Chapter 10, Farewell to Yangzhou

Hua Fengchun let out a bitter smile: "We have already lost over thirty brothers, yet we still have no information on whether the leader is in Yangzhou or not." Tang Duqian then asked: "What is the strength of the troops in Yangzhou?" Hua Fengchun's expression darkened further: "No less than two hundred thousand!" Everyone gasped in shock. No matter how formidable their martial arts were, they could at most contend with a hundred men. However, with an army of two hundred thousand, even if each person spat a mouthful of saliva, it would be enough to drown everyone.

Du Sidao: "Today I have distinguished guests, so I must quickly showcase my skills to them"

The young man, while fighting, said to the shopkeeper: "These few people are not following the proper methods, quickly call Captain Lin to apprehend them." Upon hearing this, everyone changed their expressions; if the authorities were alerted, everything would be over.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and thus they formally prepared some gifts, sequentially writing the names of Song Yushan, Su Wujiao, Tang Duqian, Gong Beilu, and others on a visiting card. They also arranged a banquet at the most famous Kuaiyuan Tower in Yangzhou.

Tang Bei suddenly said: "This is a matter of great importance, it is only natural that Fourth Master would not agree." Du Si replied: "Young Master Tang, you underestimate me, the tactic of provoking me will not work." Su Wujiu anxiously asked: "Fourth Master, does that mean there is no room for negotiation?" Du Si said: "I only mentioned that we should consider this matter carefully. In any case, you are unable to do anything at the moment, so why not come with me to listen to some music? Perhaps I will agree later on."

He first bowed in all directions and then said: "All heroes, thank you on behalf of my family's leader for your righteous assistance!" Tang Duqian said: "There is no need for Hall Master Hua to be polite. The leader of the main hall has the world in mind, and naturally, everyone will do their utmost to repay him. Please, Hall Master Hua, tell us about the current situation."

Now everyone is dumbfounded

Yet he remained motionless, but suddenly advanced two feet, his hand resting on Yang Hong's hand. Su Wujiao couldn't help but silently exclaim in admiration, using his foot as an axis, he thrust his shoulder against Lie Ruohai's shoulder. It seemed they were about to repeat the previous move. Lie Ruohai still tilted his shoulder in the same manner, while Su Wujiao changed to using five fingers to slice, but this time he ended up slicing Lie Ruohai's fingers.

Everyone had requests of him, so they had no choice but to follow. Outside, Sun Lu had already sent a car to pick them up, and because he was unaware of the number of people, he temporarily called for a few more horse-drawn carriages. Du Si gave the good carriage to Song Yushan and Su Wujiao, and thus the group arrived in a grand manner at the residence of the Dragon King of the Land.

This Mei Jiu is the most famous among the Du brothers, as it was he alone who, fearless of death, saved the entire population of Yangzhou back in the day. Yet, they unexpectedly encountered the most "untouchable" one right from the start

It is already late autumn outside, but upon entering here, one's eyes are immediately filled with green. The entire garden is planted with a type of unknown small grass, so neatly and tenderly arranged, resembling a vast, soft green carpet that undulates with the contours of the land, making one only want to approach and cherish it. Therefore, when Du Si stepped down, Su Wuji couldn't help but exclaim "Ah," seemingly wanting to stop him from trampling carelessly.

Du Si called out in approval and asked, "How should I address this gentleman?" Su Wujiao replied quietly, "Good day, Du Siye. I am Su Wujiao, new to this place. I hope you will forgive any presumptions on my part." When he mentioned the name "Su Wujiao," he noticed Du Si's gaze suddenly sharpen, followed by a bright glint in his eyes as he stared intently at him, which made Su Wujiao feel somewhat puzzled.

Although Su Wujiao felt that Yang Hong was being a bit excessive, he could not just stand by and watch him being bullied. Therefore, he reached out and patted Lie Ruohai on the shoulder. Lie Ruohai did not turn around, shifting his shoulder to the side. Su Wujiao quickened his five fingers, and they landed on his shoulder with just the right amount of force, ensuring he would not be harmed while also rendering him powerless. Among the brothers, Lie Ruohai was the most skilled in martial arts, but at first, he had underestimated his opponent, especially since he was up against Su Wujiao, which led to his defeat in a single move.

