Chapter 45: Gathering In Moon Embracing Garden
Sharp wind assaulted, blowing Hong Yuan’s robes flapping loudly.
His long hair draped casually, letting the fierce wind tousle it.
In his palm he held a green-skinned wine gourd, slowly drinking the last mouthful of wine, then casually tossing the gourd aside, as Hong Yuan’s gaze turned to the distance.
He had now left that Black Iron Town, standing on a high ridge where mountain winds blew fiercely.
Gazing with both eyes, about three or four li away, was precisely the Moon Embracing Garden.
Moon Embracing Garden was located thirty li in the Eastern Suburbs of Linjiang Prefecture, backed by Cuiping Mountain, adjacent to the confluence of Jade Belt River and Dragon Spine River.
Unfortunately, woods surrounded the courtyard, with towering tree canopies shading most of the garden, only faintly revealing flying eaves and brackets, pavilions staggered in appearance.
Only the clamoring human voices carried on the wind into his ears, letting one know that within that vast courtyard, it was surely bustling with excitement at this moment.
Hong Yuan withdrew his gaze, looking to his side.
On a large green stone stood a spear, entirely silver-white, shimmering with a brilliant cold gleam under the reflected glow.
The spearhead was buried straight into the green stone, yet no stone chips scattered around, as if it had pierced through soft soil.
Hong Yuan reached out, his five fingers touching the spear shaft, immediately feeling a delicate sandblasted texture.
Upon close inspection, one could see the spear shaft covered in layer upon layer of undulating cloud-like patterns.
Hong Yuan suddenly pulled it out sharply, force passing through, and with the sound of stone cracking, like tearing a piece of cloth, a long gash tore open on the surface of this large green stone.
Spear in hand!
The weight exceeding fifty jin felt weightless in Hong Yuan’s hand, casually twirled to bloom clusters of spear flowers.
Compared to the silver-white spear body, the spear tip was a deep, blood-like dark hue.
Perhaps because of that unworthy son’s matter.
Although Hong Yuan had said the matter was settled.
But Xu Jingren and Ou Zhenyun feared his anger had not subsided, merely temporarily suppressed, so they worked sleeplessly, having the workshop master craftsmen work overtime, and this Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear was forged several days earlier than expected.
It took nine days in total to complete.
Time was indeed advanced, yet the spear body had no rough feel whatsoever, every inch showing traces of meticulous polishing.
Hong Yuan’s fingers stroked the spear body; this spear was divided into two parts, detachable into short staff and short spear!
The middle joint was a threaded interface with elastic latch.
Hong Yuan’s fingertip brushed over, feeling a slight protrusion in the middle section, then gently pressing it, with a crisp ‘ding’ sound, the latch instantly recessed into the spear shaft.
Hong Yuan’s hand gripping the spear body moved, a vibrating force surging. The lower part of the spear shaft stayed still, the upper part rapidly rotated, suddenly separating, and as it was about to shoot out, it was caught in Hong Yuan’s other palm.
Hong Yuan’s comprehension and development of Spiral Force was only in its embryonic form, somewhat inadequate for combat, but perfectly suited for disassembling and assembling the spear, with unbelievably fast speed.
Of course, doing it this way would wear it down quickly; this treasure weapon forged from cloud pattern iron would likely be ruined sooner or later.
But Hong Yuan didn’t care much; using the spear now was just a transitional phase!
Wrapping the short staff and short spear in a piece of cloth, Hong Yuan held it in one hand, leaped up, and jumped down the mountain ridge against the howling cold wind.
On the steep mountain wall, his figure was like an agile ape, leaping and landing as if walking on flat ground, reaching the foot of the mountain in a breath.
Amid rumbling shocks, massive waves surged, and the Jade Belt River, dozens of zhang wide, blocked the path.
Whether upstream or downstream, there were narrower river sections, but Hong Yuan did not stop, dashing like the wind, his figure leaping onto a sturdy tree by the shore.
Bang!
A thick tree trunk, under Hong Yuan’s palm force strike, suddenly broke off, then propelled by his palm force, ‘whoosh’ shot to the river’s center.
Hong Yuan’s foot paused, a surging great force propelling him to shoot out, leaping from the thick branch three or four zhang high.
In an instant, landing on the tree trunk in the river.
The tree trunk sank sharply, river water surging around, as Hong Yuan bent again, leaped up, and landed on the shore.
His figure flickered, heading straight toward Moon Embracing Garden.
