Chapter 4 Part II

    It must be said that approaching this influential martial artist was not easy. She had spent a considerable amount on a fine men's outfit and had also paid a substantial amount to the tailor. The money she earned from selling herbs today was all spent, and she had used more than half of her savings she had painstakingly accumulated over several months. As a result, it will take several more months to save money again. Her money in exchange for a person's life was definitely worth it. She hoped that the good karma from helping him would aid her in passing the exam to obtain the medicinal seal.

    "Ah… Oh, alright, Young Master, just a moment."

    He ran upstairs to the liquor house and soon came back down. "Young Master, Master Huang Tan invites you to join his table."

    "Hmm, thank you," Xuyao nodded in her disguise as a young man, amidst the astonished stares of the patrons in the liquor house. The voice of that Xiao’er was not soft, not exactly soft, so everyone could hear clearly. This person was to share a table with Master Huang Tan? Who was Huang Tan? He was the number one martial artist in Fufen City, a level five martial artist. Everyone desired to sit at his table, but this man had received a personal invitation from Master Huang Tan. How could they not be envious?

    But what they wondered about was who this young man was. Fufen City was not very large, and they would surely recognize such a striking young man; yet why had they never seen him before? Moreover, what did that young man give to Xiao’er? It must have been something significant for Master Huang Tan to personally invite him to join his table. The patrons' attention shifted from the martial arts performance to Master Huang Tan's table.

    Xuyao followed Xiao’er to the second floor of the liquor house and approached a large table near the balcony, which offered a clear view of the martial arts arena. A chair, upholstered in animal fur, was occupied by an influential man.

    "Greetings, Master, I am Xianfeng."

    "Hmm, Young Master Xianfeng, please have a seat."

    "Thank you," Xuyao sat at the table with Huang Tan without showing any signs of subservience or superiority, which made Huang Tan nod appreciatively. His demeanor was far from ordinary.

    "Young Master Xianfeng must not be from Fufen City. I have never seen you before." He knew all the notable figures and young masters of any significance in the city, but this young man was unfamiliar to him.

    "I am from another town. I have traveled through many towns, aiming to explore the martial world indefinitely.”

    Huang Tan frowned slightly, “Umm, I apologize, but I am unable to sense any martial energy from you." There were only two possibilities why he could not sense any vital energy from this man. One was that he was not a martial artist, and the other was that his martial prowess was too profound that even a fifth-level martial artist like himself from sensing it. However, Huang Tan was confident it was the former, as not even the slightest energy ripple was perceptible.

    "I must confess to Master Huang Tan, I do not practice martial arts. I merely have some knowledge of medicine," Xianfeng smiled politely, his demeanor graceful.

    "So, that's how it is," Huang Tan's expression lightened somewhat. If one was not a martial artist in the martial world, they were likely sorcerers, monks, or apothecaries. Xianfeng here must be a medicinal practitioner. It must be said that, regardless of their level, apothecaries must be treated with consideration before being offended. However, it was unclear at what level this young man's skills as an apothecary were. If others wouldn’t reveal their medicinal seals, it couldn’t be determined.

    "Young Master Xianfeng must have something important to discuss with me." If it wasn't for a short message in the letter, he wouldn't have invited the young man over to talk. He was very interested in what Xianfeng had written in the letter.

    While they both exchanged glances, Xiao’er brought in a tray of liquor and a new set of cups to replace them. Xuyao glanced briefly before speaking softly.

    “If I may request a small glass of this liquor, would that be possible?”

    Huang Tan's expression darkened in parts when the young man, without answering his question, brazenly asked for the expensive liquor. Yet, he restrained himself from dismissing him outright; after all, this young man was the guest he personally invited. No matter how rude the guest was, he had to endure it to some extent.

    "Certainly, Young Master Xianfeng, please," Huang Tan’s guard poured the liquor skillfully. There were two cups of liquor that Xiao’er had brought in, one had a light-yellow liquor, and the other a clear white. The guard filled the cups, sliding the white one towards Huang Tan.

    "Master Huang Tan, may I have both cups?"

    "You!" The guard behind Huang Tan burst out, unable to bear it any longer. This man was being far too disrespectful to his master. Earlier was tolerated, but no he was even claiming his master's drink. Who did he think he was? Just because his master had graciously invited him to join the table, did he think he could behave so insolently like this?

