Chapter 76: Chapter 74: Candlelight and Axe Shadow, the County Magistrate’s Banquet! A Secret Room in a Shabby Alley, a Heaven-Reaching Jade Talisman to be Gifted to Ji Xiu?
「One day later, at the Medicine Hall.」
Zhang Qing slowly woke, stirring slightly on the bed. He felt a deep ache in his muscles and bones. Hissing through his teeth, he rubbed his head and sat up.
Just then, he heard a nagging voice drone on:
"So, the kid’s awake?"
"Tsk, tsk. You’re a lucky one. Found yourself a good big brother. This injury wasn’t a huge deal, but it did damage your muscles and bones. I used plenty of good herbs on you—the kind to nourish your tendons and temper your bones. That’s why your body has recovered so much."
"That little treatment just cost you at least half a year’s salary."
"But Ji the kid said this debt counts as a work-related injury. It’ll be covered by the Medicine Hall’s accounts, so it’s not coming out of your pocket."
"You were out for a full day and night. Now that you’ve absorbed the medicine, your blood has nourished your tendons. You have a foundation now. You can start circulating your Force and tempering your Qi and Blood."
Huang Xuan stood to the side, holding a round Tiger and Leopard Pill. Grinning, he pried open Zhang Qing’s mouth.
"You’ve worked your tail off for the Medicine Hall, and I’ve noticed. This Tiger and Leopard Pill is an extra one Zheng Jun refined. It’s your lucky day."
This rapid sequence of events left Zhang Qing dazed, but he couldn’t help a surge of gratitude.
A fiery sensation spread from his throat as the pill went down, but he paid it no mind and hurriedly asked:
"Thank you, Pharmacist. But... what about the Hall Master?"
At the mention of Ji Xiu, Huang Xuan’s hands paused, and a strange expression crossed his face.
"Er..."
"Oh, him."
Seeing Huang Xuan’s odd expression, Zhang Qing grew anxious.
"He killed the direct-lineage son of the Tiger and Leopard Hall’s Dragon Head. Did he... did something happen to him?"
"Not exactly."
"It’s just..."
"It’s just that our ’Master Ji’ has really made a name for himself across the five hundred li of Anning County."
Huang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back and sighed wistfully.
Hearing this, Zhang Qing’s eyes widened in shock. He impatiently threw on his clothes and rushed outside.
When he finally reached his own courtyard, he found his father, Zhang Laosuan, inside their house, his eyes red. His father began to recount all the commotion that had occurred over the past two days because of him.
Before he knew it...
Zhang Qing was completely dumbfounded.
Finally, Zhang Laosuan spoke, his voice heavy with meaning.
"Little Sixth, I used to teach you to mind your own business and not get others involved in your troubles. That way, you wouldn’t end up owing Favors Owed."
"These Favors Owed... they’re hard to repay."
"Sometimes, even your life isn’t enough."
His voice grew somber.
"But our family... we remember a kindness for a thousand years."
"You may be our only son... but today, your very life, your honor—it was all won for you by Ji Xiu. If he ever runs into trouble and needs your life in return..."
"You must agree to give it, even if it means dying a hundred deaths!"
"Otherwise, I, your father, will never be able to rest in peace."
Zhang Qing’s gaze trembled as he processed the news of the last two days. A storm raged in his heart. After a moment, he could no longer stay seated on the bench.
"I’m going to find Brother Ji!"
Just as he said this and stepped over the threshold, he ran into a black-robed young man at the corner of the alley.
"Master Han...?"
A hazy memory from two days ago reminded Zhang Qing that Han Ying had also been at the gambling den that day. So, upon seeing him again, he remained deeply respectful.
"You, come with me."
"I have something of great importance to... entrust to you."
After a deep look at Zhang Qing and a moment’s hesitation, Han Ying spoke in a solemn voice, then turned and walked away.
Zhang Qing froze for a second, but after a brief hesitation, he followed closely behind.
...
「Anning County, Government Office.」
Flanked by an old servant, Zhao Jiu, dressed in a blue crane-feather cloak, sat at the head of the hall with an air of righteous authority. To his left, Ji Xiu, his invited guest, was seated comfortably.
"Has the Dragon Head of the Tiger and Leopard Hall, ’Tomb Tiger’ Yang Daohan, been brought here?"
