Chapter 114: Yan Ge

Han Li finally settled down in a side room in the back residence of the Mo estate. Mo Mo Caihuan sensibly didn't stay there long and soon bid farewell to return. Her sudden display of ladylike behavior left Han Li somewhat surprised.

Because he was still unclear about the attitude the people of the Mo estate held toward him and didn't know if there was still danger, Han Li didn't truly fall asleep all night, only taking a small nap on the bed.

By the next morning, just as Han Li was in a daze, a "Bang! Bang!" knocking sound came from outside the room.

"Could it be that little demoness?" Han Li frowned, but then shook his head slightly. "Such steady knocking doesn't fit Mo Mo Caihuan's style at all. But there shouldn't be many people who know I'm staying here."

Han Li, filled with a bit of doubt, found a towel to wash his face and opened the door. Standing outside was a young man in his twenties with thick eyebrows and large eyes.

As soon as the young man saw Han Li come out, he looked him up and down, then cupped his hands and greeted him very enthusiastically: "You must be Junior Martial Brother Han! I am Yan Ge, and counting it up, I am also your Senior Martial Brother!"

"Yan Ge!" Information about this person surfaced in Han Li's mind; this man was Doctor Mo's eldest disciple.

"Haha! Although I am the Master's first disciple, my aptitude isn't very good, and I haven't received much of the Master's true teachings, bringing shame upon his old self!" Yan Ge said to Han Li very straightforwardly.

Upon seeing the young man's frankness, Han Li couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill toward him, so he quickly returned the salute: "Good morning, Senior Martial Brother Yan! Please, come inside to talk!"

"No need, the few Mistresses asked me to come here. They have matters to discuss with Junior Martial Brother Han and want you to go over for a visit." Yan Ge waved his hand and said with a smile.

Han Li was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, but then nodded in agreement, closed the door, and walked side-by-side with Yan Ge.

Yan Ge was very interested in Han Li's affairs, asking questions without reservation along the way and showing great curiosity about the customs of the Yue Kingdom, pressing him for many details.

When the two passed through the garden in the back courtyard, they unexpectedly encountered a young couple—it was precisely Mo Mo Yuzhu and Wu Wu Jianming, whom Han Li had seen from afar yesterday. The two were walking side-by-side in the garden, looking like a pair of lovebirds. This feeling made Han Li very uncomfortable, as if something of his had been snatched away.

The couple opposite clearly discovered Han Li and his companion and took the initiative to greet them. When the two sides drew near, Mo Mo Yuzhu merely glanced at the unremarkable Han Li and said nothing. However, that Young Master Wu began to look Han Li over with suspicion.

"Good morning, Senior Martial Brother Yan! This little brother looks very unfamiliar; I wonder whose disciple he is?" Wu Wu Jianming asked with a smile.

"..."

Han Li had assumed that the Senior Martial Brother Yan beside him would take the initiative to cover for him and take over the conversation. Who would have thought that after waiting for a long time, he wouldn't hear a sound from the person beside him, which left Han Li stunned. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at Yan Ge.

As a result, Han Li was rendered speechless with anger.

At this moment, Senior Martial Brother Yan had a look of infatuation on his face, staring blankly at the eldest young lady, Mo Mo Yuzhu, completely lost in his own world. How could he possibly respond to Wu Wu Jianming's words!

"This little brother is a distant cousin of the Third Mistress, here on my parents' orders to visit her, and incidentally, I'm hoping the Mistress might help me find some work!" Han Li, having no other choice, had to turn his head and take the lead himself. He deliberately put on a shy and embarrassed appearance and said in a humble tone.

"Oh, I see!" Wu Wu Jianming lost all interest in him after hearing Han Li's first sentence. This was hardly surprising; Han Li's appearance was too unremarkable, and he lacked the characteristics of a martial artist. How could Young Master Wu not have misjudged him?

At this moment, Young Master Wu turned his head instead, feeling very displeased with Yan Ge's infatuated expression toward Mo Mo Yuzhu. His face darkened; after all, the beauty beside him was his fiancée in name.

Han Li was relatively close to Mo Mo Yuzhu, so he took in all the expressions on her face. She frowned slightly, her face showing displeasure; clearly, she was very impatient with Yan Ge's blatant admiration.

"Senior Martial Brother Yan, if there is nothing else, Young Sister and Young Master Wu will take our leave first." Mo Mo Yuzhu's apricot lips parted slightly, and she gave a cold, slight bow to Yan Ge before moving her graceful body away from the spot. Wu Wu Jianming snorted at Yan Ge, said nothing, and chased after her.

Han Li watched their receding backs, a strange smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He then turned his head to look at that Senior Martial Brother Yan, only to find that the man was still staring straight in the direction they had left, standing there blankly.

Han Li sighed. This man really was a hopeless romantic! But no matter how he looked at it, that eldest young lady of the Mo family didn't seem to have any good feelings toward him; he feared she had long since grown afraid of his obsessive pestering.

Han Li gave Yan Ge's shoulder a hard slap, causing his body to jolt. The blank look on his face vanished, and he finally snapped out of his daze.

"I'm sorry, I've let Junior Martial Brother Han see a joke!" Having regained his reason, Yan Ge's face turned bright red, feeling deeply ashamed of his loss of composure.

"It's nothing. A fair lady is a gentleman's desire; this is a man's nature. There's nothing to be embarrassed about." Han Li smiled and offered words of comfort.

Upon hearing Han Li's words, Yan Ge didn't feel relieved; instead, he gave a bitter smile and said slowly:

"I won't hide it from you, Junior Martial Brother Han. I grew up with Mo Yuzhu. During that time, although you couldn't call it childhood sweethearts, we did develop deep feelings. But unfortunately, after growing up, Mo Yuzhu seemed to have only brotherly-sisterly feelings for me and nothing more. Therefore, after being rejected by her several times, I no longer have other thoughts; I only hope she finds a good husband and can be happy for a lifetime! But now, whenever I see Mo Yuzhu, I still can't help myself and end up making a fool of myself like this!" When Yan Ge said the last sentence, there was a hint of self-mockery in his tone.

After hearing the other man's words, Han Li didn't speak again. Instead, he began to look at Yan Ge with a gaze one might use for a rare antique. He had only heard of such hopeless romantics in books and various stories before, but he had never thought he would witness one with his own eyes.

If what the other man said was sincere, he didn't know whether to admire his infatuation or secretly curse him for being too foolish!

On the rest of the road, Han Li deliberately used other topics to divert the other man's thoughts, allowing Yan Ge's mood to return to normal. The two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the small building where Han Li had stayed the previous night. There, the few Mistresses of Doctor Mo were waiting grandly for Han Li's arrival, preparing to give him a big surprise.

===== CHAPTER 115 =====