Chapter 5: A Pact of Gold and Blood in the Jianghu

 

A few days later, the whispers about the banquet poisoning at the Huamei Pavilion had blossomed into full-blown Jianghu rumor. The tale of the frequently masked killer offering ten thousand taels of silver for a life became a favorite tavern story. Naturally, the surprisingly young master of Wanqiaozhai drew significant attention. Meanwhile, Yu Qifeng remained conspicuously silent about the evening’s events, while the Yanmen compound, oblivious to the truth, continued to praise Tang Lici as a humble gentleman contributing to the martial world’s greater good.

A narrow path, lined with purple blossoms and emerald grass, culminated at a stark building constructed of large, white stones. The structure was unnerving, topped with carved human heads, each bearing a strangely lifelike, eerie expression. Tang Lici and Chi Yun waited outside. Fifty thousand taels of gold had just been delivered from the Palace City Bank and taken inside. Tang Lici had been attempting to secure the services of Shen Langhun for a full year, and the owner of the desolate building had finally agreed. Now, they simply waited for the legendary figure to appear.

"The way you're buying things, it looks like you're keeping a concubine," Chi Yun commented lazily, surveying the stone structure. "How can such a small stone building accommodate so many people?"

Tang Lici smiled, observing the architecture. "There must be something else going on."

As he spoke, the door of the stone building slid open slowly, and a figure emerged with deliberate, measured steps.

So, there truly are people like this in the world? Chi Yun sneered inwardly. The man was about thirty, pale, with an unremarkable build—neither tall nor short, fat nor thin. His features were astonishingly ordinary. Were it not for the strangely shaped, vibrant red snake branded on his right cheek, he would have been the perfect secret agent. Even seeing him ten times wouldn't etch his image into memory.

However, the red snake mark on Shen Langhun's face was indeed peculiar. It wasn't a winding or coiled snake, but a small red serpent, its head consuming its tail, forming a perfect ring. Tang Lici's expression subtly shifted upon seeing this, his eyes filling with an indescribably strange and complex emotion. After a brief pause, he smiled. "Brother Shen, you're renowned. I've long admired you."

"What's the matter?" Shen Langhun spoke, his voice as utterly unremarkable as his appearance. He looked at Tang Lici with a dull, lifeless gaze.

Tang Lici said, "Brother Shen, please help me capture someone alive."

Shen Langhun asked coldly, "Who?"

"Yu Qifeng." Tang Lici smiled faintly. "Brother Shen, if you have any concerns..."

Shen Langhun replied calmly, "No."

Tang Lici said, "Very well, we'll be on our way. From today on, you and I are friends. This is Chi Yun, 'Sky Cloud.'"

Shen Langhun's eyes flickered, a moment of sharp brilliance dazzling in their depth. "So it's Chi Yun."

Chi Yun reacted with lightning speed, striking at Shen Langhun's neck with a swift palm. Shen Langhun flinched slightly, then raised his own palm, the impact sending a tingling sensation up both their wrists. Chi Yun laughed heartily, while Shen Langhun's expression remained unchanged. The two exchanged a few quick moves, each gaining a secret respect for the other's skill.

Tang Lici clapped his hands, and three large, ornate sedan chairs appeared behind him. Shen Langhun was momentarily startled. Having been a killer for so long, he'd seen all manner of strange things, but never had he seen someone travel in such an ostentatious manner for a killing contract. Seeing Tang Lici and Chi Yun board, he immediately stepped into the third and sat down. He felt the chairs being lifted with remarkable steadiness, noting the considerable strength of the sedan bearers. The chairs were upholstered in emerald green silk and embellished with pearls—a truly luxurious sight.

The three sedan chairs slowly emerged from Zihua Gorge and headed toward Diancheng.

In Diancheng stood a bank named "Wanxin." Xin literally means "three golds." The bank owner's surname was Huang, hence her name, San Jin (Three Golds). Huang Sanjin's bank was not part of Wanqiaozhai, but she and Tang Lici were business associates. Although the name "Huang Sanjin" sounded rather vulgar, she was an elegant woman.

