55, 56, Infiltrating the Prince's Manor, the Jin Dynasty's "Gathering of Heroes"

Early the next morning.

Huang Rong was still dressed as a wealthy young master in brocade robes and a sable cloak, her hair bound beneath a jade crown. Holding a folding fan, she strutted down the street in high spirits.

Lu Chen wore a conical hat and black clothing, a cloak draped over his shoulders. He carried the Azure Adamantine Sword in one hand, with the Profound Iron Heavy Sword and the broken sword strapped to his back, following at her side with a cold expression.

The two swaggered up to the main gate of Prince Zhao's Manor. Before the gate guards could challenge them, Huang Rong spoke first:

"I hear Prince Zhao's Manor thirsts for worthy talent and is openly recruiting heroes from across the Martial Arts World. My brother and I possess considerable Martial Arts, so we have come to recommend ourselves."

The two guards exchanged looks.

Though Huang Rong looked far too young—and was clearly a girl disguised as a boy, without the slightest air of an expert—Lu Chen's appearance as a cold, formidable master was genuinely intimidating. Especially since he carried three swords by himself, giving him an unfathomably profound air.

Neither guard dared neglect them. One said:

"Please wait a moment, you two. This lowly one will report your arrival at once."

The other ushered them into the gatehouse, served them tea and pastries, and attended to them carefully.

Before long, a plump middle-aged man dressed in a military official's robes arrived with the guard who had gone to report. He gave Huang Rong and Lu Chen a brief appraisal. Seeing Lu Chen's extraordinary bearing, he did not put on airs. He cupped his hands in greeting and said with a beaming smile:

"I am Tang Zude, commander of the manor's personal guards. I oversee the manor's martial affairs. May I ask your honored names, and what skills you possess?"

Huang Rong snapped open her folding fan and said leisurely:

"I am Little White Dragon Huang Rong. This is my elder brother, Little Sword Demon Lu Chen. As for our skills..."

With a flick of her wrist, she produced a copper coin. "Commander Tang, watch carefully!"

As she spoke, she flicked it with her finger. The copper coin shot out with a sharp whizz, grazing past Tang Zude's ear before embedding itself deep in the doorframe behind him with a thud.

Tang Zude turned around and saw that the coin had nearly sunk entirely into the doorframe. His heart jolted. If that coin had been aimed at my throat, wouldn't it have taken my life in an instant?

Who would have thought that this tiny, unbelievably beautiful girl dressed as a boy possessed such formidable skill?

While he was still secretly alarmed, Lu Chen said calmly:

"Commander Tang, pardon the offense."

The moment his words fell, the Azure Adamantine Sword left its sheath. As Sword Light flashed, a biting wind sprang up. Tang Zude saw only a blur before his eyes; before he could make out the sword's path, Lu Chen had already returned it to its sheath.

Tang Zude blinked, utterly baffled, only to see the manor guards beside him staring at his chin in shock.

Only then did he notice that his chin felt strangely cool. He hurriedly raised a hand to touch it and was horrified to discover that the beard on his chin had been shaved completely clean.

Now Tang Zude truly could not remain calm. Cold sweat even broke out across his back—if this youth could shave off his beard right before his face without him noticing in the slightest, then could he not take Tang Zude's life with a mere lift of his hand, perhaps even leaving him dead without knowing how he had died?

No wonder he was called the Little Sword Demon. This youth's swordsmanship was truly fearsome and terrifying!

Tang Zude himself was only moderately skilled, but several masters who dominated their own regions had recently come to the manor. He often watched those masters spar, and his eye for such things had been honed.

In his view, Little White Dragon Huang Rong's hidden-weapon skill was not inferior in the least to that of Ginseng Immortal Old Freak Liang Zi'ong, who excelled at using Bone-Piercing Needles.

As for Little Sword Demon Lu Chen's Martial Arts, perhaps none of the manor's guest masters could match him.

Given the prince's fondness for heroes of the Martial Arts World, if Tang Zude recruited two such masters into the manor, the prince would surely reward him handsomely!

At that thought, Tang Zude immediately beamed with delight and bowed deeply.

