Chapter 55: Undercurrents in the Teahouse (Part 2)
The snow on Changle Street was trampled into a grayish-brown by the footsteps of passersby, and then dried into muddy patches by the warm sun dripping from the eaves. Amidst the comings and goings of people, it was no longer as pristine as it had been on the day of the first snow.
The teahouse Xie Huailing and Bai Feifei entered was also nestled in this muddy area. But rather than being muddy, it was more like the bustling life of the city. The teahouse was small, a two-story wooden building. Downstairs, the noise was deafening, countless murmurs pressing down, along with the aroma of tea and the scent of people, all blending together to fill the entire teahouse. Upstairs, the private seats were simply separated by screens, easily allowing the noise to permeate them, making them feel as if they were in the main hall, even though they weren't there.
Xie Huailing chose a seat near the railing, where she could overlook most of the first floor. A veil covered most of her face, revealing only a pair of hazy gray eyes. Bai Feifei sat down opposite her, also draped in a light veil. Such attire was not uncommon in the martial arts world and was not enough to arouse suspicion at first glance.
As soon as she sat down, Xie Huailing said, "This place is so noisy."
Bai Feifei didn't respond, instead focusing on the throng of people below.
Xie Huailing then asked, "Can I serve you what you ordered?"
Bai Feifei's taciturn nature was successfully broken, and she replied with a single word: "Get lost."
This is the second day. Having successfully lured the Divine Marquis's Mansion into the trap, the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower officially intervened in Li Xunhuan's case. Wuqing handed over the information about the man in black that Li Xunhuan had obtained to Xie Huailing, and also said that he would have Lengxue send her any information that could be obtained from the Six Doors. Xie Huailing then handed over the task of investigating the man in black to Shaman (this girl was so happy that she didn't have to follow her superiors during this period of time, it was like she was on vacation).
Having already considered this, she chose Long Xiaoyun as her entry point and also presented Bai Feifei with the specific details of the transaction, hoping that Bai Feifei could help her to get to the bottom of Li Xunhuan's case.
So the two of them appeared here, a place Long Xiaoyun frequented. Because he was too lazy to go anywhere else, Xie Huailing and Leng Xue also arranged to meet here.
They didn't have to wait long; after a short while, following a small commotion, the people they were waiting for appeared.
Long Xiaoyun walked in. He was quite tall, wearing a slightly worn indigo brocade robe, with a long sword at his waist. His face wore the gentle and friendly smile typical of martial artists, and although he tried to project a heroic and chivalrous air, it was always overshadowed by a sense of restraint. As soon as he entered, several familiar tea drinkers stood up to greet him.
"Master Long is here!"
"Please have a seat, we've just brewed a pot of good tea."
Some looked bewildered and whispered to their companions, "Who is this?"
"Hey, you don't recognize this guy? He's Long Xiaoyun, the great hero, and Li Xunhuan, the Little Li Scholar, a sworn brother." The person introducing him spoke loudly, and the moment he uttered Li Xunhuan's name, he was filled with pride and smugness.
The person who asked the question suddenly realized and his face immediately lit up with warm respect: "So you are Master Long, I have long admired your name, my apologies for not recognizing you. A friend of Li Tanhua, you must be a truly outstanding hero."
Long Xiaoyun's smile inevitably faltered for a moment, though quickly, the awkwardness and stiffness were indelible. Then, just as quickly, a faint look of smugness at being surrounded by people reappeared on his face. The contrasting emotions coexisted, quite complicated. Xie Huailing saw him cup his hands in greeting and put on a smile again: "I am unworthy of your kind words, everyone."
Bai Feifei watched coldly, seeing everything clearly and thoroughly: "He's a good-for-nothing. He covets the prestige and convenience brought by being the close friend of Xiao Li, but he also hates being overshadowed by this glory. And yet, he doesn't have the ability to make a name for himself."
Hearing her disdain, Xie Huailing lazily hummed in agreement: "It's just a pickled fish."
"Pickled fish?"
"It's sour, bland, and superfluous."
Bai Feifei thought about it and realized that she really couldn't refute it. She also felt that the nickname was very fitting and reasonable, and said, "That's really true."
