In truth, their machinations were behind Bian Weikang's current predicament. Those decadent friends who led Bian Weikang astray were all arranged by them.
They originally intended to gradually pull the Wukang Mountain sect master down through Bian Weikang, and then control Wukang Mountain.
Who knew Bian Jixiong would act so decisively, directly expelling his son from the sect and severing their father-son relationship? This left them with nothing but wasted effort.
However, they firmly believed that the father-son relationship wouldn't be so easily severed, especially since Bian Jixiong's wife was still alive, and that was her biological son. So they adapted to the situation, pushing him along another path.
Seeing her so resolute, Feng Chi sighed softly, “I’m just worried that your current status, Holy Maiden, is inconvenient. How could Bian Jixiong tolerate his son marrying a courtesan? It might be very difficult for you after you go there.”
“Who said I was going to marry?” Xiang Lan'er put down her comb, rose, and faced her, saying, “Let’s begin.”
Feng Chi smiled bitterly and apologized, “Holy Maiden, then I will offend you.”
After receiving permission, she swung the whip in her hand, lashing at the other person again and again. She didn't hold back on the force, whipping her until her hair was disheveled and whip marks appeared on her face, only stopping when she was clearly in a sorry state.
Xiang Lan'er turned to look at herself in the mirror, then nodded slightly, saying, “Later, you go down first and scold him. When you call people to drive him away, I’ll rush out and block him.
I’ll threaten to commit suicide with a dagger to show that I must have him and will never humble myself to another.”
Feng Chi put down the whip and said, “Of course, I won’t agree easily.
I’ll continue to persuade you, comparing Bian Weikang to Lü Taizhen, and scolding you for being foolish and so on.”
Xiang Lan'er: “Priceless treasures are easy to find, but a loving man is hard to come by.
If I die, let alone 450,000, you won't get a single grain of gold sand… This should be enough.”
Feng Chi nodded, “Mm, seeing you threaten to die, I’ll have no choice but to accept the 450,000 and let you go.
Shall we go down now?”
Xiang Lan'er, however, sat back in front of the mirror, looking at herself and saying, “Let him despair a bit more; he shouldn’t get it so easily.”
Feng Chi chuckled, “Exactly, he needs to know it’s hard-won so he can cherish it.”
Downstairs, Wu Jinliang gradually lost interest in the lively commotion at the entrance, his ardent gaze fixed on the girls by the railing upstairs.
Just as he was about to slip away and enter Liyun Tower, a familiar cheerful voice suddenly rang out, “I told you, the big guy would definitely run straight here the moment he arrived.
See? Not off by a bit, found him perfectly.”
The voice was indeed very familiar.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang quickly looked around, only to see two men wearing soft hats and dressed as employees standing on a set of stairs, cheerfully waving and calling out to them, “Chief, Jinliang, over here.”
Their eyes lit up, for the two men were none other than their brothers who had left East Nine Plains a month ago.
They looked significantly older than Shi Chun and his group, indeed much older, both in their forties.
The one with the long face was called Old Dong, his eyes darting about slyly.
The one with the wider face was called Big Stone. This was because there was another 'Stone' in East Nine Plains, who was younger, so Big Stone lived up to his name, appearing much steadier.
Shi Chun and the two were excited to meet old friends here and left the crowd.
Outside the crowd, upon meeting, Old Dong and Big Stone actually cupped their hands respectfully to Shi Chun in unison, very neat and synchronized, and together they called out, “Greetings, Chief.”
They had acquired some air of having seen a grand spectacle.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang clicked their tongues and sized them up, noticing that they were well-dressed, clearly quite a bit fatter, and also fairer-skinned, indicating they were living a good life.
However, Shi Chun and the two quickly froze. On the collars of Old Dong’s clothes, there was a silver thread embroidery of the character '博'.
The two were not unfamiliar with this set of clothes; wasn't this the uniform of Far-Gazing Tower?
Wu Jinliang pointed at the character on their collars, asking in surprise, “You two?”
Big Stone smiled, “After we came out, we were lucky enough to meet the proprietress, who recommended us to Far-Gazing Tower. Speaking of which, we still owe it to the Chief’s good fortune…” He suddenly paused here, as Old Dong quietly reached out and tugged at the back of his clothes.
It could no longer be hidden. Wu Jinliang’s eyebrows were already flying up, and the great saber he was leaning on was slowly raised.
He scoffed, “I knew it! How did the proprietress know I was yelling for my mother everywhere? So it was you two beasts who betrayed me!”
