Chapter 53 Luoyang Branch
In the backyard, Duan Chengtian came out of the kitchen after washing his hands, carrying an empty wooden box.

As one of the most famous restaurants in Anle Pavilion, Yu Youshu has her own place where she can lead guests in playing pot-tossing and having tea.

The yard was not big, but it was elegantly laid out with pavilions scattered around and winding paths crisscrossing it, which was enough for her and several maids to live in.

In the front hall, several people were already sitting together chatting.

Among them were both men and women, but they were all people who had some dealings with Anle Pavilion, such as cloth shops and jewelry dealers, all of whom had business dealings with Anle Pavilion for many years.

When they heard Duan Chengtian's noise, they all stood up.

"Colonel Captain..."

The former just waved his hand, "Don't call me that, and don't bother me, everyone sit down."

They didn't care and welcomed him in, saying with a smile: "It's been many years since we last met, but the tofu made by Old Duan is still as delicious as ever. It smells so good even from such a distance."

The rest of the people all laughed.

"Why did Lao Liang gather everyone together this time?" Duan Chengtian said in a serious tone, "It is not easy for you to live a peaceful life. Don't gather in groups, or it will arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives."

After seeing that everyone had become serious, he glanced around and asked, "Isn't Lao Liang here?"

"He said he was going to greet guests."

"guest?"

Duan Chengtian was surprised and suddenly remembered the two people he had just seen at the door of Anle Pavilion.

He frowned slightly.

----

In a quiet corner of the front hall, Yu Youshu was introducing Xiao Yan.

She first pointed at a middle-aged man in his forties with deep forehead wrinkles and said, "This is Lao Liang. It was after the captain contacted him that we were able to get together."

When the forty-year-old first saw Xiao Yan, he was actually quite surprised, but with the testimony of the Yanzhou bad man he knew well, he did not hesitate and cupped his hands:

"I am Liang Zhi, the eighth generation of the Bad Man. Since our captain, Tian Suxing, is not enthusiastic about the affairs of the branch, he has given me the responsibility over the years. I am also the one who contacts the brothers in the branch."

Xiao Yan looked around and asked curiously, "How many bad people are there in Anle Pavilion?"

"It is known that there are 86 musicians, dancers, and servants. Most people in the pavilion are still ordinary people and do not know the secrets here."

Liang Zhi did not look down on Xiao Yan because of his young age, and patiently introduced: "Anle Pavilion was actually burned down during the reign of Emperor Wu, but it was later rebuilt by the Bad People. It has been designed like this since it moved from Chang'an to Luoyang over a hundred years ago."

"It is more difficult for others to notice our people when they are among ordinary people."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly.

This point shows where the flaws of Huanyinfang lie.

After all, the foundation is not enough. Although they have set up a stall in the Central Plains, they cannot completely integrate into the local environment. If the slightest flaw is revealed, they will most likely be uprooted.

On the other hand, in The Bad Guys, the successor is actually selected based on inheritance, and their merits and demerits are not judged, but it is very helpful in hiding the identity.

For example, Liang Zhi, as the person in charge of the Luoyang branch over the years, let alone fully figuring out how many bad people are scattered in Luoyang or around Guanzhong, he is probably not even clear about the identities of some of the bad people in Anle Pavilion.

Even within Anle Pavilion alone, most colleagues probably don’t know each other’s background.

He thought for a moment and asked, "When the commander dismissed the bad guys, you should have dispersed. Why are you still gathered in Anle Pavilion?"

This is the case with the Yanzhou branch. Ever since the fall of Chang'an City, the leader of the Bad Gang disappeared without a trace, and each of the Bad Gang members hid under an assumed name and remained dormant for thirty years.

On the other hand, in Luoyang, we even have the opportunity to get together from time to time.

Now, it was Yu Youshu who smiled bitterly. She took over the conversation and said, "Our ancestors all survived by relying on Anle Pavilion. The former commander was feared by the late emperor, so he disbanded the Bad People overnight. But we have nowhere else to go, so we can only continue to stay here..."

Xiao Yan suddenly realized.

Zhaozong was indeed the type of person who was both incompetent and playful. He was a bad man who allowed Huang Chao to wreak havoc in the Central Plains. Perhaps he wanted to destroy his family and never had any thoughts of being unfaithful.

