The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng, Book Four
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Late autumn night. The long, dark alley was completely deserted, save for a single light. It was an old lantern, originally white but long since faded to a dingy gray, hanging loosely before a narrow doorway at the end of the alley. Suspended beneath the lantern was a gleaming silver hook, resembling a fishhook.
The silver hook swayed in the autumn wind, which seemed to sigh, "Why are there so many in this world willing to be hooked by this silver hook?" Stepping out of the cold, damp night mist, Fang Yufei entered the Silver Hook Gambling House, where the interior was brilliantly lit. He took off his dark cloak, revealing a perfectly tailored outfit made of premium silver satin.
This was always the time of day when he felt most refreshed, and today was especially so. For today, Lu Xiaofeng was by his side.
Of all his friends, the one he admired and respected most had always been Lu Xiaofeng.
Lu Xiaofeng was also in high spirits—after all, he was Lu Xiaofeng! The main hall of the gambling house was magnificently decorated, overflowing with warmth and merriment. The aroma of wine mingled with the sweet scent of cosmetics. Silver ingots clattered against one another, producing a crisp, pleasant chime.
It seemed there was no music in the world that could compare to this. Lu Xiaofeng loved listening to these sounds; like most people in the world, he loved pleasure.
The Silver Hook Gambling House was indeed a luxurious place, offering all kinds of entertainment at any hour for all sorts of pleasure-seekers. Among these amusements, the most extravagant was, of course, gambling. Everyone was deeply engrossed in their games, yet when Lu Xiaofeng and Fang Yufei walked in, people could not help but look up.
Some people stand out even in a crowd, and both Lu Xiaofeng and Fang Yufei belonged to this class of men.
Someone asked:
– Who are those two young men of such extraordinary bearing?
A scrawny man, who had lost all his money, replied:
– The one in the silver satin is the brother-in-law of this gambling house's owner.
– Is he the younger brother of Lan Huzi's new wife?
– Yes, her own brother!
– Is he the one they call the "Silver Harrier," Fang Yufei?
– Precisely.
– I hear he's a well-known playboy, a master of all four vices, and his lightness skill is not to be scoffed at either.
– That's why many also call him a flower-thief!
The losing gambler smiled and continued:
– Actually, if he wants a woman, he only needs to crook his finger to entice her. There's no need for him to scale walls in the dead of night to steal flowers.
– Rumor has it that his sister, Fang Yuxiang, is also a famous beauty.
A man with half-closed eyes let out a sigh and replied:
– Like a talking flower, like fragrant jade. To call her a beauty is hardly enough; she is a peerless beauty capable of toppling cities and empires!
– And who is the young man beside Fang Yufei? Why does he have two thin mustaches that look just like eyebrows?
– If I'm not mistaken, he must be the "four-eyebrowed Lu Xiaofeng"!
– Lu Xiaofeng?!
There are some who become legends in their own lifetime, and Lu Xiaofeng was one of them. Upon hearing his name, everyone turned to look, save for one person who did not even bother to glance over.
This person turned out to be a woman. She wore an apple-green robe made of soft, flowing silk that looked as light as gossamer. The silk garment snugly embraced her delicate figure, which was in the bloom of youth. This beauty possessed skin as smooth and white as white jade, at times resembling ice and snow, almost translucent. Her face was completely free of powder and rouge, adorned only by her incredibly clear eyes. Those eyes alone were enough to be the envy of countless other women.
The beauty still did not deign to spare Lu Xiaofeng a glance, yet he stared at her intently. Fang Yufei suddenly laughed, shook his head, and said:
– There are about seven or eight beauties in here, so why are you only looking at her?
– Because she isn't looking at me!
– Do you think every woman who sees you is going to kneel down and kiss your feet?
Lu Xiaofeng sighed:
– But she should at least spare me a glance. I don't look that bad, do I?
– Look all you want, but you'd better keep your distance from her!
– Why?
Fang Yufei lowered his voice:
– This woman is an iceberg. If you try to touch her, watch out or your hands will get frostbitten!
Lu Xiaofeng merely smiled and walked straight toward the iceberg. No matter how high a mountain was, he had scaled it before; now, he only wanted to try climbing this iceberg.
A faint, delicate fragrance drifted through the air—not the scent of powder and rouge, nor the aroma of wine, but the fragrance of a beautiful woman. Some women were like fresh flowers, their bodies naturally emitting a sweet scent, and that icy beauty was precisely one of them. Lu Xiaofeng now resembled a honeybee; smelling the floral fragrance, he flew headlong toward the blossom. Fortunately, he was not yet drunk, stopping just behind her.
