Chapter 7: Relentless Pursuit

Lu Xiaofeng didn’t want to ride in a carriage, but now here he was, sitting in one anyway. As long as a person is alive, he will inevitably have to do things he doesn’t want to do.

“You must try to sleep in the carriage. When you find Grandmother Gongsun, you’ll need your strength to deal with her.”

Lu Xiaofeng knew Jin Jiuling was right, but how could he sleep now?

“The young prince admires Hua Manlou greatly and has insisted he stay a few days. With him at the prince’s residence, I’m completely at ease.”

Lu Xiaofeng wasn’t worried about the prince’s residence anymore, nor was he worried about Snake King. Now the only person he should worry about was himself. No matter how strong a person is, if subjected to this kind of terrible pressure, he might go mad.

The carriage moved urgently, jolting along the road. He tried desperately to concentrate his thoughts. He had many things he needed to focus on. But even his heart felt as if it had been cut into pieces.

At dawn, the carriage stopped in front of a tofu shop in a small village. The morning breeze was filled with the fragrance of hot soy milk.

“Even if you can’t eat, you must drink some hot soy milk.”

Although Lu Xiaofeng didn’t want to waste time, he also didn’t want to disappoint his friend’s good intentions. Besides, the driver and the horses pulling the carriage needed rest too.

The tofu shop still had a dim lamp lit. A person was crouching in the corner, holding a bowl of hot soy milk, slurping it down. The light shone on his head, and his head was also shining. This person was a monk. This monk actually had a square face and large ears, very fortunate-looking, but his clothes were dirty and torn, and the straw sandals on his feet were nearly worn through. Honest Monk.

Seeing the strangest monk in the world, Lu Xiaofeng finally smiled. “Honest Monk, have you been doing any dishonest things lately?”

Honest Monk seemed startled when he saw him, even spilling the soy milk in his bowl.

Lu Xiaofeng laughed loudly. “Looking at you, I know you must have been dishonest again last night. Otherwise, why would you feel guilty seeing me?”

Honest Monk made a bitter face. “The dishonest monk—I’ve only done it once in my life. Buddha is merciful, so why must I always run into you?”

Lu Xiaofeng smiled. “What’s wrong with running into me? At least I can pay for your bowl of soy milk!”

Honest Monk said, “Monks don’t need to pay for soy milk. Monks beg for it.” He hastily drank the last mouthful of soy milk in his bowl, apparently preparing to slip away.

But Lu Xiaofeng stopped him: “Even if you don’t need me to pay, you might as well chat with me. Ouyang Qing isn’t waiting for you, so why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

Honest Monk smiled bitterly. “When a scholar meets soldiers, reason cannot be explained. When a monk meets Lu Xiaofeng, it’s even worse than a scholar meeting soldiers. After chatting back and forth, the monk is always the one who suffers!”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “What suffering does the monk have?”

Honest Monk said, “If the monk didn’t suffer, why would I have been crawling on the ground last time?”

Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t help laughing again. “Today I promise I won’t make you crawl!”

Honest Monk sighed. “Not crawling might be even more unfortunate. The monk is only afraid of two people in this life, so why must I run into you again today!”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Who’s the other one?”

Honest Monk said, “Even if I tell you, you definitely won’t know!”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Try me!”

Honest Monk hesitated, then finally said, “This person is a woman!”

Lu Xiaofeng smiled. “The monk certainly knows quite a few women!”

Honest Monk said, “There are also quite a few women who know the monk.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Is this woman Ouyang…?”

Honest Monk said, “Not Ouyang. It’s Gongsun!”

“Gongsun?” Lu Xiaofeng nearly cried out. “Is it Grandmother Gongsun?”

Honest Monk was also startled. “How do you know it’s her? Do you know her too?”

Lu Xiaofeng cried out, “You know her? Do you know where she is?”

Honest Monk said, “Why do you ask?”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Because I want to settle accounts with her!”

Honest Monk looked at him, then suddenly laughed so hard he bent over, and slipped away from beside Lu Xiaofeng. In one slip he was already four or five zhang away, and he was still laughing when he was four or five zhang out.

But this time Lu Xiaofeng was determined not to let him escape. His body flipped through the air, blocking his path again. “Why are you laughing?”

Honest Monk said, “When the monk finds something funny, the monk laughs. The monk has always been honest.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “What’s so funny about this?”

Honest Monk said, “Why must you break the pot to ask to the bottom?”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Even if I have to break the monk’s head, I’ll ask to the bottom!”

He spoke very seriously. Honest Monk could only sigh. “The monk’s head cannot be broken. The monk only has one head.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Then tell me, what’s so funny about this?”

Honest Monk said, “First, because you can’t find her at all. Second, because even if you find her, you can’t beat her. Third, because even if you could beat her, it would be useless.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Why?”

Honest Monk said, “Because as soon as you see her, you won’t have the heart to hit her. At that time, you might only hope she could hit you a few times!”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “She’s very beautiful?”

Honest Monk said, “There are four great beauties in the martial arts world. You seem to know them all?”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “I know them!”

Honest Monk said, “Do you think they’re beautiful?”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Beauties are naturally beautiful.”