As a result, Xizong, as the one who suffered the disaster, was able to endure it, but Zhaozong, as the successor, destroyed his own Great Wall and cut off an arm of the Li Tang Dynasty.

He did not want to delve into this issue, so he pondered and said, "If it weren't for the two of you, I would probably need more time to gather the Luoyang Bad People."

"But I don't know why Tian Anxing came to Luoyang?"

"No hurry, let's talk about it in detail after we meet everyone."

…………

In the front hall, two large pots of pickled vegetables and braised tofu were already placed on the table, with fish meat in between, and the aroma filled the air. Yu Youshu and Liang Zhi entered the front hall and also smelled the aroma of the dish.

"Ah Qi, add two more pairs of chopsticks."

A woman in her twenties responded, then looked at Xiao Yan curiously and went into the kitchen.

Someone asked with a smile, "We haven't seen each other for many months. Where did you find this handsome young man?"

Others frowned, as if they didn't know why they brought these two people in.

"Old Liang, why did you summon us?" Duan Chengtian had already recognized Xiao Yan and the other man, but he looked at Liang Zhi first and said, "The last time we had so many people gathered here was many years ago."

"Everyone, don't worry," Liang Zhi first introduced to everyone: "This young man is Tian Anxing from the Yanzhou branch. It was Tian Anxing who instructed us to gather together this time."

"Dark Star?"

A burly man frowned and said, "How could the flag bearer of Yanzhou be such a little kid?"

The bad guy behind Yu Xiaoyan was a little dissatisfied and was about to argue.

But Xiao Yan was not annoyed. He just looked at Duan Chengtian who was silent in the corner. His eyes flickered and he asked, "If Xiao's guess is correct, this person is Tiansuxing?"

"it's me."

Duan Chengtian stood up, looked at Xiao Yan's face, and said, "I don't know why Tian Anxing summoned me, the Luoyang Bad Man?"

He was somewhat puzzled about the young man in front of him, and felt a vague sense of uneasiness in his heart.

"Zhu Wen will arrive in Luoyang tomorrow."

Xiao Yan began to tear off the tiny fake mask on his face, finally revealing his original appearance.

Everyone was stunned, but they didn't realize that his face had been modified in this way.

"At that time, I will hold divination in the western suburbs. I hope you can cooperate with me to put on a big show." Xiao Yan said, "I came from Yanzhou, and I really don't have enough manpower."

"what for?"

Even Liang Zhi couldn't help but say, "Since it's the Captain's invitation, the Luoyang branch should fully cooperate. But although everyone is still working for the Tang Dynasty, they won't act rashly just because Zhu Wen came to Luoyang."

The burly man laughed and said, "Little kid, you should go back to Yanzhou. No matter how you inherited the name of the Dark Star, you still need to hone your skills for a few years. Do you think you can force us to work for you with just empty words?"

The others all laughed and looked at Xiao Yan, wanting him to back down.

Yu Youshu and Liang Zhi had no right to speak for him and just shook their heads secretly.

At this time, the bad guy who followed Xiao Yan became angry and said angrily: "You guys are hiding in..."

But before he could finish, Duan Chengtian suddenly interrupted him.

"Wait a minute."

Holding a bamboo stick in his mouth, he walked up to Xiao Yan with a frown, but saw that the latter looked natural and did not take the ridicule in the hall to heart at all.

He frowned and talked to himself.

"I've seen your face..."

"A few years ago, the emperor lived in Luoyang, and I had the opportunity to meet him from afar."

Everyone was shocked, and then they heard Duan Chengtian's words.

"Young man, do you want to die in the emperor's place?"

"Is that really the case?" The burly man stood up and looked at Xiao Yan and the others in surprise.

"Humph!"

The bad guy behind Xiao Yan said coldly: "My captain has entered the game with his body only to protect the emperor and the Tang Dynasty! If you still think of yourselves as Tang officials, don't let me look down on the Luoyang branch!"

Everyone was slightly ashamed.

Someone said: "Since you are going to die for the Tang Dynasty, then count me in!"

"Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not going to die."

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "It's to change the fate for the Tang Dynasty."

(End of this chapter)