Chapter 7: The Transfer of Rare Treasures (3)

If we can unravel the mysteries within, wouldn't that allow us to traverse the world and roam the rivers and lakes freely? Han Xin exclaimed in wonder, taking a fresh look at these two unremarkable black iron turtles.

The idea of Ji Kongshou is not only brilliant but also simple and effective, with the key being to avoid any sentimentality towards the delicate and precious.

"You must... believe... in yourself... in my eyes... I have always firmly believed... that although you do not possess the majesty of a tiger or the form of a dragon... you certainly are not an ordinary person..." At this point, Ding Heng's eyes were deeply sunken, his pupils gradually dilating, already devoid of spirit. With the last bit of strength, he sighed with a hint of regret, "Unfortunately... I can no longer witness... the day when you command the winds and clouds..."

Indeed, I have inquired carefully, and it is undoubtedly those two young men. A familiar voice reached Ji Kongshou's ears, causing his heart to skip a beat, for he clearly recognized that the speaker was Wang Qi, who had brought him and Han Xin to the Tianxiang Building

Where are they now?" The one with the deep voice pondered for a moment and said excitedly

"There is a blacksmith shop ahead; why don't we go forge a couple of weapons to defend ourselves? It would be better than being unarmed!" proposed Ji Kong.

Ji Kongshou was just about to order some food and drinks to celebrate when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach, realizing that he had eaten something bad. He hurriedly left the private room, inquired about the way, and headed straight for the restroom

The two hurriedly left, leaving Ji Kong alone in the restroom, drenched in cold sweat, with icy hands and feet, realizing that they had been sold out by Wang Qi

In recent days, too many events have occurred, each seemingly indicating that my future will change. Especially before Ding Heng's passing, he once told me that he believed I was not an ordinary person. Ji Kongshou's eyes revealed a hint of excitement and confidence as he continued, "So I thought, if even others have confidence in me, what reason do I have to choose self-destruction? Since Huaiyin is no longer suitable for my development, why not step out of Huaiyin and embrace greater challenges?"

Ji Kongshou extended his palm, and the two of them clapped hands, saying: "With your words, I am content." He took out a mysterious iron tortoise from his bosom, carefully cradling it in his hands and said, "This is a gift from Ding Heng, who repeatedly instructed me that this item is coveted by all martial artists in the jianghu, and it must not be disclosed to outsiders. However, I believe that since you and I are brothers, we are not outsiders, and I have no need to hide this from you.

Ding Heng's voice grew lower and lower, and by the time he spoke the last word, it was almost silent, barely audible. However, on his face, there remained a faint smile until his death, a smile of no regrets

A thunderclap erupted from the sky, and lightning streaked across the night, resembling daylight. Ji Kongshou tightly embraced Ding Heng, whose body was growing increasingly cold, as two streams of tears slowly flowed down his cheeks

Han Xin took the black iron tortoise in his hands and examined it for a long time. He discovered that aside from one being cold and the other hot, there was no other difference between the two tortoises. He grinned and said, "Ji Shao, are you trying to make a fool of me again? Aren't these just two small iron tortoises? If taken to the pawnshop, they would be worth at most three to five coins of silver. There was no need to make such a mystery out of it."

He shook his head, shifted his gaze to Han Xin's face, and slowly continued: "Over the years, I believe my greatest gain has been acquiring two good friends, one being Ding Heng, also known as Old Master Ding, and the other being you. This is the only thing I will never regret. Now that Ding Heng is gone, I cherish even more the friendship that has emerged between us through shared life and death, and through adversity"

Ji Kongshou did not directly answer the question, but continued to gaze at the drifting clouds in the sky, expressing a sense of melancholy as he said: "I have grown up in this city since childhood, and to say that I have no feelings for it would be false. As I have aged, I often ask myself, do I truly belong to this city? If the answer is affirmative, then what has this city given me over the years? As I have aged, I often ask myself, do I truly belong to this city? If the answer is affirmative, then what has this city given me over the years? Poverty, hunger, and homelessness—are these things worth my nostalgia? No! I think I do not belong to this city"

Upon exiting the Tianxiang Tower, Han Xin's face turned pale, and he let out a sigh, saying: "That was close, that was close; not only did I fail to catch the fish, but I almost ended up covered in its stench"

The distance from Huaiyin to Peixian is no more than three or four hundred miles, accessible by both water and land. Ji Kongshou was well aware that Ding Heng's death was quite suspicious; those three masked individuals could not have encountered him by chance. If they had a significant background, their accomplices would undoubtedly trace the matter back to them. Therefore, to be on the safe side, Ji Kongshou decided to take the more difficult land route. This way, even if they encountered unexpected events, they would have a chance to escape, which was certainly better than sitting on a boat waiting for death.

