Chapter 8

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Too poor to pay the bill

Huo Linfeng was still wearing night clothes, but fortunately, he made it back to the inn before daybreak. Opening the door with a creak, he moved into the room quietly. A bowl of food was left on the table and behind the screen, there was a wooden tub full of water that had long gone cold.

Du Zheng was curled up beside the bed with his arms wrapped tightly around himself, presumably from the cold. Huo Linfeng strolled in, with no urgency to change his clothes first. He pulled out a blanket and covered the other with it.

“Huh.” Du Zheng woke up, “Young Master, you’re finally back.”

Huo Linfeng said: “Go sleep on the couch, you don’t have to guard this closely.”

Du Zheng rapidly got up and rubbed his eyes. He reached out his hand to change Huo Linfeng’s clothes for him. He lifted his nose and took a sniff, then leaned closer to sniff again: “Young Master, the fragrance on you smells very strong, like a girl.”

Redness crept on Huo Linfeng’s face: “You smell like a girl. Go boil some water.”

Du Zheng was filled with doubt and silently went to get warm water for his master to bathe with. After Huo Linfeng took off his clothes, he dipped a cloth into the water to wipe his back for him. Even the other’s hair smelled like that fragrance. “Young Master, you……” He beat around the bush, “How was the Extraordinary Palace?”

Huo Linfeng retorted: “I’ve been running about all night and I still need to report to you?”

Du Zheng didn’t dare press further, but he refused to accept it. He wiped the other’s back with the force he used to grind ink, rough then shallowly, then rough again. He nearly rubbed onto Huo Linfeng’s old scars. After getting cleaned, Huo Linfeng climbed on the bed, preparing to catch up on sleep.

Du Zheng took the night clothes that were piled up on a chair, intending to wash them. After shaking them out, a light gray handkerchief fell out. He lifted it up to examine. After staying with Huo Linfeng all these years, he can conclude that this was not his.

Staying out all night, smells like a lady, and a small handkerchief. Who knows what disgraceful things he had done last night!

After a long silence, Huo Linfeng turned his face over in doubt, only to see this little servant clutching the handkerchief with his face green. He didn’t know why, so he reached out his hand to grab it.

Du Zheng unwillingly gave it to him and crouched in the corner to wash the clothes. He thought gloomily, Bao Yue, Bi Zan, and Wan Sheng from home, none of them caught his eye. Yet, the moment they set foot in Xiqian Ridge, he suddenly grew interested in love affairs, even his seven emotions and six desires were flourishing!

He stole a glance at Huo Linfeng, who was laying down. Spending the night doing romantic things and sleeping during the day. Those iron bones had met the warmth of delicate jade. After entangling and rubbing together until his whole body smelled like cosmetics, he can only come back here to lay down again!

In these short days, he had always been following him and hadn’t seen this young master fool around with anyone. Even if he did, which lady from a good family would entangle with someone in the middle of the night? There’s no need to ponder anymore, it has to be that Dusk-till-Dawn beside the Long River!

Du Zheng angrily threw the wet trousers down and stood up, charging to the bedside to glare at Huo Linfeng. Huo Linfeng was startled and scooted farther into the bed, thinking this dimwit had been possessed.

“Young Master,” Du Zheng opened his mouth, “You’re a distinguished general, how can you go to Dusk-till-Dawn to sleep with a prostitute!”

Huo Linfeng blurted: “Stop slandering people! I only listened to a song!”

As soon as these words came out, the master and the servant stared at each other blankly. Now they knew, he didn’t sleep with a sister from a brothel, but he had loitered around in a pleasure house. Du Zheng secretly heaved a sigh of relief, and said with a stern face: “Young Master, didn’t you say you were going to scout out the Extraordinary Palace? How did you end up going to Dusk-till-Dawn?!”

It was truly a rare sight, a servant questioning his master’s words. Huo Linfeng said provocatively: “That’s right, I scouted out the Extraordinary Palace and got a bag of silver, then I went to Dusk-till-Dawn without delay to have fun.”

Hearing this, Du Zheng immediately went to search through the wet set of night clothes. He found no brocade bag, nor a single ingot of silver, but only the protruding fragrance of cosmetics left in the water. Huo Linfeng saw this and almost angered the person to death by saying: “Four thousand taels, every cent spent.”

With a bang, Du Zheng bumped into the basin, spilling water all over the ground. He foolishly stared, rubbing his ears furiously fearing that he had heard wrong. Four thousand taels… how many mouths can that feed! Yet this disappointment of a young master had used four thousand taels in exchange for a handkerchief!

Huo Linfeng watched from the bed and couldn’t help but worry, fearing this little servant would lose his mind from the shock and anxiety. He explained: “I really only listened to a song. I picked that handkerchief up outside.”

Since things are already like this, the money would be hard to get back. Du Zheng flipped the basin upright, ladled more water, and continued to wash. He had only scrubbed for a moment before he dashed to the bed and stared deadpan at that handkerchief.

