Chapter 80: The Flower Viewing Assembly in Luoyang's Golden Autumn
Chapter 80: The Flower Viewing Assembly in Luoyang's Golden Autumn
Yu Longsheng had traveled to many places this year.
He started the year by circling the Central Plains and the Northwest, and by the time he returned in mid-May, he joined the Ding siblings on a trip to the south. They detoured through Hubei and Hunan, covering several thousand li along the way.
Now, upon arriving in Luoyang, it was already the golden autumn season, and winter was not far off.
However, this was also the harvest season, so the banquet that Tian Qi prepared for Yu Longsheng and the others was especially lavish.
The guests that Tian Qi had invited were also well-known figures in the Central Plains' martial arts world.
"This is Yan Zhongfei He, Yun Zai Tian, Jin Bei Tuo Long Ding Qiu, the two of the Central Plains' Eight Masters, Liu Feiyu and Wei Tianpeng, the Puyang Hero, Gu Tong, and the Five-Wheel Hand, Du Jinshan. They came especially to pay their respects upon hearing that Brother Yu and Brother Ding would be here."
"Greetings, Lord Yu!"
"Greetings, Young Master Ding!"
"Greetings, Fairy Bai Yun!"
Although these individuals had introduced themselves with their famous titles, it was clear that they were far inferior to Yu Longsheng and Ding Chengfeng. Despite being older, they remained very courteous and respectful towards the group.
Ding Chengfeng and Ding Baiyun, at this moment, perfectly displayed the upbringing and grace befitting young masters and ladies of noble families. Their manners and demeanor were impeccable.
Yu Longsheng also made a good impression, but he was still very interested in catching up with a few familiar faces.
So that's how Yun Zai Tian and Ding Qiu knew each other so early on. No wonder in Border Town Wanderer, Yun Zai Tian went to seek Ding Qiu's help in dealing with Ma Kongqun, only to find out that Ding Qiu was a traitor who had already been bought by Ma Kongqun.
Of the Central Plains' Eight Masters in Soar in September, only Wei Tianpeng remained more than two decades later. However, Liu San Ye hadn't died yet, and no one knew when he would.
As Yu Longsheng observed his acquaintances, they, too, were observing him.
Through rumors and hearsay, they had learned a thing or two about the situation with the Great Joyful Female Bodhisattva, so their gazes toward Yu Longsheng were filled with curiosity and strangeness.
However, Yu Longsheng paid it no mind. He raised his cup and spoke freely, his conversation lively and humorous.
As long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassment falls on others!
If you have the guts, then openly mock me to my face and see if I can't make you regret it!
As it turned out, they really didn't dare to openly ridicule him, and they didn't even dare mention the Great Joyful Female Bodhisattva. Soon enough, they averted their gazes awkwardly and blended into the harmonious and friendly atmosphere of the gathering.
...
"Old Man Tian Qi truly has a wide network. He's invited quite a few famous figures from the Jianghu!"
"It's mainly because Brother Yu's reputation precedes him. Being able to share a drink with Brother Yu is a blessing for them."
Tian Qi was a skilled speaker, and Yu Longsheng was straightforward. He directly discussed business with Tian Qi—transporting weapons and ironware to the northwest and southwest, with Tian Qi facilitating the trade route, and profits split evenly between them.
Although he had the Gold and Money Gang as a major client, Yu Longsheng was well aware that this client might not last long. Naturally, he needed to find new outlets for his expanded production capacity after the Gold and Money Gang's eventual decline.
The northwest and southwest regions presented a great opportunity, even with competition from related powers in the Jiangnan and Sichuan-Shu regions. But who was leading the charge? None other than the old members of the Gold and Money Gang and the well-connected Old Man Tian Qi of Luoyang!
What does this have to do with my Hidden Sword Villa?
Of course, Tian Qi could see through Yu Longsheng's intentions, but with a fifty-fifty profit split, Yu Longsheng was indeed being very generous.
Since that's the case...
Cheers!
And so, in the following days, Tian Qi played host and guided Yu Longsheng's group on a sightseeing trip around Luoyang.
They visited the Longmen Grottoes, the White Horse Temple, and Laojun Mountain...
