Chapter 8: The Same Trick Again
As dusk settled and lanterns illuminated the streets, Chang’an’s 108 districts bustled with crowds. Xu Buling, accompanied by Old Xiao, rode through Daye District in search of Zhu Manzhi.
The streets were teeming with wealthy merchants, elegant carriages, and bustling crowds. Though lacking the neon lights of the modern world, the prosperity and splendor of Chang’an rivaled, and even surpassed, any modern city.
In this area, armed martial artists were a rare sight, replaced by scholars fanning themselves or carrying swords as mere decorations.
Despite rarely venturing out since arriving in Chang’an, Xu Buling had visited Daye District on numerous occasions, attending banquets hosted by princes and nobles, but primarily to purchase alcohol.
The district wasn’t far from the Imperial Academy. To suppress the agonizing pain caused by the Dragon Locking Gu poison, he needed to consume alcohol regularly. The Sun family’s shop, a century-old establishment in the district, was renowned for its potent “Jade Breaker” liquor, which proved to be the most effective remedy. Having become accustomed to its taste, he occasionally made the trip himself.
They turned into a narrow bluestone alley, passing by occasional patrons carrying wine gourds or with flushed faces. Daye District was home to many wealthy families, and there were no drunken brawls or unruly behavior.
The Sun family’s shop was located deep within the alley, marked by a faded banner with the character “Sun” on it. The shop was small, with only three square tables inside, but it housed over a dozen large wine jars.
Due to its reputation, all three tables were occupied. At the table farthest inside sat a lone figure in black, wearing a bamboo hat and with a long sword resting on the table. Only their slender back was visible, suggesting a woman of considerable height.
Xu Buling glanced at the figure and noticed them turn their head slightly, as if sensing his gaze. He averted his eyes, took his wine gourd from his saddle, and said:
“A pot of wine, please.”
“Right away, Sancai, a pot of wine… Oh, it’s you, Young Master. What a rare sight to see you here. The usual?”
“Yes.”
“Heh… You truly have a remarkable capacity for alcohol. A jin of Jade Breaker every day, without fail. Half of the wine I’ve brewed this year has gone into your belly…”
Shopkeeper Sun, in his sixties with a head of white hair, had a kind demeanor. He had been brewing wine all his life. His son had pursued a career in government and rarely returned home, leaving him to run the shop alone. Due to his exceptional skills, many sought to learn from him, and he welcomed them all, eager to pass on his family’s legacy.
The apprentice, Sancai, was likely new, as Xu Buling hadn’t seen him before. He appeared honest and hardworking. He carefully filled a pot from a wine jar and handed it to Xu Buling respectfully.
Xu Buling smiled, retrieved a silver ingot from his sleeve, tossed it to Sancai, and left the shop with his horse. As he walked away, he heard voices from behind:
“Shopkeeper, you gave him too much.”
“That young master always overpays. Just keep it, Sancai. Save it wisely, and don’t gamble it away. Your wife left you because of your gambling habit. Be careful not to lose everything and end up paying with your life…”
“I know what I’m doing…”
Xu Buling frowned slightly, paused, and then continued walking out of the alley…
…
Inside the Sun family’s shop, Sancai held the silver ingot, his eyes wide with excitement. He bit it to test its authenticity, then carefully tucked it away inside his clothes.
Shopkeeper Sun placed plates of peanuts and cold dishes on the tables, chattering away and exchanging pleasantries with the patrons.
People from all walks of life frequented his shop. Rumor had it that even the Emperor had visited in disguise, though no one could confirm it. It was simply a charming anecdote.
The lone figure in black, with their back to the alley, finally lifted their bamboo hat slightly, revealing delicate lips and a sharp chin. Their skin was as white as snow, their lips as red as cinnabar. Even half their face hinted at an extraordinary beauty. They gracefully lifted their wine bowl and spoke in a clear, cool voice:
“Shopkeeper, who was that just now?”
Shopkeeper Sun, who had seen countless beauties in his lifetime, placed a plate of peanuts on their table and chuckled:
“I’m not sure. Must be a young master from a wealthy family. That fox fur cloak he’s wearing isn’t cheap. He’s either rich or noble, and incredibly handsome. In my opinion, he’s just as good-looking as you, Miss…”
The woman smiled faintly:
“He seems to have a weak constitution, probably from indulging in wine and women.”
