Chapter Forty-Seven: The Traitor Within Who Cannot Be Guarded Against

Wang Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief; the main opponent had at last revealed himself. The chief steward had never believed that a mere martial contest could determine the fate of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. He cared nothing for victory or defeat; his sole purpose was to seize the young man before him, by any means necessary. Capturing him personally during the match would save much trouble.

He took a deep breath, and a fierce aura radiated outward. His gaze, sharp as a blade, locked tightly onto Lu Liao Liao’s relaxed face.

“Wait!” Even before the opponent’s sword was unsheathed, a chilling presence pressed in. Lu Liao Liao raised his hand in signal and called out, “Since we’re fighting fairly, as a respected senior, shouldn’t you allow a junior like me ten or twenty moves?”

Wang Qi was stunned; the momentum he had gathered vanished instantly. A flash of sword light, like a flying rainbow, struck from above.

At that moment, Lu Liao Liao made his move. His master had always cryptically said that the unsheathed sword was the most terrifying weapon—if it never left its scabbard, so much the better.

Once drawn, the sword’s force was unstoppable.

Wang Qi blocked it, intercepting the powerful strike with sword and scabbard alike, but was forced several steps backward.

Lu Liao Liao moved again, as though a phantom. Four shadowy figures flickered around Wang Qi, each brandishing a cold, sharp blade, slashing toward him almost simultaneously.

Three light clangs rang out, then Wang Qi stood motionless. Lu Liao Liao’s Autumn Water blade rested against his neck.

A few dead leaves drifted down. The edge of the Taiyi Pool fell silent, as though the hush of death.

“Senior Wang Qi, I asked you to let me have ten or twenty moves, but never said you shouldn’t draw your sword at all. Failing to fend off five strikes was your own arrogance, not my fault,” Lu Liao Liao said innocently.

Wang Qi’s face flushed deep red, then he spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed unconscious.

Hu Yun’s son, Hu Xiaoyun, was a hot-blooded and impulsive youth. He rushed to stand before Lu Liao Liao, glancing incredulously at Wang Qi’s fallen form.

“Brother Lu, do you realize Wang Qi was once the famed Sword King of the Rivers and Winds? It’s said his swordsmanship ranks among the top ten in the martial world, yet you knocked him out in five strikes?”

Damn! So I’m this formidable? The Autumn Water sword, single-edged though it is, feels far more satisfying than Cheng Ying. Lu Liao Liao was thrilled inwardly, but outwardly kept a calm, nonchalant demeanor. “Heh, I’m not that powerful; he fainted from anger.”

He glanced subtly at Xiao Ning Jiao among the opposing ranks, then declared boldly, “You are defeated, utterly defeated!”

“No matter your thousand schemes, your myriad arrangements, none can contend with my inside man.” On the road to the temple, Lu Liao Liao boasted gleefully.

From the monk Wuhua, he had learned that Xiao Ning Jiao worked as a guard at the Immortal Pavilion. During the ongoing rivalry with the Qingyun Society, the young master Hu Xiaoyun had suffered many setbacks at his hands. His remarkable abilities quickly earned him a promotion to squad leader. Naturally, Xiao Ning Jiao was involved in the martial contest at Mount Zhongnan. Through Wuhua’s connection, Lu Liao Liao easily gained an inside ally.

Unbeknownst to all, Lu Liao Liao’s group smuggled crossbows into the Changfeng Escort Agency. At a price of a thousand silver taels each, they exchanged them for gold bars worth ten thousand taels.

He distributed sixty percent of the gold, including Xiao Ning Jiao’s share, to Wuhua. The young monk accepted it without question and vanished. As for Zhou Liuzi and Old Hu, a simple “I’ll keep it safe for you” sufficed to send them off.

Zhou Liuzi only shook his head slightly, while Old Hu stared wide-eyed, lost in the chilly autumn wind for quite some time.