"The flower-viewing assembly hosted by the Luoyang Peony Garden has already begun. I heard that it's organized by the Second Young Master Xiao, inviting fellow martial artists and heroes from all over. It's a shame we don't have the qualifications to attend and witness it firsthand."
'Indeed, the Luoyang Xiao family,' Tian Qi affirmed, his eyes turning to Ding Chengfeng and his sister.
Ding Chengfeng shook his head. 'The Ding family only has a casual acquaintance with the Xiao family. I've only heard of the three young masters of the Xiao family but have never met them.'
'The Luoyang Xiao family is a prominent martial arts clan, and the three brothers, Xiao Ao, Xiao Feng, and Xiao Qi, are renowned throughout the world as the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin of the Xiao Clan,' Tian Qi explained.
The Luoyang Xiao family was a formidable force in the martial arts world, rivaling the Wang family of Shanxi and the Ding family of Hebei.
Luoyang itself was a vast city, and no single family could dominate it. Thus, even though the Xiao family was powerful, there were still influential figures like Tian Qi, who held significant sway in the Central Plains' martial arts community and were financially formidable.
Compared to the Xiao family, Tian Qi was still considered a junior, which was why when he hosted Yu Longsheng and the others, no one from the Xiao family was present.
Yu Longsheng, of course, was familiar with the Luoyang Xiao family, having heard of them in this life and his previous one.
The 'Fourth Young Master without Rivals' Xiao Sifeng from Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber originated from this very family.
Of course, by the time Fu Hongxue had reached middle age in that story, Xiao Sifeng's father was probably still a child, let alone Xiao Sifeng himself.
Back to the topic.
According to Tian Qi's narration, there were three renowned figures in this generation of the Xiao family: Xiao Ao, who was domineering; Xiao Feng, who was gentle and refined; and Xiao Qi, who was carefree and unconstrained. Together, they were known as the Three Heroes of the Xiao Clan, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin.
Two years ago, Xiao Ao ventured deep into Mang Mountain and beheaded the Three Ghosts of Mang Mountain with a single stroke of his blade.
Last year, Xiao Feng visited White Horse Temple and engaged in a Buddhist debate, impressing the venerable monk Hongyi Chan Shi.
And this year, Xiao Qi composed a poem beneath the flowers and danced with his sword in the moonlight, emerging victorious among sixty-seven opponents, including scholars, martial artists, merchants, and scions of prominent families, to win the heart of the most renowned courtesan in the Peony Garden.
Yu Longsheng blinked, thinking that these Three Heroes of the Xiao Clan sounded quite similar to the Ding triplets two decades later: the swordsman in Taoist robes, Ding Yunhe; the irritable youth, Ding Lingjia; and the versatile talent, Ding Lingzhong.
Noticing Yu Longsheng's peculiar gaze, Ding Chengfeng asked, 'What are you looking at me for?'
'Just wondering if you have any thoughts on the Three Heroes of the Xiao Clan,' Yu Longsheng teased, 'After all, they have each other as brothers, but you're alone.'
Ding Chengfeng rolled his eyes. 'Do you think my second and third uncles don't have any children? They just rarely venture into the jianghu!'
Ding Baiyun added nonchalantly, 'But their martial arts skills are indeed mediocre.'
Ding Chengfeng: '...'
'There's no need to emphasize that,' he said, trying to save face. 'Besides, it's enough to have a solid presence in one place.'
'What's the deal with this Peony Garden flower-viewing assembly?' Ding Baiyun asked. 'It's already winter. Are there still flowers to admire?'
Tian Qi nodded. 'The Xiao family is incredibly wealthy and powerful. They diverted hot spring water into their garden, covered it with white silk, and managed to cultivate a type of peony that blooms in autumn and winter.
So, for the past five years, they've been hosting a flower-viewing assembly every September, inviting not just martial artists but also scholars, wealthy merchants, and even courtesans.'
Ding Chengfeng hummed in response, clearly unimpressed.
Yu Longsheng nodded in agreement. 'Of course. This assembly is an opportunity for the Xiao family to interact with various factions and explore potential collaborations. Naturally, they would want to put on a grand display of their strength. In the end, they'll recoup all the money they spent on this event.'
As his words landed, a faint voice from the side chimed in with appreciation, 'Well said!'
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
