Chарtеr 228: Тhе Insidе Stоry (1)
Evеrуоnе fеll silent. Xiuxiu аlsо sat down nеarby, but thе dining tаblе wаs аlrеady in сomplete disarraу, hаving beеn mostlу сlеаred bу Zhu Yаn.
Zhu Yаn fеlt аwkward, but Хiuxiu didn’t say аnуthing abоut it. Instead, she instruсted the sеrvants to рrераrе аnоther tablе оf foоd аnd рolitеly tоld Zhu Yаn not to stаnd оn cеremony if shе was still hungry.
Zhu Yan’s fасе flushed еven redder, hеr ехprеssiоn fillеd with еmbаrrаssment.
То eаse thе tension, Рan Сhi quiсklу spоkе uр, “Нave yоu been paying аttention to thе matter I аsked уоu to lоok into the other day?”
Hearing Pan Chi’s question, Xiuxiu nodded repeatedly. “I’ve kept Young Master Pan’s instructions in mind and haven’t dared to neglect them. Over these past few days, I’ve heard bits and pieces here and there and have even organized them a little.”
“Tell me quickly,” Pan Chi’s expression turned serious in an instant.
Before Zhu Yan could gather her thoughts, Xiuxiu had already sunk into recollection…
The Xiuxiang Pavilion was a place frequented by people from all walks of life, a hub for information exchange. According to Xiuxiu’s observations, the deceased Li Kaixiang and the suspect Li Kairui were actually brothers, and they got along very well.
Having lost their parents at a young age, the two had relied on each other for survival all these years. Both were hardworking and endured hardships. Though their lives were modest, they lived steadily and contentedly.
Perhaps due to their difficult lives and years of struggling to survive, the elder brother Li Kaixiang had a somewhat irritable temper. However, he was a man of his word, unwavering in his promises to his brothers, and he always delivered on what he pledged. He also enjoyed making friends widely and had a particular affinity for wandering heroes of the jianghu. They often gathered to eat and drink together, each session lasting until midnight, their boisterous laughter preventing neighbors from sleeping soundly.
The neighbors had tried speaking to him several times but to no avail, leaving them utterly helpless. This continued until half a year ago, when the neighbors, unable to bear the disturbance any longer, gradually moved away from the area.
Not long after the neighbors moved out, someone rented the vacant house next door. That person was Liu Zongyuan.
He settled there under the pretense of doing business. Unexpectedly, he too was open-hearted and sociable, hitting it off with Li Kaixiang immediately and quickly becoming close friends.
The two often drank and ate together, conversing happily, frequently chatting late into the night, feeling as if they had met too late in life.
It was through this that Liu Zongyuan learned some details about Li Kaixiang’s background.
In earlier years, Li Kaixiang, along with his younger brother Li Kairui and brother-in-law Ji Dafu, had engaged in some small-scale businesses. They managed to earn money and even acquired some farmland and estates, becoming a relatively wealthy family.
Yet, despite this, Li Kaixiang harbored a deep, unspoken pain in his heart, one that always made him feel inferior in front of others.
One day, Liu Zongyuan came to drink with Li Kaixiang again. When they were halfway to intoxication, Li Kaixiang began to sigh, his face clouded with worry, which puzzled Liu Zongyuan greatly.
“Brother Li, eating meat and drinking wine should be the most joyful things. Why are you sighing so deeply today? And with such a troubled look—have you encountered some difficulty?”
Although three rounds of drinks had left his mind somewhat foggy, the matter had been weighing heavily on Li Kaixiang’s heart. Even in front of Liu Zongyuan, he found it hard to speak of it.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Let’s drink. After downing this wine, we’ll forget all our troubles.”
As he spoke, Li Kaixiang picked up the large bowl of wine in front of him and gulped it down in one go.
After setting down the bowl, with an utterly dejected expression, he poured himself another full bowl."Alas, wine may drown sorrow, but haven't you heard that drinking to forget sorrow only deepens it? What troubles have you encountered, Brother Li? Do you still regard me as an outsider?"
