[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 4

Chapter Two

"Oh..." The woman raised her head, letting out a soft moan.

She was still wearing the herbalist's clothes on her upper body, but completely naked from the waist down. She lay obediently on the seat, arms outstretched, holding onto the swaying carriage, her white thighs spread wide.

She obediently raised her snow-white buttocks, allowing the man inside to enter from behind; she thrust backward, welcoming the thrusting of his penis.

With such an open posture, the woman clearly had immense trust in the man behind her.

Cheng Zongyang gripped her slender waist, thrusting his penis into her vagina repeatedly, while scrutinizing her reaction from behind.

"The ninja's penis is so hard...so deep..."

Cheng Zongyang specifically glanced at her anus; the tender anus was soft, slightly deformed by the penetration, constantly opening and closing with each thrust.

If she were wary, her body would inevitably show some tension, and she wouldn't be so gentle and yielding.

Cheng Zongyang grinned wickedly, "Boss You's Peach Blossom Cave is as wonderful as ever."

The woman's headscarf loosened, revealing her half-

exposed face; she was none other than You Chan, the owner of the Guangyang Gambling House. She and Cheng Zongyang had once shared a fleeting encounter, and now, reunited in this foreign land, she discovered that this high-ranking ninja's methods had undergone a complete transformation. Her honeyed orifice was being pounded by the thick, hard penis, and waves of pleasure surged within her. She trembled as she said, "The high-ranking ninja's penis is so warm and hot... This servant... This servant is almost... almost... Oh—oh!"

"So fast?" Although he had used some bedroom techniques, he hadn't expected You Chan to be so incompetent, climaxing so quickly.

You Chan's face flushed, and she breathed softly, "I haven't done this with anyone since I made love with the Jonin last time... Master Asuka's penis is so powerful, every thrust feels like it's hitting my heart..."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Come on, let's change positions."

You Chan glanced at him seductively, then obediently turned over and lay on the chair. She then raised one of her jade-like feet, spreading it to the side, revealing her still slightly twitching vulva.

Cheng Zongyang leaned down, and You Chan's hands guided his swollen penis, obediently taking it into her honeyed cave.

"I didn't expect to meet a Jonin here." The joy in You Chan's eyes was genuine.

She was only a peripheral figure in the Black Demon Sea. When she plotted to assassinate the eunuch, Cheng Zongyang had witnessed it, and it was he who covered it up for her. Therefore, besides the obedience of a subordinate to a superior, she also felt a personal gratitude towards this retainer.

While engaging in intercourse with Cheng Zongyang, You Chan said, "Two months ago, Fairy Maiden sent a message saying that something went wrong in Qingzhou, a Jonin was attacked and went missing, and that all branch sects should keep an eye out for the Jonin's whereabouts. Fairy Maiden said that things happened hastily that day, and the Holy Sect had many shortcomings in its care, and hoped that the Jonin would forgive her, and that everything could be discussed."

The battle with the Black Demon Sea in Qingzhou was three months ago, and You Chan received the message about two months ago.

After clearing out the Black Demon Sea's lair in Qingzhou that day, she expressed great indignation through Quan Yuji about the Black Demon Sea's abandonment of their comrades in battle, declaring that the cooperation between the two sides was over, and then rushed to Jiangzhou.

Quan Yuji returned north to Chang'an, and there was no news of her, but she didn't expect that the Black Demon Sea was still looking for her whereabouts.

Cheng Zongyang snorted and said stiffly, "Don't mention this matter again."

You Chan gave a bewitching smile.

"The Fairy said that since you were frightened, the Holy Sect should apologize. Please understand, the Holy Sect has retrieved the Ten Treasuries from its secret treasury and is willing to exchange them with you."

These Ten Treasuries were undoubtedly something Asuka Kumazo had long coveted; otherwise, Kenjaku wouldn't have specifically brought them up to entice him. Unfortunately, she knew nothing about the Ten Treasuries and could only hum twice to cover it up.

You Chan said, "This servant knows nothing of a Jonin's divine arts, but the Fairy said that another Jonin, Asuka, has gone into seclusion and will surely achieve the supreme ninjutsu of the Asuka school in the future."

Cheng Zongyang's expression softened slightly.

"That's fine then. I'll go see her whenever I want. Hmph, Black Demon Sea abandoned his friend in battle, almost causing my death. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have come out to meet you."

These words brought the two closer, making You Chan feel an unusual intimacy between them. To You Chan, this Jonin not only covered up a secret that could have shattered her, but was also a specially hired retainer of the sect, holding a high position.

If she maintained a close personal relationship with him, she would have a powerful backer within the sect, hence her efforts to persuade him to return to the Black Demon Sea.

Cheng Zongyang remained noncommittal, only asking, "Why are you here?"

This was what he cared about most. You Chan was a spy for the Black Demon Sea in Guangyang; what could have prompted her to come to Lin'an personally? More importantly, who had she just met? Li Shishi? Aunt Ning? The master of the house? Or someone else in the mansion?

The sudden appearance of the Black Demon Sea's shadow behind Li Shishi made Cheng Zongyang sense a dangerous aura.

"This servant came to Lin'an this time for a major matter within the sect." You Chan hesitated, then said apologetically, "Please forgive me, High Ninja, this servant cannot say too much."

"Yoshi. You did very well."

You Chan embraced his waist, saying seductively, "However, this matter is now settled, and this servant has just received the order. If the High Ninja wishes for this servant to serve, this servant can stay in Lin'an for a few more days..."

Cheng Zongyang's heart churned. Since You Chan went to deliver the order, the person she just met must hold a very high position in the Black Demon Sea, possibly even being the Black Demon Sea's chief clerk in the Song Kingdom. Who could that person be?

Cheng Zongyang lewdly patted You Chan's face. "Is she more beautiful than you?"

You Chan winked. "How can this humble servant compare to Ning Yu Ji?"

Cheng Zongyang paced back and forth in the room, his brows furrowed as if about to knot. He suddenly stopped and addressed the crowd, "Confirm again, she really doesn't know martial arts?"

The Blue-Faced Beast said, "I..."

"Shut up!"

The Blue-Faced Beast shut its mouth defiantly.

Yu Ziyuan said, "My cultivation is insufficient; I truly cannot discern it. What do you think, Brother Qin?"

"Brother Ziyuan is too modest," Qin Hui said. "In my opinion, that woman is indeed utterly powerless." Cheng Zongyang said, "Li Shishi calls her 'Aunt Ning,' and the Black Demon Sea people came from her house, saying the contact person was Ning Yuji—what a coincidence! But how could the Black Demon Sea's concubines not know martial arts?" Qin Hui said, "Young Master, do not be hasty. Ao Run should be back from gathering information by now. Whether Miss Shishi's aunt is a suspect will be known with a simple investigation."

"Wait!" Cheng Zongyang put a hand to his forehead, lost in thought.

No one dared to interrupt his train of thought. A moment later, Cheng Zongyang looked up, and Qin Hui immediately asked, "Young Master, have you discovered any clues?"

"Yes, but it has nothing to do with Aunt Ning; it's something else entirely. You Chan said she came to Lin'an for a major event—what could possibly require the Black Demon Sea to transfer her from Guangyang?" Cheng Zongyang slowly said, "You Chan's identity is merely that of a gambling den owner in Guangyang, but her elder brother, You Yong, is the co-leader of both the Taihu Alliance and the Fanjiang Society! Boss Meng destroyed the Black Demon Sea's lair in Qingzhou, and the Snow Falcon mercenary group, which was on its way to Jiangzhou to assist in the battle, had an accident in Taihu—the Black Demon Sea's reach is incredibly long!"

Yu Ziyuan and Qin Hui both showed solemn expressions. A moment later, Yu Ziyuan said, "The Black Demon Sea took in You Yong before you arrived in Qingzhou, so did they already plan to ambush the Snow Falcon group in Taihu at that time?"

"Impossible!" Cheng Zongyang said, "Unless that fairy is a living deity!"

Qin Hui said, "Young Master's guess is nine-tenths credible. Black Demon Sea's attempt to win over You Yong was merely a casual move, which came in handy at this moment. I'm afraid Black Demon Sea has made many such casual moves throughout the Six Dynasties." As he spoke, he couldn't help but admire, clapping his hands and saying, "The moves are meticulous and the layout is far-reaching. This fairy is truly remarkable!"

Yu Ziyuan said, "If Young Master hadn't stumbled upon it, no one would have imagined that Black Demon Sea had a pawn in Lin'an, and that she had even married someone."

"I found out!" Ao Run pushed open the door, bringing with him a gust of cold wind, and excitedly said, "Chief Cheng! Guess whose house that is?"

The information Ao Run brought wasn't a secret; anyone knowledgeable could easily find out by asking around.

But Cheng Zongyang's expression was strangely inscrutable as he listened, and he said in a dreamlike tone, "Lin Chong, the instructor... Li Shishi's aunt is Madam Lin?"

"That's right!" Ao Run said, "The Ruan sisters, the elder sister is named Ruan Xianglin, who married Li Yinchen, the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of the Weiyuan Escort Agency. The younger sister, Ruan Xiangning, married Lin Chong, the instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards. Ruan Xianglin is a disciple of the Xiaobitan Sect in Linzhou, known as the 'Soul-Stealing Jade Belt.' The sect isn't very prominent, but her cultivation is considered outstanding within it. Ruan Xiangning has never practiced martial arts and married Lin Chong, the instructor of the Imperial Guards, at a young age. The Lin couple has never had any children, and Madam Lin often invites nuns, Taoist nuns, and herbalists to their door, begging for a child as soon as possible."

Yu Ziyuan said, "Could it be that the leader of the Black Demon Sea in Lin'an is this Madam Lin?" As he spoke, he gasped, "The Black Demon Sea's people marrying the Imperial Guard instructor, does that mean they've already extended their reach into the Song Dynasty's Imperial Guards?"

