Feixian Island in the South China Sea.
After seeing Yan Liang off, Ye Gucheng continued to live a simple life as always. That afternoon, he went to the beach to practice his sword as usual, and from the rocky cliff, he saw people lying on the beach below.
The other person's fate was unknown, and he was submerged in the sea from the waist down, with the occasional surging waves threatening to engulf him completely.
Ye Gucheng: "..."
The scene felt familiar, yet somehow not quite right.
He brought the man back to Baiyun City from Shanghai. The steward of the city lord's mansion was secretly alarmed, and wondered if his city lord was lonely. If not, why did he bring people back twice in a row?
Not feeling lonely at all, Ye Gucheng was informed by a servant after dinner that the person lying on the beach had woken up and wanted to thank him.
Ye Gucheng thought for a moment, then decided to go see that person as a way to digest his food after dinner.
The person's smile was innocent and naive, but Ye Gucheng inexplicably felt that the other person was more than just what appeared to be.
"Look down below," the other party said with a smile. "I was shipwrecked and ended up here. Thank you for saving me, Lord Ye."
Fang Yingkan had already learned from the maid that this place was Baiyun City on Feixian Island in the South China Sea—but he had never heard of this place before, and he also knew that Ye Gucheng had recently saved a young man named Yan Liang.
Furthermore, Ye Gucheng once had a friend named Yan Liang.
Ye Gucheng nodded. He was aloof and taciturn, not wanting to say much more. He simply accepted Fang Yingkan's thanks and asked him to stay and recuperate for the time being. Fang Yingkan was somewhat surprised. The maid who was taking care of him spoke of Ye Gucheng, the city lord of Baiyun City, with great respect and admiration. He had thought that the other party would be an aloof and cold person, but he never expected that he, a stranger, would be treated so well.
During his few days of recuperation in Baiyun City, Fang Yingkan gained a general understanding of the affairs of the martial arts world. Before coming here, he had already mastered martial arts and had few rivals in the martial arts world. After learning more about the situation, Fang Yingkan took his leave—he was genuinely curious whether the person Ye Gucheng had saved was the one he was thinking of. If it was indeed Yan Liang, then the doubt that had lingered in his heart for many years would be answered.
"You know Yan Liang."
When he took his leave, Ye Gucheng stated a fact in a calm tone.
Fang Yingkan admitted with a smile that he would always inquire about Yan Liang's whereabouts when he interacted with the maids and servants in Baiyun City, piecing together Yan Liang's shadow from their words; he never tried to hide these things, and he was not surprised that Ye Gucheng could see through them and point them out.
“I know someone named Yan Liang who bears a striking resemblance to the person the city lord saved.”
Fang Yingkan said.
Ye Gucheng: ...
All he could say was, what a coincidence.
Fang Yingkan wanted to go to Suzhou to find Yan Liang. For some reason, he always felt that Yan Liang was the key to his return.
After learning of his plan, Ye Gucheng paused for a moment and said calmly, "I'm going to Wanmei Manor. If you'd like, I can give you a ride."
Fang Yingkan smiled and said, "It would be impolite of me to refuse. Thank you, Lord Ye."
The two left Feixian Island together. As soon as they entered the martial world, they heard that Wuyan Pavilion had kidnapped Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou. Ye Gucheng frowned slightly upon hearing this. He didn't know much about Wuyan Pavilion, only that "Mu Jiangchuan" (Yan Liang) had a grudge against the leader of Wuyan Pavilion.
During his stay in Baiyun City, Fang Yingkan inquired about news and naturally learned that five years ago, Lu Xiaofeng, Yan Liang, and a person named Sikong Zhaixing had briefly stayed in Baiyun City. Upon hearing this, he thought that if Yan Liang was really that Yan Liang, he would probably go to save those two as well.
"Is Mayor Ye going to find them?"
Fang Yingkan asked a question from the side. He was just looking for a spectacle, but his tone and expression were completely sincere.
Ye Gucheng replied, "This matter is not urgent."
Over the years, Ye Gucheng has lived on Feixian Island and has often heard that Lu Xiaofeng has been involved in some incident. Sometimes Lu Xiaofeng's friends are also involved, but Lu Xiaofeng always manages to resolve the situation smoothly. So, he can't really be too worried.
Fang Ying was somewhat surprised, but he didn't intend to talk about it further. Instead, he asked curiously, "Is Lord Ye still going to Wanmei Manor?"
Ye Gucheng nodded, then added, "Suzhou is on the way to Wanmei Manor. If you want to see Master Guisun, you will be able to."
Yan Liang had told Ye Gucheng that he was going to find Master Guisun, and if Fang Yingkan wanted to find Yan Liang, the best way would be to ask Master Guisun.
The two continued their journey and met Master Guisun in Suzhou.
