Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 134 Pegasus Mountain City Under the Lights

The main camp's command tent was brightly lit.

A gaunt old man with a sallow face was fiddling with the arm of the assassin who had fired the arrow.

“If Brother Fu does not recognize him, then this person must not be from the vicinity of Jingling County.”

The old man remained silent and continued examining the corpse.

Feng Ge turned to Zhou Yi, Lou Chen, and the other two to introduce his background.

The old man was named Fu Hong. He was originally a staff member under the master of Fangzhuang, responsible for handling all matters, big and small, in the Duba Mountain Villa. He was also a well-versed person in the martial arts world, so he knew the power of the surrounding counties like the back of his hand.

For example, all kinds of official documents for appointments at the manor were discussed by him and the manor owner before being issued by the left and right vanguards.

Zhou Yi listened with a greater degree of conviction.

Xu Xingzhi once said that he had received an invitation from Fang Daoyuan, the right vanguard of Duba Mountain Villa.

This person must have known about Xu Xingzhi's abilities.

"Come and see."

Fu Hong grabbed the corpse by the left and right hands respectively. The inside of the second joint of his middle, ring, and index fingers was covered with layers of thick calluses.

"This man is different from ordinary archers. The calluses on three fingers of his left hand are connected in one piece, with a hard horizontal ridge. This shows that he uses his left hand to draw the string and his right hand to hold the bow."

Everyone looked and saw that it was indeed as he had said.

Fu Hong turned the corpse over again, his thin hands kneading its calves: "His legs were broken before, one is longer than the other, so he must have been a cripple."

"If I'm not mistaken, he should be a leader surnamed Jiao under the Four Great Bandits."

"but."

The old man frowned and looked at Zhou Yi:
"The strange thing is what Young Master Zhou said. Normally, this person is afraid of death and would never be a stubborn person. Back then, he fell into the hands of the Lion King of the Sea Sand Gang and had his leg broken. He only managed to save his life by kowtowing and begging for mercy."

Zhou Yi roughly guessed the reason, but only said, "If he tells me everything, I will naturally capture him alive."

Fu Hong also agreed that this made sense.

Feng Ge didn't care about those things; he was actually relieved to know that they were from the Four Great Bandits.

If it really is Qian Yun's men, the city will surely be in chaos.

"Is there a Baling Gang within Jingling City?"

"The Baling gang owns several brothels in the city."

Feng Ge asked, "What's wrong with it?"

"The Baling Gang conspired with Xiao Xian, and the Four Great Bandits colluded with them. The rumors Qian Yun mentioned must have come from them as well. With the strength of the Baling Gang, spreading rumors is not difficult."

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, a cold glint flashed in General Feng's eyes: "I will send people to keep an eye on them."

"Then I'll trouble General Feng to keep an eye on someone."

"who?"

“His name is Xiang Yushan. He was the one who attacked us in Fenchuan City.”

"Feng has noted it down."

Lou Ruodan stared at Fu Hong, recalling the rumors Qian Yun had mentioned, and couldn't help but ask:
"Since the two lords of the manor have met with misfortune, does Mr. Fu have any leads?"

Fu Hong remained silent for a long time, a look of reminiscence on his face:
"In the half month before the manor lord was murdered, they secretly met with someone, and since then they have been worried and unhappy no matter what they do. When I asked them about it, the manor lord was vague about it."

Before the two manor lords were murdered, Fang Daoyuan, the Right Vanguard, died tragically at home.

I guessed that Fang Daoyuan had overheard some secret and knew that the manor lord was in extremely dangerous trouble. Since I was insignificant and powerless, I dared not ask any further questions.

later"

He glanced at the people inside the tent, giving Zhou Yi a particularly long look.

"Three days before the manor owner was murdered, he suddenly said something incoherent to me while he was drunk."

Zhou Yi noticed that General Feng looked puzzled and stared straight at Fu Hong.

"The lord of the manor said that soon, a catastrophe will befall the entire land of Kyushu."

Upon hearing this, the group frowned, but then they realized what was going on.

Yang Guang abandoned Luoyang and went south, where he lived a life of debauchery and decadence in Jiangnan.

For the common people, how could the fighting between righteous armies and the rampant bandits not be a great calamity?
I underestimated Master Fang. I never expected that he would have the well-being of the people of the world on his mind and be so concerned about it.

