Hua Chongyang turned the bowl lid in his hand:
"oh."
The two remained silent for a long time before Lan Wuxie stood up:
"I'm leaving."
But the movements were hesitant.
Hua Chongyang knew he was waiting for her to ask him to stay, but she stood up and only gave a soft reply:
"oh."
As soon as he stepped outside, Lan Cao followed. The gloomy weather threatened rain. Lan Wuxie stepped out the door, and Hua Chongyang caught up with him a step behind:
"etc."
He turned around.
Hua Chongyang took off her cloak and chased after him, carefully draping it over his shoulders:
"alright."
There was nothing more to say.
The two left in silence. Lan Cao followed Lan Wuxie to the street corner and suddenly said:
"Sect Master."
"Um?"
"Don't you think—" Lan Cao hesitated, "that the Double Ninth Festival flower is a little different?"
Lan Wuxie continued walking, and softly asked in return:
"Really?"
"He's fine when he's speaking; but when he's silent, he looks like he's preoccupied."
"She's now the head of the first floor, and things are complicated for her."
Lan Wuxie clearly didn't want to speak, and after just this one sentence, Lan Cao stopped talking.
Let's take it one step at a time.
The matter between the two people is nothing more than one being willing to hit and the other being willing to be hit; so he could only accept it. When he encountered Hua Chongyang, Lan Wuxie could only take the beating and couldn't even avoid it.
Meanwhile, Hua Chongyang had already left the brothel and was on his way to Sichuan.
For nearly a year, Hua Chongyang had been secretly expanding his influence in the brothel industry, moving south from Hangzhou to the two lakes region, almost touching the territory of Nan Chu Manor. However, Nan Chu Manor remained silent, while the people of Yanzu Valley suddenly jumped out to make things difficult for the brothels, resisting and vying for control everywhere.
Having overheard Lan Cao and Lan Wuxie's conversation the night before, Qing Ling, currently in Sichuan, decided to make the trip herself. Sichuan is Lan Ying Palace's territory, meaning it's still possible that Yan Zu Valley's background belongs to Lan Wuxie.
This is what Hua Chongyang fears most.
If Yanzu Valley is truly under Lan Wuxie's command, then there's nothing more to say.
Two days later, after a long and arduous journey, they arrived at a small town called Shanxia in Sichuan. Ye Laoqi, carrying his bundle, followed behind, his spirits greatly diminished.
"Chu San is already waiting to meet us at the inn. What's the name of that inn again, Qingfeng? He didn't even specify where it is—"
"I know."
"ah?"
"I know where it is." Hua Chongyang walked on the mottled cobblestones of the deserted street. "I've been here before."
"This remote mountain town is really baffling. If there's anything wrong, just ask Chu San and the others to investigate. Why did you have to come all the way here yourself?"
Hua Chongyang turns back:
"It was precisely because I ran away that I was able to uncover the truth. Half of Hangzhou is now Lan Wuxie's territory. I can only know what he wants me to know; if he wants to keep it from me, who can find out?"
"...I see." Old Seventh Master Ye suddenly realized, "So you were trying to avoid Lan Wuxie."
Hua Chongyang was taken aback by Ye Laoqi's words, and without saying a word, he continued walking forward.
Everyone says that the people in Lanying Palace are cruel and perverted, but Shanxia Town is the most peaceful and serene place in Hua Chongyang's memory. The ground is covered with gray stone slabs, the streets are lined with towering gray-white walls, the setting sun shines on the moss on the walls, and the fragrance of flowers wafts from the alley. The setting sun is as silent as gold, and this place is exactly as it was ten years ago.
Ten miles outside of Shanxia Town lies Lanruo Mountain, where the world-famous Lanying Palace is located.
He had come out to hide from someone, but now, standing amidst the city's dazzling sunset, Hua Chongyang was suddenly overwhelmed with longing.
72. Inn
Qingfeng Inn in Shanxia Town.
A simple little inn, with stone walls, stone slabs, and pebbly paths. There are small flower beds with pebbles lining the roadside, and the algae in the ponds are emerald green. In the courtyard, there is a U-shaped wooden building, and looking up, you can see that paper lanterns have already been lit on the second floor.
Chu San was already waiting at the door of the second-floor guest room.
After the group entered the inn room, Ye Laoqi, hearing that no one was outside, lowered his voice and spoke to Chu San and Hua Chongyang:
"This town is so peaceful and simple. I originally thought that the territory of Lanying Palace would be filled with constant fighting and killing."
Chu San sneered:
"On the grounds of Lan Ying Palace, who dares to shout for war? Anyone who dares to provoke that cold-blooded beast Lan Wuxie will be the first to die."
Chu San had come out early and was unaware that Hua Chongyang had spent the night at Lan Wuxie's place. She casually cursed Lan Wuxie. Ye Laoqi, overhearing this, quickly gave her a meaningful look, but Chu San ignored it, glancing at her and raising an eyebrow.
"Seventh Brother, why are you winking at me? Is there anything you can't say in front of Chongyang?"
Ye Laoqi's face immediately fell.
