A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Chapter 167 Invitation

The waiter stopped at the door of the innermost private room.

Above the door hangs a plaque inscribed with the two characters "Drunken Moon," written in a vigorous and powerful style. The door itself is made of fine nanmu wood, carved with lotus scroll patterns, and gleams with a dim light under the lamp.

The waiter knocked on the door and said respectfully, "Master Wei, Lord Su has arrived."

Immediately, the sound of a chair being moved came from inside, followed by hurried footsteps. The door was opened, and a middle-aged man came out to greet them.

The man was about fifty years old, with a square face, a wide mouth, thick, dark eyebrows, and bright, piercing eyes. He wore a dark brown silk robe embroidered with subtle floral patterns, and a jade pendant with deep purple tassels hanging from his waist.

Upon seeing Su Bai, he immediately clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, saying with a beaming smile, "Lord Su, it is an honor to have you here. I, Wei, have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me!"

Wei Zhenghong, the head of the Wei family.

His voice was loud and clear, and his smile was warm, but his eyes were unusually sharp, quickly scrutinizing Su Bai from head to toe, from his clothes to his expression, not missing a single detail.

Su Bai returned the greeting and said calmly, "You're too kind, Patriarch Wei."

His tone was neither cold nor warm, neither distant nor overly friendly.

Wei Zhenghong stepped aside to make way, gesturing with his right hand in a respectful manner: "Please come in, sir! The food and wine are all prepared, awaiting your presence!"

Su Bai stepped into the house.

The private room was very large, at least three zhang square.

In the center stood an eight-immortal table, its black lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gleaming softly in the candlelight. The table was laden with cold and hot dishes, steaming hot and fragrant.

Four floor lamps stood in the four corners, their silk lampshades casting a soft, warm glow from the candlelight, illuminating the entire room.

Against the wall is a row of carved antique shelves, displaying various antique porcelain items, including blue and white porcelain vases, white jade ruyi scepters, and cloisonné enamel incense burners, each a masterpiece.

Several people were standing in front of the display shelf. When he entered, they all turned around and bowed with clasped hands.

Wei Zhenghong followed behind, introducing everything one by one.

"This is the fifth master of the Wu family, Wu Shixun."

A thin, middle-aged man stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

He was in his early forties, wearing a moon-white long gown with light blue bamboo leaf patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and had three long wisps of beard under his chin, giving him a scholarly air.

His bowing was perfectly executed, with his waist bent just right, neither impolite nor overly humble.

But those eyes were exceptionally sharp, and they quickly glanced at Su Bai the moment he looked up.

"I have long admired Lord Su's reputation," Wu Shixun said, his voice clear and resonant, carrying a scholarly air.

"This is Xie Yulang, the third young master of the Xie family."

A young man in his early twenties clasped his hands in greeting. He was handsome with red lips and white teeth, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He wore a well-tailored blue robe and a fine mutton-fat jade pendant hanging from his waist.

His gaze toward Su Bai was filled with obvious curiosity, and his smile was warmer than that of others. He bowed particularly deeply when he greeted Su Bai, and when he stood up, he made a point of glancing at Su Bai a couple more times.

"Lord Su!" Xie Yulang's voice was clear and bright, brimming with youthful vigor. "I've long heard of your extraordinary talent at such a young age, and seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved!"

"This is Wan Youcai, the second manager of Wanchuntang."

A short, stout middle-aged man cupped his hands in a salute, smiling broadly with his eyes narrowed into slits.

He was wearing a dark brown silk shirt, made of fine material but with a simple style, and he looked like a shrewd and sophisticated person.

When he bowed, he leaned slightly forward, his face beaming with a smile, yet it didn't come across as overly solicitous; he struck the perfect balance.

"It is my great honor to have Lord Su grace me with his presence!" Wan Youcai's voice was melodious, with a touch of a businessman's slickness, but it did not offend anyone.

Wanchuntang is a business owned by the Wan family, specializing in medicinal herbs. Half of the pharmacies in Qingyuan County belong to the Wan family.

"This is Zhou Fulai, the manager of Zhou's Cloth Shop."

The last person was an elderly man in his fifties, dressed in a simple gray cloth long gown, but the material was of excellent quality, with subtle dark patterns under the lamplight.

He had a kind face and a humble smile. He bowed the lowest point and stood up the slowest. Every move he made showed care and caution.

He represents the Chamber of Commerce Alliance.

"Lord Su, this old man is Zhou Fulai, I pay my respects to you." Zhou Fulai's voice was a little hoarse, but it conveyed a sense of honesty and integrity.

Five people, five factions, all assembled.

Su Bai's gaze slowly swept across their faces: Wei Zhenghong's eagerness, Wu Shixun's scrutiny, Xie Yulang's curiosity, Wan Youcai's shrewdness, and Zhou Fulai's humility—taking it all in.

He nodded slightly in return.

Seeing Su Bai take his seat, Wei Zhenghong quickly invited everyone to sit down. He then personally took the wine pot to pour wine for Su Bai.

