Chapter 226

When the thirty thousand people gathered together dispersed, it was like a sand house flowing and collapsing, every grain of sand leaving its original position.

But Pei Ye still caught sight of that graying hair amidst the bustling crowd at a glance.

Pei Ye did not expect this elder to have actually come here; clearly, the affairs in the county were still very busy, and the road was rugged. Pei Ye had even advised him not to go to the trouble at the time.

But the old man was laughing heartily anyway; upon meeting, he first raised his arm to support the youth's arm, looking him up and down, sighing with satisfaction, and then gently patted the youth's shoulder.

"Uncle Chang, the road is long and the weather is cold, you really didn't have to come." Pei Ye said.

"What do you call this cold? A few years ago, during the heavy snow, I ran to the prefecture city in the twelfth lunar month—Master Huang knows this." Chang Zhiyuan held the youth's wrist, and the two walked forward along the flow of people, "I wanted to come and see you."

At this moment, an official walked by and smiled, interjecting: "Magistrate Chang's body looks sturdy, a little mountain road is no obstacle."

"Haha." Chang Zhiyuan arched his hands toward the man.

But Pei Ye turned his head, his eyes momentarily dazed. From his angle, the first thing that entered his eyes was the old man's half-white hair; although it was combed very neatly, one could still see some fine dryness and disarray. The former was the richness drained away by the years, while the latter was clear evidence of the old man's declining strength, unable to tie it tight and press it down.

Looking further down, the official uniform had some crooked details due to age, and the wrinkles on his face were also soft and visible... For a sixty-year-old man, this appearance could still be called upright and clear, but it was different from the sword-like hardness in Pei Ye's memory.

For the ignorant youth who had encountered a sudden change at the time, in those two days of darkness and deep depression, this figure had been the most reliable backbone in his heart, as hard as iron. At this moment, he discovered that it actually had many slacks and weaknesses.

Pei Ye suddenly had a dazed feeling that he had grown taller again, but it could also be that after the great changes and exhaustion, the old man's back had indeed become somewhat hunched.

So at this moment, he remembered that this old man before him had no relatives or children, and now, those familiar friends and peers who worked together were also gone. A few days ago, during the night rain, the old man lay alone on the bed, not knowing what he was thinking.

So, "I wanted to come and see you."

Pei Ye felt a little sad for a moment and leaned toward the old man; he knew that he couldn't accompany the old man for many days, and he was going to the Divine Capital, not knowing if there would be a day of return.

Chang Zhiyuan didn't know what Pei Ye was thinking, smiling as he took a pear from his bosom, green and clear, and handed it to him: "The last one of this year."

"..." Pei Ye laughed, took it, and took a crisp, sweet bite.

"You fought really fiercely today, the lords are all praising you."

Pei Ye smiled: "Actually, it only starts to get difficult tomorrow."

"Among the eight people, it seems you are the only one in the Fourth Life Realm."

"... Indeed." Pei Ye sighed.

"How many rounds can you win tomorrow?"

"Hmm, that depends on the draw." Pei Ye chewed the pear and smiled, "More than ten days ago, I thought I was in the Third Life Realm and could probably enter the top four. Now that I'm in the Fourth Life Realm, I might still only make the top four—there are far more experts than I expected at the time."

Then he glanced at the tall woman following beside him: "If I run into Junxue in the first round, I might not even make the top four."

Zhang Junxue raised her head unexpectedly, her eyes blank.

Chang Zhiyuan looked at the woman with a smile and turned back: "It's the same words as before; since your talent is high, you don't need to be eager for success, your own safety is the most important thing."

"Hmm."

"You making the top eight is actually something that hasn't happened in Fenghuai for many years. Even in the seven counties of the prefecture, aren't you two the only ones who made it into the top eight this session? When you stepped off the stage today, the lords were all guessing how you and Miss Zhang would perform tomorrow."

Pei Ye laughed: "Then let's see what ranking I can fight for tomorrow."

He turned to look at the woman, but Zhang Junxue was looking the other way, her expression somewhat dazed.

Pei Ye followed her gaze and saw some blade-carrying people, mostly tall, standing by the street; they were the Zhang family members who had come to compete together, but now, only Zhang Junxue remained in the arena among them.

At this moment, they were also looking over with mixed expressions, seemingly having something they wanted to say but holding back.

When Pei Ye and the woman were chatting under the arena two days ago, he had seen these clansmen of hers.

