Le Jianghu de Feng Qingcheng et Mo Xibei

Chapitre 35

The Dragon Gate is a newly emerging major sect in the martial arts world. They specialize in collecting and trading intelligence. Located in the northeast corner of the capital, adjacent to the imperial city, their vast territory and magnificent mansion demonstrate their formidable power. It is said that the Dragon Gate's leader is a handsome young man who seems like a god, while others say he is a beautiful, celestial maiden. Still others say he is an old man with white hair and a white beard. In short, the Dragon Gate's leader is as mysterious and unpredictable as the leader of the Green Robe Sect. These are all things Leng Jie has heard from the martial arts world these past few days.

After experiencing the "spectacular" scale of Longmen firsthand, Leng Jie couldn't help but sigh that the rumors circulating in the martial arts world weren't entirely credible. Of course, their specious guesses were correct; the leader of Longmen was indeed a handsome young man, almost godlike. But the grandeur and imposing presence they described, seemingly based on solid evidence, remained completely indistinguishable from the rows of blue-brick and tile houses resembling military camps that Leng Jie couldn't discern.

Seeing that Wuming had been curiously examining the architectural structure of the Dragon Gate since he entered, Xuanyuan couldn't help but tease him:

"Could it be that besides being skilled at pickling and selling fish, I'm also interested in building houses?"

"I just felt that this Dragon Gate seemed a bit shabby. It's not quite the same as the rumors in the martial arts world." After blurting it out, Leng Jie solemnly reminded him again, "Nameless is dead. Now there is only Leng Jie in this world. Please don't call me by the wrong name next time, Sect Master."

"Haha, this is the real location of the Dragon Gate. What people in the martial arts world call it is just an empty house. You've been there before, it's the place where you saved me and Qingfeng last time."

"Uh! Seriously? You're actually treating that place as a public Dragon Gate?" Aren't you obviously telling people that the Dragon Gate is related to the royal family?

“The Dragon Gate has just been established. How can it gain a foothold without finding a powerful backer?” Xuan Yuan explained to Leng Jie.

That makes sense. It's better to let people speculate about the connection between Longmen and the royal family than to directly say that Longmen is the emperor! No wonder everyone is so interested in the mysterious leader of Longmen.

"The sect leader has returned. Greetings, sect leader."

As she walked from the main gate into the hall, two doormen finally came to greet her. Leng Jie glanced at them casually; they were two handsome young men in their early twenties.

Upon seeing his subordinate approach, Xuanyuan, who had initially maintained a gentle expression, immediately reverted to his expressionless demeanor, exuding a sharp and domineering aura. He commanded in a stern and cold tone:

"Yuan Zheng, Yangpu Huolai has come to greet the Third Master and Young Master Qingfeng. From now on, you two will stay by the Third Master's side and serve him. If anything goes wrong, you will be held accountable."

Leng Jie had never seen Xuan Yuan so domineering. Even when he was in the Golden Palace, although he remained expressionless, he lacked this domineering aura and gained a touch of coldness. However, she had taken his words to heart—he actually ordered two men to serve her? She unconsciously glanced at her mistress and, sure enough, saw Qing Feng rolling his eyes. She couldn't help but laugh.

The two young men dared not disobey the sect leader's instructions and immediately greeted the seemingly unremarkable third sect leader with utmost respect.

"Your subordinate Yuan Zheng (Yang Pu) greets the Third Master and Young Master Qingfeng. I will obey the Third Master's orders!"

Leng Jie paused for a moment, then quickly suppressed her smile. She gestured with both hands and gave the order without ceremony:

"No need for formalities! Yuan Zheng, Yang Pu, right? Go and prepare a separate courtyard for me, with all the necessary facilities. Then you don't need to worry about me anymore. Just go and do what you need to do."

"Arrange my room in that courtyard as well," Qingfeng replied.

“Let them serve you.” Xuanyuan wanted to say “protect,” but considering his status as the Third Sect Master, he could only emphasize “serve.” Little did he know how jarring the word “serve” sounded to Leng Jie and Qingfeng.

"I don't need anyone to serve me," Leng Jie declared immediately. The reason she hesitated to join the Dragon Gate when she heard Zi Ying was there was because she feared his powerful nature would reveal her identity. Now that Xuan Yuan had caught her, he had no choice but to return as the Third Gate Master. If she were constantly surrounded by two men, how could she possibly keep her secret of being a woman?

