Su Sheng lifted his wine gourd and took a large swig.
“Good wine!”
Bai Li Dong Jun, emulating Su Sheng, also took a large gulp. “Master, will Cloud Brother come tomorrow?”
Su Sheng patted his head. “He shouldn't.”
Unless there was an unexpected occurrence, the Marquis of West Town's residence should be leaving Tianqi City.
As night deepened, Su Sheng quietly left the Marquis of West Town's residence and sped towards the outskirts of Tianqi City.
He had not released his energy, so no one noticed him.
Outside Tianqi City, Ye Yu and his family stood by the river.
Su Sheng walked over and broke a willow branch from the riverbank.
It was winter, so there were no leaves, but for a parting, it was customary to break a willow branch for good fortune.
Seeing Su Sheng approach, Ye Yun knelt down and cried. “Master! I don’t want to leave you, I don’t want to be separated!”
Su Sheng patted Ye Yun’s head and helped him up. “Little Yun, remember, in this world, there is no separation, only new beginnings! Our master-disciple bond is not over, and the road in the martial world is long. We will meet again someday! This is a summary of my cultivation insights for you, as well as a book on swordsmanship cultivation.
Practice hard, and don’t stop practicing the Nineteen Embroidery Sword Techniques. They are the foundation of your swordsmanship, understand?”
Ye Yun knelt down again, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Disciple remembers!”
“From now on, you can’t use the name Ye Yun. You will be called Ye Ding Zhi.”
“Disciple thanks Master for bestowing this name!”
Su Sheng: “General Ye, after leaving Tianqi City, entrust Ye Yun to someone you trust, and then separate. You can protect them secretly, but you cannot be seen as a family of three. You would be too easy of a target!”
Ye Yu had already received news that the Emperor was going to take action against the Ye family. If not for Su Sheng, they would already be dead.
“I will follow Mr. Su’s instructions! Ye Yu promises that he will never forget your kindness! Though the path in the martial world is long, when we meet again, I will be devoted to you!”
Su Sheng: “You are still young and talented, If you can cultivate more…”
“Yes!”
After sending Ye Yun off, Su Sheng felt a bit melancholy. The martial world was supposed to be filled with freedom and joy, but because of the court and politics, so many young talents were robbed of their brilliance.
Su Sheng walked aimlessly through the streets. Suddenly, he saw a brightly decorated building in the distance.
“Hundred Flowers Pavilion?”
Su Sheng’s eyes sparkled. The Hundred Flowers Pavilion stood in the distance, silently waiting.
Inside the elegant pavilion, the sound of a qin (a Chinese stringed instrument) filled the air. Su Sheng listened to the melody and, picking up a leaf, began to harmonize with the qin.
The music was a delicate Southern melody, tinged with a deep sense of melancholy and regret.
Su Sheng stood at the entrance, hesitant for a moment, before finally choosing to step inside.
What young man, walking past the brothels, wouldn’t be stirred by the sight of those alluring women? It’s just that Su Sheng had been short of money in the past. Other young men might have had wives at home, or perhaps their parents kept a tight rein on them, or maybe they had their own reasons.
Now, Su Sheng patted his pocket. As the tutor of the Marquis of West Town’s son, he was no longer short of money.
【Gu Jian Men】
【Identity: One of the Eight Young Masters of Bei Li, the Flying Cloud Master】
【Cultivation: Self-Sovereign Realm】
【Talent: Heavenly Genius, entered Tianqi at sixteen, entered the Imperial Palace within a year, recommended for teaching】
Su Sheng’s eyes lit up. Was it him?
Gu Jian Fei, the reckless Gu Family scion who entered Tianqi at sixteen, rode his steed with abandon, traversed the nineteen magnificent palaces, and drank to his heart’s content! His talent was no less than Lei Meng Sha’s. He should have become a Mad Sword Immortal, but his elder brother died early, forcing him to leave the Imperial Palace to support the Gu Family. Since then, he had been burdened by family affairs.
His cultivation stalled!
What a pity, a reckless youth, full of vigor...
If he took this man as a disciple, he could secretly control the Southwest Path and gain another experience pack! After all, the wealth of the Southwest Path was something even the Bei Li court coveted!
“Oh, young scholar, is this your first time at our Hundred Flowers Pavilion? You’ve come at a good time today. The one playing the qin is none other than the National Hand, Feng Qiu Yu. Though she was born into this place, she plays the qin like a master! Years ago, she was praised by the elegant and peerless Luo Xuan, who called her ‘a mere fifteen-year-old with the hands of a woman, yet playing the unparalleled music of Bei Li for a hundred years’. Not only that, but her beauty is even more stunning than the Hundred Flowers Pavilion’s top-ranked courtesan.
Until now, no one has been graced with her favor. You scholars are quite fond of her, it seems!”
National Hand? Unparalleled beauty?
Su Sheng adjusted his scholar’s robes and thought to himself, “I came for the reckless Gu Family scion, not to be distracted by beauty!”
He casually picked up a leaf and followed the beautiful madam into the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, playing along with the qin melody.
The Hundred Flowers Pavilion was already filled with intoxicated youths. Upon hearing the qin music, one of them drew his sword and danced.
His sword danced through the blossoms. His green figure darted and swirled! The petals of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion were swept up by his sword energy, creating a vibrant, colorful bridge...
This was the reckless Gu Family scion, the third disciple of Li, the Master of the Jixia Academy, Gu Jian Men.
He sheathed his sword and was about to slowly ascend the flower bridge, ready to enjoy the beauty of the pavilion.
But before he could react, Su Sheng was already playing his leaf, stepping onto the flower bridge.
Gu Jian Men gritted his teeth. “What poor scholar is this? To dare steal my, Gu Jian Men’s, opportunity!”
He was about to launch a sword strike.
From the pavilion, a clear voice rang out. “Our mistress wishes to see this scholar. As for Gu Gongzi, please wait a moment.”
Gu Jian Men, out of respect for Feng Qiu Yu, held back.
But the others listening to the music below were not pleased.
“Who is he? Why would Miss Feng see him?”
“Yeah, he’s just a weak scholar. How are we any different?”
“I come here every day to listen to music and I’ve spent a lot of money, but Miss Feng never sees me. This scholar is here for the first time and doesn’t even pay, and she sees him first! It’s not fair!”
They’d all spent money, but Feng Qiu Yu wouldn’t see them, and they hadn’t complained. But now that Su Sheng came, didn’t pay, and yet Feng Qiu Yu would see him first, they were all angry!
“Didn’t you hear? Miss Feng only wants to see the two of us!”
Once Gu Jian Men spoke, no one dared to reply.
Su Sheng entered the pavilion and saw a thirteen-year-old girl with tearful eyes looking at him. “Where did you learn that music?”
“Southern Moon, Sentinel Drum Cuts the Road, One Wild Goose in Autumn, Dew Turns White Tonight, Moon is Home Bright. This is a homesick song. Everyone from my hometown plays it.”
The girl’s eyes were full of regret. “I have a brother, and he also plays this song with leaves. I mistook you for him. I was mistaken.”
Su Sheng: “It’s alright. Actually, I’ve always been alone, and I really want a little sister!”
Feng Qiu Yu hesitated for a moment. “I offended you, sir…”
Su Sheng: “It’s fine, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you. Can you please invite that reckless Gu Family scion in?”
“Him?”
Feng Qiu Yu was taken aback.