The old man lowered his head again, and as his arms waved, a series of clanging sounds echoed as he struck the knife blank in his hand. These movements were swift, as rapid as a storm. After a moment, he casually dipped the already forged dark knife blank into a nearby basin of brine, and a sizzling sound was heard, with a cloud of white mist enveloping the entire space

Are you willing to leave? Han Xin found this question somewhat foolish. Given Ji Kongshou's current situation, whether he is willing or not, he must leave Huaiyin; this is an unavoidable fact.

Once they arrived at Fengwuji, they had crossed the boundary of Huaiyin and entered the territory of Peixian. Following the mountain path downhill, it wasn't long before the two entered Fengwuji. As the lights began to glow, Fengwuji was quite lively; in addition to the local residents, there were also many travelers and merchants from outside, as this place was a necessary thoroughfare at the junction of three counties.

Wang Qi and Han Xin exchanged a glance, both looking bewildered, clearly it was the first time they had heard this name

Three individuals, under the guidance of a captivating woman, ascended to a pavilion. The interior of the pavilion was elegantly arranged, showing no trace of vulgarity.

Ji Kongshou and Han Xin could not help but smile at each other

The hunchbacked old man seemed to be completely oblivious, still wholly focused on shaping the blade in his hands, with a hint of excitement in his eyes. Although his arm-swinging posture was quite ungraceful, it was rhythmic and precise, producing a melodious and pleasing rhythm that conveyed a beauty of melody not inferior to that played by string and wind instruments.

"Did you really not see it wrong?" a deep voice deliberately lowered its tone and said

Han Xin smiled bitterly and said, "Just relying on us? As soon as we arrive in Peixian, it is as if we have stepped into the martial world. The martial world is treacherous, and relying solely on intellect is clearly insufficient. In the end, in the martial world, one must rely on strength to speak. " He then naturally assumed a posture as if throwing a flying knife, clearly reminiscing about Fan Kuai's heroic demeanor that night in the woods, feeling quite envious.

Oh, why not speak and let me listen?" Ji Kongshou inquired

"Are you deaf? Did you not hear me speaking to you?" Han Xin was both worried that the enemy would catch up and resentful of the old man's arrogance, and a surge of anger arose within him

Although Ji Kongshou and Han Xin had seen such scenes many times, it was the first time for the young lady, and it was inevitable that she felt a bit shy. On the other hand, these two young ladies were poised and skilled in socializing, and after a few exchanges, they became quite familiar with each other.

After waiting for the duration of half a cup of tea, Ji Kongshou finally felt a bit more comfortable in his stomach. Just as he was about to get up, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Two individuals entered the restroom and happened to stand right next to the stall where Ji Kongshou was squatting.

After walking through several alleys, they arrived at a dark place. The two of them took off their women's clothing and were about to disguise themselves in another appearance when they heard a series of strong and resonant sounds of hammering: "ding... ding... ding..." coming leisurely from the depths of the alley.

Han Xin said: "I truly do not know"

In this case, it is evident that those who are pursuing me are from the Huajian Sect, and it is highly likely that they are related to the three masked individuals who were killed on that long street that day; otherwise, they would not know about my relationship with Ding Heng

Although Ji Kongshou and Han Xin were both visiting a brothel for the first time, they had been familiar with the brothels and gambling houses since childhood, and were well-versed in the intricacies of the trade, making them far from novices.

