Jianghu Qimen Lu

Chapter 5 Fragrant Fists and Stinky Feet

Bai Shandian arrived at the post station late at night. He lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Scenes of how he met his wife, Xiang Quan, flashed before his eyes… The Xiang family of Jiangnan had been merchants for generations since the Ming Dynasty, their business growing ever larger, making them salt tycoons. Many family members also held official positions in the imperial court, numbering over a thousand. They were renowned for producing "three Grand Secretaries and five Ministers from six ministries," hailed as "the most prestigious family in the country!"

In the first year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign, the Qing Dynasty's Eight Banners army launched a massive invasion of the Central Plains, initially engaging in widespread slaughter. However, they were met with fierce resistance from Li Zicheng's rebel army and patriotic figures from the martial arts world, ultimately halting their advance. At this critical juncture, someone unexpectedly presented them with a remarkable book, "The Complete Book of Martial Arts." The Grand Marshal and Regent Dorgon, upon reading it, was overjoyed. The book contained detailed records of the martial arts techniques, hidden weapons, and battle formations of various schools and sects in the Central Plains!

Dorgon immediately summoned his subordinates to study and ponder the matter carefully. A few days later, he launched another major invasion of the Central Plains, sweeping through the land like dry leaves, invincible and unstoppable, advancing rapidly and conquering the country in one fell swoop!

When Emperor Shunzhi arrived in the empire, he summoned all civil and military officials to reward those who had rendered meritorious service. The first to be rewarded was neither Grand Marshal Dorgon nor General Lekedehun, but rather an unknown Han Chinese! It turned out to be the very man who had presented the extraordinary book—a descendant of the prestigious Xiang family of Jiangnan!

From then on, the Xiang family of Jiangnan became incredibly wealthy and powerful, with numerous officials in the court and a renowned reputation throughout the country.

The Qing Dynasty was not lacking in extraordinary talents and individuals, and Emperor Shunzhi was particularly shrewd and calculating. Although he was grateful to the Xiang family of Jiangnan, he knew nothing about how they had obtained the extraordinary book—this had long been a hidden worry for Emperor Shunzhi! Therefore, he secretly sent people to keep an eye on the Xiang family of Jiangnan, hoping to find out the answer!

However, many years passed, and he still could not get what he wanted, but he did not give up. The throne was passed down from generation to generation, but the Qing Dynasty still refused to give up his wish... When Emperor Qianlong ascended the throne, in order to win over the Xiang family of Jiangnan, he specially sent his most beloved personal bodyguard - Bai Shandian, the number one expert in the palace - to marry into the Xiang family of Jiangnan! He married Xiang Quan, the current head of the Xiang family.

His wife was also a well-known figure in the martial arts world. Their marriage was arranged, and both harbored their own ulterior motives, constantly wary of each other; naturally, there was no affection between them. Therefore, for many years after their marriage, Bai Shandian was often away on official business, rarely home. But since Xiang Quan gave birth to a son and a daughter, Bai Shandian gradually began to feel some attachment to his family…

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a noise on the roof! Although the moon was bright and the stars were few outside the window, and all was quiet, he heard a slight sound of someone stepping on a roof tile and cracking it! This startled him, and he quickly put on his clothes, got out of bed, walked to the window, gently licked a hole in the window paper, and peered out.

In the next instant, a figure, as light as a cotton ball, glided down from the roof and landed in front of the door. He extended a gleaming dagger and gently pried open the latch! Under the moonlight, it was clearly visible that this was a burly man, dressed entirely in black, wearing tight clothes and a mask, dressed in night clothes.

With a loud crack, White Lightning shattered the window frame with a single palm strike, leaping out like a fish over a dragon gate! The masked man was startled and hurriedly tried to escape, but White Lightning blocked his path, coldly saying, "Fire Cloud, what brings you here in the dead of night?"

The masked man burst into laughter, then removed his mask to reveal a full beard, none other than Huo Shaoyun. He laughed and said, "Truly worthy of being Emperor Qianlong's most beloved imperial spy! Courageous, resourceful, and with superhuman reflexes, I admire you!" He then changed the subject, saying, "There are some things I'd like to discuss with Lord Bai, but I'm afraid the walls might overhear. Would you allow me to come inside?" Bai Shandian laughed heartily, "Of course, Chief Huo, please!" He walked to the door, slipped his finger through the crack, and gently pushed it open. The two entered the inner room one after the other.

At this moment, there was a commotion. Several post station yamen runners carrying lanterns and holding knives and spears rushed in upon hearing the news and went to the door to ask what had happened.

