Chapter 6: Eastern City

Yang Shifei sat shirtless, leaning against the side of the bed. His awareness grew increasingly hazy, and his eyes gradually closed.

In the blur, aside from the wavering lamplight inside the room, there seemed to be a dark figure moving back and forth.

And behind it, sharp blades seemed to pierce through its clothes one after another, stretching out in all directions like tentacles—

Yang Shifei opened his eyes and woke as if from a nightmare, a thin layer of sweat seeping from his forehead.

That… had it really been a dream?

“When did Young Master learn martial arts?”

The indifferent female voice sounded beside him, making Yang Shifei come back to himself in a daze. He turned his head and looked at Tanxiang, the maid helping apply medicine to him.

Her cold face seemed bare of makeup, yet was extremely fair and smooth. Her beautiful eyes stared straight at him with a faintly scrutinizing meaning.

“Uh… I’m not too sure either.”

Yang Shifei rubbed his forehead. “For some reason these past two days, my body has become very strong. When I was entangled with that bandit just now, I was purely relying on brute force and swinging randomly.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he hissed through his teeth and quickly looked toward his painfully stinging right arm.

The wound originally cut open by the blade had now been wrapped in gauze, and a little crimson could vaguely be seen seeping through.

It seemed that while he had been dazed and confused, Tanxiang had bandaged it for him.

“Sorry to trouble you, Miss Tanxiang.”

“Your body looks thin and weak, but it is extremely solid and resilient.”

Tanxiang was applying ointment to his left arm as she said coldly, “Although you have many bruises and injuries, most of them will heal within a few days. Even the blade wound on your arm only injured flesh and skin without reaching the bone. After half a month, you should be able to move without issue.”

Yang Shifei smiled. “That couldn’t be better.”

He also sighed inwardly. In the past, even a tiny scrape would make him grimace in pain, but now he could chat and laugh as if nothing had happened.

The scene of the fight surfaced in his mind again. Remembering the dull sensation of smashing the other man’s facial bones with his fist, he only felt a slight discomfort in his heart, nothing more.

He did not know whether his mindset had changed or whether the influence of that chill had not yet vanished.

But what he could confirm was that this mysterious cold air had greatly strengthened his body and even brought him extraordinary senses and intuition. Otherwise, he absolutely could not have defeated last night’s assassin.

“I can apply the medicine on my body myself.”

Yang Shifei collected his thoughts, took the medicine bottle from her hand, and said seriously, “You all need to be more careful. There’s a group of people with violent intentions toward the Luo Residence.”

Tanxiang pressed her skirt and stood, turning her head to avoid looking at him. “Moli already interrogated that assassin just now. He was from the Feilin Gang.”

“Already finished questioning him?”

Yang Shifei was applying medicine and was somewhat surprised to hear that.

“You frightened him badly after beating him. With just a little questioning, he said everything.”

Tanxiang said calmly, “He was ordered by the Feilin Gang to investigate the Luo Residence’s situation. If there was a chance, he was to take the heads of everyone in our residence.”

Yang Shifei frowned. “What kind of deep hatred is this?”

He had heard a little about this gang over the past two days.

They seemed to occupy the deep outskirts outside Eastern City, and because their business was doing well, they also had influence within the city. Yellow Crane Tower, where he had previously planned to go, seemed to have some connection with the Feilin Gang.

“It is only a conflict in business.”

Tanxiang walked to the side and began putting away the various medicine bottles on the table.

“You should have heard Miss mention that we have some businesses in Eastern City. Perhaps because of that, we formed a grudge with the Feilin Gang. We just did not expect them to send people directly. They truly went too far.”

“And it was also… quite a coincidence.”

“Yes. Young Master had only arrived at the Luo Residence for two days, and they sent someone.”

Tanxiang turned back to look at him. “The reason they acted was also because of Young Master Yang.”

“Me?”

Yang Shifei looked stunned.

Tanxiang nodded slightly. “They were probably thinking that the Luo Residence had heard something in advance and specially invited you, an unknown helper. So they wanted to come and test the truth. If you were nothing much, they would act directly. If you truly were an expert, they would go back and make a longer plan.”