The increasingly cold autumn wind seemed to push the sky ever higher, ever further. The old locust tree in the yard frowned gloomily at its bare limbs; its lovely green garb had been swept away by the wind, leaving no trace.

Lu Liao Liao hugged his books, his gaze drifting occasionally to the copy of “Mencius” on the bookshelf. He had hollowed out parts of the book in secret, hiding four gold bars inside. This was the solution he had conceived after a night of excitement.

“Brother Liao, Brother Liao! Your humble friend Cheng Fatty has come to see you!” Cheng Changmu’s voice suddenly rang out at the back gate.

He stepped out, led Cheng Fatty to the central hall of the main courtyard, ordered Old Hu to serve tea, and then asked leisurely, “Cheng Fatty, you’re a legitimate heir of the Marquis’s household. How do you have time to visit my little home?”

“Heh, I just missed you, Brother Liao.” Cheng Fatty grinned.

“I’m just a stinky man, hardly worth your concern.” Lu Liao Liao laughed.

“Brother Liao, you know the great idea you gave me? Someone stole it!” Cheng Fatty said miserably.

“What happened?” Lu Liao Liao asked, intrigued.

“Do you know? Nowadays, scholars in Chang’an, whether from the Imperial Academy or the Liren Institute, won’t leave home without a fine jade pendant. They secretly boast it’s a gift from some famous courtesan of a certain brothel. Otherwise, they’re embarrassed to go out.” Cheng Fatty looked at Lu Liao Liao with admiration.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Lu Liao Liao smiled with satisfaction.

“The problem is, these pendants aren’t from my family’s shop, but from the Wang family’s Glazed Pavilion.” Cheng Fatty’s face fell.

“Huh, so someone at the Wang family’s Glazed Pavilion came up with the same idea?” Lu Liao Liao was surprised.

“No one knows how, but recently, scholars began spreading the word. The Wang family’s fine jade pendants are all consecrated by Taoist priests from the Upper Purity Temple, blessed by the Star of Literature in heaven. Wear one, and you’re sure to achieve top honors in the imperial exams and become a successful scholar.

At first, people laughed it off as a marketing trick. But then a theatre troupe performed a play: two famous courtesans both fell for a talented young scholar. At the Wang family’s Glazed Pavilion, they fought over a jade pendant. Finally, the Pavilion produced two identical pendants to settle the matter. During the imperial exams, the scholar with the two pendants achieved top marks. He married both courtesans, living in utter envy of all.”

“Ha ha, ha ha ha!” Lu Liao Liao burst out laughing.

“Brother Liao, don’t laugh yet. After only a few days, many scholars and courtesans began visiting the Wang family’s Glazed Pavilion.” Cheng Fatty said regretfully.

“That’s only natural.” Lu Liao Liao opened his folding fan and began to wave it gently.

“The best part is yet to come. A recently successful scholar from Luoyang came to the Immortal Pavilion in Chang’an, and in front of countless people, carried off a courtesan with great laughter. When asked, it turned out that before the scholar’s exam, that courtesan had already given him a jade pendant from the Glazed Pavilion.

When this news broke, scholars in Chang’an went mad, flooding the Pavilion until it nearly burst at the seams.”

Cheng Fatty shook his head, looked pitifully at Lu Liao Liao.

“It can’t be that effective. The scholar’s romance with the courtesan was surely arranged behind the scenes by the Immortal Pavilion.” Lu Liao Liao dismissed it outwardly, but inwardly, he admired the mastermind behind the scheme.

“I’d love to arrange something like that, but I can’t afford such a grand production. Brother Liao, do you have any other good ideas?” Cheng Fatty finally revealed his true purpose.

“If I had so many ideas, would my whole family be crowded into such a small courtyard?” Lu Liao Liao shook his head firmly.

Cheng Fatty left full of disappointment. Lu Liao Liao suddenly realized the master and servant duo the Cheng family shop encountered were none other than Lu Jiu and Qing’er. Who would have thought the tomboy from before had grown into such a temptress? Pity her chest was flat as a plain, nothing worth a second glance. Lu Liao Liao shook his head involuntarily. Qing’er, on the other hand, was quite astonishing—how did that slender waist support such a prominent bosom?

