Following Zhao Douan's command, the royal mansion's experts did not hesitate for a mont and violently crashed into the crowd.
A burly man with an iron armguard let out a fierce cackle and with a "clang," he unsheathed his sword, the blade instantly glowing red-hot as if just forged in an ironmonger's furnace. He lunged fearlessly from the left flank, instantly sending a towering Jianghu man flying.
A woman in her thirties, cradling a sword, glanced at the group of manor residents. Her fine sword remained sheathed as she effortlessly surged into the crowd from the right side.
She struck out with her hands, casting shadows of palms everywhere, and with every push, soone would let out a pained howl and be sent flying.
Those assigned by Prince Huaian for the close protection of his precious daughter were naturally expert Jianghu warriors selected with the utmost care.
At the mont,
intent on showing off their skills and currying favor with Zhao Douan, they exerted their full strength without any reservations.
In an instant, they had beaten the Song family's martial artists to the point of total disarray.
"Behold the sword!"
The leader, wearing a short tunic with thick, dark eyebrows, had a sudden change in expression as his sword left its sheath.
In a flash, he employed the Mysterious Steps technique and closed in on the face of a wealthy, distinguished young master.
However, this team of young n and won appeared completely unfazed, rely gazing down lightly as if watching clouds drift by.
The next second, the hands of a robe-clad old man appeared empty as his eyes narrowed, uttering only:
"Dogs acting recklessly!"
Then, as Coach Xie experienced a blur before his eyes, a series of afterimages flashed by, followed by a paralyzing sting as though struck by lightning.
With a "clang," the sword in his hand fell to the ground. Lv Qingfeng held one hand on his forehead, rebuking in a deep voice:
"Kneel!"
This high-paid swordsman, also known in the Jianghu, felt an overwhelming force, as if a great mountain were pressing down on him, with all his vital energies immobilized.
But every martial artist has a tenacious strength in them, and sure enough, his forehead's veins bulged, and sweat poured like mud.
His knees were as if rusted stiff, refusing to budge as he struggled to maintain the last shred of a warrior's dignity.
Lv Qingfeng felt Zhao Douan's gaze upon him, a mix of laughter and annoyance in his eyes, couldn't help but blush with a streak of sha and irritation flickering in his look.
Without holding back any longer, he pressed down again with all his might.
"Thump!"
The middle-aged man in the blue tunic couldn't resist anymore and fell to his knees in misery.
Propping himself up on his hands, he spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground, his eyes filled only with horror.
"That's enough, a lesson is well given, no need to really harm anyone," Zhao Douan said lightly.
Only then did Lv Qingfeng leisurely withdraw his hand, restraining the killing intent that had just appeared:
"As you wish."
At this ti, the sword-carrying man and the sword-cradling heroine also returned to report:
"My lord."
In just a mont, the martial artists from the Song manor, who had arrived with ferocious montum, had been beaten back soundly.
Nearby,
the Song clan mbers who had co to watch the commotion had turned pale as specters, each one looking terrified, none daring to make a move.
"Coach... Master... You all..."
On the ground,
the boy called Little Wu had just managed to sit up when he witnessed this scene, his face turning ashen.
Seeing the Jianghu expert who, in his eyes, was overwhelmingly powerful kneel helplessly before the elderly man, how could he not understand that they had offended a real personage of high importance?
"Little Wu, is it,"
Zhao Douan was still all smiles, as if the orders from just monts ago had not co from him. He looked down at the boy gently, saying softly:
"I'll give you another chance. Where is Mr. Song's mansion?"
"There, on that side! I... I will take you there, my lord!"
The boy stuttered out his words, not daring to even glance at the Commandery Princess.
...
Mr. Song's residence was located to the north-central part of the village, an extrely elegant mansion.
With four courtyards, the mansion boasted a large growth of well-grood, flourishing ink bamboo.
A sight that showed the careful nurturing by the owner.
Among the so-called Four Gentlen, plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum,
everyone in the village knew that these bamboos were Mr. Song's favorite; they were very well known among all the literati and officials of Taicang Prefecture.
Mr. Song was about fifty, wealthy, and consider a prominent guest across many officials' hos, not least because he was a disciple of Mr. Zhengyang.
Held in high esteem.
Inside the study,
Mr. Song, tall at Qi Chi in the style of a literary man with carefully grood beard following Mr. Zhengyang, was painting bamboo by the window.
Suddenly, he heard a faint commotion coming from the front yard.
Then, one of the household servants rushed in, panic-stricken:
"Master! Sothing terrible has happened. A gang of outsiders, fierce and malign, have entered the estate and injured Coach Xie and the others. They're demanding to see you and have already forced their way into the front courtyard!"
"What?!"
The nearly fifty-year-old Mr. Song's complexion changed, his wrist shook, and a fine half-completed painting was ruined.
"Who are these people? Did they bring governnt officers or soldiers?" he asked anxiously.
"No governnt officers were seen, but they look like the offspring of wealthy families... the way that man spoke in the Mandarin dialect..."
On hearing this, Mr. Song looked puzzled and dropped his brush:
"Let go and et them."
...
In the courtyard of the Song Mansion.
All the house servants and workers, even the won of the household, gathered together, with the injured middle-aged coach among them, his face taut, comforting everyone present.
The atmosphere was serious and tense.
"Hehe, if only you had cooperated like this earlier, it would have been much better. I am a man of reason. I do not take pleasure in violence," said Zhao Douan, clad in Jinyi attire, as he stood in the courtyard, admiring the well-cared-for ink bamboo.
He gently lifted his hand to dust off the shoulder of the sulking young man beside him, frightening the strong young man into a shudder.
"Master—"
At this mont, the servants in the courtyard began to speak up.
