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Chapter 183: Yan Nantian and Zhang Sanniang's Relationship
Chapter 183: Yan Nantian and Zhang Sanniang's Relationship
Zhao Quanhai and Liu Yuru bid farewell and parted ways, one continuing northward while the other headed east.
The journey to Baoding was uneventful.
Jiang Feng specifically visited the location of Xingyun Manor, only to find a plaque bearing the name 'Liu Mansion'.
As they drew closer to Beijing, Yan Nantian drank even more liquor.
"Big brother, you truly are impervious to drunkenness!" Jiang Feng lifted the empty wine jars from the proposal platform. It was a three-catty jar of bamboo leaf green, which Yan Nantian had polished off in a single morning.
Yet, Yan Nantian's eyes remained clear and sober.
"What's three catties? Last year, I had a drinking contest with the Xiaoxiang Swordsman. I drank thirty catties of aged Xiang wine by myself, and only slept it off for a night. He, on the other hand, was drunk for three days and nights!"
Yan Nantian laughed heartily as he recalled the memory, "From then on, he never dared boast about his drinking prowess in front of me again!"
The Xiaoxiang Sword, one of the seventeen famous swords in the world, was known to its owner, the Xiaoxiang Swordsman. Even Jiang Feng, who lived in Jingzhou, had heard of it, though he had never had the fortune to lay eyes on either the sword or its owner.
In the midst of their laughter, they heard Jiang Qin's voice from outside the carriage, "Young Master, Master Yan, we've arrived at Beijing."
Jiang Feng lifted the carriage curtain and beheld the majestic walls of Beijing before them.
When he turned back, he saw Yan Nantian downing another bowl of bamboo leaf green.
...
The carriage came to a stop in front of Natural Residence on Xizhi Street, in Beijing.
"Big brother, do you have a friend in Beijing?" Jiang Feng asked as he stepped out of the carriage.
Yan Nantian nodded and took another drink, "I promised someone last year that I'd visit her this year. Since you wanted to take a break as well, I thought I'd bring you along."
Jiang Feng's eyes flickered, "A woman?"
Yan Nantian hesitated for a rare moment before nodding, "Yu Niangzi, Zhang Sanniang. Have you heard of her?"
Of course, he had!
She was practically legendary!
She was the mother of Little Fairy Zhang Jing, renowned for her exquisite beauty and icy demeanor. It was said that she turned away all suitors without a second glance, except for one—the greatest swordsman in the world, Yan Nantian!
Moreover, the fact that Zhang Jing and Murong Jiu had known each other since childhood hinted at Zhang Sanniang's extraordinary background.
"Never heard of her," Jiang Feng shook his head, for his original self truly hadn't.
Yan Nantian scratched his head, "Last year, I was drinking in eastern Zhejiang when I ran out of money to pay the bill. I intended to use a precious sword I'd taken from an East Sea Swordsman as collateral, but the manager claimed the gems on the sword were fake!"
Jiang Feng shot Yan Nantian a sidelong glance, "Were you still dressed like a beggar back then?"
Yan Nantian was speechless, "I had just finished wiping out a group of Eastern Ocean pirates. I'd been chasing them for half a month. Even if I'd been wearing silk and satin before, by then, I looked like a beggar."
"So, this Yu Niangzi helped you pay the bill?" Jiang Feng inquired.
Yan Nantian nodded, "Yes. I wanted to give her the sword as a gift, but she refused. She said that the wine was only worth five or six taels of silver. If I wanted to repay her, I should come to Beijing this year and find her."
Jiang Feng couldn't help but chuckle at this.
"What are you laughing about?" Yan Nantian asked.
"I'm laughing because Yu Niangzi wanted to see you, not pay the bill. She was just using the money as an excuse." Jiang Feng smiled, "But I'm curious. If she wanted to see you, why bring me along?"
Jiang Feng finally understood why Yan Nantian had been drinking more as they neared Beijing—he was nervous!
