"...My name's Hou Ping'an."
"How old are you, little Ping'an?"
"Nine."
"..."
The man and the child struck up a conversation.
"Mother said Father was hurt because he was catching bad people."
"Your mother was right. Your father was catching bad people."
"Big brother, did he catch the bad people?"
"..."
The child's simple question left Wu Shuangren unable to answer.
Jiang Rong put an arm around Hou Ping'an. "It's time for you to go to sleep."
Wu Shuangren stayed in the room a little longer before leaving.
Near seven in the evening, Wu Dongrong walked into the clinic carrying a food box.
He had come to bring the two of them dinner.
The family ate dinner together at the clinic.
"You've been tired out all day. Go rest in the back. Shuangren and I will keep watch tonight. We'll call you if anything happens."
After dinner, Wu Dongrong said this to Xu Nanzhi.
Xu Nanzhi nodded in agreement.
The father and son then went to Hou Huai's room and told Jiang Rong to get some rest as well. The three of them would take turns keeping watch that night.
A little later, only the unconscious Hou Huai and the father and son, Wu Dongrong and Wu Shuangren, remained in the room.
The two sat facing each other, neither saying a word.
As the night deepened, the soft chirping of insects drifted in from outside.
Wu Shuangren had thought Wu Dongrong would try to talk him round, as Liao Yu had, or warn him not to be impulsive.
But to his surprise, Wu Dongrong said nothing from beginning to end. He simply sat quietly with him.
That made Wu Shuangren somewhat uneasy instead.
At one in the morning, Jiang Rong got up and came to relieve the father and son, telling them to go back and rest.
Only then did Wu Dongrong speak. "At noon today, Hong Fan is holding a banquet at Moxian Tower. Are you ready?"
Wu Shuangren nodded. "I'm ready."
Wu Dongren walked up to Wu Shuangren. Father and son were now nearly the same height.
He looked his son up and down. He seemed to have a great deal he wanted to say, but in the end, he only gave his son's shoulder a firm squeeze. "Nice new clothes. They look good on you."
With that, he turned and walked out of the clinic.
Wu Shuangren watched his figure slowly disappear and stood there for a long time.
After that, he stayed at the clinic and practiced his saber in the back courtyard. He repeated only three moves over and over: the Three Ultimates Tiger Baleful Intent Saber that Hou Huai had taught him.
At five in the morning, Wu Shuangren sat cross-legged in the back courtyard, facing east, and performed his usual Sun-Observing Meditation.
When he finished meditating, Wu Shuangren felt the fatigue from staying up all night swept away.
"Mother, I'm leaving."
He called out to Xu Nanzhi, then walked out of the clinic.
Outside the clinic, the morning sun had risen in the east.
Day had broken.
In a residence in the eastern part of the city, where Hong Fan was staying.
Hong Fan was in his room, attended by two maids who were dressing him and combing his hair.
Today, he was hosting a banquet at Moxian Tower for all the prominent figures in Bo County. It was both a celebration of Wu Shuangren becoming Bo County's new militia commander and a formal announcement that he, Hong Fan, had established himself in Bo County.
In the eyes of outsiders, the one who would shine brightest today was undoubtedly Wu Shuangren, who had become a militia commander at only seventeen.
But anyone with discerning eyes knew that in today's performance, he, Hong Fan, was the true leading man!
This was Hong Fan's first time going out to handle matters on his own and taking charge of a locality's affairs. That was why he placed great importance on today. He had risen early to get dressed, determined to make the most dazzling entrance before everyone.
"Young Master."
A servant walked to the door and said softly, "A constable from the constabulary is here. He says Captain Wu sent him to find someone."
Hong Fan was taken aback. "Who?"
"He says Captain Wu wants to meet one of your subordinates alone, Young Master. The one who caught Lieutenant Xu's arrow outside the city that day."
Hong Fan frowned, his expression turning cold.
Wu Shuangren wanted to meet Wei Laohei alone, surely because that constable had been beaten and injured.
Today was an important day for him, and at a juncture like this, Wu Shuangren was still dwelling on such a trivial matter?
He had already sent money to the constable's family, taking the initiative to give Wu Shuangren a way to save face, yet he still came making trouble?
He was far too ignorant of how things worked!
Hong Fan felt that Wu Shuangren really was too young to know what mattered.
And he hadn't even come in person, instead sending a mere constable to summon Wei Laohei?
"He hasn't even become militia commander yet, and he's already putting on airs with me?"
Hong Fan sneered.
"Go fetch Wei Laohei."
He gave the order.
