The three of them looked at each other. Bai Zongping was naturally unwilling to talk to Lin Jianlan. Lin Jianlan thought about it and it seemed that he was the only one to speak first. He touched the object in the handkerchief on his chest, wondering whether he should return the broken hairpin to Lu Man. He also felt that he did not bring any compensation, which seemed a bit inappropriate.
Seeing him pressing his chest, Lu Man felt a little worried as she saw the blood there dried up but still bright red. She couldn't help herself and stepped forward to ask, "Have you treated your wound?"
Bai Zongping had just been mocking Lu Man along the way, but his kindness was taken for granted by Lin Jianlan. Seeing Lu Man actually taking the initiative to speak again, he looked extremely annoyed. Seeing that Lin Jianlan did not reply, he was both angry and happy in his heart, thinking to himself, "Isn't this asking for trouble again?"
Lin Jianlan also didn't expect Lu Man to put aside the unpleasantness just now and frankly express her concern for the injury. He was really touched and didn't know what to say. He could only turn around silently and pour another cup of tea, handing it to Lu Man, and said with a guilty look on his face: "Sister Man, I, I deserve to die."
Lu Man was startled, bit her lip and turned away. After a moment, she turned back and tilted her head and said, "Could it be that my brother still wants to die with Miss Wan Xiu?"
Wan Xiu is now a wound in Lin Jianlan's heart that cannot be touched. Even though he rationally tells himself that her leaving her parents and family has nothing to do with him, the pain is still buried deep in his heart, aching slightly. It is only because after hearing what Lu Man said at that time that he still has a glimmer of hope that Wan Xiu is still alive in this world.
At this moment, when Lu Man mentioned Wan Xiu again, Lin Jianlan smiled and said, "No, I said I deserved to die because Sister Man just fought with Madam Wan to save me from death, but I said those words to anger you and leave."
Lu Man noticed that Lin Jianlan frowned slightly when she mentioned Wan Xiu. Seeing that he pretended to be relaxed to apologize to her, her eyes dimmed and she said calmly, "If I were good at martial arts, I wouldn't have to say those words to deliberately anger her. Miss Wan Xiu is our benefactor anyway, and I didn't really fight her to death."
Lin Jianlan thought to himself, "Appearance is always very important to women, especially a beautiful girl like Sister Man. But just now she was almost cut on the face by a sword, and she didn't seem to be afraid." Thinking of this, he said, "Don't talk about what happened just now. I followed the instructions of others and came here all the way, hoping to apologize to you. Sister Man, do you still remember the time at the Jinzhou branch?" Without waiting for Lu Man to answer, he said to himself, "Last time, I secretly blamed you and misunderstood you in my heart. After I understood it, I didn't know how to say it. This time is the same. Although I regret it in my heart, fortunately you are not really angry with me, and you also care about my injuries. I..." He said it very sincerely. At this point, the words were only in his heart. He thought to himself, "She and I met in that small shop by chance. Although she wanted to use me at the beginning, she was willing to take care of me and stand with me in every aspect later."
Lu Man was silent for a long time, and said: "You just need to understand one thing, I recognize you as my brother, which is different from those friends who are only friends for drinking and eating, or for profit in the martial arts world. You are so loyal to Miss Wan, how can I blame you?"
Bai Zongping was left aside by the two of them, watching them talking to each other without being able to get a word in. At this moment, after hearing what Lu Man said, he had already forgiven Lin Jianlan, and thought to himself, "I don't know what's so good about this immature boy that you treat him so leniently?" His face was quite angry, and he said sourly, "Brother Lin is quite capable. The eldest lady of the Nanhai faction is usually so arrogant, but she is still kind to you after this incident."
Lin Jianlan was no longer the ignorant boy he once was. He knew that Bai Zongping loved Lu Man very much. Although he disdained his narrow-mindedness and selfishness, he still felt that his love for Lu Man was good. He bowed to Bai Zongping and said, "It was indeed my fault. I am already ashamed of myself. Brother Bai, please don't blame me anymore."
Lu Man smiled and said softly, "Second Brother, I was defeated by my younger brother, so why are you still giving me a cold shoulder? It was my fault just now. I lost my temper and broke the teapot. Isn't this another one? Don't blame me!"
Bai Zongping saw her smiling and talking, and the messy hair on her cheeks made her look even more charming. He could not keep a straight face, so he could only sigh and say, "It's up to you anyway."
Lin Jianlan asked: "Why are Sister Man and Brother Bai here?"