In nine days, Hong Yuan truly hadn’t idled at all; besides doing one major thing after another in Linjiang Prefecture City, he had also come to observe Moon Embracing Garden twice.
But those two times, he hadn’t entered it.
Originally, Hong Yuan’s initial idea was to scout Wei Zhenzhu’s movements; no need to personally enter Moon Embracing Garden, he could ambush and kill her halfway when the so-called Hero’s Arena ended and she left.
But circumstances change.
At that time, he had just killed in Huang Mansion, unclear about his own positioning.
Now, after clashing with numerous martial artists, absorbing the essence of many martial artists’ martial arts, his skills, physique, and spirit had leaped far beyond one level?
Linjiang Prefecture had been killed by him into a field of corpses; now it was just killing one Wei Zhenzhu, did he, Hong Yuan, need to avoid her edge?
Then wouldn’t his half-month of cultivation be in vain?
The next actions were simple.
Enter Moon Embracing Garden, confirm Wei Zhenzhu’s location.
If not there, continue probing for news.
If there, kill her!
Whoever dared block him from killing would be killed together.
The Hero’s Arena in Moon Embracing Garden was initiated by over a dozen prestigious noble clans in Linjiang Prefecture; every year it opened, attracting numerous gentry from great families and wealthy powerful families to participate, with martial artists gathered and masters like clouds—what of it?
Wasn’t Wei Zhenzhu from a noble clan?
Not to mention her husband holding the position of Salt and Iron Commissioner, Wei Zhenzhu was also from Wei Family.
And Wei Family was one of the top noble families in the prefecture city!
Although it was said Wei Zhenzhu was Wei Family’s shame, and Wei Family people even forbade her from stepping into the prefecture city, for great families, they could scold their own, but if an outsider killed ‘one of their own’, wasn’t that slapping their face?
Hong Yuan didn’t care about Wei Family, let alone the rest.
In no time, Hong Yuan’s figure slithered like a snake through the woods, and Moon Embracing Garden’s vast courtyard area appeared before him.
At the same time.
In Moon Embracing Garden, it was hot and bustling, noise boiling over.
Moon Embracing Garden was divided into outer and inner areas; surrounding the outermost numerous pavilions and towers was a vast training ground, within which seven arena stages were set up, still appearing spacious.
Around these seven arena stages, wooden viewing sheds were built one after another, each viewing shed decorated quite exquisitely; at a glance, there were probably over a hundred.
Every viewing shed already had people, all prominent figures from the Twelve Counties of Linjiang Prefecture, either gentry from great families, local tyrants, or gang bosses, all sorts gathered, plus the guards and attendants they brought, probably over a thousand people.
Viewing sheds naturally had tea and dim sum, and young maidservants arranged by Moon Embracing Garden served diligently; if these prominent figures took a fancy, they could even toy with them casually, indulging in debauchery in broad daylight.
But at this moment, who among these people had such thoughts; all gazed hotly at the several arena stages in the training ground, shouting loudly from their mouths.
On the training ground, each arena stage had martial artists facing off.
Some still probing each other, some already exchanging fists and kicks, hands engaged, and some arenas transmitting intense clashes of metal.
Suddenly, a shrill scream rang out on one arena stage.
A martial artist had an arm torn off; his opponent was a square-faced, bearded burly man with slightly graying temples, panting heavily, double palms like hooks grasping the severed arm, followed by a sweeping leg that knocked the enemy off the arena stage.
Cheers and curses erupted from all around simultaneously.
“Good!”
“Good kung fu, worthy of reward!”
“Haha, this round this old man has at least three thousand taels in profit!”
“Dog thing, total waste, still dares claim ‘Open Mountain Hand’, can’t even beat an old man, bullshit Open Mountain Hand, better rename it Wet Nurse Hand!”
“Can’t rename, he doesn’t even have a hand anymore!”
“This dog thing cost me eight hundred taels loss!”
“Heh, merely eight hundred taels and you dare clamor? Do you even qualify to sit at the same table as this old man? This old man lost a shop in the county center!”
“What’s this old man’s name?”
“Seems to be called Yang Erhu, a martial arts school master who runs a martial arts school; he seems to have won three matches already, doesn’t that mean he can enter the inner arena to compete!”
“More than that, already won four! Inner arena ah, who knows when I, Li someone, can enter to see.”
“Heh! Inner arena is for true big shots only; the scale of their bets you can’t imagine, with your wealth, you have no qualification to join the gambling.”
