Bottlegourd Alley.
Horses’ hooves thudded along the road’s bluestone tiles.
Yuan Luoxi and Cheng Wuyong were headed straight to Humble Tranquility Cottage.?They’d heard about someone new moving to that area two days ago, so when they learned Su Yi’s new location, they immediately guessed it was him.
Once they reached the gates, they dismounted. Yuan Luoxi’s heart filled with anticipation, but she was nervous, too. She couldn’t help but take a deep breath and pause to tuck?her hair behind her ears and straighten up her clothes. It was only after there was nothing left to fuss over that she stepped up and knocked on the door.
Shortly after, the door opened, and a youthful face popped out. “Big Sis, who are you here to see?”
“Xiaoran, they say they’re Big Brother Su’s friends, so I brought them here,” said A-Fei hurriedly.
Feng Xiaoran was instantly enlightened. “Oh, so they’re Big Brother Su’s friends. Come on in!”
She deftly opened the door, then smiled sweetly. “Honored guests, if you please.”
Although she was only thirteen or fourteen, Yuan Luoxi couldn’t help but stare.?What a pretty little face! What big eyes! They’re like pure, limpid pools. They’re just so beautiful…!
She suddenly recalled a line she’d read in a book: “Lashes drawn in dark ink, a faint layer of rouge, a blue blouse and apricot skirt, a girl leans against the railing and silently applies her lipstick.”
The girl before her was wearing the very outfit the poem described: a blue blouse and apricot-yellow, well-fitted skirt. The combination offset her charm and beauty.
“Big Sis, what are you looking at me for?” asked Feng Xiaoran in confusion.
“It’s ‘cuz you’re pretty!” Yuan Luoxi giggled. She walked up, took the azure jade circlet from her wrist, and placed it in Feng Xiaoran’s hands. “You called me ‘Big Sis’, so I can’t just stand back and do nothing. Consider this bracelet a greeting gift.”
Feng Xiaoran was stunned, and she hurriedly tried to refuse, but Yuan Luoxi smiled and insisted. “It’s just a trinket. It’s nothing valuable, so take it.”
Then, before Feng Xiaoran could respond, she turned and walked into the courtyard.
“This bracelet is so pretty,” said Feng Xiaoran. “How could it be a worthless trinket?”
She must have given it to me on account of Big Brother Su.
Cheng Wuyong laughed when he saw this, but he said nothing.?That jade circlet was worth ten thousand taels of gold, but if the young miss was happy, what did that matter?
Yuan Luoxi and Cheng Wuyong found Su Yi beneath the gazebo.?He leaned into a wicker chair, and he wore loose white robes. His long hair, which he usually wore up, was casually undone. He looked leisurely, even indolent.
The table beside him had clear tea, melons, and various refreshments.
“Shh! During this time every day, Brother Su rests his eyes and meditates beneath the gazebo. He says he’s cultivating his soul.” Huang Qianjun appeared immediately and whispered a warning. “He’s usually at it for two hours. He’ll wake up on his own if you wait an hour.”
Yuan Luoxi and Cheng Wuyong glanced at each other, and conscientiously fell silent. However,?Su Yi opened his eyes anyway, and his eyebrows shot up. “Miss Yuan,” he teased, “You didn’t sneak out this time, did you?”
Yuan Luoxi’s pretty face flushed red, and she said sheepishly, “Your eyes are as bright as torches. I couldn’t even hide that from you.”
Su Yi didn’t even know what to say.?I was actually right?
“Master Su, this is ‘Bluescale Cold Iron’ excavated from the Yuan Family mines. It’s no ordinary spiritual material, and it’s perfectly suited for forging a sword.”
Cheng Wuyong walked up and smiled, then offered up a jade box.
During their time on board the tower ship, Su Yi had once asked about the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, including where he could purchase high-quality spiritual materials.
Cheng Wuyong bore this firmly in mind, which was why when they came to visit, he brought five kilos of Bluescale Cold Iron as a gift.
“Isn’t that the main material used to forge Bluescale Dagger-Axes?” Huang Qianjun couldn’t help but ask.
Bluescale Dagger-Axes.
They were an extremely lethal type of spiritual weapon, and they were extremely famous amongst the Great Zhou’s armies.
Even the Redscale Army stationed in the Imperatorial Province only had ten such dagger-axes.
This was because the material used to forge this spiritual weapon, Bluescale Cold Iron, was just too rare.
Cheng Wuyong smiled. “Young Lord Huang, you’ve got good eyes. We didn’t know how much Master Su needed, so we only brought five kilos.”
“Five kilos!” Huang Qianjun was tongue-tied, too shaken to speak.
He had already predicted that as one of the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital’s four peak-level factions, the Yuan Family was sure to be rolling in money.
But he wouldn’t have guessed that they were?this?rich!
“That was considerate of you.” Su Yi was briefly stunned. Then, he nodded.?This Cheng Wuyong might look coarse, but he’s quite sharp sometimes. It’s obvious that he planned this gift in advance and that he put a lot of thought into it.
“Master Su, we came here uninvited, first to confirm your new address, and second to ask if you were free on the third day of the next lunar month,” asked Yuan Luoxi.
“Is something happening that day?”
“It’s my father’s fortieth birthday,” whispered Yuan Luoxi. “I wanted…. I wanted to invite you to join in the festivities.” 𝒷𝒹ℴ𝓿𝓁.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Su Yi suddenly recalled that Yuan Luoxi had made the journey to Mother Ghost Ridge to pluck Six Yin Grass as a birthday present for her father.
“Master Su, you perhaps aren’t aware, but our family head’s birthday will have numerous major figures of the Martial Dao in attendance. They come from all over the empire, and they’ll hold a small-scale ‘Martial Dao conclave’. Their purpose is, first, to share and discuss their experiences, and second, to exchange rare and precious treasures.”
