Chapter 421

Xie Fu, Grand View Garden.

Today is a joyous occasion, yet the heavens are uncooperative.

It is mid-spring, and the fine rain is like mist.

Xue Huai'an and his party follow the guiding servant into the Grand View Garden, their feet treading on the damp bluestone, reflecting the sparse shadows of the weeping willows on both sides of the lake.

Two men and three women!

They walk to the shore to board a boat, crossing the lake to enter the Grand View Garden.

"This Xie Fu is truly massive. Changning Street is worth its weight in gold, yet they have carved out such a large lake in the backyard; it is truly extravagant."

The speaker is a girl of sixteen or seventeen, with a fair face, a slender figure, and a beauty mark at the corner of her right eyebrow; her expression is quite lively.

This girl wears a silk and gold-threaded palace dress, holding a green lotus-leaf umbrella in her hand.

Xue Huai'an smiles faintly at these words: "Is this worth marveling at? The Zhao family, who live in the 'Rich Well' of Bianjing, have thousands of gardens and forests, and they must use carriages to travel between courtyards; that is true extravagance, which truly opened my eyes."

Behind Xue Huai'an follows a middle-aged man with a few strands of silver hair at his forehead; he wears a scholar's robe that should have been refined and elegant, but it is strangely embroidered with a Yin-Yang Bagua diagram at the hem.

He stands with his hands behind his back, his gaze steady, sweeping across the lake with a mocking smile.

"Second Young Master, you are a son of the Xue family, one of the Nine Great Surnames, a person whose halls are made of white jade and whose horses are made of gold; why be so modest?"

Xue Huai'an shakes his head and laughs, "Among the Nine Great Surnames, the Xue family merely relies on the remaining shade of our ancestors. As for now..." He pauses, mocking himself, "We are just a camel that has died of starvation."

"A camel that has died of starvation?" The girl in the embroidered palace dress raises an eyebrow, her tone becoming increasingly sarcastic, "Young Master An, you have deceived us well. Previously, you said you were a poor scholar from a remote place coming to the capital for the imperial examinations. Who would have thought you were the second legitimate son of the Xue family?"

Her eyes dart around, and she says with a strange tone, "It was a waste of the worry my sister and I felt, fearing you didn't have enough travel expenses, taking care of you everywhere along the way."

The woman in the long blue dress beside her, with a tall figure, gently pulls her sleeve and says softly, "Zixin, do not be rude to Young Master An."

The two women share one umbrella.

The woman in the long blue dress has gentle features, and her voice is like the spring breeze brushing against willows, "Young Master An did not wish to be ostentatious; he has his own reasons."

"Sister, you are siding with an outsider again."

Xue Huai'an waves his hands repeatedly, his smile gentle: "It is fine, it is fine. It was my fault from the beginning; I should be the one apologizing."

Xue Huai'an is dressed as a young scholar, wearing a high cap and a wide belt, dressed in white, refined and courteous, with an extraordinary manner of speech.

The two women were originally the top courtesans of the Zixiao Pavilion, and they met the "destitute scholar" Xue Huai'an once while out.

Feeling that this person was extraordinary, they sponsored his tuition for a year. In the autumn examinations of the second year, Xue Huai'an indeed ranked first on the list.

During this year, the three of them got along very well and were close confidants.

However, at the last Flower Banquet, they encountered a lecher, and Xue Huai'an acted in a moment of urgency, being recognized by people from the Xue family. His identity was exposed, and the friendship between the three was almost shattered because of this.

If it hadn't been for!

Xue Huai'an apologizing for several months, they wouldn't have had this gathering of three at the Xie Fu today.

The lake breeze brushes past, and the rain threads slant and fly.

Liu Zixin, the girl in the palace dress, seems to still have resentment, glancing at him sideways, her red lips pursed: "Young Master Xue is glorious now, having passed the provincial examinations as the top scholar, and being the eldest son of the Xue family. How could you still remember us lowly courtesans?"

The lake breeze sweeps by, wrinkling the spring water of the pond.

