Chapter 193: Su Family Elders (2)

Su Ren observed her with a gaze that was neither here nor there, but Gu Yun let him look openly, asking with a feigned air of boredom: "Su Ren, has Miss Yu returned?"

Su Ren snapped back to his senses and said: "She returned after the celebration performance." The case was closed, the celebration was over, and she had no reason to continue staying here.

"How was her performance?"

Thinking of that day when Yu Handan stood tall against the wind on the high platform, her sleeves fluttering, the corners of Su Ren's mouth lifted involuntarily: "Very good."

Tsk tsk, the meaning contained within that "very good" seemed quite profound. Squinting at Su Ren, Gu Yun said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "What a pity, I didn't get to see it that day. How about I invite her to the mansion as a guest another day? What do you think?"

Huh? Su Ren was stunned. Why was she asking him who she wanted to invite? Sensing vaguely that something was wrong, Su Ren stood up and walked outside, saying: "I'll go to the drill ground to see what hasn't been prepared properly yet."

Su Ling found it amusing. What kind of strange person was this woman? She was so sharp regarding other people's affairs of the heart, yet completely numb to her own!

Before Su Ren had even walked out of the courtyard, the sound of Su Yu shouting came from afar—"Big Brother!" Su Ling stood up and exchanged a glance with Su Ren. A bad premonition arose in his heart; no matter how impatient Su Yu's temperament was, he wouldn't be this uncomposed.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!" Su Yu's urgent cries, accompanied by hurried footsteps, rushed into Yitian Courtyard once again. Su Ren stood by the door, seeing his panicked expression, and asked urgently: "What happened?"

Swallowing hard, Su Yu looked at Su Ling and said urgently: "The old man is here!"

Su Ling's expression turned cold instantly: "What is he here for?"

With a mournful face, Su Yu revealed an even more devastating piece of bad news: "It's not just the old man who came; Uncle Quan and Uncle Yan are here too..."

Su Ren gently stroked his forehead and sighed: "It's going to be lively this time." After saying this, he even glanced at Gu Yun in a way that was neither here nor there.

Three grown men stood at the courtyard gate, all looking like they had lingering fears. Gu Yun rested her elbows on the stone table, lying half-prone comfortably, and asked with great interest: "May I ask, who is coming?" Who had such great standing that they could scare the three great generals of the Su family like this?

Just as Gu Yun finished speaking, a low roar full of vigor appeared in the courtyard, accompanied by a figure as burly as a mountain: "You brat, why are you running so fast! Trying to tip them off, huh!" Catching Su Yu, the newcomer's thick palm slapped heavily onto his shoulder. Su Yu was slapped so hard he lost his breath, but not daring to cough, he held it in, his face turning the color of a pig's liver. Compared to the newcomer, Su Yu's tall and straight figure suddenly appeared much shorter. No wonder he dared to be angry but didn't dare to speak!

Gu Yun sat up straight and examined the newcomer carefully—the full beard covering his face made it almost impossible for Gu Yun to see his features, though a pair of tiger eyes were indeed bright and piercing. With a thick frame and a voice like a booming bell, if it weren't for that head of gray hair, Gu Yun would have definitely thought he was only in his forties.

"So lively, why is everyone gathered here in Yitian Courtyard?" The aged voice made one feel dazed for a moment. Gu Yun followed the sound and looked over; an old man in plain robes with a full head of white hair appeared in the courtyard. He had the bearing of a Daoist immortal, indescribably elegant, only he was so thin it seemed a gust of wind could blow him away, especially standing next to the burly, mountain-like bearded uncle, the stark contrast couldn't help but make one break into a cold sweat for him.

The one following behind the white-haired old man—was that even a person?

Gu Yun stared. That person looked to be not very old, perhaps in his fifties, only his entire body was nothing but flesh, just like a ball. Paired with a face carrying a brilliant smile, he looked very much like a Maitreya Buddha in a temple. Gu Yun was puzzled; the body types of these three were truly unique. Except for the bearded uncle, the other two really didn't look like Su family members.

"Not happy to see us come?" The Maitreya Buddha uncle's voice was just like the man himself, kind and mellow, but the three of them not only didn't feel more relaxed, but their whole bodies shook instead.

Su Ren was the first to react and hurriedly smiled: "Uncle Quan, what are you saying. You've had a hard journey, please go to the front hall to drink tea and rest for a while. I will order people to tidy up the guest rooms."

"Ren is still the most sensible!" The tall and burly bearded uncle said while glaring at Su Ling, who had had a bad expression from start to finish: "Unlike some people, who only know how to give us old folks a cold face!"

Su Ling pretended not to see his annoyed expression and said indifferently: "Clan Leader, Uncle Quan, Uncle Yan."

"Mm." The white-haired old man nodded with a smile, not minding Su Ling's cold tone and dark expression in the slightest.

"The three uncles have come from afar, I wonder what the matter is?" Su Yu felt that their coming this time was suspicious, especially with all three coming together. Surely it couldn't be as simple as just coming to see them!

"What, can't we come if there's nothing to do?" The bearded uncle let out a roar, and Su Yu immediately shrank like a chick: "Of course not, I was just asking, just asking." Just kidding, how would he dare say "yes"? He wasn't afraid of death, but his shoulder hurt like hell; it was definitely bruised!

