Zhong Chunji exclaimed, “Mutual destruction?” Liu Yan said flatly, “That’s right. If he can’t get what he wants, he destroys it, and he must destroy it completely and thoroughly until it’s reduced to ashes before he’s satisfied. That’s Tang Lici’s character.” Without waiting for Zhong Chunji to question, he continued, “Then we fortunately didn’t die and encountered a strange adventure, coming to the Central Plains, losing everything we had, without a single copper coin on us. To survive, one of our four went out to perform for money—he was called Fang Zhou.” Zhong Chunji was startled, “Three Sounds Fang Zhou? So the unparalleled genius of Zhou Di Tower was actually your brother.” Liu Yan said in a low voice, “He was also Tang Lici’s brother, but he never told anyone. I’m proud to have Fang Zhou as such a brother, but he… I don’t know what he thinks.” Zhong Chunji said, “So you’re not from the Central Plains—no wonder I’d never heard your names before. He… why won’t he acknowledge Fang Zhou as his brother?”
“Fang Zhou was proud by nature. Though he performed at Zhou Di Tower, he was extremely unwilling in his heart. But we four had no foothold in the Central Plains and no special skills. Fang Zhou was good at playing the guqin, so Tang Lici forced him to go out and perform.” Liu Yan said, “Fang Zhou was someone who would rather starve than eat food given in contempt, but he had brothers in his heart. When Tang Lici forced him to perform, he went. The other brother and I, unwilling to let Fang Zhou suffer for us, left privately. But when I returned to Zhou Di Tower half a year later, I discovered he had forced Fang Zhou to practice the ‘Rebirth Manual,’ intending to have Fang Zhou trade his life to transfer his power to Tang Lici, to achieve his supreme martial arts…” Zhong Chunji’s expression changed, “This… how could such a thing be possible…” Liu Yan said, “I’m not lying to you—lying to you would be meaningless.” Zhong Chunji’s face was pale, “After that… what happened after?” Liu Yan said in a low voice, “After that, Fang Zhou died and Tang Lici obtained supreme martial arts. The reason I don’t want to see him is because he’s such an ungrateful, treacherous, and vicious villain—ambitious as a wolf with no scruples about methods.” Zhong Chunji’s heart was beating wildly. Hearing Tang Lici’s story, she couldn’t disbelieve it entirely, yet couldn’t fully believe it either, “But…”
“But in front of all of you, he’s still gentle and refined with elegant speech, isn’t he?” Liu Yan said, “Do you know why he opposes the Romantic Shop? Why he investigates the Crimson Ghost Nine Heart Pills? All this originally had nothing to do with him. He pursues this matter solely to build his own reputation and fame. He wants to control the martial world situation and make himself the focus of all attention again.” He said hoarsely, “This is the blood in his bones—that’s the kind of person he is. You’ve spent considerable time with him. Haven’t you noticed his improper conduct, always taking crooked paths? If he were truly a modest and gentle gentleman, how could he devise the plan to use Biluo Palace’s power for the decisive battle at Azure Mountain Cliff? You must know that if his scheme failed, what would be at stake are the lives of all the innocent people in Biluo Palace! He gambles others’ lives for his own ambition!”
No! No! Lici could never be that kind of person! Zhong Chunji’s mind was in chaos. The person before her spoke with such certainty, and recalling Tang Lici’s methods which were indeed like this, a chill rose from the bottom of her heart. Could he really be a cruel and vicious hypocrite… “Since you understand him so well, why don’t you stop him?”
“He’s my brother who grew up with me from childhood. Though he’s changed and done unforgivable things, I still can’t face him…” Liu Yan said in a low voice, “Now he wants to deal with the Romantic Shop. Once he defeats the Romantic Shop, he’ll turn to deal with Wanyu Yuedan, because once the Romantic Shop falls, Biluo Palace will be the obstacle to his ruling the martial world.” He slowly raised his head, looking at Zhong Chunji with those strange willow-leaf eyes, “The story is finished. Will you help me?”
“How do you want me to help?” she asked in a low voice, “I… I…” Liu Yan revealed a strange smile, “You hope both Wanyu Yuedan and he will stay by your side, never to be separated, don’t you?” She was shocked—this person had seen through her despicable thoughts completely, “You—” Liu Yan said in low, hoarse tones, “I’ll teach you a method. If you insert a silver needle at this position behind Tang Lici’s back, he’ll lose all his martial arts. And if you make him drink this bottle of medicine…” He took out a light blue decorated small bottle from his wide black robe, “He’ll lose his memory without damaging his intelligence. With Tang Lici’s current reputation, if he loses his martial arts and memory, Wanyu Yuedan will surely protect him. As long as you often stay at Biluo Palace, you can be with both of them forever, never to be separated.”
