FIMA Ch124: Encounter Again

Jiangcheng is the largest city in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, a hub connecting nine provinces; while Linjiang Ferry is the largest ferry crossing between Jiangnan and Jiangbei, with countless people arriving and departing daily.

At noon that day, the bright sun reflected on the shimmering water.

A huge two-story passenger ship arrived at Linjiang Ferry amidst enthusiastic chatter.

Upon hearing the sailor’s command to disembark, the passengers on the first floor of the ship rushed towards the shore like birds escaping from a cage, causing collisions, arguments, and scoldings along the way.

The dock workers, however, wore expressions of indifference, as if they were used to the scene.

Since the Wu family from Jingdi raised an army last month and confronted Huangzhou across the Yangtze River, Jiangcheng, already a bustling city, became a hub for various forces gathering intelligence due to its proximity to Huangzhou.

Moreover, just half a month ago, news from the renowned martial arts sanctuary Tianwai Hall announced that a martial arts conference would be held in Jiangcheng on the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter).

Of course, the so-called martial arts conference was just a façade; various noble families and rebel armies received secret messages that the real event was the Assembly of Heaven’s Chosen, and the long-lost Imperial Jade Seal might appear at the conference.

Thus, Jiangcheng instantly became the focal point of the entire world.

Various noble families and martial arts masters from all over sent emissaries and disciples to Jiangcheng, seeking an opportunity to obtain the Imperial Jade Seal.

Currently, Jiangcheng is a chaotic mix of different forces, turning into a boiling pot of turmoil.

“Master, need help with your luggage?”

“Young hero, where are you heading? Need a carriage?”

“Lady hero, is this your first time in Jiangcheng? Want to visit Lingxu Pavilion?”

…

Most of the passengers on the first floor had disembarked, and those on the second floor began to come down slowly.

Therefore, the dock workers, under the leadership of their respective foremen, swarmed over. Those on the second floor were the wealthy ones, their primary service targets.

Among them, two tall figures stood out prominently.

In the early winter season, when everyone was shivering from the cold river wind, these two were dressed lightly yet carried an aura of pride, immediately setting them apart from the others.

One wore simple snow-blue clothes, with features as picturesque as a painting, an appearance so stunning it was both cold as ice and fiercely captivating, making it hard to look closely for fear of becoming entranced.

Naturally, everyone’s gaze shifted to the other figure beside him.

That person was dressed in dark gold and black clothes, with a jade crown holding his hair, his face stern and aloof. Walking with his hands behind his back, he resembled a tall pine or bamboo.

As his gaze swept across the crowd, everyone’s breath quickened, and they instinctively lowered their heads, forgetting to speak or move.

Such an imposing aura!

Even after the two had left the dock far behind, the crowd couldn’t help but have the image of those two towering, dignified figures lingering in their minds.

These two were naturally Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun.

That day at Qinzhen Hall, after putting on a show with Wei Zhengping and the others, they finally confirmed the matter of the emperor personally leading the expedition.

However, just before the army was about to reach Huangzhou, they heard news about Tianwai Hall and the Imperial Jade Seal.

Fortunately, the Wu family on the other side of the Yangtze River was also attracted by this matter and wouldn’t cause any trouble for the time being. So, Gu Siyuan and Yu Luocheng decided to visit Jiangcheng to witness this grand event.

To see who would dare to boast about choosing a new ruler when the emperor of the Great Zhou was still present?

The two walked side by side on the broad bluestone streets of Jiangcheng, smelling the various food aromas wafting from both sides.

Jiangcheng is also a city known for its cuisine.

They walked until they reached a magnificent three-story pavilion by the river, where they finally stopped.

Xie Chenyun crossed his arms and, staring at the golden plaque, lazily smiled, “I’ve heard that Lingxu Pavilion not only has the most beautiful girls on both sides of the Yangtze River but also the most delicious food.”

Seeing his high spirits, Gu Siyuan calmly said, “If that’s the case, we’ll know once we go in.”

Lingxu Pavilion is the most prestigious establishment in Jiangcheng and also a hub for information, which is precisely their destination.

However, it was lunchtime, and Lingxu Pavilion was already crowded with guests. The most expensive private rooms on the second and third floors were all occupied, so the two had to find a table by the window in the first-floor hall.

Although the view wasn’t as high and distant as above, it wasn’t bad.

The structure of Lingxu Pavilion was quite unique and meticulously designed. On the north side against the wall, there was a two-story high platform that connected the first floor to the third floor.

Because of this special design, the guests in the private rooms above could look down and see the bustling scene below; conversely, the guests in the hall could look up and glimpse the splendor above.

At that moment, on the first level of the high platform, a storyteller was eloquently narrating the current state of the world; the second level, more elaborately decorated, was still empty. It was said that this place was reserved for the most beautiful woman in the region to showcase her talents.