Fu Hong then said to Lou Ruodan:

"We are very clear that the death of the manor lord has nothing to do with the ranch. Chief Lou, don't be misled by Qian Yun. Even his men probably don't believe those rumors."

It was simply that Qian Yun was greedy for power and his thinking was flawed.

Lou and Chen thanked him, finally hearing a comforting word.

Pegasus Ranch had absolutely no reason to harm Duba Manor; they were the last people who wanted chaos to break out.

Fu Hong said no more and glanced at Zhou Yi, who was deep in thought.

General Feng then looked at Fu Hong.

For the last two hours of the night, the group barely slept, only managing to get some sleep near their tents.

As dawn broke, Zhou Yi felt even hungrier; he hadn't eaten enough the night before.

They were looking for some dry food to tide them over when, to their surprise, General Feng brought out a steaming pot from the kitchen.

This is a pot of chicken soup.

Perhaps Zhou Yi was too hungry, because he found it very delicious.

The chicken in the soup was not dry at all, but exceptionally tender.

"Mr. Fu, does the army kitchen have a royal chef?"

"No."

Fu Hong swallowed a piece of chicken breast: "This was prepared by Lao Feng."

"I drank it last night. When Lao Feng heard about what happened in Fenchuan, he hurriedly led his troops there. If Jingling and Feima Ranch are further instigated, the situation will be difficult to control."

The "Old Feng" he was referring to was, of course, General Feng.

The look of surprise on Zhou Yi's face flashed by in an instant.

Lou Ruodan, Chen Ruiyang, and the others were concerned about the ranch and were unwilling to linger.

After having breakfast, they left the camp. Feng Ge's nephew, Feng Han, led over a thousand men to escort them to Nanjun.

Watching the people from Pegasus Ranch walk away, Feng Ge and his middle-aged deputy general Pu Qin gathered around Fu Hong.

"Brother Fu, was what you said last night true?"

"of course."

"Then why didn't you tell us before?"

"This matter has little to do with the situation in Jingling. Telling you would only add to your troubles. It's better to let me worry about it alone."

Deputy General Pu Qin said, "According to you, they can solve the problem?"

Feng Ge stared intently at him:
"Brother Fu, you are very knowledgeable. Did you recognize the identity of that young master Zhou?"

"That's right, and you all know that."

"Oh? Who is it?"

Fu Hong pointed to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River: "That's the one with the most famous reputation between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers."

Pu Qin was taken aback upon hearing this, then realized the surname was Zhou, and exclaimed in surprise: "It's actually that Grand Commander Zhou!"

He let out a long breath:

"I wondered where this incredibly powerful figure would suddenly appear from. So young, yet with such high martial arts skills and extraordinary courage, daring to charge into the army formation alone. I didn't expect it to be this person, so it's not surprising."

He wondered, then said, "Pegasus Ranch is really capable, managing to invite him to the mountain city."

"It's not that simple."

General Feng provided insightful guidance, dispelling Pu Qin's doubts:

"If I'm not mistaken, the mall owner has a rather ambiguous relationship with this person. He also admitted that he is from the ranch, and is not just an ordinary helper."

Pu Qin stroked his chin thoughtfully:

"If that's the case, then they are a good match. But if we set aside love and affection and consider the power of both families, then it's no small matter!"
This Grand Commander Zhou, who dominates the Jiangbei region, if he were to receive the full support of the Flying Horse Ranch, would have no shortage of warhorses, cavalry, or provisions, and would undoubtedly become the number one rebel king in the land.

Fu Hongdao said, "You only know one side of the story. This man not only dominates Jiangbei, but also controls Nanyang. He can sway both sides of the Huai River with a single word. He is just keeping a low profile and has not yet made his voice heard. Otherwise, how could he have the opportunity to have breakfast with us in the Jingling army?"

"What! Where did you get this information from?" Pu Qin was speechless.

"They are friends from Yiyang County, and Master Fang had previously been in contact with people from Nanyang. If nothing unexpected had happened, I'm afraid..."

Fu Hong looked at Feng Ge:

"I'm afraid Master Fang will also convey goodwill to this person."

General Feng finally broke his silence and asked, "Brother Fu, do you want me to pledge my loyalty to him?"

Pu Qin also looked up.

