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...
