The Carefree Inn was an inn to begin with, and it was not full. As long as they were willing to pay, rooms were naturally available.
The surroundings were pleasant, and the price was anything but cheap. Normally, Big Stone would have been reluctant to spend that much, but this time he paid with relish, not finding it expensive in the least. If anything, he seemed to think it was too cheap. In short, he handed over the money readily.
Shi Chun chose a quiet room tucked away in a corner.
After making a circuit of the room to inspect it, he asked Wu Jinliang for the copy of "Holding a Lantern over Mountains and Seas" and placed it on the desk, rather like an animal marking its territory.
He then sent Big Stone to wait outside the inn's entrance, so he could notify him immediately if Cen Futong arrived.
With other business to attend to, he left the room and strolled to Bian Weikang's door as though he knew the way well, then knocked twice.
Bian Weikang himself opened the door. A strip of white cloth was wrapped around his head to dress his wound, making him look as though he were in mourning.
Seeing the neatly dressed Shi Chun outside, he froze for a moment and nearly failed to recognize him. Fortunately, that dark complexion was easy enough to identify, and Wu Jinliang's hulking figure also came into view. He immediately exclaimed, "Senior brother... what brings you here? Please, both of you, come in."
Shi Chun was in no hurry. He explained politely, "We've already met our friend, and we happened to take a room here too, so I came to say hello, Brother Bian. My room is the one in the farthest corner on the inn's left side." As he spoke, he glanced inside. "Is this a convenient time? We won't be disturbing you, will we?"
He acted mindful of the fact that there was a lady present.
As they spoke, Xiang Lan'er lifted the beaded curtain and emerged from the inner room. She had tidied away her disheveled appearance and washed off her cosmetics. Stripped of powder and paint, the charming beauty looked all the more radiant, enough to make anyone's eyes light up.
"Our benefactor has come. You're not disturbing us. Please come in."
Xiang Lan'er moved just behind Bian Weikang's side, her hands gathered before her abdomen. With a tranquil expression, she bowed, neither servile nor overbearing.
Her voice was pleasant too, her words clear and precise. She had plainly received training.
"Ah, then I won't stand on ceremony." Shi Chun walked in cheerfully, with Wu Jinliang following.
After some polite exchanges and invitations to sit, Xiang Lan'er served tea like a virtuous wife receiving guests.
It was an entirely ordinary thing, but this was the first time Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang had enjoyed such treatment, and it felt rather nice. As for the taste, neither of them could make much of it.
They had originally intended to feast after arriving here, but events had followed one another with such uncanny timing that they had not even had time to stop and enjoy themselves. They had been on the move nonstop, and even Big Stone's offer to treat them had to wait, since Shi Chun considered the present matter more pressing.
After setting down his teacup, Bian Weikang took the initiative to ask, "Senior brother... have you come with any instructions?"
Shi Chun cupped his teacup in both hands and shook his head with a smile. "I wouldn't presume to give you instructions. I just suddenly remembered something I forgot to ask. You two seem to have run out of money, haven't you? If so, why not take some from me first to put out the fire at your brows?"
He had come to offer kindness, leaving Bian Weikang so touched once again that he did not know what to say.
Xiang Lan'er therefore spoke up. "We still have enough small change for a few days' expenses."
Though she said that, she quietly stole a couple more glances at him. This benefactor seemed a little too enthusiastic.
"That's good." Shi Chun nodded, looking considerably reassured, though he still voiced his concern. "Still, carrying on like this probably isn't a lasting solution. Do you have any other plans? If you need my help, Brother Bian, just say the word. I greatly admire your character. Please don't stand on ceremony with me."
At the mention of plans, Bian Weikang replied somewhat hesitantly, "I'm still thinking it over."
Shi Chun gave a puzzled sound. "Outside Liyun Tower earlier, I heard you say you were taking Miss Xiang back to Mount Wukang. Did I hear wrong?"
Bian Weikang sighed. "Of course I want to take her back. But I imagine you've heard too, senior brother... I was expelled from the sect. If I go back, I don't know whether they'll accept me. I'm afraid the journey will be for nothing."
Hearing this, Xiang Lan'er lowered her head, looking despondent.
With a refined air, Shi Chun gently set down his teacup and said seriously, "Brother Bian, I cannot agree with that. They say a man's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Since you already promised to take Miss Xiang home, why go back on your word? Forgive my bluntness, but if worry alone keeps you from even trying, wouldn't you be letting down Miss Xiang's devotion? Wouldn't you become a laughingstock to the world?
"What's more troubling is that this is no place for Miss Xiang to remain for long. Although you've bought her freedom, you cannot stop Lü Taizhen from coveting her beauty. Faced with his power and influence, are you certain you can keep her entirely safe? If anything goes wrong, you'll lose both the woman and your money, and regret will come too late. You should make your decision soon."
Those words brought Bian Weikang abruptly to his feet. At the mention of Lü Taizhen's covetousness, he truly could no longer sit still.
Wu Jinliang was somewhat surprised. He had no idea why Chuntian was putting so much effort into spouting all this elaborate language, but he knew the fellow was certainly up to no good.
"Will you return to Mount Wukang with me?" Bian Weikang asked, taking Xiang Lan'er's soft hand.