Fu Hong decisively said, "That's right. Although the Li clan of Guanzhong, Wagang Village, and Liang Wang have all sent people to look for you, there's no need to hesitate."

Firstly, he has the ability to resolve the situation in Jingling; secondly, he has done you a favor by protecting you; thirdly, he is beloved by the people of Jianghuai and Nanyang; and fourthly, this is also the dying wish of Master Fang.

"nonsense!"

Feng Ge's eyes were stern: "I agree with your first three points, but it's absolutely impossible that you said it was the will of the manor lord. Although the manor lord was waiting for a wise ruler, now that heroes are vying for power, no matter how good-hearted he was, he would not say such a thing."

Fu Hong's old face showed signs of vicissitude: "I have been friends with the master of the manor for many years, and his temperament is indeed as you described, but..."
In the final moments of his life, his changes were unexpected.

Feng Ge sighed, his eyes gleaming: "What other message did the Master leave for you? Is it related to the person who killed him?"

“I have already told you, this is the last wish of Master Fang.”

Fu Hong then played the role of an advisor: "Now we need to do three things well. First, wait for news from the Flying Horse Ranch to deal with the Four Great Bandits. Second, take the initiative to take action against Qian Yun and strip him of his military power. Third, keep an eye on Xiangyu Mountain, which has been named."

Pu Qin looked at Feng Ge, waiting for him to make a decision.

As the deputy general, he had no objection to Fu Hong's words, and even somewhat did not want Feng Ge to object.

He was once a member of the martial arts world, and last night he was already shocked by Young Master Zhou's skills.

Now, we have learned about the other party's identity and his relationship with Pegasus Ranch from Fu Hong.

The Li clan, Wagang Village, and even the Liang King—they all have to step aside.

General Feng pondered for a long time, then frowned as he looked at Fu Hong.

Finally, I let out a long sigh of relief:

"Let's do as you say for now, but we'll have to see Jingling City's final attitude with our own eyes. We can't really trust what others say."

Feng Ge gazed southwest, and Fu Hong and Pu Qin did the same.

Meanwhile, to the southwest, the troops emerging from Jingling City were marching across a plain, gradually leaving the towering mountains behind.

After arriving in Nanjun, Feng Han, the young general from Jingling, turned back.

Zhou Yi and his entourage headed southwest again, and after days of travel, the scenery before them had changed dramatically.

The Zhangshui and Jushui rivers, two tributaries of the Yangtze River, delineate a large triangular fertile plain at this point.

Both banks of the river are covered with fertile fields, and it eventually flows into the Yangtze River.

Stepping into this region, Zhou Yi felt a strange sensation, as if a blessed land was beckoning to him.

All the geographical knowledge I had in my mind was rendered useless at this moment.

I could only feel the lush vegetation, the increasingly fertile soil beneath my feet, and the ever-growing number of houses I saw.

Upon reaching the entrance to the cave, a large mountain suddenly appeared.

Lou Ruodan led the way, and Chen Ruiyang, seeing Zhou Yi looking around, explained from the side:
"The ranch is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and can only be accessed through the east and west gorges. We took the east gorges."

Zhou Yi nodded and walked with them to the higher ground.

Looking down, one sees a vast expanse of grassland dotted with more than ten lakes like mirrors, surrounded by lush green pastures. Every scene is like a painting, pleasing to the eye.

The vibrant scene of life and all things flourishing is right before my eyes.

As the sun sets, the grassland stretches endlessly, with herds of cattle, horses, and sheep roaming freely.

Zhou Yi finally understood what it meant to have "a grassland in my home".

The canyon route was fortified with watchtowers and bunkers, all guarded by elite soldiers.

Emerging from the gorge, one comes to a tall city gate. In front of the gate, a tunnel has been carved out, three zhang wide and over five zhang deep, with sharp spikes all underneath.

The only way to cross is by suspension bridge, giving it a feeling of being able to hold off ten thousand men.

Of course, for a martial arts master, it's just a matter of a few steps.

With Lou Ruodan leading the way, the journey was naturally unimpeded.

Beyond the city gate, a completely different scene unfolds.

Below are rows of villages that stretch all the way to the grasslands and farmland.

Many shepherds were shouting at the livestock in the wooden pens, and others were driving the horses back.

Since Shang Xiong established the Pegasus Ranch, more than 160 years have passed, and the ranch has spread to the two major cities of Dangyang and Yuan'an, where half of the people are from the ranch.

