Chapter 84 The Beginning [New] On Blackwood Cliff, a Stormy Scene Unfolds
You Mingjiang appeared here because of a disturbance at the annual Dragon Boat Festival banquet at Blackwood Cliff...
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On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, at Black Cliff, a grand Dragon Boat Festival feast was held.
Chengde Hall was bustling with activity again after a long absence.
Just as the cherries were ripe, the Luoyang branch donated more than ten baskets of fresh cherries.
Pitted and chilled fresh, bright red cherries, drizzled with amber-colored honey, resembled translucent red agate. They were served in several icy white porcelain cups on a bed of finely crushed yogurt ice, and presented one by one to the elders.
Early-ripening cherries, harvested in March and April, have thin skins and are very juicy, making them more difficult to transport and store than lychees from Lingnan.
But the brother from the Luoyang branch is clever; he picked large cherries that were seven-tenths ripe, soaked them in ice water, and delivered two or three baskets early this morning.
This cherry yogurt has such a story behind it.
Inside the main hall, rattan mats were laid out, and windmills, fans, and ice chests were installed, with cool air blowing away the unbearable heat.
Whether it was the halberd-wielding warriors and purple-robed attendants guarding the perimeter of the palace, or the elders dressed in light silk robes, everyone felt extremely comfortable.
Apart from You Mingjiang, who is "delicate and hard to please".
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You Mingjiang insisted that she couldn't stand the cold, that cold air would seep into her bones, and then, with her eyelids drooping, she became picky about the ice-cold cherries, fearing they would harm her liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, and kidneys.
The servants in purple robes dared not neglect her. One hurriedly replaced her rattan mat with a soft cushion, another brought fresh cherries that had been washed with warm salt water, and yet another took a half-length thin blanket of mugwort and carefully placed it on her knees...
At this time, the sect leader had not yet arrived. The elders sat in small groups, their conversation revolving around this striking woman.
"Hey, this little girl is the newly appointed elder of law enforcement? This is the first time I've seen her! All this nonsense, can she even stand up to scrutiny?"
"They only benefited from Boss Jiang's influence. Otherwise, would that skinny old man have been given such a position as an enforcement elder?"
"...Why are you acting so cocky? Stop talking nonsense, just give the cult leader some face."
"Hai-style flirting! She has no taste at all, I can't be bothered with her!"
...
This was the first banquet held in Chengde Hall after the new leader, Dongfang Bai, took office; it was also the reason why You Mingjiang was forced to return to Blackwood Cliff after ending her trip to Yangzhou with Lu Xiaojia.
Among the elders, You Mingjiang is the youngest.
At such a young age, she has already risen to the position of law enforcement elder; it would not be an exaggeration to say that she has "risen rapidly in her career."
It is said that she was originally the leader of the Yazhou branch of the Azure Dragon Society. Later, she defected to the Pingding Prefecture and was appreciated by the then Left Envoy, the Eastern Master, who invited her to join him with the position of Grand Elder of Law Enforcement. She assisted the Eastern Master in eliminating the two scourges, the Bat Prince and the Terrifying General, thus silencing the gossips and entering Blackwood Cliff.
This was her first appearance before the people of Blackwood Cliff.
Many people were secretly observing her, including Qin Weibang.
He was originally the leader of the Jiangxi Green Banner, and had only recently been promoted from a mid-level leader position by Dongfang Bai. He was curious about this rumored Grand Elder of Law Enforcement.
Although he had heard many rumors about her along the way, he privately thought that the position of the law enforcement elder was special, and some friction was inevitable, so she was bound to not end up well.
In his humble opinion, Dongfang Bai is extremely shrewd and has a keen eye for talent. The law enforcement elder, personally promoted by the Dongfang Sect Leader, must possess some unique abilities.
Although Qin Weibang had not fully grasped the situation at Blackwood Cliff, he was not so easily swayed as to blindly follow others and harbor malice towards a stranger he had just met.
Moreover, she has a very pleasing appearance, like a shiny little sugar figurine, golden and sweet, always smiling, and dressed very brightly.
