As this statement was uttered, Lan Yunshan looked at the newcomer in astonishment. At this moment, the newcomer laughed loudly, saying, "The descendant of Tianlong is indeed formidable!"
Changqing's voice sounded hoarse. Tianhua stared at him and then said, "Since you're here, why wear a mask? Is there something unsightly on your face?"
"It's not that my face is unsightly, it's just not the time for me to face you directly," Changqing replied.
"Oh, and when might that be?" Tianhua asked.
"I think it should be soon," Changqing sighed.
Lan Yunshan looked at the two and then turned to Changqing, saying, "Mr. Chang, are you here tonight to take me back?"
Changqing glanced at him and said, "To take you back, there's no need for this old man to take action."
Upon hearing this, Lan Yunshan couldn't help feeling angry. He looked at Changqing, but Changqing turned his face away and focused on Tianhua, ignoring him. Seeing this, Lan Yunshan grew even more furious, but he could do nothing but sit there with an angry glare.
"Is he here to take me back?" Tianhua asked.
"To take you away would require a considerable amount of time and effort, and besides, things haven't developed to the point of taking you back," Changqing explained.
"Then why come here late at night?" Tianhua asked puzzled.
"At night with nothing to do, I came to see you and have a few drinks with you all!" Changqing said.
"Rare for Mr. Chang to be in such a good mood." Tianhua said, pouring a cup of wine and offering it.
"I also want to taste it. What does the wine that Cheng Kong and Zou Ming drank here taste like?" Changqing lifted his cup, looked at the wine inside, and said.
"The taste is probably something you, Mr. Chang, won't be able to appreciate!" Tianhua said.
"Oh? Why is that?" Changqing asked.
"Different state of mind, naturally different taste in wine!" Tianhua said.
"Then may I ask, what was their state of mind at that time?" Changqing inquired.
"It's something one can only grasp in the moment, not easily conveyed in words!" Tianhua said.
"A good understanding but not easily expressed!" Changqing finished the wine with a big laugh.
"How is the taste?" Tianhua asked.
"The wine is good, but without a good mood, this good wine would be a pity!" Changqing glanced at Lan Yunshan, who was full of anger.
Tianhua looked at Lan Yunshan and said with a smile, "Yunshan, since Mr. Chang came from afar, we should treat him as a guest. Don't you think?"
Lan Yunshan looked at Tianhua, lifted his wine cup, drank it, and then said, "Tianhua, you're right!" He then picked up the wine bottle on the table, filled Changqing's cup, and presented it to him. Changqing silently watched him, and then Lan Yunshan poured himself a full cup, lifted it, and said to Changqing, "Mr. Chang, I toast to you!" After that, he drank it all in one go!
Changqing, seeing this, burst into laughter and said, "Good capacity!" After speaking, he raised his wine cup and finished it in one go!
The three of them exchanged drinks continuously, having over a dozen cups in a row!
The night was silent, with a gentle breeze carrying a hint of coolness. The moon hung quietly in the sky, casting a soft light on the courtyard. By the moonlight, things in the courtyard were vaguely visible, except for the faces of the two.
"Mr. Chang, I feel like we've known each other for a long time!" Tianhua suddenly said.
Lan Yunshan, lifting a bite of food, stopped when he heard Tianhua say this and looked at Tianhua.
Changqing's eyes flickered briefly, but it was only a momentary thing. Apart from himself, no one would notice.
"Oh? Where does this feeling come from?" Changqing asked.
"At this moment, with us toasting and admiring this bright moon, if we weren't old friends, how could it be like this!" Tianhua said with a smile.
"Yes! Yes..." Changqing nodded repeatedly, laughing.
Upon hearing this, Lan Yunshan looked at Tianhua, his eyes full of disdain. Then he quickly put the food into his mouth.
"I really hope we won't have to fight!" Tianhua raised his wine cup and sighed.
Changqing looked at him, about to say something, suddenly jumped up, leaped to the side. Lan Yunshan was startled by this sudden change, turned to look at Tianhua, who was holding the wine cup and smiling at Changqing.
"Good, good! At such a young age, to display such mastery in the art of evasion is truly admirable!" Changqing stood there and couldn't help but sigh.
"But in front of you, it seems like there's still a long way to go!" Tianhua said.
"From what I see today, given time, you will surely surpass me." Changqing said.
"Oh, really?" Tianhua asked.
Before Changqing could say anything, he suddenly leaped again, and when he was seen again, he had jumped off the roof and disappeared.
Tianhua stared at the pitch-black roof, and in the darkness, Changqing's voice came: "Tianlong has raised a good son! Not bad, not bad!"
Tianhua stood there, lost in thought, and after a long while, he said, "Truly an extraordinary person!"
Lan Yunshan looked at him and said, "The number one expert in Mountain City Town is naturally extraordinary!"
"I originally wanted to remove his mask, but I couldn't get close to him. It seems that if I have to fight him in the future, the outcome is still uncertain!" Tianhua said.
Lan Yunshan looked at him and didn't say much. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Tianhua, why did some of your people stay here instead of going into hiding like the rest of your clan?"