Therefore, there were many people who knew how to ride and shoot.

Shang Xiong was born into a military family and promoted martial spirit, so everyone in the ranch was brave and skilled in battle.

Continuing forward, you enter Pegasus Mountain City.

Various buildings were erected on the rocks, undulating and winding along the terrain. This mountain had been carved out into a large city, with houses stretching out above and people and vehicles coming and going. Zhou Yi was shocked when he saw it.

The old merchant patriarch was truly an extraordinary person.

Ascending the slope to the highest point, one arrives at the inner fortress where the city lord resides. It is a grand complex with five layers of palaces and pavilions, interspersed with gardens and trees.

Lou Ruodan, Chen Ruiyang, and others greeted people along the way.

The caravans returning from outside Nanyang were not limited to that area; Zhou Yi noticed a large number of people among them.

Furthermore, he could also sense that something was amiss.

When meeting acquaintances, after a polite smile, one's face immediately turns serious.

Even if Lou Ruodan and the others returned, they could not directly enter the inner fortress, which was the residence of the fortress owner; they needed to report before entering.

"A lot of people have come to the mountain city."

"Ah."

As Lou Ruodan responded, Chen Ruiyang pointed to several four-story wooden buildings with lanterns hanging on them on the east side.

"That's where guests are entertained. If there's red silk hanging in the window, it means there are guests."

Zhou Yi glanced around and estimated that there were dozens of people living there.

He smiled slightly, unsure whether Li Mi's men were present.

"Could you help me find out who's inside?"

Chen Ruiyang first looked troubled: "This is absolutely not allowed on the ranch."

Suddenly he laughed again:
"However, Young Master Zhou is an exception."

"Thank you."

Before Zhou Yi could even bow in greeting, Chen Ruiyang stopped him.

"Are you planning to see the owner now? I can inform him."

Zhou Yi thought for a moment: "What are the rules in this mountain town?"

"The rule is that any guest who arrives must first be reported to the head steward and meet with him."

"Let's do it your way."

Chen Ruiyang nodded, gave some instructions to the caravan members, and then went to the steward's residence with Lou Ruodan.

Just as they reached the door, a man in his forties, dressed like a scholar, walked over.

He had an arrogant expression, but became more polite when he saw that they were two gang leaders.

They greeted each other and followed the rules.

Recently, many distinguished guests have visited the mountain city. As the chief steward's capable assistant, Liang Qian has seen all kinds of people.

The powerful forces from all over the world are not unfamiliar to Pegasus Ranch.

Therefore, after glancing at Zhou Yi, he didn't say much and simply followed the rules.

He led the people inside and they arrived at the entrance of the main hall.

Zhou Yi was about to go further inside when Lou Ruodan and Chen Ruiyang stopped and invited him towards the main hall.

This scene stunned Liang Qian. He frowned and reminded him, "Chief Lou, the head steward is in the inner hall."

"I know."

Lou Ruodan said, "Go and invite the head steward to the main hall."

Ok?
Liang Qian looked astonished, wondering if he had misheard.

Chen Ruiyang gave him a look that said, "You're going to kill the head butler," and urged, "Go on, hurry up!"

Confused, Liang Qian glanced at the young man seated in the hall and noticed that Lou Ruodan and Chen Ruiyang were standing to the side.

Pegasus Ranch holds a unique position, and various powerful factions all want to befriend it.

Therefore, his subordinates all speak with a very stiff voice.

In his eyes, the various powerful clans were just doing business with each other, nothing special.

The two men were so humble that Liang Qian, though suspicious, dared not be negligent.

As he stepped into the inner room, he saw a bald man in his fifties reclining on a chaise lounge, with two glamorous women massaging him from behind.

The head steward, Shang Zhen, held his pipe, puffing out smoke, a hint of worry on his face.

It seems he's thinking about recent events at the ranch.

"Master Steward, Lou Ruodan and Chen Ruiyang have brought a guest who has come to pay their respects."

"What about people?"

"Outside."

Shang Zhen looked at him suspiciously: "Since they brought them here, you can just bring them in. Is there anything wrong with their identities?"

"no."

Liang Qian hesitated for a moment: "They want me to ask the head steward to go out and meet the guests."

"Ok?"

Shang Zhen sat up and uttered four neat circles in succession: "Who is this person?"

