The Nine Cauldrons
chapter-90

On the first floor of the Canvass Lunar Restaurant, almost all the tables were taken.

"Dear Customers." A waiter immediately came forward with a bright smile.

Zhuge Yuanhong said casually, "Give us the private room 'Purple Air of the East' on the third floor." The Canvass Lunar Restaurant was one of the biggest restaurants in Jiangning County City. The private rooms on the third floor of this restaurant were especially pricey. However, the wealthy merchant in Jiangning County City would usually host their guest in one of the private rooms on the third floor of the restaurant.

The 'Purple Air of the East' was the most expensive private room.

"Er…" The waiter froze.

"Eh?" Zhuge Yun frowned.

"Dear customer, Old Master Li in the East City had reserved the 'Purple Air of the East.' Do you think…" Before the waiter could even finish his words, the restaurant owner, who was on the first floor, ran over and stood before the waiter. In a hasty manner, he cupped his hands and grinned courteously as he said, "I see. It is Young Master Zhuge. Please follow me upstairs. I, the inferior one, will lead the way."

Zhuge Yun, Teng Qingshan, and the other two followed the restaurant owner and walked up the stairs to the third floor.

There were quite a few waiters in the hall of the third floor.

"I thought Old Master Li reserved the private room 'Purple Air of the East?'" The waiter asked blankly.

"Who the f*ck cares about Old Master Li?" Another waiter at the side immediately stopped him and whispered to his ear, "You must remember this young master. He is the Young Sovereign of Gui Yuan Sect! Even the county governor of Jiangning County would have to yield to him, not to mention some Old Master Li! You must remember to never call him the Young Sovereign when you see him again! You must only call him Young Master Zhuge! The Young Sovereign does not want many people to know who he is."

"Oh!" The waiter exclaimed in shock.

The Young Sovereign of Gui Yuan Sect?

Gui Yuan Sect ruled over the entire Jiangning County and even the county governor and the city lord would have to listen to the commands issued by Gui Yuan Sect. Therefore, the status of Young Sovereign was indeed very intimidating.

Of the four private rooms on the spacious third floor, the private room 'Purple Air of the East' was the largest. Even though it was very cold outside, it was very warm in the private room. The incense sticks were lit and an appealing scent permeated the room.

Teng Qingshan and the others were seated.

"Young Master Zhuge, what do you plan to eat today?" The restaurant owner bowed and asked.

Zhuge Yuanhong waved his hand and said, "It's better to eat something hot during this cold winter. I would like to order the 'Winter Meets the Golden Flower' feast!"

"Alright." The restaurant owner responded with a smile and walked out of the room.

"Winter Meets the Golden Flower Feast? What is that?" Teng Qinghu stared blankly as he asked.

Zhuge Yuanhong smiled and said, "Big Brother Qinghu, Winter Meet the Golden Flower Feast is one of the eight great feasts on the menu of the Canvass Lunar Restaurant. This feast has a total of thirty-two dishes of food and is especially suitable to be eaten during winter. The dishes of food and even side dishes are very well-prepared. The dishes that you order yourself cannot be compared with the feast specially prepared by the chef of the Canvass Lunar Restaurant."

"Thirty-two? That's really wasteful." Teng Qinghu guffawed.

Soon, the different dishes of food were served. Zhuge Yun, Teng Qingshan, and the other two began drinking and chatting about various topics.

"Lady Qing, your brother has an abundant amount of inner strength. You have very inner strength as well." Teng Qingshan smiled and praised.

"Big Brother Teng, why do you say so?" Zhuge Qing asked with bemusement.

"You and your brother are both wearing very little during this cold winter. It's either you two wish to suffer or you two have an abundant amount of inner strength." Teng Qingshan teased.

As soon as Zhuge Qing realized what was going on, she laughed so hard that her eyes squinted, "Big Brother Teng, here's where you are wrong. I do not possess an abundant amount of inner strength. I am not cold because I am wearing snow silk gown!"