"It’s better to resolve feuds than to create them. I’ve prepared a banquet specifically for this. Surely he wouldn’t... refuse to give me, Zhao Jiu, face and not show up, would he?"
Zhao Jiu narrowed his eyes, looking down at the constable.
"My Lord, the men from the Tiger and Leopard Hall say... their Dragon Head left the County early this morning, blade in hand. He headed for the manors beyond the five-hundred-li Mountain Dao."
"Right now, it’s impossible to know which of the Eighteen Linked Mountain Towns, or the many Hunting Manors and Blade Manors, he’s in."
The constable spoke respectfully, then added at the end:
"However..."
"The Dragon Head of the Lion Hall, one of the Three Great Gangs, ’Mad Lion’ Zhang Liechen, has come in his place. He says he’s here on behalf of Yang Daohan to resolve the feud."
"Shall I summon him...?"
Zhao Jiu’s brow furrowed, and he waved his hand dismissively.
Only after the constable had departed did he look regretful.
"Younger Brother Ji, that beast Yang Daohan is far too cunning. My failure to lure him here is my own incompetence."
Hearing these words from Lord Zhao the County Magistrate—a man from the direct lineage of the Wine Shop trade, one of the Thirty-Six Professions of the Prefecture City—Ji Xiu felt a strange sense of dissonance.
The Thirty-Six Professions of Jiangyin Prefecture. As his horizons had broadened over the past few days, Ji Xiu had gradually come to understand what those words truly represented.
If the five-hundred-li Anning County was sustained by its Three Major Professions, which managed the county’s few industries and put food on the table for those below them...
...then...
...Jiangyin Prefecture was an agglomeration of dozens of territories, each the size of Anning County.
The prefecture was near the sea and a hub of transportation, home to millions of households. It was like a great dragon coiled by the Jiangshui River, guarded by Great Xuan Mansion Officials and garrison troops.
Any single one of the Thirty-Six Professions there had grown their business to an immense scale, monopolizing an entire trade. They didn’t even deign to expand their business into poor, remote backwaters like Anning County.
And this Lord Zhao the County Magistrate hailed from the Zhao Family of the Wine Shop trade. It was said they had hundreds of cellars to their name. Throughout the vast Prefecture City, nearly ninety percent of the wine supplied to its countless taverns was monopolized by "Zhao Clan Wine."
Even their high-end products—Spirit Wines given special names and brewed from all kinds of rare and wondrous treasures...
...were supplied to the princes and Nobles of a province, each worth a thousand pieces of gold!
Meanwhile, in Anning County, one almost never saw gold at all.
’To be born into such a wealthy family was to bid farewell to the life of a "muddy-legged" commoner from the moment you drew breath.’
’Zhao Jiu was only twenty-eight or twenty-nine, yet he already had a Skin Refining expert for a servant and held the position of County Magistrate.’
’Though he might be a nobody in the Prefecture City...’
’...on this small patch of land in Anning County, with County Soldiers and their Powerful Crossbows at his command, he was a bona fide Local Tyrant. Truly, the envy of all.’
’But seeing Zhao Jiu act so swiftly and decisively, inviting him over in just one day...’
’...and even dispatching thirty County Soldiers armed with crossbows to lie in ambush behind the curtains...’
’...waiting only for Yang Daohan’s arrival to play out a "Candle Shadow and Axe Sound" and use his old servant, Elder Liang, to eliminate that beast directly... It made Ji Xiu click his tongue in silent amazement.’
’These scions of great clans were completely different from the stereotypical image of arrogant, spoiled brats.’
’To win him over, Zhao Jiu had spent the last two days sending him wine and medicine, and had even plotted to annihilate the Dragon Head of one of the Three Great Gangs!’
’Sensing the direction of the wind and cutting the weeds by the root—he played this game with masterful ease!’
’Even though the plot failed, it was hard to hold any ill will against him.’
’The scions of great families were truly skilled at winning people over.’
Ji Xiu shook his head to himself. While he was impressed, he also saw the situation with perfect clarity.
’The reason Lord Zhao the County Magistrate was acting this way was likely because he saw it as an investment.’
’But the ultimate source of it all was still the person backing him.’
’If your fist is hard enough, even a County Magistrate will stoop to curry favor with you!’
