Chapter 379: Three Short Words in the Pavilion Decide the Jianghu

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"The Book" on Zongheng, by Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou

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Annex: Tieba QQ Group Arbitration Team: 1681655; Enchanting Club YY: 1655

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Xuan Yuan Qingfeng handed over a wooden name card, crafted from the heartwood of a thousand-year-old laurel tree from Huishan. She was then led by a steward into the Northern Liang Prince's Residence, navigating through corridors and buildings, until they finally reached a pavilion in the middle of Listening Tide Lake, halfway up the mountain. A young man, whose hair had already turned frosty white, sat casually on the lakeside railing, leaning against a gilded pillar, his hair tied with a simple red cord. He toyed with the name card Xuan Yuan Qingfeng had submitted to the residence. Xuan Yuan Qingfeng stood outside the pavilion on a lotus-shaped stone pier embedded in the water. As she walked, a flood of emotions washed over her. She remembered an incident during the Lantern Festival in Wuzhou years ago: this handsome young man, then associating with a lewd rascal, was chased away by her retainers like a street rat after an argument. At the time, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng had dismissed him as a useless, uninteresting man from a fallen family, uneducated, with no hope for a civil service career, capable only of charming naive young women with his looks. When she occasionally recalled the farce later, she merely speculated that his mother must have been a stunning beauty to have borne such a good-looking son. Little did she know that upon their reunion in Huishan, he would transform into the notorious Northern Liang Prince, leading a hundred armored soldiers into Longhu Mountain. It could even be said that because of him, she was able to become the master of Guniu Ridge. However, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng had always struggled to connect him with the man who would inherit the title of Northern Liang Prince. It wasn't until she personally stepped into the Qingliang Mountain Prince's Residence that a clear picture emerged: Xu Fengnian would become the second non-royal prince of the Liyang Dynasty, following Xu Xiao, "The Butcher."

Xu Fengnian rubbed the name card, carved from laurel heartwood, in his hand and smiled as he looked at the woman who had traveled thousands of miles from Jianzhou to the northwest of the dynasty. There were many thousand-year-old laurel trees on Zhaoyao Mountain, but they had gradually died out over the last century, with the last Tang laurel being no exception. This meant Huishan's osmanthus wine had become a lost art. Xu Fengnian gestured, asking softly, "Besides over a hundred secret manuals, did you bring any osmanthus wine?"

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng walked into the pavilion, chose a seat furthest from him, and said flatly, without looking away, "There's not much left in Huishan, but if the Prince wants some, I'll bring you a jar next time."

Xu Fengnian placed the name card on his lap, a clear look of exhaustion on his face. He closed his eyes to rest, showing little in the way of hospitality. Xuan Yuan Qingfeng showed no resentment or complaints. In her view, as the eldest legitimate son of "The Butcher," he was entitled to such arrogance. She calmly asked, "I've always heard that the Northern Liang Prince's Residence maintains a 'loose outside, tight inside' defense, luring Jianghu assassins like fat fish. Why are you willing to let me enter the pavilion? Aren't you afraid I might also be an assassin?"

Xu Fengnian snapped his fingers, and a figure in a scarlet robe leaped from Listening Tide Lake, soaring over the pavilion roof before plunging back into the water, vanishing in a flash. The sight was enchanting, like a red carp leaping over the dragon gate.

As the scarlet-robed 'shadowy being' that enjoyed lingering in the lake surfaced, a maid from the residence slowly approached in the distance, carrying a tray with bait for viewing the fish. Xu Fengnian waved his hand, signaling her to give it to Xuan Yuan Qingfeng.

Xu Fengnian opened his eyes, sat back on the silk-cushioned long chair, and said, "I've heard all about the happenings in Huishan. But even if your cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, even if I let you sit shoulder to shoulder with me, it wouldn't be easy for you to kill me."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng sneered, "The Northern Liang Prince's Residence truly has no shortage of masters."

Xu Fengnian glanced at the shadowy being leisurely playing in Listening Tide Lake and smiled, "This Celestial Phenomenon master was acquired with my life and fortune; you get what you pay for. Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, don't be so sarcastic."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng did not throw bait into the lake. She said expressionlessly, "I wouldn't dare."

