Chapter 2057: How to Tame the Rebellious Youth 06

Sword Manor Council Hall.

"Manor Master, Mr. Jin has arrived," Shan Bo said respectfully at the door.

Ji Yuan Shan saw the visitor, without changing expression sized him up for a few moments, then rose to greet him with a smile.

"Mr. Jin, please come in."

Jin Chen stood with hands behind his back in the hall below, his expression indifferent, making a tentative bow, "Manor Master Ji, I've long admired you."

【I've been waiting for you, old fool!】

Ling Gun Gun direct translation.

Ji Yuan Shan laughed heartily, raised his hand and poured a cup of tea.

"A few days ago I heard Elder Shen had invited you over, but Sword Manor was busy, and then there was the martial arts conference, so only today did I have time."

"My son Ji Lai Zi is stubborn by nature, hard to discipline since childhood, and now even more barbaric and unreasonable; please forgive him, Sir, and tell me any difficulties you have."

Jin Chen glanced lightly at the gold-inlaid jade teacup, as if not hearing the deeper meaning in Ji Yuan Shan's words.

"Lai Zi is quite obedient, not hard to discipline, just depends on whether one puts heart into it."

Ji Yuan Shan nodded humbly, but wariness and displeasure gathered in his eyes, he turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb, "With your words, Sir, I feel at ease."

"Sir, you don't know, Lai Zi is now ruthless; the tutors I hired for him have all been driven away, some even had their hands or legs cut off..."

"That's because they're trash."

Jin Chen interjected, speaking blandly, "What do you think, Manor Master?"

Ji Yuan Shan: "..."

"How can this person not understand kind words?"

"But I heard you make Lai Zi do morning practice before dawn; as his father, I only wish he could enjoy himself, do you understand?"

Jin Chen turned the teacup, lowered his eyes, and said: "The tea at Observing Cloud Institute is not as good as yours here; the teapots are inferior cheap porcelain; I originally thought Sword Manor was all like this... simple."

"Lai Zi's training outfit doesn't fit well either, but other items visible to outsiders are exquisite."

With each point Jin Chen made, Ji Yuan Shan's face darkened a bit, his eyes hinting at gloom.

Ji Yuan Shan: "What do you mean by that?"

Jin Chen: "To indulge in pleasure—is it just for show to outsiders, or truly to let Lai Zi be free of worries? This really makes me doubt."

Ji Yuan Shan almost crushed the jade cup in his palm, endured and changed the subject.

This person is a guest elder of Cold Moon Villa; for now he cannot be moved.

"People of the martial world don't speak in hints; today I invited you also to test your ability."

As his words fell, five Sword Manor guardians flipped out from outside the window, approaching Jin Chen.

"Sir, please."

Jin Chen slightly raised his eyes, relaxed: "Please."

The guardians simultaneously struck down with fierce palms, the wind of their fists howling.

During the fight, Ji Yuan Shan's expression grew gloomy, his doubts somewhat lessened.

This person indeed uses Cold Moon Villa's techniques; still, I feel... unfathomable.

In no time, the five guardians were forced back, tumbling to the ground.

Ji Yuan Shan narrowed his sharp eyes, laughed heartily: "Sir, you have excellent skill."

Jin Chen didn't bother with him: "Manor Master, if you have no further instructions, I must return to Observing Cloud Institute."

Just then, a disciple reported outside the door.

"Manor Master, someone came to accuse the Young Master of bullying commoners at the tavern, and even... smashing the tavern's business."

Jin Chen was slightly surprised: "Where?"

"Wanfu Tavern."

Jin Chen frowned: "When did this brat run out?"

Ji Yuan Shan stroked his beard, meaning unclear: "It seems Elder Shen gave you many secret treasures, letting you want wealth but not life."

——

Half an hour earlier, the private room at Wanfu Tavern.

"Brother Xue, please."

Ji Siyou clasped his fists, smiling: "I've long heard from my father that Brother Xue is a youthful hero, renowned in the martial world; seeing you today, it's indeed so."

The youth opposite laughed brightly: "Young Master Ji, you overpraise me; I came on behalf of my father to deliver a congratulatory gift, and also hoped to get to know the Young Master."

The two sat down, exchanging compliments.

Xue Duanming suddenly heard the noisy hall downstairs outside the window, and his peripheral vision was caught by a spirited youth, making him glance twice.

Upon seeing that, his heart jumped.

The youth's visage was like a painting, as if gold-inlaid ink; he wore red robes with silver-thread entwining branches, his black hair tied high, at his waist he wore a black long spear.

Only that person in Qingyun City uses a single spear as a weapon.

Xue Duanming casually asked: "That person downstairs seems to be the Eldest Young Master Ji? Why is he only sitting in the main hall and not coming to the private room?"

Ji Siyou looked in that direction, his eyes deepening a few degrees, smiling: "That's indeed my older brother."

"He has always disliked quietness."

"If Ji Lai Zi downstairs heard this, he'd probably pull out his shabby money pouch to show Ji Siyou right then."

"Guest... Mr. Ji, the Eldest Young Master Ji."

The waiter immediately stepped back several steps, his obsequious smile mixed with fear: "What would the Eldest Young Master Ji like to drink?"

Ji Lai Zi propped his chin with one hand, full of annoyance: "Just bring a... one or two jugs of wine, don't bother me."

"The thought that he still had to review his lessons flashed through his mind; Ji Lai Zi snorted coldly, thinking that maybe by the time he went back, Jin Chen would have left, so reviewing would be pointless."

It just saves him the trouble of thinking up ways to drive him away.

Inside the hall, it was noisy; the rising vapors of alcohol and meat aroma mingled together, and occasionally came the crisp sound of wine bowls clashing.

A drunkard staggered to his feet, roaring with laughter at his tablemates: "Old brother, that's not a good thing to say! The liquor in Qingyun City is just so-so…"

Before his words even faded, his foot slipped and he crashed onto Ji Lai-zhi's table with a bang; the two jugs of liquor just placed there, together with the table, overturned and shattered completely.

Ji Lai-zhi, still seated: "……"

Ji Lai-zhi lifted his eyes, swept over the drunkard, and said, "Are you sick?"

Seeing this, the guests in the hall retreated to the walls, secretly breaking into a sweat for the drunken brute.

The drunkard stood up, feeling that his earlier slip hadn't been quite right, glanced dubiously upstairs, then saw that the one he'd hit was Ji Lai-zhi, and immediately gave a harsh, mocking laugh.

"So it's you, this Jianghu worm!"

"It's just a few jugs of liquor; even Young Master Ji wants to quarrel with me over it?"

Ji Lai-zhi swallowed the fire in his throat, saw the drunkard still reaching out to shove, and kicked him.

"Don't come looking for death in front of this young master—get lost!"

The drunkard, caught off guard, was kicked in the abdomen; his back slammed hard into the scattered liquor jug shards on the floor, instantly flying into a rage, he staggered to his feet, grabbed his broadsword, and hacked!

"No!!" his tablemates shouted in fright, lunging to stop him, but it was already too late.

In less than three moves, the drunkard's broadsword left his hand, his wrist bone broken, he collapsed like a lump of mud, and the pain instantly jolted him sober.

Ji Lai-zhi's calm demeanor concealed irritability; once provoked, he could not easily quell his anger, he seized the drunkard's collar and lifted him, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

"Playing drunk in broad daylight at my place—do you have a death wish?"

"Brother!"

Ji Siyao hurried downstairs, appearing in this messy stall, warm and gentle as jade, and stepped forward with concern.

"Don't just go around beating people; quickly let him go."