"Young Hero Huang, Young Hero Lu, you two are truly rare young heroes beneath the heavens! Please, quickly follow Tang into the manor. I shall arrange lodgings for you at once."

Huang Rong and Lu Chen exchanged a smile, said, "Many thanks," and followed Tang Zude into the depths of the manor.

A prince's residence naturally contained courtyard upon courtyard, its gardens running so deep one could not see their end.

The two followed Tang Zude through twists and turns for quite some time before arriving at a courtyard where wintersweet blossoms were in full bloom. Tang Zude smiled and said to them:

"This is Winter Plum Courtyard, one of the superior guest courtyards specially prepared by the prince for his guest masters. The prince has matters at court today and likely will not return until evening. Please rest here for now. Once the prince returns, Tang will certainly report you to him and introduce you."

Huang Rong smiled faintly and leisurely waved her fan twice.

"Then we shall trouble Commander Tang."

"As we should, as we should."

Tang Zude said with a beaming smile:

"By the way, in Green Pine Courtyard to your left reside the seniors Ghost Gate Dragon King Sha Tongtian and Three-Headed Flood Dragon Hou Tonghai, along with their disciples. In Frost-Defying Courtyard to your right reside Young Master Ouyang of White Camel Mountain of the Western Regions and his attendants.

"Nearby are also Soaring Cloud Courtyard, Strong Bamboo Courtyard, and Ancient Cypress Courtyard, where Thousand-Hand Butcher Peng Lianhu, Five-Finger Secret Blade Reverend Lingzhi, and Ginseng Immortal Old Man Liang Zi'ong respectively reside. If you two young heroes are interested, you may spend more time getting acquainted with these seniors."

Huang Rong nodded with a smile.

"Thank you for the guidance, Commander Tang."

"Young Hero Huang is too courteous!"

Tang Zude offered another smiling salute, then took his leave.

Not long after, maidservants from the manor came in and brought them hot water, tea, pastries, and other items.

After dismissing the maidservants, Huang Rong snapped her fan shut, rose to close the doors and windows, and said to Lu Chen:

"Seventh Master seemed to have told us about White Camel Mountain of the Western Regions."

Lu Chen nodded.

"Seventh Master did mention it. Western Venom Ouyang Feng is the master of White Camel Mountain of the Western Regions."

Huang Rong's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

"So that Young Master Ouyang from the Western Regions—could he be the Western Venom's nephew?"

Lu Chen smiled.

"Most likely."

Huang Rong puffed out her rosy cheeks.

"That white camel must belong to Young Master Ouyang too. This is becoming a bit troublesome!"

Lu Chen reassured her.

"It's fine. Young Master Ouyang isn't Ouyang Feng himself. What does it matter if we mooch a couple of white camels off him? As the Western Venom's nephew, surely he won't be that stingy."

"Let's hope so..."

Just as they were speaking, a burst of clamor suddenly came from outside, followed by a booming voice.

"I hear that two young heroes of exceptional Martial Arts have taken up residence in Winter Plum Courtyard. Sha Tongtian of the Yellow River Gang, together with my junior brother Hou Tonghai, has come to pay a visit! I ask that you two favor us with an audience!"

"This humble monk, Reverend Lingzhi, has come especially to call upon the two young heroes."

"Thousand-Hand Butcher Peng Lianhu..."

"This old man, Liang Zi'ong of Changbai Mountain..."

Oh, the Jin Dynasty F4 had arrived!

Listening to the names being announced outside, Lu Chen's heart stirred. He exchanged a glance with Huang Rong, then went over and opened the door. In the courtyard stood five men of varying heights.

One was a bald middle-aged man with bloodshot eyes that bulged slightly from their sockets, his features somewhat strange. Another was a gaunt, blue-faced man with long, thin cheeks and three fleshy lumps growing from his head. Those two should be Sha Tongtian and Hou Tonghai.

There was also a tall, burly lama. He had to be Reverend Lingzhi, the man with an extraordinarily high opinion of himself—who could still stand tall before the Five Greats, believing that if they casually one-shot him, it was not because his kung fu was lacking, but because the Five Greats knew evil sorcery.