Honest Monk said, “But this Grandmother Gongsun is ten times more beautiful than all four of them combined!”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “You’ve seen her?”

Honest Monk sighed and smiled bitterly. “Buddha is merciful. Please don’t let the monk see her again. Otherwise, even if the monk had ten heads, I’m afraid they’d all be broken.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Do you know where she is?”

Honest Monk said, “I don’t know.” When Honest Monk said he didn’t know, he didn’t know. Honest Monk never lied.

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Where did you see her last time?”

Honest Monk said, “I can’t tell you.” When Honest Monk said he couldn’t tell you, he couldn’t tell you. Even if you broke his head, it would be useless.

Lu Xiaofeng knew there was no way. He could only glare at him hatefully, then suddenly smiled. “Actually, the monk doesn’t only have one head!”

Honest Monk didn’t understand.

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Because the monk also has a little monk!” He laughed so hard he bent over. Honest Monk was already furious. He knew Lu Xiaofeng was deliberately provoking him, but he was still furious, nearly fainting from anger. Jin Jiuling, watching from the side, couldn’t help laughing too.

Honest Monk suddenly sighed. “The monk doesn’t lie. There’s another honest words I must tell you.”

Lu Xiaofeng barely suppressed his laughter. “Tell me.”

Honest Monk said, “Looking at you two, both of you have bad luck on your faces. Within three days, your heads will both be broken!”

---

Although Meng Wei also had only one head, he was called Three-Headed Snake. Among the nine great constables, he had always been the most ruthless, the most brutal with prisoners. Three-Headed Snake naturally also had three faces. Seeing Jin Jiuling, not only was his attitude respectful, his smile was also very pleasant. Even Lu Xiaofeng found it hard to imagine that such a person would often drag people into dark rooms to pour cold water on them and apply finger traps.

Because people like him still existed in this world, everyone should know that it’s better not to commit crimes in this life. The one who drove the carriage for Jin Jiuling was also one of Lu Shaohua’s constables. As soon as the carriage entered the city, local constables came to meet them and brought them here.

This was also a busy area—most people, when committing crimes, indeed have a habit that’s hard to change. So there are few unsolved cases in this world. Meng Wei was waiting for them at a teahouse on the street corner. Their target was a small house at the end of the alley behind it.

“The one who rented the house was also a very handsome young man. He paid a year’s rent in advance.”

“Have you heard any movement inside?”

“No. It’s said the house seems to have been empty all along.”

—Perhaps they arrived faster than Grandmother Gongsun. After killing Snake King, she inevitably had to delay some time, especially since she also had to bring Xue Bing, who was already injured.

So Jin Jiuling ordered, “Withdraw all your conspicuous brothers. Don’t let anyone discover there’s already a guard here!”

Meng Wei said, “Our movements have been very careful. All the brothers who came here have already been disguised.”

Jin Jiuling sneered. “What’s the use of disguising? Can’t others tell?”

Lu Xiaofeng could also see at a glance that the waiter in the teahouse, the fruit vendor across the alley, the fortune teller by the road, and seven or eight tea drinkers were all their people in disguise. After being in the public service for a long time, every move seemed a bit different from ordinary people. Especially the expressions on their faces couldn’t fool sharp-eyed observers.

Meng Wei said, “I’ll go tell them to leave.”

Under the eaves at the alley entrance, there was a bald beggar covered in sores, holding a broken clay bowl. When Meng Wei walked past, he actually still held out his bowl to beg for money, but got a kick instead.

In a moment, all the disguised constables had scattered. Meng Wei returned to report, “I’ve only left two people. If anything happens, they can run errands.”

One was the fruit vendor across the alley entrance. The fruit stand had obviously always been there, just with a different person, so it wouldn’t attract attention. Who was the other one?

Jin Jiuling looked at the bald man and said, “Song Hong has indeed been doing very well lately. Teach him more. In the future, he’ll also be a good hand.”

Lu Xiaofeng suddenly understood. This beggar covered in sores was also their man.

It wasn’t yet the hour of xu. In the seventh month, daytime was always relatively long. They didn’t need to light lamps in the house yet. The setting sun shone through the window, illuminating a room full of dust. This place had indeed been empty for a long time. The furnishings inside were also similar to those in the City of Rams.

The cabinet had eight or nine sets of various different clothes. On the table was a mirror, and beside it a small bed. Nothing special could be seen, and no special clues could be found. They seemed to have made a wasted trip.

Jin Jiuling paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Suddenly he straightened up and leaped onto the roof beam, then shook his head and jumped down.

But Meng Wei suddenly cheered in the kitchen, “It’s here!” When he ran out, he was holding a wooden box.

Jin Jiuling was overjoyed. “Where did you find this?”

“In the stove.” That was indeed a good place to hide things. Hiding things there obviously meant there was a secret.

Jin Jiuling was preparing to open it, but Lu Xiaofeng stopped him, “There might be a mechanism in the box!”

Jin Jiuling held the box with his fingers and smiled, “This box is very light. If it had springs and hidden weapons, it would definitely be heavier.”