Xu Fengnian didn't dwell on it and asked, "With just over a hundred 'icing on the cake' secret manuals, you expect me to support you as the leader of the Southern Jianghu? Isn't that a bit greedy? You're not my wife, so why would I make such a losing deal?"

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng picked up a handful of bait from the celadon-glazed plate with a broken-branch peony pattern. Without rushing to throw it into the lake to enjoy the world-famous sight of ten thousand carp rolling, she slowly said, "I can offer help when it's most needed."

Xu Fengnian extended his hand.

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng explained, "Huishan has no shortage of ambitious, profit-driven individuals with genuine talent and skill; Hong Biao is one of them. These Jianghu ruffians have no lack of ability or ambition, only a path. As long as Northern Liang dares to take them in and offers enough bait, they will willingly be reeled in. However, I, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, must make one thing clear: once they enter Northern Liang, they will seek official positions and wealth, but they will not be willing to risk their lives. If you ask them to join the Northern Liang army and fight on the border, they will absolutely refuse. But if they are appointed as a captain with a sixth or seventh-rank official position within Northern Liang, any official title, even a temporary or honorary one, will be enough for them to serve you with eighty to ninety percent of their effort."

Xu Fengnian scoffed, "Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, do you think official positions are as common as cabbages at a roadside stall?"

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng threw a handful of bait into the lake and said calmly, "The matter of Chen Zhibao entering Shu and being granted a princely title is known to all, even women and children. Many of this military saint's close confidants and direct descendants have resigned their posts to go to Shu, and a large number of sixth and seventh-rank military officers are eager to make a move. When these new positions open up, who else would you give them to? It would be better to do me a favor; the people I offer you are, at least, first-rate Jianghu masters who are not old but have long been famous. They will only need a year or two to gain public respect. Although I, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, have never been an official, I know a bit about governing people. A new emperor brings new officials; if you want to firmly establish yourself as the Northern Liang Prince, you will ultimately need your own people, even if they are a mixed bag."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Your level of skill is merely a superficial understanding of managing people, not true statecraft. It's like the difference between controlling a sword and commanding a sword."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng did not retort. Instead, she coolly poured the entire plate of bait into the lake, causing the koi to splash and create a noisy commotion.

Xu Fengnian waited for the lake surface to calm before saying helplessly, "When will you change your bad temper? When Wen Hua and I first met you, yes, we were wrong to tease you with our uncontrolled mouths, but how many well-bred young ladies would be as petty as you? Now you're the head of the Huishan family and even want to unite the Jianghu. With your terrible self-composure, even if you become a top-tier martial arts master, you're destined to be a loner. Why would I cultivate you, of all people? It would be a futile effort, a waste of money and energy. It's true that we came to know each other through conflict, but sitting down to do business requires business etiquette."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng stared at Xu Fengnian, her eyes cold as she said, "Xu Fengnian, it's not your place to lecture me!"

Xu Fengnian, who hadn't rested much since arriving at the Prince's Residence, leaned against the pillar again and said softly, "I'm only nagging you with these thankless words because I consider you half a friend. Listen or don't listen."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng scoffed, "Can we be frank with each other?"

Xu Fengnian clapped his hands lightly and chuckled, "Alright, since you're asking a favor of me this time, I'll be direct with you. I have a friend in the Western Regions who has been entangled with Han Diaosi for some time. The Prince's Residence has continuously dispatched some loyal guards to help, but the effect hasn't been significant. Now that your cultivation has surged, why don't you go warm up? Consider it a dangerous martial arts training. By the way, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, do you have a man you fancy? If not, perfect! My friend is the most beautiful person in the world, named Nangong Pushe. Chen Yu, ranked second, was described on the Rouge List with four words: 'No less than Nangong' – that's this Nangong. I usually call him 'White Fox Face,' but remember not to call him that; you'll get beaten. Assassinating Han Diaosi, the world's chief eunuch, would be your pledge of allegiance to Northern Liang. Without a way back, I can confidently trust a Huishan family head who is thousands of miles away."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng sneered, "Is this your 'art of governing people'? It's far from masterful."

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "Like you, I only know how to manage people; we're both just 'new calves' in the 'official arena.'"

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng glanced at the Prince's snow-white hair, smiled, and asked, "Xu Fengnian, what happened?"