The waiter thought he was going to order food. However, he heard Yang Hong say: "What kind of dim sum is this? The young master has also stayed in Yangzhou when he was young, and it's not just a soup dumpling. You must have made a mistake, quickly change it for the young master." The waiter looked pleased and said: "This is our restaurant's signature dim sum, the Jade Swallow Returning to Nest. Regular soup dumplings are filled with soup directly, but this one has a piece of broth that has been simmered into a jelly added during the wrapping process, which allows it to be encased in tofu. The timing is quite difficult to master. Take a look, doesn't it resemble a swallow returning to its nest?" Regular soup dumplings are filled with soup directly, but this one has a piece of broth that has been simmered into a jelly added during the wrapping process, which allows it to be encased in tofu. The timing is quite difficult to master. Take a look, doesn't it resemble a swallow returning to its nest?

Du Si smiled and said, "This way, there is a path." It was only then that Su Wujiu noticed that the ground beneath Du Si's feet was actually a small path paved with green pebbles, the surface of which was exceptionally smooth, with no bumps to be felt.

Beneath the blue sky and white clouds stands a row of four exquisite small houses, with the dark gray wooden doors equally unremarkable. In Su Wujiao's eyes, he only felt that the gray was soft and comfortable, but when Tang Duqian touched it, he was taken aback! The door was carved from a single massive piece of wood, with wood grain as fine as areca nut, and when touched, it gave a feeling of being drawn in, a sensation unique to cypress wood. Cypress wood has long been known as 'the hundred-year inch,' meaning that for every hundred years of growth, the diameter of the tree only increases by one inch. Such precious wood was actually used to make a door?

The eldest present was Song Yushan, who had made the Wulin Ranking thirty years ago. He had played a significant role in the siege against Liu Aosong back then and had a close friendship with Su Wujiao and Tang Duqian, despite the age difference. It was his turn to give orders this time; otherwise, it would have fallen to Su Wujiao, who was the most skilled in martial arts. However, Song Yushan was an honest man, Su Wujiao was not good at planning, and Tang Duqian understood both of his friends well, so he directly stepped forward to speak.

Du Si chuckled, "Do it again, but don't imitate a man's voice; sing like a woman." Sun Miaomiao replied, "I recently composed a tune, but since you just teased me, you must play the xiao for me as a penalty!" Both Xiaoyu and Sun Lu cheered in agreement. Du Si, without arguing, cheerfully accepted the jade xiao. As he moved his lips, Su Wujiao was taken aback. He never expected that this seemingly lewd-looking fellow would possess such skill in music! He listened as the soft and charming melody was played with a touch of boldness, each delightful note piercing into the heart, creating a tantalizing itch. He truly did not expect that this seemingly lewd-looking fellow would possess such skill in music! He listened as the soft and charming melody was played with a touch of boldness, each delightful note piercing into the heart, creating a tantalizing itch.

Tang Beidao: "I have heard of the great name of Master Du Si long ago. It is said that the safety of the people of Yangzhou back in the day was bought by him for ten million taels. Such courage and demeanor truly inspire admiration!"

Su Wujiao truly could not imagine that a prominent figure would appear in such a frail and sickly state. However, for some reason, when he saw Du Si, he did not feel the same tension as he did with others; instead, he felt a sense of familiarity.

The young man brightened his eyes and said: "What business do you have with Master Du?" Yang Hong replied: "We are looking for our Master Du, it has nothing to do with you!" The young man's expression darkened: "Be careful, remember to add 'Master' after Du Si in the future!"

The young man's martial arts lacked a fixed style, yet he evidently grasped the essence of "force." He always skillfully exposed flaws to provoke Yang Hong into making a move, thereby disrupting Yang Hong's physical balance. This way, his own techniques would reveal vulnerabilities, allowing him to seek opportunities for attack. It seems that his master must be an extraordinary individual!

Yangzhou is more prosperous than Suzhou in my memories, showing no signs of having once endured the ravages of war

The abbot of Baiyun Temple, Tai Xuan, has made an appearance. Do not be misled by his grand title; he is actually a young man under thirty: "Yangzhou is the most prosperous place, and this time, the governor Wu Shidao has indeed invested heavily. Young hero Tang may not be aware that President Sun of the Southern Four Provinces Chamber of Commerce is stationed in Yangzhou, and he originally made his fortune through military supplies. It is not an issue for him, the Dragon King of the Land, to equip two hundred thousand troops, let alone one hundred and eighty thousand."

