[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take":3,"chapter-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-101":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","If You Will Not Reject Me, I Wish to Bow and Take You as My Adoptive Father",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2276828,4454,"Chapter 101: The Deal with Jin Lian","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-101",101,"\u003Cp>That morning, Xiao Yu leapt onto the roof to practice swordplay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she finished the Nine Flower Sword Form, she suddenly sensed a watching gaze coming from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not Hongqu in the front courtyard—the gaze came from behind Xiao Jingxuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced with the corner of her eye and saw a young woman, seventeen or eighteen, on the opposite side of the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liang River, flowing in from the southwest into Tianmen Town, split into two branches south of Xiao Jingxuan: the eastern one called Qingshui River, the western one called Xiao Liang River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Liang River to Qingshui River and Xiao Liang River, it resembled the character “ Ren .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Qingshuiwan” where Hongxiu Fang stood lay precisely on the left leg of that “ Ren .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Jingxuan sat at the very edge of Qingshuiwan, as if lodged right in the crotch of the “ Ren .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing on the roof of Xiao Jingxuan and looking south, one first saw a small rocky hill—no more than one or two mu—blocking the southern Liang River and forcing it to branch off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the rear wall of Xiao Jingxuan, to the west, lay a narrow alley less than two meters wide—Jiangyou Lane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the alley was another household, whose main gate likely faced directly onto Xiao Liang River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a sound, Xiao Yu glided like a bird spreading its wings—light as air, yet swift—leaping over the alley and the opposite courtyard’s wall, crossing seven or eight zhang, and landing before the young woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman startled, shrinking back, her voice loud with alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu Fengxian greets this elder sister!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu still held her sword, tip pointed downward, hands clasped in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young woman instinctively bent her knees in a wanfu bow and said, “Cui’er greets you, little sister. How did you fly over?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time her voice lowered, and her expression returned to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder sister Cui’er, you don’t know—watching others practice martial arts is improper,” Xiao Yu laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Is that so? I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er blushed and bowed repeatedly in apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you were standing on the roof—I couldn’t help seeing you!” Cui’er suddenly realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu gripped her arm and laughed heartily: “Hahaha, I was just teasing you, Elder Sister Cui’er. You may watch however you like—even learn, if you wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I came here today to pay a visit to Master Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s early morning—Master Wang should be at home, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, who are you to Master Wang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m a maid in the Wang household,” Cui’er said, sizing her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was rosy and soft, her features delicate, eyes bright, teeth white, long black hair glossy, a silk ribbon tied around her forehead, another tied at the ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bore a hint of Shama traits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She frowned oddly: “My master’s surname is Wang, but he’s not called ‘Chushi.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu was puzzled: “But last night I heard it straight from General Zhang’s mouth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er suppressed a laugh: “‘Chushi’ isn’t a name—it’s a title, like ‘Squire.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I see. Thank you, Elder Sister Cui’er, for the clarification,” Xiao Yu smiled calmly, showing not a trace of embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er found this strange and asked: “Why do you want to see my master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu said: “A few days ago, soldiers were searching everywhere for the Thousand-Handed Bandit Sage—have you heard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu continued: “I was practicing swordplay on the roof then, and the soldiers mistook me for a thief. Your master vouched for me, spoke up on my behalf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly and thoroughly recounted the events of that night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no ulterior motive—just seeing you, I felt a sudden impulse to come thank Master Wang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er shook her head: “Fengxian, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a young girl jumping over walls into a man’s private courtyard—even if he’s an old man—it’s improper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you truly wish to thank him, first go through the front gate; second, don’t demand to see the master—ask to meet the mistress.