Things that came from brothels are all dirty. Who knows where it has been used to wipe… and this ancestor is still holding it!

But Huo Linfeng seemed to have formed an attachment to that light ginger scent and sweet mellow fragrance of milk. He couldn’t bear to throw it away. Du Zheng risked it and forcefully wrestled the handkerchief away: “It’s fine if you don’t want to toss it, but first, I’ll need at least one shichen to sanitize it and smoke it with pomelo leaves!”

Fine, it needs to be washed sooner or later anyway. Huo Linfeng didn’t bother any longer and pulled up his quilt to sleep.

Dusk-till-Dawn was filled with song and music all night. When morning came, the wealthy all went home to catch up on sleep and the poor could only leave regrettably. At this moment, the seats were empty, the halls were empty, the whole brothel was empty.

In that desolate room on the fourth floor, Rong Luoyun laid on the couch as the cold wind blew. The morning breeze was cool, slowly awakening him. He drowsily opened his eyes. The arm that was on the windowsill had gone numb and he couldn’t pull it back for a while.

He waited patiently for his arm to recover. He stood and walked to the pearwood shelf to freshen up. He washed his face with water and reached into his sleeve to retrieve his handkerchief to dry himself. However, after searching for a long time, he still couldn’t find it. He came to the couch to search to no avail.

The droplets of water rolled down Rong Luoyun’s face as he searched the room at a loss. Only when he looked towards the window did he finally understand. It must have been when his sleeves were dangling out that the handkerchief fell. He leaned on the windowsill and looked around outside. There was nothing else other than the people coming and going.

At this time, a knock came from the door. It was the proprietress. Last night, she had worn a silk dress lined with gold and was ladened with gold and jade accessories. Now, she had changed into clean, deep blue inner garments with a black outer robe. Her hair was adorned with a single, simple silver pin.

Rong Luoyun said: “It was busy all night, why isn’t Granny [1] sleeping?”

The proprietress responded: “I’ll sleep later.” She held a bowl of soup with both hands. She placed it down and from a box, she produced a comb. “Young Master, drink the soup. This old servant will comb your hair for you.”

Rong Luoyun sat properly, drinking the fish soup that had been stewing for a night. The proprietress sat behind him, combing his hair lightly and comfortably. He didn’t know how to praise her, so he said: “When I comb my own hair, I can never sit for long. I’ll always lose my patience after a short while.”

The proprietress smiled lovingly: “Young Master’s hair is nice, smooth and glossy.” Combing it not too loose and not too tightly, she put on his silver hair crown for him. “When this old servant was in her younger days, she had two skillful hands. I frequently combed people’s hair for them. I remember those days in the palace—”

Rong Luoyun said softly: “Granny, what palace are you talking about?”

The proprietress was embarrassed and took a step back, covering her mouth: “Look at me, even taking things from my dreams out to talk about.” She quickly changed the subject and started talking about yesterday’s happenings, about how Rong Duanyu had sung beautifully and how that guest was extraordinarily handsome.

Rong Luoyun thought there must be a reason for that person to be satisfied only when his sister came.

The proprietress said: “He was quite provoking too. I reckon he just wanted to see some beautiful girls, but afterward, he went to a decorated pleasure boat to elope with a prostitute until daybreak. I saw him when he left the boat. He didn’t even change his clothes. Only after asking the little prostitute did I know that that person was a lord of a neighboring prefecture.”

Rong Luoyun thought of this as her jesting and finished his soup. He then took advantage of the peacefulness in Dusk-till-Dawn to visit Rong Duanyu. She was still sleeping. He couldn’t bear to wake her and did not dare to inform her of him losing his handkerchief either.

That handkerchief was a birthday gift from Rong Duanyu. Once upon a time, they had ginkgo trees planted in their house’s courtyard, so she had sewn a ginkgo leaf. He silently suffered in his inner turmoil. Like a child who had caused trouble, he decided to sneak away quietly.

Back at the Extraordinary Palace.

It was still early. The disciples of the Extraordinary Palace were still having breakfast. After breakfast, they went to the Distant Gray Platform to practice. Suddenly, a disciple let out a scream. He stuck out his tongue, which unexpectedly had a needle pieced into it.

Above their heads, unrestrained laughter came. Everyone looked up and saw the fourteen-year-old Diao Yuliang crouching on the beams.

“Serves you right!” Diao Yuliang spat, “How dare you say behind my back that I’m a dwarf. I was merciful and didn’t put a needle on the bench. Or else it’ll be your balls that get pricked!”

He leaped down. Before he left, he even grabbed two vegetable buns and energetically made his way to Hidden Gold Pavilion. The sun rose from the east as he entered the room. Lu Zhun laid with his pajamas in a mess, revealing his belly. His snores went loud and quiet, then loud again.

Diao Yuliang laid down beside the bed, eating his bun. The smacking sounds of his lips woke the other up in no time.

“Who is it…” Lu Zhun grumbled and squinted to look, “Disturbing people’s sweet dreams this early in the morning, bastard.”

