To be honest, Hua Yan still felt a bit uneasy when she saw You Weitian.
His opponent the next day was far inferior to Mu Xuelang, and he won with ease. After gaining significant attention, he was surrounded by people seeking to make connections and exchange greetings. The previously obscure Shishan Sect suddenly gained recognition, with many people inquiring about its background, unable to discern anything from its martial arts.
Hua Yan, however, saw through it; it was likely something given by Yin Xiangsi.
When the Wan Gu Sect split off, they took many martial arts manuals with them. Although not exactly the same, they shared a common origin, so there were still similarities. The martial arts practiced by You Weitian should be the most toxic kind.
When Hua Yan was learning martial arts, her mother had told her, “You can learn whatever you want, but there’s one type you must never touch.” Standing in the Zhengyi Sect’s martial arts library, her mother pointed at a pile of red-covered manuals and tapped Hua Yan’s head, saying, “These techniques, although they can rapidly increase your skills in the short term, are extremely damaging to the body and significantly shorten your lifespan. Unless absolutely necessary, never touch them. Remember that.”
Hua Yan covered her head, “Got it!”
Her mother tapped her again, “Your father and I don’t matter, but you need to live a long life.”
Thinking back now and recalling You Weitian’s performance during the competition, Hua Yan felt he was truly a madman. For safety’s sake, she decided to keep her distance from him!
What a pity for her Dangshan Qingcheng unrequited love.
While she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard someone calling “Miss Zhou.” She didn’t realize it at first, but then the voice called “Miss Zhou” again, and a figure in white appeared in front of her.
Hua Yan asked, “Uh, are you calling me?”
The young man in white, holding a feather fan and with a jade staff at his waist, was dressed in simple colors yet exuded elegance. From head to toe, he was impeccable, standing gracefully before her and smiling slightly, “Yes, I was. Does Miss Zhou still remember me?”
Having seen him fight with Lu Chengzhao a few days ago, it wasn’t long enough for her to forget.
Hua Yan nodded, puzzled, “Is there something you need?”
Bai Yijiang smiled gracefully, speaking slowly, “I came specifically to apologize for my junior brother’s rudeness the other day. I’ve been preoccupied with the competition and couldn’t come sooner…”
Hua Yan casually asked, “Oh, did you finish your match? Did you win or lose?”
Bai Yijiang was momentarily taken aback.
Hua Yan quickly realized, “…Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s alright.” Bai Yijiang maintained his smile, still the epitome of a gentleman, “I was just not skilled enough and became a laughingstock. Today, I came to invite Miss Zhou to Tingyun Pavilion as a way to apologize. The vegetarian dishes there are excellent. I heard Miss Zhou has been looking for a place with outstanding food. I’ve been to Tingyun Pavilion many times and it’s indeed very good. I think you will like it as well.”
Oh my, this person talks just like her dad.
Hua Yan’s expression grew complicated.
Bai Yijiang misinterpreted her expression and said softly, “Miss Zhou, do you have any concerns? I assure you, I mean no harm. I genuinely want to apologize. Though I haven’t been in the martial world for long, I have some modest reputation. While I wouldn’t call myself a paragon of virtue, I always strive to be honest and upright…”
This person talks even more than she does!
Hua Yan, feeling a headache coming on, interrupted, “…Alright, you don’t have to say any more. I agree to go!”
Bai Yijiang immediately smiled. His appearance was very refined, and his smile was elegant and scholarly. With his plain white attire, he seemed almost otherworldly, as if he might ascend to immortality at any moment. Even now, many young women were secretly watching him.
“Thank you, Miss Zhou.”
Hua Yan asked, “But, can I bring a friend along?”
Bai Yijiang chuckled softly, “Why not?”
Hua Yan said, “Oh, great, then wait a moment, I’ll go get him!”
***
In a private room on the third floor of Tingyun Pavilion.
Bai Yijiang’s smile was somewhat strained.
Hua Yan blinked and said, “Didn’t you want to invite him for a drink and chat? Would you like to talk now?”
Bai Yijiang looked at the young man across from him, dressed in black with cold, icy eyes, emanating an aura that warned people to keep their distance. Bai Yijiang forced a smile, “I’m very glad that Young Hero Lu could join us.”
How could he have known that when Hua Yan said she would bring a friend, she would bring Lu Chengsha? It felt like being caught red-handed while digging at someone’s corner.
Lu Chengsha glanced at him coldly, showing no extra emotion.
Bai Yijiang, unsurprised by his attitude, continued to smile, “I didn’t expect Young Hero Lu to have time to join us today. I thought you had no interest in fine dining.”
Lu Chengsha ignored him.
Hua Yan interjected, “Not at all! Every time I take him to eat, he seems quite happy.”
Lu Chengsha: “Hmm.”
Bai Yijiang: “…???” You respond to that?
After the initial shock, Bai Yijiang smiled slightly, “That’s a surprise. I thought Young Hero Lu was only interested in the way of the sword and nothing else.”
Lu Chengsha ignored him again.
Hua Yan turned her attention to the waiter, busy ordering food.
“What are your signature dishes here? … So many? Then bring one of each. Dim sum? One of each kind as well! Not enough space on the table? Add another table then. Alright!”
Almost as soon as Hua Yan finished speaking, the waiter, legs trembling, practically tumbled out of the private room, as if this place were some kind of Shura battlefield.
The dishes were served as swiftly as the waiter had fled, as if fearing that any delay might result in the restaurant being smashed.
The plates at Tingyun Pavilion were quite large, but the portions were small, presented in a refined and delicate manner. Bai Yijiang, evidently a regular, described each dish knowledgeably, pointing to the dishes and speaking warmly, “This one is called ‘Rising Sun,’ this one is ‘Life is a Dream,’ and this one is ‘Lingering Smoke’…”
Hua Yan looked at the pumpkin tofu, cabbage with vermicelli, and stir-fried soybean sprouts before her, feeling it was all rather bizarre.