The "iceberg" did not turn her head at all. In her soft, delicate hand was a stack of betting chips; it seemed she was contemplating whether to bet on big or small. At this moment, the dealer began shaking the dice cup, slammed it down onto the table, and called out:
– Place your bets quickly, hands off!
Seeing that the "iceberg" was still hesitating, Lu Xiaofeng leaned down and whispered in her ear:
– You should bet on small this time.
She immediately placed her stack of chips down, but placed them on the "big" side instead.
– Reveal!
After calling out, the dealer opened the cup. Seeing that the total of the three dice did not exceed seven points, he said:
– Seven points, small. House takes big, pays small.
The "iceberg's" face turned pale. She turned her head, gave Lu Xiaofeng a sharp glare, and walked away. Lu Xiaofeng could only offer a wry smile. He figured this "iceberg" must be the contrarian type, especially when it came to men.
The "iceberg" threaded her way through the crowd to head outside. Even her gait was very distinctive. Lu Xiaofeng thought to himself:
"A woman like this is truly rare. It would be a real waste to miss this opportunity. If I don't follow her, I will definitely regret it later!"
He had always been very good at listening to himself, so he hastily gave chase.
Fang Yufei stepped out to block his path and said slowly:
– Do you really want to climb that iceberg?
– I'm not afraid of freezing to death!
Fang Yufei patted his shoulder:
– But you'd better be careful. Icebergs are very slippery; if you aren't careful, you might take a nasty fall!
Lu Xiaofeng retorted:
– Then how many times have you tried?
Fang Yufei smiled—a forced smile, of course. Waiting until Lu Xiaofeng had walked out the door, he sighed and muttered under his breath:
– If you fall while climbing this iceberg, you can only fall once at most. Because a single fall can easily kill you.
* * * * *
Outside, the night was late, and the long alley remained shrouded in darkness. A carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley. No matter who they were, anyone wishing to visit the Silver Hook Gambling House had to walk through this dark alley on foot. Because of this, the gambling house's location gained an extra layer of mystery, making it all the more exciting and alluring. The silver hook still swayed in the wind, and the number of people lured in by this hook was perhaps several times greater than the number of fish caught by any fisherman.
Under the dark sky and the dim lamplight, "the Iceberg" walked ahead, a light green cloak draped over her shoulders. Lu Xiaofeng followed behind, his eyes fixed on the hem of her cloak fluttering gently in the light. Like a daydreaming child, he seemed to be chasing a drifting cloud.
The dark alley was incredibly long and completely deserted. Suddenly, "the Iceberg" turned around and stared intently at Lu Xiaofeng, her gaze sharp and cold—colder than starlight. Lu Xiaofeng had no choice but to stop, looking at her with a smile.
"The Iceberg" suddenly asked:
"Why are you following me, young master?"
Lu Xiaofeng smiled and replied:
"I caused you to lose your money at the tables, and I feel quite terrible about it, so..."
"So you want to make it up to me?"
Lu Xiaofeng nodded immediately.
"And how do you plan to do that?"
"I know of a late-night eatery in town that stays open all night. The food is quite good. Since it's so late, you must be a bit hungry!"
"The Iceberg" blinked:
"That's not a very good idea. I have a much better one."
"What would that be?"
"The Iceberg" smiled and said:
"Come closer, and I'll tell you."
Naturally, Lu Xiaofeng stepped closer. He had not expected this iceberg to melt so easily. What surprised him even more was that the moment he drew near, a slap landed squarely on his left cheek, followed immediately by another on his right.
"The Iceberg" had struck incredibly fast—not only fast, but with considerable force. It wasn't that Lu Xiaofeng couldn't have dodged it, but rather that he never expected her to strike so harshly. In any case, he took both slaps full-on, leaving him utterly dazed.
"The Iceberg" was still smiling, but it was a cold smile, colder than ice:
"I've met plenty of men like you. You're just like flies and pests—disgusting to look at!"
This time, she turned and walked away. No matter how thick-skinned Lu Xiaofeng was, he had no excuse to follow her now. He could only watch blankly as that beautiful drifting cloud receded into the distance.
The alley was very long, and she did not walk very fast. Suddenly, four men rushed out from the shadows. Two grabbed her arms, while the other two seized her legs. "The Iceberg" let out a startled shriek and tried to slap them as well. But these men were not like Lu Xiaofeng, who was tender toward the fairer sex. Without wasting any effort, the four of them lifted her right off the ground.