Inside the Wanxin Money House, Tang Lici and his two companions were drinking tea with Huang Sanjin. The woman, a significant figure in Diancheng, was charming, with fair skin and a golden dress that stood in vivid contrast to her name.

She giggled, "It's an honor for Mr. Tang to ask for money from me. How can it be considered a bother? I'm afraid Mr. Tang won't be accustomed to the coarse tea here."

Tang Lici smiled, "Miss Huang, you're too polite. Even if the tea is coarse, having you as my companion is like a spring breeze."

Huang Sanjin giggled, "You're such a mean person. You clearly said my tea was not good, but you took a roundabout way to praise my beauty. It's a pity that I just happen to like bad men like you, haha..." She glanced at Chi Yun and Shen Langhun, her eyes full of charm, the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile that was subtly ambiguous. "A while ago, Xuelang borrowed five hundred taels of silver from me. He said he was looking for a girl, and I heard he went to Yu Qifeng's house. It doesn't matter if he died, but he must return the money."

Tang Lici put down his teacup. "Did he say anything when he came to borrow the money?"

"Of course, he said he borrowed money and you paid him back." Huang Sanjin chuckled, "He said you owed him six thousand taels of gold, and the person you wanted was in which carriage. I didn't understand, and he didn't have the patience to say it again."

Chi Yun's brows shot up. "What did the old pervert say?" The "Xue Lang" Huang Sanjin referred to was, of course, Xue Xianzi.

"He said that the person Young Master Tang was looking for was in a carriage going from east to south. There were colorful snakes on the carriage, and the person was in the carriage. But there were too many poisonous insects in the carriage, and he thought it was too troublesome to kill them one by one, so he didn't bring the person back to you and asked you to find her yourself."

Tang Lici tapped the teacup lightly with his white fingers. "Since Xue Xianzi despised the person for not being beautiful enough and was too lazy to bring her back, why did he chase her to Yu Qifeng's house? Could it be..." He smiled slightly, a look that invited interpretation.

Huang Sanjin giggled, "No wonder he said you were his only confidant in his life. Yes, he suddenly fell in love with a little girl in Yu Qifeng's family and borrowed five hundred taels of silver from me to buy pollen for the little girl."

Tang Lici shook his head. "The little girl in Yu Qifeng's family? Yu Qifeng has been single since then. According to my investigation, there are no maids in the family."

Huang Sanjin glanced at him with affection. "I think you don't have to pretend anymore. Yes, as you expected, Yu Qifeng's family suddenly had a beautiful fairy recently. Xue Lang praised the little girl for her beauty. Flowers would die and birds would commit suicide at the sight of her. You know he has little education. We can't understand the poems Xue Lang wrote... Hehe, in short, He's obsessed with that little girl and has been working as a servant at Yu Qifeng's house these days. If you need anything, go find him. As long as the three of you can break into Yu's Sword Manor, and Xuelang hasn't fallen in love with someone else, you'll eventually meet him."

Tang Lici smiled gently, "Oh? It seems Xue Xianzi has made great progress recently. Besides beautiful women, he also remembers to tell you many trivial matters."

Huang Sanjin's face suddenly flushed, and he smiled brightly. "Forget it, forget it, you idiot... I was worried that you would suffer if you went after Yu Qifeng, so I eagerly helped you find some clues, but I didn't dare tell you that I was responsible for it, for fear of angering you, so I had to put the credit on that old pervert Xuelang. You know how I feel, but you don't appreciate it. You will definitely expose me in public. I don't know anyone worse than you!"

"Tang Lici doesn't dare accept Miss Huang's kindness," Tang Lici sighed softly, "but if you take action, you will only bring trouble upon yourself. I am indeed a little angry." He lifted his left sleeve and gently brushed nonexistent dust off it with his right hand. "If anything happens here, let me know sooner rather than later."

