Reborn: Revenge of the Concubine’s Daughter

Liao Zhiyuan didn’t agree with him, so he made an assumption bitingly, “Chief, I heard that your marriage was arranged by your parents and matchmakers. Both you and your wife had never met each other before your marriage, and you respect each other as if the other one was a guest in the past 5 years. So, you don’t look like husband and wife but guests. Then one day, Chick He, your sweetheart, suddenly came to tell you that she wanted to marry you. If we don’t take Childe Duan into consideration, will you break up with your indifferent wife? Will you send matchmakers to make her be your wife? And will you spoil her like He Jingxian spoiled his wife?”

Lu Jiangbei frowned, and he just felt that he couldn’t answer these questions. Would he? Would she?

“You see, in this assumption, Chick He plays the role of her stepmother, and you play the role of He Jingxian, while Chick He’s mother is your present wife.” Liao Zhiyuan was immersed in his imagination and sighed, “Look, look, even you, a person who values family and friends more than anything, are moved after you heard these. How can you blame He Jingxian for being cruel? He is cruel to Chick He and her mother, but he just shows his special love for his second wife, doesn’t he? So, Qing is totally right!” Then Liao Zhiyuan sighed, “Arranged marriage works out for the worst. So, no matter how lazy we are, if we want to marry someone, we must choose our spouses by ourselves!”

Lu Jiangbei shook his head and retorted immediately, “It is difficult for honest and upright officials to deal with their family trifles, let alone others. We outsiders don’t know about it but can only guess without foundation. Your assumption has no basis. You, Lynx, I just wanted to uphold justice for Miss He, but you take it as a start, talk nonsense and frame her in secret! Lynx, listen carefully! Just like what I told Gao Jue before. Since Gao Jue promised to quit, ‘Whether Miss He is with Master Duan or not is their own business’, because I have never been in her heart.” In the end, his voice was tight like a string.

“Chief, please calm down, let’s change a topic.” Liao Zhiyuan drew the pillow closer, putting his face close to Lu Jiangbei, and said with a smile, “Chief, I heard that Qingxin Formula was enlightened in the bed of the ice pool. Now it’s our destiny to lie here together. Since you can’t help me improve my kung fu, why don’t you teach me Qingxin Formula?”

“Ahem, I know you must have a purpose to stay here. Turns out you want this!” Lu Jiangbei kept his distance from Liao Zhiyuan and refused flatly, “I can teach you everything else, but this is an exception. Don’t even think about it!”

“Why? You’re so stingy! Hum, I guess you will teach Chick He immediately if she asks you to teach her this!” Liao Zhiyuan said jealously.

Lu Jiangbei narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, and then he nodded with a smile, “Although she looks very vulnerable, it is obvious that she has good body condition and perception. So, I think she has a talent for practicing kung fu, and she is in a suitable age for learning it. I will go to Luo’s Mansion to teach her Qingxin Formula at night if I don’t want to sleep someday.”

“Hos before bros, be careful which choice you pick!” Liao Zhiyuan was so angry that he kicked off the quilt and sat up, but he only dared to deal with Lu Jiangbei with his eyes but not fists. Because he worried that he would spit blood and pass away immediately. At this time, Lu Jiangbei was in an inferior position. He used to be a strong bully, but now he was so vulnerable and others sympathized with him!

Lu Jiangbei smiled slightly and explained, “I refused to teach you just for your own good. Ordinary person can’t learn it. Lynx, if you really want to learn it, first you should become a person like Cao Hongrui, the head of Dongchang Organization. However, your parents won’t agree first.”

“Cao Hongrui? Why compare me with that eunuch?!”

Firstly, Liao Zhiyuan beat the bed angrily, and then he was greatly frantic. His eyes were strangely staring at Lu Jiangbei’s crotch. His voice was like a duck trampled on his neck, “Ah, did you mean that only eunuch can learn the Qingxin Formula? Does it mean you have…?” After that, Liao Zhiyuan couldn’t wait to confirm his judgment by himself before Lu Jiangbei answered.

“Hoo! Okay, okay, it’s still there. But Chief, what on earth is going on?”