The old man, who was now rich and indulging in debauchery in brothels, was reluctant to be summoned. However, upon seeing the white-clad swordsman standing with a sword in hand and a cold expression, he immediately put away his displeasure and asked in a serious tone, "I wonder what business Lord Ye has with this old man?"
Ye Gucheng said, "It wasn't me who came looking for you."
Fang Yingkan replied, "It's me."
Master Gui then looked at the person beside the white-robed swordsman. The man was dressed casually, but his demeanor exuded a noble air. He had a smile on his face and was not inferior to someone like Ye Gucheng when standing next to him.
For no apparent reason, Mr. Turtle had a stomachache and a feeling that he was about to hear something he didn't want to hear.
Fang Yingkan said, "I'm not looking for great wisdom and wisdom, I just want to ask you a question—did a young man named Yan Liang come to see you a few days ago?"
Master Guisun's eyelids twitched. Of course he remembered Yan Liang—the young man who, for some reason, made him feel like he had been seen through, and who had once saved his life. But the last time he saw that man was in the outskirts of the capital, and the man died not long after that.
When Fang Yingkan mentioned this name, it reminded Master Guisun of Yan Liang and also suddenly reminded him of the young man who left with Bai Yutang. He hesitated for a moment and said, "I only know one person named Yan Liang, but he passed away many years ago."
Fang Yingkan was not surprised and smoothly changed his question: "Then is there a young man whose name you don't know who came to see you?"
"Yes, he left with another person, Bai Yutang."
Master Gui Sun just wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible so he could go back to his life of eating, drinking, and having fun. Therefore, he took the initiative to tell them, hoping that they would leave as soon as they knew what they wanted to know.
Bai Yutang—?
Fang Yingkan suddenly realized, a smile spreading across his lips. He thought of this strange yet familiar name and thanked Master Guisun with a smile.
He wanted to ask more, but Master Gui saw a business opportunity and said that he knew nothing except what he had just said. He told Fang Yingkan to ask Dazhi Datong. Fang Yingkan was impatient, but he still humbly agreed. He went with Master Gui to the cellar in the suburbs and spent 150 taels of silver to learn what Bai Yutang and the young man had asked, the origins of Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao, and where Bai Yutang and the young man had gone.
After the matter was over, it was already late. Fang Yingkan returned to Suzhou City, where Ye Gucheng had already booked a room at an inn.
Fang Ying saw the white-clad swordsman under the eaves and stepped forward apologetically, saying, "Lord Ye, I've kept you waiting."
Ye Gucheng shook his head slightly and asked, "Have you gotten what you wanted?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Yingkan paused for a moment, then his smile grew even brighter. Ye Gucheng noticed this and heard him say with a smile, "I found out. It's quite a pleasant surprise."
Since he didn't say what the unexpected surprise was, Ye Gucheng didn't press him. The two went into the inn, returned to their respective rooms to wash up, and then rested.
The beds in this inn are far too shabby compared to those in the Divine Marquis's mansion and the City Lord's mansion in Baiyun City, especially since Suzhou is rainy and the rooms smell musty at this time of year.
Fang Yingkan sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about what he had learned from Dazhi Datong, and recalling Yan Liang's strange reaction back then. He realized that everything had an answer.
Bai Yutang, Zhan Zhao... and even that young Marquis Pang, are all friends of Yan Liang.
No wonder that person had that expression...
Fang Yingkan was able to determine that the young man who was with Bai Yutang mentioned by Master Guisun, as well as the person Ye Gucheng had briefly taken in, was Yan Liang—the Yan Liang he knew.
A cold wind howled past the window, and Fang Ying looked at the flickering candlelight and slowly smiled.
——
While Young Master Fang was talking about Yan Liang, Young Master Pang was struggling to coax the little brat to sleep.
He, Pang Yu, slipped and fell into a mountain stream seven days ago, but crawled out of the unfamiliar stream—a mountain he had never heard of, people he had never seen, let alone the "world-famous Wanmei Manor" or "Sword God Ximen Chuixue".
Seven days ago.
Pang Yu crawled out of the mountain stream, soaking wet and completely bewildered. Ximen Hefeng, who was running wild in the mountains, saw this water ghost, slipped, and kicked Pang Yu back into the water.
The guards who were closely following and taking care of the young master were secretly alarmed—they had not detected any trace of Pang Yu before he appeared, and besides, this was the back mountain of Wanmei Manor, where it was impossible for a stranger to appear.
Shivering in the cold wind, Pang Yu, whose origins were unknown, entered the manor with his guards. After changing into clean clothes, he went to see the manor's owner. His mind was in turmoil, and he knew nothing about the matter. Pang Yu initially gave his identity—but the steward said that the royal family had never had any young marquises—which puzzled him. He then gave several names that were known to all the people of the Song Dynasty, but only received negative answers and slightly suspicious looks.
