Chapter 8: Aristocracy Gathering
Gan Ning turned his head, and a pleasing green silk skirt appeared in his eyes.
It was the green-skirted girl he had seen at the dock yesterday; it turned out she was the one doing the divination.
“How did you know I come from the southwest?” Gan Ning smiled faintly.
The green-skirted girl said somewhat embarrassedly, “I started learning physiognomy from my master this year. Young Master’s features are extraordinary, with a lion’s nose and phoenix eyes, and a physique like a tiger, so I used divination to verify my physiognomy inference.”
Gan Ning chuckled in amusement; this young lady was somewhat interesting. He smiled and asked, “Who is your master?”
“It’s Celestial Master Yu Ji!”
Ah! Surprisingly, she was the disciple of the demon Taoist Yu Ji; Yu Ji should be executed by Sun Ce next year.
“I know your master; he is from Langya Commandery. Could it be that you are also from Langya Commandery?”
“No, I am from Donghai Commandery, right next to Langya Commandery.”
Gan Ning had a thought and said, “Your family name is Xu, right?”
“How did Young Master guess that?”
“What’s so hard to guess? To enter Grand Commandant Yang’s Manor, in Donghai Commandery besides the Xu Family, who else has the qualifications?”
The green-skirted girl smiled slyly. “In fact, I am from Fuchun County in Wu Commandery, but Young Master is half right; my grandfather did migrate from Donghai Commandery.”
“I saw you four at the dock yesterday; you all came from Jiangdong?”
“Sort of! But Young Master hasn’t told me yet if my divination was correct.”
Gan Ning smiled and nodded. “I am Gan Ning from Ba Commandery!”
The green-skirted girl immediately beamed with joy, clapping her hands happily. “I knew I calculated it right!”
At that moment, a young lady in a red warrior outfit ran over like a gust of wind.
“A Luo, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
It was the bow-carrying young lady he had seen yesterday, but today she wasn’t carrying a bow and instead wore a treasure sword.
The green-skirted girl said joyfully, “Shang Xiang, my divination yesterday was right; this young master really is from Ba Commandery.”
The young lady looked at Gan Ning warily and cupped her fists like a man. “I am Sun Ren from Wu Commandery. May I ask for your esteemed name?”
Gan Ning’s eyes lit up; so this young lady was Sun Shangxiang. He couldn’t help but size her up and down. She had willow-leaf eyebrows and almond eyes, a face like a peach blossom; truly a budding little beauty, but unfortunately, there was a hint of killing intent between her brows.
Seeing Gan Ning not answer her, Sun Shangxiang said somewhat displeased, “Do you look down on me?”
Gan Ning smiled faintly. “Gan Ning from Ba Commandery; my lowly name is not worth mentioning!”
‘Gan Ning?’ Such a familiar name. Sun Shangxiang thought for a moment, then her expression suddenly changed as she stared at Gan Ning. “You’re that Brocade Sail… who splashed water on Jingzhou’s Assistant Administrator Liu…”
Gan Ning smiled faintly. “I didn’t expect Gan Ning’s reputation to have spread far and wide.”
Sun Shangxiang’s face darkened, and she pulled Young Lady Xu away. “Let’s go!”
“Shang Xiang, that’s very rude to him!”
“What rude? Do you know who he is? The infamous Brocade Sail Bandit on the Yangtze River, who robbed three hundred stronghold madams. In his eyes, you’re just a little fat sheep. Hurry and come with me!”
Gan Ning was six feet two tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, his physique extremely robust, just like a fierce tiger. Meanwhile, the green-skirted young lady was slender and delicate, her pretty little face soft and tender; in front of Gan Ning, she truly was like a little sheep.
The young lady was dragged away forcefully by Sun Shangxiang, but she looked back at Gan Ning once more.
Gan Ning made a funny face at her, pretending to be fiercely abducting someone, but in the end, he couldn’t help laughing.
The young lady also pretended to be very scared, but the instant she turned her head back, she covered her mouth and giggled ‘puchi!’
At this moment, Gan Ning suddenly realized who this divination-loving young lady was.
Madam Xu, who designed the killings of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan.
She looked only eleven or twelve; when Sun Yi died, she was probably not yet twenty, becoming a young widow at such a tender age.
Gan Ning watched Young Lady Xu’s figure disappear. At that moment, a vicious voice came from behind him. “You… how are you here?”
Gan Ning turned around; behind him was a gaunt old man—no other than his old acquaintance Liu Xian.
“Hehe! We meet again somewhere in life, Assistant Administrator Liu!”
Liu Xian had previously been humiliated by Gan Ning splashing water on him, and then Han Song, with whom he had a grudge, had spread it everywhere, making him a laughingstock wherever he went, mocked as ‘Water Buffalo.’ He truly hated Gan Ning to the bone.
He never expected to encounter Gan Ning again in Xuchang. At this moment, seeing his enemy, his eyes burned with rage; Liu Xian stared at Gan Ning, his eyes nearly spitting fire.
