Chapter 42: Exchanging Knives in the Underworld, Drinking Wine in the Living World

Before going to Wudang, Xu Fengnian believed that the "Ten Greatest Experts Under Heaven," ranked eleventh, were the ten most formidable individuals in the world, adept at murder and arson. However, upon reaching the mountain, he realized that many true masters were either reclusive in the mountains and forests, disdained public recognition, or kept their abilities hidden. Thus, when Xu Xiao mentioned that the old demon suppressed within the Tide-Listening Pavilion was one of only a handful of truly top-tier masters, Xu Fengnian understood that if this formidable figure were ever released, no one could prevent him from wreaking havoc. Xu Fengnian estimated that perhaps only Old Huang and the old saberman from the bottom of the lake, combined, could stand a chance. But Old Huang was dead, his sword case now stood as a mockery on the wall of Wudi City. And the white-haired old saberman had departed; given his temperament, he would never be willing to serve as a pawn for the Young Master. How could Xu Fengnian, with his own limited power, possibly subdue such a formidable entity?

Considering those whose abilities he had witnessed firsthand, the Wudang Sect Master Wang Zhonglou certainly counted as one. The sword fanatic Wang Xiaoping was perhaps half a master, and the ox-riding master another half. The library guards in the Prince's Manor, however, likely amounted to only a small fraction of a true master.

Xu Fengnian gazed at the Tide-Listening Pavilion, trying to guess the old demon's identity and origin, but found no clues. He chuckled and asked, "What other treasures are hidden in the Prince's Manor? Don't hold back; give me the full story!"

Xu Xiao took a sip of scalding yellow wine, wiped his mouth, and replied, "There’s almost nothing left. This is all the family fortune I’ve accumulated over half my life. Isn't that enough for you to squander?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Are there no family heirlooms then?"

Xu Xiao replied dejectedly, "Yes, there are, but I can only give them to you after I die. They can't simply be brought out unless we're utterly desperate and facing ruin."

Xu Fengnian said softly, "It’s almost New Year’s; say something auspicious."

Xu Xiao looked at the calm lake, seemingly bored. He scattered a handful of bait, which drew a vibrant scene of rolling koi. Only then did he sigh, "My body isn't what it used to be. When I was young, three or four catties of beef with wine went down without a hitch, and I could finish half a roasted whole lamb in one go. Now I can't chew well, and seeing anything greasy makes me nauseous."

Xu Fengnian laughed, "Good people die young, but villains live a thousand years. You, a great villain condemned by thousands, even if not for a thousand years, living to a hundred shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Xu Xiao said nothing.

Xu Fengnian sat up straight, grabbed a handful of bait, and prepared to throw it into the lake. Hundreds of carp were already swimming around the lake pavilion, having gathered after Xu Xiao’s first scattering of bait. So, as soon as the Young Master made a motion to throw, a hundred or so greedy koi leaped out of the water. In the past, when bored, Xu Fengnian would carry several large boxes of bait and row around; the sight of carp covering the water in such profusion was truly enchanting and magnificent. Yesterday, he had a great time playing with the little girl, who was half scared and half amazed, her expressions very vivid and interesting. Therefore, for years, whenever the dandies of Beiliang competed with the Young Master for courtesans, it was a foregone conclusion that they would bring shame upon themselves. However, if they were fortunate enough to enter the Prince of Beiliang's Manor, Xu Fengnian would at most give them a small box of fish food; he often watched the spectacle from the side and did not participate.

At the end of the year, after striking the bell at Jiuhua Mountain and having a lukewarm meal, Xu Fengnian arrived at the Banana Leaf Courtyard. Yu Youwei sat by the window, teasing Wu Meiniang. This white cat had grown increasingly plump, resembling a snowball, and was truly adorable.

Xu Fengnian extended the scabbard of his Embroidered Winter saber, and Wu Meiniang obediently embraced it.

Xu Fengnian lifted her slightly, clicking his tongue, "She must weigh ten catties now. From now on, she'll be called Fatty Wu."

Yu Youwei hugged the charmingly plump Wu Meiniang and glared at the insensitive Young Master.

After Xu Fengnian sat down, he took an osmanthus cake, tossed it into the air, tilted his head back, and it landed perfectly in his mouth. This pastry, personally prepared and steamed by Yu Youwei, had a unique flavor and was immensely popular throughout the manor from its debut. The manor had a hundred osmanthus trees, and in early autumn, she would pick fresh osmanthus flowers, extract their juice, remove the dregs and bitter liquid, soak them in high-quality honey, and carefully seal and store them in a cellar. When it was time to make the pastry, she would retrieve them. The osmanthus cake melted in the mouth, fine, soft, and moist, with a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Xu Fengnian loved this taste, and his gaze towards Yu Youwei even held a hint of deeper meaning. No longer a courtesan or the Fish Xuanji, she became nervous under his gaze, hugging Wu Meiniang tightly. In doing so, she accidentally pressed her ample bosom, making its ample curve quite alluring.