While listening to the storytelling, the guests ate, drank tea, and discussed various matters.

“I heard the Wu family’s army captured five cities including Ezhou in just ten days, truly a swift victory!”

“They say this is because of the Wu family lord’s two adopted sons, known as the ‘Two Dragons of Jiangdong,’ who are incredibly brave and skilled in military tactics!”

“Hmph, it’s also because the local officials only cared about lining their pockets and enjoying themselves, making it easy for them to be defeated!”

“I wonder when the Wu family army will march towards Huangzhou; if they do, Jiangcheng might be in danger too…”

“No need to worry, Jiangcheng’s strategic importance is significant. The court’s reinforcements will arrive soon. Isn’t the young emperor in Jinling right now?”

“That’s true…”

Gu Siyuan tried a few bites of Jiangcheng’s dishes and found one called “Burned Three Combinations” particularly good.

The so-called Three Combinations is a mixed stew primarily of fish balls, meat cakes, and meatballs. The meat has a fishy aroma, the fish has a meaty taste, and in addition, dried daylily, black fungus, baby bok choy, and radishes are added to counteract the greasiness, making it extremely delicious.

Thanks to the tacit understanding developed over these days, Gu Siyuan’s first reaction after tasting it was to scoop a spoonful into Xie Chenyun’s bowl, saying softly, “Not bad, you should like it.”

Xie Chenyun’s lips curved slightly.

Indeed, it was a habit he had painstakingly cultivated, and now Gu Siyuan was voluntarily serving him food. A man should be straightforward about his likes; there’s no need to be shy.

Thinking about it, he continued to act coy, “I want you to feed me.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Is he getting more childish?

Gu Siyuan shook his head, not arguing with him. He picked up the chopsticks and reached into the porcelain bowl to pick up the meat cake.

At that moment, with a loud “bang,” there was a sudden explosion of noise above, as if a door was being kicked open or a table and chairs were being overturned.

Xie Chenyun paid no attention to this, his eyes only fixed on the dish and Gu Siyuan’s chopsticks.

However, the next moment, with a light “plop,” a few pieces of wood chips and dust fell into the blue and white porcelain bowl from above, splattering the soup and completely contaminating the dish.

Xie Chenyun’s expression suddenly changed.

What dared to ruin his moment?

Gu Siyuan put down his chopsticks and calmly said, “We’ll order another one later.”

Xie Chenyun snorted discontentedly.

The two looked up.

The door of a private room on the west side of the third floor had collapsed to the ground. A young man in white leapt out, followed closely by a man in blue and a woman in red, who began to fight fiercely on the corridor.

From their agile movements, it was clear they were highly skilled, at least top-tier second-class martial artists.

However, those who could afford to dine at Lingxu Pavilion were not from minor families. Seeing such a ruckus, they were immediately displeased, “Who are these people, causing such a disturbance? How are we supposed to eat?”

“They’re already fighting. Young people are so impulsive, resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement.”

“Outrageous, stop it! Do they think Lingxu Pavilion is just for them?”

At this moment, a red-clothed young man who had just walked out from the original private room looked down and coldly shouted, “The Perilous Hall is handling matters here. All irrelevant people, move aside, or face the consequences!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers fell silent.

It was actually someone from the Perilous Hall?

Although not one of the four major martial sects, the Perilous Hall was just below them. It was also extremely wealthy due to the production and sale of a large number of firearms and explosives, surpassing even the four major sects.

Probably due to their constant interaction with firearms, the members of the Perilous Hall all loved wearing fiery red clothes, and their tempers were as explosive as fire. They also carried their unique ‘Perilous Bombs,’ which were highly powerful, causing ordinary martial artists to avoid them at all costs.

However, while some feared them, others were not so easily intimidated.

“What arrogance! Do you think Jiangcheng is your Xunyang?” a young woman standing behind the second-floor railing retorted mockingly.

No sooner had she spoken than the red-clad woman’s long whip snapped straight and lashed towards the second floor.

The young girl’s face paled, and she shut her eyes in fright.

A few breaths later, there was the crisp crack of a whip and a sharp, high-pitched scream.

The young girl, clutching her face, opened her eyes nervously.

After a moment, she realized the whip hadn’t struck her. Then where had the noise and commotion come from?

She looked up.

The red-clad woman who had swung the whip was now clutching her cheek and neck, a clear red mark visible through her fingers.

So, the whip had struck her own face?

The young girl blinked in confusion.

The red-clad woman scanned the surroundings with a twisted expression, screaming, “Who dares to offend Thunderclap Hall?”

The red-clad youth shouted, “Dare to harm my sister, and Thunderclap Hall will have your entire family buried!”

The surrounding spectators buzzed with discussion.

“Who could it be?”

“A mere chopstick stopped the whip and redirected its force?”

“This is tit for tat, using the enemy’s strength against them!”

The young girl instantly understood that a master had come to her aid.