Huang Sanjin reached out and cupped his cheek. "Is it that serious? I've never understood why, considering Young Master Tang's shrewdness and viciousness, he's so obsessed with this matter this time. It's very unlike you."

Tang Lici smiled slightly. "People always have some things they're particularly obsessed with, like Miss Huang, like me."

Huang Sanjin's eyes were watery, and suddenly filled with worry. He sighed, "That's right... I'm obsessed with you, and you... what are you obsessed with?"

Tang Lici said, "You might as well think that I'm obsessed with you."

Huang Sanjin smiled, the expression tinged with bitterness. "If you're going to lie to me, you should have done it more convincingly."

"Young lady, please be careful these days. I'll use this pearl to offset the five hundred taels of silver Xue Xianzi gave me." Tang Lici pulled a pearl from his bosom. It was perfectly round, radiantly luminous, about the size of a thumb, clearly worth far more than five hundred taels. "Since Xue Xianzi has found the carriage, it's time for us to leave. I'm deeply grateful for your company today."

Huang Sanjin stood up. "Are you leaving now?" She sighed softly. "I don't want your gratitude. It would be wonderful if you could withdraw money from me once a year."

Tang Lici simply smiled, bowed, and departed, taking Chi Yun and Shen Langhun with him.

Huang Sanjin watched the three men leave, then glanced at the teacup Tang Lici had used. A look of sadness washed over her charming face. She had loved this man from their first meeting, and she had also known from that first moment that he was heartless... However, women are women after all. What they like remains like, and what they dislike remains heartless.

"That old idiot Xue Xianzi! There are so many carriages going from east to south. Can I stop them all and check if they're carrying poisonous insects? The world is so vast, where would I even go to find them?" After leaving Wanxin Bank, Chi Yun sneered the entire way. He found the sky too bright, the grass too green, Shen Langhun too mute, and Tang Lici too much of a philanderer.

"Xue Xianzi found your fiancée so quickly. It must not be magical power, but luck," Tang Lici said. "I guess he ran into that beautiful girl on the road, followed her to Yu Qifeng's Yu Family Sword Manor, and then saw Bai Suche's carriage, so he knew her whereabouts."

Chi Yun snorted. "If I catch this woman, I'll kill her with a single blow."

Shen Langhun remained silent, seemingly uninterested. The three of them retrieved Fengfeng, who had been entrusted to a woman in the city for nursing. Tang Lici hired a carriage and headed south.

Inside the carriage, Shen Langhun sat cross-legged, his eyes fixed on his nose, and his nose on his heart, like a wooden statue. Chi Yun lay across the seat, his legs draped over Shen Langhun, but the assassin showed no reaction. Tang Lici sat beside Chi Yun. Fortunately, the carriage was spacious, and Chi Yun's head was far from him. The carriage gradually left Diancheng, traveling over a hundred miles to Guan'an, where the Yu Family Sword Farm was located on the outskirts.

"Brother Shen," Tang Lici said, holding Fengfeng. The baby seemed excited by the swaying carriage. His hands firmly gripped Tang Lici's collar, pulling his clothes halfway aside and exposing his right shoulder. The shoulder was perfectly curved, smooth and soft, but Tang Lici paid it no mind. He suddenly said to Shen Langhun, "I have a question."

Shen Langhun closed his eyes and didn't answer.

Tang Lici said, "Brother Shen, you can ask me in exchange."

At these words, Shen Langhun suddenly opened his eyes. His usually dull eyes lit up like pearls, shimmering like diamonds—a startling sight. He simply asked, "What's the matter?"

Tang Lici pointed at the red snake on his cheek. "Where did this mark come from?"

Shen Langhun didn't answer, his radiant eyes fixed on the carriage wall. After a long moment, he asked calmly, "Did your martial arts come from the Transformation Technique?"

Tang Lici smiled, not blinking. "Yes."

