[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 8

page views:1 Publication date:2023-07-23

The meeting between Cheng Zongyang and Yun Xiufeng in the fourth chapter

continued until the morning. After nearly five hours of conversation, neither of them showed any signs of drowsiness.

During this meeting, Yun Xiufeng, as the head of the Yun family, promised to invest a total of 300,000 gold coins in the Panjiang Cheng family, including all previous loans, which would be fully managed by the Panjiang Cheng family, who would also provide full support for the supply of materials to Jiangzhou.

The Panjiang Cheng family promised to repay all loans within six months. As a condition of the loan, the profits from the grain business would be split equally between the two parties.

The Yun family's Chamber of Commerce appointed its Grand Steward, Yun Cangfeng, as its representative and took over Yun Cangfeng's half-share in the Panjiang Cheng family. In return, Cheng Zongyang changed the profit share from the zipper business transferred by Yun Cangfeng to a buyout fee. The Panjiang Cheng family would no longer be involved in the Yun family's zipper business and would also transfer the exclusive rights of the cement workshop in the Song Kingdom to the Yun family.

After leaving the Fantian Temple, Cheng Zongyang felt an unprecedented sense of relief. He came into this world penniless, nearly becoming a slave at the beginning, and now finally has the qualifications to stand on equal footing with the Yun family.

When Cheng Zongyang met Yun Xiufeng, there was no third person present, but Qin Hui was good at reading people's expressions. When Yun Xiufeng personally escorted Cheng Zongyang out of the meditation room, he noticed something.

After leaving Fantian Temple, Qin Hui said to Cheng Zongyang, "Sixth Master Yun seems to have something to say to you, young master."

"Is that so?"

Cheng Zongyang was immersed in joy and did not notice Yun Xiufeng's expression. But it didn't matter. Yun Xiufeng would be staying in Lin'an for a while, and the two had already agreed to meet again in a few days. Whatever they had to say could be said then.

"What time is it?"

"Almost noon."

Cheng Zongyang stretched. "I'm going back to sleep for a while. I still have to go to Cuiwei Garden when I wake up. Sigh, this life is more tiring than fighting a war. I wonder if I'll be lucky enough to get a good night's sleep tonight."

Just as Cheng Zongyang was full of ambition, the Lin residence in Siying Lane suffered a devastating disaster. The previous night, the master of the house had been ordered to go to the Grand Commandant's mansion and had not returned all night. Then, at dawn

, a group of imperial guards broke into the house and took away the mistress, her maid, and the old servant. Lu Zhishen didn't receive the news until noon the next day. By the time he and his brothers rushed over, the Lin residence was already empty.

Lu Zhishen inquired everywhere and finally learned that Lin Chong had been imprisoned for trespassing into the forbidden White Tiger Hall with a knife, awaiting his fate. The whereabouts of Lin's wife, the maid Jin'er, and the old servant were unknown.

Lin Chong's crime was not yet determined, but trespassing into the White Tiger Hall with a knife was a certain death sentence. Lu Zhishen tried everything but could not get into the prison to see him. Seeing that night was falling, he could only order a few of his ruffians to guard outside the prison, waiting for news from the Grand Commandant's mansion.

The Cuiwei Garden by West Lake was brightly lit and decorated. A group of young ruffians known as the "Thirteen Protectors" of Lin'an City were gathered there, each with beautiful maids and courtesans, indulging in unrestrained laughter and excessive drinking.

However, the head seat was still empty; the leader of the Thirteen Protectors, the playboy Gao Yanei, hadn't shown up. Young Master

Liang, holding a scantily clad courtesan, his hand groping her breasts, asked, "Why isn't the boss out yet?"

"Don't you know? The boss just got a beauty, and he's training her inside right now."

Young Master Liang became interested. "Whose woman is she?"

"Do you know Lin Chong, the Instructor Lin?"

Young Master Liang thought for a while. "Never heard of him." "

He's a junior instructor in the Imperial Guard. The boss took a fancy to his wife, plotted to have Instructor Lin imprisoned, sentenced to death, and then snatched his wife. They're having fun inside..."

Someone nearby said, "Now that you mention it, I remember, isn't it about the Five Peaks Tower incident?"

"That's right! A mere instructor, a nobody military officer, dared to go against the boss. Now he's dead, and his wife has been taken advantage of by the boss, hahaha!" Gao

Yanei had done this kind of thing many times before, so Young Master Liang didn't care. He drank a few cups of wine: "Since everyone's here today, why didn't you call that old slut surnamed Ruan over?"

Young Master Cai, the second-ranked of the Thirteen Protectors, laughed: "Little Liang, are you still thinking about Chief Escort Li's wife? Have you forgotten the embarrassing incident last time when you were wiped clean in no time?"

Young Master Liang retorted: "I was drunk that time!"

Amidst the laughter and commotion, Gao Yanei came out triumphantly, his round belly like a ball, his right arm around a voluptuous and beautiful woman.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the vibrant beauty beside him. The woman was around thirty years old, with delicate eyebrows, almond eyes, and peach-blossom cheeks, possessing a stunningly beautiful face.

She leaned half her body against Gao Yanei, her head slightly lowered, her jade-like cheeks flushed with a captivating blush. Embraced by a boy half a head shorter than her, she exuded a delicate, shy beauty.

Gao Yanei swaggered into a chair, and a maid brought over a round stool.

He slapped his thigh, and the beautiful woman, blushing, sat on his lap. Her shy and gentle demeanor drew gasps of admiration from those around them.

"Boss! You've managed to get your hands on such a beauty!"

"Of course!"

Gao Yanei said gleefully, "Little Liang, this woman is better than the courtesan in your arms, isn't she?"

The courtesan in Liang's arms looked at Lin Niangzi with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

Hearing Gao Yanei's teasing, Lin Niangzi became even more shy, lowering her head and daring not to look up.

Congratulations, compliments, envious glances, and cheerful chatter filled the room, interspersed with Gao Yanei's smug laughter.

"This young master finally got his hands on this beauty, how could I not have a good time!"

"You didn't see it, this lady's body is so white...so tender...it's absolutely gorgeous!"

"Her flesh is even more beautiful than her face, and her...things are even more beautiful than her flesh!"

Gao Yanei, in his smugness, put one arm around Lin Niangzi's waist and patted her buttocks with the other: "...Go inside, my cock is practically melting!"

Amidst the roaring laughter of the crowd, Cheng Zongyang, who was watching coldly from the shadows, felt a chill run down his spine.

Gao Yanei had cursed Cheng Zongyang, his cheap master, a thousand times in his heart, wishing he could kill him.

But hearing Cheng Zongyang tell him to go ahead and have his way with Lin Niangzi, the little brat immediately perked up, regarding Cheng Zongyang as a close friend. Early the next morning, he sent men to break into the Lin residence and abduct Lin Niangzi to Cuiwei Garden.

Judging from Gao Yanei's expression, he was clearly extremely satisfied with his recent encounter with Lin Niangzi. During the meal, he spoke of his pleasure with immense pride, seemingly having tasted the full sweetness of Lin Niangzi.

However, Cheng Zongyang, watching from the shadows, clearly saw that Gao Yanei hadn't actually touched Ruan Xiangning! Everything he said was a mere fantasy!

Cheng Zongyang had always wondered why the Black Demon Sea had placed the completely unskilled Ruan Xiangning in such a crucial place as Lin'an. But after witnessing the scene just now, he finally understood: this Ningyu Ji's true ability lay not in martial arts, but in witchcraft.

Ruan Xiangning was taken to Cuiwei Garden at dawn. With Cheng Zongyang, his nominal master, instructing him, Gao Yanei wasn't in a rush. Only after Cheng Zongyang returned from Fantian Temple and everything was ready did Gao Yanei go to find Ruan Xiangning, intending to enjoy himself.

Entering the room, the brat was still smug: "I've already slept with the wife of a high-ranking镖头 (bodyguard/escort), what's a little instructor's wife?"

Gao Yanei entered with a lewd grin, about to grab Lin Niangzi and rape her, but Ruan Xiangning, sitting by the bed, merely raised her eyes and smiled, freezing Gao Yanei's lewd grin on his face.

What happened next sent a chill down Cheng Zongyang's spine.

Facing Gao Yanei, who seemed to be lost in a dream, Ruan Xiangning said in a dreamlike and gentle tone, "Didn't you want to do this to me, Yanei? Why don't you take off your pants?"

Gao Yanei, like a puppet being manipulated, obediently took off his pants.

Looking at his little guy, Ruan Xiangning showed a hint of disdain, then said, "Masturbate."

The delirious Gao Yanei, under Ruan Xiangning's command, masturbated three times until he was completely exhausted. Only then did Ruan Xiangning let him put on his pants, and then told him in a gentle voice, "Young master, you just experienced the most exhilarating intercourse of your life with me, and you were very satisfied with my service."

Gao Yanei grinned foolishly, "So good..."

"Now you should take me to meet your friends,"

Ruan Xiangning smiled, "Remember, I cannot be shared."

Gao Yanei nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, "No one can be given to me, only I can use me..."

Ruan Xiangning smiled sweetly, "You can wake up now."

Gao Yanei shuddered as if stepped on a spring, then his eyes regained their light, and a smug, lewd smile appeared on his face again. Ruan Xiangning lowered her head, as ashamed and embarrassed as a woman who had just been forced to lose her virginity.

