Chapter 823: Chapter 612: Loyal Twelve Generals
Suddenly, Yang Xiao seemed to think of something and couldn’t help but worry, "You just said that person is looking for your Array Eye, and the Divine Turtle Shell is hidden by you. If he cannot find the Array Eye, he will still suspect us. How will you explain it?"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Fengchen remained calm and composed, his posture exuding the demeanor of a grandmaster. "Don’t worry, I left an Array Eye for him."
"What is it?" Jiang Qingluan lowered her voice.
Xiang Fengchen slowly raised his left hand, revealing his finger, wrapped in cloth and spotted with bloodstains. At that moment, Jiang Qingluan’s pupils trembled slightly. She understood that Xiang Fengchen had buried that severed finger near the well, for the flesh and bones of a Feng Shui Master are also excellent for subduing forces.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Qingluan gained a deeper appreciation for Xiang Fengchen’s methods. Amidst her shock, she felt more awe and slowly nodded, "The Evil Mage, Xiang Fengchen, indeed lives up to his reputation. Admirable!"
"You are also a standout among your generation, and it is rare for someone of your stature as a lady. If you had not already joined your master, I would have gladly taken you as an in-door disciple."
Before Jiang Qingluan could reply, Xiang Fengchen continued with his hands behind his back, "I know the rules of the Yi Sect are strict, and I will not trouble you. However, there is something I would like to discuss with you. Yang, who is like a half-disciple to me and also a favored man under Director Nalan, is treated like my own son. His prospects in both the world of martial arts and his career are boundless. What do you think of him?"
Jiang Qingluan was startled by the question, "What do you mean?"
"How is the man? Does he look and act appealing to you? Is his character compatible?" Xiang Fengchen asked frankly, without any intention to hide his thoughts and even without asking Yang Xiao’s opinion.
"Are you drunk?" An ignored Yang Xiao angrily said, "What nonsense are you talking about here?" Yang Xiao did not understand why even Director Nalan did not speak up for him. Could it be that all this was agreed upon?
Hearing this, Jiang Qingluan was also shocked and instinctively turned her head to look at Yang Xiao. Her gaze was that of shock, doubt, and most of all, disgust and resistance, as if she were looking at a foolish rich young master forcing himself upon a civilian girl.
"Miss Jiang, don’t listen to his nonsense. You must be dreaming!" Yang Xiao hurriedly defended himself, having no such intentions at all.
However, in the next second, Jiang Qingluan’s gaze softened, and she gave Yang Xiao a polite smile, "Mr. Yang, esteemed as the disciple and junior of two seniors, is naturally a paragon of virtue. Being matched with me would certainly be an honor for me."
As her tone shifted, Jiang Qingluan continued, "However, since this is a matter of a lifetime, I cannot decide alone and will need to consult my master upon returning."
"Very well," Xiang Fengchen nodded.
With that said, Yang Xiao’s respect for this adaptable woman rose to a new level. Clearly, she was not interested in him, but due to Xiang Fengchen and Nalan Shuo being present, she dared not disobey and thus tried to buy time, hoping solely to leave alive.
If it had been Xiang Fengchen alone deciding, Yang Xiao would have certainly clarified the situation with him and Jiang Qingluan. Yet now that Nalan Shuo also remained silent, the matter became complicated.
He did not rule out the possibility that the two were scheming something behind the scenes, perhaps intending to use Jiang Qingluan. Out of caution, Yang Xiao chose to remain silent. After all, whether anyone could leave alive was uncertain, let alone count on any verbal promises.
The four of them continued on, stopping occasionally to ensure no one was following before turning into a secluded alley to find the shop where they had changed clothes the previous day.
Following the old rule, each of them changed into a new set of clothes and shoes, and left the old clothes at the shop to be switched back in the evening.
Using tools borrowed from the shopkeeper, they dismembered the entire ingot of silver into smaller pieces, and the mark of the Earl Mansion on the base of the silver was also scrapped off. This sum of silver soon became loose silver circulating widely in the market.
After changing clothes, the four dispersed and left through the back door one after another, finally meeting at the same outdoor tea stand as the day before.
Taking advantage of the waiter pouring water, Yang Xiao fished several copper coins from his sleeve and clinked them onto the table, "Young brother, I’d like to ask you about something."
Seeing the copper coins, the waiter, schlepping a grimy towel on his shoulder, immediately lit up. Taking the opportunity when his boss was busy, he wiped the coins into his bosom with his sleeve, then beamed broadly, "Ask away, sir. There’s nothing in this town I don’t know about."
"Well, I had a friend invite me to meet at noon, but I forgot the place. I only remember the first character is Chun, the second is either Lu or He, and the third character..."
Before Yang Xiao could finish, the waiter already had the answer, "Sir, I know. It’s Chunhe House in the southern part of the city!"
"Chunhe House?"
"Yes." The waiter grinned, pleased with the easy money. He could not help but add more information, "Chunhe House used to be the largest restaurant here, but it has declined in recent years. The skilled chefs have left, and the singers too. Now, only a blind storyteller remains, hardly the former glory."
Suddenly, the waiter seemed to realize something and quickly put on a smiling face, "Sir, I spoke out of turn. Perhaps your friend just wants to save some money and sought a quiet place for old times’ sake, don’t you think?"
After learning the location, the four of them drank a bowl of tea and put down the money for it, planning to leave. However, moving as a group of four was too conspicuous, so they split into two groups. Yang Xiao was utterly tired of Xiang Fengchen and felt it was too awkward to be alone with Jiang Qingluan due to prior events, so he thought the best partner would be Director Nalan.