Lu Xiaofeng's face was still stinging, and he originally had no desire to meddle in this affair. Unfortunately, he was born with a natural urge to take the troubles of the world onto his shoulders. Forcing him to stand by and watch four men bully a woman would be more painful than losing his own life.
Just as the four men lifted "the Iceberg" up, they suddenly noticed a man with a mustache that looked exactly like a second pair of eyebrows standing before them. He said coldly:
"Put this lady down immediately and crawl away. Whoever refuses will get his nose smashed."
Naturally, the ruffians were not the type to be easily ordered around. However, after two of them indeed had their noses smashed and bloodied, the entire group meekly crawled along the ground until they were out of the alley! From beginning to end, none of the four could even see how Lu Xiaofeng had struck.
At this point, "the Iceberg" seemed to truly begin to melt. She was so utterly terrified that she actually spoke up to ask Lu Xiaofeng for help:
"My home is nearby. Could you please escort me back, young master?"
* * * * *
Her home was not close by, but Lu Xiaofeng did not mind at all. In fact, he wished it were as far away as possible. From the moment she entered the carriage, she had collapsed into his arms, as if too frightened to even sit upright. Fortunately, the carriage windows were tightly shut and the curtains drawn closed. The carriage traveled for nearly half an hour, during which time they struck up a casual conversation. Lu Xiaofeng, of course, spoke first:
"I am neither a fly nor a pest. My surname is Lu, and I am called Lu Xiaofeng."
The "Ice Mountain" smiled, a genuine smile this time:
"My surname is Leng, and I am called Leng Ruoshuang."
Lu Xiaofeng also laughed, feeling that this name truly suited the jade-like beauty.
"Did you recognize those four men from earlier?"
Leng Ruoshuang shook her head.
"Why did they want to capture you?"
Leng Ruoshuang seemed about to speak, but then lowered her head and blushed.
Lu Xiaofeng asked no further. When men bullied women, there was often no need for a reason. Besides, a woman as alluring as her was a reason in herself, enough to make many men want to "bully" her.
The carriage did not travel very fast, and the ride was so smooth that it felt like sitting on a swing. From Leng Ruoshuang's body emanated a fragrance like orchids, with a hint of osmanthus, elegant yet intoxicating. If he could travel this road for three days and three nights, Lu Xiaofeng would certainly not complain that it was too long.
Leng Ruoshuang suddenly spoke:
"My home is in Yongle Lane, the first house on the left."
"Where is Yongle Lane?"
"We passed it just now!"
"But you..."
"I didn't tell the carriage to stop, because I don't want to go home tonight!"
Lu Xiaofeng suddenly realized his heart was beating two or three times faster than normal.
"Tonight I kept losing at gambling, so I want to change venues to see if my luck will change."
In the midst of his high spirits, Lu Xiaofeng felt as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed over him. For a very long time, he had warned himself never to flatter himself, yet he could never cure himself of this habit.
"Do you know that there is also a Golden Hook Gambling House here?"
Lu Xiaofeng did not know at all, nor had he ever heard the name.
"You have come from afar, so of course you wouldn't know!"
"Is that place very secret?"
Leng Ruoshuang glanced at him, then suddenly asked:
"Do you have any other plans tonight?"
Lu Xiaofeng, of course, answered "no."
"Would you like me to take you there to see it?"
"Of course!"
"But I promised the owner of that place that I would absolutely never bring a stranger there. If you want to go, you must agree to one condition of mine."
"Please, go ahead."
"You must allow me to blindfold you, and you must promise not to peek."
Lu Xiaofeng had already wanted to go along, and hearing this made it even more impossible for him to refuse, for he was naturally curious and loved mysterious adventures. So without a second thought, he immediately agreed. Looking at the thin, delicate clothing Leng Ruoshuang wore, he smiled and said:
"It would be best if you used a slightly thicker cloth to cover my eyes. Sometimes, these eyes of mine can see through everything!"
"If a person were to live in darkness day and night, year after year, what would it feel like in their heart?"
Lu Xiaofeng could not help but think of Hua Manlou. He felt that Hua Manlou was truly extraordinary. Although he could no longer see the light, Hua Manlou not only refrained from blaming heaven and earth, but still maintained a tolerant and optimistic outlook toward all people and things in the world. To achieve this was no easy feat!
