Chapter 216: The Best and Worst of the Jianghu

Wang Dashi had always hoped to die like a man in front of Miss Liu, feeling it would have made his life worthwhile, even if it meant letting his father down and ending the Wang family line here. To a humble person like him, Liu Nirong was a celestial maiden, ethereal and beautiful, gentle, kind-hearted, and highly skilled in martial arts. Not only did he wish to catch her eye, but back in the Fish Dragon Gang, even a distant glimpse of her would make Wang Dashi's whole body burn with energy, allowing him to work all day without feeling tired. If he was lucky enough to see her charming smile, he was guaranteed to suffer from insomnia that night. For years, sleeping on the same heated brick bed with his martial brothers, he would hear them talk about Miss Liu every night. He remembered a few years ago, one martial brother foolishly concocted a story about bravely stumbling upon Miss Liu's undergarment drying in the courtyard. That night, the other martial brothers beat him to a pulp. However, it was said that afterwards, many martial brothers secretly asked about the color and style of the undergarment, willing to indulge in idle fantasies even though they knew it was a lie. Wang Dashi had no right to join in such revelry; he could only watch Miss Liu Nirong from afar, knowing that one day, the fairy in his heart would marry and raise a family. A while ago, he heard his martial brothers say that the old gang leader had found a young man from a prominent family for Miss Liu. Wang Dashi felt a pang of sadness, almost envying his father for having died for the Fish Dragon Gang years ago.

Xu Fengnian released the corpse, which no longer had spinal support, then bent down and wiped his hands on Zhao Yingchuan's clothes. He glanced at the Northern Liang saber. Just now, his hand had acted as a blade, plunging into the man's back. His middle finger could have easily shattered the entire spine, but to be cautious, he instantly changed his hand-blade into a claw. This way, if the body fell into the hands of someone discerning, the level of skill revealed wouldn't be too terrifying. The reason for his hidden presence within the Fish Dragon Gang on this journey wasn't due to any schemes. It was simply that since he was passing through to Liuxia City in Northern Mang, he had instructed Chu Lushan to make arrangements. Chu Lushan had swapped out the steward from the official's residence, replacing him with someone else, and had the original steward detained in Lingzhou's government prison, to be released only after the Fish Dragon Gang returned from Northern Mang. The steward, who was suffering undeserved imprisonment, was probably still oblivious. Xu Fengnian also hadn't anticipated that upon reaching Daoma Pass, the Fish Dragon Gang would find itself in such a desperate situation. Since the matter hadn't originated with him, he hadn't intended to intervene. The rise and fall of a third-rate Northern Liang gang held no interest for the naturally indifferent Prince, who truly lacked the leisure for heroics to win Liu Nirong's favor. A moment ago in the room, Wang Dashi was in a daze, while the Prince slowly perused an unnamed saber manual, a text so valuable it could be described as "a word worth a thousand pieces of gold"—what price could truly be put on the martial insights of Wang Xianzhi from Wudi City? The manual had sixty-four pages. After finishing one page, only after confirming he had fully absorbed it, would he carefully tear it out and destroy it. From the Northern Liang Prince's residence to Daoma Pass, he had only torn out three pages. He was just starting the fourth when Zhao Yingchuan stumbled in. His entry was tolerable, as was his tedious rambling. The Prince, who had already put the saber manual back into his robes, found him bearable until the man threatened Liu Nirong with Wang Dashi's life. Seeing the half-eaten bag of delicate soft pastries on the table, which Wang Dashi had deliberately avoided touching, coupled with the Prince's utter annoyance at people who chattered incessantly like women when important matters were at hand, he finally decided to kill him. Thus, the fellow was sent to the afterlife to bother someone else. Beyond her shock, Liu Nirong didn't dwell on Zhao Yingchuan's grim demise. Instead, she went to the window and saw another corpse outside the inn, an arrow lodged in its chest. Clearly, Gongsun Yang had made a show of force, finding one of Xiao Qiang's mortal enemies to make an example of. But these fierce tactics, even combined with Xu's daring intervention, were merely drops in the bucket against the armored soldiers of Daoma Pass.

Xu Fengnian sat down, picked up a piece of pastry, and slowly chewed it, then leisurely asked, "What about that cart of goods?"

Just as Liu Nirong's impression of him had begun to improve, that single sentence instantly ruined it. Liu Nirong was frantic, her mind racing, yet she couldn't devise a perfect plan to pull the Fish Dragon Gang out of this mire. She had no time to spare for this worldly man. She watched as Gongsun Yang unleashed a volley of arrows, each piercing the ground directly in front of the horses, finally halting the advance of the Daoma Pass armored soldiers, at least temporarily. Escape was utterly impossible. Zhou Ziru, personally leading over ten elite cavalrymen, and given his meticulous planning, must have set up a series of traps in the backyard as well. The Fish Dragon Gang's fighting force of just over thirty people could be worn down and destroyed by a mere dozen archers positioned effectively. By then, only a few stragglers would remain, who, facing Zhou Ziru's cavalry and the other two factions, would surely share the same bleak fate as fodder, including her, Xiao Qiang, and Gongsun Yang. Faced with such an inextricable knot, woven by several hands, how could Liu Nirong, even with her delicate and skillful hands, possibly untangle it? Xiao Qiang entered the room and frowned at the corpse at Wang Dashi's feet. When he saw the Northern Liang saber in the corpse's hand, he sighed deeply, mistakenly believing it was Liu Nirong's doing. He thought, if Nirong has decided to go this far, then let them die tonight. However, Wang Dashi, seeing the esteemed second gang leader present, on one hand grateful for Young Master Xu's life-saving grace and on the other out of instinctual fear, quickly explained, "Young Master Xu intervened and killed this man."

