Chapter 2483 - 2481: Hot-Blooded Youth
Yang Valley Pass, an important checkpoint on the east of Yangzhou, has always been a place military strategists vie for.
This pass has consistently been guarded by the Wu Family, descendants of founding heroes of the Great Song, holding significant positions in the court.
The current Clan Leader of the Wu Family, Wu Zhi, is not yet thirty years old, possessing a commanding appearance and exceptional martial prowess.
His marriage to Lady Pan Jinlian is considered a celebrated event in Yangzhou.
Pan Jinlian comes from a prestigious family, being the eldest daughter of the Luoyang Prefect, and was known as the Flower of Luoyang at the time.
Wu Zhi studied at the Academy in Luoyang, where he met Pan Jinlian; both families matched well, and they married after completing their education.
At that time, countless men were heartbroken over it.
In the teahouse, Long Fei drank a cup of light tea, listening to people around him excitedly discussing this matter.
Someone suddenly chimed in, "It’s a pity, the Wu Family is about to face a great disaster."
People around turned to him, faces showing displeasure, speaking up, "What are you talking about? Are you not cursing the Wu Family’s Master?"
"Indeed, the Wu Family is perfectly fine; how could it be headed for a disaster?"
"You better explain yourself, or we will drag you to the Commander-in-chief’s Residence for questioning!"
Obviously, people here are quite close to the Wu Family.
The speaker, dressed like a Daoist, held a divination flag, stroked his goatee and said, "You may not know about matters in the Cultivation World, but this humble Daoist shall explain. The Wu Family’s Second Son recently killed a Demon King’s son on Jingyang Mountain. Now the Demon King is seeking allies for revenge, likely to soon march against Yang Valley Pass."
"Wu Erlang?"
"That calamity star has returned?"
"My goodness!"
"Jingyang Mountain is one of the Seventy-Two Demon Mountains!"
"Did he really kill the Demon King’s son?"
"..."
The voices became chaotic, indicating everyone seemed to be quite wary of the Wu Family’s Second Son.
The Daoist looked satisfied with the response, lifted his flag, and left the teahouse.
Long Fei followed the Daoist out, observing as he retold this tale on the street to the townsfolk.
He went to other taverns and inns, sitting and sharing the rumor with the people there.
Soon enough, the entire populace of Yang Valley Pass knew about the incident with Wu Erlang.
As night fell, the Daoist tried to leave the city.
In an alley, he was stopped by Long Fei.
The alley was dimly lit, and the sudden appearance of Long Fei startled the Daoist, who eyed Long Fei nervously, asking, "Who are you? Why do you block my way?"
Long Fei smiled faintly, "No need to be tense, I just have some questions for you."
The Daoist breathed a sigh of relief, stroked his beard, and said, "This humble Daoist is versed in the Yin Yang Eight Trigrams, divining fortunes and misfortunes. What does this benefactor wish to ask?"
Long Fei asked, "From which of the Seventy-Two Mountains of the Demon Clan does the Daoist practice?"
The Daoist’s hair stood on end, his beard twitched, and he replied, "What are you saying? This humble one does not understand."
"Don’t understand? We can change locations and speak slowly!"
Long Fei released a Golden Rope, binding the Daoist tightly.
The Daoist struggled in terror, shouting, "What are you doing? Why tie a humble Daoist without reason?"
His Essential Qi surged, attempting to break free from the rope.
However, the more he struggled, the tighter the rope bound him, squeezing him into a rod-like state.
He cried out pitifully, "Please, spare me, Daoist, spare me!"
Long Fei loosened the rope slightly, lifted his robe sleeve, packed the Daoist inside, and headed towards the Commander-in-chief’s Residence.
Wu Family’s Second Son had just returned home, and the clan had gathered at the residence to welcome him back.
Inside the mansion, long white tables were set up for the banquet, red lanterns hanging high, creating a lively atmosphere.
