Rain battered the blue tiles, and curtains of water cascaded like waterfalls.
On the covered veranda, Yang Jinbao's corpulent body abruptly stiffened, the playful grin freezing on his face.
Then he sprang backward, as nimble as a great fat goose, and fluttered onto a bench along the railing.
Only then did he yank off his black blindfold, narrowing his little eyes as he scrutinized Hong Yuan in bewilderment. "Whose brat are you, daring to make sport of Master Bao?"
Hong Yuan smiled. Though this martial uncle he had acquired had grown bloated and fat, his face thick with flesh, his features still bore some resemblance to Yang Lie's. Hong Yuan bowed.
"Hong Yuan greets Martial Uncle. Your elder brother sent me to find you."
Yang Jinbao froze, then his eyes abruptly widened. He hopped off the bench and circled Hong Yuan, examining him ever more closely before clicking his tongue. "You're Er Gouzi's disciple? Words alone prove nothing. What evidence do you have?"
Hong Yuan glanced at the curious beauties watching them and smiled. "I have no evidence, but Master told me that when you were fourteen, a madam from a brothel in the county lured you away. You stayed out all night, and the next day she personally brought you home, leaving two-tenths of a tael of silver as a gift. Your parents thrashed you so badly that you couldn't get out of bed for three days and nights..."
"Enough! Stop talking!" The moment Hong Yuan said "fourteen," Yang Jinbao's brows had begun twitching wildly, and he reached out a fat hand to cover his mouth.
But Hong Yuan slipped aside with a slight turn and spilled the rest in one breath. By then, Yang Jinbao's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Only the alluring