.
The mountain villa was enormous in scale, with numerous pavilions, covered bridges, and ponds.
One of its halls was currently well lit with lamplight,
Yu Baiting sat upright at the head of the table.
He was the head of the Yu Family, one of the top five clans of the Imperatorial Provincial Capital. His authority was far-reaching, and his prestige shook all six of the province’s prefectures.
Were you to make a list of the ten greatest authority figures in the province, Yu Baiting would securely occupy a seat.
He wore wide-sleeved, long robes, and he had clear features and a willowy beard. He carried a string of prayer beads. His smile was warm and amiable, but his long, narrow eyes glinted with a fiery light.
An elderly servant stood in the center of the hall, delivering a report.
“Your Excellency, in just ten days, the curtain shall open on Provincial Governor Xiang Tianqiu’s ‘Tea Party.’
“Of the provincial capital’s five great families, the Zhao and Bai families have already made their position clear. They are to support the governor of the Huai’an Prefecture, Zhang Lingyu, as Xiang Tianqiu’s replacement. This implies that both families have stood with the second prince.
“Them aside, the Xue Family has yet to make its position clear, but they say the Zheng Family has worked closely with the sixth prince lately….”
Before the man could continue, Yu Baiting?waved?and cut him off. “That information is meaningless. In the face of true power, no amount of ‘making your position clear’ matters; it’s nothing but blind nonsense. At its heart, this is a struggle between the second and sixth princes. The victor will determine the next provincial governor.”
The elder servant said softly, “Your Excellency, Provincial Governor Xiang Tianqiu is still waiting for your response.”
Yu Baiting thought for a moment. “Xiang Tianqiu is an ardent supporter of the second prince, and before he abdicates, he plans to help Zhang Lingyu rise through the ranks and take his place. I imagine that’s at the second prince’s behest too….
He looked up and fixed his gaze on the elderly servant. “How about this? Pass on a message. Tell Xiang Tianqiu that our Yu Family’s attitude is simple:?We’ll?support whoever wins.”
The elderly servant was stunned. Then, he said with admiration, “You’re wise indeed, Your Excellency.”
Yu Baiting shook his head dismissively. “Wise? How so? The only advantage of this approach is that we won’t get swept up in the two princes’ conflict. The disadvantage is that if we don’t play our cards right, we’ll offend both of them. The right balance isn’t so easy to find, either.
He paused, his expression suddenly contemptuous. “But our Yu Family isn’t afraid of all that. This is the Imperatorial Provincial Capital. Neither the second prince nor the sixth prince will dare offend us openly here!
With that, he waved. “Go on.”
Shortly after the elderly servant left, the girl in the pomegranate skirt walked right in. “Father, I’m back.”
The man in warrior robes trailed after her.
Yu Baiting glanced at his daughter and evaluated her expression. He couldn’t help but ask, “Lass, why do you look a bit sullen and unhappy?”
The girl in the pomegranate skirt was his daughter, Yu Shuangning,
Yu Shuangning pursed her lips. “Father, you haven’t heard this yet, but I ran into someone truly detestable today. I finally understand what it means to ‘use kindness as a weapon’ and ‘get a swelled head.’”
Yu Baiting was stunned. He glanced at the man in warrior’s robes and asked, “Qiao Leng, what happened?”
Qiao Leng sighed to himself, then recounted everything that happened in the canyon after encountering the Bloodflame Wolf Pack.
He neither hid anything nor embellished the truth, but he did selectively omit a few details.
By the time he reached the end of his tale, Yu Baiting’s eyebrows knit together. “A Qi Accumulation youth slew the Bloodflame Wolf King?”
Qiao Leng nodded. “It really is unbelievable, but it’s true. I suspect that youth has an impressive background too.”
Yu Baiting stroked his whiskers and asked, “My girl, what’s upset you?”
Yu Shuangning pouted, “I never said I wasn’t grateful, but I just?hate?when people whip out favors to put pressure on me. Father, you didn’t hear this part yet, but I tried to purchase the spoils, that guy demanded an exorbitant sum. He insisted on ten thousand tier-two spirit stones!”
Yu Baiting’s eyes narrowed slightly, but then, he laughed. “Forget it. A trivial matter, that’s all. Besides, he did save your life. From both a logical and an emotional standpoint, we ought to be somewhat tolerant.”
“I naturally won’t pursue this matter with someone on?his?level,” said Yu Shuangning proudly.
They chatted a bit longer, but before long, she turned and left. However, the family head kept Qiao Leng behind.
“Tell me what happened again, from beginning to end.” Yu Baiting’s expression was now dignified and imposing. His narrow eyes stared intently at Qiao Leng, putting him under enormous pressure.
Thus, Qiao Leng told the story once more, adding some previously omitted details back in.
“Do you think that the young man in blue approached Shuangning on purpose?” After a moment’s silence, Yu Baiting asked out of nowhere. “If not, don’t you think this was a bit too much of a coincidence?”
Qiao Leng was stunned. “Your Excellency, do you suspect that the young man in blue had ulterior motives?”
“Who in the provincial capital doesn’t know that I love my daughter above all else?” The second and sixth princes are currently preparing to fight over the seat of provincial governor, stirring the undercurrents of the provincial capital. At a time like this, an extremely powerful young man appeared out of nowhere and just happened to save Shuangning? How could I not suspect that this is all part of some scheme?” Yu Baiting’s expression was calm and indifferent.
“What would you have me do, sir?” asked Qiao Leng.
“Didn’t you say that they’re currently in Yangku Town as well?” said Yu Baiting flatly. “Go investigate. Get to the bottom of this.”
He paused, then continued, “Take Elder Wen with you, as well as a handful of precious spiritual medicines. Use ‘repaying our debt of gratitude’ as an excuse to pay the boy a visit.
