Volume 1, Chapter 60: The Furious Young Master Xie

Liu Wenyans walked around the courtyard until he was tired, then found a spot to sit down and happily began to hum a little tune.

Although the Liu family was considered a prominent household in Zhiyuan County, they were hardly worth mentioning when compared to Pengcheng in Xuzhou.

Despite having the support of the Xie family—which backed numerous other factions—the Liu family would never have managed to cling to the Xies had Zhiyuan County not been situated at the border of Xuzhou and Yongzhou, allowing them to run errands for the Xie clan.

Yet today, he had done Xie Tangfeng a massive favor.

Although Xie Tangfeng was not the primary heir of the Xie family, he was immensely favored and wielded a significant portion of the clan's influence.

After today, he would become Xie Tangfeng's trusted confidant, able to walk sideways through all of Pengcheng without obstruction. The Liu family's status would likewise soar, potentially even becoming the foremost family in Zhiyuan County.

Contemplating this bright future, Liu Wenyans hummed his tune with even greater smugness.

At that moment,

Thud!

The door of the pavilion behind him swung open with a sharp sound.

He hurriedly turned his head, rushed over, and plastered on a flattering smile. "Young Master Xie, I..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly noticed that Xie Tangfeng was clutching his head, his profile stained with blood and his expression twisted with fury.

"This..."

Liu Wenyans's face shifted, and he cried out in shock, "Young Master Xie, what... what happened to you? Was it Su Ying'er who hit you?"

Could Su Ying'er possibly be that fierce?

Even after ingesting the Aphrodisiac Powder, she had still managed to beat Xie Tangfeng into such a state?

And for Xie Tangfeng to still manage to consummate the deed despite sustaining such heavy injuries—and taking so long to do it—showed a remarkable resilience.

"I'll go your mother's!"

Forsaking his usual refined and cultivated persona, Xie Tangfeng cursed angrily and kicked Liu Wenyans to the ground, panting heavily as he roared, "How the hell did you handle things?!"

Scrambling up in a panic, Liu Wenyans dropped to his knees, not daring to show a shred of anger as he asked anxiously, "What is wrong, Young Master Xie? Did something happen?"

"Are you fucking blind?!"

Xie Tangfeng kicked Liu Wenyans in the shoulder again, pointing furiously at his own head and yelling, "Can't you tell I've been cracked open by someone? I told you to keep watch outside—why the hell did an outsider manage to sneak in?! Huh?"

At these words, Liu Wenyans froze in bewilderment.

"S... someone sneaked in? Th... that's impossible, isn't it? I was keeping watch outside the whole time, and there were guards stationed out there too. How could anyone possibly have slipped inside?" he asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

"Are you implying I beat myself up?! Not only did that bastard knock me out, but he also took Su Ying'er away! Go investigate immediately! Find out which piece of trash dared to ruin my plans and lay a hand on me!" Xie Tangfeng roared viciously.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Kneeling on the ground, Liu Wenyans nodded his head frantically like a pestle pounding garlic before asking, "What does the culprit look like?"

"How the hell would I know?!" Xie Tangfeng bellowed.

That was precisely what infuriated him the most!

The duck that was already right beside his mouth, ready to be eaten, had somehow managed to knock him out cold! Apart from catching a glimpse of the bottom of a vase, he had seen nothing else before being bludgeoned into unconsciousness!

He had spent a long time meticulously planning this!

And yet it had all been ruined just like that!

In all his years, he had never suffered such a humiliating loss!

Most importantly, Su Ying'er had been under the influence of his Aphrodisiac Powder. Wouldn't that mean the scoundrel who rescued her was about to reap the benefits?

The thought that he had gone through such painstaking efforts to finally capture Su Ying'er—only to miss out on tasting the number one beauty of the Capital's Grand Tower and instead letting someone else profit—made him feel an urge to vomit blood!

She was supposed to be his!

"Go investigate!"

Xie Tangfeng ordered wrathfully, "Interrogate everyone who was around just now, especially anyone who had contact with Su Ying'er! She definitely knows who he is!"

"Yes, yes..."

Scrambling clumsily, Liu Wenyans bolted out the door.