"They say he's a young master Zhou from Nanyang."

Liang Qian did not know who this person was; he was simply repeating what Chen Ruiyang had said when he entered the mansion.

However, the head butler recognized him.

He delivered all the letters Chen Ruiyang sent back to the mountaintop. He also instructed his subordinates to handle all the arrangements made by the farm owner.

For a moment, I was stunned, but then I realized what was happening.

Upon seeing Shang Zhen, Liang Qian threw down his pipe and rushed out the door.

He was shocked.

The head steward's pipe is like a swordsman's longsword.

You know, this head steward has a really high-handed attitude. Sometimes he deliberately puts on airs to make people feel that the ranch is dignified, so that when visiting guests and doing business with the ranch owner, he can act like the bad guy.

I ran into the Li family and the people from Wagangzhai a couple of days ago. They were smoking like the head steward.

Why have you abandoned all pretense of dignity now?

Liang Qian quickly chased after him.

When he arrived at the main hall, Lou Ruodan had already helped serve tea. The head steward's expression was quite different from usual; he was sitting amiably next to Young Master Zhou.

"Young Master Zhou, your arrival was too sudden; I was not prepared at all."

He smiled apologetically and glanced at Lou and Chen.

The two pretended not to see it.

"I must thank you for your help at Nan Chaohu Manor last time, which saved my ranch from a great disaster."

"Oh, that's nothing."

Zhou Yi put down his teacup: "This visit was a sudden whim. I remembered that the host said he would treat me to drinks last time, and since the two leaders were coming back, I came on the way. Please forgive my intrusion."

Lou and Chen felt a surge of gratitude.

Although they invited Zhou Yi here to solve the ranch's problems, they did not obtain the ranch owner's permission.

The university's butler thought to himself, "So that's how it is," and then pushed his hand away with a smile:

“Young Master Zhou is one of the most important friends of my ranch. We would welcome him to the mountain city at any time. We are sorry for the delay this time.”

The head butler was very polite.

Zhou Yi could sense his goodwill: "It's getting late today. I'll visit the owner again tomorrow. Please let the head steward know."

Shang Zhen hesitated for a moment, then said:
“My owner is in a bad mood right now, so I don’t dare to disturb him. I will inform him again tomorrow morning. Young Master Zhou will have to wait a little longer.”

"Oh, what's troubling you, owner?"

Liang Qian stood aside, thinking to himself, "You asked so directly, how could the head steward possibly tell me?"

But Shang Zhen was more direct:
"The owner of the farm has met with the Li family and the Wagangzhai family. The attitude of the people from the Li family was quite good, but the people from Pushan Public Enterprise were extremely hateful."

He sneered:
"Li Mi's son is still dreaming big and speaking disrespectfully, which angered the ranch owner. If it weren't for the chaos in Jingling, the activities of the Four Great Bandits on the west side, and the many skilled bandits attacking the ranch, they would have been driven down the mountain long ago."

Zhou Yi nodded, pondering for a moment:
"Among the Four Great Bandits, there shouldn't be anyone the ranch can't handle, right?"

Shang Zhen's face showed a hint of apprehension:
"Logically speaking, that should be the case, but among those we defeated a few days ago, there were probably martial arts masters."

Zhou Yi asked a few more questions, but Shang Zhen was still completely confused.

Thinking of the person he encountered in Jingling City, Zhou Yi knew that this matter was not simple.

We didn't talk any further, only saying we'd discuss it again after meeting the mall owner tomorrow.

Once the university's butler personally saw him off, Liang Qian could no longer hold back.

"Head Butler, what's wrong?"

"My attitude was strange; it didn't seem like I was discussing business, did it?"

"Yes, you were very honest this time, answering every question, which is quite different from usual."

"Because he has done a great favor for my ranch, and he is not here to talk business."

Under Liang Qian's astonished gaze, Shang Zhen pulled out a pipe from somewhere and puffed on it: "The ranch's crisis might be of great help to this young master Zhou."

Liang Qian wanted to ask more questions, but Shang Zhen had already quickly returned.

Zhou Yi did not stay in the grand wooden building used to entertain guests.

Chen Ruiyang arranged for them to stay in a rather unpretentious but quite elegant attic near the inner fortress.

On the second floor, you can overlook the night view of the mountain city.

