Chapter 139: Chapter 117: Strange Tales of Folklore

Upon hearing this,

Feng Bei’s brow tightened as she looked at Zheng Shan.

She knew Zheng Shan’s true identity.

He couldn’t possibly be Zheng Xiu.

But Zheng Shan, bold and highly skilled, was insistent on posing as that flamboyant tycoon, Zheng Xiu.

Si Youqing’s words clearly betrayed his doubts.

After not seeing him for a few years, what could Zheng Xiu possibly have eaten to grow into Zheng Shan’s current form?

Zheng Xiu approached with a grin. "Uncle Qing, it’s been a few years. You’ve gotten even more humorous."

"Hold on! Nephew Zheng, first tell me what you’ve been eating!"

"Er... just the usual—sea cucumber, deer antler, lotus root and seeds, chrysanthemum, and wood ear mushrooms."

Si Youqing was stunned but quietly made a mental note of the list. Seeing the Mighty Man approach, he stumbled back a few steps in alarm. He stiffly tilted his head up, gazing at the Mighty Man’s face, the doubt on his own growing deeper. "You... you’re really Nephew Zheng?"

He couldn’t believe it.

It was too ridiculous.

Although their faces were similar, their features nearly identical as if cast from the same mold,

the difference in their aura and Physique was still far too outrageous.

Zheng Xiu’s expression turned serious, and he lowered his voice. "Uncle Qing, I don’t like it when you say that. This nephew still remembers back in the day, when you were as vigorous as ever, taking the sky for your blanket and a horse for your bed. A pair of lovebirds riding, tumbling in ecstasy... the horse’s hooves clattering, the lovebirds slapping..."

Si Youqing had been quite wild in his youth.

Zheng Xiu had accidentally learned of Si Youqing’s fondness for "Ma Zhen."

Si Youqing had a decent foundation in martial arts, so he enjoyed challenging himself with high-Difficulty feats. Somehow, he later became obsessed with taking a partner horseback riding and ’soaring’ on the horse.

The faster the horse ran, the higher he and his partner would ’fly.’

And it wasn’t just a single ’flight.’

Later, when Zheng Xiu brought it up to Si Youqing as a joke, the older man couldn’t take the embarrassment and got angry. So, Zheng Xiu swore he would never tell another soul.

"Little Xiu is here?"

Just then, a lavishly dressed Madam, over forty years of Age and slightly plump, walked out from behind a screen. This was Si Youqing’s official wife.

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH, COUGH! Nephew Zheng, say no more! It’s been a few years, and your Uncle Qing has missed you dearly! Everything is understood!"

With a SMACK, Si Youqing grabbed both of the Mighty Man’s hands, his eyes welling with tears as he held on tightly.

Feng Bei was stunned, her mouth slightly agape, having forgotten to close it.

She had vaguely heard something about horseback riding and horse hooves.

After the talk of riding and hooves, the two of them had a tearful reunion.

’This... what is happening?’

The hall filled with the aroma of tea as Si Youqing brewed a pot of his prized collection.

After a few minutes of small talk, Zheng Xiu quickly stated his purpose and got to the point.

"You’re looking for someone called the ’Playful Monk’?"

Upon hearing this, Si Youqing’s expression grew serious. His gaze then fell on Feng Bei, who had been silent by their side.

"Ah, Nephew Zheng, I’ve been meaning to ask. Why are you now in the company of... Ye Weiyang?"

When they entered, Si Youqing had noticed Feng Bei’s uniform.

Black clothes, cloud-patterned sleeves, and a moon insignia. This was not just Ye Weiyang, but one of the exceptionally high-ranking Twelfth Moon members within Ye Weiyang.

Only then did Feng Bei introduce herself, cupping her fist. "Ye Weiyang, Upper Three, Feng Bei. It’s an honor to meet you, Uncle Qing."

"Feng Bei! *The* Feng Bei?!"

At her words, Si Youqing’s face paled in shock. He shot to his feet, straightening his old back with a POP. He stood there stunned for a long moment before slowly sitting back down. In an incredibly grave tone, he asked again, "That... Feng Bei?"

Si Youqing’s startled reaction was not surprising to Feng Bei.

Over the years, most people who heard her name reacted this way.

She was too famous in their circles.

Feng Bei calmly replied, "I am."

"What in the world is...?"

Si Youqing looked at Zheng Xiu, alarmed and uncertain.

Zheng Xiu smiled. "No need to be nervous, Uncle Qing. Feng Bei now has a deep connection with the Zheng Family. But the intricacies involved are difficult to explain in just a few words. I must ask you, Uncle Qing, to mobilize all your connections in Shuzhou to help me find a man called the Playful Monk." After a moment of thought, Zheng Xiu added:

"And also, a painting."

He had to give face to Tycoon Zheng.

Si Youqing readily agreed.

It was just a simple matter of finding someone.

In Shuzhou, he, Si Youqing, refused to believe there was anything the Zheng Family couldn’t accomplish.

That evening, Si Youqing and his wife warmly invited the two to stay for the night and have dinner.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was lively.

At first, because of Feng Bei, Si Youqing and his wife were a bit on edge.

Perhaps it was due to Feng Bei’s fearsome reputation.

But as the meal went on, they discovered this young woman was actually very reserved, not at all as ferocious as the legends claimed.

From time to time, Feng Bei would place food into Zheng Shan’s bowl.

After doing so, she would lower her head and go back to eating her own food.

Si Youqing and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing the irrepressible shock in each other’s eyes.

In his heart, Si Youqing was repeatedly giving the Mighty Man a thumbs-up.

’As expected of Tycoon Zheng, truly Tycoon Zheng.’

’He actually managed to win over such a high-Difficulty girl!’

’This feat clearly surpassed his own past exploits with Ma Zhen.’

After a night of drinking, Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei stayed at the Si Family residence.

Their stay extended for several days.

Si Youqing had originally thought that with the Zheng Clan Chamber of Commerce’s connections in Shuzhou, finding a Playful Monk would be an effortless task.

But after a few days of searching, he realized things were not as simple as he had imagined.

There were many Ascetic Monks in Shuzhou, and most of them were registered with a temple somewhere.

One only needed to check the registries to find any particular Ascetic Monk.

However, after several days, Si Youqing had his men search the registry of every single temple in Shuzhou, but they found no Ascetic Monk named "Playful Monk."

While waiting for news,

Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei didn’t remain idle.

Zheng Xiu found an excuse to return to the Imperial City. Developing on two fronts, advancing simultaneously.

When it came to time management, if he claimed to be number two, no one would dare claim to be number one.

Inspired by a massive donation, the Great Scholar Ximen Bei had actually launched three new works in a short period of time.

They were: *Aristocratic Forbidden Love*, *Borrowing the Wind from Heaven for One Night*, and *Late Night Wind on the River*.