Xiang Lan'er nodded tenderly. "My heart will never turn to another, nor will I give myself to two men. Wherever you are, my love, there I will be. Even ten thousand deaths would bring no regret!"
Overcome with emotion, Bian Weikang was about to embrace her when the usually refined Shi Chun suddenly slapped the table and cheered, nearly making him jump.
"Well said!" Shi Chun rose with that slap of the table, then thumped his own chest. "Ten thousand deaths without regret! My heartfelt efforts have not been in vain. Rest assured, I will never stand by while you face trouble. On this journey, the two of us will do everything we can to escort you. If danger lies ahead, let our bodies wade through it first."
Countless questions instantly sprang up in Wu Jinliang's mind. What's this supposed to mean? This woman is already goods in hand. Is there any need to take things this far?
He could hardly ask, though, and he knew that since Chuntian had said it, there must be a reason.
Despite understanding none of it, he nodded and grunted his agreement. "I'll be the first to wade in!"
He had not broken his habit of charging in first.
Bian Weikang hurriedly released Xiang Lan'er and cupped his hands. "Senior brother, I couldn't trouble you like that. I really couldn't. The two of us can make our own way back."
Shi Chun raised a hand to stop him. "Say no more, Brother Bian. Another pair of hands on the road means another measure of strength. Besides, your circumstances with Miss Xiang are unusual. Mount Wukang may not accept you smoothly. If we go, we can help look after you. Whatever happens, we can work out a solution together."
Though he said that, inwardly he muttered, You'd better not force me to bring up the loan.
If Bian Weikang insisted on refusing their escort, he would have to drop a hint: You borrowed my money. Is it right to refuse to let me come along, then disappear without a trace?
Xiang Lan'er shot him a quick glance, a sharp, unusual glint flashing in her eyes, then immediately lowered her gaze again and maintained her gentle demeanor.
Fortunately, those words had indeed struck home with Bian Weikang. Once he reached Mount Wukang, his return might well prove difficult. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "In that case, sorry for the trouble, senior brother. If I can return to Mount Wukang smoothly, I will repay your great kindness generously!"
After speaking, he paused again, realizing that calling him "senior brother" was coming increasingly naturally.
Shi Chun smiled faintly. "If I receive your generous reward, that will mean you've successfully returned to your sect. In that case, I truly look forward to it."
"Let's hope so." After a bitter smile, Bian Weikang glanced at the people beside him and asked, "When do we leave?"
Shi Chun said, "By rights, sooner is better than later. It's just..." He pointed to himself and Wu Jinliang. "We've traveled all the way here from the Land of Exile without resting. We'd like to recover for a night before setting out. How about tomorrow morning?"
Seeing that Xiang Lan'er had no objections, Bian Weikang finally settled it. "All right. Tomorrow morning it is."
With the matter decided, the two visitors took their leave.
After returning to their own room, Wu Jinliang immediately shut the door, turned, and leaned close to Shi Chun, lowering his voice. "What are you playing at? You made it sound real. You don't actually mean to escort them to Mount Wukang, do you?"
Shi Chun replied quietly, "How much is Xiang Lan'er worth? Even if she's valuable, it's only a one-off deal, not something that will last. Mount Wukang is the treasure ground where we'll make our fortune. Mount Wukang, the place that makes Immobilizing Talismans. Have you forgotten how I broke that Immobilizing Talisman?"
He pointed at his right eye. "Only by slipping into Mount Wukang can we find an opportunity. Once I see through the secrets of making Immobilizing Talismans, think about it: if we can make them ourselves, will we ever have to worry about money again? As long as we help Bian Weikang reclaim his position as the sect's young master, having him pay us back fifty or a hundred thousand shouldn't be a problem. That money alone makes the trip worthwhile. More importantly, with his protection, we can stay at Mount Wukang without worry and slowly achieve our goal."
Wu Jinliang's eyes shone as he listened. One hand could not help stroking his saber back and forth, as though he were itching with anticipation, and he chuckled nonstop. Then something else seemed to occur to him. "Then are we still selling that star courtesan?"
"Of course. The buyer's nearly here."
"No, Chuntian, if you sell that star courtesan, how could Bian Weikang let it go? Like hell he'd help us get into Mount Wukang."
"Are you stupid? Would I let him find out?"
"Even if he doesn't know, when a living person disappears, he'll definitely be frantic to find her. The way he's willing to live and die for that courtesan, he won't go back to Mount Wukang without finding her."
Shi Chun sat down in a chair and crossed his legs, utterly unconcerned. "Naturally, there'll be a reason she's gone. She won't have vanished for no reason-she'll have left of her own accord. The courtesan feels that her status as a woman of the pleasure quarters will hinder Mount Wukang from accepting her lover back. For the sake of his future, she resolutely leaves. Before departing, she asks us to pass a message to Bian Weikang: once he returns to his sect, she will come to meet him."
Wu Jinliang blinked repeatedly, then finally chuckled. "You make a sound point, chief. That's what we'll do."
After saying that, he held his saber and covered his mouth to snicker. Once he finished laughing, he rubbed his chest and paced around the room, carrying himself as though nothing could possibly keep their grand undertaking from succeeding.