Chapter 6

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Exploring the Extraordinary Palace at night

Dawn at Xiqian Ridge was not at all the same as Saibei’s.

The morning fog had not receded, yet the long street was already filled with the sounds of hammering. The blacksmith had gotten up earlier than most, as the heat of the forging oven was more bearable in the cool morning.

After that, the street gradually got busier. Bamboo sticks held up tarpaulins as the various stands were set up. The little merchants all came out to make the first deals of the morning. A shopkeeper sprinkled some beans into the pot. Seeing a customer was coming, he wiped the table and stool with his sleeve attentively.

He saw in the distance a young master strolling out of a courtyard. His stature was tall and his handsome face showed a hint of sleepiness.

Huo Linfeng walked slowly and lifted his robe to sit down. Du Zheng poured him a cup of coarse tea. He tilted his head back to drink and waited for breakfast to be served. Soon, two warm bowls of thick soup were placed on the table along with a plate of steamed chestnuts and pickled vegetables. Its aroma filled their senses, making their mouths water.

Du Zheng peeled a chestnut, which was so hot it burned his hands: “Ow, Jiangnan’s food takes so much effort just to eat.”

One peeled while one ate. Young Master Huo Linfeng sat around idly, carelessly examining his surroundings. On the lakeside, he spotted a hexagon-shaped building. At its foot was filled with the bright colors of the white and vermilion flowers.

As he watched, the doors of the hexagon-shaped building opened and a few men walked out one after the other. Their clothes showed that they were no doubt from wealthy families. It seems like that building is a brothel. If one was short on money, they would definitely not be able to spend a night there.

The men reluctantly left. A window in the building opened, a beautiful girl called out to them intimately, giving this clear and crystalline lake a feeling of deep love.

Du Zheng looked dazed: “Young Master, Jiangnan’s sisters are really charming and loveable.”

Huo Linfeng made fun of him: “What, you want to go have some fun?”

Du Zheng shook his head so ferociously that his hair tie almost came right off. At this time, the shopkeeper cut in: “You two must not be from here, right? This meal costs two copper coins, but in that Dusk-till-Dawn establishment, a cup of tasteless water costs seven taels of silver.”

Du Zheng straightened in shock: “Young Master, our Saib—” With a cold glare from his master, he quickly shut up. He said silently in his heart, our Saibei’s Little Spring Stage also has extremely charming girls, yet they didn’t ask for such outrageous prices.

He turned back and said awkwardly: “Shopkeeper, your Jiangnan is indeed rich.”

The shopkeeper waved his hands: “As long as we have food to eat and clothes to wear, who dares to go to Dusk-till-Dawn? The only people who go are the big officials and young masters.” He looked at Huo Linfeng and decided that he fit in the category of the latter, “However, there is a day in each month on which Dusk-till-Dawn hosts a special event. On that day, anyone can attend to watch the show. That is, if they can squeeze their way through the doors.”

Huo Linfeng ate quietly. Whether it be an extravagant pleasure house or a gambling den in a run-down alley, he had no interest in either. But there is a place that he was curious about. He was just about to ask when more customers arrived and the shopkeeper left to attend to them.

The master and servant pair left to strolled around in the streets, looking at anything that caught their eye. The sound of applause filled their ears as they passed a busy little shop with the name of “Analects Teahouse.” Its doors and windows were wide open, and it can be seen within a waiter carrying a large teapot hurrying about and an entertainer telling a story on the side.

After listening carefully, they realized that the story was about the two flowers sharing the same stalk [1] in Dusk-till-Dawn, a pair of sisters.

Huo Linfeng cursed inwardly, do these people of Xiqian Ridge have nothing better to do? He entered the shop and found a table to sit at, listening to that storyteller speaking vigorously with his spit flying. After finishing a few paragraphs, the storyteller came around with a bowl to collect money. Huo Linfeng generously gave him a whole silver ingot, disappointing all his ancestors while doing so.

Du Zheng anxiously said: “Young Master, you have to spend less!” After selling a horse, they still haven’t paid their room fees, worrying him to death!

The storyteller cupped his hands in gratitude: “My thanks to the young master. If there is anything you want to hear, pray tell.”

This was exactly what he was wanting to hear. Huo Linfeng said: “Tell me about the Extraordinary Palace.”

The storyteller stared at him and the surrounding customers laughed at how Huo Linfeng had just wasted his money. Who didn’t know about the Extraordinary Palace? Any beggar on the streets would suffice. Just give them a few copper coins and they’ll tell the story with burning passion all afternoon, perhaps they would even sing a song at the end as a bonus too.

