Chapter 309: A Dialogue Across Space with the Pavilion Master! (Thanks to Alliance Leader Xia Mumu

Chapter 309: A Conversation Across the Distance with the Host! (Thanks to Master Xiu Mu of the Summer Maple Alliance for the donation)

Could it be Xing Ling?

His appearance was indeed that of Xing Ling, yet his demeanor was vastly different from before.

He wore a robe of deep black, his feet shod in black boots embroidered with purple dragons, a long saber hung at his waist, its hilt and scabbard crafted with elegant antiquity.

His hair was neatly tied in a topknot, a headband across his brow, his face meticulously groomed, and his eyes—slightly smiling yet exuding a predatory intensity.

—The White Tiger Guard, the Golden Flag Officer, displayed his authority unmistakably.

Chen Yi remained calm, observing him with a steady gaze, while some murmurs reached his ears.

It sounded as if Yu Xue Snow was muttering something about how someone might have discovered it.

Clearly, Xing Ling had not come here by chance.

Chen Yi thought to himself, tugged at his cloak, revealing his handsome face, "White Tiger Guard Xing Ling? Thunderous indeed."

Xing Ling smiled, his features illuminated by the flickering lanterns hanging from the ceiling, "The 'Dragon and Tiger' Host, you jest."

"I am but a nameless soul who serves the throne, far beneath your noble rank."

He paused, bowing his hands, one pointing to the right, "I know you've come for matters of negotiation; would it not be better to discuss them in the study?"

Chen Yi met his gaze unchanging, slightly nodding: "With respect, I shall obey."

The study was not where Yu Xue Snow was located.

It seemed Xing Ling had indeed waited here for him, for there were words to be spoken.

Chen Yi understood this fully, yet followed him anyway.

After all, his own purpose in visiting the Spring Rain Tower was also to see the White Tiger Guard, to determine which of the Golden and Silver Flag Officers held greater authority—he could still discern that much.

Inside the study, no windows adorned the walls, only the glow of candles.

A blackwood table stood at the center, two thrones facing each other.

The table bore a pristine tea cloth, two cups of tea steaming, their broth clear and bright.

Chen Yi glanced around, a slight smile touching his lips, "He has prepared this."

Xing Ling had merely guessed he would come, yet could not have known the exact moment.

The two cups of tea had been brewed long ago, replaced every minute, fresh water poured each time.

Prepared with care, or rather, with sincerity.

"The 'Dragon and Tiger' Host graces us with his presence; I ought to show proper hospitality."

Xing Ling settled into the deeper chair, smiling as he beckoned: "Please, sit."

Chen Yi courteously took his seat opposite him, his hands naturally resting on the table, calmly waiting for him to continue.

Xing Ling's treatment—banishing attendants, refilling tea—surely meant his request was significant.

Chen Yi could not help but be curious.

Xing Ling's smile softened slightly, lifting his cup to his lips with a single "Please."

Chen Yi took a sip without endorsement, setting the cup down, saying nothing.

Xing Ling, seeing this, smiled and shook his head: "The 'Dragon and Tiger' Host, truly one who stirs the winds of Shu Zhou these days."

"Your steadfastness alone makes me deeply humbled."

This time, he did not wait for Chen Yi to speak, setting down his cup: "Moreover, I must first apologize to you."

"Oh?" Chen Yi was somewhat surprised.

Xing Ling smiled: "When you 'slaughtered' Lü Jiunan in Black Fish Alley, I was outside the western market, out of curiosity, and followed you."

Chen Yi nodded knowingly: "A natural human inclination."

Xing Ling shook his head: "Had it not been so, I would not have been scolded by the Host."

It was not entirely unjust.

On that occasion, following the trail of "Liu Wu" to Kangning Street, he had happened upon Liu Zhao Xue, assuming "Liu Wu" was one of the Liu family members.

For this, he had even written a letter back to the White Tiger Guard.

