Chapter 255: Good Bird

Along Jiaqing Lake's Bottle Lane, large red lanterns adorned every willow tree, making night excursions on the lake as bright as day. This convenience was for patrons with a penchant for "wild mandarin ducks frolicking in the water," indicating the insane lengths Bottle Lane went to attract business. However, the man lingering in Bottle Lane tonight didn't seem to have such a peculiar hobby. Jiaqing Lake was calm and peaceful. Tantai Konghou led them near a waterside pavilion with a plaque inscribed with the four characters "Water and Sky Merged." She casually sat down like a boorish warrior, with a broad stance, and extended a palm, signaling that they could begin the martial arts contest.

Of course, she didn't think highly of the pretentious man with the saber. Her own attendant was quite capable. While there were First and Second Rank martial artists, as well as the Fourth Realm above the Third Rank, a Third Rank martial artist, though not completely dominant, rarely met an opponent in their travels. After all, top-tier masters of the First and Second Ranks maintained their composure; they rarely had the opportunity or reason to appear, and furthermore, they disdained to act. The devil Xie Ling embodied this mindset of a strong young man watching a child throw a tantrum, never willing to intervene, as it offered no benefit to martial cultivation. The higher the realm, the more it tested one's patience and perseverance, like water wearing away stone; there was no room for slackening, especially upon reaching the First Rank. It was as if the "Heavenly Gate" had opened wide, like a thousand-mile landscape scroll unfurling, captivating everyone within. Characters outside the scroll became mere clods of dirt, and scenes beyond it appeared crude and unremarkable. Tantai Konghou, who had expected the matter to be resolved in a few moves, watched her attendant seriously lift his robe and tie it at his waist, step forward, and make a gesture of invitation. She unconsciously leaned forward, surprised. Could it be that she had truly caught a big fish? Otherwise, why would this usually arrogant personal guard from the City Magistrate's residence take this so seriously?

The personal guard, who had mastered external martial arts, was not in a hurry to strike. He said in a deep voice, "My ancestor, Yang Huqing, learned from Fu Qiujian, the twelfth-generation grandmaster of Central Plains Xiong Yi Quan. Upon returning home, he created Dragon Form Fist, which, though seen by the world as external hard-style boxing, actually combines internal and external cultivation. My father, having fought in military formations, made some improvements, so it excels in close-range, direct attacks, striking mercilessly and never bound by worldly opinions. If I make an unreasonable move, please do not be surprised, young master."

Xu Fengnian smiled and nodded, mimicking his stance: one foot forward, one hand extended, treating him with courtesy.

The impatient Tantai Konghou rolled her eyes. "This Yang Dianqing is so long-winded! It's a simple fight that should be over in a few moves, yet he has to be so serious about it. I've promised my second brother we'd go to An Yang to listen to the zither!" She couldn't help but shout, "Hey, hey, hey, are you two ever going to finish? You're chatting as if you're old friends meeting in a foreign land! Just get on with it for me! A loss is a loss, a win is a win; why all this formality?!"

Yang Dianqing, the City Magistrate's attendant, struck first with a direct punch. His lower body was stable and firm, and his feet kicked up dust from the ground. His whole body twisted like a rope, indicating astonishing explosive power. It was the first time Tantai Konghou had seen him exert such full effort. Her eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. "See?" she thought. "This Yang fellow does have some real skill. Teaching those unruly ruffians a lesson before was simply using a sledgehammer to crack a nut." The young man with the saber, holding the sheath of his simple short blade with his left hand, met the attack with only his right arm. Yang Dianqing was clearly displeased by this arrogant young "dragon crossing the river," and his punches were compact, tense, and instantaneous. He twisted, wrapped, drilled, and flipped, his body and footwork completely integrated. He struck instantly, gaining a crucial inch of advantage, his momentum like a rainbow.

Xu Fengnian lightly patted Yang Dianchen's twisting punch on his chest with his right hand, sliding back two steps. This allowed Yang Dianchen's momentum to dissipate and regroup, while also giving Xu Fengnian space to maneuver. Yang Dianchen's punch missed, and true to his word about his family's unconventional boxing style, he immediately followed with a vicious kick aimed at the young master's crotch. Xu Fengnian bent his knee and lifted his leg, a perfectly timed side sweep lightly deflecting the fierce attack. Yang Dianchen almost "followed the momentum," twisting his body like a bow, leaping into the air, and unleashing a swift whip kick, which made Tantai Konghou clap and cheer. Xu Fengnian still used only his right hand, blocking the whip kick with his palm. He took one step back, subtly dissipating the force, but he didn't let go. Sticking to his opponent, he spun his body, almost in a shoulder-carry stance, swinging him in a wide circle and throwing Yang Dianchen. Yang Dianchen landed gracefully, rooted to the spot, showing no signs of defeat.

