Chapter 631: Inside Yaoxian Tower, Xie Guan No Longer Exists in This World!

A beautiful maid beside Zhao Yang hurriedly bent to pick up the broken porcelain, but he stomped down hard on her handback.

"Ah!"

The maid cried out in pain, then swallowed it back.

Sharp shards pierced her palm; blood dripped from her trembling fingertips onto the cold blue bricks.

Zhao Yang ground his foot a few more times; seeing her bite her lip to endure the pain, he found it dull.

"Something that doesn't even dare scream—get out!"

Several young lords who usually socialized with him, aware of Zhao Yang's capricious temper as the second son of the Zhao family's main branch, quickly found excuses to take their leave.

Soon, only Zhao Yang remained.

"Why are you so angry, Yang-ge?"

A soft, warm voice sounded just then.

Zhao Yang looked up to see Xie Renfeng in a moon-white brocade robe, his features handsome, every gesture exuding the grace of a gentleman.

Behind Xie Renfeng walked a maid in her early twenties, clad in a luxurious black-green silk gown that accentuated her tall, elegant figure.

A delicate silver hairpin adorned her head; her hands rested neatly crossed at her waist.

It was Gan Zhi, her face now bearing a few more signs of weariness than in years past.

"Cousin Renfeng," Zhao Yang sneered, "tell me—why is Xie Guan still running around alive at the Qunfang Banquet?"

"He's now won the favor of the Third Master and Minister Su—his star is rising fast."

As the Zhao family's second legitimate son, Zhao Yang had always been arrogant before Xie Renfeng.

Now he leaned back in his high-backed chair, tone brimming with impatience and accusation.

Xie Renfeng's expression remained calm; upon hearing Xie Guan had ascended Yaoxian Tower, he had followed immediately.

Though he had no right to host a table on Yaoxian Tower, he could move freely within it.

This time, his father Xie Hong had unexpectedly asked whether he wished to join the banquet on Yaoxian Tower.

A flicker of regret in his father's gaze stirred Xie Renfeng's heart.

How long had it been since his father showed such concern for him and his mother?

Seeing this, Lady Zhao nearby could not help but wipe away tears with her handkerchief.

Unwilling to burden his father, Xie Renfeng politely declined the Yaoxian Tower seat and went downstairs to Area Jia.

"Brother Yang, don't rush."

"Xie Guan won't enjoy his glory for long. Minister Su and the Third Master have set a challenge: he must compose a poem on the Immortals and the Qunfang Banquet. If he fails to produce verses worthy of their approval—"

Zhao Yang raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

Xie Renfeng then recounted in detail how Xie Guan had conspired with the Three True Ones of Great Sui.

Though protected by the Third Master, he had made a pact with Minister Su: if his poetry fell short, he would be imprisoned and interrogated.

Hearing this, Zhao Yang's gloom vanished: "Xie Guan is courting death—daring to ally with the Three True Ones, a heretical sect!"

A cold gleam flashed in Zhao Yang's eyes: "The Qunfang Banquet is nearly over—only ten courtesans remain to perform. How much time does he have to write a poem worthy of Minister Su's approval?"

But Xie Renfeng was not so certain: "Even if he does produce a fine poem, it will only grant him fleeting glory at the Qunfang Banquet."

He paused. "The Xie family has decided: tomorrow we will convene the ancestral assembly and expel Xie Guan from Xie Fu."

"Once he loses the Xie family's protection, his life or death will be entirely in your hands, Brother Yang."

Zhao Yang's lips curled into a cruel smile: "I'll make him beg for death—and be denied it."

Xie Renfeng smiled but said nothing.

Zhao Yang suddenly frowned, puzzled: Why had his personal retainer Shen Kui, sent to assassinate Xie Guan, not returned? Had something gone wrong?

Xie Renfeng sensed Zhao Yang's unease: "Likely some accident on the road. I heard Lady Xu of the Sima family met with misfortune too—why dig deeper? Matters involving the Nine Surnames—Xuanjing Si will turn a blind eye."

Zhao Yang nodded indifferently.

To him, losing a capable "servant" wasn't worth the trouble of investigation—it would only invite trouble.