Yang Shifei’s mouth twitched.

How sinister.

When that black-clothed man had been talking nonsense with him in the tree, perhaps he had actually been observing his martial cultivation.

Only after confirming everything did he decisively draw his blade.

“Still, we should thank you for acting in time.”

Tanxiang closed the medicine box and said faintly, “Thanks to you, Miss and we were able to avoid disaster.”

Yang Shifei could only laugh awkwardly when he heard that.

He still wasn’t sure whether the people in the Luo Residence actually had supernatural abilities. If they did, then what he had done tonight was probably unnecessary.

“What are you planning to do next?”

Yang Shifei put his robes back on and returned the medicine bottle to the box. “Since the Feilin Gang sent someone, they’ll know something went wrong by tomorrow at the latest.”

“No need to worry. Miss will decide what to do.”

Tanxiang lifted the medicine box and turned to leave. “Young Master only needs to rest and recover here. If anything happens, open the door and call for me.”

After the maid casually closed the door, Yang Shifei thought for a while, but ultimately decided not to act on his own.

Compared to an outsider like him, Miss Luo should understand the situation much more clearly.

Besides—

Yang Shifei clenched his left hand. Although his physical condition had improved rapidly, he could clearly feel that the coldness inside his body had nearly vanished.

“Is it a one-time consumable?”

He still could not figure out the trick for now. Feeling fatigue and drowsiness surge up once more, he simply stopped forcing himself to stay awake, lay down, and fell into a deep sleep.

Near noon.

Yang Shifei slept deeply for the first time in a long while. After getting up and washing, he secretly listened for sounds in the courtyard.

Something like that had happened last night, yet today seemed to have returned to calm again?

“Young Master.”

Tanxiang’s clear and quiet voice sounded not far away.

Yang Shifei had just finished straightening his robes when he turned and saw the little maid carrying steaming hot lunch along the corridor.

“I saw that you had just woken, so I reheated it. Eat while it’s hot.”

“Sorry to trouble you.” Yang Shifei chuckled sheepishly. “I got up a bit late today.”

“Young Master was injured last night. Sleeping more is normal.”

Tanxiang placed the dishes on the stone table in the rear courtyard and said softly, “Today’s food is a little lighter. Please do not mind.”

“With your attentive care, Miss, I won’t even have enough time to eat two extra bowls of rice.”

Yang Shifei smiled as he picked up the rice bowl. His gaze swept over the small dishes arranged on the table, and he began eating with ease.

Compared with the food in Niu Village, the Luo Residence’s three meals, even when “light,” could still be called delicious home cooking. What was there to be picky about?

“…”

Tanxiang gathered her skirt and sat across from him, her calm gaze looking over.

Yang Shifei slowed slightly in his eating and said awkwardly, “Did I not wash my face clean?”

“I’m just a little surprised.”

Tanxiang blinked her bright eyes. “You’re recovering faster than I imagined. The bruises on your face have already faded.”

“Your medicine must be very effective.”

Yang Shifei laughed it off, temporarily not planning to reveal the matter of the cold air.

After all, their relationship could not yet be considered familiar. Keeping some secrets was never wrong.

But he quickly thought that since he had absorbed cold air from the mysterious little girl yesterday, then Tanxiang before him might also…

“What is Young Master thinking about?”

“Cough!”

Yang Shifei hurriedly swallowed a mouthful of rice and smiled. “It’s just that when I first arrived two days ago, I didn’t have the leisure to look around properly. Only today did I realize Miss Tanxiang is extremely beautiful.”

“…Thank you.”

Tanxiang’s pretty face showed neither sorrow nor joy. Almost no emotional fluctuation could be seen.

This made Yang Shifei feel inevitably a little embarrassed.

She clearly looked like she was only fifteen or sixteen, in the prime of youth, yet her temperament was frighteningly cold.

“Oh, right.”

Yang Shifei quickly changed the subject. “Is there any progress regarding what happened last night?”

“Miss and the others have already gone to the authorities.”

