Wang Chong did indeed know where Tie Mingzhu was staying.
He had originally wanted to take Nan Xinlan back in secret, with neither man nor ghost the wiser, preserving her reputation as well.
But when they returned to the place Lu Moniang had rented for the women in Pengshan County, they found the residence ablaze with light, with more than a dozen men coming and going, all members of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance. Wang Chong sighed and said, "Miss Nan, if you're clever, you'll say White Chrysanthemum abducted you and killed Zhou Shaliang when he tried to stop him. If you're not, then..."
He could not be bothered to finish. In any case, neither he nor Sun Mingke had exposed their identities on this outing, so they would not be implicated.
As for making Zhou Shaliang's affair public, what kind of joke was that?
Wang Chong pulled Sun Mingke away and left. He had done all that a man could; the rest would have to be left to Heaven.
On the way, Wang Chong did not forget to borrow a few garments from each of three clothing shops in Pengshan County, leaving silver in the corners. When the two returned to the garden residence where Su Luoyan was staying, Wang Chong told Sun Mingke to change into them and destroy his old clothes.
Sun Mingke had not said a word on the way, but now he smiled and said, "Brother Wang Chong, when I came down the mountain, Fifth Senior Sister bought me several outfits in Chang'an. Changing into these would only look deliberate."
Quite helpless, Wang Chong parted from Sun Mingke and returned to his room with the clothes in his arms, only to find Yuzao already back. Seeing the pile of clothing he carried, she looked deeply ashamed and hurriedly said, "This little maid has already made you clothes, young master. There's no need to buy any. Things bought outside are always a little inferior."
Wang Chong also felt the clothes he had secretly purchased left a flaw, so he immediately had Yuzao fetch the garments she had sewn. He changed into a fresh outfit and destroyed both his old clothes and every garment he had brought back.
Seeing this, Yuzao knew her young master must have a secret and asked no questions. She merely gathered up the clothes Wang Chong had destroyed with his internal power, took them to the garden's kitchen, and carefully burned them to nothing beneath the stove.
The next morning, before Wang Chong had risen, he heard a commotion in the garden. He hurriedly got up and washed, then put on the new clothes Yuzao had sewn by hand. As soon as he emerged, he saw that Sun Mingke had changed into a fresh outfit too. They exchanged smiles, sharing quite the unspoken understanding of men who had "been thieves together."
Sun Mingke said, "More than a dozen members of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance came over first thing this morning. They said White Chrysanthemum committed another crime last night, abducting Lotus Immortal Nan Xinlan again, intending to make the plum blossom bloom a second time. But Young Master Zhou Shaliang stopped him and rescued the Lotus Fairy after a bitter fight. Unfortunately, Young Master Zhou was killed by White Chrysanthemum, with a sword wound through his throat and no other injuries, so they've come especially to consult Constable Li."
Wang Chong sighed. "These days, there aren't just three or four White Chrysanthemums, nor necessarily five or six. I'm afraid there must be seven or eight."
Sun Mingke could not suppress his amusement and nearly burst out laughing. He hastily covered his mouth and said, "Let's practice swordsmanship in the rear courtyard and stay out of sight for now."
Wang Chong shook his head. "You can stay out of sight, but I'm a member of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance!"
Sun Mingke hurriedly said, "Then I'll go with you."
Wang Chong brought Sun Mingke to the front, where he indeed found more than a dozen brothers of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance. Before they could ask, he gave a wry smile and said, "Constable Li thought I was rather suspicious and intercepted me, bringing me back here. So our ties remain unbroken, brothers, and we meet again." He pointed and said, "This is Sun Mingke, Immortal Master Guanlong's final disciple. Brothers, please look after him in the days to come."
The members of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance had initially been rather surprised to see Wang Chong. After hearing his explanation, although they were still "grieving," several could not help smiling. At his request that they look after Sun Mingke, they all thought, Why would the youngest disciple of one of the greatest masters alive need us to look after him? We're the ones who need to curry favor with him.
Qin Han reacted swiftly. Immediately waving a hand with affected boldness, he said, "For Brother Wang Chong's sake, young Brother Sun shall become the sixty-third brother of our Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance today. From now on, we brothers shall live and die together, sharing every hardship."
Sun Mingke hastily covered his mouth, afraid he would laugh on the spot. Wang Chong cried out in "surprise" on his behalf, "Thank you for doing me this honor, brothers."
Sun Mingke secretly curled his lip, but as he looked at Wang Chong, then at this band of brothers from the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance, he suddenly felt that the alliance really was rather interesting. He therefore offered no refusal and tacitly accepted.
Fang Jingru said sorrowfully from beside them, "How do we have sixty-three brothers? Brother Zhou is dead, killed by White Chrysanthemum. We still have sixty-two brothers."
"I was the one who brought Brother Zhou out, yet now I haven't brought him back. How am I to answer to the Zhou family?" At this, Fang Jingru's face was all tears. Wang Chong hastily offered a few words of comfort, thinking, I never saw you think much of Zhou Shaliang before. Fang Jingru came from the Celestial Master Sect and could be considered upright in conduct. He had never had much friendship with a lecherous villain like Zhou Shaliang, and they seldom acted together, yet now he grieved as though his closest companion had been murdered by an evildoer. For once, Wang Chong regarded him a little more highly-not for his character, but for his acting.
Su Luoyan, Lu Moniang, and Li Qingge had been getting quite a headache from the commotion, but once Wang Chong arrived, the members of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance naturally began revolving around him. He steered every topic, looking every bit the alliance's backbone. All three women secretly admired him. Su Luoyan thought, Young Master Wang Chong is at ease with both the refined and the vulgar. With us, his conversation is extraordinary; poetry and verse come readily to hand, and he discusses ancient books and histories as though counting treasures in his own home. With the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance, he makes everyone feel bathed in a spring breeze, handling every side with perfect ease. Concerned for her junior brother, Lu Moniang thought, Little Junior Brother has never left the mountain before and is simple by nature, but he should be able to learn a great deal alongside this Young Master Wang Chong.
Li Qingge thought, When I return to Chang'an, I must put in more effort on Young Master Wang Chong's behalf and secure him an actual post in the Ministry of Justice as my deputy.
A man of such great talent must not be passed over!
She also noticed that Wang Chong and Sun Mingke had both changed into new clothes and looked much more spirited.
Wang Chong asked about Zhou Shaliang and sighed along with the brothers of the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance, then thumped his chest and declared, "We must kill White Chrysanthemum and take that lecherous villain's head."
As for Qin Han and Fang Jingru's proposal to visit Nan Xinlan, Wang Chong politely declined. He was not afraid of seeing Nan Xinlan, but he truly was afraid of seeing Tie Mingzhu, especially with Five-Flower Saber Xie Sanniang there as well. Who knew whether that woman would recognize him?
If there's no need, there's no reason to take the risk!
His refusal to visit Nan Xinlan instead earned him an added measure of respect from Su Luoyan, Lu Moniang, and Li Qingge. Wang Chong had consistently presented himself as a gentleman, warm and smooth as jade, and this made it all the clearer that he remained upright even in a darkened room. A girl who had suffered such humiliation would hardly want to see anyone just then. His understanding and tact plainly put him a cut above the other scoundrels in the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance.
Only after Qin Han and the others had left did Wang Chong cup his hands toward Li Qingge and say, "Constable Li, I wish to practice swordsmanship with young Brother Sun in the rear courtyard and hone my martial skills, lest my abilities hold me back when I encounter villains and leave me unable to slay a great bandit."
...Tie Mingzhu: "That lecherous villain White Chrysanthemum already knows where we're staying..."
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