Lu Xiaofeng sighed. He had only been blindfolded for a short while, yet he already felt as though he could bear it no longer. He strained his ears, catching the sound of voices and flowing water. The carriage seemed to pass through a night market, then over a running stream.
The carriage came to a halt. Leng Ruoshuang took Lu Xiaofeng's hand and whispered:
"Please follow me slowly, Young Master. I promise this place will not disappoint you."
Her hand was very small, very smooth, and very soft.
The two of them seemed to be walking downward. He could hear the chirping of insects in the wind, indicating that the surrounding area was wilderness. Lu Xiaofeng heard a knock on a door, then the sound of it opening. Once through the door, he seemed to be walking along a corridor. The corridor was not very long, and they soon reached the end. He could faintly hear the shouting of bets, the rattle of dice in a cup, the clinking of silver coins, along with applause and laughter.
Leng Ruoshuang said:
"We're here!"
Lu Xiaofeng let out a sigh of relief:
"Thank goodness!"
Again, he heard a knock on a door ahead, and then it opened. As soon as the door opened, the sounds inside became very clear. Leng Ruoshuang led him inside and said:
"Please wait here, Young Master. I will go find the master of this place to meet you."
Lu Xiaofeng felt her let go of his hand, and he could only smell her fragrance drifting away. Suddenly, with a loud bang, it sounded as if someone had slammed a door shut. The sounds of laughter, voices, rattling dice, and so on, abruptly ceased! The space suddenly fell into a shroud of silence.
Lu Xiaofeng felt as though he had been alive one moment and suddenly dropped into a grave the next.
"Miss Leng, Leng Ruoshuang!"
He could not help but call out, but no one answered. With so many people in the room, could they all have been gagged?
Lu Xiaofeng pulled off his blindfold, only to feel his entire body freeze as if turned to ice. There was no one in the room at all! Where had the people from just now gone? To say they had all vanished in an instant was truly unbelievable! The room was not very large, furnished only with a bed and a table. On the table sat untouched food and wine. Lu Xiaofeng shuddered involuntarily; he suddenly realized that the room could not possibly have held so many people in the first place.
Indeed, anyone could see that this room could not have held anyone just now—not even a single person, let alone a crowd. Yet he had clearly heard so many voices! If he believed what was before his eyes now, he could not believe what he had heard earlier. But his ears were exceptionally sharp; he had never misheard anything.
To say that an empty room could spontaneously produce the sounds he had heard was even more impossible. Could this be a haunted house? Was it possible that Heaven felt he hadn't encountered enough bizarre things and wanted him to meet a ghost for once?
Lu Xiaofeng suddenly burst out laughing:
"I'd better find a way out of here first, then figure things out!"
But... no matter how he searched, there was no way out. This room had no windows, surrounded on all sides by walls—and they were iron walls several inches thick.
Lu Xiaofeng laughed again. Even when faced with a helpless situation, he would still laugh.
He prided himself on this as one of his most practiced skills. Laughter not only spread joy to others, but it could also make oneself feel relaxed and at ease. But at a time like this, how could he possibly feel at ease?
On the table were four dishes: a plate of chicken rice with pine nuts, a plate of field crabs dipped in soy sauce, a goose web salad, and steaming hot steamed meat—all of which were Lu Xiaofeng's lifelong favorites. The person who had plotted to capture him alive must have known his daily habits inside out.
Beside the dishes sat a jar of wine, an aged Jiangnan Nu'er Hong, still sealed in its original clay. Beneath the jar lay a slip of paper with a line of writing:
"Please have a cup of wine. The one detaining you here is an old friend."
An "old friend" meant a companion, perhaps even a close friend, to know him so well. Yet Lu Xiaofeng could not think of anyone among his close friends who would want to play such a trick on him.
Beside those words were two more lines, written in a very elegant hand:
"Rest here for three days. After three days, we shall meet again."
Although it was unsigned, he could guess it had been left by the "iceberg" Leng Ruoshuang. It seemed she had anticipated that Lu Xiaofeng would fall for the trap. Since they had calculated everything so precisely and gone to such lengths to deceive him, was it really just to keep him here for three days?
Lu Xiaofeng did not believe it, but he could not fathom their purpose either. Thus, he simply sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat.
The chopsticks were made of silver, and the food was not poisoned; they surely knew that getting rid of Lu Xiaofeng with poison was no easy task.
When he lifted the wine jar and broke the clay seal, he suddenly heard a soft *pfft* as a wisp of light smoke hissed out from the clay. With a loud *crash*, the wine jar fell to the ground and shattered. Lu Xiaofeng stared at the wine pooling on the ground; he wanted to laugh, but he couldn't even manage a smile. Then, he blacked out.
