Chapter Seven: The Husky (Part Two) Chapter One Released

The Luopu Bookstore was located in Datong City, situated southwest of New Luo City near Jianguomen Street.

Datong City was far smaller in scale compared to Fengdu City, which was later established in the central area of New Luo City. However, most early merchants who settled in Datong City had strong backgrounds. Though it couldn’t compare to the bustling prosperity of Fengdu City, it exuded a unique and refined charm.

Fengdu City was a melting pot where all kinds of people mingled—from high-ranking officials to common laborers, as well as roaming foreign merchants and wealthy guests. In contrast, Datong City felt more cultured. Though lined with numerous taverns, the atmosphere was pleasant and calm. Visitors here were generally well-mannered.

As one of the earliest merchants to enter Datong City, Luopu Bookstore had a very eye-catching storefront. Two black lacquered round wooden pillars bore a couplet gifted by Yan Qing to Master Xiao Luopu: “There is a path through the mountain of books—diligence is the way; the sea of learning has no end—hard work is the boat.” Many regarded these words as a timeless truth for study and learning.

The scroll written by Yan Qing had long been kept safely by Master Xiao Luopu, unwilling to show it to others. Upon entering the bookstore, one would see portraits of sages directly ahead. Huge bookshelves on both sides were piled high with volumes of carved and printed books, releasing a faint scent of ink.

Zheng Yanqing tethered his green donkey and stepped inside. A sharp-eyed clerk recognized him immediately and hurried over with a cheerful smile. “Young Master Zheng, you’ve finally arrived.”

Yanqing chuckled. “Finally arrived? What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t know? Master just got several volumes of Han and Wei dynasty steles recently. Many have come asking about them, wanting to take them away. Master always says they’re reserved for you, which is why he keeps delaying. If you don’t come soon, he was about to visit you himself.”

“Heh, I suppose I have been a bit negligent!” Yanqing smiled. “See how much our Master Luopu values you, keeping those steles just for you, refusing to sell them to anyone else!”

Such words, though somewhat exaggerated, always made the listener feel honored. Yanqing quickly expressed his thanks, glanced around, and softly asked, “Where is Master Luopu?”

“Oh, he’s upstairs receiving a guest. If you’re not in a hurry, you can wait here and browse some books; but if you’re pressed for time, I can inform him at once.”

The bookstore had two floors—the upper level displayed rare and unique volumes as well as famous calligraphy and paintings, off-limits to ordinary people. Since the guest was being received upstairs, it must be someone important. Yanqing was not in a rush, so he sat down as the clerk brought tea and a volume of the Dongshan Collection to keep him company.

In these times, tea drinking was gradually gaining popularity, though most still preferred wine. But a bookstore was different; serving alcohol risked guests becoming disorderly. A cup of fragrant tea and a book, combined with the quiet scent of ink, was a perfect match.

Just as Yanqing prepared to open the book, he heard footsteps at the stairwell—one light, one heavy. He had practiced health preservation techniques for four years, sharpening his hearing beyond the ordinary.

Looking up, he saw two people descending: a short, stout man—Master Xiao Luopu—and a tall woman in a green dress with a cloak. Her brows were delicately shaped, her phoenix-like eyes bright, her oval face flushed with rosy cheeks, captivating in beauty. Her jet-black hair was styled into a high bun, accentuating her tender, jade-like skin.

Suddenly, either distracted by conversation or slipping on the stairs, the young woman cried out and fell. Master Luopu was caught off guard and failed to catch her. In an instant, Yanqing sprang up like lightning, rushing to the stairwell and catching her in his arms. The warmth and softness of her presence stirred even his steady heart.

“Miss, are you hurt?”

The force of her fall pushed Yanqing backward several steps before he regained his footing and supported her. The girl seemed shaken, clutching his waist tightly as her chest heaved. Feeling the warmth against him, Yanqing gently inquired. She gradually composed herself, blushing deeply as she loosened her grip and tried to step back, only to nearly fall again. Quick as ever, Yanqing caught her.

Her face showed pain; she lightly touched the ground with her toes, hesitant to put full weight on her foot. Yanqing carefully helped her sit nearby.

Master Luopu hurried over, patting his chest. “Miss Pei, are you all right?”

So, her surname was Pei.

