Chapter 22: Great Ambition

  When Fang Jie woke up again, it was already night. In a daze, he felt that he had met an absolute beauty in his dream, but when he woke up, he couldn't remember what the woman looked like at all. There was only a faint impression left, which was that the woman's body had a light and refreshing fragrance that captivated people's hearts.

  Mu Xiao's body also had a strange fragrance, but Fang Jie was certain that the woman he had been chasing after in his dream, begging to say a few words to her, was definitely not her.

  The temperament of the woman in the dream was completely different from that of Mu Xiaoyao.

  Made an effort to lift her hand to rub her wrinkled brow, but a slight movement made her groan in pain.

  "This voice of yours is quite captivating."

  The big dog sitting on his bed chuckled and said a sentence, making the little Ding nearby blush. She scolded with a pout, saying that everyone around Fang was indeed shameless, then turned around and ran away with her not-so-plump buttocks swaying back and forth. The big dog laughed loudly, saying that the little beauty indeed had a charming place, and that little butt was really swinging with great momentum.

  "You're already at this age and still don't know how to respect your elders, no wonder you can't find a woman willing to carry on the family line with you."

  A big dog seriously explained that we cultivators look down on everything in the world, even if we linger in the garden, we pursue a state of mind where not a single leaf clings to our bodies. Seeing one and loving one is okay, that's romantic nature. Seeing one and climbing onto another, that's beastly behavior. My realm may not be high, but I'm at least a fifth-grade master, if I casually put out the word, wouldn't there be plenty of beautiful wives and concubines throwing themselves into my arms? In those days when I was in my twenties, I would walk with four beauties carrying me, scattering flowers along the way, known as the Jade-Faced Young Master. Wherever I went, it was always women's endless screams and cheers. Each one of them looked like a cat in February, just short of pouncing on me and clinging to my chest, making me ache.

  Then how much silver will it take to pay for the appearance fee?

  The big dog gave him a glance and then began to examine the few landscape paintings on the walls of the house.

  "Not bad, not bad. The brushwork is just right, from dense to light, and the strokes are delicate. It looks like it was written by a woman, but without losing its grandeur. It's already reached the level of being elegant and refined, with a style that's reminiscent of the great masters."

  Fang Jie struggled to sit up, but the pain in his chest was too severe. He lay back down on the bed with a sigh and said, "You have time to look at those landscape paintings and talk nonsense, can't you tell me how badly I'm hurt?"

  "Not heavy."

  The big dog didn't even turn its head back.

  "But why does every part of me hurt and I can't even sit up?"

  "Four ribs are broken, and the spine is also injured. It's a wonder you can sit up. The day you were beaten, I thought you weren't seriously hurt when you stood up and walked away. Who knew you were actually enduring the pain? To be honest, it's not easy to endure that much pain. If it were me, I might not even be able to crawl. Don't worry, the old cripple who wants to take Murong Xiao as an apprentice seems to have some decent medical skills. He says he can save you."

  "What did he say?"

  Fang Jie smiled wryly: "Big dog, for the first time I found out that you are such an irresponsible person."

  The big dog was about to say something, when the old cripple hobbled in with a wine gourd as big as two human heads, took a glance at Fang Jie and said indifferently, "As long as you're awake, that's good." He sat down on the chair, took a sip of wine and said, "I came to find you because I want you to persuade Xiao Yao for me. Her potential is truly one in ten thousand. In my lifetime, this is the first time I've encountered such a good seedling. If I don't teach her, I won't be able to live with myself... These past few days she hasn't been willing, and even Northwest Burnt Wine has lost its flavor..."

  "Shouldn't there be some sincerity in seeking help?"

  Fang Jie wiped his mouth and said: "You first heal the injuries on me, and then I'll go persuade her."

  "The injuries on your body can't be healed, what's the point of putting in so much effort?"

  The old cripple smiled and said: "Besides, you're paralyzed in bed and can't move, so you can only stay at Hongxiu's place. You won't leave, and Muxiaoyao won't leave either. Why do I need to save you?"

  Fang Jie let out a sigh and said: "Are all hermits like you who speak so shamelessly?"

  The old cripple glared at him and said, "I'm only looking for the transmitter. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me? With so many people in the world getting hurt and dying, can I take the time to save each one of them while still having time to drink and sleep? Saving suffering is what Buddhism preaches, it has nothing to do with me. Even if Buddhism doesn't care, there's still the imperial court."

  "Master Lu, don't scare him anymore."

  Just then, Xi Dangiang walked in slowly, wearing a pale golden robe that exuded an air of wealth and nobility. She looked at Fang Xian with a smile and said: "You're lucky, didn't you take a Golden Elixir Pill recently? That's the most precious medicine under heaven, I don't know how he came to favor you, but he gave you one."

  "Xiao Jindan?"

  It doesn't matter if it's understood or not.

  "The Xiaojin Dan has the miraculous effect of reviving the dead and healing white bones, let alone just breaking a few ribs and injuring your spine. Even if your internal organs are completely shattered, one grain of Xiaojin Dan can restore you to your original state."

  The old lady smiled and said, "He and I are one family. Since Xiaojin Dan was given to you by him, it is also given to you by me. The value of that Xiaojin Dan is worth a fortune... even if an ordinary rich family spent all their wealth, they might not be able to get it. Consider it as the debt you owe me. When you repay this debt of a fortune, you can leave."

  Fang Jie let out a sigh and immediately sighed, "I won't leave, then Shu Xiao Yao can't leave either, right? Look at this, the same thing said from someone else's mouth is even more sinister, and yet it's said with such confidence. Old cripple compared to you... really differs by several streets."

  "But I have to go."

  "Why?"

  I'm going to Chang'an.

  "Alright..."

  The old lady said calmly: "Hongxiu has also gone to Chang'an."

  The old cripple's face changed, and he couldn't help but feel a sour nose: "Thank you all... thank you."

  "Rong Ye, you've kept the Red Sleeve Invitation for ten years. Consider this as me repaying a small part of your kindness. There's no need to say anything more. Chang'an is still a place I must visit. If he doesn't return, I'll have to go ask Master."

  ……

  ……

  In just three short days, Lian Fang was able to recover from his injuries at a speed that even he himself couldn't have imagined. People say that it takes a hundred days for tendons and bones to heal, let alone the fact that he had injured his spine, the most critical part of all. Yet in just three days, he was already able to get out of bed and walk on his own. The efficacy of this small golden pill was truly worthy of great praise.

  Anyway, Hongxiu will go to Chang'an, and the old cripple who is called Lao Ye by Xi Dainiang must be holding onto Xiao Yu's waist tightly. Since that's the case, with such a perverted master accompanying them along the way, Fang Jie naturally won't have to worry about being in danger on their long and arduous journey. Having backbone is a good thing, but pretending to have backbone all the time is no different from being stupid in Fang Jie's eyes.

  As soon as the news of Hong Zhaolou's departure from Fan Ju spread, it immediately stirred up a huge wave in this small border town. In these two years, no one can count how much wealth Hong Zhaolou has brought to Fan Ju, but the people of Fan Ju have already gotten used to the existence of those heavenly women in Hong Zhaolou. It's hard not to feel reluctant when they suddenly hear that Hong Zhaolou is leaving. Even the aunties and young wives who secretly scolded those women as "fox spirits" felt a pang in their hearts, feeling empty and uncomfortable.

  Because Fanggu Town has three buildings, Hongxiu Pavilion, Jinyuanfang and Keshengju. So the people of Fanggu have had a very good life in the past two years, every family not only has surplus grain and money, but also receives a generous dividend at the end of the year. This place is cold for half a year, if it weren't for these three buildings, how could they live such a comfortable life?

  So when people heard that Hong Zhaoyi was going to leave, their first reaction was to hurry and find Fang Jie. Let Fang Jie persuade Hong Zhaoyi's mother-in-law to change her mind, even if the dividend is reduced by a few percentage points. After all, among those barbarians on the grassland, Hong Zhaoyi is still the most generous, followed by Jin Yuanfang.

  The golden phoenix flew away, and the wutong branch and withered grass are no different.

  It wasn't until then that people realized that Fang Jie had been missing for several days. Later, it was discovered through inquiry that Fang Jie had accumulated 21 military achievements, which were enough to obtain the approval of the Ministry of War to participate in the Imperial Capital Martial Arts Academy's examination. It was also because Fang Jie was leaving that Hong Xiu was going to move to the Imperial Capital as well.

  People are even more shocked and amazed, the lost Fang'an City seems to have not only lost money and fun, but also a mainstay that was previously overlooked and now suddenly awakened with nostalgia.

  For several days, the people from the countryside gathered outside Jin Yuan Fang's house to see Fang Jie. But this time, Fang Jie, who was usually in a good mood, had an iron heart and refused to see anyone, shutting his door tight. Even He Shu and several other old neighbors who were close to him came to beg, but the guards at Jin Yuan Fang's house still wouldn't open the door.