However, when he suggested this, he was met with opposition from both Xiang Fengchen and Jiang Qingluan. Yang Xiao knew the reason, these two were old hands at this, and they were worried that he and Nalan Shuo might collude and refuse to share any crucial clues they found.
Faced with having to choose between Xiang Fengchen and Jiang Qingluan, Yang Xiao did not hesitate; he chose Xiang Fengchen.
After asking the attendant for the exact location of Chunhe House, Nalan Shuo and Jiang Qingluan went ahead first, with Yang Xiao and Xiang Fengchen slowly following behind. Seizing this opportunity, Yang Xiao also questioned Xiang Fengchen about the prior incident, demanding an explanation.
"The logic is simple," Xiang Fengchen said calmly. "Whether you succeed is not important, but it’s crucial to owe her a personal favor. She’s from the Yi Sect and is a young priest, holding a high status within the sect. You’ll need her help, especially after you leave."
"What do I need her help for?’ Yang Xiao felt only embarrassment and discomfort. "Look how things have turned out, I’ll be thankful if she doesn’t come after me once she’s out."
"Don’t worry; she’s a sensible person. She understands the principle of repaying a favor owed. The Yi Sect and the Japan Ghost Sect essentially come from the same lineage. I don’t know how to break the evil charm between your brows, but they might have a method." Xiang Fengchen held the Yi Sect in high regard, describing their methods as unmatched in their peculiarity.
"Even more peculiar than the Black Buddha Mother?" Yang Xiao retorted.
To his surprise, Xiang Fengchen’s usually calm face clouded over in the next second. His words carried a hint of anger. "Don’t speak recklessly, and don’t joke about the Black Buddha Mother. Remember, they are not human. They are a presence a hundred, a thousand times more terrifying than what you can imagine. No one wants to provoke them, not even your Patrol Defense Office."
After about half an hour, they finally found the place named Chunhe House at the end of the street. It looked like a restaurant, well-positioned with a decent size but visibly dilapidated. The old sign hanging at the front with cracked, dust-coated black and white characters, and not far from the restaurant’s front door, several beggars lay basking in the sun, with chipped porcelain bowls on the ground containing only a few copper coins.
They didn’t approach too closely, this being the prescribed location. Both groups walked around the area, especially instigating the beggars closely. This task was undertaken by Xiang Fengchen, who had never shown his face before. He walked up to the entrance of an alley, tossed a few copper coins, and came back certain that none of the beggars belonged to the Feng Shui Lineage.
Finally, after discussion, it was decided that Yang Xiao and Xiang Fengchen would go inside the restaurant to look for the person, while Nalan Shuo stood at the main entrance, and Jiang Qingluan was assigned to watch from an alley behind the restaurant.
No one objected, and they commenced their plan. Yang Xiao and Xiang Fengchen entered the restaurant one after the other. The door led to a spacious hall with a stage set up in the middle, surrounded by tables and chairs for guests to sit and dine.
Behind the stage hung a white curtain that had yellowed over the years, flanked by numerous banners in black, white, red, and green, though they looked untouched for a long time.
These were relics from when the restaurant was bustling. Besides regular singing performances, on festivals and significant occasions, troupes were invited to perform grand operas. But now, only a long, tattered table and a wooden stool remained on the vast stage, equipped with complete writing materials and a folded white paper fan laying across. Near a corner of the table stood a tall, pure black wooden stick.
Scattered beneath the stage were 7 or 8 patrons, the tables bearing minimal respectable dishes, without any meat, mostly simple stir-fries. Some had warmed wine while others only had complimentary bitter tea, indicating these guests were not very particular and seemed to be regulars.
"Two gentlemen, please find a seat inside." As Yang Xiao surveyed the conditions inside the hall, a skinny attendant slowly approached them, looking as if he had just woken up.
The restaurant was not small, with three floors, and the interior decorations reflected its former prosperity. After dismissing the attendant, Yang Xiao and Xiang Fengchen made a round upstairs and downstairs. The old wooden staircase, covered in cracks, creaked under their feet.
The second floor housed private rooms, only one of which was occupied. Xiang Fengchen stepped in, glanced briefly, then quickly excused himself with an apology, indicating to Yang Xiao with a slight shake of his head that the person they were looking for was not inside.
The third floor was lined with guest rooms and was less than impressive. In the corridor, a chubby attendant leaned against a door frame, dozing. It was not suitable for Yang Xiao and his companion to inspect further, so they retreated.
As they descended the stairs, Yang Xiao considered how the magician might make an appearance or disguise his identity.
This person had purposely informed them of this address, there must be a reason, likely to meet them here.
But now, they didn’t even know the other party’s intentions or appearance, placing them in a passive position in this game.
He had looked around with Xiang Fengchen; counting all the customers and attendants, there were no more than 30 people in the restaurant, none of whom appeared suspicious so far.
As they walked down the stairs from the second floor to the first, a loud shout suddenly exploded, carrying the storyteller’s distinct intonation, coming from above the stage:
"The three emperors and five emperors of morality, fame from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The seven heroes and five oppressors fought through the Spring and Autumn periods, and empires rose and fell in an instant."
"How many lines in the annals bear their names, countless barren mounds at Mount Beimang. Fields tilled by predecessors are harvested by those who follow, why speak of dragons battling tigers?"
With a loud "bang" on the table, the startling wood sounded!
"Today, this humble one dares discuss ancient and modern times, to narrate an ancient yet new play to the audience," proclaimed an old man in plain robes who was blind in one eye as he slammed the startling wood and declared loudly,
"The Loyal Twelve Generals!"