The girl recognized Yanqing and blushed. Bowing her head, she said softly, “Thank you, Young Master Zheng, for saving me.”

“Maybe you twisted your ankle,” Yanqing said with a slight smile, lifting her foot respectfully and removing her cloud boots.

“What are you doing?” the girl asked nervously.

Yanqing reassured her, “Don’t worry, Miss Pei. You might have sprained it, so we need to check immediately. If it’s serious, you’ll need to visit the clinic.”

“How do you know my surname is Pei?” she asked, wary.

“Master Luopu just called you by name; I’m not deaf. Fortunately, it’s not a serious injury.”

Her ankle was swollen and red from the fall. Yanqing held her delicate ankle in his hand, making her shiver slightly and lower her head further, her cheeks like the crimson leaves of Xiangshan Temple outside Luoyang.

“Master Luopu, do you have any medicinal wine here?”

Master Luopu nodded quickly. “Yes, just recently I purchased medicinal wine from Tian’s—it’s very effective.”

“Bring it here!”

Master Luopu seemed flustered, nodding but hesitating to act. It was clear this Miss Pei was no ordinary person—perhaps a noble official’s daughter or from a prestigious family. She might even belong to the Pei clan of Hedong.

Though the Hedong Pei clan was smaller compared to the great five or seven families, the Wenxi Pei branch only had three family houses named East, Middle, and West Quarters. Pei Shiju belonged to the East Quarter, the strongest branch currently. But which branch did this young lady hail from?

Master Luopu hurried to the back to fetch the medicinal wine. The clerks, seeing no further trouble, resumed their tasks.

“I’m Pei Cuiyun. Thank you, Young Master Zheng, for rescuing me.”

“You know me?” Yanqing asked, puzzled.

Blushing and trembling slightly, the girl said, “Don’t you remember? Yesterday you and my brother had a conflict on Changxia Gate Street.”

“Oh!” Yanqing suddenly understood. No wonder she seemed familiar. She was the young woman who had ridden in to stop him from fighting that boy yesterday. At the time, Yanqing was preoccupied with concerns about Xiong Dahai and barely noticed her appearance. Moreover, he could hardly reconcile the shy, blushing girl before him with the bold woman who had charged in on horseback.

“I’m sorry about yesterday. I was busy and didn’t expect... you’re not from Luoyang, are you?”

Yanqing gently massaged her ankle to disperse the bruising.

“I’m originally from Wenxi in Hedong. My father said we might settle in Luoyang, so we came here. My brother is reckless; please don’t blame him. Actually, he admires you a lot.”

“Admires me?”

“Yes, he loves your ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ written earlier this year and even had it copied in Luoyang.”

Yanqing laughed. There’s a saying: “Youth does not read Dream of the Red Chamber; old age does not read Three Kingdoms.” It shows how deeply the Three Kingdoms captivated young people.

He smiled. “It’s just a lighthearted work for entertainment, not something to be taken seriously. Many accuse me of distorting history, an unforgivable offense.”

“But I think it’s good…”

“Oh? Miss also reads the Three Kingdoms?”

“I’ve read some and heard criticisms of you. But I believe your book is meant to entertain, so truth or falsehood need not be scrutinized. My father also thinks your work contains hidden military strategies that deserve careful study. Yet, to me, your poem ‘Parting Thoughts’ is the most outstanding and touching.”

“Oh…”

Yanqing chuckled without responding.

Yuan Zhen’s ‘Parting Thoughts’—a profound lament. He wondered what poems Yuan Zhen might write if he were reborn to mourn his late wife.

As Yanqing pondered, a loud shout came from outside the bookstore.

“Damn thief! How dare you disrespect my sister!”

Before Yanqing could turn, a fierce punch swept toward him with tremendous force. One hand still holding Pei Cuiyun’s jade foot, Yanqing couldn’t dodge. He lunged forward; Pei cried out as he pinned her beneath him.

“Thief, you’re asking for death!” The attacker, furious, stepped forward and kicked Yanqing’s back.

Yanqing couldn’t evade the kick—if he dodged, he might hurt Pei. So he rolled on the ground, avoiding the blow, then flipped and sprang up, delivering a whip-like kick without seeing who his opponent was.

