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Chapter 631: Alone at Mount Ni
Chapter 631: Alone at Mount Ni
Without Tian Feng the Fourteenth to hinder them, the group finally reached the summit of Mount Ni.
There were only a few thatched cottages here. Nangong Ling knocked on the door and then led the group inside.
Finally, they met Qiu Lingpu.
Her voice was gentle and elegant, and her figure was graceful and dignified.
Even though she was facing away from the group, kneeling quietly before the incense table, her back radiated a captivating charm.
Chu Liuxiang seemed to be entranced.
Liao Gang and Ye Jin were so intimidated that they dared not enter the house. They stood outside, bowing their heads and breathing cautiously, afraid that their rough breathing might disturb the peace within.
Without turning around, Qiu Lingpu slowly asked, "Nangong Ling, who have you brought with you?"
Chu Liuxiang bowed respectfully and introduced himself, "I am Chu Liuxiang, and I have come to pay my respects to you, Madame."
Jin Banhua also greeted her, "Jin Banhua from the capital, I bid you greetings, Madame."
Nangong Ling mentioned that Chu Liuxiang had come to seek Qiu Lingpu regarding something important. Chu Liuxiang then mentioned the names of Xi Menqian, Zuo Youzheng, Lingjiuzi, and Zamuhe, and noticed Qiu Lingpu's shoulders tremble.
Qiu Lingpu suddenly turned around, and the group saw that her face was covered with a black veil, even her eyes were hidden.
Qiu Lingpu admitted that she knew these four men but claimed that they hadn't met in twenty years and refused to acknowledge that she had written letters to them.
After exchanging a few more words, Qiu Lingpu stopped speaking to them and addressed Nangong Ling, "When you leave, close the door behind you. Please excuse me for not seeing you out."
Chu Liuxiang's eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked, "Was Ren Laoban's remains cremated?"
Nangong Ling quickly added, "In the Beggar Sect, most of us are cremated after death. This has been the Beggar Sect's tradition for generations."
Chu Liuxiang expressed his regret at not being able to see Ren Ci one last time. Suddenly, Qiu Lingpu said, "You don't need to feel sorry. Your husband was bedridden for many years and died suddenly. Not many people were able to see him before he passed away, so you should leave now!"
Then Chu Liuxiang's eyes lit up, and he decisively left the cottage.
What surprised Chu Liuxiang and Nangong Ling was that Jin Banhua, the wealthy young master, didn't create any fuss or demand to see Qiu Lingpu's face.
To be honest, Chu Liuxiang felt a little disappointed. He had wanted to take advantage of Jin Banhua's influence to possibly get a glimpse of Qiu Lingpu's face, and perhaps benefit from it himself.
However, they just thought that Qiu Lingpu's elegance and dignity had awed this young master, and they didn't suspect anything else.
...
"What? Back to Jinan?"
Unexpectedly, Jin Banhua hadn't caused any trouble on Mount Ni, but after descending the mountain, he refused to continue.
"We just rushed here for a day and a half, slept for two hours, and then climbed the mountain. Now that we've come down, we have to rush back to Jinan? Are you joking?"
Jin Banhua slammed the table in frustration, "When have I ever endured such hardship?"
Nangong Ling replied calmly, "It's up to me and Chu Liuxiang whether we return to Jinan or not. It doesn't matter if Jin Banhua comes with us or not."
"Back to Jinan! Of course, we must go back to Jinan!" Jin Banhua insisted, "Chu Liuxiang guessed wrong. Autumn Madame doesn't know anything. Of course, we have to go back to Jinan to find more clues. But..."
"Since there are no urgent clues at the moment, why don't we rest here for a day before leaving?"
Jin Banhua asked, "This is the birthplace of Confucius, the sacred site of Qufu. Shouldn't we stay here for a day to experience the teachings of the Sage from a thousand years ago?"
Nangong Ling smiled slightly, "Jin Banhua comes from a scholarly family, but I am just a person from the rivers and lakes, not of the same path as Confucius, so I need not listen to his teachings."
Chu Liuxiang was helpless. Although Lady Qiu had given him a hint, he still had some doubts in his mind. Eager to return to Jinan to see Su Rongrong and ask about the news of Shenshui Palace, he had no time to accompany Jin Banhua in Qufu.
"Aren't you afraid that I'll run away and you won't be able to find your white jade beauty again?" Chu Liuxiang asked.
"You can run, but you can't hide. If I found you once, I can find you again." Jin Banhua said, "Money talks, and I'm offering a reward of 100,000 taels of silver to anyone who brings me to you. Do you think anyone will take the offer?"
Chu Liuxiang sighed, "You won't need 100,000 taels. Just 10,000 will be enough to have people lining up to bring you to me."
"So, you guys go back. I can't take this kind of rush. I need a day to rest, and we can return to Jinan tomorrow." Jin Banhua pretended to be exhausted.
...
And so, Chu Liuxiang and Nangong Ling left.
Jin Banhua ordered a bowl of mutton soup, a plate of smoked tofu, and pancakes. She ate heartily.
"Young master, where are we going now?" Liao Gang asked.
Jin Banhua thought for a moment, "Is the current Kong Mansion and Temple off-limits?"
Ye Jin was startled, "Young master! The Kong Mansion is the residence of the Duke of Saints. Forget about you, even your maternal grandfather would have to send a visiting card before entering the main door!"
Jin Banhua pouted, not to mention the Kong Mansion, but she had also entered the imperial palace before.
However, to enter during broad daylight and walk around openly, that would take a few hundred years more.
Qufu at this time was not that big. At least it was far inferior to Jinan. If it weren't for the presence of the Kong Mansion, this place would just be an ordinary small city in Shandong.
Jin Banhua had wandered around most of the small city. She casually bought some things from a Chinese medicine shop, a butcher shop, a tailor's shop, and a grocery store, then returned to the inn and fiddled around for half a day.
The sky gradually darkened.
"Are all the things prepared?"
"They're ready." Liao Gang said, "Four cold dishes, four hot dishes, peach juice, yellow wine, rice, and steamed buns. Are we having dinner at the inn?"
"Not at the inn."
"Then where?"
"On Mount Ni."
"What?" Liao Gang and Ye Jin were both startled, and then they saw Jin Banhua turn and leave.
"Young master, you...you're not going to...she's the wife of the former leader of the Beggar Gang..." Ye Jin tried to dissuade her.
"Of course, I know." Jin Banhua waved her hand, "I'm going to see Lady Qiu on official business. Didn't you hear the hidden meaning in Lady Qiu's words this morning?"
Liao Gang and Ye Jin were both confused, "Ah?"
"Never mind, just follow me."
Soon, Jin Banhua, along with the two men, arrived at Mount Ni, where they saw some Beggar Gang disciples on the mountain path.
Ye Jin curiously asked, "Are these the Beggar Gang disciples protecting Lady Qiu? Why didn't we see them this morning?"
Jin Banhua smiled mysteriously, "Maybe they didn't need to be on guard this morning, but they do now."
Liao Gang asked, "On guard against Tian Feng Shisi Lang?"
Jin Banhua shook her head and laughed, "We'll know when we go see that Lady Qiu."
Ye Jin looked at the Beggar Gang disciples in the distance and frowned, "Judging from Nangong Ling's attitude, I don't think they'll let us disturb Lady Qiu's seclusion."
Jin Banhua said, "Of course, we'll use the light skill taught by Master Qi to walk through the forest and go up the mountain. You guys should be able to do that, right?"
Liao Gang and Ye Jin, "... "
(End of Chapter)
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