While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 59 The Wind Rises in Huayin

"Is that really true? Let's go take a look."

Hearing Xiaoqing's words, not only Feng Buping but also Yue Feng became curious. Led by Xiaoqing, the two arrived at the guest room area of ​​Baiyun Temple, which was a rather large courtyard with several neatly arranged rooms.

At least twenty or thirty fierce-looking martial arts practitioners were scattered in groups of three or five in the courtyard, some sharpening their knives, others wiping their swords. Seeing Xiaoqing leading two people over, many of them cast unfriendly glances at them.

Xiaoqing gave an awkward laugh, stopped at the courtyard gate, and said to Yue Feng and Feng Buping, "See? Isn't it just as I said? These people not only outnumber us, but they're also xenophobic. If it weren't for the money they offered, humph!"

Yue Feng found it rather amusing. Feng Buping said, "In that case, Brother Feng and I should go down the mountain to stay. You are the abbot of Baiyun Temple; we can't really share a room with you, can we?"

Xiaoqing opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly, with a creak, the door to the best room on the north side of the courtyard opened. A young girl dressed in light purple, carrying a long sword, strode out. The martial artists in the courtyard jumped up from the ground and shouted, "Greetings to the young lady!"

The girl said as she walked, "I'm going down the mountain to drink. You're not allowed to follow me. Xiong Jiu, keep an eye on them."

A burly man answered loudly, "Yes! Miss, are you sure you don't need us to follow you? Just in case something happens..."

The girl retorted angrily, "If anything happens to me, it's most likely because of your curse! Shut your jinxed mouth!"

Xiong Jiu shut his mouth, feeling wronged. The girl walked to the courtyard gate and saw Xiao Qing with Yue Feng and Feng Buping. She stopped and said to Xiao Qing, "Abbot Xiao Qing, didn't I tell you that I had this courtyard reserved? Why did you bring other people?"

Xiaoqing said, "Miss Xiong, you misunderstand. These two are my friends. I was just showing them around the temple when we unexpectedly ended up here. We'll be leaving now."

After hearing Xiaoqing's explanation, Miss Xiong narrowed her phoenix eyes and looked at Yue Feng and Feng Buping. Her gaze swept directly over Feng Buping's face, but stopped on Yue Feng's face.

"Huh? Your eyes... don't I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?"

Yue Feng also felt that this bear-like girl looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen her before. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Miss, if you think my eyes are beautiful, you might as well just say so. There's no need to try to trick me with these kinds of questions."

Xiaoqing and Feng Buping both smiled. Miss Xiong was stunned for a moment before realizing that Yue Feng was joking with her. Her pretty face immediately fell: "You scoundrel, where did you get the audacity to come and tease this little miss!" Xiong Jiu and his group swarmed over.

Yue Feng, knowing when to stop, clasped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Excuse me. My name is Feng Yue. May I ask your name, young lady?"

Miss Xiong snorted, "Feng Yue? Never heard of him. A nobody like you isn't worthy to ask my name. You just provoked me, but I won't stoop to your level. Just answer a few questions and this matter will be over."

Yue Feng smiled and nodded: "Please ask, young lady."

Miss Xiong said, "Judging from your accent, you seem to be a local?"

Yue Feng said, "I am from Xi'an Prefecture. You are from Huazhou, aren't you, young lady?"

Miss Xiong raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? You could tell from your voice? You've been to Huazhou?"

"I often visit the surrounding counties."

Are you familiar with Huayin County?

When Yue Feng heard Miss Xiong mention Huayin, his heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he nodded and said, "Of course I'm familiar with it. Are you going to Huayin? I happen to be going there too, so I can come along and act as your guide."

Miss Xiong had the same idea, but she didn't expect Yue Feng to say it first. Her expression softened slightly, and she snorted, "Not bad, you've got a good eye. How about this, you come down the mountain with me, and we'll find a place to have a proper talk."

Miss Xiong left without warning, giving Yue Feng no chance to refuse. Yue Feng said goodbye to Xiao Qing and Feng Buping, then followed Miss Xiong down the mountain. Once they reached the foot of the mountain, the two rode to the nearest market and found a tavern to sit down.

The food and wine were served, and Yue Feng and Miss Xiong clinked glasses a few times. Yue Feng noticed two red clouds creeping onto Miss Xiong's fair face, realizing that this young lady actually had a very low alcohol tolerance; she only drank a few cups before stopping. Miss Xiong teased him:

"A grown man of seven feet tall, yet your alcohol tolerance is so shallow. If you were to drink with my father, I guarantee you'd be drunk to death!"

Yue Feng smiled but remained silent. Miss Xiong said, "This time I'm going to Huayin..." Suddenly, an elderly man dressed as a steward walked in, and she changed the subject, calling out, "Old Qin! Over here!"

Steward Qin turned around, glanced at Miss Xiong, and remained expressionless. Upon seeing Yue Feng, however, he was both surprised and delighted, and walked over, saying, "This must be the young master, Miss. Why don't you introduce him to this old servant?"

The young woman, feeling the effects of the alcohol, asked blankly, "Son-in-law? What son-in-law?"

Butler Qin said, "Don't try to fool this old servant. Miss, from childhood to adulthood, when have you ever drunk alone with a young man? If this weren't the young master, I'd eat this bucket of chopsticks."

Butler Qin pointed to the chopstick holder on the table, which contained about a dozen pairs of chopsticks. Yue Feng and Miss Xiong glanced at the holder simultaneously and said in unison, "Then you can eat!"

After they finished speaking, they looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter. Yue Feng said to Butler Qin, "Old sir, you've misunderstood. I'm really not your young lady's son-in-law; I'm just a guide she invited here."

Butler Qin scrutinized him for a long time, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared. He sat down sideways at the table, grabbed a handful of chopsticks, casually broke them in two, and threw them into his mouth to chew slowly.

"Sigh...Young Miss, you're finally back. The situation in Huayin is extremely dire."

As Butler Qin spoke, he glanced at Yue Feng. Miss Xiong said, "It's alright, he can listen. Old Qin, tell me, what exactly happened in Huayin?"

Butler Qin said, "The...the letter the gang leader gave you should have already told you some things, right?"

"Yes, he said a gang called 'Dafeng Gang' suddenly appeared in Huayin and wrecked our branch there. He's worried that the people there won't be able to control the situation, so he wants me to go over and help."

Steward Qin said with a wry smile, "That letter was written on an old almanac from a long time ago. Even now, with the gang leader personally overseeing things, the Great Wind Gang is still defeating us one after another. The gang leader sent me to pick you up so that you could go straight back to Huazhou and not get involved in that mess in Huayin."

Upon hearing this, Yue Feng had already guessed the identities of the two men. Having grown up in Huashan, he was naturally very familiar with the local gangs, the most notable of which was the Weihe Gang, known as the "Number One Gang in Xi'an."