Shen Langhun's eyes shone brightly, and he suddenly turned to stare at him intently. "Very good!"

Tang Lici returned his gaze, unblinking. If Shen Langhun's eyes were like lightning, Tang Lici's were a kaleidoscope of emotions, impossible to decipher. Chi Yun opened his eyes and looked at the carriage roof. He had known this all along: Tang Lici's martial arts weren't his own.

The Transformation Technique was a sinister art.

In the martial arts world, the mere mention of the "Huan Gong Dafa" (The Transformation Technique) would make everyone shudder, especially after the incident involving Bai Nanzhu years ago. The Huan Gong Dafa originated from the "Wangsheng Pu" (Rebirth Manual), along with two other foundational skills, Gun Xue and Yu Gu. The Huan Gong Dafa was its demonic manifestation. Legend claimed that decades ago, a demonic figure went astray while practicing the Wangsheng Pu. Seeking liberation, he transferred his cultivated power to his disciple, who subsequently lost it and died. However, the disciple gained several times greater martial arts prowess, becoming a formidable villain who ravaged the world. From this, the martial arts world learned that the Wangsheng Pu could be multiplied by transfer. If the one who transferred the power already possessed profound martial arts, the one who received it would gain immeasurable, astonishing power. Furthermore, they would be free from the manual's torment and would not die before the age of twenty-five.

The terrifying potential of the manual was only kept in check because the original Wangsheng Pu had been lost. Shen Langhun, with his exceptional insight, immediately saw that Tang Lici's martial arts were not innate. Yet, hearing Tang Lici's affirmation still shook him with a fresh wave of horror. The man acted with calm composure, his beautiful face perpetually smiling.

Tang Lici asked, "Brother Shen, how did the red mark on your face come from?"

Shen Langhun was silent for a while, then said calmly, "Someone painted it on me."

Tang Lici asked, "Who?"

Shen Langhun asked back, "Who transferred his power to you?"

Tang Lici's eyelashes did not even tremble. "A friend."

Shen Langhun asked again, "He..."

Tang Lici said gently, "He's dead."

Shen Langhun's chest heaved, his emotions clearly surging. "His 'rebirth'... Where did the 'Rebirth Book' come from?"

Tang Lici did not answer. After a moment, he sighed softly, "His 'Rebirth Book' was obtained by accident. After he died, the 'Rebirth Book' was taken away... Brother Shen, I guess you were defeated by the power exchange method and someone drew this mark on your face, right?"

Shen Langhun's eyes turned sharp, and he slowly stood up. Even with the carriage swaying, he stood perfectly steady, his back ramrod straight. He slowly looked out the window. After a long pause, he said lightly: "Yes... that person He defeated me in a single blow, pressing my acupuncture points, and spent two full hours, using... my wife's hairpin and rouge to carve this red mark on my face."

Chi Yun, who hadn't intended to listen, as the subject didn't concern him, couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, this man is worse than a beast! What did he do to your wife?"

Shen Langhun said, word by word, "He threw my wife... into the Yellow River."

Chi Yun saw blood well up at the corners of Shen Langhun's eyes and couldn't help but sigh, "Don't be sad, don't be sad. My wife ran away with another man, and I haven't even cried yet, why are you crying?"

Shen Langhun's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint, terrible smile. "I have no grudge against him. We just met on the road, and he saw that I was a martial artist, so he deliberately fought me... I... I'm not as skilled as you..."

At this point, Tang Lici interrupted, "The man who fought with you had beautiful eyes, didn't he?"

Shen Langhun paused, as if catching his breath, and said lightly, "As expected, you know him."

"There are not many people in the world who dare to practice the 'Rebirth Book', and even fewer who practice it and unfortunately go astray. My martial arts... and the martial arts of the person who tattooed this mark on your face are indeed from the same person... the same person who exchanged martial arts with me." Tang Lici looked at Shen Langhun, his tone as calm and gentle as ever. "But I can't tell you who he is. I don't know where he is now, nor do I know his name."

