A Family Reunion, Part One

Qingxu County was wealthier than Yangquan County, with broader streets and shops standing shoulder to shoulder.

Every blade of grass and every tree, every street and winding lane, felt both familiar and strange to Hong Yuan.

Hong Yuan felt no nostalgia at returning to his old haunts.

He had released his horse into the hills before entering the city. Now he strode along the bluestone avenue toward the Huang Family estate on Rongqing Alley in the east of town.

He and Huang Shaotang had at least been brothers on the surface. Though he had never set foot in Huang Mansion, he knew where it was.

Hong Yuan strode on.

Daylight had fully broken. Warm sunlight spilled across the county town as it came alive, its streets thronged with people. Hong Yuan even spotted a few familiar faces as he walked.

Hong Yuan had no intention of greeting them. Some of those acquaintances looked straight at him without recognizing him.

It had been only half a month, but Hong Yuan's transformation was like shedding his old skin and bones. His whole world had turned upside down.

Before, he had been a handsome but delicate, refined-looking scholar. Now he wore a crisp fighting outfit and a long saber at his waist. He had shot up a few inches, too, and looked every bit the dashing wandering swordsman.

Before long, Hong Yuan passed a three-story pavilion. The rich scent of perfume and powder drifted out, mingled with the laughter and chatter of women.

With a creak, a second-floor window swung open. A colorful sash fluttered down and landed by Hong Yuan's feet.

A woman of thirty or forty, dressed in red and green and still possessed of her charms, leaned out. She smiled before she spoke. "Oh, how clumsy of me! I nearly struck you, young master. I'm terribly sorry. I'll come down at once to apologize in person."

Ha! Good thing she hadn't thrown down a bamboo pole. Otherwise, I'd have thought she did it on purpose.

The building beside him was Tanchun Pavilion, one of Qingxu County's best-known houses of pleasure. The woman was its madam.

Hong Yuan had once come to Tanchun Pavilion at Fatty Huang's invitation. The original Hong Yuan had been a man of letters, after all. What kind of refined gentleman had no taste for dalliance?

But that single visit had frightened him half to death. The girls inside had looked at him the way demonesses looked at Tang Monk's flesh, every one of them seemingly full of vigor and tricks.

The original Hong Yuan had trembled through the night, too scared to do anything improper. He had merely listened to one of the pavilion's courtesans play the zither until morning.

Fatty Huang had paid the bill the next day, too.

They had shared two of the three bonds as strong as iron. In a way, Fatty Huang really had been the original Hong Yuan's "good brother"!

Hong Yuan was in no hurry to leave.

It was not that he wanted to relive old pleasures. He was wondering whether Huang Shaotang might be inside Tanchun Pavilion right now.

Soon the madam came out, swaying her hips. One close look, and her eyes lit up.

What a handsome young man!

With that upright, martial build, he must be powerfully built beneath his clothes—not one of those silver-coated, pewter-tipped spears.

The madam sized him up with the speed born of long experience and discreetly wiped the drool from her mouth. For a young man this handsome and strapping, she would have spent hundreds, even thousands of taels of silver to have him keep her company for ten days and ten nights!

"Oh, young master! Let me apologize to you..."

The madam laughed until her whole body shook.

Hong Yuan waved a hand and asked directly, "Is Huang Shaotang inside?"

"Hm?" The madam steadied her dazzled wits and looked at Hong Yuan uncertainly. In her line of work, she could not reveal a guest's whereabouts lightly.

"Shaotang and I were schoolmates, dearest friends and kin in all but blood. I heard today was a joyous occasion for Master Huang, so I came to offer my congratulations. If Shaotang is here, we can go together."

At that, the madam giggled again and waved her handkerchief. "So you're a friend of Young Master Huang's! He enjoyed himself all night and has only just woken up. Shall I fetch him for you?"

"No need. Shaotang and I haven't seen each other in days, and I've missed him terribly. Sorry for the trouble, madam, but please show me the way."

Though Hong Yuan was not a paying customer, the madam took no offense. She picked up the sash, turned with a sway of her hips, and said, "Follow me, young master."

The moment he stepped inside, a spacious hall opened before him, filled with people of every sort. Men shuffled along clutching their waists and yawning, visibly exhausted, while women in bright finery laughed and chattered.