Shopkeeper Sun was taken aback. He thought for a moment, then shook his head:
“That young master is far from weak. He’s not like those frivolous young men who waste their days on pleasure. He’s also a good person…”
“Heh…”
The woman didn’t respond, focusing on her meal…
…
Meanwhile, in a tavern on a nearby street, marked by a faded banner, the air was thick with noise and the clatter of dice. A group of rough-looking men gathered around a fire pit.
Constable Zhu Manzhi, holding a wine bowl larger than her face, frowned with worry.
After her parents disappeared, she had joined the local constabulary, working tirelessly for years before being transferred to Chang’an and becoming a Wolf Guard. She had hoped to access the archives and investigate her parents’ disappearance, but she quickly realized that she wasn’t qualified.
To be promoted, she needed to apprehend criminals and gain merits. She was eager to do so, but Chang’an was a peaceful city, with doors left unlocked at night. Even in the most chaotic district, Yongning, she rarely encountered any petty thieves, and she had to share the credit with her two teammates. The road ahead seemed long and daunting.
Beside her at the table sat a tall, muscular man with a towering physique. He had one leg propped up on a stool, his posture relaxed. He said reassuringly:
“Manzhi, don’t worry. It usually takes ten years of hard work to join the Heavenly Stem units. We know you’re eager to find your parents. Liu Hou’er and I will let you take most of the credit for our cases.”
The slender Liu Hou’er gulped down his wine and smacked his lips:
“Yeah, even though most of the credit for the salt smuggling case at the Fu Man Restaurant went to the Imperial Guard and our captain, you still received a major commendation. Two more, and you’ll be promoted to the Heavenly Stem units. What’s the rush?”
Zhu Manzhi took a small sip of her yellow wine and snorted:
“Where will we find such good luck again? If we hadn’t run into Prince Xu that day, we wouldn’t have been able to crack that case.”
“That’s true…”
As Liu Hou’er spoke, he glanced at the street and suddenly froze. He nudged the muscular man beside him:
“Wang Dazhuang, look, there’s a fool.”
Zhu Manzhi and Wang Dazhuang looked out the window and saw an old man with a cane, walking with difficulty, his eyes unfocused and his movements slow. He occasionally paused to rub his lower back.
Zhu Manzhi recognized the old man. He was a storyteller who often performed at the tea stall in the backstreet. Today, he was wearing a money pouch at his waist, bulging with silver. A quick glance suggested it contained at least a few dozen taels.
Zhu Manzhi was surprised:
“That old man, carrying so much money and flaunting his wealth. Isn’t he asking to be robbed…”
Her eyes scanned the street and spotted a few shady-looking individuals approaching the old man. To make matters worse, the old man turned into a nearby alley.
“Hey—”
Zhu Manzhi’s face flushed with urgency. She grabbed her goose-feather saber, leaped out the window, and landed gracefully on the ground. Her two companions followed closely behind.
They rushed into the alley and, after a short distance, witnessed a scene that filled them with anger.
Three thugs, their faces covered with masks, surrounded the old man, brandishing short daggers.
The old man was backed against a wall, his right hand gripping his cane as he tried to fend off the attackers. His left hand clutched his money pouch, tears streaming down his face:
“Help! Someone help!”
“You old fool! If we don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think our knives are fake!”
“Stop!”
Zhu Manzhi roared, drawing her goose-feather saber. Her slender figure moved with the speed of a cheetah, covering two zhang in an instant and reaching the thugs. She swung her saber, aiming for one of their arms, but the thug was wearing a metal bracer, and the blade sparked harmlessly.
Clang!
The thugs reacted quickly. One of them threw a punch at Zhu Manzhi.
Caught off guard, she raised her arm to block, but the force of the blow sent her flying backward, crashing into the alley wall. The remaining thug, wielding a short blade, rushed towards her and lunged.
In a fight between martial artists, victory or defeat was often decided in the blink of an eye.
Wang Dazhuang and Liu Hou’er turned pale. They could only shout, “You villain!” but were powerless to intervene.
At that moment.