Ruan Xiangning's brilliant performance deceived everyone. Her shy demeanor led everyone to believe she was powerless against the Grand Commandant's power and had already slept with Gao Yanei. Only Cheng Zongyang knew the cold sneer beneath her bashful exterior.

Cheng Zongyang didn't know what kind of witchcraft she used, but he could tell that its effects were very similar to hypnosis he had heard of.

The moment Gao Yanei's eyes met hers, he was hypnotized; the rest of the time, it was all Ruan Xiangning's indoctrination. He thought he had spent a night with Ruan Xiangning, doing whatever he wanted to her, enjoying the ultimate pleasure, but he didn't know he was just gesturing to thin air.

Thinking of the consequences of hypnosis, Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but shudder. For safety's sake, he had left Li Shishi at the Grand Commandant's mansion, originally intending to find out Ning Yuji's background before going to the Grand Commandant's mansion to see Li Shishi.

Unexpectedly, Ruan Xiangning had such methods; not only did she fail to catch Ning Yuji, but she also lost Gao Yanei, her hunting rifle.

Although Gao Yanei was a fool, under the influence of witchcraft, he had no secrets left. Ningyu Ji only needed to compare the information he revealed to Ningyu Ji to not only uncover her own secrets, but also risk exposing Gao Qiu, who had been hiding for many years.

Once the Black Demon Sea learned of Gao Qiu's identity, the consequences would be terrifying...

Cheng Zongyang took a deep breath to calm himself. Li Shishi would be his sooner or later; the most important thing right now was Ningyu Ji. If he couldn't capture her alive, he had to kill her.

The usually generous Gao Yanei surprisingly didn't let his brothers enjoy his new beauty during the banquet, disappointing the Thirteen Protectors.

However, their boss had only just gotten started, and the novelty hadn't worn off yet. Knowing his temperament, in three to five days, everyone should be able to taste Lin Niangzi's delicious flesh. With this thought in mind, the group parted in high spirits. Still relying on their hands? How could that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video of Fan Bingbing's genitals, molded to a highly realistic shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large protrusions closely resemble female anatomy, providing a more realistic experience... Intense and irresistible! Click to enter.

After seeing off the guests, Gao Yanei took Ruan Xiangning back to the bedroom, lewdly saying, "Beauty, let's do it again..."

Ruan Xiangning smiled and said, "It's time for you to sleep, Yanei."

Before she finished speaking, Gao Yanei froze as if someone had acupunctured him.

Ruan Xiangning put away her smile and said calmly, "Go grind the ink."

Gao Yanei mechanically picked up the ink stick and began grinding it in the inkstone.

"Name."

"High IQ."

Ruan Xiangning frowned: "Who gave you such a strange name?"

"Father."

Even though his heart was like walking a tightrope, Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but laugh. Who but Yue Niaoren would name this little brat Gao Yanei "High IQ"?

"Age?"

"Sixteen."

"Who is your biological father?"

"My godfather's older brother."

"Do you remember him?"

"...I forgot."

Ruan Xiangning stopped writing, then smiled gently and said softly, "You'll remember. Think carefully, who is that person...what does he look like..."

Gao Yanei thought hard for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, sweat almost dripping down his fat face, and finally said, "I can't remember."

Ruan Xiangning drew a four-by-four grid on the paper, and said in a seductive voice, "See these squares? They represent all the years you've experienced from birth to now. Every time I cross out a square, you'll be a year younger, and you'll remember more things..."

Ruan Xiangning crossed out the squares one by one, and when she reached the last square, Gao Yanei's eyes darted around rapidly, and he suddenly said in a childish voice, "I remember! He was tall, with a straight nose, long hair, and my godfather called him...called him...Yue..."

Ruan Xiangning's hand froze, and she turned her head in astonishment.

"General Yue..."

After uttering these two words, a baby-like relieved smile appeared on Gao Yanei's face.

The revelation that Gao Yanei's background was connected to Yue Pengju was a huge shock to anyone, and even Ruan Xiangning, with her composure, paled upon hearing it.

Cheng Zongyang hadn't expected her to so easily unearth this great secret from Gao Yanei's deepest memories, and his heart pounded upon hearing it.

As soon as Gao Yanei finished speaking, Cheng Zongyang leaped down from the beam, silently raising his palm to strike at the back of Ruan Xiangning's neck.

Fortunately, Ruan Xiangning didn't know martial arts, and this secret couldn't possibly leave the room.

Perhaps due to her background in the Witchcraft Clan and her expertise in witchcraft, Ruan Xiangning, though lacking martial arts skills, possessed unexpectedly keen senses. The moment Cheng Zongyang moved, she alertly turned her head.

Witchcraft was faster than martial arts; the instant Ruan Xiangning turned her head, her eyes gleamed with a strange light. Anyone who met her gaze, even a hero like Lin Chong, couldn't resist, and would unknowingly fall victim to her spell.

Ruan Xiangning turned her head and, unsurprisingly, saw a pair of eyes. She smiled sweetly, activating her witchcraft at full power, and then she saw those eyes clearly.

A look of fear and shock flashed in Ruan Xiangning's eyes, and then her smile, fear, and shock all froze on her face.

Cheng Zongyang waited a minute, and seeing no reaction from Ruan Xiangning, he slowly lowered the mirror that had been covering her face.

This Ning Yuji was still stunningly beautiful, but her eyes had lost their sparkle. She sat blankly at the table, the brush in her hand suspended in mid-air, a drop of ink falling from the tip and splashing on the white paper.

Then a hand reached out and took the brush from her hand.

"Name?"

"Ruan Xiangning."

"Age?"

"Twenty-nine."

"Identity?"

"Black Demon Sea Imperial Concubine."

"Relatives?"

"Husband Lin Chong, elder sister Ruan Xianglin, brother-in-law Li Yinchen, niece Li Shishi..."

"Why did you marry Lin Chong?"

"It was an arrangement within the sect. Granny Wu said Lin Chong was an important figure and asked me to keep an eye on him."

"Lin Chong is just a drill instructor, what's so important about him?"

“Because King Yue Fei once said he was a future hero…”

Cheng Zongyang didn’t know what expression to make. It was rare for Yue Fei to praise anyone, and it ended up costing Lin Chong his life. Not only was he ostracized in officialdom, but even his wife was a fake, turning his entire life into a tragedy.

Cheng Zongyang looked her up and down, then suddenly asked, “Are you a virgin?”

Ning Yuji replied softly with a hollow smile, “Yes.”

“You two have been married for over ten years, hasn’t Instructor Lin ever suspected anything?”

Ning Yuji said softly, “He thought he was having sex with me every night.”

“Damn! You two are so immoral!”

Cheng Zongyang couldn’t help but exclaim, “Is this how you play with people?”

Ruan Xiangning didn’t answer, only lowered her head slightly.

Cheng Zongyang calmed down: “What kind of witchcraft is this?”

“Meditation.”

“Meditation? What are the effects?”

“The one under its spell is like being in a dream, being driven by others without realizing it.”

Suddenly, snoring came from the bed. After Cheng Zongyang subdued Ruan Xiangning, he sent the poor, high-IQ girl to bed. At this moment, Gao Yanei's fat face was all smiles, lost in some pleasant dream.

Cheng Zongyang turned to look at Ruan Xiangning, and after a while said, "Raise your hand." Ruan

Xiangning obediently raised her jade-like wrist.

"Smile." Ruan Xiangning

smiled sweetly.

"If one is freed from the Meditation Technique, can one still enter a state of sleep without the technique?"

Ruan Xiangning thought for a moment, then shook her head, "I don't know."

"Then listen—do you know who I am?"

"You are Young Master Cheng, my husband's friend."

"No."

Cheng Zongyang said in a gentle voice, "I am your master. You will feel that everything you have belongs to me, and you will unconditionally obey all my commands, understand?"

Ruan Xiangning said slowly, "Understood... You are my master..."

“Now let’s try a different approach,”

Cheng Zongyang said. “When I say ‘Those who can fly are all birdmen,’ you will wake up. In your waking state, you will forget everything that happened in the dream, but subconsciously you will know that I am Instructor Lin’s good friend, that you have a good impression of me, and that you won’t do anything to harm me. You will maintain a proper distance, just like in a normal relationship.”

After Ruan Xiangning accepted the message in his words, Cheng Zongyang slowly continued, “When I say ‘Doraemon,’ you will enter a dream you can’t escape—the kind of dream you call meditation. In this dream, I am your only master.”

Cheng Zongyang took a breath and slowly said, “Now listen to me: Those who can fly are all birdmen—”

The beautiful woman’s empty eyes brightened slightly, regaining their luster, and then she showed surprise. “Young Master Cheng, why are you here? I…”

“Doraemon!”

Ruan Xiangning’s voice paused, as if she had fallen into a dream, and the luster that had just appeared in her eyes immediately disappeared.

Cheng Zongyang hurriedly got into the carriage. “Go back.”

The driver from Xingyue Lake immediately drove away.

Qin Hui, who remained in the carriage, sat up and asked, "How is it?"

"What do you think?"

"Young Master's expression was a mixture of worry and joy, as if he had gained something and lost something."

Qin Hui's words were as if he hadn't said anything, but they perfectly reflected his own state of mind. Cheng Zongyang leaned against the carriage, remaining silent for a long time before saying, "The Witch Sect has indeed been busy. The Overturning River Society and the Taihu Alliance have already been taken over by Jian Yuji, and the attack on the Snow Falcon Group was their doing."

Qin Hui sighed. "It's good that the culprit has been found. I'm afraid this was done by some unknown enemy. It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."

"It won't be easy."

Cheng Zongyang said, "Although the Witch Sect ordered the Overturning River Society and the Taihu Alliance to carry out the attack, the troublesome figure who defeated Xue Yanshan in one move was brought in from outside. Apart from Jian Yuji, no one knows his identity."

Although Qin Hui had never clashed with Jian Yuji, the various things he had heard these days made him wary of the mastermind behind the Witch Sect's actions. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow.

Cheng Zongyang interlaced his fingers, instinctively revealing his wariness. Although Ruan Xiangning had used the Meditation Technique to trap herself, leaving her with no secrets, he didn't know whether Jian Yuji was prepared or if this was simply her style; even Ruan Xiangning didn't know much about the inside story.

Under Cheng Zongyang's questioning, Ruan Xiangning revealed her purpose without reservation. From the very beginning of the Weiyuan Escort Agency's loss of its goods, she had deduced that it was a trap set by the Grand Commandant's Mansion.

The reason Ruan Xiangning didn't stop Gao Yanei was because of orders from the Black Demon Sea's higher-ups, instructing her to find a way to get close to the Grand Commandant's Mansion.

Gao Yanei's outrageous behavior presented a perfect opportunity; the Black Demon Sea even indicated that, if necessary, they could abandon Lin Chong, a pawn they had controlled for over a decade.

Because they didn't know Gao Yanei would use the method of leading Lin Chong into the White Tiger Hall and directly imprisoning him, the Black Demon Sea's orders suffered a miscalculation.

At the same time Cheng Zongyang was attacked at Phoenix Ridge, Ruan Xiangning had just received a new order from the Black Demon Sea, requiring her to use Lin Chong's relationship with the Imperial City Guard to find out Yun Xiufeng's whereabouts.

Hearing this news from Ruan Xiangning, Cheng Zongyang felt a chill run down his spine.

While the Black Demon Sea outwardly offered no strong response, their actions behind the scenes were anything but weak. They ambushed the Snow Falcon Mercenary Group, wiping out Jiangzhou's reinforcements in one fell swoop; now, the Black Demon Sea had set its sights on Yun Xiufeng… Cheng Zongyang shuddered at the thought of Jian Yuji's methods.

As the core of the Black Demon Sea's operations, Jian Yuji had become Cheng Zongyang's greatest threat, yet he knew almost nothing about her, only able to glean clues from her various schemes. Considering all these factors, he not only gained no further understanding, but also felt that Jian Yuji was even more unfathomable.

Qin Hui was right. She was like a master chess player, each move as swift and unpredictable as a gazelle's horns, leaving no trace. Even when he held the upper hand, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive, fearing she would unleash a decisive move at the end of the game. Therefore, even knowing that Ning Yu Ji's mind was a rare treasure trove, Cheng Zongyang dared not linger. After half an hour of questioning, he released Ruan Xiang Ning from her meditative state, allowing her to continue dealing with Gao Yanei according to Hei Mo Hai's orders, creating the illusion that everything was normal. He immediately left Cuiwei Garden to gather his subordinates and plan a counterattack against Hei Mo Hai.

Of course, before releasing Ruan Xiang Ning from her meditative state, Cheng Zongyang didn't forget to issue the order to seal her memories for half an hour—but whether this clumsy imitation of hypnosis would be effective, he had no time to verify.

Chapter Five:

Back at his residence, Qin Hui was ordered to gather everyone. Cheng Zongyang first went to the inner courtyard to organize his thoughts. As soon as he entered, his eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

An old man stood in the courtyard, hands behind his back, gazing up at the crescent moon in the sky. He had white hair

and a long beard, wore a light blue Taoist robe, and had a whisk tucked behind his neck, its silvery wisps fluttering in the wind. He looked every bit the virtuous and learned man. Cheng Zongyang cursed inwardly, "You white-haired scoundrel," but forced a smile and chuckled, "So it's Instructor Lin! We parted in Qingzhou, and I never expected you to be back in Lin'an. Truly, life is full of unexpected encounters!"

Lin Caiquan sighed, "Young friend, you only think it's fate, but you don't know how much effort I put into finding you."

Although his residence was secluded, the Taiyi Zhenzong wanted to search for someone within their sphere of influence, so even hiding in the inner palace wasn't necessarily safe.

“I’ve long heard that the Taiyi True Sect is the foremost Daoist sect in the Song Dynasty, and it seems that’s absolutely true. I’ve only been in Lin’an for a few days, and Instructor Lin has already come knocking on my door.”

Cheng Zongyang said, “I guess Instructor Lin’s midnight visit isn’t for tea, so let’s skip the tea.”

Lin Caiquan turned around and said calmly, “Are etiquette and laws meant for people like us?”

That old scoundrel Lin has this ability; no matter how embarrassing or sordid the matter, he can make it sound dignified.

"What advice do you have, Instructor Lin? I'm all ears."

"Advice is too much to ask, I'm just chatting."

Lin Caiquan said, "I heard that you've befriended Lu Zhishen, a monk staying at Mingqing Temple. Do you know anything about this Flower Monk's background?"

"Instructor Lin, your information network is truly impressive."

Cheng Zongyang said, "I've also heard about the Flower Monk's background. It's said that he was originally a military officer, but because he killed someone and was charged with murder, he had no choice but to become a monk. He's been traveling around practicing Buddhism for years, and only came to Mingqing Temple before the new year to become the head monk who tends the vegetable garden."

Lin Caiquan nodded repeatedly, then asked, "Do you know why the Flower Monk doesn't practice at our temple?"

"Most likely, that temple is strict and doesn't allow him to eat dog meat."

"The temple where the Flower Monk was ordained was Dafu Lingjiu Temple on Mount Wutai, and his master was Abbot Zhizhen of Dafu Lingjiu Temple,"

Lin Caiquan said leisurely. "The Flower Monk has been traveling around seeking refuge for years; it's less about cultivation and more about escaping for his life."

"Is that so? Did he steal food from the abbot's dog, or did he kill some ignorant novice monk, which is why he's been hunted down for so many years?"

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

Lin Caiquan stroked his beard and sighed, "The Flower Monk's mistake was that he, a half-baked monk, inherited the mantle of Master Zhizhen. Dafu Lingjiu Temple is a renowned temple among the ten directions of monasteries. How could it allow a monk who loves wine and meat to steal the abbot's robe and alms bowl? After Master Zhizhen passed away, the Flower Monk could not stay and fled down Mount Wutai with his junior brother, Monk Zang. Monk Zang entered Yue Pengju's Xingyue Lake, but the Flower Monk refused to cause trouble and has been wandering alone ever since."

Cheng Zongyang clicked his tongue and said, "How did the Buddhist temple, a place of purity, become like a palace intrigue? These monks are too blinded by greed!"

Lin Caiquan said, "The world is bustling, all

for profit. Why sigh, young friend?" Cheng Zongyang laughed and said, "What profit did Instructor Lin come for this time? Could it be that you couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and asked me to tell you a story?"

"I've come here only to discuss a business deal with you, young friend."

"I'd love to hear that! What business?"

Lin Caiquan said calmly, "Of course, it's your life."

Cheng Zongyang looked at him for a moment: "Instructor Lin, you're not joking, are you?"

"Young friend, do you know that you've already committed the crime of possessing a treasure?"

Cheng Zongyang crossed his arms and leaned against a pillar. "Tell me about it."

Lin Caiquan's next sentence made Cheng Zongyang's expression change.

"The Nine Yang Divine Skill."

Lin Caiquan took off his whisk and gently shook it in his hand, saying calmly, "Outside Jiangzhou City, the Nine Yang Divine Skill suddenly appeared. Do you know what kind of uproar it has caused in the world? Just among the disciples of the Taiyi True Sect, there are more than 100,000 who want to take your life?"

He had used the Nine Yang Divine Skill when fighting Qin Han to save the little fox's life, but he hadn't paid much attention to it at the time. Now, after Lin Caiquan's reminder, Cheng Zongyang realized the danger involved.

The Nine Yang Divine Skill is the supreme martial art of the Taiyi True Sect. Not only ordinary disciples, but even the sect's elites might not be able to master it. Passed down through generations, the Nine Yang Divine Skill has become a symbol; it can be said that mastering it is a prerequisite for becoming the sect leader.

Currently, the Taiyi True Sect is fiercely fighting for the position of sect leader, yet the Nine Yang Divine Skill has appeared in Jiangzhou. If not handled properly, this turmoil could escalate into a wildfire.

Lu Zhishen, after all, was a disciple of the abbot of the Dafu Lingjiu Temple, yet he was still hunted down for so many years; I have absolutely no connection with the Taiyi True Sect, yet I've used their supreme martial art. Anyone with a brain can imagine the reaction of the Taiyi True Sect members.

Cheng Zongyang said in astonishment, "Is this really true? Could it be that one of your sect's masters has come to Jiangzhou as a guest?"

Lin Caiquan waved his whisk, a glint of light in his eyes, then chuckled after a moment.

"Why hide it, young friend Cheng?"

Cheng Zongyang suddenly remembered that the old scoundrel Lin had used a similar spell to verify the truthfulness of his words. It seemed he couldn't hide it from him anymore, so he could only chuckle awkwardly.

Lin Caiquan said in a deep voice, "The news of the Nine Yang Divine Skill appearing in Jiangzhou has already spread throughout the land. Do you want 100,000 disciples of the Taiyi True Sect to flock to Jiangzhou and join forces with the Song army to break through the city?"

This was a blatant threat! However, the threat was quite powerful. If the Taiyi True Sect sided with the Song army and participated in the Battle of Jiangzhou, everyone's only option was to immediately abandon Jiangzhou and run as far away as possible.

The Taiyi True Sect didn't even need to exert its full strength; just having Lin Caiquan's disciples join the Song army would be enough to give Meng Laoda a hard time.

Cheng Zongyang laughed heartily, "Since Instructor Lin is here to do business, shouldn't you at least show me the goods you're trading?"

Lin Caiquan calmly replied, "This deal is entirely beneficial to you, young friend—as long as you acknowledge that the Sect Leader promised me, Lin Caiquan, to succeed him as Sect Leader, and that it was I, Lin Caiquan, who used the Nine Yang Divine Skill in Jiangzhou, I will not only shield you from all doubts but also declare that the Taiyi True Sect will fully support Jiangzhou."

After a long pause, Cheng Zongyang exhaled and then gave a thumbs-up: "Old foxes are spicier! Instructor Lin, your methods are excellent; I, Cheng Zongyang, admire you!"

Lin Caiquan's move was brilliant, not only resolving his own predicament but also adding significant weight to his position in the struggle for sect leadership. No wonder he was so certain of such a deal; Cheng Zongyang had no reason to refuse.

However, having spent so much time in the Six Dynasties, Cheng Zongyang was no longer as easily swayed as he had been when he first arrived, readily believing whatever others said.

Cheng Zongyang changed the subject: "However, the Taiyi Zhenzong has shown its full support for Jiangzhou, making such a grand show of force. Isn't Instructor Lin afraid of arousing suspicion?"

Lan Caiquan replied magnanimously, "The friendship between my former Taiyi Zhenzong leader, Master Wang, and King Wu Mu is renowned throughout the world. My actions are merely an act of homage to the sages."

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "That explanation is good, but there's another matter—the one who fought me was Qin Han, the eunuch Qin. Instructor Lin asked me to fabricate a story, which is easy, but silencing Qin Han won't be so simple."

"What we say is naturally the truth. Although Commander Qin is exceptionally brave, he is ultimately a eunuch, and his words may not be believed by anyone,"

Lin Caiquan said confidently. "Moreover, Commander Qin may not be willing to get involved in this mess."

"Lin Jiaoyu's opening story was truly excellent; now I can't refuse even if I wanted to. Very well, I gain the support of the Taiyi Zhenzong sect, and Lin Jiaoyu gets the position of sect leader—this deal is a win-win for everyone,"

Cheng Zongyang said, raising a finger. "I only have one request."

"Please speak freely, young friend." "

The timing of the Taiyi Zhenzong's announcement of its support for Jiangzhou is up to me,"

Lin Caiquan said, raising his palm. "It's a deal!"

The two lightly tapped their hands, finalizing the deal.

Lin Caiquan flicked his sleeve and left gracefully, saying, "Thank you for waiting, young friend Qin. I'll take my leave."

Qin Hui returned to report, and upon seeing a stranger in the courtyard, immediately concealed himself. With his skills, hiding from others wouldn't have been difficult, but Lin Caiquan had spotted him immediately, forcing him to reveal himself. He cupped his hands and smiled, "Have a safe journey, Lin Jiaoyu."

"Thank you for your kind words, young friend Qin."

Lin Caiquan put away his whisk, took out a bone flute from his sleeve, and his figure floated away. A moment later, a flute melody sounded and gradually faded into the distance under the moonlight.

"Both have cultivated for decades, but Master Shuai has become a sage,

while this old fox surnamed Lin has become a cunning old demon." Cheng Zongyang rubbed his face and said, "I originally wanted to make Zhuo Biaozi or Qiu Xiaozi the sect leader so they could take over the Taiyi True Sect. Luckily, I didn't, otherwise, even the two of them combined wouldn't be able to defeat

this old fox surnamed Lin." Qin Hui pondered for a moment, "It might not be a bad thing for Lin Caiquan to become the sect leader. After all, you've dealt with him before, so it's better than anyone else becoming the sect leader of the Taiyi True Sect."

"That's right. Although old Lin isn't a good guy, he's a smart man. Anyone can guess how much old Lin covets the Nine Yang Divine Skill, but he's been talking to me for so long and hasn't mentioned the whereabouts of the Nine Yang Divine Skill at all. Tsk tsk."

As the Taiyi True Sect's most prized skill, the Nine Yang Divine Skill is incredibly tempting to Lin Caiquan. If the roles were reversed, Cheng Zongyang thought he would definitely ask for the Nine Yang Divine Skill as a bargaining chip, regardless of whether it worked out or not.

Lin Caiquan's ability to restrain himself shows that this old fellow truly knows his limits and knows when to advance and retreat—a shrewd and calculating individual.

Cheng Zongyang, half comforting himself and half earnestly, said, "It's not necessarily a bad thing. To be honest, dealing with him is easier than dealing with Xiao Qiuzi."

"If Instructor Lin really does as he promises, Jiangzhou will gain a great boost, but why doesn't the young master immediately publicize this?"

"Such significant news shouldn't be released casually. What makes speculative businesses profitable? Volatility; only with volatility can there be profit."

Cheng Zongyang said thoughtfully, "Brother Jianchen, we should think about how to use this news to cause a significant fluctuation in Song's grain prices..." Cheng

Zongyang never imagined that his trip to Lin'an would turn into a series of meetings and negotiations.

In less than ten days in Lin'an, he had met with Xue Yanshan, taking over his Snow Falcon mercenary group; met with Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong, forging a friendship; met with Gao Qiu, learning his true identity; met with Yun Xiufeng, finalizing a cooperation agreement between the Yun Clan Chamber of Commerce and the Cheng Clan of Panjiang; and met with Lin Caiquan, using a lie to extricate himself from a predicament to help him ascend to the position of leader of the Taiyi Zhenzong sect in exchange for the sect's support for Jiangzhou.

Not counting his meetings with Li Yinchen, Liao Qunyu, Tao Hongmin, and others—any one of these meetings, if leaked, would cause a huge upheaval in the Six Dynasties.

When did he possess such power, enough to manipulate events in the Six Dynasties?

"The dragon's transformations are boundless; it can grow large or small, rise or hide. When large, it stirs up clouds and mist; when small, it conceals itself like a mustard seed. When hidden, it lies within the waves; when rising, it soars through the universe. Its breath generates wind and clouds; its scales and claws shake heaven and earth. When the heavenly dragon roars, all the eight directions respond." "Enough, you treacherous minister, aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?" "

With the young master's dragon mouth open, this subordinate is filled with trepidation."

"You damned traitor, you're desperately building a ladder for me to climb? If I become emperor, the first thing I'll do is castrate you and take you to the palace as a eunuch!"

"Hmm..."

Qin Hui stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Since the patriarch has this intention, it seems I should first find a wife to continue the family line."

"Brother Qin, you should have done that long ago!"

Cheng Zongyang became interested. "Which girl have you taken a fancy to? Tell me. If she's from our own family, you can choose freely!"

“There is one… but now is not the time to speak. I will report to you later, young master.”

Although it was late at night, all of Cheng Zongyang’s men in Lin’an, including the injured Yu Ziyuan, had arrived. Qin Hui, Lin Qingpu, Ao Run, Feng Yuan, Yu Ziyuan, Jin Wuzhu, Leopard Head, and Green-Faced Beast, along with two veterans from the Pengyi Society from Xingyue Lake, were also present.

“One good news, one bad news. The good news is that Jiangzhou has a better chance of winning. The bad news is that Master Yun has been targeted by the Black Demon Sea.”

Cheng Zongyang briefly introduced the current situation, omitting the details of how he obtained the intelligence, and then told everyone that the first priority now was to ensure Yun Xiufeng’s safety.

Jiangzhou had lost the Snow Falcon Group’s support, and the Yun family’s support was of paramount importance and could not be lost.

Led by Yu Ziyuan, Xingyue Lake and others shared the same view: investigate the Black Demon Sea's true strength in Lin'an, and mobilize the Lin'an branch of the Pengyi Society, the Lin'an branch of the Snow Falcon Group, and all the forces present to eradicate the Black Demon Sea's influence in Lin'an.

Cheng Zongyang smiled bitterly to himself. Although Yu Ziyuan was talented, he was still somewhat inferior to Du Yuansheng, Su Xiao, and others.

The Black Demon Sea had been hiding in Lin'an for so many years; even Lin Chong, whom Yue Niaoren had casually mentioned, had sent his sect's concubines to monitor them for a full twelve years, remaining inconspicuous. How easy would it be to investigate their true strength? Making a move might alert the Black Demon Sea. Their plan was to sit back and watch the tigers fight, letting the Xingyue Lake camp clash with the Song army in Jiangzhou, while they only attacked when there was an opening.

Yu Ziyuan's idea wasn't wrong either; concentrating all available forces to fight the Black Demon Sea wasn't out of the question. But if things aren't handled cleanly, pushing them too far would be like opening another battlefield in Lin'an. Fighting on two fronts, winning would be a miracle. It's not a life-or-death situation; such a desperate gamble is too risky.

Ao Run and Feng Yuan shared similar thoughts with Yu Ziyuan. The killing of their leader, Xue Yanshan, meant the entire Snow Falcon Regiment was wiped out by the Black Demon Sea. The enmity between the two sides ran deep, and Ao Run and Feng Yuan wouldn't miss any opportunity for revenge.

Qin Hui and Lin Qingpu, however, shared similar views with Cheng Zongyang. They believed that a full-scale confrontation with the Black Demon Sea now was unwise in terms of timing, location, and available manpower.

Since the Black Demon Sea's target was Yunxiu Peak, and their side was still hiding, they should use this to their advantage to protect Yunxiu Peak first, using defense as a form of offense, and then settle accounts with the Black Demon Sea after the Jiangzhou battle was over.

Leopard Head and Blue-Faced Beast were the most decisive. They held up six fingers and said, "Four sheep! Whoever you want us to attack, we'll attack!"

Only Jin Wuzhu remained silent, his beastly eyes gleaming with ferocity, clearly plotting something.

Cheng Zongyang asked, "Wolf Lord, what are you thinking about?"

"Wild Boar Forest,"

Jin Wuzhu mumbled, "They won't let Instructor Lin go."

Cheng Zongyang slapped his forehead, realizing it was this beastman, whose IQ was no more than seventy, who had awakened him from his reverie.

Black Demon Sea's abandonment of Lin Chong as a pawn didn't mean they would let him go; it was highly likely they would eliminate Lin Chong and then use Ning Yuji to connect with Gao Yanei.

Now that Lin Chong was exiled, Cheng Zongyang was ninety percent certain Black Demon Sea would choose Wild Boar Forest to make their move. If they seized this opportunity, even if they couldn't severely damage Black Demon Sea, they could at least sever a few of its tentacles.

Another sleepless night. With all the details settled, dawn broke. After everyone left,

Cheng Zongyang couldn't fall asleep, whether due to the dramatic events of the past day and night, his heightened emotions, or something else entirely. He tossed and turned in bed for half the night, still unable to feel sleepy. Two days ago, he had been attacked at Phoenix Ridge, sustaining numerous injuries, but thankfully none were broken. After a day's rest, his wounds were almost completely healed. The cut on his forehead from the blade's energy was nearly invisible.

Thinking of the Dragon-Slaying Saber's invincible sharpness, Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but recall the strange object in his backpack. With dawn approaching and sleep impossible, he got up, opened his backpack, and took out the bare

hilt of the saber. The red talisman on the hilt had crumbled, leaving no trace. This hilt was one Cheng Zongyang had obtained from that chaotic ninja, Asuka Kumazo, in Jiankang. Back in Qingzhou, the witch from the Black Demon Sea had also mentioned it, suggesting it was something very important.

Cheng Zongyang had already witnessed the three states of this strange weapon: an empty hilt, a lightning-fast blade, and a solidified blade. Even now, he vividly remembered the moment the blade appeared.

At that time, the ghostly blade had almost completely drained his true energy, first appearing as an unformed lightning blade, and then the black and white patterned blade itself.

Could it be that after the seal was broken, the blade's power was related to the wielder's cultivation level? Whatever the wielder's cultivation level, the blade would appear accordingly?

Cheng Zongyang gripped the hilt and tried to infuse it with his true energy. This time, he was extremely careful. To prevent the blade from escaping and injuring someone, he deliberately held the hilt downwards. The instant the lightning flashed, smoke billowed, and a trench more than five feet long was immediately dug into the brick floor.

Qin Hui heard the commotion and slipped inside. He saw brick dust flying everywhere, Cheng Zongyang wiping away the dust and coughing. A straight blade mark appeared at his feet, as neat as if it had been measured with a ruler.

A knife lay nearby, its blade straight with a slight curve at the tip. At first glance, its black and white stripes possessed an eerie beauty.

Qin Hui, who had served Marquis Shang for many years and was quite knowledgeable, still couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing this blade, "What kind of knife is this?"

Cheng Zongyang's inner energy had been completely drained, leaving him almost unable to grip the knife. If it weren't for the sharpness of the lightning-condensed blade, the rebound might have cost him his life.

Despite being utterly disheveled by this ghostly knife, Cheng Zongyang still managed a laugh. What he lacked most now wasn't money or talent, but a reliable weapon. Every time he fought, he carried a cheap, broken knife costing a dozen or so silver coins—not only was it embarrassing, but it was also incredibly wasteful. The knives he used were either broken, chipped, or completely unusable.

In intense battles, he had to change knives several times a single fight. Compared to Boss Meng's Heavenly Dragon Halberd and Second Brother Hou's Black Tortoise Spear, the knives he had used could fill a junkyard. Some sarcastic people had already nicknamed Cheng Zongyang "Battlefield Junk King." This knife could chip a dent in the Dragon-Slaying Saber in one strike; it was definitely no ordinary weapon. Hearing Qin Hui's question, Cheng Zongyang smiled arrogantly: "Its name is..."

Cheng Zongyang's face stiffened; he realized he'd completely forgotten its name. That old hippopotamus, Granny Wu, had mentioned it before, but he hadn't paid it any mind, and now he couldn't remember it at all.

Qin Hui waited a long time for further explanation, then tentatively asked, "Perhaps this knife doesn't have a name yet?"

"It does,"

Cheng Zongyang said calmly, "This knife is called Thunder!"

Qin Hui said suspiciously, "The same name as Captain Zang's battle knife?"

Damn! I knew that sounded familiar!

"Wrong! This blade is a masterpiece of black and white, and it has a name: the Primordial Chaos Yin-Yang Divine Blade!"

"That name is similar to Lieutenant Colonel Cui's Primordial Chaos Hammer.

" "No, no, I remember now, its name is the Unwavering Blade."

"Finish it off?"

"Call it the Black and White Blade!"

"The Black and White Path?"

Cheng Zongyang said through gritted teeth, "The Laser Treasure Blade!"

"Like thunder, a fine name!"

Qin Hui hesitated for a moment, then said, "However, in my opinion, 'Thunderclap' would also be acceptable."

Cheng Zongyang hugged the blade, which he had finally managed to name, to his chest, tears almost streaming down his face.

"You know nothing! This has nothing to do with thunder! You illiterate!"

Leopard Head rushed in, his voice booming, "Young Master! Someone has come to visit!"

He then lowered his voice, "That person is a bit strange, Young Master, please be careful."

Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but look at Leopard Head with newfound respect. “Old Leopard has actually become shrewd. Something’s not right.”

Leopard Head said mysteriously, “That man’s surname is strange—it’s actually ‘Urine.’”

“Urine?”

Cheng Zongyang was shocked. What kind of person would have that surname?

Leopard Head nodded seriously.

Then Cheng Zongyang and Qin Hui reacted at the same time: "Liao—"

"Huizhi! I think you should start a class,"

Cheng Zongyang said as he walked, "Teach these beasts the Thousand Character Classic and the Hundred Family Surnames, otherwise they won't be able to live like this:"

Qin Hui said modestly, "I am illiterate, it would be better if you, young master, taught them yourself."

"Oh, you treacherous minister, you have cornered me, I'm sweating profusely, and you won't even let me get angry? Fine, fine, I take back what I said earlier, let me tell you, only you can teach Old Leopard, Old Beast, and Old Technique their intelligence."

Leopard Head said unconvinced, "I don't need to be taught! I can read and count! One, two, three, five, seven... I can count to one hundred and one:"

Cheng Zongyang said with a dark face, "The one who teaches you to count must be a master! You count odd numbers quickly, right?"

"Mr. Liao, your esteemed presence is an honor! I am sorry for not welcoming you!"

Liao Qunyu, wearing a slightly worn cotton robe, sat in the living room waiting. Seeing his master emerge, he stood up, politely cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled, "Young Master Cheng, you've kept this from me for so long!"

Cheng Zongyang felt a slight chill, wondering where he had slipped up. Liao Qunyu was merely a bookstore owner he'd met by chance; it seemed there was no question of keeping it a secret.

While pondering this, Cheng Zongyang chuckled and said, "Mr. Liao, you flatter me."

"Since our chance encounter in Qingzhou, my master has been thinking of Young Master Cheng and Mr. Qin constantly. Only today did I learn that Young Master Cheng has been recommended by Prefect Teng and already holds an official position,"

Liao Qunyu said. "In a way, I should address you as 'Master Yuanwai' (a respectful title)."

This was the first time anyone had come to Lin'an and mentioned his official rank since he'd been there in days. However, it wasn't surprising that Liao Qunyu, a businessman in Lin'an, valued his official position.

Cheng Zongyang sat down and said, "Mr. Liao, you are indeed well-informed. I am sorry to have

to admit that you only hold a nominal position as a guest minister." Liao Qunyu said in a refined manner, "In terms of talent alone, the outstanding individuals among the guest ministers are no less capable than those who passed the imperial examinations. Currently, Grand Tutor Jia is in power in the Song Dynasty

, and everything is in need of rebuilding. If you, Master Cheng, are interested in an official career, you have a bright future ahead of you." Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "Mr. Liao is also a man of great talent and a native of the Song Dynasty. Why don't you take the imperial examinations and become an official, instead of just being a bookstore manager?"

Liao Qunyu was taken aback, then chuckled, "Exactly! Brother Cheng's words make me feel ashamed."

Qin Hui bowed slightly, "The other day, I received several volumes of books from Mr. Liao. My master has no way to repay you, so he has specially prepared a few small gifts. Please accept them, Mr. Liao."

Cheng Zongyang secretly praised: That treacherous minister is indeed very thoughtful! However, when he saw the gifts that Qin Hui took out, Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but be stunned.

Two sets of lake bead bracelets from the Baiyi tribe and a coral tree from the Biling tribe were both specialties of the Southern Wilderness. Although they were quite expensive in Lin'an, they weren't considered extremely valuable, enough to buy more than a set of "Jin Ping Mei."

However, there were also two small jars, about a foot in size, intricately carved and pure white. Others might not recognize them, but Cheng Zongyang immediately knew they were carved from mammoth ivory he had brought from Jingxi.

Ivory wasn't rare in Lin'an, but the mammoth ivory from Jingxi was larger and of superior quality than ordinary ivory. These two jars seemed to have no use, but they were certainly not cheap. When did this treacherous minister become so generous?

Liao Qunyu, who had been wearing a polite smile, couldn't help but become serious when he saw the two jars. He examined them carefully for a moment, then exclaimed, "Excellent material! Excellent craftsmanship!" Qin

Hui said, "I only had them carved a few days ago. Time was short, so they weren't perfect. Please forgive me, Mr. Liao."

Liao Qunyu sighed, "I've never seen ivory of such size before. On behalf of my master, I thank Master Cheng and Mr. Qin for such a generous gift."

Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but ask, "What is this?"

Qin Hui replied, "This isn't particularly rare; it's highly sought after in Lin'an. It's just that it's not the right season; it can only be used after summer."

"You've been talking for so long, and I still don't understand what it's for,"

Qin Hui coughed and whispered, "A cricket jar."

Cheng Zongyang's face darkened. Using top-quality mammoth ivory to make cricket jars? Is this some kind of waste? Even making a vibrator like that brat would be better!

Liao Qunyu, however, treated the two cricket jars with great care, carefully placing them in a box and instructing his attendant to hold them securely.

Liao Qunyu was extremely sincere, not only coming personally to invite them but also providing a carriage to take them to the banquet. Having already arranged a dinner, Cheng Zongyang couldn't refuse any longer. After a few polite words, he boarded the carriage with Liao Qunyu. Yu Ziyuan, still recovering from his injuries, was escorted by Ao Run and the Blue-Faced Beast. Cheng Zongyang had brought a large sum of gold coins, originally intending to repay a portion if the Yun family faced financial difficulties. However, during his meeting with Yun Xiufeng, the head of the Yun family promised to provide full assistance, and the money wasn't in a hurry to be returned. Therefore, it remained at the residence, guarded by Feng Yuan, Jin Wuzhu, and Leopard Head.

Last time, Liao Qunyu's employer was in the city, but due to other commitments, they hadn't been able to meet. This time, the employer wasn't in the city, and the group traveled for nearly an hour before arriving at Geling, northwest of Lin'an.

Geling bordered West Lake, and the carriage journeyed along the mountain road, its waters reflecting the verdant bamboo forests—a scene straight out of a painting. After crossing Xiling Bridge, the carriage headed north into the mountains, where a cluster of buildings could be seen in the distance.

A plaque hung at the main gate, shrouded in green gauze, faintly displaying the three characters "Houleyuan" (meaning "Restaurant to the Afterlife").

The servants, having already received word, opened the gates to welcome guests. Carriages rushed in without stopping, passing Pancui Hall (named after its ancient pines), Xuexiang Pavilion (with its courtyard full of centuries-old plum trees), then Cuiyan Hall, Yixiu Hall, Yilu Pavilion, Yurui Pavilion, Qingsheng Terrace…

The carriages turned south, from Houleyuan to Yangleyuan (Growing the Garden), the scenery shifting from mountains to lakeside. Along the way, pavilions and terraces continued to line the path. The carriages passed Guangyang Pavilion, Chunyu Pavilion, Yangle Hall, Jiasheng Hall, Qiushui Pavilion, Diyichun (First Spring), Meiwu (Plum Grove), Yanchuan Pavilion, and two other courtyards: Shuizhu Courtyard and the adjacent Xiangyue Neighborhood.

At first, Cheng Zongyang and Liao Qunyu were chatting and laughing, but now Cheng Zongyang was utterly speechless. Witnessing the opulence of the garden, Cheng Zongyang finally understood that Liao Qunyu's owner was no ordinary bookstore proprietor.

Although this villa couldn't compare to the lavishly decorated Golden Valley Garden of Fatty Shi's family, where even the trees were practically chopped down and replaced with gold, its elegant and opulent atmosphere was unmatched by the Shi family.

And that wasn't all. The carriage continued its journey, passing dozens of interconnected buildings and landscapes, including You Sheng Zai Tang, Jie Tang, Ai Ci Ting, Liu Zhao Ting, Du Xi Ge, Yu Yuan Ge, Shu Shi Tai, Yi Wan Ting… before finally stopping in front of a courtyard bearing the inscription "Ban Xian Tang."

Liao Qunyu alighted from the carriage and gestured, "Please, both of you."

Cheng Zongyang had also calmed down. He had even toured the inner palace of the Jin Kingdom; he wasn't intimidated by such extravagance.

Chapter Six:

Before them stood an antique building inscribed with "Duo Bao Ge" (Treasure Pavilion). Countless beautiful concubines in vibrant attire moved about inside, like fairies, but even more numerous were the pavilion's dazzling array of calligraphy, paintings, and rare artifacts.

Although Cheng Zongyang was not an expert, he could tell that these jade paintings and calligraphy were no ordinary pieces; any one of them could be worth several coins.

The old man he had met in Qingzhou, wearing an octagonal turban, sat calmly on a brocade couch, surrounded by beautiful women. Upon seeing Cheng Zongyang and his party enter, he simply waved his hand and said, "Sit."

Although the old man's tone was calm, it carried an undeniable authority. Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to sit down and accept the fragrant tea. The old man said, "Young friend, what do you think of my Banxian Hall?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled bitterly, "I'm like a frog in a well. Seeing this place today, I finally understand the true meaning of 'wealth and status.' Tsk tsk, even Jia Baoyu's Grand View Garden probably can't compare to this."

The old man was slightly taken aback: "Jia Baoyu?"

"Oh, a young master from my hometown, known as the 'Wealthy Idler.'"

Cheng Zongyang quickly changed the subject. "Back in Qingzhou, I was blind to your greatness. May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

The old man said, "What a coincidence! My surname is also Jia, and my pen name is Qiuhe."

Cheng Zongyang glanced at Qin Hui with some puzzlement. The treacherous minister wore a humble smile, seemingly already knowing the old man's identity, yet offering him no hint whatsoever.

Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask, "Is Mr. Qiuhe a businessman or an official?"

He didn't know what a ridiculous question he'd asked, but the surrounding maids were either surprised or amused, their eyes filled with astonishment. The old man laughed heartily, pointing at Cheng Zongyang and saying, "Qunyu, what did I say? This young friend Cheng, although he holds an official position, has absolutely no interest in being an official! Otherwise, why wouldn't he have even inquired about my name, Jia Shixian?"

Although Cheng Zongyang was somewhat prepared, the mention of "Jia Shixian" still felt like a blow to the head.

First Gao Qiu, then Old Jia—why did they all like to play this game with him?

Before coming to Lin'an, he had considered what kind of person Jia Shixian would be and what kind of dealings he might have with him, but he never imagined such a scene: Jia Shixian, the Grand Tutor of the Song Dynasty, a powerful minister who controlled the court, the planner of the Jiangzhou Battle, his greatest adversary in the Song Dynasty—was actually sitting right in front of him.

Jia Shixian stood up, paced a few steps in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, and sighed, "The criticisms my young friend Cheng and your companion gave me in Qingzhou back then still haunt me."

Cheng Zongyang couldn't quite remember what he and the treacherous minister had said in Qingzhou, but one thing was certain: nothing good had been said.

The treacherous minister had been incredibly eloquent, launching a scathing attack on this powerful minister of the Song Dynasty right in front of Jia Shixian, practically saying: "You're no good at politics, I'd be better off doing it." If he were Jia Shixian, he probably wouldn't forget it for years.

Jia Shixian took a file from the antique-filled pavilion and shook it in his hand.

“Although Teng Fu is out of touch with reality, he does have some insight. If it weren’t for his recommendation, I might not have been able to meet young friend Cheng again.”

He then turned to Liao Qunyu and said, “Let him remember this credit.”

Liao Qunyu bowed slightly, “Yes.”

Jia Shixian turned back, “You did a very good job setting up porridge stalls and buying grain at reasonable prices in Junzhou.”

Cheng Zongyang felt extremely guilty and chuckled awkwardly, “I dare not, I dare not.”

Qin Hui said, “This is my young master’s pure heart. Among the common people, who doesn’t have parents? They support and cherish them, fearing for their lives. Who doesn’t have brothers? They are like feet and hands. Who doesn’t have wives and children? They are like guests and friends. My young master couldn’t bear to see the common people suffer, so he set up porridge stalls to provide relief. But in terms of saving lives, Junzhou only has tens of thousands of people. How can it compare to the Grand Tutor’s

benevolent act of benefiting the four hundred prefectures and hundreds of millions of lives in the Song Dynasty?” Qin Hui’s words at this moment finally eased the almost tense atmosphere in the pavilion.

Jia Shixian put down the dossier and laughed, "Qin Ban's words are clearly insincere."

Qin Hui said, "Your nonsense back then, and the Grand Tutor's lack of remorse, already shows the heart of a prime minister. Today, you treat us with the courtesy due to guests. Such virtue truly reflects the magnanimity of a saint."

Qin Hui showered Jia Shixian with compliments, finally hitting the nail on the head.

"I do have that much magnanimity,"

Jia Shixian said. "It's laughable that some pedantic scholars say I lack tolerance. If their insight were even a fraction of that of young friend Cheng and Qin Ban, would I not tolerate them?"

As he spoke, Jia Shixian produced another document, patting the cover and saying, "This document must be thanks to young friend Cheng."

Cheng Zongyang was bewildered. "What document?"

"Teng Fu's letter of apology, discussing the misappropriation of military funds for purchasing grain. It contains a detailed account, a rare and clear account in the court."

Cheng Zongyang realized that his letter had been effective.

"Prefect Teng has devoted himself to the military and civilians of Junzhou, and I merely provided a few figures."

"These figures are not easily obtained. Even the officials of the Ministry of Revenue do not have such detailed and thorough understanding when discussing grain prices. With Teng Fu's vision, how could he have such insight!"

Jia Shixian and Teng Fu were political enemies, and he had nothing good to say about each other. He put down the letter and suddenly said, "I heard that the paper currency promoted by the Tao family's money shop in Qingzhou was proposed by you?"

Cheng Zongyang felt a sense of absurdity: Gao Qiu, Yun Xiufeng, Lin Caiquan, and Jia Shixian all seemed like cunning old foxes, as if they had eyes and ears everywhere, always managing to surprise him. He had said this several times in the past few days, and now he had to repeat himself.

"Grand Tutor, your information network is truly impressive..."

"It's not that I'm well-informed, it's that Tao Wu said it himself."

Jia Shixian's tone was full of sneer and deep-seated contempt. "These Qingzhou merchants are fools!"

Tao Hongmin was, after all, his major creditor, and Cheng Zongyang couldn't easily respond to Jia Shixian's anger.

However, Jia Shixian was the Grand Tutor, a powerful minister who had held sway over the Song state for over ten years. What power did Tao Hongmin have to anger him?

After a while, seeing that Jia Shixian's expression hadn't softened, Cheng Zongyang could only laugh awkwardly and say, "I didn't know the Grand Tutor's identity that day, and my words were quite offensive. Please forgive me, Grand Tutor."

Jia Shixian snorted coldly, "Back then, you were just a commoner from Qingzhou, so it was fine. But now that you are a guest minister of the Song state, receiving the emperor's salary, do you know what crime it is to criticize the court?"

Ever since the merchants of Qingzhou were mentioned, Jia Shixian's mood had soured. Now, for no apparent reason, he suddenly put on airs, making Cheng Zongyang wonder what he was up to.

At the crucial moment, Qin Hui stepped forward, willing to go to great lengths for his master.

"Since my master is a guest minister, discussing state affairs is his duty. To remain silent would be a crime. I beg the Grand Tutor to consider this carefully."

"I have already witnessed Qin Ban Dang's talent and eloquence,"

Jia Shixian said coldly. "However, if I were to convict Master Cheng, neither the Court of Judicial Review nor the Censorate would dare to object—can Qin Ban Dang be trusted?"

Just moments before, he had been chatting and laughing, but in the blink of an eye, Jia Shixian seemed to have transformed. Although his attire still carried the leisurely air of a wealthy man, his eyes had become unusually sharp.

He slightly raised his chin, his arrogant demeanor naturally revealing the overwhelming arrogance of a powerful minister who held absolute authority.

Seeing Jia Shixian's overbearing attitude, Qin Hui calmly bowed and then said composedly, "Since we do not discuss state affairs, may I ask why the Grand Tutor has summoned my master today?"

Jia Shixian stared at Qin Hui, the atmosphere in the pavilion thick with tension, as if a storm was brewing. The maids around him were filled with unease and remained silent, while Liao Qunyu also sipped her tea, head bowed, without uttering a word.

Despite Jia Shixian's imposing presence, Qin Hui maintained his gentle smile. Although their statuses were vastly different, his expression remained unchanged despite Jia Shixian's coldness.

After a long while, Jia Shixian suddenly burst into laughter, pointing at Qin Hui and shaking his head, saying, "I knew I couldn't scare you, Qin Huizhi!"

With that, Jia Shixian's smile vanished, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and he turned to Cheng Zongyang, saying, "I summoned you here today, of course, to discuss matters concerning the money exchange."

The meal lasted a full two hours. Throughout, Jia Shixian repeatedly pressed for answers, and Cheng Zongyang repeatedly explained, discussing everything from the function and printing of paper money to the details of its circulation and exchange. Qin Hui and Liao Qunyu could barely get a word in edgewise. Finally, after Jia Shixian finished his questioning, Cheng Zongyang felt a cold sweat break out on his body. Although the banquet featured delicacies rarely seen in the outside world, and the concubines serving were all exceptionally beautiful women, Cheng Zongyang found the food tasteless and had no idea what he was eating.

Finally, Jia Shixian stopped asking questions, and all the dishes were removed and replaced with plain tea.

Jia Shixian pondered for a long time, seemingly considering Cheng Zongyang's earlier explanation of paper money. Finally, he asked, "Master Cheng just said that paper money issued up to five times the principal is within a safe range. Is that true?"

Cheng Zongyang nodded without hesitation, "With a 20% reserve, I can assure you it's safe."

Jia Shixian put down his teacup and stared at Cheng Zongyang with a determined look, saying, "If I entrust you with a principal of 400,000 gold coins, can you guarantee the immediate exchange of 2 million gold coins in paper money?"

Cheng Zongyang was taken aback, but immediately realized he had stumbled upon a golden opportunity and answered without hesitation, "Absolutely!"

"In that case,"

Jia Shixian said, "Please invite Steward Xia from Tao's Money Shop."

Soon after, an old man was led into the hall. He first performed a deep bow to the Grand Tutor and Prime Minister of Song, then rose and carefully retreated to the side.

Jia Shixian didn't introduce him to Cheng, Qin, and the others, but instead asked directly, "What are your bank's regulations? Have you presented them?"

Steward Xia respectfully replied, "I have."

He then produced several sheets of fine plain paper.

Jia Shixian didn't even glance at them, waving his hand and saying, "Tell me how many times the amount of paper money you can provide?"

"Your Excellency, our bank has calculated that we can provide a maximum of two times, but since Your Excellency has personally requested it, our bank must provide three times the amount of paper money for exchange."

"Four hundred thousand gold coins as principal, to print one million two hundred thousand gold coins worth of paper money?"

"Your Excellency, that's right."

"And the method of exchange?" "

Our bank will open a branch in Lin'an, accepting paper money on the first five days of each month,"

Steward Xia said. "Anyone who brings the money will be paid the exact amount in gold coins."

Jia Shixian turned to Cheng Zongyang and asked, "And your bank?"

Cheng Zongyang already understood. Tao's Bank had initially recommended paper money to Jia Shixian, but hadn't expected Jia Shixian to directly establish a relationship with them. Jia Shixian was also a shrewd man. After the conversation, he immediately summoned the people from Tao's Money Shop to meet him, intending for him to bid against Tao's Money Shop face-to-face.

The problem was that Jia Shixian knew nothing about the Cheng family of Panjiang. He only relied on Teng Fu's recommendation and Cheng Zongyang's status as a guest official to involve him in this important matter. It was unclear whether Teng Fu's reputation was so good that Jia Shixian had no doubt about his recommendation, or whether Jia Shixian simply didn't take the exchange of paper money seriously.

Cheng Zongyang also considered another possibility: Jia Shixian, having held power for so long, had become too domineering and somewhat self-righteous. Because Qin Huizhi and he had met him in Qingzhou, he had developed a kind of self-confidence in his abilities.

In any case, this Grand Tutor Jia was frivolous to the point of childishness in this matter. There was a reason why he was considered a treacherous minister.

Cheng Zongyang spoke up, "Once paper money is issued, it will circulate throughout the entire territory. It would be inconvenient to only accept it in Lin'an. I will set up a branch in Lin'an, and also establish branches in the southeast, northwest, and other locations, accepting payments at any time, regardless of holidays."

Steward Xia's expression shifted, realizing the young man's identity. He quickly changed his tune, saying, "If the Grand Tutor agrees, our bank will also open more branches. However, this might cause more trouble for the local governments."

Cheng Zongyang smiled, "If it can be accepted at any time, the government won't necessarily be bothered by this little trouble."

Jia Shixian asked, "If Tao's Money Shop is to handle this, how will these paper currencies be issued?"

Steward Ma cautiously replied, "The paper currencies will be printed by our money shop and delivered to the Ministry of Revenue. There will be 400,000 one-string notes and 20,000 one-hundred-string notes. Once our money shop receives the paper currencies, we will exchange them for coins, and at the end of the year, we will reconcile accounts with the Ministry of Revenue."

Cheng Zongyang said, "Paper currencies are a matter of great importance, and our shop dares not act on its own. In my opinion, at the beginning of each year, the Ministry of Revenue should consult with our shop regarding how many paper currencies we plan to issue and how much capital should be provided. Then, our shop will print the paper currencies uniformly, for the court's use, and our shop will exchange them upon receipt. In principle, the total amount should not exceed five times the capital, and the printing costs should be borne by our shop."

The steward of Tao's Money Shop hesitated for a moment, then curtsied and said, "Your Excellency, I dare not act on my own in this matter; I must first consult my master..."

Jia Shixian interrupted him. "No need. Qunyu, you handle this matter. After the agreement is reached, the 400,000 gold coins borrowed from Tao's Money Shop will be handed over to Master Cheng."

Jia Shixian had made up his mind, and although the steward of Tao's Money Shop was greatly alarmed, he could only kowtow and take his leave.