"I don't know about that. I've never heard them talk about the past of the village. There are no records or documents about it either," Tianhua said.
"No written records or anything like that?" Lan Yunshan asked.
Tianhua shook his head and said, "No. I can't talk too much about the village. Let's not discuss it."
"Alright," Lan Yunshan said.
"Yunshan, why did you want to kill Mu Xiong?" Tianhua asked.
"Tianhua, you've heard something from Ali, and you've been here for a while. You must understand that people are oppressed here. Every year, they have to pay a large amount of taxes to support the likes of Mu Xiong for their extravagant lifestyle. If they face conscription or similar demands, it makes their families suffer even more. People endure silently, but we have to kill Mu Xiong and the other three city lords to end their rule and establish a world where people can live happily and free from oppression," Lan Yunshan passionately explained.
"Your idea is good. But your strength is still too weak. Today, you ambushed Mu Xiong and sacrificed over a hundred people for it. The cost is too high!" Tianhua sighed.
"Tianhua, I know you value human life. But to gain something, sacrifices must be made. The sacrifices today are for a better life for our future generations. Their bloodshed is not in vain!" Lan Yunshan said.
"Today was supposed to be an ambush, but you failed, and failed thoroughly. If it were a direct confrontation, you might have to sacrifice even more people," Tianhua said loudly.
"The main responsibility for today's failure lies with me. I didn't expect Cheng Kong and the others to be so strong. Tianhua, join us. With you, our goal will be easier to achieve! Don't you also want to see a world where people live happily and free?" Lan Yunshan suggested.
Tianhua looked at him, raised his wine cup, took a sip, and then looked at the moon in the sky, asking casually, "Yunshan, you talk about building a world where people are free and happy. What kind of world do you think is truly happy and free?"
"A world with virtuous governance, where people live in peace and prosperity, free from burdensome taxes, with open doors at night, and where people help and care for each other..." Lan Yunshan said, then he explained to Tianhua how they could achieve these goals, the difficulties they were facing, and a series of other issues.
"Hmm, it sounds good," Tianhua nodded.
"Tianhua, since you also think it's good, consider what I said earlier," Lan Yunshan said.
"Yunshan, we've had enough drinks for today. It's late now; it's time to rest!" Tianhua said.
Lan Yunshan nodded, and Tianhua asked him to go wash and sleep. When Lan Yunshan left, Tianhua sat there thinking about the world of freedom and happiness that Lan Yunshan had just described. He thought of his hometown, which was indeed such a world. People there were not only free but also equal!
Lost in thought, Tianhua got up to tidy up the table, then went to wash. As he entered the room, he saw that Lan Yunshan had already fallen asleep.
Tianhua sat on the bed, looking at Lan Yunshan, recalling the first time he saw him: he and Ling Yan were almost dying, and he was fortunate enough to save them. At that time, he was just acting out of kindness, but little did he know that it would lead to so much trouble. Thinking about these months of life, Tianhua couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Outside the window, it was silent with no sound, only the rustling of the wind.
Tianhua blew out the light, lay down, and the two battles today had exhausted him. Therefore, he quickly fell asleep.
In the morning, Tianhua got up to prepare breakfast. The others gradually woke up, and after they finished eating, Tianhua walked to the front of the house. Just as he opened the door, he saw a carriage parked outside. Tianhua glanced at the carriage, then turned and walked back inside. As he took a few steps, a person got off the carriage and hurriedly caught up with Tianhua, shouting, "Young Master, please wait!"
Hearing the voice, Tianhua turned to look, and the person had come up to him, smiling as he took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Tianhua, then bid farewell.
Tianhua looked at the letter, and on the envelope, there were only four words written: "Young Master, Open Urgently!" Tianhua opened the letter with suspicion and found that it was written by Murong Feiyan. The letter invited Tianhua to meet at "Tianxiang Tower" tonight. Tianhua read it, then placed the letter inside his chest.
As dusk approached, Lan Yunshan came to bid farewell to Tianhua. "Tianhua, I have to leave. The failure of yesterday's mission exposed my hiding place. Staying here longer might be detrimental to you all, so I have to go!"
"Sure, take care of yourself," Tianhua said, not insisting on him staying.
Lan Yunshan immediately informed Boss Han and then left. After walking a few steps, he turned around and looked at Tianhua, saying, "Tianhua, I hope you can seriously consider what I said last night!"
Tianhua looked at him, smiled, and said, "Rest assured! I will!"
Hearing Tianhua's words, Lan Yunshan left with a smile, and Tianhua watched him until he disappeared into the crowd.
"Tianhua, let's go inside!" Boss Han patted Tianhua's shoulder.
"Uncle Han, I have something to do tonight, so I need to go out for a while," Tianhua said.
"Oh, alright. Will you still have dinner at home?" Boss Han asked.
"No, I'll eat outside," Tianhua said.
Hearing this, Boss Han didn't ask more questions and went about his business.
Tianhua worked in the store for a while, feeling that the time was almost right. He informed Boss Han and left the restaurant, heading straight to "Tianxiang Tower."