“You’re teaching me to harm people!” Zhong Chunji’s expression changed, “What kind of person do you think Zhong Chunji is!” Liu Yan said in low tones, “A woman who wants something but doesn’t dare to love. If you won’t help me, then when Tang Lici and Wanyu Yuedan meet in battle in the future, fighting each other for the position of overlord, what will you do?” Zhong Chunji bit her lip without answering. Yuedan was determined to rule the martial world, and Lici… was he truly someone who coveted fame and profit, who truly wouldn’t have ambitions to dominate, who truly wouldn’t meet Yuedan in battle? She… she didn’t know.
Liu Yan watched her, suddenly releasing his grip. The medicine bottle fell straight toward the ground. For an instant, Zhong Chunji’s mind went blank. When she regained awareness, she had caught the medicine in her hands, while Liu Yan had already turned and left like a black phantom, soundless and formless, instantly disappearing into the forest.
Xiuyu Peony Tower in Ling Province.
Xiuyu Peony Tower was a teahouse. Besides its exquisite teas, the peonies in the building were also famous throughout the world. Every peony blooming season, visitors from all directions would travel thousands of li to view the flowers, and Xiuyu Peony Tower specially opened many elegant rooms for guests to drink tea and appreciate flowers.
Room Number Three of Xiuyu Peony Tower.
“The great defeat at Azure Mountain Cliff cost us many men. The two great generals Meihua Yishu and Kuanglan Wuxing fell into Biluo Palace’s hands for no reason. Before the battle, who said the Master alone would suffice for Azure Mountain Cliff and Little Hong needn’t be in formation? What change made the bowstring killing technique ineffective? Eastern Princess, don’t you think there’s something fishy here—who deliberately obstructed or was incompetent, leading to our crushing defeat?” In the room, Miss Hong with furrowed brows sat in a chair facing the peonies, speaking slowly. Though her voice wasn’t loud, her meaning was sharp as a blade.
In the room filled with excellent peonies, one person was fat with a broad waist, dressed in green with a head full of pearls and emeralds, holding a plate of braised chicken and gnawing on chicken feet. Hearing this, the person lazily raised their head and said in a delicate, affected voice, “Haha, who knows if someone was dissatisfied with the Master and deliberately wanted to harm him, or if someone was eating inside while scraping outside, wanting to be a hero with body in Cao’s camp but heart with Han? What do you think, Su’er?” This emerald-clothed person who looked like a sow was the Romantic Shop’s “Eastern Princess” Fu Cui. Of course “Fu Cui” was an alias—what his real name was, probably no one in the world would know until the day he completed his divine skill and returned to male form.
Bai Suche tightened her outfit and sword, her hand on the blade handle, saying flatly, “The great defeat at Azure Mountain Cliff was all my fault. I failed to anticipate how cunning and difficult Tang Lici and Wanyu Yuedan would be, and failed to expect someone would secretly sabotage Meihua Yishu and Kuanglan Wuxing, using silver needle techniques to seal several of their extraordinary meridians, causing them to be defeated without fighting.” Miss Hong’s body began trembling, “You… you’re saying I secretly harmed the Master, deliberately sealing Meihua Yishu and Kuanglan Wuxing to make him suffer crushing defeat at Azure Mountain Cliff? That’s absolute nonsense!” Bai Suche said, “Little Hong is devoted to the Master with deep feelings. I only said someone sabotaged those two, but didn’t say it was you.” Miss Hong’s breathing calmed slightly, one hand firmly gripping the teacup on the table, the cup trembling constantly, “But silver needle meridian sealing is my specialty. Even if you don’t think this way, how can you guarantee others won’t think so! There may be a traitor in the Romantic Shop!”
The Eastern Princess methodically gnawed chicken feet, constantly making sounds, “Though silver needle meridian sealing is your specialty, it’s not like no one else knows it. For instance, I also know it somewhat passably. As for traitors, that’s very possible. How about this—someone!” He shouted, immediately spitting out quite a few chicken bone fragments. Miss Hong frowned and avoided them as he said, “Invite the guests viewing peonies next door to drink tea.” Someone at the door accepted the order, and in moments, the old landlord Jiang from next door who was viewing flowers with his newly taken concubine were confusedly invited in.
“I wonder what this… madam needs?” Old landlord Jiang saw Eastern Princess Fu Cui and his face immediately turned deathly pale, nearly vomiting. The Eastern Princess pointed his fat fingers at the two people, “One person each. Whoever can’t act proves they’re the traitor. This method is fair, right? The Romantic Shop kills and burns, rapes and plunders—we do everything to some extent. Killing a couple people is nothing!” As soon as he finished speaking, old landlord Jiang’s white face turned green and he fainted in his concubine’s arms. The concubine’s eyes rolled back but she hadn’t yet fainted when Bai Suche moved her sleeve. With a soft sound, two corpses fell to the ground, fresh blood splattering throughout the room. She said flatly, “Killing people is nothing. Do you have fresher methods?”
