Chapter 126: Fourth Brother Xiao’s Invitation

Early in the morning, Lin Mao left the Jiuyao Tower and headed toward the Xishui Si Gate. Passing through Wuxing Street, he encountered Xiao Laosi.

Lin Mao, currently down on his luck, had no desire to entangle himself with the man. Upon seeing him, he turned and walked back, slipping into an abandoned house.

Without looking back, he said, "Why did you follow me?"

Xiao Laosi, holding a long flute, tapped it against his palm and smiled, bowing his head. "Brother Lin, you came to this place specifically to lure me here, didn't you? Since we are already here, why be so distant?"

"Lin has nothing to say to you." Do not think that others are unaware of the people behind you.

"We are all the same kind of person, Brother Lin; there is really no need to target me."

Lin Mao turned back, sneering coldly, "Is that so?"

Xiao Laosi said, "If we trace the source, you and I serve the same master. It is just that now you have narrowly escaped being silenced, while I have been discarded. When you think about it, aren't we both just pathetic people sharing the same fate?"

"What exactly do you want to say?" There is no reason to be rekindling old ties for no reason.

Xiao Laosi looked at the weed-choked courtyard and pointed his flute at a plaque that was broken and hanging by a single corner. "What is your opinion on this, Brother Lin?"

Lin Mao glanced at it and said, "The rise and fall of things is the way of nature. What is there to be surprised about?"

"True enough." Xiao Laosi retracted his flute and clasped his hands behind his back. "Brother Lin, do you know what has happened in Yuhaitian recently?"

"What could have happened? Nothing more than Baili Suhe becoming the seal-breaker for the Wusheng Gate."

"That is one thing, but do you know the reactions of the One Palace, the Three Families, and the remaining Six Sects?"

"You know?" Lin Mao raised an eyebrow, his eyes betraying his contempt. Although you, Xiao Laosi, have some tricks, you are not capable of planting people within the One Palace and Three Families, are you?

Xiao Laosi acted as if he had seen nothing and said, "I am not talented, but I happen to hold a bit of information. I just don't know if you, Brother Lin, are interested in joining this grand undertaking?"

"Oh?" Is it that simple?

"The power in Yuhaitian has long been held by these old-established factions, and for many years, they have been content with the status quo, showing no ambition to progress. I wish to emulate Hu Xihe and create a new lineage with you, Brother Lin. To become the Eighth Sect, following the Seven."

Lin Mao scoffed, "Is that all?"

Xiao Laosi was unperturbed. "One must eat rice one mouthful at a time, and walk the road one step at a time. Once the name of the Eighth Sect is firmly established, the rest..." won't it all be in our hands?

"Xiao, your ambition is admirable. But do not forget, besides the One Palace, the Three Families, and the Seven Sects, there are also the Five Islands. None of them are easy to deal with."

Xiao Laosi chuckled softly. "The Five Islands are far across the sea, and the Seven Sects are each occupied with their own affairs. As for the Three Families and the One Palace, Baili holds great influence. This is our opportunity."

"Ha, it seems you have already planned everything. Asking me, I fear, is just to recruit a scapegoat to serve as a cushion?" Who doesn't want to be a hero or an overlord? Yet who would hand over an empire to share with another?

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you cannot put it that way," Xiao Laosi clicked his tongue. "Brother Lin, look: the Three Evils of Bafeng Island have emerged and are now moving unpredictably. The Wusheng Gate’s seal-breaker has appeared in accordance with the times. What does this mean? It means our opportunity has arrived. A world of chaos is about to begin; if we don't grab a piece of the pie, wouldn't our time in this world be wasted? With your great talent, are you content to be a servant to others for the rest of your life? The great path is endless; why not join forces with me, let us pursue the world together and fight for power and status?"

Seeing that Lin Mao was still unmoved, Xiao Laosi changed his tack. "Do you know what happened last night while you were having a good time with the beauty?"

Finally, Lin Mao reacted. "Stop beating around the bush. Tell me."