Wu Zhi accompanied Wu Erlang from table to table, instructing him, "Erlang, you’ve been away from home since childhood, ten years without return. Here are your uncles and brothers, pay them proper respects and compensations for the filial duty of these years."
"Erlang understands!"
Wu Erlang beamed brightly, going around the tables offering drinks to the clan members.
His drinking capacity was impressive; a round of drinks did not faze him.
Having made the rounds, he sat beside Wu Zhi at the main seat, pouring a cup for his sister-in-law Pan Jinlian, "Sister-in-law, my parents passed away early, and you have been like a mother to Erlang, caring for me meticulously. These years, you’ve managed the household for my brother, and for that you have labored nobly, benefitting the Wu Family greatly; please accept Erlang’s bow of gratitude!"
He knelt with one knee, lifting his cup respectfully to Pan Jinlian.
Pan Jinlian hurriedly stood up, took the offered cup, saying, "What is Erlang saying? It’s just my duty, we are family after all, no need for formality."
After drinking, she gently helped Erlang up.
Wu Erlang laughed and scratched his head, sitting back next to Wu Zhi, saying, "Brother, when I returned, I ran into some trouble I haven’t mentioned."
Wu Zhi laughed heartily, "You rascal, if you didn’t find trouble, wouldn’t that be strange? Out with it, what did you stir up?"
Wu Erlang replied, "Upon returning, I found a tiger preying on people and killed it with three punches."
Wu Zhi said, "Beast harming humans deserves to die; that’s a heroic deed, what’s wrong with that?"
Wu Erlang brightened, "I knew you wouldn’t blame me, so here’s the tiger skin for sister-in-law to make a fur coat. Here’s tiger whip for brother to make soup for nourishment. And this is tiger tendon to make bowstring, definitely stronger than ox tendon bows."
He set out three items, giving the tiger skin coat and whip to Pan Jinlian, and the tendon to Wu Zhi.
Pan Jinlian blushed immediately, signaling Wu Zhi with her eyes.
Wu Zhi laughed heartily, hurriedly accepting the items, and told Wu Erlang, "Erlang, your years with Zhou Tong have been well spent. I’m gratified; these gifts are accepted."
He raised his wine bowl, looking at Wu Erlang, "Come, let us brothers drink together."
Wu Erlang cheerfully lifted his bowl, addressing Wu Zhi, "Brother, knowing your righteousness, I was not worried during the journey. You might not know, the Tiger Demon was the son of the Roaring Sky Tiger King from Seventy-Two Demon Mountains. That old scoundrel chased me for miles; it took great effort to shake him off."
Wu Zhi, having just swallowed his wine, instantly spat it out, eyes wide, asking, "What did you say? Whose son was that tiger?"
"Roaring Sky Tiger’s!"
Wu Erlang finished his drink, seeing his brother’s changed expression, hurriedly calling, "Big brother, you said earlier, the right thing was done, you won’t blame me, right?"
Wu Zhi sprang up, clapping his palm, "It’s ruined, it’s ruined; you’ve brought calamity upon us."
This exclamation shocked the guests.
The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Wu Zhi.
Wu Zhi laughed awkwardly to cover, "Nothing, nothing, everyone proceed with the banquet!"
He dragged Wu Erlang by the neck, taking him alone into the inner room.
Wu Erlang protested, "Brother, ease up."
He was still a sixteen-year-old, his neck sore from Wu Zhi’s grip.
Wu Zhi released him, pacing in the room, shouting at Wu Erlang, "You rascal, such a serious matter, why inform me only now?"
Wu Erlang argued, "These days since I returned, you’ve been in the military camp; only today have I seen you!"
Wu Zhi pointed at him, shouting, "Couldn’t you have come to the camp to find me? You rascal, you’ve brought disaster upon our Wu Family."
Wu Erlang sat nonchalantly on a nearby chair, dismissively saying, "What’s the calamity? Merely killing a Demon King’s son. If Tiger King dares come, I’ll handle him myself!"