Zhuge Yun added with a helpless expression, "My sister has very weak meridians. Although she had begun cultivating at a young age, she still had very weak inner strength."

"My inner strength is weak, but I have you to protect me." Zhuge Qing chuckled as she said to her brother.

Zhuge Yun patted the sister's head and grinned.

When Teng Qingshan saw this, he couldn't help but remember his sister 'Qingyu.' Just like what Zhuge Yun was doing, he would often dotingly pat Qingyu's head as well. He thought to himself, "I have left home for several days. I wonder if Little Yu misses me…"

...

Teng Qingshan and the others ate and drink in the private room. However, during this time, another group of people arrived on the first floor of the Canvass Lunar Restaurant.

The man leading the group looked forty-to-fifty years old. He wore a white fox fur coat with golden bands on the edges and had a translucent jade ring on his right hand. As he stood there, he emanated a dignified aura. By his side, there was a young couple and the woman was holding a baby in her arms.

There were three tall and big bodyguards standing behind.

"Old Master Li." The restaurant owner greeted.

"The feast I ordered is ready, right? Serve it in the private room 'Purple Air of the East.' Yu, let's go upstairs." Old Master Li ordered in an indifferent tone.

"Old Master Li, the private room 'Purple Air of the East' is occupied." The restaurant owner hastily said.

"Eh?" Hearing this, Old Master Li frowned and stared at the restaurant owner.

As Old Master Li always had an eminent status, his eyes were enough to incite fear in the restaurant owner's heart. The restaurant owner hastily said, "Old Master Li, you can't blame me. Not long ago, a group of people wanted the private room 'Purple Air of the East' as well. It was Young Master Zhuge."

"Young Master Zhuge?" Old Master Li frowned.

Old Master Li was considered a high-positioned figure among the Yangzhou Salt Merchants. He was very wealthy and had connections with many sects. He was indeed considered a great figure.

"It's the Young Sovereign." The restaurant owner whispered.

"Oh?" Old Master Li froze.

No matter how wealthy they were, the merchants still had to win the favor of the great sects. If not, the sect could take away his property by just sending some people over.

"I see. So it is Young Master Zhuge! Yu and Feng, let's go pay a visit." Old Master Li said.

"Young Sovereign? The young couple were also inner strength experts and naturally heard the whispers of the restaurant owner.

"Qingyu, he's that gifted figure in your Gui Yuan Sect, right?" The young man said, "Let's go pay a visit."

The woman's name was Li Qingyu and her husband's name was Liu Rufeng.

Back then, Teng Jia Village received a large order of 182 Frost Jade Saber. Teng Qingshan and his father Teng Yongfan led a group of clansmen and delivered the 182 Frost Jade Saber to the Yangzhou Merchant Guide in Yi City.

The leader of the guards whose name was Qin San tried to cheat their money and became angry at Teng Qingshan and the other Teng Jia villagers. He even sent someone to tell the bandits to kill the group of impudent villagers.

...

On the third floor of the Canvass Lunar Restaurant.

Old Master Li and his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson stood outside the private room. The three bodyguards followed behind. Before he entered the room, he ordered the bodyguards, "Stay outside." He then shouted loudly, "Young Master Zhuge, I, Li Jun, and my daughter Qingyu have come to pay a visit. We wish to meet you!"

In the private room, Teng Qingshan and the others were eating happily.

"Li Jun? Who is that?" Teng Qinghu asked puzzledly.

"Eh? Li Jun? The salt merchant Li Jun?" Zhuge Yun was stunned. He then smiled and said, "Big Brother Teng and Big Brother Qinghu, it seems like this Li Jun was the one who reserved the private room Purple Air of the East. Let's just meet him. We have to at least give him some sort of respect."

"Come in!" Zhuge Yun responded loudly.

Immediately, a creak sounded and the door was opened.

Old Master Li led his daughter and son-in-law into the room.