"With me here, we don't need anyone else," Qingfeng chimed in.

Xuanyuan immediately said excitedly, "You mean Wuming? Wherever Xiaojie is, you'll be there too?"

Qingfeng rolled her eyes at Xuanyuan and said coldly, "Isn't this what you wanted? Now you've got what you wanted."

Heavens! The cold and stern sect leader actually had such a gentle and kind side! They had never seen the sect leader show this expression to anyone, not even the second sect leader, Zi Ying. This newly arrived third sect leader must hold a very special place in the sect leader's heart. Yuan Zheng and Yang Pu stared wide-eyed in disbelief at their three masters, who had completely ignored them.

Leng Jie noticed the two young men's eyes were practically popping out of their sockets as they stared at Xuan Yuan. She knew they were just as intimidated as she had been by Xuan Yuan's drastically different facial expressions. She prompted, "Hey? What are you two still doing here?"

"Oh! We'll take our leave now." The two young men quickly bowed and left.

"etc!"

Just as they reached the door, they were stopped again by Xuanyuan's stern voice. The two turned around simultaneously, trembling, and asked:

"Does the sect leader have any further instructions?"

"When the Second Sect Master returns, tell him to come see me immediately. Also, inform the kitchen to prepare a banquet tonight to welcome the Third Sect Master and Young Master Qingfeng. Have tea sent over as well." Xuan Yuan gave instructions one by one, like a steward.

After the two subordinates left, Leng Jie found a chair and sat down, unable to resist smiling and teasingly saying:

"Are you the sect leader or the steward?"

Xuanyuan and Qingfeng each found a place to sit down. Xuanyuan looked at Leng Jie earnestly and said:

"You know what, the Dragon Gate is really lacking a steward. Ying is always running around outside, so from now on, this household will be in your hands as the Third Gate Master."

She's not here to be a housekeeper, but it's too early to say now. Let her figure out Longmen's situation first. Leng Jie asked:

"Now can you tell me exactly how many people there are in Lungmen?"

Xuanyuan was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly:

"You should ask Ying that question! Now let's talk about that little stone jade you mentioned and how you got involved with the Green Robe Sect. Also, what happened when you dressed up as a fairy to tease the innkeeper at the biggest inn in the capital, and then stripped two men from the Green Robe Sect naked and tied them together."

Leng Jie suddenly opened her eyes, staring blankly at Xuan Yuan. He actually knew about her at the inn? Then he already knew she was a woman? Her heart began to sink deeper and deeper.

Qingfeng's expression changed instantly, his heart leaped into his throat, and after a long silence, he finally asked:

"Is what he said true? You stripped the man naked?"

Seeing Qingfeng and Leng Jie's sudden stunned expressions, Xuanyuan assumed they were embarrassed because their disguise as women had been exposed. It was rare to see them both looking so bewildered at the same time. He felt a surge of satisfaction. As soon as Qingfeng asked a question, he immediately rushed to answer:

"Of course you don't know, the two people who suddenly appeared and then suddenly disappeared that everyone in the capital is talking about right now are your junior brother and that little Shi Yu! When I heard Ying mention this, I immediately thought of Wuming. Ying didn't believe he could dress up as a woman! If I hadn't insisted that he investigate along this line, we wouldn't have found them today."

"A man dressed as a woman?" Leng Jie's eyes suddenly brightened. Her heart, which had sunk below her stomach, immediately returned to its place, and she couldn't help but answer, "Yes, yes, I came here dressed as a woman. I think dressing up as a woman is pretty good, and it's even more fun to bewitch those lecherous men."

"There's a limit to your nonsense! You actually went out of your way to seduce men?" Qingfeng shouted angrily at Leng Jie.

Seeing that Qingfeng was truly angry, Leng Jie was worried that he might blurt out, "Have you forgotten you're a woman again?" She quickly gave him a meaningful look and deliberately tried to appease him:

"Okay, next time, junior brother, I won't seduce men, I'll only seduce women, okay?"

"You!" Qingfeng was so angry he didn't know what to say. He could only glare at Leng Jie with eyes that looked like he wanted to devour her.

Unaware of the reason, Xuanyuan found it amusing and couldn't help but tease Leng Jie, continuing her words:

"Haha, Qingfeng, your junior brother is really popular with both men and women. Those palace maids who were completely infatuated with him still can't forget him!"

