Unorthodox Wuxia: While Others Practice Martial Arts, I Cultivate Immortality - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: An Old Friend

Yuan Zhao helplessly pulled out two copper coins from her bosom and stuffed them into Xiao Kong Kong’s arms. “Here, take it!”

Xiao Kong Kong stared in disbelief at the two pitiful copper coins in his palm. “What… I’m a legendary master thief, and I’m only worth two coins? Am I not even worth a bowl of noodles?”

Business was good these days, the noodle shop made a net profit of two taels of silver a day. How could this big boss be so stingy!

“Too little?” Yuan Zhao was speechless. A thief, and he’s actually proud of it.

“Of course it’s too little. Who’d want just two coins?”

“Then give them back!” Yuan Zhao reached out to snatch them back.

“Hey hey hey~” Xiao Kong Kong quickly dodged. “How can there be someone like you?”

“Forget it, I won’t argue with you. Two coins it is.”

With that, he led out the family horse, swung himself onto it, and vanished from Yuan Zhao’s sight in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Kong Kong didn’t return until the next morning.

As soon as he came back, he went straight into the noodle shop kitchen to report.

“I delivered your letter~”

Yuan Zhao looked up at him—he was gnawing happily on a stick of candied hawthorn.

“Alright, got it,” she said, lowering her head to continue working.

Xiao Kong Kong was immediately displeased. “That’s it?”

“What else?” Yuan Zhao didn’t even look up.

“You’re not even going to praise me? Do you know how heavily guarded the City Lord’s mansion is? Do you know how hard it was to get inside?”

“But I paid you!” Yuan Zhao said matter-of-factly.

“With just two coins!” Xiao Kong Kong held up two fingers.

Yuan Zhao: “Two coins aren’t money? If you don’t want them, give them back!”

“I already spent them!” Xiao Kong Kong shook his head firmly, then shamelessly added, “No way, your attitude has deeply wounded my fragile heart. Only money can heal it!”

Yuan Zhao looked up at him. “How much do you want?”

Xiao Kong Kong held up two fingers again with a serious face. “At least another two coins.”

“Useless!” Yuan Zhao rolled her eyes and shoved two more coins at him. “Happy now?”

“Boss, you’re so generous!”

Delighted, Xiao Kong Kong skipped out of the kitchen. “Today I’m in such a good mood, picked up a couple of coins, got so much I don’t know where to spend it, my heart’s blooming with joy…”

He hopped into the main hall, spotted Ah Qing busy in a corner, and immediately rushed over. “Little boss, let me help you.”

Ah Qing handed him the broom with a puzzled look. “Why are you so happy?”

Being asked, Xiao Kong Kong became even more smug. He pulled out the two coins from his waistband. “See this? You see this? What is it? Pocket money! Do you guys have any?”

“Pfft~” Ah Qing snorted lightly, pulled out a chunk of broken silver from her waistband, and said, “See this? This is pocket money.”

Xiao Kong Kong’s eyes widened in disbelief.

And the real blow was still to come.

“Awroo~” Not far away, the old wolf shook its fluffy fur as if by accident, and a money pouch tumbled to the ground, a whole string of copper coins spilling out.

The old wolf gave Xiao Kong Kong a lazy glance, as if to say: Oh dear, how careless of me…

“You… you…” Xiao Kong Kong looked at Ah Qing, then at the old wolf, before crying out in grief and indignation, “This is bullying!”

By noon, a burly middle-aged man appeared at the Zhao family noodle shop gate with a young attendant. He glanced up at the shop’s signboard, then led the attendant inside.

Seeing them, Xiao Kong Kong enthusiastically stepped forward. “Welcome, welcome.”

After seating them at an empty table, he asked, “What would you two like to eat?”

The middle-aged man, his voice carrying a touch of age, said, “Two bowls of your signature Jinghong Jade Noodles, please.”

Xiao Kong Kong looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, sir, you came too late today. The Jinghong Jade Noodles are already sold out.”

The man sighed. “Ah, what a pity.”

He glanced at the wall menu. “Then give us two bowls of vegetable noodles.”

In the borderlands, fresh vegetables weren’t easy to come by.

“Alright, please wait a moment.” Xiao Kong Kong jotted it down and quickly ran to the kitchen.

When the noodles were served, the two guests quietly began eating.

The moment the middle-aged man tasted the fresh, crisp vegetables, his eyes lit up. “These vegetables are excellent—fresh, refreshing, with a unique fragrance. To eat such fine vegetables on the border is truly rare.”

