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Chapter 172 The Five-Coin Boy
"Thank you for speaking up for justice, young master."

On stage, Mei Lanfang, the troupe leader, clasped his hands in thanks to Wang Xi, who was standing not far away in the audience.

The other members of the opera troupe beside him also bowed, while silently observing the young man in the black robe.

This person's outstanding appearance and temperament were secondary; what surprised them even more was his upright posture, like a sharp sword hidden in its sheath, his spirit restrained yet making people afraid to look directly at him.

Since none of the group possessed the strength of the troupe leader, nor did they practice internal martial arts, they were unable to discern Wang Xi's Grandmaster level at a glance.

But one thing is certain: he was also a martial arts master.

"You're too kind, Master." Wang Xi returned the greeting with a cupped hand. "The Jinghong Troupe uses drama to convey moral principles, singing about all the injustices of the world. Their courage and integrity are truly admirable. It is my honor to have the opportunity to witness your performance today."

Upon hearing this, Mei Yanxi felt a surge of goodwill.

The members of the opera troupe all felt respected by the young man; he was articulate and understood them.

What a kindred spirit!
"Junior sister really enjoyed your performance." Wang Xi smiled and took out two silver coins, placing them on the white-robed youth's tray. "Just a small token of my appreciation."

Mei Yanxi smiled and clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Young master is very generous! The Jinghong Troupe is new to your esteemed place, and it is truly an honor to have received your favor. On behalf of all the members of the troupe, I thank you!"

Huo Qiao'er's ears turned slightly red, and her fingers secretly twisted the hem of her clothes. Her senior brother had actually spent two silver dollars on her, which made the young girl happy.

The actress Jiang Xiaolan's eyes sparkled as she softly said, "May I ask your honorable name, sir? Such bearing suggests you are not from an ordinary family."

“The Huo Family Martial Arts School, Wang Xi,” Huo Qiao’er answered first, her chin slightly raised. “My senior brother is—”

"Ahem." Wang Xi gently patted his junior sister's shoulder and nodded to Mei Yanxi: "If the troupe leader has some free time, you can come to the martial arts school for tea. My master respects heroes of the martial arts world the most."

Mei Yanxi slammed her red-tasseled spear on the ground and laughed, "Good! Once I've taken off this outfit, I'll definitely pay you a visit!"

Grandmasters are rare to find, let alone like-minded individuals like them.

He genuinely wanted to befriend the young man.

Just then, Wang Xi caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye and took his leave of Master Mei.

He grabbed his junior sister's hand and quickly walked through the crowd.

"Senior brother, where are we going?"

Huo Qiao'er asked, puzzled.

The way back to the martial arts school isn't this way.

Wang Xi didn't answer, but quickened his pace and soon caught up with the man and woman traveling together ahead.

Snapped!
He put one hand on the shoulder of the young man in the shirt and mandarin jacket, his voice playful: "Junior brother, why are you hiding from us?"

Zhang Fuyun stopped, turned around stiffly, and gave an awkward smile: "Senior brother, senior sister..."

Wang Xi glanced at the female companion beside him.

The woman was beautiful and very quiet, staying obediently beside Zhang Fuyun without saying a word.

She wore her hair in a bun with a gold-trimmed bow, and a loose-fitting light green silk cheongsam.

She looks like a woman from a wealthy family.

"Yun Fuzhan (Friendly/3 stars)"

This woman actually possesses the skill of a three-star beginner.

"Junior brother, who is this girl? Introduce her."

Huo Qiao'er asked curiously.

Zhang Fuyun hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "This is a friend I met at a play, Yun Fuzhan... Her family is in the medicinal herb business, and she just arrived in Qingwei Town."

"So it's Miss Yun."

Huo Qiao'er looked the woman up and down and praised her:

"So beautiful, no wonder she's from a distinguished family."

Yun Fuzhan simply smiled and nodded at her without saying a word.

Wang Xi said, "Junior brother, Miss Yun, there's a gathering nearby, why don't we take a stroll together?"

“Yes.” Upon hearing this, Huo Qiao’er’s eyes lit up. “Junior brother, this is a good opportunity to show Miss Yun around our Qingwei Town.”

Actually, it was her own idea to play.

Zhang Fuyun glanced at the woman beside him, exchanged a look, and then said to his senior brothers and sisters, "Well... alright."

So the four of them set off together.

