Chapter 20 - Unknown Opportunity, Zhou Xianming

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“What’s going on? Is it because of the baneful aura at the bottom of the river?”

After the meal, An Jing felt a little tired and fell asleep on the bed.

“Darling, why did you agree to it?” Zhao Qingmei asked An Jing who was lying on the bed.

“Didn’t you ask me to agree?”

“I’m not asking you to agree!”

“Forget it, I’ve already agreed. One more person simply means one more pair of chopsticks.”

Zhao Qingmei really wanted to say that it was not that simple.

“Sleep early. You’ve been busy all afternoon.”

An Jing yawned and took off his coat.

“You’re sleeping so early?” Zhao Qingmei licked her lips and kept glancing at An Jing.

“I’m a little tired.”

After An Jing returned from Qing River Crossing, he felt a little tired. Perhaps it was because of the baneful energy entering his body. Although it had been expelled by the Bodhi Bead, it still made him feel very tired.

“Brother!”

Zhao Qingmei crawled over and wrapped her long legs around An Jing’s thigh while her hand slipped into his underwear.

“Darling, let’s do it tomorrow. I’m really tired today.”

An Jing felt like he was about to fall asleep.

“Brother, I learned a new trick.”

Zhao Qingmei bit An Jing’s ear and blew on it.

“Sure, show it to me tomorrow,” An Jing said weakly.

“I want to show you today.”

Zhao Qingmei refused to give up and continued to move her hand downwards.

“Yeah…”

An Jing felt very comfortable, but he still lay like a dead person.

“You ate the food for nothing,” complained Zhao Qingmei as she patted An Jing’s cheek.

But An Jing was already asleep, and there was only the soft sound of breathing.

“An Jing, get up!”

…

Yuzhou City, in a quiet courtyard, several men in linen clothes stood on both sides of the courtyard. They each held an orange-red lantern in their hands, lighting up the entire courtyard as if it was daytime.

Cao Gang wore linen clothes. This was something that everyone knew.

In the middle of the courtyard, a limping old man was brandishing a knife in his hand. The corners of his robes fluttered with the wind, and he held a pair of scimitars in his hands. The wind from the scimitar was strange. It made people shudder as if a malicious spirit was crying.

“Brother Tie!”

A hearty laugh was heard, and Hong Yuanwu walked into the courtyard wearing a cloak.

“Lord Hong!”

The limping old man who was practicing with his scimitar kept his scimitar and apologized to Hong Yuanwu.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to get you here,” said Hong Yuanwu.

The old man in front of him was none other than one of Cao Gang’s Seven Great Vajras, Tie Yunshan.

Cao Gang’s 36 Branch Masters were in charge of various territories, while the Seven Great Vajras were in charge of the headquarters. They were even more infamous and were all top-notch experts.

Some people once said that the 36 Branch Masters were not very famous in the martial world. In that case, any one of the Seven Great Vajra Masters was a renowned expert in the martial world.

Any one of them was enough to establish a sect in the martial world.

In his early years, Tie Yunshan had roamed the martial world for dozens of years. He relied on a pair of scimitars to travel through the martial world. Countless experts had died in his hands. Later on, he offended the head of the Su Clan in Taihu Ming City and was hunted down. In the end, he fought back and killed dozens of Su Clan’s experts, including the head of the Su Clan at that time. He caused the Su Clan’s Old Ancestor to personally take action. In the end, in order to survive, he severed one of his legs and threw himself into Cao Gang to protect himself.

Cao Gang was powerful, Liu Qingshan was even more unyielding, the Su Clan could only suffer this huge loss.

Among Cao Gang’s many experts, mobilizing the Seven Great Vajras was extremely rare.

Speaking of which, their friendship was pretty strong.

Initially, Hong Yuanwu was not a member of the Black Clothes Guard. He was also a martial artist. His personality was also arrogant and overbearing. At that time, both of them were in the Jiangnan Dao area. He and Tie Yunshan could be said to have become friends through fighting.

