Chapter 26 Wang Anfeng and Xiahou Xuan

When thinking of a true gentleman, he is warm yet firm, strong yet not sharp, gentle yet disciplined.

The young man before them truly deserves this description, with his gentle expression and polite demeanor that never exceeds the bounds. However, the poem on his folding fan carried a touch of arrogance and indulgence, adding an air of unruliness. As he introduced himself, the many guards merely clasped their fists in a greeting, Wang Bai felt both angry and fearful, while two of the Noble Clan disciples felt somewhat ashamed.

The only one was a Noble Clan young lady whose cheeks were red. She glanced at him, then looked away, yet looked back again, her bashful shyness fully revealed.

Xiahou Xuan lightly shook his folding fan with a bit of an air of proud resilience against harsh winters, a style of aloof loneliness, and sighed to himself:

"Sugar-coated haws, oh sugar-coated haws, sometimes I really envy you."

"After all, you have such a great future husband."

This behavior was not the usual self-introduction. A superior openly stating his name among the Noble Clan disciples tended more toward a kind of declaration, like a tiger roaring down the mountain but more composed. Now everyone here understood this meaning, evident that the young man had a graceful demeanor, and no one dared respond.

The only one unaware of these Noble Clan rituals was a young man from below Great Liang Mount, Wang Anfeng, who took Xiahou Xuan's introduction as literal, upheld the extreme of human courtesy, as a gentleman should not neglect manners and thus straightened his clothes, clasped his fist and calmly responded:

"I am Wang Anfeng."

Xiahou Xuan's folding fan paused slightly, his eyes surprised as he looked at the young man, while those around him were also slightly startled. By then, Wang Anfeng had already continued:

"Just now, thank you, brother Xiahou, for speaking out on my behalf. I am deeply grateful."

Xiahou Xuan looked at him twice, then withdrew his gaze and suddenly raised it again, landing on the young man's face, making sure there was no trace of challenging authority in his eyes, demeanor, or even the seams of his lips, felt somewhat doubtful inside. Yet, he already responded with a warm clasped-fist:

"No need…, just now that lady also mentioned someone defended her honor for a gentleman, presumably that was Brother Wang. I see Brother Wang's medical skills are remarkable, perhaps we could find a chance to exchange knowledge."

At that moment, the young lady also ran up to Wang Anfeng, her face still blushing. She bowed deeply first, then handed over a wrapped package with gratitude saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, young master. This maiden will never forget it."

Wang Anfeng accepted the package, saying, "It was a trivial effort, no need for many words, just keep this." After speaking, he walked a few steps toward Wang Bai, and once again extended his hand, the intent clear. Wang Bai clenched his teeth, filled with resentment, but after these successive events, he had no spirit left to squabble, only handed over the pearl hairpin, and resentfully said:

"The hairpin is yours, you... you better not abduct my Xue'er away."

Wang Anfeng looked at his reluctant demeanor, shook his head and said, "Don't worry, I wouldn't do that."

"If I forcefully took your horse, wouldn't I be just like you?"

Wang Bai felt somewhat relieved after the first statement, but the second statement made him feel a disdain coming from Wang Anfeng's words, not outright stating he looked down on him, but that inherent disdain made him feel even more suffocated and angry, to the point that the joy of getting his Exotic Horse back was suppressed by this frustration.

He glared resentfully at Wang Anfeng, but beside him, Xiahou Xuan, gently shaking his folding fan, his face mild and smiling, made his spine chill, not daring to utter a harsh word. Awkwardly getting up, he almost had to drag the Wild Lion Cloud Galloper away, the latter still reluctantly looking back at Wang Anfeng, who did not look at it, only to be resignedly pulled away.

Wang Anfeng handed the pearl hairpin back to the grey-clothed young lady, who, after thanking him profusely, followed two guards toward another direction.

Liuxu Villa had many rules, not allowing to just bring people in, but fortunately, there was another smaller manor serving as gathering for numerous servants, including distinguished doctors. Wang Anfeng watched them leave, and Xiahou Xuan stepped forward, slightly surpassing Wang Anfeng, and said with a smile:

"I didn't realize Brother Wang also had such a cold, unfeeling heart."

Wang Anfeng was slightly stunned, saying:

"An unfeeling heart? Where does that come from?"

Xiahou Xuan lightly shook his folding fan, his heart intent on pressing him down, yet his demeanor remained gentle as he said:

"Just now, that wild lion-like horse stared at Brother Wang so affectionately. With just a word, Wang Bai would not have dared to object, facing only a little gossip as the cost. Yet Brother Wang remained unmoved despite such a minor price—a glimpse can reveal the whole leopard—if there were bigger stakes in the future, even if the beauty shed tears, Brother Wang might keep his integrity intact and remain indifferent, right?"

"With such a nature, could one be deemed heartless?"

Wang Anfeng slightly raised his eyes to look at the noble clan's son, who had a trace of smugness in his gaze, and did not respond, but merely said:

"Xiahou brother, may I ask, between people and horses, which is more valued? And which is less?"

Xiahou Xuan answered with a smile, "The people are more valuable; the state comes next, let alone compared to horses."

This was a saying from a wise man in the previous dynasty, something that Father Wang Anfeng had mentioned several times while he was alive, so it did not surprise him. He continued to ask:

"Then, Xiahou brother, would you be willing to forsake your principles for the sake of others?"

The smile on Xiahou Xuan's face gradually faded as he slowly shook his head.

"Unwilling."

Wang Anfeng straightened up, his eyes faintly focused as he looked at Xiahou Xuan and said:

"People are treasured, horses are not; Xiahou brother is unwilling to betray his heart for others, yet you expect me to forsake my path for a mere exotic beast. To apply to others what one does not desire for oneself is indeed an exacerbation."

His voice paused slightly, then he softly continued:

"Can such conduct be called that of a gentleman?"

Question and answer, the atmosphere around them instantly solidified. The thirty-year-old guard's forehead began to seep with cold sweat. Unlike the other guards, he had also read some books in his younger years, traveled north and south, and met all sorts of people, thus he could fully sense the critical nature of this brief verbal sparring.

Looking at the amicable Xiahou Xuan on the left, then the composed and calm Wang Anfeng on the right, the cold sweat on his forehead wouldn't stop. For the first time, he understood why the silver they were paid was much higher than that of ordinary gate guards.

You get what you pay for.

At this moment, Xiahou Xuan suddenly snapped his folding fan shut, lightly slapped it against his palm, chuckled, and gave a slight bow to Wang Anfeng, saying:

"Brother Wang is quick-witted to the extreme. Xiahou admires you greatly. Please don't take my earlier jest to heart."

Every gesture meticulous, the smile on his lips gentle, yet inside he was already grinding his teeth, wanting to flip the table and punch the handsome young man before him until his face was swollen and bruised.

Punching primarily at the face, kicking only at the groin.

Clever boy, interesting, very interesting. Those fools in the County City, none of them are as interesting as you are.

This is only the second time in my life I've been put at a disadvantage!

Wang Anfeng slightly shook his head, harboring no severe ill will towards the young man before him. Indeed, it was his first time debating with someone since his father's death, and considering Xiahou Xuan's earlier actions, he felt somewhat benevolent and replied with a salute:

"Just now, it was merely a debate, unrelated to personal feelings. Xiahou brother, what do you think?"

"That is... naturally."