Lord of the Desert

Chapter 397 That Man
The seventh day of July is the Qiao Qiao Festival.

Dusk.

It’s another flower appreciating festival this year, but the venue has been changed to Qixiaju.

Compared with Mingyue Tower, this room is enclosed on all sides and has a roof covered with heavy beams. Although it lacks three points of the broad view facing the river, it has seven points more gorgeousness of intricate carvings and colorful paintings.

The sun is half set, but the scorching heat is still oppressive.

Fortunately, there were a lot of ice cubes in the wall interlayer, which provided a slight cool breeze.

The music of stringed instruments is graceful.

Before the Hua Yins appeared, a dozen graceful singing girls were dancing on tiptoe on the stage.

In the middle compartment on the second floor, Lin Yongchang looked absent-minded, leaning on the arms of the waitress, and was talking attentively about this year's three candidates.

"The flower poet of Mingyue Tower is named Qingyan, who is good at poetry. She has been writing lyrics for the public since she was thirteen years old, and has written many excellent poems."

"The flower singer of Tongfeng Tower is named Hua Lian. She is good at archery and can hit a falling peacock's tail feather from fifty steps away."

"The flower poem of Qixiaju is called Cuizhi. She is good at freehand painting, with excellent layout and meticulous brushwork, and is especially good at painting tigers and cranes."

He just turned seventeen this year and was allowed by his family to attend a flower-appreciating event for the first time. He brought enough money with him to show off his skills.

"I have met Miss Qingyan once."

He Qisheng, the eldest son of the He family on the left, interjected.

"She is the adopted sister of last year's courtesan Fengxu. Speaking of Fengxu, she married a wealthy businessman in Zhongzhou as a concubine three months ago, but the ending was not happy."

When this name was mentioned, Bai Taiping on the opposite side felt a little embarrassed.

In his heart, he secretly sneered at the ignorant He - if it weren't for the recent rise in his business of marrow cleansing pills, He Qisheng would not have the right to sit here.

But when he touched the brocade hat on his head and thought about his hair which had not grown back to its old appearance in more than a year, Bai Taiping still endured it.

"Three Hua Yins, who are you going to support this year, Brother Jiang?"

He changed the subject.

However, Jiang Wenbo was not interested.

"You've all heard, Feng Jianke is dead."

He mentioned it quietly.

Upon hearing the news, He Qisheng was the only one who looked bewildered. It was obvious that his family's channels were inferior to the others.

"I just found out yesterday."

Bai Taiping nodded.

"During dinner, the old man said that the outcome of Huaiyang State has been determined."

"So the man is coming back."

Jiang Wenbai said this with a frown on his face.

"Who?"

Lin Yongchang was puzzled.

"Who else could it be? 'Red Sand' Hong Fan!"

Bai Taiping replied with a sigh.

After hearing the name, Lin Yongchang's body stiffened slightly. He half-straightened his back and moved away from the waitress's breasts.

At this moment, everyone at the banquet recalled that in early April last year, Hong Fan broke out of Wuzheng Garden and fought and killed the Red-Faced God. Intimidated by his mighty power, the playboys in Xijing kept their tails between their legs when they went out for the next two or three months, and were no longer as rampant as before.

"I don't know what's wrong with him."

Someone complained.

"What else can a good Tianjiao do? He has to serve as a cavalryman in Xijing. It makes us brothers do things that bully men and women and we have to worry about it..."

Amidst the chorus of agreement, only Young Master He quietly accompanied the guests in drinking.

A few feet away.

Shen Tiexin sat at a separate table from the other two.

The girl on her left hand was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with almond eyes and rosy cheeks. She was Lu Yinbo, the daughter of the Lu family in Shenjing. The man on her right hand had bronze skin and big protruding ears. He was Zhu Leshan, the second son of the Zhu family in Hongyi.

In order to facilitate the viewing of singing and dancing, one side of each private room is open. Although there are wooden partitions and the sound of stringed instruments, one can still hear the voices of people next door when it is quiet.

“I didn’t expect that the noble children of Xijing were so afraid of Chisha.”

Lu Yinbo asked curiously.

"I went to see the list of Shenjing's Prodigies last month. It said that Hong Fan defeated Feng Tianqing in Lingbo City and ranked 77th, the first in the realm of strength on the list."

"Cousin, I heard people say that he was one of the 'Three Heroes of Huaiyang', and I thought he was just a nobody from an ordinary poor family. I didn't expect that since I came to Xijing, even though he is not around, I can hear his name everywhere."

The cousin she was referring to was Shen Tiexin, but Shen Tiexin frowned and ignored her.

Finally, Zhu Leshan took over the conversation.

