Chapter 47: Rouge Box, Red Embroidery Saber, An Invitation... to a Banquet of Hongmen
Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Rouge Box, Red Embroidery Saber, An Invitation... to a Banquet of Hongmen
Watching Ji Xiu, the center of attention, remain so poised and at ease, handling the situation with increasing familiarity and skill.
The Young Master of Chai Market, Xuu Heng—who had been placed in the position of Vice Hall Master of the Wind and Cloud Association by his father—couldn’t help but sigh to himself:
’He’s a born noble.’
’I have no idea how someone like him could emerge from some old alley in the remote lands of Fire Kiln...’
’Fortunately.’
’This man became acquainted with Lu Yu, who personally brought him into the Fire Kiln Lu Manor. He can be considered a die-hard supporter of his faction.’
’This naturally prevents him from being courted by Luo Xiao, Li Ye, Fang Xiao, and those other senior disciples.’
At this thought, a shadow of gloom crossed his brow:
’The senior disciples who open halls and teach students, the public faces of our arts, naturally command authority.’
’Plus, those three bastards clawed their way up from the bottom. They joined early, rallied a large following, possess Fist and Foot skills at the Bone Tempering Realm, and have been the pillars of our halls for years, earning the high regard of the older generation.’
’Even this time, with the Wind and Cloud Association, the positions of the three Hall Masters were all snatched up by them...’
Before, when it was just about the professions, it was one thing. At least he had the title of ’Direct Bloodline’. No matter what, outsiders couldn’t take much of what was rightfully his.
But now...
With the formation of the Wind and Cloud Association, the future of the Prefecture City was at stake. After the three in power passed on, who would hold the reins of the Three Major Professions in this five-hundred-li Anning County? Who would call the shots?
Among the three of them, only Lu Yu had recently achieved a breakthrough in his Fist and Foot arts and begun Bone Tempering. Xuu Heng and Wei Zhi were still at the Peak of Tendon Refining.
By any logic, the position of Hall Master couldn’t possibly fall to them.
Therefore.
This banquet today was partly to curry favor with the ’riding a wave of success’ Hall Master Ji.
At the same time, it was also a chance to drown their sorrows in wine and alleviate their frustrations.
"Hall Master Ji, do you happen to have a younger sister by two or three years from your direct bloodline?"
Just then, however.
Wei Zhi—the direct-line daughter of the Butcher’s Saber Wei Dinchang, one of the three leaders of the Wind and Cloud Association—raised a delicate eyebrow and suddenly changed the subject.
Ji Xiu looked over in surprise, wondering what this wealthy young miss meant.
"I have some Golden Rouge here, specially transported from Jiangyin Prefecture. Hall Master Ji, you are so young and handsome; I’m sure your little sister must be just as lovely."
Wei Zhi smiled sweetly, produced a gift box of sandalwood with gold inlay, and gracefully walked over to place it gently in front of Ji Xiu.
"A girl should adorn herself with makeup if she’s pretty."
"If she is both beautiful and talented, with Martial Arts to her name, perhaps one day she’ll catch the eye of a young noble hero at the Prefecture City’s Flower-Pinning Banquet, earning a flower pin and a smile."
Ji Xiu glanced down.
He looked at the exquisite and luxurious rouge. The material of the box alone was of considerable value, clearly not the kind of ’goods’ that could be produced within the five hundred li of Anning County.
He was about to refuse.
But then he thought of how Ji Wei had grown more and more beautiful since they’d left their drafty old house. After a moment of hesitation, he accepted it.
"It seems Miss Wei Zhi has gone to some trouble to inquire about my family. I appreciate the thought. I thank you on my little sister’s behalf."
"If you ever need a small favor, Ji Xiu will certainly help if I can."
Ji Xiu nodded with a faint smile, choosing his words carefully.
Just as he was about to say more...
Suddenly, the sound of soft, slow footsteps abruptly rang out.
When the curtain was drawn aside, the four people in the private room all narrowed their eyes.
Xuu Heng was already in a foul mood, feeling that his father’s senior disciple, Li Ye, was highly regarded and suppressed him at every turn, leaving him feeling constrained.
Now that someone had suddenly barged in, he immediately shot to his feet, his voice ice-cold:
"Don’t you know this entire third floor of Feiyan Tower has been booked? No outsiders allowed."
"Who are you with? Have you no manners!"
He had assumed they were just some ordinary rich folk who didn’t know the rules.
But...
When he stood up and looked, he saw that these men were all clad in tight-fitting martial attire. Their Qi and Blood were vigorous, and their muscles and bones strained against their clothes, almost bursting, giving them the look of accomplished masters.
Xuu Heng’s brow furrowed. His tone was still forceful, but he changed his tack:
"Sirs, we are Hall Masters of the Wind and Cloud Association, holding a gathering here."