Xu Fengnian asked vaguely, "Can't wait, can you?"

Yu Youwei raised an eyebrow, only emitting a soft, sweet hum: "Hmm?"

Xu Fengnian laughed, "I knew it."

Yu Youwei was confused by Xu Fengnian's self-talk and asked, "Knew what?"

Xu Fengnian leaned towards her, smiling, "It's getting late."

Yu Youwei neither blushed like a maiden nor panicked. She merely stroked Wu Meiniang's head and said softly, "Nothing has even happened, and the entire Wutong Courtyard already disapproves of me. I wore out my tongue begging a maid under the osmanthus tree just to get you this osmanthus cake. If I stay here overnight, won't Wu Meiniang and I be forced to endure hardship?"

Xu Fengnian laughed, "Was that maid Green Ant or Cucumber? I'll speak with her later."

Yu Youwei smiled, a veiled hint of sharpness in her expression, but she stopped short of truly attacking behind his back.

Xu Fengnian gently tapped Yu Youwei's forehead and laughed, "Why are you arguing with those young maids? That’s not good. A woman with a magnanimous spirit is more captivating."

Yu Youwei was momentarily stunned.

Xu Fengnian stood up, stretched, stuffed the remaining half-box of elegantly arranged pastries from the brocade food box into his mouth, and walked away, twirling his Embroidered Winter saber.

Last year, the heavens were particularly stingy, granting only two sparse, unsatisfying snowfalls.

So, in Jiang Ni's courtyard, only the smallest snowman ever was built.

Xu Fengnian entered the quiet courtyard, glancing at the small snowman. Fortunately, its head was still intact.

The Young Master watched for a while, seeing nothing remarkable, and then turned to leave.

Xu Fengnian was still unsure whom to take with him on his journey through the martial world after the New Year. He certainly wasn't lacking guards and attendants; given his status, taking over a hundred iron cavalry posed no major issue. Xu Xiao would arrange everything properly, leaving little room for criticism. With the addition of several capable enforcers groomed by Xu Xiao from the Prince's Manor, working both overtly and covertly, ordinary martial artists attempting an assassination would be like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot. However, even with all this, Xu Fengnian, who was most afraid of death and had experienced hardship, still felt it wasn't enough. What about White Fox Face? He might not be willing to leave the Tide-Listening Pavilion. Their friendship had always been a transaction—a five-tael peach for half a catty of plum—with no unprovoked favors, and Xu Fengnian couldn't think of any martial arts manual in the jianghu that would be more appealing to White Fox Face than a martial arts armory.

Could he really have to seek out the half-immortal, half-demon beneath the Tide-Listening Pavilion?

Xu Fengnian unknowingly walked under the 'Majestic and Grand' Nine Dragons plaque and was startled.

The artistic conception of the characters on this imperial plaque, bestowed by the former emperor, was not domineering. But those four characters, in Xu Fengnian's eyes, were truly... still four characters, but utterly unsightly.

He inexplicably thought of his second sister, Xu Weixiong, thousands of miles away. Many times, she was even more vengeful than the Young Master, yet she was usually clear-headed about major matters and petty about minor ones. For example, Xu Fengnian should have naturally called her 'Second Sister,' but she found it jarring and insisted since childhood that Xu Fengnian call her simply 'Sister,' omitting the 'Second.' Xu Fengnian didn't understand what sense there was in Second Sister arguing with First Sister Xu Zihu over this; being born earlier or later was destined. Xu Fengnian and Xu Longxiang had a harmonious brotherly relationship, but Xu Zihu and Xu Weixiong's sisterly relationship was quite ordinary. The younger sister felt the elder sister was frivolous and a mere 'flower vase.' The elder sister, being the elder, was more magnanimous, but she also enjoyed playing pranks by complimenting Xu Weixiong to her face, saying she could 'drown fish and geese, eclipse the moon and put flowers to shame,' and 'overthrow kingdoms,' especially highlighting her 'beautiful calligraphy.'

A woman's mind is more unfathomable than the ways of heaven. The young senior granduncle on the mountain would surely agree wholeheartedly.

Xu Fengnian scoffed at himself, "Now that I’m off the mountain, I actually miss the one who rides the ox."

