Chapter 52: Wukang Mountain |
Chapter 52 Wukang Mountain Lan Qiaoyan thought for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, “He is considered a person of status in Zhaotian City, and it wouldn't be good to make things difficult for your Tower Master. Since he's here, let him in.”
“Understood, I will relay the message at once.” The Shopkeeper immediately cupped his hands in salute and departed.
Before long, in a reception room at Far-Gazing Tower, the Shopkeeper and Cao Puqing arrived side by side and took their seats.
Old Dong and Big Stone had already been brought in.
After determining who was who, Cao Puqing immediately questioned them directly. He asked if they knew Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, and if they knew where those two guys had gone.
The two did admit their relationship with Shi Chun, but they insisted they had no idea of Shi Chun's whereabouts.
After listening, Cao Puqing took a noncommittal sip of tea.
Then, expressionless, he dropped a bombshell: “I heard that the day before yesterday, near evening, you took a bank note for fifty thousand gold to the bank and withdrew fifty thousand gold. Is that true?”
At these words, the Shopkeeper’s gaze suddenly fixed on Old Dong and the other man.
From another perspective, it also proved that Lü Taizhen’s influence in Zhaotian City was indeed significant.
After the two old men from East Nine Plains exchanged glances, Old Dong immediately replied, “Mr.
Cao is indeed powerful and resourceful; he even knows about this.”
Big Stone followed up, saying, “That’s right, it truly happened.”
Cao Puqing’s eyebrows twitched. He had expected these two fellows to flatly deny it and had even prepared witnesses, but to his surprise, the witnesses were completely unnecessary as these two admitted it so readily.
He immediately pressed, “Where did that bank note come from?”
Big Stone said, “Wu Jinliang came the day before yesterday afternoon. He gave it to us and asked us to help withdraw the money.
He used that money to buy a pile of cultivation materials and took them away.”
“Chief…” Old Dong opened his mouth to speak but immediately realized his mistake and corrected himself, saying, “Shi Chun had Wu Jinliang relay a message to us two.
He said if Mr. Cao has any misunderstanding about this money, it truly shouldn’t be so, and that his nephew’s death has nothing to do with him.
However, he saw the course of events. If Mr.
Cao absolutely must know the murderer, he can go to Wukang Mountain to find him.”
Bang! Cao Puqing slammed the table and stood up, his face full of rage.
“Didn’t you just say you didn’t know where he went?”
Big Stone replied, “This was also Shi Chun’s instruction. He said that we two are from Far-Gazing Tower, and some matters must be clearly distinguished from us.
Acquaintance is acquaintance, duty is duty; they cannot be confused. Shi Chun said if Mr.
Cao doesn’t investigate further, we shouldn’t speak, so as not to harm Mr. Cao.
He also said that the murderer is someone Mr. Cao cannot afford to offend.
He further said that if our helping to buy something makes Mr. Cao serious, then we should tell Mr.
Cao his whereabouts to avoid implicating Far-Gazing Tower, and let Mr. Cao make his own decision.”
Old Dong said, “Mr. Cao, it’s truly as he said.
We just helped buy something for an old friend; we really don’t know what happened.”
Most of what the two said was true; at least the message Shi Chun conveyed to Cao Puqing was entirely authentic.
The Shopkeeper watched the two of them switch between lies and truth so effortlessly, remaining calmly throughout. He secretly looked at them with higher regard, feeling that putting such two individuals in the storeroom as porters was a bit of a waste.
“Wukang Mountain…” Cao Puqing whispered to himself, his gaze inscrutable for a moment. He then bade farewell to the Shopkeeper, who personally escorted him out.
As for the Tower Master of Far-Gazing Tower, he didn't show his face from beginning to end. With Cao Puqing’s identity, he was clearly not worthy.
Soon, everyone had left the reception room. In the inner room, Lan Qiaoyan, who had been listening intently, revealed a smile.
“He didn't implicate anyone else; he shouldered the whole thing alone. The brat is still the same brat.