As he spoke, he got up to get dressed. He sat in front of the mirror, plucking his eyebrows. He dipped a brush as thin as a needle into ink and drew a dot above his eye, resembling the mole of wealth.

Diao Yuliang moved closer: “Third Brother, it’s such a nice day out, wanna go catch some fish?”

Usually, he would always call out “Third Bro [2]“. Since he’s acting all obedient now, then he might as well. Lu Zhun grabbed his pouch: “Wait for me to get some pocket money.” When he opened the cabinet door, he could only stare dumbly. All the silver had disappeared into thin air!

Diao Yuliang was also shocked. Those disciples only had the galls to gossip, but how would they dare steal money? He looked at Lu Zhun in askance. How did he not wake up when someone snuck into his room? Perhaps he was a pig yao in disguise.

Their plan of going fishing was scrapped as the two quickly made their way to the main hall. They perfectly bumped into Rong Luoyun, who had just returned. Lu Zhun and Diao Yuliang both said “Second Brother,” seeming all respectful. They flanked Rong Luoyun, one on the left and the other on the right.

Rong Luoyun asked: “Why are you two being so affectionate?”

Diao Yuliang: “Second Brother, Third Bro’s Hidden Gold Pavilion got robbed.”

This was the first time the Extraordinary Palace had been stolen from before. Rong Luoyun asked a few more times for confirmation before he believed it. Before he could digest it, Lu Zhun wailed: “They stole so much silver……a good four—”

Rong Luoyun said exasperatedly: “Don’t act like a spoiled child in front of me, you little money grubbing thing.”

In the end, Duan Huaike also arrived, and the four assembled in the hall to discuss. After looking it over, only Hidden Gold Pavilion was stolen from, meaning the person had come specifically for Lu Zhun. In addition, their goal was money, so it can be inferred that it was someone who had been robbed by Lu Zhun before.

Duan Huaike asked: “Third Bro, who did you rob recently?”

Lu Zhun answered: “A group of Imperial Vanguards outside the city. They were a government procession sent from Chang’an.”

Rong Luoyun thought, could it be Huo Linfeng? So he has already arrived in Xiqian Ridge? After thinking it over carefully, it doesn’t seem like it was him. Why would the son of the dignified Marquis of Dingbei, who was always upright and reputable, lower himself to initiate a sneak attack for revenge?

When he finished analyzing, Lu Zhun said in a small voice: “Was it really Huo Linfeng? But he was hiding in the shrubs shivering and looked quite cowardly…”

Contradictions after contradictions, they can only blame Lu Zhun for having too many foes. Rong Luoyun simply gave up. No matter who it was, they were still able to sneak in at night, meaning they have to increase security. As for Huo Linfeng, whether he came or not was of no importance. It was a matter of time anyway.

Lu Zhun: “Second Brother, what do we do next?”

Rong Luoyun reached out and pinched his cheek: “Next, I want you to behave and stay here.” He loosened his hand and walked out of the hall in large strides. He came to the Distant Gray Platform where the disciples were training and ordered, “Organize yourselves into three groups, fifteen people in each group. Listen to my commands and arrange the Dragon Ensnaring Formation. Lay out the defense by tonight.”

Buddha traps Buddha, ghost captures ghost.

The Dragon Ensnaring Array can capture even a divine dragon. Let’s see if that person’s qinggong is swifter or his Qimen [3] techniques are stronger.

Inside the inn, that “Incorporeal Divine Dragon” culprit turned over and slept soundly until noon. With the sound of clinking, Huo Linfeng opened his eyes to see Du Zheng setting the table.

He rose halfway and caught a glimpse of the food. All these green vegetables and tofu is making him frailer than the women of Jianghu. Du Zheng said: “Master, you’ll have to make do. I had to put my utmost to convince the innkeeper to postpone the room fee. Having food to eat is already considered good.”

Huo Linfeng felt wronged: “I haven’t even said anything.”

Du Zheng snorted: “We’re already struggling to make ends meet, yet you still tossed away four thousand taels for a song. To be this generous, how big must your heart be? No wonder you’re the master and I the servant.”

Huo Linfeng retorted: “It was you who insisted on being a cow and horse to repay me.”

Du Zheng almost choked to death and said no more. He sat at the table dejectedly. Huo Linfeng unhurriedly got off the bed and ate a few small bites. Without lifting his head, he picked a piece of tofu and threw it into the other’s bowl. Du Zheng was surprised. His face that had turned blue and green for half the day slowly recovered its original color. He lifted his bowl and sniffed it like a treasure.

After eating, this little servant went out the door, feeling determined. If they want to eat food, he should at least let Young Master eat some meat.

Huo Linfeng was left alone in the room. He picked up a book and leaned against the window. Since he had nothing to do, he might as well read that book, Mirrors of Retribution. Mirrors of Retribution, the fourth the of eighteen layers of hell [4], was the name Tang Zhen gave it. It can be seen the effectiveness of the formations in this book.

He opened the first page. The first offense formation appeared before his eyes — Dragon Ensnaring.

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Notes

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