After finishing dinner with Wang Yuyan and tidying up the house, Shen Lang drove to the White Horse Club and sent a WeChat message to Can Dao, asking him to meet at the club.
Twenty minutes after Shen Lang arrived at the White Horse Club, Feng Yijian and Can Dao appeared before him.
"Gentlemen, long time no see. How have you been?" Shen Lang forced a smile and asked as he looked at Feng Yijian and Can Dao.
"Thank you for your concern. We are well," Feng Yijian and Can Dao were not men of many words and replied calmly to Shen Lang's greeting.
"Is there something you need?" Can Dao looked at Shen Lang, his voice as cold and piercing as a thousand-year-old ice, and asked. Can Dao was not one for conversation, as evident from his laconic style.
"Yes, there is," Shen Lang looked at Can Dao and said calmly, "My woman, Ye Shishi, has been kidnapped by people from the Tang Clan. I need to go to Sichuan to rescue her, and I hope you can assist me."
"When do we depart?" Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, Can Dao replied expressionlessly, "It's better sooner than later. I plan to leave tomorrow. I am confident I can handle the Tang Clan's experts, but I need you to protect Ye Shishi and ensure she doesn't get hurt."
"No problem," Can Dao said coldly, "I promise you."
"Brother Shen, I promise you too," Feng Yijian said to Shen Lang with a smile, "As long as Brother Shen asks, this old man will go through fire and water without hesitation."
"Good, then I will trouble you both," Shen Lang clasped his hands in front of them and said, "If I can successfully rescue Shishi this time, I owe you both a favor."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Can Dao did not reply and turned to leave.
"Brother Shen, who is this man? Why do I feel so familiar, as if I've seen him somewhere before?" Feng Yijian asked, looking at Can Dao's retreating back with a hint of confusion. Suddenly, Feng Yijian seemed to recall something, his pupils widened, and his voice trembled, "I remember when I saw him. It was over twenty years ago in Longdu. He was dressed in white, playing his sword and singing, and the entire Longdu admired him."
"That's right, his name seems to be Qin Cangjing, the young master of the Qin family in Longdu." Shen Lang had already learned from Qin Lianyue that Can Dao was Qin Cangjing, the young master of the Qin family, but he was still shocked to hear it from Feng Yijian's mouth. "Old Feng, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"Of course not. One never forgets the demeanor of Qin Cangjing once seen, because such a person is unique." Speaking of which, Feng Yijian sighed, "If it weren't for the Star Picking Tower incident back then, Qin Cangjing today would probably be the second Shen Tianjun."
"The Star Picking Tower incident?" Hearing Feng Yijian's words, Shen Lang was a little surprised. "Old Feng, what was that?"
Feng Yijian sighed slightly and said, "I don't know the specifics. I only know that twenty years ago, there was a tall building in Longdu called the Star Picking Tower. In it lived a peerless beauty who was almost like an immortal. She could summon a hundred birds by playing an invisible zither."
"Legend has it that Qin Cangjing fell in love with this woman back then. However, in the end, his father married her off to his younger brother. So, on the wedding day, Qin Cangjing stood atop the Star Picking Tower, turned the entire city's wind and snow into a sword, killed many strong members of the Qin family, then burned his sword and forged a saber, stained his white robes with ink, and from then on, disappeared from Longdu and from the sight of the world."
"I thought Qin Cangjing was dead, and there was no Qin Cangjing left in the world. I never expected him to still be alive. To think that I would meet him here today! It seems that things in this world are truly marvelous." Speaking of this, Feng Yijian looked at Shen Lang with curiosity and asked, "Brother Shen, how did you get acquainted with Qin Cangjing?"
"Old Feng, I don't know Qin Cangjing. The person you speak of is now called Can Dao," Shen Lang said with a smile, "I am not clear about his past, but now he is my friend."
"Young Master Shen... this is not good." Just as Shen Lang finished speaking, Ah Xiu ran in hastily, her face grim, and said to Shen Lang. Ah Xiu was Yang Ce's lover and had met Shen Lang many times. From initial contempt towards Shen Lang, she now, like Yang Ce, regarded Shen Lang as the backbone.
"Ah Xiu, what is it?" Seeing Ah Xiu's anxious expression, Shen Lang asked.
"Young Master Shen, it's like this. Your friend is arguing with a beautiful woman outside." The friend Ah Xiu mentioned was clearly Can Dao. Shen Lang was curious as to why Can Dao would be arguing with a woman. Out of curiosity, Shen Lang and Feng Yijian walked out of the White Horse Club and soon arrived at the entrance. They saw Can Dao being cornered by a beautiful woman.
"I'll say it again, my name is Can Dao, not Qin Cangjing. You have the wrong person." Can Dao looked at the beautiful woman, his eyes flickering, but his tone was terrifyingly cold. However, despite Can Dao's formidable demeanor, the beautiful woman showed no fear. Instead, she moved closer, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Wrong person? How could I be wrong? You are Qin Cangjing, and you are my elder brother."
"Rambling—" Faced with the beautiful woman's crying, a hint of pain flickered across Can Dao's face. He quickly drew his saber and placed it at the woman's throat in an instant. "I already told you, I am not Qin Cangjing, I am Can Dao. If you bother me again, I will kill you."
"Stop—" At this critical moment, Shen Lang shouted and rushed in front of Can Dao, pulling the beautiful woman away. "Can Dao, let's talk properly. No need for swords." Shen Lang was so agitated because he recognized the beautiful woman and had interacted with her many times. The beautiful woman was none other than Qin Lianyue, Tang Wuzui's best friend and a member of the Qin family from Longdu.
"Shen Lang?" Seeing Shen Lang appear, both Can Dao and Qin Lianyue exclaimed in unison.
"Shen Lang, this is my private matter. You'd best not interfere." Can Dao quickly stopped Shen Lang from speaking. "Hey, I wouldn't interfere in your private affairs, but Qin Lianyue is someone I know. So, I hope you will show mercy." Shen Lang said to Can Dao, "This woman is a bit wordy, but she doesn't deserve to die. I'll hold her back so she doesn't pester you. You can leave now." With that, Shen Lang truly grabbed Qin Lianyue.
"Alright, thank you." Seeing Shen Lang's action, Can Dao cast a grateful look and then quickly disappeared into the darkness as if he had never appeared.
"Slap—" After Can Dao disappeared, Qin Lianyue broke free and swung a slap at Shen Lang's face. However, just as Qin Lianyue's palm was about to reach Shen Lang's cheek, Shen Lang firmly grasped it. "Qin Lianyue, are you ungrateful?"