“Perhaps it’s Instructor Lin,” Qin Hui said in a deep voice. “With the identity of the instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards as cover, it’s a hundred times easier for them to operate in Lin’an.”

Ao Run also said, “Boss Cheng, let me interject. Could it be that Instructor Lin is targeting us because of the Black Demon Sea?”

Qin Hui and Yu Ziyuan said in unison, “Very likely!”

Cheng Zongyang slapped his forehead, thinking nervously.

If Lin Chong really was a member of the Black Demon Sea, he would have been targeted by him as soon as he arrived in Lin’an. It was very likely that he had never escaped the Black Demon Sea’s sight and was always under their surveillance.

Cheng Zongyang lowered his hand and said decisively, “No.”

Although in this world, Wu Erlang was a shameless rogue and Pan Jie’er had a saintly air about her, and it wasn’t surprising that Instructor Lin was an undercover agent for the Black Demon Sea, Cheng Zongyang had a strong premonition: Lin Chong had nothing to do with the Black Demon Sea.

If his guess was correct, Lin Chong had no connection to the Black Demon Sea. Then the reason why the Black Demon Sea's carefully cultivated concubine married an insignificant Imperial Guard instructor was quite intriguing.

Suddenly, Cheng Zongyang revealed a sly smile. "Finding their secrets isn't difficult,"

Qin Hui's eyes brightened. "What's the plan?"

Cheng Zongyang confidently said, "Brothers, we should pay a visit to Master Lu." The story

of a monk uprooting a willow tree with his bare hands had been the talk of the town in Lin'an these past few days, and the name of the Flower Monk Lu Zhishen had spread like wildfire.

Every day from morning till night, many idlers gathered outside the low wall of the Mingqing Temple vegetable garden to watch the spectacle, pointing and whispering as they looked.

"See that? That's Master Lu who uprooted the willow tree!"

a merchant exclaimed in admiration. "Those two arms must be incredibly strong! No wonder he could uproot that willow tree, truly a remarkable feat!"

Someone nearby chuckled to himself, "Sir, you must be from out of town. Actually, the willow that Master Lu uprooted wasn't a tree, it was a living person..."

"A little nun from the Buddhist Temple..."

"...Named Willow."

"If it weren't for the frivolous monk..."

Amidst the cacophony of laughter, several ruffians scaled the wall and shouted, "Let's go! What's so interesting!"

Someone recognized these scoundrels and immediately scattered. Some of the strangers were still defiant: "It's not your garden, what's wrong with looking?"

"What's wrong?" One of the hooligans pulled half a broken brick from the wall, glaring at him, "Are you going to get lost or not?"

The other man retorted: "This is Lin'an City, the capital, how dare you hit someone?"

The hooligans grinned, picked up the broken brick, and slammed it against their foreheads, then rolled their eyes and fell straight to the ground.

The surrounding hooligans immediately grabbed the bystanders, shouting, "Help! Someone's been killed!"

Chaos erupted outside the low wall as a dozen hooligans grabbed the out-of-towner, demanding he pay with his life.

Inside the wall, Lu Zhishen, with an imposing air, pounded his chest like a drum: "I've done my job right! I've walked the straight path! A straight body has nothing to fear! Why should I be afraid of a few rats making a fuss?"

Qin Hui gave him a thumbs up and exclaimed, "Broad-minded!"

Lu Zhishen laughed heartily, pointing at Qin Hui and saying, "Judging from your attire, I thought you were some pedant! Hmm, not bad, not bad! No wonder you can be sworn brothers with Little Zang."

Cheng Zongyang laughed and said, "After Monk Zang left the monastery, he married a wife and a concubine. Master Lu, you're not as good as him."

"Marrying a wife and raising a family is a never-ending worry, I'm impatient with that," Lu Zhishen said, stroking his bald head. "Six senses at peace! Six senses at peace!"

Cheng Zongyang picked up a bamboo chopstick, tapped it on his earthenware bowl, and praised, "Naked I came, naked I go, without a care in the world, straw raincoat and bamboo hat, traveling alone, straw sandals and a broken bowl, following fate."

Lu Zhishen laughed again, "Good lines! Exhilarating! Exhilarating! Twenty years have passed since we parted at Mount Wutai. I wonder where my brother Zang is now?"

Cheng Zongyang put down his chopsticks and smiled, "Jiangzhou."

Lu Zhishen's laughter stopped, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. It was common knowledge in Lin'an that Grand Tutor Jia had raised an army to attack Jiangzhou.

Although Lu Zhishen had heard of his junior brother in the temple's vegetable garden, he never expected that his long-lost junior brother would be in Jiangzhou.

"Master Lu, another bowl!" Cheng Zongyang picked up the wine jar. "This is strong liquor that I specially bought. It's said that an ordinary person can't drink more than three bowls. There's a saying that it's 'Three bowls and you can't cross the hill'!"

"What's the fun in drinking bland wine? Men! Bring me the stewed fragrant meat!"

Lu Zhishen personally scooped a full bowl of meat for Cheng Zongyang: "This pot of fragrant meat has been stewed for four hours. It's very flavorful! Come, come, taste my cooking!"

The fragrant meat that Lu Zhishen was talking about was dog meat. Ao Run said, "One black, two yellow, three spots, four white. Master, this fragrant meat looks like top-quality black dog!"

Lu Zhishen immediately looked at him with new respect. "So this Brother Ao is quite the connoisseur of dog meat! Good, good! Have a piece!"

"Dog meat, even immortals can't resist it after three rounds of cooking! Old Ao is in for a treat!" Ao Run didn't stand on ceremony, grabbing a piece of fragrant dog meat and chewing it heartily, savoring every drop of juice. He gave a thumbs-up and mumbled, "Good!"

Lu Zhishen laughed loudly, "Dog meat is the best tonic for winter! I originally intended to treat my junior brother Lin to a feast today, but you brothers have come at just the right time!"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Speaking of which, here he comes—isn't that Instructor Lin?"

Lin Chong, his face somewhat stiff, came over from the side of the garden, cupped his hands to the crowd, and forced a smile. He had been tailing Cheng Zongyang since early morning, but he hadn't expected that this man would wander around the city and

end up drinking and chatting with Lu Zhishen at Mingqing Temple. Lin Chong was caught in a dilemma, unable to hide or show himself. But he was a hero by nature, and since he had been exposed, he would no longer hide.

Lu Zhishen, however, didn't mind and, holding Lin Chong's arm, laughed, "Junior Brother Lin! I've met these friends before, but I didn't know they were my Junior Brother Zang's good friends! We're all good brothers, sit down! Sit down!"

Lin Chong didn't refuse, sat down, picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and exclaimed, "Good wine!" Then he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Cheng Zongyang and said, "

Lin Chong, instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards, may I ask your honorable name?" Cheng Zongyang laughed and said, "Instructor Lin, that's not very kind of you. Others may not know my identity, but surely you do, Instructor Lin?"

Lin Chong chuckled, "It's official business, please don't take offense, Master Cheng."

Lu Zhishen shouted, "What kind of official business is this! I say, Brother Lin, that's your problem! With your skills, you've only been an instructor for twenty years. Why not cast aside that worthless fame and have some fun with me!"

Lin Chong's fingers tightened slightly, and after a long while, he put down his wine bowl and said with a bitter smile, "My life is like a drifting weed, my fame like a tumbleweed. To be honest, brother, I've wasted many years, and my desire for fame has long since faded. But my wife is still here. If I can't learn to have fun like you, brother, and still rely on my own hands? How can that be enjoyable?" High-grade silicone video of Fan Bingbing's genitals, molded to closely resemble the real state of her vulva, highly realistic in shape, with soft and delicate skin! Built-in large-particle protrusions closely resemble the female physiological structure, providing a more realistic experience... with a rhythmic and irresistible feel! Click to enter. "

I told you so! Having a wife is troublesome!" Lu Zhishen shook his head and said repeatedly, "Drink! Drink!"

Qin Hui, Yu Ziyuan, Ao Run, and Lu Zhishen got along very well, especially Ao Run, who loved dog meat. The two were particularly congenial when talking about eating dog meat, and almost swore brotherhood on the spot.

Lin Chong's conversation with Cheng Zongyang, however, was fraught with tension. Lin Chong subtly inquired about Cheng Zongyang's background and what business he did in Yunzhou.

"I've heard that Master Cheng's ancestral home is Panjiang. If I may be so bold, may I ask where Panjiang was during the Six Dynasties period?"

"A small place, in the southern wilderness," Cheng Zongyang said with a smile. "In terms of distance, it's quite close to the Jin Kingdom."

"Master Cheng, are you from the Jin Kingdom?"

"Not really. It's a remote, uncivilized place, full of unruly people."

Cheng Zongyang chatted idly, but inwardly he sneered: "Instructor Lin, Instructor Lin, you've already finished your job in the Imperial City Guard, why are you still worrying about other things?"

As they were talking, a maidservant rushed in, crying as she saw Lin Chong, "My lord, something terrible has happened!"

Lin Chong lifted his robes and stood up, asking, "Jin'er, what has happened?"

"My wife went to the temple to offer incense today, but was stopped by a villain at the Five Sacred Mountains Tower and refused to let her go."

Lin Chong's anger flared, and he bowed deeply

, saying, "We'll have another drink another day! Please don't be angry, brother!" Lu Zhishen, already seven or eight parts drunk, flew into a rage upon hearing this, shouting, "Men! Bring me my staff!"

Qin Hui, Yu Ziyuan, and Ao Run all looked at Cheng Zongyang, secretly praising their master's foresight.

Cheng Zongyang slowly ate a piece of dog meat, then stood up. "In broad daylight, under the clear sky! Is there no law anymore? Let's go! Let's go help Instructor Lin!"

