Chapter 198: The Peony of Tianbao Residence

The four main streets of Luodu, running east-west and north-south, are named after the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird.

Tianmen Town, built according to mountain ranges and rivers, is irregular in layout; its walls are not square, and no single road runs straight through from east to west or north to south.

The only straight path unbroken by hills or rivers runs from the East Gate to the government office entrance.

This straight road is called "Xianyang Street," the most prosperous and affluent main thoroughfare in Tianmen Town.

Monkey Alley leads directly to Xianyang Street.

Perhaps because every inch of land on Xianyang Street is priceless, Monkey Alley is extremely narrow—its entrance is less than one and a half meters wide, and even slightly wider carriages cannot enter.

The alley is narrow, and the buildings on both sides are unusually tall, almost none lower than three stories.

Moreover, the foundations of the houses are raised high.

This area was originally a small hill, with remnants of rocky veins still beneath it.

The Tianbao Residence, where Shao Yao lives, is built atop sixteen stone steps.

Entering the alley's mouth, walking one hundred and fifty paces along the lane, you find a low gate plaque, two red-lacquered wooden pillars, and above them a horizontal plaque inscribed with "Tianbao Residence."

Behind the gate are sixteen steps of granite; climbing them leads to the main entrance of Tianbao Residence.

As Xiao Yu climbed the steps carrying her blue cloth bundle, Shao Yao had already opened the door to greet her.

She came alone, without Dogzi.

After all, she was visiting someone else's home for the first time, and bringing a large yellow dog would be inconvenient.

Xiao Qiang was currently guarding the back door of Hongxiu Courtyard.

In terms of appearance and figure, Shao Yao had no clear advantage over Jin Jin Lian—a round, moderately sized goose-egg face, features neither especially sharp nor refined, yet exceptionally harmonious and soft.

Her height was neither tall nor short—exactly one point six meters—but her figure was light as a swallow hidden among willows, her voice like orioles singing in the forest, warm and enthusiastic.

To be honest, Jin Jin Lian's features might even be more refined.

Yet if the two women stood side by side, anyone could instantly tell which was superior.

It was simply that Shao Yao's aura was too striking.

When standing silently, she was tranquil and elegant as a chrysanthemum; when laughing softly, she remained refined, yet added the vibrant brilliance of spring blossoms.

Especially when she smiled—that sweetness, gentleness, brightness, and openness—Xiao Yu, a girl herself, was subtly enchanted.

Zi Ying also loved to smile, and her smile was equally infectious.

But seeing Zi Ying's smile, Xiao Yu felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow for her.

It wasn't that Zi Ying was forcing a smile.

It was that her smile was still too pure, too full of hope and vitality; seeing such a smile in Hongxiu Courtyard made one pity her.

Shao Yao's smile was pure but not naive—it made one forget present troubles, as if pulling one out of tangled emotions and into the joyful atmosphere she wove.

"Xiao Little Fengxian, let me introduce you."

After exchanging a few polite words at the door, Shao Yao led Xiao Yu inside and pointed to a one-point-seven-meter-tall "little black," "This is 'Fat Molè,' a Zhang Kunlun slave and my most loyal servant.

When you teach me sword techniques, please let Fat Molè observe beside you—he has far greater talent than I do."

Then she turned to the Zhang Kunlun slave and said, "Ah Pang, Xiao Little Fengxian is the sword master I've hired, my teacher. You must respect her as you respect me, understood?"

"Miss, Fat Molè understands!" The black man beamed, showing his teeth to Xiao Yu.

His teeth were dazzlingly white—not black.

Xiao Yu regarded the Zhang Kunlun slave with curiosity, asking, "Fat Molè, are you from Zhang Kunlun in the East? You're not fat—why are you called 'Fat Molè'?"

The black people in this world didn't seem entirely authentic.

For example, the black girl from Heichi Country had entirely black teeth and looked completely like an Easterner.

This little black man wasn't a pure African either.

His face was slightly rugged—neither Eastern nor African, more like a savage.

His skin was indeed jet-black and glossy, yet faint grayish patterns ran through the black.

Not obvious, but real—not tattoos.

"Miss Yu, I was quite fat as a child, but lost weight after falling seriously ill."

Fat Molè's manners were impeccable; his eyes were clear and full of deep respect, his speech crisp and clear, his bearing equal to that of Master Gongsun Gongsun Wujiu's Chinese servants.

