Lotus Pond Teahouse was run by the Ling brothers. It was not open to the general public, serving primarily as a private venue for business negotiations; the salaries of most film stars had been hammered out within its walls.
Shen Rongqing had arrived early and prepared her arrangements well in advance.
To be honest, she did not trust this Sage or his disciples. He Jiaqing had snubbed them several times by refusing to meet, and there was no telling whether they might resort to extreme measures.
With her personnel posted and traps laid, Shen Rongqing waited for the white-robed man to arrive for their meeting. Far away in Yuezhou, however, He Jiaqing was worried that someone might come to stir up trouble.
Perhaps He Jiaqing was overthinking it, but lately, no matter what he did in Puluo Province, he always felt that Li Banfeng might pop up at any moment to throw a wrench into the works. Seeing that it wasn't even six o'clock yet, He Jiaqing contacted his spy at Xiaoyaowu.
"Where is Li the Seventh?"
"Li the Seventh and Ma the Fifth invited Lu Chunying over. Lu Yuanxin and Tan Fucheng came as well. They've been drinking since noon and are still going at it. Word is they're going to play cards tonight, and Ma the Fifth even arranged for a performance by the singing diva."
"Did you actually see Li the Seventh?"
"I did. Just a moment ago, I went into the private booth to sweep up. I'll go check again in a bit."
"Don't go back. Going again will only arouse suspicion."
The spy in Xiaoyaowu was far too valuable; his cover could not be blown.
He Jiaqing rubbed his scalp. He must have consumed too much human qi lately, muddling his thoughts and making him overly paranoid.
How could Li Banfeng possibly know that Shen Rongqing was meeting the Sage's disciple today?
With a self-deprecating chuckle, He Jiaqing changed into a gardener's clothes and headed off to the park once more.
***
In the private booth, Lu Chunying cradled a roast chicken, eating with relish. Having put extra effort into her cultivation recently, supplemented by medicinal pills, her progress had been rapid—and her appetite had surged along with it.
Polishing off the entire chicken, Lu Chunying wiped her mouth and asked, "Where did Seventh Brother go? He vanished in the blink of an eye. Aren't we playing cards in a bit?"
Ma the Fifth laughed. "Old Seven wasn't feeling well and went to rest. Besides, he doesn't know how to play cards anyway. Tonight, I'll keep you all company at the table until dawn."
Just as they were speaking, the diva Jiang Mengting arrived to sing. Everyone was captivated by her beauty and voice, and no one asked after Li the Seventh's whereabouts any further.
At that moment, Li Banfeng was lurking near Lotus Pond Teahouse, waiting for their meeting to end. He had no idea how long they would be drinking tea.
In fact, the tea was over quite quickly, as the conversation between the two sides had hardly gone smoothly.
The Sage's disciple Zhong Huai'en—the one clad in white—was exceedingly displeased with He Jiaqing's attitude. "Miss Shen, how many times have I come looking for you? To this day, I have yet to lay eyes on He Jiaqing. You people are showing far too little sincerity."
Shen Rongqing smiled. "Brother Zhong, please quell your anger. In matters of etiquette, reciprocity is key. We have met so many times, yet I haven't seen the Sage either, have I?"
Zhong Huai'en frowned. "On what grounds should the Sage see you? It is He Jiaqing he wishes to meet!"
Shen Rongqing's smile didn't waver. "And the one He Jiaqing wishes to meet is not you, either. He wishes to meet the Sage."
His face ashen with anger, Zhong Huai'en warned her, "There are people who have knelt on the Peak of the Sages for years without ever being granted an audience. You have been given this opportunity—do not let it slip away."
Shen Rongqing's brows knitted slightly. "The way you put it makes it sound as though we fail to appreciate a favor. I don't know where this Peak of the Sages is, so pray enlighten me: why are the backbones of the people there so soft?"
Zhong Huai'en nodded curtly, stood up, and took his leave.
Shen Rongqing saw him down to the teahouse entrance without making any effort to detain him.
Once Zhong Huai'en had left, Shen Rongqing sent a message to He Jiaqing: "The man has left. Because you didn't show up, he was very displeased."
He Jiaqing received the message and remained silent for a long time.
He knew that staying hidden would certainly displease the other party.
Yet why hadn't Shen Rongqing smoothed things over?