"Everyone here is from one of the Three Major Professions. My name is Xuu Heng, my father is the ’Purple-robed Crane’. I will not pursue the matter of your intrusion today. Please, take your leave."
"Otherwise, if things get ugly, no one will come out of it looking good."
He tapped the table, invoked his father’s name, and casually sat back down with a placid tone. He didn’t put on an arrogant or overbearing air, nor did he shout aggressively. He simply turned as if to continue eating.
He projected an image of calm indifference, as if nothing had happened.
After hearing this, the men exchanged glances. The leader suddenly showed a look of regret.
It seemed he was disappointed that the Young Master of Chai Market hadn’t immediately resorted to violence over their rude intrusion.
But the expression flickered for only an instant. Immediately after, he let out a chuckle.
"Young Master, you say that as if I don’t know who you are."
"How could that be possible?"
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeve, revealing a tiger and leopard tattoo on his left arm.
Xuu Heng’s eyes flickered.
Immediately after.
The two men beside him... also rolled up their sleeves.
One revealed a roaring lion, the other, an eagle and a falcon.
"Lion Hall, Tiger and Leopard Hall, Eagle Falcon Gang?"
In that instant, Lu Yu couldn’t stay seated. He shot to his feet. Standing up with him was Wei Zhi, her willow-like brows furrowed as she gripped the slender saber at her waist.
Fist, Spear, Saber, and Sword; Lion, Leopard, Eagle, and Falcon.
As Ji Xiu watched the atmosphere grow heavy, he recalled the divisions of power among the masters of Anning County, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
’So, these... are the men from the gangs that rule the west side of the city like crouching tigers and coiling dragons? The ones rumored to have consolidated the villages and mountain towns along the five-hundred-li mountain roads, fought their way into Anning County, and became legitimate gangs?’
Looking at their ferocious aura.
Indeed, whether in Fire Kiln, Chai Market, or the Cattle and Sheep Market, the Guests who loitered in the marketplaces rarely exuded such a feeling.
Those who lick blood from the blades of their knives versus common street thugs.
Sometimes, a single glance is all it takes to tell the difference.
"Our three Dragon Heads were quite pleased to hear that a ’School’ Branch had finally been established in this five-hundred-li Anning County."
"We were just troubled that we had no friendly relations with the three leaders of the Wind and Cloud Association."
The young man with the ’Tiger and Leopard’ tattoo first emphasized the word ’Branch’.
Then, with a perfectly amiable smile, he chuckled and said:
"Today, the three of us happened to be drinking together when we heard that the three of you—the Young Master and the Young Misses—had been promoted to Vice Hall Masters and were holding a celebratory banquet here."
"We had a sudden thought—what a coincidence, right?"
"So we thought we’d come share in the joy, offer our congratulations, and invite you to a ’banquet’."
"I wonder if Master Xuu, and the rest of you, might do us the honor?"
At this, the young man clasped his fist:
"From the Tiger and Leopard Hall, seventh seat, Zhang Shiyao!"
"From the Lion Hall, Chen Zhao!"
"From the Eagle Falcon Gang, Qiuu Zhen!"
"We have come to deliver an invitation!"
"We invite the four of you... to a banquet!"
With that said.
A crimson invitation card, embroidered with gold-stamped patterns, was gently pressed onto the table by Zhang Shiyao, the so-called ’seventh seat’ of the Tiger and Leopard Hall.
Upon closer inspection, one could see his finger bone curl slightly. Then, as if piercing a stele or cracking a stone, like a nail, he poked straight through the bottom of the invitation, pinning it firmly to the tabletop!
A moment later, when he lifted his finger.
A clearly visible ’hole’...
was revealed before the eyes of Ji Xiu and the others.
Aside from Ji Xiu, the other three’s faces turned ugly.
’Force from the bones, like a heart-piercing drill!’
’That one finger holds more than a decade of training!’
’He’s no Martial Artist of the Tendon Refining Realm!’
This wasn’t an invitation.
They had clearly come prepared!
Ji Xiu’s eyelids drooped slightly.
According to the rumors.
The Dragon Heads of these Three Great Gangs once said:
"When you invite someone, you must be polite and proper."
"The Jianghu isn’t about fighting and killing; the Jianghu is about sophistication and human relationships."
They’ll present you with an invitation, serve you tea with a smile—after all, you don’t strike a smiling face.
That’s what they say.
But...
Almost every year, people who couldn’t repay their loans on time would be ’invited’ back to their halls with a smile. When they came out, they’d either be on the Slave Registry or be missing a few parts.
They invite you, they invite you with a big smile, but if you refuse to go...
Well... then you’re just not showing proper respect.