Chapter 25: Who is in Bianjing?
"So you still know how to come back?"
Su Mengzhen didn't even glance at her. He stood before the desk, one hand pressing down on the letter, the other holding a writing brush. He wore a long, jet-black robe, the red sash being the most conspicuous feature. He was calmly writing something; he had barely finished dealing with the events of the previous night and hadn't slept more than a few hours before being busy in the study again. His eyes were sunken, and the pale blue veins were visible beneath his paper-white skin. His lack of sleep had left him brimming with vitality, sustained only by his imposing presence.
The midday sun couldn't penetrate the study; the Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion seemed to only welcome wind and rain. Entering felt like stepping into a continuous drizzle, sending a shiver down her spine. Too lazy to stand, she dragged a chair from the doorway, not even bothering to remove her coat, and sat down in front of Su Mengzhen's desk, collapsing as if boneless. Fortunately, Su Mengzhen had only written a few words, and the ink on the paper wasn't much, preventing her face from getting soaked.
Having been away from the Golden Breeze and Drizzle Pavilion all night, she seemed to have lost weight, or perhaps Su Mengzhen was mistaken. In any case, she groaned, "I'm so sleepy, I'm so tired! I only slept for three hours last night, three!"
Most of the letters in Su Mengzhen's hand were covered up by her; she insisted that he see them. He placed the brush beside the inkstone, and, having only slept for an hour, nudged her head: "Don't get in the way."
Xie Huailing needed his help to sit up straight: "How impolite! What does this say? Is it for Jin Banhua? Let me see... It needs to be from a money exchange in Hangzhou..."
She immediately saw that Su Mengzhen was using this as an excuse. As the hostess, Jin Banhua, the fact that her cousin had been taken away by Chu Liuxiang at Yushanlong was something Su Mengzhen had to explain to her. However, how could he possibly afford to give Su Mengzhen the explanation demanded by the owner of Jinfeng Xiyu Tower? Therefore, he could only invoke his father's wealth and the Wanfu Wanshou Garden to obtain some time leeway from Su Mengzhen. As for how much to ask for afterward, that was naturally up to Su Mengzhen.
He used her to blackmail Xie Huailing, who had no objection. She hesitated between the Golden Breeze Pavilion and the Six and a Half Hall, knowing that even a "living god of wealth" couldn't escape unscathed. She felt that if Su Mengzhen didn't make a move today, she would think he lacked awareness. Seeing his demanding manner, Xie Huailing even had the mind to offer advice: "Take the theater in the west of the city too. It'll be very useful for gathering information, and it'll also keep an eye on the Six and a Half Hall's betting odds."
Su Mengzhen considered it for a moment and found it to be reasonable, so he added Xie Huailing's words as well. A letter demanding exorbitant prices was thus completed. Whether Jin Banhua would want to kill herself upon seeing this letter was none of their concern. Even if it were more outrageous, Wanfu Wanshou Garden wouldn't make any mistakes in dealing with Jinfeng Xiyu Tower. Su Mengzhen had occupied the moral high ground, and Jin Banhua wasn't worth it.
Su Mengzhen handed the letter to the guard before sitting down and asking Xie Huailing, "Tell me everything you and Chu Liuxiang said, where you went and what you talked about."
"This..." Xie Huailing had been waiting for him to ask this question. A dark glint flashed in her eyes, and she narrowed them slightly. "He introduced me to someone."
Su Mengzhen met her gaze, and she seemed to be lost in the memories of last night, uttering shocking words through her red lips and white teeth: "A very pitiful person, a person whose eyeballs were gouged out and whose eyelids were sewn back on."
Su Mengzhen paused for a moment, then asked again, "What does this have to do with the White Jade Beauty, and what does it have to do with you?"
Xie Huailing didn't answer at first. She leaned back in her chair and slowly raised half of her face. She didn't feel apologetic to Su Mengzhen for running away with Chu Liuxiang, and she didn't think getting involved in something else would anger Su Mengzhen. She changed the subject and spoke calmly.