The crowd surged forward.

A crowd had already gathered beside the Five Peaks Tower. A group of servants kept bystanders at bay downstairs, while upstairs, Gao Yanei stood with his arms outstretched, blocking two women at the corner of the railing.

Li Shishi stood behind, her beautiful eyes coldly fixed on Gao Yanei, remaining silent.

The woman, Aunt Ning, was both ashamed and angry, her face flushed red. "In this peaceful world, what right do you have to stop me?"

"Ouch! Ouch! My heart ache has flared up again..." Gao Yanei clutched his chest, saying, "Young lady, you are my life-saving remedy, I cannot stand by and watch you die..."

"Young master, please have some self-respect!"

"Young lady, save me..."

Lin Chong rushed to the front of the tower, where the servants tried to block him. He spread his arms wide, shoving the servants like rolling gourds.

Lin Chong leaped upstairs in three quick steps, grabbed the young scoundrel by the shoulder, and pulled him over, clenching his fist as he roared, "How dare you harass my wife! Take this punch..." But

when Lin Chong saw the man's face, he froze, and before he could finish speaking, his hand went limp.

Gao Yanei was initially startled, but upon recognizing Lin Chong, he angrily shouted, "Lin Chong! What's it to you! Mind your own business!"

Lin Chong's face flushed red and then turned pale; though his fist was raised high, he couldn't bring himself to strike.

Ao Run whispered admiringly, "Chief Cheng, how do you know Instructor Lin won't do it?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "Grand Commandant Gao is in charge of the Imperial Guards, and is Instructor Lin's direct superior. Before being transferred to the Imperial City Guard, Instructor Lin had to listen to Grand Commandant Gao's summons every day. He can't bear to give up his official position, so of course he can't do it."

A servant noticed the situation was turning bad and came over to persuade him, "Instructor, don't be angry! Young Master Gao had a few too many drinks and went to the temple to relax. He didn't recognize your wife, Instructor Gao, and has offended you."

Young Master Gao shouted, "So what if she's his wife? Take her away!" A steward said, "Young Master has drunk too much again, quickly help him up..."

The servants knew Lin Chong's skills, and they hurriedly helped Young Master Gao downstairs, led his horse away, and the steward repeatedly apologized to Lin Chong.

Upon seeing her husband, Aunt Ning's eyes reddened, and she tightly hugged his arm, not daring to let go.

In the midst of the chaos, Lu Zhishen, wielding his iron staff, arrived with a group of ruffians and scoundrels, looking menacing.

"Where did this scoundrel come from! He'll take three hundred blows from my staff!"

Lin Chong comforted his wife for a moment, then whispered, "He's the son of Grand Commandant Gao. He doesn't recognize my wife. I wanted to give him a good beating, but it would be disrespectful to the Grand Commandant, so I'll spare him this time."

Qin Hui added, "So he's the son of Grand Commandant Gao. As the saying goes, 'It's not the official you fear, but the one in charge.' Grand Commandant Gao is Lin's superior; you can't act recklessly."

Lu Zhishen retorted angrily, "What kind of Grand Commandant is he?" "You damned brat! If I were to see this, I'd give you a good beating! Junior Brother Lin, your own wife has been..."

Fu Run quickly pulled him back, "Old Lu, are you drunk? What are you yelling about?"

Lu Zhishen noticed Lin's wife and hurriedly clasped his hands, saying, "Sister

-in-law, please don't be offended, don't laugh at me!" Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "I've come to see Instructor Lin and his wife off. Miss Shishi, please!"

Lin Chong was filled with resentment, and although Qin Hui and Yu Ziyuan tried to comfort him, he remained silent with a gloomy face.

Li Shishi and Cheng Zongyang rode in another carriage. She leaned against the window, gazing at the crowd outside, and after a long while sighed, "You're right. Shishi always thought her uncle was a hero of our time, but I never imagined that just the title of Grand Commandant Gao would completely extinguish his arrogance, leaving him only able to swallow his pride. Official position and power are truly more terrifying than martial arts."

Cheng Zongyang said apologetically, "It was my oversight. I originally intended to invite Miss Shishi to the temple to relax, but I didn't expect to run into that fellow."

Li Shishi's eyes flickered slightly. "Really?" "You don't think I summoned Gao Yanei, do you?"

Li Shishi was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Hey, isn't Aunt Ning more beautiful than me?"

Cheng Zongyang laughed twice. "Look at your question, is it even necessary to answer?" "You can use such evasive tactics?" Li Shishi raised an eyebrow. "Stop being so cunning, just answer 'yes' or 'no'."

Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to say, "Miss Shishi is a beauty of unparalleled grace. Although Aunt Ning is beautiful, she is ultimately older. How can she compare to you?"

"Don't try to fool me. That Gao Yanei is like a lost soul when he sees Aunt Ning, he won't even look at me."

"That kind of scoundrel is a complete psychopath. I guess his mother died early, and the lack of maternal love from childhood has led to his psychological abnormality..."

Li Shishi's eyes suddenly reddened, and tears rolled down like broken pearls, "My mother..." She could only say half a sentence before she couldn't continue.

Cheng Zongyang said cautiously, "Don't cry. I've seen plenty of young masters like them. They have no other skills, but they're all braggarts, and not a single word of theirs is true..."

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't sent me and Aunt Ning to Mingqing Temple, we wouldn't have run into this beast!" Li Shishi cried uncontrollably, "That beast harmed my mother, and now he wants to harm me, and he wants to harm my aunt... You, Cheng! You owe my mother!"

Cheng Zongyang took several of her light punches without flinching. Li Shishi stopped, then buried her face in her chair and wept bitterly. The grievances of the past few days were too much for the young girl to bear.

Cheng Zongyang could only sit beside her, gently patting her back to prevent her from overwhelmed with grief and hurting herself.

At the alley entrance, Lin Chong helped his wife down and reluctantly came over to greet them. “Thank you, Master Cheng. Please come and sit in my humble abode.” Cheng

Zongyang smiled and said, “No need to be so polite. I’ll come again another day. Sister-in-law, please take care.”

Ruan Xiangning bowed slightly and whispered, “Thank you, young master.”

Lin Chong, Ruan Xiangning, and Li Shishi returned home with their maid Jin’er. Cheng Zongyang remained in the alley, looking at the mansion that had intricate connections with the Black Demon Sea. After a long while, he said, “Let’s go! Let’s go back!”

A small water mirror, about a foot in size, hung in the room. Cheng Zongyang, Qin Hui, Yu Ziyuan, Ao Run, Lin Qingpu, including Jin Wuzhu, Leopard Head, and Blue-Faced Beast, all stared intently at the mirror.

The mirror reflected the scene from the morning at the Five Peaks Pavilion of Mingqing Temple, from Gao Yanei stopping Ruan Xiangning to Lin Chong’s arrival—the entire process was vividly clear in their minds.

Qin Hui declared resolutely, "This Lady Lin truly has no cultivation whatsoever. Unless she's a top-tier expert at the eighth level of the Supreme Realm, she can't fool my eyes!"

Cheng Zongyang said, "If the Witch Sect had an eighth-level expert, what would be the point? Just go to the Southern Wilderness and hang that old man up and beat him!"

Lin Qingpu said with a wry smile, "Everyone has already seen it three times. I can't take it anymore if I look again."

"I told you to bring the Spirit Flying Mirror. Wasn't that to save you some effort?" Cheng Zongyang said, "Alright, take a break."

Lin Qingpu put away the water mirror. Leopard Head swallowed hard and grinned, "What a beautiful woman! Quite charming!"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Old Leopard has taken a fancy to Lady Lin? Let me tell you, she's the real Leopard Head. Your fake doesn't count."

Leopard Head exhaled heavily, "I am the real Leopard Head!"

"Enough with the nonsense." Cheng Zongyang sat down, facing everyone. "The plan is only half successful; there's still a lot to do. Ziyuan, contact our undercover agent. I need to know the latest movements of the Song army, especially the supply and arrangement of materials. I need it by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

Yu Ziyuan stomped his feet and gave a military salute. "Yes, sir!"

"Old Ao, you and the brothers of the Snow Falcon Regiment will keep watch on the Weiyuan Escort Agency and Instructor Lin's house separately. Report back immediately if you have any news. Also, have someone bring back Feng Dafa; we might need our Grand Mage again."

Ao Run crossed his arms and said in a strong voice, "Yes, sir!"

"Qingpu, contact Master Yun and see when he can arrive. The price of grain in Lin'an is only 800 copper coins; it's time for it to rise."

Lin Qingpu bowed slightly. "Yes." "Old Shu, Old Leopard, Old Beast! The three of you go outside the city and find a place called Wild Boar Forest."

Jin Wuzhu asked, "Why Wild Boar Forest?"

Leopard Head replied, "Because there are wild boars there!"

Green-faced Beast said, "I love eating wild boar!"

"Jin Wuzhu! Every time I say something to you, you ask 'why,' right? If you dare ask again, I'll—" Cheng Zongyang pointed at Leopard Head, "seize his sheep!"

"Why…"

Before Jin Wuzhu could finish his question, Leopard Head knelt down with a thud, grabbed his legs, and cried out in a heart-wrenching voice, "The sheep! Mine!"

Jin Wuzhu finally shut his mouth, and Cheng Zongyang turned his head and said, "Huizhi, the two of us will go to Yuesheng Hall."

"Is the young master going to see that Mr. Liao?"

"No. I'm planning to buy a few books... Alright! Don't flatter me, I'm just going for the 'Jade Within the Books'." Cheng Zongyang patted his belly. "This wealthy man plans to fill this place with poems and prose to intimidate that girl! Hey, what are you all whispering and laughing about?"

Yu Ziyuan suppressed a laugh and said, "Old Qin said that the young master's position is a bit too low. Even if that place is completely covered, it won't be able to tattoo many poems..."

