Chapter 292 - 289: Fame Shakes Jiangnan

Chapter 292: Chapter 289: Fame Shakes Jiangnan

The heart of Fengzhou City.

A great river, a full hundred meters wide, cut through Fengzhou City. One by one, large ships laden with cargo sailed across its surface.

This was the Xuan Yang Grand Canal.

It was also the economic lifeblood of the Empire.

On the canal, a massive three-story ship was particularly eye-catching. It flew a Black Gold Banner, upon which the word "Cao" was written in flourishing calligraphy.

This was a ship of the Cao Bang.

On the canal, the Cao Bang were the undisputed overlords.

At the very top of the massive ship sat an elegant pavilion, from which a woman’s melodious and moving song could be heard.

"Younger Brother Bai, I’ve missed you to death!"

Qiu Yang, who had been humming an unknown Jiangnan tune, saw Bai Yuan’s group appear and happily rose from his chair.

Bai Yuan cupped his fists. "Brother Qiu."

"Oh? And who are these two?"

"The Heir of Qingzhou, Li Huan, and Yan Lei of the Yan Family."

"Oh. Have a seat wherever."

Qiu Yang decisively ignored Li Huan and Yan Lei, striking up a warm conversation with Bai Yuan as if they weren’t there.

This added to the shock on Li Huan’s and Yan Lei’s faces.

Although the two of them were of noble birth, Qiu Yang was the Vice Gang Leader of the Cao Bang. His strength and status were both superior to theirs, so his current attitude was only normal.

But his enthusiasm toward Bai Yuan was simply too much. He was even beckoning a Dancing Girl to sit on Bai Yuan’s lap.

Yan Lei had dealt with Qiu Yang a few times in the past. The man had always been arrogant. For him to act this way was a clear testament to the weight Bai Yuan held in his heart.

Li Huan was also so shocked his jaw hung open.

The two of them couldn’t help but recall some of the rumors about Bai Yuan from his time in Dingzhou.

It seemed Bai Yuan had once performed a heroic rescue.

It was precisely because of that incident that Bai Yuan’s name became known throughout the land by those few great families, and he had vaulted into the ranks of the monstrous talents, standing shoulder to shoulder with the top geniuses of Xuan Yang.

But rumors were just rumors, after all. Yan Lei had thought it was all just manufactured hype.

Now, however, it seemed the weight Bai Yuan carried in the hearts of the Cao Bang was far greater than he had imagined.

"Brother, I already have a wife. I can’t, I really can’t."

"My dear brother, you must have a taste of the young ladies of Jiangnan."

"..."

Seeing Bai Yuan’s polite but firm refusal...

Qiu Yang could only let it go.

’This good younger brother of mine is perfect in every way, except he’s too sentimental. He’ll easily suffer for it.’

Qiu Yang chuckled. "Younger Brother Bai, you came to Jiangnan without even telling your big brother. If you had, I would have definitely gotten the top courtesan from Yanshui Pavilion for you."

"..."

Yan Lei and Li Huan exchanged a glance, both wondering if their presence here was a bit redundant.

Bai Yuan said helplessly, "Brother Qiu, I’m on a mission this time, which is why I couldn’t inform you."

"A mission?"

Qiu Yang raised an eyebrow.

But he didn’t press the issue. As a man in power, he naturally knew that many of the Court’s affairs required secrecy.

At that moment, Yan Lei, who was standing to the side, interjected, "My grandfather ordered us to head south and seek the support of Jiangnan’s heroes."

Qiu Yang nodded.

"I wonder if Master Qiu is willing to lend a hand for the greater good."

Qiu Yang scoffed. "The greater good? What a load of crap."

But then he looked back to Bai Yuan. "However, since it’s my younger brother’s business, it’s my business. Why don’t you come south with me to Lu State? The Gang Leader happens to be there. I can ask him."

Hearing this, Yan Lei was overjoyed.

Bai Yuan cupped his fists again. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, brother."

Since Qiu Yang had put it that way, he naturally wouldn’t refuse.

