Tiger Owl

Chapter 8 Gathering of the Aristocracy
As Gan Ning turned his head, a pleasing green silk dress appeared in his eyes.

It was the girl in the green dress I saw at the dock yesterday; it turns out she was telling fortunes.

"How did you know I'm from the Southwest?" Gan Ning asked with a slight smile.

The girl in the green dress said somewhat shyly, "I started learning face reading from my master this year. Young master's face is extraordinary, with a lion's nose and phoenix eyes, and a physique like a tiger, so I use divination to verify my face reading predictions."

Gan Ning chuckled; this young woman was quite interesting. He asked with a smile, "Who is your master?"

"It's Celestial Master Yu Ji!"

Ah! It turns out to be the disciple of the sorcerer Yu Ji. Yu Ji should be killed by Sun Ce next year.

"I know your master; he's from Langya County. Could it be that you're also from Langya County?"

"No, I'm from Donghai County, which is next to Langya County."

Gan Ning's mind raced. "Your surname is Xu, isn't it?"

"How did you guess, young master?"

"What's so hard to guess? Who else in Donghai County, besides the Xu family, is qualified to enter Grand Commandant Yang's mansion?"

The girl in the green dress smiled slyly, "In fact, I am from Fuchun County in Wu County, but you are half right, my grandfather did indeed move from Donghai County."

"I saw the four of you at the dock yesterday. You all came from Jiangdong?"

"I suppose so! But young master hasn't told me yet whether my divination was correct."

Gan Ning smiled and nodded, "I am Gan Ning from Xiaba County!"

The girl in the green dress immediately beamed with joy, clapping her hands and exclaiming, "I was right after all!"

Just then, a young woman dressed in a red samurai outfit came running like the wind.

"Aro, I've been looking for you everywhere!"

It was the same young lady with the bow she had seen yesterday, but today she wasn't carrying a bow; instead, she was wearing a sword.

The girl in the green dress said happily, "Shangxiang, my divination yesterday was correct. This young master really is from Ba County."

The young woman glanced at Gan Ning warily, then clasped her hands in a gesture of respect like a man and said, "My name is Sun Ren from Wu County. May I ask your esteemed name?"

Gan Ning's eyes lit up. It turned out that this young lady was Sun Shangxiang. He couldn't help but look her up and down. She had willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, and a face like a peach blossom. She was indeed a little beauty. It was just a pity that there was a bit of murderous intent in her eyes.

Seeing that Gan Ning did not answer her, Sun Shangxiang said with some displeasure, "Does Your Excellency look down on me?"

Gan Ning smiled slightly and said, "Gan Ning of Ba County, my humble name is not worth mentioning!"

'Gan Ning?' That name sounds familiar. Sun Shangxiang thought for a moment, then her expression suddenly changed. She stared at Gan Ning and said, 'You're the one who splashed water on Liu Biejia of Jingzhou...'

Gan Ning smiled faintly, "I didn't expect my reputation to be so widespread."

Sun Shangxiang's face darkened, and she pulled Xu Xiaoniangzi away, saying, "Let's go!"

"Shangxiang, that's very rude to her!"

"What rudeness? Do you know who he is? He's the infamous Jinfan bandit on the Yangtze River, who kidnapped three hundred wives. In his eyes, you're just a little lamb. Come with me now!"

Gan Ning was 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, and his physique was extremely strong, like a fierce tiger. The girl in the green dress was slender and delicate, with a pretty face that looked like a lamb in front of Gan Ning.

The young lady was forcibly dragged away by Sun Shangxiang, and she glanced back at Gan Ning.

Gan Ning made a face at her, pretending to be a fierce kidnapper, but finally couldn't help but laugh.

The young woman also pretended to be very scared, but the moment she turned back, she covered her mouth and chuckled.

At that moment, Gan Ning suddenly realized who this fortune-telling lady was.
Madam Xu, who plotted to kill Gui Lan and Dai Yuan.

She looked to be only eleven or twelve years old. When Sun Yi died, she was probably not even twenty years old, and became a widow at a young age.

Gan Ning watched as Xu Xiaoniangzi's figure disappeared. Just then, a vicious voice suddenly came from behind him, "You... how did you get here?"

Gan Ning turned around and saw a gaunt old man behind him, none other than his old friend Liu Xian.

"Haha! Life is full of unexpected encounters, Prefect Liu, we meet again!"

Liu Xian had been humiliated by Gan Ning splashing water on him, and then Han Song, who had a grudge against him, spread the word everywhere, making him a laughingstock wherever he went. He was nicknamed "Water Buffalo," and he truly hated Gan Ning to the core.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Gan Ning again in Xuchang. Now, seeing enemies face to face, their hatred intensified. Liu Xian glared at Gan Ning, his eyes practically spitting fire. "You…you river pirate, I wish I could eat your flesh and sleep on your skin!"