Xiao Qiang, of course, didn't believe him. His gaze drifted to Liu Nirong, who was turning away from the window. When she nodded, Xiao Qiang, after a moment's thought, erupted in rage: "You, Xu! Do you know this man was a Northern Liang armored soldier? How dare you kill him?! My Fish Dragon Gang will never associate with you! Get out and turn yourself in to the authorities!"

Everyone inside and outside the inn heard Xiao Qiang's righteous words. Upon hearing the news, Zhou Ziru's face turned terrifyingly grim. Zhao Yingchuan was his sworn brother, and his future in the Northern Liang army was promising. Over the years, the Zhou family had spent at least four or five thousand taels of silver on this adopted brother, not to mention the many favors and dealings Zhou Ziru's father, a Deputy Commander, had secretly arranged to pave Zhao Yingchuan's way. Their hope was that in the future, Zhou Ziru and Zhao Yingchuan, as brothers, could support each other in the Northern Liang border army and rise together. Who would have thought he'd be killed on their own turf? This infuriated Zhou Ziru beyond measure. He looked up and angrily declared to the divine archer within the Fish Dragon Gang, "Old scoundrel, if you dare to obstruct me again, I'll ensure disaster befalls your entire clan!"

Xiao Qiang's original intention was to deflect the rage outside the inn onto Xu. Desperate times called for desperate measures; he was unaware of the truth about the swordsman Zhao Yingchuan and, by adding fuel to the fire, solidified Zhou Ziru's resolve to make the Fish Dragon Gang perish alongside his brother. To the long-renowned Lingzhou swordsman, as long as the Daoma Pass soldiers didn't get involved in this mess, the Fish Dragon Gang's strength would be sufficient to handle the other two factions of martial artists. He clearly underestimated Zhou Ziru's ambition and appetite. Liu Nirong seemed not to have expected her master to speak in such a way. For a moment, her eyes were filled with surprise. Her master, whom she had always regarded as dignified, now felt like a stranger. She turned to look at Xu, who had finished his pastry, lightly clapped his hands, and showed no intention of getting up. Liu Nirong hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, feeling somewhat guilty. Xiao Qiang wished he could immediately throw this pretentious good-for-nothing out the window to be trampled into meat paste by the horses. He stubbornly believed that as long as the Daoma Pass armored soldiers calmed down, he and the Fish Dragon Gang still had a chance to escape death.

Seeing the Fish Dragon Gang's top swordsman somewhat flustered, Xu Fengnian calmly said, "Don't be so quick to shift the blame. The most important orchestrator of today's situation isn't the enemies you imagine, but Zhou Ziru of Daoma Pass. This fellow wants to take your Fish Dragon Gang's thirty-odd heads for military merit in bandit suppression, and he also wants to possess your apprentice, Liu Nirong, and control your Fish Dragon Gang, so he can establish a foothold in Lingzhou, the heartland of Northern Liang, making it much easier to conduct illicit business in the future. Zhou Ziru's operations currently seem flawless; he will definitely eradicate the Fish Dragon Gang. Liu Nirong has beauty and the status of a future gang leader, allowing her to protect herself and seek wealth amidst the chaos. I ask, Deputy Leader Xiao Qiang, at your advanced age, can you still sell yourself to Zhou Ziru? Or are you planning to become a sword-dancing maid to seek Young Master Zhou's favor?"

Wang Dashi looked at Young Master Xu, whose tone was calm, then at Gang Leader Xiao, whose anger made his sword-holding arm tremble. Wang Dashi's expression was odd.

Xiao Qiang already detested Xu, but upon hearing the terrifying truth, he looked at Liu Nirong. After she nodded, his heart first turned to ashes, then he seemed to grasp at a lifeline. Turning to see no one outside, he whispered, "Nirong, I have served the Fish Dragon Gang for twenty years, diligently and conscientiously. Have I ever done anything to betray the name of the Fish Dragon Gang? And our master-apprentice relationship—have I ever held back anything while teaching you swordsmanship, out of a selfish fear of a student surpassing their master? Your master knows you're the type to rather be a shattered jade than a complete tile, but this matter concerns the Fish Dragon Gang's century-long future. Even if you suffer grievances, you must swallow them with blood. As long as you establish a connection with Zhou Ziru, the Fish Dragon Gang will never lack financial resources in the future. How can it not rise then? Taking a step back, once we leave Daoma Pass, it won't be too late for us, master and apprentice, to turn against Zhou Ziru. While there's life, there's hope! Your master can promise you that even if it costs me my life, I will certainly help you get even with Zhou Ziru! If you don't believe me, Xiao Qiang can swear to the heavens!"