"Damn it! You guys hold that treacherous minister down! Old Ao! Pull down Old Qin's pants! Old Shu, get me a needle, I'll personally tattoo an illustrated (Song of Everlasting Regret) down there!"

Amid the laughter, a soldier from Xingyue Lake with wooden legs walked in, first saluted, and then handed over a red paper strip for praying for blessings at Mingqing Temple.

Cheng Zongyang took it; it read: “May the gentleman be blessed with good fortune, and may his descendants be auspicious. Urgently requested by Mr. Sun of Oak Tile on the 21st of the second month.”

“Where is Oak Tile?”

Yu Ziyuan asked. “Oak Tile is a small entertainment venue, located near Meijia Bridge in the north of the city. It’s not famous among the entertainment venues in Lin’an, but it has a unique charm. General Yue Fei frequented Oak Tile most often.”

Chapter Three:

Pushing open the heavy oak door of Oak Tile, a strong aroma of wine filled the air.

It was nearing dusk, and while other entertainment venues were brightly lit with candles, Oak Tile only had a few small lamps.

In the dim light, one could see a long oak counter at the entrance, with several high stools casually placed in front. The walls behind the counter were decorated with diamond-shaped wooden shelves, containing various kinds of wine and honey.

A man wearing a floral turban stood inside the counter, wiping the porcelain wine vessels. Hearing someone enter, he asked without looking up, "What would you like?"

Yu Ziyuan familiarly tossed in a few silver coins. "Hops wine!"

The bartender brought out several large tin cups and placed them under the counter to fill with the wine. Cheng Zongyang took the opportunity to survey this place, the most frequented by the Yue bird people.

The walls of the bar were made of oak, blackened by smoke over the years, bearing the marks of time. On one wall of the hall hung a huge bull's head, its snow-white bones contrasting sharply with its iron-black horns. The empty eye sockets seemed to hold a pair of cold eyes, indifferently surveying the world.

A dozen tables were scattered throughout the hall, but not a single customer was in sight. Apart from the gurgling sound of the wine, the entire bar was quiet, as if it were a world detached from time and space.

The bartender, wearing a headscarf, slammed a glass down on the oak table. Cheng Zongyang turned around, staring blankly at the wine in the glass for a long while before finally asking, "What is this?"

"Hops wine," Yu Ziyuan said, "A specialty of Oak Tile, young master, please try it!"

Cheng Zongyang picked up the glass of hops wine. The large, straight-sided tin glass, the curved handle, the thick white foam, the slightly bitter aroma… everything looked so familiar.

He carefully took a sip, savoring it as if to confirm he wasn't dreaming, then downed the entire glass of hops wine, which was at least a pound in size, in one gulp, slamming it down on the counter.

"Another glass, please!"

The bartender glanced at him and took the empty glass.

Under the counter was a large oak barrel with a bamboo tube at the bottom. The bartender pulled out the stopper, and a stream of golden liquid immediately poured into the glass, creating a large amount of foam.

Qin Hui, seeing him drinking so readily, also took a sip, then frowned.

Yu Ziyuan was also surprised that he could drink it all in one go without even blinking. He laughed and said, "This hop wine has a bitter taste, and most people don't like it. I didn't expect it to suit your taste, young master. Do you know that hop wine has another name?"

Cheng Zongyang burped, almost gritting his teeth as he said, "Draft beer!"

What hop wine? It's clearly beer! He'd even considered making beer to dominate the light liquor market of the Six Dynasties, but it turns out someone else had already done it.

The bartender placed a full tin glass on the table. Yu Ziyuan took out some coins, but the bartender said, "This glass is free."

Cheng Zongyang didn't stand on ceremony, took it, and took a big gulp. "Good wine! Bartender, how much is this hop wine?"

"Ten copper coins a glass."

The price wasn't cheap, but it was still within the affordability range of the people of Lin'an.

Cheng Zongyang sat down and began to chat with great interest, "Is this wine brewed by you, or is it imported from elsewhere?"

The bartender didn't hide anything, saying, "We brew it ourselves in Oakwood. Hops weren't available in the Six Dynasties period, so we had to import it."

"How are sales?"

The bartender grinned, "People in Lin'an are used to brewed wine, they can't get used to this bitter wine. Some tried it out of curiosity, and after one sip, they said it was horse urine." He spoke with a hint of resentment, seemingly complaining about the Lin'an people's lack of appreciation.

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "This cup of wine costs ten copper coins, how can I drink it for free? Ziyuan..."

The bartender interrupted him, "My great-grandfather said that if someone can identify it as beer, it's free. Please drink as much as you like, I have plenty here."

Cheng Zongyang felt a surge of excitement, "Your great-grandfather? Is he still alive?" The bartender gave him a strange look. "Look at my age—I've been dead for decades."

Cheng Zongyang gulped down a beer to cover his embarrassment, then chatted for a while, "Looks like your place has been open for quite a while. Has anyone ever recognized it as beer?"

"You're the first one in the last ten years or so. There was one before that, but I haven't heard of anyone before that."

Cheng Zongyang was disappointed. It seemed that only Yue Niaoren and he had ever been to Oakwood Tiles.

Suddenly, a frantic shout came from inside the tavern, interspersed with someone slamming their fist on the table. The tavern, which had been silent just moments before, seemed to explode like a spark hitting a powder keg.

The Blue-Faced Beast, who had just taken a sip from his cup, spat and seemed reluctant to throw it away, almost dropped it when the sudden noise startled him.

Cheng Zongyang was also startled. Qin Hui, standing beside him, remained expressionless, but his robes billowed slightly, his body filled with inner energy, secretly on guard.

Yu Ziyuan smiled and asked casually, "Which competition is it today?"

The bartender replied, "Qiyun Society and Shiqiao Society. You've come in lucky, it's the Double Dragons Gathering!"

Yu Ziyuan picked up his wine glass. "Master, come inside and take a look."

Passing through the hall, Cheng Zongyang discovered that the entertainment district was surprisingly different. Standing in the corridor were not the waiters commonly seen in other entertainment districts, but several beautiful young women.

They wore Western-style maid outfits, with black knee-length jumpsuits underneath and white lace-trimmed petticoats on top, standing in two rows in the corridor.

As soon as everyone entered, the maids bowed in unison and said, "Welcome!"

The corridor led to another hall, where there was a rectangular wooden platform. The platform didn't even have railings around it, so strictly speaking, it wasn't a brothel, but more like a T-shaped stage he was familiar with.

The light in the hall was still very dim, with only the wooden platform shimmering. The area around the table was packed with guests. Some were gesturing wildly, others were shouting and cursing, and still others were arguing loudly on both sides, creating a deafening din.

Yu Ziyuan called out to a maid, "Master Sun—"

The maid nodded, pointed to the other side of the hall, and cupped her hand to her mouth, saying, "The table we booked! Over there!" The hall was filled with frenzied guests, a cacophony of cheers, shouts, and even some who were about to fight.

The table the maid pointed to was still empty, but it was in a corner on the other side, requiring them to wade through the crowd. The maid shrugged, indicating that she couldn't lead them to their seats at that moment.

"My Qi Yun's ball-handling skills are unparalleled! My head-raising technique is majestic and domineering!" "My Shiqiao's left and right poles are as stable as Mount Tai, and their defenses are as solid as a fortress!"

"Bah! How could my Qi Yun kick one into a fortress as solid as a fortress!" "Damn it! My Shiqiao is not as despicable as Qi Yun!"

"Haha! If you can't beat them, you resort to despicable tactics. Shiqiao's kids' skills are limited to this! With your Shiqiao's arrogance, I could cut off one of your legs and still beat them!"

"Dare to insult my Shiqiao! I'll break one of your legs first!

" While this was causing a great commotion, someone else shouted, "I, Qi Yun!"

A group of people on the left side of the brothel responded in unison, "Victory! Victory! Victory!"

"Shiqiao Society!" "

Defeat is certain! Defeat is certain! Defeat is certain!"

Hundreds of people shouted in unison, their voices like a tidal wave. Even Cheng Zongyang, who had fought in battles and seen blood, was somewhat intimidated by this momentum.

Trying to squeeze through these people felt like dancing on landmines. Thinking he couldn't push any further, Cheng Zongyang considered sending his men to help, but when he turned around, he saw Yu Ziyuan also shouting enthusiastically.

Thinking about it, it made sense; the Qiyun Society was originally a private property of the Xingyue Lake camp, and hearing that Meng Laoda, Si Laosi, and Lu Laowu had even joined in the fighting, Yu Ziyuan wouldn't side with outsiders. "Huizhi!"

Qin Hui, quick-witted, understood the patriarch's meaning immediately, nodded, and squeezed into the crowd.

On the other side, although the number was small, the momentum was considerable. Seven or eight people jumped onto the table, stomping their feet and shouting in unison, "We, Shiqiao! Will win! Will win! Will win!"

Someone else yelled, "Qiyun Society's cowards! You've lost the Mountain Golden Throne! And you still have the nerve to fight us, Shiqiao!"

This stirred up a hornet's nest. The Qiyun Society's supporters were red-eyed, and several burly men jumped over the wooden platform to kick Shiqiao Society's table. The heroes of the Shiqiao Society were equally determined, grabbing benches and preparing for a fierce battle.

Just then, someone shouted, "It's starting!"

The clamor abruptly ceased, and everyone turned to look at the stage, even those who were fighting stopped.

Cheng Zongyang clutched his chest: "Damn it, these guys can really shout. At this rate, even Jiangzhou City can't withstand it!"

Suddenly, a patch of water rose from the brothel, growing larger and larger. Cheng Zongyang stared dumbfounded at the water mirror before him.