Gan Ning drew his sword and handed it to him, coldly saying, "You can kill me with one stroke and wash away this shame, how about it?"

Liu Xian stamped his foot in anger, "Do you think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"

Just then, a middle-aged scholar came up to them, smiling as he watched them. Liu Xian, feeling embarrassed, turned around and stormed off.

Gan Ning sheathed his sword and said apologetically to the middle-aged scholar beside him, "Please forgive my rudeness!"

The middle-aged scholar stroked his beard and said, "Young Master Cao sent me to see you and keep you company, but I never expected to witness such a good show."

"May I ask your name, sir?"

The middle-aged scholar squinted and smiled, "My name is Jia Xu. Have you heard of me, young master?"

So it was Jia Xu! How could I not have heard of him? His name is legendary!

Gan Ning quickly clasped his hands and said, "I have long admired the name of Mr. Jia, the Poison Master. I have always longed to be associated with him!"

Jia Xu smiled slightly and said, "It's fine if you call me Poisonous Scholar. You're the Brocade Sail Bandit, and I'm Poisonous Scholar. We're even!"

"This junior is ashamed!"

Jia Xu nodded. "I heard from Young Master Cao that you want to develop your career in Chaisang. You have good vision. Young Master Cao asked me to persuade you to stay, but I'd like to see what you're capable of."

"What advice does Master Jia have for me?"

Jia Xu said calmly, "I wouldn't call it instruction, but I do have a suggestion: don't think about becoming powerful right now. Your first priority is to survive in Chaisang. You need to be cunning and have multiple escape routes!"

Gan Ning nodded slightly. "Is the second cave in Poyang Lake and the third cave in Xunyang County?"

Jia Xu smiled, his eyes crinkling, and gave a thumbs-up, saying, "Your son is teachable!"

Just then, a fierce shout came from afar, "Prefect Liu, where is he?"

Jia Xu's expression changed, and he said to Gan Ning, "Someone has come to cause you trouble!"

Gan Ning turned around and saw a general with a fierce face, sword in hand, striding angrily toward them, followed by Liu Xian.

"It's Cai Mao's younger brother, Cai Yan, a famous general of Jingzhou. Be careful!" Jia Xu darted away.

A moment later, a burly general with a fierce face rushed up to Gan Ning, pointed his sword at him, and shouted, "Get out of here!"

Gan Ning said coldly, "What a big mouth you have! This is Grand Commandant Yang's residence. When did it become your place to bark and howl like a dog?"

At this moment, people around them surged forward. Cai Yan also felt that things were not right. Sheathed his sword and gritted his teeth, saying, "You river bandit, how dare you insult the Prefect of Jingzhou and think that there is no one else in Jingzhou? I only regret that I was not in Xiangyang at the time, otherwise I would have made sure that your bastard's head roll off!"

Gan Ning narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't be so arrogant. There's plenty of space outside! Let's go outside and see whose head rolls on the ground."

"you--"

A murderous intent surged within Cai Yan, and he slowly nodded, "Since you want to die, I will grant your wish!"

"General Cai, whose favor do you want to grant?"

An aged voice rang out, and everyone made way for him. An old man with a cane walked over; it was none other than the host, Yang Biao.

Cai Yan was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "This humble general dares not cause trouble at the Grand Commandant's residence. I have simply encountered a sworn enemy and wish to invite him to a duel to the death outside the city!"

Yang Biao glanced at Gan Ning and said indifferently, "Since we've met here at my residence, let's settle this here. We'll repay kindness with kindness and settle grudges with grudges. I'll provide the venue. General Cai, what do you think?"

Gan Ning suddenly felt that there was something quite subtle about this. It seemed that Yang Biao did not treat the Cai family well. If Cai Yan killed him, there was nothing to brag about. But if he killed Cai Yan, the Cai family would lose face big time.

Liu Xian immediately realized what was happening and hurriedly stepped forward to apologize, "Today is a joyous occasion for the Grand Commandant's banquet. How could we let something like this spoil the fun? General Cai is straightforward and acted impulsively. Please forgive him, Grand Commandant!"

Yang Biao squinted and smiled, "I'm not saying we should fight to the death, but we can settle things by comparing who's better! This is just for fun, so why should Prefect Liu refuse? General Cai, I'm rooting for you!"

At this moment, Jia Xu whispered behind Gan Ning, "Yang Biao and Zhang Wen were quite at odds back then, you can agree to that!"

Gan Ning immediately understood: Zhang Wen was Cai's son-in-law and Cai Yan's uncle. No wonder Yang Biao wouldn't let go of Cai Yan.

Gan Ning immediately clasped his hands and said, "It is my honor to be able to entertain Grand Commandant Yang. Please, Grand Commandant, give me a question!"

(End of this chapter)