Lu Jiangbei pushed his hand and said angrily, “There are poles apart of Qingxin Formula. Different from women’s practice, ordinary men tend to become pretty manly, and then they can’t control their lust. In the past few years, I have also taught some basic formulas of Qingxin Formula to other Generals among my subordinates, hoping to improve their overall strength and do something better for His Majesty. But later, I found it was wrong, so I forbade them from practicing it. As for the way to correct this situation, I have come up with new ideas. That is to say, people can practice Qingxin Formula at the cost of his male feature. Also, the formula can only be practiced by eunuchs. Of course, I’ve been immersed in this formula for ten years, and I am familiar with it. Therefore, compared with those who want to take a shortcut or get great achievements within a short time, it’s different for me to practice it. So, I’m the only exception.”

Liao Zhiyuan scratched his hair worriedly. Couldn’t it be learnt quickly?

“However, the disagreements between imperial guards and Dongchang Organization had become bigger and bigger in recent years, and we even share totally opposite standpoints. I can’t find a good heir among them, so I’m a little sad about this. Lynx, do you want to be the first heir to pass on my Qingxin Formula?” After that, Lu Jiangbei looked at him and continued in a bantering tone, “I’m fine with this, but you…”

Hearing that, Liao Zhiyuan slid off the bed, waving his hand, and cried, “I’m the 101st straight generation of Liao’s Family. Chief, is there anyone like you who wants to harm his brothers? Since you said that girls can practice so casually, it’s better for you to find a group of chicks to practice with you! Now that you are going to seclude yourself from the outside world for healing, I won’t disturb you. And I’ll order the kitchen to add dishes for you. That’s all. Goodbye!”

At the same time, He looked towards Lu Jiangbei and stepped back toward the ice door. As he retreated step by step, he was still very nervous, staring at Lu Jiangbei, because he worried that Lu Jiangbei would catch him as his “heir”. Lu Jiangbei had serious injuries, but he was still a dangerous person even if he couldn’t get out of bed. After all, he had been known as the “fantastic magic” in Jianghu, a man in white with his Excalibur!

“Goodbye? Lynx, that’s absurd, what are you talking about? Stop right there! I have something important to tell you.” Lu Jiangbei sat up weakly, waving his hand, and then he said, “Come back, I’m just kidding. Your fiancée is my cousin of Lu’s Family, so I can’t trick her even if I trick you! In addition, your temper is the polar opposite of my Qingxin Formula.”

Liao Zhiyuan thought for a while and agreed with him. He was far from “a man with pure heart and few desires”. Even if Lu Jiangbei was a blind, he wouldn’t choose him to be his heir. Liao Zhiyuan thought to himself, “It’s all my fault to be greedy. Originally, my cultivation methods has practiced to the sixth level, but I coveted Lu Jiangbei’s cultivation methods after I realized that Lu Jiangbei’s internal energy was getting stronger and stronger. Yeah, well, it turned out the “Qingxin Formula”, which many imperial guards pursued, only can be practiced by eunuchs and women. Such big news! I must tell it to Gezhu and others. Probably, I could learn more amazing news from them!”

Lu Jiangbei took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. Though Lynx was always a troublemaker, he was calmer than Gao Jue and more sagacious than Childe Duan. At present, he was the most suitable person to take his place temporarily.

Therefore, Lu Jiangbei put the clues about Wuying Tower back together, “At present, all we know about the identity of the Gezhu of Wuying Tower is just an assumption. Although I suspect Zhu Quan the most, there is a person whose kung fu is as good as Zhu Quan’s. That is, Chang Nuo, the grandson of General Chang Yuchun. I have met him several times. He is about 17 to 18 years old, but his kung fu can be described as appalling. His body shape is similar to that Gezhu of Wuying Tower I saw yesterday.”

“Well, Chief, I remember you said there were 4 suspects in your mind, right?” Liao Zhiyuan asked, picking his nose carefully.

Lu Jiangbei nodded and replied, “Well, besides Zhu Quan and Chang Nuo, there are Feng Yang, the younger leader of Yangzhou Caobang Organization, and Meng Yan, ‘the master of Baijian Mountain Villa’, who has become popular in Jianghu in recent years. They are both capable to fight with me in a draw within 100 moves. The former is 17 or 18 years old, and his height and weight are in line with Chang Nuo’s; the latter is about 20 years old, taller than the rest. Last night, I fought with the Gezhu of Wuying Tower on the state path. He covered his face with a white kerchief, and he might have disguised his physique as well. Therefore, Zhu Quan, Chang Nuo, Feng Yang and Meng Yan are all suspected.”