As night fell completely, Chen Ruiyang visited again, bringing with him a list of visitors.

This list is not a secret within the ranch, but it is never leaked.

Zhou Yi glanced at it and was both surprised and delighted.

Chen Ruiyang then told Zhou Yi all the details he had found out in the mountain city. After he left, Zhou Yi burned the list, thinking to himself that the owner of the venue had really had a tough time this time.

When Yang Guang went south, even the merchants of the past began to disregard the rules.

The Pegasus Ranch is too tempting; if I can't have it myself, I can't let someone else have it either.

As the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) approached, Zhou Yi awoke from his meditation.

I got up and went to the second floor of the attic, looking towards the highest point of the mountain city.

Thinking of what Chen Ruiyang had just said, that a master had broken into the ranch, fought his way to the inner fortress, and that the man had ultimately escaped.

Everyone on the ranch practices martial arts, yet they are helpless against top masters. They can be driven away, but not killed, and must be constantly on guard.

With a thought, he flashed out from the attic.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Zhou Yi had already arrived at the second hall of the inner fortress under the cover of night.

Although there were guards along the way, his lightness skill allowed him to move as if he were in an empty place.

The name "Shancheng" sounds like a stone city.

But with refined scholars like Lu Miaozi present, pavilions and towers can be seen everywhere inside.

Approaching the third hall, we were now in the very center of the inner fortress.

The area is surrounded by firewalls, and the winding corridors are illuminated by lights everywhere.

Zhou Yi walked at the top of the corridor, gazing at the beautiful garden under the lights, knowing that this place was not far from the Bird Garden where Shang Xiuxun lived.

It is extremely impolite to break into a young woman's private quarters in the middle of the night.

Zhou Yi glanced at it, then turned to leave.

at this time
Suddenly, there was a faint sound of wind breaking, and turning around, I saw a dark figure fall into the courtyard.

He strode after him.

After passing through the three courtyards and covered walkways, I suddenly came across a study.

Looking down from the rooftop, one sees palace lanterns everywhere, brightly lit, with writing implements on the tables and antiques and calligraphy on the shelves.

He was certain that the dark figure had landed nearby.

It landed lightly in front of the study without making a sound.

The shadowy figure's movement skills were far inferior to his.

"There is joy in the Five Relationships, and there is no literature outside the Six Classics."

As soon as Zhou Yi landed, he saw the couplet hanging on the wall of the study, and next to it were many familiar paintings.

Before I could take a closer look, footsteps came from deep within, and with a single leap, I landed on the roof again.

Three footsteps entered the study, followed by the two men who came out.

There was one person left in the study, and Zhou Yi knew who she was. He stayed there for a while, but couldn't find the dark figure. He listened carefully, but apart from the even breathing below, he heard no other sounds.

That person must have spotted me and been startled away.

His lightness skill is not as good as mine, but he is very familiar with this manor.

Ok?
Zhou Yi seemed to realize something and thought of someone.

It's perfectly normal for a father to occasionally check on his daughter when she's in danger.

He smiled wryly and prepared to leave.

At that moment, two soft sighs suddenly came from the study.

It's hard for outsiders to imagine that the owner of Pegasus Ranch would also have such a helpless moment.

Zhou Yi paused, staring at the dim moon in the distant sky.

He landed on the roof, his footsteps echoing from a short distance away, audible to everyone in the study.

However, she didn't pay attention.

Zhou Yi shook his head slightly and walked towards the outside of the inner fortress.

"Who?"

Only then did the people inside the room realize that the footsteps were different from those of the maids.

Upon going outside, I saw a figure in blue robes in the corridor.

The figure was somewhat familiar, and the profile of that face flashed by under the palace lantern, making the sense of familiarity even stronger.

A pair of beautiful eyes in front of the study were filled with surprise, and a hint of barely perceptible joy.

She used her lightness skill to leap across the lotus pond in the courtyard and suddenly landed in front of the man in blue.

She glanced at his face to make sure she wasn't mistaken, then put on a stern expression and said:

"General Zhou, why are you in my little girl's bird garden instead of reciting the Scripture of Wuzhuang Temple?"

Shang Xiuxun's phoenix eyes were fixed on his face.

“I am indeed preoccupied with worldly affairs, but when I heard that bandits were causing trouble in the Jingling area, I thought that Miss Shang might be in trouble. Also, I remembered our last promise, so I came to the ranch.”