Tanxiang’s pink lips moved slightly. “The Luo family has some connections in the government office. Even if they cannot completely eradicate the Feilin Gang, they can at least properly warn those vicious bandits.”

After hearing this, Yang Shifei felt much more at ease, and the rice in his bowl tasted even better.

No matter how overbearing the Feilin Gang was, they probably would not dare act recklessly right under the authorities’ eyes.

Although the little rich woman could be frightening, she was quite reliable at times like this.

“After Young Master finishes eating, I will take you around town.”

“Huh?”

Yang Shifei looked over in surprise.

Tanxiang’s face remained calm. “Miss is not here today. I cannot very well let Young Master stay home alone. Besides, Young Master has been looking outside for a suitable livelihood these past two days. I can help make one or two introductions.”

Yang Shifei was overjoyed. He had been worried about not having a good “middleman” familiar with the local area.

He quickly finished his meal. After helping clean up the bowls and chopsticks, they set out from the Luo Residence together.

At noon, the streets of Eastern City were even more lively.

Carriages and horses came and went endlessly along the roads, the sounds of shouting and selling echoed everywhere, and cooking smoke rose in all directions.

Yang Shifei looked around and asked curiously, “Where are you planning to take me, Miss?”

“Qingyue Tower.”

Tanxiang moved her delicate lips as she walked beside him. “It is a restaurant Miss bought back then. It has been operating ever since, and business is fairly good.”

Yang Shifei secretly clicked his tongue.

What a grand move. Who knew how much silver that had cost?

“In that case, is the Feilin Gang harboring ill intentions toward the Luo Residence because of Qingyue Tower?”

“Perhaps.”

Tanxiang nodded slightly, her steps not slowing.

Yang Shifei looked at the street scenery along the way. Many bustling stalls could be seen on both sides of the street.

Eastern City was the provincial capital of Shanling Province and was located at the center between north and south. The local food culture could be considered a fusion of both sides, and one could see delicacies from other provinces almost everywhere in the streets and alleys, which looked quite novel.

“Ah, be careful.”

Yang Shifei quickly pressed Tanxiang’s shoulder and led her aside to avoid a speeding carriage. Many civilians nearby cried out in shock and cursed angrily.

“Something like this… the authorities don’t handle it?”

Tanxiang glanced over and said softly, “They are either rich or noble. No one will interfere much.”

Yang Shifei smiled helplessly. Every age was the same.

He soon withdrew his gaze and silently clenched the left hand that had just rested on her shoulder.

Unlike with that little girl, the first touch did not bring any cold air.

Or perhaps he needed to silently think “bite her” like last time in order to absorb the cold air?

Yang Shifei considered briefly, then suppressed the urge to try for now.

He should spend more time with her first.

The two walked along the street for several li before arriving before a restaurant.

Yang Shifei looked up and felt that this building was indeed decorated extraordinarily. It appeared rather grand and elegant, very much matching the mood of the words “Clear Moon.”

“Business is busy right now, so it may be a little noisy.”

Tanxiang entered the restaurant first, familiarly heading toward the counter.

Along the way, two servers passed by and respectfully nodded in greeting when they saw Tanxiang. Clearly, they both knew her identity.

Yang Shifei did not quite understand and only assumed she wanted to help introduce him to Qingyue Tower’s shopkeeper or manager.

“Oh my, what brings Miss Tanxiang here?”

The middle-aged man behind the counter hurried over and cupped his hands with a kindly smile. “Please convey my regards to the Eldest Miss.”

At the same time, he looked toward Yang Shifei beside her, doubt flickering in his eyes.

The Luo Residence had been in Eastern City for two years, yet he had never heard of any man approaching even half a step. Who was this person?

“Shopkeeper, there is no need for pleasantries.”

But Tanxiang merely waved a hand coldly. “I came to ask you for something.”

The shopkeeper patted his chest and laughed heartily. “As long as it is something Miss Tanxiang needs, I will certainly—”

“The account books.”

Tanxiang parted her pink lips and said faintly, “Bring me the account books from these past two years. All of them.”

[End of Chapter]