Chapter 65: Six-Union Island (Part 2)

Right at this moment, the urgent sound of approaching hooves echoed from outside the main hall. A flash of dark light appeared at the entrance, and a divine steed stopped abruptly with astonishing speed. The horse was none other than the "Black Cloud Supporting the Moon." Two people were riding on its back. As soon as the horse steadied, the pair leaped down gracefully and ran joyfully into the hall, shouting in unison: "Brother Fang, is that you?"

When Fang Guohuan looked up, he saw it was none other than Luo Kun and Lü Zhufeng. Overjoyed, he quickly rose to greet them, crying, "My two younger brothers, I have missed you so!"

The three of them immediately embraced, spinning around in place, mutually thrilled and astonished. The scene was truly touching.

Lian Qiying smiled at this and said, "Upon seeing your Brother Fang, you completely forget about me, your General Chief. How jealousy-inducing!"

Only then did Luo Kun and Lü Zhufeng release Fang Guohuan, quickly stepping forward to bow and pay their respects to Lian Qiying. Luo Kun said excitedly, "Please do not blame us, General Chief. Your subordinates were momentarily lost in joy, entirely because we caught sight of Brother Fang."

Lian Qiying smiled. "How could I possibly blame you? Brother Guohuan's arrival is a great joyous occasion; there is no need for such formalities."

Luo Kun and Lü Zhufeng bowed again in gratitude, then sat down happily by Fang Guohuan's side.

With deep emotion, Luo Kun said, "Brother Fang, you parted without a word back by the banks of the Yellow River—how cruel of you! Where have you been wandering this past year and more? You gave us quite something to yearn for!"

Fang Guohuan replied, "Due to certain matters concerning the game of chess, I have been roaming about with no fixed destination."

Lü Zhufeng asked, "Is Brother Fang still searching for that eccentric man?"

"Indeed," Fang Guohuan answered. "Because I have been consumed by this affair, I have been unable to reunite with you all until now."

Bu Yuan chimed in from the side, "That monster has a truly tenacious life; he is still alive to this day."

After Fang Guohuan exchanged accounts of their time apart with Bu Yuan, Luo Kun, and Lü Zhufeng, he finally stood up and asked Lian Qiying, "Sister Lian, I wonder if there is an urgent matter that caused you to summon your younger brother here in such haste?"

Lian Qiying hesitated slightly before replying, "Let us not rush into that matter just yet. You have only just arrived on the island; you should rest for a day so that you brothers can catch up on old times. We can discuss business tomorrow."

Bu Yuan laughed from the side. "The General Chief is truly gracious and brilliant! To be so considerate of us—we are endlessly grateful!"

Lian Qiying smiled. "Chief Bu flatters me. Since Brother Guohuan has arrived, you brothers have been separated for long and ought to spend some time together first."

Hearing this, Fang Guohuan, Luo Kun, and Lü Zhufeng were deeply moved.

Afterward, Lian Qiying hosted a banquet in the Union Pavilion to welcome Fang Guohuan and wash away the dust of his journey. With old friends reunited, they raised their cups and drank heartily, a celebration that goes without saying. That night, Fang Guohuan was accommodated in the Union House. Most of the buildings on Union Island were named with the character for "Union," which suited the purpose well enough. The four sworn brothers—Fang Guohuan, Bu Yuan, Luo Kun, and Lü Zhufeng—shared tales of their time apart within the Union House, not dispersing until the dead of night.

Early the next morning, just as Fang Guohuan finished the tea and pastries sent by a servant, Lian Qiying sent someone to escort him to her personal quarters, the Union Veranda. By the time Fang Guohuan arrived, Sun Qi was already waiting there, which gave Fang Guohuan a premonition that something unusual was afoot. After exchanging formal greetings, they took their seats.

Sun Qi spoke up, "Scholar Guohuan, the reason the General Chief summoned you here this time is to inform you of a matter."

Fang Guohuan asked, "Did Sister Lian's recent order—compelling all branch unions across the land to find me within a strict deadline and escort me to the General Union—stem from discovering the whereabouts of the master chess-player eunuch, Li Ruchuan?"