The Eastern Princess clapped and laughed loudly, “Hahaha, Su’er is indeed Su’er, still killing without blinking an eye.” Miss Hong said coldly, “So I’m the traitor then?” The Eastern Princess extended his greasy fingers and rubbed them on her face several times, “How could that be? Little Hong’s feelings for the Master—that’s something that won’t change even if heaven and earth endure and seas dry up and rocks crumble. If I don’t trust you, who can I trust?” He laughed dryly several times, “The Romantic Shop is a mixed bag—there are many who could be spies. I told the Master long ago not to recruit people indiscriminately, but unfortunately he didn’t listen to me.”
“Just based on you, you think you can control the Master?” Miss Hong’s trembling wrist calmed slightly as her left hand gripped her right wrist, “Regarding Azure Mountain Cliff, if I don’t kill Tang Lici and Wanyu Yuedan, I won’t give up! How hateful!” She flicked her sleeve, “Starting tomorrow, I’ll thoroughly investigate who exactly is the traitor in the Romantic Shop!” The Eastern Princess bit into chicken meat, “But I think you’re more suitable to face Wanyu Yuedan. Leave household matters to Su’er, or me, or the Western Beauty. How about it?” Miss Hong was slightly startled, “Wanyu Yuedan?” The Eastern Princess spread his hands, “Think about it—two people who don’t know martial arts, one powerless to bind a chicken, one blind, yet both are covered in mechanisms like hedgehogs that others can’t even touch. If they faced each other, wouldn’t that be very amusing… Haha, if we tell the Master this idea, he’ll definitely be very interested. Little Hong, you understand him better than I do—don’t you think so?” He swallowed a chunk of chicken meat whole, “Besides, Little Hong should have the advantage.” Miss Hong’s eyes flowed, “Oh?” The Eastern Princess grinned, “You can see, he can’t.”
“This sounds good.” Bai Suche nodded slightly, “The Master should agree.” Miss Hong stroked the sandalwood table beside her, her delicate fingers carefully rubbing the patterns on the table, “To deal with Wanyu Yuedan requires long-term planning. Wanyu Yuedan is clever and wise—one careless move and we might capsize in the gutter… However, the Eastern Princess’s plan isn’t unfeasible…” The Eastern Princess laughed heartily, “With you, there’s bound to be a good method.”
“The little girl left, probably going to the market town ahead to wait like a hunter for prey.” Shen Langhun finished roasting the Smooth-scale Rainbow-wing fish and said flatly, “This fish—will you eat it or shall I?” A hand extended from the boat canopy. Shen Langhun held the roasted fish motionlessly, “Pay for it.”
“Ha!” A light laugh came from the boat canopy, “Speaking of which, the master of Zhulu Tower has one absolutely essential treasure. Do you know what it is?” Shen Langhun said flatly, “A piece of jewelry—the Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin.” Tang Lici said, “Correct. The Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin. Though it’s a woman’s ornament, the hairpin has eight Azure Cloud Pearls. Your esteemed master needs these eight pearls to practice the tenth level of the Azure Cloud Resting Moon Style.” Shen Langhun said, “What does that have to do with this fish?” Tang Lici said, “You want your wife’s remains, he wants the Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin. As long as each has what they need, there’s room for negotiation, isn’t there?” Shen Langhun’s eyes flashed, “You know where the Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin is?” Tang Lici said, “Eh…” Shen Langhun waved his hand, and the roasted fish entered the boat canopy, “Where is the hairpin?”
The sound of Tang Lici savoring the delicacy came from the boat canopy, “Mm, truly heavenly delicacy. The hairpin? Did I say I’d tell you?” Shen Langhun said flatly, “Cut the nonsense! Where is the hairpin?” Tang Lici said from the boat canopy, “The Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin—I truly don’t know where it is now, but the last place it appeared was on a woman’s hair at the Southern Vermillion Bird Black Tortoise Platform.” Shen Langhun asked in a low voice, “Who?” Tang Lici smiled, “She said her name was Xifang Tao, a rare beauty I’ve seldom seen in my life.” Shen Langhun laughed lowly, “For you to call someone a beauty, she must be very beautiful indeed. Do you have close relations with this beauty?” Tang Lici said, “I had a one-cup-of-pearls relationship with her—hardly friendship. I saw the Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin in her hair then, but now I don’t know where she is. I’ll keep an eye out for you in the future.”