He was naturally an extremely cautious person. Otherwise, he should have died dozens of times ten years ago. Lu Xiaofeng didn’t say anything more. Springs and hidden weapons would definitely be metal. The weight in hand would naturally be different. The box had no lock. Jin Jiuling opened the carved wooden lid. Suddenly, a light pink smoke shot out urgently. Jin Jiuling tried to hold his breath but it was too late. His body shot backward. “Bang!” He crashed into the cabinet and fell!

The box indeed had no springs or hidden weapons, but it had an air sac made of fish bladder. When the lid opened, the sharp needle on the lid pierced the air sac, and the compressed poison smoke inside immediately shot out. Jin Jiuling had calculated everything, but he hadn’t calculated this move.

His body fell to the ground, looking like an air sac that had suddenly been emptied. His whole body was soft, his face frighteningly pale, and blood was still flowing from his head. In his desperation, he had smashed his head into the cabinet, actually breaking a hole in his skull.

—You two both have bad luck on your faces. Within three days, your heads will both be broken.

Honest Monk had indeed spoken the honest truth. Lu Xiaofeng had already held his breath and swept out a palm force to disperse the poison smoke. Remembering Honest Monk’s words, he also felt a chill in his heart. Meng Wei had already darted out long ago. Only when the poison smoke was completely gone did he pinch his nose and walk in.

By this time, Lu Xiaofeng had already helped Jin Jiuling up, using true energy to protect his heart meridian, only hoping to save his life.

But Meng Wei picked up the box. He was actually much more concerned about the box than Jin Jiuling. But the box was empty, with nothing inside. He looked at it for a long time, then suddenly cheered again, “It’s here!”

The secret wasn’t in the box, but on the lid. If you looked carefully, you could see that the carved lid was actually carved with bronze script. Eight characters: “Leave for A Tu, he will return.”

The more obvious something is, the less others will notice it. Grandmother Gongsun indeed understood people’s psychology very well. Using this method to pass messages, who could imagine it? —She was notifying someone to give something to A Tu, because A Tu was about to return.

Who was the message for? What was to be left for A Tu? Who was A Tu? These questions still couldn’t be answered.

Meng Wei frowned, thinking deeply, muttering, “A Tu? Could it be that A Tu?”

Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t help asking, “You know an A Tu?”

Meng Wei said, “The leper who was begging at the alley entrance before—others all called him A Tu.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Where is he now?”

Meng Wei said, “To have Song Hong disguise himself as him and guard outside, I’ve already chased him away.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Go find him quickly.”

Meng Wei left immediately.

But Lu Xiaofeng said again, “Wait.”

Meng Wei waited.

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Does he know why you chased him away?”

Meng Wei shook his head, “I only said he’s not allowed to beg here anymore.” A constable chasing away a beggar didn’t need any reason at all.

Lu Xiaofeng said, “After you find him, notify me immediately. Don’t let him know.”

Meng Wei said, “Yes. As soon as I find him, I’ll come back immediately.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Don’t come back here. I’m taking Jin Jiuling to find Shi Jingmo now. When you have news, go to his place!”

Shi Jingmo was the most famous doctor here. Meng Wei naturally knew too.

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Also, hurry and have someone find some ash and sprinkle it where we touched. Sprinkle it evenly.”

Meng Wei said, “Yes.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Put this box back in its original place.”

Meng Wei said, “Yes.”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Song Hong must also leave here quickly. Have others guard at the alley entrance. It’s best to also leave someone in the neighboring courtyard. As soon as any suspicious movement is discovered, come tell me immediately!”

Meng Wei said, “Yes.” He stood there, looking at Lu Xiaofeng, as if there was something he wanted to say but held back.

But when he walked to the door, he finally couldn’t help turning back and smiling, “If Hero Lu also joined the Six Gates, people like us could only go home and hold children.”

Lu Xiaofeng was also very satisfied with himself. His handling of this matter was indeed very appropriate. Even if Jin Jiuling were still conscious, he couldn’t have handled it better. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a divine being. He also had things he couldn’t calculate. Shi Jingmo was actually not in.

This famous doctor always put on great airs and rarely went out to treat patients. But the master of Hua Yun Xuan was an exception.

Hua Yifan’s eye injury hadn’t completely healed yet, and he had also developed a kind of obsessive disorder. He was always muttering about the famous painting stolen from him that day. Why were rich people so unable to let go of these external things?

Was it precisely because they couldn’t let go that they had money?

Now there was no way to contact Meng Wei either. Lu Xiaofeng could only wait in the reception hall outside Shi’s house. Strangely, his mind had become particularly clear now. He suddenly thought of many things, thought of many things he had never thought about before.

Just then, Meng Wei sent news, “A Tu is at home.”

“Beggars also have homes?”

“Beggars are also people. Even dogs have dens, let alone people.”

But A Tu’s home could really only be called a den. It was an abandoned brick kiln, with holes punched in all four sides as windows. The weather was still hot now, so of course the broken wooden boards on the windows weren’t nailed up. Inside, there was actually a lamp lit.

“Is A Tu still there?”

“Yes. He also got a pot of wine from somewhere and is drinking by himself.”

“Has anyone come to look for him?”

“Not yet. But someone has already been over there.”