Lian Qiying replied, "That master eunuch's movements are extremely covert, and we still have no news of him. However, this affair is indeed connected to him."

Hearing this, Fang Guohuan was momentarily stunned, completely baffled.

Lian Qiying paused as if hesitant to speak, appearing unable to bear uttering the truth to Fang Guohuan. She shook her head with a sigh and said, "It is better if Scholar Sun relates this matter to you."

Seeing Lian Qiying's heavy expression, Fang Guohuan felt a great surge of doubt and gazed inquiringly at Sun Qi.

Sun Qi then asked, "Does Scholar Fang happen to know a young lady named Lu Ziyun?"

"Miss Lu!" At these words, Fang Guohuan's body and soul trembled. He sprang to his feet and anxiously demanded, "Could it be that Scholar Sun has news of Miss Lu? But..."

Suddenly, Fang Guohuan recalled that Lu Peixin and the bandit Yang Hua from the Lu Estate had already been captured and executed by government soldiers, and that Miss Lu and her servant must have inevitably suffered collateral misfortune in that calamity. Yet, hearing Sun Qi casually mention Lu Ziyun, a wave of pleasant surprise washed over him. "Can Miss Lu possibly still be alive?"

Sun Qi hesitated for a moment before saying, "It seems the two of you are indeed acquainted."

Excitedly, Fang Guohuan declared, "Indeed! Miss Lu is a kindred spirit I encountered through chess. In the past, I was once held hostage by her bandit father, but thanks to Miss Lu's noble rescue, my life was spared. Later, because her father's criminal activities were exposed, their entire clan was arrested and put to death. It now appears Miss Lu managed to escape the danger and survive. How did Scholar Sun come to know of her? Where is Miss Lu now?"

Witnessing Fang Guohuan's joyous and astonished expression, Sun Qi and Lian Qiying exchanged a dismayed glance, then fell into a gloomy silence.

Noticing this, Fang Guohuan felt a sudden surge of unease. He asked in great distress, "Sister Lian, Scholar Sun, what on earth is going on here?"

Sun Qi sighed softly and said, "Scholar, do not be impatient. This is a long story; let me tell it to you slowly. Miss Lu Ziyun's father, Lu Peixin, along with his sworn brother Yang Hua, were once notorious bandits in the martial world. They were eventually captured by Lu, the former General Chief of the Union. Pleading tearfully on their knees, the General Chief softened his heart and released them. From then on, they lived in seclusion, supposedly turning over a new leaf, but unexpectedly they continued their old ways in secret."

Fang Guohuan recounted, "In the past, I carelessly stumbled into their black inn and was taken hostage. When Lu Peixin discovered the Union token on my person, he intended to use it to cause chaos within the Union. Fortunately, Miss Lu came to my rescue, averting a catastrophe."

Hearing this, Lian Qiying and Sun Qi were startled. Lian Qiying remarked with relief, "How perilous! Had those villains succeeded, the Union would have faced grave trouble. It seems Miss Lu Ziyun rendered a great service to the Union. It is only a pity..." Here, Lian Qiying abruptly stopped herself.

Perplexed, Fang Guohuan asked, "Sister Lian, a pity what?"

Hesitating, Lian Qiying said, "Brother Guohuan, do not grieve too deeply. You had better listen to Scholar Sun finish the story."

Sun Qi then continued, "Some time ago, this humble person was entrusted by the Scholar to track down the master eunuch. However, that man is protected by formidable experts; his whereabouts are secretive, elusive, and exceedingly difficult to trace. He was once encountered by Union Chief Han Mengchao, the 'Invincible Golden Spear,' but due to a lack of awareness of the true situation, Han let him slip away. Only afterward did he realize it was the very person Scholar Guohuan was desperately seeking, filling him with endless regret.