With a loud bang, the attacker blocked the kick with his arm, which felt as hard as an iron pillar, making Yanqing grit his teeth. The attacker stepped back, his arm numb and useless.

“It’s you?” the attacker exclaimed upon recognizing Yanqing, who also saw him clearly.

Before Yanqing could speak, the man shouted angrily, “Zheng Yanqing, I admired you, but you’re a scoundrel! We have a grudge, come find me if you must, but how dare you bully my sister! I’ll kill you!”

Yanqing inwardly groaned, knowing this was a misunderstanding. But considering how close he was to Pei Cuiyun moments ago, anyone unaware might think he was fondling her foot.

The attacker was the young man who fought Yanqing yesterday—Pei Cuiyun’s brother.

Pei Cuiyun, still dazed after being pinned, began to come to. Yanqing tried to explain, but the boy roared and launched a series of punches in a continuous mountain fist style at Yanqing.

“You…” Yanqing’s words were cut off by the oncoming blows. He stepped back to absorb the force, shifting to evade the attacks. But the boy charged in, crashing into Yanqing, who was pressed against the counter with no escape.

Biting his lip, Yanqing placed one foot on the counter and crossed his arms, gathering strength to brace himself.

With a dull thud, Yanqing hit the counter, his back aching fiercely. The counter collapsed under the force. The boy leapt again, knees aimed at Yanqing’s chest.

Three successive strikes roused Yanqing’s anger. The boy’s strength was formidable; without years of martial arts training, Yanqing might have been broken and bruised.

Misunderstandings aside, the boy attacked relentlessly.

Yanqing spun aside, spreading his hands like a black bear’s paws, pushing at the boy’s waist. The boy flew backward, crashing hard to the ground. Yanqing thought this would end it, but the boy quickly rolled over, unharmed, and jumped up again.

“Zheng Yanqing, you’ve made me angry!”

Pei Cuiyun, now alert, half-sat up and shouted, “Little brother, stop! You’re mistaken!”

But the boy charged like a mad tiger, ignoring her.

Yanqing grew anxious. How could this guy be so tough? His last strike would have taken anyone’s breath away, yet this boy was unfazed. Could he be some kind of iron man? Despite doubts, Yanqing could not hesitate. Planting his feet firmly, he prepared to counterattack, but the boy reached him first.

With arms wide, the boy roared like a tiger, embraced Yanqing’s waist, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him down.

Though Yanqing had trained the Dragon Suppression Stance for four years and was not easily moved, the boy’s strength was overwhelming. If Yanqing were slammed like that, he’d be seriously injured or worse.

Quickly twisting his body, Yanqing raised his legs, locking the boy’s neck in a cross, using his momentum to push. With a strong shove, both crashed to the ground.

“Little brother, stop! Young Master Zheng, please stop…” Pei Cuiyun pleaded.

Everyone in the bookstore watched in stunned silence. Two elegantly dressed young men—one, the famed Ban Yuanjun—were grappling. Ban Yuanjun was renowned for poetry and writing, but clearly, his fighting skills were impressive.

More importantly, the fight was over a girl. Such news, if spread, would cause quite a stir.

Even Master Xiao Luopu, holding the medicinal wine, stood dumbfounded at the doorway.

“Stop fighting, please!” Pei Cuiyun cried anxiously, cheeks flushed.

At that moment, someone entered the bookstore with swift, electric speed. In a blink, he reached the two combatants, gripped the boy’s shoulder and shook it slightly, then struck Yanqing’s leg and clasped his wrist.

Though the moves seemed simple, their effect was astonishing.

Yanqing and the boy were immediately separated, stepping back a dozen paces before regaining balance. The newcomer said, “You are both outstanding youths, role models for the world. Why sully this place of sages with such a brawl? Isn’t it a desecration of the venerable ancestors?”

Yanqing’s leg was numb, as if not his own, and the arm the man held felt powerless. The boy leaned against the wall, barely standing, as if his bones had been shaken loose.

Yanqing half-leaned on the stair railing and looked up at the newcomer.

He was about 175 cm tall, slender, with a thin face and sharp, bright eyes filled with a hint of melancholy. Dressed in a white robe, his gray-white hair fell to his shoulders, bound at the top with a golden ring.

