Chapter 232: The Second Ring

Chapter 232: The Second Ring

The next morning, Zhao Changhe stretched lazily as he stepped out of the inn's courtyard, still in the guise of a sallow-faced man, carrying his broadsword as he headed for the Ji residence.

The Ji family steward had been waiting anxiously at the mouth of the alley, craning his neck. Upon seeing him, he let out a long sigh of relief and hurried over: "Master Situ, you've finally come."

Zhao Changhe asked lazily, "What is it?"

"I heard that last night someone claiming to be our young master returned and went to the Kangle Gambling House to gamble with our properties!"

"So did your young master really return?"

"No, he didn't! Who would go to a gambling house before going home? That must be an impostor!"

"Then why are you panicking? Does the impostor have the deed? What is he using as collateral?"

"Uh... I'm afraid the Kangle Gambling House will use this as a pretext..."

"In the end, it comes down to strength. If your fist is big enough, there's no pretext. Have you gone to Yan Lianping and told him that I, Situ Xiao, am negotiating on behalf of the Ji family?"

"Yes, I did." The steward bowed and scraped. "Yan Lianping said he would meet with Master Situ this morning at the Autumn Rain Pavilion. What do you think..."

"Let's go." Zhao Changhe took out his gourd, took a big swig, and strode forward. "I hope the wine of Sword Lake City can surprise me a little."

Autumn had arrived.

As luck would have it, just as he mentioned the Autumn Rain Pavilion, a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky, bringing a touch of coolness to the sweltering heat.

Though the rain was not heavy, it still caused the streets to lose yesterday's bustle. Many vendors stayed away, and pedestrians were few. The once prosperous Sword Lake City suddenly took on the air of a desolate little town—a long street in fine rain, a man walking with a blade on his back.

Zhao Changhe loved this atmosphere—very Gu Long, very jianghu. Even the current situation in Sword Lake City felt just right.

Next time he disguised himself, he might consider pasting two eyebrows above his mouth.

The Autumn Rain Pavilion loomed faintly in the distant mist—a low building, only two and a half stories tall. But its location was excellent; the top floor was an open terrace without windows, with an unobstructed view of the distant ripples of Ancient Sword Lake. The cool wind carried the autumn rain rustling in, very pleasant.

At this moment, a large crowd had gathered outside the pavilion—a dense mass of people, half from the Pinghu Society and the other half from the former Xingyi Gang who had been absorbed.

Regarding the matter of "the Ji family young master entrusting Situ Xiao to negotiate," although the former Xingyi Gang members had been absorbed, some loyal old-timers were still willing to come and bolster the Ji family's presence.

This was also why the private properties on Taiping Street had managed to remain until now.

Seeing Zhao Changhe and the steward enter the building, many of the old Xingyi Gang members shouted, "We entrust this to Master Situ!"

Zhao Changhe cupped his hands in a gesture of acknowledgment to those around him and then stepped upstairs.

At a glance, he saw Yan Lianping seated in the main seat, and beside him, Yi Huoshe, chin in hand, enjoying the view. A group of Pinghu Society members stood guard around the floor, their eyes fixed intently on Zhao Changhe and the steward behind him as they ascended.

Sweat beaded on the steward's forehead, and his legs trembled slightly.

He had merely wanted to use the name of "Situ Xiao" to wrangle some of the "private properties due to the young master Ji." Now that the Xingyi Gang had fallen apart like a tree scattering its monkeys, and the young master Ji's fate was uncertain, these properties could easily be manipulated into his own hands.

Before coming, he felt no pressure with Situ Xiao backing him, but now that he was actually here, he realized the pressure of this lone meeting was far greater than he had imagined—enough to make one's legs tremble.

If he lost his life, what use would private properties be?

"Master Situ?" Yan Lianping was a capable man in his thirties. Seeing Zhao Changhe enter, he spoke with a stern expression: "Forgive me, but I dislike beating around the bush. I'll be blunt—I have met Situ Xiao, and you are not him."

Zhao Changhe said calmly, "What does it matter whether I am Situ Xiao or not? The properties belong to Ji Bochang. Does that mean no one else has the right to seek justice?"

Yan Lianping said, "Of course there is a difference."

"Oh?"

"Situ Xiao is a direct disciple of the Divine Radiance Sect; we wouldn't dare kill him lightly. But if it's just anyone else... the jianghu brotherhood is not a place for you to argue in a court of law."

