"Heh!"
Wang Gang gave a derisive laugh, his tone brimming with disdain, his meaning plain without words. When he looked at the two women again, Li Qingluo's face went pale, and the little maid had lowered her head almost into her chest.
"Prince Duan, you've come a long way. Why not come inside for a chat?" Wang Gang called out.
Damn!
Duan Zhengchun's heart jolted. He knew the affair had been exposed, and his thoughts raced. Since the other party already knew his identity, remaining in hiding would only make him more of a laughingstock. Besides, how could he bear to let A-Luo suffer someone else's harassment?
His mind made up, Duan Zhengchun turned and appeared at the doorway. Looking up, he saw a handsome youth of seventeen or eighteen sitting in the room, with two women standing behind him.
The sight of despair in Li Qingluo's eyes stabbed at Duan Zhengchun's heart. Even if I suffer humiliation today, I must help ease her predicament. He immediately cupped his hands in greeting.
"You must be Young Master Wang. Allow me to congratulate you both on tying the knot!"
Wang Gang looked up. Duan Zhengchun did indeed have a fine appearance, with a touch of scholarly refinement amid his rakish charm. More remarkable still was his composure: even in these circumstances, he showed not the slightest panic or embarrassment.
Wang Gang rose and returned the greeting with the mild, courteous manner of a scholar, but his words were far less forgiving.
"Indeed I am! If some other man were in these inner quarters so late at night, wouldn't that ruin my wife's good name?"
Duan Zhengchun choked on his words, then laughed to cover his embarrassment. "A-Luo and I have known each other for years. When I heard she was getting married, I hurried over to congratulate her and lost track of the hour. Please forgive me, Young Master Wang."
Wang Gang narrowed his eyes. Calling his wife by her intimate name to his face-this was a provocation!
"You're too kind, Prince Duan!" Wang Gang smiled faintly and picked up the teapot to pour, then remembered the tea had gone cold and set it down again.
"I'll prepare some tea!" The little maid grabbed the tea tray and ran outside, letting out a long breath as soon as she cleared the doorway.
Wang Gang smiled faintly and gestured with his hand. "Please, sit!"
Once they were seated, Wang Gang asked, "Have you come from Dali, Prince Duan? Have affairs of state been peaceful?"
"My imperial brother is wise, and his ministers devote themselves to their duties. Naturally, all is peaceful!"
"That's good. I've heard of Mount Cang and Erhai Lake myself and long to see them. I would hate for such beautiful places to see their people plunged into misery."
"If you're interested, Young Master Wang, you could visit Dali. I would certainly sweep the couch to welcome you!"
Wang Gang waved a hand. "I'm merely a scholar. How could I make it all the way to Dali?"
Duan Zhengchun smiled without speaking. These scholars of the Song had never even stepped beyond their own front gates, yet loved concerning themselves with the affairs of the world.
But then Wang Gang asked, "Do the people of Dali read books and understand propriety?"
Duan Zhengchun's smile faded. Frowning, he replied, "Though Dali is a small country with few people, we have always received the teachings of the sages. Naturally, we read and understand propriety!"
"I wonder!" Wang Gang said rather flippantly. "Take today, for instance. Your Highness came visiting late at night. If my wife and I had been performing our marital duties, what would you have done?"
Li Qingluo flushed with embarrassment and anger at his words and glared fiercely at Wang Gang.
To Duan Zhengchun, this looked like flirtatious banter between the two. Looking at her pretty face and imagining the scene Wang Gang had described, he could not help feeling jealousy surge within him.
Forcing down his emotions, he answered stiffly, "That was my own discourtesy, not that of Dali's people."
"I wonder!" Wang Gang remarked lightly again. "I once heard someone who had visited Dali say that the people there were unrestrained and knew nothing of reserve. Whenever they met someone they fancied, they would approach them and declare their love."
"Not everyone in the world is a scholar!" Pressed so relentlessly, Duan Zhengchun had grown somewhat angry as well. "Personally, I think not being overly bound by rules of propriety makes people lively and true to their nature."
"Oh, so that's how it is!" Wang Gang said with some excitement. "When I first heard him talk about his affair with a woman of the Baiyi People, I thought he was boasting. Now it seems there may have been some truth to it."
