At Jinghong Hall, Qingya and Gu Qingzhao sat opposite each other in a pavilion bathed in the morning sun. The two enjoyed an exquisite breakfast while admiring the surrounding scenery from above, chatting leisurely.
The sound of thudding footsteps approached. Pang Chengqiu came up, bowed slightly to the two from the side, then reported with hands clasped. “Master Qing, the general situation last night remained unchanged. Not long after the men returned, the fatty and the big fellow were inquiring which inn Wang Xueting was staying at. Only that Tanhua Lang was elusive. He entered an underground passage and disappeared. No one knew where he went or what he did. He only returned when dawn was approaching this morning. His movements remain unaccounted for to this day.”
Gu Qingzhao put down her spoon in a daze, looking at the two of them, sensing that some action seemed to be underway again.
Qingya swallowed the soup in his mouth and asked doubtfully, “Entering underground passages again. Could he be meeting with the Zhenhai Division’s inside contact again? How long has it been since the poisoning incident? Is he not afraid of exposing that inside contact?” He turned back and asked, “Where is that Tanhua Lang now?”
Pang Chengqiu said, “The latest news is that he went to Langhuan Residence. The fatty is generous. He booked a suite at Langhuan Residence for fifty thousand taels a day. That Tanhua Lang also went there early this morning. All three of them went. No one understands what it means.”
Qingya was stunned. “A suite for fifty thousand taels a day? It seems these fellows are not poor. Langhuan Residence… perfect, I was just about to look for him.” After speaking, he continued to bury his head in tasting breakfast.
Pang Chengqiu bowed slightly and withdrew.
After the others went downstairs, Gu Qingzhao asked suspiciously, “Why are you looking for that Tanhua Lang?”
Qingya replied while eating, “It is not that I want to find him. Someone from Wang Xueting’s side came to me last night and asked me to find a way to scare him and drive him out of the Sea Market. I had no choice but to comply. It is just that this fellow is everywhere inquiring about Wang Xueting’s residence, and he spent tens of thousands of taels a day to stay right under Wang Xueting’s nose. I do not know what it means. This behaviour is baffling. After I finish eating, I will go and feel out that fellow’s situation.”
Gu Qingzhao asked, “What does Wang Xueting mean by driving people out of the Sea Market?”
Qingya said, “What else could it mean? Looking for trouble with the Tanhua Lang is certainly nothing good. What else could it be but revenge? It is just that too many people are watching that Tanhua Lang. Wang Xueting cannot easily make a move here, afraid that if discovered he will not be able to escape. It is said that regarding the incident when Zhenbao Studio was smashed last time, Zhu Xuan actually extorted Wang Xueting, seemingly getting five or six hundred million. If he kills the world-famous Tanhua Lang and gets caught in the Sea Market, that group would not only ruin him financially but also make him shed a thick layer of skin. They are all wolves that can never be fed. They will pounce when they smell blood.”
Gu Qingzhao could not help laughing. “Zhu Xuan is ruthless enough. On one side he has you instigate Wang Xueting’s son to cause trouble, on the other side he uses the incident to extort Wang Xueting. These people only do business without capital.”
Qingya said, “There is no choice. He holds power in his hands. Besides, Wang Xueting’s background as the Earth Mother is useless here. If he really commits a crime and gets caught, even the Earth Mother cannot say anything.”
Just then, the sound of thudding footsteps rang out again. Pang Chengqiu appeared once more, bowed slightly, then urgently reported, “Master Qing, that Tanhua Lang has come. He says he wishes to see you. That fatty has come too.”
Qingya looked up, glanced at the bright daytime sun, clearly somewhat bewildered. “Why has he run over again? I was just about to look for him, yet he came first instead. What is the situation? Did he say what matter he has?”
Pang Chengqiu shook his head. “No, he only said he came to pay his respects to you.”
Clang. Qingya threw the spoon in his hand back into the bowl, stood up, crossed his arms over his chest, paced back and forth, frowning and muttering, “What does he mean, paying respects? What kind of paying respects is this? Yesterday he clearly had the posture of leaving, yet suddenly he ran back. Why do I feel that every time this fellow comes to find me, it is never anything good?”