He had presumed the Host would give him instructions on resolving matters concerning the Liu family in Jingzhou.

To his surprise, the Host's recent reply not only failed to provide guidance but also contained sharp words:

[Fool! "Liu Wu" is from the Xiao family!]

There was clearly some resentment in his words.

Fortunately, a few more sentences followed, easing Xing Ling's panic and shame.

Otherwise, this Golden Flag Officer might have ended up in serious trouble.

Chen Yi, unaware of these details, asked: "The Host of the White Tiger Guard... scolded you?"

Knowing full well what he meant.

The mysterious Host of the White Tiger Guard had scolded Xing Ling, likely due to a misjudgment or some misdeed.

Combining this with the earlier words, Chen Yi deduced that Xing Ling must have believed the Host was a member of the Liu family and reported this back to the White Tiger Guard.

At the same time, he harbored a deeper suspicion—the Host of the White Tiger Guard was certain he was not part of the Liu family.

Or perhaps that Host knew his true identity?

Impossible!

The only people who knew his identity were Pei Wen, Luo Wan'er, Wang Ji, Zhang Daobao, and Yan Hai—five individuals.

Beyond them, only the legendary White Da Xian had ever recognized his martial prowess and true face at a glance.

Others, even those close to him like Liu Rong, remained unaware he was Xiao Shao's son-in-law.

How could the Host of the White Tiger Guard, who was not even in Shu Zhou, know his identity?

Chen Yi recalled past instances where his identity might have been revealed.

The executions of Liu Jing, the gun strike against Ye Fu Sha, and the previous slaying of Du Cang...

The only time he had shown his face or revealed his true form was...

Ye Fu Sha...

Who was it?

Xing Ling, unaware that his offhand remark would lead Chen Yi to such deductions, smiled cheerfully: "Indeed, the 'Dragon and Tiger' Host, truly one with such extraordinary abilities—he must be able to know all affairs of the world without even leaving his home."

Chen Yi suppressed his doubts, asking: "Does this concern me?"

"Of course it does."

"The Host of the White Tiger Guard ordered me to invite you to join the White Tiger Guard."

When he said this, Xing Ling shook his head: "Yet I suppose the 'Dragon and Tiger' Host would not agree."

"Just as you once refused the She-Tiger—how could one such as you, a prodigy of destiny, bow to another?"

Chen Yi regarded him without answering, his gaze neither accepting nor rejecting: “If we don’t try, how can we know?”

“Try?”

Jiang Xing lifted the tea cup to his lips, sipped, and then looked at him: “Your lordship is clever. I dare not offend you in your presence.”

Whether it was the matter of the three towns and summer grain, or the recent events in Shuzhou, all of it showed that this “Liu Wu” was nearly a demon in his intellect.

In some ways, Jiang Xing’s wariness of his schemes far exceeded his martial prowess and cultivation.

Yet Jiang Xing had determined that Chen Yi would never join the White Tiger Guard, for the lord’s letter had stated:

[“Liu Wu is a demon born of the abyss. These officials of Shuzhou cannot even catch his eye. We shall temporarily set aside the matter of inviting him to join the White Tiger Guard.”]

Though Jiang Xing did not agree, after this latest probing, he had indeed seen nothing unusual in Chen Yi’s demeanor.

Not even if he invoked the lord’s name.

This demon was no ordinary man to be swayed by such tricks.

“This time I’ve come to wait, aside from meeting your lordship, there is one matter I seek to discuss.”

Seeing Jiang Xing’s tact, Chen Yi would not refuse someone so far away. “Speak, and we shall listen.”

“Your lordship has been able to wander through Shuzhou, and have also dealt with Liu Wen, Lü Nine Nan, and Du Cang. You must know the situation here rather well.”

“A little heard of it.”

“Then you should also be familiar with the affairs of the Jizhou merchants, their greedy nature, and their collusion with the imperial governor’s deputy, Zhu Hao.”

Zhu Hao?

