The plump Young Master Mi smiled and made a gesture to the old man, inviting him to continue.
"As the story goes, the Myriad Blood Hag captured over a hundred young boys and girls, causing an uproar throughout Dongshan Prefecture. Outraged, the Commandery Governor issued a wanted notice: a reward of ten Tianwu silver coins for anyone providing clues, one Tianwu gold coin for killing her, and ten Tianwu gold coins for capturing her alive. Yet, not long ago, a young man carried the Myriad Blood Hag's head to the Dongshan Prefecture Arrest Bureau and claimed a gold coin in exchange." The old man continued.
"A young man? To reach the Peak Polar Transformation at such a tender age, he must be a peerless prodigy! Grandpa, who is he?" the young girl asked.
"Ten thousand miles of long winds, a drawn sword shakes mountains and rivers," the old man chanted, shaking his head.
"The Changfeng Sword Saint?!" The onlookers erupted in excitement.
"The Changfeng Sword Saint? That is a legendary figure! Has he descended upon our Donghai City?" Mi Lan exclaimed in wonder.
"Not quite. It is the Changfeng Sword Saint's closing disciple, the Changfeng Sword Swordsman, Shi Chusheng. Legend has it that the Changfeng Sword Saint bestowed the holy sword he has wielded for hundreds of years upon his closing disciple," the old man said, shaking his head.
"The Changfeng Sword Swordsman, Shi Chusheng? Grandpa, what kind of person is he? Did he really kill the Myriad Blood Hag?" The young girl looked at the old man with bright, clear eyes and asked coquettishly.
"If 'ten thousand miles of long winds, a drawn sword shakes mountains and rivers' describes his swordsmanship, then 'like jade among the flowers, a peerless young master' describes his appearance. Young Master Shi is the sole son of Shi Qingsong, the imperial top scholar of thirty years ago and our current Grand Imperial Censor. He studied under his father since childhood, and at the age of twelve, he was spotted by the Changfeng Sword Saint and taken in as his closing disciple. After practicing the sword for eight years, he has mastered both literature and swordsmanship, and has now reached the realm of Peak Polar Transformation. A few days ago, someone outside Toad Mountain beyond the town caught sight of a flash of sword light, like a long wind breaking the waves, breathtakingly brilliant. Afterward, that person rushed over and saw Young Master Shi walking out of Toad Mountain carrying the hag's head." The old man continued to shake his head.
"Ten thousand miles of long winds, a drawn sword shakes mountains and rivers — I'll let that pass, but tsk tsk, 'like jade among the flowers, a peerless young master.' This young master certainly fits that description as well," Mi Lan stroked his own rounded face and said to Chunyue beside him.
"Ahem... Young Master speaks the truth," Chunyue said with an awkward smile.
"Pfft... You, like jade? More like like fertilizer!" A young man in brocade robes, accompanied by two attendants, walked into the teahouse and happened to hear Mi Lan's words, sneering at him.
Just as Mi Lan was about to reply, he saw the brocade-robed youth bypass him entirely and walk straight up to the storytelling girl at the stage. "Xiaolyan, what's the point of you two telling stories?" the youth said. "How much money can you possibly make? That good deal I mentioned to you before — have you considered it?"
"This young master's idea of a good deal is something Xiaolyan has no blessing to enjoy," the clear-eyed girl called Xiaolyan said, her expression turning rather unpleasant as she caught sight of the brocade-robed youth and bit her lip.
"Xiaolyan, it seems you aren't going to give this young master any face, then? Think about it: who is it that takes you in and lets you tell stories in this teahouse? And who paid for the doctor when your grandfather broke his leg?" The brocade-robed youth's expression turned somewhat unpleasant as well, casting a sidelong glance at the girl across from him.
"Young Master Luo, it was you. Your kind Xiaolyan remembers it all, and Xiaolyan is paying back the money I owe you every month. I beg Young Master Luo to show mercy," Xiaolyan said softly to the brocade-robed youth with a bitter expression.
"Luo Zhongyu, what do you think you're doing? In broad daylight under the clear sky, are you trying to forcefully seize an innocent woman?" Mi Lan slapped the table, stood up, and roared at the brocade-robed youth Luo Zhongyu. To his left and right, Chunyue and Qiuhua also stood up, gently smoothing out the slightly creased corners of Mi Lan's clothes, while his two footmen, Zhang Ya and Wuzha, silently took their positions standing behind Mi Lan.
