Friends

He could let off steam anytime.

Besides, how could a mere incense stick's worth of time possibly be enough!

Ordinarily, Jin Ban Hua would certainly have argued this very important matter of timing out with Fang Yunhua.

But now, after carefully inspecting the White Jade Beauty and returning it to its brocade case, his voice still trembled a little.

"Old Fang, no wonder so many women like you. If I were a woman, I'd plant a great big kiss on you right now!"

For someone like Jin Ban Hua, who never treated money as anything worth worrying about, the only thing that mattered now was his pride.

And Fang Yunhua had picked up the pride someone had just thrown into the dirt for him, retrieving the White Jade Beauty from the legendary Chu Liuxiang, who had supposedly never once allowed a victim to ransom back a stolen possession.

That had given him more face than he could have dreamed of.

How could he not be thrilled?

"Brother!" Jin Ban Hua was clearly moved. "I don't know what price you paid that Thief Marshal, but take these banknotes first. Once I get home, I'll fetch you a few more nice things. I absolutely won't let you lose out over this."

Looking at the banknotes piled before him, Fang Yunhua shook his head.

Although the sum he had paid to ransom the White Jade Beauty had made even him wince, he could not overlook all the help Jin Ban Hua had given him since they became friends.

Otherwise, at the rate Mount Hua had been developing before, it would never have qualified to establish its escort agency and trading company in Capital City, the foremost city of the realm.

Jin Ban Hua had also invested in the Mount Hua Trading Company. Granted, most of it had been pocket change Young Master Jin casually tossed out when he was enjoying his drinks, but it had provided a considerable amount of startup capital for Mount Hua, which had hardly been wealthy during those early days.

Fang Yunhua had quietly kept all Jin Ban Hua's help in his heart. Ransoming the White Jade Beauty this time was simply his way of repaying that support and trust, not an attempt to gain anything more.

"Old Jin, if you really want to tally up who's losing out, shouldn't I also point out that, early in the trading company's development, without your family's connections to fend off certain troubles, the Mount Hua Trading Company might have died in its cradle?

"Then that would count as a debt Mount Hua owed you too.

"And my title of Amorous Young Master owes plenty to all your publicity, Young Master Jin. Does that mean I owe you compensation for my reputation as well?

"And then there's..."

"All right, all right, stop with all this empty nonsense." Jin Ban Hua's head swam listening to him. He genuinely could not remember how much support he had given Mount Hua. Often, after enjoying himself with Fang Yunhua, he would casually make a decision and send a great pile of banknotes their way.

And what were banknotes worth, anyway...

Even millions upon millions in gold and silver mattered less than Young Master Jin's pride!

Still, he now understood what Fang Yunhua meant.

So he gathered up the banknotes on the table himself, though he still looked conflicted.

"But you've done me such a huge favor. If I don't do something, I'll keep feeling uneasy."

"Then let's follow our usual rule."

Fang Yunhua pointed at the delicious dishes on the table and smiled, raising an eyebrow.

"This meal's on you!"

"Good! It's on me!"

Jin Ban Hua smiled and clinked cups with Fang Yunhua. Now he remembered that, after he had helped Fang Yunhua with little matters he himself scarcely cared about-and could barely even recall-

Fang Yunhua had earnestly insisted on doing something for him in return, saying he would not even sleep soundly that night otherwise.

Then Jin Ban Hua had suggested treating him to a meal in exchange.

He had never expected the wheel of fortune to turn like this.

Still, he felt that this meal tasted all the better for it.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, there should ordinarily have been some other important activities. Yet Jin Ban Hua was clearly growing distracted, completely ignoring even the two beauties beside him who were using every trick they knew to show off their charms.

Seeing this, Fang Yunhua understood what was on his mind.

"Go on ahead. I'll be in Capital City for a while, so we can get together whenever you have time."

"Huh? Wouldn't that be neglecting you..."

"Old Jin, friends don't need to say things like that."

Jin Ban Hua chuckled. Now that he had recovered the White Jade Beauty, he naturally could not wait to prove himself to those young masters who had been mocking him over the affair lately. It just felt a little dishonorable to abandon Fang Yunhua, the man who deserved all the credit.

But since Fang Yunhua had said friends need not fuss over such things, he could go and let himself loose.

"Old Fang, want to come along?"

Fang Yunhua shook his head.

In Capital City, constantly expanding one's connections was not necessarily beneficial. After befriending Jin Ban Hua, he had also met several other prominent young masters.

Some were not nearly as frivolous as they appeared and clearly harbored deeper schemes.

Others were so debauched that they were practically ready to abduct respectable women right off the street. They were steeped in bad habits, and associating with them would only invite trouble.

Still others looked down on him from the bottom of their hearts. There was even less reason to sidle up to them with a fawning smile.

Someone like Jin Ban Hua, however, might have had a wastrel's reputation, but he lacked the more vicious habits of one. Most importantly, he made Fang Yunhua, a man of the martial world, feel respected. A friend like that was already a rare find.

There was no need for more. After all, a thick barrier always stood between the martial world and the imperial court, and only a handful of people and powers had what it took to break through it.

Jin Ban Hua also knew that Fang Yunhua had no interest in joining his circle of idle young masters. To him, that was a good thing: as Fang Yunhua's title of Amorous Young Master grew more famous, some people in his circle had begun wanting to meet him.

As Fang Yunhua's only friend in that circle, Jin Ban Hua was someone they could not bypass. Even mentioning it made him feel immensely proud!

"I'll head off, then. I've already paid the other expenses for you. Enjoy yourself however you like."

Jin Ban Hua raised an eyebrow and gave Fang Yunhua a meaningful smile.

Fang Yunhua could only feel a little helpless.

Once Jin Ban Hua left, he asked all the women whose gazes were growing ever more heated to leave. He truly had little interest in these commonplace, painted beauties. He would rather spend the time cultivating his internal energy.

His age put him at a disadvantage that was difficult to make up for. Even compared with Chu Liuxiang, he was a long way behind.

After all, in the original story, Yuan Suiyun, who was roughly Chu Liuxiang's age, had described Chu Liuxiang's internal energy as extraordinarily profound.

That put him far beyond his peers, on par with the powerful figures of the previous generation.

By the time the moon rose above the branches,

Fang Yunhua also emerged from the Wonderful Music Tower, having thoroughly dispersed the smell of wine and the traces of perfume that had inadvertently clung to him.

But when he reached the Mount Hua Trading Company, he noticed a figure by the main entrance who seemed to have been waiting there for quite some time. She was kicking the little stones along the street, one after another.

Under the moonlight, her outfit looked especially striking.

She wore a bright red archer's robe embroidered with golden flowers and black phoenixes, official boots with pink soles, and matching flared trousers.

A purple-gold crown sat on her head, and a belt of the same purple-gold color encircled her waist.

She looked like a young nobleman fresh from the archery range, yet her constant, slightly plaintive little huffs lent her a mischievous charm.

When she spotted Fang Yunhua in the distance, the displeasure on her face vanished at once. Like a blazing flame overflowing with enthusiasm, she rushed toward him.

"You big rascal!"

Jin Lingzhi hugged Fang Yunhua tightly, her pert little nose sniffing and sniffing all over him.