h4Chapter 703: Chapter 708: Seeing Du Kang Again (2)/h4

    Arriving at Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, a round of drinks was inevitable. With Song Ge and Zhou Jun apanying, they drank until midnight, all three of them drunk and staggering, unable to walk steadily, so they had to spend the night in Ling Chen’s room.

    The next day.

    When Ling Chen woke up, he heard a knocking sound outside the door. Probably disturbed by the knocking, Zhou Jun and Song Ge woke up and got up to open the door.

    As soon as the door opened, before Zhou Jun could react, he felt a pain in his head. He covered the sore spot, looked up, and saw Zhou Qi standing at the door, looking displeased, and gently scolded, "You rascal, how much wine have you stolen this time?"

    Zhou Jun retorted dissatisfiedly, "It’s just a few bottles of wine, old man, do you really need to be so stingy?"

    During this, Ling Chen quickly approached, sped his fists, and said, "Elder Zhou, are you here to find me or..."

    Upon seeing Ling Chen, Zhou Qi immediately turned his attention away from Zhou Jun, saying, "Mr. Ling, the Pavilion Master just sent a message for me to take you to Yangxin Pavilion. Get ready, I’ll wait for you outside in ten minutes."

    Curious, Zhou Jun asked, "What are you doing going to Yangxin Pavilion? Hey! Old man, we’re bored anyway, why don’t you take us along?"

    Zhou Qi replied irritably, "Both of you just stay put; I’ll settle ounts with you when I return."

    After Zhou Qi left, Zhou Jun and Song Ge looked at Ling Chen curiously, wondering what he was going to do at Yangxin Pavilion. Ling Chen naturally wouldn’t reveal his purpose. It was not that he didn’t trust Zhou Jun and Song Ge, but some matters are better kept known to as few people as possible.

    After washing up, Ling Chen came outside alone. At that moment, Zhou Qi was quietly waiting for his arrival. After meeting up, Zhou Qi, without another word, immediately led Ling Chen towards Yangxin Pavilion.

    Along the way, Ling Chen noticed that the number of guards outside Yangxin Pavilion had increased considerably; previously, there were only two at the entrance, but now there were six. Moreover, upon entering Yangxin Pavilion, Zhou Qi had to show the Pavilion Master’s token, or they wouldn’t be allowed entry.

    Upon reaching the spacious Siheyuan, as soon as he entered through the gates, Ling Chen heard noisy chatter. In therge courtyard, there were several children, about six or seven years old, ying. Besides the children, Ling Chen also saw Song Yi.

    Perhaps sensing Ling Chen’s gaze, Song Yi turned back and saw Ling Chen, his face immediately darkened, he snorted, then turned his gaze away.

    "Elder Zhou, I remember there weren’t so many peoplest time I came, why..."

    "There is a grand event being held at Yangxin Pavilion this time, all the roaming people have returned, these kids are the disciples collected by various masters."

    Upon hearing Zhou Qi’s exnation, Ling Chen finally understood.

    They passed through the Siheyuan, and Ling Chen entered the back mountain of Yangxin Pavilion, which truly held importance; many masters resided here.

    On the way, Ling Chen saw many unfamiliar faces. Due to years of martial training, even though these people had ages around seventy or eighty, they appeared only in their sixties, looking quite youthful.

    Regarding Ling Chen’s arrival, not many truly noticed him; most just nced at him and then went about their own business.

    After walking for about ten minutes, Ling Chen finally reached Du Kang’s residence. There was a simple thatched cottage, spanning over a hundred square meters, with dozens of liquor jars ced outside. Even from afar, a rich alcohol aroma was detectable.

    Arriving outside the cottage, Zhou Qi slightly bowed with sped hands, respectfully saying, "Elder Du, Ling Chen is here."

    As soon as he finished speaking, a young man about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old with an ordinary appearance and a stern demeanor stepped out of the cottage. He nced at Zhou Qi and said indifferently, "Hand him over to me, you can go back."

    "Yes!"

    Zhou Qi, without a word more, turned around and left the way he came.

    After Zhou Qi left, the young man shifted his gaze to Ling Chen. After looking him over, he said, "Come with me."

    Ling Chen nodded, following the young man’s pace into the cottage.

    Inside the spacious and bright house, Du Kang was sitting by the window, leaning on a rattan chair, gently rocking, holding a gourd of wine, drinking asionally, very leisurely, humming an indistinguishable tune, looking quite content.

    Seeing Du Kang, Ling Chen quickly approached, respectfully performed a salute, and greeted, "Elder Du, sorry to disturb you."

    Du Kang, with half-closed eyes and a smirk, watched Ling Chen and said, "Have a seat; no need for formalities here." After speaking, Du Kang nced at the young man beside him, saying, "Come, let me introduce you, this is my disciple, his name is Yang Tao, he has been with me since he was four, it’s been over twenty years now."

    Ling Chen immediately sped his fists and called out ’Brother Yang.’

    Yang Tao maintained his indifferent demeanor, not saying a word, just nodded slightly, then went into his room to mind his own business.

    "Don’t mind him; that kid is just like that, not much for talking." Du Kang paused, then changing his tone, asked, "So, what brings you here this time?"

    Without hesitation, Ling Chen took out the dagger given to him by Su He and held it up to Elder Du.

    "Elder Du, please have a look."

    Du Kang took the dagger, drew it from its sheath, and seeing the ’He’ character engraved on the de, his expression slightly stunned, he suddenly stood up from the rattan chair, his murky old eyes gleaming sharply.

    "This item... where did you get this?"

    "Elder Du, since you recognize this dagger, you must know who it originally belonged to."

    "Old Su... it really is you... after all these years, you finally show yourself," Du Kang murmured, slowly sitting back down in the rattan chair.

    After pondering for a while, Du Kang looked at Ling Chen and asked, "Do you know who gave him this dagger?"

    "I don’t know; Elder Su never mentioned it to me."

    "It was I who gave it to him. No wonder that old fellow would have you bring it to me; he knows I recognize this dagger." Saying this, Du Kang sheathed the dagger, handed it back to Ling Chen, and asked, "How is that old man doing?"

    "Elder Su is doing well, however... Elder Su repeatedly instructed me not to disclose his whereabouts, so..."

    "All right, I understand, don’t worry, since he does not want others to know his whereabouts, I won’t bother to ask. If he had you bring this dagger to me, he must need my help for something. Tell me, what is it? Considering that old man’s sake, I’ll help if I can."