The storyteller returned to the stage, making a show of looking around the room cautiously, before lowering his voice to speak quietly: “This lowly one will be reckless and talk about the Extraordinary Palace in broad daylight. If I’m to be overheard by one of their disciples and get caught and executed, I would have to trouble the elders to bring me a straw mat [2]. If you can make me a small grave, this lowly one would be endlessly thankful.”

The sound of laughter and shushing filled the teahouse before the room became quiet again.

The storyteller started the story. The Extraordinary Palace was located to the southeast of the city. The palace has many disciples, who were good at both swordsmanship and mounted archery. Xiqian Ridge seemed to be flourishing, yet not a single official can be seen walking their streets. The city had no soldiers for protection either. The masters of this city were neither officials nor soldiers, but the four Palace Lords of the Extraordinary Palace.

The First Palace Lord, Duan Huaike, drank wine as if his life depended on it, yet he did not have the outer appearance of a drunkard and looked more like an elegant young master. His internal energy was profound. Without dealing a single blow, he can shock one’s heart and puncture their lungs in the time it took to walk seven steps. The storyteller stopped, “The only person who can compare to his capability would have to be the one who cuts heads as easy as pie: Huo Linfeng, the son of the Marquis of Dingbei.”

Immediately, someone piped up: “The Hu shopkeeper said that the news is already widespread in Chang’an! The son of the Marquis of Dingbei chopped off the Göktürk general’s head and uses it as his pillow every day!”

Huo Linfeng stared: “……” What kind of evil was he that he would use Mohelu’s head as a pillow to sleep? What, is he going to stick ear to ear with a dead person and whisper sweet nothings to it?

The storyteller continued: “The Third Palace Lord, Lu Zhun, is clever and handsome. He is extremely wealthy and can be called the Little God of Wealth. All his money was obtained from robberies.”

Huo Linfeng darkly thought, by chance, the youngster had caught interest in their group. He was quite capable to be able to kill and rob the Imperial Vanguards. The Extraordinary Palace was indeed fearless, even daring to rob officials. Du Zheng moved closer: “Young Master, how come they skipped the Second Palace Lord?”

Huo Linfeng replied: “Jianghu has many vicious disputes. Perhaps he has already been killed in one and has gone down to the Yellow Springs [3].”

The storyteller smiled: “No rush, let’s first talk about the Fourth Palace Lord, Diao Yuliang [4]. His person is not like his name, he isn’t gentle like jade, nor is he good and merciful. Since a young age, he has been like gunpowder, exploding with the smallest provocation.” He paused for a moment and lowered his voice, “All three of them have murdered before and are extremely ferocious. The number of people who died under their hands is too many to be counted.”

As for the Second Palace Lord, the storyteller said: “These four people represent wine, lust, greed, and temper [5]. And thus, the Second Palace Lord would be ‘lust.’”

This person had the surname of Rong and the name of Luoyun. He rarely shows his face in public and is quite mysterious. His biological sister, Rong Duanyu, is the top courtesan [6] of Dusk-till-Dawn. The sister is a prostitute and the brother is a bandit, truly a pair of shameless siblings.

Late autumn two years ago, Rong Luoyun went on a wild rampage. In Xiaoyan City, he murdered fifteen people, and after killing them, he even carved his family name on the head of the beds. It wasn’t only in Xiaoyan City, but also to the south of the great river, where there were numerous rape cases, all connected to this infamous name, Rong Luoyun.

After the words were spoken, no one objected. Huo Linfeng finally learned of the “evil tyrant that seized control” that Shen Wendao had spoken of at the night banquet at the Phoenix Song Platform.

The universe works in its own ways. The bandits were actually able to overturn the army. Taking advantage that the emperor is far away, are they trying to make Xiqian Ridge into a second Chang’an?

After leaving Analects Teahouse, Huo Linfeng no longer had the mind to take a stroll. He returned to the inn and locked himself in his room. Seeing this, Du Zheng came to the side of the bed and asked: “Young Master, what are you planning to do?”

Huo Linfeng spoke from the inside of the bed: “Is it your turn to ask?”

Du Zheng was apprehensive: “To think that Xiqian Ridge is peaceful, who knew there’s such a huge problem. How worrying.” He brought Huo Linfeng a blanket, “Dealing with it alone is too dangerous, you should go take up your post and take control of the barracks first. It’ll be safer that way.”

Huo Linfeng scolded in a low voice: “Keep blabbering and I’ll sew your mouth shut!”

Du Zheng shut his mouth and stopped talking. This master of his wouldn’t even listen to First Young Master, let alone him. He probably already came up with a grand plan of his own. Du Zheng lit an incense to calm the nerves and nested himself beside the couch, “guarding the night” in broad daylight.