’That was the heart of the matter!’
Seeing that Yang Daohan had not taken the bait, Ji Xiu rose from his seat. He had no desire to meet Zhang Liechen of the Lion Hall, so he bowed to take his leave.
"County Magistrate, you are too kind. His direct-lineage son is dead; a feud has been forged no matter what."
"This is a matter between myself and Yang Daohan. It has nothing to do with you, County Magistrate. Still, I, Ji Xiu, will remember the favor of you hosting this banquet."
"I shall take my leave for now."
Hearing this, the apologetic look on Zhao Jiu’s face deepened.
"Nonsense, Younger Brother Ji. I am truly ashamed that I wasn’t of any help."
"How about this: the next time a supply of ’Red Robe Brew’ arrives from my family in the Prefecture City... I will personally select a few of the finest batches and have them delivered to both you and your esteemed Master’s residence!"
Only after watching Ji Xiu thank him and depart did a smile return to his face.
’This way, there’s no way Duan Chenzhou can pin the blame on me, right?’
’It’s just a pity...’
’...that fellow Yang Daohan was so quick to run.’
’Otherwise, if my ’blade’ had truly struck home, I could have confiscated the Tiger and Leopard Hall’s assets. It would have carried some risk, but as long as I could ingratiate myself with Ji Xiu...’
’...then one day, when Duan Chenzhou’s luck runs out and he falls, I could pull Ji Xiu onto the great ship of the Zhao Family’s Wine Shop...’
’...the risk would have been nothing at all!’
With this thought, Zhao Jiu’s expression gradually grew cold and imposing.
And when Zhang Liechen, the Dragon Head of the Lion Hall and one of the Three Great Gangs, arrived...
...he saw the stone-faced County Magistrate with a single glance. Zhang Liechen’s own lion-like brows furrowed, and his heart dropped.
His gaze then flickered to either side.
When he saw the utter silence, the swaying curtains, and the occasional glint of a crossbow’s shadow revealed between them...
The smile he forced onto his face looked worse than a grimace.
’Yang the Seventh...’
’Lucky for me I didn’t provoke that Ji Xiu.’
’Otherwise, I’d have been a dead man walking in here today!’
...
「An old alley, a dark room.」
Han Ying solemnly produced a Jade Talisman that glowed with a soft, fluorescent light.
"Zhang Qing, this is for you."
Han Ying’s expression was grave. He carefully watched the boy take the Jade Talisman, but when it failed to resonate with him, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.
"It seems... you are not the one chosen by fate."
"It makes sense. In all my travels, the only one I’ve met who had this kind of opportunity was that kid, Ji Xiu."
"But unfortunately, desperate times call for desperate measures. The situation has changed, and ultimately, he and I are strangers."
"There’s nothing to be done."
"Kid, listen closely. Of all my registered disciples in the Anning Sect, you have the best temperament, innate talent, and comprehension."
"I am now... giving you an opportunity that could change your destiny."
He straightened his collar, his expression solemn.
"I was once the direct disciple of the Garrison Commander of Jiangyin Prefecture. This Jade Talisman is of great use to him."
"But because of certain events, I can no longer go back."
"But if you take this Jade Talisman to Jiangyin, you will be able to enter the Garrison Mansion instantly. It will be your Dragon Gate Jump, a chance to completely turn your life around!"
He pressed the Jade Talisman into Zhang Qing’s hand, his gaze grave.
"If I don’t return in three days..."
"...you are to set off for Jiangyin Prefecture."
"If I do return..."
"...then we will reconsider our plans."
With that, his figure flickered and vanished without a trace.
Leaving Zhang Qing alone, clutching the Jade Talisman. Han Ying’s promise made his heart pound in his chest.
’Jiangyin Prefecture, the Garrison Commander...?!’
’To think Master Han has such a background!’
’But...’
He clutched the Jade Talisman, which filled the humble room with light, and thought back to everything Ji Xiu had done for him these past few days, as well as the words Han Ying had just spoken.
He pursed his lips, his eyes filled with hesitation.
’Master Han...’
’If this Jade Talisman could be useful to Brother Ji...’
He stared at it for a long time before finally making a decision.
Then, he resumed his original path, walking forward with unwavering resolve.
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