"Heh..."
Cen Futong chuckled, tapping Shi Chun on the arm.
"Brother Chun, you're quite the crafty one, and at a high level too. We're leaving tomorrow, right?"
Shi Chun replied, "Yes, early tomorrow morning. We'll act once we're out of town. We'll exchange goods and money honestly on the road; no tricks. If anything happens to me, the truth will come out in Sky-Illuminating City. By then, if that woman causes trouble and Bian Weikang comes asking questions, it won't be on me anymore."
"You're a cautious man."
Cen Futong wasn't offended by the implied threat.
Rather, he admired Shi Chun's candor, patting his arm again.
"Let's collaborate more in the future and make some money together."
He appreciated Shi Chun's abilities, believing he needed someone like him around for future ventures.
After hashing out the details, Cen Futong had already begun to consider Shi Chun a trusted friend.
Upon learning that Shi Chun was just released from prison, he found it even more interesting.
No matter how deep the camaraderie, business came first.
Once the deals were settled, they parted ways.
With tomorrow's plans needing preparation, Cen Futong said his goodbyes early.
At the door, Shi Chun reminded him, "Brother Cen, remember, if it turns out I redeemed someone from Graceful Cloud Pavilion, it was all your arrangement. Otherwise, it might arouse my uncle's suspicions. If he refuses to pay, it'll be troublesome. Those two friends of yours seem unreliable, don't let them in on this."
He sprinkled a little trouble for the two who had laughed at his name earlier.
Indeed, Shen Youkun had been right—he wasn't one to take a slight without returning it.
As the saying goes, a wise man doesn't rest until his grievances are settled.
"I know, no need to remind me. You stay put and don't see me off. Be careful not to let that troublesome couple spot you."
Cen Futong said as he opened a folding fan to cover his face, hurriedly departing, as if terrified Xiang Lan'er or the others might recognize him.
Shi Chun didn't hold back on flattery as he waved him off, "Brother Cen, careful indeed, truly a man fit for big tasks."
After Cen Futong left, Shi Chun returned inside to enjoy tea and a book, feeling at ease since the major matter had been arranged.
Wu Jinliang sidled over with a chuckle.
"Well, now that this kid placed it on himself with his uncle, Lu Taizhen won't be able to pin it on you once the deal's done. Just waiting to cash in."
"Thought I'd have to go through more hoops, but meeting someone like him saved a lot of hassle," Shi Chun remarked, holding a book in one hand and sipping tea with the other.
He then tapped the table with his fingers.
"Let's ponder what to eat. We can really feast tonight."
There wasn't much pressure on him regarding this venture.
If it succeeded, they'd make a killing; if it failed, he'd figure out a way to pay back Bian Weikang's doubled loan.
After all, having the son of the Wukang Mountain Sect Master in his grasp must yield some results.
Otherwise, his years as Big Boss of the Eastern Nine Plains would be for naught.
"Exactly."
Wu Jinliang clapped in agreement.
Just as they spoke, Old Dong and Big Stone entered, informing them that Cen Futong had made his way down the mountain and inquiring how their talk had gone.
"A big boss personally handling it ensures success!" Wu Jinliang laughed heartily, throwing his arms around them.
"Figure out what to eat quickly. Didn't you promise us a treat? No skimping."
Since his own funds were exhausted, he aimed to mooch off the others as much as possible.
"Don't worry."
"They'll be dishes you've never seen in there."
With that, Shi Chun tossed aside his book, and the four from Eastern Nine Plains happily headed out to the city for food, drink, and some fun, too eager to wait even if it wasn’t mealtime yet...
Sky-Illuminating City took its name from the lake reflecting the heavens.
An island sat in the middle with a grand manor, its Celestial Jade Pavilion designed to perfection, called the Lü Garden, which belonged to Lu Taizhen.
Outside a pavilion, an aging steward, Cao Puqing, finished giving instructions to his servants.
Dismissing them, another person approached hastily, whispering, "Steward, the two who borrowed money to redeem someone have gone to Bowang Pavilion, and upstairs at that. It wasn't the floor for business; they entered through the staff passage."
Cao Puqing raised an eyebrow, "Seems fishy."
The person continued, "Their identities remain unclear, but we did find out a bit about the Bowang Pavilion associates they met—one’s named Old Dong, the other Big Stone."
Cao Puqing commented, "Quite odd names."
"Indeed, they hail from the Exile Lands. Judging by their appearance and attire, those two who borrowed the money might be from there too, possibly recently released."
Cao Puqing frowned slightly, "Recently released from the Exile Lands, yet willing to spend so much to free a brothel girl? Keep digging. Find out who they are and then report back to me."
"Yes, and also..."
