Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Air of a Reclusive Master, and a Pleasant Surprise

After trekking over mountains and across rivers, through dense forests and along steep cliffs, Pei Shaoqing finally saw the green bamboo forest General Li had told him about.

There were some places the horses simply couldn’t pass.

So, for the latter part of the journey, they relied entirely on Lightweight Skill and their own two feet.

Chen Zhongyi and the others were completely fed up.

’His Lordship is going to drag someone hiding in this shithole out just to pay taxes. What a deep and profound love he must have for the Great Zhou.’

"Pull yourselves together. We’ll be there once we cross this bamboo forest," Pei Shaoqing said, looking back at everyone.

Everyone responded in unison, "As you command!"

’Everyone was seething with resentment. They were determined to teach that bastard a lesson. Hiding in the mountains to evade taxes... he had no idea the trouble he’d caused for the people sent to collect.’

Fearing a potential ambush, Pei Shaoqing said to Liu Yuheng, "My lady, please take the lead."

Liu Yuheng nodded and stepped forward to walk in front.

Since they were on a long journey, she had changed into a form-fitting outfit for ease of movement. Her ample chest was bound tightly, its curves on full display, while the roundness of her backside swayed gently beneath her trousers with every step.

It was a magnificent view for Pei Shaoqing, who was walking behind her.

’He couldn’t help but compare her rear to Zhao Zilan’s, which he had studied so intimately last night. His conclusion: Zhao Zilan’s was perky, while Liu Yuheng’s was plump and luscious. Each had its own charm.’

As they walked through the bamboo forest, a gentle breeze carrying a light, fresh scent brushed against their faces. After their long journey, the feeling was refreshing, and much of their irritation faded away.

Suddenly, they faintly heard the melodious sound of a zither.

As they walked further, the zither’s sound became clearer.

Liu Yuheng stopped and looked at Pei Shaoqing.

"Let’s go see," Pei Shaoqing said softly.

The group immediately followed the sound to its source.

After walking for less than a quarter of an hour, they finally saw the person playing the zither. It was a dashing young man in white, appearing to be in his twenties. He sat amidst the bamboo with his eyes closed, playing as fallen leaves danced in the wind around him.

In front of him lay a massive, black-furred wild boar. Its eyes were closed peacefully, and its expression was gentle, as if it were thoroughly enjoying the music.

General Li, at Pei Shaoqing’s feet, found it inconvenient to speak in front of so many outsiders, so it just meowed.

’That’s the guy! And that’s the pig!’

The wild boar opened its eyes, stood up, and stared at Pei Shaoqing and his group from a distance with sharp, unfriendly eyes.

General Li was emboldened by the crowd.

It stared back without a trace of fear.

The young man, sitting with his side to the group, was still engrossed in his playing, seemingly unaware of their arrival.

Liu Yuheng reminded him in a low voice, "Sir, this man has the air of a reclusive master. We should be careful."

"Standard-Bearer Chen," Pei Shaoqing called out.

Chen Zhongyi stepped forward. "My Lord."

"Go feel him out," Pei Shaoqing ordered.

Chen Zhongyi’s face grew solemn. "Yes, sir!"

He then walked toward the youth in white, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the scene.

Dressed in his official uniform with a long saber at his waist, Chen Zhongyi advanced with steady, menacing steps. The young man, however, remained with his eyes closed, his expression calm and utterly unmoved.

The zither’s melody flowed as a cool breeze swept through, making the bamboo forest ripple like a green ocean. Leaves rustled down one by one.

As his fingers danced over the strings, the young man finally spoke his first words. "Visitors are guests. Why not show some courtesy and allow me to finish this song?"

Chen Zhongyi paused, glanced back at Pei Shaoqing, then gritted his teeth, strode forward, and kicked the zither table in front of the young man.

"Still playing?!"

The young man, eyes still closed, slowly raised a hand to block.

"CRASH!"

The zither table, along with the young man himself, was kicked over and sent tumbling to the ground. The music stopped abruptly.

"Shit! My bluff failed! Brother Pig, save me!" the young man yelled in a panic as he scrambled on the ground.

The wild boar immediately rushed forward to shield the young man, glaring fiercely at Chen Zhongyi.

Chen Zhongyi was dumbfounded.

Pei Shaoqing and the others were stunned.

’Seriously, why the fuck would you pretend to be some peerless master if you don’t have the skills? Are you mental?’

’All show and no go!’

