Chapter 94: The Introducer

Chapter 94 The Introducer

The Ming Sword Manor and the Zang Sword Manor shared the same origins, yet their relationship carried a certain resemblance to the internal divisions within the Huashan Sword Sect—whether the Sword Sect forged its own unique path or whether the Qi Sect proved superior. There was no definitive answer to this question.

Therefore, they settled matters with swords, testing the waters first before reaching a conclusion.

From ancient times to the present, the affairs of the Central Plains have always been peculiar. Not only did former enemies fail to unite against a common foe, but they turned their blades upon one another. As the saying went, those of the same root should not devour each other too eagerly.

From Qi Shiqi’s endless admonitions and grave expression, Zhang He sensed that this mission was not only fraught with peril and complexity but also entangled with enmities spanning vast networks. A slight misstep could erupt into a storm of blood and fire.

Why Zhang He had accepted the task, setting aside the conditions offered by Qi Shiqi, was largely because he refused to owe anyone favors. After all, Qi Shiqi had helped him at the Peony Pavilion.

Just as the Jianghu of The Dynasty mirrored reality—where two families that rarely interacted had little to speak of in terms of personal favors—Zhang He’s principle was simple: you respect me one point, and I return you ten; if you bite me, I will cut you ten times.

Moreover, Qi Shiqi was indeed a fine person in Zhang He’s eyes, meaning he was no ordinary figure.

The same held true for the “Jin Mai Lang” of the Ming Sword Manor.

Of course, this Jin Mai Lang was not the instant noodles brand; anyone who mistook it for that and mocked it would typically receive a sword cut in return.

In the past, Ghost Shadow Long Sky had been renowned far and wide within The Dynasty, its prestige shaking the Jianghu. To claim the Ming Sword Manor was obscure would be to say that Ghost Shadow Long Sky’s sharpness had been too dazzling, completely eclipsing the Jin Mai Lang.

It was not until Ghost Shadow Long Sky, enjoying spring breeze and swift hooves, saw the three manors of Yuezhou collapse like nine stacked stones that the Jin Mai Lang gained a foothold.

When the Ming Sword Manor’s development no longer centered on the God Sword Manor, Jin Mai Lang led the two hundred or so disciples of the Ming Sword Manor in their efforts. Over the course of The Dynasty’s time, the Ming Sword Manor had indeed accomplished several impressive feats, the most notable being the “Capital City Official Silver Theft Case” from not long ago.

What they had done at Mo Tian Dao was merely a small splinter from the dozens of black dao factions that had splintered off, a spark among the Xing Huo Men bandits. The Ming Sword Manor had intercepted a far more formidable group from the black dao splinters.

That battle had taken place in Yuezhou. The Ming Sword Manor had sacrificed thirty-six men to completely annihilate that band of black dao forces and recover over 400,000 taels of imperial silver. Considering it a self-established sect capable of achieving such a proud record, no one dared belittle it. Currently, the allied sects and families that had married into the Ming Sword Manor numbered over a dozen, including prestigious houses like Songshan, Huangshan, and the Murong Family.

Over that year, Jin Mai Lang himself had engaged in twenty-three battles against various heroes of all sizes, winning almost all without defeat. The single loss had occurred not long ago, when he had sparred with a hall master of the Beggar Gang. Recall the Beggar Gang’s promotion path:

“1 bag–7 bag disciple, 8 bag elder, 9 bag elder, hall master, chief hall master, punishment hall master, enforcement elder, chief tureen elder, chief staff elder…”

Although the Beggar Gang’s entry threshold was low, promotion was extremely difficult, comparable in hardship to Shaolin and Emei. A hall master required at least four turns, and though Jin Mai Lang was also four turns, the martial arts’ essence between the sects was incomparable. Moreover, losing a sparring match to such a major gang was hardly a source of shame.

In addition to his superior martial prowess, Jin Mai Lang excelled at strategic planning. Otherwise, how could the once-dim and faded Ming Sword Manor, in just a year’s time, make the other jianghu figures of Yuezhou reevaluate it anew?

On the matter of Xie Family Post, Zhang He knew that persuading such a person to yield would be no easy task, with difficulties lying ahead.

However, it made no difference. There was nothing in this world that could not be accomplished, only if the method used was improper.

With Fat Mantid as the big butler’s intelligence, Zhang He naturally chose the more cautious path: “first courtesy, then force.” But to achieve “first courtesy,” the first step was to find a way to meet Jin Mai Lang face to face.

Because a person bearing the identity of the Manor Lord of the Ming Sword Manor was not someone anyone could see at will, just as at the Peony Pavilion. If you had no introducer or stood in low status, do not even mention the word “visiting”—they might think you were wasting their precious time. As the fat man would say, “Do you think the monthly card doesn’t cost money?”

Thus, the carriage stopped by the roadside. This small town bore the pleasant name of Kuai Huo Lin, but its prosperity was not inferior to Xie Family Post. Less than ten miles from the Ming Sword Manor, this was a necessary passage to reach it.

“Just like Xie Family Post, it fell under the jurisdiction of the Ming Sword Manor, though unlike Xie Family Post, which was a specialized market, the expenses here were minimal,” Fat Mantid explained.

Zhang He nodded. “This explains why the Ming Sword Manor intended to covet Xie Family Post.”

