Seeking Truth with a Sword
Chapter 46 - 45: The Profligate Son

Chapter 46: Chapter 45: The Profligate Son

BZZT... BZZT...

The sachet vibrated ceaselessly, striking the jade pendant next to it.

Cheng Juxiu’s expression changed slightly as he untied the sachet and pulled out a rectangular, hollowed-out copper plate.

"What’s wrong?"

Ding Jingshan’s expression finally turned solemn as he asked in a deep voice.

"Professor Gongyang is summoning me. Although I don’t know the specifics of what has happened, judging from the frequency, the situation is likely very urgent."

Cheng Juxiu took a deep breath. "I have to go over."

"I’ll come too..."

Ding Jingshan had barely started speaking when Cheng Juxiu interrupted him, "Forget it. You still have your duties at the Secretary Province, and I don’t know how long this will take."

"I’ll go with you."

Han Qingyun rose from the couch and said indifferently to Cheng Juxiu, "Your Flying Sword is too slow."

With that, she pulled out two iron rods from her hair and flicked them lightly with her fingernails.

The iron rods immediately unfurled and extended, transforming into two broad Iron Swords that floated about a meter above the river.

"Thank you, Senior Sister." Cheng Juxiu said gratefully with a cupped-fist salute, then turned to Li Ang. "Risheng, I have to step out. You follow the group and stay at the hostel for now. Someone will come to pick you all up tomorrow. If there’s any issue, you can go find..."

"Find me," Ding Jingshan said. "I do clerical work at the Secretary Province during the day and return home at night. You can go to the Secretary Province or the Ding Mansion in Yining Square and ask for me at the gatehouse by mentioning my name."

"Thank you, Jingshan."

Cheng Juxiu breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to Han Qingyun. The two of them boarded the Iron Swords and flew towards the east.

WHOOSH—

The strong gusts of wind created by the rapid flight of the Iron Swords caused the bamboo forest across from the waterside pavilion to shake violently, and countless bamboo leaves shattered and flew about.

In the blink of an eye, their figures vanished from sight.

"Ah, what’s all this about? Weren’t we supposed to visit the Zuifang Building together?"

Ding Jingshan sighed heavily, slapped his thigh, and turned to Li Ang with a hearty laugh. "Risheng, right? So you’re one of Juxiu’s juniors. From now on, you’re my friend too. Just ask if there’s anything you need. I, Ding Jingshan, may not be good at much, but I’m quite the expert when it comes to pleasure and revelry."

Why is this fellow so proud of proclaiming himself a wastrel? Could he be one of those peculiar second-generation rich kids who point at a statue of Guanyin and declare, "I want that woman’s contact information within ten minutes"?

Li Ang’s eye twitched, but he still offered his thanks respectfully, "Then, thank you, Brother Ding."

Although he didn’t know what made the Ding Mansion in Yining Square so special, anyone able to hold the post of secretary in the Secretary Province couldn’t be an ordinary wastrel; otherwise, Cheng Juxiu wouldn’t associate with him.

"No problem at all." Ding Jingshan clearly enjoyed being called "Brother Ding," rubbing his hands together gleefully. "Hehe, it’s just that you, Risheng, are a bit young. Otherwise, I could’ve shown you around Pingkang Square tonight—the ’flowery fields of pleasure, the intoxicating dens of gold-dissolving debauchery.’ Do you know where Pingkang Square is? It’s just west of the East Market. The entire Pingkang Square is divided into three Sectors: the North Sector, Middle Sector, and South Sector. The Zuifang Building is in the classiest Middle Sector, the seventh establishment east of Baotang Temple. Newcomers can’t just wander in. According to the rules, unfamiliar new gentlemen have to pay double, so you need an old hand to guide you to avoid getting fleeced..."

"Third Son, it’s terrible, Third Son!"

Just as Ding Jingshan was animatedly enlightening Li Ang about the pleasure spots of Chang’an City, a young servant in green hurried along the corridor, calling out in a hushed voice, "Court was dismissed early today! The master is on his way to the Secretary Province to check on your compilation of the Zhou Kingdom’s national history. He’s heading there now!"

