Chapter 11: The Red Tong Banquet on Red Mountain
Arriving at Red Mountain, Shi Hao saw the mountain slopes covered in red flowers, a sight as beautiful as a painted sunset glow, layer upon layer, a feast for the eyes.
Entering the pleasure palace, a voice suddenly called out, “Brother Hao!”
Shi Hao looked over in surprise and saw a young man running towards him.
He couldn’t help but smile, “What are you doing here?”
It was Deng Liang, the young guild master of the Yuan Rong Merchant Guild.
Deng Liang quickly reached Shi Hao, grinning, “Thanks to you, Brother Hao, I wasn’t originally qualified to attend this Red Tong Banquet. I heard the Marquis sent you an invitation, so he sent one to me as well.”
The Yuan Rong Merchant Guild conducted extensive business in the West Shu Province. Although Deng Liang was the “young guild master,” the guild leader was elected by numerous wealthy merchants, not through family inheritance.
Even so, the Deng family itself was the largest merchant family in West Shu Province, and also wealthy landowners. Deng Liang, as the young master of the Deng family, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
The Deng family and Small Han Mountain City had extensive business dealings. Most of the silk produced in Small Han Mountain City was sold through the Deng family’s channels.
Last year, Shi Hao had given Deng Liang a business tip, which earned the inexperienced young man a fortune, making him famous in the business world and earning him the praise of his father.
Because of this, Deng Liang was both awed and grateful to Shi Hao, readily addressing him as “Brother.”
Walking together, Shi Hao whispered, “What is this Red Tong Banquet actually for?”
Deng Liang looked at him in surprise, “You don’t know, Brother Hao? Think about it, this Red Mountain is the Wusu clan’s treasured land, and the Marquis’ daughter is called Li Tong. What do you think this Red Tong Banquet is for? It’s to choose a husband for Princess Li Tong from among the young masters of the royal families.”
Shi Hao suddenly understood. It was probably because they were both young that he and Deng Liang had been invited.
Deng Liang said self-deprecatingly, “Of course, we’re just here to make up the numbers. You must know, Brother Hao, that the court has issued the ‘Jin-Xia Family Harmony’ decree. The Yue Ke Tai clan strongly supports the chancellor, and the Wusu clan is a vassal of the Yue Ke Tai clan. Even if it’s just for show, they have to put on a performance.
“If it were before, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend such a banquet.”
Shi Hao nodded slightly, although he had no interest in this “opportunity.”
He wanted to distance himself from these complicated matters and focus on his cultivation.
“Look at that guy, Brother Hao!” Deng Liang pointed to a young man in the distance.
Shi Hao looked over and saw a tall and imposing figure dressed in a short robe with narrow sleeves, accompanied by several servants.
Deng Liang whispered, “That’s Wu Yan Kui of the Wu Yan family. The Wu Yan family holds a hereditary military position. He’s been practicing martial arts since childhood, and I hear he’s already ranked, although only at the ninth rank. But for people like us, he’s already considered an expert.”
He pointed to another young man, whispering, “And that one is Tu Dan Xiong Cai. Also ninth rank. His father is a Duke. Although not as prominent as the Wusu clan, his family is still a respected one in Jin Prefecture. They’re all here for Princess Li Tong!”
Deng Liang pointed out the young men who had come to the banquet one by one. Except for Shi Hao and Deng Liang, they were all of “royal” blood, and all held a certain status among the younger generation.
Perhaps due to the competitive atmosphere, these young men barely spoke to each other, let alone to Shi Hao and Deng Liang, as if even a glance in their direction would be a waste of time.
Shi Hao had no interest in these people. He pulled Deng Liang aside and whispered, “I’m looking for three rare medicinal ingredients: Great Cold Peony Immortal Bud, Water Moon Exquisite Lotus, and Blazing Sky Leaves. Do you know where I can buy them?”
Deng Liang was stunned, “What are those? I’ve never even heard of such medicinal ingredients.”
Shi Hao said vaguely, “I don’t know much about them either, but I met someone who wants to buy these three items at a high price. So I’m asking you. If you know where to find them, you might be able to make a big profit.”
Deng Liang laughed, “You’ve asked the wrong person, Brother Hao. Although my family’s business is large, we mainly deal in silk and brocade. For medicinal ingredients, the largest and most reputable business in Jin Prefecture is the Chuan Jin Treasure Pavilion.