’The more people who go north to provide support, the safer Ling Province will be.’

’Besides, a major organization like the Cao Bang wouldn’t make a rash decision just because they owe me a favor. They must have been considering it for some time.’

...

The great ship set sail.

The group traveled south with the wind, covering seven hundred li in a single day.

Enjoying the sights of Jiangnan from the deck of the great ship was a unique pleasure.

In just three days, they arrived in Lu State.

As a major state in Jiangnan, Lu State was naturally far stronger than Fenzhou; otherwise, the Cao Bang wouldn’t have established their headquarters here.

If Chuzhou hadn’t produced a Yan Shao’an, the title of number one in Jiangnan would have belonged to Lu State.

The Fang Family, which Lu Yu belonged to, was also in Lu State.

But Lu State had several other powerful family clans like the Fang Family, a testament to its terrifyingly deep foundations.

The Cao Bang’s headquarters were located right on the canal docks.

"HEAVE-HO!"

"HEAVE-HO!"

Amidst the rhythmic chanting of the boat haulers, the great ship finally pulled ashore.

With a loud RUMBLE, a huge wooden plank was lowered from the ship, connecting it to the dock.

Qiu Yang led Bai Yuan and the others off the ship.

Bai Yuan gazed at the cluster of buildings before him, which seemed even more magnificent than the Imperial Palace of his previous life. His understanding of Jiangnan’s wealth rose to a new level.

"Younger Brother Bai, you go rest for a bit at Tingshui Pavilion first. I’ll go find the Gang Leader and ask him."

"I’ll trouble you then, Brother Qiu."

Bai Yuan cupped his hands.

A quick-witted Cao Bang member led Bai Yuan to a restaurant on the docks.

The Cao Bang helped the Court manage the canal. Along the thousands of miles of waterway, besides tens of thousands of sailors, they also had countless businesses of all sizes at the docks.

And this Tingshui Pavilion was one of the Cao Bang’s properties.

Tingshui Pavilion was also one of the four great restaurants in Lu State City, a holy land for gourmands across the world.

Bai Yuan was led into a private room.

Although Yan Lei was a disciple of a Jiangnan Major Race, it was his first time entering a top-floor room at Tingshui Pavilion. This was a place only great figures like the Vice Gang Leader of the Cao Bang were qualified to enter.

His own status and strength were not enough to grant him entry here.

The way Yan Lei looked at Bai Yuan now was completely different.

’Bai Yuan’s strength is probably even greater than the rumors say. Otherwise, there’s no way a Vice Gang Leader of the Cao Bang would value him so highly.’

Perhaps because they knew Bai Yuan was not one for female company.

This time, no Dancing Girls entered. Instead, more than a dozen exquisite side dishes were brought in.

The portions for each dish were minuscule, but each was prepared to near perfection, a delightful sight to behold.

Li Huan couldn’t wait, picking up a piece of fish to taste.

He was beginning to understand why his father, the king, had never forgotten Jiangnan. This unique flavor was truly hard to find in the Northern Territory.

Bai Yuan also picked up a piece and began to eat.

Even with his own superb cooking skills, he had to admit that the chefs of Jiangnan really had something special. Their technique was definitely at the peak master level.

’Everyone says Jiangnan is wonderful, and it’s certainly not without reason.’

Bai Yuan, his two companions, and some of the officials who had traveled south with them all ate with great enjoyment.

Just as the group finished devouring the dishes on the table like a whirlwind, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Qiu Yang walked in, all smiles.

"It’s done."

Hearing this, Bai Yuan and the others were overjoyed.

By securing the Cao Bang’s support, their mission to the south was more than half complete. Even if they returned now, they wouldn’t be punished by Yan Shao’an.

"However..."

Qiu Yang’s tone shifted.

Yan Lei said, "Elder Qiu, please state your conditions."

Qiu Yang chuckled again. "The Cao Bang just runs a few small businesses. We just hope that the Lord Grand Protector can give us a bit of support."

"I can agree to this in advance on behalf of my grandfather."

Yan Lei immediately slapped his chest, making a solemn promise.