Seated upon a stone chair, Xie Tangfeng let out a vicious, low growl, "No matter who you are! I swear I will make you regret ever being born into this world!"

Not long afterward.

As soon as the wound on Xie Tangfeng's head was bandaged, Liu Wenyans hurried back inside in a flurry of panic.

"Have you found out?"

Xie Tangfeng asked in a deep voice.

Liu Wenyans hastily replied, "Young Master Xie, we haven't found him yet, but your subordinate just received word that Su Ying'er has gone to Zhiwei Pavilion! And she went there with great fanfare, too!"

Xie Tangfeng's expression darkened, and he said chillingly, "Zhiwei Pavilion? She actually has the mood to go to Zhiwei Pavilion?"

With that,

he stood up and declared, "Let's go! Come with me to Zhiwei Pavilion to take a look!"

Meanwhile.

Inside the resting room at Zhiwei Pavilion.

Upon returning, Fan Xiu had immediately shut himself in his room.

Yet his heart refused to settle, his mind persistently replaying the scenes of intimacy he had shared with Su Ying'er.

He never could have imagined that this woman—for whom countless men harbored wild dreams and racked their brains just for a single glimpse—would end up becoming his woman in such a manner.

Yet, as his thoughts wandered, he recalled the lonely figure Fan Xiu had cut as he returned to the Drunken Immortal Inn, and his chaotic mind instantly steadied.

He then walked over to the desk and began pondering his next course of action.

If Fan Xiu's initial motivation for doing business and making money was merely to take a few fair maidens as brides, live the life of a carefree and wealthy idler, and enjoy a pleasant, untethered existence...

Then as of now, he had acquired yet another reason.

He refused to live in a state where he didn't even dare show his face around Su Ying'er!

Su Ying'er was his first woman. Although there had been little romance between them beforehand, they had now consummated their union, and Su Ying'er had even promised to consider him.

Yet, he lacked the capability to stand proudly by her side!

The moment he dared to show himself, he would immediately become the target of Xie Tangfeng's suspicions, subjecting him to the merciless retaliation of the entire Xie clan!

Until he possessed the strength to contend with the Xie family, daring to reveal even the slightest hint of his involvement would mean failing to see tomorrow's sunrise!

This helpless feeling of being a rat scurrying across the street set a fire blazing within Fan Xiu's chest!

He had to make himself strong!

For him, the most difficult hurdle had been earning his first pot of gold.

Fortunately, he had nearly accomplished that now; between the cold skin noodles and the marinated eggs, he had already raked in close to a hundred taels.

With his ongoing partnerships with the Drunken Immortal Inn and several other establishments, he would earn even more.

Once Su Ying'er arrived and the reputation of the cold skin noodles truly spread, he could easily sell the recipe for thousands of taels!

Moreover, this would hardly hinder his continued money-making endeavors, as Zhiwei Pavilion's reputation was already firmly established.

Even without the funds won from Liu Wenyans and Xie Tangfeng, he had more than enough capital to launch his subsequent plans.

His next objective was to become the wealthiest merchant in Zhiyuan County!

Just then,

a sudden commotion erupted outside, accompanied by loud shouts.

"It's the Drunken Immortal Inn's carriage!"

"Good heavens! It really is the Drunken Immortal Inn! Could Su Ying'er actually have come?"

Startled for a moment, Fan Xiu put away his papers and walked over to the window.

The street below, particularly right outside Zhiwei Pavilion, was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people—a crowd far exceeding even those that gathered to watch a bride step out of her sedan chair during a wedding.

The news that Su Ying'er, the number one beauty of the Capital's Grand Tower, was coming to Zhiwei Pavilion to eat cold skin noodles had spread far and wide, making it practically a household affair throughout the county.

Many who received the wind, particularly local scholars, had long since gathered outside Zhiwei Pavilion, eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of Su Ying'er's true countenance.

Further down the street,

an exquisite sedan chair adorned with delicate decorations was approaching at a leisurely pace. Surrounding the carriage were over twenty maids and guards, while the person at the front hoisted a placard bearing two large, golden characters:

【Drunken Immortal】!