The So-Called Jianghu

The World-Suppressing Tripod? Surely they wouldn't just leave it out in the open in front of the main gate like that? Xue Mu tried to sense the pattern on his palm, but there was no reaction.

As he was sizing it up, Xue Qingqiu's voice transmitted directly into his mind: "Don't embarrass yourself. It's just a replica of the World-Suppressing Tripod, carrying a few traces of its aura, that's all."

Xue Mu nodded and stepped through the gate side-by-side with her.

Xiahou Di was waiting just inside the gate, accompanied by two people. One was a man with long hair draped over his shoulders, looking quite heroic and imposing in his Six Fan Gates uniform, a jade tablet hanging from his waist. The other was a fair-skinned, effeminate young man without a beard; he looked rather dainty, and his attire didn't seem to belong to the Six Fan Gates. Seeing the Xue siblings enter, both cupped their hands in greeting: "Distinguished guests have arrived. We failed to meet you from afar; please forgive our discourtesy."

Xiahou Di flicked her cloak and turned to walk inside: "Enough with the empty pleasantries. Sect Master Xue doesn't care for that sort of thing. Come in."

Just inside the gate, they saw a flagpole towering into the clouds. Hanging from it were several heads, dripping with fresh blood. The faces on the heads were as lifelike as in life, even preserving the expressions of shock they had worn before death.

Seeing fresh human heads so suddenly, the nauseating impact was truly something that couldn't be understood just by watching television. Xue Mu's stomach churned, and he nearly vomited. Fortunately, he hadn't eaten yet, and his stomach was completely empty, so it wasn't easy to retch; at least he didn't make a fool of himself.

Xue Qingqiu turned a blind eye, walking past the flagpole with indifference. Xiahou Di led the way, her scarlet cloak fluttering behind her; in Xue Mu's eyes, it looked just like blood.

The place Xiahou Di chose for the banquet was a side hall in the Six Fan Gates headquarters, implying a formal, official cooperation—a government-sanctioned banquet. It was much like a modern professional visit where a brother organization invites you for a tour and treats you to the cafeteria. It signified a certain intimacy, but also served to reassure a "weakling" like Xue Mu. If they were to use such a banquet as a trap to detain or kill someone, the news would spread, and the Six Fan Gates would be the laughingstock of the entire martial arts world. Unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn't resort to such a low-handed tactic.

Entering the side hall, the furnishings were solemn and simple. A small round table was set, enough to seat five or six people.

Xiahou Di sat down first and said casually: "Sit. There's no distinction between host and guest here; it's too much trouble."

Xue Qingqiu and Xue Mu sat down together. The effeminate youth and the heroic man exchanged a glance, their expressions slightly strange, but they didn't say anything and took their seats in the remaining spots.

Both sides were sizing each other up, their thoughts running in different directions.

Normally, when two people attend a banquet, they would naturally sit on either side of the host, signifying the guest of honor. But these siblings didn't follow that custom; they just sat next to each other on their own... If you said they lacked etiquette, their attitude didn't quite fit that, but it felt like they just wanted to be together... Were they really siblings?

Xue Mu wasn't thinking about such gossip. Seeing the jade tablet at the heroic man's waist, he recalled the Chronicles of Major Events that fabricated the story of Xue Qingqiu killing three Gold-Badge Constables. Looking at it this way, perhaps the color of the tablet was the mark of rank within the Six Fan Gates. In a cooperative meeting like this, a Jade-Badge Constable should be the highest rank—the right-hand man of Xiahou Di—while the Gold-Badge status was secondary.

They couldn't write that Xue Qingqiu killed a Jade-Badge, because those were renowned powerhouses with a known count; you couldn't just write them off as dead. Besides, the death of a Jade-Badge would shake the prestige of the Six Fan Gates. So, only Gold-Badges could die... Thinking of this, Xue Mu suddenly felt that the Six Fan Gates' propaganda wasn't bad at all. A mere detail reflected the "Basic Law"—should one say it was worthy of a government department? This level of political maneuvering was clearly a grade higher than the "gangster" style of the Star Moon Sect.

Soon, men dressed as bailiffs began to serve wine and dishes. Only then did Xue Qingqiu lift a cup of wine and speak: "Our late arrival has kept you all waiting."

The heroic man shook his head: "Actually, we haven't been waiting long. Something happened at the Pleasure-Seeking Pavilion, and we had people to deal with; we just returned."

Xue Qingqiu looked at him, her expression quite cautious: "As far as this Seat knows, while the Six Fan Gates has many who have entered the Dao, there is only one in the Void-Piercing Realm."

The heroic man cupped his hands, his expression solemn: "Xuan Zhe greets Sect Master Xue. I have long admired your great name."

"So it really is the Marquis of Might and Solemnity." Xue Qingqiu smiled and turned to introduce him to Xue Mu: "The Six Fan Gates' number one expert, renowned far and wide. It seems the Six Fan Gates is showing great sincerity this time."

Void-Piercing? A Marquis? In the eyes of both the imperial court and the martial arts world, this counted as a super-heavyweight. Xue Mu quickly offered his own "long-admired" pleasantries, secretly thinking that if a young girl like Xiahou Di could hold down the Six Fan Gates, it was likely the result of this big shot's full support. No wonder people speculated that Xiahou Di was the Emperor's illegitimate daughter; it certainly seemed to have a ring of truth to it.

The effeminate youth smiled: "This is the sincerity of the imperial court."

Xue Qingqiu nodded: "This must be Venerable Flower Companion, Eunuch Li?"

The effeminate youth raised his cup in acknowledgment: "It is indeed this humble one. As a person of the palace, my lowly name pollutes your ears, Sect Master."

Xue Mu understood. No wonder his temperament was so effeminate; he was a eunuch... And a eunuch calling himself "Venerable Flower Companion," that was...

