IDWBE -Chapter 505 Confrontation

He Long chuckled, “Master of the Seal, your foresight is remarkable. I admire you more and more.”

Xiao Xizi rolled his eyes at him. “You’d better be a bit smarter. Don’t go provoking the orphanage folks unnecessarily. Once we gain influence in the future, we’ll deal with them properly.”

He Lian quickly replied, “Master, rest assured. I will strictly follow your teachings, wait for the right time, and make Fang Pi regret his actions slowly.”

“Hey, talking behind someone’s back isn’t gentlemanly.”

A sudden voice from mid-air startled both of them.

“Fang Pi.”

He Lian looked at Fang Pi, who had been brought flying down from the rooftop by Zhou Jing and Shan Sanguan—both ninth-grade masters—and felt a pang of guilt.

It’s one thing to curse behind someone’s back, another entirely to do it to their face!

By rank, Fang Pi, the pacification officer, was on the same level as Xiao Xizi!

And He Lian? He was nothing but Xiao Xizi’s lackey.

“This is not how a gentleman behaves,” Fang Pi said, shaking off Zhou Jing and Shan Sanguan’s hands, and slowly walking toward He Lian. With a sharp smack, he slapped He Lian across the face. Holding his aching face, he said irritably, “Weren’t you saying you’d make me regret it? Well, I’m standing right here. Let’s see how you do it.”

“You…”

He Lian pointed at Fang Pi but didn’t dare shout.

After all, the neighboring room belonged to the Mistress!

If he startled her, ten heads wouldn’t be enough to pay the price.

“Step back.”

Xiao Xizi’s face flushed red as he gestured at He Lian.

Even hitting a dog requires respect for its master!

Slapping He Lian’s face publicly would be an embarrassment to Xiao Xizi.

Biting his teeth, he said, “Since we both serve Lord Wang, there’s no need to make things awkward. If this gets in front of him, everyone loses face.”

Fang Pi grinned, “You’re my master’s senior disciple, so I should call you senior brother. We’re from the same school.”

Xiao Xizi snorted, “Naturally.”

Fang Pi continued casually, “But you’ve been unfair to me repeatedly. I’ve spared you in respect for Master, but did you think I was blind to your antics?”

Since becoming the pacification officer and with Zhou Jing and Shan Sanguan reaching ninth grade, there weren’t many left he feared.

Those who once bullied him, like Lei Kaishan and Tan Fei, wouldn’t dare retort if he cursed them now.

Even with Tan Xizi, the Master of the Seal eunuch, he dared to argue openly.

After all, Pan Duo had taught him well over the years, giving him a better understanding of court politics than most.

The DeLong Emperor was retired, uninterested in state affairs, and Tan Xizi was just a figurehead now. In terms of power, he didn’t compare to He Jin back then.

If Lord Wang ascends the throne, Tan Xizi would be irrelevant, and palace matters would be handled by Master Hong.

So, weighing the cards, Xiao Xizi had no reason to fear.

The side room door opened, and coughing sounds came from inside.

Xiao Xizi’s expression tightened. “Our aunt is resting here. Don’t show off and disturb her. I can reason with you, but Master won’t be so forgiving.”

“Do I need you to tell me?”

Fang Pi lowered his voice, glaring at He Lian who was covering his face, “All your fault for making me angry.”

“Lord Fang, this is… unreasonable!”

He Lian wanted to cry but couldn’t.

Xiao Xizi scowled. “Are you here on purpose to provoke me? Don’t be foolish. Even if the three of you came together, it wouldn’t be enough.”

Though not yet a Grandmaster, Xiao Xizi was Master Hong’s senior disciple and a ninth-grade practitioner. His inner strength was beyond ordinary people.

Hearing this, Fang Pi hurriedly stepped back—he was still just a fifth-grade!

If Tan Xizi got angry, one slap would be enough to kill him.

“You’re right,” Fang Pi said. “Among ninth-grade practitioners, few could beat you.”

“There’s a difference among ninth-grade levels,” Xiao Xizi said proudly. “I didn’t study common martial arts. I learned the Evil-Repelling Sword technique directly from Master. In swordsmanship, I’m not much inferior to the world-renowned Grandmaster Ye Qiu.”

“To cultivate divine skills, one must first make sacrifices,” Fang Pi sighed. “If you don’t train, others will kill you with one move. Train, but without resolve, it’s meaningless. Whether Huiyuan Gong, Evil-Repelling Sword, or Star-Absorbing Technique, all are divine arts. Anyone practicing casually reaches eighth or ninth grade, inside or outside the palace, it’s exhausting. That’s the so-called ‘involution’ Lord Wang talks about. So, I know my limits—no martial talent, no effort. Better to lie low.”

Xiao Xizi frowned. “I have no time for your excuses. Speak quickly if you have business, otherwise leave.”

Fang Pi shrugged, “Don’t get it twisted. This is Lord Wang’s stables. You can come here, why can’t I?”

“I was assigned to watch over our aunt. You’re in the way and up to no good,” Xiao Xizi said.

Fang Pi replied, “You may honor our aunt, but why not me? There’s no rule against it.”

He then ignored Xiao Xizi, took a wooden box from Zhou Jing, and handed it to the cook at the door. “This is fine old ginseng. Keep it safe.”

The cook, familiar with the pacification officer, bowed and accepted it. “Yes, sir.”

Fang Pi smiled. “Good enough.”

He left without further greeting Xiao Xizi.

“Eunuch!”

He Lian sobbed. “You must defend me!”