“What kind of person?”

“A young man, actually wearing a red-tasseled hat, dressed as a government messenger.”

Not long after finishing these words, a government messenger wearing a red-tasseled hat, carrying a yellow cloth bundle in his hand, swaggered up from below the slope. He looked around, then slipped into A Tu’s kiln. He naturally didn’t see Lu Xiaofeng and Meng Wei. They were both hiding in a large tree.

Meng Wei whispered, “Should we go in and catch him now?”

Lu Xiaofeng immediately shook his head, “The one we want to catch isn’t him.”

Meng Wei immediately understood, “You want to find the Embroidered Thief through him?”

Lu Xiaofeng said, “Mm.”

Meng Wei said, “The words left on the box said he was returning. You think he’s going back to Grandmother Gongsun?”

Lu Xiaofeng nodded, “That bundle is probably something someone wants to give to her. Now she’s probably already returned to her den!”

Even A Tu had a den, let alone Grandmother Gongsun. Meng Wei could only suppress his impatience and wait. He didn’t wait long before the government messenger with the red-tasseled hat swaggered out again, humming a little tune, walking down the hillside. He had already completed his mission and looked very relaxed.

After a while, the lamp inside was suddenly extinguished. A Tu walked out, also closing the door made of broken wooden boards. On his back were two broken hemp sacks. The yellow cloth bundle was obviously inside the sack.

Lu Xiaofeng said, “I’ll follow him. You go back and take care of your Chief Jin.”

Meng Wei said, “You going alone, I’m afraid—”

Lu Xiaofeng patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry. I won’t die!”

The moon was still very full. The moonlight illuminated the earth. The evening breeze already carried a trace of autumn. This was exactly good weather for traveling. Since A Tu wasn’t riding in a carriage or on horseback, he walked leisurely in front, not seeming anxious at all. Lu Xiaofeng could only suppress his impatience and follow slowly behind. Fortunately, it was already late at night and there were no other travelers on the main road. The two walked one after the other along the road. A Tu sometimes hummed little tunes, sometimes sang opera, walking slower and slower.

Lu Xiaofeng almost wished he could find a whip and give him a few lashes from behind. He didn’t know how long he’d walked. The stars had gradually thinned, the moon was about to set. A Tu not only hadn’t sped up, but had actually found a tree and sat down beneath it. He opened the hemp sack, took out half a roast goose and a pot of wine, and actually started eating and drinking by the roadside.

Lu Xiaofeng sighed and could only find a tree far away, climb up, and wait and watch. He suddenly realized his stomach was also extremely hungry. These past two days, he hadn’t properly eaten a single meal. Originally, he didn’t want to eat, couldn’t eat. Now he simply had nothing to eat.

A Tu was just tearing off a goose leg, taking a bite, drinking a mouthful of wine, then suddenly sighing and muttering, “Drinking alone is really boring. If only someone could come keep me company now, how good that would be.”

Lu Xiaofeng really wanted to go over and eat a meal with him, but could only stare dryly from the side. He barely waited until A Tu finished eating, wiped the oil from his hands on his pants, and continued forward. Lu Xiaofeng suddenly discovered that except for one leg, the half goose hadn’t been touched at all before being thrown on the ground. This beggar didn’t know how to be frugal at all.

He naturally wasn’t a real beggar. But Lu Xiaofeng was truly hungry, almost unable to resist picking up the half goose from the ground to fill his stomach.

But he could only endure. Thinking of A Tu’s body covered in sores, even if he was really about to starve to death, he could only starve to death.

Walking and walking, it was actually almost dawn. In the seventh month, nights were always relatively short. Suddenly, the sun rose, and there were gradually pedestrians on the road going to the morning market. A Tu suddenly started running wildly on the road. A stinking beggar, whether he wanted to go crazy on the road or roll around, no one would pay attention to him.

But how could Lu Xiaofeng run around on the road like a wild dog like him? He had no choice but to follow running. Even if others treated him as a madman, Lu Xiaofeng could only accept it. A Tu actually ran quite fast.

When there was no one on the road, he walked slower than a turtle. When there were people on the road, he ran like a rabbit hit by an arrow. Lu Xiaofeng suddenly discovered this person wasn’t easy to deal with. Keeping track of such a person wasn’t an easy task. Fortunately, A Tu didn’t look back and seemed to be getting a bit tired. He suddenly jumped onto a mule cart transporting pig feed, leaned against it, and seemed to be preparing to sleep on it.

The driver turned back and glared at him, but actually didn’t chase him down. Lu Xiaofeng sighed and suddenly discovered another unexpected convenience in a beggar walking on the road.

No wonder people say, after begging for three years, you don’t even want to be emperor. The sun gradually rose. A Tu closed his eyes and seemed to have actually fallen asleep. But Lu Xiaofeng was already sweating, feeling hot, tired, and thirsty, yet couldn’t stop at all.

To find Grandmother Gongsun, he had to keep a close watch on this person. If he was lucky, he would often encounter small vendors selling cold wine and beef on the road. Unfortunately, Lu Xiaofeng’s luck wasn’t good. On this road, there wasn’t even a vendor selling flatbread.