"Last night, several groups of people approached Baili Suhe at the same time. You know about Baili Suhe, right? After the incident at your Liuxin Studio, he barely saved his life. Then, by sheer luck, he was admitted into the Wusheng Gate. Everyone knows this, but not everyone fully believes it."

"You mean, the major factions have made their move?"

"Exactly. As far as I know, last night, Suhe trapped four people with a formation and killed three of them. Of the four, the one who survived was from the Poison Sect."

"And the ones who died?"

"If nothing went wrong, it should be two from the Medical Sect and one from the Dual-Fiend Sect."

"Only that?"

"Of course not. Lurking in the shadows were people sent by the Soul-Control Sect, the Xiu Sect, the Chunqiu Hanmo, and the Three Families and One Palace."

"Rumor has it that Baili Suhe cannot use his true essence for the time being. Even if it was a formation, controlling it would still cause strain, not to mention that his opponents were all at their peak. How could Baili Suhe trap and kill them? Are you sure the information is correct?" Lin Mao frowned. He had seen Baili Suhe before and observed that his complexion showed signs of stagnant true essence. Could this be another one of his tricks?

"That, I do not know. My people only followed until the crowd dispersed; the rest remains unknown. If you want to know more details, why not agree to join me? All in all, it is a hundred benefits to you and no harm. Why not take on a business with no capital investment?"

Lin Mao pondered for a moment and said, "Lead the way."

Xiao Laosi clapped his hands in admiration. "Since ancient times, beauties have loved heroes, and if not heroes, then they cherish the overlords. You must pick one, Brother Lin, to win the beauty's favor, right?"

"You..."

"Do not misunderstand, I am not a man who lusts after women."

"That's more like it."

Xiao Laosi laughed sheepishly and turned to lead the way.

When the two passed Qingxi Bridge, they saw Que Yunzi and the others heading in the direction of Jiuyao Tower. At a glance, he saw Zou Jiren in the crowd. Instantly, he leaned against the railing, his hair bristling with rage, and the defensive energy around his body surged, accompanied by the faint sound of wind and thunder.

"Wait, do not be impulsive." Xiao Laosi pressed a hand on his shoulder and lowered his head. "Killing Zou Jiren is not difficult, but the man beside him is not easy to deal with. Even if we add our strength together, it is not certain we can get the better of him. Moreover, there is that crafty old fox Que Yunzi nearby. Let us leave this for now; we shall plan long-term."

After saying this, he used force to pull him away from Qingxi Bridge after several attempts.

Over there, after taking the wrong path several times, Que Yunzi finally found the Qiuxin Pavilion.

The first time he didn't look where he was going and plunged headlong into Jiuyao Tower. Seeing a group of beauties coming out to greet him, he fled as if his backside were on fire.

Running to the entrance of Qiuxin Pavilion, he leaned against a pillar and panted for a long while before catching his breath. Que Yunzi clutched his chest, looking as if he were about to pass out, and said weakly, "Good heavens, the favor of beauties is not so easy to enjoy. How did that Crane boy manage to walk out of there yesterday?"

Upon hearing this, Zou Jiren laughed. "Who knows? Why don't you ask him yourself when you go back?"

"Ask him? Why ask him?"

"What's wrong?"

"If I ask him, wouldn't I expose myself? How can I lecture him next time?" Que Yunzi pulled at his open lapels, straightened his back, and shook himself off for a while, finally tidying up his sparse beard.

Yun Xingyu could not help but laugh. "If you don't go in to buy wine now, I reckon the ladies from across the way will come chasing after you in a moment."

"Indeed, I never thought you were so popular with the ladies, truly admirable," Zou Jiren teased.

"Get lost! Those are just a bunch of soul-sucking banshees." Que Yunzi gave him a dirty look, then turned to look. Mother of Heaven, they really were chasing after him!

Frightened, Que Yunzi slid into the wine shop like a puff of smoke. Across the way, the beauties leaned against each other, burying their faces in their hands, laughing until they couldn't stand straight.

Yun Xingyu and Zou Jiren shared a smile and then entered Qiuxin Pavilion.

