These past few years have been terribly turbulent, with domestic factional struggles compounded by the Japanese invasion from the north, and it is said that the Three Northeast Provinces have already fallen.
The Northeast is the stronghold of the Zhang family. With their very nest now pierced, it is hardly surprising that a bunch of Zhang family members, who had long been impossible to track down, suddenly popped up everywhere.
According to news from Ninth Master Xie, the leading Zhang family member is named Zhang Qishan, and he brought a whole bunch of his clansmen with him.
Second Master Hong of the Hong family crossed paths with Zhang Qishan at the Hong family's opera house and they became friends after first fighting each other, but by the time Luo Yuan'an caught wind of it and hurried over, Zhang Qishan had already left.
At that time, Second Master Hong was still being nagged by his father for secretly keeping a cat. Truly, he was a most miserable family head.
Luo Yuan'an made a wasted trip, leaving her with no choice but to walk right into the tiger's den and go to the Zhang residence herself.
To prevent Zhang Qishan from refusing to see her, she specifically obtained a calling card from Second Master Hong and even swiped two catties of fruit from the Hong Residence to serve as a housewarming gift.
Master Hong was so furious his twitching was setting off spasms, and he outright cursed his disciples as debt-collectors.
Naturally, she was driven to the Zhang residence in a Hong family car.
Zhang Qishan had just arrived home when the Hong Residence's calling card was delivered. Though unaware of what those figures from the Hong Residence could possibly have to say that couldn't be said a moment earlier, he still had the visitor respectfully invited inside.
As soon as she stepped into the living room, Luo Yuan'an laid eyes on the so-called Zhang Qishan.
He was dressed in a military uniform with rather handsome and dashing features, truly looking every bit the soldier.
He sat in the main seat, his right hand resting on the armrest, completely lacking the telltale sign of the Zhang family's Qiu-Seizing Finger practice on his right hand.
Luo Yuan'an then glanced at the man standing beside Zhang Qishan. He looked young, but his posture was upright, and he clearly possessed some martial prowess. He should be one of Zhang Qishan's personal guards or someone of that sort.
Standing sideways as he was, her position prevented her from getting a clear look at his right hand.
While Luo Yuan'an was sizing the two of them up, the two of them were likewise observing her.
Wrinkles on her face, white hairs at her temples. A blue short jacket paired with black trousers, incongruously wearing a pair of black short boots, and carrying a cloth bag in her hand.
Could this auntie perhaps be a cleaning lady from the Hong family?
There was no need to mention Zhang Qishan's hospitality; despite his inner doubts, he still rose to welcome her and gestured for Zhang Rishan beside him to pour tea.
"Please take a seat over here. Might I ask who you are?"
Luo Yuan'an smiled amiably at Zhang Qishan, which, matched with her middle-aged-woman attire, made her look thoroughly benign.
She placed the cloth bag from her hand onto the low table before looking earnestly at Zhang Qishan: "I am Luo Yuan'an."
Seeing no reaction from Zhang Qishan, she pondered inwardly.
Either Zhang Qilin had never mentioned her name to the Zhang family, so he had no idea; or this person wasn't actually a member of the Zhang family. Of course, it was also possible this person simply wasn't qualified to hear secrets of that level.
She smiled again, taking a seat in the armchair. "Second Master Hong is my junior martial brother, and everyone is kind enough to honor me by calling me Lord Luo. You can just address me however you please."
Zhang Qishan naturally knew about Second Master Hong's junior martial sister, having investigated quite a few influential figures in Changsha over these past few days.
"Lord Luo," Zhang Qishan called out respectfully. Although this Lord Luo possessed no real power of her own, she was Second Master Hong's junior martial sister and on good terms with the Qi and Xie families, so she must not be offended.
"May I ask what business brings Lord Luo here today?"
Taking advantage of the moment Zhang Rishan was pouring tea, Luo Yuan'an caught a clear glimpse of his Qiu-Seizing Finger, which finally set her mind at ease.
"I wonder if Commander Zhang has to worry about walls having ears here?" Luo Yuan'an didn't beat around the bush with him. Had she not feared the presence of inappropriate people in Zhang Qishan's estate, she would have directly questioned him about the matter the moment certain things were confirmed.
Zhang Qishan had no idea what this Lord Luo was getting at, but he still ordered everyone else to withdraw.
Seeing that Zhang Rishan was also about to leave, Luo Yuan'an stopped him: "Let this little ge stay."
Zhang Rishan hesitated for a moment, but seeing Zhang Qishan's nod, he stepped back to his original position.
"What is the meaning of this, Lord Luo?" Zhang Qishan couldn't quite pin down Luo Yuan'an's intentions. What was the point of keeping Zhang Rishan? Had she figured out his identity as a Zhang family member, or did she know that Zhang Rishan held the most of his trust?
Whichever it was, it certainly wasn't good news.
"I wonder if Commander Zhang is acquainted with Zhang Qilin?" Luo Yuan'an asked with a smile, though she didn't look at Zhang Qishan, casting her gaze instead at Zhang Rishan standing beside him.
