Chapter Fifty-Three: Fifth Chapter of the Release

"Whoosh!"
Su Yang, carrying a sack of flour and two jars of wine as he walked down the street, suddenly heard a sharp whistling sound by his ear. He quickly dodged, and the bamboo pole struck the ground with a heavy thud.

Looking up toward the second-floor window, he saw a woman whose allure seeped into her very bones.

Pan Silver Lotus.

"Oh dear, I accidentally hit you, young master! Are you alright?"
On the second floor, Pan Silver Lotus saw the youth she thought of day and night, her heart itching with anticipation. She hurriedly called out to him.

"Ouch... It hurts so much... How could you be so careless opening your window, young lady? The bamboo pole fell and struck my head...!"

"Ouch... It hurts so much...!"
Su Yang immediately fell to the ground, clutching his forehead and wailing loudly.

"Wife, what happened?"
Wu Dalang, downstairs, heard the commotion and called out.

Since their wedding night, Pan Silver Lotus, deeply resentful of Wu Dalang, had established strict rules: from then on, Wu Dalang was not to enter the second floor without her permission and could only rest downstairs. Wu Dalang, knowing he had disappointed her that night, accepted his fate and remained downstairs, never venturing up.

"I was opening the window and the bamboo pole slipped, just happened to hit someone passing by. He seems injured—go help him inside and see to him,"
Pan Silver Lotus urged, her tone slightly anxious.

"Alright."
Though reluctant, Wu Dalang opened the front door to the courtyard. He immediately saw Su Yang sitting on the ground and approached him. "I'm sorry, young master. My wife was careless."

"Your wife really needs to be more careful... It hurts terribly... I can't, I think I'm seeing stars and can't walk. Help me inside to lie down for a while, I'll leave once I've recovered,"
Su Yang replied, still clutching his forehead with an air of agony.

"This...!"
Wu Dalang frowned, displeased. Though he had never touched his beautiful wife, he hated the thought of other men gazing at her. For him, Pan Silver Lotus was a celestial maiden, untouchable even by himself.

Even his younger brother Wu Song, when he visited, would be scolded for glancing at his sister-in-law—Wu Song, fortunately, was obedient and never dared look at her again.

In his home, only he, his wife, and perhaps Wu Song or his best friend Pear Brother were ever allowed inside.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry and help him in—what if he's seriously injured?"
Pan Silver Lotus commanded, and Wu Dalang dared not delay. He helped Su Yang into the courtyard and settled him in the downstairs room.

This was the very room Su Yang had visited before.

Dimly lit, with only a table and a wardrobe. A candle burned on the table, casting a faint glow.

"Even my brother has never slept in this bed," Wu Dalang said, standing by the window, displeased.

"Who's your brother?" Su Yang asked.

"Why do you want to know who my brother is?"

"I'm just curious."

"He's a travelling merchant," Wu Dalang replied, brushing off the question.

Wu Dalang had always wanted to boast that his brother was the hero who slew the tiger demon and was now the chief constable of Yanggu County. If he told people, the neighbors would surely look at him with newfound respect.

But his brother had warned him: the county office was rife with factional strife, and the three great families of Yanggu County vied for power. Wu Dalang was just an ordinary man, but as family of the chief constable, he would become a weakness if outsiders found out. It was best to keep it secret—arrangements would be made for martial artists to protect him in the shadows.

Thus, Wu Dalang never declared that Wu Song was his brother, not even to Pear Brother.

"Oh, a travelling merchant,"
Su Yang raised an eyebrow, a few guesses forming in his mind.

"Young master, I truly apologize. It was my carelessness when opening the window that caused the bamboo pole to fall and strike your head,"
Pan Silver Lotus said as she entered the room, her figure flowing like water—if held close, it seemed she might melt into one's very body, exquisitely soft.

She was a woman whose allure was woven into her very being.

"Wife, why did you come downstairs?" Wu Dalang asked, clearly displeased.

"Why shouldn't I come downstairs? Must I never descend for the rest of my life?"
Pan Silver Lotus' brows furrowed slightly, her expression full of charm and grievance, evoking pity as though she had suffered endless wrongs.

Wu Dalang, unused to such scenes, quickly retreated to one side. "Wife, I was wrong, I was wrong...! Please, don't be angry—if you harm your health, I’ll be greatly at fault...!"

"No need for apologies, just my rotten luck,"
Su Yang touched his forehead, hissing in pain. "Still, it really hurts."

"Did you come today for Master Wu's flatbread?" Pan Silver Lotus asked, glancing at the sack of flour and the two jars of wine beside him.

Earlier, from the second floor, she had heard the voice at the back door—it sounded familiar, which prompted her to open the window and see the young man from that day.

"Indeed. I came for Master Wu's flatbread—not for myself, but for my elderly mother, who often enjoys his flatbread. With the rebels besieging the city for so long, Master Wu hasn't been selling, and my mother hasn't tasted it in ages."

"In recent days, she's been longing for it. I thought to bring some flour today and ask Master Wu for help, but I was refused."

Su Yang's tone was a bit awkward, "And I certainly didn't expect to be struck on the head by your bamboo pole as I was leaving."

"Oh, so you’re the one outside asking me to make flatbread? No wonder your voice sounded so familiar!"

"No wonder!"
Wu Dalang kept his head lowered, still unhappy at having a stranger gaze at his wife. If he rebuked the man, his wife would surely be upset.

"Husband, it was my carelessness that injured this young master, and his filial devotion to his mother is commendable. Go and make him some flatbread,"
Pan Silver Lotus said, picking up the flour. Wu Dalang quickly stepped forward, smiling apologetically, "Wife, such heavy work need not trouble you, let me handle it..."

With that, Wu Dalang carried the sack of flour outside to prepare flatbread, not daring to defy Pan Silver Lotus.

Once Wu Dalang had left, Pan Silver Lotus’ lips curved with a seductive smile and her eyes shimmered like water. "Young master, may I ask your name?"

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