Lu Man's face changed slightly, but she didn't say anything. Bai Zongping said, "We have also heard about the big changes in the Kuang Yi Gang. It has nothing to do with our remote small sect that is looked down upon by famous and upright sects, and we can't get involved. But she heard that something happened and clamored to come over to take a look."
Lin Jianlan was speechless after hearing this, knowing that Lu Man was really concerned about his safety. But seeing that Lu Man looked normal at the moment, she said, "Why are you saying this? My brother's method last time was really effective, but it made me suffer. My father came back to live with my mother and watched me all day and didn't allow me to go out. I was really bored at home. I finally had an excuse, so I took my second senior brother and ran away." Then she smiled and said, "Brother, don't let your thoughts get out of your mind easily in the future. It's okay for me, but won't your ice girl be sad?"
Lin Jianlan said in panic: "What ice girl? How can I have..."
Lu Man looked at Lin Jianlan and said with a smile, "My brother chanted that day, 'The frost and snow are not meant to be cold, where can the spring breeze melt the ice?' You were talking about the girl in white clothes and mourning standing behind you today, right? I didn't expect you to be so unfaithful."
Lin Jianlan's face suddenly turned red, wondering how Lu Man could have such an accurate association. He looked up and saw Lu Man standing by the window. She saw that the collar and cuffs of her yellow shirt were embroidered with tender pink peach blossom patterns. He knew that the hairpin was probably also to match this dress. He looked at her carefully and saw that her eyes were full of tears and rippling. Her face was not as pale as Yin Yin's, but pink, and her lips were even more beautiful. However, her expression was extremely complicated, revealing a bit of playfulness.
However, for some reason, Lin Jianlan always felt that he had no intention and could not explain to her. Didn't he have a different feeling for Yin Yin? This feeling was different from that for Ah Xiu and Lu Man. She was naturally different from Ah Xiu and Lu Man. The expectations that he never dared to think about were probably just a waste of time. What's more... What's more, Ah Xiu might not be alive now. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel sad and said vaguely: "She, how could she like me."
Seeing that he looked depressed again, Lu Man could not bear to tease him anymore. She was silent for a long time before she said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. I almost forgot about the important matter. What are your plans for the Kuang Yi Gang, brother?"
Lin Jianlan suddenly woke up from his long thoughts and thought to himself, "Oh, Uncle Qing is still missing, you still have time to be affectionate here?" He hurriedly said, "It's great that Sister Man and Brother Bai are here. If it were normal times, I might be able to host you and invite you to have a good time in Hangzhou. Now things are in chaos, Uncle Qing is missing, and there is also Brother Yue, Master Fang, and Protector Zhang... I really don't know what to do alone."
Lu Man pushed Lin Jianlan down on the chair and said, "Don't worry, brother. From what I see, your godfather didn't go out alone. He had some people with him. Moreover, if something happened to the leader of such a prestigious gang, the news would have spread everywhere. But this time it was a little calm, which shows that your godfather's safety is not very important."
Lin Jianlan said at a loss: "But I am very worried about him now, and my mind is very confused. I don't know how to find out the whereabouts of him and the others. Am I going to come to Jiangnan for nothing?" He thought that there was still some time before his appointment with Yuan Xingjian and Xie Zhongju in Hangzhou. These days were neither long nor short. He didn't know what he should do or what he could do, and he was even more at a loss.
Lu Man smiled and comforted him, "Brother, how could you forget? When it comes to the ability to find out, no other gang can match the Beggars' Gang. I heard that you also went to the Beggars' Gang's Grand Ceremony. If there are any Beggars' Gang friends who are on good terms with you, you can ask for help. It's just that... your adoptive father is now a poor man. Your status is different from the past. Helping you find out is actually equivalent to indirectly becoming an enemy of the current Kuangyi Gang leader. I don't know if they are willing to help you with this."
Lin Jianlan immediately thought of Tang Zimu. Judging from the past, in addition to the Beggars' Sect, he seemed to have some other intelligence channels behind him. He knew a lot, and he should be very willing to help. However, he didn't know what his current status in the gang was. Secondly, since he wanted to ask for help, it would not be possible to explain it in a letter or two. It would be better to ask in person.
Although Lin Jianlan didn't want to ask Tang Zimu for help, he couldn't help himself. He sighed and said, "I know a friend of the Beggars' Sect in Chang'an. He will definitely help me. But I still have to ask him in person. But I have important matters in Jiangnan... Do you know Yuan Xingjian from Taihu?"