Tang Bei suddenly interjected: "Master Hua, the area of Yangzhou is not large, where are these two hundred thousand people stationed?" Hua Fengchun replied: "In Yancheng. Yancheng is backed by the canal, connecting to Taizhou to the east, allowing for strategic movement. The general from Yangzhou leading the troops this time, Samudoro, is indeed a skilled warrior!"

Upon entering the room, everyone was even more astonished—inside was a set of furniture made entirely of solid wood, intricately carved from rosewood. Although the prominent carvings featured bold lines, the finer details were exquisitely delicate, with countless patterns even on the chair legs. Such priceless treasures were casually displayed in the room. On the table sat a vase, glistening after the rain, with a tender white and green body adorned with numerous droplets of vibrant green, each exuding a vigorous vitality. The vase held dozens of crystal yellow chrysanthemums, creating a sense of being immersed in nature with this small vase and its single flower. Such priceless treasures were casually displayed in the room. On the table sat a vase, glistening after the rain, with a tender white and green body adorned with numerous droplets of vibrant green, each exuding a vigorous vitality. The vase held dozens of crystal yellow chrysanthemums, creating a sense of being immersed in nature with this small vase and its single flower.

The crowd continued to move inside. A middle-aged woman, dressed elegantly yet with a simple appearance, saw so many people and hurriedly hid inside the house—she was Sun Lu's sister-in-law. Sun Laoshi called out to her: "Da Wa's family, why are you hiding? We are not outsiders. Quickly, pick out a few good autumn pears that were just delivered and bring them here"

Du Si smiled and said, "Clever! Today's young people are truly remarkable." Although it was hard to tell Du Si's age from his appearance, he was at most just a few years older than Tang Beida. However, at this moment, he spoke with the tone of a senior. Yang Hong let out a cold snort upon hearing this.

She, however, was not as respectful as others; as soon as she entered, she greeted Du Si: "Little Si, have you finally remembered me?" Her voice was incredibly melodious. Du Si patted the seat beside him, signaling her to come and sit, and joked, "Beauty, I truly miss you! Have you captivated any more young masters recently?" Sun Miaomiao laughed and replied, "It's still those few; if I come across someone good, I will naturally let you know." Seeing their intimate actions, completely unreserved, Tang Bei felt quite sorry for Yu Ningning. Stealing a glance, he noticed Xiao Yu was also smiling at the two of them, her expression showing no change at all.

The table in the lobby is by the window, with a pleasant view. At this moment, Su Wujiao and his companions are seated at the table, having ordered some cold dishes and dim sum while waiting for their guests

Su Wujiao has only recently come to such an understanding of "strength" in the past few years, but where did such a young hero come from in Yangzhou? He stopped Yang Hong, who was about to take action: "Do not cause trouble, let us go meet Master Du Si as soon as possible."

Tang Duqian hurriedly said, "Young friend, this is entirely a misunderstanding. We have long admired your esteemed name..." Mei Jiu arrogantly replied, "I am not your young friend. As for associating with someone like that young master from earlier, I, Mei Jiu, would never dare to do so!" Tang Duqian had no choice but to turn to Yang Hong and say, "Nephew, quickly apologize to Master Jiu!"

Tang Duqian suddenly thought that in Yangzhou there was such remarkable skill... hurriedly said: "My nephew is young and reckless, I wonder if the young hero is the Fourth Master?" Yang Hong replied: "Uncle Tang, he is not! Du Si is nicknamed 'Du Huangpi', with a face that is a burnt yellow, he is hard to mistake." As soon as the words fell, he received a slap on the face. The young man then said: "You have no memory, I told you to remember to add 'Master'!"

Yang Hong, standing aside, said unhappily: "What is so funny?" The young man, who was exceptionally handsome, wore a smile on his face and replied: "Hehe, I apologize. As for what is funny, I can't really say." Although he was apologizing, his eyes were still full of mockery

Tang Beidao: "Regardless, we are in urgent need of his assistance now. We can proceed according to the rules of the martial world, giving him a significant favor, and see what conditions he may have. For Uncle Guan, we must try every possible means." Yang Hong said: "But he is not a person of the martial world, and he is acquainted with the authorities. If he were to betray us, wouldn't it be too late for regrets?"