Another was a short middle-aged man with eyes like lightning and two judge's pens tucked into his belt. He should be Thousand-Hand Butcher Peng Lianhu.

The last was an elderly man of average build, his hair entirely white, yet his complexion ruddy and his spirits vigorous. There was no need to say it: this was Liang Zi'ong, the old man who gave away treasures.

While Lu Chen and Huang Rong assessed the five men, the five men were also scrutinizing the pair.

They had come together because they had heard that two more experts had arrived—young in years, yet highly praised by Tang Zude, commander of the imperial guards. He had even arranged for them to stay in Winter Plum Courtyard, a residence reserved for first-rate guest retainers.

The courtyards of Sha Tongtian's group were naturally also at the level of first-rate guest retainers. Yet all five were overlords in their own right, figures renowned for many years. They had long heard of one another, but had never heard of any "Little White Dragon Huang Rong" or "Little Sword Demon Lu Chen."

That was why they had come to probe them, to see just what sort of young experts had sprung up from nowhere, daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with celebrated masters like themselves.

Now that they had seen them, the five could not help feeling a measure of contempt.

Lu Chen and Huang Rong were simply far too young—much younger even than Ouyang Ke, whose airs were outrageously grand.

Though Lu Chen dressed in a cold, imposing manner and looked fairly convincing, he could not possibly be more than twenty.

As for Huang Rong, dressed as a wealthy young gentleman, she looked like no more than a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl.

At such an age, even if they had begun training in Martial Arts while still in their mothers' wombs, how much real skill could they possibly possess?

That Tang Zude must have been fooled by these two little brats!

Sha Tongtian, Peng Lianhu, Reverend Lingzhi, and Liang Zi'ong all had some scheming sense. Though they had already begun to feel contemptuous and suspicious upon seeing how young Lu Chen and Huang Rong were, none spoke up to question them for the moment.

Only Three-Headed Flood Dragon Hou Tonghai, who seemed to be missing a screw, opened fire without hesitation.

"You two are Little White Dragon Huang Rong and Little Sword Demon Lu Chen?"

Huang Rong smiled and nodded.

"That is correct. This senior's appearance is truly astonishing, unlike that of any ordinary man. Might you be Senior Hou Tonghai, the Yellow River Gang's Three-Headed Flood Dragon?"

"It's good that you know my title." Hou Tonghai spoke bluntly. "Judging by your ages, you're not even as old as my four martial nephews. What gives you the right to live in Winter Plum Courtyard and stand on equal footing with renowned experts like us? What skills do you have?"

Huang Rong smiled.

"And what abilities does Senior Hou possess?"

Hou Tonghai said proudly.

"My abilities are naturally immense!"

"Oh?" Huang Rong's slender brows rose. "In that case, does Senior Hou dare display a move or two, so the two of us may broaden our horizons?"

No normal person would be provoked by Huang Rong so easily and immediately leap out to show off.

But Hou Tonghai was different. He was not normal. With one sweep of his eyes, he spotted a pile of snow in a corner by the wall and promptly declared, "You two juniors, watch carefully!"

After saying that, he rushed over and gathered the snow into a higher, thicker heap. Then he sprang into the air and plunged down headfirst. With a puff, he buried his head and entire upper body in the snowdrift, while his legs stuck straight up toward the sky like poles.

When he revealed this move, Reverend Lingzhi, Peng Lianhu, and Liang Zi'ong stared at one another for a moment, feeling that there might be something seriously wrong with Hou Tonghai's brain.

Sha Tongtian's eye twitched slightly as he forcibly tried to salvage his junior brother's dignity.

"My junior brother is known as the Three-Headed Flood Dragon. His skill underwater is as formidable as a flood dragon's. He is demonstrating his breath-holding technique. Yes, you may pack down the snow around him."

"Then this humble monk shall have to witness it for himself!"

Hearing this, Reverend Lingzhi strode over. His Great Mudra struck and pounded repeatedly, compacting the snow around Hou Tonghai until it was sealed tight as a drum.

"My junior brother can hold his breath for the time it takes to eat a meal," Sha Tongtian said. "Let him keep holding it. We'll talk about our own business."