Originally, Lingnan people were particular about eating and drinking. If you wanted to eat, you had to find a comfortable place, sit down, and eat. Even if there were such vendors, very few people would patronize them. So these common vendors on the road couldn’t survive here at all. So Lu Xiaofeng could only go hungry.

On both sides of the road, there had been fertile fields. Now they were just going around a green mountain. A Tu suddenly jumped off the cart and ran up the mountainside. The mountain was lush and green, at least a bit cooler. A Tu had taken a short nap in the cart and was even more energetic now.

Lu Xiaofeng also had to cheer up. He suddenly discovered this stinking beggar not only had strong legs and waist, but his body also seemed to carry lightness skill. Fortunately, the mountain wasn’t too high. Since A Tu was going up the mountain, perhaps the destination was already near. Grandmother Gongsun’s secret cave was very likely on a mountain. Who knew Lu Xiaofeng had guessed wrong again.

There were still no houses at the top, but there was a group of beggars eating meat and drinking wine. Seeing A Tu walk up, someone laughed, “You’re lucky. We just stole a fat sheep from below the mountain and are having a feast here. Since you’ve encountered it, come eat with us!”

A Tu laughed and walked over, saying, “It seems my good fortune these past few days is really great. No matter where I go, there’s good food!”

Lu Xiaofeng could only stare dryly again. He naturally couldn’t mix in with this group of beggars to eat stolen fat sheep. He also couldn’t let A Tu see him. So he could only hide behind a mountain rock, so hungry his stomach was actually aching.

He even started to regret that last night he should have picked up the half roast goose to eat.

A Tu actually became familiar with these beggars in no time. Everyone talked and laughed, ate and drank, as happy as immortals. But Lu Xiaofeng felt as if he were in the eighteenth level of hell. He had never suffered like this in his life.

Only now did he truly understand how terrifying hunger was. If only he could close his eyes and rest for a moment while taking this opportunity.

But among these beggars, there might also be Grandmother Gongsun’s subordinates. They might be waiting here to receive A Tu. So Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t relax for a moment. He had to keep a close watch on them. If A Tu secretly handed over the yellow cloth bundle to someone else, and that person then delivered it to Grandmother Gongsun, all his suffering would have been in vain.

He barely waited until these people finished eating and drinking. A Tu gave them a big bow, then actually strode off down the mountain again.

What had he come up this mountain to do?

Lu Xiaofeng really couldn’t understand, “Could he have already secretly handed over the cloth bundle to someone else? Why didn’t I see it?”

Since he hadn’t seen it, he could only keep following A Tu.

At the mountainside, A Tu suddenly stopped. He took out a yellow cloth bundle from the hemp sack behind him, looked at it, then put it back, muttering with a smile, “Fortunately, the thieves who stole the sheep didn’t touch it. Otherwise, I’m afraid my head would have to move!”

What exactly was in this yellow cloth bundle? Why was it so important? Lu Xiaofeng naturally couldn’t see and couldn’t guess.

No matter what, the thing was still in A Tu’s hands. And since this thing was so important, he might hand it to Grandmother Gongsun in person. All the suffering Lu Xiaofeng endured didn’t seem to be in vain after all.

The most unjust thing was that A Tu actually went down the mountain the same way he came. He certainly hadn’t come up the mountain specifically to eat a meal of mutton. Could he have discovered someone was following him and deliberately made the person following him suffer? No, he didn’t look very nervous. If he had discovered someone following him, he definitely wouldn’t have come down the same way.

Lu Xiaofeng was even more confident he wouldn’t be discovered. Even if he went another day or two without eating, when moving, he still wouldn’t make any sound.

Recently, many people already believed his lightness skill could be ranked among the top five in the world.

“When a person has a secret important mission, whether or not someone is following behind, when moving, they will deliberately create some mystery.” It must be this reason. Lu Xiaofeng was also very satisfied with this explanation of his.

After going down the mountain, A Tu’s movements became much more normal. After walking about half an hour, he entered the city. He also circled twice in the city, walked into a restaurant, then walked out the back door. Suddenly he turned into an alley. There was only one door in the alley—it was a side door to a large family’s garden.

He actually walked in as if returning to his own home, not knocking at all. He was also very familiar with the paths in the garden. Two or three turns, passing through a flower grove, crossing a small bridge, he came to a small building facing a lotus pond. The building had lights on. Lu Xiaofeng only now discovered it was actually dusk again.

Dusk, the setting sun already thin. The small building was brilliantly lit, but no human voices could be heard. There wasn’t even a door boy. A Tu also didn’t knock but went straight upstairs. In an elegant room upstairs, no one could be seen, but a very exquisite table of food and wine was set out.

“It seems his good fortune is really great. Indeed, no matter where he goes, there’s good food.”

Although there was no one, eight sets of cups and chopsticks were set on the table. A Tu sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and held a piece of drunk chicken. Then he shook his head and put it down. From the hemp sack behind him, he took out the yellow cloth bundle and placed it on the table, muttering, “I didn’t expect I’d be the earliest again this time.”

He was obviously waiting for someone. Who was he waiting for? Was Grandmother Gongsun among them?

