Chapter 305: The Proposal of Taking an Apprentice

In such a short time, meeting again already felt like things had changed and people were no longer the same.

Although Qi Wu Guniang tried her best to ease the relationship, she clearly did not understand how to do so; her words and actions were very awkward, extremely awkward.

Beside her, Qi Qingyao was no longer her usual proactive self, filled with heavy thoughts.

"Step aside to talk!"

After a moment, seemingly unable to endure the current atmosphere, Qi Wu Guniang took the initiative to invite Zhou You.

This was to avoid Qi Qingyao and speak in private! The two walked to one side, and Qi Wu Guniang flicked her sleeves, "All of you, withdraw; we have a few words to say."

The servants and maids who had emerged from the shadows retreated very tactfully, and there was no longer any sound of breathing or the lingering warmth unique to human bodies in the vicinity.

Zhou You watched Qi Wu Guniang with great interest, wanting to hear what else he had to say.

"Zhou You, you are highly valued by the Third Young Master; you appear infinitely glorious on the surface, but in reality, a great disaster is imminent."

This rhetoric is quite classic! First, use empty words to intimidate, and then follow up with a suggestion.

"Do you know that the Third Young Master's regard for you is a bit excessive?"

Zhou You rubbed his chin; it made some sense. As someone at the peak of Blood Qi, the treatment he received was more generous than that of the family's martial arts masters.

A noble family has abundant resources and employs over two dozen martial arts masters; is a single Blood Qi warrior, no matter how strong his potential, worth such generous treatment?

"I am useful to you; do you want to know why?"

"Let's hear it!"

Qi Wu Guniang gave the answer, "Someone mentioned that you once fought with Yan Ping and survived; once he deals with Kunpengzi and Commander Chen, it will be your turn."

"Bringing you into the family is like burying a thread connected to Moyunzi."

"Now do you know why Senior Brother Qi Fengzhang is courting you so much?"

After listening, Zhou You struck his palm, "Understood."

Qi Wu Guniang breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately heard, "Since I am so valuable, couldn't I strive for more favorable treatment?"

"Fifth Miss, it wouldn't be a problem for me to seek to marry three people at once, right?"

Qi Wu Guniang widened her eyes, pointing at Zhou You with a trembling finger; this was being blinded by lust and losing one's senses.

Not realizing the situation even when it was upon him, still thinking of gaining both wealth and beauty—such a person is simply beyond saving.

After Qi Wu Guniang left in a huff, Qi Qingyao saw this and stepped up, "Why did you make her angry again?"

"Who knows? Maybe our horoscopes don't match?"

Zhou You shrugged, "Qingyao, how have you been lately?"

His attitude toward Qi Qingyao was the best, entirely because of her strong desire to survive.

Qi Qingyao suddenly knelt halfway toward Zhou You, "Zhou You, I know you have no intentions toward me, but for the sake of our acquaintance, could you do me a favor?"

"Hmm, please speak!"

He certainly couldn't help with a big favor, but a small one might be worth considering.

"I know something big is about to happen; recently, many strange martial artists have appeared in the household, all coming from outside."

"The daily food supply has been cut, the fruits and vegetables are not fresh, and some people have already started to go hungry."

"Although my status is low, I can see that the city is about to fall into chaos. If something happens to the family, the only ones who can be protected are those legitimate sons and daughters; even Qi Wu is one of those being abandoned."

Zhou You could not help but be surprised; how keen and intelligent this woman was, guessing the truth from mere daily traces.

Could it be that she wanted his help to save her life in a moment of crisis? To be honest, it was difficult. If it truly reached the point where even the Qi Family could not protect its own women, his individual strength would be a drop in the bucket; rushing in blindly would be suicide!

"My parents are both dead, and I have only a young brother I cannot stop worrying about; I want to shamelessly entrust him to you." "Although he shares the surname Qi with me, he came by changing his surname and joining the clan; he is not of the direct line and is not valued."

"My brother, Qi Qingdi, has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood and is my only hope in this life; I beg you to take him away!"

Qi Qingyao's tone was urgent, her slender hands gripping the corner of Zhou You's clothes, erupting with a stubborn strength beyond her physique.

When noble families expand themselves, besides marriage, there is also changing surnames and joining the clan.

Qi Qingyao was from such a source; although she had changed her surname, her status was different from the direct line, and in the family, she was at a mediocre level, not even comparable to Qi Wu Guniang, who was born of a concubine.

Although they were considered members of the Qi Family, they really didn't enjoy much of the noble family's benefits, yet they contributed the most.

It was equivalent to labor dispatch in a large corporation.

Zhou You originally didn't want to agree. Was he crazy to invite a spy from the Qi Family into his home to monitor him twelve hours a day, leaving him with no secrets at all?

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind; perhaps it could work! Qi Fengzhang treated him generously now, surely harboring precautions in secret. If he took the initiative to invite a spy into his home, with Zuo Shier and Tie Niu watching, they wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.

In this way, the other party would be at ease, and he would be at peace too! "No problem, I will have a word with Senior Brother Qi."

Qi Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief, blood returning to her originally pale face, and she said shyly, "Young Master Zhou's kindness is such that I have nothing to repay you with; I can..."

Stop right there?

Zhou You said tactfully, "For those of us who practice martial arts, preserving one's essence and maintaining balance is the proper path; I accept your good intentions."

One wanted to offer herself, while the other sternly refused.

In the end, Qi Qingyao's face turned beet red, and she covered her face with her sleeves and ran away.

Zhou You watched her back and sighed softly; if you had insisted for just a moment longer, I wouldn't have been able to hold out.

Sigh, speaking of which, after reaching the 9th stage of Blood Qi, he entered a state of fullness and overflow.

He began to understand why Wang Jianxiong, at his advanced age, still doted on his concubines every day.

For those who practice martial arts, so-called abstinence from women is not absolute; daily practice of boxing and martial arts requires a focused mind, and wine and women can easily interfere with concentration.

But if one reaches a bottleneck and is in a state of overflowing Blood Qi, one needs Yin-Yang Harmony to resolve the dry heat and agitation.

Every famous martial arts master has a house full of wives and concubines, and none are neglected; they are all kept perfectly submissive.

His opportunistic elder brother Zhang Huaimin also had to frequently visit the gardens, spending money and effort on the young women—hard work! Zhou You was in the prime of his youth, and recently at the peak of Blood Qi, accumulating massive amounts of Blood Qi to break through the martial arts master barrier.

Interacting with these charming young women and smelling the fragrance of the opposite sex, it was hard to guarantee he wouldn't be distracted.

Besides, Qi Qingyao's pitiful appearance, paired with her exaggerated figure, was simply tempting him to commit a crime!

"Do the real work first!"

Sure enough, when Zhou You found Qi Fengzhang and brought up this matter, he readily agreed.

"Qi Qingdi is a bright child; you must teach him well."

"Qi Qingyao doesn't have much money, so I will cover her brother's boxing tuition; here is 3,000 taels, enough for three years."

This was too much; a private instructor fee of 1,000 taels a year was no less than what one would pay to hire a martial arts master.

Qi Fengzhang knew clearly that the so-called boxing lessons were just an excuse; Qi Qingyao wanted to find a way out for her brother, and he also wanted to take the opportunity to plant an informant in Zhou You's household, so both sides hit it off immediately.

Zhou You's sensibility regarding this matter also made him very satisfied.

The 3,000 taels were more of a reward and bestowal from Qi Fengzhang to Zhou You, sent under the guise of Qi Qingdi's name.

Zhou You did not decline either and accepted the money.

(End of chapter)