The young attendant nodded. “Yes, it’s very good.”

The man sipped the broth, then let out a long sigh. “This soup is also wonderful. If I could drink this at night, it would warm me to the heart.”

After finishing their meal, they did not leave. When the lunchtime rush had passed, the man beckoned Xiao Kong Kong over. “Young man, come here.”

Xiao Kong Kong quickly put down the dishes he was clearing and hurried over. “What can I do for you, sir?”

The man clasped his hands politely. “Could I trouble you to ask your shop manager to come out and meet me?”

Xiao Kong Kong sized him up suspiciously, then nodded. “Please wait a moment.” He ran into the kitchen.

“Boss, someone’s looking for you!”

“Who?” Yuan Zhao asked.

“I don’t know, but he looks important—definitely not an ordinary person.”

Yuan Zhao’s heart stirred, and she walked quickly to the hall. Approaching the two guests, she clasped her hands and asked, “Are you here to see me?”

At the sight of her, a flash of astonishment crossed the man’s face. Yuan Zhao noticed his strange gaze and asked, puzzled, “Sir, is something wrong with me?”

Hearing this, the man came back to himself and quickly apologized. “My apologies. Your appearance greatly resembles that of an old acquaintance of mine. For a moment, I was dazed.”

Yuan Zhao’s heart skipped a beat. Could this man be connected to the original body?

She wanted to ask, but didn’t know how. After all, she had no memories of her past.

Besides, the original body had been found among corpses, apparently victims of sand bandits, though whether there was more to it remained unknown.

Even if this man truly had ties to the original body, was he friend… or foe?

Out of caution, Yuan Zhao kept silent. She was content with her current life; there was no need to dig into the past. Best to leave it to fate.

“I recall your surname is Yuan?” the man asked.

“That’s right,” Yuan Zhao nodded.

“What a coincidence. My old friend’s surname was Yuan as well.”

“Then perhaps we were family five hundred years ago,” Yuan Zhao joked. “May I ask your honorable name, and what business brings you here?”

The man glanced around, noticing a few lingering customers, then said in a low voice, “Might we speak in private?”

“Please,” Yuan Zhao agreed, leading them to the adjoining hall.

“Sir, perhaps you can reveal your identity now?” Yuan Zhao asked.

The man laughed heartily. “Miss Yuan, you sent me a letter inviting me to meet. Now that I am here, why pretend you don’t know me?”

Yuan Zhao thought to herself: ‘As expected.’

She immediately clasped her hands toward the man and said, “General Mo, greetings. I didn’t expect the Marshal himself would come to my humble shop to meet a mere woman like me.”

Mo Guanshan stroked his graying beard. “This old man merely wished to see for himself what kind of young lady it was who forced that old cur Xiao Hong to bow his head.”

Yuan Zhao smiled gracefully. “And does the Marshal find me satisfactory?”

Mo Guanshan nodded. “Good, very good!”

Then his tone shifted. “In your letter, you claimed to have a way to rid me of the scourge of the Sha Long Gang. Is that true?”

Yuan Zhao nodded. “Of course it is. Otherwise, why would I dare trouble the Marshal to come here?”

Mo Guanshan teased, “You even dared to threaten Xiao Hong. What is an old man like me in your eyes?”

“You jest, Marshal.” Yuan Zhao gave a bitter smile. If it weren’t to establish a foothold in Tianmen Town and the borderlands, she would never have taken such risks. Without sheer grit, she could never have forced Xiao Hong’s hand.

“Enough, let’s speak of business,” Mo Guanshan said, his face turning serious. “Tell me your method.”

Yuan Zhao replied, “Before that, I’d like the Marshal to meet someone.”

“Oh? Who?” Mo Guanshan asked curiously.

Yuan Zhao whispered a few words to Xiao Kong Kong, who had been silent as a mouse at the side. He nodded and immediately dashed out.

Watching him leave, Mo Guanshan said, “That must be the Miracle Handed devil, Xiao Kong Kong, who delivered your letter?”

Yuan Zhao laughed. “Nothing escapes the Marshal’s eyes.”

“Few in the world can slip in and out of Blackstone City’s lord’s mansion without a sound. And you happen to have one right here.”

“In urgent times one must act expediently. I beg the Marshal’s forgiveness.”

Mo Guanshan waved a hand, saying no more.

