Chapter 518: Solo Cloud
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Hearing the voice coming from across him, Yan Liqiang s.h.i.+fted his gaze from outside the window to the man sitting in front of him.
Judging from the man’s appearance, he seemed to have the standard features of a northwestern man who had a strong build. Sitting across from Yan Liqiang, he occupied almost half of the table. Signs of aging were present on his tanned face, yet he didn’t look like a boor. In fact, he had a pair of sharp eyes and a sharp nose. His eyes were s.h.i.+ning brilliantly and he was subtly exuding a dangerous aura.
Of course, the man didn’t carry a weapon with him. He only sat across from Yan Liqiang while sizing the latter up with his slightly intrusive gaze. From Yan Liqiang’s hair to his nails, the man left nothing unchecked.
Any ordinary person would definitely be shocked to find a man suddenly seating himself at their table and 99% of them would probably inquire about his name or background, but not Yan Liqiang. The Psychic Serpent in his head already revealed all the brain activity in the man’s head when Yan Liqiang laid his eyes on him for the very first time.
Only two seconds after looking at the man in front of him, Yan Liqiang already knew everything he needed to know before the man even spoke.
The man in front of Yan Liqiang was none other than Situ Feixing, the leader of Solo Cloud, the biggest band of brigands in the northwestern region, whom Fu Changde had mentioned before. He was also a former member of the Qiyun Protectorate.
“It’s been a long time since I last drank alone. Rather than feeling bored, I feel very relaxed!” Yan Liqiang smiled at Situ Feixing. “I didn’t know you were here either. I just left the Prefectural Governor’s Office and came to the Nine Dragons Bridge to get some fresh air. I’ve been to this restaurant before with friends, and had an eventful night running into a Shatu man who wanted to forcefully take over a medicine shop at the roadside the time. I didn’t expect this restaurant to be your meeting place in Pingxi City.”
How shocking! There was nothing but shock!
Situ Feixing had come to Pingxi Prefecture this time to meet Yan Liqiang. He didn’t expect to see Yan Liqiang entering the restaurant first the moment he reached the street near his meeting place. Situ Feixing was bewildered for a long time as there was no way his elusive movements could have been leaked. This restaurant was the Solo Cloud’s secret stronghold. There was no way Yan Liqiang could have predicted he was coming today either. When he later realized Yan Liqiang was dining in the restaurant alone without any appointments, he took the initiative to approach and meet him. He only wanted to test Yan Liqiang’s capability to see if he was qualified for his men to pledge their loyalties to.
The moment Yan Liqiang spoke, he stunned Situ Feixing into silence for a good moment. The latter then looked at him strangely. “We’ve never met each other before. How did you figure out who I am?”
In an era where cameras didn’t exist, Situ Feixing refused believe that Yan Liqiang would be able to recognize him at first glance even if Fu Changde had described his face to him before. There were no obvious flaws or distinctive features on Situ Feixing’s face and body. Not only that, he even disguised himself when he came to Pingxi City this time. With such drastic changes, he just couldn’t believe Yan Liqiang would recognize him by only relying on the verbal descriptions given to him by someone else.
“Did I say who you are?” Yan Liqiang blinked. “It’s as you say — we have not met each other before. Since we are brought here together by fate, we should grab a drink together as brothers. Waiter, bring this uncle a wine cup and another set of bowl and chopsticks!”
Situ Feixing suddenly felt that Yan Liqiang was an enigmatic and extremely sophisticated individual. His behavior wasn’t something expected of people his age.
No one else came up to the fourth floor after Situ Feixing. At Yan Liqiang’s order, the chubby restaurant manager personally came upstairs and brought Situ Feixing a wine cup as well as a set of bowl and chopsticks. He cast a careful glance at Situ Feixing and then quietly retreated after receiving an eye signal from Situ Feixing.
