TL: Hua
Chapter 40: Chaos – Xiao Pei goes to Jiangnan (7)
The main gate of the Bai residence stood wide open, with no one around.
“Ma Bi” reined in his carriage before the gate, a slight smile playing on his lips. “So what if you clear the path? With a single command from me, my friends will invite the common folk outside to come and watch a good show.”
The sound of wheels turning came from behind the gate. Bai Yunduan slowly pushed a wheelchair out. The young man in the wheelchair wore a light-colored plain silk robe, his features refined and handsome, his expression calm.
“That’s the eldest grandson of the Bai family, Bai Yunluo?” Pei Xiting crouched on a nearby rooftop, peering down at the young man in the wheelchair. “So young, yet he looks much more composed than his parents.”
Yuan Fang squatted beside him, saying, “Bai Yunluo has always been steady and intelligent. If not for his leg ailment, he would have been the first choice for the head of the Bai family.”
Pei Xiting said, “A leg ailment is still better than a brain deficiency.”
“No need to cause a commotion. What you want, I can give you,” Bai Yunluo said, looking at ‘Ma Bi.’ “But I need to confirm my younger sister’s safety first.”
Hearing this, “Ma Bi” knocked on the carriage window. The person inside then brought out the unconscious Third Bai. He reached out and pinched Third Bai’s face, smiling at Bai Yunluo. “Look, Third Miss Bai is still alive. I haven’t touched her.”
Bai Yunduan watched his sister being handled so carelessly, his hands tightly gripping the wheelchair handle, as if he would break them off.
Bai Yunluo’s gaze also darkened. “Yunduan.”
“Yes.” Bai Yunduan took a step forward, signaling the guards behind him to open the long box. “Take a good look. This is the original draft of the ‘Rivers and Mountains Scroll.’ We exchange the person for the item.”
“Ma Bi” scrutinized the long scroll carefully from beginning to end before saying, “That’s only natural.”
The person holding Third Bai stepped forward, and Bai Yunduan also waved, signaling the guard holding the long box to step forward. Both sides stared intently at each other, just about to order the exchange, when someone shouted “Wait!” from behind the gate.
The third branch of the Bai family rushed forward from both the front and back. Master Bai glanced at the long box, then at Bai Yunluo. “The old master told you the location of the secret chamber because he trusted you, not so you could take out the treasures and give them away without permission!”
“That’s right, Yunluo, how could you be so reckless?” The First Madam leaned forward to persuade Bai Yunluo. “If you hand it over, won’t you be upsetting your grandfather? How can we be seen by others for being so unfilial? How can we explain this to our family?”
“Our second branch doesn’t need to explain,” said Second Master Bai, patting his round belly. “The original draft is precious, but we can’t just stand by and watch Zhi’er die.”
“Exactly!” Bai Yunduan said.
Hearing this, Third Master Bai also said, “Our third branch agrees.”
That’s what they say, but who knows what they’re really thinking and laughing about inside! Master Bai said, displeased, “This is no time for you to make trouble!”
“Who’s making trouble?” Second Master Bai sneered. “Our second branch is also part of the Bai family, and we have the right to express our views and stance! It’s you who, for the sake of not damaging your image in front of the old master and for the sake of your so-called reputation, are willing to watch your own daughter die. Such cold-heartedness! If the shopkeepers below hear this, won’t their hearts turn cold?”
Bai Yunduan said, “That’s right!”
The First Master and the Second Master had always been at odds, and they started arguing in just a few sentences. Third Master Bai stood aside, silent, like an outsider.
“Ma Bi” listened for a moment, then said impatiently, “Alright! So your family hasn’t reached a consensus yet? Are you playing with me?”
“I am the eldest son of the first branch. With the head of the family absent, I have the final say,” Master Bai said immediately. “The original draft is the honor of our Bai family, and we will absolutely not hand it over to you!”
“The honor of the Bai family relies on the exquisite skills of our predecessors who worked together to create the ‘Rivers and Mountains Scroll,’ on the trading routes that span the north and south, on the convenience brought by the marriage ties of our aunt and uncle—in short, not on a dead object,” Bai Yunluo said. “Over the years, Third Sister has been drawing patterns and designing ready-to-wear clothing, contributing to the prosperity of the Hundred Brocades House. She is not just the third daughter of the Bai family. Abandoning her will inevitably chill the hearts of those below. Moreover, since the original draft has already attracted trouble, why insist on keeping it? Father, don’t you understand the principle of ‘possessing a treasure invites disaster’?”
Master Bai said, “Have you ever thought about how your grandfather would react if he knew?”
“The original draft was given to me. If Grandfather is angry or resentful, he will direct it at me. Why should Father worry?” Bai Yunluo said.
