Chapter 44: Chapter 44: In Front of General Wei
"Are you concerned about me?"
In the small courtyard.
Su Yan looked at Xu Guang with interest.
Xu Guang was at a loss for words. Su Yan had treated him well, so he didn’t mind showing some sincerity by revealing to her that the Iron Armor Sect was planning a major operation. Although the military equipment and armor were traded with Su Yan, he couldn’t be sure that the Iron Armor Sect wouldn’t target the black market.
"What are you responsible for?"
Xu Guang was silent for a moment. He certainly had no loyalty to the Iron Armor Sect; he was just involved because they recruited General Wei.
However, he still had some modern man’s conscience, and doing something like betraying a ’company’ always felt a bit unnatural.
Nevertheless, compared to the Iron Armor Sect, he was still inclined towards Su Yan, so he spoke up.
"I estimate they’ll strike against the Four Directions Guard and the Wei Family when Tie Xiong and Zhou Kun’s martial competition attracts the city’s attention. I’m responsible for maintaining order during the competition."
"The people of the Iron Armor Sect are really shortsighted, only seeing the Great Beast’s strength and assuming it’s the most important. In my opinion, you’re the core; Great Beasts are common, but someone like Xu Guang is rare."
Su Yan looked at Xu Guang with a hint of enigma, "I didn’t expect the Iron Armor Sect to be so wary of you. Why not come directly to the black market? Be my deputy; you can have any resources you want."
During this time, Su Yan always brought out things that surprised him, and her proposal inexplicably tempted Xu Guang.
Before he could speak, Su Yan added, "Never mind, this way is good enough. If you stay by my side, who knows what might be exposed, and we wouldn’t even be able to talk about cooperation."
Xu Guang was speechless, knowing Su Yan was just teasing. A place like the black market, where the Green Forest gathered, couldn’t let someone join casually, even if Xu Guang was valuable; some token of allegiance would probably be necessary.
As the black market leader, Su Yan naturally knew this rule and wouldn’t break it rashly.
Moreover, this woman was really smart. Just a few encounters and she guessed Xu Guang harbored great secrets. But she knew her limits, never probing too much, while not allowing Xu Guang to get too close to her core.
"Be careful. I guess General Wei’s growth might cause them to have some unwarranted thoughts," Su Yan said seriously and softly.
She tried to fathom Tie Kuang’s thoughts and felt there was a possibility of him harming Xu Guang.
General Wei, of the Seventh Grade, was already enough to form a threat.
Xu Guang nodded, hesitated, but eventually said, "Thank you for your concern, Su, the Workshop Master. Whatever you ask in the future, I’ll do my utmost."
He was emphasizing that he wouldn’t shirk like the Iron Armor Sect.
Su Yan understood, teasingly asking, "Anything at all?"
Xu Guang nodded heavily.
"Then for your promise, I’ll give you another piece of news: the relationship between Tie Kuang and the Song Family is closer than you think."
At first, Xu Guang didn’t get what she meant, but he quickly connected it to Wang Ran’s injury.
"Wang Ran’s injury was caused by Tie Kuang..."
Su Yan smiled without saying a word.
...
Chenguang Building.
Zhu Cheng sat by the window, his face faintly red under the lantern light outside.
Sitting with him were Wang Ran and Liu Ning’s two disciples.
Wang Ran had been seriously injured, but he hadn’t died. As Liu Ning’s favorite disciple, Liu Ning spent much effort healing him.
Though not fully recovered now, he had regained mobility.
He was restless; as soon as he could leave the house, he took a few junior brothers to the Flower Boat for entertainment.
"Junior Brother Zhu, I heard you’re not married yet? You can have your pick in the Red Lounge."
Wang Ran, in white today, held a flamboyant folding fan, with gold and jade inlaid on the fan’s end and on his person, looking every inch the gentleman.
Zhu Cheng just shook his head. In the days when the Zhu Family was flourishing, many came to propose marriage, which he refused countlessly.
Wang Ran chuckled and continued, "I’m now the Steward of the Red Lounge. If you don’t indulge now, Junior Brother Zhu, you’ll have to pay later. In my opinion, enjoy the flowers while you can, and I’ll take the opportunity to see if they’re loyal."
Zhu Cheng slightly frowned, "Senior Brother Wang, just speak your mind."
"Hehe, I’m not of the same standing as you, Junior Brother Zhu, but I know not to judge by appearances alone. Like these girls in the Red Lounge, they’re obedient when you’re in charge, but once you’re gone, there’s nothing left."
Wang Ran spoke as he mused.
Zhu Cheng faintly felt Wang Ran was hinting at something, but he wasn’t sure.
"I heard that the Great Beast under Xu Guang’s command originally belonged to your Zhu Family? Do you have a magic technique to control the Great Beast, Junior Brother Zhu?"
Zhu Cheng shook his head slightly, thought for a moment, and said softly.
"Does Senior Brother Wang need to use General Wei? My father once said Xu Guang is useful; though our views differ, I believe he’ll give me face."
Wang Ran kept shaking his head, fanning more vigorously.
"A dog is just a dog. If it runs wild too long, even if it gets close to its master again, it won’t be loyal."
"When I first took charge of the Red Lounge, there was a maid favored by the former steward, Lady Lan. After Lady Lan’s death, the maid continued managing the Red Lounge. When I arrived, she behaved very docilely, letting me do as I pleased. I found her capabilities commendable, so everything remained unchanged..."
