Chapter 106: The Appearance of Uncle Xiang

"Hoo!"

"Hiss..."

Barely dodging Ding Li's punch, the man in black retreated repeatedly, drawing in sharp breaths of air. He had never expected Ding Li’s reaction to be so swift, nor that his movements would be so incredibly coordinated, as if his limbs could move exactly as his mind willed them.

During that brief moment of distraction, the distance he had just created was closed again by Ding Li. Three consecutive kicks were launched—aimed at the side of the man’s knee, his waist, and his neck. Facing these three fierce strikes that landed almost simultaneously, the man in black barely evaded the first two while retreating, but despite raising his arms to shield his head, he was still sent flying by a heavy blow.

The battered man in black rolled twice on the ground to escape Ding Li’s follow-up. As his body hit the alley wall, he braced himself to stand, but before he could rise, he was forced to crouch again to dodge another perfectly anticipated kick from Ding Li. The man’s hand, pressed against the wall, seemed to feel the structure shudder from the force of that kick.

Without any chance to counter, the man in black found himself under relentless pursuit. After failing to rise for the third time, he left an opening in his chest that Ding Li immediately spotted. Forced into a corner, he had no choice but to cross his arms over his chest to prevent his ribs from being crushed inward, allowing Ding Li’s kick to send him flying once more.

Even so, the power of the kick far exceeded the man's expectations. It didn't just send him hurtling back more than ten paces; his arms went numb, and a suffocating pressure gripped his chest. As he endured the pain to push himself up, his stomach churned violently, and a sharp, sudden pain pierced his chest. His head tilted to the side, and he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood.

Before the man could recover, Ding Li lunged forward, grabbed one of his arms, twisted it slightly, and pulled hard. With a faint "crack," he tossed the man aside, leaving the dislocated arm dangling limply. Before the man could even register the pain, Ding Li crouched slightly, grabbed the other arm, and dislocated that one as well. He then seized the man by the back of his neck and hoisted him up as easily as if he were a chick, striding purposefully toward the mouth of the alley.

"Hiss... hiss..." The man in black hung limply, his hands dragging against the ground, his teeth sucking in air as if that were the only way to endure the agony.

"Wait, don't... don't go. I have something to say..." Realizing Ding Li’s intent, the man in black twisted his neck in a desperate struggle, his eyes darting anxiously toward the alley entrance, clearly terrified that Ding Li would hand him over to the local magistrates.

"Save your words for the brothers at the yamen!" Ding Li replied with a dismissive curl of his lip, his pace never faltering. The man in black struggled even harder, crying out, but Ding Li stopped abruptly, bent at the waist, and gave the man’s chin a sharp twist. The shouting vanished, replaced only by incoherent babbling from the man’s throat.

"Hold on!" Just as they reached the alley entrance, Ding Li heard a voice that was both familiar and strange. He paused, startled by a sudden movement before him. He instinctively retreated two steps, eyes fixed on the stranger with wariness, only to be filled with absolute shock. The person standing before him was none other than Uncle Xiang, whom he had met outside the Governor’s Mansion that morning.

"Let him go; I was the one who sent him!" Uncle Xiang glanced at the man in black in Ding Li’s grip—the man's conical bamboo hat lay discarded not far behind. Uncle Xiang’s face remained impassive, and even his deep, dark eyes showed no flicker of emotion—at least, none that Ding Li could discern.

"Why?" Ding Li frowned slightly but tossed the man in black to the side. His gaze toward Uncle Xiang remained filled with intense suspicion and a hint of wariness.

Seeing this reaction, a glimmer of surprise finally crossed Uncle Xiang’s eyes; he clearly did not understand why Ding Li was so alert. Ding Li, however, felt uneasy. He had been back for only half a day—could the "trouble" involving Zhang Yurou, the young lady of the Zhang family in Fuxu Town, have reached the ears of the Old Master? Linking this to the ambush by the man in the bamboo hat, Ding Li immediately concluded that Uncle Xiang had been sent by the Old Master to eliminate him.

"To test you, to see if the young master's judgment was sound!" After the brief flash of surprise, Uncle Xiang’s expression returned to calm. A hint of appreciation touched the corners of his mouth, though to Ding Li, this smile seemed somewhat cunning, or perhaps it held some hidden, unfathomable meaning.

Seeing Uncle Xiang’s demeanor, Ding Li slowly lowered his guard. After a moment’s thought, he cupped his hands in a respectful salute, his tone remarkably indifferent: "I have troubled you, Uncle Xiang."