"The Baiyi People?"
"Yes!" Wang Gang nodded. "Apparently, she was even the clan chief's daughter. She looked noble and pure, like Guanyin descended to the mortal world, but in truth..."
Wang Gang gave a smile any man would understand. Duan Zhengchun's face turned black as ink, fury surging in his eyes.
As though entirely unaware, Wang Gang continued, "She was actually fiery and uninhibited, far surpassing the women of the Central Plains. Many of her moves were unheard of. Best of all was the contrast between those two faces of hers-it left a taste you could savor forever."
"Choose your words carefully, Young Master Wang!" Duan Zhengchun ground out through clenched teeth.
Wang Gang smacked his lips, still savoring it. "In a word: juicy!"
"Shut up!"
Duan Zhengchun flew into a rage and thrust out a finger.
At the sight, a sharp gleam flashed through Wang Gang's eyes. He drew his body back slightly, and spatial power instantly condensed like a shield before him.
Whoosh!
The force of the Solitary Yang Finger arrived in an instant. Wang Gang felt the space grow heavy, swiftly clutched his chest, and leaned backward. At the same time, he bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Stop!"
Just as Duan Zhengchun surged forward, Li Qingluo suddenly stepped in front of Wang Gang.
"A-Luo, you..." Duan Zhengchun looked at Li Qingluo with an unreadable expression. "Have you fallen for him?"
Li Qingluo said bitterly, "What am I supposed to do if you kill him? Am I supposed to spend the rest of my life a widow?"
"A-Luo, then come away with me!"
Li Qingluo sneered. "Ha... go with you! To become your mistress?"
Their eyes met. After a long while, Duan Zhengchun heaved a sigh and turned toward Wang Gang.
"I only struck in a moment of anger just now. I didn't intend to hurt anyone. If you trust me, let me treat his injuries. The Solitary Yang Finger can not only injure people, but is also exceptionally effective at treating internal injuries."
Li Qingluo shot him a scathing look, then turned her head away.
Duan Zhengchun first apologized. "Young Master Wang, I lost my head for a moment. It was only because that Baiyi woman you spoke of is my wife."
Shock and regret appeared in Wang Gang's eyes at just the right moment.
"That friend of yours must have been spouting nonsense!"
Wang Gang nodded repeatedly, sympathy showing in his eyes.
"Enough! Let me treat your injuries first!"
Unwilling to dwell on the subject, Duan Zhengchun moved aside the hand Wang Gang held over his chest, preparing to examine his injuries.
"Huh! Why is there no wound... ah!"
The change came abruptly! Duan Zhengchun screamed and collapsed to the floor, clutching his lower abdomen with both hands.
Wang Gang had caught him off guard and released the force of the Solitary Yang Finger held within the space, striking him squarely in the Qi sea.
"Turning his own methods against him..."
Duan Zhengchun was utterly horrified. Naturally, he could tell that he had been struck by the Solitary Yang Finger. This was a closely guarded secret of the Dali Duan Clan. If his opponent could use it, the only possibility was the Murong Family's supreme art-Star Shifting. He had never expected Murong Bo to be willing to teach him this martial art.
Before he could think further, Wang Gang had leaped up, seized the chair, and smashed it down viciously.
Crash!
The wooden chair splintered and fell apart, leaving only a broken wooden stick in his hand. Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Gang used it as a sword and stabbed down hard.
Squelch!
Blood spilled everywhere, but Duan Zhengchun seized the stick and resisted desperately, preventing it from penetrating deeper.
But his Qi sea had been damaged, and his strength was failing. He was already an arrow at the end of its flight.
Wang Gang was just about to exert more force when he suddenly felt a chill against his neck. Looking down, he saw a longsword laid across his throat.
His gaze followed the blade to Li Qingluo, who held the sword in one hand, her eyes panicked!
Tonight had been one twist after another. Everything had happened too quickly: one moment he had been treating an injury, and the next they were fighting to the death. By the time she reacted, Duan Zhengchun was already on the brink of death, and she had instinctively drawn her sword to save him.
But now, seeing Wang Gang's face turn toward her little by little, his eyes reddened, her heart trembled. Was this still the awkward, bashful youth she had first met?