Master Bai was furious. “Rebellious son! I am your father. If you do something wrong, how can I stand by and just watch?”
Bai Yunluo didn’t want to say more and instead looked at “Ma Bi.” “Let’s exchange.”
“Young man, you are indeed much more decisive than your father.” “Ma Bi” raised his hand, signaling the person beside him to immediately carry Third Bai forward. The Bai family guards also stepped down the stairs. The two sides met and then moved apart, everyone watching intently, afraid that the other side would suddenly go back on their word. Only when Third Bai was brought before him did Bai Yunduan reach out and take her, finally relieved.
Weighing her in his arms, Bai Yunduan said to Bai Yunluo, “Third Sister has suffered. She looks thinner.”
Bai Yunluo glanced at his younger sister. “Go back and have the doctor examine her.”
Bai Yunduan responded with an “En” and was about to turn around when he suddenly heard a sharp scream. A series of hidden darts shot towards “Ma Bi.” Holding the long box in one hand, “Ma Bi” swiftly drew his waist saber with the other, knocking down the darts. “Who is it!” he yelled.
“It’s your grandfathers!” Two figures landed simultaneously in front of “Ma Bi,” one tall and thin, the other short and stout, both radiating fierce energy.
“It’s those two.” Pei Xiting recognized them. “I bumped into them at Fumeng Tower that day. They were also looking for Po Yinlin and mentioned some ‘sect leader.'”
The fat and thin duo had already engaged in a fierce fight with “Ma Bi.” People hiding in the dark emerged one after another. Instantly, the glint of swords and the clash of blades created a lively scene of chaos.
Yuan Fang said, “Both sides were well-prepared and appeared at the same time.”
“These people are all vicious and ruthless killers. If the Bai family insists on not handing it over, they will inevitably face the disaster of extermination.” Seeing Bai Yunluo directing everyone to retreat behind the threshold and the main gate slamming shut with a “bang,” Pei Xiting couldn’t help but smile. “I know who the next head of the Bai family will be.”
Yuan Fang said, “Huh?”
Just as Pei Xiting was about to speak, a flash of silver light suddenly appeared before his eyes, moving with incredible speed, aimed directly at his eyes!
It was too late to dodge, but in the next moment, his eyes darkened as he was blocked by a hand wearing black gloves. The hand raised two fingers and caught the “silver light” out of thin air.
Pei Xiting stiffly turned his neck, tilting his head to look at Yuan Fang’s ordinary yet captivating profile, and exclaimed, “Cool!”
“I didn’t cry[mfn]Pei Xiting said ‘cool’ in English but it sounds like 哭[kū] cry.[/mfn].” Yuan Fang retorted with an answer that made no sense while looking at the hidden weapon at his fingertips. “Plum blossom sleeve arrows.”
The small sleeve dart, restrained by external force, tried to break free. Yuan Fang snorted softly, flicked his wrist, and the silver thread at the end of the dart straightened.
Seeing this, Pei Xiting turned his head towards the eaves and said, “Even plum blossom sleeve arrows have appeared, Your Highness, shouldn’t you go and catch them?”
The Crown Prince stood under the veranda, admiring the potted plants. “Isn’t that what I have you for?”
A wicked boss is really good at squeezing his employees.
Pei Xiting cursed inwardly, then turned to Yuan Fang. “Will it be dangerous for you to go?”
“No.”
Such a simple and confident answer put Pei Xiting at ease. He patted Yuan Fang’s shoulder and said, “Go then, Fang.”
Yuan Fang gave a soft “Hmm.” Before Pei Xiting could react, he had already leaped off the roof, his figure vanishing in an instant.
Pei Xiting stared blankly, dumbfounded. “So handsome.”
He turned around, tiptoed to the edge of the eaves, and said to the person below, “Your Highness, can you catch me? I can’t get down.”
“Jump down,” the Crown Prince said.
As a fan of historical dramas, many corresponding scenes from television flashed through Pei Xiting’s mind. With a hint of anticipation, he asked, “You will catch me, won’t you?”
“No,” the Crown Prince said flatly. “It’s only a little over one zhang[mfn]Around 3 meters[/mfn] high. It won’t kill you.”
Pei Xiting shook his head, scooted to the side, hooked his leg around a pillar, and slid down.
Yuan Fang flipped out from behind a tree, wielding a dagger as if manipulated by a silk thread. After knocking down two sleeve arrows, he swiftly grazed the masked woman’s face, causing the face-covering to be ripped apart and revealing a fair and delicate face.
Yuan Fang’s movements were extremely fast. He held the dagger while circling the woman, sizing her up. Her martial arts were mediocre; her strength lay in hidden weapons, but in the open, she was no match.