Arriving at Tianxiang Tower, there was still no one there. The door was tightly closed, and Tianhua sighed helplessly. He approached the door, knocked, and a person opened it. Recognizing Tianhua, the person hastily greeted him with a smile, ushering Tianhua inside, then loudly announced, "Esteemed guest has arrived!"
Soon, Hujinhua came out with a smile, saying, "The distinguished guest is here; I can't welcome you from far away. Please forgive me!"
Tianhua hastily stood up and said, "I've bothered you several times
, and it has even affected the business of your shop. I hope Hujinhuaji can forgive me!"
"Where is the young master talking? If it weren't for the young master, we might have lost our lives! It's only natural for us to show our appreciation." Hujinhua said with a serious expression.
"This is what should be done. There's no need for Hujinhuaji to be so concerned." Tianhua said.
"If that's the case, entertaining the young master with a few rounds of light wine is also a matter of course. The young master doesn't need to worry about it." Hujinhua smiled and said.
Tianhua smiled when he heard this, not knowing what to say. Seeing this, Hujinhua chatted casually with Tianhua for a while, then excused herself to prepare food and wine. Tianhua sat alone, and after a while, Murong Feiyan gracefully came over. Tianhua saw her and immediately shifted his gaze elsewhere. Murong Feiyan walked up and said, "How has the young master been recently?"
"Fine, fine." Tianhua replied casually twice.
"Since we parted last time, why hasn't the young master come here for a visit?" Murong Feiyan sat down and softly asked.
Tianhua looked at the person next to him and said, "I've been busy lately, no time. I hope the young lady understands."
"Young Master, why won't you look at me? Am I not attractive today?" Murong Feiyan said with a hint of displeasure.
"No, you are beautiful!" Tianhua quickly responded.
"Then why won't you look at me?" Murong Feiyan smiled and asked.
"You have an unforgettable beauty. I'm afraid that if I look at you too much, I won't be able to forget it!" Tianhua said.
"If you've already remembered, why try to forget?" Murong Feiyan asked.
"The most bitter thing in life is parting. Remembering is the root of the bitterness of parting," Tianhua said.
"Is there a place for me in Young Master's heart?" Murong Feiyan asked gently.
Tianhua turned his face to look at her and found her looking at him with a charming and affectionate gaze, making it impossible to look away. Suddenly, Tianhua felt his face heating up and quickly averted his gaze.
Seeing him like this, Murong Feiyan laughed.
At this moment, food and wine were served. Murong Feiyan smiled and filled Tianhua's cup, then lifted her own cup and said, "Thanks for your hospitality many times. I toast to you!" Tianhua took the cup, looked at Murong Feiyan, and said, "I appreciate the hospitality. I'll drink to that!" After downing the cup, Murong Feiyan said, "Young Master, stop calling me 'young lady,' just call me Feiyan!"
Tianhua, after a moment of silence, finished his drink and looked at her. Without saying anything, Murong Feiyan refilled his cup. Tianhua looked at the wine in the cup and asked, "Why is there no music today?"
"Last time when I performed on stage, Young Master suddenly left without a word. We thought you were tired of the music and dance here, so we didn't arrange it today," Murong Feiyan explained.
Tianhua thought for a moment and then said to Murong Feiyan, "Leaving suddenly last time had nothing to do with the music and dance. It was because of the guest who invited me that day."
"Who is that person, and what's the matter between Young Master and him that made you so angry?" Murong Feiyan asked curiously.
"Do you know who he is?" Tianhua asked.
"I don't know. Someone came in the morning last time, saying his master wanted to reserve Tianxiang Tower, and the one who came in the evening was him. But unexpectedly, the one who invited him was Young Master. Who is that guest?" Murong Feiyan said.
"Since he doesn't want to reveal his identity, I won't expose it either," Tianhua smiled and said.
Murong Feiyan thought for a moment and then nodded, saying, "Yes, Young Master is right. In that case, please wait, Young Master. I'll arrange the music and dance."
Tianhua hurriedly stopped her, "In that case, don't trouble everyone."
"Without entertainment at the table, it will be boring without Young Master's excitement," Murong Feiyan said.
"How can it be dull when toasting with Feiyan? Young Master is not boring at all!" Tianhua laughed.
"Just as I said, call me Feiyan, no need for 'young lady' after it," Murong Feiyan said.
"It's hard to change the habit. I hope Feiyan understands!" Tianhua smiled.
"Young Master, you did it again this time." Murong Feiyan said with a bit of annoyance.
Tianhua, hearing this, helplessly laughed twice.
Murong Feiyan raised her cup and said, "In that case, let's have a drink!"
Tianhua took it without saying anything and drank it in one gulp. Seeing this, Murong Feiyan smiled and said, "Young Master is truly a straightforward person!"
The two of them toasted and chatted, unconsciously finishing a bottle of wine. Tianhua picked up the wine bottle, felt it was empty, and stood up, saying, "The wine is finished. It seems it's time to go back."
"Young Master, sit for a while longer. Just give the order, and the wine will be here immediately!" Murong Feiyan quickly said.
"No need, it's not early now. I should go back," Tianhua said.
Hearing him say this, Murong Feiyan thought about the previous two times and didn't insist on keeping him. So, she got up to send Tianhua out.