As he spoke, a reminiscent look appeared on Wang Ran’s face.
"Unfortunately, one time I went too far, and this woman sought death. I intended to temper her disposition, but didn’t expect her to poison me, conspiring with others in the Red Lounge to kill me. By the time we traced it back to her, she’d already drowned in a well..."
"Sometimes people are worse than dogs. Dogs know gratitude, people don’t."
Wang Ran looked at Zhu Cheng with deep meaning.
Zhu Cheng felt a slight chill in his heart. He knew Wang Ran was talking about Xu Guang.
But he thought Xu Guang was different, and he didn’t want to argue with Wang Ran at the moment. After being seriously injured, this person had become somewhat unstable.
"Alright, let’s not talk about this. Let’s drink, take care of Junior Brother Zhu."
...
Late at night.
Zhu Zhenzhen was just about to fall asleep.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside the door.
Someone pushed open the gate to her courtyard.
She was just an ordinary disciple, living with several other female disciples, and she stayed in the east wing.
Initially, she didn’t pay much attention, but soon the noise from outside subsided.
Then the main door was pushed open, and Wang Ran walked in, carrying two jars of wine.
"Junior Sister Zhu."
"I failed to break through the Seventh Grade and was seriously injured. My heart is bitter; join me for a drink."
Zhu Zhenzhen didn’t know what Wang Ran was thinking or why he suddenly came at night, but given Wang Ran’s special status, she dared not offend him now.
She opened the table and intended to walk outside.
Wang Ran didn’t refuse.
Only after moving the table outside did she suddenly notice that the other two senior sisters in the courtyard seemed to have fallen asleep.
Just a moment ago, she had heard someone talking.
A sense of foreboding rose in her heart — after all, she was a woman alone with another man, and Zhu Zhenzhen felt a tinge of fear.
But Wang Ran had already started pouring wine.
He drank urgently, downing five cups in a moment.
"Senior Brother, your talent is extraordinary, and you are still young. There will be many more opportunities. Once you recover, surely you’ll break through quickly."
After a few cups, Zhu Zhenzhen felt her head becoming somewhat dizzy.
Something felt very wrong — this wine...
"Junior Sister, from the first time I saw you, I thought you were very beautiful."
Wang Ran suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with a red glow.
Looking at the charming and attractive Zhu Zhenzhen before him, he had come in a hurry, and Zhu Zhenzhen hadn’t had the chance to properly dress. Her clothes were somewhat loose, revealing her curves, and her ample bosom caught his eye.
"Previously, I asked my master to go to Master Zhu to propose..."
Zhu Zhenzhen frowned. She had heard some rumors about Wang Ran; Liu Ning adored Wang Ran and naturally mentioned it, but Zhu Fu rejected it. At the time, Liu Ning was busy with relations with the Gao Family of Songjiang Prefecture and looked down on Zhu Zhenzhen, feeling slightly relieved when rejected, and so let it go.
Hearing Wang Ran bring up old matters now, Zhu Zhenzhen felt at a loss.
"But I’ve heard that your father intended to marry you to that Elephant Slave! Senior Brother is not convinced!"
He was highly possessive — Zhu Zhenzhen was regarded as his exclusive possession, and upon hearing about Xu Guang, he immediately harbored thoughts of killing.
No one knew that as a youth, he had a fortuitous encounter, gaining a secret technique to refine demon beast essence blood, enhancing his martial arts talent.
The Great Beast was fierce and cruel; he wanted very much to kill it and refine its essence blood.
But this secret technique could not be shown to others; he didn’t want anyone to know. So, he planned to kill Xu Guang to provoke the beast into a frenzy, allowing the sect to step in and suppress and slaughter it, thus reasonably taking the beast’s essence blood.
However, during the attempt, he was easily defeated by the beast, pressing him to realize the plan was not feasible, deciding instead to wait until he broke through to attempt again.
Unexpectedly, those events occurred in Songjiang Prefecture.
Even after being injured, he blamed everything on Xu Guang, thinking that if Xu Guang had died, he could have refined the beast’s blood before going to Songjiang Prefecture, where he wouldn’t have been ambushed.
If he hadn’t been ambushed, he wouldn’t have had to let Tie Xiong take the credit, nor would he miss the opportunity to become renowned himself.
Thinking of this, his hatred towards Xu Guang deepened.
Such a man, bullying the weak, when faced with stronger forces targeting him, would only think of those he believed he could bully.
Zhu Zhenzhen always appeared prim and proper, but she was indeed an unparalleled beauty; letting her fall to Xu Guang’s hands would be a waste.
Better for him to enjoy her for a while; perhaps after venting, he might find clarity to break through to the Seventh Grade.
He stood to embrace Zhu Zhenzhen.
He had drugged the wine on arrival, and when Zhu Zhenzhen tried to evade, her body went limp.
Just as Wang Ran was about to continue, he seemed to sense something and looked up, spotting a figure standing on the roof.
The person was wrapped in black cloth from head to toe, only showing a pair of bright eyes, reflecting the moonlight, staring directly at him, motionless.
"Who are you!? Trespassing on Iron Armor Sect in the middle of the night, do you wish to die?"
Wang Ran asked.
Xu Guang silently uncovered the black cloth over his face, grinning.
"General Wei is right outside. Say what you just said to it again."