Outside Chong Ming town.
It was noon, the streets at the entrance of town were jam-packed with pedestrians.
Two young women stood under a willow tree, their faces draped with white veil, revealing only their bright eyes. Their hands were in front of their forehead, as they looked in front of them, as if anticipating someone. Their green gowns and white veils swayed lightly as a gentle breeze blew past.
After a while, they finally saw what they were waiting for, an old horse-drawn carriage, with two riders following closely on each side of the carriage. The ladies hurriedly went forth to welcome them.
Although it had been years since they both see each other, Ping could recognize Liu Bi at first sight.
“Sis——!” Ping excitedly jumped down the horse, and he dashed towards her with his levitation ability.
Liu scrutinized him from head to toe. Seeing how he was full of energy and in good health, she breathed a long sigh of relief. She patted on her chest and said gladly, “You scared me, you know!”
“Hehe, I almost died this time, but luckily brother Jiang was there to save me!” Ping narrowed his eyes and said, “Sis, brother Jiang is so good at martial arts, plus he’s a handsome fellow, could he be my future brother-in-law?”
“Nonsense!” Liu stared at him anxiously. “He has a wife, and he was only sent there to help me. We’ve only met once, so please don’t say that!”
“Oh, I see…” Ping sighed in disappointment.
The carriage slowed to a halt in front of them, Liu quickly went up and called out, “Dad, mom.”
The elderly couple sitting in the carriage responded faintly, “Come in!”
With the support of one hand, Liu gracefully hopped onto the carriage. She signaled the carriage to keep going, and she showed the driver the way forward.
Jiang Kuai was walking in front of the carriage. He flashed the guards his waist tag, and seamlessly obtained entry into town.
Ping led his horse as he stared in amazement at the surroundings, taking in as much as he could. Every nook and cranny of the town seemed exciting to him.
The horse carriage finally slowed down at an alley, stopping in front of a tall building.
“Dad, mom. We’re here.” Liu opened the drape and got down from the carriage.
Ping’s eyes stared widely at the grandiose main door of the building. There were several rows of shiny copper nails on the maroon-painted door. “Sister, so this is where you live?”
“Yes.” Liu helped Old Sun get off the carriage and said, “Let’s go in.”
Jiang Kuai smiled, “Miss Liu, my work here is done then. I shall leave now. Goodbye.”
“Brother Jiang, why don’t you come inside and have some tea before leaving?” Liu said.
Jiang Kuai gave her a fist salute, smiling, “Not today, maybe next time.”
He then gave another fist salute towards the elderly couple.
Ping immediately asked, “Brother Jiang, where can I find you in the future?”
“Just find me at the public house.” Jiang Kuai smiled, “We will meet again!”
Once he finished speaking, he vanished into a puff of smoke before their very eyes.
“Brother Jiang’s martial arts is awesome!” Ping stood there, praising.
Liu smiled, then helped the old woman get off the carriage too.
“Master Jiang is a polite young man.” Mother Sun said, smiling broadly. “Girl, don’t tell me that you never adored him?”
“Mom, like I told my little brother just now, he’s already married to someone. He was only summoned by a friend of mine to help us out. And I’ve only met him face-to-face once, so we weren’t close.” Liu answered her mother with a serious tone. “You really shouldn’t worry about that.”
“Hmph!” Old Sun stared at her half-heartedly. “Who else can control what you want to do?”
Ping then recovered his senses and asked, “Sis, brother Jiang is from the Yi public house?”
“Yes.” Liu supported Mother Sun into the building.
The large door swung open, and four servant girls came to them to give their salutes.
Old Sun took a big step through the door, but then found it difficult to continue walking.
It was the first time he had seen such a big mansion. The bamboo dividers were huge, painted with colorful flowers and lush green trees, mountains and clear streams. The stylish decorations were never-before-seen, and it was an eye-opener for him.
The original intention of scolding his daughter strangely vanished after seeing all that. He hid away his usual bullish character.
Everyone made their way into a small kiosk on one of the man-made fake mountains, to admire the scenery around them.
“This house is so lavishly decorated!” Ping grinned delightedly. “Sis, how many taels did it cost you?”
“A thousand and two hundred.” Liu replied.
At that instant, Ping stuck out his tongue and exclaimed, “Wow!”
Liu gave him a smile and said, “What are your plans for the future, brother?”
Ping said, “I want to try my luck at the Wu Wei Security Company!”
His martial arts skills were decent, plus he had prior experience working as a bodyguard, so he would have a good life if he could manage to secure a job at the security company.
