Next, Bai Tianxiong donned bright red new clothes and a red bridegroom's official hat, taking two young servants with him as he moved among the various banquets held in North Courtyard. He entertained the gathered martial world guests, putting on a display of shared joy and pleasure, of honoring the worthy and humbling himself before men of lesser station.
As Xiang Yang, Huang Shaoxiong, and Nan Fenglan watched Bai Tianxiong's jubilant expression, which did not seem feigned, they became even more certain that Chu Qi's feelings were nothing but a barber's pole hot at one end—one-sided passion. Bai Tianxiong had merely been using him.
During this time, apart from the stirring spectacles of warriors competing and exchanging blows at Hero's Arena, there were also refined entertainments such as playing the zither and dancing with swords.
The festivities were bustling and joyous, and no further mishaps occurred. By the time the banquet ended, it was already the Xu hour of the evening. The guests departed, leaving only the Bai family servants to clear away the messy remains of food and drink.
Xiang Yang noticed that Zhou An and his wife seemed to have left long ago, their whereabouts unknown.
As agreed beforehand, Huang Shaoxiong followed the crowd away toward the headquarters of the Divine Constable Gate in Dingzhou. Xiang Yang and Nan Fenglan, meanwhile, silently infiltrated North Courtyard, hoping to find useful information.
"North Courtyard is no small place. It covers a vast area and is Bai Tianxiong's private residence.
With Wanfeng Tower at its center, it is divided into four sections. Bai Tianxiong's wives, concubines, and children live there, along with martial experts who guard the Bai family and the servants. It is not particularly complicated.
Lady Ruyu, whom we suspect is Wen Jingjing, lives in a large courtyard within