Chapter 254: North of Beiliang, After Xu Xiao

Flirtatious talk is perhaps the best tonic for warming relations between a man and a woman, provided there is no initial aversion. Xiyi inviting the sabre-wielding young master into her room was largely due to circumstances. After two pots of wine and some teasing remarks, a warmth unrelated to social niceties finally emerged. This was thanks to the scholarly traveler’s refined conversation and the fact that he brought an innocent child, which made him seem far more agreeable than the crude patrons who shed all decorum upon entering a brothel. Even refined scholars in brothels ultimately looked at women with the prospect of them undressing in mind. Xu Fengnian, having accidentally gotten the information he wanted, was ready to leave the room, make a brief appearance at the Embroidered Ball Pavilion, and then depart Guanghan Tower. Whether he could then follow the clues to find the sword-selling scholar, and determine if he was related to the man Xu Xiao wanted him to find, remained up to fate. Xiyi’s ability to read people was superb; seeing he had no intention of pestering her, she felt a sense of relief, but also a touch of disappointment. After all, she was past her prime, no longer possessing the beauty that once drove men to distraction. Standing up with Xu Fengnian, she saw the little girl sleeping adorably on the couch, hugging a porcelain pillow shaped like a boy holding a lotus, which delighted her. She then smiled and said, "Young master, if I may be so bold, I'd like to give the little girl a porcelain pillow. She's born with a joyful disposition, similar to my name, so it's a kind of fate."

Xu Fengnian asked in surprise, "Sister Xiyi, are you really willing?"

Xiyi cast him a flirtatious glance and playfully chided, "If you asked for a black-glazed cup, I certainly wouldn't part with it. But a porcelain pillow isn't worth much silver; I'm happy to give it as a good omen for the little girl."

Xu Fengnian said with emotion, "Sister Xiyi, that's very thoughtful of you. It would be impolite not to accept. If I have the chance in the future, I will certainly return the favor."

Xiyi waved her hand, smiling, "No, please don't. I'm not looking for anything by giving the little girl this pillow. If you return the favor, it might seem... less elegant."

Xu Fengnian didn't insist, thinking to himself that if he could safely return to Beiliang, there was a set of black-glazed cups in the prince's manor that the Southern Tang's former emperor clung to even on his deathbed—they were truly divine items. If the opportunity arose, he wouldn't mind giving them to this brothel woman, who wasn't ill-intentioned. After all, they were just gathering dust in the manor, a waste of precious things. Excellent tea sets, much like some priceless tea pets, would lose their spirit if merely put away in a cabinet, never touched or steeped in tea—it was the same principle as cultivating jade. However, such a remote possibility didn't need to be mentioned now.

He walked over and gently pinched Tao Manwu's little nose. Like most girls her age, she loved to sleep and had a terrible temper when woken up. Being pinched on the nose, she thrashed and kicked wildly. It took Xu Fengnian a considerable effort to coax her awake. When Tao Manwu saw it was Xu Fengnian and not her parents, the little girl suddenly lowered her head and burst into tears. Xu Fengnian didn't try to console her, just softly said, "Taozi, time to wake up. Sister Xiyi thinks you're lovely and wants to give you this porcelain pillow. Hurry, thank her."

Tao Manwu wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, looked up, and smiled, "Thank you, Auntie Xiyi."

Xiyi's heart softened, and she said tenderly, "Good girl."

Xu Fengnian took out a few silver notes and placed them on the table. Holding the little girl, who was clutching the porcelain pillow, he smiled apologetically, "I won't disturb Miss Wei today. I'll leave the deposit here and come back tomorrow. Our Taozi has a terrible temper when woken up; if she doesn't get enough sleep, she'll be grumpy with me for days."

Xiyi, forgetting her usual courtesies, softly suggested, "Why doesn't the young master go to Miss Wei's Embroidered Ball Pavilion, and let the little girl sleep here with me?"

She added blandly, "If the young master doesn't mind the... impurity."

Xu Fengnian shook his head, noticing his sleeve being tugged. Seeing the reluctance in the little girl's eyes, Xu Fengnian frowned. Both women, one big and one small, became tense. Xu Fengnian certainly didn't want Tao Manwu to stay with the sophisticated Xiyi; if anything went wrong, he would not hesitate to silence them. But how could they know the bloody secrets involved? "Ruyi, Ruyi." How many people, how many things, truly go as one wishes? Xu Fengnian, whose hearing was now no less acute than that of a top geomancer, felt his ears twitch slightly. Sure enough, trouble was knocking.