“No way I’m letting you!” Old Sun stared at him. “This time, if it wasn’t for Master Jiang, you would’ve perished already. Why go to the security company and risk your life all over again? It’s not worth it!”
“Little brother was really badly hurt this time?”
“Sigh, even the doctor had given up hope. But fortunately, Master Jiang came to the rescue. He gave him a pill and almost immediately, he was up and about again!” Mother Sun shook her head as she sighed. “But it really scared the living daylights out of me and your dad. You really have to thank Master Jiang properly!”
“Well, he’s a martial artist after all!” Liu furrowed her eyebrows as he looked at Ping. “Little brother, I have to remind you that it is prohibited to use martial arts when in town. It is a strict rule of the public house, so please don’t cause any trouble!”
“Is it really necessary for the public house to make this rule?” Ping complained. “You really can’t use martial arts in Chong Ming town?”
“There are public house Protectors on duty everywhere. If you do use martial arts, you will be banished out of town.” Liu said, “Don’t keep a happy-go-lucky attitude. If you really get chased out of town, you would never get to come back in again!”
“Wow, that’s strict!” Ping pursed his lips, then laughed. “Sis, brother Jiang is from the public house, so how did you get to know him?”
“The chief of the public house’s maid, Xue Ling Xue was learning martial arts from me. This time, you only survived because of her.”
“Sis, that’s a huge favor that you owe her!” Ping smiled, “The medicine that I consumed was the Spirit Blessing Pill, a unique spirit medicine from the public house itself. It’s like trading a pill for a life.”
Liu nodded gently, “Chief Chu is at a high position of power and holds great influence. If not, I’ll plead to Xue Ling, so that you could get into the public house.”
“Really?” Ping’s eyes stared widely. “I can get into the public house?”
Almost everyone in Chong Ming town knew about the Yi public house. Countless people harbored the ambition to get into the public house, but it was an insurmountable task.
The people in the martial arts world may appear to despise the public house a lot, calling them dogs of the imperial court, but in truth, if there was an opportunity to get into the public house, they would surely put everything in line to oust their fellow competitors.
Liu furrowed her brows and said, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. We won’t know for sure yet if you would succeed.”
“Sis, my fate is in your hands!” Ping grabbed Liu’s hands and said passionately. “If I really get into the public house, our family would not have to worry about our daily expenses anymore. You, mom and dad could stay at home and enjoy life. Plus, I heard from brother Jiang that once you get into the public house, you would never need to worry about taels anymore!”
Liu began to regret bringing up this topic. She did not expect that her brother would be so eager to get into the public house. If he failed, she would be the one to blame.
Old Sun looked at Liu doubtfully, “Girl, can you really bring little Ping into the public house?”
“Dad, let me try.” Liu said.
Old Sun scoffed, “You’re just a pub girl, do you really have such authority?”
Liu rolled her eyes at Old Sun, speechless.
Mother Sun quickly steered away the topic. It was rare that their whole family could reunite, so she was not ready to watch things fall apart so quickly.
On evening the next day, when Liu returned to the house, following right beside her was the graceful Xue Ling, donned in an elegant white gown.
At that time, the backyard was splashed in a red tint by the setting sun.
Xue Ling sat in the kiosk, her gown the purest of whites. Her face looked flawless, her expressions frosty. She scrutinized Ping from head to toe.
Ping looked uneasy under such scrutiny.
Liu smiled and said, “Xue Ling, can he make the cut?”
“His cultivation is too shallow!” Xue Ling frowned. “I thought you said his martial arts was decent?”
“Should be decent enough, no?” Liu asked.
Xue Ling shook her head, “Another bluff! He’s not even close!”
At that instant, Ping was dejected.
He stood in front of Xue Ling, and he felt like thousands of chilly needles were piercing his skin. The intensity of her inner strength was indeed beyond of his expectations. If she was to throw him a strike, he knew that he would not be able to block a single hit. It was really embarrassing for him, especially when she was about the same age as him, and she was a female too!
Liu stared at Xue Ling.
Xue Ling’s expressions did not change. She still looked very unimpressed as she scoffed, “With that meagre ability of yours, you still wish to get into the public house?”
Ping replied defensively, “Why, can’t I?”
“If someone like you gets in, it would be an embarrassment for me!” Xue Ling said, frowning.
Ping looked more and more helpless, as he glanced back at his sister desperately, seemingly pleading for help.
Liu asked, “What about working as a hired labor?”
Xue Ling shook her head, “By the way I see it, he had never endured any hardships. He would not know how to adapt to situations, so he would be a burden no matter what he works as.”
Ping was completely dispirited. He knew that there was no hope left for him.