Just as Tianhua had walked a few steps, Murong Feiyan called from behind, "Young Master!" Tianhua heard it, turned around, and she continued, "After meeting several times, I still don't know Young Master's name. Can Young Master leave your name behind?"
"Why bother to remember the name of someone insignificant?" Tianhua said and then walked away.
Murong Feiyan leaned against the door, watching Tianhua. His figure quickly disappeared into the darkness and was no longer visible.
Hu Jinhua, who didn't know when she had stood behind Murong Feiyan, looked at Tianhua's disappearing figure in the night and said, "How was it? How do you feel about today's encounter?"
"Not good. Except for not leaving suddenly, everything else is as cold as ever!" Murong Feiyan sighed.
"He's a strange person!" Hu Jinhua couldn't help but say.
"Yes, he's a strange person. Maybe that's what makes him attractive," Murong Feiyan said softly.
"You're not falling for him, are you? Let me remind you: don't forget your mission. Otherwise, neither of us will have a way out," Hu Jinhua said solemnly.
"Don't worry, I won't. I won't forget my mission!" Murong Feiyan said.
"That's good. Hurry up and tidy up! The master is still waiting for you to report today's events!" Hu Jinhua said.
"Alright, I know. I'll go now," Murong Feiyan said.
After speaking, the two of them went inside.
In the darkness, Tianhua thought of the old man. He thought it was a good opportunity to visit him again today. Thinking of this, Tianhua happily walked towards the old man's house. Tianhua was walking when suddenly he stopped, nervously looking around. He seemed to have sensed something, but now everything seemed calm again.
The surroundings were pitch black, and Tianhua stood there quietly. At this moment, he had closed his eyes, silently feeling the air around him. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and spoke into the darkness, "Mr. Chang, why do you always hide whenever you come out?"
After a while, a person in the darkness clapped his hands and laughed, "Good, good! I didn't expect you to sense it both times! Impressive, impressive!"
"Mr. Chang, you flatter me! I wonder why Mr. Chang is here with me so late at night?" Tianhua inquired.
"I heard you were having a small banquet tonight, and I intended to join for a few drinks. However, by the time I arrived, you had already left, so I followed you here," Changqing explained.
"I was just about to go to another place for a drink. Since Mr. Chang is interested, we can go together!" Tianhua suggested.
"That's not a bad idea, but I've lost the mood for drinking now," Changqing replied.
"If that's the case, why are you still following me instead of going back?" Tianhua asked.
"Because I've found another interest," Changqing smiled.
"What interest is that?" Tianhua inquired.
"This interest might leave you without a drink tonight!" Changqing remarked.
"Oh? Suddenly, I've developed an interest too," Tianhua said.
"Your interest will be heightened very soon!" Changqing assured.
Upon hearing this, Tianhua was about to say something when he suddenly leaped backward. By the time he stood firm, Changqing had appeared where Tianhua was just standing.
"Not bad for such a young age. Your movements are quite agile!" Changqing commented, then vanished. Tianhua stood there, silently listening to the surroundings. He couldn't afford to be careless: Changqing's movements were too swift, and when he didn't strike, it was challenging to detect his location. Tianhua suddenly thought of the Eagle King. Although Changqing's movements were slightly slower than the Eagle King's, he couldn't be taken lightly!
The night remained deep, and despite closing his eyes, Tianhua felt no presence. After a while, Tianhua suddenly spoke, "Mr. Chang, are you standing there silently and not making a move because you're waiting for dawn?"
There was no response in the silent darkness. Tianhua stood for a while, then laughed, "Since Mr. Chang is unwilling to come out, waiting here is not interesting. It's better to go have a few drinks first. If Mr. Chang is interested, you can secretly follow."
Having said that, Tianhua turned and ran forward. As he ran, he suddenly leaped into the darkness. In the dark, two figures flashed back and forth. After a round of exchanges, the two landed on level ground, facing each other!
"Very good, very good," Changqing exclaimed with continuous laughter.
"Mr. Chang thinks it's good, so it must be good! However, I find it quite strange. Why doesn't Mr. Chang dare to show his true face to me now? Could it be that Mr. Chang has something on his face that he doesn't want others to see!" Tianhua also laughed.
"It's not that I don't want to show, it's just not the right time. When the time comes, you'll naturally see it," Changqing explained.
"Last time in the backyard, Mr. Chang left in a hurry without even enjoying a full drink. It's really my fault. I would like to invite Mr. Chang for a few more drinks today. What does Mr. Chang think?" Tianhua proposed.
"Do you have such confidence?" Changqing asked with a smile.
"I believe Mr. Chang won't refuse," Tianhua said.
"I also want to see how strong the son of Tianlong is now! Let's see if you can handle the next move!" Changqing said seriously.
After speaking, the area around Changqing was already filled with floating spears made of earth. All the spears were pointed at Tianhua, and Tianhua stared at them. The spears seemed to have a life of their own, staring directly at him.
Changqing waved his hand, and all the spears flew toward Tianhua. The spears were like rain, heading straight for Tianhua, and Tianhua looked around, finding no way to retreat...