Du Si reprimanded him: "Lao Jiu, from now on, do not be disrespectful to Old Master Su, otherwise do not blame Lao Da for being impolite to you!" Mei Jiu complained: "Lao Da!"

Du Siqi said: "Is this a dog? Why does it look like a bun? Did this ugly thing just come from the big brother?" Xiao Yu retorted playfully: "How can it look like a bun? Look how cute it is with its yellow and wrinkled appearance!" Du Si laughed and scolded: "You little girl! I am also yellow and wrinkled, and I look more presentable than it does. Why do you think I am ugly?" Yu Ningning's snow-white cheeks instantly flushed with a rosy hue, filled with boundless shyness. I am also yellow and wrinkled, and I look more presentable than it does. Why do you think I am ugly?" Yu Ningning's snow-white cheeks instantly flushed with a rosy hue, filled with boundless shyness

Although Yang Hong was extremely angry, he did not dare to openly defy his elder. He walked up to Mei Jiu, took his hand, and said: "All men under heaven are brothers; let us shake hands and become friends, shall we?" In fact, he used hidden strength in his grip, and Mei Jiu could not evade the pressure on his acupoints. Although he felt pain in his hand, he did not utter a sound: "You have some guts; just wait for your death!" Yang Hong was furious and exerted even more strength, saying ominously: "Master Jiu, don't say that; we are merely becoming friends!" It was only then that Su Wujiao and Tang Duqian noticed something was amiss and hurriedly shouted to stop them.

Du Si led a group of people as they meandered through a courtyard

Song Yushan pressed a few of his acupoints and asked in a deep voice: "Who are you?"

Tang Beimo said after a moment of silence: "Ordinary soldiers cannot match the skills of a strong hero. We can make it to the dark side." Hua Fengchun replied: "It is not easy to secretly cross Chen Cang among two hundred thousand troops. Yancheng is close to the river, and the mountains across the river are filled with soldiers. We would be discovered within ten miles. Those brothers who infiltrated the army did not return alive, and Samudoro must have been on guard early." Yang Hong interjected: "Yancheng is adjacent to the canal, and I know a small path that can pass through the cave. If we travel through the mountains overnight, the soldiers on the mountain will surely not notice us." Those brothers who infiltrated the army did not return alive, and Samudoro must have been on guard early. Yang Hong interjected: "Yancheng is adjacent to the canal, and I know a small path that can pass through the cave. If we travel through the mountains overnight, the soldiers on the mountain will surely not notice us"

Su Wujiao happily said, "Has the Fourth Master agreed?" Du Si replied, "We still need to consider it further." Su Wujiao coughed and said, "Fourth Master, the Manchus have occupied our beautiful rivers and mountains, and every Han person should contribute to the country and the people." Du Si looked at him, his eyes full of amusement, and said, "I must say, Su Laoye, you are quite interesting! You have such excellent skills but haven't stepped out for over twenty years. Now that your good friend is in trouble, you are willing to risk your life for him, which is loyalty, but not righteousness. Deep down, you don't actually regard this country and its court as anything significant. If it weren't Guan Feidu in trouble, you definitely wouldn't come out to help. I don't know Guan Feidu, so why should I take such a risk for him?"

With the sound, a woman quietly walked out, her skin as smooth and white as snow, but as soon as she spoke, two rosy clouds quietly appeared on her cheeks, and her slightly lowered head formed a beautiful arc. This exquisite beauty is indeed a rare sight in the world

The arrangement here is somewhat rustic, with a patch that should be a garden planted with vegetables, and an old man is huddled there pulling up radishes

Du Siyuan hurriedly approached: "Sir! Are you going to give me radishes again!" The old man was none other than Sun Laoshi. Due to a previous encounter, in his eyes, this yellow-skinned Du Si was even more endearing than his own children.

The Kuiyuan Building stands by the water, with half of its structure built over the lake. The grand hall on the first floor features a large expanse of lake water in the center. Due to the ingenious design, only the flowing water is visible, while the entrances and exits remain concealed. Private dining rooms and tables are situated in small pavilions that are constructed close to the water, with winding corridors and small bridges throughout.

