Chapter 131: Green Willow Manor

Seeing Zhou Shuo not preparing to say much, Hong Yi also had little to say, he gestured for Xiao Mu and Shen Tie Zhu to set out the brought fruit fragrance, then prayed and kowtowed at the lone grave, afterwards pushed the crowd aside and personally dug open the lone grave with a shovel, taking out a white bone ash urn and holding it reverently in his arms.

"Work hard, this year aim for top scholar, to bring honor to your mother and let your father see." Zhou Shuo looked at the boy holding the bone ash urn, tears faint in his eyes, and involuntarily patted his shoulder to comfort him.

Meng Bingyun, the person Zhou Shuo most admires in the whole Yang Shen, can be said to be the one who single-handedly created Hong Yi; Hong Yi's achievements are half due to his own effort and fortune, and half due to Meng Bingyun's teachings while she was alive, and the reason Hong Yi strives later in the story is largely to give a breath of pride to the deceased Meng Bingyun.

"Mm." Hong Yi held the bone ash urn, looked at the guy who had just patted his shoulder nearby, wiped his eyes with his sleeve and nodded, unconsciously feeling a bit shy about his current embarrassed state.

"Don't be motherly, no matter how grown a child is, in front of his mother he's always a child; people aren't sages." Zhou Shuo looked at the somewhat embarrassed boy, involuntarily smiled, and felt that this Hong Yi gave him a genuine impression.

"Shuo brother, how did you come to Jade Capital?" Hong Yi wiped his eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed, and changed the subject.

"Mm, I came over to handle some matters, and by the way to see the liveliness; you just get ready to talk with me here." Zhou Shuo looked at the boy who changed the topic, gave a knowing smile, and also glanced at the desolate mountain outskirts.

"Ah, I almost forgot, Shuo brother, let me show you my residence." Upon hearing that, Hong Yi suddenly remembered, and hurriedly, one hand holding the bone ash urn, the other inviting Zhou Shuo to move forward.

"Haha, come on, let's go to your Green Willow Manor to have a look; oh, right, Aunt Yun, are you going? If not, please tell Yue Ting for me." Zhou Shuo looked at the understanding boy, burst out laughing, and at the same time recalled something, shouting toward the empty air.

"I won't meddle in your young people's affairs; as for Yue Ting's side, I'll speak myself, remember to come back early." Yunxiangxiang's smiling voice drifted away like fragrance.

"Got it, let's go!" Zhou Shuo saw that Yunxiangxiang wasn't going to Green Willow Manor and didn't mind, greeted Hong Yi and they set off.

"Shuo brother, who is that senior?" Hong Yi held the bone ash urn, hearing the voice in the empty air fade away, his eyebrows twitched slightly; this expert hiding nearby, he actually hadn't noticed at all.

"Just a senior; she doesn't want to see you, I can't really say anything, I'll introduce you when we meet again later." Zhou Shuo shrugged his shoulders slightly; Yunxiangxiang not wanting to go to Green Willow Manor clearly means she doesn't want to meet Hong Yi, and he doesn't want to force it.

"Then many thanks, Shuo brother." Hong Yi, hearing Zhou Shuo's words, felt a bit wistful; making friends with experts is his pleasure.

"What thanks, tell brother, on your way back from Exit Cloud, how did you capture the Unborn Old Mother in Celebration Prefecture? Oh, right, and Grand Master Jingren?" Zhou Shuo looked at the wistful young man and chuckled.

"Grand Master Jingren went south to intercept and slaughter the Great Luo Sect's merchant caravan for me; as for the Unborn Old Mother..." Hong Yi, seeing Zhou Shuo grasp his actions completely, had nothing to hide, and laid out the whole story.

Walking and talking along the way, Hong Yi led Zhou Shuo for about an hour to a manor west of Jade Capital; this manor had vast willow groves, just as its name suggests: Green Willow Manor.

Inside Green Willow Manor, Hong Yi enthusiastically led Zhou Shuo in, but he could not receive guests; instead, he first set up the bone ash urn in his arms on the prepared spirit altar and tablet, then, as a son, led the whole manor in paying respects; Zhou Shuo, as a guest, also offered a stick of incense to show his intention.

"Shuo brother, what specific things do you have to do this time in Jade Capital, and where could I be of use?" After Hong Yi arranged his mother's spirit tablet, he then set up a banquet to welcome Zhou Shuo, introduced his companions—Chi Zhui Yang, Murong Yan, and others—after the scene settled, he asked about Zhou Shuo's purpose.