Could she have clashed with him again?
"It doesn't matter, Sister. It doesn't matter." He Jiaqing terminated the connection.
Shen Rongqing was a perceptive woman; she caught the reproach in He Jiaqing's tone.
Yet what could reproach accomplish?
Did he expect her to go kneel on the Peak of the Sages as well?
Shen Rongqing returned upstairs and sat in the tearoom, pouring and drinking tea by herself.
***
Walking down the street, Zhong Huai'en could hardly contain his burning rage. A voice sounded by his ear: "Junior Brother Zhong, I think we used the wrong approach.
"We should have handled things cleanly and simply, just like we did with the two Lu brothers."
"I'd like to do it cleanly, too, but He Jiaqing refuses to show his face. How are we supposed to make a move?"
"Kill this woman. Over our few meetings, we could tell her bearing is quite out of the ordinary; she's either He Jiaqing's lover or his most trusted lieutenant. If we kill her, He Jiaqing will surely be infuriated.
"As long as we can force He Jiaqing out into the open and finish him off, our assignment will be done."
"Will that really work?" Zhong Huai'en hesitated. "I'm worried Master will blame us."
"Blame us for what? When did Master ever forbid us from killing? Master might not even remember this woman's name. What's wrong with killing her to draw He Jiaqing to Puluo Province?"
"But what if He Jiaqing gets spooked and refuses to meet us at all?"
"He's already refusing to meet us now. If he shows his face, we win; if he doesn't, we at least sever one of his arms and make him suffer for a while. Either way, we don't lose."
Zhong Huai'en nodded. "That's a sound plan. Senior Brother, when do we strike?"
"We strike when her guard is at its lowest. Right now is best. After parting on such sour terms, this is precisely when she'll let her guard down."
"All right, I'll go with you!"
Zhong Huai'en turned to head back, but the voice at his ear stopped him: "You just left. If you turn around and go back now, wouldn't that make her suspicious?
"Just keep walking back. I can handle this alone. Don't worry about the credit—your share won't be shorted. Be careful on the road. Master told me to protect you, so don't you go slipping up."
"Don't worry, Senior Brother." Zhong Huai'en nodded and continued forward.
Suddenly, the white robe on his body took flight, fluttering high in the air as it drifted back toward the teahouse.
Following behind him, Li Banfeng hastily concealed himself. Thanks to his talents as a sixth-level Dwelling Cultivator, he barely avoided being spotted by the garment.
Is this clothing a magical treasure?
No wonder this fellow wears a white robe everywhere he goes.
Why did the garment fly back?
Did it go to take care of Shen Rongqing?
Does a mere magical treasure dare take on Shen Rongqing?
Could it be something other than a treasure?
Could this be one of those Garment Cultivators Zuo Wugang mentioned?
Lu Yuanxin was also at Xiaoyaowu, and he knew how to deal with Garment Cultivators. This was actually an opportunity.
Li Banfeng found a secluded spot, produced a circuit board from his breast, connected two dry cells, plugged in an antenna, and attached a rotary dial.
Using this contraption was rather cumbersome, but given the conditions in Puluo Province, Luo Zhengnan's technology could only reach this level.
Luo Zhengnan was tinkering with an antenna at Xiaoyaowu when his skull suddenly vibrated violently. The antenna planted in his head nearly scrambled his brains.
Seeing that it was an incoming call from Li Banfeng, Luo Zhengnan quickly picked up.
"Have Ma the Fifth come to Lotus Pond Teahouse..."
After conveying the instructions, Li Banfeng resumed tailing Zhong Huai'en. Once they reached a narrow alleyway, the moment was ripe. Li Banfeng prepared to strike.
This white-robed disciple had always remained at the Sage's side, so Li Banfeng was certain he possessed formidable strength. His objective this time was not to kill him, but to use his mouth to deliver a message.
Li Banfeng's plan was to slash him once and immediately withdraw.
He suddenly materialized in the alley and delivered a slash across Zhong Huai'en's back.
The cut was deep, the wound nearly a foot long. After landing the blow, Li Banfeng retreated swiftly and concealed himself in the shadows to observe Zhong Huai'en's reaction.
Zhong Huai'en showed no extreme reaction. Without pausing, he hurried forward with brisk strides, as though he hadn't been injured at all.
