Golden Scaled Fish in the Cold Pool

The alley was near Tianshui Bridge, and the commotion from the fight inside was quite loud. When they turned out of the dead end, they could see that the street was already surrounded by nearby commoners who had come to watch the excitement.镖师 (Biao Shi, meaning escort guards) like Chen Biao and Yang Chao were among them.

San Niang was dressed as a female family member of a merchant's household, wearing a light purple dress. With her maidservant, she stood at the entrance of the alley and was speaking with an apologetic expression:

"Jingtang is young and full of vigor, a bit impulsive. I will definitely discipline him well in the future. How is Lord She's injury..."

"Miss Pei, you don't need to be so polite. We were acting under orders to investigate. Any injuries will be taken care of by the yamen. This matter has nothing to do with Master Ye. Please forgive us for disturbing the Pei residence."

"Oh, don't say that..."

Pei Xiangjun was an unmarried young lady of the Pei family. Although the shopkeeper and the employees called her San Niang, in formal occasions, she was mostly addressed as Miss Pei.

Ye Jingtang tidied up his robe. After making sure he didn't look disheveled, he walked out of the alley. San Niang quickly ran over, and the escort guards chased away the idle onlookers.

Pei Xiangjun was full of anger in her heart but didn't show it. She came in front of Ye Jingtang and carefully examined his chest and arms:

"Jingtang, are you injured?"

Ye Jingtang was about to say he was fine, but he felt a sharp pain in his left arm. He rolled up his sleeve and took a look—the blood vessels on his forearm were swollen, the skin was red, and it was隐隐作痛 (dully aching).

After a quick look, Pei Xiangjun could tell that it was caused by forcefully stopping his cultivation and the backlash of his internal energy. Fortunately, it wasn't serious. She held Ye Jingtang's left hand and covered it with her sleeve:

"How did you get injured like this? These arresters, really..."

Ye Jingtang's hand was held. Her hand was cool and felt delicate and smooth. His elbow touched something soft and plump. Judging from the size, it was even bigger than Luo Ning's "small watermelon" by a bit...

But San Niang's concern came from the bottom of her heart. Ye Jingtang definitely couldn't have such improper thoughts. He tried to pull his hand back: "I'm fine. It's just a scratch." But he couldn't pull it out.

"This is just a scratch? It's even hurt the muscles and bones."

Pei Xiangjun pulled Ye Jingtang to the carriage and pushed him onto it, looking a bit cute but fierce.

Ye Jingtang entered the carriage. He wasn't used to this overly considerate care:

"San Niang, don't be so worried. When I was at home before, my adoptive father chased me with a stick every day. This little injury is nothing."

After Pei Xiangjun got into the carriage, she pulled the curtain, told the carriage to return home, and took out the medicinal wine for bruises and a soft pillow from beside her.

She placed the soft pillow on her knees and then rested Ye Jingtang's arm on it:

"What's wrong with you? When the arresters asked you questions, you should have answered honestly. Why did you draw your saber and cut them?"

"It was just a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?"

Pei Xiangjun gently applied the wound medicine to his forearm, her eyes angry:

"What kind of misunderstanding would make you use such a heavy hand? The Iron-Armed Ghost has a body like copper skin and iron bones. I heard that even a martial arts master in the rivers and lakes might not be able to cut him and cause an injury. How did you manage to injure him?"

"My adoptive father taught me a secret technique in the past. I didn't expect it to be so powerful."

When Pei Xiangjun heard this, she became even angrier!

The last time she went to test Ye Jingtang's martial arts skills, Ye Jingtang "pretended" not to know anything.

But when the Black Yamen came to interrogate him, Ye Jingtang took out his "peerless saber technique." Wasn't this courting death?

However, Pei Xiangjun was also curious why the Ghost of Black and the Ghost of White didn't notice anything unusual. She asked:

"Was your saber technique really taught by Second Brother?"

"Yes. Otherwise, who else could have taught it?"

"What's the name of the saber technique?"

"White Slash..."