Hua Chongyang pretended not to see anything, holding his teacup as he strolled to the windowsill. The Qingfeng Inn was built against the mountainside; opening the window revealed a panorama of rocks and newly sprouted green grass. At dusk, the light and shadows were dim, obscuring the shadows between the mountain crevices, but a faint, delicate fragrance could be faintly detected.
After quickly packing his luggage, Ye Laoqi went out to order hot water and dinner. As the door closed, Chu San walked behind Hua Chongyang and sighed:
"It's completely different from Hangzhou. I never imagined that the infamous Lanying Palace would be in such a quiet place."
"This secluded ancient town hasn't changed a bit in ten years," Hua Chongyang said, turning back. "Any news about Yanzu Valley?"
"I asked around in town about the name 'Wild Goose Foot Valley,' but no one had ever heard of it," Chu San frowned. "Could it be that the name has no connection to this place?"
"What about Qingling?"
"She disappeared after reaching this town. My scouts said she left footprints, but it's inconvenient to investigate at night, so we'll have to start early tomorrow."
Hua Chongyang nodded, lowered her eyes, and picked up her teacup to drink. Chu San glanced at her and lowered his voice:
"Double Ninth Festival."
"Um?"
"Are you—" Chu San paused, "Are you in a difficult position?"
"No."
"There's still a long way to go. This is just the beginning. If you feel it's not right, we can come up with another idea—"
"No need." Hua Chongyang turned and put down his teacup, looking back at Chu San. "Sister Chu, just do what needs to be done."
But you and --
"What's wrong with me?" Hua Chongyang raised an eyebrow. "You know, the only thing I've thought about this past year is avenging my mother."
Chu San remained silent.
Hua Chongyang's face drooped, a dim shadow falling at the corner of her eye:
"For the past year, almost every night when I close my eyes, I see my mother's dying face. Sister Chu, listen to me, I, Hua Chongyang, swear I will not rest until I kill our enemies."
The next day, a light rain began to fall in Shanxia Town. Early in the morning, Chu San knocked on Hua Chongyang's door, his expression annoyed:
"We could have sent people to investigate by following Qingling's footprints outside the town, but now look what's happened."
The weather was slightly cool. Hua Chongyang, wearing a cloak, leaned against the window, lost in thought:
"I always felt that this matter wasn't so simple."
"you mean?"
"Sister Chu, think about it, we brothel people are used to this line of work, and we rarely make mistakes when pursuing someone, but Qingling actually managed to shake him off."
"How so?"
"It's clear Qingling isn't stupid; she at least knew someone was following her. If she's not stupid, why would she leave traces for us to investigate?"
Chu San looked up abruptly after hearing this:
"You mean there's another place to go in Yanzu Valley?"
"Of the three protectors of Yanzu Valley, Qingling may be quite conspicuous, but she may not be the one who calls the shots. Let's wait and see what Cheng Sheng and Xing Yanshui do in Hangzhou before making a decision."
The rain stopped shortly after noon, and Huang San's carrier pigeon delivered a message. Ye Laoqi took the letter, read it, and handed it to Hua Chongyang, clicking his tongue in amazement:
"As soon as we left Hangzhou, something big happened there. That Rong Chenfei is really good at causing trouble. It's a pity we won't get to see the show, tsk tsk."
Hua Chongyang accepted the letter.
Rong Chenfei actually had a falling out with Lan Wuxie.
At Bo Feng's banquet, whether it was because Lan Wuxie's relationship with the martial arts alliance had eased or because of something else, Rong Chenfei disagreed with Lan Wuxie and smashed his wine cup in front of everyone, storming off and declaring that he would never be able to get along with Lan Wuxie again.
Chu San also took the letter and looked at it, then shook his head:
"In the martial world, sects are either friends or enemies. Without Lake Moon Manor, the Lan Ying Palace's power will inevitably suffer a great blow."
"There's a second page..." Old Ye Qi was holding half a page of letter and looking at it when he suddenly looked up. "What nonsense is Huang San writing? -- OP, take a look for yourself, has she gone mad? What's going on?"
Hua Chongyang took it, glanced at it, casually put the letter down, and gave a nonchalant reply:
"oh."
Ye Laoqi's expression was as if he had seen a ghost:
"What did she say about you stealing Lan Wuxie's Yellow Spring Martial Arts Technique?! And that Liu Da even sent people to wipe out the sects on Lan Ying Palace's territory?"
She couldn't believe it, so she picked up the letter again, rubbed her eyes, and read it word by word. The letter still contained clear black and white writing:
"Bai Lu has followed the Master's instructions and gone into seclusion to practice the Yellow Springs Martial Arts Manual; unfortunately, the news has leaked, and now everyone knows that the Master stole Lan Wuxie's Yellow Springs Martial Arts Manual. Liu Da acted swiftly, taking down the Little Green Mountain Sword Sect and Red Leaf Manor overnight, all awaiting the Master's return to Hangzhou..."
She put down the letter, her expression one of utter shock as she looked at Hua Chongyang:
"...Is this...is this real?"
Hua Chongyang wrapped his cloak tighter around himself and smiled faintly: