[Hetu] [Heavenly Demon] [Episode 7] Chapter 8

Chapter Eight: Mystery and Confusion
At this moment, at the entrance of Gaoji Hall, four or five furtive vendors had just finished

whispering among themselves when, before they could leave, more than twenty burly young men quietly surrounded them. One of the men, who had been selling vases, had just

slipped into a nearby alley when four or five burly men suddenly appeared behind him, gagged him with a strip of cloth, stuffed him into a

sack , and threw him onto a cart that appeared to be transporting night soil.
After the sack was filled and the lid was tightly closed, the young driver couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Senior brother, who are

we tying up? Doesn't Master usually forbid us from doing these unorthodox businesses?

Why are we being forced to do this now?"
"Shut your mouth."
The leader was a middle-aged man of about thirty years old. Although he appeared very humble and polite, he

glared at him and said irritably, "Master's orders are not for you to ask. Why are you asking so many questions!"
The young driver playfully stuck out his tongue and didn't ask any more questions. Just then, another young man ran up,

panting , and asked, "Son-in-law, all those people are tied up, what should we do?"
"Not a single one left?"
the middle-aged man said coldly. "Don't make any mistakes. If even one is missing, I'll kill you all

."
"Yes, just as you instructed, all the sentries at the gate have been arrested."
The young man hurriedly said confidently, "There are six in total, all of them tied up by the brothers. One of them

is quite skilled in martial arts. If it weren't for the eldest son-in-law knocking him unconscious with one palm, this guy would have hurt many of our brothers."
"I understand."
The young man called son-in-law was Chen Qinglei's seventh son-in-law, his prized disciple who had practiced martial arts since childhood. He smiled with satisfaction after

hearing the situation, and said sinisterly, "Our old man instructed that these people are

disrupting the feng shui in the city. Find a place in the suburbs to bury them, and make sure it's discreet."
"This, we need to..."
The young disciple hesitated for a moment, then made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Hmm, kill them first, then bury them."
The middle-aged man stretched lazily, looking at the several sacks that were being carried over and were still struggling. He sneered

, "These guys think they can get away with offending the old man in this city? Damn it, when you bury them

, pick a bad spot with bad feng shui for them. Don't let these blind bastards get away with it."
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, the other disciples quickly stuffed all the people into the night-scented carts and sped towards the outskirts of the city.
"Go..."
At the middle-aged man's command, the rest of the men scattered in all directions, as if they had never been there.
Inside Gao Jitang's inner room, Bai Mu'en, his face full of doubt, asked softly, "...Senior brother, that father and son looked

down on their luck, but they were also quite wealthy. Although the Duke has just returned to Hangzhou, how could he know such

people from all walks of life?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't know!"
Shi Jingtian watched as the Chen family disciples at the door finished their fight before lowering his voice and saying, "By the way, Master said she

wants to move to the mansion at the foot of the mountain. As you know, we've been cramming together the mansions we built for her to enjoy her old age

. This time, it's rare that she's willing to let us show our filial piety, so I'd like to hear everyone's opinions."
"Really?"
Bai Mu'en's face lit up with joy. "Master is really willing to move down the mountain? That's wonderful!

The house I prepared for her has been sitting idle for ten years. Now, we finally have a chance to show our filial piety."
"Yes, contact your fellow disciples this afternoon."
Shi Jingtian said with a look of satisfaction, "A teacher for a day is a father for life. Since our master is willing to come down the mountain to live,

we disciples cannot neglect him. We have built so many houses here and there, why don't we all chip in

some money to buy all that land and build a big manor for our master?"
"Our master doesn't seem to like crowds, does she?"
Bai Mu'en hesitated upon hearing this.
"It's alright, I spoke with Master, and she was very happy!"
Shi Jingtian chuckled. "However, she also said it shouldn't be too extravagant; a place for her

to grow flowers and tend to plants would be nice. I've been thinking, the land for this house needs to be at least a bit large, to at least be worthy

of Master's teachings."
"Alright, there's no time like the present."
Bai Mu'en nodded seriously. "Let's split up and contact our fellow disciples inside and outside the city first.