Shen Langhun suddenly turned around. "But you know what he looks like. What is your relationship with him? Did your friend pass on the martial arts to him? How could you not know who he is!"

Chi Yun listened and suddenly said coldly, "You have never told me these things."

Tang Lici said, "If you asked, I wouldn't tell you, but since this involves the revenge for Brother Shen's wife's murder, although I don't want to say it, I have to."

Shen Langhun's face was pale, and his eyes were even more terrifying. "Who is he to you?"

"He...maybe his last name is Liu." Tang Lici stared at Shen Langhun intently. "I guess he picked on you not because he saw that you have martial arts skills, but because of your eyes...your eyes..."

Chi Yun followed and stared at Shen Langhun's eyes. "What's wrong with his eyes?"

Tang Lici said, "Has no one ever praised your beautiful eyes since you were a child?"

Shen Langhun was stunned. "What?"

Chi Yun was shocked and laughed. "Did he tattoo a mark on your face because he was jealous of your beautiful eyes? Damn it..."

Tang Lici sighed, "If he was jealous of your beautiful eyes, why didn't he dig out your eyes instead of tattooing your face? He probably thought that although your eyes are beautiful, it's a pity that your appearance is ordinary, so he tattooed a mark on your face to attract attention."

Chi Yun and Shen Langhun looked at each other. After a while, Chi Yun said, "What nonsense, I don't believe it!"

Tang Lici smiled slightly. "It's up to you whether you believe it or not."

"Who is he? And who is your friend?" Shen Langhun asked, the words clipped and precise. "And who are you?"

Tang Lici patted his back and smiled. "Sit down. If I know anything about him, I'll tell you."

Chi Yun suddenly sat up. "You've been away from Beijing for the past few years, wandering around everywhere, saying you were looking for someone. Aren't you looking for this person?"

Tang Lici pushed Shen Langhun gently down. "I'm looking for someone else."

Shen Langhun sat down. The usually cold and silent man suddenly seemed vulnerable. He sat, his body swaying slightly, his emotions in turmoil. Tang Lici fished out a small, oblate jade pot from his bosom. The pot was tiny, palm-sized, made of crystal white jade engraved with cloud patterns. Pulling the cork, Chi Yun instantly inhaled the rich aroma of wine, which made him sneeze. He had only taken two or three sips. He handed the jade pot to Shen Langhun. Shen Langhun looked into the pot. The wine was crimson, like blood.

"Blue blood!" Chi Yun said lazily. "You know what's good. This wine is as valuable as gold and tastes almost the same as chili water. Drinking it would be like committing suicide."

Shen Langhun raised his head and poured the wine into his throat. He then raised his hand and threw the jade pot out of the carriage. There was a "ding" sound outside.

Chi Yun rolled his eyes. "Do you know that you threw away at least five thousand taels of silver by throwing it away?"

Shen Langhun said lightly, "Could it be that he invited me to drink and he couldn't even bear to part with the wine pot?" He glanced at Tang Lici and said, "Good wine!"

Tang Lici smiled, as if he had handed the wine pot to Shen Langhun specifically for him to discard it. "Are you feeling better?"

Shen Langhun's back straightened slightly. "Who on earth is he?"

"Three years ago," Tang Lici began, "my good friend was playing the qin at Zhou Di Lou, and his skill was unrivaled..."

Chi Yun sighed, "Zhou Di Lou? Could it be that 'Three Sounds of Fang Zhou'?"

Tang Lici said, "Hmm..."

Chi Yun and Shen Langhun exchanged a glance. Three years ago, Fang Zhou's 'Three Sounds of Fang Zhou' at Zhou Di Lou was world-famous. Legend had it that after listening, everyone was overcome with profound emotion, sighing, "Fang Zhou, Fang Zhou, Fang Zhou... Alas...," and thus he became famous.

Shen Langhun said calmly, "The people you know are all famous masters of their time."