"Following that, I ordered our Union brethren to investigate with utmost diligence. The affair concerning Miss Lu Ziyun occurred two months ago. Chief Wu Cai of the Fujian branch inadvertently discovered traces of the master eunuch. Though unsure of his identity, he ordered men to keep him under covert surveillance. Later, it was discovered that two young women were seeking out the eunuch to play chess. To everyone's shock, after a single game, the young lady who had been playing against the eunuch suddenly collapsed by the chess table and passed away for no apparent reason..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Guohuan was terribly shocked. "Could it be Miss Lu? How could she...?"

Sun Qi pressed on, "Scholar, do not be alarmed, let me finish. At the time, the surveillance operatives sent by Chief Wu Cai saw someone die over a chess game, confirming that the opponent must undoubtedly be the chess-murdering master eunuch that Scholar Guohuan was searching for. They immediately dispatched a message to Chief Wu Cai. By the time Chief Wu Cai arrived, the eunuch's bodyguard, Yu Ruoxu, had already sensed the danger, wounded five Union brethren who tried to intercept them, and escorted the eunuch away.

"At the scene, Chief Wu Cai saw a maidservant weeping beside the young lady who had died over chess. Upon questioning her, he learned that the maid was named Ping'er, and her deceased mistress—the one killed by the master eunuch's chess—was none other than Miss Lu Ziyun."

Hearing this, Fang Guohuan was struck with absolute horror. He cried out a heart-wrenching "Miss Lu!" and nearly fainted.

Lian Qiying and Sun Qi were alarmed and hastily stepped forward to comfort him.

Stunned by this devastating blow, Fang Guohuan felt his mind reel and muttered blankly, "Wh... what happened next?"

Lian Qiying helped Fang Guohuan back to his seat, soothing him: "Things have already reached this point, Brother Guohuan; do not grieve excessively. Fortunately, Chief Wu Cai encountered her servant and learned the whole story. The mistress and servant had been wandering the martial world after their family tragedy, and quite by coincidence ran into the master eunuch. Perhaps because both were well-versed in chess, they began discussing the game and eventually sat down to play, leading to Miss Lu's tragic fate. When Chief Wu Cai heard Scholar Guohuan's name from Ping'er's lips, he realized you were acquainted and understood the gravity of the situation. He buried Miss Lu and subsequently sent Ping'er here to the Union Island headquarters. Finding the matter rather bizarre, I issued an order to summon you."

Suppressing his grief, Fang Guohuan asked, "Do you know where Ping'er is now?"

Lian Qiying replied, "After Ping'er arrived, I arranged for her to stay with Sister Gong Ying'er, and I have already sent someone to fetch her."

At this, tears streamed down Fang Guohuan's face. Remembering how Lu Ziyun had once helped him escape—as if it had all happened only yesterday—he was overcome by a wave of intense, crushing sorrow.

At that exact moment, a weeping voice sounded from outside the door: "Scholar Fang, the young lady and I searched so bitterly for you!"

Hearing the voice, Fang Guohuan looked up to see none other than the familiar Ping'er.

The moment Ping'er laid eyes on Fang Guohuan, a myriad of emotions welled up within her, and she burst into loud sobs. Lian Qiying hurried forward, pulled Ping'er down to sit beside her, and offered comforting words.

Weeping openly, Fang Guohuan said, "Ping'er, you both have suffered terribly. When I returned to the Lu Estate and found it in ruins with no one there, I assumed you and your mistress had also fallen victim to the disaster."

Quieting her sobs, Ping'er replied, "It is a pity the Scholar arrived a step too late and failed to fetch the young lady away. On that day, a large force of government soldiers suddenly arrived and surrounded the estate. Fortunately, the young lady and I had gone up the mountain to gather herbs for the master's injuries, and thus we were away from home, escaping the catastrophe. After we were left homeless, I accompanied the young lady as we wandered the martial world, searching everywhere for the Scholar."

Filled with desolate sorrow, Fang Guohuan lamented, "I never imagined you endured such twists of fate. Back then, I truly should have taken the two of you away with me; then today's tragedy would never have happened." He was consumed by bitter regret.

Nearby, Lian Qiying, already aware of the deep mutual affection between Fang Guohuan and Lu Ziyun, felt a sense of pity mixed with profound emotional感慨.