Wang Dashi was dumbfounded. What heroic spirit this Deputy Leader used to embody, with all his inspiring tales of bravery that made the small fry of the Fish Dragon Gang admire him immensely. How could he show such a face at this moment of life and death? In the past, watching street acrobats, the old performers from Western Shu had a masterful trick of changing faces, but it seemed they couldn't even match half the skill of Deputy Leader Xiao!

Xu Fengnian said nonchalantly, "Gang Leader Xiao speaks reasonably. You've considered the greater good of the Fish Dragon Gang and ensured the safety of both master and apprentice. Such meticulous effort! I imagine that afterwards, Old Gang Leader Liu will be immensely grateful and might as well marry his granddaughter to Hero Xiao. An old husband and young wife, a match made in heaven. Xu congratulates you both in advance."

These words were incredibly malicious, especially when linked to his earlier suggestions about Xiao Qiang prostituting himself to Zhou Ziru or performing a seductive sword dance. The Prince's verbal skills had clearly reached a very high level. Even an ordinarily docile and patient nobody like Wang Dashi, looking at the hypocritical and ugly face of the so-called hero Xiao Qiang, wanted nothing more than to slap him several times.

Xu Fengnian didn't forget to turn his head, casting a casual glance at Liu Nirong, and asked, "Miss Liu, what are your thoughts on this marriage? Don't forget to send me an invitation when the time comes."

Xiao Qiang, furious, shouted, "Insolent brat!"

Liu Nirong, however, yelled at both Xu Fengnian and her master Xiao Qiang, "Shut up!"

Xiao Qiang had a strong urge to draw his sword and kill, but upon hearing Liu Nirong's tearful cry, he snapped back to reality, realizing that if he killed someone in front of her, he might truly end up losing his own life at the inn.

Liu Nirong stated gravely, "Xiao Qiang, our master-apprentice bond ends here. Today, Liu Nirong will absolutely not compromise herself to Zhou Ziru. If you leave now, there might still be a slim chance."

Xiao Qiang's face flickered between dark and light. He snorted coldly and turned to leave without hesitation.

At this moment, Liu Nirong finally began to sob.

From childhood to maidenhood, and now womanhood, all the aspirations and fantasies about the martial world she had held for over twenty years shattered like a dropped bronze mirror in that instant.

Xu Fengnian stood up, not looking at the tear-streaked Liu Nirong, and walked to the window. He said softly, "Endure a little longer; there will likely be a turning point. Daoma Pass isn't just Zhou Ziru's domain. Han Tao, the second-in-command, the Cuigong Commandant, has always been at odds with Zhou Ziru's father. If I'm not mistaken, a high-ranking superior is inspecting Daoma Pass soon. If Han Tao has any sense, he won't miss this excellent opportunity to suppress the arrogance of Zhou Ziru and his father. However, whether you'll be fending off a tiger at the front gate only to let a wolf in through the back, your Fish Dragon Gang will just have to pray for good fortune. If someone covets your beauty again then, I doubt you'll have much integrity left to uphold, will you? Your chivalrous master was right about one thing: in the long run, as long as you're willing to make sacrifices, for the Fish Dragon Gang, it just means losing thirty or so thugs tonight. In the future, with the backing of a Northern Liang border army faction and plenty of silver in hand, would you really worry about not being able to recruit lackeys willing to die for you? At most, you'd become a concubine for a military lord. So what if you become a concubine? You might even become the Empress of Lingzhou's martial world."

Liu Nirong stood behind Xu Fengnian, her vision blurred by tears, looking at the back of the man with the saber. She shook her head and said, "This isn't the martial world I want."

Xu Fengnian sneered, "Then you can pray that Cuigong Commandant Han Tao and Zhou Ziru will clash like two tigers. To be frank, that woman with the Northern Mang accent has a very significant background; not just any noblewoman can wear a Xianbei dragon-head jade belt at her waist. If Han Tao's relationship with the newly appointed Guo Yi Commander is lukewarm, he might not gain any advantage. In that case, you'll die an even worse death at Zhou Ziru's hands. If you can't even survive, what's the point of talking about your 'broken martial world'?"

Liu Nirong smiled bitterly, "Before, on the journey, you would barely say a word for days. I thought you were afraid of the Fish Dragon Gang. Only today do I realize how sharp and harsh your words can be."

Xu Fengnian leaned his hands on the windowsill, squinting, and said, "A true villain who speaks harshly is always better than a hypocrite who acts disgracefully."

Liu Nirong was saddened and dejected, and she asked blankly, "If the Cuigong Commandant you spoke of doesn't appear, will you help us?"

Xu Fengnian scoffed in return, "What do you think?"

Liu Nirong resolutely turned away.

It seemed she was heading towards a desperate fate.

Wang Dashi glanced at Xu Fengnian, then also left.

To fight alongside Miss Liu, and then to die together, even if their bodies were far apart, this was Wang Dashi's best kind of martial world.