Chapter 21: Going to Ningzhou, Meeting Again

Chapter 21: To Ningzhou, To Meet Again

When he became the Chief at a young age, Senior Martial Sister Zhou always called him "shorty," and Auntie Ye had gotten used to calling him "Young Chief" as well.

But now he was seventeen!

Auntie Ye looked him over from head to toe, then couldn't help but smile: "True, you're taller than me now. It's really not appropriate to call you that anymore. Next time Sister Zhou comes back, you two can compare heights again."

The others burst into laughter.

The tense, serious atmosphere dissolved, and only then did Ning Xishi speak: "Based on the marks left by Senior Brother en route, he must have followed Fourth Master Ming to Ningzhou, which is the stronghold of the Ming clan. With no word from Senior Brother as of late, I've gathered everyone here, asking for your help."

In other words, he had already devised a plan.

He just needed everyone to lend a hand—no suggestions required.

The other uncles and elders didn't pick up on this and simply thumped their chests: "Chief, just give us orders, we're at your command."

"Exactly, we've prospered only because we follow the Chief, we'll do whatever you say."

Guardian Ye, however, looked at Ning Xishi again, thinking to herself that the boy had indeed grown up, his words and actions revealing clear strategy.

Don't be fooled by these gruff men agreeing so readily now—if Ning Xishi had simply given orders, they'd be stroking their beards and putting on airs of seniority!

Guardian Ye couldn't resist reaching out and patting Ning Xishi's head.

Indeed, just like when he was little, his hair was still soft and fluffy.

Ning Xishi looked wronged, but his eyes behind the mask seemed to be pleading. Guardian Ye couldn't resist patting him again. She thought that if their Chief weren't already betrothed, countless girls would have secretly fallen for him.

Ning Xishi immediately ducked away, covering his head.

As everyone horsed around, Guardian Ye finally cleared her throat and said, "Alright, let's get to it. Chief, what's your plan?"

Ning Xishi said, "Along the way, I've already learned the daily routine of Old Master Ming. On the third day of every ten-day cycle, he goes to Qingfeng Tower to enjoy three tunes and sings one himself. He heads home around midnight."

"I need to meet him in person, and I'll need Auntie Ye and all the uncles and elders to come out and back me up."

With that, he had someone bring a general map of Ningzhou's main city and the latest intelligence on Ningzhou's defenses that the Beggar Gang had updated over the years, assigning each person's position and the escape routes.

The young man was only seventeen, yet he presented such a major matter so clearly that everyone was convinced.

But they still had one question: "Chief, these escape routes—sixteen of them—isn't that a bit much?"

Ning Xishi was silent.

Then, in a low voice, he said, "But I really want to come back alive."

These were escape routes he had painstakingly mapped out over many days, including ground rescue, escape by water, and the most labor-intensive tunnel escapes.

Guardian Ye's heart melted immediately: "Alright, alright, whatever you say. Besides, Old Master Ming definitely wants to force you to reveal yourself and talk to him, otherwise how could we let the Chief put himself in such danger? If they dare lay a finger on you, we brothers of the Beggar Gang will raze his stronghold to the ground."

"That's right, that's right."

"The Chief is our pride and joy."

Ning Xishi was speechless. It was fine when Auntie Ye said it, but the others really shouldn't have.

·

Meanwhile, half of the eight hundred elite cavalry originally marching through the deep mountains toward Chuzhou suddenly changed direction, heading straight for Ningzhou.

If Ning Xishi were here, he would have called it "a stroke of genius."

Although Chuzhou was where the Beggar Gang had clashed with local sects and looted the imperial treasury, the root of the unrest in the south clearly lay in the election of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.

In the martial world, a scattered mess was the norm; with an Alliance Leader, it became a power bloc.

What those in power could never allow was the sudden emergence of an uncontrollable force.

Although news of where and how the Alliance Leader would be elected hadn't spread yet, the one setting the rules was undoubtedly the most renowned figure in the martial world—Old Master Ming Hanche.

Xie Jingxing planned to meet him first.

Additionally, Master Healer had to help him temporarily restore the ability to walk in his legs for those few days.

Master Healer didn't want to agree to Xie Jingxing's unreasonable request to disregard his own body, but despite his fondness for throwing tantrums, he knew where to draw the line on matters of principle.

Xie Jingxing's sole purpose in heading south was to dismantle the force about to form in the martial world.

At this critical juncture, he still had to help Xie Jingxing abuse his own body.

"Hmph, I'll give you three of these pills. After each one, your legs will regain normal sensation. How much of your martial power you can recover depends on you. Also, the side effects are severe—take as few as possible."

Master Healer thought for a moment, then continued, "The first pill has the best effect. The more you take, the shorter the recovery time, and the greater the backlash afterward."

Qiu Changyu was shocked: "There's backlash?"

Master Healer nearly pointed a finger in his face: "You think it's easy to make a cripple stand again?"

Qiu Changyu quickly said to Xie Jingxing, "How about I pretend to be you, General? My martial arts are decent enough; against that so-called Beggar Clan Chief, who knows who'd come out on top."

If Xie Jingxing had agreed to swapping identities, Qiu Changyu wouldn't have needed to bring it up now.

