Chapter 573
Chapter 573
After Wang Bi departed, Shen Lang opened the box. Inside, gold bars lay in neat rows, emitting a mesmerizing glow. A grand total of five thousand gold taels, weighing over three hundred pounds. This was only the beginning. Wang Bi, that fool, would undoubtedly show off with all his might, and his circle consisted entirely of friends who lived by squandering their family fortunes. They were the sort with money but pathetic physiques, who dreamed of becoming strong without ever breaking a sweat, hoping to stumble upon some miracle elixir and become martial arts masters overnight.
*If I don’t swindle suckers like these, who will I swindle? It would weigh on my conscience not to take their money.*
Starting tomorrow, Shen Lang was set to make a windfall, a truly massive fortune.
“Brother Lang, you’re going to make enemies of every decorated noble in the capital.”
Yun Mengze couldn't hold it in any longer. Shen Lang toyed with a gold bar in his hand and chuckled.
“Brother, are you afraid of making enemies of these decorated nobles?”
“Why would I worry? I am an imperial envoy; I have no need to ask them for favors.”
“From now on, I won’t have anything to do with them either! Once I help the Fifth Prince, His Highness Ning Zheng, secure the position of Crown Prince, I’ll leave without a second thought. What does it matter to me if they live or die? Besides, I’ve already earned their ire. What’s one more offense?”
“Then what will you do when you want to swindle them again?”
“I’ll just spin an even more convincing tale. Brother, have you heard of chives?”
Yun Mengze nodded.
“Chives are a fascinating thing. You cut a patch, and before you know it, it’s grown back. They say a fish’s memory lasts but seven breaths. But when profit is dangled before their eyes, a man’s memory might be even shorter.”
“And you don’t think Fudao Mountain will give you any trouble?”
Shen Lang shook his head.
“They won’t. I haven’t crossed their line yet. Besides, Fudao Mountain’s influence is centered in the western State of Jin. As long as His Majesty the King protects me, their reach won’t extend all the way to the State of Yue.”
Yun Mengze gave Shen Lang a look of resignation. He had never met anyone with such audacious nerve.
* * *
Inside the Spring Slumber Pavilion.
After leaving Pingping's room, Wang Bi, heir to the Viscount of Xirong’s estate, was filled with regret. He had, after all, been unable to restrain himself. Shen Lang had clearly stated that he would lose one-tenth of his power each time he was with a woman, a warning Wang Bi had found utterly convincing. The dragon’s blood had only just entered his meridians and had yet to fully convert into his own power. In such an unstable state, it seemed perfectly logical that any leakage of his vital essence would result in a loss of that power. Wasn’t there a saying that a drop of essence was worth ten drops of blood?
In truth, his current regret was a stark contrast to the exhilarating time he’d had just moments before. He had reclaimed his masculine pride, utterly conquering that vixen Pingping and making her cry out in submission. He had restored all the face he had lost in the past. The look of longing and adoration in her eyes had filled him with an indescribable sense of pride. But despite that pleasure, he was now weeping tears of blood in his heart. He had lost a full twenty percent of his bloodline’s power. But he truly hadn’t been able to resist.
*I, Wang Bi, swear it. From this day forward, I will not touch a woman for one month. If I break this vow, may I revert to my former, feeble self.*
For him, this was the most solemn oath he could make. Emerging from the little vixen Pingping’s room, Wang Bi strode with an arrogant, swaggering gait. Having had his fill, it was now time to show off and put his peers to shame.
*I’ll let the entire capital know. I, Wang Bi, am no longer the man I was yesterday.*
*Those who forsake me are like yesterday, gone and beyond my grasp!*
This poem had already become famous. At first, it was attributed to Madman Lan, but later, for reasons unknown, it became known as a work of Shen Lang’s. Madman Lan himself claimed he had merely memorized it. In a few more months, the metropolitan examinations would begin. All the scholars were holding their breath, keeping a close watch on Madman Lan and the Ten Lan Brothers. They worried that this group might participate in the examinations again. Fortunately, they had so far shown no intention of participating in either the civil or military examinations.
Though it was deep into the night, for the young nobles of the capital, the evening was just getting started. The Spring Slumber Pavilion was bustling with people, its warmth like a spring day. The two premier establishments in the capital were the Autumn Sorrow Abode and the Spring Slumber Pavilion. The former was a favorite of the literary elite, while the latter was frequented by military scions and the sons of decorated nobles. The name Autumn Sorrow Abode sounded like a place for composing poetry and reciting couplets—a gathering for the pretentious—but the name Spring Slumber Pavilion? How much more inviting it sounded. The name alone suggested a place of repose. More than half the sons of the capital’s military officers and decorated noble families caroused there.
“Huh? Isn’t that Wang Three-Breaths?”
Seeing Wang Bi stride out with such a smug look, everyone was instantly displeased.
*Tch, what’s with that arrogant strut, Wang Bi? You’re just the heir to the Viscount of Xirong. In the capital, your family’s title is small fry.*
Wang Three-Breaths was his nickname. It signified his lack of stamina in a certain department—he couldn’t even last three breaths. It’s said that a given name can be misleading, but a nickname never is. Under normal circumstances, however, the sons of nobles wouldn’t openly shame one another, and they certainly wouldn’t shout such a name to his face. Only a sworn enemy would use such an insulting moniker.