The others turned to look at Lu Chen and Huang Rong again, but for the moment, none of them knew what to talk about—Hou Tonghai's breath-holding demonstration was rather trying, and it would not end until a full meal's time had passed.

Before Hou Tonghai finished his demonstration, it would not do for them to discuss Martial Arts with the two juniors. Would that not be failing to give Hou Tonghai face?

Not giving Hou Tonghai face did not matter much. After all, he was a muddlehead, and his Martial Arts were only so-so.

But his senior brother, the "Ghost Gate Dragon King" Sha Tongtian, was exceedingly formidable. For Sha Tongtian's sake, they had to grant Hou Tonghai at least a little face.

Thus, they and Lu Chen and Huang Rong stared wide-eyed at one another in awkward silence for quite some time. Reverend Lingzhi was gradually losing patience. He gave a dry cough and was just about to speak when a burst of hearty laughter rang out.

"I heard that two young heroes had taken up residence in Winter Plum Courtyard. Ouyang Ke has come uninvited; I hope you two will forgive the intrusion..."

As he spoke, a man in white robes and a light fur cape, his sash hanging loosely, strolled in with unhurried ease.

He was thirty-five or thirty-six, tall and upright, with refined, handsome features and a carefree bearing. His attire and manner gave him the air of a wealthy princeling. He was none other than Ouyang Ke of White Camel Mountain of the Western Regions.

Among the many retainers of the prince's residence, Ouyang Ke considered himself first in both lineage and Martial Arts.

When he heard that Tang Zude had brought in two young but astonishingly skilled experts, he had been curious, though he did not regard them as a threat. He had only come to see the excitement.

Yet the moment he entered the courtyard and saw Huang Rong, Ouyang Ke's eyes immediately lit up. Though the little girl was young, her beauty was unlike anything he had seen in his life—

His inner residence was filled with beauties: not only Han women, but foreign beauties of every conceivable charm. He boasted that even the harems of the emperors of Jin and Song Dynasty could not compare with his concubines.

But at the sight of Huang Rong, he felt that not one of the women in his household could hold a candle to her. The spirit in her brows and eyes in particular made him suspect he had glimpsed a celestial maiden. His heart lurched, and he quickly stepped forward, offering Huang Rong the gentlest, most courteous smile of his life.

"I am Ouyang Ke, young master of White Camel Mountain of the Western Regions. Greetings, Young Master Huang..."

He directly ignored Lu Chen at Huang Rong's side.

Seeing his blazing gaze fixed unceasingly upon her, Huang Rong felt intensely displeased. With a snap, she opened her folding fan and covered half her face.

"Young Master Ouyang, please conduct yourself with respect. I am not accustomed to being so close to strangers."

Ouyang Ke replied with a smile.

"Now that we have met and become acquainted, we are no longer strangers, Young Master Huang..."

Before he could finish, his vision darkened. A youth as tall as himself, heroic and rugged, with a cold expression, had stepped in front of him.

"Young Master Ouyang, can you not understand human speech? My worthy brother Huang told you to stay farther away from her."

Ouyang Ke frowned, and a flicker of Sha Qi flashed through his eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Little Sword Demon Lu Chen."

"Little Sword Demon? A nobody like you dares behave so outrageously before me, Ouyang Ke?"

Ouyang Ke had some patience for beautiful women. But toward men—especially men who obstructed his pleasures—he was nowhere near so polite.

Just as he was about to teach this brat a lesson, Hou Tonghai suddenly gave a "Hey!" He pressed both hands into the snowbanks at his sides and pulled half his body free. With a carp's leap, he flipped upright, not even wiping the snow from the three fleshy lumps on his forehead before cupping his hands grandly to the crowd.

"A petty trick, merely raising a laugh among the experts!"

"..."

Everyone was speechless.

"'Raising' a laugh among the experts?"

Seeing Hou Tonghai's smug expression, Huang Rong barely managed to suppress the corners of her mouth. Fighting back laughter, she nodded solemnly.

"Senior Hou's breath-holding skill is remarkable. I am impressed."

