Chapter 12
Chapter 12: You Want Your Family Destroyed?
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The second day was the main day of the temple festival . Right from dawn, people were selling fried dough along the streets . 1
The Zheng people’s diet was very different from the Qin’s . The Qin liked to eat flour-based foods, but the Zheng liked to eat food made from rice flour .
This fried dough was made with sticky rice flour kneaded and pressed with a stone overnight . Then it was rolled into egg-size balls and fried in oil before being coated with a layer of red sugar .
This kind of food was too sweet for people in Changling and Guangzhong . They would likely smash their bowls due to the food sticking to their teeth .
Ding Ning did not dislike this kind of sweet food . He asked for two but when he prepared to pay, the woman who sold the fried dough determinedly refused . “Since you are guests of Old Master Feng, we cannot accept money for these two unworthy things,” she said bashfully .
Ding Ning frowned slightly . He looked at this woman who had a thick Zheng accent . He asked, “How do you know we are guests of Old Master Feng?”
“It spread through the city yesterday . Two old Old Master Feng’s guests from Changling are staying in the inn . You clearly have a Changling accent, and you are just as described . You will not be anything else . ” The woman explained honestly .
“It seems we are fated to be disliked today . ”
Chewing the sticky rice ball, Ding Ning watched the bashful woman leave . He turned to Xue Wangxu and said, “Now, the Zheng City people all feel that we are guests of Old Master Feng . When we, the guests, make trouble for Old Master Feng, we will be very detestable in their eyes . ”
Xue Wangxu smiled . “It’s a good feeling sometimes when people detest you but cannot do anything . Especially when you do not need to care about their opinions . ”
Fire signified prosperity . The Zheng worshiped the kitchen god so their kitchen fires would burn, they could eat a full meal, and also so their days would grow more prosperous .
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The ceremony was held at noon, when the sun was at its peak .
The festival also included trading of items . Since early in the morning, Zhushan District grew livelier as carriages streamed in and a sea of people formed .
When there was still an hour until noon, a boom sounded in the east and west of Zhushan District and drums and music started . People in strange clothing, wearing multicolored masks, sang and danced along the streets .
These were the jumping shamans of the Zheng . Supposedly, this method could communicate with the ghosts and gods . They could ask for health and peace .
Soon, a host of people carrying tall tables with all kinds of tribute items followed .
Traditionally, after the tribute team set off, there would be a group of men at the kitchen god temple to carry the kitchen god out of the temple in a procession on the streets . Then, the kitchen god would be brought back to the Fire Virtue Hall of the Kitchen Temple to be worshipped . After that, the major families of the Zhushan District and the people of high status would take turns burning incense .
The table with incense was already prepared in front of Fire Virtue Hall . Dozens of redwood chairs were placed on the sides .
A handsome youth in grand clothing stood in an empty place near the table . This was the only grandson of Old Master Feng, Feng Qinghan .
Feng Futang walked quickly to Feng Qinghan and whispered . “Xue Wangxu and that youth called Ding Ning have not shown signs of leaving the inn . ”
“They said they would leave today, but they haven’t yet left the inn . It appears they do have other plans . ” Feng Qinghan sneered disdainfully . “If they really have other ideas, then they are inviting trouble for themselves . ”
At the same time, dozens of carriages were waiting near a serene manor .
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There was an elegant tower in the courtyard . Two female attendants were helping a man who looked to be in his fifties wash and dress .
One female attendant placed a warm towel soaked in medicine on the man’s face and gave a gentle massage . The other female attendant was using an agarwood comb to tease his dark hair roots .
This man was unusually patient as he waited for the heat in the towel to soak into his skin .
As the towel cooled and the female attendant switched for a clean wet towel to help him wash his face and neaten his hair, he asked the middle-aged man who had been standing at the doorway, “Xue Wangxu said he was leaving but hasn’t yet?”
The middle-aged man who had waited showed no signs of discontent . His reply was crisp and quick . “He shows no signs of leaving . ”
“He’s really waiting for me?”
“He, Xue Wangxu, can disregard the rest of his life, but I, Feng Qianzhuo, have a great undertaking . Why should I lower myself to the same level as him?”
