Chapter Forty-Eight: Enemies Always Cross Paths

Mount Zhongnan rises steep and beautiful, its splendor like embroidered silk, long reputed as a celestial domain, the foremost blessed paradise under heaven. The mountain ridges layer upon each other, peaks stand proud, waters gleam with purity; everywhere are ancient Daoist temples and shrines. Scholars, poets, pious men and women come in endless streams. Over time, at the mountain’s foot, a small town grew up on its own—Dayu Town.

Surrounded by picturesque scenery, many wealthy families have built villas and estates here, making this lovely town at the mountain’s base flourish with prosperity. “Taiyi is close to the heavenly capital, the mountains connect to the distant sea. White clouds merge when viewed from afar, blue mists vanish upon approach. The central peaks change with the regions, each valley differs with sun and shade. Wishing to stay with someone for the night, I must ask the woodcutter across the water.” The great poet Wang Wei of Chang’an referred to this very place in his famous verse.

The most luxurious and grand restaurant in Dayu Town is the Ruyi Pavilion, usually bustling with guests and lively noise. Yet today, the Ruyi Pavilion was uncharacteristically quiet. Sitting in the brightest and most spacious room on the second floor, Lu Jiu had ordered the restaurant closed to outsiders—for she had reserved the entire place to receive a very special guest.

On the table, the fresh and tender lamb had no trace of gaminess, and the exquisite sashimi was mouthwatering. Paired with a few plates of seasonal vegetables and some fresh fruit, anyone would find their appetite thoroughly aroused.

Lu Jiu did not spare the delicacies a glance. Though the autumn air had grown chilly, she still gently fanned herself, appearing utterly composed. But the two attendants by her side, Qing’er and Wang Eleven, knew very well that their young mistress’s heart was far from as calm as her bearing suggested.

Four years ago, Lu Liaoliao had made everyone eat hallucinogenic mushrooms, vanishing into thin air like a drop of water melting into the sea. In time, even the Five Poisons Sect, who had once been determined to capture Lu Liaoliao, gave up searching for him. Only Lu Jiu spent money and effort to dig up every detail of his past, even learning what happened to him during his years in the Five Poisons Sect.

Lu Liaoliao arrived with Zhou Liuzi and Old Hu, both tidied up and looking fresh. He meant to show that proud tomboy that he was no longer the destitute youth she could toy with as she pleased.

Led by the welcoming servant, Lu Liaoliao sauntered in and sat across from Lu Jiu. Zhou Liuzi and Old Hu stood tall behind him. Glancing briefly at Qing’er and Wang Eleven by Lu Jiu’s side, Lu Liaoliao suddenly realized how rustic his own companions appeared by comparison.

A melodious zither sounded from behind the curtain at Lu Jiu’s back. Lu Jiu raised her teacup, sipped lightly, then fixed her gaze on Lu Liaoliao and said:

“Lu Liaoliao, when we met recently at the Cheng family’s jade shop, I thought we’d met before. I never imagined we would meet again so soon.”

“Wang Liuli, the Ninth Miss of the God of Wealth of the Great Tang—I never had the chance to make her acquaintance,” Lu Liaoliao replied coolly, lifting his teacup and blowing on it.

“How dare you! Do you think you can address my young mistress by her given name?” Qing’er snapped.

“Qing’er, didn’t we at least count as half friends, picking mushrooms together back then? Is this how you speak to me now? Why can’t I call Wang Liuli by name?” Lu Liaoliao complained, forgetting he had just denied knowing her.

“Pah! Who’s your friend? Who forces friends to eat poisonous mushrooms? My young mistress’s given name can only be called by her future husband, no one else!” Qing’er’s quick tongue was a match for Old Hu’s.

“Really? I don’t remember that. Probably you made a mistake and ate the poisonous mushrooms yourself—had nothing to do with me. And you, calling someone ‘young master’ and ‘given name,’ what a strange woman—who’d ever marry you?” Lu Liaoliao waved his hands, then tapped his own mouth, the meaning plain to all.

“Enough!” Lu Jiu’s knuckles on the table blanched with anger.

“Aren’t we here to negotiate? If I keep quiet, how are we to talk?” Lu Liaoliao felt a surge of satisfaction, sweeping away the gloom of four years past.

Forcing herself to calm, Lu Jiu stared at Lu Liaoliao and said, “Lu Liaoliao, an orphan of unknown origin, was adopted and raised by Physician Lu Xiuyuan, himself an adopted son of the Imperial Doctor Lu Manman. At eleven, because your father offended a powerful noble, you fled with him to Jinshui Town in Yangzhou Prefecture. Gifted and clever, you topped the county examination at thirteen and were recommended as a tribute scholar. At fourteen, your home was robbed by bandits; your father died by their hands. You yourself were taken by the bandits to the remote Five Poisons Sect in the southwest, and made a medicine slave by Lady Fang of the Spirit Snake Valley—the very female thief who killed your father.

On the eve of the Huashan Festival, you were forced to flee into the Lu River for destroying the sect's sacred relic.

Ha! But according to what I’ve found, you didn’t destroy the sacred relic. Instead, you and that Lady Fang, man and woman alone together, not only failed to avenge your father, but became lovers, ruining her purity just as she was to become the Huashan Saintess.

After the festival, the Five Poisons Sect fell into rebellion and split in two—all of which had nothing to do with you.

Am I wrong?”

Having finished her long speech, Lu Jiu let out a long breath, her gaze a little triumphant as she stared at Lu Liaoliao.

