The rain kept falling. The carriage stopped under the corridor. Someone held an umbrella to block the dripping from the eaves, welcoming Yu Qing’s three who had alighted.
Pang Chengqiu acted as host to receive the guests, inviting the three fellow disciples to follow him.
Sun Jiu, who had accompanied them all the way, continued to accompany them.
The three fellow disciples walking in the corridor silently observed their surroundings, both vigilant and curious.
After all, the Jinghong Hall’s reputation for beauty was well known. Everyone knew this was the Sea Market’s largest pleasure venue, a money pit for men. It was said that many wealthy people spent here in one night what would last many people a lifetime.
This could also be considered a place that made one’s heart yearn, but ordinary people simply dared not enter. It was said that even a cup of tea was very expensive, and all food and drink were very refined. In short, if you had no money, do not enter.
In such a place, how could the three fellow disciples not feel curious?
To be honest, if not for someone inviting them, the three of them themselves did not know if they would have the chance in this lifetime to come to such an occasion.
But in this rainy night, the surroundings could not be seen clearly. Added to that, many tree crowns provided cover. One only saw eaves and pavilions and towers hung with lanterns everywhere. It was a garden-like pleasure venue. One did not know how large the area was. To create such an existence in this Sea Market where every inch of land was worth gold was truly amazing, enough to make the three senior brothers secretly click their tongues in amazement.
The sounds of silk and bamboo, and the singing and dancing lingering in the night atmosphere need not be mentioned.
Along the way, one could occasionally see the graceful figures of beautiful women shuttling through the corridor, not knowing where they were going, making the three fellow disciples unable to resist looking a few more times.
Of course, knowing that a feast was not a good feast, the vigilance in their hearts did not dare relax.
A building complex in the shape of the character “field,” four similar buildings compacted together with roads separating them in the middle. The place where Wang Wentian held the banquet was one of the grids in this “field” shape.
At this time, Wang Wentian, Qingya, and Gu Qingzhao were all standing at the door waiting.
Before long, they saw the guests arriving. Wang Wentian narrowed his eyes looking. Gu Qingzhao’s bright eyes flickered, revealing curiosity and anticipation. Neither had ever seen the Tanhua Lang, and both wanted to see clearly what the other looked like.
Qingya leaned against the doorframe in a relaxed manner, taking peanuts from his trouser pocket, slowly peeling and eating them. He had secretly seen Yu Qing before, so he had no sense of anticipation.
One look at the positions of the three fellow disciples walking over, and one knew that the one walking in front was the legendary Tanhua Lang.
The lighting was hazy. From afar at first glance, he felt quite handsome and elegant. When they drew near, a trace of surprise, or rather disappointment, flashed in Gu Qingzhao’s eyes. She had not expected that the legendary Tanhua Lang was actually a wretched little moustache, and found that he did not have the scholarly elegance of “unparalleled in the world” that she had imagined.
She somewhat suspected whether she had mistaken the person.
Back when the Tanhua Lang became famous throughout the world with one examination, such a gentleman, with the elegant title of “Tanhua,” how could the girls of Jinghong Hall resist discussing him? When there were guests, they could not resist trying to inquire. It was said that his appearance was also quite good.
The girls had said at the time, whoever could get the Tanhua Lang to write a poem, and then set it to music and sing it, would inevitably become famous throughout the world. Their status would immediately be different. Even if they were still prostitutes, they would immediately have distinction. They would be prostitutes different from other prostitutes.
Earning money was secondary. Being able to wash away much of the dustiness of the world, adding a bit more elegance, this was what many prostitutes dreamed of.
There was no way around it. Anything that gained more literary air would show elegance.
Just like matters between men and women, for scholars it was romantic affairs. For others, it sounded somewhat unpleasant.
Gu Qingzhao’s heart turned a hundred times. Looking back and forth, she probably had not mistaken him. That big fatty and that big blockhead were clearly not. One could tell from the way people walked. The wretched little moustache walking in front should be that Tanhua Lang.