Xu Fengnian forcefully suppressed the killing intent within him. For some reason, after his life-or-death battle with the demonic Xie Ling at Duckhead Green Inn, during which his blade remained sheathed, his spirit and vitality had been greatly enhanced, causing the sword-intent within its scabbard to surge. However, his murderous intent also rose with it. Li Chungang had long since retired from the jianghu and wasn't by his side; otherwise, he would definitely ask if this was a good or bad development. Xu Fengnian truly worried that instead of cultivating the dragon-slaying sword-intent, he might first become consumed by it and turn into a murderous fiend. Silently reciting the Dahuangting mantra to calm his mind and spirit, Xu Fengnian looked towards the door as urgent knocking sounded. Xiyi was greatly surprised; aside from Wei Manxiu, whom she regarded as a daughter, no one ever came to her door, and Xiuer's knocking would never be so brusque. Xiyi took a deep breath and opened the door. Seeing Sister Cui's playfully smiling face, Xiyi knew there were lines she wouldn't cross, and this room was one of them. Just as she was about to speak coldly, she saw a tall woman dressed as a man standing behind Sister Cui. Xiyi froze, swallowed her words, and respectfully bowed, saying, "Xiyi pays her respects to Third Miss."

The woman, whose appearance was far from charming or graceful, possessed a striking air of heroism. Besides wearing a jade-belted brocade robe and a scimitar at her waist like a wealthy gentleman, she said displeasedly, "It's Third Young Master!"

Xiyi's lips twisted into a bitter smile as she lowered her head and said, "Xiyi pays her respects to Third Young Master."

Guanghan Tower's backer had arrived.

To be precise, it was the backer's own sister. The common folk couldn't imagine that Guanghan Tower was opened by the Second Young Master of Feihu City Prefecture. This semi-open secret was only known to the city's upper echelons. The Prefect had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Tantai Changping, was brave and powerful, and also an excellent writer of flowery prose. He was destined to be the most popular scholar-general in Beiliang in the future. Once he became a "Bell Messenger," he would be a rising star in the royal court, highly favored by His Majesty the Emperor, like a bright moon emerging from the tide, entering the view of the top powerful figures in Beiliang's Southern and Northern Courts. The entire Feihu City was waiting with bated breath.

However, the Prefect's second son, Tantai Chang'an, was a complete fop. He excelled at nothing scholarly or martial, but was proficient in drinking, whoring, gambling, hawking, dog-walking, and cricket fighting. Just in the buying and selling of crickets, he had spent no less than three to four thousand taels of silver over the years. Because of Tantai Second Young Master's fondness for cricket fighting, starting every July, countless idle ruffians dug up the ground inside and outside the city, eager to unearth a valuable fighting cricket worth dozens of gold pieces. No wonder some joked that Feihu City had a "fifth oddity": in summer and autumn, the city was full of ruffians looking for crickets. The Prefect's youngest daughter, Tantai Konghou, on the other hand, preferred weapons to cosmetics. She often got into brawls at bustling markets; almost every thug, big or small, in the city had suffered at her hands. They recognized her face and would walk around her, never giving her another chance to beat them up.

Standing before Xiyi was Tantai Konghou. Peering over Xiyi's shoulder, she saw Xu Fengnian and said sarcastically, "Xiyi, I heard you brought an extraordinary guest into the Embroidered Ball Pavilion, and even showed off some special skills in front of Granny Cui. I went to the Embroidered Ball Pavilion and found no one. I didn't expect you'd actually be here. Xiyi, Xiyi, I used to hear my second brother say you were the most genuine person in Guanghan Tower. How come I don't think that's the case now? Have you, little cat, become addicted to stealing? First, you took on a client privately, and now you're enjoying yourself? Didn't you cut the silk ribbon according to brothel rules, meaning you'd no longer receive guests? Did you make an exception for such an insignificant young man? Have you gone mad wanting a man? Granny Cui said you mostly spent your days using a jade ruyi or an antler to entertain yourself all these years. Why don't you bring them out and let this young master broaden his horizons?"

This aristocratic woman, despite her female form, was domineering and utterly unconcerned, her every word cutting deep and piercing to the bone.

Xiyi gave a bitter smile, "I merely shared two pots of wine with this young master and fulfilled my duties as a hostess. I did not receive him as a client. If there ever comes a day when I decide to return to work, I will certainly inform Third Young Master first before doing anything."

Granny Cui tsk-tsked, "Sister Xiyi is truly an honest person, worthy of being a loyal woman who dedicates her entire life to Guanghan Tower."

Tantai Konghou angrily rebuked, "Shut up! There's no need for you to kick her when she's down. Even if Xiyi is no good, you're no better than her. If she's bad, how much better can you be?!"

Granny Cui mumbled indistinctly, silent as a cicada in winter.

Xu Fengnian, observing with cold eyes, chuckled inwardly. Although this young woman had a venomous tongue, she also knew how to be impartial. She wasn't a naive beginner who believed everything she heard. Granny Cui's attempt to stir up trouble might have achieved something, but it was limited.