The two looked again, and at that moment, the chatter of the tea drinkers at the next table drifted over:
"I heard that Li Tanhua was seriously injured; if that knife had been half an inch off, he would have been dead."
"That's right. The Six Doors still haven't caught the real culprit. I think it's hopeless! What's worse is that he might develop chronic illnesses and die young. That would be terrible."
Long Xiaoyun was exchanging pleasantries with others when he heard this. He turned around, his brows furrowed, and his voice rose several decibels as he said urgently, “Please stop talking nonsense. Xun Huan is a lucky man, and his injuries are already improving. Please don’t spread rumors!”
Xie Huailing raised his chin at the scene and said, "Look, the friendship isn't entirely fake. At least they're willing to speak up for him and stop the rumors when Li Xunhuan can't hear them. Even if this case is really related to him, this thin layer of friendship seems genuine."
"A mixture of truth and falsehood, a filthy mess." Bai Feifei scoffed, utterly disdainful. She stopped looking downstairs and grabbed a passing waiter.
Without saying a word, Bai Feifei quickly stuffed a few taels of silver into the waiter's hand, then leaned closer and whispered a few words. The waiter, who was being pulled aside, was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up when he saw the heavy silver in his hand. He nodded and bowed repeatedly, then turned and ran downstairs.
The waiter, beaming with a broad smile, first went to the kitchen, then squeezed to Long Xiaoyun's table, quickly bringing several plates of delicate pastries and a pot of fine tea. He deliberately raised his voice loud enough for half the teahouse to hear: "Master Long, this was sent to you by a distinguished guest in a private room upstairs. He said he has always admired the talent of Scholar Li, and is overjoyed to meet such a close friend of the Scholar today. He has specially prepared these simple dishes and drinks for you. Master Long, all your tea, snacks, and drinks for today are on him. Please enjoy yourself!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of envious "tsk tsk" sounds and compliments like "Master Long cares about his reputation" immediately arose from the surrounding area.
Long Xiaoyun's expression became incredibly complex. First, there was astonishment, then a flush of satisfaction from being flattered and his vanity greatly satisfied. But the flush was quickly covered by a somber look of humiliation, as if his face were covered in sand. He instinctively wanted to look up at the building, but his pride held him back. Finally, he cupped his hands to the waiter, his smile a mixture of emotions: "How could I accept this? I have done nothing to deserve such a reward. Please convey my thanks to that distinguished guest."
Bai Feifei withdrew her gaze. After interrupting Long Xiaoyun's meager brotherly affection, she made her judgment, still sticking to her opinion: "What did I just say? Enjoying the adoration, yet hating the source of this adoration is Li Xunhuan. It's like swallowing a live fly in your heart, unable to spit it out or swallow it down. How could you possibly have any feelings for Li Xunhuan?"
Xie Huailing simply shook her head, reaching out with her chopsticks towards Bai Feifei's bowl as she said, "There aren't so many extremes in this world, it's all either/or. People's hearts are like leftover soup, they've been simmered in everything, so it's normal to have all sorts of flavors. Let's not talk about that. Look how many times he glanced at the same table while he was raising his glass to talk. It's really strange, he was either looking at someone at the table or staring at that empty seat."
Bai Feifei knocked Xie Huailing's chopsticks away without even looking, and following her gaze, saw an empty seat next to Long Xiaoyun's table, nothing special about it: "Behave yourself—there's something wrong with the people over there?"
"It doesn't seem like it." Xie Huailing picked up her chopsticks regretfully and said, "He was just looking at the spot itself. Was he waiting for someone, or confirming something?"
The two spoke in hushed tones as a fragrant breeze wafted past the stairwell. A graceful young woman carrying a large plate walked over, wearing a light red jacket and skirt, her hair styled in two buns. Her features were delicate and lively, with a charmingly naive air, like a clever maidservant from a wealthy household. The plate in her hand was filled with steaming hot braised beef, its aroma filling the air.
The young woman walked briskly and with a clear goal in mind, heading straight for Long Xiaoyun's table. She placed the plate of beef in front of Long Xiaoyun and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Great Hero Long, this is for you, please have a taste."