Chen Yi’s eyes flickered as he gestured around to the Jizhou merchants and Zhu Hao, furrowing his brow.

The news of Zhu Hao’s collusion with the Jizhou merchants had been passed to him, and the connections were clear enough. Yet how was this his concern?

That Zhu Hao was in Guangyuan—he was too far to intervene.

And besides, he had already dealt with the poisonous snake of the Jizhou merchants. Such high officials should be handled by the senior ministers of the court.

Jiang Xing seemed to sense his confusion. “Your lordship, do not hurry.”

“The matter I seek has to do with them, but the purpose is not theirs—it is another person.”

The words fell silent. Jiang Xing spoke with gravity: “This matter concerns the White Tiger Guard’s plans in Shuzhou, which have been under way for years.”

“Please, after hearing this today, do not disclose a single detail to anyone.”

In truth, he would never have allowed an outsider to meddle in his affairs. But the lord’s command weighed upon him, and he could not disobey.

Seeing him speak with such solemnity, Chen Yi lifted his tea cup again, took a sip, and after a moment of thought, set it down.

“Then you, free yourself from the formalities.”

“Not yet.”

He had no interest in sacrificing himself for the White Tiger Guard. Even out of curiosity about the lord, he did not wish to get involved.

What difference was there, really, between this and him joining the White Tiger Guard?

To his surprise, Jiang Xing’s frown lifted into a broad smile: “Your lordship is a master of strategy, anticipating your refusal.”

Chen Yi’s eyes shifted slightly, coolly: “Your lordship knew you would refuse. Why then did he order you to do this?”

“I do not know.”

After a pause, Jiang Xing continued: “I obey your lordship’s command. Please excuse any transgression.”

“Yet your lordship said, if you knew who the target of this endeavor was, you would find it interesting.”

Chen Yi pondered, then spoke: “Say.”

“Chen Yunfan!”

“Chen… Yunfan?”

Chen Yi had expected to hear his own name from Jiang Xing, but instead, it was his brother—Chen Yunfan.

This was indeed beyond his expectations. It also piqued his interest.

Yet, in that moment, his wariness of the White Tiger Guard’s lord grew even greater.

Like a shadowy cloud hovering over his head, it seemed to peer into every aspect of his being—his identity, his talents, his cultivation, his background, and all his thoughts.

Jiang Xing had been watching him all along, noticing the subtle shifts in his expression. His reverence for the lord was like an endless river, flowing ceaselessly. Even if this “Liu Wu” was mysterious, with unparalleled talents, he could not escape the lord’s grasp.

Still, Jiang Xing harbored a lingering doubt. How could this “Liu Wu,” being from the Xiao family, care for Chen Yunfan?

After all, within the Xiao family, only one person was connected to Chen Yunfan—Xiao’s son-in-law, the “Sparrow” of the White Tiger Guard, Chen Yi.

Was “Liu Wu” somehow connected to Chen Yi?

Or perhaps they…

Jiang Xing scrutinized “Liu Wu” with meticulous care, dismissing his own suspicions.

The two bore no resemblance in appearance, aura, cultivation, or talent. Moreover, one excelled in poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting, while the other mastered both martial and medical arts.

If these two were one person, could the term “demon” even suffice?

At the very least, he would need to add “peerless” before it—or simply “the most gifted person in history.”

Jiang Xing clearly did not believe it. For countless millennia, such a person had never existed.

So he leaned more toward the idea that “Liu Wu” was connected to the “Sparrow.”

Thus, “Liu Wu” would have come to rescue the “Sparrow” that night under the full moon, outside the manor, with Liu Lang.

He had heard Luo Feng mention this before.

Silence stretched long.

Chen Yi knocked his palm against the table, and for the first time, his face broke into a smile: “Jiang Xing, your lordship, speak plainly—what is it that requires Liu’s intervention?”

The matter involved Chen Yunfan. Regardless of how wary he was of the White Tiger Guard’s lord, he would give it a try.