Objectively speaking, the water mirror technique was of mediocre quality; the water on the mirror surface kept flowing, making the scenery inside appear blurry and distorted, as if seen through a layer of rainwater, but it was still possible to discern that the mirror reflected a basketball court made of yellow earth.

Players from the Qiyun Society, dressed in red, and the Shiqiao Society, dressed in blue, stood on either side, ten players on each side. Their shirts bore the names: Head Player Zhang Jun; Kicking Ball Wang Lian; Central Attack Zhu Xuan; Head Attack Shi Ze; Left Net Ding Quan;

Right Net Zhang Lin; Scattered Attack Hu Chun... and so on.

Before the second half of the match began, waitresses dressed as maids, with carts slung across their chests, weaved through the crowd, selling various fruits and drinks.

One maid approached and said, "What else would you like, esteemed guests? We offer a variety of services..."

Yu Ziyuan tipped her with a silver coin: "No, thank you. We're here to watch the match." "Would you like to place a bet, esteemed guests? We have all the match records from the Qiyun Society and Shiqiao Society over the past ten years, as well as professional analysis from renowned Cuju experts."

Cheng Zongyang asked, "Who has the better chance of winning?"

"Qiyun Society was originally the strongest team in the world, but since losing the Mountain Golden Throne last year, all their players have been in closed training. Only Qiyun's second team can actually play," the maid said fluently. "Shiqiao Society is a famous team in Lin'an with a complete roster. According to the analysis of the six renowned football experts we invited, Shiqiao Society has a 60% chance of winning. Sir, if you want to place your bet, please do so quickly, as betting will stop after the whistle blows."

Cheng Zongyang tossed a gold coin, "I'll bet on Qiyun!"

The Qiyun Society fans next to him immediately developed a great liking for this young man, while the Shiqiao Society supporters glared at him angrily.

Cheng Zongyang asked, "Do you have any information about the Seven Stars Society?"

Seeing his generosity, the waitress didn't dare to neglect him and smiled, "The Seven Stars Society won last year's Mountain Golden Venerable title, so they don't need to start from the preliminary rounds again; they can directly participate in the main Mountain Tournament starting in September. At that time, all thirty-two football clubs from the Six Dynasties will gather in Chang'an, and we will find a way to broadcast the live footage of the matches."

A whistle sounded from the water mirror, and the match began. Everyone held their breath, nervously watching the arena in the water mirror, and the entire teahouse fell silent again.

Yu Ziyuan explained softly, "A disciple of the Shadow Moon Sect is a passionate football enthusiast who repeatedly violated the rules and was expelled from the sect. His cultivation was average, and he couldn't get much business. Later, Oak Tree Teahouse heard about this and hired him at a high price to specialize in broadcasting football matches."

Cheng Zongyang remembered Xie Yi saying that each football match lasted nearly an hour. Since this exiled disciple of the Shadow Moon Sect had only average cultivation, how could he last so long?

Yu Ziyuan noticed his confusion and explained, "The competition is just outside the city, only about ten miles away. For a competition like the one in Chang'an, this sorcerer needs to travel to Chang'an to record the scene using the Moon Reflection Technique before returning to Lin'an to broadcast it. Moreover, for such competitions, both sides prepare magical artifacts beforehand; as long as enough money is spent, not much magical power is needed."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "The owner of Oak Tile is quite wealthy, tsk tsk, these waitresses don't look cheap either. Why is the owner personally selling drinks in front?"

Yu Ziyuan laughed, "That bartender isn't the owner."

"He's not the owner?"

Oak Tile's layout resembled a bar, with beer and black and white maid outfits—clearly the product of a time traveler.

Cheng Zongyang had preconceived notions, assuming the time traveler who created the hop wine was the owner of Oak Tile, only to realize now that there was more to the story.

"This Oak Tile has been in Lin'an for a long time. It is said that the original owner came from a wealthy family, but was a fanatical Cuju (ancient Chinese football) enthusiast. He was the one who formulated the rules of Cuju during the Six Dynasties, and he also funded the first Mountain Tournament. However, in order to hold the Mountain Tournament, the original owner went bankrupt, and even sold the tile shop to others. Fortunately, he passed down some winemaking skills, and his descendants sell wine in Oak Tile."

This sage was a bit better than Feng Yuan's ancestor. He didn't go into the technical field but instead went into the service industry, but the ending was similar. He still went bankrupt.

It seems that it is not advisable to act rashly based on the knowledge and wisdom accumulated by transmigrators.

"Although the original owner lost money, the Mountain Tournament became more and more popular. Later, Oak Tile changed owners several times, but the layout of the tile shop was never changed, and it is still like this now."

Qin Hui came over from his reserved seat and waved his hand slightly.

Cheng Zongyang was stunned. He didn't expect that he had arrived early. The informant hadn't had time to deliver the information yet. Qin Hui, worried about being followed, didn't rush over but instead blended into the crowd from a distance, pretending to watch the game.

Since he was already there, Cheng Zongyang, wanting to see the charm of Cuju (ancient Chinese football) from the Six Dynasties period, didn't hurry to leave and casually found a spot to watch the match.

Through the not-so-clear image, he could tell the Cuju field was similar to the football field he was familiar with. There were goals on both sides, but they were half the size of standard goals and were perched half a person's height, immediately increasing the difficulty of shooting several times over.

Yu Ziyuan, also an expert in Cuju, seeing Cheng Zongyang's confusion, pointed out which players were the ball leaders, which were the forwards, which were the center forwards, which were the left and right forwards, which were the left and right guards, and which were the midfielders…

Whether the rules had been revised or were originally designed this way, Cheng Zongyang quickly discovered that these players roughly corresponded to the captain, center forward, left and right forwards, left and right defenders, midfielders, and goalkeeper. The only difference was that there were only ten players on the field, one less than in eleven-a-side football.

As for the playing style, it had one thing in common with modern football: hands were prohibited. The rest of the game was quite different. While both were forbidden from using their hands, the Cuju masters of the Six Dynasties were clearly far superior.

Headers, bicycle kicks, and volleys were child's play. Some Cuju players would simply touch the ball to their bodies, watching it tumble and roll around them, from their chests to their backs, and then emerge from behind their waists.

Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, the ball would suddenly fly out like a meteor, with no indication of the angle from which the player exerted force or how they shot. The goalkeepers were also forbidden from using their hands, relying solely on their heads, feet, and bodies to block shots.

The pace of both sides was extremely fast. The deputy captain of the Shiqiao team received the ball and swept across the midfield like a whirlwind. The ball seemed to rest on his shoulder; only upon closer inspection could one see his shoulder vibrating at an incredibly fast frequency, stabilizing the ball.

Two players from the Qiyun team, wearing red jerseys, rushed out to flank him. The deputy captain of the Shiqiao team, while swinging his body dramatically to force the two players apart, made a long run into the box.

Just as the opposing team was about to unload the ball and shoot, the right-hand man from Qiyun Society suddenly appeared from the side, executing a bicycle kick to deftly snatch the ball from his shoulder.

In modern football, the spectators would have jumped up and cheered, but none of the Oak Tree fans uttered a sound, their eyes fixed on the water mirror.

Because the transition between attack and defense on the field was so rapid, the right-hand man flipped over to grab the ball, then leaped; the ball bounced off his toes, traveling dozens of paces, and accurately delivered to the ball near the opponent's goal.

"Offside!" Cheng Zongyang shouted.

At that moment, the water mirror flashed and lost its luster.

"Damn it! It's broken again!"

"What a damn mage! This is so unreliable!"

Faced with a mage who failed at a crucial moment, the supporters of Qiyun Society and Shiqiao Society stood together for the first time, cursing in unison.

However, the good fortune didn't last long. After only a couple of curses, someone said, "That damn bird mage! Otherwise, he would definitely have scored!"

Someone next to him was unhappy, "Score my foot! Didn't you hear what that brother said about offside?"

"Offside my foot! After I, Qi Yun, hit the ball with my right cue net, the ball head only moved!"

The two sides argued like fighting cocks, their eyes red and necks thick, and one of them grabbed Cheng Zongyang, asking him to judge.

Cheng Zongyang was a complete novice at Cuju (ancient Chinese football), but even if he hadn't eaten pork, he had at least seen pigs run. He adopted an expert's air and said, "Qiyun Society's attack was too sharp. Although this back pass hit an open spot on Shiqiao Society's field, it was too hasty, and offside is certain. On the other hand, Shiqiao Society's two goalkeepers, while slightly weaker, still had some on-field reaction. However, overall, Shiqiao Society's defense, midfield, and forward lines were pushed too far forward, their formation too scattered, making their defense prone to gaps. That offside was a warning sign."

His words offended no one, and both sides nodded in agreement, leaving everyone happy.

Just as Cheng Zongyang secretly wiped away a bead of sweat, someone behind him suddenly said, "Young man, please."

Cheng Zongyang turned around and saw a handsome older man standing behind him.

The man was in his forties or fifties, tall and straight, with a long beard and a Taoist hat. His hair was as black as ink, his face was slightly long, and there were fine wrinkles between his brows and at the corners of his eyes, but his eyes were bright and piercing, revealing the same fervor as those football fans.

"I just heard you mention three lines and formations, young man. What's your explanation?"

"Qiyun Society's style of play is a two-four-three formation," Cheng Zongyang couldn't say anything about football, so he could only force the connection by holding the ball.

"Two right-backs, three forwards, and four midfielders—this is a powerful attacking formation, but its weakness lies in its defense. The Shiqiao Society's second-string player's dribbling breakthrough just now clearly demonstrated this deficiency. However, Qiyun Society's two defenders intercepted with pinpoint accuracy, while their two midfielders tracked back, clearly showing the shift in the three lines, transitioning from a 2-4-3 attacking formation to a 4-3-2 defensive formation. While Shiqiao Society's second-string player is highly skilled, one man can't fight four, especially when surrounded by four. On the other hand, Qiyun Society's three forwards—the ball-handler, the first-string player, and the second-string player—are constantly pressing forward, practically posing a threat."