Soon, Wei Laohei arrived outside the room with a long saber over his shoulder.
"Young Master Hong, what do you need?"
"Wu Shuangren sent someone over. He says he wants to meet you alone."
"Meet me alone?"
"Go see him and give him a warning for me, so he doesn't really start thinking he's somebody."
"Understood."
Outside the room, Wei Laohei's lips curled up, excitement showing on his face.
Bullying someone who was about to become militia commander would give him an even greater thrill than bullying an ordinary constable!
"But know your limits."
Just as Wei Laohei turned to leave, Hong Fan's voice came from inside the room again. "I still need him to obediently play his part with me to the end of today's performance."
"Don't worry, Young Master Hong. I know what to do!"
Wei Laohei answered, striding out of the residence.
Outside the gate, Zhang Li waited uneasily.
A little later, he heard a noise and looked up to see Wei Laohei, a head taller than himself, walking out.
Zhang Li had also been on the city wall that day and had seen Wei Laohei catch Xu Jing's arrow barehanded with his own eyes.
Now, standing close to him, Zhang Li was completely overshadowed by his mountain-like figure. An overwhelming sense of pressure bore down on him!
"Wu Shuangren wants to meet me alone?"
"Yes... Captain Wu said he wanted to meet you alone..."
"Lead the way."
"...All right."
Tension written all over his face, Zhang Li led the way.
The two passed through one street and alley after another.
As they walked, Wei Laohei found the route somewhat familiar.
Only when Zhang Li brought him outside a residence did he realize-
Wasn't this the home of the butcher Luo You had picked out the day before yesterday?
Meeting him here was rather interesting.
Wei Laohei strode into Butcher Zhang's home.
35 Unrestrained
The morning sun rose, bathing Moxian Tower in golden light.
On both sides of the long street outside the restaurant, locust trees were shedding tiny blossoms. The wind lifted the pale yellow petals, then sent them drifting down onto the bluestone paving, where they formed a thin carpet together with the morning light.
The restaurant's staff had been busy since early morning, decorating the place with lanterns and colorful streamers.
Today's luncheon was set to begin at noon, but the proprietor of Moxian Tower had been standing outside since early morning, waiting to receive the guests.
By a little before nine forty-five, the first guest of the day had already arrived.
He was a country gentleman from Little Stone Village, dressed in a long blue-green robe and rolling two walnuts in his hand. The proprietor welcomed him into the restaurant with a smile.
A little later, several clerks from the county yamen arrived together, excitement showing on their faces...
As time passed, Bo County's officials and gentry, clerks of some standing, and the owners of trading firms arrived one after another.
Everyone knew perfectly well what today's banquet meant-
From now on, the Mo Family would no longer hold sole sway in Bo County. The man surnamed Hong would have the final say!
That was why everyone who had been invited today felt fortunate.
Those who hadn't been invited could hardly help feeling uneasy, or regretting that their strength and status weren't enough.
Liao Yu and Wu Dongrong arrived together. Neither man's subordinates were qualified to attend today's banquet.
"Where's Shuangren?"
Liao Yu asked. "I didn't see him at the county yamen."
Wu Dongrong said, "Perhaps he's still at the clinic."
Liao Yu frowned. "He still hasn't let go of what happened to Old Hou. Why didn't you keep an eye on him?"
Wu Dongrong glanced at him. "Shuangren is more capable than either of us now, and he's about to become militia commander. Do you think he's still a child?"
Liao Yu said irritably, "Even so, we can't just stand by and watch him act recklessly!"
"He managed to learn all those skills in secret without his mother or me noticing a thing. That's how I knew he was someone with a mind of his own."
Wu Dongrong sighed. "If he really wants to do something, we can't stop him."
Liao Yu sighed as well. "Let's hope the boy doesn't do anything impulsive..."
The proprietor soon welcomed the two men into the restaurant.
As noon approached, the crisp clop of iron horseshoes striking bluestone rang out from the other end of the street, one beat after another, unhurried and steady.
The Mo Family's two leaders, Mo Zhenglin and Mo Zhengxing, arrived on horseback to attend the banquet.
This was the first time the Mo Family's two leaders had appeared in public since the tragedy at Mo Family Village.
Anyone paying attention could easily see that Mo Zhenglin had many more white hairs on his head and looked more than ten years older than before!
The two Mo Family members, who had once enjoyed boundless glory, had brought no attendants today. Only the two of them had come to the banquet.
Moxian Tower was a Mo Family property to begin with, and its proprietor was also a member of the family. Somewhat saddened, he welcomed the two men inside.