Yang Hong said: "That was not done by Du Si, but by his brother, Meihua Lao Jiu, also known as Master Mei Jiu. Du Si merely benefited from being the leader. " Du Si, whether intentionally or unintentionally, always liked to provoke trouble with his family, which led to the decline of the Yang family after the conflict, forcing them to relocate. This made Yang Hong deeply resent Du Si.

Just now, Du Si diverted everyone's attention, and Liao Ruohai took the opportunity to jump in and subdue Yang Hong. This small trick surprisingly went unnoticed by so many experts present. Yang Hong tried to endure, but Liao Ruohai's grip was exceptionally cunning, pinching the joint of his hand bones, causing him to suffer ten times the pain compared to Mei Jiu, and he finally began to moan loudly.

Miao Miao agreed and stood up, but the voice that came out was a male voice: "Climbing out of the wall are flowers in full bloom, breaking off branches of willows along the road, flowers climbing with tender red stamens, willows breaking with soft green twigs, a dashing young man..." The voice was deep and clear, elegant and charming, truly resembling a dashing talent who has seen through the affairs of the world. Everyone was momentarily stunned. However, Du Si suddenly chuckled: "Now I finally understand how this flower and willow came to be." Everyone burst into laughter.

Tang Beidao: "Do not worry, we have so many esteemed predecessors from the martial world visiting him, as a junior, he must give some face. At the same time, the news has spread. We are solemnly seeking his help to save a person; if he refuses to help, that is one thing, but if he were to hand us over to the authorities, all the good reputation he has painstakingly built over the years would be ruined. At that time, the number of heroes attempting to assassinate him would likely exceed those who sought to assassinate Wu Sangui."

Du Si said loudly: "Xiao Yu, what is that smell in the room? Did you use that 'flower juice' again?" A voice with a hint of complaint came from the room: "What 'flower juice'? It's floral water! This time it’s different. I sprayed some French perfume that my elder brother just gave me on the wall." The voice was soft and sweet, making one feel a slight itch in the heart.

The fingers of the two individuals intertwined, and Lie Ruo Hai felt a secret joy in his heart, for he had practiced the Great Strength Diamond Finger technique. Suddenly, he exerted force and twisted his finger, only to find that Su Wu Jiu's finger slipped out of his grasp like a noodle, and then it pressed against his shoulder, still using only a fraction of strength

Su Wujiao had been unable to interject, but at this moment, he finally had the opportunity to speak: "Master Du, I have a matter to request of you." Du Si replied nonchalantly, "I know, it concerns Guan Feidu, right? You all gathered at Baiyun Temple for two days; who finally remembered to look for me?" Su Wujiao pointed at Tang Bei.

Yang Hong said: "Du Si seems to like everything, it's really hard to say what he values the most." Tai Xuan replied: "But Fourth Master has everything, otherwise, just enlighten him with great righteousness." Yang Hong sneered: "He can befriend the government’s watchdogs; for a beautiful woman, he challenged the three major gangs in Nanjing; when someone insulted him with 'yellow-skinned monkey', he broke the person's leg. What does such a person understand about great righteousness? He is nothing but a genuine rogue and scoundrel!" Tai Xuan looked at him displeased: "Young Hero Yang, if you dare to say these words in Yangzhou City, I, Tai Xuan, will admire you!"

Indeed, it is different from singing in a male voice. The fourteen repetitions are like a yellow oriole emerging from the valley, incredibly melodious and exceptionally clear. Truly, such a voice must only exist in the heavens! The sound of the xiao paired with the human voice, combined with the captivating melody, after one song concludes, the final two words "ren ren" linger sweetly in the ears, causing everyone present to feel as if they are drinking fine wine, all of them succumbing to intoxication in their seats, unable to speak for a long while, completely forgetting where they are. At this moment, if someone were to mention Guan Feidu, they would likely respond: "Who is Guan Feidu?"

Tang Beidao said, "At this moment, we still do not know where Uncle Guan is trapped. If we fail once, it will be even more troublesome if we alert the enemy. It would be better to split into several groups and search as quickly as possible. Aren't many of the two hundred thousand troops he has temporarily conscripted? We might as well act as soldiers ourselves..." Beside him, his uncle Tang Duqian remarked, "I fear there may not be that much time left."

