Chapter 27: The Art of Provocation

The "True Flavor" fast-food restaurant is about to change hands, leaving Qu Yang and his granddaughter, Qu Feiyan, in need of new lodgings. Although the pair is not lacking in funds, they are individuals of extremely sensitive status; purchasing a grand mansion would be too conspicuous and counterproductive. It would be far better to rent a modest courtyard, where the neighbors are all hardworking laborers, too preoccupied with their daily survival to pay them any mind.

It so happens that Madam Bu and her son, Jia Yun, are heading west that very day. If their two-section courtyard house in Beijing were left vacant, it would likely fall into disrepair. Madam Bu also fears that her neighbor, Ni Er—a man with wide-reaching connections—might use the house to hide his questionable associates, which would surely invite legal trouble. Selling in such a rush would mean losing out on a good price, and renting to a stranger carries the risk of damage to her furniture and wares.

Upon hearing this, Qu Yang was delighted. He produced a pair of silver ingots totaling twenty taels and agreed to a two-year lease on the spot. Twenty taels were more than enough to cover the cost of any coarse furniture or bowls, and Madam Bu’s worries vanished. She led the grandfather and granddaughter to her home, offering a long-winded tour and enthusiastically adding that if they wished to extend the lease after two years, she could offer a better rate.

"The proprietor of the spice shop, Bu Shiren, is my son Yun’s maternal uncle," Madam Bu said with a smile. "You can simply leave the rent with him when the time comes."

She did not know Qu Yang’s true background, so she felt no fear toward this elder of the Demonic Cult, casually addressing him as "Old Man Qu." Qu Yang was perfectly happy with this; it helped him maintain his cover.

"We shall see when the time comes," Qu Yang replied noncommittally. As a master of the unorthodox martial arts world hiding in Beijing, he was merely practicing the art of concealment within the city. He had no intention of settling here long-term. Once his close friend, Liu Zhengfeng, succeeded in purchasing an official rank and washed his hands of the martial world, they planned to find a scenic spot in the mountains to live in seclusion.

As Qu Yang lost himself in thought, a booming voice suddenly called out from the door: "Brother Qu, why have you moved to such a place? It’s a bit too shabby, isn't it?"

"Talk of the devil," Qu Yang said with a pleasant surprise. "I was just thinking of you, and here you are."

After dismissing Madam Bu, Qu Yang asked, "Did your trip south go smoothly?"

"Smoothly? It went perfectly!" Liu Zhengfeng replied joyfully. "I finally understand the importance of high-level information. Back when I tried to buy an official rank in Beijing, I spent tens of thousands of taels and couldn't even get a straight answer. This trip south, I sought an audience with Governor Wu of Hunan Province. He was quite reasonable, saying that for eight thousand taels, he would guarantee me the post of Assistant General. His recommendation has already been submitted to the Ministry of War. Now that I am here to handle the follow-up, it will be much easier than before."

"That is excellent news," Qu Yang laughed. "I have just rented this courtyard, and it is far too large for just the two of us. Why don't you move in as well? It would be convenient for us to discuss music."

"Would that be convenient? If our friends in the martial world discovered we were living in the same courtyard, I fear it would cause massive trouble," Liu Zhengfeng worried.

"I don't think so," Qu Yang said. "The imperial court maintains a high-pressure stance against the entire martial arts community. Which sect would dare to operate in Beijing? The last time the Brocade Guard wiped out the Sun Moon Holy Cult's stronghold in the eastern suburbs, it served as a stern warning to all. You can barely find any martial artists in the prefecture now."

"Since that is the case, then staying here is fine. However, I have brought my children, Liu Jing and Liu Qin, as well as my disciples Xiang Danian and Mi Weiyi, to see the world. I am worried that they might be too young and naive, and if they discover something, they might accidentally leak our secret. What should we do?" Liu Zhengfeng asked.

"That is a point," Qu Yang smiled. "It would be better to arrange for them to stay elsewhere. As long as they are within the city, it will still be easy to keep in contact."

At this moment, Qu Feiyan interrupted: "Uncle Liu, has Sister Jing come to Beijing as well?" She and Liu Jing had met a few times and shared a similar temperament; upon hearing the news, she could not help but be overjoyed.

"Yes, she is staying at the Huguang Guild Hall, on the south side of the east entrance of Mashi Street. You can go find her now," Liu Zhengfeng laughed.

"Forgive me, Uncle Liu, I shall take my leave," Qu Feiyan said.

The Huguang Guild Hall occupied a vast area, hidden under the shade of a row of ancient locust trees. The copper rings on the vermillion gates were polished bright, and the four gilded characters for "Huguang Guild Hall" were worn smooth by the passage of time.