He didn’t disappoint me.”
She then turned to ask her daughter beside her, “Did you see? He’s still good to his own people.
That money he returned to you, you can accept it with ease now, right?”
Miao Yilan remained silent. She had been uneasy after hearing about the incident, worried it was ill-gotten gains, and felt a bit annoyed with Shi Chun.
After all, she had lent clean money; what kind of situation was it to return a sum of ill-gotten gains that couldn't be clarified? Was she supposed to lend money out only to bring a heap of trouble upon herself?
“Not many people would dare to publicly use such money right after getting it. That kid is someone who ‘dares to act and dares to take responsibility.
’ He dared to shoulder this matter, and who knows what traps await Cao Puqing afterward. That Skinny Monkey had just emerged from Living Prison the night before and died at a distant scene of the incident the next day.
This matter is absolutely not simple. Perhaps there truly is an existence Cao Puqing cannot afford to offend waiting for him, and if Cao Puqing really crashes into it, it will be quite a spectacle.
To dare to contend with Cao Puqing right after getting out of prison, who knows what that kid is up to now.” Lan Qiaoyan chuckled and shook her head.
In terms of understanding Shi Chun, she was definitely one of the people who knew him best. Because of her daughter, she had indeed paid enough attention to him early on.
In Lü Garden, on a pavilion deep within a multi-storied building, a yellow-robed man with a jade-like face and long beard sat leisurely in a rocking chair by the window, flipping through a book. He was none other than Lü Taizhen, the owner of this place.
Cao Puqing, who had hurried upstairs, quickly arrived and bowed slightly. “Manor Lord, what are your instructions?”
Lü Taizhen glanced at him, then returned his gaze to the book page.
“The Tower Master of Far-Gazing Tower had someone relay a message to me, expressing dissatisfaction with you, as did the bank. I ask, what exactly are you nephew and uncle up to?”
Cao Puqing immediately looked awkward, somewhat at a loss for words.
But Lü Taizhen, swaying in his rocking chair, pointed it out himself. “When you transfer and sell women to me, shouldn’t you ask for my opinion first?”
Cao Puqing was slightly startled.
He had instructed his nephew not to publicize this matter before it was done, so how would the Manor Lord know? Had the other party leaked the news? He hurriedly explained, “Liyun Tower didn’t act honorably. Seeing that you indeed liked that Lead Courtesan, I wanted to arrange it perfectly to please you.
I didn’t expect it to cause such a scandal.”
Lü Taizhen gently said, flipping through the pages, “Your nephew has been spoiled by your indulgence; he deserves this calamity.
Wukang Mountain is rich and powerful; they won’t give me face, nor will they give you face. Some grudges cannot be avenged.
If this matter of buying and selling women turns into a laughing stock and spreads, I won’t look good either. This matter ends here.
If you cannot let go of your obsession, I cannot keep you here. It’s up to you to decide whether to stay or leave.”
Cao Puqing lowered his head, silent, his face full of tangled emotions…
Sheng Continent is situated within the Sheng-shen Continent Territory, one of the Four Continents.
Sheng Continent is vast.
Whether it's one of the twelve entrances to the Land of Exile, Zhaotian City, or Wukang Mountain, all are within Sheng Continent.
Wukang Mountain is located on a magnificent mountain range.
It is a mountain upon a mountain, towering hundreds of zhang high, with steep cliffs like they were carved by blades and axes. Clustered peaks jut out sharply, and the whole appears dark and rusted like a massive iron block, with not a blade of grass growing on its slopes.
Even more remarkable, even if soil was transported up the mountain, nothing could be grown there. It was indeed a strange place; logically, such barren land should be unsuitable for survival.
Yet, the renowned Great Talisman Refining Sect, Wukang Mountain, was situated on this mountain, which was named after the sect.
Below the mountain, however, it was quite bustling.
There was a city named Linkang City, a city enclosed by countless large stones on the mountainside.
This city was personally built and managed by Wukang Mountain.