In the viewing sheds, tycoons in either splendid brocade attire displayed outwardly or low-key luxury all seemed to cast off their usual facades, either laughing maniacally or cursing vehemently, spittle flying!
Yang Erhu’s chest heaved as he leaped down from the arena stage, silently looking at the opponent whose arm he tore off, blood flowing profusely, passed out in pain.
This Open Mountain Hand martial arts was comparable to his, yet over a dozen years younger; he struck without any mercy, a slight carelessness and the one lying on the ground would have been him.
He couldn’t help sighing.
Until a smiling skinny old man sidled up, cupping hands: “Congratulations, congratulations, Yang Guanzhu truly grows stronger with age, an eye-opener for this little old man.”
Yang Erhu turned his gaze to the skinny old man, face extremely cold and hard: “Old Man Jia, where’s the person I want to see?”
“Yang Guanzhu need not worry, that Qin Fuzi is being well cared for by us.” Old Man Jia still wore a smiling face.
Yang Erhu just wanted to smash a fist into the other’s face, smashing that old face to pieces.
This Old Man Jia was naturally a subordinate of Dragon King Society.
That day, shortly after Hong Yuan left the martial arts school, Old Man Jia came again, having captured Qin Fuzi to coerce Yang Erhu into fighting arena for Dragon King Society.
Yang Erhu, minding Qin Fuzi, had no choice but to comply.
But Yang Erhu was no pedant; he verbally agreed but harbored thoughts of secretly rescuing.
However, Dragon King Society had funded Yang Erhu’s assault on Biwu Immortal Realm, naturally guarding deeply against him, with constant surveillance, deepening his anger, plus successive life-and-death battles wearing down his mind and energy, turning much of his originally black hair white.
“You promised, as long as I win four matches, let me see Qin Fuzi?” Yang Erhu said deeply.
“Heh! Merely outer arena fights, how can they show Yang Guanzhu’s prowess? Young Master Hua has spoken, Yang Guanzhu should enter the inner arena; win just one match this time, not only will you see Qin Fuzi, you can take him away!”
Old Man Jia smiled.
Hearing this, Yang Erhu showed no joy, instead his heart sank, silent for a moment, then coldly: “Let me see the person first!”
Old Man Jia shook his head, his wrinkled old face very firm: “Yang Guanzhu doesn’t trust me, surely trusts Young Master Hua’s words? What kind of person is Young Master Hua, would he deceive a jianghu grassroot like you?”
Then, he sneered: “Of course, if Yang Guanzhu is dissatisfied, kill this little old man to vent also fine; anyway this past half month, this little old man has enjoyed enough, worth it!”
Yang Erhu ignored Old Man Jia no further, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, was much calmer, saying deeply: “Hope Young Master Hua keeps his promise.”
……
“This young master will of course keep his promise; whether Yang Erhu wins or loses, he will be sent away with that friend of his.”
Compared to the outer area’s clamor and noise, the inner arena was undoubtedly more exquisite and elegant; four pavilions stood tall, each two stories, encircling a huge arena stage.
Around the arena stage, lights blazed; two people were fiercely fighting amid candlelight, wind whistling, robes flapping, clearly surpassing the outer arena in aura, speed, and strength.
In the four pavilions, each floor had several private rooms, totaling four or five dozen private rooms, not yet full; only about twenty private rooms had figures moving, curtains lifted, as numerous big shots sipped fine wine, leisurely watching this life-and-death battle.
A fair-skinned, handsome young master stood in a private room, looking at the ‘colossal behemoth’ seated at the head, eye corner twitching, feeling this spacious private room extremely cramped.
The smile on his face was also very forced.
“In that case, Madam Wei should be appeased, right?”
Seated at the head was shockingly a huge meatball; this meatball kept stuffing alcohol and dishes into its mouth, grease and soup splashing, accentuating her ferocious face like a demon.
It was precisely Wei Zhenzhu!
And beside Wei Zhenzhu, two people attended her.
One man dressed in gaudy splendor, tall and sturdy, continuously kneading and soothing Wei Zhenzhu, extremely obedient—it was none other than Wang Ai.
The other was a woman with face veiled in heavy veil, silent, standing aside, petite in stature, only revealing a pair of quite cold eyes.
The young master looked at this veiled woman like a maidservant, and grinned again.
