From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

The plum garden is planted with plum trees.

Deep within the courtyard stands a pavilion: the Red Plum Pavilion.

The interior of the pavilion was as bright as day.

On the large rosewood table by the window, food and wine were laid out, cups and plates arranged, steaming hot.

The man in the main seat was about thirty years old, dressed in a brocade robe and jade belt, with an arrogant air about him. He held a celadon wine cup in his hand, turning it idly.

"Report—!"

Suddenly, a servant rushed in and knelt on the ground: "Master! Something terrible has happened on the pleasure boat!"

"Shouting and yelling like that, what kind of behavior is that?"

Huo Qianshan, sitting to the left, frowned and glared at the servant. "Can't you see we have a distinguished guest?"

"Eh."

Jiang Feng, sitting in the main seat, waved his hand and said lazily, "Let him say what he has to say."

Seeing that Young Master Feng wasn't angry, Huo Qianshan turned to the servant and demanded, "Speak! What happened over at the pleasure boat?"

"That constable surnamed Zhu."

The servant lay prostrate on the ground, trembling like a leaf, stammering, "He...he went back to fight!"

"What?"

Huo Qianshan frowned, but before he could ask any further questions, the servant blurted out, "He stormed into the pleasure boat all by himself, drove all the guests away, and killed all the guards!"

"Aren't Yuan Lie and the others all staying on the pleasure boat today?"

Huo Qianshan's eyes widened in shock and he roared, "How could someone kill him! And," he took a deep breath, his gaze like a knife as he glared at the servant, each word spitting out from between his teeth:

"He dares to come here alone?"

The servant bowed and nodded hastily: "It's true, absolutely true."

"You bastard!"

Huo Qianshan pressed his hand firmly on the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. "A mere constable, coming to my door time and time again, do you really think I'm made of paper?" With that, he stood up and gave Jiang Feng a slight bow.

"Young Master Feng, please excuse me for the moment."

After dealing with that arrogant and ignorant constable, we'll return to host a banquet and offer our apologies.

"Go."

Jiang Feng casually placed the wine cup on the table. "Just remember what I told you to do today, keep your mouth shut." He didn't even look up, a slight, dismissive smile playing on his lips, and said calmly.

"If we let our guard down, it will cause a lot of trouble with Father."

"Young Master Feng, please rest assured, I understand the gravity of this matter." Huo Qianshan cupped his hands in greeting, then turned his head and said:

"Sanjiang, come with me!"

Ma Sanjiang immediately got up and hurriedly followed Huo Qianshan away.

As soon as the two left, Chi Shoutan stood up, bowed deeply to Jiang Feng with a fawning smile, and said in an extremely respectful tone, "Young Master Feng, I am deeply grateful for your efforts in handling everything here today." He bowed so low that he almost broke at the waist.

It was already late.

"I dare not trouble you any further, so I will take my leave now." He paused, then added, "If Young Master Feng has any orders in the future, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation."

"Um."

Jiang Feng snorted lightly and waved his hand casually.

Seeing this, Chi Shoutan bowed again before turning and walking away quietly to avoid disturbing Jiang Feng.

"Young Master Feng, it's still early, and the night is long and boring."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Jiang Jingtang immediately approached Jiang Feng, flattering him profusely, "How about I accompany you to find a quiet and elegant place to pass the time?"

"pastime?"

Jiang Feng straightened up from the bamboo chair, a slight smile playing on his lips, and sighed regretfully, "What a pity."

"What's a pity?"

Jiang Jingtang was taken aback.

"What a pity about Bai Xiuying."

Jiang Feng picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and said casually, "I only spent a dozen or so moments with her before that damned Liu Wenyuan caught us." His tone was light and unreadable.

"That's settled then."

As the eldest son of the Liu family, he forgoes wealth and status, choosing instead to become a lovesick fool.

otherwise……

It's so much better to share joy together.

"Who says otherwise?" Jiang Jingtang nodded and bowed repeatedly. "That Liu Wenyuan is so ungrateful. It's an honor for Young Master Feng to hang out with him. But he..." As he spoke, he spat on the ground.

"How dare you be so ungrateful as to lay a hand on me."

He deserved to die!

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore." After having his fun with that young master Liu's 'golden canary,' Jiang Feng had lost interest in entertainment.

suddenly.

His gaze, sharp as a cold star, pierced Jiang Jingtang, his smile still lingering, his tone playful: "Jingtang, tell me, aren't other men's wives always more appealing than your own?"

Jiang Jingtang's eyes darted around, and he immediately understood:

"To be honest, Young Master Feng, I do know a few wonderful places. They're all beautiful women, among the most beautiful in Jinyang City, but unfortunately, they've all married spineless cowards." He chuckled wickedly.

"If Young Master Feng is interested..."

I'll make the arrangements tonight, and I guarantee you'll be completely satisfied...

Jiang Feng raised his hand to stop him.

"Eh—"

The frivolous smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a serious expression. He shook his head slightly and said, "Jing Tang, even if those women are somewhat beautiful, they are still of lowly status. Although I, Jiang Feng, am fond of pleasure, I would never do something so disgraceful."

Having said that, he toyed with his wine cup and said wistfully:

"Forget it, let's go back."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jingtang's eyes flashed with understanding. This young master must have taken a fancy to someone. He chuckled, "Young Master Feng is too formal. Have you found someone you like? Why don't you tell me? I can give you my opinion."

Jiang Feng suddenly looked up.

Those eyes were as deep and unfathomable as a frozen pool, and he asked, word by word:

"really?"

Jiang Jingtang felt a little uneasy under his gaze, but still forced a smile and said, "Really!"

"You don't regret it?"

"No later, I'll regret it..."

The moment the word "regret" left his lips, Jiang Jingtang's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "Oh no, why does Young Master Feng's gaze seem to be directed at me?"

Before he could finish this thought, Jiang Feng suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter:

"Jing Tang, Jing Tang, I will remember your loyalty." He patted Jiang Jing Tang on the shoulder and smiled as if nothing had happened: "Don't worry, as long as I have food to eat, you will definitely have a bowl of soup too."

"Young Master Feng, you're too kind."

Jiang Jingtang rubbed his numb shoulder and said with a forced smile, "Being able to do things for Young Master Feng is due to the good deeds of my ancestors."

"stop."

Jiang Feng waved his hand, interrupting him, "The ancients were right: women are like clothes, brothers are like limbs." He spoke slowly, but there was an indescribable quality to that slowness:

"You've heard that before, haven't you?"

Jiang Jingtang's throat bobbed, and he said in a dry voice, "I...I've heard of it."

"I am very pleased."

Jiang Feng nodded, his gaze indifferent, like a cat eyeing a mouse. "We've come to the same conclusion." He paused, took a sip of his wine, and set it down before speaking slowly and deliberately:

"Speaking of which..."

Last time at your villa, I inadvertently glanced at your wife.

"Tsk tsk tsk, that's really something." He drew out the words, raising his eyes to look at Jiang Jingtang:

"It has a unique charm."

……