Long Xiaoyun clearly recognized the girl and said with a smile, "You're too kind, young lady. However, I have just had some tea and snacks and really can't have any more."
"Oh dear, tea and snacks can't fill our stomachs," the girl pouted, leaned closer, and whispered in Long Xiaoyun's ear in a voice only the two of them could hear.
Although Xie Huailing and Bai Feifei couldn't hear what was being said, they could guess that the girl was still trying to persuade Long Xiaoyun to eat. They saw Long Xiaoyun firmly shake his head and gently refuse. Then, the girl's charming smile vanished, and for a very brief moment, her eyes were shrouded in an unfathomable, smoky aura of fierceness. It happened so fast that if Xie Huailing hadn't been watching closely, they probably would have missed it.
The girl's eyes darted around, and she smiled sweetly again. She leaned close to Long Xiaoyun's ear, her red lips moving slightly as she spoke a second sentence.
This time, Long Xiaoyun's reaction was completely different. He first stared in astonishment, his face draining of half its color, then looked around before swallowing hard, moving closer to the girl, and pressing her for details.
The girl smiled radiantly and nodded gently. This nod felt like a thousand pounds; Long Xiaoyun felt as if a spine had been ripped out, his whole body slumped, yet he didn't want anyone to notice his unease, so he stood up straight. The girl smiled again, satisfied, and reached out to take Long Xiaoyun's arm. She seemingly leaned on him in an ambiguous manner, but in reality, she didn't touch him at all. Half-pushing, half-pulling, she led Long Xiaoyun towards the side room on the second floor.
Bai Feifei frowned in disgust: "What does this mean, a fleeting romance? If that's what it is, I don't want to follow along."
"I'm afraid we have no choice but to follow them." Xie Huailing's eyes followed the two people as he said, "If we don't go and get the sauerkraut fish out soon, it might turn into a bowl of dead fish soup and stay here forever."
Bai Feifei raised an eyebrow at her, her eyes questioning.
Xie Huailing replied, "You don't really think I came out without any preparation, do you? Do you remember the few murder cases you used as a backdrop the day you came to find me? The methods were clean and efficient, targeting lone men, and you didn't take any valuables afterward. It seemed like you were just doing it for fun or to silence them."
A smart person doesn't need to finish speaking. She put down her teacup, placed her hand on Bai Feifei's shoulder, and deliberately imitated the expectations of an old man in a storybook for his junior, forcing a sense of entrusting him with an important task: "So, Miss Bai, who is very skilled, please go fishing. She probably won't kill Long Xiaoyun here. She will probably drag him out and kill him, just like in the previous case, so you have to hurry."
Bai Feifei snorted coldly, forcefully slapped Xie Huailing's hand away, and scolded, "Don't touch me."
Before she finished speaking, she got up from her chair and, using the flow of people, quietly disappeared from everyone's sight. Xie Huailing checked several times, then sipped her tea as if it were none of her business, before reaching into Bai Feifei's dish with her chopsticks and taking away her pastry.
.
A wisp of cold smoke, carried by the wind, silently settled beneath the eaves of the side room.
It was Bai Feifei. With her superb lightness skill, she moved like flowing clouds, easily leaping onto the rooftop. She chose an extremely cunning position, one that allowed her to avoid potential sightlines while still being able to hear everything happening inside the house below. She held her breath, channeling her inner energy into her ears, and the deliberately hushed conversation below clearly penetrated her ears.
Long Xiaoyun's voice was filled with barely suppressed anxiety, even bordering on irritation: "...You just said that he came again recently? When was that?!"
A charming yet teasing female voice rang out. Who else could it be but the girl serving the beef? "Don't be impatient, Master Long. I'll definitely tell you. You're asking about the person who treated you the other day. He was dressed all in black, looked to be in his thirties or forties, and had a scar on his face, right?"
Long Xiaoyun replied eagerly, "Yes, it's him! Tell me quickly!"
The girl chuckled, whetting Long Xiaoyun's appetite: "But Master Long, you won't even eat the beef I gave you, yet you want me to reveal such important information? That's too hurtful."