We'll have a small gathering at Yipinlou tonight to discuss how to renovate Master's residence; this

is a big deal."
"Yes, and I'll also send someone to inform Junior Brother An in Yuyao."
Shi Jingtian was slightly excited. "Master's willingness to come down the mountain to live here is truly

the most important thing for us disciples. We'll also discuss whether she'd be willing to bestow a name upon our medicine shop. After all,

we're all fellow disciples, and I believe Master wouldn't refuse such an opportunity."
"I'd like to too!"
Bai Mu'en laughed heartily, pointing to his signboard. "I came up with this name because I saw the character 'Gao' on one of my master's old boots when I

was ."
"Alright, let's not delay any longer, let's split up and prepare."
Shi Jingtian smiled happily, unable to sit still any longer, and immediately bowed and took his leave.
"Manager."
No

sooner and then left through the back door."
"Why are you meddling in so many other people's business!"
Bai Mu'en glared at him, then immediately became cheerful again, waving his sleeve and saying, "Alright, you guys, we have

a happy occasion tonight, we're not open. You can call your fellow apprentices and find a place to have a drink tonight, just come back to the shop to pay whatever you want

."
"Master, what's the happy occasion?"
The shop assistant's eyes lit up, and he asked happily.
"Go away, enough nonsense."
Bai Mu'en waved his hand impatiently. Just as the young shop assistant was about to leave, another thought struck him, and

he quickly instructed, "Oh, and tell the accountant to check how much silver we have on hand and

how much we have in the bank. Tell the accountant to have the money ready in the next couple of days; I need it for something important."
"Huh?"
The young shop assistant, immediately filled with trepidation, asked, "Should we tell the mistress first?"
"Tell her my ass!"
Bai Mu'en retorted irritably. "I absolutely need this money. If it's not enough, I'll sell the entire business to raise the funds

! That woman only knows how to buy cosmetics all day long; she's all talk and no action, what does she know?"
"Ah...yes!"
The shop assistant broke out in a cold sweat. This manager, usually so gentle and somewhat henpecked, why was he suddenly

so full ?
"Who are you calling ignorant!"
At this moment, a fat middle-aged woman walked in from the door, her eyes wide, hands on her hips, and

she snapped, "You, surnamed Bai, have you got a death wish?! I've given you two sons and a daughter,

and in the end, I don't even have a say in this house!"
"Shut up!"
The usually gentle Bai Mu'en, instead of bowing and scraping as usual, straightened his back and

snapped , "If it weren't for you continuing the Bai family line, do you think I would have stayed single for so many years? Let me tell you,

this time my money is being spent wisely. If you dare to be stingy even a little, I'll never forgive you."
"What? You dare to keep a vixen?!"
The fat woman's face contorted, and she immediately sat on the ground, crying and shouting, "You heartless wretch! Raising sons and

daughters is so tiring, and you, on the other hand, spend all the money in the house on other vixens! How can you

face me, how can you face..."
"Enough!"
A loud "smack" rang out, accompanied by an angry shout!
For a moment, not only the waiters in the hall, but even Bai Mu'en's brother-in-law and father-in-law, who had just stepped in, were stunned

. The usually gentle and polite Bai Mu'en, his face ashen, slapped his fierce wife, sending her sprawling

to the ground, and gritted his teeth, saying, "You ignorant woman! I've always tolerated you, and you dare to insult

my mentor!"
"This...this, Mu'en, what happened?"
The old man walked in, his mind reeling at the sight of his usually mild-mannered son-in-law so enraged, even hitting

his daughter.
"Let me tell you!"
Bai Mu'en roared angrily, showing no mercy. "This money is a tribute to my master! This

family business was built up through my medical skills. Without my teacher, would I be where I am today? Even if I,