Opposite the small building was a large ginkgo tree with shade like a canopy, facing the upstairs window.

Lu Xiaofeng slid up from behind the tree like a gecko and found the densest place to hide. The sky was darker now. Even if someone came to the window to look, they definitely wouldn’t discover him. Now A Tu had finally arrived at his destination. He shouldn’t be playing any more tricks.

Lu Xiaofeng was just about to catch his breath and rest when suddenly he heard the sound of clothes rustling in the wind. A figure flew past the treetops like a swallow. With a “clever flip through the clouds,” she had already entered the small building.

“Beautiful movement, fine lightness skill.” Lu Xiaofeng immediately widened his eyes, but he already knew this person wasn’t Grandmother Gongsun. Although this person’s lightness skill was high, compared to Grandmother Gongsun, it was still lacking. Compared to his, it was also still lacking.

But this person was also a woman, nearly forty years old. Yet like Xu Niang, though half old, her charm remained. The allure in her brow and eyes was even more captivating than a young girl’s. She wore a tight-fitting dark purple outfit and was also carrying a yellow cloth bundle.

When she flipped through the air just now, Lu Xiaofeng had already discovered she was also wearing a pair of red shoes.

Now she had already sat down and smiled sweetly at A Tu, saying, “You’re the earliest again.”

A Tu sighed, “Men always suffer losses. We always have to wait for women.”

Lu Xiaofeng also deeply agreed with this sentence. He discovered he indeed hadn’t misjudged. This A Tu was indeed a very difficult person to deal with, and his status was definitely not low. This purple-clad female guest had extremely high lightness skill and excellent bearing. But A Tu, covered in sores and begging at the alley entrance, could actually sit as an equal with her. Could he also be a martial arts master?

Lu Xiaofeng had originally thought he was very familiar with the people and matters of the jianghu. Only now did he discover that among martial arts masters, there were still many he didn’t recognize. At least these two people he had never even seen before. The wind suddenly carried a burst of silver-bell-like laughter. The person hadn’t arrived yet, but the laughter came first.

The purple-clad female guest said, “Seventh Sister is here.”

Before she finished speaking, there was already an extra person in the room. Naturally also a woman—a red-clothed young girl with two long glossy braids, bright eyes and white teeth, a charming smile, also carrying a yellow cloth bundle in her hand.

She first smiled at A Tu, then smiled at the purple-clad female guest, saying, “Second Sister, you came early!”

The purple-clad female guest sighed, “Older people always inevitably suffer losses. We always have to wait for young girls.”

The red-clothed young girl laughed like silver bells, “When have you ever suffered losses from others? If you don’t take advantage of others, others are already thanking heaven and earth.”

The purple-clad female guest looked at her and sighed again, “I really don’t know what’s so funny about you. Why are you always laughing non-stop all day?”

A Tu said leisurely, “Because she thinks she looks very good when she smiles, and also has two very nice dimples. If she doesn’t smile, won’t others be unable to see them?”

The red-clothed young girl glared at him, but then laughed again. And once she started laughing, she couldn’t stop. Lu Xiaofeng only now knew this purple-clad female guest was called Second Sister. Second Sister? Could it be Second Sister Gongsun? Since Second Sister Gongsun had already come, Grandmother Gongsun would surely come sooner or later. Lu Xiaofeng finally felt a bit happy. No matter what suffering he had endured, it had finally been worth it. Besides, this red-clothed young girl’s laughter was also truly pleasant to hear. It was just that Lu Xiaofeng didn’t recognize her either.

She was still giggling, saying, “I’ll bet with you. Guess who will be the latest this time?”

Second Sister said, “Of course it’s Third Sister. She washes her face for half an hour. Even if fire burns her eyebrows, she won’t be anxious!”

The red-clothed young girl clapped her hands and laughed, “That’s right! This time it must be her again!”

Suddenly a voice came from downstairs, “Wrong. This time it definitely won’t be her.”

The voice was very gentle, very slow. A person slowly walked up from downstairs. Although she was walking slowly now, Lu Xiaofeng actually hadn’t seen how she entered this small building.

The red-clothed young girl saw her and seemed very surprised, but immediately laughed again, “I didn’t expect a miracle this time. Third Sister actually wasn’t late!”

Third Sister not only spoke gently, her attitude was also gentle, her smile even more gentle. She slowly walked up, slowly sat down, slowly placed the yellow cloth bundle in her hand on the table, then gently sighed, “This time not only was I not late, but I arrived earlier than all of you.”

The red-clothed young girl said, “Really?”

Third Sister said, “I came last night and slept downstairs. I originally wanted to be the first to come up and wait for you all, to give you all a big surprise!”

The red-clothed young girl said, “Then why did you wait until now to come up?”

Third Sister sighed, “Because I had many things to do!”

The red-clothed young girl said, “What things?”

Third Sister said, “I had to comb my hair, wash my face, put on clothes, put on shoes.”

Hearing this, even Lu Xiaofeng in the tree couldn’t help laughing.

The red-clothed young girl was already laughing so hard she bent over, panting, “These really are important matters.”

Second Sister also couldn’t help laughing, “I told you, she takes half an hour just to wash her face.”

