Trouble Redirected

Later that day, Wang Jingyuan and Yue Lingshan, as representatives of the Mount Hua Sect, naturally became the guests of honor at the banquet arranged by the Lin family.

Just before they set out, Wang Jingyuan saw Lin Zhennan beaming, his words and manner full of warmth and ingratiating deference. Wang Jingyuan smiled and leaned close to Lin Zhennan's ear. "Have you been to the old house on Xiangyang Lane?"

Lin Zhennan's smile froze, but Wang Jingyuan continued, "If I were you, I'd copy the entire manual, and make several copies. Then I'd burn the original. Oh, and remember not to copy the sentence at the beginning."

Lin Zhennan immediately called Lin Pingzhi over. "Pingzhi, take your senior brother and sister to the restaurant first. I have some matters to attend to; I'll join you shortly. You and your fellow disciples should get to know each other."

Lin Pingzhi had no idea what urgent business his father needed to handle right then, but he had always been well brought up. He cupped his hands respectfully to his father, then walked ahead to show Wang Jingyuan and Yue Lingshan the way.

Wang Jingyuan took a few steps forward and slung an arm around Lin Pingzhi's shoulders. "Little Lin, have you ever studied?"

Lin Pingzhi answered honestly, "My family hired a tutor to teach me the Hundred Family Surnames and the Thousand Character Classic."

"Did you not continue studying?"

"My ambitions didn't lie with the civil service examinations. Once I could read and write, I stopped."

Wang Jingyuan grinned. "What a pity. Perhaps Mount Hua can make up for what you missed out on as a child."

Lin Pingzhi was utterly confused. I like practicing martial arts, not studying! What did I miss out on? I have no regrets! But he was only a newly accepted junior disciple and didn't dare talk back to his senior brother, so he simply nodded and agreed.

They had not gone far before they arrived. The Fuwei Escort Agency was in a bustling part of Fuzhou, and the city's largest restaurant was just a few dozen paces to the right.

Wang Jingyuan had once wondered how the Fuwei Escort Agency could have been wiped out, if things had gone as they did in the original story. From the restaurant's second floor, you could probably have watched the whole massacre unfold in real time.

If you found it entertaining, you could even toss down some silver and "tip" the performers.

Lin Zhennan had a wide circle of acquaintances, and there was no way the restaurant alone could accommodate everyone. So the banquet tables had been set out from the restaurant and all the way along the street to the Fuwei Escort Agency's entrance.

Beneath the restaurant's vermilion eaves hung row upon row of lanterns, illuminating the blue-stone street until it was as bright as day. Dozens of banquet tables lined the street in front of the Fuwei Escort Agency's golden nanmu plaque. The rich aroma of fine wines mingled with the scents of all kinds of delicacies, filling the entire street with a heady warmth.

Those with status and connections naturally drank inside the restaurant. Those without them had to make do with the outdoor banquet. But if Wang Jingyuan had his choice, he'd rather sit outside. Fuzhou's evening glow was quite lovely.

But his circumstances wouldn't allow it. What a pity.

Still, Wang Jingyuan hadn't forgotten why he had come to this banquet. He walked up to the restaurant's entrance, but instead of going in, he stopped in the doorway, gathered his Internal Energy, and shouted, "Everyone, look this way! Everyone, look this way! I have an announcement to make!"

The guests passing by all turned toward the voice and saw a handsome young man. The Fuwei Escort Agency's young master, Lin Pingzhi, was standing carefully beside him.

Anyone with even a little sense quickly put two and two together. They had heard that disciples of the Mount Hua Sect were coming to the Fuwei Escort Agency to accept a new disciple on their master's behalf. This young man was probably a prominent disciple of the sect.

Seeing Wang Jingyuan calling out to everyone, they all stood up. After all, they had to show respect for the man behind him: he represented Yue Daxiansheng, the Gentleman Sword.