Bai , I still can't repay my master's kindness in teaching me and saving my life! If you don't want to, get

out! I, Bai Mu'en, am not afraid of being divorced. Even if you have made sacrifices, you are still jealous. I'm not afraid of any government office you go to."
"This... ah, son-in-law, don't be impulsive..."
The hall immediately descended into chaos, filled with the woman's cries, Bai Mu'en's roars, and the old man and his brother-in-law's

attempts to persuade .
It was a rare sight indeed, and the surrounding neighbors watched with great interest. You see, although Doctor Bai

was highly skilled and well-liked, his domineering and capricious wife was a bit of a handful. Over

the years , Dr. Bai had been submissive and submissive. Now , seeing the honest man finally lose his temper, many of the family's old acquaintances

applauded and flattered him, showing no sympathy for Mrs. Bai's outburst.
This Bai family was long overdue for this. Bai Mu'en was a native of Hangzhou, orphaned at a young age and raised by

his grandfather. His grandfather passed away when he was ten, leaving Bai Mu'en without any relatives. His

family owned no land, so he was forced to come to the mountains at a young age, earning a meager living by chopping firewood for a few steamed buns . They eked

out a living, often going hungry.
At night, they had no shelter from the wind and rain, and in winter, they lived in a dilapidated temple, barely clothed. Even

a strong man couldn't endure such hardship, let alone a poor child like him. In December

, the frail Bai Mu'en developed a high fever, becoming delirious and on the verge of death.
Seeing him struggling to breathe, who would be willing to treat this poor child? Just as

Bai Mu'en was about to breathe his last, the local official ordered him to be wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into the wilderness, fearing the place would also be tainted by bad luck.
After all, although not many beggars froze to death outside the city each year, one more wouldn't make

a difference.
No one

had time to care about the poor boy's life or death, or even to wonder if he had been fed to wild dogs.

Strangely, years later, when spring arrived, the little boy everyone had forgotten reappeared in Hangzhou,

alive and well before everyone.
The fifteen-year-old Bai Mu'en, though still childish, possessed a confidence and stubbornness on his face.

Upon the city, he set up a simple table and hung up a sign advertising his medical services. He had no money for medicine,

not even an abacus, and his coat was tattered and patched—a truly

bizarre situation that made people laugh.
For a month, no one paid him any attention. Unperturbed, Bai Mu'en eked out a living by selling the leftover buns and half-eaten breads from the old man selling steamed buns at his stall

each night . Then

, when the elderly father of a wealthy man named Liu fell seriously ill and all the renowned doctors were helpless, Bai Mu'en volunteered to treat

him. The Liu family, desperate and with no other options, had no choice but to follow his strange prescription.
The old man, whom all the doctors in town had declared impossible to revive, miraculously recovered after taking three doses of medicine daily and receiving three acupuncture treatments at night

. At seventy years old, he recovered in less than a month, full of energy, able to get out of bed normally

, and much stronger than before. The Liu family, a filial son, was immediately filled with gratitude and sent a plaque praising Bai Mu'en as a reincarnation of Hua Tuo (a legendary Chinese physician), and also bestowed a large sum of money upon him. From then on, the fifteen-year-old Bai Mu'en became a renowned miracle doctor

in Hangzhou . 　　The wealthy Liu gave Bai Mu'en a large sum of money to open a clinic. Within a few short years, the young Bai Mu'en had become famous throughout the region. Grateful for the kindness of the old man who sold steamed buns, he married the old man's ordinary-looking but overweight . After marriage, he supported his father-in-law's family, doted on his wife and children, and occasionally helped his good-for-nothing brother-in-law with his business ventures, becoming a model husband in everyone's eyes. 　　Even after becoming a renowned doctor in Hangzhou and even the entire Jiangnan region, Bai Mu'en remained polite and gentle. Having lived in Hangzhou for so many years, it seemed no one had ever seen him lose his temper. Now, however…

However, he unleashed a thunderous rage on his usually tolerant and domineering wife. Not only the city's residents, but even Taishan and his wife themselves were hardly

able to believe it. How could he, who was always so good-tempered, suddenly be so furious?
"Cry, cry, cry..."
Bai Mu'en, though somewhat softened, still said irritably, "You're always the most arrogant and domineering, and I've

always tolerated it. Taishan has been kind to me by providing food, and we've been husband and wife for many years, but you've forgotten

those impoverished days. Now you've become so mercenary; it's truly disheartening."
"Calm down, don't be angry..."
The old father-in-law watched from the side, too frightened to even breathe.