A Tu suddenly said, “I’m only curious about one thing!”

The red-clothed young girl quickly asked, “What thing?”

A Tu said, “Every day besides combing her hair, washing her face, putting on clothes, putting on shoes, where does she have time to do anything else?”

The red-clothed young girl tried hard to suppress her laughter and said seriously, “This problem is indeed very serious. In the future, if she marries, she might not even have time to have children. Wouldn’t that delay important matters?” Before she finished speaking, she had nearly laughed herself to the ground.

Third Sister wasn’t angry either, still slowly saying, “I know you will definitely have lots of time to have children. In the future, you’ll have at least seventy or eighty children.”

The red-clothed young girl laughed, “Even if I have one a year, I couldn’t have that many!”

Third Sister said, “If you have them litter by litter, couldn’t you have that many?”

The red-clothed young girl said, “Only pigs have litters of piglets. I’m not a pig—” Before she finished this sentence, she realized this was practically cursing herself.

Second Sister couldn’t help snorting with laughter, “So you’re not a pig. You really need to hurry and make a statement, so others don’t get confused!”

The red-clothed young girl pouted, “Fine! Now Fourth Sister and Sixth Sister haven’t come yet, so you’re taking advantage to bully me!”

Third Sister said, “What if they come?”

The red-clothed young girl said, “They’ll at least help me speak. The two of you combined can’t win against even half of them.”

A gust of wind blew, and three more people flew in through the window like swallows. One person smiled and said, “At least one thing I definitely won’t get wrong—I know she’s definitely not a little pig!”

The red-clothed young girl clapped her hands again and cried, “Did you hear? I knew Fourth Sister was a good person!”

Third Sister still wanted to ask, “If she’s not a little pig, what is she?”

Fourth Sister said, “She’s just a little hen!”

The red-clothed young girl was stunned, “I’m a little hen?”

Fourth Sister said, “If you’re not a little hen, why do you laugh ‘cluck, cluck’ non-stop all day?”

The red-clothed young girl couldn’t laugh anymore. Lu Xiaofeng also couldn’t laugh anymore—among the last three to arrive, he actually recognized two.

One was naturally Jiang Qingxia. He wasn’t surprised. But he never dreamed their “Fourth Sister” was actually Ouyang Qing! That famous courtesan whom he had once angered to death! That sister who only loved money, not good looks—Ouyang Qing!

Seeing Ouyang Qing actually appear together with Jiang Qingxia, seeing her lightness skill was actually no less than Jiang Qingxia’s, Lu Xiaofeng nearly fell from the tree. This “Red Shoes” organization really had all kinds of people. Ouyang Qing and Jiang Qingxia were obviously both leaders of this organization. There were eight sets of cups and chopsticks on the table. This organization obviously had eight leaders. Now seven had arrived.

The purple-clad female guest was Second Sister. The one who took half an hour to wash her face was Third Sister. Fourth Sister was Ouyang Qing. Fifth Sister was Jiang Qingxia. Sixth Sister wore green clothes and white socks, her head completely shaved—a nun who had left the world. The one who laughed non-stop all day was Seventh Sister. And Big Sister? Why hadn’t Grandmother Gongsun appeared yet? What relationship did this A Tu, covered in sores, have with them? What rank was he?

All seven had sat down. In front of each was a yellow cloth bundle. Only the head seat was still empty, obviously reserved for Grandmother Gongsun.

A Tu suddenly said, “You six sisters, what did you bring back this time? Can you let me see first?”

The red-clothed young girl quickly said, “Of course! Since Third Sister came early, we should see what she brought back first!”

Third Sister neither opposed nor refused. She just slowly reached out to untie the knot on her bundle. There were three knots on her bundle. She spent a full half cup of tea’s time before untying the first knot.

Second Sister sighed and smiled bitterly, “Can you stand it? I can’t! Let’s see mine first!”

Lu Xiaofeng had already cheered up, opening his eyes wide. What exactly was in these mysterious yellow cloth bundles? He had already wanted to see for a long time. He was actually more anxious than anyone.

Fortunately, Second Sister’s movements weren’t slow. She quickly opened the bundle. Inside the bundle were seventy or eighty deposit books of various sizes.

Second Sister said, “My harvest this year wasn’t good. I also rested for more than three months. So I only deposited one million eight hundred thousand taels of silver in money houses across various places. But next year, I’m confident I can get twice as much.”

Within one year, she had over one million eight hundred thousand taels of silver income, yet she said the harvest wasn’t good. Lu Xiaofeng sighed in his heart. He really couldn’t figure out what this Second Sister did. As far as he knew, even the largest powers among the black market bandits didn’t have half her income. He also couldn’t think of what business in this world could have better income than being a bandit.

Third Sister sighed lightly, “Since there’s only one million eight hundred thousand taels, we’ll have to be more frugal with our expenses this year.”

Second Sister said, “What about you? How was your harvest this year?”

Third Sister smiled, “My harvest was still pretty good. Recently, people without noses seem to be increasing!”