The girl's voice was tender as she spoke, tinged with the sadness of a young girl. Long Xiaoyun seemed to sigh and said, "Miss, I already have someone I love, so it's really impossible."
Before he could finish speaking, the girl burst out laughing. But beneath the lighthearted laughter, Bai Feifei could detect a barely perceptible mockery and disdain. The girl said, "Master Long, you've misunderstood. I simply admire your character and wish to make friends. I also have someone I love. It's just a small token of my affection. If you refuse, Master Long, you're looking down on a mere woman like me."
After a brief silence, Long Xiaoyun gave in almost immediately. Perhaps thinking that the woman before him was just an ordinary woman, and that her admiration satisfied his vanity, he replied, "In that case, I, Long, will not refuse."
Bai Feifei listened intently, but sensed no fluctuations in internal energy, only the light clinking of dishes and the sound of Long Xiaoyun swallowing. A few seconds later, a dull thud came from below—it was obvious that something had been added to the beef, and Long Xiaoyun collapsed to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, the girl's charming voice shed all pretense, revealing her true nature of disgust and deep loathing for Long Xiaoyun: "You worthless piece of trash, I'm being lenient by killing you. You dare to guess that I like you? What kind of thing are you to dare say such a thing? You're not even as good as one of my Ninth Brother's fingers. Utterly disgusting, go line up at the King of Hell's palace!"
The girl inside the room spread her five fingers, and a murderous gust of wind was about to touch the unconscious Long Xiaoyun on the ground.
At this very moment! The wooden window of the side room facing the street was shattered by a palm strike, and wood chips and scraps of paper turned into snowflakes that were startled up, as a beautiful figure flashed in.
A cold and stunningly beautiful woman, colder than the wind and faster than shattered debris, a ghost that should only linger in the moonlight, yet she swept in without warning. Bai Feifei's posture seemed to be swaying aimlessly, but in reality, she was agile and unpredictable in every way. Her movements were so strange that they defied common sense. Her skirt didn't even stir a wisp of wind as she spun around and stood between Long Xiaoyun and the girl.
The young woman's sure-fire strike was abruptly cut off by the intruder. Their palms met, and the unprepared woman was thrown back. Her pupils constricted, filled with shock and anger. The white-clad woman who appeared out of nowhere, her face veiled, sent a chill down the young woman's spine with just her gaze.
"court death!"
The girl snapped, her temper flaring, her shock and anger instantly turning into ruthlessness. With a flick of her wrist, her slender fingers, like venomous snakes, clawed towards Bai Feifei's face, applying exponential force and moving with incredible speed, leaving several afterimages in the air. Such a strike, even if it struck a hard rock, would leave a mark.
But Bai Feifei neither dodged nor avoided, remaining completely at ease. Just as the girl's fingertips were less than three inches from the veil, her figure, like a reflection in water, used some unknown technique to perform a cunning trick. The girl's ruthless and cunning claw grasped nothing, her fingertips only brushing against a patch of cold air.
Where are they?
Before the girl could change her move, Bai Feifei flashed to the girl's left side; she was right there!
A pale hand, even more frail and delicate than the girl's arm, seemed like a lover's whisper, yet transformed into the deep hatred of a female ghost as it struck, pushing towards the girl's ribs. This strike, seemingly as light as a feather, sent chills down the girl's spine. She felt it; within the seemingly effortless movement lay a chilling internal force capable of corroding bones and hearts.
She knew she would die. If that blow landed, she would die here.
The girl let out a strange cry, no longer caring about Long Xiaoyun on the ground. She sprang backward, knocking over the low table behind her, shattering cups, plates, and bowls all over the floor. Her back pressed against the cold wall, she stared at Bai Feifei with suspicion and uncertainty, her chest heaving.
"Who...who are you?!" The girl was both surprised and frightened.
It was something she found hard to admit. She had always been unscrupulous in the martial arts world, relying on her talent and exquisite skills, treating human life as worthless. She even considered herself the best among her peers. When had she ever suffered such a defeat? But the white-clad woman who appeared today had a style of martial arts that she had never seen before, which was sinister and cold. She seemed to be about the same age as her, but her martial arts were even better than hers. When did such a person appear in the martial arts world?