"Madam!"

"Mother!"

Several sharp-eyed girls called out sweetly and pressed close, their slender waists swaying and their eyes glistening. "Mother, what should we call this handsome young man? Which of us will attend to him? Why not let me..."

"Get lost, you shameless little hussies! This young master is here to see Young Master Huang."

The madam scolded the flock of chattering beauties away and led Hong Yuan to the third floor, snapping at any girls who crowded toward him along the way.

She stopped before a private room glowing with lamplight. Before she could knock, a soft, pleading voice came from inside. "Young master, please hurry!"

"Hm?!"

Hong Yuan had been about to push the door open, but the voice gave him pause. He feared he might walk in on something that would scorch his eyes.

Soft as it was, the voice was unmistakably a man's.

I'd never heard Shaotang had that taste!

"I know! Stop rushing me. You're driving me mad!" Huang Shaotang's voice rang out, weary and impatient.

"Young master, today is a happy day for the master. It wouldn't be good if you arrived late."

Hong Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. He had nearly thought Shaotang's nature had changed. It was only a servant speaking.

"What wouldn't be good about it? My old man has taken so many concubines, and it's this tedious every time. Even if he isn't sick of it, I am! Hmph. She's only a concubine. They could just carry her in through the side gate!"

"Young master, please don't say that in front of the master..."

"I'm not stupid. Oh, did you prepare the gift I told you to? Don't let my brothers outdo me again!"

Hong Yuan waved to the madam and smiled. "Thank you for showing me the way. You can go downstairs. Shaotang is in a foul temper, and I wouldn't want him to take it out on you."

"Very well. If you need anything, young master, just send for me." The madam left with a smile.

Hong Yuan pushed the door. It rattled but did not open; a wooden bolt barred it from within. He sent a pulse of force through his palm, and with a crack, the bolt snapped loose.

Such delicate control of his strength was a sign that his rigid force was turning supple.

Hong Yuan pushed the door open. Lamps blazed inside, and a billow of warmth held the late-autumn chill at bay.

The room was tastefully furnished. The bedding on a large bed lay in disarray. Huang Shaotang sat up in rumpled clothes, his plump face marked by sunken eyes. There was no sign of a pavilion girl; perhaps she had gone out.

"Shaotang, it's been days. I've missed you terribly. But seeing you're still alive puts my mind at ease."

As Hong Yuan entered, he nudged the door shut behind him with one foot.

Huang Shaotang stared, stunned that someone had barged in uninvited. His servant spoke first. "Who are you? Young master, is this a friend of yours?"

Hearing Hong Yuan address his master so familiarly, the servant did not dare be rude.

"You... who are you?" Huang Shaotang's head was still foggy. Hong Yuan looked familiar, but he could not remember where they had met.

The man carried himself with uncommon presence, so Huang Shaotang held back his rebuke.

"Ah, Shaotang! We were schoolmates for years, close as father and son. I've always thought of you as my son, yet you don't recognize me? How heartbreaking!"

Hong Yuan sighed and stepped forward. His hand flashed out and seized the servant by the nape.

The servant's body went limp. It felt as though something had plugged his throat. He could neither move nor make a sound; only terror showed in his eyes.

Huang Shaotang finally came to his senses. His face darkened with anger. "Bastard! What are you talking about?"

Hong Yuan had already carried the servant to the bedside. He gave the nape of his neck a light slap, and a pop rang out like a firecracker bursting.

Blood sprayed. Hong Yuan let go, and the servant fell facedown, a bloody hole blown open in the back of his neck.

He had died without so much as a scream.

Huang Shaotang stared blankly. A heartbeat later, terror filled his eyes, and he opened his mouth to shout.

A sudden chill touched his brow. A finger rested between his eyes.

Huang Shaotang's heart froze, as though a basin of icy water had been poured over his head. The shout died in his throat. Trembling, he looked up to see Hong Yuan smiling faintly at him and speaking softly.

"Shaotang, all I have to do is tap my finger. Boom! Your whole head will burst like an egg. What a sight that would be!"

At that second "Shaotang," Huang Shaotang jolted. The terror on his face deepened. "You... you're Hong Yuan? You're still alive?"