“You… you river bandit, I wish I could eat your flesh and sleep on your skin!”
Gan Ning drew his sword and handed it to him, saying coldly, “You can kill me with one sword and wash away your previous shame. How about it?”
Liu Xian stamped his foot in hatred. “Do you think I don’t dare to kill you?”
At that moment, a middle-aged scholar arrived nearby, smiling as he watched them. Liu Xian lost face and stormed off angrily.
Gan Ning sheathed his sword and said apologetically to the middle-aged scholar nearby, “I apologize for letting you see that spectacle!”
The middle-aged scholar stroked his beard. “Young Master Cao sent me to check on you and chat with you, but unexpectedly I saw a good show.”
“May I ask how to address you, sir?”
The middle-aged scholar smiled with narrowed eyes. “I am Jia Xu; has Young Master heard of me?”
It was Jia Xu; how could he not have heard? His name was like thunder piercing the ear!
Gan Ning quickly cupped his fists. “I have long heard of the renowned… that is, Mr. Jia’s great name; this junior admires you greatly!”
Jia Xu smiled faintly. “You can call me Poison Scholar; it’s no problem. You’re a Brocade Sail Bandit, I’m a Poison Scholar; we’re much the same!”
“This junior is ashamed!”
Jia Xu nodded. “I heard Young Master Cao say you want to develop in Chaisang; good eyesight. Young Master Cao asked me to persuade you to stay, but I want to see your abilities.”
“What advice does Mr. Jia have?”
Jia Xu said indifferently, “No advice, just a suggestion: don’t think about getting big right now. First, it’s about how to survive in Chaisang. You must have three lairs like a cunning rabbit!”
Gan Ning nodded slightly. “The second lair is Pengli Lake, the third is Xunyang County?”
Jia Xu’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he gave a thumbs up. “Your son can be taught!”
At that moment, a ferocious shout came from afar. “Assistant Administrator Liu, where is he?”
Jia Xu’s expression changed, and he said to Gan Ning, “Someone’s come looking for trouble with you!”
Gan Ning looked back and saw a general with a face full of ferocity striding angrily toward them with a sword, Liu Xian following behind.
“It’s Cai Mao’s brother Cai Yan, a famous Jingxiang general. Be careful!” Jia Xu slipped away.
In moments, the ferocious-faced great general rushed up to Gan Ning and pointed his sword at him. “Get out!”
Gan Ning said coldly, “Such a big tone. This is Grand Commandant Yang’s Manor; since when is it your turn, you dog, to bark wildly?”
At that moment, people gathered around. Cai Yan also felt it improper, sheathed his sword, and gnashed his teeth. “You river bandit, daring to insult Jingzhou’s Assistant Administrator and bully Jingzhou as if no one is here. I only regret not being in Xiangyang at the time; otherwise, I would have made sure your scoundrel head rolled!”
Gan Ning narrowed his eyes. “Don’t talk so arrogantly. There’s plenty of open space outside! Let’s go outside and try it; we’ll see whose head rolls?”
“You—”
Killing intent surged in Cai Yan’s heart. He nodded slowly. “Since you want to die, I’ll oblige you!”
“General Cai, who do you want to oblige?”
An elderly voice sounded, and the crowd parted to make way. An old man with a cane walked over; it was the master of the house, Yang Biao.
Cai Yan jumped in fright and quickly bowed. “This subordinate general dares not cause trouble in the Grand Commandant’s Manor. I just encountered a sworn enemy and wanted to invite him outside the city for a duel to the death!”
Yang Biao glanced at Gan Ning and said indifferently, “Since you met in my residence, settle it in my residence. Return kindness for kindness, revenge for revenge. I’ll provide the venue. General Cai, what do you think?”
Gan Ning suddenly felt there was something subtle here; it seemed Yang Biao was not fond of the Cai Family. If Cai Yan killed him, there was nothing to boast about, but if Cai Yan were killed by him, the Cai Family would lose great face.
Liu Xian immediately caught on and hurried forward to apologize. “Today is the Grand Commandant’s day to host guests; how can such a matter ruin the mood? General Cai is upright in character and a bit impulsive. Please forgive him, Grand Commandant!”
Yang Biao smiled with narrowed eyes. “I’m not saying it has to be to the death; a contest of skill would do too! This is for entertainment. Why refuse, Assistant Administrator Liu? General Cai, I have high hopes for you!”
At that moment, Jia Xu whispered to Gan Ning from behind, like a mosquito’s buzz, “Back then, Yang Biao and Zhang Wen were on bad terms. You can agree!”
Gan Ning immediately understood; Zhang Wen was the Cai Family’s son-in-law and also this Cai Yan’s uncle by marriage. No wonder Yang Biao was holding onto Cai Yan.
Gan Ning quickly cupped his fists. “To provide entertainment for Grand Commandant Yang is this figurine’s honor. Please set the challenge, Grand Commandant!”
