Chapter Twenty Two.

The three wandering martial artists are in the last meandering of Meanders City. They are on their way to leave Long Gong County. They settle at a restaurant to eat their last Meanders City meal. Whenever they come to Meanders City they make sure they taste every restaurant's food.Lady Bei feels something is not right but she can't tell what it is.

"My Lady when did you change your sword's scabbard? It looks a bit new,"Chen Yang says looking at the scabbard in scrutiny.

Lady Bei picks up the sword she has placed on the table. She quickly unsheathes the sword and a small written piece of paper falls from the scabbard with the words 'Retrieve your sword from Ziran Sect 'written on it.

Someone forged a sword exactly like hers but the person was sure she would notice it even though it would take some time.

"It's a trap."

"What trap? I'm not afraid of traps. Let's go to Ziran Sect." They immediately get up and leave without finishing their meal. They instruct the restaurant owner to preserve the food for them ,they will be back in an hour.

Lei Qiang is calmly reading books in White Pavilion when Lady Bei barges in.

"You brat where is my sword?"

"What sword?"Lei Qiang asks cluelessly.

"Stop pretending."

Lady Bei grabs Lei Qiang from his seat and starts looking around. She spots her sword right under the table.

"My Lady let's go."

"No I must teach this brat lesson."

Lady Bei unsheathes her sword and attacks Lei Qiang. Lei Qiang dodges the attack and glides along the floor and pulls out his sword from his waist. Seeing his pavilion will be a mess if they fight he jumps outside through the window. Lady Bei follows him. By now Lei Qiang is ready to fight her back. They clash swords attracting everyone's attention at the sect. Coincidentally there is an alchemy lecture going on. Even Du Bai Xin and the disciples leave the lecture to witness the fight.

Duan Xinyue is watching proudly seeing his plan succeeded. The fight ends in a tie. Lady Bei acknowledges Lei Qiang's skills and leaves with her buddies. Later in White Pavilion Lei Qiang is trying to figure out how Lady Bei's sword appeared in his pavilion. One thing he is sure of is that Duan Xinyue is involved. But he feels Duan Xinyue might not have done it alone. He tries to guess every person that could have possibly helped Duan Xinyue in his plan.

"Hong Yi what has Xu Han been doing lately?"

"It is said he has been going to the temple a lot lately."

"Which temple?"

"Hope Temple."

"When was he last seen with Duan Xinyue?"

"I'm not sure about it but they rarely meet since the start of spring."

Hong Yi seems a little tense . He keeps trying to keep himself busy.

"Hong Yi did something happen to you?"

"No my Lord."

"Why do I feel you're acting rather weird today?"

"Am I?"

Lei Qiang approaches him and grips his robes,"Tell me what's going on or I will throw you out of the sect."

"My ...Lord... I'm the one who put... the sword under ...the table...,"Hong Yi closes his eyes expecting the worst.

"Who gave you the sword?"

"Young Master Duan asked me to do it."

"So that's what you've been doing behind my back. You deliberately revealed your hatred towards him so I would believe you would never collude with him. Turns out you're working for him."

Hong Yi immediately kow tows to him and asks for forgiveness and pledging his loyalty.

"But My Lord you have gained your glory back."

"Did I tell you I want it back? Prepare the carriage we're going to Qingfeng Pavilion!"

"Right now?"

"You're still questioning me?"

When they arrive at Qingfeng Pavilion they find Duan Xinyue gambling with a rich young lady. If the young lady wins Duan Xinyue will have to sleep with her and if she loses she will give Duan Xinyue a thousand silver taels. Duan Xinyue is a bit nervous as the lady's gambling skills are great. Du Yichen is standing behind him rubbing his back to calm him down. If he gives up then he will lose . The rich young lady is very beautiful,the ideal type every young man would wish to marry. No one knows her background. She just entered Qingfeng Pavilion and asked for the Master of Qingfeng Pavilion. The young lady's eyes are full of lust and desire for Duan Xinyue. She must have been targeting him for a while.

They agreed to play for three rounds. The lady won the first round while Duan Xinyue won the second round and now they are playing for the third round and the crowd watching them is anxiously waiting for the results. After spending some time with him Lei Qiang can tell Duan Xinyue's real feelings and emotions. He can tell it will be hell for Duan Xinyue if he loses the bet.

The moment everyone has been waiting for finally arrives. Before the outcome is revealed a group of men dressed in guards' uniform walk in hurriedly addressing the lady as 'My Lady'. They immediately reveal they have something to report urgently. The lady quickly leaves with them and says she would return another time. The crowd disperses;some leaving and others going back to their tables.

Duan Xinyue takes a deep breath.

"Duan-ge, I'm here to have a drink with you."

"I'm afraid I'll have to deal with someone else first,"Duan Xinyue replies looking at Lei Qiang from a distance.

"I can't drink alone. I need someone to drink with."

"Young Master Du how about I drink you?" Qin Lanhua suggests as she arrives with two pots of wine.

"I've never drunk with a woman before I guess it won't be so bad giving it a try. You may sit."

Qin Lanhua sits and pours the wine in both of the cups.