The waiter was the same waiter, but even though Que Yunzi and his group had arrived early, they did not see the shopkeeper. Que Yunzi walked with his hands behind his back, strutting confidently to the counter. He slapped it with a "thwack," stroked his beard, and said bombastically, "Waiter, buy some wine."

The waiter drooped his eyelids, looking indifferent, and curled his lips. "What kind of wine are you buying?" He had stolen a few pots of wine to drink yesterday, and today he was still sluggish and preoccupied.

Que Yunzi leaned in and said, "Wangsun Wine."

When the waiter heard this, he thought, 'Oh, you have an eye for quality.' His attitude changed slightly, and he opened one eye to size him up. "You know about Wangsun Wine?" He looked like a stranger, not a regular customer. Or was it that their wine at Qiuxin Pavilion was already known everywhere?

"I know it. Not only do I know it, we have drunk it before." Que Yunzi made a broad gesture, including both Yun Xingyu and Zou Jiren.

The waiter suddenly became energized. He leaned over the counter and whispered to Que Yunzi with a wink, "Then tell me, what is the story behind Wangsun Wine, and how did it come to be?"

Que Yunzi was stunned, thinking to himself: Why is there a password to buy wine? On second thought, he found it quite fun. He had a playful, childlike nature, and seeing the waiter like this, he decided to play along to the end.

He said, "I know, I know. 'When the gentleman is worried, ask not the way home,' right?" Suhe and Yi Qingchen had mentioned this to him, and he remembered it all.

The waiter nodded, his curiosity and pride satisfied. He finally straightened his back and said, "Alright, tell me how much you want. First, let's be clear: our wine is ten taels per jar. It is truly not expensive. And since it is so good, there is absolutely no bargaining."

"I know, I know. First, go bring me thirty jars. If it's not enough, I'll come back."

"Can you drink that much?" Even plain water can bloat the stomach; even good wine can make one drunk.

"We can drink it, we can drink it." Que Yunzi turned and pointed at the two people behind him. "Look at the three of us; ten jars each, isn't that just right?"

The waiter wiped his hands with the towel on his shoulder, looked at the three of them, and thought, 'That's true.' Selling wine is selling wine; why was he wasting his energy worrying about them? He shook his head and walked straight behind the curtain to the cellar in the back courtyard to fetch the wine.

Yun Xingyu looked at the waiter and said, "Your purpose probably isn't just this, is it?"

Zou Jiren nodded, sharing the same feeling. He had said it was good for his injuries, so they should buy more. But he still felt that things were not that simple, and Que Yunzi did not seem like a man without an ulterior motive.

Que Yunzi chuckled happily. "What motive could I have? Isn't it all for your injury? You dare to doubt me? You pay for this trip!"

"..." Zou Jiren stared blankly at Que Yunzi for a while, then was left both laughing and crying. Fine, he would pay. He didn't lack for money anyway. Following Lin Mao all these years, he had managed to save a nest egg.

While they were chatting, the waiter soon brought the first batch, then the second, and the third...

"Alright, count them to see if the quantity is correct. If there is no problem, give me the silver." After saying this, the waiter picked up the teacup on the counter and took a big sip.

Que Yunzi had a sharp nose, and his nostrils flared slightly. He glanced at Zou Jiren and said, "Go verify the quantity. If it's fine, settle the bill."

After he finished, he turned to lean against the counter and winked at the teacup. "Young man, you like this stuff too?"

The waiter looked at him and said righteously, "I sell wine here; if I don't drink it, what do I drink?"

"..." Que Yunzi was speechless, always feeling that something was right, yet something was wrong.

Yun Xingyu shook his head at the sight and simply went to help Zou Jiren. But for Que Yunzi, this was not the point. The point was: "Young man, we have been standing here for a while, but we have only seen you rushing back and forth. Are your boss and the shopkeeper both away?"

"That?" The waiter looked up, smacked his lips, and said, "My boss and the shopkeeper are the same person."

"Oh, can we be introduced?"

Zou Jiren and Yun Xingyu exchanged glances, both thinking: Here it comes.