He chuckled to himself, "Two days ago, I had a box of erotica sent up the mountain. I wonder if the ox-rider got hung up and whipped by his second senior brother?"

"Xu Beggar, you’re still as boring as ever."

White Fox Face’s cool, clear voice drifted from inside the pavilion.

Xu Fengnian pushed the door open and entered, seeing White Fox Face standing beneath the white jade relief of 'Dunhuang Apsaras' in the main hall.

Xu Fengnian said cheerfully, "I haven't heard that name in over a year."

The Young Master carried his exquisite Embroidered Winter saber, and White Fox Face wore his plain Spring Thunder saber at his waist.

Xu Fengnian shamelessly muttered to himself, "Turns out we’re quite a match."

White Fox Face slowly turned his head, shifting his gaze from the mural to Xu Fengnian, radiating killing intent.

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "I meant Embroidered Winter and Spring Thunder!"

Nonsense, no matter how beautiful White Fox Face was, the Young Master wouldn't fall for a man.

White Fox Face looked back at the sixty-four life-sized Dunhuang Apsaras, each wearing a five-jeweled crown, or a Taoist coronet, or a round bun. They had slender figures, clear features, and smiling eyes. Their upper bodies were exposed, colorful ribbons draped over their shoulders, holding various musical instruments like flutes, xiao, lusheng, pipa, and konghou, as clouds swirled, making them seem like soaring immortals.

What a heavenly scene, with flowers falling and filling the void, a true immortal realm.

The Young Master had known since he was very young that he would ride on Xu Xiao’s shoulders to look at the exposed breasts of the Apsaras. If this wasn't extraordinary talent, what was? If this wasn't innate ability, what was? However, as he grew older, this occurred less often. After all, Xu Zihu loved to sleep with Xu Fengnian, and didn't stop even when he was twelve or thirteen. His habit of hugging necks and caressing earlobes while sleeping was something she had indulged.

White Fox Face took a few steps and stared at an Apsara in the top northwest corner. This celestial maiden had arm ornaments and bracelets, holding a phoenix-headed konghou, and upon closer inspection, she astonishingly had only one eye.

Xu Fengnian didn't pay much attention, only saying with lingering fear, "Xu Xiao said there's an old monster suppressed on the bottom floor of this Tide-Listening Pavilion, White Fox Face, be careful."

White Fox Face seemed to have a sudden realization. Spring Thunder was drawn and struck the eye of that Apsara, then rebounded back into its sheath. That Apsara remained motionless, but the other sixty-three Apsaras began to slowly drift.

A door appeared before them.

Xu Fengnian watched, dumbfounded, muttering, "Is this like dotting the eyes of the dragon to bring it to life?"

White Fox Face walked straight in.

Xu Fengnian tried to pull him back but couldn't. After a moment of hesitation, he followed into the dark and dim space. By the moonlight from the main hall, he could see a staircase leading underground.

White Fox Face drew Spring Thunder, illuminating the path with its bright blade. Xu Fengnian followed suit, drawing his Embroidered Winter saber.

When Xu Fengnian silently counted to sixty-three, the staircase gradually became brighter and clearer.

It was a large hall with four luminous pearls embedded in its four walls.

Like a tomb!

Spirit tablets!

Filled with the spirit tablets of Beiliang's fallen officers and soldiers!

No fewer than six hundred.

In the center of the hall lay a straw mat for kneeling and worshipping in all four directions.

The mat could not conceal a larger Eight Trigrams diagram of yin and yang fish beneath it.

Xu Fengnian looked at the countless tablets; only a few were familiar to him. All were meritorious martial generals of the Beiliang army, who died in the turbulent Spring and Autumn War that swept across the land.

A general’s success is built upon ten thousand withered bones.

This was just a scholar’s saying.

Here, in this situation, was the true underworld.

White Fox Face was completely unafraid, merely asking, "Do you want to exchange your Embroidered Winter for Spring Thunder?"

Xu Fengnian, sensing trouble, shook his head and replied, "No."

Evidently annoyed by the Young Master's lack of tact, White Fox Face narrowed his phoenix eyes, staring intently at Xu Fengnian, almost as if he were examining a spirit tablet.

White Fox Face had already discerned that Spring Thunder was currently more suitable for the Young Master’s saber practice than Embroidered Winter.

Xu Fengnian pretended not to notice anything. If his predictions were correct, the unparalleled master who had been suppressed for twenty years was lurking underground. From White Fox Face’s stance, it was clear his curiosity had been piqued, and knowing his temperament, he would very likely go investigate. Xu Fengnian did not want to walk into a tiger's den; his second leisurely journey through the martial world had not yet reached the point where he had exhausted all his options and had to take such a desperate risk.

