Qing River Cargo Gang, Yanzi Dock, Peach Blossom Pavilion.
The banquet lost its host, yet the crowd was not perturbed and continued to chat, defining their small circles, then left separately.
Li Xuan naturally joined a small circle, unsurprisingly with Cao Wen, Cao Yi, and several young ladies and gentlen from the upper families of the Hundred Flowers Mansion.
However, after joining this small circle, he distinctly felt a sense of "alienation" between these noble youths, which was far from the harmony shown in conversations and banquets.
A young gentleman watched the departing group until they were far away, then snorted coldly: "Having troops in hand, but they’re still imperial troops, what’s so remarkable?"
These days, Li Xuan often road around the Hundred Flowers Mansion, naturally knowing that the leader among them was "the son of the general who commands the mansion’s troops—Yuan Chaojin."
Apparently, the general and the prefect of the Hundred Flowers Mansion were only "superficially harmonious."
Moreover, Li Xuan noticed a very small group forming another circle.
It was led by a girl of extraordinary deanor; he did not know her identity, only vaguely heard people call her "Bhikkhuni."
After asking Cao Wen, Cao Wen lowered his voice and said, "Jingzhu Bhikkhuni, a nun with hair, from Xinci Temple in the state city, manages a small nunnery here and oversees the incense offerings, said to be sent by Xinci Temple for local training."
Li Xuan nodded slightly.
From half a day of observation, he could see the tip of the Hundred Flowers Mansion’s power iceberg.
Among the young ladies and gentlen who ca to Yanzi Dock for the poetry gathering today, many were purely "accompanying guests," of no particular importance, invited to fill numbers.
As for why?
Obviously to ease the "sense of confrontation between circles," and to absorb "mbers on the fringe of circles."
Among these young ladies and gentlen, more than half did not even understand their own position, completely imrsed in "a surface atmosphere of joyful harmony."
Removing these "accompanying guests" leaves bare the three "balanced forces" reflected in the "young generation’s" circles.
The first one, led by the Hundred Flowers Mansion’s Prefect Cao Shuda, includes the mysterious Mr. Su, as well as Qing River Cargo Gang;
The second, led by the Hundred Flowers Mansion’s General Yuan;
The third, led by "Xinci Temple’s" Jingzhu Bhikkhuni from the state city.
Among them, Jingzhu Bhikkhuni seed sowhat out of place, and there seed to be considerable conflict between the prefect and the general, as evidenced by the "general’s son" Yuan Chaojin’s occasional cold stares at the banquet.
Li Xuan thought privately: County towns are dominated by small families, intermarrying and thus acting as local powers; whereas this mansion city clearly reflects power structures from top to bottom.
However, he doesn’t plan to participate in any specific confrontation.
After all, he’s rely a young prodigy studying diligently, seeking top grades.
So even as many young ladies and gentlen criticized the arrogance of the General’s Mansion, Li Xuan remained silent.
The crowd moved to the doors, each boarding their respective carriages.
Cao Yi stared at Li Xuan but didn’t imdiately board the carriage. Instead, she ran over, stood on tiptoe, and said with expectant eyes: "Brother Xuan, I have a small gathering in a few days, with fewer guests, not as chaotic as today, would you like to co?"
Cao Yi asked, while Cao Wen seed not to hear and got straight into the carriage.
Li Xuan looked at the prefect’s daughter before him, her face beautiful, skin smooth as if bathed in milk.
However, being the prefect’s daughter and a core figure of the small circle, her thoughts were clearly not as pure as her appearance suggested.
But so what?
He said with a smile: "I will definitely co to Sister Yi’s gathering."
Cao Yi’s eyes sparkled, and she softly said: "Can you co alone?"
Li Xuan replied with a smile: "Sure."
Cao Yi gleefully turned and left, her steps becoming a bit lighter.
She glanced at Cao Wen once aboard, still with residual joy in her eyes.
Cao Wen laughed.