Annoyed that Hou Tonghai had ruined the atmosphere, Ouyang Ke swept him a cold glance.

"It is 'making a laughingstock among the experts,' not 'raising a laugh'..."

Hou Tonghai stiffened his neck.

"What do you mean, 'making a laughingstock among the experts'? What would a Western Regions barbarian know? In my hometown dialect, it's called 'raising a laugh among the experts'! Besides, I don't have any laughingstock aunt!"

"..."

Everyone fell silent again. This time, Huang Rong finally could not hold it in and burst out laughing. Even Lu Chen could not help revealing a smile.

Seeing Huang Rong's charming laughter, Ouyang Ke's heart stirred again. Just as he was about to speak, Hou Tonghai said, "Senior brother, the way Young Master Ouyang looks at Young Master Huang seems a little off."

Sha Tongtian frowned. "How is it off?"

Lowering his voice, Hou Tonghai spoke in what he thought was a whisper, though everyone could hear him clearly.

"I think Young Master Ouyang's eyes look all lecherous, like he's eyeing Young Master Huang's beauty..."

Sha Tongtian said, "Eyeing... what?"

Hou Tonghai said, "Eyeing! It means he's craving her body, drooling and all that."

Sha Tongtian said, "Is that word... pronounced 'eyeing'?"

Reverend Lingzhi gave a scornful laugh.

"That word is not pronounced 'eyeing.' It should be pronounced 'coveting'! You two may be men of the Martial Arts World, but if you do not study, you will only make a laughingstock of yourselves among the experts!"

Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian were close friends. Seeing Reverend Lingzhi mock others despite being illiterate himself, Peng Lianhu immediately sneered:

"Reverend Lingzhi, that word is pronounced 'jì yú'—ji, yu."

Before Reverend Lingzhi could reply, Hou Tonghai became displeased again:

"Brother Peng, quit pretending to be some scholar. We brothers are so close—do you really think we don't know you barely ever read any books? If you'd read even a little, you wouldn't think those two characters had anything to do with 'crucian carp'!"

Peng Lianhu was so angry he laughed. Rolling his eyes, he could not be bothered to argue further with this muddleheaded fool.

Hou Tonghai lowered his voice again and said:

"Anyway, I think the way Young Master Ouyang looks at Young Master Huang is off. With all those maidservants of his, could they be nothing more than a cover? Is what he truly likes... men?"

Peng Lianhu, Reverend Lingzhi, and Liang Zi'ong all turned their heads in unison, staring at Hou Tonghai with strange expressions.

"Old Hou, you think Young Master Huang is a man?"

Hou Tonghai asked in surprise:

"Isn't he? Young Master Huang is handsome, and his skin is fairer than all of Young Master Ouyang's maidservants. He's pretty as a girl—but his nickname is Little White Dragon. Just hearing that, you know he's a man!"

Sha Tongtian covered his face.

"Junior Brother, say less, will you? Don't make your senior brother lose face!"

The group traded remarks like they were performing a comic skit. Huang Rong was so entertained that she could barely stop laughing, clutching Lu Chen's shoulder as she rocked back and forth.

Even Lu Chen could no longer maintain the bearing of a cold and aloof swordsman. The corners of his mouth twitched as though he had a cramp.

Ouyang Ke's face darkened. He shot Hou Tonghai, the babbling fool, a vicious glare before flicking his sleeve and leaving.

That fool had ruined the entire mood. There was no point staying; he would find another chance!

Sha Tongtian also felt humiliated and dragged his junior brother away.

Reverend Lingzhi, Peng Lianhu, and Liang Zi'ong likewise felt that this test had failed miserably. Better to wait until the prince returned and expose the pair's boasting in front of him. Without so much as a farewell, they each departed.

"Take care, gentlemen! We're all retainers of the prince's residence—let's keep in close touch from now on."

Still laughing incessantly, Huang Rong waved to them.

Lu Chen, meanwhile, stared at Liang Zi'ong's retreating back, already setting his sights on that Treasure Snake.

Setting aside the increase in inner power, consuming the Treasure Snake would also render one immune to all poisons.

Poison resistance was an extremely practical trait.

Votes, please!