A gust of wind swept through the quiet alley. Three sharp cracks echoed, and a white figure descended from the sky, landing behind Zhu Manzhi. The figure held a sword in their right hand and placed their left hand on Zhu Manzhi’s back, stopping her momentum.
Zhu Manzhi groaned from the impact of the punches and stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear. She saw the three thugs swaying as if they had been struck on the head.
Clatter!
Their daggers fell to the ground, and the thugs collapsed one after another.
Zhu Manzhi stood frozen, her saber raised, staring at the unconscious thugs. It took her a moment to comprehend what had happened.
She turned around in astonishment and saw a young man in white standing beside her, a faint smile on his face. He said softly:
“Be careful, Miss.”
His voice was magnetic, his appearance incredibly handsome. His peach blossom eyes held an irresistible charm.
Zhu Manzhi stared at him, speechless. A blush crept onto her cheeks…
…
Snowflakes fell softly on the quiet alley as the two Wolf Guards tied up the unconscious thugs.
At the entrance of the alley, Zhu Manzhi comforted the trembling Old Xiao, instructed him to hide his money, and sent him on his way. She then returned to the alley with her saber. She saw Xu Buling, dressed in white, standing there motionless, holding his wine gourd.
She knew how dangerous the situation had been. If Xu Buling hadn’t intervened, she would have been either killed or seriously injured.
Zhu Manzhi hesitated for a moment, then approached him, intending to thank him. However, Xu Buling spoke first:
“It was nothing. Just call me Xu Gongzi when we’re out and about.”
Zhu Manzhi glanced at the two Wolf Guards and decided not to reveal Xu Buling’s true identity. She walked alongside him towards the entrance of the alley:
“Thank you, Xu Gongzi.”
Xu Buling took a sip of his wine and glanced at her:
“You’re so young, yet instead of staying at home embroidering and doing needlework, you’re out here trying to be a man and fight. This is the second time I’ve seen you being beaten. Be careful in the future.”
Zhu Manzhi chuckled awkwardly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, stealing glances at him:
“Thank you for your concern, Xu Gongzi… What brings you here?”
Xu Buling smiled faintly:
“There’s a chess match at the Dragon’s Roar Pavilion. I was on my way there and happened to pass by… What’s your name? You seem quite young. Why are you a constable in the capital?”
“My name is Zhu Manzhi. It means ‘branches laden with osmanthus blossoms.’”
Zhu Manzhi walked slowly beside him, a hint of sadness in her eyes:
“My father gave me that name. We had many osmanthus trees in our yard when I was a child. My mother loved them…
…Two years ago, on my fourteenth birthday, my parents suddenly disappeared. We reported it to the authorities, but they couldn’t find them. So I joined the local constabulary and started searching everywhere…
…Then I heard that the Investigation Bureau in the capital knows everything, so I came here. But I discovered that only Wolf Guards from the Heavenly Stem units can access the archives…”
“You became a constable to find your parents?”
“Yes.” Zhu Manzhi held her saber behind her back, kicking a small pebble on the ground. “My father was probably a martial artist. He left me some money, so he must have abandoned me intentionally. The Investigation Bureau knows everything. They must have information about him.”
Xu Buling was silent for a moment, then chuckled:
“You want to join the Heavenly Stem units?”
Zhu Manzhi nodded eagerly, then sighed:
“I need to capture a hundred petty thieves to be promoted. I don’t have enough merits. It’ll take me ten years.”
“I can help you.”
Zhu Manzhi stopped walking and looked at Xu Buling curiously:
“Why?”
Xu Buling smiled:
“I have nothing better to do, and you seem pitiful. Forget it if you don’t want my help.” He continued walking towards the district gate.
“Wait—”
Zhu Manzhi hurried after him:
“Xu Gongzi, you’re so powerful. You can definitely help me. You just need to say the word.”
Xu Buling shook his head:
“The Investigation Bureau monitors all the princes and nobles. I can’t pull any strings. But I can help you in other ways. Since I have nothing else to do, you can go to the Investigation Bureau tomorrow and take on a few cases. Meet me at the district gate at the third quarter of the hour of the dragon. Don’t be late.”
“No problem.”
Zhu Manzhi’s eyes lit up with excitement. She watched as Xu Buling left, waving happily…
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