What the Jianghu Really Was

The World-Suppressing Tripod? Surely they wouldn't just leave it sitting out in front of the gate, would they? Xue Mu tried to sense the pattern on his palm, but nothing happened.

As he examined it, Xue Qingqiu sent him a telepathic message. "Don't embarrass yourself. It's just an imitation of the World-Suppressing Tripod, with a few traces of its aura."

Xue Mu nodded, and he and Xue Qingqiu entered the gate side by side.

Xiahou Di was waiting just inside, accompanied by two people. One was a long-haired man with a rather heroic bearing, dressed in a Six Fan Gates uniform and wearing a jade token at his waist. The other was a pale young man with a delicate, beardless face and an effeminate air. His clothes didn't look like Six Fan Gates' uniform, either. When the two saw the Xue siblings enter, they cupped their hands. "Honored guests, we failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive our discourtesy."

Xiahou Di flicked her cloak and turned to walk farther inside. "Let's not bother with empty formalities. Sect Master Xue isn't one for that sort of thing, either. Come in."

As soon as they entered, they saw a flagpole soaring into the clouds. Several heads hung from it, drenched in blood. Their faces looked lifelike, even the expressions of shock they'd worn at the moment of death preserved intact.

The nauseating shock of suddenly seeing fresh heads was something you couldn't understand from watching television. Xue Mu's stomach clenched, and he nearly threw up. Fortunately, he hadn't eaten, and his stomach was empty, so it wasn't easy to bring anything up. At least he managed not to make a spectacle of himself.

Xue Qingqiu passed the flagpole without a glance, her expression indifferent. Xiahou Di led the way ahead of them, her scarlet cloak billowing behind her, appearing blood-red to Xue Mu.

Xiahou Di was hosting them in a side hall at Six Fan Gates' headquarters. It was probably meant to signal formal, official cooperation—a government-hosted banquet. Like when one government department invited another to visit and treated them to a meal in the cafeteria. Something along those lines. It signified closeness, and put the weakling Xue Mu at ease. If they invited him to a banquet like this only to arrest or kill him, Six Fan Gates would be laughed out of the jianghu if word got around. They wouldn't resort to such a move unless absolutely necessary.

The side hall was dignified and unadorned, with a small round table that could seat five or six.

Xiahou Di sat down first and said casually, "Sit. There's no need to fuss over who's host or guest. It's a bother."

Xue Qingqiu sat beside Xue Mu. The effeminate young man and the heroic one exchanged glances, their expressions a little odd, but neither said anything. They took the remaining seats.

Both sides studied each other, each with their own thoughts.

Normally, when two people attended a banquet, they would naturally sit on either side of the host, signaling who was host and who was guest. But these siblings didn't care for that convention. They simply sat shoulder to shoulder... If it was because they had no regard for etiquette, their manner didn't quite fit. It almost seemed as though they simply wanted to sit together... Were they really siblings?

Xue Mu, however, wasn't thinking about that sort of gossip. Seeing the jade token at the heroic man's waist reminded him of the fabricated Chronicles of Major Events, which claimed that Xue Qingqiu had killed three gold-token constables. From this, perhaps the tokens' colors marked rank within Six Fan Gates. For a cooperative meeting like this, jade-token constables were probably the highest rank, and the fact that one was at Xiahou Di's side meant he was one of her right-hand men. Gold-token constables ranked below them.

They couldn't make up a story about Xue Qingqiu killing a jade-token constable. Every one of them was a formidable figure, and there were only so many. They couldn't just write a few of them off as dead. Besides, the death of a jade-token constable would shake Six Fan Gates' prestige, so they could only kill off gold-token constables... Thinking of this, Xue Mu suddenly felt that Six Fan Gates' publicity department wasn't bad at all. Even a small detail like this showed a proper grasp of the rules. Was it any wonder? They were a government agency, after all. Their level of professionalism was clearly a cut above that of the Star Moon Sect, which was basically a criminal gang.

Soon, some yamen runners began bringing in wine and dishes. Only then did Xue Qingqiu raise her cup and say, "We're late. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

The heroic man shook his head. "We haven't been waiting long. Something happened at the Pleasure-Seeking Pavilion, and some of our people went to deal with it. They've only just returned."

Xue Qingqiu studied him, her expression turning somewhat solemn. "As far as I know, Six Fan Gates has many Dao-entry experts, but only one Void-Piercing expert."

The heroic man cupped his hands, his expression grave. "Xuan Zhe pays his respects to Sect Master Xue. I've long admired your reputation."

"So you are indeed Marquis of Might and Solemnity." Xue Qingqiu smiled, then turned to introduce him to Xue Mu. "Six Fan Gates' foremost expert, renowned far and wide. It seems Six Fan Gates has come with considerable sincerity this time."

Void-Piercing Realm? A marquis? That made him a top-tier figure in both the Imperial Court and the jianghu. Xue Mu hurriedly offered his respects, saying he had long admired the man's reputation. He privately surmised that Xiahou Di's ability to command Six Fan Gates at such a young age was probably thanks to this powerful figure's full support. No wonder people suspected Xiahou Di was the emperor's illegitimate daughter. There did seem to be something to it.

The effeminate young man smiled. "This is the Imperial Court's sincerity."

Xue Qingqiu nodded. "Then this must be Venerable Flower Companion, Eunuch Li?"

The young man raised his cup in acknowledgment. "Indeed. I'm but a palace servant, and my humble name would sully the Sect Master's ears."

Xue Mu understood. No wonder he had such a delicate air—he was a eunuch... And a eunuch calling himself Venerable Flower Companion, no less...