Sure enough, Qingya leaning against the doorframe stood up, and reminded Wang Wentian in his ear, “That little moustache is the one.”
Wang Wentian made an “oh” sound, muttering in his mouth, “I thought he had three heads and six arms, but he is nothing special.” The tone of disdain was fully evident.
But the halo of the greatest talent under heaven was still quite dazzling. Gu Qingzhao was still staring and carefully examining, discovering that the Tanhua Lang’s physique was quite good, not like a generally weak scholar. She thought in her heart, if the girls of Jinghong Hall knew that the legendary Tanhua Lang had come, they would probably turn out in full force to watch.
Her bright eyes flashed continuously, brilliance born in her gaze. She indeed felt that Jinghong Hall would shine with added brilliance today because of this distinguished guest. But she also secretly sighed. Alas, today they had to set up a trap to harm this Tanhua Lang.
The three Yu Qing who stopped at the door quickly sized up the people before them. Their gazes almost simultaneously locked onto Wang Wentian. Although none had met before, they simultaneously recognised the main person, because whether in dress or the aura about him, Wang Wentian had an obvious rich second generation flavour. Qingya beside him clearly did not.
“This is my family’s young master. Young master, these three gentlemen are Mr. Yu, Mr. Nan, and Mr. Mu.”
Sun Jiu quickly stepped to the middle of both sides and introduced them to each other.
At this time, Wang Wentian put on a smiling face, cupped his hands and said, “I have long admired Brother Yu’s great name. Today you could honour us with your presence, this is truly a fortunate matter.” He also cupped his hands towards Nan and Mu in a perfunctory manner. He had come for Yu Qing alone, and did not put the other two in his eyes at all.
If not for fearing that Yu Qing would not come if invited alone, he would not have wanted to invite the other two at all.
Yu Qing also cupped his hands with an indifferent face, “I have also long heard the great name of Zheluo Mountain. I did not expect to be banqueted by Young Sect Leader Wang. This is truly a pleasant surprise.”
Nan Zhu had his hands tucked at his abdomen, a serious expression, not making a sound.
Mu Aotie slightly raised his head, his head slightly tilted, looking askance with arrogance.
Gu Qingzhao feared they would tear faces on the spot, and hurriedly said with a charming smile, “Several distinguished guests, outside the wind and rain are swaying. It is not a place for laughing and talking. It is better to enter first and talk.”
Wang Wentian immediately made way, stretching out his hand, “Brother Yu, please.”
The two groups entered thus. With a wave of Gu Qingzhao’s round fan in her hand, melodious zither music immediately rang out. A group of dancers waiting in the centre of the venue immediately began to dance gracefully to welcome the guests.
The atmosphere immediately rose. The three Yu Qing looked again at the magnificently decorated interior, discovering that just the lamps and lights numbered in the hundreds or thousands, illuminating the venue completely.
Yu Qing’s gaze focused on the incense burners hanging from the pillars and beams in the venue. Seeing the curling blue smoke, and the faint smoke drifting through the venue, he immediately felt much more at ease.
After seating everyone, Gu Qingzhao immediately took her leave. Before leaving, she gave Wang Wentian and Qingya a meaningful look, indicating to stall.
She had originally wanted to properly introduce herself to Yu Qing, and also wanted to get to know him well. But thinking that she would harm him later, she gave up.
At this time, Yu Qing and Wang Wentian each had a table, sitting side by side in the primary seats. Below on both sides, naturally each person’s people sat on their respective side.
And beside each guest there were two additional beautiful women, warm fragrance and soft jade attending on left and right.
Wang Wentian was clearly very accustomed to this kind of occasion, adapting naturally.
Qingya was even less polite, directly embracing left and right, laughing and talking with them.
The three fellow disciples were completely unmoved by the women on either side. They dared not drink the wine and water offered, making those women somewhat awkward. Nan and Mu were both secretly guarding against the surroundings.
Yu Qing observed Qingya a bit more, not knowing what kind of person he was. Anyone who had the qualifications to sit here was probably not an ordinary person.
