As Expected

The ferryboat sailed high above the ground. The wind blew through the heavens; even those who were not immortals felt like people among the clouds.

Chen Ping'an smiled and teased Li Huai. "You've traveled so far for your studies and even roamed the martial world with Pei Qian. Didn't you meet a woman who caught your fancy?"

What did it mean for someone to catch your fancy? Perhaps it was a fleeting glimpse amid a surging sea of people, one you could never forget.

Li Huai shook his head. "Nope. I look like a crooked melon and a cracked jujube. I take after my dad, so any woman who isn't blind would look right past me. At least I know that much about myself. Even if I wanted someone to swindle me out of my money and virtue, I don't have the wealth or the looks for it. But there's an upside: if a woman ever does like me, she'll definitely like me for who I am. So what's the rush? I'll wait patiently."

In truth, Li Huai was not bad-looking. He was a young man with thick brows and large eyes, and by any measure his features were pleasant enough.

The Young Taoist Priest sighed. "Young Master, your modesty is terrifying."

Liu Chicheng nodded along. "The first time I saw Young Master Li, I thought he had the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix. Such natural gifts."

Madam Tuoyan thought of Mi Yu at Spring Banner Zhai and suddenly understood why her relationship with Chen Ping'an had always remained lukewarm. So that was what she had been missing.

Li Huai took neither the Young Taoist Priest's nor Pavilion Master Liu's "words from the heart" seriously. Insults weighed little with him; praise weighed even less.

When