Zhao Douan lifted his eyelids and saw a scholarly figure with dignity erge from behind. He smiled and asked:
"Are you Mr. Song?"
The old scholar stepped into the courtyard and with just one glance, his heart was startled.
His eyesight was incomparable to those of his clansn.
Although he did not know the identity of the young man and woman, the restrained nobility they exuded was certainly not sothing one would find in any lesser household.
Especially the girl, who even seed to surpass the rest.
"Indeed, I am the master of this place. May I ask for the distinguished nas of the guests? Is there so kind of... misunderstanding?"
The old scholar was the first to bow, with a good attitude.
Zhao Douan smiled and patted the shoulder of the young man lightly,
"Why don't you explain it to your family elders? That way, I won't have to stir up any trouble."
The young man's nose tingled, and he recounted everything from start to finish, hesitating for a mont but still not daring to lie.
The old scholar's expression changed slightly, and he imdiately scolded in a deep voice, ordering the young man to apologize and then turned toward Coach Xie.
As expected of a Jianghu person, having been defeated, he had lost his temper too.
Bearing the sha, he clenched his fists and bowed,
"This humble person has offended the young master... my apologies."
Lv Qingfeng snorted coldly,
"Offended? I saw you were rather ruthless with your punches."
The middle-aged instructor was sweating like rain.
It was then that Mr. Song noticed the elder in the plain robe. Startled, he scrutinized him for a mont, uncertainty on his face,
"Could this be Mr. Lv?"
Lv Qingfeng nodded slightly, arrogantly saying,
"After so many years, the Song family has chosen such a diocrity to oversee the manor."
... The old scholar beca even more puzzled and looked at Zhao Douan and Xu Junling with even greater deference,
"Young master, may we continue this conversation inside?"
You're quite sensible, not giving a chance to get angry... Zhao Douan smiled,
"That would be fine."
The old scholar imdiately led the way himself, ushering everyone inside.
After the middle-aged instructor and the others left, they took a deep breath before pulling aside an elderly house servant,
"What's with this Mr. Lv? Does he know the old master?"
The servant who had been with the Song family for many years replied cautiously,
"More than just an acquaintance? Back in the day, the old Family Head was..."
After the servant finished recounting an old story, the blue-robed instructor was as if struck by lightning,
"You an he is Lv Qingfeng? The one from the martial arts Lv family renowned in Jianghu?"
In that mont, Coach Xie, also a Jianghu Martial Artist, suddenly recalled the stories of Demon Lu killing in Jianghu as if it were nothing, fear drenching his clothes with cold sweat.
He then realized that if not for the tily intervention of the handso and elegant young master, he would likely have already been dead.
"Demon Lu has been in seclusion for many years. The young master who could command his obedience—what status does he possess?"
A shiver ran through the middle-aged instructor's heart.
...
Inside the main hall.
Zhao Douan, accompanied by Xu Junling, took their seats, leaving Lv Qingfeng and the other two outside to guard against eavesdroppers.
"The mismanagent of the clan mbers by the elders will be strictly punished,"
Mr. Song personally offered tea, his deanor humble.
Zhao Douan waved his hand, not minding at all,
"Let's put this aside for now. We ca here today for business."
The old scholar slowly sat down, a puzzled look on his face,
"Our distinguished guests may speak freely, although, may I ask how to address you?"
Xu Junling gave a sweet smile, speaking softly,
"Who we are is not necessary for you to know."
The old scholar's heart skipped a beat, as he heard Zhao Douan getting straight to the point,
"I don't like to waste words. I am here to inquire about one thing only—is Mr. Song from the mining taxation office acquainted with you?"
The old scholar's pupils constricted slightly, but he quickly masked his expression, responding,
"Mr. Song, eh? We are from the sa area so of course, I know him. Although Mr. Song is not from my branch of the family, if we are to trace the relationship, he would be within the fifth degree of kinship."
Accepting the inevitable, he openly acknowledged their acquaintance.
Zhao Douan reclined casually in the polished, black and purple carved wooden chair.
He fidgeted with an antique jade tiger on the table, "Oh?" he comnted,
"Then you must also know about Mr. Song's disappearance, right?"
"... I've heard a little about it. It seems to be related to a case involving a silver mine. But I do not know the specifics."
You don't know... Zhao Douan's eyes flickered, as he chuckled,
"Don't know? Yet, I heard that Mr. Song seems to have left sothing with you. Is this true?"
The old scholar looked puzzled,
"Where would you have heard such nonsense? I am unaware of it."
"Unaware?"
"As much as Mr. Song and I are friends, our relationship has only ever been one of gentlemanly interaction. Nothing more."
Zhao Douan stopped playing with the jade tiger.
Narrowing his eyes, he stared at the fifty-sothing-year-old scholar and silence filled the room.
After a long look, Zhao Douan said softly,
"I am a kind-hearted man. When your kin offended , I gave him two chances. Now I am giving you another chance to answer —do you have it or not?"
This seemingly casual inquiry carried with it an almost suffocating pressure.
"Young master, I really do not know what you are referring to,"
Mr. Song began explaining sowhat desperately, as if he had been wronged.
Hearing this, Zhao Douan sighed gently, disappointnt and indifference fleeting through his gaze,
"Why do so people never learn to appreciate what's before them?"
Beside him,
Xu Junling suppressed a smile, "Perhaps old sir does not trust you."
"It is not that... I truly do not know..."
The old man who enjoyed painting bamboo beca a bit agitated while defending himself.
Zhao Douan's palms ca together slightly, and with a crack, the jade tiger developed fractures.
He then crushed it, jade powder scattering between his fingers...
"Mr. Lv," Zhao Douan called out with a smile towards the outside,
"I think the bamboo in the yard looks good. We'll chop it down for firewood to burn."
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