Before he could settle for a few days, Lu Liao Liao was summoned again to Princess Yuzhen’s private estate.

Silver flowed into Yuzhen Temple in torrents, making Princess Yuzhen ever more pleased with Lu Liao Liao.

“The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce sent many gifts, hoping to negotiate. Go yourself, and don’t disgrace Yuzhen Temple. Soon, I’ll visit the Sage, and perhaps mention you in his ear.”

Proud Lu Liao Liao had awakened to the fact that he was no longer the ignorant youth of Wu. The once formidable Lu Jiu seemed much less terrifying now. Over these days, he had studied diligently from the secret records kept by Aunt Xilin at the Hu Ji Tavern. He now understood much about Princess Yuzhen, his master, and Wang Wei, whose poetry rivaled his master’s. No matter how he looked at it, his master didn’t seem to have been driven from Chang’an for offending the powerful minister Li Linfu.

After nodding in agreement, he summoned his courage and asked, “Master’s wife, since arriving in the capital, I’ve always wanted to know—who did my master offend to be driven from Chang’an? It would help me avoid trouble in my own affairs. And if I ever gain influence, I could help vindicate him.”

“Ha ha, ha ha ha!” Princess Yuzhen laughed heartily. “Do you know who your master offended? And you want to stand up for him!”

“I’m asking you, aren’t I?” Lu Liao Liao was startled, but kept a calm face.

“Your master, arrogant and flamboyant, actually dared have the palace’s fox spirit grind ink for him, and write the poem ‘Song of Pure Peace’: ‘Clouds dream of robes, flowers dream of beauty, spring breeze brushes the threshold, dew shines bright. If not seen atop Jade Mountain, then met beneath the moon on Jade Platform.’

He offended no one less than the Sage himself! To save him from exile, I gave up my titles of princess and supreme Taoist master, but even that couldn’t change the Sage’s mind. And you still want to vindicate him?”

Princess Yuzhen, both angry and amused, glared at Lu Liao Liao.

Lu Liao Liao dropped to his knees with a thud, not daring to utter another word.

Returning to his study, Lu Liao Liao let out a long sigh. His master, so dashing and unruly—did you really have to provoke the emperor’s woman? Now you’ve given your disciple yet another monumental obstacle on the road to officialdom. Fortunately, the jealous emperor had some pride and even rewarded your expulsion with ten thousand gold. Ten thousand gold! What an immense fortune.

After sighing for a while, he could not resist walking to the bookshelf and opening “Mencius.”

A heart-rending scream echoed from Lu Liao Liao’s study; Zhou Liuzi was summoned inside.

“You keep such a fine house, guard the place so well—so how did my belongings vanish?” Lu Liao Liao asked in a lowered, menacing voice.

“I know nothing!” Zhou Liuzi raised his face, feigning innocence.

Lu Liao Liao tore the book to shreds, scattering fragments across the floor.

“A few days ago, Old Hu said he’d invite me to the Spring Beauty Courtyard for drinks, his purse bulging with silver.” Zhou Liuzi said quietly.

“Old Hu doesn’t have the guts!” Lu Liao Liao said, furious.

“Your study was only cleaned by Young Madam recently. Old Hu received a fair bit of reward silver from her, too.” Zhou Liuzi kept his head raised, speaking calmly.

“An inside man! My lifelong reputation, ruined by Old Hu the traitor.” Lu Liao Liao was on the verge of tears.

After pondering for some time, he shakily unclasped the jade pendant from his waist and handed it back to Zhou Liuzi. “You’re loyal, Zhou Liuzi. From now on, whenever there’s business, I won’t involve Old Hu the spy.”

Zhou Liuzi calmly accepted his jade pendant, saying quietly, “It was mine to begin with. In future, it’ll depend on whether you or Young Madam offer the higher price.”