Seeing that he had everyone's attention, Wang Jingyuan continued, "Some days ago, Escort Chief Lin of the Fuwei Escort Agency sent his family's Bixie Swordplay to Mount Hua as a tuition gift. My honored master was moved by Escort Chief Lin's sincerity, so he specifically sent my senior sister and me here to accept a disciple on his behalf.

"Heroes and good sirs, if your families possess any famous martial arts techniques, our Mount Hua Sect would be very glad to welcome talented disciples who wish to study under us."

Yue Lingshan whipped around and stared at Wang Jingyuan in disbelief. She could tell without thinking that he had made this decision on his own again. But what was done was done, and speaking up to stop him now would probably only make things worse.

She had no idea what Wang Jingyuan's true identity was, but after pulling a stunt like this, her father probably wouldn't let him off easily. Maybe she should persuade him to run away on the way back to Mount Hua.

Lin Pingzhi was dazed. So that was it. At first, he had wondered why the Mount Hua Sect had gone out of its way to come to Fuzhou and accept him.

He never expected his father to have traded the family's martial arts legacy for his sake. Lin Pingzhi felt as though his family had pawned everything they owned to secure his future. Bro, we're rich now.jpg

As for the other onlookers, Wang Jingyuan's announcement shocked them all. They had wondered why the Fuwei Escort Agency, so far from Mount Hua, had suddenly been chosen for a recruitment visit. Now they understood there was more to it.

But then they all furrowed their brows. The Mount Hua Sect was a respectable sect, after all. Wasn't recruiting disciples this way a little... shameless?

Wang Jingyuan couldn't be bothered with what anyone thought. He dragged Lin Pingzhi into the restaurant, then brazenly led Lin Pingzhi and Yue Lingshan to the seat of honor on the second floor.

As mentioned before, the restaurant was very close to the Fuwei Escort Agency. So Lin Zhennan, arriving late, naturally knew what had happened. He felt completely numb.

As he walked over, he faced the meaningful looks of the banquet guests and could only force a smile. When he reached the restaurant and saw Wang Jingyuan beckoning to him, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and take a seat.

The banquet should have been a joyous occasion for host and guests alike, but Wang Jingyuan's interference had left everyone unable to enjoy their food. They mechanically went around offering toasts and exchanging pleasantries, all of them distracted.

Some wondered what Wang Jingyuan had been thinking, saying this out loud in front of everyone. Others were calculating whether the martial arts techniques in their own families counted as famous.

The banquet should have gone on until dawn, but it wrapped up hastily long before then. As soon as they returned to the Fuwei Escort Agency, Lin Zhennan urgently invited Wang Jingyuan to speak with him in the study.

Once they were inside, Lin Zhennan dismissed everyone else and said nothing, simply watching Wang Jingyuan in silence. Wang Jingyuan knew what was on his mind, so he said directly, "I told you I came to save you. The people coming after you are all after the Bixie Sword Manual. This is the only way to turn their attention toward Mount Hua.

"As for the Bixie Swordplay, you can still send it to Mount Hua later if you want, or not send it at all. You know what the Bixie Swordplay is really like. Mount Hua has better techniques.

"And to be honest, we did accept Lin Pingzhi with an ulterior motive. We're after the experienced team at your Fuwei Escort Agency."

"Experienced? Team?" Lin Zhennan looked confused.

Wang Jingyuan took a book from inside his robe and handed it to Lin Zhennan. Lin Zhennan accepted it and murmured, "A Funding Proposal for the Mount Hua Sect and the Fuwei Escort Agency?"

Then he opened the cover and read aloud, "Today, the Mount Hua Sect commands respect with its sword, while the Fuwei Escort Agency conducts its business with trust. Together, our sword will stretch across the skies and our escort flag will guard the land. We join forces to open twelve water and land escort routes from the Qinling Mountains to Quanzhou, reshaping the order of Jianghu logistics..."