Seeking Truth with a Sword

"Regarding Student Song being taken away and telling everyone not to report it to the officials..." Wu Shiqi pondered for a moment, then asked, "Has Student Song been frequently visiting Pingkang Square recently?"

"You mean..."

"You Douzhi?"

The two Yizhou classmates spoke in unison. Seeing the puzzled look on Li Ang's face, they quickly explained.

Recently, Song Shaoyuan had often visited Lotus House in Pingkang Square. Initially, everyone simply thought that since he had come to Chang'an, he wanted to experience more of the world.

But now, looking back, it seemed he had gotten... too close to that You Douzhi.

"That You Douzhi is one of the most popular Qing officials at Lotus House," Yang Yu said, his eyes flickering. "Shaoyuan was probably taken because of this."

TSK.

Li Ang helplessly pressed his forehead. He recalled that during his visit to Lotus House, he had noticed something off about the way Song Shaoyuan looked at You Douzhi.

We need to find a way to resolve this.

Li Ang pondered for a moment. Aunt Song has a close connection with my family; she's like a half-aunt to me. I still have the gold coins she gave me hidden in my clothes. Besides, when I left, I promised her I'd bring Song Shaoyuan back safe and sound.

"Mr. Yang," Li Ang cupped his hands in a salute and said to Yang Yu, "it's roughly 1 p.m. now. If I haven't returned by Shenzhen (4 p.m.), please go to Duke Yan Mansion in Anxing Square and let them know I've encountered some trouble."

"Ah? Okay..." Yang Yu asked hesitantly, "Risheng, what are you planning to do?"

"Bring back Brother Song and that You Douzhi." Li Ang gave a helpless smile, borrowed a horse from Yang Yu, and didn't ask Wu Shiqi to lead him to Pingkang Square to find Jiao Cheng.

Instead, he first went to Yining Square to find Cheng Juxiu's classmate, Ding Jingshan.

Unfortunately, after Li Ang requested to be announced, the gatekeeper of Ding Mansion explained that Ding Jingshan had climbed over the wall and escaped from the Secretary Province again a few days ago, returning home drunk as a skunk.

His father, enraged, had locked him in the Secretary Province's underground chamber, decreeing that he could not come out until he completed the Zhou Kingdom's Clan Records and was forbidden any contact with anyone.

Ding Jingshan had no choice but to toil away at the records by himself in the underground chamber. With his abilities and Cloud Patrol Early Stage cultivation, he could get out, but it would take at least four or five more days.

By that time, the matter would be stale.

"Li Family's eldest son, what do we do now?" Wu Shiqi asked once they had left Ding Mansion.

"Shiqilang, please lead me to Pingkang Square," Li Ang said, his eyes narrowed. "I'll personally meet this Jiao Cheng."

The two rode to Pingkang Square. Wu Shiqi stopped in front of the square, dismounted, and tossed the reins to an approaching servant. Rather than entering any particular building, he led Li Ang along the square's wall toward the east. They passed through a dense bamboo thicket that seemed to have no path forward, then turned north, crossed a creek, and ventured into alleys. After many twists and turns, they arrived in front of an unremarkable little building.

The doors of the small building were open. Inside sat seven or eight burly, tattooed men with fierce expressions, leisurely playing a card game called "Leaf Play," similar to poker.

Seeing Wu Shiqi approach, a bald man with furrowed brows put down his cards and stood up from his stool.

This man wore short sleeves, revealing both arms. His left arm was tattooed with "Life fears not even the Capital Governor," his right with "Death dreads not even Yama." A caged bird was tattooed on his forehead.

The bald man said in an unfriendly tone, "Wu Shiqi? What brings you here?"

"Di Wu," Wu Shiqi nodded at the other man. "I'm looking for Jiao Da."

"Looking for Jiao Da? You think you're worthy?" The bald man, known as Di Wu, sneered. "Having thrown in your lot with the bad people, you're now an enemy..."

"It's not me who wants to meet him. It's this gentleman." Wu Shiqi stepped slightly aside, revealing Li Ang behind him.

"And who might he be—"

"The student who placed second in the Academic Palace's preliminary exam and first in the re-examination this year," Wu Shiqi cut in. As Di Wu's eyes narrowed abruptly, Wu Shiqi stated, "Li Ang from Yizhou. He wishes to see Jiao Da."

"..." Di Wu fell silent for a moment, tapping his knuckles on the table twice.

The other tattooed men at the table stood up one after another, walked out of the room, and pulled out two long black cloths from inside their clothes.

Wu Shiqi willingly stepped forward, allowing one of them to tie the black cloth over his eyes.

Li Ang glanced at the cloth, which was soiled with some unidentifiable grime. He shook his head and took out a thick white handkerchief woven by Chai Cuiqiao from his own robes. "I'll do it myself."

The tattooed men looked at Di Wu, who nodded. They then stepped back, letting Li Ang tie the white handkerchief over his eyes himself.

Once their eyes were covered, Di Wu had his men bring a carriage from the backyard, and they were driven along a narrow path.

When the blindfolds were removed, Li Ang and Wu Shiqi found themselves in a closed corridor of a pavilion. They could faintly hear music and the clamor of a crowd below. It was unclear which part of the Three Lounges it was.

Led by Di Wu, Wu Shiqi and Li Ang walked forward to a door guarded by two tattooed men.

Wu Shiqi pushed the door to enter but was stopped by one of the guards. "Only he can go in. You wait outside."

"..." Wu Shiqi's eyes narrowed slightly. They hadn't confiscated his saber, entirely because they were confident they could suppress any disturbance. Jiao Cheng always has at least two cultivator guards by his side.

"It's alright, Brother Wu. Please wait outside for a moment," Li Ang said, raising a hand to reassure Wu Shiqi. He then calmly stepped past the two tattooed men and pushed open the door.

Upon entering the room, he was greeted by the fragrant aroma of tea.

Inside, Song Shaoyuan and You Douzhi sat on a couch, their hands tied behind their backs. Their clothes were neat, and they showed no signs of injury, nor was any hemp cloth stuffed in their mouths. However, they appeared a bit tense.

"Risheng..." Song Shaoyuan subconsciously started to rise but was stopped by a gesture from Li Ang.

Li Ang looked towards the third person in the room—a middle-aged man sitting cross-legged on the floor with his back to the door. He wore simple brown clothes and had a full beard. A bamboo walking stick lay on the floor beside him. He was pouring himself a cup of tea from a silver teapot on the tea table.

TAP.

The sound of Go pieces being placed echoed from a corner. It came from the last two people in the room—two middle-aged men silently playing Go, longswords hanging at their waists.

"You're that Li Ang from Yizhou?" the bearded man sitting on the floor, Jiao Cheng, asked casually, his voice deep.

"Yes," Li Ang nodded, saying calmly, "I would like to know what price it would take to take these two people away."

"Price?" Jiao Cheng took a sip of tea, slowly turned around, and said calmly, "Mr. Li, you might not quite understand. You Xiao is a woman the Lotus House has nurtured. The Lotus House provided her with the finest residence, the most attentive and skilled maids, and sought out the best teachers for her. They taught her dance, musical instruments, and all the arts of charm and grace. In the end, they elevated her to the high position of Douzhi, making her an object of everyone's envy.

"If your classmate could have openly bid to win You Xiao's first night, or paid to redeem her, then all would have been well. But when You Xiao harbored different intentions and thought to leave without permission, the nature of the matter changed. I am the custodian of Pingkang Square, and in Pingkang Square, the greatest price is one's loyalty."