Tantai Konghou pointed a finger at Xu Fengnian. "You're a guest. Even if rules were broken, it's Guanghan Tower's fault. I won't fuss over it with you. However, I hear you have some skill. I happen to have a household retainer here who knows a thing or two about martial arts. If you can withstand ten moves from him, then for the next three days and three nights, excluding the three top courtesans including Anyang, Qingnu, and Wei Manxiu, you can have any woman in the tower, day or night. As many as you can handle. If you can bed a hundred women, that's your ability, and Guanghan Tower will admit defeat. How about it? Just ten moves. I'm famous in Feihu City for keeping my word. Do you dare?"

Xu Fengnian smiled slightly. "I'm not so bold. The retainer behind Third Young Master is clearly a master with deep inner cultivation. I'm merely a humble traveler who came to Guanghan Tower looking for Miss Shuiling. If I were to be struck down by Third Young Master's man the moment I made a move, I'm afraid it would spoil Third Young Master's enjoyment."

Tantai Konghou, despite being flattered and secretly pleased, maintained a frosty expression and scoffed, "Don't dare? Are you even a man?"

Xu Fengnian remained unmoved, and to Granny Cui's extreme disappointment, he replied spinelessly, "If Third Young Master says so, then it is. If Third Young Master says not, then it is not."

Tantai Konghou completely lost interest. She found it thrilling to discipline dozens or hundreds of hardened ruffians, but bullying unarmed commoners or mere dandies was truly dull. Besides, her two brothers at home would also be displeased. She sighed, turned, and walked away, grumbling, "Your parents gave birth to you for nothing. No manhood, besides barely carrying on the family line, what else grand can you do?"

The sturdy retainer's expression abruptly changed for no apparent reason. He shielded Third Miss, shouting, "Watch out!"

Tantai Konghou was bewildered, looking at her personal retainer who seemed to be facing a formidable enemy. She knew his background: he was a genuine master hired by the Prefect's mansion for three thousand taels. His father was said to be an external martial arts grandmaster, not far from a first-rank expert, with a profound family tradition in the central Longyao Prefecture, having founded a renowned school. Like father, like son, this retainer also possessed impressive strength, close to second-rank. Why was he so nervous? The retainer stared intently at the young man who hadn't drawn his saber. He too was utterly perplexed. Just now, he had clearly felt an immense killing intent. When his father was young, at the peak of his martial arts, full of pride and ambition, he happened to seek guidance from a Vajra Realm immortal passing through Longyao Prefecture. He lost in three moves, and all bystanders felt suffocated. He still remembered the immense killing intent that emerged from the immortal's third move, after two modest ones, like rivers overflowing, sweeping everything along, leaving him feeling like a lone boat tossed about. Yet, this young saberman in front of him appeared perfectly at ease, without any intimidating presence. Where had that intense killing intent come from just now?

Tantai Konghou, who liked to reason with people, frowned and said, "My father always says that one should remain calm in important matters. Nothing has even happened yet, and you're already losing your composure?"

The retainer, with his keen senses, managed a bitter smile. After confirming there was nothing amiss, his tense muscles gradually relaxed. The two circles of cloth around his biceps, which had bulged out, visibly flattened against his arms. He whispered, "It was my overthinking."

Xu Fengnian, holding Tao Manwu, stood at the doorway shoulder to shoulder with Xiyi. He smiled and said, "I've thought about it, and I've decided to be bold enough to try a few moves with this master beside Third Young Master. After all, the reward Third Young Master offered is simply too tempting."

Tantai Konghou glared at her retainer, huffing, "Look at you! You're being looked down upon now!"

The retainer's heart immediately leaped to his throat. If the sabre-wielding young man had simply kept retreating, that would have been one thing—he could have dismissed it as an illusion. But this fellow played a trick of retreating first and then advancing. If he was truly targeting Third Miss, the retainer wasn't entirely confident he could protect his mistress. His own defeat wouldn't matter much; at most, it would slightly diminish the prestige of his father's sect. But if Third Miss suffered even the slightest harm, given the Prefect's protectiveness and the two young masters' doting affection, he wouldn't be able to stay in Feihu City anymore. Taking a deep breath, the burly retainer squinted and said, "We can exchange moves. Young master, please come with me to a spacious courtyard. That way, we can both unleash our techniques freely without worrying about damaging the tower's property or harming bystanders. How does that sound?"

Xu Fengnian nodded, "Good."

Xiyi lightly stomped on his foot, her eyes filled with anxiety.

Xu Fengnian, with one arm around Tao Manwu, quietly extended his other hand and gently patted Xiyi on the backside.