Gu Yun was watching with great interest when the bearded uncle's tiger eyes lifted, staring at Gu Yun, and he asked bluntly in a loud voice: "Who is this ugly girl?"

Ugly girl? Gu Yun lifted her eyebrows slightly. She didn't feel displeased in her heart, but if she answered, wouldn't she be admitting she was ugly! Gu Yun smiled faintly and remained silent, but the bearded uncle grew a bit impatient and walked toward Gu Yun.

Fearing that Uncle Yan would do something to Gu Yun and piss off Big Brother, Su Ren hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "She is—" He had only said two words before Su Ren didn't know how to introduce her either. Say she was a gift bestowed by the Emperor? Qing Mo would probably hold a grudge against him; say she was Big Brother's woman? He feared he would die even faster!

Su Yan stood still beside Gu Yun and asked loudly: "Girl, what is your name?"

Gu Yun stood up politely and replied: "Qing Mo."

"You are Qing Mo?" Glancing at the girl who didn't even reach his chest and was so thin and small she looked like she would shatter at a touch, a look of obvious surprise flashed in Su Yan's eyes. Gu Yun didn't know why he had such an expression upon hearing this name, but the next second, that thick, large hand grabbed toward her shoulder mercilessly.

Gu Yun's heart jumped, and she hurriedly took a step back, dodging. The force of his palm was not light; if it were in the past, taking this move wouldn't be anything, but now if she were hit by him, her wounds, which had finally healed, would definitely tear open again. At that time, Qing would definitely fight her to the death!

When Su Yan threw another palm, an extremely fast black shadow streaked by from the side. Su Ling's tall figure stood in front of the girl, and this palm landed solidly on his shoulder.

Su Ling let out a muffled groan, taking the blow head-on. Su Yan was slightly stunned and withdrew his hand thoughtfully. Su Ling turned around quickly to look at Gu Yun, only to see her clutching her chest, her brows knitted together, and her face deathly pale. Su Ling's heart rose instantly, and he asked urgently: "Mo'er, how are you? Does your heart hurt?"

Mo'er? Gu Yun's chest was burning with pain. Su Ling's "Mo'er" made her want to curse. To dodge the palm that old man had suddenly thrown, her movements had been too large, and she had likely pulled her wounds. These Su family members were truly none of them refined; they resorted to force at every turn. He didn't look young either, so why was his temper still so fiery!

Seeing her breathing was chaotic and she wasn't answering him, Su Ling grew anxious and roared: "Su Ren, send someone to invite the Imperial Physician!"

Su Ren nodded and was about to go out when Gu Yun suddenly called out: "Wait." She took a deep breath and stood up straight. The initial wave of sharp pain had slowly dissipated, so she waved her hand and insisted: "I'm fine!" If the Imperial Physician came, even if there was nothing wrong, he would be described as having a serious injury!

"Really fine?" Su Ling was still worried. To put his mind at ease, Gu Yun lifted a faint smile, like a soft night breeze brushing against one's face, making one tremble inexplicably. She had never smiled like this before, and Su Ling was somewhat dazed watching her.

Su Yan couldn't stand Su Ling's foolish, soul-lost appearance and said as if afraid others wouldn't hear: "Where did you find such a sickly, ugly woman? Su Ling, your taste is truly terrible!"

He hadn't even hit her, yet she looked like she was about to faint. There was also a medicine bowl on the table, which showed just how weak this girl's body was.

Regarding Su Yan's evaluation, Gu Yun didn't comment, which was fine, but Su Ling at her side was obviously not as indifferent as she was. He held Gu Yun's cold hand, and the chill rising in his black eyes made even Gu Yun feel somewhat uneasy. However, she didn't say anything; these people should be Su family elders, and Su Ling would know how to handle it.

Helping Gu Yun sit on the stone stool, Su Ling didn't look at Su Yan, but his cold tone was enough to represent his meaning: "If you want to come, come; if you want to stay, stay. But if you trouble her again, then please leave."

The other two, Su Quan and Su Qing, exchanged a glance, their eyes falling once again on the woman Su Ling was protecting at his side. She had been able to dodge Su Yan's first palm, which showed she wasn't a weakling, but even so, she wasn't a woman who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ling! The bad thing was, Ling's roots of affection for her were likely already too deep!

He was actually chasing them away today. Su Yan cursed angrily: "You've grown capable, actually daring to speak to Uncle Yan like this!"

Su Ling ignored him and asked Gu Yun in a low voice: "Go inside and lie down for a while?"

Gu Yun looked up at the sky; the sunset was fading, and the sky was beginning to darken. She shook her head and replied: "I'm really fine. The time is about right, let's go to the drill ground."

Su Ling didn't say anything, but his grip on her hand tightened. Gu Yun hurriedly said: "Only watching from the high platform, I promise!" She was becoming more and more experienced in dealing with Su Ling; he was like a cool, arrogant lion—stroke his fur the right way and he would be very easy to talk to.

Sure enough, Su Ling's expression wasn't great, but he still left the group of people behind and helped her out of Yitian Courtyard. He was actually ignoring them completely! Su Yan glared at the backs of the two as they left leisurely and asked: "Where are they going?"

"Uh." Su Yu hesitated. Should he say they were going to select soldiers?

The smiling face was close at hand: "Yu, you are the most obedient, is there something fun you haven't told us yet?" The kind voice gave Su Yu goosebumps.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 194 =====