"What? My father is coming?"

Ding Jingshan was so startled he almost leaped up. He hastily cupped his fists towards Li Ang. "My apologies, Brother Risheng, something urgent has come up, and I must leave. We’ll chat another day."

"Ah, no problem, Brother Ding. Go take care of your business."

Li Ang still maintained his cupped-fist posture, but Ding Jingshan had already grabbed the young servant and was scrambling haphazardly toward the hostel’s exit. As he ran, he struggled to draw his sword from the scabbard at his waist. "Will I make it in time? I should ride my Flying Sword..."

"Third Son, you can’t ride a Flying Sword! If you do, everyone will see! It’s better to ride a horse. I’ll go get one for you."

"Right, right, you always think things through, Ding Xiaoqi! Riding a horse is good; a horse is essential..."

Ding Jingshan and the young servant disappeared at the end of the corridor. _{freew\e bnovel.com}

Li Ang stood there, scratching his head. Why does this Brother Ding seem so unreliable? He’s quite different from Cheng Juxiu, isn’t he? Are all the young masters in Chang’an like this?

Li Ang smacked his lips, turned, and walked towards the rooms, his mind still on Han Qingyun’s words: "The trigram of my Spirit Vein is ’Convinced and Judgment.’ It’s possible to find detailed explanations of this trigram in the ’Taixu Miaolin Scripture’ and ’Spiritual Treasure Wisdom Body Observation Scripture’ in the Academic Palace Book Tower."

I wonder if ordinary people can enter the Academic Palace Book Tower to read... Tch, I should have asked Ding Jingshan earlier. I’ll bring it up the next time we meet.

Li Ang casually pondered these matters as he returned to the corridor, only to see Song Shaoyuan and Zhai Yiming standing anxiously at the door of his room, knocking. Behind them stood Ji Linglang, her brow slightly furrowed.

"Brother Song?" Li Ang approached with a hint of surprise. "What’s the matter? Is something wrong?"

"Risheng, where have you been?" Song Shaoyuan asked. "Do you remember Yong Hongzhong, who came with us? He’s been feeling dizzy and nauseous for the past few days. Just now, he suddenly fainted and vomited in the hall. We don’t know what happened."

"Yong Hongzhong? The frail, sickly son of the Governor of Xiangzhou?"

Li Ang recalled him. Yong Hongzhong was his age, the son of the Governor of Xiangzhou. Despite a speech impediment, he had been composing poetry since he was six, producing many fine works and earning a notable reputation among the local scholars.

Since the caravans from Xiangzhou and Yizhou were traveling together, the students from both states had spent the past few days in each other’s company, becoming quite familiar and friendly. However, it was usually Song Shaoyuan, Zhai Yiming, Ji Linglang, and others who conversed with Yong Hongzhong, discussing poetry and the like. Li Ang didn’t know him well.

Song Shaoyuan nodded. "Yes. Risheng, can you treat him?"

"There are so many conditions that can cause dizziness and vomiting; I’d need to see him to know. Hold on for a moment, I’ll get my medicine chest."

Li Ang scratched his head, went into his room, woke Chai Cuiqiao who was asleep at the desk, took out his medicine chest, and had Song Shaoyuan lead the way to the hall.

The hostel outside Chang’an City covered a wide area and had a complex layout. They ran quickly and soon reached the hall.

They found that a number of examinees of similar age had already gathered inside, craning their necks to see what was happening in the middle of the hall.

"The Doctor is here, please make way."

Song Shaoyuan and Zhai Yiming used their height advantage to clear a path in front.

Li Ang squeezed through the crowd, only to see Yong Hongzhong sitting pale-faced on a stool. Beside him sat a young girl in a Ru dress, with bright eyes and white teeth. She was holding a metal needle, seriously and intently inserting it into the top of Yong Hongzhong’s head.

There’s already a Doctor here?

Li Ang raised an eyebrow, paused mid-step, and stood still, curiously observing the acupuncture method the girl was performing.