Chapter 115: Second Marriage

It is often said that the world, after a long period of division, will eventually unite, and after a long period of unity, will eventually divide. The invasion of the Barbarian Kings made Jiang Pingchuan realize that the rule of the Lan Dynasty could not last forever; it was the era of the War Kings that had driven back the barbarians.

Now, the seventh generation of Barbarian Kings was launching a massive offensive, seeking to seize control of the entire Changfeng Continent. Observing the current situation, Jiang Pingchuan felt this was the very opportunity the War King had spoken of. By seizing this chance to help the Lan Dynasty stabilize its empire, he would gain enough leverage to bargain for his departure from the Changfeng Continent.

"Jiang Pingchuan, let’s be friends. My name is Jun Moyan."

Early in the morning, Jun Moyan had rushed to the Wangu Pavilion, stood before Jiang Pingchuan’s door, knocked it open, and said this directly. As he looked at the small white fox in Jiang Pingchuan’s arms, Jun Moyan seemed momentarily lost in thought.

"We are already friends. Thank you for saving me."

Jiang Pingchuan looked at Jun Moyan and smiled lightly. Jun Moyan smiled back, feeling somewhat embarrassed; he believed that even if he hadn’t intervened in the ruins of Dongzhou City that day, Jiang Pingchuan would surely have been fine. He had only saved him out of curiosity, and now that Jiang Pingchuan was thanking him, he felt as if the other man was mocking him.

"Brother Jiang, your words make me feel ashamed. Though, I must say, you have refined taste, keeping a fox."

Jun Moyan reached out to stroke the fox, and a chill surged into his heart. Jiang Pingchuan gently stroked the little fox’s head; she was still in a deep slumber.

"Brother Moyan is my senior, just call me Pingchuan."

Jiang Pingchuan avoided the topic of the fox. Jun Moyan smiled and said nothing more. After all, he had only heard of Jiang Pingchuan’s character and had not yet personally examined or felt it; asking too many questions might affect their relationship.

"Pingchuan, let’s go for a walk. I have some questions I’d like to ask you."

Jun Moyan smiled and gestured for him to lead the way. Jiang Pingchuan nodded, turned back into the room, took a half-mask of silver from the bedside, and put it on to hide the scar on half of his face. His face was now entirely ruined, and he feared that appearing in public would cause unnecessary alarm. Jun Moyan looked at him with a hint of pity; he had heard that Jiang Pingchuan was once a handsome and dashing youth. Now, he was disfigured. What Jun Moyan wanted to know most was who could have wounded Jiang Pingchuan, leaving an irreparable scar on the face of a peak-level cultivator.

"Let’s go."

Jiang Pingchuan still wore a smile, his outlook on life unchanged by his disfigurement. Jun Moyan nodded and followed him downstairs. Boss Wan was in a foul mood. Because Master Gong had died and even Jiang Pingchuan had suffered a setback at the hands of the enemy, Boss Wan seemed to see no hope for the future. He sat on his rattan chair all day, clutching his abacus and clicking the beads incessantly.

Breakfast, Jiang Pingchuan’s favorite, was laid out on the table. After they finished, they walked out of Wangu Pavilion. Although Jun Moyan was curious about the food, he felt he shouldn't pry, so he held his tongue. Jiang Pingchuan noticed Jun Moyan’s hesitation but remained silent.

They walked up to the city gate tower of Yang City, looking out at the bustling crowds below. Overnight, the corpses at the gate had all been cleared away. Jun Moyan leaned against the battlements.

"Pingchuan, where do you come from, and where are you going?" Jun Moyan asked. He had heard many rumors about Jiang Pingchuan and could guess a fair bit, but it was the uncertainties that bothered him the most.

"From beyond the continent, and back to beyond the continent," Jiang Pingchuan said with a smile. The silver mask on his face made him look somewhat aloof.

"Where to next?" Jun Moyan knew Jiang Pingchuan didn’t want to say too much, so he stopped pressing.

"To the Royal Capital. And you?"

"Stationed at Yin-Yang City, then off to Storm City."

After saying this, Jun Moyan patted Jiang Pingchuan on the shoulder. Jiang Pingchuan didn't understand what he meant, and by the time he looked back, Jun Moyan had already descended the tower. Jiang Pingchuan stroked the little fox in his arms and whistled at the city gate.

Before long, a cloud of dust rose as the Cloud-Listening Horse galloped to the gates of Yang City. Jiang Pingchuan jumped down, walked to the horse, patted its mane, and led it into the city.

Learning that Jiang Pingchuan was leaving, Feng Wuliang stood before him, fidgeting like a shy girl, clearly wanting to say something but unable to find the words. Feng Xiaoge and Feng Li stood behind their father, looking at his cowardly demeanor with disdain.