Cheng Wuyong explained in a low voice, “The young miss and I thought that you might be able to find something that interested you there, which is why we decided to invite you.”
“A Martial Dao conclave?” Su Yi pondered, then said, “If I have free time, I don’t mind coming to check it out.”
Yuan Luoxi instantly smiled.
“What about me? Can?I come broaden?my horizons too?” Huang Qianjun couldn’t help but ask.
The head of the Yuan Family, Yuan Wutong’s fortieth birthday. What kind of glorious spectacle would that be??Just thinking about it was enough to fill a person with longing.
“Of course! We’d be missing something without the great Young Master Huang in attendance,” laughed Cheng Wuyong.
But it was then that—
They heard a cold snort from beyond the courtyard, and a moment later, someone leaped right over the walls, straight into their field of view.
This new arrival was extremely tall and brawny. He wore warrior’s robes, and he had a brave, valiant air.
“Second Brother!” Yuan Luoxi was stunned, and she instinctively called out to him.
Yuan Luoyu!
The head of the Yuan Family, Yuan Wutong’s second son. He was born with innate divine strength, and his talent was monstrous. At just thirteen years old, he’d relied on nothing but his two fists to become the top figure of the Yuan Family’s younger generation.
After entering the Redscale Army for further training, the Cloudlight Marquis, Shen Jiusong, praised him as “The Redscale Valiant, a talent on par with kings and marquises!”
Cheng Wuyong’s face went rigid. He realized that this second young master had likely followed them all the way here.
Su Yi recognized him too, but when he saw him climb right over the walls, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.?He sure is ill-mannered!
Yuan Luoyu’s expression was overcast; it was obvious that he was angry. “Little Sister, you snuck out early in the morning… to visit this Su Yi guy?”
But Yuan Luoxi wasn’t the least bit afraid of him. She said in a huff, “Young Lord?Su did?me an enormous favor. Why can’t I pay him a quick visit? Besides, Second Brother, aren’t you being awfully rude? You actually climbed right over the wall! If word of this gets about, our father will have no face left!”
Yuan Luoyu’s expression froze, and he snapped back, “If Father finds out that his most beloved daughter swiped five kilos of Bluescale Cold Iron and foolishly gave it to an outsider, what would he think?”
Cheng Wuyong was about to explain when Yuan Luoyu shouted, “Elder Cheng, you’re obviously well aware that Lil’ Xi is still young and that she doesn’t understand the wickedness of the human heart, yet you not only didn’t stop her, you even encouraged her nonsense. Don’t you think you’ve been remiss in your duties?
Cheng Wuyong smiled bitterly. It was obvious the second young master had misunderstood.
But before he could explain, Yuan Luoyu turned his sharp, cold gaze on Su Yi. He glared, not the least bit friendly, and said coldly, “Su Yi, when we met at the pier that day, I said that if you encountered difficulties in the prefectural capital, you were welcome to borrow the Yuan Family’s name.
“But I never would have guessed you’d set your sights on my little sister!” As he said this, his voice was harsh and angry, and his words boomed like thunder. “You’ve made me really mad! And you’ve disappointed me, too!”
Su Yi’s expression only grew colder and more indifferent.
When she saw this, Yuan Luoxi’s heart shook, and she said frantically, “Second Brother, can you please calm down? Young Lord Su isn’t at all what you think he is!”
Cheng Wuyong also said hurriedly, “Second Young Master, I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. This has nothing to do with Young Lord Su. Once we got back, I’ll explain to you in detail.”
But seeing that both of them were determined to protect Su Yi only made Yuan Luoyu angrier.?He highly suspected that his little sister was already obsessed and irrational over this Guangling City youth!
“Su Yi, things have already reached this point. Aren’t you going to make your position clear?” Yuan Luoyu shouted harshly. “Or am I going to have to draw my saber and use force to make you?”
His blood and qi surged, and his energy was murderous, steely, and imposing.
It was then that Su Yi rose from his wicker chair and said flatly, “Make my position clear? About what?”
Yuan Luoxi and Cheng Wuyong went rigid.?Is Master Su about to lose his temper?
When they recalled how Su Yi had killed the?Six-Severings?Yin?Corpse back in Mother Ghost Ridge, and how he’d slain a Martial Dao Grandmaster aboard the tower ship, their expressions changed dramatically.
“It’s just a misunderstanding. You needn’t panic; leave this to me.” Su Yi glanced at them. He couldn’t help but laugh.?Why would I lose my temper over a minor incident like this??But this Yuan Luoyu guy really does need to be taught a lesson.
“Excellent. You’re a real man after all. You understand that you have to resolve your problems yourself.” Yuan Luoyu said coldly, “I won’t use the Yuan Family’s prestige to oppress you either. So long as you swear to keep away from my little sister, I can pretend none of this ever happened, nor will I pursue this matter any further.”
Huang Qianjun couldn’t help but sigh to himself.?You’re dead-set on protecting your sister. That’s rare and admirable, but you… You ought to take a good look at just who you’re talking to!?Your little sister warned you so many times! Why haven’t you realized it yet?
“You’ve misunderstood,” said Su Yi flatly. “That’s not the matter I wish to resolve.”
Yuan Luoyu’s expression darkened. “Then what is?”
Su Yi pointed at the main gate. “This is my Humble Tranquility Cottage’s gated courtyard, yet you showed up without knocking and climbed my walls without any regard for law or custom. You’re acting like a burglar. Did you think I’d just let that go?
Yuan Luoyu looked flabbergasted.
When he realized what Su Yi was getting at, his expression instantly turned unsightly. He was so angry, he almost burst into laughter!
This punk brought up the one thing he shouldn’t have!