Sure enough, upon hearing her ask about Zhang Qilin, Zhang Rishan's expression shifted.
Still too young, oh.
Luo Yuan'an's smile deepened.
Without even looking at Zhang Rishan, Zhang Qishan knew his brother had given himself away, leaving him no choice but to respond: "I'm not sure which Zhang Qilin Lord Luo is asking about. There happens to be someone named Zhang Qilin in my own clan as well."
"Commander Zhang, let's dispense with the riddles. The one I'm looking for is the Zhang Family Patriarch, Zhang Qilin."
Fearing Zhang Qishan would continue to stall, she pointed at Zhang Rishan: "Members of the Zhang family all practice the Qiu-Seizing Finger, leaving their right index and middle fingers extraordinarily long. The two of you should recognize that, right?"
"What business does Lord Luo have with the Patriarch?" The smile on Zhang Qishan's face was beginning to slip. He had only just defected from the Zhang family, and now someone had tracked down the Patriarch all the way to his doorstep—it was genuinely rather displeasing.
"It's nothing all that major."
"You could roughly assume that Zhang Qilin owes me a few things. Oh, right, it probably isn't the Zhang Qilin you have now, but the one from about fifty or sixty years ago!"
"He's probably not dead yet, is he?"
Luo Yuan'an asked with a beaming smile: Your family's Patriarch isn't dead yet, right?
Standing to the side, Zhang Rishan stared up at the ceiling and down at the floor, deliberately avoiding looking at Zhang Qishan.
If he remembered correctly, the previous Patriarch was named Zhang Ruitong, who happened to be Zhang Qishan's grandfather.
Zhang Qishan processed this for a moment: "If the timeline is correct, the Zhang Family Patriarch you speak of was my grandfather."
This Lord Luo didn't look anywhere near fifty or sixty years old. Could it be she was just exceptionally well-preserved?
"His Elder has already passed away. I wonder what transaction my grandfather had with Lord Luo, and whether you have any proof? If it turns out to be true, as his grandson, I, Qishan, will certainly go all out and not fail the trust."
Luo Yuan'an leaned back in her chair, sizing up the man with the earnest expression. "And how are you going to prove what you're saying? I've heard that members of the Zhang family all bear the Qilin tattoo and practice the Qiu-Seizing..." She swept a glance filled with a faint smile over Zhang Qishan's hand. "...You ought to have at least one thing to make me believe you."
"Of course, it's not like I'm trying to be aggressive. Given the gravity of the matter, if Commander Zhang can provide proof, naturally I will state the facts and save myself an extra trip; if you cannot prove it, why not tell me where your current Patriarch is?"
If Zhang Qishan possessed either of those things, he might actually have stripped on the spot to prove it. Unfortunately, he hadn't practiced the Qiu-Seizing Finger, nor was the tattoo on his body a Qilin.
"Rishan," Zhang Qishan called out, seeking reinforcements.
Good brother, you proving it is the same as me proving it!
Zhang Rishan stripped off his clothes with lightning speed, showing zero fear of scalding as he prepared to give himself a tea bath with the water sitting on the table.
Luo Yuan'an hurriedly stopped him: "Little brother, that's not how you check a tattoo. If you scald yourself, Commander Zhang will end up giving me trouble."
Zhang Rishan froze: What is this auntie rambling about? If I don't do this, am I supposed to take a bath on the spot?
Zhang Qishan was presumably thinking along the same lines, asking with considerable hesitation: "Lord Luo, then what do you mean?"
"I've heard that Zhang family members practice the Virgin Skill from childhood. I have yet to receive your instruction."
Well, time to throw hands before talking!
Zhang Qishan felt this was a bad idea.
Even though Zhang Rishan looked young, he was a true-blooded clansman who had trained hard since childhood. As for this Lord Luo—an old lady in her fifties or sixties—if anything went wrong and she got hurt, the Hong family would probably fight him to the death.
The hesitation shared by Zhang Qishan and Zhang Rishan was far too obvious. Before Zhang Qishan could open his mouth to dissuade her, Luo Yuan'an smiled and said: "I've also practiced for a few decades, so the two of you needn't worry. It's just a sparring match, naturally we'll stop at the point of contact."
Zhang Qishan and Zhang Rishan: Oh, so we still have to hold back for her!
Luo Yuan'an: I'll fight you with one hand tied behind my back!
How could a Zhang Rishan who was only in his teens possibly match a centenarian like Luo Yuan'an?
After a round of fist and foot exchanges, this kid was still a bit too green.
Of course, his combat effectiveness was measured against Chen Pi, who was repeatedly tormented at the same age.
With the fight concluded, the ink-black Qilin rose and fell on Zhang Rishan's chest with his breathing.
Pectorals, abdominal muscles, a fine man.
If Luo Yuan'an had been a few decades younger, her heart would have fluttered.
Of course, being older didn't hinder her appreciation of the view in the slightest.
"The results of the Zhang family's training look pretty decent after all." She smiled as she sat back down in her armchair, offering her critique with the full air of an elder.
"You're called Zhang Rishan, right? Care to follow me?"
A true warrior dares to poach a boss's underling right in front of the boss's face.