The one mocking Wang Bi now was Hua Xiong, heir to the Count of Yangwu’s estate. This man was Wang Bi’s mortal enemy. And why were they such bitter rivals? Because Wang Bi’s father had snatched the countship from Hua Xiong’s father, Hua Ting. The Hua family also had a distinguished record of service, but they had backed the wrong side in the struggle for the throne of Yue. In truth, Count Hua Ting had done nothing more than send a single gift to the estate of Prince Ning Yuanwu.
After Ning Yuanxian ascended the throne and conducted a great purge, Count Hua Ting managed to keep his life but was inevitably pushed from the center of power. He spent the next ten years desperately currying favor with the king, and after a decade of flattery, he finally regained the king’s trust. He was on the verge of paying a hefty price to secure the position of Vice Admiral of Tianbei Province. He had spent a fortune and knelt until his knees were bruised, just about to grasp that position, when Wang Shu had unexpectedly swooped in like a highwayman and snatched it away. It was a grudge akin to the murder of one’s father.
Of course, the king later abolished the Tianbei Province Admiralty and replaced it with the Grand Marshal’s Command of Zhenbei to elevate Nangong Ao, and Wang Shu was relegated to the fourth-ranked position within that command. A position of power, once lost, was gone for good. Even now, Count Hua Ting remained stuck in the Privy Council, holding a third-rank official post from which he could neither rise nor fall. Though he could do nothing to Wang Shu, his son could certainly torment Wang Shu’s son. And so, Hua Xiong became Wang Bi’s mortal enemy. The two had cursed and fought each other more times than they could count.
Of course, Wang Bi was always the loser, suffering humiliation each and every time. Whether in arm wrestling, wrestling, or martial arts duels, Wang Bi always lost to Hua Xiong. Even when it came to prowess between the sheets, Wang Bi was so thoroughly trounced that he was left utterly humiliated. It was Hua Xiong who had given him the nickname Wang Three-Breaths. After being tormented by Hua Xiong for so long, Wang Bi had grown to fear him, taking detours whenever he saw him and eventually avoiding him altogether. He would give Hua Xiong a wide berth, retreating ninety li if necessary. Otherwise, he would be beaten black and blue every time, a humiliating and shameful ordeal. His life was a series of one defeat after another.
For the past few months, Wang Bi hadn’t even dared to set foot in the Spring Slumber Pavilion, but tonight, he had returned with a vengeance. He was here to reclaim his pride as a man from the vixen Pingping, and his pride as a warrior from Hua Xiong. The day to settle this blood-soaked grudge was tonight!
“Hua Xiong, what did you say? Care to repeat that?”
Hua Xiong was taken aback by Wang Bi’s defiant tone.
*Did this weakling Wang Bi take the wrong medicine today? Not only is he not running away, he’s actually confronting me and looking for a fight?*
Instantly, he clenched his fists and cracked his knuckles, a sharp popping sound echoing through the room. Hua Xiong was naturally burly and incredibly strong, which was why he could always overpower Wang Bi.
“What’s this? Wang Bi, has it been so long since I’ve beaten you that you’re itching for another round?”
Standing on the stairs, Wang Bi declared loudly.
“Hua Xiong, today I will repay every insult you’ve ever dealt me tenfold! Tonight, before a hundred of our brothers and a hundred beauties, I challenge you to a duel! The loser must kneel, kowtow three times, and shout, ‘Grandfather, I was wrong!’ three times!”
At his words, the entire Spring Slumber Pavilion erupted. The young nobles and courtesans present all surged forward to get a better view.
“Ha, is Wang Three-Breaths drunk? Daring to challenge Hua Xiong. Hasn’t he lost to him dozens of times already?”
“That’s not all! He gets thrashed every time. He can’t even withstand three of Hua Xiong’s moves before he’s beaten to a pulp.”
“Looks like Wang Bi has a death wish.”
Hearing everyone’s disparaging remarks, Wang Bi felt a surge of inner glee. This was precisely the effect he had been hoping for.
*Let them all belittle me, let them all look down on me. When I unleash my power and beat Hua Xiong to within an inch of his life, their eyes will pop out of their heads. I will revel in their shock. How satisfying will that be? Now this is how you make a statement and put everyone in their place.*
Wang Bi shouted.
“Hua Xiong, do you have the guts to accept?”
Hua Xiong laughed heartily.
“Since you’re so eager to die, fine! I’ll personally bury you right here!”
“Let’s not just talk. Let’s put it in writing.”
Soon, the two men drew up a formal contract for their duel in front of the hundreds of onlookers. The loser would be required to kneel, kowtow three times, and cry out, “Grandfather, I was wrong.” It included a clause stating that no party would be held responsible for death or injury. The staff of the Spring Slumber Pavilion promptly cleared the tables from the center of the main hall, creating an open space of about thirty square meters.
“Place your bets, place your bets! I’ll give five-to-one odds on Wang Bi! What’s that? Six-to-one, then! Hurry and place your bets! Anyone for seven-to-one?”
In the end, not a single person placed a bet on Wang Bi. The gap in their martial skill was simply too vast; everyone watching was certain Wang Bi would lose. They had fought dozens of times before, and each time, Hua Xiong’s superior strength had resulted in a crushing defeat for Wang Bi.
Yet the one hosting the bets was a prominent noble, Ning Qing.
His father was none other than the Royal Uncle, Ning Ji.