On the tall bed with soft pillows, Huo Linfeng slept until late night. When the knocking of the night watchman’s bamboo stick came, he quickly rolled out of bed. He felt around in the dark and changed his clothes. He took a few bites of pastry to fill his stomach. Du Zheng lit a lamp and saw clearly: “Young Master, why are you wearing night clothes [7]?”

Huo Linfeng responded: “I’m going out at night, what else am I supposed to wear.”

Regular day-to-day clothes, of course, why wear this? These clothes are for snooping around in secret. Du Zheng said, alarmed: “Young Master, you’re still unfamiliar with things. Where are you going!”

Huo Linfeng: “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to scout out Extraordinary Palace.” In that instant, nothing in the room changed, but his person had disappeared without a trace, only leaving the window half opened.

There are hundreds of qinggong [8] techniques in the world. Huo Linfeng’s was a unique and powerful one called “Incorporeal Divine Dragon,” coming and going like the wind, so fast it can break through the clouds of heaven. It didn’t take him long before he arrived at the foot of Mount Lengsang.

The darkness of the night was dense, just like a saucer of black ink. The gates of the Extraordinary Palace were shut and the rest of the palace was hidden in the thick trees. He came to the gate and regulated his qi before treading on the wall. He then lightly stepped on a nearby branch, landing on the other side.

Every twenty steps stood a guard. The main gates even had three layers of additional sub-gates. Although both sides of the road were lit brightly, a whiff of wickedness lingered in the air. He leaped past the remaining three gates in one go, switching between dashing and hiding before arriving in a spacious area. The back hall was dark, with no one there at the moment.

Along the road were clusters of bamboo, the rustling of its leaves covered up any other small noises. He entered the main garden, passing through the veranda before leaping on its beams. His recklessness was even more unbridled than that of Lu Zhun. Suddenly, he felt a powerful source of internal energy, and after moving closer, the aroma of strong wine greeted him. He hurriedly hid outside the door and saw the First Palace Lord, Duan Huaike.

The qi weaved in his breath traveled farther than the smell of wine. This person’s martial arts were unfathomable.

Fortunately, Incorporeal Divine Dragon was soundless when executed, or else he would have had to fight a vicious battle. Huo Linfeng left quickly. A few disciples came rushing over on horses in his direction. He hurriedly slipped into the bamboo forest but touched the fangs of a blue-eyed furball. It turned out to be a silly, fat bobcat.

Huo Linfeng clamped the cat’s mouth shut with one hand, just like a bridle on a horse. It couldn’t even let out the smallest sound. Bobcats are usually fierce, but it was clamped so tightly by this barbaric human that it almost suffocated to death, nearly returning to the Animal Realm [9] to be reincarnated.

The team of disciples went west while Huo Linfeng went east, where he found another residence. The plaque read “Hidden Gold Pavilion.” Inside, thick candles were placed about and the whole corridor was adorned with gold-plated lanterns. Its extravagance was comparable to that of the Marquis of Dingbei Manor.

The pavilion window was left ajar, its curtains swaying. Lu Zhun slept lying sprawled on his back, resembling a dog who had just eaten its fill. Huo Linfeng entered the room, making himself at home. He picked out a brocade cloth and filled it to the brim with gold and silver.

Stepping out of the Hidden Gold Pavilion, he passed a water pavilion in the garden. Jiangnan truly has beautiful scenery. He walked past the rockery, avoided the disciples along the way, and continued to wander aimlessly around the Extraordinary Palace.

In front of this mysterious mountain, where the clusters of trees spread like a thick blanket, was a side garden. A few lanterns glowed dimly as the gentle tweeting of magpies came from a nest. This simplicity and tranquility makes one want to stop and appreciate the peacefulness. Huo Linfeng actually slowed down his footsteps, wondering who lived here.

Suddenly, a fresh breeze blew. Inside the garden, a white figure floated into view.

Huo Linfeng was startled. He held his breath as he hid behind the trees, motionless.

Secretly peeking, he saw that it was a person. That person was clear like the moon and bright like the sun, their body covered in a moon-white muslin robe. Their slender waist was faintly visible under the layers of clothing. A delicate silver hair crown was fixated at the back of their head, their loose black hair was light like drifting clouds in the darkness of the night. Their person was just like a thin white feather, like a swallow about to take flight.

Unexpectedly, the person turned around mid-air, revealing his face.

Dark eyebrows, pale skin cold like the moon, and the tip of his straight nose tinged with red from the cold wind. His lips were slightly parted, making one wonder what beautiful voice belongs to them. He moved his fair chin and turned back around.

At that moment, Huo Linfeng caught a glimpse of the other’s luminous eyes, leaving him in a daze.

Suddenly, he felt that even the dazzling lights of the Milky Way … cannot compare to the stars he saw in those eyes.

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Notes

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