Qingfeng suddenly raised the corners of his mouth and twitched his eyebrows, looking at Xuanyuan with a half-smile:

"Really? You think so too. Very well, then let her be bisexual."

Yang Pu hurriedly appeared at the entrance of the hall and loudly announced:

"Reporting to the sect leader, the second sect leader has returned, bringing with him a young master covered in blood. The second sect leader said he will clean the young master up first before coming to see the sect leader."

Chapter Seventy-Two: A Terrifying Experience in the Bathroom

After Zi Ying rescued Xiao Shi Yu from the group of men in black, he learned from Xiao Shi Yu that the two young masters who had been with him had escaped safely. He immediately ordered the annihilation of all the remaining Qingyi cult members.

Three thousand well-trained imperial guards were no match for a few hundred swarms of blue-robed cult members writhing like snakes. A fierce exchange of sword flashes, figures leaping and attacking, mingled with furious roars and bloodcurdling screams, followed by the entire street falling silent...

Zi Ying kept his eyes fixed on the blood-stained child beside him, the child's eyes gleaming with a constant, bloodthirsty light. The chilling aura emanating from the small child was palpable. Despite the horrific carnage around him, the child showed no fear whatsoever. How could such composure belong to a six or seven-year-old child? Could he really be the Prince of Ying?

"Are you the leader of the Imperial Guards?" Xiao Shiyu suddenly looked up at the purple figure dressed in Imperial Guard uniform and asked, "I want to see the Emperor. Take me to see the Emperor."

Ying looked down at the child, surprised, and asked, "Are you really the Prince of Ying? But..."

"You recognize this, right?" Before Ying could finish speaking, Xiao Shiyu took out a gold medal from his pocket and waved it in front of Ying, saying sternly, "I have important matters to report to the Emperor. Please take me to see the Emperor immediately."

"The Qilin brand? You really are the King of Heroes!"

The Qilin Gold Medal was a token given by the founding emperor to the first Prince of Ying. From then on, the medal and the throne were passed down through generations, with the medal symbolizing the person who inherited it. Strangely, the Prince of Ying's residence has been passed down through generations since then. The current Prince of Ying is the thirteenth generation. It is said that the current Prince of Ying is proficient in both literature and military strategy, and acts with swift and decisive action. In just six years since inheriting the throne, he has managed Jianzhou with remarkable order, and the people live in peace and prosperity. Jianzhou has always been the most worry-free region since the emperor ascended the throne. Moreover, everyone knows that the Prince of Ying is still unmarried, so it seems unlikely that this child will be the fourteenth Prince of Ying.

“A person can be fake, but this Qilin token cannot be faked. What is your name, sir? I really have something extremely urgent to report to the Emperor immediately.” Shi Yu spoke with considerable seriousness, but his clear, childlike voice softened his heavy tone considerably.

"Your subordinate, Commander of the Imperial Guards, Zi Ying, greets Your Highness, the Prince of Ying!" Zi Ying was certain that he was indeed the Prince of Ying. Although he didn't know what had happened to him that caused him to shrink, he greatly admired that he could still maintain the demeanor of a prince. He then politely replied, "Your subordinate will take the Prince to see the Emperor immediately."

Ying turned and ordered his deputy to clean up the scene before withdrawing his troops back to the capital. He then turned back to Xiao Shiyu and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me!"

Then, he picked up Xiao Shiyu and disappeared into the chaotic battlefield in the blink of an eye.

Ying led Shi Yu directly into the palace, where they found only Eunuch Fu dozing at the door of the Imperial Study. He knew the Emperor had gone to Longmen. He turned away, leaving Eunuch Fu staring in astonishment at the blood-soaked Shi Yu in his arms. He returned to Longmen.

Upon returning to Longmen, Yang Pu told him that the sect leader and the third sect leader were waiting for him in the main hall. The third sect leader? It must be Wuming without a doubt. Ying suddenly felt that it would be better to have Xiao Shiyu wash off the bloodstains before going to see the emperor. So she took him to the bathroom, gave him a large tub of hot water, and went to find him some clothes.

---------------------------

Inside the main hall of Longmen, when Leng Jie heard Yang Pu say that Zi Ying had brought back a child covered in blood, her mind went blank. Xiao Shiyu was injured! Without thinking, she got up, grabbed Yang Pu, and ran outside.

