Chapter 2: White Fox Face

Colonel Qi Dangguo, a standard-bearer of the Northern Liang army, found himself in a predicament. Despite being one of the six adopted sons of Xu Xiao, the formidable Grand Pillar State, and earning the nickname "wolfdog" among the "one tiger, two bears, three dogs," his relationship with the Crown Prince had not been harmonious over the years.

Frankly, Qi Dangguo, who hailed from impoverished military roots, didn't approve of the Crown Prince's flamboyant behavior across the prefectures. Yet, his loyalty was unwavering. As Xu Fengnian was his adoptive father's eldest legitimate son, the Colonel wouldn't even flinch if ordered to personally abduct a young woman. The current dilemma was how to properly return Xu Fengnian to the manor; he certainly couldn't just casually throw the esteemed Crown Prince onto a horse.

Fortunately, a rider galloping towards them resolved Qi Dangguo's predicament.

The horse, as black as ink, was exceptionally tall and robust, once a king among wild horses. After being tamed, it was given to Prince Xu Longxiang. Initially, the horse proved difficult to control, rearing up and attempting to trample its new master. But it met its match when the young prince struck it down with a single punch. From that moment on, it became as docile and gentle as a domesticated pet.

Prince Xu Longxiang, who had galloped over upon hearing the news, abruptly reined in his horse, dismounted, and affectionately called out "Brother" several times. Receiving no response, he naively believed his brother was dead and wept inconsolably. Qi Dangguo, intending to kindly explain that the Crown Prince was merely overtired, was forcefully pushed away by the Prince. He stumbled several paces, nearly falling. Considering Qi Dangguo was a formidable general who served as the Northern Liang army's standard-bearer for the Grand Pillar State, this incident clearly demonstrated the young Prince's extraordinary strength.

The old servant, whom Xu Fengnian called "Old Huang," quickly approached and softly spoke a few words in a heavy West Shu accent. Only then did Xu Longxiang's tears transform into a smile. He then slapped the old servant heavily on the shoulder, causing the old man to land squarely in the dust.

The Prince was unrestrained in his strength when dealing with others, but when it came to his brother, Xu Fengnian, he was exceptionally gentle. Squatting down, he carefully lifted his sleeping brother onto his back and slowly proceeded towards the city gate. His mount, nicknamed "Black Tooth," behaved as if in heat, taking mincing steps and turning its head to rub against the red horse led by the old servant—a horse no less sturdy than itself. However, the gaunt, limping red horse was unappreciative, baring its teeth to bite. Startled, Black Tooth quickly backed away, yet it couldn't bring itself to run far, displaying a clear reluctance to depart.

Inside Lingzhou City, people were initially unsure who could be carried into the city on Prince Xu Longxiang's back, especially with two hundred ferocious royal guards following closely behind. Then, someone exclaimed, "The Crown Prince!" This immediately threw Lingzhou's main thoroughfare, wide enough for three carriages abreast, into utter chaos. Beautifully dressed young ladies, abandoning all pretense of elegance, clutched their skirts and shrieked as they scrambled away. Large shops that displayed valuable treasures to attract customers swiftly began to pack away their wares.

The news, "The Crown Prince is back!" spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Lingzhou City with astonishing speed. Over twenty brothels within the city were instantly invigorated. Brothel madams and pimps wept tears of joy, and some alluring courtesans, clutching their chests, sat forlornly by their windows, staring into the distance and murmuring, "My darling, you've finally decided to return. I've missed you terribly."

A lone figure, tall and slender, dressed in a white robe, followed the two hundred Northern Liang cavalry into the city from a distance. With eyebrows like painted arches, long, narrow, and alluring phoenix-peach blossom eyes, and skin as white as jade, she had a perfectly beautiful oval face. Her extraordinary beauty seemed otherworldly.

Had it not been for the two swords at her left hip, her unknown background, her proud and aloof demeanor, and the terrifying reputation preceding the Crown Prince's return, some street thugs and dissolute young masters would have long since dared to harass her.

This woman was truly exquisite, more beautiful than all the city's courtesans combined. Some respectable, beautiful women and wealthy young ladies, fleeing in panic, saw her. Initially, they felt jealousy, then admiration, shyly thinking that if this woman were a young gentleman, they would even be willing to elope with him.

The white-robed beauty, with swords at her waist, displayed a hint of surprise. After a brief hesitation, she approached an old fortune-teller and inquired, "Old sir, whose Crown Prince is the person being escorted into the city by the Northern Liang cavalry?"

The old man, who had been lamenting his inability to conduct business later, was utterly captivated by the young woman's beauty. Being advanced in years, he finally managed to compose himself and offered a wry smile, saying:

"Young lady, you must be from out of town, aren't you? Here, we have only one Crown Prince: the eldest son of the King of Northern Liang. Sons of ordinary wealthy and powerful families wouldn't dare call themselves a Crown Prince; he'd beat them black and blue. Even the princely descendants from neighboring prefectures, if they slightly displease him, will be beaten into submission by our Crown Prince."