The tallest one was the third brother, who always had the most to say; the one sitting on the other side wiping his blade was the eldest brother of their generation, who played the wildest with them when they were young, but now had learned to act serious when there were many people; the shortest one was the little sister, the one from the third uncle's house who led the team, who used to have the best relationship with her sister...

When the woman introduced these brothers and sisters clearly one by one, she was sitting ten zhang away from them, watching them laugh, chat, and complain to each other about the opponents they encountered from afar.

And there was a relaxed quietness on her face.

When the arena dispersed, Zhang Junxue would walk over and silently follow behind them; those who saw her would nod slightly, without further words.

But it was different now.

The woman was undoubtedly the center of these seven or eight gazes now; stiffness and awkwardness could still be clearly seen, but everyone wanted to show a smile on their faces in general.

A Life Vein Realm cultivator could steadily sit in the top four and look toward the first in normal years, not to mention the woman was only in her early twenties, which could be considered a once-in-a-decade occurrence in the Zhang family.

Even though there were conflicts and discord, just like the Zhang father's "vowing to live and die together with the husband," the Zhang family had not removed their branch from the family name due to the discussions in the county over the past year. Clansmen were still clansmen, and they sat together in the stands; now that Zhang Junxue had entered the top eight as a Life Vein Realm cultivator, the Zhang family, by reason and emotion, should celebrate for her.

It was just that, like Zhang Junxue's daze, those few people over there were obviously also somewhat hesitant.

Pei Ye immediately realized this was an opportunity to break the ice; he gently tugged Zhang Junxue's arm, and the woman looked over somewhat dazed. Pei Ye signaled for her to go over, but the woman's body just remained stiff and motionless.

Pei Ye was about to greet them first, but when he turned his head, he saw someone had already walked over.

It was precisely the eldest brother Zhang Junxue had mentioned, Zhang Junyan.

"Magistrate Chang, Young Hero Pei, long admired, nice to meet you." The man first arched his hands to greet them; if this seriousness was faked, it was indeed faked without a flaw. He looked at the woman on the side and smiled gently: "Junxue, what fast progress."

"... Hmm."

"Where are Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt? Are they still eating out tonight? Why not come back to the residence together?"

"... Mom and Dad are waiting in front." Zhang Junxue answered the first half of the sentence, "..."

"Okay, then Junxue, you go back," Pei Ye gave her a light push and smiled at the man, "I originally said I would chat with Junxue for a few words before letting her go back."

"Okay." Zhang Junyan smiled and arched his hands.

Then he looked at Zhang Junxue who had come to his side, not knowing what string in his brain had been misaligned, and suddenly said: "Shouldn't Young Hero Pei call us sister?"

"..."

"..."

"Haha." The man touched his head stiffly, holding his expression, "Just a joke, well, wish Young Hero Pei good luck in the martial arts tomorrow."

"... Many thanks."

Pei Ye now believed that he was indeed faking seriousness.

Pei Ye watched the two walk back; they were indeed not met with cold treatment. No matter what the relationship was before, everyone tried to appear natural, with faint smiles, casting warm gazes, wanting to express goodwill while controlling not to be overly enthusiastic.

The two Zhang family elders encountered under the Guanliu Tower the day before yesterday were also among them; these two had much more natural expressions, both with sincere joy on their faces—one pointed at the Guanliu Tower and said something, while the other pressed down his arm, signaling toward Zhang Junxue, seemingly saying that now was not the time for feasting, so as not to delay the woman's preparation for tomorrow.

Zhang Junxue stood among several brothers and sisters, answering questions from different people clumsily; her awkwardness and stiffness could indeed be felt, but the flush on her face was also real.

Pei Ye smiled, waved at her, turned around, and left with Uncle Chang and the others.

However, after leaving the arena, he saw another person who made Pei Ye pause his gaze—it was Gu Guang, who had just been defeated, standing and talking with Xiao Qiu, who had won a round against a loser.

Seeing Pei Ye, this tall man first cast a slightly surprised look: "Young Hero Pei, I seemed to see Junxue with you when I came out?"

Pei Ye smiled and pointed back: "She left with the Zhang family people, saying they wanted to eat and celebrate."

"Oh." Gu Guang nodded in thanks and smiled, "Then I'll look for her later."

Parting from the two, the sky was just dimming; Pei Ye strolled and chatted with the old man on the street until the lamps and candles filled the street and the bright moon hung high, only then returning to the Cuiyu courtyard.