Xue Huai'an laughs bitterly: "Zixin, Zhirou, your kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. How could Huai'an dare to forget? Concealing my identity that day was truly a last resort..."

"A last resort?" Liu Zixin sneers, "Was it because you feared we sisters would cling to the powerful, or because you despised our lowly origins?"

"Zixin!" Su Zhirou, the woman in the long blue dress, hurriedly stops her, but sees Xue Huai'an suddenly bow deeply.

"Huai'an makes a vow here," he says, his eyes full of sincerity when he looks up, "If it weren't for the help of Zixin and Zhirou back then, there would be no Xue Huai'an today."

As soon as these words are spoken, they are filled with true emotion!

Only then does Liu Zixin pout and stop speaking.

Seeing this, Xue Huai'an takes the opportunity to change the subject, his gaze turning to the middle-aged man behind him: "Master Mei, what interest do you have in gracing the Xie Fu with your presence today?"

The middle-aged man is named Mei Qingsu, and he is the Chief Helmsman of the Giant Whale Gang, a Jianghu faction in the capital.

Although it is a Jianghu sect, this Mei Qingsu, who was known as "Calculating Heavenly Secrets" in his early years, had already defected to the Su family.

The Giant Whale Gang has nearly ten thousand members, with immense power, roaring across the region, and they also have a say in the water transport and canal management.

The Nine Great Surnames all have to give him some face. This Mei Qingsu received favor from the Xue family in his early years and has never broken ties with them.

Today, he received an invitation from the Xie family, so he traveled with Xue Huai'an.

Mei Qingsu laughs loudly: "The 'Twin Jades of the Xie Family' are still here; how could I, a mere gang leader, dare not come to offer my congratulations?"

The "Twin Jades of the Xie Family" he refers to are the brothers Xie Hong and Xie Ling.

Liu Zixin secretly observes this Chief Helmsman of the Giant Whale Gang, seeing that his speech and behavior are quite easygoing, completely different from the fierce and evil reputation of the man who bloodied three water strongholds and slaughtered nearly a thousand people overnight in his early years.

But the fierce reputation circulating in the Zixiao Pavilion remains in her ears. Along the way, Liu Zixin's tone is much more polite than when speaking to Xue Huai'an, and she dares not speak much to him.

Among the party, there is also a young woman in purple.

She is about twenty years old, her black hair tied high with a ribbon, her eyebrows like swords and her eyes like stars, her brows reaching her temples, looking heroic. Especially those sword-like eyebrows and eyes are so sharp that people dare not look directly at them.

She holds an ancient eight-sided Han sword in her arms and suddenly says mockingly: "Master Mei has been a dog for the Su family for so many years, and now he is habitually coming to lead the charge for his master."

"I want to see if the Sima family and the Xie family are truly as close as water and milk, or if they are estranged despite their appearance."

As soon as these words are spoken, they carry a chill.

Among the party, only Liu Zixin and the other woman share an oil umbrella, while the rest of the group lets the fine rain brush against them.

Mei Qingsu looks calm and says slowly: "It seems Manager Luo has a prejudice against my Giant Whale Gang."

"It is not that my Giant Whale Gang ignores the rules of the Jianghu; Jianghu matters are settled in the Jianghu. Entering the imperial court is actually because the ten thousand brothers in the gang need to eat and feed horses, and the expenses are huge, so we are forced to do so."

"Unlike your Golden Embroidery Tower, which has been managed for generations and has a solid family business, we are just destitute fishing families."

Liu Zixin and the woman beside her look at each other, both shocked in their hearts: "Golden Embroidery Tower!"

This Golden Embroidery Tower is also a major faction in the capital's underworld, involved in businesses like restaurants and escort agencies, with thousands of disciples under its banner.

Thinking about it, this woman must be Luo Su Su, the current manager of the Golden Embroidery Tower, known in the Jianghu as the "Purple-Clothed Sword." A person who can leave a name in the Jianghu is naturally no ordinary person.

The Golden Embroidery Tower also has close ties with the Xue family. The grandmother of the Xue family came from the Jianghu, and people in Bianjing speculate that perhaps she came from the Golden Embroidery Tower.

Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, Xue Huai'an hurriedly comes out to smooth things over: "Manager Susu, Master Mei, I have rarely returned to the capital, so please give me some face, you two."

"Today, we have all gathered at the Xie Fu to offer our congratulations."

Hearing this, Luo Su Su nods slightly.

Mei Qingsu also laughs: "Young Master, you are too polite. Old Master Xue has been as kind to me as a mountain."

The party members have all traveled together mostly because of Xue Huai'an.

Seeing a boat cutting through the lake, stirring up ripples, Xue Huai'an sees it approaching the shore.

He takes the opportunity to speak, his tone gentle: "This is the mother lake within the Grand View Garden. There is another sub-lake in the garden. Although it is called a lake, it is actually a deep pool. Because Master Hong used to wash his inkstone here when he practiced calligraphy at home, the ink stained it, and the pool water has been dark as ink all year round, hence the name 'Ink-Washing Pool'."

"The small courtyard behind the Grand View Garden is called the Hongjing Courtyard, and the inscription on the plaque is written by the Second Master himself."

Xue Huai'an narrates eloquently, and the originally slightly tense atmosphere in the field eases a bit.

Liu Zixin looks into the distance and suddenly sees a man holding an umbrella standing on the shore not far away.

That person seems to sense something, turns slightly, and casts his gaze toward their party.

She cannot help but be slightly stunned, exclaiming in admiration: "What a refined and handsome young man."

Hearing this, everyone follows her gaze.

Only to see, in the hazy misty rain, the young man holding a green bamboo umbrella, dressed in a plain, patternless long robe, his figure as straight as a pine.

His black hair is half-tied, fastened only by a black wooden hairpin, with the remaining hair hanging over his shoulders, his sleeves fluttering lightly in the wind.

Most of all, when those clear eyes like water look over, the whole person seems to have walked out of an ink-wash painting, carrying the scholarly elegance that can only be cultivated through reading, making people forget the mundane world when they see him.

Luo Su Su, the purple-clothed woman, frowns slightly, secretly shocked in her heart—with her cultivation, she only noticed the existence of this umbrella-holding young man just now.

This person seems to be one with the scenery of the lake and mountains, the spring rain and misty haze, without revealing any trace.

Hearing Liu Zixin's praise, Xue Huai'an coughs lightly, shaking his head jokingly: "Zixin, this praise of yours is a bit biased. When we first met, I didn't hear you praise me like this."

Liu Zixin wrinkles her delicate nose and snorts: "I didn't say that; it was Sister Zhirou who praised your extraordinary bearing."

Her eyes dart around, and she deliberately looks Xue Huai'an up and down, "Compare it yourself. From head to toe, what point is comparable to this umbrella-holding young man?"

She suddenly smiles mischievously, "Of course, when it comes to the ability to hide things, Young Master Xue is truly unparalleled. You kept us in the dark so well. Sister, don't you think so?"

Su Zhirou just smiles faintly with pursed lips.

Xue Huai'an touches his nose, knowing he is in the wrong, and can only shake his head and laugh bitterly.

The young man holding the umbrella seems to sense something, just glances back faintly, and then turns to look at the lake again.

However!

Mei Qingsu stares fixedly at the young man's back, suddenly a look of unconcealable shock flashing in his eyes.

Xue Huai'an asks suspiciously, "Master Mei, what is it?"

Mei Qingsu frowns, pondering for a long time before slowly opening his mouth: "This child's physiognomy... is truly strange. It is clearly a face of early death, destined not to live past the age of twenty, yet it reveals a noble and indescribable 'Heavenly Human' physiognomy."

He says this while his fingers are unconsciously calculating, as if verifying something.

"Noble and indescribable?" Xue Huai'an's expression tightens, "Could it be someone from the Nine Great Surnames?"

Mei Qingsu says, "No, it is not the background, but the physiognomy."

"I have seen countless kings, nobles, generals, and ministers, as well as peddlers and pawns with these eyes. But this child's physiognomy... is truly the strangest I have ever seen in my life."