Of course, he was more observing the drifting movements of the faint smoke in the room.
Suddenly, his gaze moved slightly. He quickly glanced towards the roof vent window, then immediately lowered his gaze without showing any sign, the corner of his mouth hooking up a cold and hard meaning.
Wang Wentian, watching coldly from the side, was wondering what this person was looking at. It seemed he was watching the dance entranced, yet also seemed not to be watching, giving the feeling of a blind man with open eyes. Now seeing him come back to his senses, he immediately raised his wine cup and smiled, “Brother Yu, is the wine not fine, or the girls not good enough? Why do you sit gloomily and not drink?”
Yu Qing pushed away the women clinging to him on left and right, stood up, and shouted with raised breath, “Musicians, dancers, drinking companions, all stop for me.”
With this shout, the dance music all stopped. The women all looked at each other in dismay. The indoor atmosphere immediately turned wrong.
“I have important matters to discuss with Young Master Wang. All irrelevant people get out!”
Yu Qing waved his hand pointing at those playing music and the beautiful women, indicating they should all get out.
Wang Wentian watched him with a cold face, weighing in his heart how to stall for time.
Qingya slowly put down his wine cup, tilted his head to signal, and those music and dance people who did not know what to do immediately and quickly retreated.
Of course, he also casually pulled the woman beside him who was about to leave. It seemed like kissing and groping, but in reality he softly instructed one sentence, “Quickly have the proprietress bring the person.”
That woman left in response.
Yu Qing noticed Qingya’s actions, discovering that this bare armed fellow was a person whose words carried weight here, not knowing what kind of deity he actually was.
Wang Wentian also slowly stood up, clearly with an unhappy face, “Brother Yu, what do you mean by this? I kindly banquet you, and you do not appreciate the favour?”
Yu Qing kicked away the stool with his foot, facing him and saying, “Brother Wang, do you think I still have the leisure to watch any song and dance? Who I am, why you banquet me, we both know perfectly well in our hearts. Whatever matter there is, we might as well speak openly. There is no need to beat around the bush here. Now that I have come, release the person!”
Wang Wentian: “How do I not understand what you are saying?”
Yu Qing directly shot back, “You think Zhong Ruochen could take a fancy to goods like you?”
Qingya, who seemed to have nothing to do with it and was slowly peeling peanuts, was stunned upon hearing this. He could not resist raising his eyes to look at Yu Qing, very surprised. He had originally thought Wang Wentian was a blunt speaker. He had not expected that here another even more blunt speaker had emerged. The Tanhua Lang famous throughout the world was this kind of material?
In short, he suddenly faintly felt something was not right, but could not say what was not right.
Wang Wentian’s face immediately sank. “Surnamed A, do not be shameless. If you want me to release the person, then be obedient, honest, and speak properly to me.”
“Very well.” What Yu Qing wanted was precisely this sentence from him. What he wanted was precisely for him to admit he had kidnapped Xiao Hei. He had originally thought it would take some effort to coax out this sentence. He had not expected that with a casual provocation it would come out. He immediately said in a deep voice, “Surnamed Wang, do not be too shameless as a person. Whatever matter there is, come directly at me. There is no need to make things difficult for a small child. Release the person immediately. I am also doing this for your own good. That child is not someone your Wang family can afford to provoke.”
Cannot afford to provoke? Qingya’s eyes flickered.
Wang Wentian sneered coldly, “Stop bluffing here, I…”
Yu Qing interrupted without courtesy, “Stop rambling. That child is a genuine person of Youjiao Port whose name is registered at Youya. You even dare to kidnap people from Youjiao Port. Are you tired of living?”
What? Wang Wentian and Qingya were simultaneously dumbfounded.
Qingya reacted quickly, immediately reminding, “Young Master Wang, how could you possibly have kidnapped someone from Youjiao Port? How do I not know about this matter?”
Wang Wentian quickly reacted, immediately denying flatly, “A Shiheng, stop talking nonsense here. I did not kidnap anyone, and even less did I kidnap someone from Youya. Do not try to splash dirty water on me.”