The man nodded repeatedly, clapping his hands in admiration: "Excellent insight! Great understanding! In your opinion, young brother, what will be the outcome?" (A newcomer, are

n't you? Didn't you see I bet on Qiyun Society?) Cheng Zongyang chuckled and said, "In my opinion, Shiqiao Society has the home advantage, while Qiyun Society, though playing away and facing a formidable opponent, is still quite strong. The outcome of this match is uncertain, haha!"

The man, clearly unsatisfied with this answer, cupped his hands and said, "My name is Su Jiapu. Young brother, would you be interested in joining me upstairs to watch the game?"

The brothel's water mirror wasn't repaired yet, and the hall was a chaotic mess, making everyone's heads spin.

Cheng Zongyang asked curiously, "You can watch a game upstairs here?"

Su Jiapu smiled and gestured, "Please."

Yu Ziyuan and Qin Hui looked over simultaneously. Cheng Zongyang subtly gestured for them to stay and watch for any intelligence reports from the informant, while he went upstairs with Su Jiapu.

Chapter Four :

Su Jiapu was clearly a regular at Oak Tiles. The maids bowed and greeted him warmly as they opened the door for him.

The two ascended the stairs one after the other, the heavy oak doors closing behind them, shutting out the noise of the hall downstairs.

Upon reaching the second floor, a brass fireplace greeted them, its warmth making the room feel like springtime.

"Greetings, Master Su." A sweet, clear greeting rang out, and a fragrant breeze wafted as two women warmly approached. Cheng Zongyang was immediately dazzled.

The two women wore their hair in a bun, their faces alluring. Despite it being winter, their clothing was thin and sheer; round, high collars bound their delicate necks, and light red silk clung to their skin, outlining the curves of their bodies. The garments had slits at the hips, and with each step, glimpses of their snow-white thighs appeared and disappeared between the fabrics.

Cheng Zongyang felt as if he'd been blinded. He was already surprised by the maids downstairs, but the waitresses upstairs were wearing cheongsams! And modified short cheongsams at that. The dress , reaching only mid-thigh, exposed her fair arms and legs.

This anachronistic attire—was it the result of Yue Niaoren's perverse sense of humor while watching the game, or the work of the original owner of Oak Tile?

Su Jiapu put his arm around a waitress's slender waist and smiled, "This is my guest; please serve him carefully."

Another woman in a cheongsam took Cheng Zongyang's arm, "Young master, you look familiar. May I ask your name?"

Such familiarity was merely a tactic used by the brothel owners to attract business; Cheng Zongyang naturally didn't take it seriously, smiling, "My surname is Cheng; I'm just a small businessman."

"This is the first time in all these years that Master Su has brought someone to a private room," the woman said in a soft, sweet voice, "To be valued by Master Su, Young Master Cheng must be quite remarkable."

As they spoke, the two women opened the door, revealing a luxurious private room.

The room was at least two zhang wide, with a thick carpet covering the floor, surrounded by leather sofas, and a small bar counter against the wall.

In the center of the room was a round wooden table, which could normally be used as a table. A gleaming silver pillar stood in the center of the room, beside which were fruits rarely seen in winter—a room with this layout he had seen before in Jiankang, and now he was seeing it again in Lin'an.

Su Jiapu leaned back on the sofa, gesturing for Cheng Zongyang to sit down.

Two women in cheongsams flanked the two guests, chatting sweetly. A maidservant entered to pour tea and water; these were apparently two courtesans from the entertainment district, there to entertain guests.

The maidservant placed a shallow copper basin on a wooden table, then said something to someone outside. Suddenly, the water in the basin rose into the air, forming a gleaming mirror.

This mirror was of far superior quality to the one in the main hall; its surface was smooth, almost imperceptible, and the reflection was much clearer, creating an almost immersive experience.

As soon as the mirror appeared, Cheng Zongyang instinctively moved away from the cheongsam-clad maidservant.

Su Jiapu smiled and said, "Don't worry, the water mirror spells here are all one-sided; they can only be seen from this spot."

Cheng Zongyang was relieved and smiled, "The owner of Oak Tile is so considerate."

"Without the echo and communication from the other water mirror, at least 60% of the magic power can be saved," Su Jiapu said. "Such a win-win situation, why not take advantage of it?"

"I didn't expect there to be such a wonderful place upstairs." Cheng Zongyang looked around and said, "Is this Boss Su's private room?"

“Indeed,” Su Jiapu said. “I have no other hobbies, but I am particularly fond of Cuju (ancient Chinese football). Watching the game at the stadium is too crowded. It’s rare to find a private box like this in Oak Tile, where one can watch all the Cuju matches in Lin’an without leaving the room. So I spent a lot of money to book it.”

The woman next to him laughed and said, “Not to mention this private box, even we sisters were booked by Master Su.” Cheng Zongyang laughed and said, “These two beauties are more valuable than gold. Master Su, you must be enjoying the Cuju matches very much.” The woman said, half resentful and half teasing, “Sir, you don’t know, Master Su loves Cuju more than his life. Whenever there’s a match, he forgets about us sisters.”

Su Jiapu laughed heartily.

“The beauty of Cuju surpasses even the most beautiful sights and sounds. This is Jiao’er, and this is Gui’er. Brother Cheng, please make yourselves at home!”

Jiao’er said, “What kind of wine would you like, Master Cheng?” Cheng Zongyang said, “Shop wine will do.”

Gui’er said with a charming smile, “No wonder Master Cheng and Master Su get along so well.” “Brother Cheng also likes hop wine?” Su Jiapu showed some interest.

“Strong liquor is harmful to the body; only this kind of mild liquor is good.”

“Excellent, excellent!” Su Jiapu was overjoyed. “It’s rare to find someone with the same taste as me! Gui’er! Bring me what I left here!”

Gui’er took out an exquisite wooden box from the wooden shelf, opened it, and took out two brownish objects from the box. Then she sat back down next to the two of them.

Su Jiapu smiled and said, “Brother Cheng, have you ever used this?”

Cheng Zongyang stared in disbelief as Gui’er lifted the lid of the incense burner, bent down, put one end of the stick-shaped object in her red lips, and gently inhaled into the incense burner, slowly lighting it. After a while, she swallowed and said, “Cigars!”

“Brother Cheng is indeed knowledgeable!” Su Jiapu was in high spirits. “These are cigars that Qingzhou imported from Longjia Port. Each one costs fifty silver coins! Brother Cheng, please try one.”

Cheng Zongyang took one in a daze. The cigar was indeed made from the finest tobacco leaves. It had a mellow and fragrant taste, and one inhale gave him a light and carefree feeling.

Su Jiapu clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Few people don't cough when they first try this cigar! Brother Cheng, you're truly a remarkable person!"

Cheng Zongyang only started coughing then, and Su Jiapu laughed heartily. A maidservant brought out some hops wine. Cheng Zongyang exhaled, then raised his glass to Su Jiapu, clinked glasses, and drank it all in one gulp.

Su Jiapu, whose alcohol tolerance was average, had a slightly flushed face after downing a glass of hops wine.

He took a puff of his cigar and then said, "Brother Cheng's explanation of the formation just now has enlightened me. I've watched many polo matches during the Six Dynasties period, and victory always depends on the player's skill. However, the Qiyun Society has many newcomers this year, and their players' skills aren't necessarily guaranteed to win, yet they've won more than they've lost so far. The reasons for this are intriguing. Some say the Qiyun Society uses military strategy in polo, but while that's a strong argument, it's still somewhat rigid and far-fetched. Brother Cheng's explanation of the formation is much clearer and easier to understand. There were too many people talking downstairs, and Brother Cheng didn't want to discuss it further. Here, it's just the two of us." "Brother Cheng, would you be so kind as to share your thoughts? I would certainly listen attentively!"

Cheng Zongyang said, "To be honest, I'm not very good at whip weaving."

Su Jiapu said, "Brother Cheng, there's no need to be modest. Come! Let's have a drink first! I'll ask you about the formation you just mentioned." After another cup of hop wine, plus a cigar in hand and a beautiful woman in his arms, Cheng Zongyang was a little tipsy. Seeing Su Jiapu's eager question, he couldn't help but feel eager to try, and asked, "Are there any chess pieces here?"

Jiao'er brought out a Go set as instructed. Cheng Zongyang took ten black pieces and ten white pieces and arranged them on the table in a formation.

“I’m not very optimistic about Shiqiao Club in this match. Shiqiao Club’s players are technically as good as Qiyun Club, but they lack teamwork. Like Shiqiao Club’s vice-captain’s breakthrough just now,”

Cheng Zongyang said, placing a white stone between the three lines formed by the black stones, “Shiqiao Club’s ball leader and vice-captain were running, but we only saw the ball on the vice-captain; we didn’t see the best passing and attacking positions. Therefore, although there were three players, only the vice-captain was truly effective.”

Cheng Zongyang added two white stones to the black formation.

“If Shiqiao Club’s ball leader and vice-captain attacked from both flanks simultaneously, instead of getting close to the vice-captain, they could first block the landing point of the shot from the side, giving the vice-captain two more points to pass to. When Qiyun Club closes in, one pass is enough for the other two points to shoot.”

Su Jiapu said, “What if Qiyun Club figured that out?”

“If Qiyun Club realizes this, they will inevitably have to allocate manpower to defend Shiqiao Club’s ball leader and central defender, which will greatly reduce the pressure on the secondary defender. Although the situation on the field is ever-changing, the size of the playing field and the position of the goal will not change. Shiqiao Club’s players are more skilled than Qiyun Club’s players, so they can adopt a 2-4-3 formation. As long as the responsibilities of the three lines are clearly defined, the left and right poles will be responsible for the backfield, the four scattered players will be responsible for the midfield and organize the attack, and the ball leader, central defender, and secondary defender will be in the frontfield, which will create many shooting opportunities.”