“A one-cup-of-pearls relationship? That would be the flower boat gathering at Vermillion Bird Black Tortoise Platform?” Shen Langhun said slowly, “I heard there’s an annual flower appreciation gathering in Jiangnan. Every year on Chang’e’s birthday, the various brothels of Jiangnan select their most valued courtesans to participate in judging. Vermillion Bird Black Tortoise Platform invites famous scholars, refined gentlemen, and imperial relatives from across the realm to appreciate flowers. The winner receives a thousand gold pieces worth, and those interested in the flower queen can gain an audience for the price of one cup of pearls. So you’re also an expert flower appreciator—my respects.” Tang Lici said, “I dare not claim that. However, when I paid one cup of pearls to meet Xifang Tao, it wasn’t because she was a beauty, but because I found it strange for a woman selling herself in a brothel to wear such rare and precious jewelry in her hair.” Shen Langhun made a flat “oh” sound, “And then?”
“Then I had just asked her name when the flower boat suddenly sank.” Tang Lici smiled, “A masked man rushed onto the boat, shattered the flower boat’s keel with one palm, grabbed Xifang Tao and ran.” Shen Langhun was startled, “How could such a thing happen?” Tang Lici smiled gently, “Afterward I gave the flower boat madam five thousand taels of silver to repair the boat. The madam felt very sorry, thinking I had suffered a great loss.” Shen Langhun said flatly, “Ha! You were saving face. Who was the person who carried off the beauty?” Tang Lici shook his head, “The person had extremely high martial arts. He probably thought I had improper intentions in meeting Xifang Tao, so he acted to rescue the beauty heroically. However…” He laughed lightly, “Though the person wore a mask, he was wearing monk’s shoes.” Shen Langhun made a surprised sound, “A monk?” Tang Lici smiled, “A famous monk and famous courtesan—how is that not an eternal romantic tale? Why pursue it to the bottom and make things difficult for the beautiful couple?” Shen Langhun spat, “So the whereabouts of the Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin are lost?” Tang Lici said, “If there’s news in the future, I’ll tell you.”
The two sat quietly on the boat. After a long while, Shen Langhun caught a carp about two feet long, scaled and gutted it, chopped it into small pieces, and started a clay pot at the bow to cook soup. The sweet fish aroma surrounded the small boat. Tang Lici gently stroked Fengfeng’s head, his gaze passing through the boat canopy to look into the distance. If he remembered correctly, that monk was…
“Ten li ahead is Xiuyu Town. Should we stop there?” Shen Langhun asked while adding salt to the clay pot. Tang Lici said, “No, let’s go another twenty li and stop at Jiufeng Town.” Just then, they suddenly saw a small boat coming upstream on the Mother River. One person stood at the bow, instantly coming within view. The visitor wore purple robes with a sword, calling out from afar, “Eastern Princess Fu Cui of the Romantic Shop respectfully invites Young Master Tang and Master Shen to meet at Xiuyu Peony Tower tonight when the moon rises, to appreciate the rare sight of Silver Moon Peonies blooming together.”
This person was quite young with handsome features, but though expressionless, his gaze always revealed a cold hatred. Tang Lici saw from the boat canopy that it was Cao Wufang. Shen Langhun still held his fishing rod, paying no attention and remaining motionless. Tang Lici smiled from the boat canopy, “Tang Lici will arrive punctually for the appointment.” Cao Wufang glared at the boat, turned his bow, and departed into the distance.
“So our movements have long been under their surveillance.” Shen Langhun said flatly, “It seems your golden cicada shedding shell plan has failed.” Tang Lici slowly emerged from the boat canopy, “Mm… the golden cicada shedding shell was just to fool the Central Plains Sword Society. Behind the large osmanthus tree in Jiufeng Town, there’s a luxuriously decorated house. Tonight you take Fengfeng and stay there.” Shen Langhun said flatly, “Going to the heroic lone appointment tonight?” Tang Lici’s gaze drifted slightly, “Maybe I don’t want to let you share in the rare sight of Silver Moon Peonies blooming?” Shen Langhun spat, “Go on, your brother is waiting for you. I’ll watch your child.” Tang Lici smiled slightly, “That’s not my brother, and not my child.” Shen Langhun turned a deaf ear, put away his fishing rod, took a long breath and slowly exhaled. The sky was gradually darkening to deep blue, but still no stars were visible. “Do you know? Actually I often can’t understand how someone like you—intelligent, wealthy, charming, powerful, scheming and capable, even… somewhat despicable and shameless—could have nothing at all?”
“Mm?” Tang Lici smiled, “How so?” Shen Langhun said, “You have no brothers, no children, no wife, and no parents, do you? Maybe… no friends either.” Tang Lici listened, gazing at Shen Langhun’s face. His eyes were very deep, carrying a thoughtful charm, half-smiling, pausing for a long time. He nodded slightly, then raised his face, “Correct.” Shen Langhun made a “heh” sound. This raising of the face was quite a proud gesture.