"I am indeed a Zhang Kunlun slave, though not from the Central Kingdom's Zhang Kunlun Mountain.

My mother was a pure Zhang Kunlun slave; she gave birth to me in the West. My father didn't seem to be a Zhang Kunlun slave."

Besides Fat Molè, this half-pure Zhang Kunlun slave, Tianbao Residence had two cooks, four cleaning maids, two personal maids serving Shao Yao, and one driver who didn't live there.

They stood in a neat row while Shao Yao introduced each one.

She didn't elaborate, only naming their names and positions, but she seriously informed the maids and cooks about Xiao Yu: her dear sister, Tianbao Residence's honored guest, her hired teacher, the legend of Tianmen Town, the righteous and noble Yu Little Fengxian, the Grand Master of Qin, and the attendant of Master Lord Dongfang Shuo.

In summary, two points: First, Yu Little Fengxian is the esteemed guest I've invited; second, Yu Little Fengxian is no longer a "daughter" of Hongxiu Courtyard—she is now a Qin noble.

It was clear Shao Yao shared the same intention as Aunt Liu: to help Xiao Yu sever ties with her past and clearly distinguish herself from Hongxiu Courtyard.

After dismissing the servants, Shao Yao took Xiao Yu up to the fifth-floor viewing pavilion and said bluntly, "To be honest, your choice confuses me.

I'm glad you've come here.

I want to be close to you, to learn a few sword techniques from you.

But coming to Tianbao Residence now is certainly not good for you."

Tianbao Residence was small—total area including courtyard didn't exceed two hundred square meters—but its pavilions were very tall.

Hongxiu Courtyard was only four stories; Tianbao Residence had seven, and it was built atop a hill with an exceptionally high foundation.

Standing now on the fifth-floor viewing pavilion, one could almost see the distant city walls, the entire city's landscape laid out before them.

"Didn't Aunt Liu tell you? I want to follow you to enter the circle of martial heroes, broaden my martial knowledge, and improve my strength," Xiao Yu said.

"With your current reputation and realm, even without following me, merely hinting at your desire would attract countless martial heroes to invite you," Shao Yao said.

This was another fact that troubled Xiao Yu deeply.

She had strained herself with all those demon children and grandchildren, finally achieving success in healing arts, on the verge of entering the "Super-Da Mie Ba" state, dominating all, her sword realm surging—yet she now faced trouble at what should have been the simplest hurdle.

"Sigh, Sister Shao Yao, you've seen many martial heroes—have you ever met a martial fanatic who cares only for martial arts and nothing else?" Xiao Yu sighed.

Shao Yao paused, thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, I think I understand.

General Chen Taiping is a 'spear fanatic'—though he's the honored 'Protector God of the Nation,' he knelt and begged to learn from an ordinary soldier after seeing a spear technique he'd never seen before.

Li Li Manman is an 'sword fanatic.'

That little bitch rejects all high officials and nobles, even the Central Kingdom's aristocrats, and dares to be late at Master Lord Dongfang Shuo's literary gathering—but never refuses a renowned swordmaster.

Li Li Qianyue is a 'Dao fanatic'—to experience the mortal world, she even fraternizes with the lowest riffraff.

There's also 'painting fanatic' Master Zeng, 'martial fanatic' Huo Yuan Gang, 'music fanatic'..."

She gave a strange smile and pointed to herself.

"They call me 'music fanatic,' and yes, I truly love music—but nowhere near your level.

If forced to choose between music and roaming freely through heaven and earth, I'd choose freedom without restraint."

—Do the spear fanatic, sword fanatic, or martial fanatic truly cling to the spear or the sword?

They pursue the realm!

And the ultimate goal of pursuing higher realms is still freedom and ease.

Xiao Yu mentally scoffed, but said aloud: "Unlike you, I crave exposure to a hundred martial schools, partly because I don't care about reputation or status—I only want to strengthen myself.

But my 'fanaticism' is less choice than desperation.

If I don't rapidly improve, I could die at any moment from the retaliation of the Eight Western Immortals.

Sister Shao Yao, this is my true situation.

If I can't pass this hurdle, the ten-year pact, the Qin Grand Master, Lord Dongfang Shuo's attendant, the Protectorate Clerk—all are smoke.

So, Sister Shao Yao, don't be bound by 'Qin Grand Master'—still treat me as a daughter of Hongxiu Courtyard.

In public, don't go out of your way to protect my face.

I care only about substance—how many brilliant martial arts I can witness.