The market in Qingwei Town is small, but it is lively.

It's still early morning market, and the bluestone slabs are gleaming with a patina.

The tarpaulin stalls have been set up in a row and spread out along the river—vegetables with dew on them, live fish with their tails swishing, and newly made sickles are displayed at each stall.

The vendors called out their wares, and people came and went.

Wang Xi and his three companions moved among them.

The copper kettle at the tea stall puffed out white steam, and the sizzling sound of fried dough cakes mingled with the sweet aroma of maltose; the dough sculptor's fingers flew, and in the blink of an eye, a majestic general appeared; children crowded in front of the old man's stall, exchanging a penny for a bamboo dragonfly or a clay whistle, and they were as happy as sparrows.

Suddenly, a gong sounded.

They then saw a father and son performing somersaults, and a little girl with blond hair holding a bowl asking for a reward.

"Fuzhan, I'll go buy you persimmon cakes."

At this moment, Zhang Fuyun saw a small stall and smiled at the woman beside him.

"Would you like anything else to eat? Candied hawthorn? Sugar paintings? Or, how about taking a couple of clay sculptures back to decorate?"

Miss Yun smiled and nodded.

Not a moment.

Zhang Fuyun bought a lot of things and then wandered to a stall selling antiques. He stopped when he saw a beautiful jade pendant on a cloth mat.

When asked the price, the stall owner quoted twenty silver dollars.

It's said to be a family heirloom and cannot be sold cheaply.

Zhang Fuyun gritted his teeth, about to take out his money, when a voice sounded beside him:
"Junior brother, have you been reading the 'Confessions of the Foolish Man' that I wrote for you?"

Zhang Fuyun was startled and quickly turned his head.

Then he saw the young man in the long black coat standing beside him, quietly staring at him.

"Senior brother, of course I saw it..."

As he spoke, his voice grew weaker and weaker.

But she quickly added solemnly, "Miss Yun has a very good temperament and is very well-mannered... Although she is born mute, I like her very much."

"Senior brother, it's just a piece of jade. I think she'll like it."

"If you like it, buy it."

Wang Xi nodded.

Zhang Fuyun seemed to have received confirmation, and breathed a sigh of relief. He took out two banknotes and handed them to the stall owner.

After the two of them left.

The skinny stall owner quickly packed up his things and prepared to flee.

He was secretly overjoyed: "You fool who has money to burn, spending twenty dollars on a worthless piece of glass, serves you right for being fooled!"

But he had only taken two steps when his shoulder was pressed down.

"Huh?" Turning his head, he saw that the young man in the black coat had returned.

"Do you recognize this?" Wang Xi asked casually, holding a revolver in his hand.

"?!" The stall owner's face changed drastically, and he looked around nervously. "W-what do you want? This is a market, and the local militia are patrolling!"

“It just so happens that I am good friends with Mr. Zhong, the head of the troupe.”

Wang Xi nodded and pulled the stall owner out.

"Let's go to the local militia station and see if what you just sold is really worth twenty silver dollars..."

"No, no, no!" The stall owner's legs went weak with fear. "Sir! Please, sir! I'll give you your money back right now!"

After saying that, he took out the two ten-yuan notes. Wang Xi took them and then put a few coins back in his pocket.

"Get lost now."

"Alright, sir!"

...

...

"Senior brother, where did you go just now?"

Zhang Fuyun, carrying large and small bags, saw his senior brother return and hurriedly asked.

In the blink of an eye, his senior brother had vanished, leaving him no choice but to wait where he was.

"I bought a shortbread to satisfy my craving." Wang Xi gestured to the small paper packet in her hand, then took out two banknotes and handed them to him. "Here you go."

"What is this?" Zhang Fuyun asked in surprise.

"Consider that jade pendant a gift from your senior brother to your sister-in-law."

Wang Xi smiled.

Zhang Fuyun looked stunned, then shook his head and said:
"This...this won't do, it's too expensive."

Wang Xi, too lazy to say anything more, shoved the money back into Zhang Fuyun's hand.

The junior apprentice hesitated for a moment, then his face was filled with emotion.

"Thank you, senior brother."

"Don't rush to thank me." Wang Xi took a bite of the pastry and started walking forward on her own. Her voice came: "If you really want to thank me, thank me at your wedding banquet."

"Okay, don't worry, senior brother."

Zhang Fuyun smiled shyly and followed, carrying the things.