Then he smiled broadly and said, "Xiao Jiuzi, hurry back home to report the news, and don't keep causing trouble for me outside. Go back and tell your sister Yu that she needs to prepare a few good dishes tonight"

There is a fragrance in the room, initially faint and elusive, making it difficult to grasp. As everyone unconsciously makes an effort to sniff it out, the scent becomes increasingly pronounced, ultimately permeating your entire being. Although it is still hard to identify the exact fragrance, it evokes an indescribable sense of comfort.

Su Wujiao and his companions did not understand why Du Si suddenly became so happy, but after the earlier commotion, this was indeed not a suitable place for conversation. He whispered, "Master Si, we still have some trouble here. Let me discuss it with everyone before we leave." Mei Jiu said, "A country bumpkin is just a country bumpkin. With Master Si here, what trouble could there be? If you don't leave soon, that would be the real trouble!" He whispered, "Master Si, we still have some trouble here. Let me discuss it with everyone before we leave." Mei Jiu said, "A country bumpkin is just a country bumpkin. With Master Si here, what trouble could there be? If you don't leave soon, that would be the real trouble!"

Yu Ningning greeted everyone one by one, and then spoke to Du Si again, clearly not taking these distinguished individuals to heart: "Sir, my elder brother invites you to dinner at his residence tonight." Du Si curled his lip: "Today is the fifteenth. The old master of his family has a rule that on the first and fifteenth of each month, the entire household eats vegetarian. I can't be bothered to gnaw on those radishes; let's talk about it tomorrow." Yu Ningning replied: "The old master of the Sun family eats vegetarian for your blessings; you should at least show some respect."

As Su Wujiao and the others followed him into the courtyard, they were taken aback as soon as they entered the door—behind that inconspicuous door was such a world!

This place is more than ten times larger than Du Si's home, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent and magnificent. After everyone exchanged greetings, Sun Lu finally sat back down in his chair. He has gained a bit of weight, resting one hand on his belly.

Song Yushan, known as the Flying in the Moonlight, possesses lightness skills that leave no second contender in the arena. Such a high-level master is certainly beyond the capability of a youth to withstand

In the past, the "Wondrous Beauty" Sun Miaomiao and the "Exquisite Jade" Yu Ningning were renowned beauties. Upon this meeting, she indeed stood out with extraordinary beauty. Unlike Xiao Yu, who blushes at the slightest conversation, she possesses an allure that seems etched into her very bones. Every gesture, every raise of her brow, and every glance makes one's heart race.

Two identical little girls were following Sun Laoshi, and Du Si had already extended his hands to them: "Dog Doesn't Bite, Wolf Doesn't Snatch, come here for a hug!" Watching them joyfully climb onto Du Si, Su Wujiao finally realized that these adorable children were actually named "Dog Doesn't Bite" and "Wolf Doesn't Snatch"! They were the twin daughters of Sun Sanxi, whom Sun Laoshi adored so much that, fearing he could not provide for them well, he gave them such humble names.

Su Wujiao picked up the bottle and examined it closely. He saw that the inner wall indeed bore the two characters "Zitang" in cursive script, which was sufficient to prove that this vase was indeed a masterpiece of the renowned master Lu Zitang from the peak period of the Tang Dynasty's thin porcelain production. For a moment, he was dazzled and felt that no wealth in the world could surpass this.

Du Si chuckled and said, "Which young master is this? My brother did not have such a cowardly demeanor when befriending you."

As the sound of the flute slightly paused, the tone changed, becoming incredibly soft and delicate, intoxicating the heart and mind. At this moment, a wonderfully melodious voice emerged: "Orioles and swallows in spring, flowers and willows in truth, everything has its charm and grace, tender and delicate, stopping and starting, everyone."

Suddenly caught off guard, Yang Hong unexpectedly fell into the trap. He was instantly furious and rushed forward to strike. The two fought to a standstill, yet Su Wujiao grew increasingly impressed as he watched.

Although the young man was restrained, he was not the least bit flustered and replied proudly: "You have probably heard of my name. I am Mei Jiu, the brother of the Fourth Master! It seems that you have no chance to meet the boss!"