Zhou Yi looked at Shang Xiuxun under the palace lantern and said sincerely:
"I met Steward Shang today and was planning to visit you tomorrow. But I didn't expect to see a dark figure darting around in your garden, so I came to investigate whether there were any thieves."

Thinking of his identity in Nanyang and Jianghuai, and the martial arts rumors he had recently heard.

Then you'll know how difficult it was for him to come to the ranch.

Shang Xiuxun wasn't angry at all; she was just looking for an excuse to start a conversation.

At this moment, I was already very happy, but I was too embarrassed to show it.

He then asked, "Since we're meeting tomorrow, why did you deliberately make your footsteps so I could hear you?"

Zhou Yi calmly said:
"I didn't find the shadowy figure and was about to leave, but then I heard you sigh twice, so I thought I'd talk to you. If that Li Tianfan has angered you, he happens to have an old grudge against me, so I'll just go and chop him up."

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiuxun's phoenix eyes smiled, and her sorrowful expression vanished.

"How can I just chop it up like that? If word gets out, people will say that my Pegasus Mountain City is a den of thieves and a black market."

She said this, but her joy was even greater.

At times like these, she is very willing to hear words that sound confident.

Suddenly he asked again:
"Why didn't you identify yourself when you saw me last time?"

“Because it was just a chance encounter last time, you know I was in Nanyang, and I suddenly ran to Chaohu and happened to appear at your manor. As a result, you might misunderstand me and think I have ulterior motives.”

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "Actually, I'm too lazy to explain these things. Let's just sit down and eat. There's no need to worry about it."

A slight smile appeared on Shang Xiuxun's lips. Knowing that he wasn't teasing her, she complained, "You underestimate me. I'm not that easily misunderstood."

She glanced at the profile of the young man beside her.

Thinking back to their previous correspondence, their encounter at Chaohu, and this night that made her feel somewhat helpless.

There seemed to be warmth in his eyes.

I glanced at it once, then dared not look again.

"Young Master Zhou, Abbot Yi, Grand Commander Zhou, with so many titles, how should I address you?"

"Whatever you like."

After thinking for a moment, Shang Xiuxun decided not to call anyone and pointed to the study: "Young Master Yi, please sit here."

Zhou Yi followed her back to the study, where they sat on two mahogany chairs. A plate of pastries was placed on a narrow table between them. The beautiful owner of the venue was in a bad mood, and the pastries were neatly arranged and untouched.

Near Zhou Yi's side, there were also several scrolls.

They were all laid out, which shows that she had been looking at them just now.

He saw her at that moment, and she felt a little embarrassed, as if his thoughts had been exposed.

Zhou Yi didn't think it was a big deal and helped her tidy up the painting.

Shang Xiuxun placed the pastries next to him: "These are my favorites, I don't know if they suit your taste."

Zhou Yi joked, "I'm not that picky, but this time Miss Shang needs to treat me to a few good meals. On this journey south, I even went hungry because of the ranch."

"it is good."

She hurriedly asked, "Which day would you like to eat this? I'll have someone prepare it right away."

"We're just waiting for all your troubles to be resolved."

While eating pastries, Zhou Yi said, "Those so-called Four Great Bandits, Li Mi's subordinates, the troublemakers of Jingling City, and martial arts masters."

Zhou Yi looked up at her: "Any other troubles?"

Shang Xiuxun remained silent for a moment, then lowered her head and said slowly, "That's all."

With a flick of her sleeve, she reached out and handed Zhou Yi the small piece of pastry she loved most from the plate.

Zhou Yi didn't take it, but suddenly his brows furrowed: "No, there's more."

After saying that, he flashed out and pounced towards the back of the bird garden!
The dark figure was listening to their conversation when he was startled and made a commotion. He then darted out from a doorway, startled by Zhou Yi, and ran in a disheveled manner toward the back mountain.

Shang Xiuxun sensed something was wrong and hurriedly called out as she chased after him:

"No, don't chase after him!"

"..."

At the moon gate in the back garden of the flying birds, a refined old man with a tall hat and wide belt flicked his long sleeves.

Hearing a man and a woman talking behind him, he frowned slightly.

"I'm furious! Where did this brat come from?"

He recited a sentence, then laughed again, and headed straight for the back mountain.
……

(End of this chapter)