Hearing the old man refer to her as "young lady," the woman's remarkably beautiful brows unconsciously furrowed slightly, but she offered no rebuttal. She gazed at the slowly advancing cavalry procession ahead, narrowing her peach blossom eyes, which now held a faint hint of murderous intent. She murmured to herself:

"I didn't expect it to actually be a young master. Xu Jiaohua, could this be the legendary 'nine parts fake, one part true' tactic to deceive others? How could Xu Xiao, the King of Northern Liang, renowned as the Butcher who captured over a hundred cities and slaughtered three hundred thousand lives, have such an unpromising son?"

The Northern Liang King's Manor.

The Crown Prince's residence was even more luxurious than King Xu Xiao's. This was evident from the furnishings on the large, zitan wood-carved table by the window. Besides a dark blue ancient bronze tripod, a full four feet tall, a grand painting of a green dragon hung nearby, seemingly waiting for dawn to accompany the court.

There were also huanghuali wood and marble tables, arranged with the Four Treasures of the Study and drinking utensils. Famous calligraphic rubbings were piled high like mountains. There were dozens of inkstones alone, each invaluable, and brushes stood densely packed in the brush pot, resembling a dense forest.

In one corner of the table stood a large Ge kiln flower vase, filled with crystal ball white chrysanthemums. Additionally, a pair of gold-inlaid Pixiu mythical beasts lay nearby, seemingly for casual handling.

Numerous "earth dragons," consuming countless amounts of charcoal, were installed throughout the manor's floors. Consequently, even in early winter, the rooms remained as warm as late spring, allowing one to walk barefoot on the carpets without issue. Such was the extravagance of a truly wealthy and powerful household.

At this moment, Crown Prince Xu Fengnian lay fast asleep on a grand bed, covered by a large bedspread of autumnal hue with golden money-patterned python scales. His face was pale and drawn. Grand Pillar State Xu Xiao and Prince Xu Longxiang sat by the bedside. The only other people present were Heavenly Master Zhao from Longhu Mountain, who stood to one side, and the old servant surnamed Huang, who sat by the doorway with a long traveling bag on his back. No one else was there.

At the head of the bed, an ancient bronze Xuande incense burner, with gold flecks, diffused the refreshing and exotic scent of ambergris.

"Heavenly Master, is my son well?" Xu Xiao asked, for what must have been the umpteenth time, never tiring of the same question. This was hardly the decisive Grand Pillar State Xu from the battlefield; he was clearly just a father doting on his son to an absurd degree.

"No worries, no worries. The Crown Prince is merely suffering from prolonged travel fatigue. He just needs to sleep for half a day, then recuperate for half a month, and he will certainly be as lively as ever."

The old Daoist priest spoke with confidence, though he felt a pang of apprehension. Earlier, upon seeing his beloved son so emaciated, the Prince had immediately ordered the manor's chief steward to bring out several furnaces' worth of top-grade spiritual pills from Mount Wudang, along with all the precious tribute medicines stored in the manor, eager to pour them all into his son's mouth.

This made Heavenly Master Zhao's heart pound with alarm. He spent a long time explaining the principle that "all medicine has some toxicity" and, with the private intention of competing with Mount Wudang, personally brought out some Golden Elixirs from Longhu Mountain, putting them to great use. Only then were the Prince's concerns alleviated.

Crown Prince Xu Fengnian slept for a full two days and two nights before waking. During that time, his younger brother, Xu Longxiang, stayed by his side, neither eating nor drinking.

When a servant went to report the good news to the Grand Pillar State, he rushed over to visit. However, he saw his son immediately grab the Xuande incense burner from the bedside and hurl it at him. Xu Fengnian then leaped from the bed, cursing loudly:

"Xu Xiao, you damned old man, you kicked me out of the manor for three years! No wonder people always say I'm not your real son!"

Xu Xiao tilted his head, dodging the burner, and shamelessly apologized.

But Xu Fengnian would not let go of the culprit who had made him endure three years of exposure to the elements. After smashing everything throwable in the room, he chased his father outside. Spotting a beautifully embroidered broom leaning in a corner of the corridor, he grabbed it and continued to chase and strike him.

The pitiful Grand Pillar State, after enduring several solid blows, didn't forget to remind him, "Put on your shoes, put on your shoes, it's cold; don't freeze." In the courtyard, one chased and one fled, creating a lively spectacle. Several direct-line stewards and servants of the manor, who were even more influential than a county governor, tacitly tucked their hands into their sleeves, gazed up at the sky, pretending to hear and see nothing.

Xu Fengnian, exhausted, quickly became breathless after chasing and hitting for a while, bending over and glaring fiercely at his father. Xu Xiao stood at a distance, carefully offering a placating smile: "Are you calmer now? If so, let's eat first. You need strength to vent your anger, after all."