Hua Fengchun was the first to speak. He had a somewhat comical appearance, with a short stature and two distinct arched eyebrows. However, everyone knew that this unassuming "peanut" had once been a capable general under Li Zicheng, having dealt a heavy blow to the Qing army's armored troops. He was a skilled individual, both wise and brave

Tang Beidao: "It is not really about being a soldier, but rather about capturing a few individuals to inquire about the secret code, and then blending in! However, it is essential that they remain unaware. Master Guan! Do you know who these soldiers are familiar with?" Tai Xuandao: "They should be associated with the local ruffians. Ever since Master Du became the leader of Yangzhou, he has been mixing his subordinates with those in the yamen and the barracks. It is said that after the fall of Yangzhou, the initial funds were extracted by Master Du from the soldiers. Ever since Master Du became the leader of Yangzhou, he has been mixing his subordinates with those in the yamen and the barracks. It is said that after the fall of Yangzhou, the initial funds were extracted by Master Du from the soldiers. Otherwise, how could it be that shortly after the battle, while other places are still impoverished, Yangzhou, which was plundered the hardest, could still be so prosperous?"

After a while, Du Si suddenly laughed, and it was evident that he was genuinely pleased. He turned to Lie Ruohai and said, "Second brother, Old Master Su has long been renowned in the martial world, and few can defeat him; losing to him is nothing to be ashamed of." He then turned to Su Wujiao and said, "I have long admired your esteemed name. This is not the place for conversation, so today I invite everyone to my residence for a meal to taste the culinary skills of the finest chef in Yangzhou"

Suddenly, Du Si said to Su Wujiu: "Every time I come here, I feel that I should do my best to ensure they live well. My decisions will affect many brothers, so I cannot take too many risks. Old Master Su, do you understand?" Su Wujiu suddenly felt that this Du Laoda was not as unfeeling as he seemed: "Yes, I understand. Our demands are somewhat unreasonable, putting Fourth Master in a difficult position. Then I shall take my leave now." However, Du Si looked at him and said: "However, if you, Old Master, were to speak up, the situation would be different. Let us discuss it after we have eaten."

Du Si no longer paid him any attention and directly led the others away

In addition to Su Wujiao, Tang Duqian, and Gong Beilu, who are old friends of Guan Feidu, there are also Guan Feidu's subordinates, Liu He, known as "Five Ding Hand," and Hua Fengchun, known as "Peanut Bean," who are nearby hall masters; the two young heroes Yang Hong and Tang Bei; the leader of the "Shadow Gate," Yue Zhongfei, and Song Yushan, as well as more than twenty other figures from the Jianghu, including "One Thunder" Lei Hong from the Pai Jiao; it is said that many more people are on their way.

At present, Su Wujiao and others followed Du Si into the inner residence

After Du Si touched her face, he said: "Xiao Yu, this is Old Master Su Wujiu, and this is Old Master Tang Duqian. This is Young Master Yang Hong, the eldest son of Young Master Leiting. Among the four great young masters of the past, three have gathered here today. Your Fourth Uncle certainly has quite a reputation."

He straightened up and examined Du Si's face: "You look pale and thin, if your health is not good, you should take better care of yourself. It's really difficult for a child like you to support such a big stall. Liu Shun has hired a vegetarian chef, and the radishes are really delicious, would you like to try some later?"

As Yang Hong just let go, a voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Good friend, don't just have one friend, how about we hold hands?" The person who entered with the voice needed no introduction; everyone could tell at a glance who it was—there he was, with skin that was yellowish and dark, hair all wrinkled, and eyes half-open and half-closed. Wasn't it Du Huangpi?

Yang Hong coldly said: "What kind of nonsense explanation is this..." The boy, who had been smiling all along, suddenly said: "You can't say that. This dish was created by Miss Yu, who is beside Master Du, and it was named by Master Du himself. When several gentlemen came to Yangzhou to ask the head chef of the grand restaurant one by one, was there anyone who did not admire Miss Yu's culinary skills?"

Seeing the diners beside her burst into laughter, Yang Hong was instantly enraged and threw a soy sauce dish at them. The young man lowered his hand and then smoothly brought it to his chest, catching the dish steadily: "The fruit spat out by a country bumpkin indeed has a different color."

