Chapter 34: Chivalry and Righteousness

"Hardly a distinguished guest, just a pauper," Shi Chun said without reserve, gesturing to his own tattered clothes in self-deprecation. Then he pointed at Bian Weikang and ordered, "Release him!"

Feng Chi blinked repeatedly, not taking the bait. She gracefully approached Bian Weikang and asked him, "Is he an acquaintance of yours?"

Bian Weikang felt a little embarrassed. He had no idea who this suddenly appearing, shabbily dressed person was; certainly no one in his circle of acquaintances. However, seeing a glimmer of hope now that the man was clearly interceding on his behalf, he immediately called out to Shi Chun, "Please help me, young sir! I will repay your kindness manyfold in the future." He addressed him as 'young sir' because he could tell the man wasn't very old.

Shi Chun ignored Bian Weikang and instead replied to Feng Chi, "Whether he's an acquaintance or not is irrelevant. What matters is that you've gone too far. You know perfectly well who he is, and humiliating him like this is a slap in the face to Wukang Mountain. I can't stand to watch it!" He believed that Wukang Mountain would eventually learn of this incident, so naturally, he spoke up for them, hoping for a favorable encounter later. Many people wondered if this person was somehow connected to Wukang Mountain.

Feng Chi smiled, also noticing that Bian Weikang didn't recognize the man. She immediately waved her handkerchief. "Distinguished guest, you exaggerate. Let's keep things separate; we wouldn't dare involve Wukang Mountain. We haven't pressured Young Master Bian in the slightest. He brought this humiliation upon himself, and it has nothing to do with Wukang Mountain. He wants to redeem a girl from my establishment but can't pay. Not only does he prevent others from redeeming her, but he also blocks my entrance, hindering my business. We had no choice but to ask him to step aside. Distinguished guest, please judge for yourself: who is truly in the wrong here?"

"Just give me one more day, please, just one more day!" Bian Weikang hastily interjected. Then, remembering something else, he quickly shouted to Shi Chun, "Young sir, could you please lend me fifty thousand gold? I will definitely repay double later."

Shi Chun still ignored him and said to Feng Chi, "I've already seen what happened. Isn't it just a matter of fifty thousand Tan gold?" Upon hearing this, Che Si, Old Dong, and Dashitou's expressions subtly changed.

Shi Chun had already walked away from Feng Chi and approached Bian Weikang. He raised his hand, patted Bian Weikang's shoulder, and said with an appreciative look, "What I, Shi, admire most are people like you, full of emotion and loyalty. If everyone in the world were heartless, what meaning would life have? Mutual affection is worth more than countless riches. To abandon one's reputation for love—you are a true man, a real hero! Fifty thousand Tan gold, I'll lend it to you!"

Bian Weikang's lips trembled with excitement, and tears instantly streamed from his eyes. The feeling of being abandoned by the whole world only for someone to suddenly reach out and pull him up was something others couldn't comprehend. He was too overwhelmed to utter a single word of thanks.

Shi Chun turned back and called to Wu Jinliang, "Do you have fifty thousand gold?" Wu Jinliang's grin stretched almost to his ears as he cheerfully replied, "Yes, just brought it over. It's still warm!" Shi Chun said, "Give it to them."

Wu Jinliang slung his large saber over his shoulder, carried the casket with one hand, and set it down with a thud on Bian Weikang's chest. He grandly gestured, "Count it." This was the first time in his life he'd been so generous, and he felt immensely pleased with himself.

Che Si's face was a little green, and he was confused by the situation. It seemed Shi Chun was acting like a chivalrous hero, defending Wukang Mountain's honor. The disheveled young master's words implied a close connection to Wukang Mountain, leaving Che Si unsure whether he should try to reclaim the forty thousand. However, upon reflection, Wukang Mountain was a major sect renowned for crafting talismans, a wealthy family. If the money wasn't repaid, Wukang Mountain wouldn't be able to afford the loss of face, and the young master had just promised to repay double. Considering this, he remained silent.

Old Dong and Dashitou, meanwhile, intently observed Wu Jinliang's words and actions. While they might not have understood much else, they knew Wu Jinliang. Seeing someone like him casually toss away fifty thousand gold as if it were nothing, they increasingly realized there was something significant going on.

Shi Chun then turned and pointed at the two bouncers restraining Bian Weikang. "Aren't you going to release him? If you dare go back on your word, I swear I'll smash your rice bowls!" The bouncers' rice bowls were effectively Liyun Pavilion, meaning he was threatening to destroy Liyun Pavilion itself.