Xu Fengnian touched his hair and said blandly, "To put it nicely, it's a pseudo-Finger Profound realm. To put it bluntly, my cultivation has plummeted disastrously. I presume you can tell that even if I recover, my internal energy cultivation won't even reach the second rank. But for a fleeting moment, I could indeed control a sword with a pseudo-Celestial Phenomenon. So, you don't need to pity me. If you're going to pity anyone, wait until you genuinely enter the perfected Finger Profound realm."

"This woman has a truly awful temper," she thought, not even bothering to hide her schadenfreude. She burst out laughing, "Pseudo-Finger Profound and pseudo-Celestial Phenomenon—it just sounds scary, that's all. Xu Fengnian, does that mean you'll be stuck at the Vajra realm for the rest of your life? I genuinely want to pity you now!"

Xu Fengnian looked at her smiling face and joined in the laughter. "I always said you look better when you're smiling happily."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng didn't deliberately suppress her smile and laughed freely. "Seeing you so miserable truly makes me happy."

Xu Fengnian tossed the name card back to Xuan Yuan Qingfeng. "Although our relationship is somewhat ambiguous, it's not so distant that you need to submit a name card to visit my home. Next time you come here, forget about using the front gate; you can even climb over the wall. As long as I receive the good news I want from the Western Regions, I guarantee Huishan will have no shortage of money or people."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng took the name card and placed it on a blue-and-white plate. Suddenly, she stopped smiling and asked earnestly, "Xu Fengnian, are you speaking kindly because you're about to die?"

Xu Fengnian laughed and cursed, "Nonsense, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng! Can't you say anything nice without being so cutting?"

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng asked, "When do you want me to go to the Western Regions to eliminate Han Diaosi?"

Xu Fengnian stood up and waved towards the shore. Immediately, a young boy carrying a large iron-bow ran over.

Xu Fengnian pointed to Wu, a young loyal guard brought back from Beimang to the Prince's Residence, and smiled at Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, "This child's nickname is 'A Bit.' He'll escort you out of Northern Liang, and there will be others to meet you in the Western Regions."

The sturdy boy quietly said, "Young Master, next time you introduce me, could you please not call me 'A Bit'? My name is Wu."

Xu Fengnian slapped him on the head. "You little simpleton! Didn't you always say you wanted to be the most outstanding loyal guard? You introduce yourself by name to everyone; don't you think that's embarrassing?"

The boy paused, then scratched his head and grinned, "You're right."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Go, take this auntie to the Western Regions."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng silently took a deep breath.

The boy said "Alright!" and turned to leave, occasionally sneaking glances at the woman beside him. *Auntie? How old must she be then? Nearly thirty? Is she just well-preserved?*

Xu Fengnian said from behind Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, "I will arrange Hong Biao's situation."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng turned and smiled sweetly, "What a good nephew."

Xu Fengnian merely smiled, thinking she truly was a woman who refused to be at a disadvantage.

After their laughter subsided, Xu Fengnian walked towards the courtyard where his second sister, Xu Weixiong, was. The air was thick with the pungent smell of medicine. He sat by her bedside; she remained unconscious. For days, Xu Fengnian had stayed in this room without closing his eyes, only perfunctorily washing up and changing into clean clothes. His hair had gradually faded, revealing its white color. Finding dyeing troublesome, he simply had Qingniao wash and comb it before giving up. Xu Fengnian gently held her hand. The room was silent.

Great fires produce no smoke, flowing water makes no sound, and those suffering extreme sorrow are speechless.

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First time so close!

Actually, I wanted to snatch the second floor. No second floor, so I tried for the third. No third! What about the fourth floor? Still nothing! #Darn it, I have to get a floor! #Angry)Actually, I wanted to snatch the second floor. No second floor, so I tried for the third. No third! What about the fourth floor? Still nothing! #Darn it, I have to get a floor! #Angry)Actually, I wanted to snatch the second floor. No second floor, so I tried for the third. No third! What about the fourth floor? Still nothing! #Darn it, I have to get a floor! #Angry)

Need to find a place to level up; my account is already level eight.

Great fires produce no smoke, flowing water makes no sound, and those suffering extreme sorrow are speechless.

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