Crossing the threshold, one could see moss growing in the cracks of the courtyard flagstones. The side rooms were draped with faded bamboo blinds, and the faint sound of a chess match could be heard from within. The stage in front of the main hall was intricately carved, and the remnants of last year’s spring couplets still clung to the wooden pillars. As the wind blew, the iron wind chimes at the eaves tinkled, mingling with the faint scent of osmanthus drifting from the back garden.

Qu Feiyan lifted her skirt and entered, her yellow robe casting dappled shadows on the stone path. Just as she rounded an old locust tree, she saw the bamboo blind of the west wing lifted. Liu Jing, dressed in a lake-blue martial outfit with a crimson silk sash, was bowing her head, helping her younger brother, Liu Qin, straighten his sword tassel.

"Sister Feiyan!" Liu Jing’s eyes were sharp; she called out first, her voice as crisp as shattering jade.

Liu Qin looked up as well. He wore a moon-white long gown, his youthful features still bearing a touch of shyness. Seeing Qu Feiyan, he immediately set aside his awkwardness and bowed with a smile: "Miss Qu, it has been a long time."

Qu Feiyan hurried over, curtsied to Liu Jing, and winked at Liu Qin: "Sister Jing, Little Brother Qin, why have you both come to Beijing?"

"We are just following Father on business," Liu Jing said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her gaze swept over the short sword at Qu Feiyan’s waist. "I heard your swordsmanship has improved over the past six months. Shall we spar?"

Qu Feiyan’s eyes lit up. This was exactly what she wanted. She nodded immediately: "Certainly! Please go easy on me, Sister Jing, and offer me your guidance."

The two moved to the open space in the center of the courtyard, while Liu Qin retreated to the corridor to watch.

Liu Jing drew her long sword, a cold flash of light signaling her stance. The Hengshan School’s "Tianzhu Swordsmanship" emphasized stability and strength. With a move called "The Peak Returns," her sword tip pointed directly at Qu Feiyan’s shoulder. Qu Feiyan, however, was unhurried. Her short sword left its sheath, her movements as agile as a butterfly. Using speed to overcome speed, she dodged the blade and thrust her short sword toward Liu Jing’s rib.

Liu Jing felt a chill and hurriedly retracted her sword to defend. The two exchanged blows, the light of their blades flashing as fallen leaves were swept up by their sword energy, dancing in the air.

Though Qu Feiyan was young, her swordsmanship was cunning and ruthless, bearing faint traces of the Sun Moon Holy Cult. Liu Jing’s foundation was solid; every move was standard and defensive, creating a wall of steel. After thirty rounds, it was a draw.

"Stop!" Liu Jing withdrew her sword first, beads of sweat on her brow. "Your swordsmanship is truly becoming formidable; I cannot beat you."

Qu Feiyan also sheathed her sword and laughed, panting slightly: "You are too kind, Sister Jing."

She turned to look at Liu Qin, who was peeking from the corridor with an expression of envy, and curled her lip: "Little Brother Qin, why don’t you come up and try?"

Liu Qin blushed and stammered: "I... I need to practice a few more years."

"You’ve practiced for so many years and don't even have the courage to draw your sword?" Qu Feiyan raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with disdain. "I think you are a disgrace to the Hengshan School. You probably couldn't even beat those little brats Jia Jun, Qin Zhong, or Wu Caiming."

Liu Qin, already insecure about his lack of skill, was stung by her provocation. His face reddened as he demanded: "Who are Jia Jun and Qin Zhong? I’ve never heard of them!"

Seeing him take the bait, Qu Feiyan smiled triumphantly: "They are the little heroes of Ningrong Street, and their skills are far superior to yours. Don’t believe me? I’ll take you to see for yourself."

Liu Jing hesitated: "This... would that be appropriate?"

"What are you afraid of?" Qu Feiyan grabbed her arm. "Just think of it as going out to play."

Just then, Xiang Danian and Mi Weiyi entered from outside, holding bags of freshly roasted chestnuts. Having just arrived in Beijing, they were curious about the city and wanted to explore. Seeing that Qu Feiyan was well-acquainted with the siblings, and assuming there would be no danger at the feet of the Emperor, they said to Liu Jing and Liu Qin: "Go ahead. We were planning to look around the neighborhood anyway. We can meet back at the guild hall later."

With their senior brothers' permission, Liu Jing felt relieved. The three left the Huguang Guild Hall, with Qu Feiyan leading the way toward Ningrong Street.

Throughout the journey, Liu Qin pondered who these "Jia Jun" and "Qin Zhong" were, hoping to meet them soon to prove that he was not as useless as Qu Feiyan claimed.