Lu Jiu’s account was not entirely accurate, but not far from the truth. As Lu Liaoliao listened, he felt as if he’d been stripped bare, with no secrets left, nowhere to hide.

After a moment in shock, Lu Liaoliao muttered, “What enmity do we have that you’ve investigated me so thoroughly?”

“To know oneself and one’s enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles. Did you think I, Ninth Master, would let you get the better of me again?” Lu Jiu exhaled, pride in her voice.

“Haha, as long as you’re not hounding me because you can’t get married, that’s fine.” Since there was nothing more to hide, Lu Liaoliao decided to be shameless.

“Enough! Lu Liaoliao, don’t forget, I saved your life twice.” Lu Jiu, trembling with anger, took out a yellowed IOU and slapped it on the table.

“Oh, just taking advantage of my misfortune to extort two thousand taels from me. I, Master Lu, will repay you.” Though his pockets were empty, Lu Liaoliao spoke with false bravado.

“Hmph! Four years ago it was two thousand, but do you think it’s still just two thousand now? I’ve kept careful track—see for yourself.” Lu Jiu threw a ledger his way.

Lu Liaoliao glanced carelessly, but when he saw the total—over fifty-seven thousand taels—his face turned green. He began to read it carefully.

The accounts were detailed: every expense, every interest payment, all meticulously recorded.

Even the most ruthless moneylenders weren’t this vicious. Two thousand taels of debt had become fifty-seven thousand after four years. Old Hu and Zhou Liuzi were quietly shocked.

“Heh, you’re not completely heartless—at least you didn’t compound the interest. But the cost of your investigations and your poisoning—why should I pay for those? And what’s this enormous ‘emotional damages’ fee?” Lu Liaoliao sneered, anger barely contained.

Old Hu couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at the ‘emotional damages’ fee. So, there was someone in the world even more calculating than Lu Liaoliao.

“You know, that shameless thief Lu Liaoliao, faced with his savior, not only showed no gratitude but made us all eat hallucination mushrooms to avoid a paltry debt, then slipped away himself.

Since I, Lu Jiu, began trading, when have I ever suffered such a loss? Not a day has passed without remembering that humiliation, thinking of how to repay it. You have no idea how much trouble and loss you caused me! Charging you just thirty thousand taels for emotional damages is generous.”

Lu Jiu slammed the table in anger.

Old Hu gazed at Lu Jiu with unrestrained admiration. Even Zhou Liuzi’s cold face was momentarily stunned. But they all underestimated Lu Liaoliao’s shamelessness, including Lu Jiu herself.

“You keep saying I made you eat poisonous mushrooms—but where’s your proof? Where are your witnesses?” Lu Liaoliao spread his hands, looking directly at Lu Jiu.

“Qing’er and Wang Eleven are right here. Do I need to find more?” Lu Jiu replied coldly.

“Haha, Wang Liuli, for all your cleverness, you’re just a girl who keeps the accounts. Qing’er is your maid, Wang Eleven your bodyguard—according to Tang law, neither can serve as a witness.”

To drive the point home, Lu Liaoliao deliberately used her given name.

Lu Jiu could not be bothered to argue over such details now, and coldly said, “His Majesty himself receives my father with courtesy in Daming Palace. Several scholars our Wang family helped now hold high office in Chang’an. Do you think I’d fear you if this went to court?”

This was sheer bullying by power! Lu Liaoliao fumed inwardly, his mind racing. If only he could snatch the IOU with his own handprint, Lu Jiu would have no leverage left. If it truly went to court, he had a fair-minded teacher to support him.

In a barely audible voice, he said to Zhou Liuzi, “In a moment, I’ll distract Wang Eleven—take the chance to grab the IOU and destroy it.”

“Hehe, what a rare reunion after four years—a fate not to be taken lightly. Why speak of lawsuits and ruin our friendship?” Lu Liaoliao smiled, raised his teacup, and walked over to Wang Eleven.

“Brother Eleven, you’ve grown more dignified in these few years.” Not caring that Wang Eleven’s face was cold as ice, Lu Liaoliao approached him warmly.

Zhou Liuzi darted forward, lunging at Lu Jiu’s table.

But before he could succeed, a stunningly beautiful woman burst out from behind the curtain, smiling as she blocked his way.

Lu Jiu lifted the IOU in her hand, smiling triumphantly. “Lu Liaoliao, even the old guard captain Wang Qi of my Wang family is no match for you—did you think I wouldn’t guard against you?”

With a clang, Wang Eleven drew his sword to protect Lu Jiu, saying coldly, “With me here, you’ll not get a step closer to the Ninth Mistress.”

Lu Jiu pointed at the exquisite woman and said with a smile, “Lu Liaoliao, do you know who she is? She’s the famed Flower Cherisher, who caused a sensation in the capital. The Flower Cherisher is a woman—bet you didn’t know that, did you? Ha! Ha ha!”

Lost in her triumph, Lu Jiu completely missed the strange look on Lu Liaoliao’s face as he stared at the Flower Cherisher, only to break into a radiant grin.

Gu Xihua flashed gracefully forward, plucked the IOU from Lu Jiu’s hand, and pressed a short sword to Wang Eleven’s back.

“Haha! You say I don’t know who she is? That I don’t know she’s the dashing Flower Cherisher of Chang’an? That I don’t know the Flower Cherisher is a woman? She’s been my woman for ages—if I didn’t know, who else possibly could?”

Lu Liaoliao burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.