Yan Liqiang picked up the wine jar, then filled up Situ Feixing’s cup and his own. He then raised his wine cup with a sigh. “The first cup of wine. Let’s toast to our meeting here today! We are both drifting on the face of the Silver Continent, no matter if we were strangers before this encounter!”
“We are both drifting on the face of the Silver Continent, no matter if we were strangers before this encounter! Good one!” Situ Feixing cast a glance at Yan Liqiang, then raised his wine cup too and downed its contents along with Yan Liqiang.
“I didn’t ask Fu Changde to look for you. Since you came to Pingxi Prefecture, I presume that he has found you and told you about me. He looked for you but didn’t come with you today, so that means he doesn’t know about you coming here? We’ve never met before, yet you recognized me when I came into this restaurant. I’m guessing that you have seen me before from a distance on the first day of the first lunar month at the Heavenly Lake. Fu Changde must have been with you during that time. Am I right?” Yan Liqiang asked with a smile.
Situ Feixing was silent for a moment. “Then can you guess how many men I’ve brought with me to Pingxi City this time?”
“Why do I need to guess? You came here alone this time!” Yan Liqiang continued filling the two cups with wine. “The others may not have the guts, but you definitely do. For you, the less people you bring, the less likely you’ll expose yourself. I also know the reason why you have come. You’re a little hesitant and uncertain, so you came to meet me and see for yourself just what kind of person I am so that you can make your decision. After all, an inexperienced brat who is only good at martial arts isn’t worthy of the Qiyun Protectorate General t.i.tle!”
Despite his earlier composure, Situ Feixing was starting to feel rather restless. Yan Liqiang had been calm, yet Situ Feixing felt naked in front of this young man. It was like Yan Liqiang could read him like an open book. This was his first time meeting someone like this. Even the previous Qiyun Protectorate General couldn’t make him feel so ill at ease.
“The second cup of wine. Let’s toast to the righteousness between heaven and earth. Heaven and earth may merge, the river may run dry, the mountain may crumble, snow may fall in the summer, thunder may rumble during winter, but righteousness should never cease to exist! The Gu Clan of the Qiyun Protectorate was ephemeral. Your appearance today proves that righteousness still exists in your heart. Just the thoughts alone are enough for me. I shall respect whatever decision you make in the end. I wish you the best in your future endeavors. May you be blessed with boundless glory and live a life without regrets!” Yan Liqiang raised his wine cup with a solemn face, then once again downed its contents.
Situ Feixing’s eyes instantly reddened and were filled with an ominous glint. He started panting as well. When he saw Yan Liqiang drain his second cup of wine, he did the same too and then slammed the wine cup down on the table, causing the bowls and plates to clatter.
Yan Liqiang continued filling the two cups for the third time, then raised his cup. “I’ve been the one talking for the first two rounds. For the third round, you may ask me a question. I shall answer it truthfully!”
Situ Feixing raised his third cup of wine, then stared right into Yan Liqiang’s eyes before uttering every word clearly. “I have only one question for you. If I ask all of my men in Solo Cloud to pledge their loyalty to you, would you avenge the Protectorate General and our dead brothers?”
“If you and your men pledge your loyalty to me and only listen to my orders from now on without questioning me, then you will obey my decision in avenging them when the time, place, and conditions are right. If hatred were to blind you and you would dare to defy me and foil my plans, then I would have to cut you down without any mercy.” Yan Liqiang downed his third cup of wine as soon as he finished speaking.
Situ Feixing immediately got up from his seat and stared at Yan Liqiang with his reddened eyes, looking as though he was going to devour someone. Yan Liqiang, who just finished his third cup of wine, remained seated as he calmly looked back at Situ Feixing. The staring contest between both parties lasted for about half a minute before Situ Feixing picked up his cup, gulped down the wine in one go, and then smashed the wine cup hard on the floor, shattering it into countless pieces. He fell to one knee and lifted his head. Tears were cascading down his face as he paid his homage to Yan Liqiang. “Administrator Situ Feixing from the Qiyun Protectorate pays his respect to the lord…!”