White Lightning had already hidden Fiery Clouds behind the screen. He walked out of the door and said, "It's nothing serious. A petty thief tried to steal something, but I chased him away! Everything's fine now. You can all go back. I need to rest." Seeing that he was alright, everyone dispersed.

The two dared not light lamps, and instead sat down on brocade stools in the darkness. Bai Shandian said, "What is it you want to say?" Huo Shaoyun said in a low voice, "You have two questions for me that urgently need answering. Alright! I'll answer first: First, where are the two constables who were escorting me? Don't worry, Lord Bai, they're both sound asleep at home. They'll report to the General's Mansion first thing tomorrow morning!" Bai Shandian smiled coldly, "You didn't harm a single hair on their heads? I don't believe it! Think about the bloody battle this morning, so many of your Beggars' Clan members died, and you still want to release our men?"

Huo Shaoyun said solemnly, "Although we are all very angry, we do not want to oppose the government, at least not openly! When I first met Lord Bai today, I repeatedly emphasized that I only wanted to invite you out to discuss important matters, and even made up a lie saying that our gang leader had invited us! But you, Lord Bai, just wouldn't listen, which led to the Eight Banners soldiers suddenly appearing to surround and annihilate us... Seeing that I had been captured by you, my brothers in the gang fought desperately to save me, which ultimately resulted in the annihilation of the entire army—this was an outcome I never expected!"

"Tell me your second answer," White Lightning said impatiently. Seeing his coldness, Fire Cloud sighed and said, "Actually, you don't need to be so suspicious about the huge changes in your family! From my observations these past few days, the Southern Fist Sect of Jiangnan Xiangfu is shrouded in mystery. It doesn't seem like there's grief over the death of their leader; it's more like something big is about to happen. Everything seems strange, even sinister!"

"What?! You're saying my wife and children aren't dead?! There's something fishy going on?!" Bai Shandian was stunned, as if struck by lightning, his surprise mixed with a hint of delight! Suddenly, he stepped forward, swiftly seizing Huo Shaoyun's pulse point, and said sharply, "Speak! Why are you so interested in my family affairs?" Huo Shaoyun quickly used his Dislocating Bone Technique, twisting and twisting as if slipping a fish, and coldly said, "Lord Bai, I've never considered you an enemy, so don't be ungrateful!" Seeing Bai Shandian pause and stop attacking, he then said, "Do you know that the leader of the Mo Qing Society, whom your imperial spies were investigating in the desert some time ago but failed to find, is currently a guest at the Xiang Clan's Southern Fist Sect!"

"Stinky feet?" Bai Shandian was even more shocked. "The Moqing Society, the number one anti-Qing organization in the world, was once listed by Emperor Qianlong as the most wanted criminal in the Qing Dynasty. How could their leader be a guest at the Southern Fist Sect? The Xiang family of Jiangnan has always been the most loyal subjects of the Qing Dynasty. How could they be associated with the Moqing Society? This is highly unlikely!" Huo Shaoyun snorted and said coldly, "Don't you believe me! Tonight you can infiltrate the Southern Fist Sect! As their son-in-law, perhaps you can figure out some of the strange phenomena!"

Bai Shandian pondered, "Emperor Qianlong has always coveted the Xiang family of Jiangnan, fearing they might outwardly comply but inwardly defy him. That's why he sent me to marry into the Southern Fist Sect to investigate this matter. Could it really be true?! The Xiang family is from a renowned family, and their martial arts are unparalleled in the martial arts world. How could they be so easily killed? Especially on their own turf! In this Southern Fist Sect, where masters abound and the defenses are as impenetrable as an iron barrel, how easy would it be to commit arson and murder! Such masters are hard to find anywhere in the world!" Thinking this through, he suddenly realized how naive and ridiculous he had been! He felt a sense of lightness and indescribable joy.

"What good will it do you, Chief Huo, to do this?" Bai Shandian laughed. Huo Shaoyun smiled faintly. "Would you believe me if I said it's for the sake of the common people?" Bai Shandian laughed. "What do you mean? Go on." Huo Shaoyun said respectfully, "Actually, from the perspective of ordinary people, the winner is king, the loser is a bandit. It doesn't matter who the ruler is! As long as you give them a stable life and enough to eat, that's enough! Now we are in the rare prosperous era of Qianlong, the people are well-fed and clothed, and live a happy life. Shouldn't we cherish the present and thank God? But there are always those meddlesome people who have nothing better to do than cause trouble..."

Bai Shandian interrupted him with a laugh: "You mean the Moqing Society?" Huo Shaoyun said angrily, "Yes, the Moqing Society is involved in all sorts of anti-Qing and restoration-of-the-Ming movements and expelling the Tartars, but have they ever considered that if war breaks out, it will be us, the lowest-level and most vulnerable groups, who will suffer the most!"