After nightfall, there wasn’t much to busy themselves with, so the two found the inn unbearably dull and decided to seek out some entertainment, considering it a way to pass the time. Upon hearing that the Sky Blue Building hosted a famed singer named Phoenix Blood, whose singing was unparalleled, they came, drawn by her reputation.
One produced an envelope from oiled paper.
When Su Lang first received the letter carried by the homing pigeon from Master, he had carefully preserved the handwritten letter from Master and later copied it for these two men.
It contained the address of the Liang family’s party, mentioning that if they arrived at Taihang Town, they could try their luck at the Sky Blue Building. However, literacy among the poor was scarce, and it just so happened that both men were born into poverty before becoming mountain thieves. They couldn’t recognize the five characters of ’Phoenix Blood’ in the Sky Blue Building, and thus overlooked it, until now, when it suddenly dawned on them.
"Hey, brother, could you help me read these few characters?"
A mountain thief drew out the letter, pointing to a line and asked.
Fatefully, the person he addressed happened to be Luo Yang.
Luo Yang, who was good-natured, didn’t look down on the man for his crude behavior. Instead, he took the letter and gave it a quick read.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
The Sky Blue Building, Phoenix Blood?
Luo Yang glanced tentatively at He Su, who remained oblivious to the commotion. Her heart and eyes filled only with the sight of Phoenix Blood on stage, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, deeply moved.
Luo Yang sighed softly, then handed back the letter to the men. "You two have indeed found the right place. The woman on the stage, she is indeed Phoenix Blood."
The two mountain thieves exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter.
Ah, what serendipity! Now that they had seen Phoenix Blood, did that mean they no longer needed to trudge over mountains and hills to that tiny village nestled in the ravine?
That saved them quite a bit of trouble indeed—it was too good to be true!
After Phoenix Blood finished her song, the two mountain thieves had found Brother Liubao.
Upon learning their intent, Brother Liubao promptly promised, "Wait just a moment, and I will go inform Phoenix Blood!"
Phoenix Blood, having completed her song for the night, was preparing to leave. When she suddenly learned that someone wanted to meet her.
"Someone wants to see me?"
"Yes, two men, no straw hats or veils, a bit on the ugly side, can’t quite tell their business, seem like unfamiliar faces."
After pondering for a moment, Phoenix Blood decided, "Well then, I’ll go meet them."
Then, she asked another question, "Brother Bao, aside from these two, is there no one else today? No one else looking for me?"
Brother Liubao shook his head, then hesitated before giving a bitter smile.
It seems no news from Baobao today either.
After what felt like an endless wait, the two mountain thieves finally saw Phoenix Blood approach. Upon closer inspection, they realized just how beautiful she truly was. It was no wonder she was tall and, by the ladies’ accounts, seemed to have a sturdy build unlike the delicate and slender men of the norm, but her frail yet enchanting appearance was mesmerizing nonetheless.
A shame, though, that her lips were even paler than paper, giving her a somewhat sickly look.
The mountain thief got straight to the point.
"Our Eldest Brother Su Lang sent us. Here’s the letter, take a look."
Phoenix Blood, no, at this time, she should be addressed as Liang Shujun.
Shujun didn’t know who Su Lang was, but given the two men’s stature and the fact that they seemed experienced in life’s vicissitudes, coupled with her own astuteness and wit, she took one look and more or less guessed the reason for their visit.