Jia Shixian stood up and said, "I have already seen those two cricket jars. It is rare to find such large ivory jars; even the palace rarely sees them. Thank you for your trouble, Master Cheng. It is a pity that the season is not right now. I will invite you to my Duobao Pavilion to enjoy the crickets in the summer."

Cheng Zongyang hurriedly said, "Please wait, Your Excellency. I have two matters to report to you first!"

"Then call Qunyu..."

Cheng Zongyang insisted, "These two matters are of great importance to me, but to Your Excellency, they are merely trivial matters that can be decided with a word. Please make the decision."

Jia Shixian stopped. "Tell me about them."

After leaving Banxian Hall, Cheng Zongyang finally dropped his composure. His mouth couldn't help but grin, and he couldn't stop laughing, as if a large gold ingot had fallen from the sky into his arms, still hot to the touch. He was so happy that he didn't know what to do.

Compared to Cheng Zongyang's ecstatic expression, as if he'd struck gold, Qin Hui's face was extremely cautious.

As the carriage crossed the Xiling Bridge, Qin Hui finally couldn't help but say, "Young Master, how can you so easily agree to Jia Shixian's conditions?"

Cheng Zongyang asked in surprise, "How are they demanding?"

"Jia Shixian requires you to manage the money exchange as an Assistant Director of the Land Reclamation Bureau, issuing five times the amount of paper money with a capital of 400,000 gold coins. How can you accept such a condition?"

"Hehehehe..."

Cheng Zongyang laughed like a cat stealing fish, "This wasn't Old Jia's idea. I told Tao Hongmin about it, and Tao Wu passed the idea on to Old Jia verbatim. But Tao Wu is too timid; how can three times the issuance volume satisfy Old Jia's appetite?"

“Five times is two million gold coins. If it were all paper money, it wouldn't matter; the Song state would ultimately suffer the consequences. But you promised Jia Shixian to open a money exchange, allowing paper money to be exchanged for gold coins at any time—where will this 1.6 million shortfall come from?”

Qin Hui reminded him, “My lord, this is not a small amount.”

Cheng Zongyang said, “Huizhi, let me ask you, how will the Song state use these two million gold coins?”

Qin Hui pondered for a moment, “It certainly won't be used to pay salaries. Most likely, the Song government will forcibly apportion it, paying the people with paper money when buying and selling goods.”

“What you said earlier is correct. No one dares to use paper slips to make up the military pay; otherwise, it would cause a mutiny, and even if Old Jia has great power, he would have to step down. Officials certainly wouldn't accept paper as salaries. But if it's paid directly to the people, I dare say this paper money won't be able to be issued for even a day.”

Cheng Zongyang said, “Right now, it seems that only merchants will truly need this paper money.”

“Oh?”

"Do you remember the Yun family's 200,000 gold coins? The Yun family used more than 20 skilled guards, with the eldest young lady personally escorting them, transporting them all the way from Jiankang to Yunzhou. If it were paper money, one person could easily carry it, and then exchange it for gold coins upon arrival, saving so much effort. What's funny is that Tao's money shop was afraid of having too many branches and too much pressure to accept payments, so they only planned to set up one branch in Lin'an. If it turns out like that, Tao Wu's money shop will only go bankrupt."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Jia Shixian wanted to use paper money to fill the hole in Song's finances, but he also knew that this matter would not be easy. He didn't trust the officials of Song, and he didn't trust the money shops in Qingzhou, so he came to me. Haha, he's found the right person this time."

“The problem is that it’s difficult,”

Qin Hui said. “Although Master Jia summoned the steward of Tao’s Money Shop to bid against you, young master, I observed from the sidelines that Master Jia had already decided that you should handle it. Summoning that steward was just to silence Tao’s Money Shop. Young master, Master Jia has set a trap for you.”

Qin Hui’s concerns were not unfounded. Although Master Jia was frivolous, he was by no means a kind person. His choice to abandon Tao’s Money Shop and instead choose him clearly indicated that he believed he was easier to control. However, Cheng Zongyang was not worried. Master Jia’s suspicion of paper money had given him a golden opportunity.

“Brother, you’re not very professional about this,”

Cheng Zongyang laughed. “No need to rush, let’s talk slowly. Old Jia is short of money. He took Tao Wu’s advice and wanted to convert paper money into gold coins, but he felt it was too risky and he was afraid of losing it. He came to me for three reasons: first, I was the one who proposed the paper money, so I had a better chance of success; second, because of Teng Dayin’s recommendation, I now have a decent official position, so I’m practically family in the Song court; and third, he wants me to open a money exchange in a semi-official, semi-private capacity, responsible for the issuance and redemption of government-issued paper money. His only plan is to use me as a scapegoat if anything goes wrong.”

Cheng Zongyang patted the back of his chair and said, “But Old Jia didn’t expect that he would hand me a golden goose!” Cheng Zongyang

’s confident demeanor made Qin Hui even more puzzled. He said, “Young Master, you have a plan in mind. I would like to hear the details.”

"Do you remember the demands I made of Old Jia?"

Qin Hui nodded. "Young Master just proposed two rules to Master Jia, but in my opinion, these two rules are rather vague."

Cheng Zongyang smiled. "These two rules may sound vague, but they are actually the foundation of paper money. The first rule I mentioned is: paper money must be officially recognized and guaranteed to be usable for paying taxes."

While Qin Hui was still pondering this rule, Cheng Zongyang said, "To be honest, this kind of paper money cannot be considered true circulating currency; it should be considered cash checks, or more accurately, IOUs. The Song Dynasty's practice is equivalent to using these IOUs to prepay 1.6 million gold coins in taxes for the next few years."

Cheng Zongyang was very disappointed by the incompleteness of this paper money, but given the current situation, this was the limit of what he could do. Using tax revenue as the anchor of currency, this kind of paper money at least had the credibility of the Song Dynasty court as a guarantee.

Qin Hui, however, said, "I believe this is the Song Kingdom exchanging paper money for 1.6 million gold coins from our Cheng family. Ultimately, this money will fall into the hands of our Cheng family."

"You're afraid of a bank run, aren't you? But in my experience, the risk is very small,"

Cheng Zongyang said confidently. "Moreover, I have a second clause: the amount of paper money issued by the Song Kingdom must be approved by the Cheng family's bank in Panjiang. The Song Ministry of Revenue only needs to be nominally involved; once the paper money is printed, they can send someone to collect it."

Cheng Zongyang took a deep breath, suppressing the boiling excitement in his heart, and then said, "My treacherous brother, do you know how important this is? This is equivalent to saying that the right to issue paper money is in my hands!"

Qin Hui frowned. In his view, the Song Kingdom providing 400,000 gold coins as capital and demanding that the Cheng family's bank pay 2 million gold coins in readily convertible paper money was practically the same as handing money over to someone else.

But in Cheng Zongyang's view, this condition was outrageously generous. Jia Shixian's approach, though seemingly cautious, was essentially handing over the government's central bank to his personal management.

If handled properly, not only would the 1.6 million gold coins deficit that Qin Hui feared not occur, but the 400,000 gold coins of principal paid by the Song state alone would generate a substantial profit.

No wonder Jia Shixian miscalculated. Even Qin Hui felt that the Cheng family had suffered a huge loss and taken a tremendous risk in this deal, let alone those whose insight and thinking were inferior to that treacherous minister.

For the Song Dynasty, handing over 400,000 gold coins to the Cheng family's money shop, with the Cheng family providing a guarantee of 2 million gold coins for exchange, meant the Song court had gained an enormous advantage.

In Cheng Zongyang's eyes, he had obtained the Song Dynasty's central bank for free without spending a single penny. On the surface, both sides seemed to have gained something, and everyone was happy, but only Cheng Zongyang knew in his heart that he was the one who had the last laugh.

The excitement in Cheng Zongyang's heart surged like waves. This deal was the biggest deal of his life, and its true significance exceeded the imagination of anyone else.

Coming from the modern world, Cheng Zongyang deeply understood what it meant to control a country's central bank. Compared to the power he was about to gain, even Jia Shixian paled in comparison!

After a long silence, Cheng Zongyang sighed, "Brother, you knew Grand Tutor Jia's identity all along, did

n't you?" Qin Hui, who had been worried, was now relieved by his patriarch's certainty and adopted a humble demeanor, saying, "Not quite."

"Still playing games with me? If you didn't know his identity, would you have gone to such lengths to present him with a pair of cricket jars? Look at how happy Old Jia was, like he'd just had a son. Brother, tell me the truth! Were you deliberately trying to embarrass me by keeping it from me?"

Qin Hui laughed, "To be honest, I knew his identity as soon as Mr. Liao revealed it in Qingzhou. The reason I didn't tell you, young master, was because I saw that Mr. Liao and Mr. Jia seemed to have no ill intentions towards you. Forgive my bluntness, but young master, you don't possess the treacherous spirit of mountains and rivers. If you had known beforehand, wouldn't you have..." To avoid arousing suspicion from Liao and Jia, I took it upon myself to act without informing you, young master.

While Qin Hui was right, being kept in the dark was still unpleasant. Cheng Zongyang complained, "It would have been better if you had given me some time to prepare. This whole charade, aren't you afraid of giving me a heart attack?"

Qin Hui smiled and said, "Young master is magnanimous; he wouldn't go to such lengths."

As he spoke, the carriage suddenly slowed down, and someone outside called out, "Is that Young Master Cheng? My master invites you for a chat!"

URL 1:https://www.sex3p.com/htmlBlog/67490.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=67490&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : [Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 7

Next Page : [Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 9

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 8

comment Open a new window to view comments