Slap~

Pei Xiangjun gently slapped Ye Jingtang's shoulder for his nonsense. Biting her lower lip, her eyes were pitiful, looking like she had been deceived by a heartless person:

"You're lying to your martial aunt too, aren't you? Do you know how scared I and your aunt were today? We were even going to ask the adults at Wendu Bridge for help to intercede..."

Ye Jingtang really couldn't stand this look in her eyes. He gently comforted her:

"I really practiced it casually. San Niang, don't worry. The government has already finished the investigation. There's no problem, and they even gave me a token."

Pei Xiangjun knew that Ye Jingtang didn't want the Pei family to be involved in matters of the martial arts world. After looking at Ye Jingtang pitifully for a moment, she didn't ask any more questions. She took the waist token that Ye Jingtang handed over and looked at it:

"A token of the Jing Wang Mansion? This thing is not simple..."

This token was equivalent to an olive branch thrown by the Jing Wang Mansion. If it was handled well and a strong relationship with the Jing Wang Mansion was established, it would mean being closely related to the Black Yamen.

And the Black Yamen was an yamen specifically dealing with people in the martial arts world. If such a person were to be the leader of the Honghua Building, it would be no exaggeration to describe them as having "connections everywhere." Even if they didn't know martial arts, how many martial arts forces would dare to provoke them?

Thinking of this, Pei Xiangjun put the token back into Ye Jingtang's hand:

"You must keep this token well. Hmm... Since Prince Jing appreciates you, you also need to show your sincerity. I'll prepare some things and send them to the Jing Wang Mansion in your name. There's no need for a visit. Visiting without any reason, if Prince Jing really received you, it would make you seem not to know your own worth..."

"Just arrange it as you see fit, San Niang."

Pei Xiangjun thought for a moment and then said softly:

"I'll give you a few days off. Take a good rest these days and don't be busy with the affairs of the shop. When I'm done preparing, come to the Pei family. I'll introduce you to the other industries of the Pei family and introduce you to a few shopkeepers from other places."

Ye Jingtang was slightly surprised: "Besides the Tianshui Bridge, the Pei family has other industries?"

"Just a little bit."

Pei Xiangjun thought of the internal and external troubles of the Honghua Building and felt annoyed. She said softly:

"With such a large family business, it's really too much for a woman like me to handle alone. You've performed well these days. In the future, you'll officially take over and help share the burden."

"San Niang gives me such a high salary. I would feel guilty if I were idle. Just assign any tasks you have."

"You said it. Don't complain about being troubled and give up the tasks later."

"How could I? I always keep my word."

Only then was Pei Xiangjun satisfied. She gently and virtuously helped wipe his arm.

Ye Jingtang's hand was on Pei San Niang's leg. Although there was a soft pillow in between, the posture was really a bit intimate.

San Niang lowered her head to apply the medicine. The hairpin on her bun swayed slightly in front of his eyes as the carriage moved. Her soft and charming red lips and the heavy衣襟 (lapel) were also within easy reach.

Ye Jingtang originally thought that he had great self-control and wasn't tempted by beauty. But after coming to the capital, he became less and less confident. He moved his gaze away from her plump red lips and reached for the wound medicine:

"I'll do it myself."

Slap——

Pei Xiangjun slapped Ye Jingtang's hand:

"Are you despising your martial aunt?"

"How could I? I'm just afraid that San Niang will be tired. Alas~ You can continue..."

Ye Jingtang retracted his hand disappointedly and sat upright, as if he was enduring the pain like Guan Gong when having his bone scraped for treatment. To be honest, he felt a bit strange in his heart.

After sitting for a while, he thought of the matters of the Honghua Building and secretly took a few more glances at San Niang—gentle, charming, and she would act coquettishly from time to time when she spoke. She really couldn't be associated with the "female leader" of a powerful martial arts family.

Ye Jingtang couldn't possibly test her by making a move. After looking at her for a while, he saw that San Niang raised her eyes and looked at him, so he shifted his gaze elsewhere...