    Huang Tan’s expression darkened in seven parts. Yet, having roamed the martial world for years and encountered all manner of cunning and tricks, despite his displeasure, he was curious about what Xianfeng truly wanted. Whether Xianfeng merely sought to provoke someone of his stature, he probably wouldn’t be able to walk away from this liquor store. "Do not be rude. If Young Master Xianfeng desires both cups, let him have them."

    "Master."

    Huang Tan raised his hand to calm his guard before sliding the cups in front of Xianfeng.

    Xuyao smiled, how could she not see his displeasure? However, she had no choice but to comply; otherwise, he might die. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a silver needle. This mission had already cost her too much money, and it was painfully frustrating.

    Huang Tan continued to watch the young man's actions with suspicion. Xianfeng dipped the silver needle into her yellow cup; it showed no change. Yet, she was not alarmed. She then dipped it into the white cup, and the needle turned black instantly.

    "This... what is this!" Huang Tan and his guard were extremely shocked. This liquor house belonged to Huang Tan; any liquor that was brought out for the master to drink had to be meticulously inspected. How could this happen?

    Unless the poison was not in the liquor... but in the cup!

    "Oh, I must take my leave now; I only came for two cups of liquor," Xuyao quickly stored the silver needle in a cloth pouch before preparing to leave. Her mission was accomplished, and she needed to escape quickly. She had saved his life; surely heaven would be pleased, right? Staying any longer might make her a suspect.

    "Wait a moment, Young Master Xianfeng," Huang Tan called out. He had realized the purpose of this man's approach. The culprit who intended to poison was clear to him now. Huang Tan glanced at a crumpled piece of paper on the table, bearing someone’s name.

    He didn't distrust this Young Master Xianfeng. If this man were indeed connected to the poisoner, why would he expose himself to help? Moreover, his instincts and ability to judge people told him that this man had no malicious intent.

    "Why did you help me?"

    Xuyao raised an eyebrow, pondering. Helping someone without a reason usually aroused suspicion, which was normal.

    "Young Master, please don't misunderstand; I do not suspect you," Huang Tan's voice softened slightly, worried that the young man might misunderstand.

    "I dislike someone very much."

    "Ah, I see," he knew well who the person he was referring to.

    "That’s right," she nodded ambiguously. This Huang Tan was no fool; he surely understood whom she meant. Although she was certain of the poisoner, acting against someone based solely on a vision without solid evidence wasn’t right. Having saved a life was sufficient for now. What needed to be done had been done; the rest was up to Huang Tan.

    Xuyao prepared to leave.

    "Just a moment, Young Master Xianfeng. May I know where you are staying? I would like to express my gratitude later."

    "I reside outside the city and am not accustomed to receiving guests." With that, she turned to leave. However, at that moment, another vision flashed before her, prompting her to turn back.

    "Ah, the monk residing at your manor is a swindler. You should dismiss him," he warned.

    This statement left Huang Tan and his guard profoundly stunned.

    It must be said that the matter of the monk in Master Huang Tan’s manor was a secret unknown to outsiders. Last year, Master Huang Tan's furen fell seriously ill, and no doctor from anywhere could cure her. One day, a monk passing by claimed that an evil spirit in his manor was consuming Furen Huang’s life energy and that if it wasn't expelled, a deadly incident could occur in the manor.

    Huang Tan, deeply affectionate towards his wife, clung to this story when medical treatments failed. The monk claimed that it would take several months to dispel the evil spirit, so Huang Tan invited the monk into his manor and treated him with great hospitality. The monk ate, slept, and spent his money like the manor's owner, with servants attending to his every need. Only those within the manor were aware of this. The monk had been living in the manor for nearly two months, and no word of it had ever leaked outside.

    “Young Master Xianfeng, you… you!” How could he know?

    Or perhaps, he was a man of great foresight. How could he not be? Indeed, he must have foreseen the poisoning attempt on Huang Tan and came to warn him. Moreover, he had also foreseen that the monk in the manor was a fraud. Believing in spirits and phantoms, Huang Tan was convinced that Young Master Xianfeng was a benevolent figure sent to assist him.

    Xuyao was unaware that she now appeared as a person of great foresight in the eyes of Master Huang Tan.