The woman tightened her grip on the crossbow and said, “This gentleman doesn’t seem to be from the officialdom. Why interfere in this matter?”
Yuan Fang said, “You almost ruined my young master’s eyes.”
The woman retorted, “He doesn’t know martial arts, yet he imitates others by climbing walls to spy. Can you blame me for acting decisively?”
“Your martial arts are mediocre, yet you imitate others by launching sneak attacks in the dark. Can you blame me for acting decisively?” As Yuan Fang’s voice fell, the woman fired three arrows in quick succession, all aimed at his vital points. He dodged swiftly, reached out to grab a sleeve arrow, pulled the woman in front of him, and forcefully choked her neck.
The woman grunted, her voice strained with pain. “Who exactly are you?”
Yuan Fang struck the woman unconscious with a backhand chop, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and casually confiscated her crossbow. Weighing it in his hand, it was light and convenient—perfect for Pei Xiting.
On the other side, the scuffle continued.
“Ma Bi,” outnumbered two to one, was at a disadvantage. A blade had already grazed his waist. Seeing that he couldn’t protect the box, he whistled. Two men in white immediately gathered around him, took the box from his hands, and quickly fled.
“Stop right there!” The fat and thin duo shouted, immediately trying to give chase, but “Ma Bi” blocked them with a saber, engaging them in another fierce fight.
The two men in white protected the box and quickly darted through the streets and alleys, clearly familiar with the terrain. Reaching the end of the street, they successively vaulted over a back wall. Outside the wall, a carriage was waiting. The person sitting in the driver’s seat said, “Get in!”
The two men in white quickly boarded the carriage. The driver grabbed the reins, turned the carriage around, and headed towards the city gate.
The official guarding the city gate stopped the carriage as usual. The coachman grinned, took out a plaque from his chest, and handed it over, saying, “We are delivering goods.”
“Oh, it’s from the Bai family.” The official opened the carriage door for a check. Inside were two rough-clothed lads sitting with a box of silk fabrics; nothing seemed amiss, so he returned the plaque and said, “Alright, you can go.”
The coachman responded with an “En,” thanked him, and drove the carriage out of the city. After traveling smoothly for a while, he suddenly steered away from the main road and entered the roadside woods.
Their preparations were already in place in the woods, with several fast horses tied up. As the three of them went to untie the reins, the horses suddenly reared up, agitated as if startled.
The coachman’s expression hardened. He suddenly leaped onto the carriage and pulled out a saber from the box. At this moment, the carriage shook violently, split in two by a brute force. He raised his saber to block, but a whip wrapped around the blade. The two sides struggled for a moment, then both released their grips.
The startled horses galloped away. The coachman leaped down in midair. The two men in white immediately gathered around him, holding their sabers defensively, watching the front warily. “Come out!” the coachman shouted.
Three figures emerged from the woods. Two held sabers, and the black-clad woman in the center held the whip handle, her expression cold as ice. “Leave the box, and I’ll spare your dog’s life.”
The coachman’s expression was gloomy. “Just a few of you?”
The woman didn’t want to waste words. She swung her whip at the three men. The six of them instantly engaged in a fierce battle. The clash echoing through the woods, the wind howling. Subordinates on both sides fell one after another. Continuing to fight would benefit no one. The coachman flicked his sleeve, throwing down two smoke bombs, and fled into the woods behind him.
The woman retreated several feet. When she opened her eyes again, the coachman was nowhere to be seen. The woods were crisscrossed with paths, making pursuit impossible.
“Damn it.” The woman’s delicate brows furrowed, then she turned and disappeared.
The coachman fled quickly, then suddenly flipped backward, dodging a sweeping blade. He knelt on one knee, panting, and looked at the person who had suddenly appeared in front of him, sneering. “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind[mfn]Someone who is focused on a seemingly immediate gain or victory is oblivious to a greater danger lurking behind them.[/mfn]. As expected of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Wanting what doesn’t belong to you always comes at a price.” Yu Shaoyun didn’t say more. With a flick of his wrist, he gathered his strength and leaped towards the coachman, fiercely swinging his saber down.
The blow was extremely heavy. The coachman’s wrist trembled, and he almost lost his grip on the saber. Seeing this, Yu Shaoyun smiled slightly and kicked the man away. After a brief exchange, Yu Shaoyun easily suppressed the man. But just as he was about to knock him unconscious and capture him alive, the coachman’s Adam’s apple moved, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of poisonous blood, dying on the spot.
He had bitten and crushed the poison hidden in his mouth.
Yu Shaoyun released the coachman’s chin, looked at his face in silence for a moment, then turned and left.