The two walked for a while.

"By the way, senior brother, aren't you going to buy something for senior sister Qiao'er?"

Seeing that Wang Xi had finished eating the pastry and was wiping his mouth with empty hands, Zhang Fuyun couldn't help but ask a question.

But then the young man said leisurely, "I gave her a dollar; she can buy whatever she wants to eat..."

"Oh." Zhang Fuyun was somewhat stunned.

Soon, the four of them reunited.

Zhang Fuyun saw that his senior sister Qiao'er was carrying large bags and small packages, just like him. But she happily approached her senior brother and shared the food and trinkets with him.

At this moment, Zhang Fuyun was somewhat dazed.

...

...

evening.

The setting sun bathed the streets of Qingwei Town in orange-red hues as the four of them slowly walked along the stone-paved road.

Huo Qiao'er linked arms with Wang Xi and chatted enthusiastically with Yun Fuzhan about everyday matters, one speaking and the other listening.

In fact, after spending the day together, Qiao'er noticed that Miss Yun was mute, but she did not show any abnormality. Instead, she became even more friendly and enthusiastic.

Zhang Fuyun followed behind, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Sister Fuzhan, which street are you temporarily staying on?"

Huo Qiao'er asked, her eyes curving into crescents.

Just as Yun Fuzhan was about to raise her hand to gesture, Zhang Fuyun hurriedly interjected, "It's near my house, in the alley behind the Zhang residence, very close..."

Wang Xi glanced at his junior brother but said nothing.

Huo Qiao'er was in high spirits: "That's on our way, let us take you to your doorstep!"

"No, no need!" Zhang Fuyun waved his hands repeatedly. "Senior brothers and sisters have been playing with us all day, they must be tired. It's just around the corner, we can go back by ourselves."

"What, are you kicking her out already?" Huo Qiao'er feigned anger, releasing Wang Xi's arm and making a move to take Yun Fuzhan's arm. "I'm going to take Fuzhan home!"

Zhang Fuyun was so anxious that he was covered in sweat.

Wang Xi gave him a meaningful look.

The atmosphere became strangely eerie.

The four of them walked all the way to the front of the Zhang family mansion and stopped.

Zhang Fuyun's expression changed several times. He clenched his fists, and finally seemed to have made a decision, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Fuzhan, you go in first."

He turned his head and spoke gently to the woman.

The latter nodded, then bowed to Wang Xi and Huo Qiao'er, and walked gracefully towards the magnificent vermilion gate. He pushed the door open and entered, his figure disappearing behind the door.

"?!"

Huo Qiao'er looked shocked.

"Isn't this your home?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Zhang Fuyun lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the string of copper coins hanging from his waist.

"Junior brother," Wang Xi's voice was calm but brooked no evasion, "What exactly happened?"

Zhang Fuyun's shoulders slumped.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes already red: "Senior brothers, senior sisters... I'm sorry, I lied to you."

He trembled as he untied the string of copper coins.

Five old copper coins were strung together with a red thread; it was the gift Wang Xi had bought from the peddler—a "five-coin duck."

"Two nights ago, I discovered that it could bring my shadow to life..."

Huo Qiao'er was startled and subconsciously looked at Zhang Fuyun's feet, then gasped in shock.

Under the setting sun, my junior brother had no shadow!

Wang Xi had actually noticed the anomaly long ago, but he didn't know the reason, so he pretended not to know.

"I have a deep-seated obsession."

Zhang Fuyun shed tears.

"So... my shadow became the perfect wife I've always dreamed of."

Wang Xi frowned slightly.

Zhang Fuyun... Yun Fuzhan.

It is precisely because the name has been reversed, like a reflection.

What puzzles him now is why the "Five-Coin Duck" has such a sinister ability.

Isn't it a miraculous item that increases one's luck?

Suddenly.

The five copper coins in Zhang Fuyun's hand twisted.

They disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Instead, a barefoot child wearing a bib appeared beside Zhang Fuyun.

The child was innocent and naive, his little hands tugging at Zhang Fuyun's trouser leg, on which were tattooed five green ducks.

Wang Xi frowned as he looked over.

"Five-Coin Boy - Green Duck (Friendly/Four-Star/Hero)"

A four-star silver-framed...monster?
He couldn't help but think of the broom the peddler had taken away, which was a strange creature called "Lantern Boy".

(End of this chapter)