Xiyi's figure was somewhat slender, but the places that should have been rounded and shapely were perfectly so.

Her body trembled, and she widened her beautiful, clear eyes.

Fortunately, everyone, including Tantai Konghou, was captivated by his face and didn't notice the audacious pervert's opportunistic touch.

If the lawless Tantai Konghou had seen it, she would probably have exclaimed, "Now *this* is truly remaining calm in important matters!"

Xu Fengnian handed Tao Manwu to Xiyi, who was struggling to hide her shame and indignation. He said softly, "Let Taozi stay with you for now. It's not good for a child to watch a fight."

Xiyi silently took the little girl, her gaze not one of tenderness, but of daggers.

Xu Fengnian ignored her, making a shushing gesture to Tao Manwu. The little girl, as if understanding him perfectly, nodded.

Granny Cui could barely contain her wild delight. This young man was truly ignorant of propriety! Did he really think he could bed a hundred girls in Guanghan Tower? But what formidable skill did Third Young Master's retainer possess? Dozens of ruffians couldn't even get close to him. And yet this young man, whose physique was only slightly better than a frail scholar's, wanted to withstand ten moves? Even if he miraculously managed to, he'd be bedridden for months! Even if the girls paraded naked before him, would he be able to... perform? As she secretly gloated, she suddenly looked up and saw the young master walking behind Third Young Master and the retainer turn his head and smile at her with narrowed eyes. For some reason, she was suddenly startled.

Xu Fengnian watched them follow him absently, walking down from Guanghan Tower towards the lake in the backyard, paying no mind to the continuous stream of personal guards and retainers joining them along the way. Against a third-rank retainer, his only concern was how to control his strength. What preoccupied him more was the complex web of power behind Feihu City's Prefect. The north and south of Beiliang were gradually integrating amidst their standoff. Besides the numerous and intricate imperial clans of Yelü and Murong, the true pinnacles of power in this dynasty were merely the eight Banner Bearers, twelve Great Generals, and over ten influential court officials in the Northern Royal Court's Southern Bureau. These thirty-odd individuals each represented intricate forces, forming alliances through marriage, engaging in bitter feuds, supporting each other, or remaining estranged until death, making it extremely difficult to untangle their relationships.

Considering only the Southern Bureau officials, they were largely supported by two main factions. One was the aristocratic clan group, known as the Dragon Gate Nobles, who were stubbornly conservative and self-important, no less influential than the powerful noble families of the former Central Plains. After the great Central Plains war and the decline of Central Plains noble houses, the Dragon Gate Nobles north of Beiliang became even more arrogant, considering themselves the true aristocratic orthodoxy. The Zhong family, which produced the great fiend Zhong Liang, was one such family. The other faction was the military force led by three Great Generals. One was Huang Songpu, a Central Plains refugee, who held a position in Gusei Prefecture equivalent to a Banner Bearer. Originally, scholars in the southern part of the Beiliang Dynasty, whether native or Central Plains refugees, were mostly scribes and civil officials, while only northern figures could become generals or prime ministers. It was the exceptionally talented Huang Songpu who set a precedent, followed by General Liu Gui, whom the Beiliang Empress praised as "half a Xu Xiao," and Yang Yuanzan, a commoner who rapidly rose in military ranks. These three distinguished generals were almost all clustered along the line north of Gusei Prefecture, showing Beiliang's emphasis on the western front. Feihu City Prefect Tantai Jinyu was a legitimate descendant of a collateral branch of the great Dragon Gate noble clan, the Tantai family, and traditionally had marriage alliances with another prominent noble family, the Yuwen family, which had flourished for five hundred years. They were a formidable, integrated power not to be underestimated.

It was now widely known in the Liyang Dynasty that scholars were migrating north, in two main currents: one flowed into the Jiangnan scholar group, and the other merged into the melting pot of the old northern aristocracy. However, few knew of an even larger exodus of scholars fleeing north, swarming into the Beiliang Dynasty like migrating carp. Aside from a group who couldn't adapt and faded into obscurity, most began to integrate into Beiliang, especially the Southern Bureau officials, and started to make a name for themselves. The three Great Generals, Huang, Liu, and Yang, were prominent examples among them. Many more Central Plains refugee scholars, relying on their true talents and knowledge, secured important positions in the Southern Bureau. These people, with their homes destroyed and countries fallen, uprooted from their native lands, yearned to return south every single day they lived. And what was the first obstacle to returning south? It was Beiliang, and Xu Xiao, who was even more famous than Beiliang's 300,000 iron cavalry.

North of Beiliang, a powerful dynasty, restlessly stirring, watched the Liyang Dynasty with an ambition to devour everything like a tiger.

And after Xu Xiao, it might very well be this young man walking by Jiaqing Lake.