It was a rare sight to see his usually filial and refined son-in-law so enraged. He dared not dwell on the leftover dough from making steamed buns; his son-in-law

's support over the years was already a tremendous reward.
"Alright, I'll go out and get busy."
Bai Mu'en glanced at his fierce wife, who was sitting on the ground crying but no longer daring to shout, and sneered, "

If you still want to stay in my Bai family, you'd better stay home obediently! Let me tell you, I, Bai Mu'en, promise you I won't take concubines or

keep mistresses. I will never let another woman into my house for the rest of my life. But if you dare to act recklessly and unreasonable this time,

don't blame me for not showing any consideration for our past marriage and giving you a divorce. Don't take this as a joke."
After saying this, Bai Mu'en immediately turned and left. Everyone in the hall, not to mention his father-in-law's family and the servants, even

the fat woman who had been crying incessantly, was dumbfounded. For many years, this was the first time they had seen Bai Mu'en lose his temper. They

were utterly shocked, and some even pinched their own cheeks, wondering if they were dreaming.
The first time that the Divine Doctor Bai of Gaoji Hall had lost his temper was even more legendary than the appearance of the medicinal corpse. The news spread like wildfire, becoming the most explosive gossip in Hangzhou, leaving many people

so shocked that their jaws dropped.
Meanwhile, in a small courtyard on West Lake, behind a fence and under a banana tree, Xiao Jiu sat anxiously,

sipping his tea but unable to taste anything. Yang Cun sat opposite him, sneering, "Alright, now

you can finally speak your mind."
"My lord, when did you purchase this secluded place?"
Xiao Jiu didn't answer, but looked at Yang Cun with a hint of shock in his eyes.
"Living in Yipinlou is a deliberate act to let Zhao Qinyun know my whereabouts,"
Yang Cun shook his head and said, "My Duke's mansion seems too ostentatious. I'm unfamiliar with Hangzhou,

so of course need to acquire several properties to make it easier to travel around."
"You're too cunning,"
Xiao Jiu mused, giving a bitter smile.
"I just want to know why you targeted the Gao family back then?" Yang Cun didn't say much, remaining silent for a moment before his

sudden question startled Xiao Jiu.
"For money or power? The Gao family isn't worth that much,"
Yang Cun sneered, his tone chilling. "Rumor has it that you were

corrupt and . Lechery is a common flaw in every man, but... Gao

Lianxin seemed too young back then, wasn't she? Even if you, Xiao Jiu, were truly a lecher, how could you possibly have lustful thoughts towards such a child?"
Before Xiao Jiu could speak, Yang Cun continued with a grim face, "I did some research. Although your Xiao family is large,

most of your wives and concubines are from respectable families. You forcibly took at least three of them. Although you embezzled a lot, Tianjin

was governed quite well. That obsequious attitude seems deliberate, just like your infamous reputation outside,

which makes people suspicious."
"What do you want to know?"
Xiao Jiu was stunned for a long time, finally letting out a bitter sigh.
"I don't want to know what you did in Tianjin those years,"
Yang Cun said contemptuously. "Actually, it was nothing more than helping Prince Ding raise funds and supplies, and buying and selling those mineral deposits to

forge weapons."
"You're right,"
Xiao Jiu's expression suddenly became somewhat magnanimous, and he nodded, saying, "Your Excellency is indeed insightful. In those years,

I used the guise of being incompetent to commit those shameless and immoral acts, just to take time out of my busy schedule to cover up

Prince Ding's entrustment to me."
"Xiao Jiu, you're a smart man,"
Yang Cun said expressionlessly. "Since we parted in Tianjin, you deliberately put on a show of being incompetent and foolish for me. You've been putting on

that act for so many years, enduring all kinds of infamy to avoid suspicion, and now you've ended up like

this, with your family destroyed and your life ruined. How laughable is your rebellious and foolish loyalty."
"My lord, please speak plainly,"
Xiao Jiu said with a bitter smile, his face contorted with anguish. "In your eyes, I am nothing

