Chapter 212: When in Rome

Chapter 212: Guests Follow the Host's Convenience

Hongya Mountain, the Silver Tower.

The overall clear height of this cliff tower exceeded ten zhang, forming a vast and spacious expanse.

Yet within this floor, scarcely a human figure could be seen; only several Ming-style mansions lay silent within.

Each mansion boasted wide gates and a stern, imposing air. High walls encircled them on all sides, the shortest stretch no less than five hundred paces of an adult's stride.

The wall tops were uniformly capped with green glazed tiles; the main gates adorned with vermilion lacquer and gilded copper nails. Stone beasts stood guard on either side, mighty and domineering; specks of red light flickered in their eyes from time to time, as if they were living creatures.

Within the high walls, mountain contours and flowing waters intertwined with verdant greenery, sparse and dense in harmonious balance. Carved towers and painted rafters of high terraces and pavilions rose from amidst them; ridge beasts crouched upon the flying eaves, their grey-green lacquered bodies etched with exquisite mechanical patterns.

Men and women Yarn-people dressed in various Ming-style shirts, of handsome and beautiful appearance, lived within. Meticulously customized and blended souls drove them day after day, tirelessly sweeping every corner of the mansions.

A scent of decadence unique to the Great Ming Empire permeated the entire Silver Tower, enough to leave foreign barbarians dumbfounded.

At the very least, every time Jin Shenghuo ascended this cliff tower, he could not help but feel gratitude in his heart for the court's policy of 'education for all without distinction, civilizing the barbarians through culture,' which allowed a barbarian like him, born in the criminal districts, to enter the imperial heartland.

Otherwise, he would likely have taken to the mountains as a bandit, reduced to a mere mechanical bandit who robbed homes and plundered.

How could he ever have witnessed such luxurious high-society scenery!

"Shenghuo, thinking of your Siamese homeland again?"

A voice, slender and gentle like a woman's, pulled Jin Shenghuo's wandering thoughts back.

"This lowly one is grateful for my Lord's patronage. Had you not deigned to give me a mouthful of rice back then, there would be no 'Wind General' Jin Shenghuo today, only a wretched commoner still struggling to survive in the barren mountains and foul waters."

Jin Shenghuo stood with hands clasped before him, his expression respectful as he gazed at the thin figure standing with its back to him not far away.

"Excessive modesty is but arrogance."

The figure turned slowly, revealing Zhang Ruzhen's face, fair and delicate as a woman's. "Besides, the one who patronized you... wasn't this household."

"That Lord's grace, this lowly one naturally engraves in his five viscera. Your Lordship's care, this lowly one likewise finds unforgettable."

Jin Shenghuo's obese body thudded to its knees on the ground; every inch of flesh on his face was etched with a fawning smile.

"Even a Siamese like you knows gratitude, yet some Ming people fly the banner of loyalty and patriotism on the surface, while behind the scenes they commit acts defying their sovereign. Truly, the world grows cold, and hearts are not what they once were."

Zhang Ruzhen looked at the fatty kneeling before him, sighing with myriad emotions.

Jin Shenghuo pressed his forehead tight against the floor, his thick lips pursed tight, not uttering a word.

The chip implanted in the spiritual aperture of his brainstem clamped down hard on his thoughts, not daring to follow Zhang Ruzhen's words into deeper contemplation.

"Enough, stand up and speak."

Zhang Ruzhen knew the other dared not answer; he waved his hand listlessly and turned toward a round-backed armchair.

Upon hearing this, Jin Shenghuo scrambled up on hands and feet, following close behind step for step.

"Speak then, let this household hear what interesting things have happened in Chongqing Prefecture these past few days."

Zhang Ruzhen lifted the tea bowl from the low table, gently stirring the clear tea soup with the lid.

Jin Shenghuo smiled: "Reporting to my Lord, the most interesting event was yesterday. Longtu, a Walking Monk dispatched by Dazhao Temple, appeared in the South Yu District, attempting to forcibly convert a 'miscellaneous card' under the 'Harmony Card' of the Chuan-Yu Gambling Convention."

"'Harmony Card'... isn't that one of your Card System's people?"