Su Bai raised his hand to stop him, and said calmly, "Patriarch Wei, there's no need to be so polite. I'll do it myself."

Wei Zhenghong was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Alright, alright, please feel free, sir." He then gently placed the wine pot in front of Su Bai and returned to his seat.

On the octagonal table, cold and hot dishes were laid out in abundance. Eight cold dishes—four meat and four vegetable—were presented with exquisite artistry, each resembling a work of art.

The slices of braised beef, cut as thin as cicada wings, are translucent; the pickled duck feet, arranged in the shape of flower petals, are golden in color; and the radish flowers, carved into the shape of peacocks, are lifelike.

The hot dishes were even more plentiful, including steamed mandarin fish, braised pork hock, braised prawns, braised sea cucumber with scallions, and a clear chicken soup with a few tender green scallions floating on top, emitting a fragrant aroma.

The wine was of the finest Zhuyeqing variety; the emerald green liquid swirled gently in the white jade wine pot, releasing a refreshing aroma.

Outside the window, the night deepened. In the distance came the sound of the night watchman's clapper, thud, thud—it was the second watch of the night.

The room was brightly lit by candlelight, illuminating everyone's face clearly.

Su Bai picked up his wine glass and took a small sip.

The wine was fine, smooth on the palate, with a lingering aftertaste. But he knew that this glass of wine was merely the opening act of tonight's drama.

The real show is yet to come.

Su Bai glanced around and immediately understood that everyone present was someone who could make decisions for their respective families, but none of them were the true heads of households.

Wei Zhenghong is the head of the Wei family, and his personal appearance is a great honor. After all, it is rare in Qingyuan County for the head of a family to personally pour wine.

However, it was the Fifth Master Wu Shixun from the Wu family who came, not the head of the family, Wu Shirong;

The third young master of the Xie family, Xie Yulang, was not the head of the family, Xie Wenyuan; the one from the Wan family was just a second manager, and the one from the Chamber of Commerce was merely a cloth shop manager.

It's both an admission of weakness and a way of leaving room for maneuver.

If the talks break down, if this Lord Su has too big an appetite, or if trouble breaks out again in Qingyuan County after tonight, they can always excuse themselves by saying they can't make the decision and are just here to test the waters.

The balance was just right.

Su Bai remained calm and took his seat in the main guest position.

The chair was made of fine rosewood and covered with a dark red brocade cushion. It was very comfortable to sit on, as you would sink into it slightly.

He raised his hand to straighten his cuffs, his gaze sweeping across the table—eight cold dishes were neatly arranged, the carved radishes gleaming in the candlelight.

Wei Zhenghong personally poured the wine.

He held the white jade wine pot in his right hand and lightly supported the pot with his left. His movements were extremely steady as he poured the wine, and not a drop of the emerald green liquid was spilled into the cup.

The wine stream was as thin as a hair, shimmering with an amber light under the candlelight.

"Lord Su has been in Qingyuan County for some time now," Wei Zhenghong put down the wine pot, his face beaming. "We haven't had a chance to get to know each other yet. Today, I've prepared a small feast to welcome you. I hope you won't find it too much."

As he spoke, he raised his wine glass with both hands towards Su Bai.

Su Bai took the wine glass, but didn't drink it immediately; he simply placed it in front of him. The white porcelain glass made a very soft "tap" as it touched the table.

He glanced at the slightly swirling wine in his glass and said calmly, "Patriarch Wei, you are too kind. I am new here, and it should be me who pays a visit."

Wei Zhenghong waved his hands repeatedly, his sleeves drawing an arc in the air: "What are you saying, sir! You are busy with official duties, how could we possibly bother you? It is my honor to have you here today."

Wu Shixun stroked his beard and smiled.

He stroked three long strands of his beard with his left hand and held a wine cup in his right, his movements leisurely, quite like a scholar: "Brother Wei is right. Lord Su is young and promising. He has solved a series of major cases and reorganized the Zhenfu Division since he came to Qingyuan. His reputation has spread far and wide. We have long wanted to get to know him."

As he spoke, the candlelight shone on Su Bai's face, making his eyes appear exceptionally sharp in the candlelight, as if he were scrutinizing something.

Xie Yulang echoed, his voice clear and bright, brimming with the youthful vigor of a young man: "The story of Lord Su's single strike that killed Liang Yan has spread throughout Qingyuan. Everyone says Liang Yan's Blood Fiend Blade Technique is formidable, yet he couldn't even withstand a single blow from Lord Su—" He spoke with such excitement that his right hand involuntarily gestured in the air, "I, Xie, am filled with longing and yearn to witness Lord Su's prowess firsthand."

His eyes sparkled as he spoke, and the adoration on his face didn't seem feigned.

Wan Youcai replied with a smile. His eyes narrowed into slits when he laughed, and his fleshy face bulged together, making him look exceptionally amiable: "Indeed, indeed. Lord Su's martial arts are superb. We merchants will have to rely on your help in the future."

