng family secret, naturally forbidden to be passed on according to ancestral precepts. Yet, it had become a household topic, and he wondered what his father would think. The culprit behind this wasn't hard to guess—he simply hadn't imagined that his good uncle, trapped in Moon-Watching Valley for eight years, could mobilize such power.
Feng Yanyuan sighed softly. This kind of power was definitely not something an ordinary noble could possess—this journey would only lead to more trouble. With this thought in mind, he looked towards the restaurant on the first floor.
Yun Yuan was helping the cook - actually a medicine boy - to bandage the wounds of the four people.
She seemed unconcerned about all of this, whether it was the Wind God Halberd or who was behind today's killing.
After Yun Yuan settled the others, she returned to her room. As the night deepened, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. Finally, she finally fell into a drowsy state when she heard footsteps pause at the door. The figure paused for a long time, hesitating about something.
That's all. She stood up, put on her clothes, and pushed the door open, only to see Feng Yanyuan's back in a tattered blue shirt as he was about to leave.
"You haven't slept yet." Feng Yanyuan stopped and turned around with a smile in the corner of his eyes.
"Young Master, can't sleep?"
He didn't answer, but went straight in, walked to the window, raised his hand and pushed open the carved window.
"The morning moon has set." He looked at the waning moon in the sky.
Yun Yuan didn't go to look at the moon. She just felt the cool night breeze and turned around to find a thick robe to wrap herself tightly.
"Is this how Baihualou taught you?" Feng Yanyuan turned around and said with a smile, "You're only concerned about keeping yourself warm."
So he knew the night was cold, so why did he insist on opening the window? Yun Yuan didn't bother to argue, and simply rummaged through the drawers in the room, trying to find a coat he could wear. His fingertips brushed against a sable cloak in the drawer, but then he remembered that this man hated fur, so he had to continue searching.
Feng Yanyuan held her arm, then lowered his head to look at the wound on her wrist, and said with a smile, "Why don't you apply medicine? Are you still trying to frame me?"
"I can't stand the smell of the medicine." She saw Feng Yanyuan's playful smile and said angrily, "Young Master is in danger, and you have the mind to make fun of me."
Feng Yanyuan smiled. "That wasn't a big deal. Compared to the forced U-turn on Huangquan Road, today I couldn't even touch the door knocker of Senluo Palace." He paused, then added, "Speaking of which, now that I'm so free, I should toast to that fatal blade."
Yun Yuan was startled at the words, her fingertips clenching the corner of her clothes. The night wind blew through the window lattice, making the candle on the table flicker and cast a swaying shadow on her face.
"Have you heard in Baihua Tower how the Wind God Halberd is passed down?" he asked.
Yun Yuan didn't understand why he told her this and just shook her head.
"Actually, I don't know either." Feng Yanyuan leaned against the window, lost in his memories. "I became the heir of the Wind God Halberd ten years ago. Back then, my brother had already made a name for himself in the martial arts world, but I was just a young boy. I didn't have the scheming of the boy today, nor did I have his martial arts skills and inner strength. I was just a child who had just lost his mother and locked himself up every day."
Yun Yuan finally found a suitable robe and put it on him.
He looked at her hands as she adjusted his robe and asked, "Do you know why the Wind God Halberd has never appeared in the martial arts world?"
Yun Yuan shook her head again.
"Because the Wind God Halberd is only used to guard the family home." He suddenly smiled sadly. "Also, the divine halberd must have a successor. When heaven, earth, and man unite, a formation can be formed. So, to ensure the continuity of the formation, when a successor dies, the Feng family will first gather at the Wind God Pavilion to search for the next successor." He looked into her downcast eyes. "You must have noticed it too."
He spoke so lightly, as if it were just a passing memory. Yet, Yun Yuan's heart tightened. She thought of the desolate Yuanfeng Courtyard on the day he was poisoned. How heartbreaking would it be to shoulder the burden of protecting the family, yet be feared in life and ignored in death?
"My grandfather was the previous successor. I still remember that time, his mourning hall was empty. Only me and little Ruyue were there with me." The moonlight gilded his profile with a silver edge. "A few days later, my father suddenly took me to the Wind God Pavilion." He chuckled softly. "Speaking of which, this Wind God Halberd recognizes its master quite casually. I just squeezed it, and the Wind God Formation stabilized."
Feng Yanyuan looked at the overly bright Taibai Star outside the window. "After that, I had to go through some rituals, and I couldn't go to the funeral hall for a long time. When I finally got time to go, Xiao Ruyue refused to pay any attention to me." He chuckled. "Later, I found out that it was because she had been waiting alone in the funeral hall, scared and crying every night."
Yun Yuan's eyes, which were already blurred by rain and fog, suddenly curved and she burst into laughter.
"She's a few years older than me and should have been married long ago. Since I didn't choose a maid, she insisted on staying." Feng Yanyuan's eyes showed warmth, "Fortunately, we have Feng Jiu now."
"She also gave Feng Jiuqian many instructions before she left," Yun Yuan thought of Ruyue's worried look and smiled, "She was always thinking about finding a suitable maid for the young master."
"What I need is not a maid." Feng Yanyuan suddenly turned around and looked at him intently.
Yun Yuan suddenly met his deep eyes and was stunned for a moment.
He took a step closer and stared at her for a long moment. "Yuan'er, do you have anything... you want to say to me?"
Yun Yuan's throat tightened. That gaze seemed to pierce her soul, making her heart beat like a drum. She hurriedly lowered her head and stammered, "Your servant... your servant is tired."
Feng Yanyuan's lips curled up bitterly. He took a step back, looked at the fading moonlight and sighed softly: "Well...rest well."
In a flash, the man in green robe disappeared outside the corridor, leaving only the half-open window, letting in bright light into the room.
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