Chapter 11 – The Richest Family in Luoyang

The Second Young Master Sha Chenggong walked Kou Zhong, this newly acquired divine doctor, back to his cabin. He even stayed for a while to chat with him like a close friend. Kou Zhong took this opportunity to ask him about their move to Chang’an.

Sha Chenggong sighed and said, “I regard Mo Xiong as one of our own, hence I am telling you the truth. We are slipping away from Luoyang, because Wang Shichong’s luck is running out; just wait till the Great Tang’s elite troops are coming to the south, they are going to fix him up.”

Hearing that, Kou Zhong felt greatly upset, but he also knew that it was an undisputable fact. “You are going to Chang’an this time, have you made suitable arrangement on the place you are going to stay?” he asked.

Sha Chenggong thought that since Kou Zhong wanted to rely on his Sha Family, he had special concern over this aspect. Making a show of being very much in earnest, he lowered his voice and bragged, “To be honest with Mo Xiong, our Sha Family is not only the richest family in Luoyang, within our clan there’s no lack of individuals who became government officials for several generations. Have Mo Xiong heard about the Dugu Clan? Dugu Feng is actually my Die’s biaodi [younger male cousin via female line]. Presently the Dugu Clan is put in important position by the Tang Emperor Li Yuan. My fourth meifu [younger sister’s husband] Chang He, not only he is a famous martial art master in Wulin, he is also a valiant general within the imperial court. He is in charge of guarding the Xuanwu Gate[1], an important place within the Chang’an’s Palace City. This time we are going to Chang’an is to accept Crown Prince Jiancheng’s invitation to seek asylum there. The course of events is so thrilling that I am not sure you’ll believe me when I tell you.”

Kou Zhong already grasped the Sha Family’s relationship with the people in Chang’an, he was not interested to continue chatting with him. Deliberately letting out a big yawn, he said, “This time I am coming across people of high rank along the way; turns out Er Gongzi’s family background is this illustrious. Ah! Using needle is more exhausting mentally compared to using medication.”

Although Sha Chenggong’s mannerism was heavy in rich family’s younger generation style, he was not stupid; aware that Kou Zhong had the intention of chasing the guest away, he said, “After reaching Chang’an, Xiaodi still have one request that I hope Mo Xiong will not decline.”

Kou Zhong really wished that he would just shup up and leave; putting on an act like he was an old friend, he said, “As soon as I saw Er Gongzi, I feel like we are kindred spirits, and have already become close friends. Whatever it is, Er Gongzi may speak it out without worry. As long as I, Mo … hey! As long as it is within Biren’s powers, I will certainly do it for Er Gongzi.”

Greatly delighted, Sha Chenggong said, “It is just a trivial thing. There is a beautiful woman that Xiaodi happen to know, this moment she is in Chang’an. She also suffers from headaches, which flares out from time to time. If Mo Xiong could skillfully use your miraculous hands of a healer to return the spring, Xiaodi will be extremely grateful.”

Kou Zhong mused silently that it seemed like his new profession as a divine doctor has already been decided. He laughed and said, “Such a trivial thing of lifting one’s hand, what’s the problem? Ha! Er Gongzi is indeed very romantic.”

Sha Chenggong’s eyes emitted a passionate and expectant expression. As if the words came out of the bottom of his heart, his spirit running fast, he said, “This beauty can be rated as the most remarkably beautiful woman in the world, when men see her, none was not moved.”

Kou Zhong’s curiosity was piqued; he asked, “A woman who could make Er Gongzi’s dreams winding around and lead your soul away, which family’s lady is she?”

His thoughts wandering far away, Sha Chenggong replied, “She is the double-peerless in both beauty and skill, her fame spread north and south of the Great River [i.e. Yangtze], acclaimed as the number one courtesan in the world, Shang Xiufang.”

“What?” Kou Zhong blurted out.

Sha Chenggong was stunned. With disbelief on his face, he sized Kou Zhong’s ugly face up and down, and asked, “Has Mo Xiong seen her?”