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Wearing a lotus-shaped gauze crown and a pea-green robe woven with silver scroll patterns, You Mingjiang sat among a group of middle-aged and elderly people, looking like a fresh and vibrant spring tea bud, so tender it was almost dazzling.
With her left hand supporting her cheek and her right hand holding a small silver spoon, You Mingjiang dipped it into the bottom of the cup and slowly stirred it a few times. She dozed off, her beautiful, round eyes subtly scanning the group of old men.
Tsk, with just one order from the Eastern Cult Leader, everyone, whether they should or shouldn't have come, has arrived.
Ren Yingying went into seclusion in Luoyang. Although she did not show her face, she prepared gifts for the elders and elites of Blackwood Cliff. Even You Mingjiang, whom she had never met, received a Duan inkstone with fish brain jelly.
They are wealthy and powerful.
No, it's incomparable.
You Mingjiang turned his head slightly and tapped his finger lightly on the table.
Noticing Qin Weibang's gaze, You Mingjiang turned her head and immediately locked onto Qin Weibang's location.
The man was dressed in black with a yellow belt, but she didn't recognize him. He was probably a newly promoted elder. He had an ordinary appearance and was about ten years older than her. There was no hostility in his eyes. He seemed like a mild-mannered and patient person.
The two looked at each other for a moment, neither harboring any ill will; it was merely pure curiosity at play.
Qin Weibang gave her a warm smile and took the initiative to extend goodwill. He picked up his glass cup first and made a clinking motion.
The other party was a smooth and considerate person. You Mingjiang was slightly taken aback, then smiled and raised her glass in a toast from afar.
Suddenly, a sneer rang out: "Flattery."
Upon hearing this biting sarcasm, Qin Weibang's smile froze on his face.
Upon seeing the other person's attire, he opened his mouth, wanting to say something to smooth things over, but he couldn't quite gauge the appropriate tone, so he could only give an awkward smile and silently lower his head.
Elders also have different ranks, and an elder like him, dressed in black robes and a yellow belt, doesn't have the confidence to argue with an elder in blue robes.
The one who made the sarcastic remarks was Shangguan Yun, an elder of the White Tiger Hall.
As a major contributor to Dongfang Bai's rise to power, Shangguan Yun enjoys high prestige and martial arts skills within the Sun Moon Sect, making him arguably the head of all the elders.
pity……
The Eastern Cult Leader had stated beforehand: Whoever becomes the Enforcement Elder is the Chief Elder.
As luck would have it, after Dongfang Bai took office, the new law enforcement elder was none other than You Mingjiang.
In Shangguan Yun's eyes, apart from her pretty face, You Mingjiang was nothing but a hollow radish that was all show and no substance.
Considering how much blood and sweat he shed for Dongfang Bai's usurpation of power, if one had to choose the most suitable candidate, no one but himself would be fit for the position of Elder of Law Enforcement.
But the cult leader seemed to be possessed by a demon, and insisted on choosing You Mingjiang, which almost made Shangguan Yun die of anger.
He can't compare to the great sect leader Ren's own daughter, could he not even be as good as a wild girl like You Mingjiang?
He really lost face on Blackwood Cliff.
You Mingjiang acted as if she hadn't heard anything, showing no sign of anger, and instead slowly picked out the fresh cherries.
This scene caught Qin Weibang's eye. Initially a little timid, he was worried, but then he had the idea of taking a gamble.
I'm betting that she, who keeps a low profile, has a limitless future.
Qin Weibang tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.
Shangguan Yun curled his lip, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. He reached for a glass of wine and sneered, "What are you pretending to be so important about?"
You Mingjiang was already used to this kind of behavior of picking on the weak. Belittling those who were trying to curry favor with her in front of her was a way of intimidating her.
There are plenty of people in this world who pretend to be ignorant; it's nothing surprising.
She stuffed her mouth full of red cherries, chewed and swallowed the sweet flesh, pressing only the tiny pits under her tongue.
