88 Meeting Zhang Feng Again

Since the young beggar Le Tian was familiar with Wuwei City, Zhan Xiaobai decided to have him act as a guide, wandering around the city to search for reputable figures and see if he could acquire any skills from local luminaries.

"Le, do you know of any famous people in the city?"

"Famous people?" the young beggar asked, looking puzzled. "The most famous one is, of course, Governor Geng Bi of Liang Province. Are you looking for him?"

"The Governor of Liang Province! I’m afraid the guards would kick me out before I even got a chance to see him." Zhan Xiaobai chuckled. He recalled that Jia Xu, the famous strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, was a native of Wuwei and should be living in seclusion at this time. Even if there was no chance of recruiting him, paying a visit wouldn't hurt. He asked, "Have you heard of a man named Jia Xu?"

"Jia Xu? I haven't heard of him." The young beggar shook his head with a touch of disdain. "I’m quite well-informed here in Wuwei. A nobody like this Jia Xu—humph, he can't have much talent. At the very least, I have a decent knack for tailoring, which makes me far better than him."

Zhan Xiaobai laughed. "Yes, yes, you're much better than him. And a high-class beggar with four skills to boot."

Pleased by the praise, the young beggar grew excited and began to boast about his observations in Wuwei City. He spoke in great detail about which family was getting married, which woman was a shrewish gossip, and which households were bickering over a basin of foot-washing water, yet he had no information on any notable NPCs.

Without realizing it, Zhan Xiaobai and the beggar had wandered from the residential alleys into a bustling street. It was already afternoon, and the streets were packed with NPC residents, the cries of hawkers and peddlers filling the air.

"Is that Village Chief Xiaobai up ahead?!" a voice called out from behind.

Zhan Xiaobai turned around and was surprised to see that the person calling him was Zhang Feng, an imperial army captain (Du-bo) he had met during the bandit suppression at Hutou Mountain. Zhang Feng was dressed in plain, light-green civilian clothes, with an imperial officer’s token hanging at his right waist and a Level 30 Azure Glint Sword at his left. He looked clean and sharp, though his expression was somewhat weary, as if he were burdened by heavy thoughts.

Le Tian, seeing an imperial officer, grew fearful and quickly hid behind Zhan Xiaobai.

Surprised, Zhan Xiaobai cupped his hands in greeting. "Officer Zhang! What a coincidence to meet you here."

Zhang Feng waved a hand. "No need for formalities. I’ve been living in idleness lately; this officer title is merely a hollow name. I didn't expect to run into an old acquaintance in Wuwei. How about we find a place to gather and have a few drinks?"

Zhan Xiaobai was secretly delighted. He had been fretting over how to obtain good intelligence, and Zhang Feng approaching him was perfect.

"I'm not very familiar with Wuwei, so I'll leave it to you, Captain, to pick a good spot."

"Very well, follow me."

Zhang Feng walked ahead with his hands behind his back, followed by Zhan Xiaobai and the young beggar. Before long, the three arrived in front of a two-story elegant building. Zhang Feng walked straight in, where several matrons and burly men greeted him with smiles: "Captain Zhang is here! Right this way to the second floor!"

Zhan Xiaobai hesitated at the entrance. He noticed a plaque above the building: Red Phoenix Pavilion. Was this a restaurant? Or something else? Seeing Zhang Feng urging him from inside, he didn't overthink it and stepped in.

The young beggar tried to follow, but a burly NPC doorman blocked him. "Get lost, you filthy beggar," he said, tossing him outside. The young beggar fell face-first, scrambled up, and shouted indignantly at the man inside: "Bah! Judging people by their appearance! Even if you begged me to go in, I wouldn't want to! Hmph, acting so high and mighty. I’ll go find somewhere else to cool off!"

Zhan Xiaobai heard the commotion and tried to get the beggar inside, but the guard was stubborn and refused to budge. With no other choice, Zhan Xiaobai gave the beggar ten copper coins to buy some food. The boy went off happily, bought a few large steamed buns, and squatted outside the Red Phoenix Pavilion to eat while waiting for Zhan Xiaobai.

Zhang Feng and Zhan Xiaobai went upstairs to a private room overlooking the street. They sat at a small table. Several NPC women in sheer red and green dresses brought in wine and dishes, greeting them with smiles. "Captain Zhang, you haven't been here for days!" "Oh my, this young man is a fresh face. You must be a friend of the Captain's! Where are you from, young master?"

Zhan Xiaobai had no interest in these women and ignored them. He felt a bit uneasy, fearing this wasn't a restaurant but a brothel. It was his first time in such a place.

Zhang Feng unbuckled his sword and set it aside. Annoyed by the women, he said, "All of you, get out. Send the madam in."

The women retreated quickly.

After a few drinks, Zhan Xiaobai smiled and said, "Captain Zhang, it’s been a while since we parted at Hutou Mountain. I wonder if you’ve been promoted since returning to Wuwei to complete your mission?" He chuckled to himself; he hoped Zhang Feng didn't realize he had secretly meddled and swiped the loot, or he wouldn't be so friendly.

Zhang Feng downed his wine and sighed in frustration. "Don't mention it. Although I wiped out that stronghold, I lost many men, and since there was no treasure to be found inside... I had nothing of value to present to the Commandant, so I was treated with disdain. Hmph. I've been idle ever since, and I rarely even visit the Commandant’s office."

Zhan Xiaobai shook his head. "And what are your plans, Captain?"

"Plans? I have to take it one step at a time. I thought about seeking refuge with my uncle, but he isn't doing well either; he’s just a county clerk with no real prospects."

"And who is your uncle?"

"Zhang Xiu."

Zhan Xiaobai was shocked. "Zhang Xiu! He's your uncle? What about Zhang Ji?"

Zhang Feng shook his head. "We are both of the Zhang clan of Zuli, but from different branches. Ji is of a much higher generation; my blood relation to him is quite distant."

"I see."

As they spoke, a plump, middle-aged NPC madam led in two sweet and charming women. These two were far more beautiful than the previous ones. The madam smiled coquettishly, "Oh, Captain Zhang, you've finally come. Ling'er, Min'er, hurry and serve Captain Zhang."

Zhang Feng gave a cold hum and raised a hand to stop them. "The protection fee for this month—it's time to pay up."

The madam quickly replied, "Of course, thanks to your care," and pulled out five taels of silver, pressing them into Zhang Feng's hand. Zhang Feng didn't even look; he weighed the silver, shoved it into his robes, and told her to leave.

Zhan Xiaobai watched from the side, feeling perplexed. Why was Zhang Feng collecting protection money from a brothel?

After the madam left, he asked, "Captain Zhang, is your imperial salary not enough? Why this...?"

Zhang Feng pulled one of the women into his arms and, hearing Zhan Xiaobai's doubt, laughed self-deprecatingly. "Hmph, an imperial salary? The court issues pay, but it never reaches our hands. Every month, I have to pay a tribute to the Commandant. If I don't scrape together some pocket money, I'd be drinking the northwest wind! And this money flows through my fingers like water. Come, let's not talk of this. Let's drink! Ling'er, don't just stand there like a fool. Go over and serve Village Chief Xiaobai."

Ling'er went to Zhan Xiaobai's side and began pouring wine. "My lord, let me fill your cup."

Zhan Xiaobai, seeing her so young and already working in a brothel, shook his head slightly and declined, "No need, Lady Ling'er. I can do it myself."

After refusing a few times, Zhang Feng couldn't stand it anymore and waved his hand. "Alright, Ling'er, stand aside. Xiaobai, do as you please. Drink, drink!"