Liao Zhiyuan opened his mouth and said, “I can’t believe there are so many young seniors in Jianghu in recent years. It’s a shame for me, ‘the encyclopedia of Dijing City’, not knowing anything about it! It doesn’t matter I don’t know any of the other three, but Zhu Quan and I once worked in the army together. He always acted arrogant when he was supported but cowardly when he was helpless. And he always played me like a fool. Since you said that he is at the top of the list, let’s check for him first!”

“That’s exactly what I thought,” Lu Jiangbei nodded and said, “If Zhu Quan is the Gezhu of Wuying Tower, he must be looking for a place to heal like me now. On the 22nd of this month, there will be a military parade in Daning Drill Ground. Daning Prefecture is over 1200 miles away from here, he won’t be able to attend the military parade if he’s seriously injured. The sunstreakers I sent there would keep track of Zhu Quan. If he absents from the military parade, you will be able to sue him for ‘Absence without official leave; delaying the fulfilment of military plans’ to His Majesty. Whether he has anything with Wuying Tower or not, it will attract His Majesty’s attention.”

Liao Zhiyuan also thought it was a feasible idea, so he agreed, “That’s a good idea. His Majesty is paranoid. Even if he doesn’t intend to punish Zhu Quan for his mistakes, he will ask a spy of Dongchang Organization to keep track of Zhu Quan secretly. Then it will be more difficult for Zhu Quan to leave Daning to participate in the action of Wuying Tower! Well! That’s the deal! Chief, you can recuperate yourself here, and I’ll go back to the Mountain Villa to eat and drink. Then I’ll fight against Zhu Quan after I store up my energy!” After that, he made a bow with his hands folded in front, and then lifted the front of his robe generously. He turned around and was ready to leave.

“Wait a second!” Lu Jiangbei called him immediately, “Lynx, there is another thing…”

Liao Zhiyuan turned around, and his face was full of the emotion, “I’m surprised! I’m so surprised”. Then he stared at Lu Jiangbei and asked, “What? Chief, what else do I need to do? Don’t forget we don’t have enough people here! Gao Jue is on the vacation, and Duan drove his gharry home. Others went to the East Street to drink tea and watch the opera. With limited time and ability, I can only do one thing once! In my opinion, we’d better deal with this case first. What else can be more important than this one?” Chief, my chief, every dog had its bad day. Came and begged of me!

Lu Jiangbei kept his head down sadly for a while. He frowned as his straight eyebrows raised and pulled together. And his black hair was a little rough over his shoulders, with a strand of hair in the collar. And his hair end happened to be close to his delicate collarbone.

After a long time, he looked at Liao Zhiyuan and said in a soft voice, “Lynx, I know it’s not easy for you, but no one can do it except you, so I have to ask you to do me the favor. You said that Qi Xuanyu found a “super-secret” from the portrait of He Danggui, and he found she looked like a person, which is really weird. You know, even if two unrelated people look like the same, it can’t be called a ‘super-secret’!”

Liao Zhiyuan tilted his head and scratched his chin, “Well, in fact, it… When that guy came to me, we drank far too much. Maybe I was drunk and misheard, or he was drunk and said wrong. It just sounded like this: ‘Sur~per~Se~cret’, ‘Sur~per~S~uit’, ‘Su~per~Beauty’. Well, maybe he was just praising the beauty of Chick He, which made him get lovesickness.”

“Dude! If you keep talking nonsense like this, you’ll suffer for it although I can’t move now.” Lu Jiangbei was infuriated again and he said in a tight voice, “We both know what kind of person Qi Xuanyu is. He has never seen He Danggui in person, but went to Changye Tower to check her background just because of a portrait of her. That’s weird for him to do so. There must be something behind this!”

“Whether it’s really weird or not, does it have anything to do with me?” Liao Zhiyuan asked, and then he turned and went outside the door because Lu Jiangbei didn’t answer. Within a short time, Chick He took the hearts of his three buddies and made them become more and more attentive to her. Chief was now half-dead, but still remembered to care about her. How could Lynx not to be jealous?

“Stop!” A blue light suddenly flashed by Liao Zhiyuan with this voice, and then directly reflected across his ear, blocking in the Ice Gateway. The next moment, that dazzling blue light disappeared, while the ice door, which was as substantial as the Cold Iron, suddenly broke down.

On the other side of the icehouse, Lu Jiangbei sat on the bed and shouted coldly, “Lynx, do you also want to have a try?”