Besides, in their plan, Qiu Changyu was to use Ning Xishi's name to go to Jiangning, request troops from the Jiangning governor, wipe out the bandits in Chuzhou, and recover the emperor's treasury treasures.

This was also a feint for the martial world—outwardly, the general's banner marched grandly toward Jiangning, but in truth, the general personally led four hundred men lying in ambush in Ningzhou.

If Qiu Changyu swapped back with Xie Jingxing now, how could they fight openly and scheme in secret?

Xie Jingxing had already made his decision and only asked one more question: "With the first pill, how long can I stand at minimum?"

Master Healer hated it when people disregarded their health and refused to speak, fuming.

Qiu Changyu used provocation: "What, can't Master Healer's pill even last three days? And each subsequent pill's effect diminishes?"

"Hmph, the first one will let you stand for at least seven days," he said, chin raised, glancing sideways at Xie Jingxing. "My pills are naturally the best in the world, but with your body, the duration of the next two pills is uncertain."

Xie Jingxing had a rough idea in mind. Master Healer couldn't be bothered to hear his thanks, and with the little bird perched on his shoulder, he hurried out the door.

·

Unlike Ning Xishi's plan to intercept in secret, Xie Jingxing used Qiu Changyu's name to come to Ningzhou, directly checked into the best inn in town, and even sent a visiting card to the local prefect.

This was a bold, open appearance.

Old Master Ming Hanche, true to his reputation of navigating both black and white, sent a visiting card right after Xie Jingxing arrived, inviting "Qiu Changyu" to his residence for a casual meal to welcome him.

Xie Jingxing sneered coldly and tossed the invitation aside.

The next day, an identical invitation appeared on his desk.

Meanwhile, the prefect had yet to receive a reply from Xie Jingxing.

Xie Jingxing mused: "Have the Mings gotten too big for their britches, or do they think too much of themselves?"

Even so, he still believed that given Old Master Ming's reputation in the martial world, he wouldn't act so recklessly.

Unless the other party was extremely confident, certain they could swallow him and his four hundred iron cavalry in one bite.

If that were the case, then coming to Ningzhou was the right call.

Daring to mess with the government—they must have a death wish.

As for that banquet, he fully intended to go it alone.

Meanwhile, in the front courtyard of the Ming residence, two younger members of the Ming family and several advisors sat beneath Old Master Ming Hanche, greatly irritated by 'Qiu Changyu's' disrespect.

"Father, this Qiu Changyu is really asking for it. Not to mention that our Beggar Gang's chief is their Lady General, how does he have the nerve to march just four hundred cavalry right into Ningzhou?"

"These officers are simply out of touch, thinking it's still the Xuanqing era when the government had real power and the people were loyal. We couldn't make any waves then. But things are different now."

The advisor Lao Shen remarked evenly: "Their arrogance is a good thing for us. If it weren't for these haughty officers, how could our Ming family have had the chance to lay low and play the long game?"

"You're right, sir."

The advisor was quick to butter up Ming Hanche: "It's still the master's brilliance, being able to turn that old Guardian of the Beggar Gang and get him to reveal the new chief's secret. That's the key to our smooth sailing."

Old Master Ming Hanche, sitting at the head, didn't bat an eye—neither his sons' pride nor his advisors' flattery could get a rise out of him.

His old eyes, clouded with age, suddenly gleamed with startling clarity, gazing outward through the long hall, as if trying to pierce through the lush century-old trees outside the door to glimpse the light of day.

Hurried footsteps echoed from outside—the steward came rushing in. He kept his head down, not daring to meet anyone's eyes, as he reported: "Master, Qiu Changyu from the General's residence sent back a reply. He says tomorrow, the first of the month, would be a good day for a visit."

Ningzhou was prone to rain, and as the steward finished speaking, a muffled clap of thunder accompanied a sudden downpour that snuffed out the last bit of light.

Ming Hanche's gaze fell upon the reply in the steward's hand, cold as ice.

·

Ning Xishi and the Beggar Gang worked differently from the government's open approach—they preferred to hide in plain sight, blending into the crowd as ordinary folks scattered across the land.

Guardian Ye was sharp, and knowing this was Ning Xishi's first solo trip, she made a point of staying by his side to coach him along the way.

The two posed as a mother and son heading into town to visit relatives. The moment they entered the city, Ning Xishi felt uneasy.

It wasn't the unfamiliar surroundings or the rain-soaked streets, but the way people eyed them as they came through the gates.

Aunt Ye coughed beside him, hunched over, and Ning Xishi quickly snapped out of it, patting her back and asking in a thick southern accent: "Mother, mother?"

"It's nothing, just the recent rain causing this. It'll pass in a few days."

"Mother, let's go see a doctor." Ning Xishi was getting into character, and as he did, he noticed those gazes gradually fading, allowing him to slowly relax.

Just as he was about to scan for the signals Beggar Gang members liked to leave, to see if his senior brother had sent them a message, Aunt Ye grasped his hand: "Don't waste that money. Mother just has a simple cough. Let's go find your second uncle—that's what matters."

Only once they were in an alley did Guardian Ye straighten up, her face grim.

"Ningzhou is more tightly guarded than I thought, Young Chief. This is going to be tough."