As the sound arrived, so did the person; an old man with white hair but a dignified temperament stepped into the room, making the already small space feel somewhat cramped.
"I heard all the analysis you made in the back from outside. Remember this for the future: these things must be discussed behind closed doors. Walls have ears, and one must be on guard." The old man's words allowed for no doubt. Seeing Murong Jing and Liu Menghen both respectfully agree, Jiang Yichen followed their lead.
"Alright, this room is too small. Come outside with me," the old man said.
Two people were already waiting outside. One had a face full of grease, a headband wrapped around his bald head, and was casually draped in a coarse hemp robe. He looked very relaxed, and his face resembled the white-haired old man's to some extent. Although he wore a bright smile, a sharp-eyed person could easily detect the strain within it.
The other person wore white clothes and carried a sword; his appearance was refined and handsome, and he wore a black cloak, looking every bit like a wandering hero.
Murong Jing introduced them to Jiang Yichen: the greasy-faced man was Qi Shanqing, the largest wine merchant in Taoyuan Town and the nephew of the Town Chief; the young hero in white with the sword was Qiu Yingchu, the young head of the town's guards; and this white-haired old man was, naturally, the Town Chief of Taoyuan Town, Qi Tianwen.
As a junior, Jiang Yichen greeted each of them in turn.
"Regarding the Thousand Bamboo Forest Winery, since we are confident about what tricks the opponent is playing, we shall play into their hands and catch them like turtles in a jar. The four of you must make the corresponding arrangements for the specific details." Qi Tianwen simply set the plan and then turned his gaze toward Jiang Yichen.
"Senior Qi, if there is anything you need me to do, please just give the order." Facing the dignity of an Elder, Jiang Yichen felt a little nervous, but also a little excited, thinking that regardless of the outcome, it was all experience in the Jianghu.
"I must thank you, young brother, for your help this time, but the clues we currently have are few. Most of the rest are conjectures and analysis, and we still need further verification."
"For example, checking if the pottery workshops in Jiangning Commandery and Gusu have had any custom orders with special requirements in the last few months or even years, the background and origins of the employees recruited by the Thousand Bamboo Forest Winery, as well as detailed information on those who are in close or regular contact with the winery, and so on. These things will take some time to ascertain and clarify, and we must ensure the opponent remains completely unaware. I do not know if you have other important matters to attend to, young brother, but if you are able, of course, we would welcome your assistance." Town Chief Qi, however, changed to a benevolent face and replied with a smile.
Town Chief Qi's performance caused the four people on the side to drop their jaws in shock. Since when was our Town Chief so kind and approachable? Since when was our Town Chief so patient, explaining the reasoning so meticulously to a little brat? Since when did our Town Chief actually smile?!!
Jiang Yichen did indeed have important matters to attend to; he had to enter the Chrysanthemum Garden to meet the old man within the twenty-day limit. Although investigating the Thousand Bamboo Forest affair was on his way, as a youth entering the Jianghu, he was inevitably eager to show his skills. However, this matter clearly could not be settled by just moving his lips and analyzing; it was bound to take up a lot of time, so he fell into a dilemma, hesitating and unable to decide.
Murong Jing was clever; seeing this, it was not hard to guess that Jiang Yichen had just left West Mountain Island and was nine times out of ten heading to Jiangning Commandery to find the old man. He stepped forward and said with a grin to Qi Tianwen, "Lord Town Chief, Brother Jiang is out on a Mission, isn't he? He still has to go to the Chrysanthemum Garden to report to the old man first, so he temporarily cannot get involved in our affairs here. How about this: let him rest in town for two days, and I will take him to see the old man later. Consider it a token of gratitude."
Murong Jing originally thought that with his glib tongue, he could both relieve the siege for Jiang Yichen and take a break himself, killing two birds with one stone. Little did he know that Qi Tianwen's deep, piercing gaze stared him down until he felt flustered, and he realized he had kicked a stone slab this time.
"Ah, then I will take Brother Jiang to play in town for a day and send him off tomorrow." Murong Jing figured that this Old Fox knew more inside information than he did, so he laughed it off to escape quickly. Brother Jiang, you are on your own.
Qi Tianwen did not speak further, which was considered tacit approval.
Murong Jing followed instructions and entertained Jiang Yichen with good food and drink for an entire day. The next day, he and Liu Menghen went to the town gate to see Jiang Yichen off, simultaneously handing over the Little Brown Horse and luggage that he had ordered someone to bring from the Majia Posthouse yesterday.
"Brother Jiang, the 'Lord's' orders cannot be disobeyed. We can only send you this far, please do not mind." Murong Jing's face was full of smiles, resembling the benevolent smile of Town Chief Qi, which caused Jiang Yichen's original feelings of reluctance to vanish completely.