Looking at Shangguan Yun, who was stirring up trouble for no reason, You Mingjiang clicked his tongue and said with a smile, "He's really putting on an act... wearing a leather hat and pretending to be an eagle, does he really think he's an Eagle Hero?"
"The Eagle Hero" is Shangguan Yun's nickname in the martial arts world.
The people who had been quietly watching the spectacle in the hall were silent for a moment, then burst into laughter that seemed to lift the roof off.
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That laugh really ruined things.
Shangguan Yun blushed and jumped up in a fit of rage.
He pointed at You Mingjiang's nose and cursed, "How dare you talk to me like that!"
"It was just a joke, why are you angry?" She twirled a cherry stem, tilting her head with a smile. "I was just imitating what they were doing."
The noisy hall fell silent instantly.
The assembled elders exchanged glances, their expressions uniformly astonished.
Where did she get the audacity to make fun of Shangguan Yun?
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"...to follow suit?"
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yun's face darkened, and he hurled a glass cup at her. You Mingjiang remained calm and composed, letting the rapidly flying glass cup graz her cheek.
"Crack!" The glass lamp shattered against the wall behind her, sending shards of porcelain flying everywhere.
"Can you learn it?" Looking down at her with a sinister gaze, Shangguan Yun spoke without any mercy. "If you had any ability, you would have learned how to be a good law enforcement elder, and you wouldn't have become a laughing stock of the entire Sun Moon Divine Sect."
"..." A slight stinging pain came from her cheek. She raised her hand to brush away the thin bloodstains, without even frowning.
"You're right. Some things can't be learned. What's meant to be will be, and what's not meant to be, you can't force."
You Mingjiang looked up at Shangguan Yun and suddenly laughed, "This junior is dull-witted and has not even learned one ten-thousandth of your thunderous methods, yet I have become an enforcement elder. It is clear that it is not that you cannot learn it, but that this junior is too lucky."
The subtext is: Shangguan Yun's fate doesn't include the Purple Star.
"You're asking for it!"
Shangguan Yun's face turned red and his neck bulged with anger, he was so angry he was about to get hyperactive yang. "Today I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
With him? It's not certain who will teach whom a lesson!
"Tsk!" She opened her mouth slightly and spat out a few cherry pits, which flew straight toward Shangguan Yun's face.
The tiny cherry pit whizzed past his cheek, leaving several bloody streaks as if in retaliation, before finally embedding itself in the table in front of Shangguan Yun with a series of "plop plop plop" sounds.
Blood beads seeped from the bloodstain, slowly, slowly trickling down, one drop, two drops...
You Mingjiang suddenly stood up and then uttered a remark that would infuriate anyone: "I also want to know which of the five elements is missing that prevents you from becoming an enforcement elder... Want to teach me a lesson? Let me see what the White Tiger Hall elder is capable of first!"
Shangguan Yun stared at her with a gloomy expression.
He didn't want to waste any more words, so he clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.
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Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the verbal argument was about to escalate into a physical fight.
The conflict came suddenly, catching the halberd-wielding squad leader off guard. He was responsible for maintaining order, and after a moment of stunned silence, the squad leader snapped out of it and prepared to lead his men to dissuade the two.
He had just taken a step when he suddenly saw a sharp-looking old man with a long beard and white robe sitting coldly in his seat, giving him a barely perceptible shake of his head.
The squad leader was startled and raised his hand to dismiss his men, signaling them to continue guarding the perimeter of the palace.
That's right. The leader ordered them to guard the perimeter of the palace. They only needed to obey the leader's orders and not concern themselves with anything else. Even if the two of you fought like madmen, it wouldn't affect them.
Even if the cult leader holds him accountable, he can still clear his name.
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Qin Weibang was sweating profusely.
How did things get to this point?
He never expected that his curiosity would trigger such a shocking revelation.
He was so flustered that he didn't know what to do, so he just stood there, staring at the two of them.
If these two were to fight, someone could very well die.
Suddenly a hoarse voice rang out:
“Brother Shangguan, you’re getting on in years, and Mingjiang is just a young woman. Why get angry with her? Aren’t you ashamed if word gets out…”
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