“The Chuan Jin Treasure Pavilion is also a member of our merchant guild. You can go there and ask, Brother Hao. Just mention my name and say I sent you.”
Shi Hao silently committed “Chuan Jin Treasure Pavilion” to memory and then changed the subject.
As they talked, they passed a flower bed and saw five girls walking along another path. One of the girls, with ordinary features and dressed in a light red skirt, saw Shi Hao and immediately glared at him with an annoyed expression, pulling the other four girls away.
The other girls also looked at Shi Hao, but they were chatting and laughing.
Deng Liang whispered, “Brother Hao, was that girl giving you the stink eye?”
Shi Hao said indifferently, “Probably.”
Deng Liang said, “She looks like a girl from the Wusu clan. Did you offend her, Brother Hao?”
Shi Hao shook his head, “I don’t even know who she is.”
Deng Liang said, “I’ll go ask.” He actually ran off to inquire with the passing maidservants.
He soon returned and said, “Brother Hao, it turns out she’s your fiancée.”
Shi Hao frowned deeply.
Deng Liang said, “That girl was Wusu Ya Nu. Sigh, not only is she not very pretty, but she also seems to have a bad temper. You’re in for a tough time, Brother Hao.” Seeing that Shi Hao didn’t respond, he changed the topic.
As the young guild master of the Yuan Rong Merchant Guild, Deng Liang naturally knew that Small Han Mountain City had no choice in this “marriage alliance.”
Shi Hao was the young master of Small Han Mountain City, but the Wusu clan had simply chosen a girl of similar age from their clan to “marry down.” Even so, from the Wusu clan’s perspective, this was a “favor” to Small Han Mountain City, which was the most infuriating part.
After strolling around Red Mountain for a while, a maidservant came and led them to a pavilion halfway up the mountain, surrounded by flowers and pavilions.
After a while, a young woman, surrounded by maidservants, emerged from the pavilion. She was clearly County Mistress Wusu Li Tong.
Shi Hao observed her. The county mistress was indeed a beauty, although far from the breathtaking beauty of the Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch, her features were still considered attractive.
Due to her so-called “royal” bloodline, her frame was slightly larger than that of ordinary Chinese girls. She had a high forehead and slightly bluish-green eyes, and she seemed to have practiced some family martial arts.
As the county mistress appeared, Wu Yan Kui, Tu Dan Xiong Cai, and the others all crowded around her, showering her with flattery and trying their best to make a good impression.
Knowing they were just there to make up the numbers, Shi Hao and Deng Liang didn’t join the crowd.
Wusu Ya Nu and some other girls, seeing the county mistress surrounded by the young masters, also kept their distance.
As for the young masters from the Jin clan’s prominent families, they didn’t even spare a glance for Shi Hao and Deng Liang.
It wasn’t disdain, not open mockery about why these two were even allowed to attend the banquet. It was complete indifference, as if they hadn’t even noticed their presence.
Since it was a banquet for young people, the atmosphere was relatively informal. Shi Hao and Deng Liang sat in a corner, pouring themselves drinks.
Suddenly, Shi Hao looked up at a decorative rock formation. The rocks, brought from elsewhere to adorn the gardens, varied in shape and size.
Deng Liang followed his gaze, “What are you looking at, Brother Hao?”
Shi Hao shook his head, a puzzled look in his eyes. He thought, “Was it my imagination?”
Just now, he had sensed a sharp gaze sweeping across the area, but when he looked, there was no one there.
He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or if the person had quickly looked around and then hidden themselves among the rocks, not wanting to be seen.
Unconsciously, County Mistress Li Tong and the young masters were walking ahead, while Shi Hao and Deng Liang ended up walking alongside Wusu Ya Nu and the other girls.
Wusu Ya Nu and the girls with her were all from the Wusu clan, but their status was clearly lower than the county mistress. They were also just there to make up the numbers.
At one point, Shi Hao and Wusu Ya Nu walked close to each other, and she turned and glared at him, “Don’t think I fancy you.”
Shi Hao almost asked her, you’re so ordinary, why are you so confident? But he thought better of it and ignored her.