Xiao Xizi, seeing this, felt anger swell, not sympathy. “Normally, I’d make you practice more, but you didn’t listen. If you had any talent, a fifth-grade wouldn’t dare slap you.”

He Lian, more aggrieved, wailed, “He’s the pacification officer! Even if I were ninth-grade, how could I avoid his slap?”

“You dare argue!”

With a smack, Xiao Xizi slapped him again.

Both sides of He Lian’s face swelled.

He tried to hold back tears but dared not cry.

“What kind of nonsense is this!”

“All right,” Xiao Xizi realized his own overstep, patted He Lian’s shoulder, and said calmly, “Learn from this shame. Remember the humiliation today and reclaim it together in the future.”

Encouraged, He Lian nodded, “I won’t let you down, Master.”

“You may return to the palace. Tonight, we stay here,” Xiao Xizi said.

Once He Lian left with the two junior eunuchs, Sang An approached Xiao Xizi with a smile. “Master, I’ve arranged the guest room. Please follow me.”

Xiao Xizi nodded. “Thank you.”

“Not at all,” Sang An replied.

Sang An found this junior eunuch far easier to deal with than Fang Pi.

As Ankang City warmed after the northwest winter winds, the Sanhe people became lively again.

Even at the late hour, streets and alleys remained bustling.

The liveliest spot was last year’s rebuilt People’s Square, packed with street vendors, storytellers, tea sellers, and performers.

Hong An glanced at Kang Bao, directing an elephant performance in the crowd, and walked straight through without pause.

Finally, she stopped at a secluded alley, where a broad-shouldered man emerged from a small side door.

“Old Dao, any news?” she asked.

Her family had lived by the southern city canal. Even blindfolded, she could reach it from memory.

But with the city’s sanitation and housing projects, riverside shanties and old homes were demolished, including hers.

She knew roughly where they’d moved but not the exact location—and didn’t care.

If not for Master’s instructions, she wouldn’t even bother.

Old Dao bowed respectfully. “Madam, I inquired with the previous residents. They moved outside the city. I’ll guide you there.”

He had once been a soldier under Prince Yong. After a conflict with Sanhe laborers, he was seriously injured and saved by Zhu Ruorong.

When he recovered, Prince Yong had fled, leaving him no place. With Zhu Ruorong’s support, he opened a pawnshop, dealing in rentals and sales.

Thanks to Ankang City’s development, he earned well.

Ambitious, he dreamed of becoming a developer like Tian Sixi.

Dreams were one thing; reality was harsh. Without strong connections, only small trades were possible. To do big business, he needed influential contacts.

Being a former captive, he was free but still had to report to authorities every six months to prove he hadn’t strayed, contributing to Liang’s society.

Few respected him, even fewer could provide connections.

Hong An was the highest-ranking official he knew. Being asked for help thrilled him; he dared not fail.

Within an hour, he obtained the information.

“No need,” Hong An shook her head. “Just give me the address.”

Ankang City, like Baiyun City, had street names and house numbers. With an address, mistakes were unlikely.

“Madam, take this,” Old Dao handed her a folded yellow paper with a smile. “If you need anything, just ask.”

Being connected to Hong An, he no longer worried about finding resources.

“You’d better not be scheming. I know what you did. I spared you arrest out of courtesy,” Hong An warned.

Old Dao was terrified. Brokers needed to play both sides to make money—and marry four wives at once!

Before he could respond, Hong An had disappeared.

She stood before a red-brick house outside the city and hesitated before knocking.

The knock knock echoed sharply in the quiet night.

Dogs barked.

“Who’s there?”

Oil lamps lit inside.

“You’re not going in with her?”

The monk sat beside the blind man on a large stone.

The blind man smiled. “Why are you here?”

“I came to congratulate you,” said the monk.

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” the blind man asked.

“I must go to Chuanzhou on Lord Wang’s orders,” the monk said calmly. “Consider this a farewell.”

“And me?”

“The Lord is considerate. After the wedding, you can go,” he said, handing the blind man a jade pendant. “For Hong An.”

“Thanks.”

The blind man pocketed it immediately. “Shall we leave?”

“Yes.”

“Take care on the way,” the blind man smiled.

The monk joked, “A divination for me?”

“You’re even stealthier now. You came without me noticing. Truly blind,” the blind man shook his head. “Few could kill you now. Why worry?”

“Amitabha,” the monk recited, then vanished into the night.

Lin Yi tossed in bed, unable to sleep.

Zixia cautiously said, “My lord, shall I get you some water?”

“No,” Lin Yi grabbed her arm. “Stay. Talk with me.”

“Yes,” Zixia massaged his forehead. “My lord, seeing you work tirelessly for the country pains me.”

Lin Yi rolled his eyes. “You’re flattering me again.”

He spent idle days, rarely working. Occasionally, his conscience stirred, so he had Liang Yuanzhi write some documents for dispatch.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Zixia said with a smile. “In my eyes, you are a great hero. Your words, I can’t even hope to imitate.”

“You all,” Lin Yi sighed, “if you pamper me like this, I’ll grow more negligent, and the country may truly suffer.”

Zixia blushed, “My lord, it’s true. Since you led the court, enforced new Liang laws, and issued recovery policies, the people’s lives improved. They’re grateful and call you wise and brave.”

“Really?” Lin Yi asked, unconvinced.

“My lord, if you don’t believe it, go incognito and see for yourself.”

“Incognito?” Lin Yi’s eyes lit up.

This could work.