"Nothing much; you also heard my talk with your father just now—I am somewhat a person of the Supreme Dao—and I returned this time to find my master's senior sister; unfortunately, the Holy Maiden said she is no longer in Jade Capital, and coming to think of it, her not being there is somewhat related to you." Zhou Shuo raised a cup, drank it dry, wore a playful expression, set the cup on the table, and let the maid refill it.

"It must be Holy Maiden Su Mu!" Hong Yi, looking at the guy's playful expression, could tell his words were to be taken inversely; as for the master's senior sister matter, it's too weighty, he didn't dare ask, but Holy Maiden Su Mu—on his way back to the capital this time, when he captured the Unborn Old Mother, he had a match with her; she boasted of giving him wealth and honor, but he turned it back on her with a retort.

"Mm, do you have something you want to say to me?" Zhou Shuo looked at Hong Yi's contemplative face, didn't elaborate much, and turned the conversation to ask.

"Not bad, Shuo brother, I want to ask you, are you interested in the world's grand situation?" Hong Yi looked at the perpetually playful guy, feeling uncertain; he considered himself quite scheming, able to fathom even his father Hong Xuanji's thoughts, but facing Zhou Shuo he could not fathom at all—this person seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

"How so, also want me to place a bet?" Zhou Shuo almost laughed, as if Dao cultivators all like to play this game.

"Anyone else trying to persuade Shuo brother?" Hong Yi's perceptive mind could instantly guess that Zhou Shuo had no intention regarding the world's grand situation, but who else had tried to persuade him?

"No persuasion, but advising me to stake a treasure as future preparation; and you, who do you want me to stake on?" Zhou Shuo raised his eyebrows and shook his head; Yunxiangxiang's advice wasn't persuasion, just a suggestion, but he was too lazy to play that game.

"I see, not hiding it from Shuo brother, the Jade Prince once had a kindness to me, so I intend to plot for the Jade Prince and ask Shuo brother to lend a hand." Seeing Zhou Shuo speak, Hong Yi also didn't hide it, but his words were skillful—not trying to lure Zhou Shuo with wealth and honor to help the Jade Prince, but simply asking Zhou Shuo to help him.

"Yi brother, I also won't hide it from you—no matter who rules the world, it doesn't touch my edge; I don't live by the emperor, nor do I worship gods—but since you spoke up, I'll go take a look at that Jade Prince and see what bearing he has." Zhou Shuo glanced sideways and raised his cup toward Hong Yi.

"Many thanks, Shuo brother." Hong Yi, seeing Zhou Shuo agree, was overjoyed, raised his cup and drained it, counting it as gratitude.

"What thanks!" Zhou Shuo drained the cup and shook his head impatiently.

"Shuo brother, how's your hand?" Hong Yi looked at Zhou Shuo shaking his head, smiled twice, then suddenly thought of something; although Zhou Shuo and Hong Xuanji both have internal injuries, experts can't be fooled.

"Hand! Just rest two days and it'll be fine." Zhou Shuo, hearing Hong Yi's words, then recalled that he and Hong Xuanji had exchanged a punch, cracking his arm bone, but this minor injury is no big deal.

"Don't you need some medicine? I still have some stored medicine, originally divided from the Heaven and Earth Bag; Miss Yinsha didn't come with you this time, did she?" Hong Yi looked at Zhou Shuo's appearance, somewhat unable to believe.

"No need, no need; medicine is for curing illness and healing injury—if you can avoid it, do so; this small injury is trivial, and as for Yinsha, she stayed in Exit Cloud State." Zhou Shu waved his hands, meanwhile his heart slightly pondered—this kid is paying attention to Miss Yinsha; could he have developed feelings?

"Oh, I thought Miss Yinsha would come with Shuo brother to Exit Cloud." Seeing Zhou Shu wave his hand indifferently and hearing his words, Hong Yi withdrew his gaze and pondered the meaning.

"She's angry with me; you don't need to worry about that. After finishing the drink, I'll return to Heavenly Pool Residence first." Zhou Shuo looked at the boy with downcast eyes thinking, his heart slightly raised an eyebrow, then again thought it unlikely; even if he got ahead, Hong Yi wouldn't lack opportunity, but unfortunately, now it's not possible!

"Shuo brother, aren't you going to rest awhile at my manor?" Hong Yi blinked slightly.

"No, tonight I'm just making a casual visit; there will be plenty of time later; as for the Jade Prince, tomorrow you go to Heavenly Pool Residence to find me." Zhou Shuo directly shook his head; he couldn't stand staying at Green Willow Manor.