“I have only one request. It doesn’t matter what his background is or what his intentions are. I don’t want him to approach Shuangning ever again. If he does, I, Yu Baiting, won’t let him off!”
As he made this final statement, his eyes flashed with cold light, and he emanated terrifying power and majesty.
The love of a parent ran deep.
Qiao Leng nodded, then left to carry out his orders.
However, after leaving the hall, he couldn’t help but sigh to himself. He knew that the family head’s suspicions weren’t unfounded, but he personally didn’t believe that the young man in blue had ulterior motives.
But then, Qiao Leng knew full well that his status was low and that his words carried little weight. There was no point in voicing this opinion.
….
The Auspicious Inn.
The first-floor atrium.
Chen Jinlong was currently drinking with a group of disciples from other prominent families.
“So, Brother Chen, you’re saying that you’re visiting the provincial capital to take Heaven’s Origin Academy’s entrance exam?” asked a smiling young man in ornate brocade robes.
“Indeed I am,” nodded Chen Jinlong, but his thoughts were elsewhere, and his heart felt bitter.
If it weren’t for the fact that he could no longer remain in the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, why would he have left? Who would willingly leave the comfort of their home for a harder life in the provincial capital?
Someone raised a cup and smiled. “With your aptitude, you’re certain to pass. Once you become an inheritor of Heaven’s Origin Academy, you’re set for life! You’ll surely rise to prominence. Come on, let’s have another drink!”
Chen Jinlong laughed and raised his glass, but after an inadvertent glance at the entryway, he shook from head to toe. He was so stunned, the wine sprayed from his mouth, and his entire face flushed red.
Waves of shock coursed through his heart.?What’s he doing here?
I came all the way from the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital just to get away from him; all I wanted was to see this jinx as infrequently as possible. Why have the heavens forsaken me like this?
“Brother Chen, who did you see to agitate you this badly?” asked one of the others. His gaze swept around, and suddenly, his eyes lit up. “I get it! So, you?saw a beauty! My heavens, isn’t she a bit?too?pretty?”
The others couldn’t help but glance over. They then saw a man and woman standing by the front desk near the inn’s entrance. The man wore blue robes and had handsome features, with an aloof, transcendent air. There was nothing worth paying attention to there.
But when they saw the woman beside him, their eyes lit up. All of them were visibly entranced.
The woman wore loose-sleeved blue robes too, and her dark hair was tied up in a bun, revealing her long white neck. Her delicate features were peerlessly beautiful, and although there was no makeup to accent them, she had a simple, pure beauty to her.
Especially her eyes. As she looked around, the flashing lights of her eyes were like autumn waters; they were enough to steal a man’s soul away.
Even her figure was slender and graceful to the extreme, like the work of a master sculptor. She carried herself with unparalleled arrogance.
The lively atrium was noticeably quieter as one man after another fixed their gazes upon her.
In a place like Yangku Town, a peerless beauty like her was far too rare. ．
But Chen Jinlong wanted nothing more than to bury his head in the sand; he dared not look up. In his heart, he prayed,?Please don’t let that star of calamity discover me. Please don’t let that….
The young man in ornate robes grinned, his smile ambiguous. “Those two undoubtedly only just arrived in Yangku Town; they’re obviously strangers. Everyone, watch closely. I’ll go say hi and find out more about them.”
He rose, and was just about to leave when Chen Jinlong yanked on his clothes and forced him back into his chair.
The youth in ornate robes was stunned, but before he could react, Chen Jinlong gnashed his teeth and spat in a hushed whisper, “Do you have?any idea?who that guy is? You’d really dare get ideas about?his?woman? If you want to die, that’s fine, but don’t drag us down with you!”
If they weren’t in public, he would have slapped the youth in ornate robes right across the face.
I’ve seen recklessness before, but never to this extent! How could I be so unlucky as to have befriended an idiot like this?
The youth in ornate robes, the one he’d just cursed out, looked baffled. He said in a daze, “But… But he’s already coming right towards us.”
“Hm?” Chen Jinlong was stunned. His scalp numbed, and a chill ran down his spine.
But then, he heard a voice exclaim behind him, “Aren’t you that…”
Before Su Yi could finish speaking, Chen Jinlong shot to his feet and whipped around, a rigid, toadyish yet terrified smile plastered across his face. “Ah? So, you’re here too, Young Lord Su. It’s me, Chen Jinlong! To think you’d remember me; I’m truly flattered.”
He was stammering and rigid with fright. He didn’t look flattered; he was obviously scared out of his wits!
His companions had all realized that something was amiss, but all of them were confused and uncertain.?Who is this guy, to have scared Young Master Chen this badly?
“What are you doing here?” asked Su Yi.
“I… I… I plan to participate in the Heaven’s Origin Academy entrance examination. I only just arrived in Yangku Town today….” Chen Jinlong almost burst into tears. How could he possibly admit that he’d turned his back on his ancestral home just to avoid Su Yi? Or that he planned to go all the way to the Imperatorial Provincial Capital just to hide from him?
Who’d have thought it would end up like this? Humans couldn’t outwit the heavens. Despite everything, he still bumped into Su Yi…..
“What a coincidence,” said Su Yi. “I only just arrived in Yangku Town too. When do you plan to proceed to the provincial capital?”
“Uh…. I plan to leave first thing tomorrow morning.” As soon as he said this, Chen Jinlong realized that something was amiss.?Why would he ask me that? Don’t tell me….
Just as he feared, Su Yi nodded. “That’s perfect. Bumping into an old acquaintance is worth celebrating. We can travel together tomorrow.”
With that, he turned to leave, but Chen Jinlong reacted as if he’d been struck by lightning. He just stood there, rooted to the spot.