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right—I understand the logic. But I think your master is a broad-minded man, unbound by petty formalities, and won’t mind. If he doesn’t mind, I don’t care. When I feel like it, I come to chat; when the mood fades, I leave gracefully,” Xiao Yu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er was even more puzzled: “Have you ever met my master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu shook her head: “That night I only heard his voice, didn’t see him clearly. But think—when I, a wandering woman, leapt into your yard, you thought it improper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet that night, your master publicly declared he knew me—laughing, across the alley, with Hongxiu Fang right opposite. I suspect your master, like you, merely happened to see me practicing swordplay on the roof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t hesitate, didn’t avoid suspicion—only because he feared I’d be pierced by soldiers’ arrows and crossbows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er stood silent, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu bowed again: “Elder Sister Cui’er, I’m off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she leapt into the air like a bird spreading its wings; the morning breeze stirred the hairs at her temples, the eastern dawn light glowed upon her, gilding her edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er stared, then hurriedly called out: “Why are you leaving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My mood has passed. I’ll come again another day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the courtyard, Xiao Yu asked: “Hongqu, what does ‘Chushi’ mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know which two characters ‘Chushi’ are?” Hongqu returned indoors, took up a brush, and wrote two characters on paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu looked and seemed to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A nobleman who never entered official service is called Chushi. To be honored as ‘Chushi,’ Master Wang is no ordinary man,” Hongqu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu sighed: “I still have so much to learn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Learning has no end! Don’t think that just because you can read and write, you no longer need to study.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu said: “I do read—I study Daoist scriptures with you every afternoon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, Hongqu guided her through the scriptures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The threshold of Daoist scriptures was too high, and their varieties too numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without guidance, reading blindly wouldn’t accumulate Dao energy—it would ruin you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this world had martial arts, arcane arts, and immortal techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reading secular books without deep understanding could still broaden your horizons; but misinterpreting Daoist scriptures, practicing Daoist immortal martial arts incorrectly, could truly kill you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Mei Chaofeng, who practiced the Nine Yin True Classic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongqu had been nurtured since childhood by Dou Yilin, accumulating a wealth of Daoist theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu guessed that in all of Tianmen Town, few surpassed Hongqu in insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she chose to cultivate the Male Dragon Art now, she would generate internal qi within a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her Dao energy was visibly abundant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu wanted to borrow some Dao energy, so she begged Hongqu to be her Dao scripture tutor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongqu was kind—even after being bullied just days ago, she never refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her explanations were meticulous and patient, never impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Xiao Yu feel ashamed enough to stop driving her away or forbidding her to bathe by the pond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dao scriptures don’t count. If you read them with heavy selfish intent, the effect is worse than casually reading widely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The principles are all interconnected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao scriptures speak of Dao and principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good books, too, express the ultimate truths of heaven and earth in another way,” Hongqu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right—I understand. But right now, I must squeeze every bit of knowledge from you before your uncles and aunts come to rescue you, and I regret it too late,” Xiao Yu said frankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongqu was different from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was certain she could only rely on herself—without years of effort, she could never gain true freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hongqu might vanish at any moment. Xiao Yu hoped that when she disappeared, it would be sudden and silent—without disturbing her, without thinking to eliminate her as a “deadly enemy of the Western Eight Immortals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I no longer hold any expectations,” Hongqu said softly, head bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu sneered: “Wait until you begin cultivating immortal martial arts before saying that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl wouldn’t even abandon the phantom notion of “immortal fate”—how could she truly give up on escaping Hongxiu Fang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongqu lifted her head and glanced at her: “Do you really want me to abandon all hope of immortality?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu laughed: “Hahaha, first, I never believe cultivating immortal martial arts means abandoning the path to immortality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, you have your own future—take charge of it. I’m also striving to control my own destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, we’re both poor—let’s encourage each other, not hold each other back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When we’re wealthy, we can ‘never forget each other.