"Correct. His birth name is He Zangjia, a Farmer Grade Eight Plowman. He walks quite close to that Wu Qi Dufu who fled from Chengdu Prefecture."

Jin Shenghuo's face was full of flattery: "It is still my Lord's far-sighted vision. Back then, you had us take over Luohan Temple's territory and lure Li Jun into the 'Card System,' saddling him with He Zangjia as a weakness."

"Given that martial brute's temperament of repaying kindness and vengeance, if we set a trap using He Zangjia's life, he will surely walk right in uninvited."

Zhang Ruzhen slowly nodded, puzzled: "Luohan Temple belongs to the Han Transmission; the Shaolin Walking Monk hasn't shown his face, so why would a foreign monk take the lead in causing trouble for you?"

"The interesting part is precisely here. The Shaolin Walking Monk Jiwu also appeared. Not just him, but the Celestial Master Chen Qisheng of Dragon Tiger Mountain and Li Jun all showed up as well."

*Click-clack~.*

Zhang Ruzhen set down the tea bowl, raising a brow with a smile: "Look at this lineup... have they joined forces?"

"My Lord's keen eye. Jiwu and Longtu wanted to set an ambush to take Li Jun first, but never expected Chen Qisheng to move first and form an alliance with Li Jun. A mantis stalking the cicada ambush turned into four self-conceited orioles colliding head-on."

"Interesting."

Zhang Ruzhen stroked his smooth, hairless chin. "No fight?"

Jin Shenghuo shook his head: "The most interesting part of this affair is right here. The four merely confronted each other for a moment before retreating one after another. It seems none had the certainty of victory, or perhaps they were unwilling to pay the price."

"This household recalls that those two factions once clamored to excise the Martial Dao Sequence from the genes of Ming people. Now a Martial Dao remnant stands openly before them; not only do they restrain themselves from striking, they even enlist him as aid."

Zhang Ruzhen spoke in a yin-yang sarcastic tone, clicking his tongue.

Jin Shenghuo said softly: "Be it Jiwu, Longtu, or Chen Qisheng, they are all Successors born after the 'All Under Heaven Divide the Martial.' Their genes may still retain vestiges of hatred for the Martial Dao Sequence, but it is no longer as intense as the previous generation's."

"A healed scar forgets the pain."

Zhang Ruzhen pondered for a moment, then sneered: "This play has only just opened; it cannot go cold like this. Since these guests hesitate, we, as hosts, shall lend a hand to help them along. Guests follow the host's convenience."

"My Lord, rest assured. This lowly one knows what to do." Jin Shenghuo said solemnly.

Zhang Ruzhen nodded. "Good that you understand. You have always been thorough in your work, but this time you must be extremely careful. Do not let anyone with a heart see the 'Eight Generals' involved, especially the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Yan Bahuang."

A fierce glint arose in Zhang Ruzhen's eyes. "That ignorant old fossil. If this household didn't consider he still has use for the Prince, I would have driven him out of Chongqing Prefecture long ago!"

"This lowly one will certainly clean up the traces spotlessly, absolutely not causing my Lord any trouble, merely..."

A trace of hesitation appeared on Jin Shenghuo's fat face. "Among the 'Eight Generals' of this Chuan-Yu Gambling Convention, not all are our people. This lowly one fears those few puppets used to deceive others' eyes and ears might pull the rug out from under us at the critical moment."

"If anyone dares disobey, just find a random excuse to kill them, then find a few obedient substitutes to take their place."

Zhang Ruzhen flung his wide sleeve, murderous intent radiating from his whole body.

"Not just them. Even you few must keep your eyes wide open for this household. This is a major affair the Master has plotted for a long time. Whoever dares cause a hitch at this juncture, don't blame this household for turning hostile and denying all recognition!"

*Thud!*

Jin Shenghuo's body, which hadn't straightened from beginning to end, knelt down again, crying out repeatedly that he dared not.

"Enough, get up. Any news from Qi Huai's side yet?"

"Yes! It just arrived today."

Zhang Ruzhen's face lit with joy. He urged: "Speak quickly!"