As he spoke, he held the wine glass in both hands and raised it towards Su Bai, adopting a very humble posture.

Zhou Fulai didn't say much, but he kept nodding and smiling as he held his wine glass.

His smile was somewhat restrained, his lips pursed, and deep crow's feet appeared at the corners of his eyes, like a cautious old fox, afraid of revealing the slightest flaw.

Su Bai listened to these words with an expressionless face, but found them somewhat amusing in his heart.

These people were testing him with their words. Their talk of "solving major cases one after another," "reorganizing the Zhenfu Division," and "killing Liang Yan with one blow" was all to probe his limits, to see how big his appetite was, whether he was the kind of naive fool who could be easily fooled, and whether he would target their families next.

He didn't respond, but simply picked up his glass and took a small sip.

The liquor entered his mouth, cool and slightly sweet, with the unique fragrance of bamboo leaf green tea melting on his tongue. He put down the glass, the bottom of which landed on the table with a very soft "tap".

"You flatter me, everyone." He raised his eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping across their faces, his tone as calm as if he were commenting on the nice weather. "I, Su, am merely doing my duty. The Golden Knife Alliance and the Blood Knife Gang are rampant in the countryside, oppressing the people, and should be executed according to the law. The Zhenfu Division is the Zhenfu Division of Qingyuan County, and it is only right that it should stand up for the people of Qingyuan County."

That was a perfectly watertight statement.

This both stated his position—acting according to the law—and implied the duty of the Zhenfu Division—to stand up for the people. As for what constituted "running rampant in the countryside" and what constituted "oppressing the people," the criteria were in his hands.

Wei Zhenghong and the others exchanged glances.

Wei Zhenghong's gaze met Wu Shixun's, and Wu Shixun glanced at Wan Youcai. Wan Youcai smiled and lowered his eyelids. Xie Yulang seemed unaware of this subtle exchange of glances, while Zhou Fulai continued to look down at the wine glass in front of him.

"You're right, sir!" Wei Zhenghong nodded repeatedly, his smile deepening, almost overflowing with light. "The Golden Knife Alliance and the Blood Knife Gang have indeed gone too far these past few years, forcing sales and monopolizing the market. We've long since had enough. But—"

唉」

He sighed, waving his right hand in front of his chest with a helpless expression: "As you know, sir, we businessmen value harmony and making money. There are some things we can't interfere with, so we just turn a blind eye. But now that you've stepped in, sir, it's truly gratifying!"

Su Bai glanced at him.

Does harmony bring wealth?

The Golden Knife Alliance and the Blood Knife Gang were able to run rampant in Qingyuan County for two thousand years, thanks in no small amount to the benefits they received from these "harmonious and prosperous" families.

During holidays and festivals, there are social interactions and the exchange of benefits, both overt and covert. On the surface, things seem to go their separate ways, but behind the scenes, countless shady dealings are taking place.

Now that both companies have gone out of business, they've washed their hands of it cleanly, as if they've always been honest and upright businessmen.

He didn't expose her, but simply said, "Patriarch Wei is right. Harmony brings wealth, that's indeed a great truth."

These words, though spoken lightly, were like a needle, gently pricking me.

Wei Zhenghong's expression stiffened slightly, his eyelids twitched, but he quickly regained his composure, smiling as he raised his glass: "Come on, let's drink!"

He raised his glass a little too quickly, and the wine sloshed around in the glass, almost spilling out.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The atmosphere at the table gradually warmed up. Wu Shixun talked about some interesting anecdotes from Qingyuan County, such as how the son of the Wang family on East Street married the daughter of the Li family on West Street, and how many loads of dowry they brought;

A wandering Taoist priest arrived at the Taoist temple outside the South Gate. His fortune-telling was extremely accurate, attracting women from all over the city to flock to him. He spoke with great intonation, quite like a storyteller.

Xie Yulang would occasionally crack jokes, telling anecdotes about the scions of prominent families, which made everyone laugh.

When he smiled, he revealed a set of neat white teeth, and his eyes curved into crescent shapes, making him look like a carefree playboy.

Wan Youcai talked about the tricks of the trade in medicinal herbs, saying things like the poor harvest of Sichuan fritillary bulbs this year would lead to a price increase; and that only ginseng from Changbai Mountain is authentic, while Korean ginseng is just a scam to fool laymen.

He spoke of these things with great familiarity, his fingers tapping lightly on the table as if he were manipulating abacus beads.

Zhou Fulai occasionally chimed in with a few words about the fabric market, mentioning that new patterns of silk from Suzhou and Hangzhou had arrived this year, and the prices were 20% cheaper than in previous years.

He spoke cautiously, glancing at Su Bai's expression after each sentence, as if testing something.

Su Bai didn't talk much. He ate when he was supposed to, drank when he was supposed to, nodded when he was supposed to, and raised his glass when he was supposed to.

But he never touched the hot dishes—he only ate the cold dishes placed in front of him, and only picked up what he could see with his chopsticks. The hot dishes were steaming hot and smelled delicious, but he didn't even glance at them.