Because the girl knew she was a genius, she was even more aware of how terrifying the person in front of her was.
Bai Feifei didn't bother to answer. She just stood there, looking at the girl as if she were an inanimate object.
A rapid knocking sounded at the door, accompanied by a panicked inquiry from the waiter: "Sir, sir, what's wrong inside? I heard a loud noise, what happened?"
The young woman's eyes flickered uncertainly as she tried to find a way out. The white-clad woman's martial arts were unfathomable; she was unlikely to gain the upper hand, let alone kill Long Xiaoyun in front of her. Continuing to entangle herself would only attract more people, which would be a bigger problem. In any case, killing Long Xiaoyun was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, nothing she couldn't give up. There were plenty of days left; she would repay her a hundredfold sooner or later.
So the girl glared at Bai Feifei hatefully, wanting to etch her image into her very bones, and then uttered a harsh remark: "Hmph, he's lucky. We'll see!"
With a swift turn, she slid through the narrow gap between the overturned tables and chairs with incredible agility, her target the window that Bai Feifei had smashed open when she entered.
Bai Feifei moved to stop her, but the girl was incredibly fast and her movements were swift and elusive. Bai Feifei's white sleeve brushed past, but she only caught a fleeting glimpse of the girl's afterimage and the strong scent of perfume. Her figure had already vanished like a wisp of red smoke beyond the broken window frame, merging into the bustling crowds and rooftops of the street below, disappearing in an instant.
Bai Feifei coldly withdrew her gaze, then lowered her head and indifferently glanced at Long Xiaoyun, who lay on the ground like a dead dog.
"Sir, sir! Please open the door!" The waiter's knocking became even more urgent.
Bai Feifei walked to the door, but did not open it completely. She only opened it a crack, just enough for half of her face to show. The anxious face of the waiter outside came into view.
Bai Feifei asked calmly, shielding the view inside the room from view with her body: "What is it?"
The waiter shuddered under her gaze and stammered, "Miss, there was a loud commotion inside just now, like something was knocked over. Are you... are you alright?"
"It's nothing," Bai Feifei replied calmly. "My friend couldn't hold his liquor and got a little drunk, knocking over tables and chairs. The damage is on the books."
The waiter was intimidated by her imposing presence, and since he couldn't smell any blood, and considering that the white-clad woman, though cold, possessed an extraordinary air about her, he immediately believed her story. In Bianjing, the most important thing is to be discerning, so he quickly nodded and bowed, saying, "I see, it's alright, it's alright. I apologize for disturbing you, miss. Would your friend like some hangover soup?"
"No need." Bai Feifei uttered two words crisply and decisively, then closed the door directly.
Silence returned to the room, broken only by Long Xiaoyun's heavy, uneven breathing and the mess on the floor. Bai Feifei stood motionless, waiting.
A few breaths later, three slow knocks sounded, a rhythm quite different from the waiter's earlier hurried knocks.
Bai Feifei walked over and opened the door.
Outside the door, Xie Huailing leaned against the doorframe, her eyes half-open and half-closed. She must have just finished using something, as she was still wiping her mouth. Bai Feifei reached out and pulled Xie Huailing inside, then closed the door behind her.
Xie Huailing looked around the room, unable to find a place to stand, showing the astonishment of someone who knew absolutely no martial arts, and exclaimed, "The situation has really changed rapidly, and the battle was over in the blink of an eye."
Bai Feifei pointed out the window and said, "Stop talking nonsense. I just heard her talking to Long Xiaoyun, but I didn't catch her and she got away. What do we do now?"
Xie Huailing only said, "She can't escape."
With an air of certainty and disdain, she held the girl in even lower regard than Bai Feifei had for her earlier. She lazily kicked Long Xiaoyun and then yawned. The situation was entirely under her control; each pawn unfolded before her eyes like a chess piece, while everyone else was insignificant and insignificant. Only she was meticulous, with every development of the situation under her command, as if she were observing dead fish at the bottom of a clear basin of water.
Xie Huailing added, "Trying to escape from under the nose of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower in Bianjing? That's interesting."
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