People without noses meant people without faces. Lu Xiaofeng understood this sentence. But what did the number of people without faces have to do with her harvest? This Lu Xiaofeng didn’t understand. Fortunately, Third Sister had finally untied the knots on her bundle. Inside was another layer of oilcloth.

She untied this layer of oilcloth, and inside was another layer of red satin. Wrapped in the red satin were astonishingly seventy or eighty noses of various sizes! Human noses! Lu Xiaofeng nearly fell from the tree again. This woman who was so gentle, so refined, who was afraid of stepping on an ant when walking—could she have actually cut off seventy or eighty people’s noses with her own hands?

Third Sister said gently, “Since they don’t want noses, I might as well cut them off!”

The red-clothed young girl clapped her hands and laughed, “This is really a good method!”

Third Sister said, “Next year I won’t use this method anymore!”

The red-clothed young girl said, “What method will you use next year?”

Third Sister said, “Next year I plan to cut out tongues!”

The red-clothed young girl said, “Cut out tongues? Why cut out tongues?”

Third Sister sighed lightly again and slowly said, “Because recently I’ve discovered that people in this world talk too much!”

The red-clothed young girl stuck out her tongue and laughed like silver bells, “If I didn’t know you, I also wouldn’t believe you could be such a ruthless person!”

Third Sister said lightly, “I won’t beat you to death. At most, I’ll just cut out your tongue!”

The red-clothed young girl closed her mouth. Her tongue that had been sticking out withdrew in a flash, as if she didn’t even want to let Third Sister see it anymore. This woman who took half an hour just to wash her face, whether cutting off noses or cutting out tongues, would never be slow.

Ouyang Qing suddenly asked, “The biggest nose in here—whose is it?”

Third Sister said, “You want to know?”

Ouyang Qing smiled, “I’ve always been particularly interested in men with big noses!”

Second Sister laughed and scolded, “This girl has been mixing in that place for two years. Not only has her heart become darker, but her face has also become thicker.”

Ouyang Qing giggled, “Second Sister is indeed someone who’s been there. She must know very clearly what advantages men with big noses have!”

Third Sister said, “It’s just that the person with the biggest nose has now become a person without a nose!”

Ouyang Qing said, “Who are you talking about?”

Third Sister said, “Duan Tiancheng!”

Hearing this name, Lu Xiaofeng was startled again. He had heard this name and seen this person. “Town Three Mountains” Duan Tiancheng not only had a big nose and great bearing, his background was also significant. Anyone who wanted to cut off his nose definitely wouldn’t have an easy task.

The red-clothed young girl’s mouth had been closed for a long time. Now she couldn’t help saying again, “Are we planning to drink heartily until we’re drunk this year, same as every year?”

Second Sister said, “This is our old rule. Of course it won’t change.”

The red-clothed young girl said, “Now that our people have all arrived, why don’t we start?”

Lu Xiaofeng’s heart sank again—“Our people have all arrived?”—Could it be that Grandmother Gongsun wasn’t coming today at all?

Second Sister said, “Who says everyone has arrived? Haven’t you seen there’s still an empty seat?”

The red-clothed young girl said, “Who else is coming?”

Second Sister smiled, “I heard Big Sister found you an Eighth Sister!”

The red-clothed young girl also laughed, “Now there’s finally someone younger than me. If you bully me again in the future, I’ll bully her!”

A Tu suddenly said, “It’s just that she won’t come today!”

Second Sister frowned, “Why? Does she not want to come anymore?”

A Tu said, “She wants to come but can’t come!”

Second Sister said, “Someone won’t let her come?” A Tu nodded.

The red-clothed young girl quickly said, “Since she can’t come, who are we still waiting for?”

A Tu said, “Waiting for a guest!”

The red-clothed young girl’s eyes lit up, “We actually invited a guest today?”

A Tu said, “Mm.”

The red-clothed young girl said, “How’s his drinking capacity?”

A Tu said, “I hear it’s not bad!”

The red-clothed young girl laughed, “No matter how good his drinking capacity is, as long as he really comes today, I guarantee he’ll walk in straight and be carried out horizontally!”

Second Sister’s eyes flashed, “It seems not only is his drinking capacity great, but his courage is also great. Otherwise, hearing your words, he’d be scared away.”

The red-clothed young girl also blinked and said, “Isn’t his courage very great?”

A Tu said, “He hasn’t run away yet.”

The red-clothed young girl laughed, “Since he hasn’t run away, why isn’t he coming in? Could this person like drinking wind outside and not coming in to drink wine?”

A Tu said lightly, “He’s been drinking wind all day. Now he should have had enough.”

Someone in the tree outside the window sighed and said with a bitter smile, “I’ve really had enough.”

In the sound of sighing, Lu Xiaofeng had already floated in with the wind. He had long been prepared to come in.

With seven people like this, someone hiding in the tree outside their window, would they not know at all? Lu Xiaofeng suddenly discovered that hiding outside drinking wind was actually a very stupid thing. He felt he was becoming more and more like an idiot.

But he didn’t look like an idiot. No matter what kind of idiot, they definitely wouldn’t have four eyebrows.

The red-clothed young girl looked at him, then suddenly clapped her hands and laughed, “I know who you are! You’re that big idiot Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows!”