Kou Zhong realized that he had lost control over himself; hastily he said, “How could I, this kind of uncouth and a person of low status, see her? It’s just that if Biren could treat her illness, I feel that it would be my greatest honor!”

Sha Chenggong laughed and said, “By the time Mo Xiong become the most famous doctor in Chang’an, you won’t be a person of low status anymore. Frankly speaking, at the beginning Xiaodi did not have the slightest regard toward Mo Xiong, but now Mo Xiong has become the good friend that I respect the most. As long as you have a real talent and a solid skill, and then add a bit of opportunity on top of that, there will be a day when you will make your debut. It’s late, Chenggong will not dare to stop Mo Xiong from taking a rest.”

Kou Zhong stood up to send him off. After Sha Chenggong left, he turned around to fall onto his bed, while thinking about Shang Xiufang, and also thinking about Xu Ziling.

Tomorrow morning, they would enter the Pass.

Would the Great Tang’s Chang’an city be like a ferocious beast that could swallow him whole, or would it be like a stepping stone that could enable him to contend for hegemony over the world?

Xiao Xiuming whispered fast in Xu Ziling’s ear, “On Er Wenhuan’s left is Chang Lin Army Academy’s military officer Qiao Gongshan; on his right is one of the three main disciples of Longxi Pai’s Zhangmen Jin Dazhuang, the Jian Langjun [sword ‘young lord’] Wei Jiaqing. All three are Chang’an’s famous martial art masters. Mo Xiong must be careful.”

While he was still speaking, the men on Er Wenhuan’s side already discovered that the other party coming right at them from the end of the bridge was Xiao Xiuming and Xie Jiarong. Immediately they stopped chatting and laughing. With eyes burning they spread sideways, blocking the entire northbound pedestrian path of the big stone bridge. Unless the three made a detour via the vehicles and horses lane in the middle or crossed over to the southbound pedestrian path, they would bump into their battle array.

Upon seeing this, none of the other pedestrians did not cross the vehicles and horses lane to cross the bridge from the pedestrian path on the other side; surprisingly no one dared to stop to watch the excitement, so that only the two sides remained in the face off situation.

Xu Ziling’s fiery gaze swept around.

Er Wenhuan’s stature was strong and muscular, his appearance fierce and uncontrollable, dauntless, ready-to-fight, and ferocious.

Qiao Gongshan was comparably older; he ought to be twenty-something years old, his build was slightly short and stout. He grew short beard, but his hands and feet were thick and solid, the taiyang acupoints on his left and right temples were bulging; evidently he was an expert in inside and outside refined cultivations. His martial art skill could not possibly be under Er Wenhuan’s.

Jian Langjun Wei Jiaqing’s appearance was distinguished and accomplished, confident and at ease. Although far inferior to the ‘Passionate Prince’ Hou Xibai’s elegant spirit and his out-of-the-ordinary scholarly character, he ought to be very popular and a welcomed good-looking young lord.

Xu Ziling remembered that day at the relay station outside the city of Hannan, during the confrontation with Li Yuanji, Kou Zhong inflicted heavy losses to another martial art master from Longxi Pai, the ‘Willow Leaf Saber’ Diao Ang, within three saber strikes; unexpectedly he had just arrived in Chang’an, and already he encountered this Wei Jiaqing.

From the other side, Xie Jiarong spoke in low voice, “We absolutely must not show any weakness; otherwise the opponent might win-a-cun­-want-a-chi [give him an inch, and he’ll want a mile], and then the days ahead will be even more difficult. No matter what, as long as the justification is on our side, Qin Wang Mansion could make decisions on our behalf.”

Hearing him saying that, Xu Ziling had an idea. Falling back half a step, he followed the other two until they were about a zhang away in front of Er Wenhuan and the others, a group of Chang Lin Army troops, before stopping.