* * * * *
The fog had cleared, revealing a sky filled with a thousand stars. The chirping of insects drifted on the wind, and the ground was damp with dew, still showing traces of moisture...
Lu Xiaofeng's clothes were soaked. When he woke up, the first light of dawn was just beginning to glimmer in the east, and the world was slowly waking up. He stood up and looked around. In the distance was a mountain range covered in lush trees, their leaves rustling in the wind. Mountain mist rose faintly, and there was not a single human dwelling in sight.
If this was where his carriage had stopped last night, where did the room with four iron walls come from? If this was not where he had been last night, how did he end up here? Did the people who went to such lengths to orchestrate this conspiracy just want to dump him in the wilderness to sleep for a night?
Lu Xiaofeng could not fathom their purpose. Unable to figure it out, he took off his wet outer robe, slung it over his shoulder, and quickened his pace toward the city. He was staying at the Wufu Inn inside the city. The meat buns there were decent, the chicken noodles were delicious, and the bedding in the rooms was clean. Right now, all he wanted was to return to his lodgings. His first priority was to take a thorough bath, eat to his heart's content, have a good sleep, and only then ponder these mysteries.
Seeing the signboard bearing the four golden characters "Wufu Inn" from afar, Lu Xiaofeng forgot all of last night's frustrations, thinking of the comforts awaiting him inside. Little did he expect that waiting for him inside were two swords, four sabers, seven red-tasseled spears, and an iron chain.
Lu Xiaofeng had barely crossed the threshold when a loud shout rang out, and thirteen men rushed out to surround him. Immediately after, with a sharp whistle of wind, an iron chain whipped straight toward his neck. The chain looked thick and heavy, yet the wielder's technique was incredibly agile and skilled.
At that moment, Lu Xiaofeng reached out and pinched the chain between two fingers. Instantly, the iron chain snapped into two pieces, one piece falling to the ground with a loud clatter. The man holding the broken chain stumbled back a few steps and sank to his knees. His face turned pale with fright, and he pointed a trembling finger at Lu Xiaofeng:
"You... you dare to resist?"
"Resist?!"
Lu Xiaofeng looked at the red-tasseled hat on the man's head, frowned, and asked, "Are you men from the yamen?"
The man nodded, and someone beside him shouted, "This is Head Constable Yang of the prefectural office! Your resistance is tantamount to rebellion!"
"Are you here to arrest me? What crime have I committed?"
Head Constable Yang sneered, "An honest man doesn't lie. With both witnesses and stolen goods right here, what are you still feigning ignorance for?"
"Where are the witnesses? Where are the stolen goods?"
Behind the manager's counter sat seven or eight people, dressed very elegantly, but all with grim expressions. They pointed at Lu Xiaofeng, shouting in unison:
"It's him!"
"Last night, it was this four-eyebrowed villain who violated my wife!"
Lu Xiaofeng was startled. He then heard Head Constable Yang continue in a stern voice, "Last night, in a single night, you committed eight major cases. Here are the witnesses."
Another officer, also wearing a red-tasseled hat, pointed to a pile of bags on the floor behind the counter and said, "And these items were recovered from your room. Here is the evidence."
Lu Xiaofeng smiled and said, "If I had indeed stolen from others, would I be so foolish as to openly keep the loot in my own room?"
Head Constable Yang sneered, "By your logic, could someone else have risked their life to steal so much wealth just to hand it over to you?"
Lu Xiaofeng was left speechless.
Suddenly, a cold voice rang out:
"Murder, robbery, and raping women are all trivial matters. If we were to let this slide, you could still remain beyond the reach of the law, free and easy."
The voice came from a far corner of the room. A square table was set there, laden with food, wine, and tea. The guests seated at the table were three old men dressed in dark green robes embroidered with patterns. Two of them were drinking tea, while one was drinking wine; the one who had just spoken was the one holding the wine cup. Perhaps those who drink wine are naturally more talkative?
Lu Xiaofeng smiled again. "Murder, robbery, and raping women are trivial? Then what exactly is considered significant?"
The wine-drinking old man rolled his eyes, a sharp, brilliant light flashing in them as he stared straight at Lu Xiaofeng. "No matter what you do, it doesn't matter. But you should never have provoked us."
"Which sect do you belong to?"
"You don't recognize us?"
"I do not!"