When they arrived at the "True Flavor" flagship store, Wu Tiande’s family was busy packing their luggage, leaving Wu Tiande alone with nothing to do, wandering about.

Seeing Qu Feiyan, Wu Tiande’s eyes lit up: "Miss Feiyan, what wind brings you here?"

Qu Feiyan stepped aside and pointed to Liu Jing and Liu Qin: "Officer Wu, let me introduce you. These two are the children of the great hero Liu Zhengfeng of the Hengshan School, Sister Liu Jing and Little Brother Liu Qin."

Liu Jing and Liu Qin quickly bowed: "Greetings, Officer Wu."

Upon hearing the name "Liu Zhengfeng," Wu Tiande immediately set aside the iron sword he was holding. His smile grew even broader as he gestured for them to enter: "Wonderful! Wonderful! So, you are the children of the great hero Liu! Please, come in, come in!"

As he led them into the courtyard, he sighed with emotion: "Speaking of which, I was once fortunate enough to learn a few moves of the Hengshan sword style from Master Liu. I consider myself half a disciple of the Hengshan School; please, do not stand on ceremony with me."

Liu Jing and Liu Qin were stunned. They hadn't expected the officer to be an old acquaintance of their father, and a sense of familiarity instantly grew in their hearts.

Liu Jing smiled: "Since Officer Wu is an old friend of my father, we shall not stand on ceremony."

Wu Tiande waved his hand: "Nonsense, please sit, please sit."

He ushered them into the main hall and called for a maid to pour tea: "My courtyard is small and not as grand as the Hengshan School, so please forgive the lack of luxury. The days I spent learning swordsmanship from Master Liu were the most unforgettable times of my life. His swordsmanship truly is miraculous!"

Qu Feiyan sat to the side, watching Wu Tiande ramble on about old stories, a smirk playing on her lips. She knew this man was a compulsive liar; he might have learned some Hengshan techniques, but his supposed admiration for Liu Zhengfeng was likely exaggerated. However, hearing someone praise their father so highly, Liu Jing and Liu Qin looked on with pride.

In reality, while Wu Tiande spoke eloquently, he was inwardly distressed. In the original story of *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*, Liu Jing was killed by Wan Daping of the Mount Song Sect, and Liu Qin was despised by the heroes of the martial world for his cowardice. With Liu Zhengfeng about to succeed in buying his office and preparing to wash his hands of the martial world, the Mount Song Sect’s attack—the Hengshan Massacre—seemed inevitable.

What could he do?

Wu Tiande was currently only a Deputy Thousand-Household Officer of the Huayin Thousand-Household Office of Tongguan Guard, and a formally appointed Hundred-Household Officer of the Fuyu Garrison, a minor sixth-rank official. Liu Zhengfeng, due to his immense wealth, was starting with the rank of a third-rank Assistant General. Regardless of whether it was a hollow title, Wu Tiande was in no position to tell Liu Zhengfeng what to do.

Moreover, there was no need to leak the Mount Song Sect’s schemes prematurely because of Liu Zhengfeng. The Alliance Master of the Five Mountain Sword Sects, Zuo Lengchan, was a calculating man who held grudges—not someone to be trifled with. Even if Wu Tiande were to warn them that Zuo Lengchan had wild ambitions to dominate the martial world, who would believe him?

"Forget it, forget it," Wu Tiande sighed inwardly. "Let go of the savior complex and respect the destiny of others."

However, while he couldn't stop the "washing of the hands" ceremony, saving the lives of Liu Jing and Liu Qin so they wouldn't have to return to Hengshan was an easy task.

"You came here wanting to spar with my page-boy and disciple, Jia Jun?" Wu Tiande asked.

"Yes," Liu Qin replied defiantly. "Miss Qu said that Jia Jun has only been practicing for less than a year, yet he is far stronger than me, and that I have shamed the Hengshan School. I want to ask for his guidance personally."

"Guidance is fine, but there must be a wager. Do you dare?" Wu Tiande asked with a cryptic smile.

"What wager?" Liu Qin asked.

"Whoever loses the sparring match must serve as the other’s sparring partner for a year. Of course, if you have no confidence and fear losing, just pretend I never said anything. I won't tell anyone that a disciple of the Hengshan School was afraid to fight." Wu Tiande finished with a classic provocation.

Liu Qin, a boy of only thirteen or fourteen, had no idea he was being manipulated. Hearing that Jia Jun was only ten years old and had only been training for a year, he felt he had nothing to fear. He impulsively agreed on the spot.

He agreed too quickly. Liu Jing felt something was wrong and tried to stop him, but it was already too late.