The gathering today had other intentions, but one was certainly to see if "Li Xuan, as his father’s protégé," would choose to take a side.
And Li Xuan’s performance was quite satisfactory, and he would honestly report today’s events to his father.
Previously, his father was sowhat concerned that Li Xuan might not be influential enough, but today... a master skilled in Secret Martial Arts appeared around Li Xuan, which makes him suitable to be the Cao family’s son-in-law.
Of course, everything still depended on the progress between Li Xuan and Cao Yi.
...
...
On the other side, Li Xuan also got on the carriage.
The Cargo Gang intended to send soone to escort him, but he requested a carriage under the pretense of wandering, with Wei Yao driving.
Inside, his second brother glared at him angrily and said irritably: "What kind of sage books have you been reading! Bullies and evildoers, wanton murders, the Lin family still allows it! Everyone just laughs along!
What kind of rationale is this?
Is there still justice?
Is there still law!"
Li Xuan said: "Weren’t you the one eating all the ti? How did you even notice that?"
The second brother snapped: "That’s right, I was eating, but I felt uneasy, because I’ve never seen so many people, and the key is I can’t blend in with them.
But my mind is listening and thinking.
I think brother shouldn’t be with those people..."
He gritted his teeth, fiercely said: "In cahoots!"
Li Xuan looked at this naive silly brother, not angry, but ruffled his hair, then stretched his legs, relaxedly leaned back comfortably, and said: "Brother thinks you’re quite right, but... brother won’t act like you said."
The second brother was taken aback by Li Xuan’s response, wanting to say sothing yet biting his lip, remained silent, leaning by the window and gazing outside in a daze.
In his little head, "words of the sages" and "today’s sights and sounds" were stirred into a strong reaction.
On this day, he may have really grown a bit.
Li Xuan shouted outside: "To Red Stone Dock."
Red Stone Dock, managed by Zuo Hong.
Previously, Zuo Hong invited him and ntioned cultivation techniques, so naturally he wanted to go.
From the driver’s seat, Wei Yao replied: "Yes."
...
...
The carriage disappeared into the distance, while at Li Xuan’s previous banquet, Yao Xiaoxiao darted out, hiding among the shadows under the trees.
She was in a sorry state, yet gratitude still lingered in her eyes.
She took one last deep look at the path where the carriage had vanished, retracted her gaze, then closed her eyes, gripping the hilt with such force, it seed the blade would shatter.
A difficult-to-express anger and killing intent quietly burned within her heart.
’Today, I am but a perforr on stage.
One day... I will kill all the spectators.’
The girl who once knew only laughter and heroism swept her gaze over this water dock, and deep within her eyes, she buried a seed of desire, a craving for strength and power.
She Straightened her clothes, swiftly departed, and began searching for her true husband.
Though Lin Jianfeng was the eldest son of the Lin family, his apparent inheritance rights had not changed.
...
...
The carriage rolled into Red Stone Dock.
This water fortress was completely different from the previous Yanzi Dock, as if moving from a "tourist attraction" to a "bandit’s nest."
The master in red was watching laborers move sacks, pondering whether the young man would actually keep the appointnt today.
While thinking, soone ca to report that Li Xuan requested an audience.
Zuo Hong smiled and said, "Bring him to Yicui Hall."
Yicui Hall was the place where Red Stone Dock entertained distinguished guests.
Zuo Hong’s words were enough for the disciple to understand.
A mont later, Li Xuan walked directly toward it.
This ti, his second brother didn’t follow.
The second brother, after all, was not a martial artist and already very fatigued from travel.
Li Xuan had Wei Yao stay in the carriage to keep him company, while he entered the fortress.
Led by the water fortress disciples, Li Xuan arrived at Yicui Hall.
Zuo Hong had already prepared fragrant tea, waiting for him with a smile.
As soon as Li Xuan entered the hall, he called out, "Sister Zuo!"
There were still water fortress disciples present on either side of the hall.