"Take me to see that child quickly!"

Yang Pumo inexplicably led his third master to the bathroom door.

"The Second Sect Master and the Young Master are inside."

Before he could finish speaking, Leng Jie pushed open the door and rushed in. She asked anxiously, "Little Shiyu, where are you hurt...?"

She stopped herself mid-sentence. She had already seen Xiao Shiyu standing on the floor taking a shower! Her gaze swept over her from head to toe; her skin was flawless, without a single wound or drop of blood. A weight lifted from her shoulders, and Leng Jie let out a long sigh, saying, "Thank goodness you're alright. Otherwise, I would have felt terribly guilty."

Shi Yu, who was taking a shower, was startled by the person who suddenly rushed in. She was even more stunned when she saw who it was. What was she doing here?

As Leng Jie walked towards the stunned Xiao Shiyu, she said, "I knew it! With your abilities, you shouldn't have been unable to handle that situation! That Yang Pu actually said you were covered in blood..."

"Get out!"

Startled, Shi Yu finally came to his senses and suddenly realized that he was being completely naked, seen by the woman who had abandoned him. Instantly, his face flushed as if on fire. He immediately squatted down, covered his head with his hands, curled his small body into a ball, and shouted angrily at the person approaching him, "Don't come any closer!"

Leng Jie was startled by Xiao Shiyu's sudden and intense reaction. She paused for a moment, then noticed his face and body were flushed red, realizing why he had reacted so strongly. She couldn't help but chuckle and tease, "Uh! Are you shy?"

"What happened?"

Ying, who had returned with the clothes, and Xuanyuan, who arrived shortly after, rushed in together with Qingfeng after hearing Xiaoshiyu's almost screaming roar.

"Haha, it's nothing, just a little kid being stubborn." Leng Jie turned around and chuckled at the group of people at the door who looked at her with questions. Then she walked over to Ying, took the dry clothes from his hand, and said, "Give me the clothes. I'll dress him. You guys can go out first, this little guy is shy!"

The little body, curled up like a ball of flesh, suddenly shivered involuntarily, whether from the cold or from anger, it was hard to tell. A cold, trembling sound came from between the little one's knees, where the head was buried.

"Leave your clothes behind and get out."

Zi Ying assumed that Leng Jie was unaware of Shi Yu's identity and simply treated him like a child. He completely understood Shi Yu's current predicament, so he naturally took the clothes back from Leng Jie and placed them on a shelf. He then pushed Leng Jie and the others towards the door.

"Let's go, he can manage on his own. I have something to say outside."

“Your Majesty, he is Prince Ying.” As soon as they stepped out, Zi Ying got straight to the point. “He said he had important matters to report to you in the capital, so I brought him back.”

"He is the King of England?" Xuanyuan's face showed surprise. He then looked at Leng Jie as if seeking confirmation.

Leng Jie nodded firmly at him and said, "Didn't I tell you long ago that the child who has been following me is Prince Ying, Shi Yu? Why are you still so surprised?"

“You only said that the Prince of Ying was at the Qunying Tower, when did you say that he was the child who was with you?” Xuanyuan immediately retorted.

"Didn't I say that?" Leng Jie asked Qing Feng for confirmation, not believing him. But why was it so cold? Meeting Qing Feng's eyes, which were as clear and deep as an ice cave, Leng Jie couldn't help but shiver.

She knew his identity perfectly well, yet her gaze lingered on his naked body. Thinking back to the room in the fishing village, there was only one bed. Did that mean they'd been sharing a bed all along? Although he looked only a few years old, he possessed the mind of an adult—that was undeniable. And then there was the memory of her undressing two men at the inn. Qingfeng truly didn't know how to describe this woman. Or was she actually with a man? Had he mistaken her gender? He glared fiercely at Leng Jie, a chill emanating from him. The surrounding temperature instantly dropped by more than ten degrees.

Zi Ying and Xuan Yuan also sensed Qing Feng's change and looked at him curiously. Xuan Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Qing Feng, do you have a grudge against Prince Ying?"

Qingfeng glared at him, then pursed her lips and said, "I don't know him."

"I'll introduce you two later, and you'll get to know each other! He's my adopted younger brother, and you're my senior brother, so of course you're also his older brother," Leng Jie quickly tried to smooth things over.