Tantai Konghou, who loved to see chaos, shouted, "Good!" In her view, the martial contest wasn't a clear win or loss; it was just that the young man with the saber had strange techniques, using defense as offense, and luckily hadn't been utterly defeated. She preferred Yang Dianchen's direct, powerful, and exhilarating fighting style, which was much more satisfying to watch.

Yang Dianchen knew his own difficulties. After a few moves, although his offensive was like a tide, each strike was actually made according to the young man's intentions. If the opponent were truly to strike hard, whether he could last ten moves would depend on fate. Just as he was about to grit his teeth and unleash a killing move from the Dragon Form Fist, a warm, melodious voice, no different from heavenly music, reached his ears: "Stop, stop fighting! Under the flowers and moonlight, you are both masters; you should admire each other. A fight to the death would spoil the scenery. Konghou, if you keep fooling around, your second brother won't accompany you to listen to the zither."

Xu Fengnian and Yang Dianchen exchanged a knowing smile and stopped fighting. The latter clasped his fists gratefully, giving the young man with the saber due respect as a guest scholar of the City Magistrate's residence. Xu Fengnian understood the customs of martial artists perfectly well. For Yang Dianchen, who had both powerful backing and family status, to act this way was remarkable. So, he meticulously returned the gesture. "Is that it?!" Tantai Konghou, who had finally gotten to see some excitement, was clearly displeased. She glared angrily at the white-robed fop holding the birdcage and shouted, "Second Brother! What's wrong with you? You're helping outsiders! You won't even let me have some fun?! Are you even my second brother? I must have been picked up by Father and Mother, that's why you don't care about me at all, right?"

The white-robed young man stood by the lake, smiling, holding a purple bamboo birdcage that housed a precious Longshe Thrush. He was about twenty-five or twenty-six, with a face like polished jade and an exceedingly graceful bearing—a handsome appearance that could make young ladies shriek. While perhaps slightly less striking than the Crown Prince's true face, he was far more impressive compared to Xu Fengnian, who was currently wearing a disguise. He had a headache from his sister's unreasonable demands. He laughed exasperatedly, "My little madam, please spare me! How about you just pretend I was picked up?"

Tantai Konghou was verbally relentless, but facing this family member, her tone was clearly full of playful intimacy, seeking affection, with no hint of coldness. She scurried out of the waterside pavilion, stood before her second brother, put her hands on her hips, and pouted aggrievedly, "Nonsense! You and Big Brother are twins. If you were picked up, wouldn't I be Father and Mother's only biological daughter?"

It was Tantai Chang'an, the foremost playboy of Feihu City, yet without any ill repute. With a warm smile in his eyes, he stroked his sister's head and said with a wry smile, "Oh, you! If Big Brother heard that, he'd really give you a good scolding. It's only because I spoil you more than that bookworm that I'm not angry with you. Come on, tell me who cares about you the most in our family. If you get it right, Second Brother will give you a surprise."

Tantai Konghou's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, hooking her arm through her second brother's. "It's definitely Second Brother, no doubt about it!" she giggled.

The handsome young master burst into hearty laughter and poked her forehead. "I know full well you little wretch will change your tune like a weathervane when you're with that bookworm, but it still pleases your second brother to hear it. Over in the courtyard, I've had the servants prepare plum blossom porridge for you. Your second brother personally picked each and every plum blossom stamen during the late spring. I even fell off the tree hard a few times, but I didn't dare tell you."

Tantai Konghou hugged her second brother and joyfully declared, "I knew Second Brother was good to me! I won't marry anyone else in the future; I'll be your wife!"