Originally seeing this woman intimate with Wei Zhenzhu, he thought to exert charm to seduce her, to plant a nail beside Wei Zhenzhu; who knew when she removed her veil, revealing a face that scared him nearly to cry out.
“Appeased? Not that easy! You harmed me so badly? Think you can brush it off like this!” Wei Zhenzhu finally stopped eating, throat growling ‘heh heh’, unclear if laughing or gasping; on her face pierced with holes, wounds not yet healed, food residue oozed out as she spoke.
The young master felt a nauseous urge.
Wei Zhenzhu’s man, that Salt and Iron Commissioner Zhou Wenjie, came directly from the state government, specially investigating Linjiang Prefecture’s salt, iron, and tea taxes.
Although in the land of Mingzhou, forces were complex, great noble families and powerful ones mutually checking, tax collection was a unified target for the true big shots in the state government.
The young master’s Hua Family operated in salt, iron, and tea as great families; not daring open confrontation, they allied with over a dozen other families to form Dragon King Society against Zhou Wenjie.
Later learning Yang Erhu, Wu Duxiong and others were probing Qin Ziyue’s news, Dragon King Society went with the flow, deciding to make a casual move, finding some trouble for Wei Zhenzhu’s side too.
Originally if undetected it was fine, but somehow a flaw was exposed, letting Wei Zhenzhu learn of Yang Erhu, Wu Duxiong and others’ actions backed by their Dragon King Society.
Young Master Hua thought it over and forced Yang Erhu to fight this Hero’s Arena, even arranging his end—dying miserably before Wei Zhenzhu to vent her anger.
“Then what more does Madam Wei want?” Young Master Hua’s face stiffened; before this Wei Zhenzhu, he really couldn’t maintain the poise of a great family scion, unable to smile.
Greedy light flickered in Wei Zhenzhu’s blood-red pupils, licking her lips, staring at Young Master Hua, “This Moon Embracing Garden Hero’s Arena, I, Wei Zhenzhu, also want a share.”
Young Master Hua’s expression cooled, too lazy to smile, faintly: “Madam Wei, you’re thinking too much; if not awake yet, you can continue sleeping.”
Among the over a dozen noble clans initially behind this Hero’s Arena, Hua Family was also one; at the time, the one managing it was Young Master Hua’s father.
Over a dozen years, some of those initial noble clans had been replaced, but Hua Family remained steady as Mount Tai, showing their formidable power.
“You want to tear face with me?” Wei Zhenzhu said sharply.
“Heh! Madam Wei, I, Hua Feiyun, am giving face to Wei Family by apologizing, not fearing you! I’ve said all, taking leave first!”
Hua Feiyun turned to leave, just in time to see Old Man Jia hurrying over, reporting: “Young master, Guo Commander has arrived!”
Hua Feiyun’s spirit lifted: “Guo Commander? Let’s go welcome him!”
Linjiang Prefecture’s three prefectural troops: White Scale Guard, Iron Wall Guard, Golden Soup Camp! Each led by three: commander and left and right commanders!
And this Guo Commander was Golden Soup Camp’s Left Commander, named Guo Zhen.
Able to sit in this position, naturally because Guo Family was one of the true great clans in Linjiang City.
Outside Moon Embracing Garden, Hong Yuan casually tossed a gentry-dressed old man into the dense woods, took his name card, and strode toward the entrance.
In fact, though Moon Embracing Garden’s defenses were tight, entering wasn’t hard because too many people came.
Even without a name card, sufficient assets on hand could get one in.
Tossing the name card to the guards at the door, they just glanced once, didn’t carefully verify identity or appearance match, even ignored the cloth obviously wrapping a weapon in his hand, and respectfully welcomed Hong Yuan inside.
Hong Yuan had just taken a few steps when suddenly his figure paused; amid ground-shaking vibrations, hoofbeats rapidly approached.
He turned back to look, seeing under escort of over a hundred armored soldiers, a middling-looking, fair-skinned middle-aged man with very long mustache riding over.
The man’s gaze was arrogant; outside Moon Embracing Garden there were still many entering carriages and horses, but this group of over a hundred armored soldiers didn’t stop at all, even the lead four riders charging out, waving horse whips to drive them away.
Hong Yuan heard ‘Guo Commander’ calls from many in splendid attire, couldn’t help frowning slightly, glanced at the middle-aged man on horseback, then turned toward the garden interior.
Whoosh!
A figure hurried by, brushing past him—a fair-skinned, handsome young man.
“Hm?!”