Skeptically, she picked up her chopsticks and tasted each dish.
Delicious!
Bai Yijiang hadn’t tricked her; it was genuinely delicious!
The sweetness of the pumpkin combined with the softness of the tofu melted in her mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance; the cabbage and vermicelli, simmered in rich broth for who knows how long, were tender and flavorful, each bite bursting with juiciness; the soybean sprouts were clearly fresh, perfectly cooked to retain their crispness and a hint of sweetness.
She immediately turned to Lu Chengsha, urging him, “You have to try this!”
Lu Chengsha picked up his chopsticks and tasted the food.
Hua Yan eagerly asked, “How is it?”
Lu Chengsha nodded, “Hmm.”
Bai Yijiang was slightly taken aback but quickly composed himself, coughing lightly.
Hua Yan swiftly extended her chopsticks towards the dishes on the added table, “Try these too… Great Hero Lu, which one do you think is the best?”
Wherever she pointed, Lu Chengsha would eat, and finally, he replied, “They’re all good.”
Hua Yan was very pleased; she thought they were all good too.
Bai Yijiang coughed again.
Hua Yan kindly asked, “Is your throat uncomfortable?”
Bai Yijiang replied, “…It’s nothing.”
With a thought, Bai Yijiang called the owner to warm a pot of wine for him and brought two jade cups. He pressed the wine pot with his fingertip and poured the wine until the cups were two-thirds full. With an elegant smile, he asked Hua Yan, “Miss Zhou, would you like to try the famous local wine ‘Drunken Mist’? It’s fragrant and mellow, but not intoxicating.”
Hua Yan immediately replied, “I don’t drink, thank you.” She turned to Lu Chengsha, “Great Hero Lu, do you want to drink?”
Lu Chengsha responded just as quickly, “No.”
“Then you should drink it yourself!” Hua Yan finished her sentence to Bai Yijiang, then turned back to Lu Chengsha, “The portions of these dishes are quite small. That ‘Rising Sun’ dish was quite tasty. Should we ask for another serving?”
Lu Chengsha nodded, “Hmm.”
Bai Yijiang felt he was quite unnecessary there.
Moreover, Bai Yijiang felt a strange, indescribable sensation. He knew he was popular. If the women of the martial world were asked to choose between Lu Chengsha and him, ninety-nine percent would probably choose him.
He was gentle, considerate, and knew how to make women happy. Even the eldest daughter of the Qiqin Tianxia, Qin Muyan, who was fixated on Lu Chengsha, would blush and speak coyly when conversing with him.
But right now, it seemed like none of that mattered.
Hua Yan seemed completely indifferent to him.
As for Lu Chengsha… it was as if Bai Yijiang was seeing him for the first time.
“Alright, I’m full.” Hua Yan patted her belly after tasting the last dessert served and tugged on Lu Chengsha’s sleeve, “Let’s go! Ah, by the way…” She seemed to remember something and smiled at Bai Yijiang, “Thank you for your hospitality!”
Bai Yijiang was a bit stunned, “You’re just leaving like this?”
Hua Yan had already stood up and was ready to leave. She responded, “Is there something else?”
Bai Yijiang hesitated, then said, “I wanted to be friends with Miss Zhou and… Young Hero Lu.”
Hua Yan said, “Oh, then we are already friends. Is there anything else?”
Lu Chengsha, who had also stood up by then, looked over coldly.
Bai Yijiang could only say, “…No, that’s all.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Hua Yan and Lu Chengsha had already disappeared.
The waiter, standing beside him, cautiously said, “Master Bai, the meal costs a total of one hundred taels of silver… Do you think…” He was afraid this master would decide to dine and dash if he got upset.
Bai Yijiang looked at the mess on the table and found it amusing. He couldn’t help but laugh.
***
On their way back to Dongfeng Buye Towet, Hua Yan was about to return to her room when she suddenly saw Lu Chengzhao sitting in the courtyard. He spoke coolly, “So, you really took him to Bai Yijiang’s banquet? Do you really not know or are you pretending?”
Hua Yan was a bit confused, “What’s the matter?”
She instinctively looked at Lu Chengsha, who then looked at Lu Chengzhao.
Suddenly, sweat started dripping down Lu Chengzhao’s forehead.
Immediately after, Lu Chengzhao erupted in fury!
Earlier that day, Lu Chengsha could have gone easy on him but didn’t hold back at all. His body still ached from the beating, and he had to endure his father’s scolding upon returning. Lu Chengzhao was already seething with anger, looking for someone to vent on, and now the culprit appeared right in front of him. His rage boiled over, and he couldn’t control his words.
“Threatening me won’t help. The one engaged to Bai Yaifeng was your mother, the one who ran away was also your mother, and the one who disgraced the Lu family of Tingjian Manor was still your mother. No matter how strong you are, it doesn’t change the fact that you are a bastard!”
As soon as the words fell, a deathly silence ensued.
The disciples of Tingjian Manor, who had been chatting nearby, also fell silent.
Lu Chengsha showed no reaction.
Hua Yan swiftly drew the sword Lu Chengsha had given her, moving with astonishing speed. The tip of the sword pointed at Lu Chengzhao’s nose. She smiled coldly, “Do you believe that I really will kill you?”
Having only practiced swordsmanship for two days, Lu Chengzhao naturally didn’t take Hua Yan seriously. But at this moment, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
The girl before him was smiling, but her eyes were icy cold.
For a split second, he felt it wasn’t Hua Yan holding the sword, but Lu Chengsha himself.
Damn, how did she even learn Lu Chengsha’s killing intent!