As this statement was uttered, Lan Yunshan looked at the newcomer in astonishment. At this moment, the newcomer laughed loudly, saying, "The descendant of Tianlong is indeed formidable!"
Changqing's voice sounded hoarse. Tianhua stared at him and then said, "Since you're here, why wear a mask? Is there something unsightly on your face?"
"It's not that my face is unsightly, it's just not the time for me to face you directly," Changqing replied.
"Oh, and when might that be?" Tianhua asked.
"I think it should be soon," Changqing sighed.
Lan Yunshan looked at the two and then turned to Changqing, saying, "Mr. Chang, are you here tonight to take me back?"
Changqing glanced at him and said, "To take you back, there's no need for this old man to take action."
Upon hearing this, Lan Yunshan couldn't help feeling angry. He looked at Changqing, but Changqing turned his face away and focused on Tianhua, ignoring him. Seeing this, Lan Yunshan grew even more furious, but he could do nothing but sit there with an angry glare.
"Is he here to take me back?" Tianhua asked.
"To take you away would require a considerable amount of time and effort, and besides, things haven't developed to the point of taking you back," Changqing explained.
"Then why come here late at night?" Tianhua asked puzzled.
"At night with nothing to do, I came to see you and have a few drinks with you all!" Changqing said.
"Rare for Mr. Chang to be in such a good mood." Tianhua said, pouring a cup of wine and offering it.
"I also want to taste it. What does the wine that Cheng Kong and Zou Ming drank here taste like?" Changqing lifted his cup, looked at the wine inside, and said.
"The taste is probably something you, Mr. Chang, won't be able to appreciate!" Tianhua said.
"Oh? Why is that?" Changqing asked.
"Different state of mind, naturally different taste in wine!" Tianhua said.
"Then may I ask, what was their state of mind at that time?" Changqing inquired.
"It's something one can only grasp in the moment, not easily conveyed in words!" Tianhua said.
"A good understanding but not easily expressed!" Changqing finished the wine with a big laugh.
"How is the taste?" Tianhua asked.
"The wine is good, but without a good mood, this good wine would be a pity!" Changqing glanced at Lan Yunshan, who was full of anger.
Tianhua looked at Lan Yunshan and said with a smile, "Yunshan, since Mr. Chang came from afar, we should treat him as a guest. Don't you think?"
Lan Yunshan looked at Tianhua, lifted his wine cup, drank it, and then said, "Tianhua, you're right!" He then picked up the wine bottle on the table, filled Changqing's cup, and presented it to him. Changqing silently watched him, and then Lan Yunshan poured himself a full cup, lifted it, and said to Changqing, "Mr. Chang, I toast to you!" After that, he drank it all in one go!
Changqing, seeing this, burst into laughter and said, "Good capacity!" After speaking, he raised his wine cup and finished it in one go!
The three of them exchanged drinks continuously, having over a dozen cups in a row!
The night was silent, with a gentle breeze carrying a hint of coolness. The moon hung quietly in the sky, casting a soft light on the courtyard. By the moonlight, things in the courtyard were vaguely visible, except for the faces of the two.
"Mr. Chang, I feel like we've known each other for a long time!" Tianhua suddenly said.
Lan Yunshan, lifting a bite of food, stopped when he heard Tianhua say this and looked at Tianhua.
Changqing's eyes flickered briefly, but it was only a momentary thing. Apart from himself, no one would notice.
"Oh? Where does this feeling come from?" Changqing asked.
"At this moment, with us toasting and admiring this bright moon, if we weren't old friends, how could it be like this!" Tianhua said with a smile.
"Yes! Yes..." Changqing nodded repeatedly, laughing.
Upon hearing this, Lan Yunshan looked at Tianhua, his eyes full of disdain. Then he quickly put the food into his mouth.
"I really hope we won't have to fight!" Tianhua raised his wine cup and sighed.
Changqing looked at him, about to say something, suddenly jumped up, leaped to the side. Lan Yunshan was startled by this sudden change, turned to look at Tianhua, who was holding the wine cup and smiling at Changqing.
"Good, good! At such a young age, to display such mastery in the art of evasion is truly admirable!" Changqing stood there and couldn't help but sigh.
"But in front of you, it seems like there's still a long way to go!" Tianhua said.
"From what I see today, given time, you will surely surpass me." Changqing said.
"Oh, really?" Tianhua asked.
Before Changqing could say anything, he suddenly leaped again, and when he was seen again, he had jumped off the roof and disappeared.
Tianhua stared at the pitch-black roof, and in the darkness, Changqing's voice came: "Tianlong has raised a good son! Not bad, not bad!"
Tianhua stood there, lost in thought, and after a long while, he said, "Truly an extraordinary person!"
Lan Yunshan looked at him and said, "The number one expert in Mountain City Town is naturally extraordinary!"
"I originally wanted to remove his mask, but I couldn't get close to him. It seems that if I have to fight him in the future, the outcome is still uncertain!" Tianhua said.
Lan Yunshan looked at him and didn't say much. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Tianhua, why did some of your people stay here instead of going into hiding like the rest of your clan?"