She said, "Chu Liuxiang... there are such people in this world, carefree wanderers of the martial world, with a benevolent and righteous heart. But he is also different from Fang Juxia. He is a true wandering knight-errant, helping those in need while maintaining his own integrity. Fame and fortune will not come into his hands. On the contrary, while he is seeking freedom of his own heart, he will not regret getting caught up in the storms for others. What you said about him being a marshal among thieves and a gentleman among knights is absolutely true."
After she finished speaking, she revealed the whole story, which wasn't very long: "Two months ago, Chu Liuxiang discovered a group of suspicious people in the town near his boat. He followed them and found that they had brutally murdered several girls who were tied up, gouging out their eyes and sewing them back up, their blood turning the sand red. He intervened to save them, but the group committed suicide and destroyed the medicine meant for the girls' wounds. In the end, Chu Liuxiang, his sworn sister Su Rongrong, and others only managed to save one girl, named Xiao Yan."
"A human tragedy unfolded before his eyes, and Chu Liuxiang could not ignore it. Five or six girls died in front of him, begging him to save them before they died. He hadn't slept well for two months. After the incident, Chu Liuxiang immediately began searching for clues about these people and found information in a city in Jiangnan."
"This group comes from a force called 'Bat,' Chu Liuxiang overheard. 'Bat' hasn't been established for long, and its members still need to report everything to their leader, who is called 'Young Master Bat.' Chu Liuxiang also heard that 'Young Master Bat' recently came to Bianjing, which is why he brought Xiao Yan and his sworn sister to the capital overnight. While seeking medical treatment for Xiao Yan, he also sent a letter to Jin Banhua. What he wanted was not a beautiful woman, but an occasion where the heroes of Bianjing would gather, combining his reputation with Jin Banhua's wealth."
The old rival was far too authoritative in this area, and Su Mengzhen thought for a moment before clearing the old rival of suspicion: "This doesn't seem like the work of the Six and a Half Hall. It's inconvenient to beg or sell one's body if the eye is sewn shut."
"That's truly an acclaimed reputation," Xie Huailing casually remarked sarcastically.
While the tragedy was certainly a sobering blow, it wasn't the reason Chu Liuxiang had come to ask Xie Huailing for help. The glint in her eyes before she spoke clearly indicated that the matter was more complex than it seemed. Su Mengzhen raised her hand, signaling Xie Huailing to continue.
Unexpectedly, Xie Huailing collapsed again, her posture even more exaggerated than before, as if she were already a ghostly figure. She let out a long yawn and continued, "Ah... Besides seeking medical treatment, Chu Liuxiang was also constantly searching for other clues in Bianjing. Although he didn't find the 'Bat Prince,' he heard a whole bunch of other news, such as whose concubine seduced her son, and whose daughter wanted to elope with a scholar. He heard it all."
"But none of that matters. What matters is that he obtained information related to the Six and a Half Hall. That's his bargaining chip. He couldn't find anyone resembling the 'Bat Prince' in Yushanlong, so he came to me. Master—"
Xie Huailing raised a slender finger and placed it on Su Mengzhen's chest, just two or three inches away from his clothes. She looked up at Su Mengzhen, her face fully reflected in his eyes: "He wants your help, but there might be unexpected problems if he goes directly to you, so I went for you. You can't blame me for this."
This was too much, too unruly. Su Mengzhen grasped her fingers, then squeezed her entire hand, completely enveloping her delicate, boneless palm, before coldly pulling her back. This action far exceeded the limits of Xie Huailing's steel-like flexibility, and she cried out, "Ouch, ouch!" Her beautiful face contorted in pain. Su Mengzhen only released her when he felt she had learned her lesson.
Xie Huailing immediately sat up straight and stared intently at him, as if trying to see through him like a stone, but this really couldn't be considered bullying. Su Mengzhen said indifferently, "Does Chu Liuxiang want to call Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou to find the 'Bat Prince' before he'll hand over the information to me?"
