Capítulo 24: 24 Chapters: First Encounter with the Noble Clan, Dressed to Impress

Inside the private room of Reviving Spring Hall.

"Internal diagnosis of the five viscera and six bowels, external summary of the meridians, blood, qi, and complexion, correlate with Heaven and Earth, validate against characters, rooted in life, explore the spirit and extreme changes, thus arises the art of acupuncture. Its discussions are most exquisite…"

With his back to Feng Lan, Wang Anfeng recited the words from the "Taisu Needle" scripture with great fluency. Feng Lan nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes, and said, "That will do, Anfeng…"

"You have committed to memory every word of this volume of the 'Taisu Needle,' but after all, it is just the theory of needle insertion. You would do well to stay here longer, to also get a preliminary grasp of the acupuncture points and techniques."

Turning around with a smile, Wang Anfeng said, "Aunt is so good to me, and I do wish to stay longer, yet I cannot help but worry since Uncle Li is now the only one at home."

Hearing this, Feng Lan had no choice but to forego her desire to persuade him to stay, and with a feeling of reluctance, she let out a helpless sigh and said:

"It has been hard on you, are you leaving today? Why not have your lunch here before departing?"

Wang Anfeng looked at the sky and shook his head, "No, aunt."

"Liuxu Villa is not far from here. If I leave early, I may still be able to return in time to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner."

Seeing his gentle yet resolute demeanor, Feng Lan put aside her initial thought and said:

"That sounds good. Take care on the road. I have prepared a lot of food for you, and I soaked two licorice roots in the water bag. Be careful when drinking. When you arrive to deliver the message, avoid conflicts with others. But if you are bullied, do not tolerate it. The set of silver needles can conduct Inner Strength, we don't have much use for it, so I've packed it for you. Remember…"

Listeng to the woman's continuous words, not only did Wang Anfeng not feel the slightest impatience, but his heart was filled with warmth. He listened until she had finished speaking, then he shouldered his pack, smiled warmly, and said:

"Well then, aunt, I'll be on my way."

"Be very careful, and don't get involved in troubles."

"Mhm, I understand."

Upon leaving Reviving Spring Hall and walking onto the main street, it had been nearly ten days since he treated Zhang Zhengyang's injuries. Throughout these ten days, the city was calm and quiet, even when Zhang Zhengyang and the others came to Reviving Spring Hall for medicine and acupuncture, one could see their expressions gradually relaxing from their solemn tension. They even engaged in light-hearted conversation, apparently indicating that the dangerous situation had been resolved.

That was also why Wang Anfeng felt relatively at ease about leaving the city.

Before leaving Great Liang Village, Uncle Li had already explained the exact location of Liuxu Villa very clearly. Hence, after leaving the city, Wang Anfeng recognized the direction and utilized the "Vigorous Step Technique," quickly making his way there.

His "Yi Chan Gong" cultivation had made a breakthrough, making his pace even quicker. His Inner Strength surged through his body as if he were sprinting, raising clouds of dust. It took him less than two hours to reach the base of the mountain. Slowing his pace and looking ahead, he only saw a wide road that extended from the official road, traveling several miles before going straight into a prominent mountain peak.

The road was lined not with pines and cypresses but with exquisitely unusual trees, densely clustered together. Wang Anfeng frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the road as he thought:

"Building a mountain path almost as wide as an official road, the master of this villa certainly knows how to put on a grand display…"

Seeing those trees crowded together, graceful alone but now seemingly like jostling silver coins, devoid of elegance and exuding a rough and extravagant air instead, he felt some displeasure. However, Uncle Li's request meant he had to proceed. Hesitating for a moment, he chided himself with a smile:

"I'm just here to deliver something. I won't be staying long. What's the point of considering these things?"

With this thought, he proceeded directly onto the mountain path, but he had only walked a short distance when the sound of urgent horse hooves approached from behind. Wang Anfeng stepped aside, and a robust chestnut horse sped past, nearly brushing against him, its nostrils spouting wisps of fiery breath.

