Chapter 355: Clothes and Rack

He Tang Tea House, owned by the Ling brothers, was not open to the public; it was primarily used for business negotiations, and most star salaries were finalized within its walls.

Shen Rongqing had arrived early and made her preparations.

To be honest, she didn't trust this Sage or his disciples; He Jiaqing had rebuffed them several times and refused to meet them—there was no telling what extreme actions they might take.

Her personnel were in place, the traps were set; Shen Rongqing waited for the white-robed man to arrive for the banquet, while He Jiaqing, far away in Yuezhou, feared someone might come to disrupt it.

Perhaps He Jiaqing was overthinking it—ever since arriving in Puluozhou, he always felt Li Banfeng might pop up to cause trouble at any moment; with the time still before six, he contacted a spy from Xiaoyao Wu.

"Where is Li Qi?"

"Li Qi and Ma Wu invited Lu Chunying; Lu Yuanxin and Tan Fu have also arrived. They've been drinking since noon and are still going—apparently they plan to play cards tonight, and Ma Wu has arranged for a top singer to perform."

"Did you actually see Li Qi?"

"I saw him—I just cleaned out the private room a moment ago. I'll go check again soon."

"Don't go back. Going again will raise suspicion."

The spies from Xiaoyao Wu were vital—they couldn't afford to expose their identities.

He Jiaqing rubbed his scalp; surely he'd been basking in too much popularity lately, clouding his judgment and making him overly paranoid.

How could Li Banfeng possibly know Shen Rongqing would meet the Sage's disciples today?

He chuckled bitterly at himself, changed into a gardener's outfit, and headed back to the park.

…

In the private room, Lu Chunying clutched a roasted chicken, eating heartily; lately she'd intensified her cultivation and had access to elixirs, so her cultivation base had grown rapidly—and so had her appetite.

After finishing the entire chicken, Lu Chunying wiped her mouth and said, "Where's Seventh Brother? He vanished so suddenly—aren't we supposed to play cards soon?"

Ma Wu laughed. "Seventh Brother isn't feeling well—he went to rest. He can't play cards anyway. Tonight I'll play with you all—until dawn."

Just then, the singer Jiang Mengting arrived to perform; everyone was captivated by her beauty and voice, and no one asked about Li Qi's whereabouts again.

Li Banfeng was currently hiding near He Tang Tea House, waiting for the gathering to end—he didn't know how long they'd be drinking.

Actually, the tea session ended quickly, because the two sides weren't getting along at all.

Zhong Huaien, the white-robed disciple, was deeply dissatisfied with He Jiaqing's attitude: "Miss Shen, how many times have I come to you? So far, I haven't even seen He Jiaqing—you're being awfully insincere."

Shen Rongqing smiled. "Brother Zhong, calm down. Courtesy is reciprocal—we've met many times, yet I haven't seen the Sage either."

Zhong Huaien frowned. "Why should the Sage meet you? He wants to meet He Jiaqing!"

Shen Rongqing's smile didn't fade. "He Jiaqing doesn't want to meet you—he wants to meet the Sage."

Zhong Huaien's face turned ashen. He warned Shen Rongqing: "Some have knelt for years on Sage Peak and still haven't seen the Sage. You have this opportunity—don't waste it."

Shen Rongqing frowned slightly. "You make it sound like we're ungrateful? I don't even know where Sage Peak is—could you tell me? Why are the people there so weak-willed?"

Zhong Huaien nodded, stood, and took his leave.

Shen Rongqing saw him off at the tea house entrance, offering no further pleas to stay.

After Zhong Huaien left, Shen Rongqing sent He Jiaqing a message: "He's gone. He's furious you didn't show up."

He Jiaqing received the message and remained silent for a long while.

He knew his absence would anger them.

But why didn't Shen Rongqing smooth things over?

Had she clashed with them again?

"It's fine, sister. It's fine." He Jiaqing cut off the connection.

Shen Rongqing was a sensitive woman—she heard the reprimand in his tone.

But what could reprimanding change?

Should I go kneel on Sage Peak too?

Shen Rongqing returned to the tea house, sat in the tea room, and poured herself a drink.

…

Zhong Huaien walked down the road, burning with rage, when a voice reached his ear: "Young Brother Zhong, I think we've used the wrong approach."

"We should handle this as simply and cleanly as we did with the Lu brothers."

"I'd like to, but He Jiaqing won't show up—how do we act?"

"Kill this woman. From our several meetings, it's clear she's no ordinary woman—either she's He Jiaqing's lover or his most trusted subordinate. Kill her, and He Jiaqing will be furious."

"Once we force He Jiaqing out, then eliminate him—we'll have completed our mission."

"Is that feasible?" Zhong Huaien hesitated. "I fear our Master will blame us."

"Blame us for what? When did our Master ever forbid killing? He probably doesn't even remember this woman's name. Kill her, lure He Jiaqing to Puluozhou—what's wrong with that?"

"But what if He Jiaqing gets scared and refuses to meet us again?"

"He already refuses to meet us. If he shows up, we win. If he doesn't, we've at least cut off one of his arms and made him suffer—we still come out ahead."

Zhong Huaien nodded. "That's a solid plan, Elder Brother. When do we act?"

"Strike when she's most relaxed. Right now is perfect—just after the bitter parting, she's off guard."

"Fine, I'll go with you!"

Zhong Huaien turned to go back, but the voice warned: "You just left—now you're returning? That'll raise suspicion."

"Just keep walking. I'll handle this alone. Don't worry about credit—it's yours. Be careful on the way. Our Master ordered me to protect you—don't get yourself hurt."