"We are pleased to meet Young Sovereign!" Old Master Li bowed as he spoke with a smile.

"Old Master Li, please don't. How could we receive such a courteous bow when we were the ones who had taken the private room you reserved." Zhuge Yun said intentionally.

"My status is not high enough to invite the Young Sovereign for a meal. It is my honor to reserve this private room for you." Old Master Li said with a smile. "Young Sovereign, please. Let me introduce you my son-in-law Liu Rufeng. He is the core disciple of Qing Hu Island. You should know Qingyu."

"Senior Martial Sister Qingyu is a disciple of Gui Yuan Sect. Of course I know her. Liu Rufeng? Yea, I have heard that Senior Martial Sister had gotten married. I see, so she married Liu Rufeng." Zhuge Yun cast a glance at Liu Rufeng and said, "Oh, he is even the core disciple of Qing Hu Island? Looks like he's very powerful."

Liu Rufeng smiled as he cupped his hand and said, "Everyone in the region of Yangzhou has heard of the talented and gifted Young Master Zhuge."

"Old Master Li, we are going to continue with our meal." Zhuge Yun said.

"Then we shall not leave you all in peace. Young Master, please continue." Old Master Li smiled and led his daughter and son-in-law out of the room, closing the door.

Soon, the private room became silent again.

"Hmph, I can't believe Senior Martial Sister Qingyu married a disciple of Qing Hu Island!" Zhuge Yun mumbled.

Teng Qingshan frowned and thought to himself, "I think I have seen Old Master Li somewhere before!" Indeed, Teng Qingshan met Old Master Li and his daughter Li Qingyu when he was ten years old. He had only met Old Master Li once and Li Qingyu had been a young girl at that time. Currently, she had become a wife and mother, and so, there was a drastic change in her appearance and aura.

"Eh? It is him! The Old Master Li in Jiangning County!" Teng Qingshan's eyes lit up. He finally remembered.

As soon as he remembered, he stood up abruptly.

"Qingshan, what's wrong?" Teng Qinghu was stunned.

"Qinghu, do you remember the Old Master Li and the wealthy girl named Yu? We met them when we delivered the Frost Jade Saber to Yi City." Teng Qingshan's face darkened and he immediately walked out of the private room.

Teng Qinghu froze for a brief moment as his mind went blank. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he shouted, "It is them!" Teng Qinghu stood up and stormed out as well

"What's wrong?" Zhuge Yun and Zhuge Qing were both startled and hastily followed.

Teng Qingshan walked out of the private room and began listening with full attention, focusing on the private room located southward..

Back then, the bandits attacked Teng Qingshan and the other Teng Jia Villagers. Because of Teng Qingshan, no one died. However, one clansman lost the sight of one eye, one clansman lost a leg and had no choice but remain on bed all-year-long, and one clansman lost an arm.

The three clansmen were the few good men who had been part of the Hunting Squadron.

And because of that incident, they became disabled!

This hatred had remained in Teng Qingshan's heart since then! He had never forgotten about it!

If Teng Qingshan weren't there, the thirty-plus men of Teng Jia Village would all be killed. Teng Qingshan had endured during that time for the sake of the clansmen, but Teng Qingshan had made a promise that he would kill Qin San whenever he could in the future!

Teng Qingshan walked over and kicked.

"Boom!" The door flew open.

"Who is it!" Old Master Li roared with discontentment. Immediately, the three bodyguards stood up.

"Oh, so it is the friend of the Young Sovereign." The Old Master smiled and said, "Please come in."

Teng Qingshan stood at the door and scanned the private room with an indifferent attitude. He stared at one of the three bodyguards. Teng Qingshan remembered very well that one of the three bodyguards was called Qin Da and he was the one who helped the Teng Jia Villagers, and the one standing at the side was Qin San!"

"You are Qin San, aren't you!" Teng Qingshan said as he glared coldly at the bodyguard.