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Chapter 124: The Alley and the Hunchback
Chapter 124: The Alley and the Hunchback
The alley was desolate, inhabited by the poor who toiled during the day and slept at night. Hardly anyone lingered in the alley for even a second more than necessary.
Yet, nestled within this impoverished lane was a shabby shop selling coarse food and murky alcohol, with a few rudimentary guest rooms in the back.
The owner of this humble establishment was an elderly cripple, his back hunched over in a pitiful manner.
At this moment, the old hunchback emerged from the back, tucking away a silver ingot into a drawer in full view of the two visitors before returning to the entrance to resume his interrupted task of grinding soybeans.
Ding Baiyun surveyed the short alley, her gaze shifting from the dismal lane to the lofty walls of Xingyun Manor next door.
"Nothing at all?" Ding Baiyun furrowed her brows in confusion, glancing once more at the hunchback busy with his soybean grinding. She dismounted from her horse.
The hunchback looked up and asked, "Would you like something to eat or drink?"
Ding Baiyun shook her head. "Old man, did you see two men in yellow pass by earlier?"
The hunchback also shook his head, keeping his eyes down as he continued his task.
He had little interest in those who didn't patronize his shop, and even less inclination to expend energy on idle conversation.
Ding Baiyun pouted at the snub, but her eyes lit up as she fished out a silver ingot from her bosom. "Tell me what they did and what they asked you. This ingot is yours."
She had just seen him pocket the previous silver ingot—a sum this rundown shop couldn't possibly earn from its meager business. Clearly, it was a payment from the two Jinqian Gang members who had been here earlier.
The hunchback finally looked up, extending his hand without a word.
Ding Baiyun couldn't help but chuckle, casually tossing the silver ingot into his outstretched hand. "Speak."
"They wandered around the alley and asked me a few questions," the hunchback said. "They wanted to know how long I've lived here, the name of the manor's owner, when they left, how I knew so much, and if anyone else had come by to ask me questions."
"How did you respond?" Ding Baiyun inquired.
The hunchback replied nonchalantly, "You only asked me to tell you what they asked, not how I answered."
Ding Baiyun was taken aback by his response, realizing that she had indeed only asked about the questions posed and not his answers. A flicker of annoyance flashed in her eyes as she fixed the hunchback with a stare, tossing another silver ingot his way. "It seems that even pitiful people can be detestable. Tell me, how did you respond?"
The hunchback caught the ingot, unperturbed by Ding Baiyun's comment. He shook his head first, musing, "Seems like money is easy to come by these days."
Then he continued, "I've lived here for a couple of decades. The manor used to be owned by a Mr. Lee, but it changed hands to the Long family over a year ago. I know this because their cook buys wine from me. No one else has come by to ask me anything."
Ding Baiyun nodded, turning to Yu Longsheng. "It seems the Jinqian Gang has their eyes set on Xingyun Manor."
Yu Longsheng shrugged. "As expected."
Teasingly, Ding Baiyun remarked, "You're quite the big spender at the Jinqian Gang. Perhaps you'll get a share of the spoils this time?"
The hunchback gave Yu Longsheng a subtle glance.
"Don't joke about that," Yu Longsheng replied. "Business is business, and friendships are separate. The Jinqian Gang is ruthless and only respects money, not personal connections. It's one thing to do business with them, but when it comes to matters of profit, they won't care who I am. They'd even dare to challenge Shaolin Temple if it stood in their way."
While the Jinqian Gang wouldn't proactively target Shaolin Temple's existing interests, they also wouldn't back down if the temple ventured beyond its boundaries to compete with them.
You Longsheng shook his head. "That's hard to say. After all, this matter involves Li Tanhua, and he's different from Yang Dahong. Even if Official Jin Hong takes action personally, it would be understandable."
"So, are you still going to watch the show?" Ding Baiyun asked.
"Of course!" You Longsheng's eyes lit up. "Official Jin Hong fighting Li Xinhuan? This kind of battle happens only once in decades. Missing it would be a lifetime of regret!"
"You do have a point..." Ding Baiyun blinked. "Should we go back and get my brother too?"
Then, hand in hand, they walked out with their horses in tow.
"Isn't your brother busy learning how to change the baby's diapers? Does he even have the time to come here?"
"He said that if you dare to mention the diaper thing again, he'll spread the news about you and the Great Joy Goddess all over the world."
"Big Cousin is too much, isn't he? I'm his brother-in-law now. If he spreads the news about me and the Great Joy Goddess, won't he lose face too?"
"Tsk tsk tsk... Wasn't she the first one you begged... Ouch!" Ding Baiyun pinched You Longsheng's arm. "Come to think of it, you haven't proposed to me yet!"
"Are you sure? Do you want me to say the same things I said to her? Do you want to be like the Great Joy Goddess?"
"I... I'll bite you to death!"
The two left in high spirits, leaving the old camel, whose hearing was rather sharp, to sniff the sour smell in the air and wrinkle his nose before continuing to grind the soybean curd.
On the other hand, You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun left the alley.
"With the Jinqian Gang making a move, those wandering Jianghu people probably won't dare to stay," said Ding Baiyun.
The Jinqian Gang was domineering and ruthless in their actions, showing no mercy to ordinary Jianghu people, and thus, their influence was deeply ingrained.
You Longsheng nodded. "But Li Tanhua's enemies have also become stronger."
The two strolled around Baoding Mansion and spotted several minor masters who were somewhat famous in the Jianghu world.
"The Zhao brothers usually operate in Shandong. I didn't expect them to come to Baoding Mansion as well. They're quite bold."
"Li Laqi, one of the Eight Virtues of the Central Plains, is here too. Although he's young, his martial arts skills are said to be the best among the eight brothers."
"I saw Ding Qiu as well." You Longsheng wasn't surprised. After all, this hunchback was renowned for his greed, as attested by the original story.
"Money blinds people!"
The two wandered around Baoding Mansion but didn't encounter anyone else from the Jinqian Gang.
As the sun set, shadowy figures reappeared around Xingyun Manor.
Those with inferior skills hid themselves, only partially revealing their presence.
Those with decent martial arts skills appeared openly.
Although You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun were famous and highly skilled, they were only two people, and they didn't have the ability to intimidate everyone present. If a fight broke out, they would dare to take advantage of the chaos to achieve their goals.
"Hmm?"
Ding Baiyun's eyes lit up. "It's that old man and the young girl."
You Longsheng followed her gaze and saw an old man holding a smoking pipe and wearing a blue shirt, accompanied by a red-clad girl with two long braids, walking into the small alley.
"They were well-informed about your travels and deeds with Li Xinhuan back then. They seem to enjoy joining in on the excitement as well," said Ding Baiyun. "Now they've also entered that alley. Could there really be some secret there?"
(End of Chapter)
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