Tantai Chang'an flicked his outspoken sister's forehead and feigned anger, "Not marrying is fine, but being your second brother's wife? What kind of propriety is that?!" He had his sister hold the birdcage, not forgetting to warn her, whose eyes were subtly darting around, that if she dared to secretly release the Longshe Thrush, she wouldn't get any plum blossom porridge. Seeing her deflate, Tantai Chang'an then smiled at Xu Fengnian, bowed, and sincerely apologized, "Tantai Chang'an apologizes to this young master on behalf of my naughty sister. She's actually very good-natured, just a bit mischievous and never seems to grow up. Please don't take it to heart. I heard that you wish to meet Wei Manxiu. If you don't mind Chang'an making an unnecessary introduction, I will accompany you to Xiuqiu Pavilion right now."

Xu Fengnian smiled and shook his head, "There's no need for Young Master Tantai to go to such trouble. I will come to Guanghan Tower again tomorrow, so there's no need to bother."

Tantai Konghou pouted, "He really doesn't know what's good for him." Seeing Tantai Chang'an turn his head and glare, she stuck out her tongue and stretched out a finger to tease the Longshe Thrush, which mimicked speech more vividly than a high-grade parrot. As soon as she said, "Third Young Master's martial arts are unparalleled," the thrush repeated it, its voice indeed identical to a real person's. The childish Tantai Konghou couldn't stop laughing.

Xu Fengnian chuckled softly, "Good bird."

The sharp-eared Tantai Chang'an actually glanced shyly at his own crotch, a look of heartfelt lament on his face, as if "a thousand cups are too few when drinking with a true friend." "Young Master, you have a discerning eye! Come, come, come, if you don't mind, let's have a few drinks and enjoy ourselves." Not giving Xu Fengnian a chance to refuse, Tantai Chang'an quickly stepped forward, took his arm, and led him towards Miss An Yang's private courtyard, enthusiastically saying, "Young Master, you might not believe this, but Chang'an felt an instant closeness the moment I saw you."

Noticing Xu Fengnian's strange expression, Tantai Chang'an laughed heartily, "Don't worry, I don't have a preference for men. While I'm not unhappy without women, I do wish I was a real man who could entertain ten women a night. However, recently I lost a bet with a family friend at Fengbo Tower, and I injured myself gambling on a woman's belly. So, lately, seeing beautiful women is like seeing a monstrous flood. But for now, I still have no interest in men, so Young Master can rest completely assured."

Xu Fengnian replied bluntly, "That doesn't entirely reassure me."

Tantai Chang'an laughed without anger, his laughter hearty and completely devoid of gloom. This notorious playboy seemed to naturally possess an effortless amiability. "Dealing with honest people is easy. So, I'll be straightforward and lay my cards on the table to save you the trouble of guessing. If you're someone Chang'an takes a liking to, as long as you don't harbor ill intentions, then even if you punch me a few times or scold me, it's all good. I might momentarily show the unpleasant expression of a spoiled young master, but afterwards, I'll surely regret it terribly. If you truly become a close friend of Tantai Chang'an, please be very tolerant."

Xu Fengnian followed him into the quiet courtyard, where fresh hot tea was served as soon as the previous pot cooled. He said frankly, "Young Master's close friends, aren't they a bit too cheap? Do you just make friends with anyone you meet?"

Tantai Chang'an, still holding onto Xu Fengnian, turned his head with a wounded expression. Tantai Konghou slapped her forehead. Having such a scoundrel for a second brother was truly embarrassing. However, she didn't find anything wrong with her second brother, who came from an aristocratic family, associating with or even befriending a poor commoner. Moreover, this saber-wielding outsider wasn't bad-looking, and his martial arts skills were such that he could match Yang Dianchen at a young age. While he might be dragged off for drinks, chats, and idle talk if he fell into her second brother's hands, if her elder brother, who cherished talent above all else, saw him, he would surely be invited back to the City Magistrate's mansion and revered like a bodhisattva.

Miss An Yang, as Xu Fengnian had previously seen from the second-floor window, was a beautiful woman with a full figure and fair skin. Dressed in rich brocade, she appeared like a pampered noblewoman from a ducal or marquis household. A woman of such graceful bearing easily drew the affection of powerful men. The saying that boys gain ambition from being raised poor, and girls gain elegance from being raised rich, was a very practical truth. The most distinguished courtesans of the Liyang Dynasty included, firstly, imperial concubines and consorts from fallen Spring and Autumn kingdoms, though twenty years later, they had become a bygone legend, neither to be met nor sought. Secondly were official daughters who had been disgraced and demoted. Only thirdly were the pure courtesans who had entered brothels at a young age and were meticulously trained, slowly rising to become courtesan queens. The top courtesan of Guanghan Tower, holding a zither before them, was, according to Li Liu, a young lady from a fallen aristocratic family in Juzi Prefecture.