"I don't know about that. I've never heard them talk about the past of the village. There are no records or documents about it either," Tianhua said.
"No written records or anything like that?" Lan Yunshan asked.
Tianhua shook his head and said, "No. I can't talk too much about the village. Let's not discuss it."
"Alright," Lan Yunshan said.
"Yunshan, why did you want to kill Mu Xiong?" Tianhua asked.
"Tianhua, you've heard something from Ali, and you've been here for a while. You must understand that people are oppressed here. Every year, they have to pay a large amount of taxes to support the likes of Mu Xiong for their extravagant lifestyle. If they face conscription or similar demands, it makes their families suffer even more. People endure silently, but we have to kill Mu Xiong and the other three city lords to end their rule and establish a world where people can live happily and free from oppression," Lan Yunshan passionately explained.
"Your idea is good. But your strength is still too weak. Today, you ambushed Mu Xiong and sacrificed over a hundred people for it. The cost is too high!" Tianhua sighed.
"Tianhua, I know you value human life. But to gain something, sacrifices must be made. The sacrifices today are for a better life for our future generations. Their bloodshed is not in vain!" Lan Yunshan said.
"Today was supposed to be an ambush, but you failed, and failed thoroughly. If it were a direct confrontation, you might have to sacrifice even more people," Tianhua said loudly.
"The main responsibility for today's failure lies with me. I didn't expect Cheng Kong and the others to be so strong. Tianhua, join us. With you, our goal will be easier to achieve! Don't you also want to see a world where people live happily and free?" Lan Yunshan suggested.
Tianhua looked at him, raised his wine cup, took a sip, and then looked at the moon in the sky, asking casually, "Yunshan, you talk about building a world where people are free and happy. What kind of world do you think is truly happy and free?"
"A world with virtuous governance, where people live in peace and prosperity, free from burdensome taxes, with open doors at night, and where people help and care for each other..." Lan Yunshan said, then he explained to Tianhua how they could achieve these goals, the difficulties they were facing, and a series of other issues.
"Hmm, it sounds good," Tianhua nodded.
"Tianhua, since you also think it's good, consider what I said earlier," Lan Yunshan said.
"Yunshan, we've had enough drinks for today. It's late now; it's time to rest!" Tianhua said.
Lan Yunshan nodded, and Tianhua asked him to go wash and sleep. When Lan Yunshan left, Tianhua sat there thinking about the world of freedom and happiness that Lan Yunshan had just described. He thought of his hometown, which was indeed such a world. People there were not only free but also equal!
Lost in thought, Tianhua got up to tidy up the table, then went to wash. As he entered the room, he saw that Lan Yunshan had already fallen asleep.
Tianhua sat on the bed, looking at Lan Yunshan, recalling the first time he saw him: he and Ling Yan were almost dying, and he was fortunate enough to save them. At that time, he was just acting out of kindness, but little did he know that it would lead to so much trouble. Thinking about these months of life, Tianhua couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Outside the window, it was silent with no sound, only the rustling of the wind.
Tianhua blew out the light, lay down, and the two battles today had exhausted him. Therefore, he quickly fell asleep.
In the morning, Tianhua got up to prepare breakfast. The others gradually woke up, and after they finished eating, Tianhua walked to the front of the house. Just as he opened the door, he saw a carriage parked outside. Tianhua glanced at the carriage, then turned and walked back inside. As he took a few steps, a person got off the carriage and hurriedly caught up with Tianhua, shouting, "Young Master, please wait!"
Hearing the voice, Tianhua turned to look, and the person had come up to him, smiling as he took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Tianhua, then bid farewell.
Tianhua looked at the letter, and on the envelope, there were only four words written: "Young Master, Open Urgently!" Tianhua opened the letter with suspicion and found that it was written by Murong Feiyan. The letter invited Tianhua to meet at "Tianxiang Tower" tonight. Tianhua read it, then placed the letter inside his chest.
As dusk approached, Lan Yunshan came to bid farewell to Tianhua. "Tianhua, I have to leave. The failure of yesterday's mission exposed my hiding place. Staying here longer might be detrimental to you all, so I have to go!"
"Sure, take care of yourself," Tianhua said, not insisting on him staying.
Lan Yunshan immediately informed Boss Han and then left. After walking a few steps, he turned around and looked at Tianhua, saying, "Tianhua, I hope you can seriously consider what I said last night!"
Tianhua looked at him, smiled, and said, "Rest assured! I will!"
Hearing Tianhua's words, Lan Yunshan left with a smile, and Tianhua watched him until he disappeared into the crowd.
"Tianhua, let's go inside!" Boss Han patted Tianhua's shoulder.
"Uncle Han, I have something to do tonight, so I need to go out for a while," Tianhua said.
"Oh, alright. Will you still have dinner at home?" Boss Han asked.
"No, I'll eat outside," Tianhua said.
Hearing this, Boss Han didn't ask more questions and went about his business.
Tianhua worked in the store for a while, feeling that the time was almost right. He informed Boss Han and left the restaurant, heading straight to "Tianxiang Tower."