Cheng Zongyang placed a chess piece: “Therefore, for a good football team, the most important thing is not the attack after the players get the ball, but the movement and organization of the players without the ball. You can tell the level of the football team from this.”

Modern football has also undergone hundreds of years of development, from initially relying on individual skills to win, to relying on overall offensive and defensive cooperation; after the overall cooperation level of the teams became similar, it developed into emphasizing the outstanding abilities of star players and formulating tactics around them. Various formations and offensive and defensive styles have continued to evolve.

In comparison, while the skills of the Six Dynasties Cuju players were superb and the matches were highly entertaining, they were still in a relatively early stage.

The Qiyun Society incorporated military strategy into Cuju, already showing signs of modern football, but its insistence on applying military tactics resulted in a chaotic and fragmented theoretical framework for Cuju tactics.

Cheng Zongyang's football knowledge was at best that of a pseudo-fan, but his luck was exceptional.

In the era of the original owner of the Oak Tile, league-based Cuju was just emerging, relying heavily on the performance of star players; even the best theories lacked a sufficient foundation for development.

Cheng Zongyang arrived at a delicate time when Cuju was transitioning from individual ability to teamwork. A moment later, and perhaps the Six Dynasties Cuju matches would have already developed their own theoretical system; a moment earlier, and perhaps like the original owner of the Oak Tile, he would have been born at the wrong time, without the suitable environment to validate his theories.

His formation theory, appearing at this moment, might not have mattered to others, but for seasoned die-hard fans like Su Jiapu, it immediately revealed its value.

Su Jiapu treasured Cheng Zongyang's analysis, and the two drank hops wine, smoked cigars, watched Tao Sai, and discussed the wonders of Cuju (ancient Chinese football).

Su Jiapu was overjoyed, and Cheng Zongyang also indulged in his pseudo-expert fantasy.

Cheng Zongyang discovered that this handsome old man surnamed Su was not only a passionate Cuju enthusiast but also a very intelligent person. He could understand many formation changes that Cheng Zongyang only knew superficially but not in detail. When Cheng Zongyang copied the rules of eleven-a-side Cuju and repeatedly said 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, Su Jiapu would question why the goalkeeper was placed in the defensive line. Apart from this minor oversight, the host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.

For the best visual effect, the private room was unlit, with only the constantly changing light and shadow in the water mirror reflecting the swirling smoke inside.

Two female waitresses in cheongsams, with fair skin and red lips, and bare legs and arms, leaned against the guests and served them attentively; young girls in maid outfits obediently served tea and water.

The crisp beer, the rich cigars, the intoxicating scent of body odor, the spacious sofas, and the almost live broadcast of the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) match gave Cheng Zongyang a disorienting feeling—this private room held so many nostalgic memories.

Unfortunately, now was not the time for indulgence; a host of important matters awaited him. Cheng Zongyang lingered, finally rising reluctantly to leave at the end of the third period of the match.

Su Jiapu was even more reluctant to part, repeatedly trying to persuade Cheng Zongyang to stay. Finally, seeing that Cheng Zongyang was determined to leave, he could only hold his hand and say, "The ancients said, 'White hair is like new acquaintances, and a single meeting like old friends.' Today, meeting you, young brother, is like hearing footsteps echoing in an empty valley, a meeting of kindred spirits! Your insightful words have made me regret not meeting you sooner! I have nothing to repay you with, but as long as you stay in Lin'an, please come to Oak Tile to watch the game; all expenses will be on my tab!"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Thank you, Brother Su! Another day, I will certainly enjoy the game with you!"

Su Jiapu, already flushed from drinking, disregarded the age difference between them, put his arm around Cheng Zongyang's shoulder, winked, and laughed, "Brother Cheng left in a hurry and didn't get to see the wonders of this place. When you come again, you must try these two beauties—Jiao'er and Gui'er! Did you hear me? Next time you come, Brother Cheng, let him have you!"

The two women replied shyly, "Yes."

Cheng Zongyang laughed loudly, "Brother Su is so generous!"

"Beauty is given to a beautiful woman, and a fine sword to a martyr." Su Jiapu said, "It's rare that Brother Cheng shares my interests; this private room should be shared with you!"

The two lingered for a while longer before Cheng Zongyang finally took his leave. Back in the main hall, Qin Hui gave him a wink from afar, indicating that the intelligence had been obtained.

Cheng Zongyang, along with Qin Hui, Yu Ziyuan, and Jin Wuzhu, left Oak Tile and boarded a carriage.

Qin Hui handed over a wax pill: "Just after you left, a child came in and said someone gave him ten coins to deliver this wax pill to the reserved table."

Cheng Zongyang grasped the wax pill and said to Yu Ziyuan, "You said Yue Fei... uh, the venerable King Wu Mu used to come to Xiangshuwa often, didn't he have a private room inside?"

Yu Ziyuan said, "I've only been here a few times as Yue Fei's personal guard, so I don't know much about the place. However, several officers who like Cuju (ancient Chinese football) often accompanied Yue Fei to watch the game in the theater—is there anything unusual inside?"

"No. There's just a private room in the theater, probably where Yue Fei used to frequent."

As Cheng Zongyang spoke, he crushed the wax pill and took out a letter from inside.

Qin Hui couldn't help but ask, "Young master, that guest invited you in to watch the game. In your opinion, who is that guest?"

Cheng Zongyang thought for a moment, "Probably a very lonely person."

"Danyang!" Qin Hui's face changed drastically.

Cheng Zongyang's face was ashen, "That's right, Danyang."

The informant delivered three pieces of intelligence. The first one struck Cheng Zongyang like a ton of bricks—Jia Shixian had secretly dispatched an envoy to Jiankang, proposing the use of the Danyang ferry crossing in exchange for a formal statement from the Jin state regarding the situation in Jiangzhou.

Danyang, downstream of Guangyang, was the gateway between the Jin and Song states for trade along the Yunshui River. Jia Shixian's offer was quite substantial.

Trade and transportation during the Six Dynasties relied heavily on the Yunshui River, but the Jin state had always been excluded from the Yunshui trade circle, forcing them to dig the Guangyang Canal to connect the Yangtze River and the Yunshui River. If he were Wang Maohong, he would probably be tempted by Danyang as well. But what was truly worth considering was the implications behind this intelligence.

To finalize this matter, it would take at least three months round trip. Was Jia Shixian only sending someone now to extend the Jiangzhou battle for another three months?

With this question in mind, Cheng Zongyang opened the first piece of intelligence. The contents of the intelligence report both surprised and delighted him: a memorial entitled "Memorial on Matters Concerning Strengthening the Army, Increasing Annual Revenue,

and Eliminating Redundant Officials," submitted by Jia Shixian. The memorial was lengthy; in short, Jia Shixian proposed a series of measures to continue advancing the land tax system, conduct land surveys, increase revenue, reorganize the Imperial Guard, eliminate the old and weak, and dismiss redundant officials.

Cheng Zongyang noticed a special expenditure plan totaling ten million strings of cash.

Although Jia Shixian didn't specify the details of this plan in the memorial, the informant bluntly noted it: "Military expenditure in Jiangzhou. One-tenth of the court's annual revenue.

" "Ten million strings of cash," Cheng Zongyang exclaimed, "Grand Tutor Jia is truly generous." "Five million gold coins? When did the Song Dynasty become so wealthy?"

Qin Hui quickly glanced at the intelligence report, unable to guess how Jia Shixian had raised the funds since he hadn't mentioned any specific expenditure plan.

"This at least proves one thing: our Grand Tutor Jia is determined to take Jiangzhou and wipe out Xingyue Lake," Cheng Zongyang said. "This five million gold coins for military expenses is almost enough for half a year's expenses."

Yu Ziyuan said, "If Grand Tutor Jia suddenly dies, the Song army will definitely retreat." Cheng

Zongyang looked at him with some surprise. The people from the Xingyue Lake camp were indeed extraordinary; they actually wanted to kill Grand Tutor Jia.

If it were three months ago, assassinating Grand Tutor Jia and forcing the Song army to retreat would have been the best option, but the situation was different now.

In the Battle of Jiangzhou, the Xingyue Lake camp had only one goal: to survive through victory. But his own goal was higher: not only to survive, but also to make a fortune. However, to make a fortune, he couldn't just drive away the Song army all at once; otherwise, once the war ended and grain prices dropped, the Yun family's and his own investments would immediately go down the drain.

For this fundamental difference, Cheng Zongyang didn't hesitate to use the method of having Xingyue Lake invest in him, binding the interests of both parties together, and only then did he manage to persuade Boss Meng to cooperate with his actions.

But in Yu Ziyuan's and others' view, the goal was still simply to repel the Song army—after all, the war was fought with the blood of the brothers of the Xingyue Lake camp.

Cheng Zongyang felt somewhat ashamed; he had never intended to build his wealth on the sacrifices of the Xingyue Lake camp, but he had to admit that the reality was close.

Qin Hui said, "Even if Jia Shixian is assassinated, the Song army may not retreat; on the contrary, they will have an excuse to reinforce. If the Song state raises the banner of pursuing the murderer, the Jin state will find it difficult to stop them from launching a punitive expedition."

Cheng Zongyang had already opened the third intelligence report, and upon reading it, his eyes twitched violently. After a long while, he said with a dark face, "Those are minor matters; let's look at this one."

Qin Hui and Yu Ziyuan were both shocked; one said, "What a vicious method!"

The other said, "Contact Colonel Meng immediately!"

Compared to the first two intelligence reports, this one was very simple.