A man trusted by the Sage truly was no ordinary figure!
He must possess a magical treasure, or perhaps his physical body was extraordinarily tough.
Back at Benefactor Stockade, Li Banfeng had already discerned that this man was not to be trifled with.
One slash likely wasn't enough; he needed to make him feel pain to stoke the Sage's fury against He Jiaqing.
Li Banfeng manifested once more and slashed him again.
Even after two slashes, Zhong Huai'en still showed no reaction, walking faster and faster, completely disregarding Li Banfeng's ambush.
His strength was actually that formidable?
Another slash.
Zhong Huai'en still didn't strike back.
Yet another slash!
...
After seven slashes, Zhong Huai'en collapsed facedown on the ground, motionless.
What was this?
Luring me in close, then waiting for a chance to counterattack?
Li Banfeng naturally wouldn't fall for it. He prepared to probe him using the art of Viewing Flowers on a Galloping Horse.
Just as he was about to act, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
Could it be that Zhong Huai'en wasn't holding back, but simply had no power to strike back?
Could his hurried strides have been purely an attempt to flee?
No way, right?
Was this really all the Sage's most trusted disciple was made of?
He had displayed impressive power back at Benefactor Stockade—Li Banfeng remembered it vividly. Why had he fallen apart so completely now?
Could that impressive power have belonged to the garment?
Was he nothing more than a clothes hanger?
He couldn't be dying, could he?
If he died, who would carry the message to the Sage?
Li Banfeng's guess was spot on: Zhong Huai'en was on the verge of death.
Should he give him an elixir to keep him breathing?
***
Back in the teahouse, Shen Rongqing was still pouring and drinking her tea.
The white-robed man had departed. Shen Rongqing ordered her guards to return to the film company and stand by. Once she finished this cup of tea, she intended to return and rest as well.
Just after pouring the tea, she suddenly felt her wrist disobey her. Instead of bringing the teacup to her lips, her hand set it back down on the table.
Who's there?
Shen Rongqing wanted to shout a challenge.
Yet she couldn't open her mouth.
Her jawbone felt bound by silk threads, and her throat was constricted as well.
Every joint in her body was tightly bound, as if a garment had wrapped itself around her, slowly suffocating her.
It wasn't just an illusion—a white robe had genuinely materialized upon Shen Rongqing's body.
When did this white robe get on me?
It looks so familiar!
It's Zhong Huai'en's white robe.
Amidst her horror, Shen Rongqing's right hand drew a dagger from her waist and pointed it at her own throat.
The tip of the blade crept closer. Shen Rongqing fought with all her might to resist.
Zhong Huai'en wants to kill me?
At this life-or-death juncture, Shen Rongqing pushed her Mind Cultivator arts to their absolute limit, yet she could sense none of Zhong Huai'en's thoughts.
The waiters, the bookkeeper in the teahouse, the coachman waiting outside—Shen Rongqing could perceive the thoughts of every single one of them with crystal clarity, but not Zhong Huai'en.
Zhong Huai'en isn't nearby?
The garment clinging to her body seemed to harbor thoughts—faint, indistinct, extremely murky, but seemingly real.
Is this garment the one trying to kill me?
This isn't just clothes—it's a Garment Cultivator!
What do I do?
Who can save me?
Shen Rongqing couldn't cry out for help. Starved of breath, her consciousness began to blur.
She struggled desperately to restrain her right hand, but the dagger drew ever closer to her throat.
She tried to twist the white robe's intentions, but her cultivation fell short of her opponent's.
In the depths of despair, she suddenly felt the garment on her body give off a hint of anxiety.
It's afraid?
What is it afraid of?
Has someone come to save me?
The joints in her body abruptly loosened a fraction, and control over her right hand gradually returned.
The white robe suddenly slipped off Shen Rongqing's body and vanished in the blink of an eye.
It felt as though insects had just been crawling across her skin, but Shen Rongqing had no leeway to care about bugs. With the binding completely gone, she immediately cast aside the dagger and sprang to her feet.
She wanted to flee, and she wanted to cry for help. In her disoriented panic, she suddenly saw a man appear before her.
Shen Rongqing was startled, nearly lashing out at Ma the Fifth.
Ma the Fifth stepped forward, took her into his arms, and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Chapter 354