"Strange!" Mei Qingsu feels increasingly weird, "This child's brow has death energy lingering; it should be a thin-fated face of early death. But how can this noble and indescribable energy coexist with the face of someone about to die?"

Xue Huai'an knows that this Chief Helmsman of the Giant Whale Gang has the title of "Calculating Heavenly Secrets." Besides being deep in the city and good at calculations, the main reason is that he followed a Daoist expert since he was a child and learned a set of physiognomy and Feng Shui studies.

He can judge a person's situation and future through physiognomy.

Being able to say this is naturally not groundless.

Xue Huai'an carefully ponders the four words "noble and indescribable."

The only thing that can be called noble and indescribable is the face of an emperor in the human world.

"Could this person be a descendant of the Chen family of the Great Qi? Born of royalty."

Mei Qingsu shakes his head: "For such noble people, the sun and moon corners will bulge, with two protrusions above the brow bone, the left being the sun corner for father's glory, and the right being the moon corner for mother's nobility. If both corners are towering, then the background is prominent and the foundation is deep."

"Second Young Master, you have a towering head and are successful at a young age."

"This young man's brow bone is sunken like it was carved by a knife. Not only does he have no ancestral shade, but he also has the disaster of blood within his family."

Xue Huai'an turns to ask Su Zhirou: "Zhirou, have you ever seen this young man?"

Su Zhirou, as the top courtesan of the Zixiao Pavilion, usually contacts the sons of the Nine Great Surnames. She shakes her head gently and says: "I have never seen this person."

Liu Zixin also echoes from the side: "If a young man of this style appeared in the Zixiao Pavilion, those sisters would probably keep him in their hearts, wishing they could swallow him alive."

She is curious in her heart and turns to ask: "Master Mei, why do you say this young man has a 'Heavenly Human' physiognomy?"

Mei Qingsu explains slowly: "The 'Heavenly Human' physiognomy also refers to the appearance of an immortal. The 'Great Clarity Divine Mirror' says: The appearance of an immortal is not limited to the beauty of the skin, but the divine light is restrained, and the Dao bones are naturally formed, thus showing the noble and indescribable appearance."

Just as they are speaking, on the lake surface, the water ripples gently, and a carved corridor boat sails slowly, gradually approaching the shore.

The boatman is an old man, seemingly a mute, who bows respectfully, signaling everyone to board the boat.

Some servants among the Nine Great Surnames are mutes, so everyone does not find it strange.

Xue Huai'an sees the young man standing alone on the shore, his figure lonely under the green bamboo umbrella, with no boatman to welcome him.

Thinking of the mysterious words of Mei Qingsu just now, he cannot help but feel a sense of inquiry.

He straightens his sleeves and invites him loudly: "This young master, the spring rain is dense, and the passenger boats are busy. If you don't mind, why not share a boat with us?"

Liu Zixin and the two women look over while holding their umbrellas.

The purple-clothed woman holding the sword shows curiosity in her eyes.

Mei Qingsu looks expectant.

～

【You stand on the bluestone rock, the lake mist is dense, taking in the appearance of the five people.】

【As your gaze shifts, the "Five Dragons Prosperous Fortune Method" of the Yin-Fu Seven Arts is outlined in your heart, and you look at the group again.】

【That middle-aged man, with steady steps and restrained aura, is undoubtedly a master of the Upper Three Realms of martial arts; and that purple-clothed woman holding the sword is even more imposing, her martial arts cultivation likely even higher than the middle-aged man's.】

【Particularly eye-catching is that young man in white. He is only twenty years old, yet he has already ignited the divine fire and stepped into the Eighth Realm of the Primordial Spirit.】

【You are slightly surprised in your heart; to have such achievements at this age is truly rare among the Nine Great Surnames.】

【The remaining two women have extraordinary beauty, not losing to courtesans like Hu Yunniang.】

【Just at this moment!】

【That young man in white suddenly calls out: "This young master, the spring rain is dense, and the passenger boats are busy. If you don't mind, why not share a boat with us?"】

【Hearing this, you feel a slight movement in your heart.】

(End of chapter)