After seating themselves, Tantai Chang'an, as the proprietor of Guanghan Tower, still showed no condescension towards Miss An Yang. He smiled and said, "Sister An Yang, could you play 'High Mountains and Flowing Water'? This young master beside me, whose name I don't know, and I have found great kinship."

Miss An Yang smiled faintly, clearly familiar with the temperament of this second young master Tantai. She offered no unnecessary pleasantries, simply nodding.

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "My name is Xu Qi, from Gusai Prefecture. My family has no officials; we're all obsessed with money, running various businesses, mainly ceramics."

Tantai Chang'an chuckled, "You probably already know my name and family background, but to show sincerity, I'll still tell you: My humble self is Tantai Chang'an. Our Tantai family is merely a small collateral branch of the illustrious Longguan Tantai clan, just a tiny twig on a towering tree; we can't scare off truly influential nobles. As for the name Chang'an, I think my parents gave it to me well. It's not some extravagant hope for Feihu City's long-term peace and stability; it's simply a wish for my long-lasting safety. Young Master Xu, do I look like someone with grand ambitions? I do put on an act to trick those high-minded women who won't marry anyone less than a duke, minister, or general, but alas, my foundation isn't good; I'm miles behind my elder brother. Hey, hey, Sister An Yang, play your zither properly! Don't assume I don't understand music; I can tell you're distracted. And among those women I just mentioned, you're one of them!"

Xu Fengnian found it both amusing and exasperating. With his Great Yellow Court, his perception of danger was even keener than the perceptive little girl Tao Manwu's. Unless Tantai Chang'an was a master above the Vajra Realm, he was truly a harmless and interesting fellow. However, judging by his appearance and gait, he clearly seemed to be a common fop whose body had been hollowed out by wine and women. If he were deliberately concealing himself, then regardless of his cunning or cultivation, Xu Fengnian would have been in deep trouble whether he entered this courtyard or not, so he decided to make the best of the situation.

As for observing aura and qi, it was an essential skill for those wandering the jianghu. Whether one could see clearly depended on the cultivation levels of both parties. Martial arts masters were like wealthy individuals who didn't lack money: would a true rich merchant wear a thumb-thick gold necklace around their neck or be draped in strings of copper coins? When one was rich enough to rival a nation, they usually concealed their wealth in plain sleeves. Once one's vital energy was internalized, it was almost impossible to accurately detect unless one was two realms higher and observing from above. Otherwise, it was very difficult to truly perceive, much like the jade squeezed breathlessly between Miss An Yang's ample breasts. Originally, jadeite was an unremarkable gemstone among many, but it rose to prominence due to the unique practice of "gambling on stones." To a large extent, jade collectors were enamored not with the jadeite itself, but with the thrilling gambling process of peeling away the stone's skin.

It was the same for masters. When traveling the jianghu, most would conceal their aura, as if playing a high-stakes gamble with other masters. This is where the term "unfathomable" came from. Otherwise, as soon as you stepped out, spectators would roar with applause, shouting, "Wife, wife, quick, look! It's a Second Rank master!" If a First Rank master traveled, wouldn't passersby drag their families out to watch? That would be utterly improper. This was also the essence of the jianghu's allure: it could make you capsize in a ditch, or it could let you step on others to achieve fame. If one reached the Heavenly Manifestation Realm, which resonated with heaven and earth, it was another matter entirely. Not to mention the first three realms of the First Rank, even Land Immortals of the Fourth Realm could be almost infallibly recognized. However, those who cultivated in obscurity like the saints of the Three Doctrines were not easily judged by ordinary reasoning. This was why the old Daoist Zhao Xuan Su from Dragon Tiger Mountain, having returned to simplicity, was able to successively deceive the two Sword Immortals, Li Chungang and Deng Tai'a. Other martial artists who proved their dao through power could not escape the "Heaven's Eye." As powerful as Wang Xianzhi, the world's number one, or Tuoba Bodhisattva, who followed closely behind—these two were said to be able to kill the remaining eight on the list if they joined forces! They, on the other hand, needed no heavenly phenomena at all; any martial artist could feel the terrifying aura emanating from these two divine figures. Aside from each other, these two would simply crush anyone they faced, no matter if you were a Land Immortal, you would be utterly annihilated by their sheer power.