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning, Lixiang Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu was teaching the Purple Plum Sword Form when Liu Gugu entered the courtyard and waved: “Little Fengxian, come here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come with me,” Liu Gugu turned and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu waved to Ziying, signaling her to continue practicing alone, then followed Liu Gugu out of the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You get along well with Ziying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu beamed: “Not just Ziying—everyone likes me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. It’s because they all need you now,” Liu Gugu sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They need me, I help them selflessly, they like me—it’s perfectly logical,” Xiao Yu laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait until they’ve mastered the Nine Flower Sword—see how they treat you then,” Liu Gugu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu smiled still: “I teach them because I hope they succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they achieve their goal, I’m happiest. Their attitude doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t believe you’re that lofty.” Aunt Liu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu held her hands behind her back, gazing at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, and said coolly, “I’m not lofty—I’m just standing high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She taught sword techniques to courtesans, with no special purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spending time and energy to help them slightly brought her joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their true inner feelings didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t do it to do good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like when she buried the dead at San Cha Ridge, she had no thought of “doing a good deed today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was purely spontaneous—she thought of it, wanted to do it, so she did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she lost interest, she’d stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her thoughts were simple, but explaining them was complicated, and she was too lazy to explain—better to put on a show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Liu was taken in by her act; her hands itched, and she wanted to strike with a move called “Hunyuan Wuliang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Fengxian, you’re here! Come in, come in quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Jin Lian smiled like a brilliant flower; she had already stepped out of the courtyard and was waiting at the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xiao Yu and Aunt Liu approach, she hurried forward a few steps, taking Xiao Yu’s right hand in both of hers, warmly and affectionately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu glanced at Aunt Liu and felt a sudden insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Fengxian, you want to witness the extraordinary skills of martial heroes, spar with them, and earn some reward money to buy cultivation supplements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You want to improve, and Jin Lian wants to improve too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Fengxian, teach Jin Lian the Nine Flower Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Lian has plenty of experience—she’ll help you get familiar with all the circles in Tianmen Town.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Lian smiled warmly at Xiao Yu and spoke first: “I’ll take you to every banquet hosted by martial heroes, teach you the ways of the Jianghu, and do my best to help you deal with those stinking men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu smiled back at her, speaking sweetly: “Thank you, Sister Jin Lian—I’ll make you a sword master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Lian gave a bitter smile. “No need for me to become a sword master—I don’t have that fate, nor that kind of ambition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mastering one form of the Nine Flower Sword and successfully marrying off myself—that’s my ‘great aspiration.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu felt a flicker of curiosity—had this head courtesan of Hongxiu Fang found her true love?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The money tree wanted to run away, but Aunt Liu showed no reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d only met a few times; their relationship wasn’t close, so she didn’t press.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Jin Lian, how do you schedule your cultivation time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Lian had clearly thought about this before; she replied immediately: “Around the tenth hour in the morning, I can cultivate for an hour. In the afternoon, if there’s a banquet with martial heroes, I’ll invite you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if we can’t practice swordplay due to the setting, you can still explain sword theory to me during our time together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Lian looked at her expectantly. “Can we start right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu said: “Could you ask someone to bring Zhiying from Lixiang Garden? She’s still in the foundational stage—she can listen in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. My courtyard is big enough—more people won’t be a problem.” Jin Lian said promptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aunt Liu, aren’t you busy today?” Zhiying had arrived, yet Aunt Liu still sat beside them sipping tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just listening. Pretend I’m not here.” Aunt Liu smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu truly ignored her, turning to Jin Lian: “Sister, have you ever practiced the Nine Flower Sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Lian said: “Of course I have. I started practicing when I was about your age, and by sixteen, when I was first ‘combed and capped,’ my movements were smooth and fluent—but I never grasped a single trace of its spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We courtesans aren’t martial warriors who fight and kill—we practice the Nine Flower Sword just for that ‘spirit of the blooming flower.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, she drew her sword and performed the entire routine in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was indeed smooth—but devoid of spirit, force, and speed alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soft and limp, it couldn’t kill a man, let alone chase or pierce a chicken.\u003C\u002Fp>",2262,"2026-06-20T00:29:13.334Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","25408fe88ea46ec458019a45a899252c0442296b3135be3502ad50af4f5afee4","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-102","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-100",840,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fif-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-cover.jpg"]