Patting the saber hanging on his waist, Er Wenhuan laughed mischievously and said, “Turns out it’s Guanzhong Jian Pai’s Xiao Xiong and Xie Xiong; long time no see. Ol’ Er thought that you guys have sealed your sword and go back to your native place to live in seclusion. I heard in recent years Xing Chang Long made big profit and a lot of money, naturally two gentlemen also received generous bonus. I wonder if I could borrow a tael or two so that us, brothers, can go to Ping Kang Li to have fun?”

His remark provoked the roar of laughter from the men on his side.

Qiao Gongshan spoke with a cold laugh, “Were it not for Er Jiangjun [General] mentioning Guanzhong Jian Pai, I nearly forget. After Bu Ting, Qiu Wensheng no longer accepted disciples; was it because he changed profession to selling salt together with his disciples?”

Chang Lin crowd’s roar of laughter shook the heavens; ridicule and insult seemed to be their forte.

Xiao Xiuming and Xie Jiarong were fully aware that they were deliberately provoking them, but still they did not expect that this bunch would be this rude by insulting their master and their school; they were so angry that their countenance turned pale, and were unable to say anything.

A disdainful smile escaped from the corner of Jian Langjun Wei Jiaqing’s mouth; remaining calm and unruffled in the midst of chaos, he said, “Xiao Xiong and Xie Xiong must not blame Er Xiong and Qiao Xiong’s proper intestines and suitable belly; they only said what should be said, simply because these past two years your honorable Sect only knew how to curry favor from Qin Wang Mansion, as well as baring your shoulder on good business; you have long ago provoked public anger.”

Agitatedly and angrily Xiao Xiuming said, “What does Wei Xiong mean by that remark?”

From behind Wei Jiaqing, someone mocked, “Wei Ye said it so clearly, you still don’t understand? Let Laozi explain to you: Banzhong Jian Pai’s people are all horse-fart worms.” [I am not sure if this is a typo or he intentionally changed ‘Guanzhong’ to ‘Banzhong’ (lit. the middle of the board/plank) as an insult.]

The other side roared in laughter again.

When Xie Jiarong pressed his hand onto the hilt of his sword, Xu Ziling took a step forward and said with a smile, “Excuse me! Excuse me! Laozi don’t have time to listen to your ravings and random talks.”

With repeated ‘Qiang!’ one after another the more than a dozen men headed by Er Wenhuan, Qiao Gongshan, Wei Jiaqing, pulled their weapons, while tightening their formation to wait.

Xu Ziling was a veteran of a hundred battles, he had seen all kinds of wicked people; although the opponent had many men, a great force, he did not even consider them to be worthy to look at. His hand grasped the sword hilt, with repeated ‘Pop! Pop!’ he stepped steadily, carrying concentrated, incomparably strong momentum, pressing on straight toward the enemy.

“Who are you!” Er Wenhuan thundered, while charging forward at the same time. The long saber streaked over the empty air, hacking down on Xu Ziling.

Qiao Gongshan was, after all, a martial art master. Sensing Xu Ziling’s threatening momentum, he quickly matched Er Wenhuan’s offensive move by sending out a palm push toward Xu Ziling’s left flank, carrying with it violent and flaring out qi power, as well as astonishing might.

Wei Jiaqing was the only one among the three opponents whose sword has not left its sheath; with a cold laugh he gazed steadily from the side at the development of the battle.

Xu Ziling laughed and said, “Xie Xiong, Xiao Xiong, please hold your troop disposition for me.”

When the last word was spoken, the long sword was pulled fast as lightning to meet Er Wenhuan’s saber [orig. girdle saber].

‘Dang!’

Not only Er Wenhuan felt that his qi power was leaking out, he also felt that the opponent’s long sword was creating a burst of irresistible pulling force, dragging him to sway to the right, so that he was blocking Qiao Gongshan’s palm strike on Xu Ziling’s behalf.

When Qiao Gongshan pulled back his palm in shock, Xu Ziling