"Clang!" The sound of blades being drawn echoed through the pavilion, and a gleaming array of knives pointed toward the center.

The steward's legs gave way, and he collapsed directly to the floor.

Zhao Changhe, however, did not even flinch. He said calmly, "So this is why you let Yi Huoshe appear here openly, not hiding your Four Symbols Sect background? Because I am about to become a dead man, and the dead tell no secrets."

"First, because the dead tell no secrets; second..." Yan Lianping smiled. "Because those who should know my background already know. Hiding it is meaningless. Besides, I am about to unify Sword Lake City, so there's nothing left to conceal."

Zhao Changhe also smiled. "In that case, it doesn't matter if others see it, does it?"

As he spoke, a cheerful voice came from the misty rain outside: "Yo, it really is the Four Symbols Sect! Is Yi Huoshe a lady? Let me have a look!"

Several figures drifted up from outside and landed on the floor—it was Sha Qi.

Yan Lianping's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze falling on the two old men flanking Sha Qi. After a long moment, he said, "What does Seventh Master Sha mean by this?"

Sha Qi plopped himself down opposite him with a swagger. "Ji Bochang pawned his properties to my Kangle Gambling House. I'm here to discuss this with you."

Yan Lianping glanced at Zhao Changhe and said flatly, "Is this Ji Bochang? The Ji family steward and the old gang members don't recognize him as Ji Bochang?"

"Whether he is Ji Bochang or not doesn't matter at all. What matters is that the jianghu brotherhood is not a place for playing court cases." Sha Qi grinned, throwing his own words back at him. "You don't dare offend Li Shentong, but do you dare offend my Master Ying Wu? I say he is Ji Bochang, so he is Ji Bochang."

Yan Lianping was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Fine. Then there's no need to discuss this further. The Ji family properties on Taiping Street belong to Brother Ji."

"Straightforward." Zhao Changhe sat down leisurely and poured himself a cup of wine. "But what I want to discuss is not just those private properties on Taiping Street... Since I, Ji Bochang, have returned, shouldn't the Xingyi Gang be mine to inherit?"

Yan Lianping laughed incredulously. "If the young master Ji wants the gang's assets, I certainly have no objection. But a fine bird chooses its tree. The brothers in the gang will follow whom they choose—that is not for the young master Ji to decide."

Zhao Changhe said, "Then let me ask."

Yan Lianping said, "As you wish."

Zhao Changhe leaned out to look at the Xingyi Gang members below. "Gentlemen, the old gang leader was murdered. No matter how you look at it, those who walk the jianghu must still uphold loyalty, right?"

The people exchanged glances. Of course, loyalty was necessary. Yan Lianping had also used the pretext of "avenging Ji Yinan and capturing Han Wubing" to smoothly absorb most of the gang members. Though in truth it was merely a matter of birds choosing their tree, this was the ostensible reason, and it had to be maintained.

Then someone said, "This... Master Situ, the gang leader was killed by Han Wubing. Only President Yan can lead us in revenge."

Zhao Changhe said, "But the old gang leader was not killed by Han Wubing at all."

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

This was just an excuse. To most people, whether Han Wubing was the killer or not didn't really matter, though some did care. But what use was it to just say it with empty words?

Yan Lianping laughed heartily. "This... Young Master Ji or Young Master Situ? If the sword wound on Gang Leader Ji wasn't from Han Wubing, then who else? You're not going to say it was me, are you? As everyone knows, I use the Yanhui Twin Blades, which have nothing to do with swords."

Zhao Changhe said slowly, "I use a blade, but I can also wield a sword if needed, especially when the opponent is much weaker."

Yan Lianping smiled. "Ji Yinan was not much weaker than me."

Zhao Changhe gave him a strange look. "I didn't say it was you. Why does President Yan keep identifying himself with that?"

Yan Lianping's expression did not change. He shook his head. "Your implication is clearly to frame me. But unfortunately, your empty words mean nothing."

Zhao Changhe said, "Wrong. From beginning to end, I was not talking about you. Because the one who killed Ji Yinan was a barbarian."

Before his words faded, someone rushed in to report: "Bad news, bad news! Han Wubing has stormed into the Ji residence with his sword, taken Lady Ji hostage, and demands that Mad Lion He Lei come out and die!"