Outside the dozen-zhang-high stone city walls, dense forests stretched continuously.
It was forbidden to presumptuously scale the city walls here.
Shi Chun and Xiang Lan’er entered through the city gate under Bian Weikang’s lead. Bian Weikang wore a face veil across his face, and Xiang Lan’er was wrapped in a cloak.
Only Shi Chun, looking around curiously, entered the city openly and without any concealment.
Inside the city, pavilions and towers were everywhere, market stalls lined the streets in neat rows, and people of all sorts came and went.
Along the walls and on the branches, flowers bloomed profusely.
Passing an inconspicuous inn, Xiang Lan’er suddenly stopped and called out, “Young Master, we are short on funds, so a simpler place would be better.
How about we settle down here?”
As she spoke, she unconsciously glanced at Shi Chun. Ever since her improper schemes were exposed, every time she feigned affection and called him “Young Master,” that fellow’s lips would always curl into a faint, imperceptible smirk.
She glanced again, and indeed, it was so.
“Ah? Oh, yes, yes, yes.” Bian Weikang, coming to his senses, vaguely agreed.
Since entering this city, he had clearly been somewhat distracted.
Anle Inn. Shi Chun looked at the inn’s name, guessing there must be a reason why this woman chose this inn, so he didn’t object.
Knowing that the two of them didn’t have much money, he immediately declared generously, “Alright, I’ll treat.”
The three immediately entered, and Shi Chun paid for three guest rooms.
Bian Weikang had originally wanted to share a room with Xiang Lan’er, as they had at Wuyou Inn, but Xiang Lan’er refused, citing that they needed to be mindful of appearances under her father’s nose.
Bian Weikang fully understood her feelings; because of her background, she was even more unwilling to be looked down upon.
No matter how anxious he was about gains and losses, what needed to be faced still had to be faced. After much hesitation, Bian Weikang still decided to make a trip up the mountain.
For this, he specifically reassured Xiang Lan’er, saying that it wasn’t that he didn’t want to take her up the mountain, but bringing her directly to his home now might lead to her humiliation. It would not be too late to communicate with his family first and then bring her up the mountain.
Xiang Lan’er expressed understanding and told him to rest assured and go.
After seeing Bian Weikang out of the inn, Xiang Lan’er returned to her room door, looked around, took a pearl hairpin from her hair, and stuck it into the doorframe before re-entering the room.
Before long, two people, one tall and one short, wrapped in cloaks, appeared at her door. The shorter one knocked five times continuously before pushing the door open.
Entering and closing the door, the shorter person lifted their cloak hood, revealing their true appearance. It was none other than Feng Chi, but her face was terrible, ghastly pale, clearly very weak in essence, qi, and spirit.
Along with the taller one, she saluted Xiang Lan’er.
Xiang Lan’er quickly supported Feng Chi, feeling greatly gratified.
“It’s good that you escaped. How are your injuries?”
Feng Chi gave a bitter smile.
“The injuries are severe; I’m afraid it will take a long time to recover completely. That old man’s strength was too great; I had no way to ward him off.
If it weren't for his delay in striking up a conversation with you then, even with my escape art, I might not have been able to escape. Fortunately, Young Lady, you are alright.
Otherwise, I would die ten thousand deaths unable to explain myself to the Holy Venerable! Young Lady, how did you escape?”
“Shi Chun risked his life to save me…” Xiang Lan’er roughly recounted the course of events at the time.
Feng Chi nodded repeatedly after hearing this, expressing gratification.
“He managed to unite against an outsider at a critical moment. That kid still has righteousness; he can be credited with a merit.”
Xiang Lan’er questioned, “Who was that old man?”
Feng Chi shook her head. “It has been reported.
The Higher-ups said they found no record of this person, and no one with a similar appearance matched. The Higher-ups also found it strange that someone with such a Cultivation Level should not be an unknown figure.
They don’t know where he emerged from, and the Higher-ups are still continuing their investigation.”
(End of chapter)