more than . From the moment you spared me, I knew this day would come. Speak, what do you want to know?"
"I do want to know quite a bit,"
Yang Cun said coldly, slowly standing up and looking at Xiao Jiu with his hands behind his back. "But I only want

to know one thing: who saved you? And what was the reason for letting you live? Breaking into the imperial prison without cause is not

the work of the cunning Prince Ding. He abandoned you as a pawn, so he certainly wouldn't let you live. Now, besides

your usefulness, who would risk so much for a wanted criminal who has angered the emperor?"
"You…you're terrifying."
Upon hearing this question, Xiao Jiu broke out in a cold sweat, unable to speak.
"Terrible? Me? Or are you all more terrifying?"
Yang Cun sneered. He only wanted to live a carefree life, but ever since arriving in Tianjin

and stepping into the palace, countless troubles had begun to plague him. Terrifying? Without a bit of cunning,

he probably wouldn't know how to face all this even more perplexing uncertainty.
"There are some things that seem inconvenient to say..."
Xiao Jiu began, but suddenly froze.
"What happened to the Gao family?"
Yang Cun pondered for a long time, his eyes growing increasingly cold.
"The Gao family, sigh..."
Xiao Jiu gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and remained silent.
Seeing Xiao Jiu's hesitant expression, Yang Cun's doubts deepened. It seemed the Gao family's background was far more complex than

it appeared But what could have caused the Prince of Ding of the Great Hua Kingdom to order his trusted general, Xiao Jiu

, to kill them, thus incurring the wrath of extermination?
And what was even stranger was that after the Gao family's annihilation, only Gao Lianxin remained. Although Xiao Jiu and Yang Cun had never met...

Yang Cun knew that Xiao Jiu, a man of deep cunning and hidden depths,

would never leave Gao Lianxin alive, given his ruthless and meticulous nature.
Yang Cun pondered for a moment, then turned to look at the silent Xiao Jiu, picked up a cup of fragrant tea from the table, took a sip,

and said, "Now that things have come to this, Xiao Jiu, you are no longer under the command of Prince Ding. Your current predicament is entirely due to your

former master, Prince Ding. What is there to hide? What are your concerns? Even in this state, will you

still faithfully keep your enemy's secret?"
"I, Xiao Jiu, wish I could drink Zhao Yuanqing's blood, cut his flesh piece by piece. Even if I were to slice him

a thousand times it wouldn't be enough to vent my hatred or comfort the spirits of my family in heaven."
Thinking of the tragic deaths of his wife, children, and elderly parents, the misfortune that befell his entire family, and the hypocrisy of Prince Ding, Xiao Jiu clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot,

appearing almost crazed.
It seemed he hated Prince Ding to the core, even

willing But was that even possible?
"Then what can't you say?"
Yang Cun pressed closer, his eyes icy as he stared at Xiao Jiu, shouting, "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
The pavilion, which should have been bathed in spring sunshine, was now shrouded in gloom. Yang Cun's shout startled the birds

in the woods sending them scattering in all directions.
Actually, Yang Cun was more eager to know about the Gao family's deaths and the identities of the group of men in black who had saved Xiao Jiu.

His intuition told him that this matter was like a bottomless whirlpool, shrouded in layers of mystery. It wasn't that Yang Cun wanted to

meddle, but he was already caught in this whirlpool, and Gao Lianxin was his wife, so he

couldn't ignore it. The clue to unraveling this mystery was Xiao Jiu, once a high-ranking official, now a prisoner

.
"Why does Your Excellency want to kill me?"
Xiao Jiu asked疑惑地. "Just because you are the murderer of my future wife's father, that reason should be enough, right?"
At the end, Yang Cun even revealed a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.
However, Xiao Jiu showed no sign of being intimidated by Yang Cun. Instead, he looked miserable and gave a bitter smile:

"Now I am just a worthless life. The only thing that keeps me alive is my hatred for Prince Ding. If Your Excellency wants to take my life,

take it when Xiao Jiu has avenged his blood feud."
Xiao Jiu changed the subject and slowly said, "Besides, I know Your Excellency doesn't want to kill me right now. Your Excellency,