"Young Hero Jiang, as you know, I and the City Lord of Yin City were once husband and wife. She came to see Feng Li and Xiaoge last night. We separated back then on an impulse, and now we want to reconcile, but... but..." Feng Wuliang stammered. Jiang Pingchuan saw Feng Xiaoge pulling faces and sticking out her tongue, signaling for him to look at her father’s awkwardness.

"City Lord Feng, please, speak plainly."

Jiang Pingchuan was confused. If they wanted to reconcile, that was a good thing. Why did Feng Wuliang look like he was heading to his execution?

"Meiren says she wants Young Hero Jiang and Marquis Qingyuan to be the witnesses for our wedding," Feng Wuliang said, as if it took all his strength to utter the words.

"Witnesses? Aren't you already husband and wife?" Jiang Pingchuan asked, bewildered. Feng Wuliang sighed.

"Meiren says she wants me to marry her again before she’ll reconcile. It’s a second wedding, even if it’s the same person. Honestly, she thinks she let down Li’er and Xiaoge. I didn’t want to marry her again, but she knelt before me last night begging, and I had no choice but to agree."

"Ouch, ouch... Meiren, take it easy, take it easy..." Before Feng Wuliang could finish, Jiang Pingchuan saw Fu Meiren rush out from the side hall, grab Feng Wuliang’s ear, and twist it hard. Feng Wuliang, who had been so reluctant a moment ago, was now crying and begging for mercy. This dramatic scene eased the tension in the hall. Suddenly, a man walked through the door, reeking of jade coins, as if he lived immersed in them.

Everyone looked at the man standing at the entrance, holding a golden abacus hung with smooth, jade-like beads.

"Boss Wan?" Jiang Pingchuan looked at him, puzzled. He had thought Boss Wan was an ordinary man earlier that morning, but now he could sense a peculiar True Qi within him—so unique that even the golden characters in Jiang Pingchuan’s mind could not find an answer.

"Are you Suan Tianji? After all these years, you’ve finally decided to show yourself?" Su Qianyun called out to him. Boss Wan gave a bitter smile, confirming his identity.

Jiang Pingchuan felt nothing, but Feng Wuliang, Fu Meiren, Jun Moyan, and Wan Tang all stared at Boss Wan in shock.

"Tianji, is it really you?" Feng Wuliang asked, his eyes red and his lips trembling. Fu Meiren smiled slightly, released her grip on Feng Wuliang’s ear, and wiped away her tears. Jiang Pingchuan finally realized that Boss Wan was an old friend of theirs, yet no one had known his true identity.

"Brother Wuliang, Qianyun, Meiren, I’m back," Suan Tianji said with a forced, stiff smile.

"Just in time. Meiren and I are getting married tonight. You’ll have to attend again! Ha, and don't think you're getting out of the gift money!" Feng Wuliang laughed and slapped Suan Tianji on the shoulder, trying to lighten the mood, but no one laughed. The death of Master Gong was a heavy blow to them all.

"Report—!" A guard rushed in, shouting frantically. Feng Wuliang waved his hand, signaling him to speak.

"A beggar at the gate claims to be the sworn brother of the Dongzhou City Beggar Sect’s second-in-command, and he also says, he says..." The soldier stammered, afraid to look at Feng Wuliang. Feng Wuliang smacked him on the head.

"Did you eat dung? Spit it out, what did he say?"

Hearing the first half, Feng Wuliang looked curiously at Jiang Pingchuan. Everyone knew Jiang Pingchuan was the second-in-command of the Beggar Sect. They all guessed what was coming next, but no one spoke, waiting for the soldier to continue.

"The beggar said he was the peerless, handsome man who watched you and the Madam battle in bed all night, that he is the godfather of the Young City Lord, and also..."

"Enough! What kind of nonsense are you spouting in public? Get out!" Feng Wuliang slapped the soldier again. The soldier stumbled, fell down the steps, and rolled until he lay unconscious. Feng Wuliang snorted and strode toward the gate.

Jiang Pingchuan followed quickly. An image of a lewd-looking man appeared in their minds. Suan Tianji and Su Qianyun exchanged glances and followed. Fu Meiren took Feng Xiaoge’s hand and led Feng Li toward the door. Jun Moyan and Wan Tang followed as well, though Jun Moyan lingered half a step behind, watching Wan Tang.

When they reached the gate, they saw a ragged, soot-faced man leaning against the wall, picking his teeth with a blade of grass and spitting at the gates of the City Lord’s mansion. Seeing them, he yawned and strolled toward them.

"You bastard, I’ll kill you!" Feng Wuliang balled his fists and lunged, but before he could make contact, Master Gong let out a wail and collapsed, unconscious. Feng Wuliang, staring at his empty hands, panicked and knelt to cradle him.

"Don't scare me! It’s all my fault! Get up, I won't hit you, just get up!" Feng Wuliang’s voice was hoarse and his eyes red as he felt the life fading from Master Gong. The others gathered around.

Only Jiang Pingchuan stood by with a faint smile, clutching Master Gong’s prayer beads in his hand, as if waiting for something to happen.