"Don't worry, Elder Brother." Zhong Huaien nodded and continued walking.

His white robe suddenly lifted into the air, floating silently upward toward the tea house.

Li Banfeng, trailing behind, quickly hid—he barely escaped detection thanks to his sixth-layer Zhai Xiu talent.

Is that robe a magic treasure?

No wonder he always wears that white shirt.

Why is the robe flying back?

To deal with Shen Rongqing?

Just one magic treasure? To confront Shen Rongqing?

Could it not be a magic treasure?

Could it be what Zuo Wugang called Yi Xiu?

Lu Yuanxin is in Xiaoyao Wu —he knows how to handle Yi Xiu. This is an opportunity.

Li Banfeng found a secluded spot, took out a circuit board from his pocket, connected two batteries, plugged in an antenna, and attached a dial.

It was cumbersome to use, but under Puluozhou's conditions, Luo Zhengnan's tech could only reach this level.

Luo Zhengnan was adjusting an antenna in Xiaoyao Wu when his head suddenly trembled—the antenna in his skull nearly stirred his brain into mush.

Seeing it was Li Banfeng calling, he quickly answered.

"Get Ma Wu to come to He Tang Tea House…"

After giving the message, Li Banfeng continued tracking Zhong Huaien to a narrow alley—the moment was right. He prepared to strike.

This white-robed disciple had always stayed close to the Sage; Li Banfeng was certain he was formidable. His goal wasn't to kill him, but to use his mouth to deliver a message.

Li Banfeng's plan: slash him once, then vanish immediately.

He suddenly appeared in the alley and slashed Zhong Huaien's back.

The cut ran nearly a foot long. After striking, Li Banfeng vanished quickly, hiding in the shadows to observe Zhong Huaien's reaction.

Zhong Huaien showed no extreme reaction—he didn't pause, kept walking briskly, as if unharmed.

Those trusted by the Sage truly aren't ordinary!

He must have a magic treasure—or his body is exceptionally tough.

Back at En Gong Zhai, Li Banfeng had already sensed this man was dangerous.

One slash won't do—he must feel pain, or the Sage won't grow angry at He Jiaqing.

Li Banfeng appeared again and slashed again.

Two slashes later, Zhong Huaien still showed no reaction—he walked faster, completely ignoring Li Banfeng's attacks.

Is he really this strong?

Slash again.

Zhong Huaien still didn't fight back.

Slash again!

…

After seven slashes, Zhong Huaien collapsed on the ground, motionless.

What's going on?

Luring me closer, then counterattacking?

Li Banfeng wouldn't fall for it—he prepared to use the Zou Ma Guan Hua technique to test him.

Just as he moved, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.

What if Zhong Huaien isn't refusing to fight—but can't fight at all?

Was his brisk walking just an attempt to flee?

Impossible?

Is this the level of the Sage's most trusted disciple?

He showed formidable strength at En Gong Zhai—Li Banfeng remembered clearly. Why is he so weak now?

Could that formidable strength have come from the robe?

Is he just a clothes rack?

Could he be dead?

If he dies, who will deliver the message to the Sage?

Li Banfeng had been right: Zhong Huaien was about to die.

Should we give him an elixir to prolong his life?

……

In the teahouse, Shen Rongqing was still pouring and drinking alone.

The white-clad man had already left; Shen Rongqing had ordered the staff to return to the shadow-play company and wait, planning to finish her tea and then go rest.

Just as she poured the tea, she suddenly felt her wrist go limp—the teacup in her hand did not rise to her lips, but instead settled back onto the table.

Who?

Shen Rongqing wanted to demand an answer.

But she could not open her mouth.

Her jaw felt bound by threads; her throat was constricted too.

Every joint in her body was tightly bound, as if a garment had been draped over her, slowly suffocating her.

It was not just an illusion—indeed, a robe had materialized upon Shen Rongqing's body.

When did this white robe come onto me?

This white robe looks familiar!

This is Zhong Huaien's white robe.

In shock, Shen Rongqing's right hand pulled a dagger from her waist and pressed it against her own throat.

The blade crept closer; Shen Rongqing struggled fiercely to resist.

Is Zhong Huaien trying to kill me?

At the brink of life and death, Shen Rongqing pushed her mind-cultivation technique to its limit—but could not sense Zhong Huaien's thoughts.

She could clearly perceive the thoughts of every clerk, accountant in the teahouse, and every coachman waiting outside—but not Zhong Huaien's.

Is Zhong Huaien not nearby?

The robe on her body seemed to carry faint, indistinct thoughts—but they were truly there.

Is this robe trying to kill me?

This is not a robe—it is a robe cultivator!

What should I do?

Who will save me?

Shen Rongqing could not cry out; suffocating, her consciousness began to fade.

She fought desperately to control her right hand, yet the dagger drew ever nearer to her throat.

She tried to reverse the robe's intent, but her cultivation base was far inferior to its master's.

In despair, she suddenly sensed a faint tremor of tension emanating from the robe.

Is he afraid?

What is he afraid of?

Is someone coming to save me?

Her joints loosened slightly; her right hand gradually regained control.

The white robe suddenly detached from Shen Rongqing's body and vanished in an instant.

It had felt as if insects had crawled over her skin, but Shen Rongqing had no attention for insects—the constriction vanished completely. She immediately dropped the dagger and stood up.

She wanted to flee, to scream—but in her daze, she suddenly saw a man standing before her.

Shen Rongqing was stunned, nearly attacking Ma Wu.

Ma Wu stepped forward and embraced her: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

PS: My lords, do you still remember the cause of Lu Yuan Shan's death?

(End of Chapter)