Bat

Scholars have often used words to incite fear. For example, “Hear the sudden Lion’s Roar of Hedong1, the cane falls into the water – helpless and at wits end”, was enough to scare many people in Wulin.

How could hearing the Lion’s Roar be as simple as making the cane fall into the water? Lei Ming’s Lion’s Roar had once injured seventeen of Wulin’s top martial artists, and twelve righteous masters had completely lost their martial arts abilities.

Renowned for over nineteen years, naturally Lei Ming’s enemies were not only these 29 people; but, aside from these 29, the rest had already lost their lives to the Lion’s Roar. Those who had lost their lives were counted as people who had never existed, this is what Lei Ming thought.

So, through the years, he had never really counted how many people had lost their lives to the Lion’s Roar.

It was already the height of summer.

At noon, the sky was completely occupied by the blazing red sun, and the heat was so intense that no cloud dared to appear in the sky.

The little golden retriever was in the field panting with his tongue out under the shade of the trees, even the cicadas on the trees were too hot to make a sound.

At this time, Lei Ming was usually hiccuping from fullness whilst lying in his sumptuous backyard. The servants would take out a few large blocks of ice from the underground ice cellar and place them in the corners of the house to allow for cool air to disperse. The maids would quietly kneel beside him, one to gently massage him and the other to fan him.　　

His newly acquired concubine was naturally by his side, carefully peeling grapes that had been soaked in ice water, with a smile on her face whilst she fed them to him.

Lei Ming liked the silent calm of this moment the most. If anyone dared to disturb at this moment, it would generally not end well for them.

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Naturally, there were exceptional cases.

For example, today.

Today, the weather was still very hot. The ice blocks had been brought up and placed in the corner to cool the area. The backyard was still cooler and more comfortable than the outside. The grapes were still soaking in ice water and chilled sweet grapes made one’s mouth water.

Lei Ming, however, was not lying down on his favourite chaise longue.

His maids were not there, nor was his newly-acquired concubine.

Someone was lying on his chaise longue, with a rigid human skin mask covering his face, but Lei Ming knew that this person must be a rare beauty. Because for someone to have such a pair of eyes, they could never be ugly.

Eyes that were crystal clear, cold, but with floating wisps of arrogance.　

“I can’t believe that such a small place, also has an ice cellar.” Bai Shaoqing lay leisurely on the chaise longue, and propped up his head on one hand, “Branch Lord Lei, you really know how to enjoy yourself.”

“This subordinate does not dare.” Lei Ming stood there, breaking out into a cold sweat. His Lion Roar was renowned in Wulin, but at this time his voice was quieter than that of a mosquito.

“What are you afraid of?” There was no expression on the human skin mask, but Bai Shaoqing’s voice was indeed pleasant. “I’m complimenting you. I was afraid that it would be hot when I came, I didn’t expect you to treat me so well.”

This lazy toned voice gently filtered the listener’s eardrums.

Lei Ming wiped his sweat and said with a smile: “It’s this subordinate’s duty.”

He secretly raised his eyes to look at the Bat gongzi who had suddenly become the representative for his Sect Leader, and then snuck a peek at Shui Yun’er who was beside the latter.

The two maids who served upon the Sect Leader were originally the guardians of Zhengyi Sect.

Even if Lei Ming didn’t know what Bat gongzi’s status was in the Sect, he could already make an educated guest.

Because Guardian Shui was standing behind Bat gongzi, helping to fan him.

“Bat gongzi, here are the records for the Jiangxi branch, all subordinates have been ordered to prepare thoroughly and gongzi can verify at any time.”

Bai Shaoqing sat up lazily, peeled a grape and put it in his mouth: “When did I say I wanted to check?”

“Isn’t gongzi here to check on this branch’s affairs?”

A light glance swept over Lei Ming, “Branch Lord Lei, are you teaching me how to do things now?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Bai Shaoqing frowned: “Retreat then!”

“Yes.”

Lei Ming left, and carefully closed the door behind him.

Bai Shaoqing got off the chaise longue and then tore off the human skin mask. His handsome silhouette was fuller than when he was in the main Sect quarters.

“You’re going to continue fanning me?” He turned his head, sneered at Shui Yun’er, “I don’t dare to bother the great guardian Shui with this.”

“Pffff, I’m helping you fan and you’re still getting in a mood.” Shui Yun’er shook her head and then turned to fan herself instead.

“How would I dare to be angry? You were sent by Feng Long to watch me. If I try anything, you will place unending torment upon me.” 　　

Shui Yun’er rolled her eyes, and smiled: “So it turns out you hold a grudge.”

Bai Shaoqing used his fingertips to slide across the ice pieces that had been placed in the corner of the room, letting the coolness penetrate into the skin. It has been half a month since he was let out. Zhengyi Sect was powerful, each of the branches had their own talented individuals, and the sect rules were upheld with discipline.

He didn’t expect that wearing the hat of the Sect Leader’s disciple could silence them all out of fear, everywhere he went, everyone would be extra cautious and not daring to neglect him in any way.

“There’s one thing I don’t understand.” Bai Shaoqing said suddenly.

“Ask then.”

“As the guardian of Zhengyi Sect, you have a lofty status. Why do you flatter me so much in front of others?” Bai Shaoqing asked, “Serving tea and pouring water, just like a maid.”

Shui Yun’er pursed her lips and smiled, and asked softly, “Don’t you understand?”

Bai Shaoqing’s face darkened: “He’s the one who wants you to do this?”

“Apart from him, who else can order me to do this?” Shui Yun’er said, “Why don’t you think about it, why is he doing this?”

Bai Shaoqing pursed his lips and groaned, the glimmer in his eyes turned to darkness, and he said indifferently, “Treacherous intentions, I won’t bother dwelling on it.”