"No need for such formalities!" Uncle Xiang seemed to appreciate Ding Li’s politeness, the smile on his face widening quickly. He waved his hand, glanced at the man in black on the ground, and then looked back at Ding Li, asking with a meaningful chuckle, "Ah-Li, shall we sit at the teahouse ahead?"

Hearing this, Ding Li’s heart skipped a beat. His thoughts flew back to Zhang Yurou in Fuxu Town. However, as the invitation came from the head steward of the Zhang Merchant Guild, he could not refuse. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded readily. "Very well! I will follow your arrangements, Uncle Xiang!"

"Good! That is how a young man should conduct himself!" Uncle Xiang nodded in approval. He turned to the man in black, his smile vanishing instantly, his tone becoming cold and flat: "Go back, collect ten strings of cash, and take some time to recover at home!"

Without waiting for a response, he glanced at Ding Li once more and turned to leave the alley.

"It’s nothing, just a dislocation. You'll be healed in a few days!" Before leaving, Ding Li shrugged helplessly at the man on the ground, though he still offered a polite bow.

"Many thanks for your mercy, Brother Li. I cannot return the salute, please forgive me," the man in black replied with a bitter, sincere smile.

"Don't mention it! I should thank you for your restraint as well!" Ding Li retorted dismissively, waving his hand without looking back—though it was unclear whether he was being sincere or mocking the man’s lack of skill.

As soon as he stepped out of the alley, Ding Li was truly startled. There were fifty or sixty people lining both sides of the street, all dressed identically in white short-sleeved tunics. Aside from the few men surrounding Uncle Xiang who carried Tang swords, the others had distinct bulges on their backs—clearly concealing short blades or other weapons.

However, Ding Li regained his composure in an instant. As he scanned the crowd, his initial suspicions began to dissipate, especially when Uncle Xiang, walking in the lead, cast a look of genuine goodwill his way. Ding Li concluded that they were not there to harm him.

The teahouse Uncle Xiang mentioned was a full quarter-hour walk away, with Ding Li under the gaze of all those men the entire time. There was no need for introductions or questions; while Guangzhou was full of wealthy merchants, Ding Li was certain that very few families could command a teahouse of this scale.

As they approached within twenty or thirty paces, the teahouse owner, having been notified, came running out with a welcoming smile. Although the owner appeared kind and wore an authentic Tang-style outfit, the shrewd glint in his eyes convinced Ding Li that he was far more than a mere manager of a Zhang family teahouse.

As expected, upon entering, the "kind" owner shifted into the role of a servant, personally guiding them to the third floor. Once there, he dismissed the maids with a wave of his hand. After Xiang and Ding Li were seated, the man knelt to the side, transforming into a tea master, personally boiling water and preparing tea for them.

"Ah-Li, I received the report from the messenger sent by the young master regarding the affairs in Fuxu Town before noon today!" Seeming to have urgent business, Uncle Xiang didn't wait for the tea to be ready before nodding to Ding Li, smiling as he cut straight to the point: "Your contribution in sweeping through Little Nanhai in Fuxu Town was immense. The young master speaks very highly of you! The Old Master was also very pleased to hear of it. However, the Old Master has been occupied with many matters lately, so I have come in his stead to see you."

"Many thanks to the Old Master for his concern! I apologize for the trouble, Uncle Xiang!" Ding Li was unaccustomed to the kneeling posture, but he forced himself to bow awkwardly.

"Think nothing of it. There are a few things I would like to ask you, if it is convenient?" Uncle Xiang waved his hand, his smile as kind as a family elder’s. It made Ding Li, who had a guilty conscience, feel a prickle on his scalp, yet he could only nod in agreement.

"Ah-Li, I have seen the records of your background, but there is one thing I do not understand! If it is convenient, please tell me the truth!" Uncle Xiang continued to watch him with a kind smile. Ding Li felt a wave of relief—as long as the topic wasn't Zhang Yurou, he had nothing to fear. He nodded generously, even offering a humble smile.

"Then I shall be forward!" To the astonishment of the teahouse owner, Uncle Xiang bowed solemnly to Ding Li before speaking. With a grave expression, he asked in a low voice: "As far as I know, you are an only child, and since birth, you have only had a mother. To this day, you have no news of your father! Yet, there is one thing I do not understand: you have a courtesy name! Normally, a man is only given a courtesy name by his parents or elders upon reaching the age of twenty (the 'capping' age). But you...?"

"This..." Ding Li felt a sense of confusion wash over him. He did not know when he had acquired the courtesy name "Ziyi," nor did he know who had bestowed it upon him. Was it his late mother, or the father he had never met? On this, he was completely in the dark.