Qin Han, the commander of the Vanguard Battalion, presented a memorial requesting the Song Emperor's permission to negotiate peace with the bandits of Jiangzhou and to personally enter Jiangzhou to meet the bandit leader, Meng Feiqing—and then launch a sudden attack during the meeting, assassinating Meng Feiqing and his entourage.

Qin Han was a palace eunuch, a private servant of the Song Emperor, and such actions required his approval.

When the informant delivered the intelligence, the Song Emperor had not yet made a decision, seemingly still hesitant about whether exchanging a eunuch for the bandit leader's life was worthwhile.

Although Cheng Zongyang had great confidence in Meng Feiqing's skills, given Qin Han's cultivation level, if he were to launch a reckless attack during negotiations, few in the world would dare to disregard him.

Cheng Zongyang immediately summoned Lin Qingpu to contact the Jiangzhou side.

The next day, Cheng Zongyang's expression grew increasingly grim.

Lin Qingpu had failed to contact Jiangzhou all night; his Water Mirror Technique was severely interfered with as soon as it passed Lieshan, and several attempts to cast the spell not only failed to overcome the barrier but also nearly resulted in damage to his spiritual consciousness.

“It’s a magic array.” Lin Qingpu, his face pale from exhaustion, hadn’t received the help of the Spirit Flying Mirror, which had greatly boosted his magical power. He might have been injured in the face of the interference.

“How did they know we were heading towards Lin’an?”

“This magic array isolates the area within a ten-mile radius of Jiangzhou. Water mirror spells from any direction will be interfered with; it’s not targeted at one side.” Lin Qingpu said, “This kind of magic array is specifically designed to counter magical communication. It’s extremely complex to set up. Even with enough manpower, it would take at least a month to set it up.”

Cheng Zongyang’s face was as cold as ice. Only then did he remember the artisan team escorted by the Tiger Wing Army that had passed through Junzhou—Jia Shixian might have started preparing for the siege of Jiangzhou two months ago, even bringing along the team that set up the magic array. It was

quite comprehensive. Jia Shixian was not a frivolous person. After the Xingyue Lake camp proved that the 100,000 Imperial Guards still underestimated the strength of Jiangzhou, Jia Shixian’s fierce counterattack put immense pressure on Cheng Zongyang, who was thousands of miles away. "Ziyuan, send someone to Jiangzhou to deliver Qin the eunuch's message to Commander Meng as quickly as possible."

Cheng Zongyang made a decision immediately, sending someone to Jiangzhou to deliver the message, hoping to inform Meng Feiqing to be on guard before the Song Emperor's edict arrived. His other contingency plan was even more difficult.

"We can't sit idly by either," Cheng Zongyang said. "Huizhi, we need to think of a way to make the Song Emperor dissuade Qin the eunuch." Even

Qin Hui, with his shrewdness, couldn't help but grin upon receiving this task. Even if his silver tongue had the power to change the situation, he would still need to get into the palace to meet the Song Emperor.

But it wasn't Qin Hui who declined the patriarch's order. He clasped his hands in a fist salute, "Yes, sir."

These matters couldn't be resolved right now, and since Cheng Zongyang had already responded, they were temporarily set aside. He asked, "Old Ao, how's the situation?" "

Two brothers from the Weiyuan Escort Agency are on the move, so there's no movement yet. Instructor Lin went out yesterday afternoon, and the brothers monitoring him recognized him as Lu Yusi from the Imperial Guard, who invited Instructor Lin to drink. As for the Grand Commandant's Mansion, this morning, the playboy and his thirteen bodyguards gathered together, I don't know what they're up to."

Cheng Zongyang went around in circles, then said, "Prepare the gifts! I'm going to the Weiyuan Escort Agency!"

Everyone was surprised that he suddenly thought of going to the Weiyuan Escort Agency. Qin Hui, without hesitation, stepped forward to dissuade him, "Young Master, please reconsider!"

“I’m not here to cause trouble. Besides the usual gifts, I’ll take two more ivory tusks,” Cheng Zongyang said. “I’d like to meet this couple who are selling their daughter.”

Li Yinchen was in his forties or fifties, with thinning hair, but his eyes revealed a shrewdness and a somewhat mercenary air, reminding Cheng Zongyang of Qi Yuan and the grain merchants of Yunzhou City. If it weren’t for the fact that he walked with his feet firmly planted on the ground, indicating solid martial arts skills, one would hardly guess he was a martial artist.

However, in the months since the Grand Commandant’s goods were stolen, half of Li Yinchen’s hair had turned white. Even if he was shrewd and calculating, he was useless against the young magistrate of the Grand Commandant’s mansion who had him cornered.

Li Yinchen had initially only given this merchant a perfunctory response, but when the merchant’s servant brought out two giant ivory tusks, each as tall as a person, Li Yinchen immediately stood up.

Before leaving Junzhou, Cheng Zongyang made a special trip to the ivory den in Jingxi, where he painstakingly retrieved more than a dozen pairs of mammoth tusks from the mud pits and loaded them onto a cart to be transported to Lin'an.

These mammoth tusks were larger and of better quality than ordinary ivory, and they immediately impressed the well-informed Chief Escort Li.

"This...this...Young Master, do you intend to entrust our escort agency with the transport?"

Cheng Zongyang said, "That's right. These two ivory tusks were brought from Zhaonan and are to be sent to Qingzhou. Although I am a merchant from Qingzhou, I am already very familiar with the reputation of Weiyuan Escort Agency. If Chief Escort Li personally escorts them, I can rest assured."

"Our agency...our agency..." Li Yinchen composed himself and changed his words, "May I ask what your requirements are, Young Master?"

"By land, to Pengyi Headquarters in Qingzhou within fifteen days." Cheng Zongyang held up one finger, "The transport fee is one thousand gold coins."

Li Yinchen hesitated, but a beautiful woman beside him said, "Although these two ivory tusks are expensive, they are only around two thousand gold coins. Why are you willing to pay one thousand gold coins for the transport, Young Master?" The one

who spoke was Li Shishi's mother, the enchanting jade belt Ruan Xianglin.

Her appearance was eight parts similar to Li Shishi's, with delicate eyebrows, eyes like autumn water, and a slightly taller figure than Li Shishi. She was voluptuous and had fair skin, truly a stunning beauty.

To Cheng Zongyang's surprise, Ruan Xianglin wasn't as mercenary as her husband, Chief Escort Li. Instead, she seemed like a straightforward and forthright woman, showing no signs of the despicable nature described by Young Master Liang.

Was it because her acting skills were superb, or because Young Master Liang's words were all boasting? "It's a trade secret, please forgive me for not revealing it," Cheng Zongyang said confidently. "But as long as Chief Escort Li delivers the goods by land within fifteen days, the escort fee of one thousand gold coins will be immediately paid."

From Lin'an to Qingzhou, there was no need to pass through the desolate borderlands of various countries; this escort mission was practically foolproof. Li Yinchen hesitated for a long time, but ultimately couldn't bear to part with the escort fee and agreed.

Ruan Xianglin frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with her husband's decision. She said "Excuse me," and then walked with her husband to the back of the hall.

The two didn't go far, and Cheng Zongyang pricked up his ears, carefully listening to their conversation. "Shishi is about to get married, how can you leave?"

Li Yinchen said with a wry smile, "That's precisely why I have to make this trip."

"Shishi is already eighteen years old. If she marries the young master of the Grand Commandant's mansion, you will be related to Grand Commandant Gao by marriage. Why are you still hiding?"

"She's only a concubine for a year—Alin, by doing this, you'll ruin Shishi's reputation!"

"The escort agency lost the Grand Commandant's mansion's goods. You want to save the agency and your daughter at the same time? There's no such easy way out. Besides, with Shishi's beauty, as long as she's willing to submit and serve the young master diligently, do you think he would be willing to throw her away?" Ruan Xianglin said, "If you take this opportunity to ask Grand Commandant Gao for a better future, then in the future, your daughter will be honored because of her father. Even if she marries the young master as a concubine or as his wife, what's wrong with that?"

Li Yinchen stamped his foot and said, "Alin, how can you be so confused! Is that playboy a man who cherishes women? Shishi's marriage to the Grand Commandant's mansion is illegitimate. How can she be his wife?"

"When Shishi was young, she consulted the fortune teller Kuang. Kuang himself said that Shishi would meet a benefactor at the age of eighteen, and even if he wasn't her principal wife, he would be a rare and excellent match. If she could marry into this family, not only would Shishi have a secure future, but her parents would also become wealthy and powerful—" Ruan Xianglin said, "Isn't this all about the young master of the Grand Commandant's mansion? The fortune teller Kuang also said that if she made a mistake and missed this opportunity, it would not only ruin Shishi's life but also bring disaster to her parents."

Li Yinchen said, "How can we take the words of a fortune teller seriously? That young master is a notorious playboy; why would he help us? Let's not even mention wealth and power."

"I don't care," Ruan Xianglin said defiantly. "Whether we can become rich or not, nobody knows, but if we don't promise Gao Yanei, our family will definitely be ruined. If you want Shishi and me to be sold by the government, then go ahead and refuse the Grand Commandant's office."

Li Yinchen hesitated for a long time, and finally sighed, "I'll take this escort mission. You can decide Shishi's matter, just don't blame me in the future."

Li Yinchen stepped forward and said, "This mission, I will personally escort it first thing tomorrow morning. According to the rules, please pay 20% of the escort fee first."

Cheng Zongyang readily took out two hundred gold coins. He thought to himself: Kuang Zhongyu, Kuang Zhongyu, you even told Li Shishi's fortune. I don't know about others, but everyone knows how unreliable your fortune-telling skills are. Chief Escort Li and his wife have been ripped off by you, practically throwing their daughter into a fire pit, yet they were still single-mindedly thinking they could climb the social ladder and get rich and powerful. Jianghu swindlers kill people!

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