"Hmm? It doesn't seem like Yu Niangzi tried to rescue Yan Nantian either," Jiang Feng mused.
"Did they have a falling out later on?" Jiang Feng wondered. The Jiang Feng of twenty years ago, as depicted in the original novel, seemed so different from the Jiang Feng who now found himself in that world. The familiarity he had felt due to his knowledge of the plot involving Yin Jiuyou and Shaolin, as well as Zhao Quanhai and Liu Yuru, was now diluted once again.
Moreover, without any description or explanation in the original novel, Yu Niangzi, or Zhang Sanniang, was truly a stranger to him.
Yan Nantian shook his head, dispelling his confusion. "You misunderstood. I don't have romantic feelings for her."
Jiang Feng blinked, "So, that's why you've been drinking?"
Yan Nantian smiled wryly, "I've just been thinking about how to turn her down gently."
Jiang Feng couldn't help but marvel at his companion's consideration for others. It seemed that Yan Nantian's dilemma was how to reject her without hurting her feelings! All his previous speculations were wrong; their relationship hadn't soured, it had never even begun!
"You're amazing!" Jiang Feng exclaimed, giving him a thumbs-up.
......
After disembarking from the carriage, booking rooms, and settling Jiang Gui and Jiang Qin, Jiang Feng accompanied Yan Nantian to visit the Zhang residence.
However, they did not get to meet Zhang Sanniang as she was injured and unable to receive guests.
"Who hurt her?" Yan Nantian asked, his face darkening with anger.
Although he did not have romantic feelings for Zhang Sanniang, she was a woman who admired him, and he couldn't help but feel protective of her now that she was hurt.
"It was the Yinshan Ghost Gang," Zhang Fengwu replied. "The Water Ghost, Zheng Kai; the Grudge Ghost, Feng Yizhen; and the Knife Ghost, Qiao Mingfei."
Zhang Fengwu was Zhang Sanniang's older brother and a renowned swordsman in the northern martial arts world. "She happened to encounter the Yinshan Ghost Gang while traveling as a chivalrous hero. She tried to help, but was outnumbered. Fortunately, they dared not pursue her further due to her exceptional swordsmanship, and she managed to escape safely."
"The Yinshan Ghost Gang again!" Yan Nantian frowned.
"Has Yan Xiake met them before?" Zhang Fengwu inquired.
"No, but I've heard that they've been frequently entering the pass, and their notoriety has spread as far as the Two Rivers martial arts world." Yan Nantian explained.
Zhang Fengwu felt embarrassed. As renowned heroes of the Hebei martial arts world, they felt responsible for the gang's unchecked activities within their borders.
"Actually, we've already eliminated four of them: the Battle Ghost, Liu Tong; the Whip Ghost, Hu Dao; the Big-Headed Ghost, Chang Sun Ku; and the Earth Ghost, Ding Zichi." Zhang Fengwu sighed, "But the rest of those evil ghosts are holed up in Yinshan, beyond our reach."
Yinshan was located outside the pass, surrounded by numerous tribes and several martial arts sects from beyond the border. If warriors from the Central Plains launched a large-scale campaign, it might provoke misunderstandings. On the other hand, a lone swordsman venturing to Yinshan would be like delivering himself to their doorsteps.
Yan Nantian nodded, understanding the challenges faced by the Hebei martial arts world.
"In that case, please convey my well-wishes for Zhang girl's recovery, and I won't disturb her further." Yan Nantian bowed and took his leave.
Zhang Fengwu opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately remained silent, seeing Yan Nantian off with a conflicted expression.
Jiang Feng shot a glance at Yan Nantian, "Big brother, are you planning to head to Yinshan?"
Yan Nantian nodded, "The Grassland Horse Bandits refrain from raiding within the pass, the Taihang Mountain bandits don't harm common folk, but the Yinshan Ghost Gang acts with impunity. Their time is up."
(End of Chapter)
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