The green-robed old man raised his wine cup and took a slow sip. The fingers holding the cup were as thin and withered as bird claws, with nails four or five inches long, each stained a dark green.
Lu Xiaofeng acted as if he saw nothing. The green-robed old man asked, "Do you still not recognize us now?"
"I still do not."
The green-robed old man gave a dry laugh and slowly stood up. Everyone saw that embroidered on the chest of his robe was a human face with delicate features, resembling a beautiful young maiden. But when he stood fully upright, they could clearly see that the embroidery was actually a monstrous beast with a human face and a serpent's body, complete with wings and bird-like talons. Although no one knew the origin of this beast, looking at the large, lifelike embroidery, everyone couldn't help but feel a sudden chill run down their spines.
Lu Xiaofeng still acted as if he saw nothing. The green-robed old man asked again, "Do you recognize it now?"
"Still don't."
The green-robed old man’s face seemed to turn a dark shade of green. Suddenly, he reached out and thrust his hand down onto the table. With a sharp *shuck*, his five fingers sank deep into the tabletop. When he withdrew his hand, five holes had been pierced through the three-inch-thick wooden table. Then came a series of clatters; it turned out Constable Yang was so terrified by this sight that he dropped the length of iron chain he was still holding.
A stifling silence fell over the room. Lu Xiaofeng could no longer pretend to see nothing, and finally sighed, "Excellent kung fu!"
The green-robed old man sneered, "You also recognize the brilliance of this technique?"
Lu Xiaofeng smiled and nodded. In truth, he had long since recognized the origins of these three bizarre old men. Thus, though he smiled on the outside, his palms were beginning to sweat.
The green-robed old man suddenly closed his eyes, tilted his face toward the heavens, and slowly chanted, "Nine heavens and ten earths, all gods and ghosts, fear our sect, obey and submit!"
Lu Xiaofeng sighed again. "I suppose I now know who you are. Yet I still do not understand when I have offended you?"
The green-robed old man stared intently at him, then suddenly waved his hand. A bizarre flute melody rose from the back courtyard, sounding as mournful as a wronged ghost wailing in the dead of night. Following this, four burly men carried in a massive wooden plank, which was covered in dark green chrysanthemums. These men were bare-chested, their chests bristling with needles, yet they did not bleed. Their eyes stared blankly, as if dazed or drunk. There was no sign of pain on their faces; on the contrary, they wore smiles that were both eerie and terrifying.
The two old men who had been drinking tea also stood up. Together with the green-robed old man, the three of them walked over to the wooden plank covered in dark chrysanthemums, clasped their hands in prayer, and chanted, "Nine heavens and ten earths, all gods and demons, return together to protect the sovereign, and ascend together to the Western Paradise!"
Unable to resist, Lu Xiaofeng stepped forward and picked up a chrysanthemum... and suddenly felt his hand go ice-cold. Beneath the flower he had just lifted, an open eye was staring straight at him. The eye showed far more white than black, its eyeball bulging out, as if harboring an unspeakable, terrifying horror.
Lu Xiaofeng took several steps back, let out a long breath, and asked, "Who is this person?"
The green-robed old man replied coldly, "Now, he is a dead man."
"And when he was alive, who was he?"
The green-robed old man closed his eyes again, tilted his face toward the heavens, and slowly chanted, "Nine heavens and ten earths, the son of the gods, met with disaster and perished, making gods and demons weep in grief."
Lu Xiaofeng's face paled. "This is the son of your esteemed Cult Leader?"
"Yes!"
"Could it be that he died at my hands?"
"The killer must die!"
Lu Xiaofeng took two steps back, exhaled, and suddenly smiled. "One side wants to arrest me for trial, while the other wants my life in forfeit. I am but one man—how am I to choose?"
The green-robed old man cast his gaze upon Constable Yang and asked, "Are you determined to bring him to trial?"
Constable Yang stammered, "N-No... n-not necessarily!"
As soon as he spoke, his legs gave out from sheer terror, and he collapsed onto the floor.
Lu Xiaofeng sighed, "It seems I am truly doomed to die this time!"
The green-robed old man said, "But I also know that before you die, you surely intend to fight to the death."
Lu Xiaofeng replied, "Indeed!"
He suddenly struck, seizing a sword and a saber. Holding the saber in his left hand and the sword in his right, he unleashed three bizarre strikes in rapid succession at the green-robed old man.
The green-robed old man sneered, "You dare brandish an axe before Lu Ban's door?"
The style of wielding weapons with both hands was, after all, his own unique, signature technique.