Scrambling to his feet, the young man saw Chen Zhongyi’s uniform and his face fell. He didn’t even bother to dust himself off. "Oh, you’re with the Jing’an Guard! I’m a good, law-abiding citizen! I just grow some flowers and raise a pig, that’s all. I haven’t done anything heinous."

’Wait, I, This General, was actually fooled by this poser last night? Outrageous!’

Humiliated and enraged, General Li let out a meow, rushed forward, and leaped up to deliver a flurry of kitty-punches to the young man in white.

"Ow! Stop, stop!" The young man in white fumbled to grab General Li, who was delivering an assault right to his face. Recognizing the cat, he forced a smile. "What an adorable little cat. I wonder which lord is its master?"

"Mid-stage Body Refining Realm at most," Liu Yuheng judged, based on his inability to block Chen Zhongyi’s kick.

Pei Shaoqing nodded slightly. He strode over confidently with his subordinates and announced in a powerful voice, "I am Pei Shaoqing, Standard-Bearer of the Tongzhou Hundred Households."

General Li struggled free, scampered over to Pei Shaoqing, and leaped onto his shoulder. From its new perch, it looked down its nose at the young man with an air of pure arrogance and contempt.

’You little shit, my people are here.’

’You’re going to pay for what you did last night!’

"So it is Standard-Bearer Pei in person." The young man quickly gave a formal bow and said earnestly, "I’ve heard so much about you."

"Oh? You’ve heard of me?" Pei Shaoqing asked, pleased. He smiled faintly, his eyes narrowed.

’I really am famous in Tongzhou.’

The young man’s expression stiffened. ’Seriously? Who actually follows up on that?’ He gave an awkward laugh. "I wouldn’t dare deceive you, my lord. This humble one hasn’t left the mountain in over a month."

He had no idea who Pei Shaoqing even was.

"Then why don’t you leave the mountain? Are you hiding up here doing something shady?" Pei Shaoqing demanded sharply. ’These shut-in types are so annoying.’

’He couldn’t even enjoy a chance to act cool.’

"No, no," the young man said, waving his hands and forcing a placating smile. "I just enjoy growing rare flowers and herbs. I’m not good at dealing with people. My lord, I’m a good person, through and through."

"A good person?" Pei Shaoqing sneered, his tone turning hostile. "Do good people evade taxes?"

"Ah!" The young man was stunned.

Pei Shaoqing raised his voice. "You’ve cleared fields in these mountains. Have you paid the summer and autumn taxes on time?"

"That’s not..." The young man’s head was buzzing.

’When I cleared this land, nobody cared.’

’I finally get the land cultivated, and now they suddenly show up to collect taxes? What the fuck, is this something a human being would even do?’

Pei Shaoqing shouted, "You’re resisting taxes!"

"My lord, I forgot! I’ll pay, I’ll pay the back taxes, can’t I?" The young man decided to cut his losses.

"Seeing your cooperative attitude, I won’t arrest you for punishment," Pei Shaoqing said, his expression softening and his tone calm. "Pay the back taxes and surrender all illegally grown Soul-Attracting Flowers, and we will let the matter drop."

"My lord, I’m afraid I cannot comply!" the young man’s face changed as he argued, "I can accept paying the back taxes, but I poured my heart and soul into growing those Soul-Attracting Flowers! Isn’t confiscating all of them a bit much?"

"I am acting in accordance with the law. Are you questioning the laws of the Great Zhou?" Pei Shaoqing said nonchalantly.

The young man asked, "And which law would that be?"

"SHING!" The long blade was unsheathed. Chen Zhongyi pressed it against his neck. "My lord here *is* the law!"

"Fine, fine, Lord Pei, if this is how you’re going to play it..." The young man laughed, a sound born of fury, and declared with resounding force, "Then don’t blame me for... resigning myself to my fate!"

Everyone: "..."

’Seriously? He’s trying to sound tough even while caving.’

"Follow my cat and pick the flowers," Pei Shaoqing ordered his subordinates, then turned to the young man. "Be a dear and brew me a cup of tea. This is hardly proper hospitality."

"You want my tea? In your dreams!" the young man scoffed, then said with bravado, "Someone like you only deserves to drink the peach blossom wine I’ve aged for ten years! Find a seat yourself, I’ll go get it now!"

With that, he turned and left with an air of defiance.

Two Jing’an Guards automatically followed behind him.

"My lord, how does he manage to be so cowardly yet so defiant at the same time?" Liu Yuheng asked, looking at Pei Shaoqing.

"He’s probably scared of dying, but also scared of losing face," Pei Shaoqing laughed. "This person is quite interesting."