Pang Chengqiu asked, “Then shall I help you decline?”
Qingya raised his hand to stop him. “Decline my arse. I was going to look for him anyway. Forget it, let him come over. This time I want to see what tricks he can still play.”
“Yes.” Pang Chengqiu responded and left.
Gu Qingzhao quickly wiped her lips with a hand towel, got up, walked to the railing, and waved downward.
Soon a maid came up, cleared away the cutlery and such, and set out tea.
Before long, Pang Chengqiu led Yu Qing and Nan Zhu over. The inevitable exchange of pleasantries between host and guests occurred once more.
After everyone was seated, Qingya did not intend to beat around the bush. He directly cut to the chase. “Jinghong Hall does not have guests who come to play in the morning. Tanhua Lang running to find me early in the morning, you could not be here to play with me, could you? I do not have as many brains as you scholars. If you have something to say, say it straight.”
Yu Qing said, “Master Qing flatters me. I have long since abandoned literature for martial arts. I have not touched books for a long time. I am no longer any scholar.”
Qingya held the peanuts in his hand and did not peel them. He had the urge to roll his eyes. “Fine, fine, fine. Whatever kind of person you are is fine. Speak your business. What do you want with me?”
The other party was so impatient. Yu Qing did not beat around the bush with him either and asked, “Does Master Qing know Wang Xueting?”
Qingya immediately became secretly vigilant and retorted, “So what if I know him, so what if I do not?”
Yu Qing said, “It does not matter. I only want to know whether Master Qing knows him or not.”
Qingya weighed his words in his mouth, afraid there was a trap. He was somewhat scared of this fellow.
Gu Qingzhao could not help holding back a smile in her expression. She rarely saw Qingya look so wary.
After hesitating repeatedly, Qingya admitted, “I suppose I know him. We are not very close. Why do you ask this?”
Yu Qing said, “It is good that you know him. I have come to trouble Master Qing to help introduce me. I wish to sit down and talk with him, to see if we can clear up some misunderstandings. My meaning, Master Qing surely understands.”
So it was this. Qingya could not help secretly breathing a sigh of relief and asked, “Just this matter?”
Yu Qing said, “Furthermore, I hope Master Qing can help say a few good words on the spot. With Master Qing’s status in the Sea Market, your words carry weight. Wang Xueting surely must give you some face.”
Qingya was completely relieved now. Of course, he also felt somewhat disgusted in his heart, discovering that this fellow was really not polite. He dared to come to his door with any kind of lousy matter.
His words on his lips were reserved. “Easy to say. Helping you speak is no problem. As for whether Wang Xueting can listen to it, I cannot guarantee.”
This was agreeing to the introduction. Yu Qing immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply to express his utmost gratitude.
It was genuine gratitude. If there was even the slightest chance to resolve the grievances with Wang Xueting, he would cherish it immensely. He truly did not want things to worsen further, because he could not bear it. The consequences were too heavy. Including the night when Wang Wentian had the accident, he had not wanted Wang Wentian to have an accident either. Who knew things would suddenly spiral out of control, directly becoming impossible to clean up, leading to today’s situation where there was nowhere to find regret.
Of course, Master Qing did not forget to ask his own question. “How did I hear that you have also moved into Langhuan Residence? What does it mean? You are not staying in that aerial pavilion anymore?”
“Master Qing is truly well-informed. We only just moved in not long ago, yet you already know.” Yu Qing offered a surface compliment, but inwardly he was cursing. Sure enough, they were all secretly watching him. “Actually, it is nothing much. We just want to be close to Wang Xueting, so we can find an opportunity to clear up the misunderstanding with him at any time.”
Qingya smiled without speaking, not knowing whether the other party’s words were true or false. He peeled a peanut and threw it into his mouth, chewing as he said, “So that is how it is.”