"Chubby, what are you up to again? This is my Luo family's Xilai Teahouse! Do you really believe I can't make you walk out of this teahouse?" Luo Zhongyu turned around and glared at Mi Lan.
Mi Lan looked at the pure and lovely girl Xiaolyan, narrowed his eyes at Luo Zhongyu, and said, "Name your price for how much she owes you. This young master will pay it back for her."
"Chubby, have you grown tired of living?" Luo Zhongyu flew into a rage.
"Pfft... Catching a glimpse of a leg can't possibly cost you a fortune. Chunyue, give him ten silver coins, and treat any extra as my treat for your tea. Qiuhua, take Xiaolyan and her grandfather. Zhang Ya, Wuzha, the two of you clear the way. We're leaving," Mi Lan declared. With that, Chunyue counted out twenty silver coins from her basket and placed them on the table.
Hearing Mi Lan's command, Zhang Ya and Wuzha shoved past Luo Zhongyu's two lackeys and directly escorted Mi Lan out.
"Fatty, you just wait for me!" Luo Zhongyu's angry roar echoed from behind.
Leaving Xilai Teahouse, they arrived at the bustling main street of Yijia Town.
Yijia Town belonged to Donghai City under Dongshan Prefecture in the East Domain of the Tianwu Empire. Because the four great families had taken root here, Yijia Town enjoyed abundant economic prosperity. The main street at the center of the town was lined with teahouses, taverns, inns, pawnshops, workshops, gambling dens, and numerous peddlers carrying poles laden with small wares.
Amidst the profuse expressions of gratitude from Xiaolyan and her grandfather, Mi Lan parted ways with them and proceeded forward along the evening streets of Yijia Town with his four attendants and maidservants. Ahead lay the Qinghe River, spanned by a flower bridge. Pedestrians crossed the bridge, some carrying smiles, others weary fatigue. There were also young men with the women they cherished, and aging elders holding the hands of their young grandchildren, all standing upon the bridge to watch the flickering, dimming floral lanterns adrift upon the river, taking in the flourishing prosperity of the empire's golden age.
Crossing the flower bridge brought them to the largest brothel in Yijia Town, the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. As evening approached and night gradually descended, the Hundred Flowers Pavilion began to brightly illuminate its lanterns. Six alluring women stood in two groups at the entrance, welcoming the steady stream of young masters, elderly gentlemen, and handsome scholars passing by.
Sometimes Mi Lan could not help but admire their discernment; they could tell at a glance whether a passerby was wealthy or not, always flashing brilliant, eager smiles at the monied patrons. Just like Mi Lan himself, every time he passed by or entered the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, he enjoyed emperor-like treatment. At those moments, Mi Lan would wonder if the phrase "like jade among the flowers, a peerless young master" had been tailor-made specifically for him, otherwise why would he be so immensely popular here at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion?
Passing the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Mi Lan walked along happily, smiling as he gazed at the six beauties at the entrance. In his heart, he wondered if Xiaohong or Axiang on the far left seemed a bit more voluptuously endowed today. The six beauties also ran enthusiastically toward the passing Young Master Mi, eagerly inviting him inside for a good time. One of the beauties — whether Xiaohong or Axiang — even pressed her voluptuous curves gently against the young master, as though he were not a plump, round fellow, but a moving mountain of gold.
Young Master Mi made a slight gesture of bounty toward the six beauties, yet amid their looks of lingering regret, he continued walking forward with his attendants, telling them that he had no time today and would come another day to show his support.
Past the Hundred Flowers Pavilion lay a fork in the road, and Mi Lan headed down the western street, which was the way back to the Mi Family estate. The four great families of Yijia Town each occupied one of the four directional corners: the Xiao Family occupied the southeast, specializing in metal-refining, owning the largest iron mine in Donghai City as well as the gambling den business. Because the Xiao Family disciples possessed the strongest martial prowess, they stood as the head of the four great families in Yijia Town. The You Family occupied the southwest, controlling transport agencies spanning almost the entire Dongshan Prefecture, along with escort agencies and beast-hunting teams, ranking third among the four families. The Luo Family was situated in the northeast corner, virtually monopolizing the businesses of restaurants, teahouses, and brewing workshops, with a stake in the Donghai-renowned Hundred Flowers Pavilion, placing them last among the four families. Finally, the Mi Family was located in the northwest corner, focusing on the cultivation of spirit rice and spiritual herbs, medical clinics, garment shops, and alchemy. Because the Mi Family's medicinal ingredients were of superior quality and they retained the sole alchemist in Yijia Town, they firmly secured the second position among the four great families.