Lu Xiaofeng had only executed three moves when the old man saw how to break them, confident that within another three moves, he would disarm both the saber and sword from Lu Xiaofeng's hands.
Just then, with a sharp *clack*, Lu Xiaofeng struck the sword in his right hand with the saber in his left. Saber and sword clashed, snapping each other in half. Before the green-robed old man could make sense of this bizarre move, the two severed blades were already flying straight at him. Seizing the opportunity, Lu Xiaofeng leaped into the air, hurled the broken hilts remaining in his hands with all his might, and flipped backward through the air.
It all happened in the blink of an eye, unimaginably fast; even Lu Xiaofeng had not expected his own reactions to be so swift. The human instinct for survival truly harbors unfathomable potential.
The wind howled outside the door. Lu Xiaofeng flipped once more, riding the wind to land on the doorframe of the building opposite.
The green-robed old man did not give chase. Only his desolate voice drifted out:
"You have killed the son of the gods. Even if you flee to the heavens or hide deep in the earth, you cannot escape death."
* * * * *
Lu Xiaofeng did not ascend to the heavens, nor did he burrow into the earth. Instead, he returned to the alley leading to the Silver Hook Gambling Parlor, hired a carriage, and headed back to the place where he had woken up this morning.
He was beginning to realize that those people had tricked him into sleeping out in the wilderness for a night solely to frame him and make him take the fall. What had happened to him since last night was so bizarre that no one would believe it if he told them. That "ice beauty" would certainly never testify on his behalf, not to mention she had now vanished without a trace—where could he even begin to look for her? The only way to clear his name was to find the evidence himself.
After traveling some distance, the carriage indeed passed a night market, then crossed a stream, before finally arriving at the spot where he had woken up this morning. Could he really have traveled this road last night? Was this the place where Leng Ruoshuang had held his hand and walked with him? But this was a desolate, open field; there wasn't even a thatched hut in sight, let alone a Golden Hook Gambling Parlor.
Lu Xiaofeng walked over to a large tree, its leaves already dry and yellow. He lay down beneath it, watching the yellow leaves drift down one by one in the wind, landing on his body. The ground was still damp. He cleared his mind and thought:
"Clearly, I traveled this road to reach the Golden Hook Gambling Parlor, yet there are no buildings here at all. Clearly, I heard voices in the room, yet I saw no one. The note said they would keep me here for three days, yet they kicked me out after just one night."
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt. Even he found it hard to believe, let alone anyone else. If he had no way to prove his whereabouts, was he supposed to just let them frame him forever? He let out a long sigh; this time, he truly could not bring himself to smile.
From behind the tree, the sound of birds chirping had been going on incessantly for a long while. Lu Xiaofeng frowned and slapped the tree trunk. Leaves showered down, but the chirping continued. This bird was remarkably bold, showing no sign of flying away. Unable to help himself, Lu Xiaofeng raised his head to peer behind the trunk, only to hear the chirping suddenly turn into the "woof woof" of a barking dog.
While he was still wondering at this, a young boy's face popped out from behind the trunk, sticking out his tongue and making a face to tease him.
It turned out the barking and chirping were all the boy's imitations. Clearly, the boy was quite clever, mimicking the sounds to perfection.
The boy winked at Lu Xiaofeng and said:
"I also know how to mimic a male and female dog fighting. Give me two coins, and I'll do it for you."
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes suddenly lit up. He leaped up, hugged the boy, and gave him a loud kiss, then pulled out a large silver ingot and shoved it into his hand, saying repeatedly, "Thank you, kid! Thank you, kid!"
The boy was bewildered. Blinking, he asked, "You gave me so much money, and you're thanking me? What does that mean?"
Lu Xiaofeng replied, "Because you just saved my life."
With that, he laughed heartily, mimicked two dog barks, did a somersault, and was already two zhang away.
The boy stared blankly after him, unable to understand why Lu Xiaofeng was so overjoyed.
* * * * *
The Silver Hook Gambling House only opened at night. Before dusk, no games were set up; by dawn, the tables were cleared. Daytime was when people earned money, and they had to be allowed to earn it so they would have money to squander at night. If you wanted people to keep spending money indefinitely, you had to give them ample opportunity to squander it, but you also had to give them time to make it. This was Lan Huzi's business philosophy.
Right now, night had not yet fallen. Lu Xiaofeng walked through a long, quiet alley. When he stepped into the Silver Hook Gambling House, none of the gambling tables were open. Although the entrance was open, the regulars knew the rules: before dark, no one entered.