Arriving at Tianxiang Tower, there was still no one there. The door was tightly closed, and Tianhua sighed helplessly. He approached the door, knocked, and a person opened it. Recognizing Tianhua, the person hastily greeted him with a smile, ushering Tianhua inside, then loudly announced, "Esteemed guest has arrived!"
Soon, Hujinhua came out with a smile, saying, "The distinguished guest is here; I can't welcome you from far away. Please forgive me!"
Tianhua hastily stood up and said, "I've bothered you several times
, and it has even affected the business of your shop. I hope Hujinhuaji can forgive me!"
"Where is the young master talking? If it weren't for the young master, we might have lost our lives! It's only natural for us to show our appreciation." Hujinhua said with a serious expression.
"This is what should be done. There's no need for Hujinhuaji to be so concerned." Tianhua said.
"If that's the case, entertaining the young master with a few rounds of light wine is also a matter of course. The young master doesn't need to worry about it." Hujinhua smiled and said.
Tianhua smiled when he heard this, not knowing what to say. Seeing this, Hujinhua chatted casually with Tianhua for a while, then excused herself to prepare food and wine. Tianhua sat alone, and after a while, Murong Feiyan gracefully came over. Tianhua saw her and immediately shifted his gaze elsewhere. Murong Feiyan walked up and said, "How has the young master been recently?"
"Fine, fine." Tianhua replied casually twice.
"Since we parted last time, why hasn't the young master come here for a visit?" Murong Feiyan sat down and softly asked.
Tianhua looked at the person next to him and said, "I've been busy lately, no time. I hope the young lady understands."
"Young Master, why won't you look at me? Am I not attractive today?" Murong Feiyan said with a hint of displeasure.
"No, you are beautiful!" Tianhua quickly responded.
"Then why won't you look at me?" Murong Feiyan smiled and asked.
"You have an unforgettable beauty. I'm afraid that if I look at you too much, I won't be able to forget it!" Tianhua said.
"If you've already remembered, why try to forget?" Murong Feiyan asked.
"The most bitter thing in life is parting. Remembering is the root of the bitterness of parting," Tianhua said.
"Is there a place for me in Young Master's heart?" Murong Feiyan asked gently.
Tianhua turned his face to look at her and found her looking at him with a charming and affectionate gaze, making it impossible to look away. Suddenly, Tianhua felt his face heating up and quickly averted his gaze.
Seeing him like this, Murong Feiyan laughed.
At this moment, food and wine were served. Murong Feiyan smiled and filled Tianhua's cup, then lifted her own cup and said, "Thanks for your hospitality many times. I toast to you!" Tianhua took the cup, looked at Murong Feiyan, and said, "I appreciate the hospitality. I'll drink to that!" After downing the cup, Murong Feiyan said, "Young Master, stop calling me 'young lady,' just call me Feiyan!"
Tianhua, after a moment of silence, finished his drink and looked at her. Without saying anything, Murong Feiyan refilled his cup. Tianhua looked at the wine in the cup and asked, "Why is there no music today?"
"Last time when I performed on stage, Young Master suddenly left without a word. We thought you were tired of the music and dance here, so we didn't arrange it today," Murong Feiyan explained.
Tianhua thought for a moment and then said to Murong Feiyan, "Leaving suddenly last time had nothing to do with the music and dance. It was because of the guest who invited me that day."
"Who is that person, and what's the matter between Young Master and him that made you so angry?" Murong Feiyan asked curiously.
"Do you know who he is?" Tianhua asked.
"I don't know. Someone came in the morning last time, saying his master wanted to reserve Tianxiang Tower, and the one who came in the evening was him. But unexpectedly, the one who invited him was Young Master. Who is that guest?" Murong Feiyan said.
"Since he doesn't want to reveal his identity, I won't expose it either," Tianhua smiled and said.
Murong Feiyan thought for a moment and then nodded, saying, "Yes, Young Master is right. In that case, please wait, Young Master. I'll arrange the music and dance."
Tianhua hurriedly stopped her, "In that case, don't trouble everyone."
"Without entertainment at the table, it will be boring without Young Master's excitement," Murong Feiyan said.
"How can it be dull when toasting with Feiyan? Young Master is not boring at all!" Tianhua laughed.
"Just as I said, call me Feiyan, no need for 'young lady' after it," Murong Feiyan said.
"It's hard to change the habit. I hope Feiyan understands!" Tianhua smiled.
"Young Master, you did it again this time." Murong Feiyan said with a bit of annoyance.
Tianhua, hearing this, helplessly laughed twice.
Murong Feiyan raised her cup and said, "In that case, let's have a drink!"
Tianhua took it without saying anything and drank it in one gulp. Seeing this, Murong Feiyan smiled and said, "Young Master is truly a straightforward person!"
The two of them toasted and chatted, unconsciously finishing a bottle of wine. Tianhua picked up the wine bottle, felt it was empty, and stood up, saying, "The wine is finished. It seems it's time to go back."
"Young Master, sit for a while longer. Just give the order, and the wine will be here immediately!" Murong Feiyan quickly said.
"No need, it's not early now. I should go back," Tianhua said.
Hearing him say this, Murong Feiyan thought about the previous two times and didn't insist on keeping him. So, she got up to send Tianhua out.
