Chapter 117

"Waiter, tidy up the main hall, serve a pot of wine to the other guests, put it on my tab.

And tell Wu Jinshui in the back kitchen that I'm hosting a banquet for good friends — send up all the signature dishes, and those several jars of aged wine, bring them up too."

Seeing old friends, Wu Chengyu was still delighted; he didn't have many friends in this world, and these people from the Yue Family Army were absolutely good friends.

He led the group upstairs, they sat at three tables, and he hurriedly poured tea and passed water.

"Big brothers, big sisters, why have you come all of a sudden? What a pity A Ku isn't here today, otherwise she would definitely be overjoyed."

Lu Zhiyi's temples were streaked with white at this time; he had already entered the age of no confusion, but seemed considerably more aged than before; at this moment he also wore a smile as he spoke.

"This time we've come to Gusu on business, and didn't bring many gifts for A Ku.

Last time the He family girl made clothes for A Ku, heard they've become too small; don't know what A Ku's figure is like now, so didn't dare make more."

"What business brings you big brothers and sisters to Gusu? If there's anything you need little brother's help with, just say the word."

Lu Zhiyi stroked his three long whiskers, shook his head and said: "If we need brothers' assistance, we naturally won't stand on ceremony.

However, we've come this time for some private matters, so there's no need to trouble little brother.

Originally we'd just finish our business and leave, not coming to disturb little brother would be best, but Wanrou insisted on coming to find you for drinks, and this guy Xiao Wu also wants to spar with you on culinary skills; he's been craving your hot pot for too long, impatient as can be."

"Got it all, got it all, guarantee everyone's satisfied." Speaking here, Wu Chengyu's eyes flickered.

Right now Gusu City is a time of many troubles; Lu Zhiyi and the others suddenly inserting themselves at this moment, their purpose goes without saying; they're all people of righteous spirit, so they didn't want to implicate Wu Chengyu, but Wu Chengyu couldn't help feeling some worry.

Even a figure like Hong Qigong is involved; who knows how many will die.

These few people's martial arts, placed among these jianghu folk, are at best enough for self-preservation; the slightest mishap and they'll lose their lives here.

If it were anyone else, Wu Chengyu would at most give a warning; but seeing a conspiracy clearly, letting the other party just fall into it like this, really can't face the bond between them.

He scanned the surroundings; at this moment the second floor was empty, and using the three-dimensional map to observe the area around Wumei Tower, there were no suspicious figures either.

Wu Chengyu lowered his voice and said to Lu Zhiyi and the others.

"Gusu City right now is a pile of dry tinder; one spark and a great fire can blaze up.

I vaguely know some inside details: it's said a Jin Kingdom envoy has secretly come to Gusu and joined up with Shi Miyuan's people; Shi Miyuan wants to sell out the Great Song's interests, so quite a few jianghu people have rushed to Gusu preparing to intercept and kill them.

The Shi family's people have also been arranging things in Gusu for a long time; a series of moves have stirred Gusu into unrest, clearly they have ulterior motives.

But little brother thinks: such a confidential matter should originally be utterly silent, yet it's drawn so many jianghu people's attention, even attracting you big brothers and sisters — there's definitely something fishy.

Big Brother Lu, Big Sister Niu, don't you find it suspicious?"

The few exchanged a glance; Lu Zhiyi pondered a moment, then nodded: "Little brother's words make sense, but the information we got isn't this.

We've long since stopped wanting to meddle in court affairs; whether Song and Jin war or peace is the Emperor and those ministers' business; our hearts went cold long ago.

This Jin envoy — if we run into him we'll kill him, but we wouldn't make a special trip just for him.

It's really because recently rumors have spread in the jianghu: there's news of Yue Grandpa's Wumu Legacy; supposedly it was stolen from the imperial palace back then and the Wumu Legacy scattered outside; our ancestors all left dying commands that we must retrieve Yue Grandpa's Wumu Legacy.