"You don't even know about Zhan Zhao, the Imperial Cat Guard??" Pang Yu was dumbfounded. "The Five Rats of Trap Island? Master Bai Wu?"
Ximen Chuixue, who had been drinking tea to the side, finally turned his attention to Pang Yu after hearing Zhan Zhao's name. He said, "Imperial Cat Zhan Zhao?"
Pang Yu felt a little intimidated by him, took a small step back, and nodded, saying, "Imperial Cat Zhan Zhao... he uses the Giant Sword... you know that?"
Finally, he couldn't help but ask tremblingly, "This person reacted to Zhan Zhao, so he probably knows Guard Zhan, right?"
When Pang Yu arrived, Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao had been missing for more than a month. Now, meeting a stranger in an unfamiliar place, he was very likely to recognize Zhan Zhao. Even though the person was cold and aloof, he overcame his timidity and asked from the bottom of his heart.
Ximen Chuixue said, "I've met you."
Pang Yu: "...Where...where did we meet? Was...was there a man named Bai Yutang traveling with him?"
Ximen Chuixue said, "In Shouliao Town, Bai Yutang was traveling with him at that time."
Although Pang Yu didn't know where Shouliao Town was, he was slightly relieved to know that Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao were alive and well. However, when he met the eyes of the manor owner, he became worried again—he himself didn't know what was going on, so it was too early to relax.
Ximen Chuixue looked at him for a while, then looked away—Pang Yu's nervousness and unease were immediately apparent, simple and pure. If such a person had ulterior motives, his acting skills would be far too good.
Pang Yu, who knew nothing and seemed to have a mental problem, was kept on—thanks to the frightened young master.
Ximen Hefeng's name was given to him by his mother, Sun Xiuqing, who wished him to be as free as the wind. Sun Xiuqing is now separated from Ximen Chuixue. Ximen Chuixue's heart is set on the way of the sword, but his wife and children have become his worries.
The little boy was very curious about Pang Yu, the person who emerged from the water. He had few playmates, and Pang Yu was silly and simple-minded, but they got along well. After exchanging a few words, Xi Hefeng wanted to keep Pang Yu as his playmate.
The steward agreed to inquire about Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao's whereabouts for Pang Yu, so Pang Yu could only stay at Wanmei Manor to play with Ximen Hefeng until he had any news.
The little brat was wide awake late at night, pestering Pang Yu to tell him a story. Pang Yu, with his head propped up and eyelids drooping, sat on the edge of the bed and told him a story. By the end, even he didn't know what he was saying anymore, and both the big one and the little one were drowsy.
The night breeze blew into the room, the candlelight flickered, casting shadows by the window.
wind--?
The windows should be closed...
Pang Yu rubbed his eyes, and groggily looked towards the window—a guy with a foggy head, whose face was obscured, was standing outside the window watching them.
"Thump—!"
"Aww—"
The sound of him landing was followed by a cry of pain from Pang Yu, who had fallen in fright.
"Are you...you...are you a human or a ghost???"
Startled and stuttering, Pang Yu reached out to protect Ximen Hefeng, who had been awakened on the bed, and asked in a terrified voice.
This scene is terrifying beyond belief.
Imagine a mysterious man in black, his face fogged up, silently appearing in your room late at night—anyone would be terrified, right?
Pang Yu's textbook-perfect reaction pleased the late-night visitor, who laughed: "Your name is... Pang Yu, isn't it?"
Seeing Pang Yu's wary and fearful look, he said, "I am the grandfather of the kid behind you."
Pang Yu: ...Going into the house without using the front door to tell him you're someone's grandfather?
Upon hearing this, Ximen Hefeng poked his head out and looked at the person in the mist, shouting, "I don't recognize you! My father said my grandfather died a long time ago!"
He was inexplicably choked by the thought of the prematurely deceased Jade Rakshasa, staring at the determined-looking child, speechless.
When Ximen Chuixue arrived, Pang Yu and Ximen Hefeng were arm in arm, while Yu Luosha sat at the table drinking tea. A cool breeze whistled past as Ximen Chuixue stepped across the threshold, coldly looking at the person at the table: "What are you doing here?"
Jade Rakshasa said innocently, "I came to see my grandson."
Ximen Hefeng asked his father pitifully, "Dad, is he really my grandfather?"
Yu Luosha held her teacup and looked at Ximen Chuixue, as if she wouldn't give up until she got an answer.
Ximen Chuixue was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Ximen Hefeng said, "But why didn't he use the main entrance?"
Ximen Chuixue looked at Yu Luosha, and the man in black laughed, "He's in such a hurry to see his grandson that he's not going through the main gate."
