Fearing that Sang Qingzhou might do them harm, Ji Yunxi immediately led her people towards the Sang Mansion along the route pointed out by the innkeeper.
After the four of them walked around three streets, a street peddler suddenly called out to them.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
He looked extremely anxious, as if something bad was about to happen.
Lu Shu glanced at Ji Yunxi. Seeing her gesture for him to go and inquire, he stepped forward and asked, "Hey, brother, are you calling us?"
"Yes, yes! It's you guys. You mustn't go any further!"
"Why?" Ji Yunxi looked at the broad street, feeling a bit confused.
The peddler's face turned pale. He grabbed them and tried to pull them away. "Hurry up and leave. It's obvious that you're outsiders. Once you take this step, you'll be on the Sang Family's territory!"
The Sang Family's territory?!
"Is the Sang Mansion nearby?"
Ji Yunxi was a bit puzzled. According to the innkeeper, they still had to walk two more streets to reach the Sang Mansion. Why was this peddler saying that this was already the Sang Family's territory?
The peddler didn't dare to say much. He just tugged at them desperately. "Don't ask any more questions! Hurry up and leave!"
Lu Shu stopped in his tracks. No matter how hard the peddler tried, he couldn't budge him. Finally, the peddler sighed and said, "I'm not lying to you. This is the Sang Family's territory. The two streets around the Sang Mansion, in all directions, belong to the Sang Family. If we ordinary folks cross the boundary, we'll be beaten with boards!"
Hearing this, they were all extremely shocked. Qing Xuan couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, "This! This is no different from a bunch of bandits! Beating people with boards? This is nothing but abuse of private power!"
Feng Xingzhi nodded. His face looked grim. This general from the Northern Di indeed had great power. He was almost like a local despot in Xuan City.
Even the royal family of the Southern Yan couldn't claim the land outside the imperial city. Yet, a mere general could have such authority. It seemed that there were some serious issues here.
Ji Yunxi was worried that Sang Qingzhou was so arrogant that he might not spare the lives of her brother and Jiu Ge. She felt a bit nervous all of a sudden.
"A Shu."
She called out softly. Lu Shu immediately took out a silver ingot from his pocket and handed it to the peddler.
"Thank you for helping us. This is just a little token of our gratitude."
The peddler smiled and waved his hand. "It's just a small matter. This is too valuable. I can't take it."
With that, he was about to leave. Lu Shu's eyes twitched. He reached out and patted the peddler on the shoulder. "Okay, okay. But you still have to accept our thanks."
The peddler didn't think much of it and turned away.
Qing Xuan looked around curiously and asked, "He really doesn't want the money?"
"He doesn't want it, but it doesn't mean I won't give it."
It was only later that night, when the peddler got home and found the silver ingot in his pocket, that he realized what had happened.
Ji Yunxi had already felt the wickedness of the Sang Family. Instead of being afraid, it only fueled her fighting spirit. She was determined to have a showdown with this guy.
As soon as the four of them entered, they were stopped by someone.
A slovenly guard held a long spear and pointed it at them. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Ji Yunxi stepped forward. "We're here to see your master."
"Humph! Do you think you can just see my master whenever you want? How ridiculous." With that, he waved his spear a couple of times, trying to scare Ji Yunxi away.
Qing Xuan was furious. "You'd better not be so ignorant!"
But the guard completely ignored him. Seeing this, Qing Xuan wanted to teach him a lesson, but Lu Shu grabbed him by the arm.
He took out a token from his waist.
"I'm a steward of the Dream Blossom Pavilion. Can I see your master?"
The guard was stunned for a moment. They didn't dare to provoke the Dream Blossom Pavilion. He leaned forward and took a closer look. Although he had never seen this token before, he didn't dare to be as arrogant as before.
So he changed his tone. "Hey! You should have said earlier that you're from the Dream Blossom Pavilion. Wait here while I go and announce your arrival."
With that, he ran back. It took a while before the guard returned. He changed his attitude completely and said respectfully, "Honored guests, my master invites you."
As soon as they entered the Sang Mansion, they saw a huge screen wall that blocked the view inside.
The size of the screen wall was a symbol of the family's status.
Ji Yunxi looked at the carved dragons and phoenixes on the screen wall and thought to herself that the Sang Family was really not afraid of being criticized.
After walking around the screen wall, they were all shocked by what they saw inside.
There were pavilions, terraces, and towers. A huge fishpond was right in the middle. All the pillars of the corridors were hollowed out. There were servants coming and going everywhere, almost as many as in the palace.
The extravagance shocked Ji Yunxi. When she walked across a stone bridge, she touched it and found that the whole bridge was made of white marble. Every brick and stone was carefully carved. It was extremely luxurious.
Qing Xuan gasped in disbelief. "Is the son of this general from the Northern Di really this rich?"
The guard led them to the guest hall. They saw a young master wearing a light yellow robe sitting on the main seat, looking at them.
Ji Yunxi whispered to Feng Xingzhi, "Why is his robe shining?"
Feng Xingzhi had a look of disgust on his face. "His robe... is made of gold thread."
The young master first looked like he didn't want to pay them any attention. But when he saw Ji Yunxi's face, his eyes immediately showed greed, which made people feel disgusted.
"Pretty lady, I'm Sang Qingzhou. May I ask what you honored guests want from me? I heard that you're from the Dream Blossom Pavilion?"
The way he called her "pretty lady" made Feng Xingzhi clench his fists tightly. He wanted to pull this guy down and beat him up.
Lu Shu saw his blatant lecherous look and immediately stood in front of Ji Yunxi, blocking his view. "That's right."
"Oh, then what do you want from me?"
"I heard from my subordinates that you, Young Master Sang, abducted three of my friends the other day. So I'm here to ask for them."
Hearing this, Sang Qingzhou burst out laughing. "Hahaha, ask for them? What, is the Dream Blossom Pavilion in such a bad situation that you have to come and beg for your friends back?"
Lu Shu felt a surge of anger in his chest. He wanted to rush forward and kill Sang Qingzhou on the spot.
Ji Yunxi pushed Lu Shu aside and stepped forward. "Young Master Sang, we've come with good intentions. We hope that you won't joke around and release our friends."
Sang Qingzhou looked at her and his tone became frivolous. "Oh? But I abduct many people every day. I don't know if your friends are among them. Pretty lady, why don't you help me look for them?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful spiritual force suddenly attacked and shattered the cup in his hand.
Ji Yunxi smiled. "It seems that Young Master Sang still likes to joke around?"
Sang Qingzhou looked at Feng Xingzhi beside her. This man's spiritual power was so powerful that it was hard to figure out. If he made an enemy of him rashly, it might not be a good thing.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and said, "We can talk about anything. I've long heard of the Dream Blossom Pavilion and I've always admired it. I heard that the Dream Blossom Pavilion has many rules and conducts business very carefully. And you, lady, said that you've come with good intentions. So, of course, I'll give you some face."
Sang Qingzhou suddenly smiled. "I can release your friends, but how about we make a deal?"