  Someone suddenly thought of going to ask Bian Junya General Li Xiaozong, but when they arrived at the general's mansion, they found that the general's mansion had also closed its doors. After inquiring with the gate-keeping soldiers, it turned out that a few days ago, the imperial envoy from the capital was ambushed and killed by Mongolian cavalry who had infiltrated into the city, and General Li had been charged with dereliction of duty, so he locked himself in the general's mansion, waiting for the disposition of the Right Vanguard General Li Yuanshan and the court.

  In an instant, the people felt that the city walls of Fangcheng were no longer as impregnable as they used to be.

  No more Li Xiangzong, no more Fang Jie, no more Hongxiu Zhao... Fan Gu, is it still Fan Gu?

  The common people became terrified and even forgot that their initial intention in seeking Li Xiangong was to fear that after Hong Zhui and Fang Jie left, Fan Guicheng would have much less income.

  At this time, in the general's mansion of Li Xiangzong, the two people who were now on the tip of the tongue of the common people in Fanfu were sitting face to face, drinking tea and talking, as if their relationship was even better than before. The stove in the house was still burning vigorously, and the tea in the cup was still the good tea from Jiangnan that even Yuan Chongwu, the governor of Shandong, found difficult to drink.

  Tea was a commodity brought from afar by the merchants of the Great Sui, although when new tea arrived in Fan Guo it was no longer fresh, but its flavor had not dissipated much. Such good tea was something that tribal leaders on the grasslands would spare no expense to buy and use to show off their status. In Fang Xiang's words, it was a case of spending money to show off one's wealth. There was even an example of a young prince from a small tribe who used fine tea from Jiangnan to wash his feet in order to flaunt his riches, but ended up being beaten into disability by his father.

  A pot of lotus seeds can sell for over a hundred taels of silver even in the imperial capital.

  Tea is also divided into nine grades, and this lotus heart is the best tea of the top nine grades. One kilogram of lotus heart, carefully counted, has at least 12,000 tender buds. Less than this number cannot be considered a top-nine grade, nor can it be called lotus heart, but rather the second-grade green bud. It's said that in the past, the wealthy Wu Yidao from the imperial capital drank a cup of tea made with 16,000 lotus heart buds, which cost three thousand gold pieces.

  Wu Yidao was said to be so wealthy that he could buy out the entire Shanxi province.

  It is said that the imperial capital city wall, known as the strongest in the world, has an entire side rebuilt with Wu Yidao's money. It was also because of this great merit that the current emperor conferred upon him the title of Sanjin Hou, which exempts him from death penalty except for treason. However, people have always been puzzled why repairing city walls would be considered a greater achievement than the generals who expanded the territory?

  "I have already written your letter of recommendation to the Ministry of War."

  Li Xiaozong pushed a used printed paper on the table in front of Fang Jie: "I wish you to make a sensation in the Martial Arts Academy exam, don't lose face for our Fan Gu City. You are the first person from Fan Gu City who has qualified to take the Martial Arts Academy exam since its establishment, it's not easy to have one in decades, don't come back with your tail between your legs and let people look down on you as if you're nothing, and don't bring shame to our three miles of land and water."

  "This doesn't sound very good."

  Fang Xie smiled and put away the letter of recommendation: "This is an opportunity that I exchanged with my life, so I will naturally cherish it. As for whether or not to lose face in front of the people of Fan Gu City, General, do you think you can still speak on behalf of the people of Fan Gu City?"

  "You used to be so good, round and clever. Now this speech is a bit too sharp... Fan Gong is not the capital, after arriving in Chang'an, it's still necessary to be cautious and careful, sometimes a careless remark can offend the powerful and die without knowing why."

  "Offending the powerful doesn't require words, you're also underestimating the powerful too much."

  Fang Jie smiled and stood up, preparing to take his leave.

  "I hope we can meet again someday."

  Li Xiangzong stood up, clasped his fists together and said: "I still have to wait here for the officials from Jibei Commandery, Youxiao Garrison and the imperial court's investigators, so I won't be able to see you off. According to custom, it should be a send-off of thirty miles at least. After all, we've met once, you won't blame me for being impolite."

  Fang Jiehaha laughed loudly and turned his head to look at Li Xiangzong, saying: "Thirty miles away there is a pavilion, I don't know if the general still remembers?"

  "Falcon Pavilion, that pavilion has a history of over 100 years. It was the place where Emperor Taizu of the Great Sui dynasty released a rare white gyrfalcon to freedom. Legend has it that for twenty years after that, people could see the white bird of prey flying back here every year, which is quite mysterious. It stopped coming only after the emperor's death. The pavilion belongs to Fan City and they send people to maintain and repair it every year, I naturally remember it."

  Fang Jie turned around and left without saying another word.

  Li Xiangzong gazed at Fang Jie's back and sighed, unable to help but mutter: "Young man, what great ambition."