Zuo Hong smiled even more warmly, but then waved her hand, signaling for the disciples to leave, and said, "We’ll chat for a while as siblings. Prepare the dinner banquet, using over ten pounds of the fresh iced carp caught today from Qing River."
The water fortress disciples respectfully agreed and left.
Only Li Xuan and Zuo Hong remained in Yicui Hall.
Zuo Hong, though the owner of Red Stone Dock, was only one of the twelve masters of the chain fortress. Although she associated with prominent figures, there were few whom she could genuinely befriend.
The Lin family’s twelve linked fortresses and Baisheng Comrce Association were, in fact, subordinate forces to Prefect Cao.
As for her, she was rely a subordinate of Prefect Cao’s subordinates. Despite having capabilities, it was extrely difficult to rise above her position.
To elevate herself, she not only had to select a patron from among the great figures but also serve wholeheartedly and possibly offer her own body, humiliatingly serving like a female slave, which might provide a slim chance.
However, the risk was imnse, and such a choice could be made only once.
Unless absolutely necessary, Zuo Hong was reluctant to use her body as a bargaining chip or beco soone’s female slave.
Thinking of that, her eyes sparkled, and she beckoned, calling out: "Brother Xuan, would you be offended by my presumptuous way of addressing you?"
Li Xuan laughed: "eting Sister Zuo felt like eting a real sister, why would I be unhappy?"
Zuo Hong was overjoyed internally but said, "I rely chauffeured you once, how could that result in such a bond?"
Li Xuan said, "I have a big sister who has taken care of since childhood, and Sister Zuo resembles her quite a bit, hence the closeness in my heart."
Zuo Hong laughed heartily: "Then I must host a banquet for your big sister soday."
Li Xuan said darkly: "She returned ho to visit last winter but went missing on the way, suspected to be attacked by demons, neither alive nor dead..."
Zuo Hong: ...
Li Xuan raised his head sincerely: "So, I truly see Sister Zuo as a sister."
Zuo Hong was silent for a mont, then said: "If you truly consider a sister, I will treat you sincerely."
After saying this, she continued, "Regarding those cultivation techniques, I consulted Gang Leader Lin. Indeed, the library of the ferry gang has two grandmaster-level techniques, and he allowed to decide whether to let you see them.
As an elder sister, there’s no reason to hinder a younger brother. After the al, I’ll take you there.
However, Gang Leader Lin said they could only be viewed in the library, but not taken away... I truly apologize for that, Brother Xuan."
Li Xuan laughed: "Not at all, I must thank you, Sister Zuo."
...
Later...
Wei Yao had earlier sent the second brother back to Yulan Hall, then drove the carriage to the woods outside the ferry gang’s headquarters, holding a spear and waiting in silence for Li Xuan.
After the dinner banquet, Li Xuan took Zuo Hong’s carriage to the ferry gang’s headquarters and entered the library.
...
...
At a secret chamber in Hundred Flowers Mansion,
An old man with graying hair was holding a scalpel, staring coldly at the huge corpse of a leopard.
On the leopard’s hide were patterns resembling clouds and mist, but the body had decayed severely.
The strong, pungent odor of decay perated the chamber.
Fixating on the leopard corpse, the old man suddenly roared in anger: "Gone! Why is this demon’s blood gone!"
Suddenly, there was a knock on the chamber door.
The old man frowned, put away the scalpel, went to the door, and activated a chanism, revealing a small window leading outside.
"What is it?"
"Mr. Su, Lin Jieniu has left the city."
"Why did he leave the city?"
"Today’s banquet at Yanzi Dock, Lin Jieniu disguised himself as Lin Jianfeng; after losing track of his sister-in-law, he abruptly left the city."
The old man paused in silence, then said: "Take my token, send so people, and bring him back."
"Yes, sir."
The person outside complied respectfully, and then left.
The old man gently closed the small window and sat back at the small table within the secret chamber.
On the table lay two executive orders on silk paper for "Xiongshan County Magistrate, County Captain."
However, these orders only had seals and official titles, while the nas and content were still blank.
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