He had no beard but sported two small, remarkably attractive mustaches on his upper lip, giving him a distinctly masculine air.

Yet Yanqing felt something indescribably strange about him.

Taking a breath, Yanqing asked sternly, “Who are you?”

The man chuckled. “Ah, honored to be inquired by the famed Ban Yuanjun. I am Husky, originally from Xiangzhou, now doing some small business in Luoyang. Both of you are exceptional youths—let’s resolve any misunderstandings. This is the Luopu Bookstore—such fighting here is unbecoming.”

Yanqing said, “I didn’t start this. Ask that madman.”

“That’s because you harassed my sister…”

The boy’s angry words were cut off as Pei Cuiyun rushed over and covered his mouth.

“Little brother, what nonsense? I twisted my ankle and almost fell. Thankfully, Young Master Zheng helped me and was treating my injury.”

“Treating? But I saw him holding your foot…”

“I said it’s treatment. Didn’t you see Master Luopu holding medicinal wine?”

Master Xiao Luopu finally realized and shook the wine bottle. “Miss Pei is right; Young Master Zheng was healing her.”

“Oh? Then why didn’t he explain clearly? Surely he’s hiding something.”

Yanqing, annoyed and embarrassed, said, “How can I explain if you attack me the moment I arrive?”

“But if you hadn’t pinned my sister, would I have hit you?”

The claim grew more absurd by the moment.

Outside, onlookers whispered and speculated. So Ban Yuanjun had come to Luopu Bookstore to meet a lover!

Pei Cuiyun blushed deeply, wishing she could sew her brother’s mouth shut.

What did he mean by “playing with my foot” or “pinning me down”?

“Little brother, if you keep this up, don’t expect me to take you out again!”

Yanqing could only smile bitterly to himself: all the reputation he painstakingly built was ruined by this boy’s loose tongue.

Husky chuckled silently nearby.

“Since it’s truly a misunderstanding, I’ll take my leave…”

He looked at Yanqing with a strange gleam in his eyes. “Unexpectedly, Ban Yuanjun is talented in both literature and martial arts. With time, you will surely rise to prominence.”

Yanqing, now recovered, smiled and cupped his hands. “Mr. Husky, your martial arts are truly impressive.”

“You flatter me!” Husky bowed slightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet two outstanding youths today. I have some matters to attend to—farewell for now, and I look forward to meeting you again.”

Husky turned and left. Yanqing watched his retreating figure thoughtfully.

For some reason, he felt something was off about Husky. His demeanor was far from that of an ordinary merchant, but Yanqing couldn’t pinpoint what.

“Young Master Zheng, Cuiyun must take her leave!” Pei Cuiyun stepped forward to bid farewell.

Yanqing bowed. “Miss Pei, please take care.”

“Thank you again for your help today. My brother is immature; please forgive him. I apologize on his behalf.”

“No need for that.”

“Yes, it’s necessary!” Pei Cuiyun bowed and then turned to glare coldly at her brother. “Pei Xingyan, come apologize to Young Master Zheng.”

The boy stammered, “I was reckless earlier. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

Was that an apology or a challenge?

Yanqing was at a loss for words but before he could speak, Pei Xingyan turned his head. “Sister, the carriage is ready. Let’s go.”

Pei Cuiyun sighed helplessly, then bowed to Yanqing once more before leaving slowly with her brother’s support.

“My bookstore!” Master Xiao Luopu sighed, lamenting the mess inside.

Yanqing stepped forward. “Master, please don’t be upset. It was my fault today. I will compensate for any loss.”

“Young Master Zheng, what are you saying? Such small damage I can afford. But if you insist on compensation... I need no money, only your agreement to allow me to print your ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’.”

“Ah…”

“How about it?” Master Xiao Luopu looked hopeful.

Yanqing wanted to ask about royalties but decided not to. In these days, having your work printed was recognition enough. Royalties? That concept didn’t seem to exist yet.

“Let me think about it,” Yanqing replied, feigning hesitation, then suddenly asked, “By the way, what’s Miss Pei’s background?”

“Oh, she’s from the East Quarter of the Hedong Pei clan, a descendant of Pei Shuanghu. Her father is General Pei Renji, a fierce warrior. That boy is her younger brother, Pei Xingyan, who just arrived in Luoyang yesterday.”