He wanted to see what the White Tiger Guard intended to do.

Jiang Xing, upon hearing this, clapped his hands and said: “Your lordship, speak quickly, and I shall be impressed.”

“The matter is rather simple…”

After hearing him out, Chen Yi’s eyes flickered with something strange: “Just like that?”

Jiang Xing nodded with a smile: “Just that.”

“Your lordship need only deliver the evidence concerning Zhu Hao to Chen Changzhi, the prime minister, on behalf of the White Tiger Guard.”

"Why don’t you do it yourselves?"

"My lord is unaware, for the previous incidents have left Chen Chengzhi deeply suspicious of my White Tiger Guard."

"If we intervene, it will only cause him offense."

"Then I may go?"

"At least my lord’s recent actions in Shu Zhou have reached Chen Chengzhi’s ears. He will likely assume you came in service to the Xiao family."

As Jiang Xing lifted the teapot, pouring tea for both of them, he continued:

"My lord can rest assured."

"Chen Chengzhi is not only the Xiao family’s eldest son in Jiangnan, but also the meritorious scholar chosen by the Emperor himself. Even if we resort to any means, we cannot harm him."

"This mission to your lord’s presence is truly a matter of necessity."

"After all, Chen Chengzhi… he does not seek power in the court."

Chen Yì heard this and said nothing, staring at him for a moment before slowly nodding, "Very well."

He understood.

The head of the White Tiger Guard intended, through the Xiao family, through Chen Yì and Chen Yunfan, to use this outsider "Liu Five" to deliver a favor to Chen Yunfan.

It seemed a tangled path.

Yet Chen Yì was certain the White Tiger Guard had long harbored designs on both him and Chen Yunfan.

He was but a fledgling, while Chen Yunfan—what was he? A soaring kalpavriksha, ascending nine tens of thousands of feet?

Still, there was one thing Chen Yì believed with certainty: Chen Yunfan did not seek power in Shu Zhou, nor in officialdom.

He also believed Chen Yunfan would not hold the White Tiger Guard in contempt.

How could someone who constantly flatters the Emperor ever follow the White Tiger Guard’s orders?

A bit of idle chat.

Jiang Xing did not wait for Chen Yì to rise. Instead, he withdrew two items from his sleeve and placed them on the table.

"The one on the left is the secret letter you once entrusted to the Female Tiger, along with the evidence I gathered in Shu Zhou regarding Zhuao Tong’s treason."

"The one on the right…"

Jiang Xing slapped it emphatically, his voice laced with meaning: "This is the silver money rightfully earned by your design of the Ji Zhou Trading Company."

Chen Yì glanced at him, then at the two items covered with silk cloths on the table. "Did Luo Yuxue tell you?"

"Or else."

"The Female Tiger holds you in high regard. She would not wish to reveal her collaboration with you."

"Lady Fenghuang?"

Jiang Xing shook his head again. "They said nothing. Only upon receiving your lord’s command did they investigate their recent activities."

"This silver was prepared by the Female Tiger long ago. I merely borrowed it to offer incense."

When he spoke these words, a sly smile touched Jiang Xing’s lips as he regarded Chen Yì:

"Do you know, originally Lady Fenghuang intended to split this silver with the Female Tiger alone?"

"But the Female Tiger could not bear it, so she deliberately set aside ten million taels of silver for you."

Chen Yì looked at him, his finger trembling slightly on the table, his spiritual energy flowing into his grasp, holding both items.

Then he lifted the cloths one by one.

A stack of evidence.

Silver… two million taels?

Jiang Xing did not wait for him to speak, smiling as he explained: "The other million taels is the fee for your journey here."

Chen Yì nodded, pocketed the items, drank the remaining tea, and rose:

"Tell the Female Tiger to thank her."

Jiang Xing hesitated. "You don’t even wish to see her?"

Chen Yì turned and walked away. "The purpose of this visit has been fulfilled. Whether or not to meet her is inconsequential."