“Brother Wu, let us go in,” Fat Mantid pointed to the sign at the entrance, on which three characters were written: Tian Xiang Lou.

Compared to the luxury and prestige of the Peony Pavilion, Tian Xiang Lou was utterly unremarkable, but for a small town like Kuai Huo Lin, the opportunity to sit in Tian Xiang Lou, sip tea, drink a few cups of wine, and order a few dishes was enviable to many.

Moreover, Zhang He and the others had arrived by carriage, and the young waiter quickly approached with a beaming smile: “Esteemed guests, please go upstairs. Our shop has secret-recipe braised duck in abalone sauce and our ancestral red-braised lion’s head…”

Before he could finish, Fat Mantid interrupted, “Our people have already arrived ahead.”

At a window-side table on the second floor, there indeed stood a person, impeccably dressed with a carefree demeanor, clad in white clothes surpassing snow. His bearing resembled Qi Shiqi to some extent.

Especially in his hand, he twirled a small, exquisite carved paper fan, the fan surface depicting a landscape in ink-wash style, even bearing two famous lines of poetry: “Once the vast sea was hard to find water; except for the Wu Mountain, there is no cloud.”

This appearance, this attire, this demeanor, this paper fan, this spirit of flaunting yet being beaten yet composed… You guessed it right; one could tell at a glance that he was a man who lived for eating, drinking, playing, chasing women, and showing off.

“Is he the introducer?” Zhong Shuman asked.

Fat Mantid nodded. “His name is Wan Li Qing Ming. Previously, he was from the God Sword Manor, having followed the Ghost Shadow Manor Lord. After the Ghost Shadow Manor Lord passed, many enemies vented their anger on him, and he was beaten back to his original form.”

Zhong Shuman asked in confusion, “Beaten back to original form?”

Fat Mantid nodded. “Yes, he is four-turn, with inner power in the Xiaoyao Realm, but he was continuously killed eight times in the past, most superior martial arts being ruined, his realm weakened to the point where even the early rising realm could not be recovered. He roamed everywhere seeking innate pill medicine to restore himself, but… alas…”

He did not finish, but both Zhang He and Zhong Shuman understood, and they could not help but feel some sympathy for this person’s fate.

Reduced to this state in realms, it was essentially no different from a cripple. Staying in The Dynasty would only bring suffering; perhaps the old enemies no longer even bothered to kill him, and it would be better to delete the account and start a new life.

Fat Mantid said, “Indeed, he has come back from the beginning, but no longer as a combat player, instead choosing occupations like chef, fisherman, gardener, painter, and other leisurely professions. Every day he roamed the mountains and waters. Jin Mai Lang was once his fellow apprentice and a close personal friend. Without status, one could not see Jin Mai Lang, but he was an exception.”

Fat Mantid, deserving of being the butler, explained the ins and outs clearly in a few words.

At this moment, Wan Li Qing Ming slowly walked over: “Brother Mantid, long time no see.”

“Wan Li brother, long time no see.” Fat Mantid got straight to the point: “How did the matter entrusted via pigeon post go?”

Wan Li Qing Ming slowly closed his paper fan, shook his head and sighed, “He refuses to meet with you.”

The three of Zhang He were instantly stunned; this result was something they never expected. Not even willing to meet face to face, the first step of this journey was thwarted.

Fat Mantid hesitated and said, “Did you mention that we only want two-fifths?”

“Yes,” Wan Li Qing Ming sighed, “he told me to convey to you that the one-fifth he designated, actually, considering the brotherhood of the same sect, out of the old friendship of being fellow disciples of the God Sword Manor, he painfully let it go. The Ming Sword Manor is not what it used to be; I hope you can understand his kind intentions.”

When he said this, Zhong Shuman did not know whether to cry or laugh, whether to feel dejected or to get angry.

Using such domineering means to seize forcibly, as if the one who robbed was the victim, as if he had given you a bowl of meat and a spoonful of soup, as if he had done you a favor by taking it away, and you should be grateful and understand.

Zhong Shuman suddenly felt a chill run through her body. She suddenly recalled the words Qi Shiqi had analyzed earlier: “…even members of prominent families would feel that they are benevolent and virtuous, thick in virtue to subdue others…” What was the difference between this and what Wan Li Qing Ming had just conveyed?

Shocking similarity, shocking terror, shocking jianghu!

Zhong Shuman could not help but say, “We came with sincerity. Is there no room for discussion on this matter, Manor Lord Jin?”

After saying this, she regretted it. If Jin Mai Lang were a person with room for discussion on all matters, he would only be suitable as a successful merchant, not as a leader of a sect. The Ming Sword Manor would not have been able to rise again in just a year.

Zhong Shuman and Fat Mantid only felt their hearts sinking gradually, heavy as a thousand-jin stone.

But Zhang He suddenly said, “Is there any other way to meet him face to face? Any method is fine.”

Wan Li Qing Ming sized up Zhang He from head to toe; his past jianghu experience was there, so he said indifferently, “You shouldn’t be the type who is prepared to forcefully intrude into the Ming Sword Manor, right?”

Zhang He smiled bitterly: “Even if I came today to fight, I would enter through the front door openly and aboveboard.”

“That’s good.” Wan Li Qing Ming pondered slightly: “If you really insist, I do have another method, but this method is indeed a bit adventurous; you need to prepare yourselves mentally. The Manor Lord Jin does not come here every day.”