Du Sidao: "These grass seeds were brought back by my brothers who went to sea for trade from the country of Britain. Ever since they were planted, Xiaoyu has not allowed anyone to step on them, nor has she permitted the planting of any flowers. I had no choice but to build this small path. Everyone may find it amusing; while others have flowers in their gardens, in my family's garden, we can only begrudgingly look at the grass."

Suddenly, a yellow furball, no bigger than a palm, sprang out behind Yu Ningning, barking loudly at everyone. As everyone focused their attention, it turned out to be a fat and ugly little dog, which seemed to be wearing an oversized outfit, causing it to be wrinkled in layers all over its body, and even its tail was short and small

The young man said coldly: "Young master, you should drink more water." Yang Hongqi asked in surprise: "What?" The young man replied: "With water added, your dumpling will turn into a soup dumpling. Since we are all family now, the soup dumpling won't spit at you anymore, will it?"

Du Si pondered for a moment and said, "Alright. Xiaoyu, it has been a few days since you last saw Miaomiao, hasn't it? Let's call her over to go to the elder brother's place together; I really want to hear her sing!" Then he turned to Su Wujiao and said, "Master Su, we haven't properly entertained you today, so let's all go together to listen to the music. The singing of that talented girl is truly a marvel of Yangzhou. Just listen to that voice; it would surely knock you off your feet!"

The dim sum at Kuiyuan Tower is small and exquisite. On Gongbei Road, a northerner took a bite of a tofu skin bun without even looking, only to have soup squirt out with a mouthful, splattering his face. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh dear, this dim sum is possessed!" This caused a young man at the next table, around twenty years old, to chuckle.

Everyone here, including Su Wujiao, was taken aback. Although Yang Hong was young and arrogant, he came from a prestigious family and had solid skills; otherwise, he would not be so well-known. Yet, this young boy, despite his tender age, effortlessly received one of his strikes. Not only was his technique proficient, but he also completely utilized Yang Hong's force, which could only be achieved through a profound understanding of the essence of "force." This was no longer a matter of martial prowess, but rather a realm of comprehension.

As soon as the waiter agreed and was about to leave, Su Wujiao threw a pair of chopsticks, knocking several of those who were about to leave to the ground, while at the same time, Song Yushan's hand pressed against the back of the young man's heart

As everyone's attention was drawn to Du Si, Yang Hong suddenly let out a painful cry. It turned out that his hand was being held by a burly man.

Due to the matter concerning Guan Feidu, the nearby guards have been reassigned for defense, and everyone had no choice but to disguise themselves and meet at the Baiyun Temple, which is fifty li outside the city

The new chef cooks extremely slowly; by the time Sun Miaomiao arrives, he still hasn't prepared a single dish.

Tang Bei You Dao: "The supply costs for a large army of 200,000 are not insignificant. Officials have always inflated the number of soldiers to receive their salaries. Is it really possible to quickly assemble a fully equipped force of 200,000?"

Du Si laughed and patted his belly: "Eating vegetarian and still looking like this, I really admire you." Sun Lu replied: "Not to mention, we have a new chef at home, and the vegetarian dishes he makes are simply exceptional. I guarantee that after you try them, you'll be coming to my house every fifteenth and first of the month!" Du Si said: "I called Miao Miao over, is your father at home? I want to say hello." Sun Lu pointed to the back hall: "Hurry up. The old man has been mentioning you for the past couple of days, and it's been annoying to hear it."

Yang Hong lost face and said sternly: "No wonder this name has a rustic feel to it"

Sun Miaomiao stamped her foot and said to Xiaoyu: "Look at Fourth Master and his foul mouth, Sister Yu, why don't you do something about him!"

Yang Hong was about to erupt, and Su Wujiao hurriedly reached out to stop her. When parting, Yang Jiansheng had written a letter entrusting his son to him for guidance. Seeing her uncle-in-law intervene, Yang Hong held back her anger, but she felt indignant inside and raised her hand to call the waiter over

Tang Beidao said, "I believe that if we can find a way to gain the assistance of Master Du, our chances of success will increase significantly! Master Guan, Brother Yang, having resided in Yangzhou for a long time, do you know what might appeal to Master Du?" Although Tang Bei was young, his thoughts were meticulous, and everyone had unconsciously listened to his words.