He turned back and asked Pang Chengqiu, “Where is Sect Leader Wang?”
Pang Chengqiu said, “He came back this time and seems to have no other business. If nothing unexpected happens, he should still be at Langhuan Residence.” After speaking, he also glanced at Yu Qing, as if to say, this time they came specifically for you.
The few people did not dawdle much. They said go and went. Pang Chengqiu arranged a carriage. Qingya, Yu Qing, and Nan Zhu squeezed into one carriage and left. Pang Chengqiu sat on the shaft accompanying the driver.
They travelled without stopping, arrived outside Langhuan Residence, got out of the carriage, and the group entered the main hall, seeing Mu Aotie who had been waiting for a long time.
Mu Aotie did not join the group but followed behind at a not too close, not too far distance.
Qingya was not coming to find Wang Xueting for the first time. He led the way with familiarity.
Passing through the splendid garden, when they were about to go upstairs, Mu Aotie stopped. He did not follow further but lingered in the garden watching them leave. He looked up at the room where Wang Xueting was staying and saw several windows open.
The few people who had reached upstairs had not yet approached Wang Xueting’s door when someone pushed their palm from afar, signalling them to stop. They were all blocked.
Qingya went over to negotiate. After someone reported it, they first let Qingya pass alone.
Nan Zhu glanced at Pang Chengqiu who was accompanying them from the side, could not help but pull Yu Qing back, and when he had pulled him to the corner, whispered, “Are you sure this can work? Are you confident?”
Yu Qing spoke in a low voice, “It depends on human effort. Adapt to circumstances. Act according to the situation. Watch my expression and cooperate.”
Nan Zhu could not help touching his neck, feeling that this was dancing on the blade’s edge, afraid he would not die fast enough, putting his neck into a noose. But since things had come to this, he could only let out a light sigh and nod slightly.
Yu Qing patted his back to give comfort, then pushed him to turn around and go back.
After the two returned to Pang Chengqiu’s side, they waited for quite a while before seeing Qingya and Tu Xiukui come out of the door. The two martial brothers did not know Tu Xiukui, but they could tell from his bearing that he was no ordinary person.
Qingya waved toward this side. Tu Xiukui also greeted them at the door.
Only then did the three walk over. Tu Xiukui frowned slightly at the sight, pointed at Yu Qing. “You alone can go in. The Sect Leader is not someone any random person can see just because they want to. The others wait outside.”
This would not do. This time he needed to bring Nan Zhu in to cooperate. Yu Qing naturally would not agree. He immediately pointed at Nan Zhu and said, “When the Young Sect Leader had the accident, he was a witness before and after the incident. Some matters can only be explained clearly with his testimony. I think Sect Leader Wang does not want to hear us talking nonsense either.”
Hearing this, Tu Xiukui was briefly silent, then made the decision with a wave of his hand, indicating willingness to let them in.
Immediately, someone stepped forward to conduct a body search on Yu Qing and Nan Zhu. This act implied rudeness and also meant they were not being polite.
Nan Zhu was secretly terrified. He had not expected a body search. There was nothing on him. The key point was on Old Fifteen. He could not help glancing secretly at Yu Qing.
Yu Qing did not show any extra reaction on the surface. He accepted the body search and cooperated honestly.
Qingya, with arms crossed over his chest, smiled ambiguously, with a bit of an attitude of watching the spectacle. When he came to see Wang Xueting last time, he had not been body searched. This was clearly meant to humiliate someone.
Actually, the inspection was not very thorough. They just patted them down to see if they were concealing any hidden weapons. Then they ordered the two to remove the weapons they carried and hand them to the guards outside. Only then were they allowed to pass.
Yu Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Nan Zhu, who had passed through with him, was secretly astonished and suspicious. He and Mu Aotie knew Yu Qing’s plan. Whether they would make peace with Wang Xueting or fight to the death depended on this meeting. They knew Yu Qing should have brought something with him. Yet after being searched, nothing was found. Where had Old Fifteen hidden the thing? Could he have anticipated the body search in advance and not brought it?