When I can slice a god in one stroke, everyone will revere me as a deity; the face I've lost will return tenfold."

Shao Yao's face softened with sympathy, and she sighed gently, "You're clear-eyed and rational.

Had you not reminded me, I might have been blinded by your feats—slaying gods at the government office entrance, leaving the Jiaosifang, becoming 'Qin Grand Master'—and failed to see the danger right before you."

Xiao Yu gave a strange look. "Sister Shao Yao regrets it? Even the Li family is cutting ties with me, yet you're 'opening your door to a calamity.'"

Shao Yao smiled. "Even on the painted boat, when I learned the truth of the ten-year pact, I felt only regret—that your status had changed, and I could no longer invite you to Tianbao Residence.

Now that you've come, I feel only joy."

"Why aren't you afraid of being implicated?" Xiao Yu asked curiously.

Shao Yao's eyes were clear, her face smiling. "The poor never worry about diseases of affluence."

The Prince of Qinghe could be implicated because his interests are vast, stretching beyond Western Shu and touching every field in the West.

What am I?

Not even my own interests—I'm just an object in someone else's small circle!

If I am ever implicated, it will only be if the Eight Western Immortals directly storm Tianbao Residence—but that's clearly unlikely."

"Why unlikely?" Xiao Yu asked.

Shao Yao said, "Even when you lived with Dou Dou Gengyan, you didn't lure out any big fish.

Now you're alone, and you've grown from bait into a monster that kills big fish—who would rush in to kill you directly?

If you're attacked, it'll be an ambush like the one at Baxia Baxia Hutong.

Outside Tianbao Residence, and entirely unexpected.

Even if the attacker is a human immortal, they won't underestimate you—they'll have to use strategy, and it must be an assassination."

She paused, then frowned: "I would never harm you, but when you eat or drink at Tianbao House, be a little careful—watch out for some maid or old nurse who might have been bribed or coerced into poisoning your food."

Also, prepare a set of steel armor and two crossbows for Fat Mo Le, that black brute.

If real danger arises, let him hold off for a while.

By the way, reinforce the carriage with an iron plate. The plate is heavy and makes escape difficult—you shouldn't ride in the carriage at all; ride a horse instead. Sitting on horseback lets you see all around you and makes ambushes harder.

Xiao Yu felt a flicker of warmth.

This Sister Shao Yao clearly had some genuine concern, and her planning was quite thoughtful.

"Sister Shao Yao, I won't drag you into this."

Xiao Yu mused: "I return to Hongxiu Courtyard every two days to instruct Zi Ying and Du Juan in swordplay."

If someone wants to strike me, they can easily spot this pattern and ambush me on the way, killing me in one blow—no need to force their way into Tianbao House, alerting me and giving me a chance to escape."

Even if she came to Tianbao House, she had no intention of interrupting her teaching of Zi Ying and the others.

This arrangement had already been settled with Aunt Liu before she came to Tianbao House, and confirmed with Shao Yao.

"As for food safety and security when going out, Sister Shao Yao, don't worry about me."

I'm a Sha Man—we Sha Men are experts in poison."

Now that I'm Min the Divine Physician's apprentice, detecting problems in food is easy."

My spiritual sense is also very sharp."

Last time, at Baxia Alley, Ge Qing was a Ghost-God body, yet I still sensed him because his killing intent gave him away."

Why she could see the Ghost-God Ge Qing, she had already explained publicly—in Judge Zhu's courtroom, and her reasoning held no flaw: she sensed the killing intent, activated the Fierce Tiger Divine Intent, and saw a blurred ghostly shadow."

The Heart Sea Scripture must never be exposed."

Even now, when she could see the Divine Path's Talisman Envoys and the Ghost Path's Spirit Clerks, even when they often drifted overhead, she pretended to notice nothing."

"Sigh, I know about the Baxia Alley assassination attempt—and the Western Eight Immortals know too. If they want to kill you, their methods will be far more sophisticated and cruel than Ge Qing's," Shao Yao sighed.

"So I must improve my strength as quickly as possible!" Xiao Yu said firmly. "My cultivation advances faster than Ge Qing could imagine, so he couldn't kill me—and the same logic applies to the Western Eight Immortals."

"I understand. From now on, whenever there's a gathering attended by major magnates, I'll bring you along," Shao Yao nodded lightly, then hesitated: "I heard you've already brought the Fierce Tiger Seven Kill to an unprecedented peak, even generating a trace of pure yang from extreme yin. How much more can you improve?"