Soon, the young man returned, carrying a jar of wine.

He poured a cup in front of Pei Shaoqing and declared righteously, "My wine. I get the first cup!"

With that, he tilted his head back and drained it in one go.

After a moment, seeing that the young man hadn’t dropped dead, Pei Shaoqing relaxed and drank a cup himself. "This wine is quite good."

"I brewed it myself! I’ve dug it up and taken it with me every time I’ve moved," the youth said, quite pleased with himself.

Pei Shaoqing asked, "What’s your name?"

"Ouyang Rong," the young man in white replied.

Pei Shaoqing said casually, "As far as I know, Soul-Attracting Flowers require yin energy and corpses for nutrients."

"My lord, I only killed vile criminals who deserved death!" Ouyang Rong explained hastily.

Pei Shaoqing slipped into officialese. "Everyone in the Great Zhou is a subject of His Majesty. Only the Government Office has the right to judge their crimes. Besides, how can I be sure whether you killed good people or bad people?"

"From now on, I am willing to offer thirty percent of the medicinal herbs I grow to you, my lord!" Ouyang Rong’s heart bled as he said this.

’I can’t believe it. I became a hermit in the mountains...’

’...and I still can’t escape the government’s exploitation.’

Pei Shaoqing laughed heartily. "Now I’m sure you only killed bad people. After all, anyone willing to get on my good side is a good person through and through."

A casual declaration of his good character.

"Yes..." Ouyang Rong’s smile was painfully forced.

Pei Shaoqing asked curiously, "Brother Ouyang, who was your master? Cultivating herbs is a difficult line of work."

Ouyang Rong’s expression changed, and he did not answer.

"If it’s inconvenient to say, then forget it. I am not one to force others," Pei Shaoqing said with a magnanimous air.

Ouyang Rong’s expression softened slightly. "Thank you, my lord."

"Brother Ouyang, how did you tame that wild boar that has already gained Spiritual Wisdom?" Pei Shaoqing asked again.

Ouyang Rong gave a faint smile. "Brother Pig enjoys listening to my music. Though we are of different species, he is my kindred spirit. There was no taming involved; we are simply good friends."

"An interesting tale," Pei Shaoqing chuckled.

"My lord! My lord!" Chen Zhongyi ran over, overjoyed. In his hand was a herb as red as fire. "My lord, look! This kid also planted a patch of Vermilion Bird Grass! Eating this raw can restore some Inner Strength, and it’s the main ingredient for refining the Red Sun Pill."

Pei Shaoqing was equally delighted. He looked at Ouyang Rong and said, "Brother Ouyang, it’s nothing personal, just business."

’What an unexpected bonus.’

"I know. I accept my punishment, I accept it," Ouyang Rong said, his mouth twitching as he closed his eyes in agony.

An hour later, Pei Shaoqing led his men away.

"Lord Pei, take care!" Ouyang Rong shouted himself hoarse, his eyes brimming with tears as he waved his hands frantically.

’I’m so touched. Brother Ouyang is such a man of passion. No wonder he can befriend a pig. To think he’d shed tears over my departure after we’ve only just met.’

"No need to see me off, Brother Ouyang. I’ll come visit you again another day," he called back, waving from a distance.

’I’ve decided. This guy is my friend now!’

Watching Pei Shaoqing’s back disappear, Ouyang Rong fell to his knees with a THUD, pounding the ground with his fist.

"You animal! My Soul-Attracting Flowers! My Vermilion Bird Grass! You didn’t even leave me a single plant!"

"You damn official! You damn official! WAAAAAAH!"

The wild boar moved closer and nudged him gently.

"Brother Pig, you may be a pig, but that Pei isn’t human either!" Ouyang Rong cried, hugging the pig’s head.

Returning with a huge haul, Pei Shaoqing was in high spirits.

Even their pace on the return journey was much faster.

Once they reached the main road, they mounted their horses and rode for the city.

"HYAH! HYAH! HYAH!"

At the same time, four men who had successfully kidnapped three "Three-Yin Women" had already left the city. They were galloping wildly on the main road, trying to escape before the Jing’an Guard could give chase.

"Hahahahaha! Too easy! We just went in, snatched them, and left. No one could stop us."

"Our master will surely reward us handsomely for this!"

"By the time they report it to the officials and the Jing’an Guard comes after us, we’ll have long since left Tongzhou."

The four men galloped onward, their faces lit up with glee.

Then, around a bend, they ran into Pei Shaoqing and his men on their way back to the city. Their laughter died abruptly.

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