Her eyes sparkled as she searched the crowd for her savior.

In the hall below, Xie Chenyun looked at the missing chopstick in Gu Siyuan’s hand with a peculiar expression. “Just now… what was that internal energy?”

Gu Siyuan glanced up indifferently, “Just luck. I threw it casually and didn’t expect it to be so accurate.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Do you think I’m a fool?

Gu Siyuan’s gaze darkened as he looked up at the fighting blue-clad man. “Ran into an old acquaintance on the first day.”

“New grudges and old scores,” Xie Chenyun sneered, glancing at the spoiled food.

He then propped his chin on his hand, curiously asking Gu Siyuan, “Who do you think is stronger?”

The red-clad woman had retreated from the fight after being injured by her whip, leaving only the white-clad man and the blue-clad man engaged in a one-on-one duel.

Gu Siyuan’s voice was steady, “Naturally, Tang Sheng.”

“I thought so too,” Xie Chenyun yawned lazily. “His martial arts were already impressive, and now he seems to have improved.”

The blue-clad young man fighting above was none other than Tang Sheng, who had been rescued by Xiao Hanxin of Tianwai Hall at the Xie family manor a few months ago.

As they spoke, the battle above, which had been evenly matched, suddenly shifted.

The white-clad man was forced on the defensive, driven back by Tang Sheng’s relentless attacks.

“My senior brother seems to be in trouble!” Xie Chenyun raised an eyebrow, mildly concerned.

Gu Siyuan arched an eyebrow. “Senior brother? From your Yuhuo Sect?”

Xie Chenyun smiled lightly, “Should be. The Yuhuo Sect has good relations with the Song clan, so Song Guogong’s second son, Song Zhengqing, apprenticed under our sect leader. He’s my third senior brother. However, he was traveling when I joined, so we haven’t met.”

“But, given his use of the ‘Nirvana Sacred Manual’ and the exquisite ‘Six Yang Palm,’ both are unique to our sect’s inner disciples, and I’ve met all the others except him. Master mentioned that my third senior brother loves wearing white and carrying a folding fan…”

Gu Siyuan put down his teacup, glanced up, and said leisurely, “Then it’s likely him.”

As they spoke, the white-clad man was struck in the chest by Tang Sheng’s fierce kick, sending him flying towards the ground.

The white-clad man’s first reaction was to shield his face with his fan.

Xie Chenyun’s eyes narrowed. He tapped the table and leapt into the air, intercepting the white-clad man.

In an instant, the two landed smoothly in the middle of the hall.

“Ah, another companion!”

“This one is younger but seems even more skilled. Today’s youth are remarkable!”

The sudden change stunned the patrons of Lingxu Pavilion, who quickly erupted into chatter.

Song Zhengqing, delighted, turned and excitedly said, “Thank you, brother.”

Xie Chenyun shook his head. “No need for thanks, senior brother.”

Song Zhengqing blinked in confusion, then realization dawned. “You… you’re the new disciple Master took in, Xie Shidi?”

Xie Chenyun nodded. “That’s right.”

Song Zhengqing tapped his forehead with his fan, smiling, “Ah, I missed you while traveling. Master spoke of you, but I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

Xie Chenyun, liking his senior brother’s personality, joked, “Better late than never. The timing is perfect.”

“Yes, yes, good things come to those who wait. Little brother, you really saved me today,” Song Zhengqing laughed and bowed.

Xie Chenyun replied, “We should help each other.”

“Xie Chenyun! You dare show your face!”

At that moment, a cold voice sounded.

Tang Sheng and the two Thunderclap Hall youths landed before them.

Xie Chenyun looked up with a cold smile. “You fled from my family like a stray dog, and now you dare show yourself? Why shouldn’t I?”

Tang Sheng’s eyes narrowed, his expression cold: “You’re courting death!”

Xie Chenyun loosened his fingers, tilted his head with a smile: “Come, let’s see who dies first…”

The beautiful girl in red looked at Tang Sheng and asked concernedly, “Brother Tang, did this person offend you?”

“Naturally, he did. Didn’t Junior Brother Xie just say so? He beat him like a stray dog back then,” Song Zhengqing laughed, showing no signs of his recent defeat.

The girl’s eyes turned cold: “You want to die too!”

Song Zhengqing sneered: “Miss Lei, your face must not hurt anymore, right? Now you can spout nonsense again, right?!”

The girl in red’s expression changed abruptly. She instantly covered her face: “Damn it!”

Suddenly, her eyes flashed as if she had thought of something. She looked at Xie Chenyun viciously: “Was it you who sneak-attacked me with a chopstick just now? Was it you?”

Xie Chenyun folded his arms and smiled lightly: “So what if it was?”

The girl in red clenched the whip in her hand, about to say something.

At this moment, a cold, low male voice suddenly came through.

“Impostor, dishonest.”