"Your reputation precedes you like thunder," Xue Qingqiu replied, unconcerned by his being a eunuch. She slightly lifted the corner of her veil and took a small sip of wine, showing him due courtesy.

The opening had gone fairly well. Xue Qingqiu was being so accommodating that she clearly understood the broader significance of this banquet. With someone from the palace here, and a Void-Piercing expert and a marquis in attendance, this was obviously no time to put on airs.

Xue Mu then raised his cup to each of them in turn, saying their reputations preceded them. Once the greetings were done, he picked up where the conversation had left off. "What's the situation at the Pleasure-Seeking Pavilion now?"

Eunuch Li glanced at Xue Mu, a strangely probing look in his eyes, though his face wore a "charming" smile. "The Joyous Union Sect suffered heavy losses, but thanks to the First Prince's intervention, no one was killed or injured. Still, Young Master Xue, you'd best be careful these next few days. Everyone has now figured out your scheme, and there's no telling who might hold a grudge against you."

"Living in the jianghu, you're bound to get cut sooner or later. Let them come," Xue Mu said casually. "As for the jianghu, my sister will keep me safe. And if it's the Imperial Court... Well, Chief Constable Xiahou will protect me."

Xiahou Di gave a derisive laugh. "We may be cooperating, but why should I protect you beyond that?"

Xue Mu replied lazily, "Wasn't it Chief Constable Xiahou who told me about the First Prince's affairs? I merely acted as your knife. You can't cross the river and kick away the bridge."

Eunuch Li and Xuan Zhe exchanged glances, both looking rather solemn. Xue Qingqiu noticed and smiled to herself. She had always known she was being used as a weapon, but she had to do it for both their sakes. Judging from everyone's reaction, it seemed the plan had worked. How did it feel? For once, she felt she wasn't all that far behind Xue Mu. They had even arrived at the same idea, which was a considerable relief. If she always stood there without a clue while Xue Mu casually solved every problem, she might eventually start wondering if she were an idiot.

Xiahou Di narrowed her eyes and studied Xue Mu for a while before sighing. "I've always felt that someone like Young Master Xue doesn't seem to belong in the jianghu. It's a shame you're not in the Imperial Court. If you're interested, I can recommend you for a position."

Xue Qingqiu's expression instantly turned cold.

"No need for that," Xue Mu said with a hearty laugh, speaking before Xue Qingqiu could flare up. He raised his cup in acknowledgment. "I have no interest in the Imperial Court whatsoever. But Chief Constable Xiahou and I are friends now. If there's ever anything you need me for, just say the word."

"Oh?" Xiahou Di raised her cup, but stopped it at her lips without drinking, turning it slightly between her fingers. "Take the First Prince's affairs, for example. If you won't serve in the Imperial Court, how can you help me? I doubt you even understand what our dispute is about."

Though she was questioning him, she had changed from referring to herself as "this humble official" to "I," which meant she accepted Xue Mu's suggestion that they were friends. Xue Mu smiled. "Keeping order in the Capital City isn't easy. The brothers on the ground run their legs off. They ought to get something out of it."

Xiahou Di continued to turn her cup, her sharp eyes fixed straight on Xue Mu as she waited for him to continue.

Xuan Zhe also looked grave, taking this subject very seriously.

Xue Mu continued, "The brothels, gambling houses, hotels, and casinos used to give constables and yamen runners a share here and there, and it was easy to find a girl... But some noble lords and royal relatives have started monopolizing everything. The brothers have lost their benefits, and they've been complaining for a long time, haven't they? As chief constable, you ought to find a way to secure them some benefits."

Xiahou Di was silent for a long time. At last, she tipped back her head and drained her cup, then gestured to Xue Mu. "I never expected you to know so much about the affairs of clerks and the common folk. Most people in the jianghu don't give clerks a second thought."

Her meaning was clear: she acknowledged that her conflict with the First Prince was indeed as Xue Mu had analyzed, or at least that this was one of the reasons.

Xue Mu finished his wine as well and smiled. "I may be in the jianghu, but wherever there are people, there's jianghu. The principles are often the same."

Xiahou Di shook her head with a smile. "Well said."

Xue Mu suddenly said, "But I think there's another saying you'd like even more, Chief Constable."

By now, Xiahou Di was paying increasing attention to what Xue Mu said. She asked seriously, "Which one?"

Xue Mu poured himself more wine and said leisurely, "The jianghu is only one corner of the realm."

A brilliant light flashed in Xiahou Di's eyes. Xuan Zhe gripped his wine cup tightly. Both of them were visibly moved.

The jianghu was only one corner of the realm. How could the people of the jianghu place themselves above the Imperial Court? Wasn't that what Xiahou Di and Xuan Zhe had spent their lives striving for? Xue Mu's simple words pierced straight into their hearts like a sharp sword, as intoxicating as fine wine.

Eunuch Li glanced at Xue Qingqiu, his expression unreadable. Xue Mu had been doing all the talking, while Xue Qingqiu, the Sect Master, sat quietly and let him take the lead, like a little wife. It turned everything he knew on its head. Yet at this moment, Eunuch Li understood why Xue Mu could take the initiative. Look—the roles of host and guest had even been reversed here at Six Fan Gates. What was so strange about Xue Mu taking the lead in front of his sister?

It would've been stranger if Xue Mu hadn't joined the Star Moon Sect. He hadn't used a single technique; with nothing more than a few casual words, he could strike directly at the most vulnerable place in people's hearts. What difference was there between him and Yin Ye?