He turned to the maid again, seeing her still clutching her bleeding hand, and grew displeased:

"What are you standing there for? Don't you see Cousin Renfeng has arrived? Clean the floor at once!"

The maid hurriedly bowed, but saw Xie Renfeng approaching, pulling out a plain white handkerchief.

"Miss, wait."

Xie Renfeng gently called to her, taking her bloodied hand.

The maid instinctively tried to pull away, but he held her firmly.

"Your hand is still bleeding."

Xie Renfeng's voice was gentle as he carefully bandaged her wound.

The maid lowered her head, her ears faintly reddening, yet dared not struggle.

In her heart, she thought: This Xie family's young master is truly a gentleman.

Xie Renfeng instructed Gan Zhi to clean up the broken porcelain.

Gan Zhi bent to gather the shards, her black-green gown accentuating her graceful figure.

Zhao Yang paid no mind to Xie Renfeng's tender gesture toward the maid; his gaze fixed instead on Gan Zhi.

She was tall, half a head taller than ordinary maids; her slender waist hinted beneath her robe, her curves exquisitely defined.

Below her waist, her hips were full and rounded.

"Heh." Zhao Yang chuckled.

"Slap—"

A large hand boldly gripped Gan Zhi's waist.

She had sensed Zhao Yang's approach; now she trembled, feeling him press closer, more brazen than ever.

Gan Zhi looked desperately toward her young master—but Xie Renfeng was focused entirely on bandaging the maid's wound, as if unaware.

Seeing this, Zhao Yang grew even bolder.

Gan Zhi could not hold back her tears.

"I'm truly happy for Master Guan today!"

Zhang Yuanlai sighed, his face rare with genuine joy.

One by one, the courtesans departed.

Prince Yan Chen Ting, Prince Er Chen Feng, and other princes had long vanished; Zhang Yunzhi, Xie Yuan, and others hurried toward Yaoxian Tower.

Inside the private chamber remained only Li Xiangjun, Zhou Yuner, Feng Yaya, and Jia Yu.

He Xiao looked dejected: "Why are you so pleased, Brother Zhang? Today's glory isn't yours."

Zhang Yuanlai smiled: "Shouldn't one rejoice for a friend? Master Guan never gave up in Xie Fu—that's how he achieved this."

Zhou Yuner's eyes sparkled with curiosity: "Brother Zhang, can you tell us about Master Guan's past?"

"Why not?"

Zhang Yuanlai sighed softly: "Master Guan is a tragic soul—he lost his mother at eight."

Li Xiangjun also leaned in to listen.

By the time Zhang Yuanlai finished, Zhou Yuner's eyes were red.

Zhang Yuanlai continued: "At nine, Master Guan wept until he went blind—but he beat Young Master Yuan at Go, and only then was he allowed to bring me and Brother He to study."

"How cruel are the Nine Surnames! Doesn't the Dingyuan Marquis feel any father-son bond?" Zhou Yuner cried out in indignation.

Feng Yaya sighed: "The depths of a marquis's household are vast; the struggle for heirship is always brutal."

Jia Yu felt a rising respect.

A blind boy, studying so relentlessly—truly a man of self-strengthening virtue.

Zhang Yuanlai was about to speak of the past in Xie Fu's Hongjing Courtyard: "Master Guan often copied texts for Master Hong—"

Suddenly, He Xiao gently tugged his sleeve.

Zhang Yuanlai turned in surprise—and his face changed instantly; he bowed deeply:

"Master Luo Jing!"

Without notice,

a tall old man stood behind them.

His hair was white but his face ruddy, his topknot immaculate, his expression kind and gentle.

Jia Yu and the others dared not be careless; they all bowed: "Greetings, Director Luo."

Their titles varied, each for good reason.

He Xiao and Zhang Yuanlai, though they had passed the Licentiate exam, had never studied in any academy—so they respectfully called him "Master," for Luo Jing was an academy instructor.

Jia Yu and the other three called him "Director," because Luo Jing was also the headmaster of Chongshan Academy, a renowned Confucian scholar famed across the land.

Had he not retired, he would now be Minister of Revenue of the Great Qi.