Having rarely suffered a loss, Xie Huailing said, "...No. He said something about 'Master Su is a peerless hero, revered by everyone in the martial world,' and then told me the information. But is Master Su truly a peerless hero?"
Su Mengzhen skipped over the second half of her sentence: "Speak."
Xie Huailing rubbed his wrist, which already showed red marks, and sighed, "Too rough—he found it when Lei Gun, the fifth master of the Six and a Half Hall, was visiting a brothel. Guess who paid Lei Gun's bill?"
She said softly, "The owner of Wuzheng Manor, Yuan Dongyuan."
Wuzheng Manor is a name familiar to many in the martial arts world. Two or three hundred years ago, Wuzheng Manor was unanimously considered the number one manor in the land. It was founded by the great hero Yuan Qingshan, and the manor produced many talented and ambitious people. For more than two hundred years, no one could rival it. The name "Wuzheng" (meaning "no contention") comes from this – no one in the martial arts world could compete with Wuzheng Manor. Thus, a hundred years ago, the heroes of the martial arts world jointly bestowed this name upon Wuzheng Manor.
But that was two or three hundred years ago. Now, in the generation of Yuan Dongyuan, talent has declined, and Wuzheng Manor has long lost its reputation as the best in the world. Yuan Dongyuan himself lives a secluded life, rarely engaging in combat, and no one knows his true strength. However, one thing is certain: he certainly lacks the talent to stand out among the heroes, and he also lacks the martial arts skills to rival even the heavens. This is why Wuzheng Manor lost its original glory amidst the rapid expansion of the Seven Saints Alliance and the Six and a Half Halls.
Today, Wuzheng Manor still stands among the top forces in the martial arts world, relying on the connections its ancestors accumulated over three hundred years in both official and civilian circles, as well as the wealth accumulated by countless renowned ancestors. This also shows that it is not truly dead; whether it is Jinfeng Xiyu Tower acquiring it or Liufenbantang succeeding, it will be a significant boost.
"Since the Six and a Half Hall reached its peak, the original East Garden has remained closed for seven years."
Su Mengzhen pondered, a deep frown about to form on his brow. This wasn't great news, but it was timely. He said, "I will verify this matter. And since Chu Liuxiang dared to trust me, I won't let him down. I'll have Yang Wuxie investigate the 'Bat Prince' matter."
He took out a new sheet of paper, the scent of ink returning to his hands, and wrote his command: "As for you, step back. I will come to you if I need anything."
The slender shadow still fell on him, but he did not move an inch, as if he had entered a meditative state.
Su Mengzhen looked at her, but first saw her place her reddened wrist on the table, right in the center of his vision. That little bit of red was so pitiful, as if a beautiful face had been scratched, shimmering with resentment, and her spring-like beauty would immediately fade. The person whose spring-like beauty he had pinched was still staring at him without moving, clearly indicating that she wouldn't leave until he gave her an explanation.
Until Su Mengzhen was defeated and had no way to deal with her.
He rubbed the marks left by the pulling, pressing his calloused fingers, worn smooth by years of experience, twice. It was an experience he had never had before. He urged, "Alright, let's go."
Xie Huailing looked back and forth between his wrist and her own, then withdrew her hand: "Actually, OP, I just wanted you to pay me back."
"..."
Su Mengzhen's hand trembled. Just like the first time she came, before she could write a single word with the ink she had just dipped her brush in, his movement caused a large drop of ink to condense and splatter onto the letter, leaving a stain. The study fell into a deathly silence for a moment.
“But this is fine, it’s not my fault.” She said, backing away as if she were fully aware of the suddenly strange and sticky atmosphere. Xie Huailing retreated to the door and pushed it open a crack.
"I'm glad you've forgotten what you said on the carriage about reprimanding me, and that you have your own opinions on what I said. Since you said it was evening, and it's noon now, I'll take it as no longer valid. Actually, I still have something to say to you, but since you've let me go, I won't work overtime. Good afternoon, OP. Goodbye."
The door slammed shut. After saying those unspeakable words, the woman slipped away, as light as a leaping breeze. This was when she was most like a living person.
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