However, although the aroma of the food was rich, the young girl who had promised to wait was nowhere to be seen.

"Let's sit and eat first." Chu Nian greeted enthusiastically, carefully welcoming Chang Zhiyuan to his seat, and then tilted her head to Pei Ye, "The people who went to track the Zhang family head just sent a message; Junior Sister went out with the Sect Master. She said they went to the prefecture office and told you and Magistrate Chang to eat first, and she would see Magistrate Chang when she returns."

"The Zhang family head has been found?" Since she went with Li Piaoqing to the prefecture office, Pei Ye sat down as instructed.

"... It doesn't seem so." Chu Nian shook her head and sat down too, "The two received the message and left; it was indeed very urgent, but they weren't panicked."

Pei Ye nodded; since a message was left, he would just wait for the young girl to return. It was no longer a relationship of mutual politeness; if she really needed his help, Li Piaoqing would definitely not let him eat in peace.

Pei Ye picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of fish belly first.

Then he smiled and put it into Uncle Chang's bowl.

——

"Zhang Junxue doesn't eat fish." Zhang Junshu said out of the blue, and several people laughed knowingly.

This third brother indeed talked a lot; in such an occasion, it would definitely seem raw without him.

The Zhang family sat around; the chatting was intermittent. It wasn't that they hadn't eaten at the same table in the past two days, but at that time they just chatted about their own things; today, however, it was necessary to center around Zhang Junxue.

When they maintained a nodding relationship, everyone felt it was relatively natural; those things had passed after all, and anger and resentment would eventually dissipate. But now that they really wanted to repair the relationship, the closer they sat, the more obvious that cold and distant feeling became.

It was truly a matter that required some effort.

Therefore, when Zhang Junyan moved the fish plate one dish position toward Zhang Junxue, Zhang Junshu's sentence could be considered the first unintentional conversation.

This was an anecdote from childhood; the adults were not at home, and twelve-year-old Zhang Junyan volunteered to cook for his younger brothers and sisters, pulling a big carp out of the small pond, and after a process of fire like soaring and salt like snow, he brought out a pitch-black and ferocious plate.

The other younger brothers and sisters ran away early, only five-year-old Zhang Junxue stood blankly, watching what her eldest brother was holding and slowly retreating.

Zhang Junyan said this is fish, little sister, try it; five-year-old Zhang Junxue said brother, this is not fish; Zhang Junyan stubbornly said this is fish; Zhang Junxue said with a crying voice that it is not fish... In the end, Zhang Junxue still took a bite under Zhang Junyan's coercion and cried out with a "waa."

Later, when the adults returned, Zhang Junyan was naturally beaten up, but for the next two years, every time Zhang Junxue was asked what she wanted to eat, she would say "I don't eat fish."

Thinking of this past event, everyone returned to the intimacy of childhood for a moment, laughing one after another, telling interesting stories about this dull younger sister.

Zhang Junxue had been introverted since she was a child, but what made her even more silent were the many things on her growth path—including accidentally throwing her brothers and sisters into a dog-eating-mud position while playing games, and then standing there wringing her hands without a word.

Zhang Junxue lowered her head, her face turning red rarely; the whole person was simply embarrassed to the point of being somewhat limp, but the happiness rising from the bottom of her heart still smoked her ears slightly red.

Today was really good; she had resolved the knot with Brother Gu, and her former brothers and sisters had also begun to accept her again. For a year, the woman had been walking alone in darkness and deep depression; she could face everything silently and firmly, but that didn't mean she liked this feeling.

Nine months ago, she was just a dull gourd hiding behind her sister's back; now, she had almost cast herself into iron. Although there was a deep hatred ahead tomorrow, she had now regained that softness from the past.

Everyone also discovered a new side of this younger sister at this time; her dull and powerful appearance when she was a child was very interesting, and everyone liked to play with her, but later as she grew up, she became somewhat reclusive. Now those dark things were swept away; although she was still silent, there were no more twisted and tangled things, but a kind of directness and brightness hidden deep inside.

The atmosphere became more and more harmonious, and the topics gradually opened up; the brothers and sisters began to ask the woman more things one after another, eagerly interviewing her about the feeling of being in the top eight, curiously asking about the Cuiyu Young Sect Master who was in the limelight recently, as well as the youth Pei Ye who appeared suddenly.

Zhang Junxue answered one by one, her cheeks flushed, and her feet under the table tilted up lightly.

(End of chapter)