Hmph, he swung his saber and slapped it. (meaning he hit them with the flat of the blade)
The two did not seem like they would take it lying down.
They immediately sprang away like springs and ran, being chased all over the place by Wu Jinliang with his raised saber. This scene indeed attracted a lot of attention.
Dare to fight here? There are usually rules in crowded places.
“Jinliang, you can’t fight here, you’ll get caught! Chief, quickly stop him!” Old Dong yelled as he ran.
Fortunately, Wu Jinliang’s saber was indeed heavy, and chasing people was indeed a bit difficult.
Shi Chun still had matters to discuss with the two, so he immediately called out to stop him, “Jinliang, there’s important business.”
At these words, Wu Jinliang finally stopped. He planted his great saber on the ground and pointed at the two, scolding, “You heartless ingrates, compensate me and Chuntian with a set of clothes first.”
Big Stone immediately agreed, “We’ll compensate.”
Old Dong also nodded repeatedly, “Absolutely, and we’ll treat you to a good meal too.”
Shi Chun raised a hand to beckon the two over and asked, “When we arrived, did the Far-Gazing Tower delivery people tell you?”
Old Dong: “Yes, Chasi, the leader, mentioned it casually when he saw us. When we heard it, we immediately asked for leave to come find you.
Chief, I’m very happy to see you finally out.” As he spoke, there was a moist glint in his eyes.
Big Stone’s smile also held a touch of bitterness, and he nodded vigorously, indeed looking very happy.
Excited as they were, when it came to betraying their brothers, they didn’t hesitate.
Shi Chun knew their tendencies well and asked, “Where are the others?”
Both of them shook their heads. Big Stone said, “They all went off to find their own futures, I don’t know where.
You said it yourself, we’re used to fighting and killing. If we gather again after coming out, with safety in numbers, we’d inevitably get into trouble.
Didn’t you tell everyone to find something good to do and live a stable life? So they all dispersed.”
Thinking of the faces and smiles of those guys, the indignant Wu Jinliang also fell silent.
Shi Chun sighed with emotion, but quickly composed himself and asked the two, “There’s an opportunity to get rich, do you want to share in it?”
At the mention of getting rich, everyone, including Wu Jinliang, pricked up their ears. Subconsciously, they reverted to old habits, huddling closer in a circle to hear what the Chief had to say.
“I need 40,000 gold, right now, immediately. Can you get it for me as soon as possible?”
Big Stone said, “We don’t have that much money.
What do you need so much money for?”
Shi Chun: “Don’t ask, just tell me if you have a way to get it. I guarantee I’ll double it and return it to you within three days, or even today.”
The three of them had no doubts about his ability to acquire things, and they believed his promise.
Old Dong said to Big Stone, “Then we can only try borrowing from the Tower.”
Big Stone frowned, “The Tower pays us 300 gold a month. Even adding it up, it’s only a little over 7,000 gold a year.
Can we really get an advance for five or six years’ worth?”
“I have a way we can try.” Old Dong pulled Big Stone along as he walked, telling Shi Chun, “Chief, wait for us here.
We’ll be right back.”
“Alright!” Shi Chun gave him a thumbs up.
Wu Jinliang muttered beside him, “Why do I feel like Old Dong’s eagerness is a bit abnormal?”
Shi Chun: “It is a bit off. Who cares, as long as they can get the money first.
We still need 10,000. Let’s pool our money, you give me 4,000.”
50,000? Wu Jinliang instantly reacted, turned his head to look at the crowd, pointed over there, and widened his eyes, saying, “You’re not going to help him raise that 50,000, are you? For this, you’ll get rich off a ghost. Didn’t you hear them say he was expelled from the sect and can’t repay the money? I’m not giving it.” He clutched his satchel tightly.
Shi Chun ignored him and went to sit on a nearby stone platform to rest.
Wu Jinliang soon realized a problem: if he gave 4,000, there would still be 6,000 short, meaning Chuntian would have to empty his savings. That fellow wasn't someone who was accustomed to taking losses! He immediately approached him to talk, “Didn’t you hear them say Lü Taizhen isn’t to be trifled with? Snatching his woman will cause trouble.”
Shi Chun crossed one leg over the other and asked strangely, “Why would I snatch his woman? Knowing he’s formidable and still snatching, am I sick? He wants the woman, I want the money. He wants to buy her from Liyun Tower for 500,000.
I’ll get her out of Liyun Tower and sell her to him for only 200,000. From whose hands he buys her, isn't that still a purchase?”