Tang Lici smiled slightly. "Am I not a famous master of my time? Back then, he was playing the qin at Zhou Di Lou, and one day, a musician with half a pale face and half a reddish face came to listen to him. After listening to him, he gave him a book, saying that he looked unwell, and if he encountered a disaster or was in desperate situation, he could open it and read it."

"What is that book? 'The Book of Rebirth'?" Chi Yun asked.

Tang Lici smiled and breathed out lightly. He was usually gentle and dignified, but when he exhaled that breath, people could vaguely feel its warmth brush their ears. He only heard him say, "He didn't read that book, but I did. It was the "Rebirth Chart". At that time, he had a serious illness and would not live for long. He could hardly play the piano. After reading the book, I asked him to practice a little every day. If he couldn't understand it, I would teach him. After he practiced it well, he would give me the skills..."

At this point, Shen Langhun smiled lightly. "Mr. Tang really deserves the word 'ruthless'. He is worthy of being called a ruthless person. The master of Wanqiaozhai."

Tang Lici was not angry, and continued to smile, "Originally, this matter was going smoothly. On the day of the power exchange, two people suddenly broke into Fang Zhou's room in Zhou Dilou and interrupted the power exchange. In the chaos, Fang Zhou passed his power to three people, and then he died."

Shen Langhun said, "The man who killed my wife was one of them?"

Tang Lici nodded and sighed. "After Fang Zhou died, the Rebirth Book was taken away by those two people. I was a little injured at that time, so I still don't know its whereabouts." At this point, his fingers unconsciously pressed lightly on his abdomen, a hint of pain momentarily appearing between his brows.

Chi Yun remained silent.

Shen Langhun asked calmly, "Are you disappointed with the idea of ​​exchanging friendship for martial arts?"

Tang Lici smiled and glanced at Chi Yun. Ever since he'd said, "Could it be that 'Three Sounds Fang Zhou'?" Chi Yun had closed his eyes and laid back on his seat, pretending to sleep, as if Tang Lici hadn't spoken a single word. Hearing the question, Chi Yun’s mouth corner curled up. He lazily said, "I've known for a long time that the white-haired fox surnamed Tang wasn't a good person. If it were me, I'd probably do the same. After all, everyone dies anyway, and leaving behind martial arts is better than dying in vain. In short, I'm an evil heretic, the fox surnamed Tang is a demon, and you, Shen, aren't a good person either. We're all birds of a feather, not to mention the second in command."

Shen Langhun said, "Hehe." He no longer looked at Tang Lici or Chi Yun, and suddenly asked, "Why did you capture Yu Qifeng?"

"Because Yu Qifeng is a bad guy." Chi Yun laughed heartily. "Bad guys catching bad guys? Is this the first time you've heard of this?"

Shen Langhun said, "Compared to me and Young Master Tang, you're not that bad."

With that, the three of them laughed. Fengfeng, who had been listening curiously with wide eyes as if understanding everything, now yawned slightly, leaned into Tang Lici's arms, and closed his eyes. Tang Lici took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the saliva from the baby's mouth.

"It's still a few days' journey to Yujiajian Manor. Tomorrow we can go to Yajing Manor. You and I can have a small farm meal and have a good rest."

Shen Langhun sat up cross-legged and closed his eyes. He had been a killer for three years, and before he took action, he was not only carried in a luxurious sedan chair but also had to eat a small farm meal first. He had truly never seen anything like it.

Cultural Context:

The concept of the "Huan Gong Dafa" (Transformation Technique) and the "Wangsheng Pu" (Rebirth Manual) touches upon one of the darkest tropes in Wuxia (martial heroes) literature: demonic arts that defy the laws of nature. These arts are often characterized by their ability to grant immense power at a terrifying personal cost or through immoral means, such as transferring power from one person to another. This act of "transferring" or "exchanging" power is a corrupted form of Cultivation and breaks the sacred bond of the master-disciple relationship, signifying a descent into demonic practices.

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