    “Oh, one more thing. The dark-faced maid beats your son every day. Please take better care of your child.” What kind of a person he was? He sought influence outside the manor yet seemed incapable of handling affairs of his own manor, causing hardship for his wife and son. That’s terrible. Xuyao criticized him silently in her mind.

    This time, everyone at the table was more shocked than before. Few knew that the dark-faced maid was the servant of the young master of the Huang family. Since the young master had been frail since birth, Huang Tan had arranged several wet nurses and servants to care for his son. However, for some unknown reason, the wet nurses and servants kept rotating out due to injuries or illnesses to the extent that they couldn’t work in young master’s house, leaving only the dark-faced maid. Huang Tan rationalized that the evil spirits attached to his son caused the servants to fall ill one by one. Only the dark-faced maid was left whose appearance was too ugly for spirits to harm her. When the monk made his claims, he believed without doubt.

    Even the internal affairs of the manor, this man spoke as if he had seen them himself. If not a celestial immortal, then what?

    “Young Master Xianfeng, please! Help my furen and son.”

    Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

    The sound of knees hitting the floor startled Xuyao as Huang Tan and his guards knelt before her.

    More shocking to the patrons of the liquor house was, “That…that’s Master Huang Tan kneeling to the young man!” How could this be? Immediate murmurs rose.

    “What… what help do you need?” She was not a priest, nor was she a licensed doctor. How could she help?

    “Dispel the evil spirits from my furen and son, from my manor.”

    “I am not a monk!”

    “Young Master Xianfeng, please help!”

    “...” This time, Xuyao was truly stunned.

    “What do you require? Whatever it is, I, Huang Tan, will find it for you. Please help!”

    Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Now it was the sound of heads knocking on the floor.

    Xuyao stood frozen, unable to utter a word. How had things escalated to this point? She did not understand why Huang Tan would believe in such spirits. What was she to do now? She was not a shaman!

    If she left now and couldn’t help, would he have her beheaded at his manor?

    “Young Master! Please help!” This time, Huang Tan clung to her legs tightly, tears streaming down his rugged face, and his beard. No matter how she tried to shake him off, he wouldn’t let go, gripping her tightly. The entire liquor house fell silent, staring in panic at Master Huang Tan, a fearsome figure. Was he really Master Huang Tan? Was he possessed by a spirit?

    Xuyao, on the other hand, desperately tried to free her legs with all her might, but she couldn't break free. Damn it!

    "Uh... Master Huang, I... I need to go check on furen and the young master first to see if I can help them." Finally, Xuyao gave up after kicking her legs until she was exhausted. Never mind, perhaps Furen Huang wasn't actually afflicted by evil spirits but was simply ill with a common disease.

    "Thank you! Thank you, Young Master Xianfeng, let us proceed then," Huang Tan released her instantly, smiling as gleefully as a child given sweets. The patrons of the liquor house gaped in astonishment once again, and Huang Tan’s personal guard could only rub their temples. It’s over, his carefully cultivated image shattered.

    "Master Huang Tan, I will assist you, but you must manage this affair first," she pointed to the cups of liquor on the table, implying that he needed to deal with Ma Hua first. After handling Ma Hua, she would no longer have to worry about the dark-clad men who might still be loitering in front of the garment shop, possibly even having fallen asleep by now. Moreover, once Ma Hua was handled, she could also help that poor young man—a great merit for her.

    Huang Tan was about to speak, but Xuyao interjected, "When the time comes, I will come to you. No conditions, no negotiations. I must go!" With that, Xuyao swiftly turned and left.

    What a stroke of bad luck!

    Xuyao returned to the garment store, walked to its deepest part, and then entered a room. She removed the jade ring from her finger, changed her attire, and came out holding a bundle of cloth. A store employee anxiously awaited her at the door.

    Xuyao handed a sum of money to the employee, "Go about your business. The young master of my house needs to stay in the room for a while; he will leave on his own soon. Thank you for your trouble."

    "Understood, Miss. May you have good fortune," the employee, feeling the weight of the purse somewhat heavier, smiled broadly and nodded eagerly in agreement.

    As Xuyao stepped out of the store, she immediately felt the gaze of the dark-clad men on her. They must have been anxious about her disappearance into the garment store for so long.