On the threshold of the room sat Prince Xu Longxiang and the servant Old Huang. Both were grinning, one drooling, the other missing a front tooth; both looking quite silly.

The Crown Prince, still panting heavily, pointed at Xu Xiao, the King of Northern Liang, who appeared so high and mighty in the eyes of outsiders. "You old ass, I'll let you off today, but you just wait for me."

Xu Xiao wasn't angry; he cheerfully replied, "All right, all right, your father will wait. I promise not to fight back or talk back, so you can vent all your anger."

Still barefoot, Xu Fengnian dropped the broom, which was worth dozens of silver taels, and came to the doorway. Seeing his foolishly grinning younger brother, his eyes softened. Not minding the drool covering his brother's chest, Xu Fengnian naturally reached out to wipe it away, gently saying, "Silly Hun, come, stand up and let your brother see if you've grown taller or stronger."

The young boy solemnly stood up. Xu Fengnian measured his height, then smiled with slight disappointment, "Neither taller nor stronger."

The young boy then wrapped his arms around his brother's waist and lifted him. Xu Fengnian wasn't particularly surprised, though his chest got quite wet with drool. He burst into laughter, "Your strength has certainly grown a lot."

The Grand Pillar State stood rooted to the spot. The Butcher, who had spent half his life in the military, slaughtering countless people, now found his eyes a little moist. He quietly turned his head, muttering in self-mockery, "Such a strong wind, where did all this sand come from?"

The two brothers returned to the room together. Xu Xiao immediately ordered servants to bring in the carefully prepared meals. There were twenty to thirty servants just carrying food boxes, entering the room one after another in a continuous flow. Most of the dishes were vegetarian, with few strong or spicy flavors, as per the kind suggestion of the old Daoist from Longhu Mountain.

After three days of good food, drink, and rest, Xu Fengnian made his way to the manor's most acclaimed Listening Tide Pavilion. He carried a purple bamboo fishing rod, had his brother Xu Longxiang bring several embroidered stools, and instructed servants to prepare a large tea table filled with rare fruits and exquisite dishes. He also specifically asked the steward to select four or five beautiful maidservants in their prime to provide attentive service, including shoulder rubs and back massages. *This*, he thought, was the comfortable life a Crown Prince should lead.

Listening Tide Pavilion—its name alone hinted at its significance. The Northern Liang King's Manor occupied the entirety of Qingliang Mountain. The lake on the mountainside was expanded to twice its original size, with the intention of transforming it into a vast body of water, complete with pavilions and towers. The majestic nine-story pavilion at the center, towering into the clouds, was named Listening Tide. Crown Prince Xu Fengnian's favorite pastime was fishing on the first floor. The pavilion housed tens of thousands of books, countless rare and unique editions, and numerous lost martial arts manuals.

Fifteen years ago, Xu Xiao, who had not yet been enfeoffed as the King of Northern Liang, personally led his iron cavalry, armed with an imperial decree and a bestowed sword, to crush dozens of martial arts sects across the vast lands of the dynasty. Apart from orthodox sects like Longhu Mountain, which had always been law-abiding, defiant ones like Zijin Villa were directly annihilated.

It should be noted that twenty years ago, Zijin Villa was a top-tier martial arts sacred ground in the *jianghu*. Over the past century, it had produced four of the top ten masters in various generations. In the end, the villa's secret martial arts manuals and texts, with the exception of a symbolic few sets given to the imperial court, were all confiscated and stored on the sixth floor of Listening Tide Pavilion.

Fortunately, Xu Fengnian bore no resemblance to his father, Xu Xiao. After leaving his jurisdiction, he dared not claim to be the Crown Prince of Northern Liang. Otherwise, this fact alone would have been enough to seal his doom, as the Grand Pillar State's enemies were as numerous and widespread as his disciples.

The lake contained ten thousand carp. When bait was casually scattered, it created a spectacular sight of ten thousand carp rising towards the surface. Even the Emperor, who had come for summer retreat some years ago, clicked his tongue in wonder and immediately sighed, admitting his inferiority.

Xu Fengnian lay on a wooden couch adorned with magnificent Shu brocade, fishing for a while. Seeing his brother grinning foolishly and drooling again, he reached out and wiped it away.

He couldn't help but think of the "White Fox Face" he had tricked into coming to Liangzhou—a beauty whose lips curved into a crescent moon when she smiled. Xu Fengnian privately called her the "Number One Beauty Under Heaven." He had initially called her the "Number One Most Beautiful Woman Under Heaven," but after being severely beaten until he resembled a pig's head, he had settled for a slightly different term, changing "beautiful woman" to "beauty."

Thinking of this person always put Xu Fengnian in a good mood. He rubbed his brother's head and smiled, "Brother promised to trick a stunning beauty to be your wife, and I actually did bring one back. She's a 'White Fox Face,' incredibly beautiful, and she carries two swords: 'Embroidered Winter' and 'Spring Thunder,' both renowned blades under heaven. What a pity, though... he's a man."