He understood Jiang Xing’s meaning.

Naturally, he grasped Luo Yuxue’s intent.

Yet his heart was small, unable to hold more than a few people.

And this matter between him and Luo Yuxue—how could he permit an outsider to meddle?

As for his purpose in coming here—to secure the silver and prevent Liu Hong and Zhuao Tong from panicking—had already been achieved.

The door to the quiet chamber slid open and shut with soft clicks.

Jiang Xing opened his mouth, then wore a bitter smile: "I’ve only caused trouble by trying to help."

"Ah, my lord, you are wise indeed. This military official of mine has never quite penetrated your thoughts."

His actions had been tinged with private motives.

After all, Luo Yuxue was the White Tiger Guard’s spy, soon to rise as a key military official.

If she could unite with "Dragon Tiger," it would bring benefit without harm to the White Tiger Guard.

Even if "Dragon Tiger" did not join the White Tiger Guard, should Luo Yuxue ever face danger, he would stand by him.

But this trick seemed to have been seen through by "Dragon Tiger."

"Hope the Female Tiger doesn’t blame me for this."

"Yes, she’d better not know… I don’t want another military official opposing me."

Jiang Xing sighed, shaking his head, then retrieved a sealed letter, reading it carefully.

On it were written:

[If he refuses, you may use "Chen Yunfan" as bait.]

[If he still refuses, then this person cannot be used. I authorize you to employ all means, kill him!]

Jiang Xing stared at the final words, his face etched with regret.

"My lord, you speak as if it’s simple, but 'Liu Five' is capable of defeating even three-grade officials!"

"Or the 'wolf dog' Du Cang…"

The shadow of the man’s legacy.

Jiang Xing admitted that his clash with Du Cang was but a fleeting moment—life and death hung in the balance, and who would win or lose was uncertain.

Adding to that, that night, "Liu Five" not only slew Du Cang but also returned Xiao Wan’er, whole and whole, to the Xiao family.

Combined with these, Jiang Xing felt he was no match.

Even if he spared no effort to kill “Liu Five,” it would still require all his might. Fortunately, “Liu Five” agreed to it.

Zhang Xing thought it over and made his way to the quiet chamber where Lou Yu Xue was, seeing the man who had been trying to keep a stiff upper lip, Zhang Xing smiled: “The ‘Dragon and Tiger’ is quite satisfied. Take the money and leave.”

Lou Yu Xue felt a great relief, his face remaining composed as he said, “All matters are up to the Patriarch…”

…

Kyoto Prefecture.

In mid-September, the northern regions were noticeably colder than the southern Shu Zhou. A fine drizzle fell, each tiled roof cloaked in a dark hue. Only the imperial city stood out, with its red-tiled roofs and golden pillars, carved beams and painted rafters, grand and majestic. Even in the dreary weather, it still gleamed with brilliance.

At this moment, in a study deep within the palace.

Smoke curled from the incense burner, the scent of aged sandalwood filling the air. By the wall, a coal fire burned in the furnace, smokeless, radiating warmth. Seated at the chessboard was Chen Xuan Ji, wearing a pale mask, his hand gripping a black stone without placing it. Across from him sat a middle-aged man in dark robes, a dragon crown on his head, face pale and eyes bright, mustache twitching as he smiled: “Xuan Ji, the black stone concedes defeat.”

Chen Xuan Ji startled, then placed his stone on the board: “Your Majesty, you declare victory too soon.”

The man glanced at the board, his smile softening, shaking his head: “Every time it’s like this, Xuan Ji. Your skill must be nearing the sacred realm soon?”

“Not long now.”

“Heh, hurry up and break through, I’m waiting for you to decide whether to strike south or north.”

“Your Majesty, at ease. Within five years, I’ll ensure your blade falls where it should!”

Chen Xuan Ji glanced toward the south, his expression calm.

A small boat, let father see—how will you choose?

(End of chapter)