“When I appear, make sure he doesn’t appear . ”
This man that was enjoying the servitude of the two female attendants was the old master of the Feng Family, the beloved Feng Qianzhuo of Zhushan District . He looked at the middle-aged man and commanded . “To avoid any accidents, have Eighth Mistress follow . Do not arrange a seat for her, just let her wait with you . ”
The group of dancing shamans had almost reached the Zheng Kitchen God Temple .
“Follow me . ”
Looking at the time, Xue Wangxu brushed off the peanut shells that had fallen onto his clothes . He looked at Ding Ning, who had no interest in this third plate of salted water peanuts and stood up .
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Most of the pedestrians had followed the shamans so the streets around this inn were slightly deserted .
As Ding Ning took a dozen steps after Xue Wangxu, dozens of men dressed in grey robes walked out of the surrounding alleys . Reflective metal lights shone on the building roofs all around them .
A thin and strong man with dark skin gingerly walked in front of Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning . Before he could speak, Xue Wangxu glanced at him coolly . He felt the other’s gaze hit his mind like two giant hammers .
His knees buckled and he almost sat on the ground .
“Your Feng family doesn’t have many accomplished people . No one can stop me unless Feng Qianzhuo comes in person,” Xue Wangxu said with little interest .
This dark-skinned thin man spat out blood . He had bitten his tongue so the pain could give him clarity .
“We cannot stop you, but we can die . ”
This dark-skinned man was fearless . He bled from the corners of his mouth as he pulled out a dagger and held it across his throat . He sneered . “What will spread after today will be Cave Master Xue committing a slaughter here for a personal grudge . ”
Pausing, the man looked at Xue Wangxu and coldly said, “I know that Cave Master Xue is powerful, but I fear you cannot stop all of us from committing suicide . I must also remind Cave Master Xue we are all Zheng people . Even if Cave Master Xue doesn’t fear Her Highness’ anger, if the fuss is great, I think White Goat Cave will pay a greater price . ”
Looking at the vicious gazes of this man and the surrounding people, Xue Wangxu frowned slightly . He had considered that Feng Qianzhuo would stop him from meeting but not that Feng Qianzhuo would use such a method .
“You are members of the Feng family . Are you rebelling?” Ding Ning said calmly as Xue Wangxu hesitated .
The dark-skinned man and the surrounding people who could sacrifice themselves for the Feng Family looked in puzzlement at this Changling youth . They did not understand Ding Ning’s words .
“Originally, we had no interest in this temple festival . But yesterday, we heard your steward mention that this festival is different from previous ones . Most importantly, the empress’ calligraphy and painting will be worshipped in Fire Virtue Hall . We are going there now to revere Her Highness’ calligraphy and painting . ” Ding Ning looked calmly at the surrounding people and spoke, slowly but clearly . “Even if you do not admit it now, if you die and there is an investigation, they will easily find your connection to the Feng family . We are going to revere Her Highness’ calligraphy and painting, but you will not allow us even to the point of death . You Zheng people want to stop us Qin from revering the empress’ calligraphy and painting . The Feng Family wants to rebel, and you Zheng … want to die, and your family exterminated?”
As he spoke, Ding Ning tugged at Xue Wangxu’s sleeve, and continued to walk forward without another look at these people .
Xue Wangxu cast an admiring gaze at his disciple and walked forward without a word .
The dark-skinned man with the short sword and the remaining Zheng people were thrown back at Ding Ning’s words . Cold sweat surfaced on their skin and soaked them through in this cold weather .
“No wonder Wang Taixu admires you so much . ” Xue Wangxu looked at Ding Ning and said softly with a smile . “You have the ability to part the mists and see clearly . You are also skilled at speaking cleverly and use righteousness to pressure others . ”
Ding Ning smiled coldly . “How can people of wild places like this compare to Changling in playing with power and using righteousness principles to frighten people?” he said, disdainfully .
Xue Wangxu laughed out loud and said, “I just do not know what other tricks the Feng Family has . ”
“We will deal with them as they come . ” Ding Ning looked at him . “I heard the best quarreller is one that doesn’t give the other a chance to speak . ”
Xue Wangxu thought for a moment and said, “That’s true . ”
The moment he spoke, a gentle wave of primal energies of the universe came out of his body .
He and Ding Ning walked in the same way as usual, but in the next instant, their figures were unimaginably fast . The pedestrians only felt wind blow past their heads . In the blink of an eye, they saw two faint figures fly like cranes .