Tantai Chang'an truly poured out his heart, holding nothing back. Listening to the zither music, he glanced at his sister happily drinking the plum blossom porridge he had personally brewed beside him. He took a small sip of wine, narrowed his eyes, and said, "It might make you laugh, but my ambition is to be a teacher in a village private school. I'd discipline naughty boys with a feather duster, but be a bit more lenient with the girls. It's not any wicked thoughts; I just imagine what they'll look like when they grow up, graceful and slender, married, and raising families. For some reason, just thinking about it makes me happy."

Xu Fengnian said flatly, "How many friends have you told this grand ambition to, and how many times?"

Tantai Chang'an said innocently, "Believe it or not, I've really only told you about it."

Xu Fengnian couldn't help but look sideways and say, "Tantai Chang'an, when you fell picking plum blossoms, did you happen to break your brain?"

Tantai Konghou, who was drinking porridge but listening intently to their conversation, spat out a mouthful of porridge. She gave a thumbs-up and laughed, "Xu Qi, well said!"

Tantai Chang'an rolled his eyes and said, "My dear madam, who was it just now who accused me of helping outsiders? Should I curse you back a few times? In a shouting match, when has your second brother ever lost to anyone?"

Tantai Konghou made a face, then looked at the saber-wielding young man, finding him much more agreeable. Her second brother had countless questionable friends, but truly daring to say her second brother had a broken brain were few and far between. Besides, this traveling outsider had only just met them. This straightforward courage and spirit were precisely to the taste of her, the Third Young Master of the City Magistrate's residence, just like this bowl of plum blossom porridge! Was this what jianghu slang called "getting to know each other through a fight"? She slowly ate her plum blossom porridge, her mood greatly improved.

Tantai Chang'an asked, "Xu Qi, what's your ambition? Your martial arts seem quite impressive. Do you want to be a martial artist like Hong Jingyan, admired by thousands? Or a devil like Luoyang, reckless and uninhibited? Or perhaps something even grander, to become a figure like our Northern Mang military god, a singular pillar of the dynasty for a century, standing tall against the heavens?"

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, then said calmly, "I don't have such grand ambitions. I just hope that when my old man finally passes away, he can do so peacefully."

Tantai Konghou seemed to recall her words on the fourth floor. Regardless of whether Xu Qi could hear, she whispered softly, "I'm sorry, Xu Qi, I was just speaking casually at Guanghan Tower."

Tantai Chang'an was uncharacteristically silent. After a long while, he raised his cup and said softly, "That's good, a little bit grander than my ambition. I really don't like those people who constantly talk about governing the world and benefiting the people. There are too many such people in Feihu City, and many of my friends are the same. They always look at faraway places, but neglect what's right under their feet. 'While parents are alive, do not travel far,' they don't understand that."

Seeing Xu Fengnian's gaze, Tantai Chang'an gave an awkward laugh. "You understand what I mean, that's enough. I wasn't criticizing you. I'm uneducated; I just spout off what few principles I've managed to remember."

Xu Fengnian smiled.

Tantai Chang'an, as if he'd seen a ghost, burst into hearty laughter. "Xu Qi, Xu Qi, you stingy fellow, you've finally deigned to grant me a smile! Come, come, brave warrior, let's drain a cup, how about it?"

Xu Fengnian raised his cup, toasted, and emptied it in one gulp.

Remembering many past events, he naturally cherished his childhood when his mother was alive: carefree, laughing and playing with his two elder sisters who doted on him. Even with his mother's strictness in overseeing his studies, his days were without worry; he wasn't even afraid if the sky fell. His mother had one sword, and his old man had 300,000 iron cavalry. As a child who didn't need to bear any responsibilities, what was there to fear? The Crown Prince didn't dislike his youth either, with Li Hanlin, his kindred spirit; Yan Chiji, whose ears were the softest and seemed more like a girl; and Kong Wuchi, who always took the lead in causing trouble and readily took the blame. Whenever something displeased him or reminded him of unpleasant things, he would vent his frustration on Xu Xiao, grabbing a broom and daring to chase after him to hit him. Such an absurd scene would be unimaginable not just in a princely residence but in any aristocratic family. Yet, Xu Xiao never got angry. At first, Xu Fengnian didn't understand; he just felt Xu Xiao owed his mother, so he deserved a beating. If Xu Xiao dared to get angry, he'd run to his mother's tomb to complain. As he grew older, it wasn't that he genuinely wanted to argue with Xu Xiao over every little thing or that he picked up benches and brooms out of resentment. It was simply habit; often, his hands just got itchy. As for what the world thought, this father and son truly didn't care in the slightest.