He moved away from Wusu Ya Nu and walked further behind with Deng Liang. Suddenly, he frowned again and whispered, “Do you smell blood?”
Deng Liang looked around, “Blood?”
He chuckled, “What are you talking about, Brother Hao? This is the Wusu clan’s treasured land, the County Mistress is here, and so are many young masters from prominent families. Although it seems like there’s no one around us, there are countless guards protecting this place in secret.
“When did you become so jumpy and imaginative, Brother Hao?”
Shi Hao looked up. They were walking along a secluded path, flanked by rolling hills, with elegant pavilions dotted along the way.
Although the so-called royalty were essentially barbarians, after so many years, they had absorbed much of Chinese culture. These pavilions and waterside structures were quite poetic.
He realized they were in a dead end. He hadn’t been here before, so he didn’t know the layout, but he could clearly see a cliff face behind the towering eaves ahead.
The slopes on either side were steep and treacherous, the cascading red flowers swaying like blood.
“Brother Hao,” Deng Liang’s voice also changed slightly, “There really seems to be the smell of blood. Are they slaughtering chickens up ahead…”
The flowers before Shi Hao’s eyes, as he looked up, exploded like fireworks. Numerous figures leaped out from among the flowers, their weapons glinting coldly.
A wave of blade light swept down. Wu Yan Kui and Tu Dan Xiong Cai, alert to the danger, shouted, “Who are you?”
The blade light tore into the crowd, blood spraying everywhere. The sounds of explosions and screams filled the air.
“Run!” Shi Hao grabbed Deng Liang and turned to flee. But a powerful gust of wind swept towards them from behind, followed by a whistling blade.
No longer caring about concealing his strength, Shi Hao grabbed a nearby branch, and with a flick of his wrist, unleashed a flurry of sword shadows, the “Ephemeral Sword Radiance” from the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes.
Two figures in black, their faces covered with black cloths, charged at them, one wielding a saber, the other a sword, their energy surging.
The saber aimed for Shi Hao, the sword for Deng Liang, intending to cut them down together.
Suddenly, the two masked figures saw a flash of sword light before their eyes, exploding into brilliant ice crystals that stung their eyes, forcing them to instinctively pause and step back.
In that instant, a sharp pain shot through their wrists, and their weapons clattered to the ground.
“Careful, there’s an expert!” the two shouted as they retreated. More figures surged forward behind them.
“Get behind me!” Shi Hao commanded.
He was speaking to Deng Liang, but Wusu Ya Nu and the other girls also instinctively hid behind him.
The retreating masked figures saw that the young man was holding a thin branch, which flickered like ice and snow.
Amidst the chilling air and the shhhing sounds, every one of their companions who charged forward had their wrists “struck” by the “sword.”
“Damn, Brother Hao, you’ve been hiding your skills!” Deng Liang exclaimed in surprise and delight. “You lied to me, saying you were just a scholar!”
Shi Hao’s swordsmanship exploded, holding back the onslaught of masked figures single-handedly.
He quickly glanced back. The other side was in chaos.
There were quite a few enemies lying in wait. If not for Shi Hao holding them off, most of them would have been killed by now.
Even so, many already lay dead in pools of blood. The masked attackers were ruthless, showing no mercy.
Wu Yan Kui and Tu Dan Xiong Cai, worthy of their reputation as skilled young men of the “royal” clan, along with their guards, managed to hold back a wave of attacks, while the other young masters were mostly useless.
To Shi Hao’s surprise, County Mistress Li Tong drew a soft sword, wielding it with a skill comparable to Wu Yan Kui and Tu Dan Xiong Cai.
This meant she also possessed a ninth-rank foundation.
Although Shi Hao had noticed she had some martial arts training, her delicate skin and frame didn’t suggest years of rigorous practice.
Now, seeing her sword energy and the faint aura of true energy, he realized she practiced orthodox Daoist internal arts.
Only those who cultivated Daoist internal elixirs could conceal their cultivation level so effectively.
Of course, despite her ninth-rank foundation, County Mistress Li Tong clearly lacked combat experience and quickly became overwhelmed.
“Barbarian lapdog, die!” One of the masked figures, unable to break through Shi Hao’s sword shadows, charged recklessly, his saber aimed at Shi Hao’s head in a suicidal attack.
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