Hearing Liu Zongyuan's words, Li Kaixiang was deeply moved, but the matter involved his private affairs, and though he opened his mouth several times, he found himself unable to speak.
Seeing Li Kaixiang hesitate, Liu Zongyuan immediately swore an oath, "If you doubt my character, Brother Li, I can swear right now—if I reveal your secret to anyone else, may I be struck dead by lightning the moment I step outside."
Upon hearing this, Li Kaixiang quickly stopped him, "Brother Liu, you misunderstand. It's not that I don't want to tell you, but this matter concerns a man's dignity. I truly find it difficult to speak of."
At these words, Liu Zongyuan seemed to understand something. He showed no embarrassment but instead looked at Li Kaixiang with a serious expression, "Brother Li, could it be that you are experiencing some dissatisfaction in the pleasures of the bedchamber?"
Li Kaixiang lowered his head, his expression filled with helplessness, "It's not really a major issue. Perhaps it's because I've been too exhausted lately, and I often find myself lacking the strength in that regard."
Liu Zongyuan frowned, "But we haven't been overworked recently. Brother Li, could it be that you are showing signs of physical exhaustion?"
Pressed by Liu Zongyuan's question, Li Kaixiang found it even harder to speak.
"I already said these matters are too embarrassing to discuss in detail. Let's not talk about them anymore."
"That's not the way to think. A true man, if he cannot conquer a woman, how can he conquer the world? If you trust me, Brother Li, I have a method that can allow you to pleasure multiple women in one night without faltering."
"..." Li Kaixiang widened his eyes, looking at Liu Zongyuan with disbelief.
"Brother Li, do you not believe me?" Liu Zongyuan saw through Li Kaixiang's thoughts and pressed further.
Li Kaixiang laughed awkwardly, "I naturally believe your words, Brother Liu, but on such matters, your claim seems so exaggerated that it's hard for me to accept."
Liu Zongyuan smiled mysteriously, "I am not exaggerating. If you don't believe me, Brother Li, I can let you try it. Of course, the thing that can restore your vigor is not something I possess myself. If you are satisfied after trying it, in the future, you will have to..."
Before he could finish, Li Kaixiang already understood Liu Zongyuan's meaning.
"Brother Liu, rest assured. As long as you can cure me of this ailment, I am willing to spare no expense, even if it costs a fortune."
Hearing this, Liu Zongyuan nodded with satisfaction.
After this heart-to-heart conversation, the bond between the two grew stronger, and Li Kaixiang began inviting Liu Zongyuan to drink and dine more frequently.
However, his main purpose was to inquire when the remedy Liu Zongyuan had mentioned would arrive.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Empress believed in Buddhism, not Daoism. Buddhism, with its emphasis on universal salvation, was popular among the people, and many were followers. In contrast, Daoist alchemy was scarcely practiced, with few believing in it.
Moreover, methods like alchemy were not encouraged. Because of this, the solution Liu Zongyuan spoke of could not be openly discussed.
After several days of waiting, Liu Zongyuan finally brought a man who appeared righteous and upright to Li Kaixiang's home.
This man was named Yuan Bayuan, a practitioner of esoteric arts.As national customs were not in vogue, he wore casual attire, yet stood tall with chest out, exuding an aura of righteousness and dignity, truly possessing a somewhat immortal and transcendent air.
After Liu Zongyuan introduced Li Kaixiang, Yuan Bayuan began to introduce himself: "I am a descendant of Yuan Tiangang. Since Brother Li follows the Daoist path, we naturally share some connection. Consuming elixirs can not only prolong life but also strengthen the body. Brother Li’s situation has already been explained to me by Zongyuan. There are remedies to enhance bedroom arts, but refining the elixirs requires several expensive medicinal ingredients, which indeed come at a steep price."
Upon hearing Yuan Bayuan’s words, Li Kaixiang expressed skepticism.
If not for the fact that he had been introduced by Liu Zongyuan, he would have truly believed the person before him to be a fraud.
OpenNovel