White Fox Face frowned, and for once, compromised, saying, "I want to go one floor deeper. But this is your home, after all, so if you agree, besides exchanging sabers with you, I'll grant you an additional condition."

Xu Fengnian replied without hesitation, "Alright."

White Fox Face was even more straightforward, directly tossing Spring Thunder to Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian caught Spring Thunder but didn't rush to exchange Embroidered Winter with White Fox Face. Instead, he asked earnestly, "Can I state the condition now?"

White Fox Face nodded.

Xu Fengnian said earnestly, "The condition is that we don't go down now! If you go back on your word, then kill me first! Oh, wait, knock me unconscious!"

White Fox Face, without a saber in hand, widened his autumn-water eyes, staring at the Young Master, who clutched both sabers.

Suddenly, White Fox Face faintly smiled.

If the Dunhuang Apsaras were compared to him at this moment, they would lack their immortal aura.

Xu Fengnian was captivated, but still dared not let down his guard.

White Fox Face, smiling broadly for the first time in front of him, seemed to show a coy anger—yes, a woman’s coy anger—and slowly said, "You win this time, Xu Scoundrel."

Xu Fengnian finally let out a breath of relief; the feeling of having brushed with death was truly hellish.

White Fox Face extended his hand.

Xu Fengnian looked at him, full of questions.

White Fox Face angrily said, "Give me Embroidered Winter! Let’s go upstairs. When you’re braver, we’ll go down again!"

Xu Fengnian dazedly mumbled 'Oh,' and tossed the Embroidered Winter saber to White Fox Face, feeling a bit reluctant. He had relied on this 'young lady' on Wudang Mountain.

Back upstairs, White Fox Face tapped the Apsara's eye with Embroidered Winter again, and the mural miraculously returned to its original state.

Xu Fengnian, having gotten away with it, was about to slip away, but unexpectedly, White Fox Face wasn't angry. He merely said softly, "Accompany me for a drink."

Xu Fengnian ran to the Wutong Courtyard and returned with two pots of good wine.

The two sat on the edge of the majestic platform of the Tide-Listening Pavilion. White Fox Face sat cross-legged, while Xu Fengnian dangled his feet in the air off the platform.

White Fox Face took a gulp of wine. "The Prince of Beiliang is the most heroic and ambitious man I’ve ever met, but for the past year, I still haven't understood how, even with Xu Xiao promoting Legalism and authoritarianism, he became a powerful minister, second only to one person and above ten thousand. After seeing more than six hundred spirit tablets just now, I seem to understand a little. If six hundred people are devoted to serving you, even if you are an incompetent fool, you can still wield power over a province. If these six hundred people are all heroes, willing to lay down their lives for you, then what happens? Everyone knows that the Prince of Beiliang, Xu Xiao, started with six hundred elite cavalry. There aren't many left now, are there? They’re probably all there."

Xu Fengnian looked up at the night sky.

White Fox Face said softly, "Is it very tiring to have a father like that?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head.

White Fox Face shook the wine pot, scoffing, "Your father’s methods, cunning, and endurance are all top-notch in this era, but you’re a scoundrel."

Xu Fengnian smiled bitterly, "Don't mock me, this incompetent fool. Didn't I just trick your Spring Thunder with my Embroidered Winter? If you're not satisfied, we can just switch back."

The curve of White Fox Face's lips was charming, and he took another fierce gulp of wine, drinking with such boldness. He said, "Speak, what’s your condition?"

Xu Fengnian said softly, "Forget it. If you want to go down, then go. Just let me know, and I’ll have Xu Xiao arrange more people for you."

White Fox Face looked doubtful, "When did you become so benevolent?"

Xu Fengnian scoffed at himself, "I don't have many friends to begin with, and because of that Governor of Lingzhou who was determined to be an upright and loyal minister, I lost another one last year. No matter how you see me, I consider you a friend."

White Fox Face was expressionless, merely tilting his head back and drinking.

One pot was quickly emptied by him.

He reached out, asking Xu Fengnian for more wine.

Xu Fengnian shook the wine pot in his hand, smiling, "You still want it after I’ve drunk from it?"

White Fox Face, his face slightly flushed with wine, said loudly, "Give it here!"

Xu Fengnian handed it over.

Half surprised, half vexed. Surprised that White Fox Face, such a proud and aloof person, was now letting go of formalities with him. Vexed that it seemed truly confirmed White Fox Face was not a woman.

White Fox Face then said something that almost made Xu Fengnian spit blood: "If only you were a woman, I would marry you."

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