The sky grew dim, and the lanterns were just lit.
Yang Ge lifted the windscreen and stepped into Yuelai Inn.
Among the six people bubbling hotpot and humming tunes inside the inn, Xiao Baoqi, seated directly across from the entrance, glanced at him and, for a moment, failed to recognize him, waved his hand carelessly, and said, "Dear customer, we’re closed. Please come early tomorrow if you’re looking for accommodations!"
Yang Ge picked up the Cold Moon Blade and let out a cold laugh.
All six turned their heads towards him, but it was Fang Ke who recognized him first, "My lord?"
As soon as he spoke, the rest of the five were shocked.
"Damn it, Second Master?"
"Why have you turned up like this?"
"Has your journey not been smooth?"
The six men scrambled to make room, surging forward together.
Yang Ge swept his gaze over their six faces, flushed with the glow of wine, and greasy from their meal; he sneered inwardly once more but put on a smiling face, nodded, and said, "It’s alright, quite smooth..."
"Have you eaten?"
"What kind of foolish question is that? Can’t I eat some more even if I already have?"
"Quick, quick, quick, Second Master, please take a seat. Let’s start with two cups to warm up..."
The six men clumsily pulled Yang Ge towards the dining table.
Yang Ge waved off several pairs of hands, smiling, "No hurry, continue eating. I have some matters to discuss with Shen first. Just save me a bite or two... Shen, let’s go to the backyard!"
He casually placed the Cold Moon Blade on the counter and headed to the backyard without looking back.
Perhaps his smile was too deceptive, or perhaps the ever-alert Shen had convinced himself of his innocence, as he brazenly stretched out a thumbs-up towards Xiao Baoqi and the others, hinting at Yang Ge’s retreating figure, "See that? That’s what you call a bond!"
Xiao Baoqi and his comrades raised their thumbs-up in the air, playing along, "That’s true, you and Second Master are old friends!"
"Cut the long story short, we’re still waiting for you two to join us for the hotpot!"
"When you come back, share some stories with us too..."
Only Fang Ke looked on with a peculiar expression at Shen Fa, hesitating, as if he had more to say... if he hadn’t misheard, had his own lord just called Shen a ’my lord’?
Based on his understanding of his lord, it’s better to fear his rudeness than his courtesy!
Rudeness at worst gets you scolded, but courtesy might get you beaten...
And just as he expected, barely had the two entered the backyard when a thud was heard—a sound clearly indicating a body heavily hitting the ground—causing Fang Ke’s eyelids to twitch.
The four others who had just settled back at the table were startled too, instinctively standing up and moving towards the backyard.
Fang Ke picked up his chopsticks, dipped a slice of lamb into the copper pot shaking it around, and without looking back whispered, "Go if you aren’t afraid of a beating!"
The comrades, who had already taken a few steps, heard him and immediately became docile. They returned to the dining table, conscientiously dipped lamb into the pot, feigning deafness to the rhythmic thudding from the backyard.
In the backyard, Yang Ge completed a string of basic yet brutal moves against Shen Fa, who was now embedded in the wall, finally snapping back to his senses, infuriated, "Son of a bitch Yang Ge, I quit my damn official post to help you worry about this damned inn, living every day in fear for your well-being outside, and you beat me the moment you return?"
"Heh..."
Yang Ge approached with a smirk that was not a smile, grasped the man’s arm, swiftly executed a shoulder throw, and smashed him hard onto the ground, "Dare you say you didn’t know about that old clod on Mount Longhu?"
As he spoke, he lifted Shen Fa by the arm, swinging him overhead and slamming him behind—a loud thud signaling a fleshly body hitting the ground, "Previously you kept urging me not to act rashly, to plan carefully, but inwardly you must have been pleased as punch, right? Were you hoping I’d have a go at that old clod and we’d both end up in a lose-lose situation, so you could reap the benefits?"
Shen Fa, in disbelief, looked at him, instinctively ignoring his body pain, "In your eyes, is that what I am, Shen Fa?"
Yang Ge looked down at him with a sneer, "Aren’t you that kind of person?"
"I..."
Shen Fa opened his mouth to deny it, but found he couldn’t continue. Instead, he turned and shouted with all his might, "Believe it or not, I’m utterly in the dark about this. I even learned about your trip to Mount Longhu from loose talk... If there’s a single lie in my words, may thunder strike Shen twice, leaving me with no place to be buried!"
"Oh?"
Yang Ge looked at him with surprise, somewhat taken aback that this fellow really knew nothing... Shen made a habit of underhanded tricks, but he was known to own up to them, provided one could see through those tricks — he would then acknowledge them.
If one couldn’t see through them, he was capable of acting dumb forever!
This, however, did not stop Yang Ge from continuing his assault.
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Smiling, he bent down, grabbed Shen Fa by the collar, flung him into the air and with a series of Chaotic Wind Leg strikes unleashed a flurry of kicks, tossing him around the courtyard like a ball for over twenty breaths before he hit the ground.
"Thud."
Shen Fa crashed down heavily, his face red and ears purple, curving like a cooked shrimp, still defiantly jutting out his chin and laboriously asking, "And what was that kicking for?"
Yang Ge loosened his neck, feeling as limber as if he’d just had a massage.
Indeed, coming back from a long trip calls for a good and solid thrashing of this fellow.
Otherwise, something always seems missing...