Lu Man said, "Is there anyone who doesn't know him now? Last time, my mother sent my eldest senior brother to Taihu Lake, and my second senior brother had to accompany me and missed the chance to meet Yuan Xingjian. I still regret it and can't forget it."
Bai Zongping hurriedly defended himself: "How could I regret it?"
Lin Jianlan remembered what Lu Man had said at the wild inn at the foot of Baiyun Mountain. He nodded and said, "I had the honor of meeting him in Suzhou. He is truly a righteous man who can take things as they come."
Lu Man and the others didn't know what he meant by "being able to take it and put it down", but they were quite envious of him and Yuan Xingjian's acquaintance. Then they heard Lin Jianlan say, "I had an appointment with him to meet in Hangzhou in a while. There is something very important. If I go to Chang'an, I won't be able to make it in time."
When Bai Zongping heard that Yuan Xingjian had an agreement with him, he couldn't help but feel envious and jealous. Just as he was about to ask, he heard Lu Man had already asked: "How did you get to know him? What is the agreement? Can you tell me more about it?"
Lin Jianlan knew that it was not convenient to explain the whole story to them now, so he said, "Sister Man, Brother Bai, it's not that I want to hide it from you, but I really can't tell you. If there is a chance in the future, I will tell you everything. But since I have already made an appointment with Brother Yuan, I must keep my promise. As for Chang'an, alas, I really can't be in two places at once."
Lu Man said: "It's not difficult, we just need to make a trip for you."
Lin Jianlan was delighted and said, "Really? But it would be too much trouble for you and Brother Bai."
Bai Zongping said gloomily, "Are you going to Chang'an again? Junior Sister, don't make a decision on your own. If something goes wrong, Master will not blame you and will only blame me."
Lu Man said: "The Flower King Festival is coming soon, don't you want to go and take a look?"
Bai Zongping said: "I would like to go, but it's useless without the Flower King's invitation."
Lu Man pouted and said, "That's why I said we can go there early and try our luck."
Lin Jianlan listened to what they said and said, "What are you talking about? Why have I never heard of it? Is the 'Flower King Festival' a flower viewing event?"
Lu Man smiled and said, "Although I am a girl, I am also a child of the Jianghu. Why would I go there just to see flowers and plants? This 'Flower King Festival' is said to have started more than ten years ago and is held every three years. It is not only famous in the literati, but also highly valued by the Jianghu people. It is said that those who have been there have benefited a lot, so I want to go and broaden my horizons. But the invitation is very hard to come by. Not to mention us, even my parents have never been there. Since I want to run errands for you, I might as well try my luck and get one. If you are done with your brother's work, you can go to Chang'an to take a look."
Lin Jianlan was worried about Lin Longqing's safety, and was not interested in this "Flower King Festival". He smiled and said perfunctorily: "Well, in that case, thank you Sister Man and Brother Bai. I will go to Chang'an to find you as soon as I can get away."
Lu Man said, " I interrupted you again. You only mentioned one friend of the Beggars' Sect, but you haven't told us who it is yet!"
Lin Jianlan slapped his forehead and said, "My mind was so confused that I forgot to tell you. I don't know if you know him. His last name is Tang Zimu."
Lu Man said, "I've heard that the Beggars' Sect originally only had four elders, but he became the fifth. It's also rumored that he doesn't know martial arts, but is that true?"
Lin Jianlan said: "I have dealt with him before, and it is true that he does not know martial arts."
Lu Manxi said happily: "Anyway, since he is an elder of the Beggars' Sect, he may have a flower king's invitation! Second Brother, do you still blame me for deciding to go to Chang'an without authorization? If you can go and see it this time, you won't have time to thank me!"
Bai Zongping's gloomy face also showed a hint of joy, but he still sighed heavily and said, "I can't win against you anyway, but you must not provoke the people from Yukousi again this time!"
Seeing that the two of them were willing to go to Chang'an for him, Lin Jianlan was very grateful. Seeing that Lu Man had been holding the tea he had just poured in her hand without drinking it, he thought of the orchid tea that Lu Man had brewed herself on the night he first met Lu Man. Perhaps it was because of the beauty beside her that it was even more fragrant. Although Longjing in Hangzhou is also a top-grade tea, it is simply heaven and earth compared to that night. He quickly collected his mind, went up to take it, refilled the water and respectfully offered it, saying: "This tea is naturally not as good as the orchid tea from Sister Man's hometown. This is just to express my apology and gratitude to you two."