"Brother Murong, what are you saying? It is I who should thank you two brothers for your care and for seeing me off. Another day, another day, uh... we will meet again." Jiang Yichen did not say much in the way of thanks, and he did not know how to say goodbye, so the scene suddenly felt a bit awkward. However, his gratitude toward the two in his heart was real, especially toward Murong Jing, and he thought that after seeing the old man, if he had the opportunity, he would definitely return to Taoyuan Town to gather with them properly.
"Haha, young brother, we will meet again!" Liu Menghen, being a rough person, did not care much about this and even had the intention of encouraging Jiang Yichen.
"Also, also, we will meet again. When we meet next time, we will drink until we are drunk!" Murong Jing added immediately.
Just as Jiang Yichen was mounting his horse, Murong Jing's words "drink until we are drunk" almost made him tumble off the horse's back, which also caused Murong Jing and Liu Menghen to burst into laughter.
After waving goodbye to the two, just as he was about to leave, he was called back by Murong Jing.
"Hey! Brother Jiang..." Murong Jing called out to Jiang Yichen, wanting to speak but hesitating. After what seemed like a long struggle, he made a decision and pointed in a direction completely opposite to the one leading to the Chrysanthemum Garden. "Go this way."
"This way? Shouldn't the Chrysanthemum Garden be in that direction?" Jiang Yichen asked, full of doubts.
"The Chrysanthemum Garden is indeed in that direction, but this time, listen to me. Go this way, go to the Peach Valley Secluded Forest first. If you can find the path up the mountain in the forest, then go up. If you cannot find it, just come back and head to the Chrysanthemum Garden. It won't delay you for long." Murong Jing advised him earnestly.
"But my destination is the Chrysanthemum Garden, and going to the Peach Valley Secluded Forest is not on the way. Does Brother Murong have anything you need me to do? Just say it, no problem." Jiang Yichen did not doubt Murong Jing and asked seriously.
"Cough, cough, young brother, rumor has it that if one can find the path up the mountain in the Peach Valley Secluded Forest, there is a great Opportunity. Brother Murong is also acting out of good intentions, feeling that you are a good person and might gain something there." Knowing Murong Jing's intention and fearing he would reveal too much that he shouldn't, Liu Menghen quickly came to the rescue.
"So that is how it is. I still have a surplus of time before going to the Chrysanthemum Garden, so I will go and try my luck with this Opportunity. Thank you both brothers." Jiang Yichen pondered slightly; the two had absolutely no malice toward him, so he chose to believe and accept their good intentions. In any case, the current progress was quite smooth, and there was still plenty of time, so he could make the trip.
After saying goodbye to the two again, he reined in his horse and advanced toward the Peach Valley Secluded Forest.
Watching Jiang Yichen's departing back, Liu Menghen spoke first.
"Do you know that if he cannot find the path up the mountain, he will be lost in the Secluded Forest, and it is very likely he will miss the time limit for the Chrysanthemum Garden?"
"I know, but if he just goes to see the old man like that, I'm afraid the result will be him being sent home. The Chrysanthemum Garden Trial is not something that can be passed easily."
"So, you are just treating a dead horse as if it were alive?"
"It is also a gamble on luck. What do you think?"
"I am more pessimistic. Even if he finds the path up the mountain, he might not discover the mystery in front of the cliff; perhaps he will just rush straight toward Biluo Lake."
"The Opportunities of the World are obtained by those who are fated. Doesn't that jade pendant he carries happen to have the word 'Fate' on it?"
"Haha, sophistry."
"Then tell me why you helped him too?"
"Heh. Isn't it because of you? I was afraid you would speak without thinking and twist your tongue. After all, I was on the side, and I didn't want to suffer with you! Of course, I also want to see the final outcome; perhaps a fool really does have foolish luck."
"Ha, thanks a lot then."
"No need to be polite with me."
"Hey, you rough person, when did you become as slippery as a loach?"
"Doesn't that require your cultivation?"
"Get lost, I don't take old Disciples like you."
..
The Peach Valley Maze Forest, with its winding paths leading to seclusion; since Jiang Yichen parted ways with the two Murongs, more than half a day of sunlight had passed since he arrived at this Peach Valley Secluded Forest.
In the early springtime, the peach blossoms were in full bloom, filling his line of sight with pink, and the faint fragrance of the valley touched his heart.
At first, Jiang Yichen could still be intoxicated by the "full trees with delicate, brilliant red, ten thousand branches of cinnabar colors burning in the spring thaw," but upon discovering that he was trapped in the maze forest of the secluded valley, he lost all mood and began searching everywhere for the path up the mountain or the path out of the valley.
However, regardless of whether he headed in the direction of the sunlight or walked straight ahead according to his own judgment, or even used his sword to mark a direction on the ground, it was difficult to find a way out.
He was completely lost in this sea of pink flowers...
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