Lu Xiaofeng pushed open the door and entered. Just as he took off his cloak and hat, two burly men stepped forward to block his path. Every gambling house had bouncers, and this place hired quite a few; Da Niu and Xiazi were the two most formidable among them.
Xiazi (the blind man) was not actually blind, only one-eyed. He stared at Lu Xiaofeng and said coldly, "Have you ever been here before?"
Lu Xiaofeng nodded, "Yes, I have."
"Since you've been here, you should know the rules!"
"A gambling house has rules too?"
"Not only does it have rules, but they are stricter than those of the yamen."
Lu Xiaofeng burst out laughing.
Da Niu glared at him, "Before dark, even if the Heavenly King himself came, we would turn him away."
Lu Xiaofeng asked, "Can't I just go in and have a look?"
"No!"
Lu Xiaofeng sighed, picked up his cloak, and made as if to leave. Suddenly, he turned back and said, "I bet you five hundred taels of silver that you can't lift this stone pillar." Inside the door, along the corridor, stood four rather large stone pillars that looked far from light. Da Niu sneered. Using only one hand, he lifted one of the stone pillars right up. He indeed possessed the strength of an ox, which was how he got the name Da Niu.
Lu Xiaofeng sighed again and gave a wry smile, "It seems I've lost. These five hundred taels are yours."
He pulled out a five-hundred-tael banknote, held it between two fingers, and offered it to Da Niu. Five hundred taels was no small sum. If two men went to a brothel to drink and enjoy the company of women all night, they wouldn't spend more than twenty taels.
While Da Niu was still hesitating, Xiazi had already reached out and snatched the banknote. At the sight of the money, even his blind eye seemed to widen. The banknote was indeed genuine, not a counterfeit. Xiazi cracked a smile, "Well, it's almost dark now anyway. Why don't you take a stroll outside, honored guest, and when you return, this humble servant will find you some seasoned gamblers for a thrilling game."
Lu Xiaofeng smiled, "Can't I just wander around in here?"
Da Niu chimed in, "No!"
Lu Xiaofeng's face darkened, "You said no gambling before dark, so why did you just make a bet with me?"
"I didn't!"
"If you didn't bet with me, why did you take my five hundred taels?"
Da Niu blushed, speechless and not knowing how to argue back. When reasoning failed, the only option left was to use brute force. Just as Da Niu clenched his hand into a fist, he suddenly saw Lu Xiaofeng point a finger at the stone pillar he had just lifted earlier; a hole had been pierced clean through it. Da Niu turned pale, his fist slowly relaxing.
Xiazi coughed twice, nudged Da Niu gently with his elbow, and said with a placating smile:
“It’s almost dark now. Since this guest has set his heart on coming here, it would be truly unreasonable of us to drive him away.”
Da Niu immediately nodded and said:
“Besides, we don't use loaded dice here, nor do we harbor naked women, so there's no harm in letting him look around!”
Though he looked coarse and foolish, he was actually not stupid at all.
Lu Xiaofeng smiled, patted his shoulder, and said:
“Excellent, you're worth making friends with! After I'm done gambling, I'll take both of you to Xinghua Pavilion for a drink.”
Xinghua Pavilion was the most high-class brothel in the city, but its grandeur still could not compare to this place, and its decor was not as luxurious as the Silver Hook Gambling House. Sweeping his eyes around, one could see that this main hall was truly magnificent. Coming to a place like this, losing a few hundred taels would not be a matter of regret, for the gambling tables here
He closed his eyes, ran a finger along the edge of the door on the wall, and after feeling around twice, suddenly pressed down hard, whispering softly, "Open!" Sure enough, the secret door swung open, revealing a dozen or so stone steps inside that led down into an underground passage! The tunnel was lit, leading to another door. In front of it, two burly men holding sabers stood guard. The two men stared blankly like wooden statues; even though Lu Xiaofeng stood right in front of them, they seemed to see nothing at all.
Lu Xiaofeng gave a soft cough, but they did not seem to hear him either. Suddenly, with a click, the secret door above slammed shut. Lu Xiaofeng tried stepping forward, only to find that the two burly men remained completely still, making no move to stop him. He reached out and pushed the door, and it swung open. Inside, the room was brilliantly lit, and two people were sitting there, one of whom he recognized.
One was a woman resting her cheek on her hand, holding a crystal glass of amber-colored fine wine. She looked coldly at Lu Xiaofeng and asked:
"Why did it take you so long to get here, young master?"