Xu Fengnian slowly said, "Tantai Chang'an, if you weren't lying, your ambition is actually quite good."

Tantai Chang'an nodded vigorously, "I knew you'd understand me! No more talk, let's have another!"

Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes. "Have another my foot! To save some money for seeing Miss Wei, I drank an entire pot of yellow wine at Sister Xiyi's. If I have another, I'll really have to lie down here."

Tantai Chang'an cheerfully drank a cup by himself. He clicked his tongue and said, "Amazing, amazing, Xu Qi! You and I have the exact same taste in women! But no matter how much I tried to please her, Sister Xiyi never let me into her room, let alone drink there. You should know, from the first moment I saw Sister Xiyi when she was still a courtesan queen at fifteen, I was awestruck. Such a thoughtful woman! If this ripe peony, now in her prime, were plucked by anyone else, I'd certainly get furious with them. But if it were you, I'd just bear it. No second thoughts for a good brother! The reason I bought Guanghan Tower was half for Sister Xiyi. As for the other half, you understand, it's to earn money for my own expenses, and also to build some connections for the family. Anyway, it's hitting two birds with one stone. This is probably the only thing I've done in my life that made my old man comfortable."

Even Xu Fengnian, who had seen countless bizarre faces of fops, was somewhat speechless. If this guy sat down with Li Hanlin, they'd truly become sworn brothers.

Tantai Chang'an, like a woman who hadn't seen a man take an interest in her, didn't care if Xu Fengnian drank with him. He just kept pouring cup after cup for himself, all of it genuinely good strong liquor. Soon, his face was flushed red. His constitution was already weak, and his tongue was starting to get tied.

Xu Fengnian stood up and said, "It's getting late. I'll take my leave now and come back tomorrow." Xu Fengnian smiled and apologized to Miss An Yang, "Xu Qi is truly short on funds and doesn't dare easily enter your courtyard, for fear of being beaten out."

The courtesan queen of Guanghan Tower smiled subtly, "It's no matter. See Sister Xiu tomorrow first, then you can come to this courtyard to listen to the zither the day after. Since you are the Second Young Master's close friend, if I dared to accept Young Master Xu's money, An Yang would lose her livelihood."

Tantai Chang'an staggered, then plopped back down onto his seat. Clasping his hands, he said, "Xu Qi, I won't see you off. I'm afraid you'd suspect me of wanting to investigate your background, and then we wouldn't be brothers, which would be a huge injustice."

Xu Fengnian walked out of the courtyard to the fourth floor to retrieve Tao Manwu from Sister Xiyi's place. The small courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Tantai Chang'an continued drinking, but his movements were much slower. Miss An Yang rested her chin in her hand, gazing at this very, very, extremely interesting young master. She had watched him for many years, feeling as if she understood him, yet always sensing that she hadn't quite seen through him. She felt she could quietly watch him like this for a lifetime and never grow tired. Tantai Konghou tried to sneak a drink of wine, but her hand was slapped. She recoiled and grumbled, "Stingy!"

Tantai Chang'an's handsome face was flushed crimson. He slurred, "Girls shouldn't drink wine! What if your second brother isn't around one day, and you get drunk with someone and get bullied? Your second brother would die of anger then!"

The Third Young Master of the City Magistrate's residence smiled sweetly, then sobered, and quietly asked, "Second Brother, are you really not going to investigate this Xu Qi's background?"

The bleary-eyed Tantai Chang'an shook his head. "No investigation."

Tantai Konghou frowned. "Why not? This guy is only in his twenties, not much older than me, yet he can fight Yang Dianchen to a draw. Isn't that strange?"

Tantai Chang'an laughed heartily, "Look, your second brother's name is Tantai Chang'an, and I've been safe and sound all these years. Xu Qi, Xu Qi, strange and peculiar—what's wrong with that?"

Tantai Konghou kicked her second brother, indignantly saying, "That's crooked reasoning!" Seeing her second brother ignore her, she asked curiously, "Second Brother, do you really want to be a teacher? I never heard you say that before. Were you lying to Xu Qi?"