"That's not all. There will be more to talk about in a few days."

"Sister Lu has come all the way from Shenjing, and she doesn't know the latest changes in Huaiyang Country."

"When I came out of Hongyi City, I got accurate information. Hong Fan broke through to the Xiantian realm in a battle with Yunlan, and even risked his life to rush back to Fengyunding."

He drank a cup of yellow wine and added, "It is said that the Prince of Huaiyang was captured by Hong Fan from the top of Fengyun Peak, locked up in the palace and burned to death."

Hearing this cruel scene, Lu Yinbo bit her lip and Shen Tiexin trembled his right hand.

A crystal shrimp fell from her chopsticks into the red soup bowl, splashing a blood stain on her white silk skirt.

"Is my sister angry?"

Seeing Shen Tiexin's pale face and sweat on his forehead, Zhu Leshan hurriedly asked.

"I heard that after the incident in April last year, my sister hasn't held a three-day banquet in the past year."

"Do you want me to help you and vent your anger?"

Shen Tiexin did not respond immediately.

She stared at the scarlet soup seeping through her outer shirt, losing its luster under the light and revealing the texture of the fabric. Then she asked, "From what you said just now, you don't think highly of him?"

This he obviously refers to is Hong Fan.

"A genius who comes from a humble family and is on the list must have outstanding abilities. He is qualified to be friends with me and drink with me."

Zhu Leshan shook his sleeves and smiled.

"But if it can please my sister, it won't matter if I offend him a little."

Shen Tiexin glanced at him when he heard that.

Although she felt that Zhu Leshan's tone was too arrogant, she knew that he was not bragging.

The Hongyi Zhu family has a celestial being residing in the world, and is the only large family in Liangzhou that can rival the Shen family. Moreover, the Tongyun Villa they run almost monopolizes the metal smelting and forging industry in Liangzhou, and their business is bigger than that of the Shen family.

In addition, Hongyi City is not like Xijing, the provincial capital or the political center. The Zhu family is the only one that stands out, so the Zhu family's style of doing things becomes more and more arrogant.

But ability and willingness are two different things.

Zhu Leshan is the second son of the Zhu family. He is also outstanding in martial arts. In recent years, he has gradually seized power and is competing with his elder brother.

He took the initiative to stand up for himself at this time, and his intention was obvious.

However, Shen Tiexin was always arrogant and had no feelings for him, so he was unwilling to accept his help.

"After all, it's my personal matter, so I won't bother you, Brother Shi."

She said perfunctorily.

Zhu Leshan was not upset at being rejected.

He has always known that Shen Tiexin has no intention towards him, but given their status and family background, love and marriage are two different things, and each other is just one of many options.

Soon, the Hua Yins took the stage one by one. Compared with last year, their performances were more ingenious and it was hard to say which one was better.

But for some reason, Shen Tiexin felt irritated.

"Singing and dancing are boring, and there is no special color. It is better to go home early."

When the third person, Qingyan, came on stage, she suddenly asked to leave.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Leshan took some effort to pull himself away from Qingyan's delicate face and stood up to see her off.

"Sister, my previous words were not polite. If you are willing, I will go to Chisha to find you at any time."

He vowed emphatically.

Shen Tiexin nodded and walked out of the cubicle, followed by Lu Yinbo.

The wooden grille door was pushed back, and the sound of dance music suddenly dimmed.

The corridor was empty.

Shen Tiexin walked with his hands clasped together, the news of Hong Fan's murder of King Huaiyang coming to his mind, and the image of the light that seemed to pierce him when Hong Fan drew his sword appeared before his eyes again.

It took her a long while to calm her heartbeat. When she thought of Zhu Leshan's confident and relaxed smile just now, she felt confused.

Outside Qixia Residence.

The half-moon was hanging high in the sky, and the Shen family's carriage was waiting in advance.

The two black horses pulling the carriage stood in the darkness, their satin-like fine fur reflecting the wet silver light.

Shen Tiexin and Lu Yinbo got into the car one after another.

The curtain was lowered and the carriage quickly drove out of the crowded Wangjiang Lane.

"Cousin, this time when you come here, my aunt asked me to take good care of you."

Lu Yinbo suddenly said.

The atmosphere is slightly chilly.

"Mother has been in seclusion all day, how could she remember? You made the decision on your own, right?"

Shen Tiexin smiled.

Lu Yinbo didn't say anything back.

The summer heat was scorching and the temperature in the carriage was high.

Shen Tiexin gradually felt suffocated, and when he saw his cousin who had mastered the art of cultivation but was calm and composed, his disgust for martial arts resurfaced.

(End of this chapter)