Later on, Hong Yuanwu joined the Black Clothes Guard. From then on, he wore official robes and lived off the Imperial Court.

When Tie Yunshan was being hunted down by the Su Clan, Hong Yuanwu mediated and exerted quite a bit of effort. Although he was unable to resolve the grudge in the end, this caused the relationship between the two to become even deeper.

Tie Yunshan took a deep breath and said, “This is no small matter. Haoping has a close relationship with me, and you know my character. It’s impossible for me not to come.”

Hong Yuanwu nodded slightly. He naturally knew that Tie Yunshan valued loyalty.

Liu Haoping had an extremely good relationship with him. Now that he had been killed in Yuzhou City, he naturally would not remain indifferent.

Hong Yuanwu said solemnly, “That mysterious swordsman is at the peak of second-grade. I think he’s at least at the peak of second-grade.”

“I’ve observed that sword strike. It’s capable.”

Tie Yunshan sneered, “But I am not a nobody, especially with Brother Hong here.”

‘Flying Arrow Tie Yunshan Under the Moon’ was his alias in the martial world.

“The two of us will have a great chance if we attack.” Hong Yuanwu nodded slightly.

Not only was Cao Gang on the wanted list for the mysterious swordsman, but the Imperial Court was also present.

Tie Yunshan nodded slightly and said, “I have three reasons for coming to Yuzhou City. Please lend me a hand.”

“There’s no need to say anything about our friendship. I will naturally lend you a hand.”

Hong Yuanwu asked, “What is your motive?”

“Capture two alive.”

“Which two?”

“Jiang Sanjia, Mu Xiaoyun.”

“Mu Xiaoyun?”

Hong Yuanwu frowned and said in disbelief, “Her? Is there a mistake?”

Cao Gang wanted to capture Mu Xiaoyun!?

“That’s right.” Tie Yunshan was silent for a long time before replying.

…

The next day, An Jing woke up early.

“Darling, didn’t you put any medicine in the porridge today?”

An Jing stared at Zhao Qingmei, who was busy sorting out the herbs.

In the past, Zhao Qingmei would usually put Chinese medicinal walnuts, lotus seeds, and other herbs in the porridge she cooked in the morning. However, there was none today. It was just plain porridge.

“It’s useless even if you eat it. I’ll not cook it anymore,” Zhao Qingmei raised her head and said calmly.

“Indeed. The taste of the mixture of those medicines is a little strange. The taste of the porridge with some pickled vegetables is the best.” An Jing nodded and continued unknowingly.

“Then I won’t cook porridge anymore.”

“Sure, change to something else.”

Zhao Qingmei glanced at An Jing before walking toward the backyard out of spite.

Before An Jing knew what had happened, Lil Blackie ran to his feet.

“Little thing, it’s only been two days and you’ve already become rounder.” An Jing reached out and stroked Lil Blackie’s body.

“Woof!”

Upon hearing An Jing’s words, Lil Blackie quickly ran away.

“This little thing! I fed you for nothing.”

The afternoon was very comfortable. Under the shade of the dense green trees, the slightly mottled and gray white walls of the ancient house in Jiangnan faced the unchanging little bridge and flowing water. The golden silk and soft willow trees and shadows rippled, and the sound of the yellow orioles passing by could be heard.

The shadows of boats could be seen drifting past the Yuzhou River and the surface of the water sparkled with golden light.

An Jing picked up a tobacco pouch and a small stool on the wall, intending to go to the tea house next door to listen to stories and drink tea.

Before he reached the door, he was informed by the teahouse worker that Zhou Xianming was not there.

“What’s wrong with Mr. Zhou?”

An Jing found it strange. “It’s rare for him to not come to the teahouse for three consecutive days. Logically speaking, he should have recovered from his cold. Did something happen?”

Whoosh!

The Earth Book emitted a golden light and a new notification appeared.

An Jing’s thoughts entered the book.

“Prompt: Zhou Xianming might have an unknown opportunity..”