These years we've been constantly inquiring, found nothing; who knew a while ago news actually came that the Jin people covet the Wumu Legacy, offering heavy gold; a scoundrel wants to sell the Wumu Legacy to the Jin envoy, and the agreed location is right in Gusu.

You must know the name Wumu Legacy is known to very few; now news suddenly appears, how could we not investigate thoroughly.

If we really let the Jin people get the Wumu Legacy, we Yue Family Army heirs would have what face to live in the world."

Niu Wanrou continued: "So we'd rather believe it exists than believe it doesn't; even if it's a mountain of knives and sea of fire, we still have to make this trip."

Goddamn Wumu Legacy — this thing was taken away by Shangguan Jiannan; calculating the time it's still in the Iron Palm Sect's Five Finger Peak forbidden area, and won't fall into that cheap brother-in-law Guo Jing's hands until many years later.

Shangguan Jiannan has been dead for many years; that map left as a clue — don't even know if it's reached Lu Chengfeng's hands; so right now in all the world only Wu Chengyu knows where the Wumu Legacy is.

Problem is how Wu Chengyu can explain it; he can't explain where his intel comes from; not giving the reason and just giving the intel would work too — Lu Zhiyi and the others would definitely believe him.

And then? A group runs to the Iron Palm Sect to break into that forbidden ground — that's utterly sending themselves to death; Qiu Qianren would kill them absolutely one move each, absolutely clean and decisive.

Wu Chengyu has a headache now; if he doesn't tell, these guys will definitely get involved in the Suzhou affair, danger upon danger; if he does tell, this bunch will run to the Iron Palm Sect to offer their heads.

Being able to use the Wumu Legacy as bait — it's definitely court people; besides the Yue Family Army heirs, ordinary jianghu people don't even know the Wumu Legacy exists.

So Shi Miyuan breaks the backbone of the War Faction at court, then also eliminates these common folk who oppose peace and have always fought against the Jin.

To lay the foundation for successfully rising to power after selling out the Great Song's interests and making peace — truly ruthless.

"Little brother thinks this Wumu Legacy is definitely fake news; you big brothers and sisters had best not take the risk."

Wu Chengyu could only say it like this; but Lu Zhiyi and the others exchanged smiles, directly changed the subject, and Niu Wanrou dragged Wu Chengyu into drinking again.

Who can stop a righteous scholar from resolutely facing death? They can't hear it.

Wu Chengyu is now caught in a dilemma; the family that has always treated him well is about to become a traitorous minister's faction; life-and-death brothers clearly know it's a trap yet still step into it.

Since his transmigration, he cultivated martial arts for self-preservation, so he wouldn't be helpless like when he first transmigrated; he just wanted to live his own days well; as for matters between Song and Jin, and the future Mongol rise, he didn't want to participate; but everything around him seems to be forcing him to make a choice.

"Little Brother Wu, this hot pot you make is truly a peerless delicacy in the world; not hiding it from you, I've tried making it myself at my family's Desheng Lou quite a lot, but it just doesn't have your place's flavor — what a pity, only in Gusu can I eat it.

But thanks to your blessing, the Thirteen Fragrances recipe you gave me is also a supreme taste in the world; my restaurant's changed too, now specializing in roast meat and yellow wine — not hiding it from you, big brother I've made quite a lot; really have to thank you."

"Big Brother Xiao Wu, these years you've kept sending me things nonstop; every festival my family inevitably receives a big gift from you; between us brothers we don't talk about thanks — come, little brother will drink a cup with you."

Cups and counters interlocked; Big Sister Niu put her arm around Wu Chengyu's shoulder and poured several bowls straight down until Wu Chengyu fell down drunk; only then did these people leave, without leaving any address.

After they left, Wu Chengyu, who had been lying on the table, suddenly stood up, eyes clear, and said to Wu Jinshui attending at his side.

"Brother Jinshui, help me pass a message: have the family people help investigate where those few are staying in Gusu."

(Chapter End)