’It was hard enough to find the Cao Bang willing to help. I absolutely cannot let this opportunity slip through my fingers.’

"Then my thanks to you, Lord Yan. In a few days, I will personally lead men north."

"Mr. Qiu, you are a righteous man."

Yan Lei bowed deeply to Qiu Yang.

Qiu Yang waved his hand dismissively. He wasn’t interested in young juniors like Yan Lei.

He walked over to Bai Yuan’s side. "Younger Brother Bai, your big brother has done you a huge favor this time. Three cups of wine isn’t too much to ask, is it?"

Bai Yuan laughed heartily. "I won’t go home until I’m drunk!"

Yan Lei watched Qiu Yang and Bai Yuan with envy. Qiu Yang was clearly treating Bai Yuan as a peer, a stark contrast to how he treated him and Li Huan.

’There’s only one possibility: Bai Yuan’s strength is already on par with Qiu Yang’s.’

The thought seemed absurd to Yan Lei.

Bai Yuan was only thirty years old. To be able to contend with an established master like Qiu Yang at such a young age... you couldn’t find many like that in the entire Xuan Yang region.

’Eighth in the world... Could it be true?’

He couldn’t help but recall a rumor he’d heard before, that someone had ranked Bai Yuan eighth among the younger generation in the world.

Before, he thought it was an exaggeration. Now, it seemed there was an eighty percent chance it was true!

Yan Lei shook his head, trying not to think about it anymore.

’Regardless, thanks to Bai Yuan this time, the mission was completed perfectly.’

Li Huan, on the other hand, was long past the point of being surprised.

He had been shocked by Bai Yuan so many times he’d gone numb.

No matter what unreasonable thing Bai Yuan did, he would find it reasonable. He figured Yang Fangyu and Lu Yu must feel the same way.

After three rounds of drinks...

Just as Qiu Yang had moved on from telling interesting Jianghu stories to discussing what lay beneath a young lady’s skirt, there was a knock on the private room’s door.

Qiu Yang, who was in high spirits, was greatly displeased by the knock.

He stood up, threw the door open, and prepared to see which blind fool was disturbing his good mood.

The moment he pushed the door open, he saw a dignified middle-aged man standing at the entrance.

"Well, well, Elder Fang."

Qiu Yang exclaimed in surprise.

This uninvited guest was none other than the Grand Elder of the Fang Family, Fang Yan.

Fang Yan chuckled. "Little Brother Bai came to Lu State, and you didn’t even tell me. That’s not very proper of you."

Qiu Yang immediately pulled Fang Yan into the room.

Bai Yuan cupped his fists. "Elder Fang."

"Martial artists don’t stand on ceremony with ’elder’ this and ’elder’ that. Just call me ’big brother’."

Now Yan Lei was even more dumbfounded.

He had been in Jiangnan for so many years, of course he knew of the reputation of Fang Yan, the ’Dragon of the Fang Family’.

If anyone else under thirty dared to call Fang Yan ’big brother’, they would surely be strung up and beaten.

Qiu Yang said to Fang Yan, as if showing off, "Younger Brother Fang, I’m personally leading men to Ling Province to support Younger Brother Bai. Aren’t you going to contribute?"

Fang Yan smiled faintly. "Spoken like a true man of the Jianghu. My Fang Family has already sent troops north. They will reach Ling Province in a few days."

Unlike the Cao Bang, the Fang Family was a clan with close ties to the Imperial Court; many of its members served as officials.

It was just that this generation of the Fang Family hadn’t produced any high-ranking officials. The highest was a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but even he had to show deference to the Lord Grand Protector.

After all, they were both Jiangnan families, and in the Imperial Court, there had always been talk of a ’Jiangnan Faction’.

With Yan Shao’an, the leader of the Jiangnan Faction, having gone to Ling Province, the other families would more or less contribute as well.

When Yan Lei heard Fang Yan’s words, he was ecstatic.

’Bai Yuan is a lucky star!’

In just one day, he had roped in two major powers. The mission to the south was already more than accomplished!