And a disciple of the Third Master.

These layered honors made everyone even more uneasy.

Zhou Yuner and the others, upon learning his identity, hurriedly bowed as well.

But Luo Jing smiled: "Don't mind this old man—weren't you just speaking of Xie Guan and Master Hong?"

Zhang Yuanlai fell silent, unsure how to respond.

The old man, aware of his status, did not press; instead he asked: "I heard you're returning to Longxi? Has Bianjing grown too dull for you?"

Zhang Yuanlai was startled—how could this important figure know his plans?

He dared not conceal it and replied respectfully, "This student indeed harbors such a thought. I've been away from home for over twenty years and wish to see the bricks and tiles of my homeland."

"Is this a sincere wish, or one born of necessity?" Luo Jing smiled meaningfully.

Zhang Yuanlai could only nod in agreement.

Luo Jing stroked his beard and smiled, "Third Master says you study diligently, treat others with sincerity, and possess keen judgment. If you feel no hardship, would you be willing to come to the academy tomorrow to study?"

"This—"

Zhang Yuanlai's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Could Third Master even know his name—and had personally recommended him to the academy?

He instinctively glanced at Feng Yaya, wondering if he had misheard.

Feng Yaya held his hand, her eyes brimming with joy: "Zhang Lang, why don't you answer Elder Luo?"

Zhang Yuanlai quickly bowed deeply: "This student accepts!"

The tall old man nodded with a smile: "Come early tomorrow. The day's plan begins at dawn."

Jia Yu and the other two looked on with envy.

To enter the academy and study meant a future of swift advancement.

He Xiao was even more astonished.

As Luo Jing was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Zhou Yuner: "Miss, might I see your painting, 'Cloud and Mist Probing the Dragon's Head'?"

Zhou Yuner quickly unrolled the scroll.

Luo Jing studied it intently, his eyes filled with admiration:

"Thunder startles heaven and earth, dragons and snakes stir; rain fills the fields, grass and trees grow soft. Though the dragon's eyes remain unmarked, it already carries the momentum to soar—truly grasping the essence of painting."

"This painting is worthy of passing down through generations. Do not sell it unless absolutely necessary."

Zhou Yuner respectfully rolled up the scroll and nodded firmly.

Even after the old man departed, Zhang Yuanlai remained dazed.

Feng Yaya whispered gently: "Zhang Lang, you're squeezing my hand too tightly."

Zhang Yuanlai snapped back to himself, immediately releasing her delicate, boneless hand, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He could not fathom it: why would Third Master of the academy know his name—and why had Luo Jing, such a great scholar, come personally?

Li Xiangjun pondered silently but was glad for Feng Yaya—now that Zhang Yuanlai was an academy student, he need not journey to Longxi; he could establish himself in Bianjing.

Feng Yaya, observing clearly, whispered: "Zhang Lang, when Elder Luo arrived, did he mention anyone?"

Zhang Yuanlai suddenly realized: "Young Master Xie Guan!"

He Xiao sank into his chair, gazing at the beautiful woman beside Zhang Yuanlai, thinking of how Zhang Yuanlai would soon become an academy student.

Success in career, stability in family!

In an instant, their fates had become as distant as clouds and mud.

He Xiao's heart ached with bitter helplessness.

～

～

Yu Ke sat alone in the quiet chamber of Yaoxian Pavilion, lost in deep thought.

Suddenly!

The door opened, and a limping old man walked in slowly.

Yu Ke recognized him—the same old man who had claimed to be from the Su Xiang household at the Qunfang Banquet, the one who had escaped unscathed from both the Demon Master and Master Lianchi.

The limping old man grinned: "Xie Guan, long time no see."

"Master Su has another message for me to deliver—should Master Guan's poetry tonight fail to satisfy him—"

His voice cut off abruptly!

Thin blue smoke curled from the gilded incense burner, casting flickering shadows across Xie Guan's face.

The limping old man's tone turned icy, sharp as frozen blades, chilling to the bone:

"Tonight, if you fail to satisfy Master Su, you will not take a single step out of this chamber."

"From this moment on, Xie Guan will cease to exist in this world."

(End of Chapter)