Chapter 156: The Little Scholar Who Reads the Heaven Gate

Or… should I just directly tell her I want to take her as my disciple?

However, I immediately rejected this method.

After all, that would be too direct; it might scare the young lady and instead make her think I harbor ill intentions.

Furthermore, Yu Xian'er is no ordinary person; she resides in a higher realm continent and is the daughter of a family that inherits the Five Emperors' legacy.

How could she possibly be willing to become my disciple?

Just like Zhou Tianming, in his previous life, even when the Great Emperor ordered him to become my disciple, he was as reluctant as pulling a 2,580,000.

As for Yu Xian'er of the Five Emperors family, wouldn't she be even more reluctant, lifting her buttocks higher than her neck?

So, this matter will likely require some strategy; I can only use the method I used to take Zhou Tianming as my disciple.

Just as Lin Yang was making this decision, the hall of the Heroic Tower suddenly became lively.

I saw a young talent stand up from below the stage and loudly say: "I am Li Du, son of the Southern King Li Yue; may I have the honor of inviting Miss Yu Xian'er to share a drink?"

The moment this youth spoke, everyone exclaimed in surprise.

You should know, this Li Du is the eldest son of the Li family of You Prefecture; the Li family in You Prefecture is illustrious, and a stomp of their foot makes the whole prefecture tremble three times.

One would think Yu Xian'er would give this Li eldest son some face and share a drink with him.

However, Yu Xian'er merely paused her steps slightly and glanced at the youth indifferently.

She then continued walking inside at a leisurely pace.

At this, Li Du's face instantly flushed crimson, as bloodless as cooked pork liver.

Seeing this, the crowd immediately erupted in an uproar: "Heavens, Yu Xian'er's gall is too great!"

"She doesn't even give face to the Li eldest son!"

"This is utterly arrogant!"

However, some people from the Three Prefectures retorted: "What do you know! Yu Xian'er is always pure and chaste; how could she casually drink with someone?"

Moreover, Yu Xian'er has the backing of Hua Zhanggui; why should she give him face?

Exactly, exactly; Yu Xian'er is not that kind of casual woman.

Some who know Yu Xian'er also chimed in, debating back and forth.

Li Du listened to the crowd's discussion, his anger growing ever stronger.

He was about to lash out when a sharp voice rang out: "If you're ugly and lack ability, don't come out to embarrass yourself."

"Miss Yu Xian'er, how could she possibly share a drink with someone like you?"

This voice was like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Li Du's heart.

He followed the sound with his gaze, wanting to see who dared so boldly to humiliate him.

But when he saw the youth who was speaking, the anger rising to his throat was forcibly suppressed.

"Isn't that Chief Han?"

Someone immediately recognized the person mocking Li Du.

"Who is Chief Han?" some clueless people asked curiously.

That person explained: "You don't even know Chief Han? Then you should at least know the Three Cliffs Mountain of You Prefecture."

"'This Chief Han is none other than the Chief Senior Disciple of Three Cliffs Mountain, Han Feng.'"

"Three Cliffs Mountain?"

The crowd exclaimed in surprise: "Isn't that the strongest sect of You Prefecture?"

"'That's exactly it!' that person replied lightly, moreover teasingly glancing at Li Du and saying: 'You didn't see Li Du not daring to utter a sound in his presence?'"

Only then did the crowd suddenly understand, also realizing that Three Cliffs Mountain and the Li family indeed have a relationship like fire and water, and thus comprehending why Li Du ended up this way.

Han Feng, hearing the crowd's praise, showed a smug expression on his face.

He looked at Yu Xian'er, smiling, and said: "Miss Yu Xian'er, I recently obtained a piece of Hetian jade, said to have the effect of calming the mind and nourishing the spirit."

"'I wish to give this Hetian jade to Miss Xian'er; I wonder if she would like it?'"

Upon hearing this, the crowd began to chatter again: "It seems Chief Han indeed has more tactics than Li Du; besides his graceful demeanor, he is more like a refined young gentleman, and having presented a gift, Miss Yu Xian'er should surely favor someone like him."

However, reality once again left the crowd astonished.

Yu Xian'er didn't even glance sideways at Han Feng, and continued forward with elegant steps.

This scene made Li Du, who thought he would lose face, burst out laughing and mock Han Feng: "Tsk, I thought you were so formidable."

"'As it turns out, Miss Yu Xian'er simply doesn't bother with you at all.'"

"'Hahaha, you're just a conceited clown.'"

The crowd joined in the laughter.

Han Feng's complexion instantly turned extremely unsightly, alternating between pale and dark.

He clenched his teeth, and the Hetian jade in his hand, under his fury, cracked with a 'crack', shards falling from between his fingers.

If it weren't for Huaxiang Xi backing Yu Xian'er, he would have been about to cause a disturbance at the Heroic Tower.

However, Li Du and Han Feng successively suffered setbacks, and everyone thought no one would dare to seek trouble again.

A youth dressed as a white-faced scholar slowly rose from the crowd.

He wore a cloud-white brocade robe, held a folding fan whose surface bore an elegant landscape painting.

His whole person appeared warm and smooth like jade, with an extraordinary demeanor.

The youth slightly raised his head, gazed gently at Yu Xian'er, and recited loudly: "There is a beauty, her grace pure and gentle; our chance meeting fulfills my wish."

His voice was clear and pleasant, echoing softly in the hall.

As soon as the verse was spoken, everyone looked at the scholar with doubt.

"'What's the deal? Others show off their family and treasures when courting; you recite a few lines of poetry—what are you doing?'"

"'As a scholar, you should be studying books instead of learning how to pick up girls from others.'"

You are hopeless.

The crowd, each saying a word, mocked that scholar, believing that the scholar would never get a glance back from Yu Xian'er.

But just then, Yu Xian'er's originally light steps suddenly paused, and she stopped.

A flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes like autumn water, then she slowly turned her head, looking at that pale-faced scholar, and softly asked: "Have you read any books?"

Her voice was clear and melodious, like an oriole emerging from the valley, making it exceptionally clear amidst the noisy hall.

This scene caused everyone present to instantly fall into dead silence.

Immediately after, a burst of whispering broke out.

You should know, earlier Li Du and Han Feng were so earnest, yet Yu Xian'er didn't even give them a glance.

And yet this seemingly frail scholar before us actually managed to get Yu Xian'er's proactive response.

Could it be that Yu Xian'er likes reading?

The crowd couldn't help but speculate.

Yu Xian'er's sudden response also left that scholar somewhat taken aback; then his face instantly showed a hint of delighted blush.

He adjusted his clothes, politely saying: "I am unworthy; I come from Reading Heaven Gate, entering martial arts through reading, and usually I have some study of poetry and literature."

That could be considered quite literary.

His tone was humble and polite, yet his eyes faintly revealed a hint of confidence.