I, Xiao Jiu, have been in the officialdom for decades. Threats and intimidation won't work on me. I know Your Excellency

is eager to know the reason, but Xiao Jiu really cannot tell you. Please forgive me."
Yang Cun smiled bitterly to himself and rolled his eyes. He was indeed a cunning old fox in the officialdom. Even now, as

a prisoner and a fish on the chopping block, his eyes were still so sharp and his mind so deep. He couldn't be scared no matter what.
Seeing that his tricks had been exposed by Xiao Jiu, Yang Cun coughed twice to cover his embarrassment. He shrugged, "Since that's the

case, there's nothing I can do. I can't get any secrets out of you, so I'll just have to kill you and feed you to the dogs. As for your

great revenge, you can take it in your next life!"
"Uh…"
Yang Cun's words made Xiao Jiu's eyes widen, his mouth agape in surprise.
Seeing Xiao Jiu's discomfiture, Yang Cun felt a surge of satisfaction. Even if his little tricks didn't kill him, he

'd at least scare him, otherwise, would
n't his dignity as a Duke be completely ruined? Xiao Jiu smiled bitterly. This Duke was completely unpredictable. Sometimes he was more cunning than a seasoned cunning

old fox who , and other times he was like a street ruffian.

He used all sorts of underhanded tricks without a trace of the dignity of a Duke, yet Xiao Jiu just couldn't see through him.
Xiao Jiu knew that if he didn't confess something today, this Duke would probably keep hounding him. "If he kills

me, who will take care of me tomorrow? How can I avenge this blood feud? " 　　Xiao Jiu asked Yang Cun with a bitter smile.
"Doesn't Your Excellency find it strange that the Gao family was wiped out, yet only Your Excellency's wife was spared?

Am I, Xiao Jiu, such a negligent person?" 　　"Why?" 　　Seeing Xiao Jiu relent, Yang Cun naturally seized the opportunity. 　　"Because Old Master Gao had done a favor for me and my Xiao family." 　　"Pfft..." 　　Yang Cun spat out a mouthful of tea. Although he had a premonition that Xiao Jiu had deliberately let Gao Lianxin go, he hadn't expected the Gao family to have done Xiao Jiu a favor. This matter was becoming increasingly complicated, with the Gao family also connected to Xiao Jiu, making it more and more mysterious. 　　"When I received the order from Prince Ding to silence them, I knew the Gao family's fate was already sealed. If I didn't act, disobeying Prince Ding's order, then it would definitely be my Xiao family that was wiped out." 　　At this point, Xiao Jiu lowered his head in shame. "So, to protect yourself, you killed the entire Gao family?" 　　Yang Cun shook his head. Throughout history, countless people have betrayed their brothers and relatives for wealth and glory, let alone Xiao Jiu. Compared to the lives of his entire family, this little bit of kindness seemed insignificant. 　　Yang Cun thought of his past life and the era he lived in now, and couldn't help but feel sad. Although the times were different, people's hearts remained the same . 　　Xiao Jiu paused, then continued, "Later, I learned that Old Master Gao had a granddaughter, who was also your wife, and she hadn't perished in that tragedy. So I ordered Zhang Mama to take care of Miss Gao. To cover tracks, I secretly gave Zhang Mama some money to open a brothel and quietly raised Miss Gao to adulthood." 　　Yang Cun chuckled, "You're telling me all this to tell me you're my wife's savior, so I'll spare your life?" 　　Yang Cun waved his hand, stopping Xiao Jiu from continuing, "Fine, I know you were acting on the orders of Prince Ding, and had no choice. Let's put that aside for now. I want to know who those men in black who saved you really are. My intuition tells me they're not simple." 　　Xiao Jiu smiled bitterly, "Your Excellency is indeed insightful, which is precisely why I can't tell you. I don't really know who they are. They could be Prince Rong's men, Prince Zhen's men, or they could be ..." 　　"What are they? Don't keep me in suspense." 　　Yang Cun pressed on. 　　Xiao Jiu remained silent, slowly raising his hand and pointing to the sky, his expression serious. 　　"Hiss..." 　　Yang Cun gasped, almost dropping his cup. Heavens? Could it be... ?

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