Just as Tianhua had walked a few steps, Murong Feiyan called from behind, "Young Master!" Tianhua heard it, turned around, and she continued, "After meeting several times, I still don't know Young Master's name. Can Young Master leave your name behind?"
"Why bother to remember the name of someone insignificant?" Tianhua said and then walked away.
Murong Feiyan leaned against the door, watching Tianhua. His figure quickly disappeared into the darkness and was no longer visible.
Hu Jinhua, who didn't know when she had stood behind Murong Feiyan, looked at Tianhua's disappearing figure in the night and said, "How was it? How do you feel about today's encounter?"
"Not good. Except for not leaving suddenly, everything else is as cold as ever!" Murong Feiyan sighed.
"He's a strange person!" Hu Jinhua couldn't help but say.
"Yes, he's a strange person. Maybe that's what makes him attractive," Murong Feiyan said softly.
"You're not falling for him, are you? Let me remind you: don't forget your mission. Otherwise, neither of us will have a way out," Hu Jinhua said solemnly.
"Don't worry, I won't. I won't forget my mission!" Murong Feiyan said.
"That's good. Hurry up and tidy up! The master is still waiting for you to report today's events!" Hu Jinhua said.
"Alright, I know. I'll go now," Murong Feiyan said.
After speaking, the two of them went inside.
In the darkness, Tianhua thought of the old man. He thought it was a good opportunity to visit him again today. Thinking of this, Tianhua happily walked towards the old man's house. Tianhua was walking when suddenly he stopped, nervously looking around. He seemed to have sensed something, but now everything seemed calm again.
The surroundings were pitch black, and Tianhua stood there quietly. At this moment, he had closed his eyes, silently feeling the air around him. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and spoke into the darkness, "Mr. Chang, why do you always hide whenever you come out?"
After a while, a person in the darkness clapped his hands and laughed, "Good, good! I didn't expect you to sense it both times! Impressive, impressive!"
"Mr. Chang, you flatter me! I wonder why Mr. Chang is here with me so late at night?" Tianhua inquired.
"I heard you were having a small banquet tonight, and I intended to join for a few drinks. However, by the time I arrived, you had already left, so I followed you here," Changqing explained.
"I was just about to go to another place for a drink. Since Mr. Chang is interested, we can go together!" Tianhua suggested.
"That's not a bad idea, but I've lost the mood for drinking now," Changqing replied.
"If that's the case, why are you still following me instead of going back?" Tianhua asked.
"Because I've found another interest," Changqing smiled.
"What interest is that?" Tianhua inquired.
"This interest might leave you without a drink tonight!" Changqing remarked.
"Oh? Suddenly, I've developed an interest too," Tianhua said.
"Your interest will be heightened very soon!" Changqing assured.
Upon hearing this, Tianhua was about to say something when he suddenly leaped backward. By the time he stood firm, Changqing had appeared where Tianhua was just standing.
"Not bad for such a young age. Your movements are quite agile!" Changqing commented, then vanished. Tianhua stood there, silently listening to the surroundings. He couldn't afford to be careless: Changqing's movements were too swift, and when he didn't strike, it was challenging to detect his location. Tianhua suddenly thought of the Eagle King. Although Changqing's movements were slightly slower than the Eagle King's, he couldn't be taken lightly!
The night remained deep, and despite closing his eyes, Tianhua felt no presence. After a while, Tianhua suddenly spoke, "Mr. Chang, are you standing there silently and not making a move because you're waiting for dawn?"
There was no response in the silent darkness. Tianhua stood for a while, then laughed, "Since Mr. Chang is unwilling to come out, waiting here is not interesting. It's better to go have a few drinks first. If Mr. Chang is interested, you can secretly follow."
Having said that, Tianhua turned and ran forward. As he ran, he suddenly leaped into the darkness. In the dark, two figures flashed back and forth. After a round of exchanges, the two landed on level ground, facing each other!
"Very good, very good," Changqing exclaimed with continuous laughter.
"Mr. Chang thinks it's good, so it must be good! However, I find it quite strange. Why doesn't Mr. Chang dare to show his true face to me now? Could it be that Mr. Chang has something on his face that he doesn't want others to see!" Tianhua also laughed.
"It's not that I don't want to show, it's just not the right time. When the time comes, you'll naturally see it," Changqing explained.
"Last time in the backyard, Mr. Chang left in a hurry without even enjoying a full drink. It's really my fault. I would like to invite Mr. Chang for a few more drinks today. What does Mr. Chang think?" Tianhua proposed.
"Do you have such confidence?" Changqing asked with a smile.
"I believe Mr. Chang won't refuse," Tianhua said.
"I also want to see how strong the son of Tianlong is now! Let's see if you can handle the next move!" Changqing said seriously.
After speaking, the area around Changqing was already filled with floating spears made of earth. All the spears were pointed at Tianhua, and Tianhua stared at them. The spears seemed to have a life of their own, staring directly at him.
Changqing waved his hand, and all the spears flew toward Tianhua. The spears were like rain, heading straight for Tianhua, and Tianhua looked around, finding no way to retreat...