In anticipation, two young ladies arrived, truly a pair of beauties in their prime, with affectionate expressions and alluring figures, sitting closely beside Ji and Han. Wang Qi chuckled and teased, "With two pairs of newlyweds sitting together, it is indeed a perfect match. As the saying goes, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold pieces. If I do not recognize the situation, Young Master Ji and Lord Han will blame me for lacking in understanding." He then accepted a few coins of loose silver handed over by Ji, expressed his gratitude, and left.

Ah Huaiyin, today I have come, but there will come a day when I will return in glory! Han Xin was silent for a while, then suddenly shouted loudly, startling several passersby who stopped to watch.

Han Xin was provoked by him, and his confidence greatly increased: "With your intellect and mine, I believe we will eventually uncover the secrets of this mysterious iron tortoise. I refuse to believe that there exists anything in this world that can challenge the two of us brothers."

As Ji Kongshou, under the influence of alcohol, recalled the sound of the pink cat from that night, he felt a sudden itch in his heart and said: "Master Han has such refined interests, I, Ji, of course, will accompany you. However, as we are newcomers and unfamiliar with the local customs, let us not be taken advantage of."

Ji Kongshou shot him a glance and said, "We are not yet out of danger. If we want to survive, we must speak less and move more." With a twist of her waist, she was already walking like the wind

The idea is to put the two beautiful women in a compromising position, tying them together and stuffing them under the bed, then finding their sweat towels to gag them, after which they disguise themselves, with men dressing as women, and swagger out of the Tianxiang Building

Han Xin was not surprised by this. When he heard Ji Kongshou mention that the recent murders in Huaiyin City were all related to him, he was alarmed and believed that leaving Huaiyin was indeed the best choice for Ji Kongshou at that moment

Ji Kongshou and Han Xin set out together from Huaiyin. After walking a hundred steps, the two of them turned around simultaneously and took a lingering glance back.

"Why not just ask?" As Han Xin was about to stand up, he noticed a lewd man approaching from the adjacent table, his eyes darting around incessantly, clearly a rogue by nature. With both hands clasped together, he grinned and said, "Greetings, esteemed brothers. I am Wang Qi, at your service."

"Alright, let's hold them steady for now. It won't be too late to act once Manager Zhu arrives," said the man with the loud voice. At the same time, there was a sound of water, indicating that he could no longer hold it and had relieved himself.

Ji Kongshou lifted his pants and, as he walked out of the toilet, there was already a hint of a smile on his face, for he had come up with a brilliant idea

Ji and Han immediately felt a chill arise, forcing them to shiver involuntarily and take a step back

"When the girl is called over later, Mr. Ji will understand what true value for money means!" Wang Qi blinked and chuckled.

At this point, the enemy's intentions have become quite clear; they are coming for the Xuan Tie Turtle. I fear that my situation this time is likely to be dire.

The two individuals quickly packed their luggage and bid farewell to Old Man Wen. Upon hearing their intention to leave, Wen Hu realized he could not persuade them to stay, so he gave them some silver coins and offered a few words of advice

What a great place, what a great place! To manage a brothel with such grandeur, it would be quite difficult for the business not to thrive!" Ji Kongshou couldn't help but exclaim in wonder.

Upon hearing this, Han Xin immediately became excited and said: "Indeed, we are after all his saviors. He is also a prominent figure in both the underworld and the legitimate society of Peixian. As long as he speaks a word, it will be enough for us to live comfortably for a lifetime"

It was stolen by Ding Heng from the headquarters of the Cangbang, and once it came to light, several murders occurred in Huaiyin. Just think about it, so many people are willing to risk their lives for it; could it possibly be a useless object?" Ji Kongshou recounted the legend of the Xuan Tie Gui in detail, instantly leaving Han Xin dumbfounded, unable to close his mouth for a long time.

Ji Kongshou smiled faintly and said, "I hope that you and I can make our dreams come true!" After saying this, the two turned and left, never looking back again

The hunchbacked old man raised his head, and a cold gleam shot from his eyes, sweeping across the faces of Ji and Han.

A table full of delicious dishes was set, and the two of them enjoyed a pot of fine wine. As the effects of the alcohol began to take hold, Han Xin's composure wavered, and he quietly said: "Young Master Ji, when I was in Huaiyin, I heard that the women of Fengwuji are exceptionally alluring. Since we have this rare opportunity, should we go and experience it ourselves?"