Tantai Chang'an lay sprawled on the table, a cup in one hand, gazing at the sparse stars and bright moon overhead. He murmured, "When words don't click, half a sentence is too much. When wine meets a true friend, a thousand cups are too few. Drunk, drunk." He actually snored himself to sleep just like that.

When Xu Fengnian saw Sister Xiyi again, she truly wasn't in a good mood; she was certainly still bothered by that pat. Xu Fengnian was happy to feign ignorance, carrying Tao Manwu downstairs and slowly leaving Bottle Lane in the dead of night. As he exited the building, he waved towards a window on the fourth floor. Xiyi hurriedly ducked out of sight, cursing angrily with full embarrassment, "Hooligan!" She instinctively rubbed her buttocks, biting her lip, her seductive eyes hazy. At that moment, her allure was almost unmatched in the entire city.

As Xu Fengnian walked out of Bottle Lane, the little girl, hugging her beloved porcelain pillow, couldn't help but let her lips curl up. Holding it was much more comfortable than carrying that heavy travel bag. Xu Fengnian narrowed his eyes; his inner thoughts were not as carefree and relaxed as he appeared on the surface.

Aside from visible items like the mask meticulously crafted by Shu Xiu, and the fake Crown Prince acting as a puppet in the Prince's Wutong Garden, this journey north signified the meticulous operations of the entire Beiliang Royal Palace's strategists. Too many hidden things had been done in secret. For example, the travel permit Xu Fengnian now carried, prepared for after he left Left-Behind City, implied he came from an incredibly "authentic" Gusai Prefecture family, a genuine illegitimate son of a ceramics business family. One of the Crown Prince's "rooted" disguises came from this, and the poor real person was surely dead somewhere, probably never getting the chance to be buried in his ancestral grave or have a tombstone erected. One link connected to another; not a single step could go wrong. Xu Xiao had explicitly stated that once the Crown Prince left Beiliang, no more death warriors would be dispatched to guard him. Li Yishan and the authorities had no objections, as they all knew that if any more death warriors followed, traces would inevitably be found. One must understand that Northern Mang had a dense spiderweb, enveloping the entire empire. And these bloodthirsty spiders were most sensitive to even the slightest disturbance on their web.

The "Spiderweb" (Zhuwang) was established by Li Mibi, a close minister of the Northern Mang Emperor. It imitated Liyang Dynasty's Zhao Gou, but surpassed it. "Raising a pole to catch butterflies and dragonflies" sounded poetic, but it was incredibly bloody; once caught on the pole, heads would roll. This shadowy organization had the power to execute first and report later, showing the Northern Mang Empress's immense trust in Li Mibi. Thus, he was always regarded as the Ninth Shadow Bearer. It was unimaginable that this executioner, who held immense power and had shed countless amounts of blood, had personally slaughtered several members of the Yelü imperial family, and most of the Murong clan's descendants had died by his hand. Twenty years ago, he was merely a frustrated, impoverished scholar from the cold clan of Eastern Yue. Perhaps it was truly a case of "southern oranges becoming northern bitter oranges"—some individuals are destined, like hibernating insects, to transform into dragons upon encountering wind and rain. Li Yishan once said that the death of one Li Mibi would be equivalent to severing an eye and an arm from the Northern Mang Empress. Yet this old scholar, already past sixty, was considered the patriarch of assassination. Aside from dying of old age or being granted death by the Northern Mang Empress, there was truly no possibility of him being assassinated.

Whether Tantai Chang'an was truly debauched or merely feigning being a fop, Xu Fengnian couldn't discern at once. But after weighing and calculating all the details of entering Feihu City, and confirming there was no chance of him revealing his identity, he decided not to trouble himself unnecessarily. After all, at worst, he could just fight his way out of the city.

Tao Manwu suddenly said softly, "After you left, I didn't say a single word. But Aunt Xiyi said you were a hooligan."

Xu Fengnian nodded and smiled, "What do you know? When a woman calls you a hooligan, it's a compliment."

Tao Manwu let out an "Oh," probably retaliating for him not allowing her to talk to Aunt Xiyi, and kept repeating, "Hooligan, hooligan, hooligan..."

Xu Fengnian curled his lip mockingly, "Little girl, it's ten years too early if you want this young master to pat your bottom!"

Tao Manwu shifted into a more comfortable position, nestling in his arms, and this time only said once, "Hooligan!"