"Speak up!"
"Steward, your nephew, Cen Futong, privately met with those two and dismissed his companions. Who knows what they discussed?"
Cao Puqing paused, then decisively ordered, "Get him here right away!"
"Understood."
The messenger hastened off.
As luck had it, Cen Futong was on his way there, meeting the messenger halfway, who promptly directed him.
The aunt and nephew met in a deserted pavilion where Cao Puqing deliberately sent the others away.
Without others around, Cen Futong straightened up, knowing the boundaries well around his uncle.
After all, Lü Garden wasn't his uncle's private space.
Cao Puqing sternly asked, "Did you meet the ones buying someone's freedom at Graceful Cloud Pavilion?"
Cen Futong was genuinely surprised.
"Uncle, were you having me followed?"
Cao Puqing gave a dismissive glance, "Don't flatter yourself. Did you?"
Cen Futong nodded, "Just met with them briefly."
Cao Puqing pressed, "Why?"
Cen Futong replied, "It's about the release."
He'd been meaning to tell his uncle about it.
After all, he couldn't cover such a hefty amount alone.
"..."
Cao Puqing was dumbfounded by this revelation, unexpected and beyond what he could comprehend.
After some time, he shook his head slightly and asked uncertainly, "You arranged for those two to redeem Xiang Lan'er?"
Cen Futong nodded, "Yes, I arranged it."
Confirmed, Cao Puqing lingered in disbelief for a while and then remarked, "Are you looking for trouble? Don't you know that's someone the master wants to redeem?"
He struggled to digest the fact.
They'd been trying to figure out who dared to intervene so boldly, not expecting the root to trace back to their own backyard.
Cen Futong explained, "That's precisely why it irked me. That woman dared to take out her bottom savings to elope with some pretty boy. Word of this brings shame even to me riding on your coattails, uncle. That pretty boy was still short five thousand gold, right? Fine, I lent money and arranged things, getting the contract. Where could they run? Wherever they run, they'll still belong to the master."
Cao Puqing's face darkened, revealing a gnashing grin, "Has water filled your head? This isn't something you should meddle with. Are you oblivious to Bian Weikang's status? He'd go crazy over her..."
"Uncle, you’re overthinking it..."
Interrupting his uncle, Cen Futong rattled off the plan Shi Chun shared with him, leaving Cao Puqing in a daze.
After sorting through the plan, Cao Puqing asked suspiciously, "Did you really come up with this?"
Cen Futong shrugged nonchalantly, "What's so special about it? I may not be big on significant tasks like you, but when dealing with women, you might not match me."
Cao Puqing believed that.
Cen Futong was indeed adept at frivolous, troublesome affairs, having gotten into enough scrapes.
This hint of competence relieved some frustration.
Pointing a finger, he chastised Cen Futong, "I always said, you aren't a fool by nature but spoiled by your mother. From today, you're getting some schooling. Drop this. You're out."
The master's fifty-thousand-gold proposition for the girl was crystal clear.
The master fancied the top performer, unbothered by her refusal to sell herself, and Madame Fengchi’s hesitation in brokering the transaction.
Suddenly, she agreed, then came this Bian Weikang wrinkle.
Liking someone was one thing, but not worth making a public scandal over a brothel girl.
They'd already accepted the change.
The investigation into rescuers wasn’t personal—just a matter of understanding who dared intervene, checking if mischief was afoot.
Nothing more.
"But five thousand gold of that ransom is borrowed by me. I never told you about other small debts. With miscellaneous costs, it's forty-five thousand. The master planned fifty thousand, so I cover my mishaps, saving him five."
The catch is, I pawned the contract to the creditor.
If I don't pay, that woman's getting sold off again.
If Bian Weikang raises a fuss, they'll out me to save themselves.
"Having been under Cao Puqing for so long, Cen Futong understood him well, knowing how to thread the needle. He didn’t bother with roundabout pretenses. Listening to this tangled mess, Cao Puqing's head throbbed. Postponing that reckoning, he inquired further,"Who are the two helping pay the ransom?
"Cen Futong admitted openly,"Freshly released from the Exile Lands, one’s Shi Chun, the other Wu Jinliang.
They're strapped for cash, easily maneuvered.
"Cao Puqing persisted,"Really that simple?
My sources claim ties to Bowang Pavilion?
"Cen Futong shrugged off the concern,"There are ties.
They have brothers at Bowang Pavilion, looking to get in through them.
They’ve gone through initial talks, but it seems unfruitful."
Shi Chun had briefed him on this in advance, wary someone from Lu Taizhen's circle might shadow them.
The result left Cao Puqing speechless, similar to his inquiries' findings.
(End of Chapter)