Atop the horse was a youth about fourteen or fifteen years old dressed in extremely lavish clothes with dashing brows and a striking appearance. The wide road could accommodate five horses abreast, yet the horse chose to pass right by Wang Anfeng, clearly on purpose. The horse's hoof splashed in a puddle, speckling mud onto Wang Anfeng. The youth glanced back at him, then rode on without a care, laughing heartily.

"...Is this the supposed nobility, dressed in finery and riding spirited horses?"

As Wang Anfeng looked at the young man's appearance, he just smiled, took out a piece of rough cloth he carried with him, and bent over to wipe his clothes bit by bit. Being just coarse attire, it soon showed only faint traces of the mud stains. However, no sooner had he straightened up than several fine horses rushed past, splashing his blue cloth with more dirt. The young men and women on the horses didn't even look back, let alone apologize, their laughter fading into the distance.

Wang Anfeng stood by the roadside, holding the now mud-spattered cloth and watching those arrogant youths. He was not annoyed but felt a bit amused, thinking to himself:

"Father always said one should know propriety and righteousness. These children of prestigious families must have been spoiled too much. Only five or six-year-old kids in Great Liang Village would engage in such trivial mischief... Yet, upon returning, they will undoubtedly face a harsh beating." Thinking of the village children running around in open-crotch pants, Wang Anfeng also felt a twinge of nostalgia. He touched the letter in his bosom and said,

"After delivering this letter, I should be able to return tomorrow."

"The larder at Uncle Li's house must be running low as well..."

With that thought, he gave up on trying to clean his nearly irreparable clothes and continued walking along the mountain path. But after just a few hundred meters, he heard a sound of crying. His expression turned to surprise, and he hurried forward.

After rounding a small bend, he saw a girl in a gray tunic lunging toward a boy on a fine horse. The boy nudged his horse's belly with his right foot, and the steed, being perceptive, deftly moved away.

The girl had overextended and lost her balance, falling to her knees on the ground, scraping her hands severely. Meanwhile, the boy carelessly tossed a simple hairpin in the air, taunting with a laugh,

"What's the matter? Even though you bumped into my steed, I, the young master, am broad-minded. If you can touch my horse, I will return it to you."

Upon hearing this, the girl tried to push herself up with her hands, but the uneven mountain path and her severe injuries made it difficult to do so. Struggling twice, she let out a cry of pain and collapsed completely on the ground. The boy, named Wang Bai, frowned slightly, looking rather bored. Another boy, who carried a sword, spoke up sharply,

"Wang Bai, that's about enough. After all, this is Liuxu Villa, and even when beating a dog, one must look at its owner. Don't go too far."

The young man named Wang Bai glanced at him and scoffed coldly,

"I never wanted to come here to watch some 'Fledgling Phoenix Feast.' It's all about those others trying to assert their dominance... If they send me away, I'd be more than happy."

Although he said this, he stopped fiddling with the hairpin, intending to throw it to the ground. But then he saw the girl's defiant gaze and Wang Anfeng, who had quickly stepped over and squatted down to help her up. An inexplicable anger rose within him and he sneered,

"I will hold on to this hairpin for you. Our deal still stands. Touch my horse, and I will return it to you. Feel free to find someone to help you."

"Let's go!"

After speaking, he pulled on the reins, and the fiery horse beneath him neighed loudly. Even on the mountain path, it galloped away as if on level ground, quickly disappearing into the distance. The three companions didn't spare a glance at the girl with bleeding hands or Wang Anfeng, who was helping her. They simply followed their friend, and faintly, the conversation of the young men and women could be overheard.

"Wang Bai is indeed in a bad mood..."

"His father forced him to come here. Of course, he's upset. But it's the servant's own fault for running into trouble, no one else's to blame."

"Giggle, isn't that a bit too harsh, Young Master Song?"

"Not at all... A mere servant can't compare with that majestic steed. Besides, didn't that country bumpkin just go over there?"

"Exactly, exactly, Lady Yu, Brother Song, let's hurry and catch up with Brother Wang. The Fledgling Phoenix Feast will be a gathering of talents and beauties, a congregation of the gifted. Why waste time on these trivial matters?"

"That's true... I was too indecisive," said Wan'er.

"Not at all. It shows your kind heart, Lady Song. Those two servants should be grateful."

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