He turned around and pushed open the doors. The pond in the courtyard reflected the bright sunlight, creating a dazzling effect.

“I feel much more comfortable in the afternoon.” Bai Shaoqing stretched at the waist and said, “The song and dance at the brothels are different in each place, I wonder what they are like in Shanxi.” 　　

That night, Bai Shaoqing roamed the brothels with Lei Ming in tow.

Brocade clothing and gourmet delicacies, soft-spoken words and auspicious events, everything was the best in the world. As long as he asked, someone would respectfully deliver.

Sitting amongst a large group of dolled up maidens, listening to the most renowned songstress in Shanxi sing, Bai Shaoqing was absent-minded, staring at the emptiness downstairs outside of the window.

“It was a true master who designed this brothel, but unfortunately, there are two willow trees missing over there.” The slender fingers pointed to the open space.

Those beauties who had had a few cups of the good wine, felt a little drunk.

“Gongzi, are you satisfied with the song that your servant just sang?”

“Come, drink some more.”

“Chun’er will not get off so lightly, Chun’er has to have a drink with gongzi just like jiejie…”　　

Bai Shaoqing did not refuse anyone who approached, embracing them from left and right. He was a distinguished guest of Lei lao-ban, so naturally everyone was trying to flatter him.

“Lei Ming,” Bai Shaoqing called out the name of the Wulin martial artist, “Come on, drink!”

“Yes, as long as gongzi is happy.” The disciple of the Sect Leader mustn’t be offended.

Bai Shaoqing raised his head and poured another cup.

When he was swaying and swaggering, he was carefully supported out of the brothel by Lei Ming. He saw that there were already two willow trees in the open space. 　　

The soil was fresh; they had obviously just been planted in a hurry.

“Not bad.” He patted Lei Ming on the shoulder.

Lei Ming smiled with flattery, and whispered: “This is the duty of this subordinate.” Zhengyi Sect was a mysterious sect so one should speak quietly when out in public.

When they got back to where he was staying, he waved for Lei Ming to leave, turned around and closed the door. Bai Shaoqing was still drunk, but sighed softly.

Endless sorrow, as if he was using this sigh to let it out, slowly dispersing outwards.

He had made incorrect assumptions.

He thought that there would be some sort of conspiracy or plot during this trip. But instead, the entire trip was completely calm. Everyone in Zhengyi Sect treated him like a God and obeyed all orders. Shui Yun’er cooperated well in every way to show his transcendence in the sect.

He thought that entering the brothel would be breaking one of Feng Long’s rules, but Shui Yun’er didn’t even stop him or spoil his fun. Who knew that he’d become incredibly drunk, but no one came out to tell him off.

Now, he’d truly become an imperious and domineering hedonistic spoilt brat, someone who didn’t do his job properly and committed evil deeds everywhere using the might of Feng Long.

Bai Shaoqing has taught a lesson to countless hedonistic spoilt brats, but he never thought that he would one day also become one of them.

He has tasted the world’s most delicious delicacies and enjoyed the best entertainment in this world. Besides being unable to visit his mother, Feng Long seemed to have given him everything.

In just half a month, the Bat gongzi of Zhengyi Sect’s fame had risen to the heavens.

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Bai Shaoqing didn’t check on the sect’s affairs. He took advantage of everything Feng Long had given to do the things he wanted to do unscrupulously.

Under the guise of Bat gongzi, he broke into Shandong’s Wanren Manor2 and stole the Yeye Bixin Elixir3, which had been hidden there for hundreds of years. Wearing a mask, he led a band of Zhengyi Sect’s top martial artists and marched into Bai Manor, destroying Song Xiangli’s ancestral tablet, he then incapicitated Bai Moran and his two sons by hitting their acupoints and then set fire to the curtain of the ancestral hall right in front of their eyes.

He watched the raging fire devour the place where he grew up.

Before leaving, Bai Shaoqing leaned in towards Bai Moran’s ear and said, “You never regarded me as a son, and I never regarded you as a father. But from now on, only I can represent the Bai family. Everything that Song Xiangli tried to keep for her two sons is now mine.”

The most vicious resentment and extreme despair flashed across Bai Moran’s eyes.　　

Bai Shaoqing coldly looked back at him for the last time and walked out. Behind him was a raging flame that consumed his father and brothers.

He killed the people he wanted to kill, burned the places he wanted to burn, stole the things he wanted to steal, and then found the most beautiful places to relax. He abandoned himself in a life of pleasure under the watchful eye of Shui Yun’er, an incomparable martial artist who appeared as delicate as a flower. Everyone fawned on him with paramount veneration.

However, he felt no joy.

Tonight, after drinking the flowery wine from Shanxi, he felt the drunkenness surge up, but it was unexpectedly sour and astringent, he didn’t know how to describe it.

After indulging arbitrarily, there was nothing left but hollow emptiness. 　　

Bai Shaoqing sighed.

He was already drunk and didn’t want to sleep. Wandering around his room, he finally took out his zither.

Holding the zither with both hands steadily and looking closely, his lips slightly lifted slightly, as if he had seen an old friend.

He lit some incense, and put down the zither, calmly staring for a moment, before gently strumming with his fingertips.

The sound jumped out from the trembling strings and circling up to the roof beams. Hidden bitterness and resentment slowly filled the room, lightly flitting past Bai Shaoqing’s lonely figure.

Outside the window, there was suddenly the sound of a flute, like stones skimming the surface of the lake, creating layers of ripples, quiet like a lover’s whisper, touching like a sad song.

Bai Shaoqing raised his limpid eyes, he pressed down on the strings with his right hand, and the sound of the zither stopped.

The sound of the flute also stopped immediately. For a moment, everything was quiet.

Someone pushed open the door.

“It’s you?”