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances. Regardless of the time or place, openly challenging such a large pleasure establishment, one that could control a crowd of influential patrons, required a certain background. Anyone who dared to speak like that in public was either ignorant or powerful. Whether he was ignorant was unknown, but the fact that he could just toss out fifty thousand gold was real proof of significant resources; that was no ordinary person's doing. Fifty thousand Tan gold was indeed no small sum. Coupled with his ragged clothing and such confidence, plus the presence of Bowang Tower's people, it was hard for the madam, Feng Chi, to misjudge him. Still, she remained cautious. She took a few steps forward and opened the casket. Immediately, a stack of purple fiery qi emerged, confirming that the casket was truly full of Nanfu Tan gold. It wasn't a bluff; he genuinely had the means. She immediately gave a slight nod to her subordinates.

The bouncers restraining Bian Weikang immediately released him.

Overjoyed, Bian Weikang was about to offer a profound bow of thanks to Shi Chun, but Shi Chun quickly held him up. "Hey, it was nothing. No need for such formality. Whatever you want to say, we can discuss later. For now, it's best to take your beloved away."

Then, he turned and questioned Feng Chi, "Madam, the money has been given to you. Where is Miss Xiang?"

"With such a noble helper, it seems your destiny with Lan'er truly is heaven-ordained," Feng Chi said with a smile, teasing Bian Weikang. She then nodded to a subordinate. "Bring Lan'er here." The subordinate immediately nodded and left.

Having revealed her mercantile nature, Feng Chi no longer concealed anything. With a flick of her handkerchief, she ordered her other subordinates to publicly verify the amount and authenticity of the Tan gold.

As a precaution against scoundrels, not gentlemen, Shi Chun also gave a slight nod. Old Dong and Dashitou immediately stepped forward to oversee the Liyun Pavilion staff as they counted, clearly guarding against any trickery. The two had followed Shi Chun in Dongjiuyuan for many years and were accustomed to working in close cooperation. If they couldn't even understand such a simple glance from their leader, they would have been useless. After carrying out the order, they couldn't help but exchange glances, understanding the meaning in each other's eyes: "This damned old habit. We're now Bowang Tower's people, respectable individuals, no longer members of the Dongjiuyuan raiding gang." They felt a little guilty. Che Si was watching, and was it appropriate for Bowang Tower's people to get involved in this matter? But then they reconsidered, their gazes meeting a few more times before they found a justification: the money belonged to Miss Miao, so what was wrong with them overseeing it?

This entire scene was observed by Feng Chi. Bowang Tower was a colossal presence in the cultivation world. Aside from the underworld, which had been closed off from external contact for eight hundred years, Bowang Tower's business tentacles extended to almost every region. Its influence was anything but simple. Her Liyun Pavilion might have some standing in Zhaotian City, but outside it, it was nothing, and it was utterly insignificant compared to Bowang Tower, even though they were all in business. The fact that he could command Bowang Tower's people with just a glance made her increasingly certain that this shabbily dressed newcomer was no ordinary person. She immediately leaned closer with a smile to inquire, "May I ask for the young sir's esteemed name?"

Shi Chun calmly replied, "Shi Chun." 'Si Chun' (Pondering Spring/Love)? Feng Chi was momentarily stunned. When she realized, she thought he was teasing her, given her profession as a brothel owner. However, as someone used to such situations, she knew when to take offense and when not to. She immediately smiled and replied, "You jest, young sir."

Shi Chun had seen similar reactions many times and was quite sensitive to them. He knew instantly that she had misunderstood, and his expression immediately darkened. He stopped paying attention to her. Feeling rebuffed, Feng Chi offered an awkward smile and moved on. Since the man didn't want to elaborate, she wouldn't press; she would find a way to inquire about him later.

"Xiang..." The person who ran into the small side room of Liyun Pavilion's main hall was startled to see Xiang Lan'er looking as if she had been beaten. He was too surprised to speak, but seeing that she seemed unfazed, he didn't pry further. He relayed the message: "Bian Weikang has gathered enough money to redeem you. The madam is calling for you to come out." Xiang Lan'er hummed in acknowledgment; she had witnessed the events while hiding, and although she hadn't seen everything clearly, she had guessed what was happening. After the messenger left, she touched the whip marks on her body and face, feeling as though she had endured them for nothing. She then walked to the window to observe the situation outside. After composing herself, she gracefully walked out.