Han Xin smiled faintly, remaining silent, and simply extended his hand, firmly grasping Ji Kong's hand.

Han Xin could not help but exchange a glance with Ji Kongshou, his face revealing a hint of surprise. Unable to withstand the intense heat waves emanating from this furnace, he involuntarily took a large step back

"Hey, old man, business has come knocking, aren't you going to greet me?" Han Xin, having come into some money, couldn't help but shout boisterously, as he always believed that having money made one the master. He felt that since he had taken care of someone else's business, it was only natural for him to be treated like a master in return.

Ji Kongshou was captivated, thinking to himself: "This person moves skillfully and works meticulously; he must have been in this trade for quite some time. As long as I plead earnestly and offer some silver, perhaps I could buy one or two exquisite swords or sharp blades." Just as he was lost in thought, the old man, seeing the mist dissipate, suddenly raised his hand, and a brilliant light leaped into the void like a flash of lightning, illuminating the entire room.

"If one is to be a rogue, it would not be a bad idea to do so in Huaiyin City. Why must one go all the way to Peixian? Since we are going to Peixian, we must achieve something and stand out."

There is no need for the two of you to think any further; this is indeed our first meeting. From your accents, you seem to be from Huaiyin. If you are looking for some entertainment, I can recommend a great place.

Ji Kongshou's eyes lit up: "I was just thinking the same thing. Rather than doing nothing here, we might as well go now. With Fan Kuai's position at Wuqiao Gate, he can certainly arrange a suitable place for us. Moreover, I am also very concerned about whether Liu Bang's injuries have fully healed."

Ji Kongshou pondered for a moment, deeply gazing at Han Xin, and gritted his teeth as he said: "Master Han, do you truly regard me as a brother?"

"Master Han, I wish to leave Huaiyin," Ji Kongshou said, his face still bearing a trace of sorrow as he gazed at the drifting clouds in the sky, resolutely declaring.

Han Xin said: "Then let me accompany you to Peixian, as this was the plan we had agreed upon in advance"

Having made up their minds, the two individuals avoided the main road and climbed a great mountain. They followed a path forged by herbalists for several hours and finally arrived at the foot of the mountain, where they beheld Fengwu Gathering.

Ji Kongshou and Han Xin, being young at heart, enjoyed the lively atmosphere. With a few taels of silver in their pockets, they chose a well-established restaurant to have their meal.

Ji Kong shook his head and said, "Do you know where it comes from?"

"I have arranged for her to stay in the rooms of Xiao Cui and Qiu Yue, and I also want them to keep an eye on her," Wang Qi said with a grin.

As they traveled along the way, they occasionally encountered some young women changing shifts who passed by them. Among them were not a few beautiful and alluring women, who, upon seeing the youthful and handsome appearances of Ji and Han, radiating vigor and charm, would occasionally cast flirtatious glances their way, their brows and eyes filled with enticing allure, causing Ji and Han to swallow hard, their hearts already stirred with desire after feasting their eyes on such beauty

The most famous establishment in the Fengwu Collection is the Tianxiang Building under the Huajian faction. It would be better for the two of you to accompany me, and I assure you both will be satisfied

At the end of the alley, a dilapidated weapons shop came into view, where a thin yet capable hunchbacked old man stood before a roaring furnace, intently hammering away at a nearly completed blade.

Until this moment, Ji Kongshou suddenly understood that Wang Qi's enthusiasm was not merely for the sake of seeking food and drink or taking advantage of others. It turned out that he had already seen through Ji Kongshou's true nature and was aware that someone was investigating his whereabouts. Thus, he had invited him into the trap, deceiving him into coming to this Tianxiang Building.

Therefore, this is our greatest asset. As long as we can seize this opportunity, even if we do not seek refuge with Liu Bang or Fan Kuai, we will still have a day when we can stand out. Otherwise, you and I are destined to live under the roof of others, relying on others for our sustenance.

Han Xin felt inexplicably puzzled and scratched his head: "Is there still a need to ask? All along, I have been following your lead. Although I am two or three years older than you, I have always regarded you as my brother"

The first impression that Tianxiang Tower gives is one of grandeur, resembling a manor belonging to a wealthy family