"Your name is like thunder to my ears." Xue Qingqiu didn't mind whether he was a eunuch or not. She slightly lifted a corner of her veil, raised her cup, and took a small sip, showing great respect.

The opening atmosphere was quite good. Xue Qingqiu being so accommodating clearly showed she understood the significance of this banquet. With people from the palace, a Void-Piercing expert, and a Marquis present, it was clearly not the time to act arrogant.

Xue Mu also toasted each of them, expressing his "thunderous" admiration. Once the formalities were over, Xue Mu followed the previous thread: "What is the current outcome regarding the Pleasure-Seeking Pavilion?"

Eunuch Li glanced at Xue Mu, his eyes holding a hint of peculiar inquiry, but his face wore a "charming" smile: "The Joyous Union Sect suffered a great loss, but with the First Prince mediating, no one was killed or injured. However, Young Master Xue should be careful these days. Everyone has figured out your scheme, and there's no guarantee that someone won't hold a grudge against you."

"Drifting in the martial arts world, how can one avoid being stabbed? Let them come." Xue Mu said seemingly casually: "As for matters of the world, my sister will naturally protect me. If it comes from the imperial court... well, Chief Constable Xiahou will protect me."

Xiahou Di scoffed: "Our cooperation is just that—cooperation. Why should this Seat protect you in matters outside of it?"

Xue Mu said leisurely: "Didn't Chief Constable Xiahou tell me about the affairs of the First Prince? Xue has acted as the blade in your hand once, Chief Constable; you can't just burn the bridge after crossing it."

Eunuch Li and Xuan Zhe exchanged a glance, their expressions becoming cautious. Xue Qingqiu saw this and a smile flashed across her face. In truth, she had always understood that she was being used as a tool, but she had to do it for herself and for others. Seeing everyone's reaction now, it was clear the move had landed. How to put this feeling... she finally felt that she wasn't much worse than Xue Mu; they had thought of the same thing. She felt a sense of relief. If it were always like earlier at the Hundred Flowers Garden, where she had no ideas and Xue Mu handled everything with a wave of his hand, she wondered if she would eventually start suspecting she was a moron.

Xiahou Di narrowed her eyes and watched Xue Mu for a moment before sighing: "Actually, this Seat has always believed that a person like Young Master Xue shouldn't belong to the martial arts world; it's a pity you don't mix in the imperial court. If you are interested, this Seat can recommend you for a position."

Xue Qingqiu's expression turned sharp in an instant.

"That won't be necessary." Xue Mu laughed before Xue Qingqiu could flare up, raising his wine cup: "Xue has no interest in the imperial court whatsoever. But we are friends with Chief Constable Xiahou now, aren't we? If there is anything you need from me, just say the word."

"Oh?" Xiahou Di raised her cup, pausing at her lips without drinking, rotating it slightly: "Take the matter of the First Prince, for example. Since Master Xue doesn't enter the court, how can you help me? I'm afraid you don't even understand where our conflict lies."

Although she was questioning him, she had changed "this Seat" to "I," which counted as acknowledging the "friendship" Xue Mu mentioned. Xue Mu smiled: "In the Capital, maintaining order is not easy. The brothers below run their legs off, so they should get some benefits."

Xiahou Di continued to rotate her cup, her sharp eyes fixed straight on Xue Mu, waiting for him to continue.

Xuan Zhe also looked solemn, clearly attaching great importance to this topic.

Xue Mu continued: "Originally, the brothels, taverns, and gambling dens provided the bailiffs and constables with a share of the profits, and it was easy to find a girl... But some nobles and royals started playing at monopolies. The brothers lost their benefits, and there have been complaints for a long time. As Chief Constable, you should be securing some benefits for your men."

Xiahou Di was silent for a long time. Finally, she tilted her head back, drained her cup, and gestured to Xue Mu: "That you, a Young Master, would know the ways of the petty officials and the marketplace is truly unexpected. Unlike most martial artists, who for the most part don't even put such officials in their eyes."

The implication was an admission that her conflict with the First Prince was exactly as Xue Mu had analyzed; at the very least, this was one of the reasons.

Xue Mu finished his wine and smiled: "Although I am in the martial arts world, wherever there are people, there is a world. The principles are often the same."

Xiahou Di shook her head and smiled: "Well said."

Xue Mu suddenly said: "But I think there is another sentence that the Chief Constable would like to hear even more."

Xiahou Di now truly valued what Xue Mu had to say, asking very seriously: "Which one?"

Xue Mu poured himself more wine and said leisurely: "The martial arts world is but a corner of the empire."

Xiahou Di's beautiful eyes flashed with brilliance, and Xuan Zhe gripped his wine cup tightly; both were moved at the same time.

The pugilistic world was but a corner of the empire, so how could martial artists ever stand above the imperial court? Was this not exactly what Xiahou Di and Xuan Zhe had sought their entire lives? Xue Mu's simple sentence pierced straight into the depths of their hearts like a sharp blade, intoxicating as fine wine.

Eunuch Li glanced at Xue Qiqiu, his expression unfathomable. Throughout the scene, it had been Xue Mu rambling on, yet Xue Qiqiu, the sect master herself, had acted like a submissive wife, letting him take the lead without uttering a single word. This completely subverted his understanding. But at this moment, Eunuch Li finally understood why Xue Mu could seize the initiative; if even the master and guest of the Six Fan Gates had swapped roles right before his eyes, what was so strange about Xue Mu taking the lead in front of his own sister?

It would be a miracle if this Xue Mu didn't belong to the Star Moon Sect. He hadn't used any cultivation techniques, yet his casual words alone could strike the most vulnerable parts of a person's heart. What difference was there between this and Yin Ye?