Ximen Chuixue remained silent, then turned around and offered some dry words of comfort to Ximen Hefeng. He then glanced at Pang Yu and told Yu Luosha to leave with him.
Yu Luosha got up and smiled at the two people, one big and one small, as she passed by the bed. Realizing that they couldn't see her face, she waved again. Ximen and Feng responded curiously, while Pang Yu's gaze wandered—the fog on this person's face was extremely strange, and the more he looked, the more frightened he became.
The man in black chuckled and closed the door before leaving.
After they left, Pang Yu, who had been caught up in the family dispute, frowned, pinched the face of the puzzled child, and muttered, "Why are all the people in your family so scary?"
Ximen Hefeng tilted his head: "Is it scary?"
Pang Yu: "Terrifying! Your father is so cold, and your grandfather—it's just...it's just—"
He was speechless for a moment, but he was certain of one thing—that father and son were absolutely terrifying!
It was getting late, and Pang Yu and Ximen Hefeng agreed that he would tell one more story before going to bed. He racked his brains to think of one, while Ximen Hefeng listened with great interest while lying on the bed; meanwhile, in the main hall, Ximen Chuixue was talking with Yu Luosha.
“If you are unwilling to be the leader of the Demonic Sect, then let my grandson be the one,” Jade Rakshasa stated her purpose, “to carry on the family business.”
Ximen Chuixue exuded a chilling aura as he coldly looked at Yu Luosha: "He will not become the leader of the Demonic Sect."
Jade Rakshasa said, "Then what will he do? Learn to practice swordsmanship like you? And then become obsessed with the way of the sword, severing all emotions and love?"
Ximen Chuixue knew who Yu Luosha was referring to. He looked into the distance, where the outline of the mansion was faintly visible in the darkness—his wife, Sun Xiuqing, lived there.
"...Let him decide for himself."
Ximen Chuixue said calmly.
"So you're not going to stop him from writing to Ye Gucheng?" Yu Luosha asked in a strange tone. "Let your enemy teach your son swordsmanship? Chuixue, you have a really strange temper."
Ximen Chuixue gripped his sword tighter, the chill around him intensifying: "It's not your place to say that."
Ximen Hefeng wrote a letter to Ye Gucheng not at Ximen Chuixue's behest, but rather as a casual scribbling while practicing calligraphy. He wrote some greetings and then had someone send it to the Lord of Baiyun City. Ximen Chuixue saw that he was having a good time and did not stop him.
Yu Luosha smiled and said, "Do you know that Ye Gucheng is coming to Wanmei Manor after receiving the letter?"
Ximen Chuixue: "..."
I really don't know.
Yu Luosha and Ximen Chuixue had a rather unfriendly and discordant conversation between father and son. After the conversation, Yu Luosha went to his room and passed by the courtyard of Pang Yu and Ximen Hefeng. He saw Pang Yu yawning as he came out of Ximen Hefeng's room and turned into a room next door.
The lights in the room were on for a moment before being turned off, and the entire courtyard fell silent.
Yu Luosha thought about the new people who had appeared in the martial arts world and inexplicably felt that something very interesting would happen later.
The Smokeless Pavilion, the Crown Prince of Taiping, the City Lord of Baiyun City... and some people of unknown origin. It would be a disservice to him to have made a special trip to the Central Plains if they weren't interesting.
Lost in thought, Yu Luosha returned to her room in a cheerful mood.
And those who could be considered somewhat connected to most people were Yan Liangzheng and Bai Yutang grilling fish in the wild.
The aroma of grilled fish wafted through the night, and the two men by the campfire stared at the fish with burning eyes.
Bai Yutang stared at it for a while and said, "Your skills look pretty good."
Yan Liang said smugly, "It's really good. Everyone who's tried it says it's delicious."
Bai Yutang's lips twitched: "You talk as if many people have eaten your grilled fish—it's just grilled fish, is it something to be proud of?"
"How can you call it 'mere grilled fish'?" Yan Liangyi retorted righteously. "It's far from 'mere' simply because it was made by me; it's grilled fish of great significance."
Bai Yutang remained silent, but after tasting Yan Liang's grilled fish, he had to admit that Yan Liang's cooking skills were excellent.
"……good."
The two people eating fish had no idea what kind of deep pit awaited them in the Mu Mansion of Gusu—a pit that someone had painstakingly dug.
The author has something to say: When it came to naming Ximen Chuixue's son, the first name that came to mind was Ximen Song—
At first I didn't realize it, but then I looked again and realized that Ximen Song is just like Ximen Qing and Wu Song, and then it all clicked! hhhhhh
Then I just randomly picked a name using a name generator _(:з」∠)_
I'm not very good at naming things. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2020-05-06 12:01:10 and 2020-05-07 22:04:58!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: one live little angel has been caught;
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Yanluo (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