Before long, Xiao Kong Kong returned, supporting a weak, pale Lang Mingyue as they entered.

The instant Mo Guanshan and his aide saw him, they shot up from their chairs. “Lang Mingyue?! You’re not dead?!”

News of Man Li’s death at the Zhao family noodle shop had already spread, and most assumed Lang Mingyue had died with him. To see him alive was shocking.

Mo Guanshan’s troops had tangled with the sand bandits for years, and he certainly recognized this henchman of Sha Long Gang’s third leader. Though Mo Guanshan himself was powerful, the gang was cunning and slippery. He had failed many campaigns against them and hated them to the bone.

“Greetings, Marshal Mo! Greetings, General Lu!” Lang Mingyue bowed.

It turned out the attendant with Mo Guanshan was none other than Lu Ying, one of Blackstone City’s two great generals. Yuan Zhao didn’t recognize him, but Lang Mingyue did.

“Cur!” Lu Ying, hot-blooded and young, drew his sword and lunged at Lang Mingyue.

Yuan Zhao flashed forward, intercepting. With two fingers she caught the sword tip, holding it effortlessly no matter how Lu Ying strained.

“I invited you here not to kill anyone.”

She flicked her fingers, releasing the blade with a twang. Lu Ying staggered back.

Both were of second rank, yet Yuan Zhao had repelled him with casual ease. Mo Guanshan’s eyes lit up.

‘A formidable youngster indeed.’

But he also noticed that the technique she used was not his old friend’s family style. Quietly, he abandoned the guess forming in his heart.

‘A coincidence, then.’

Lu Ying still wanted to strike again, but Mo Guanshan barked, “Ah Ying, stand down!”

“But Marshal…” Lu Ying protested angrily. Lang Mingyue, this lackey of Man Li, had slain countless good men of Great Liang. To see him alive and not exact vengeance, how could he endure it?

“Listen to Miss Yuan,” Mo Guanshan commanded.

Only then did Lu Ying reluctantly retreat.

Yuan Zhao smiled. “The key to destroying Sha Long Gang lies with Lang Mingyue. He knows their lair’s location. With him to lead the way, why should the General worry about eradicating this menace?”

At this, Mo Guanshan grew excited. “Truly?”

Lang Mingyue clasped his hands. “Truly!”

He had been by Man Li’s side for years, and had learned many of the gang’s secrets.

But Mo Guanshan calmed suddenly, his eyes narrowing. “As far as I know, Lang Mingyue was fiercely loyal to Man Li. Why should I believe his defection is real, and not a scheme of the Sha Long Gang?”

“Marshal, you don’t know…” Yuan Zhao stepped forward and recounted Lang Mingyue’s ordeal. To prove her words, she also produced the piece of human skin inscribed with the Tian Kui Technique.

When he confirmed it, Mo Guanshan slammed the table in fury.

“Inhuman! Inhuman! That Man Li is nothing but a beast!”

After venting, he turned to Lang Mingyue. “Though you were once bound to Man Li, the fact remains you killed many of Blackstone City’s soldiers. That cannot be denied. But if you help us destroy the Sha Long Gang this time, then all past enmity with Blackstone City will be wiped clean.”

Lu Ying wanted to object, but swallowed his words. Better to avenge his fallen brothers by annihilating the Sha Long Gang than by killing another victim like Lang Mingyue.

Lang Mingyue bowed. “Thank you, Marshal.”

The group then began discussing their strategy against the gang.

After a long while, the plan settled, Mo Guanshan and Lu Ying prepared to take their leave.

Before departing, Mo Guanshan frowned at the pale, unsteady Lang Mingyue.

“With your condition, will you really not hinder the operation?”

“Please rest assured, Marshal. I will recover before the action begins.”

Mo Guanshan shook his head. “What you suffer is damage to the mind, not something you can simply will away.” With a long sigh, he added, “Very well…”

He pointed at Xiao Kong Kong. “You—come with me.”

“Me?” Xiao Kongkong was dumbfounded.

“Yes, you!” Mo Guanshan nodded, then turned to Lang Mingyue.

“I’ll send him back later with a physician to treat you properly.”

Lang Mingyue bowed deeply. “Many thanks, Marshal.”

Xiao Kong Kong, on the other hand, muttered bitterly, “Why am I always the errand boy…”

Yuan Zhao glared at him and whispered, “I’ll raise your pocket money!”

At that, Xiao Kongkong’s face instantly lit up. “Boss, I love errands! Errands forever!”