Capital City Storms: Fated Encounter

I looked at her, and she looked at me. Perhaps she and I truly were fated. An indescribable feeling surged through my entire body, filling my soul. I felt warm all over, utterly comfortable in both body and spirit.

Yuwen Rou had already become lost in Zhang Xingfeng's deep eyes. In those eyes, she found a sense of security, as well as fulfillment for her soul.

I slowly woke from my daze. I was someone who dared to act, so I smiled and walked toward the lovely Sister Rou before me. With every step closer, I grew more nervous for some reason. When I finally stood before her and looked at her, I suddenly could not say a word.

He was coming over. He was walking toward me. What should I do? What should I do? Yuwen Rou grew even more nervous, her face flushing bright red. Feeling her cheeks burn, she hurriedly lowered her head.

I was, after all, a Golden Core Stage cultivator. After a while, I regained control of my emotions and said to the girl from my dreams before me, "Miss, I am Zhang Xingfeng. May I ask your name?"

The maid Yun'er, standing nearby, was greatly surprised to hear an eight- or nine-year-old child speak in such a refined manner. But her mistress was already in turmoil—how could she notice anything unusual about the boy before her? Yuwen Rou had grown up within a great family, rarely going outside and having few playmates. Everyone who spoke to her was refined and respectful. If Zhang Xingfeng had spoken like an ordinary child, Yuwen Rou might instead have found it strange.

Yuwen Rou was, after all, the treasured young lady of the Yuwen Family. She quickly calmed herself from her earlier fluster and, after hearing Zhang Xingfeng's question, lowered her head and gathered her thoughts before raising it again. In a soft, gentle voice, she said, "This humble girl is Yuwen Rou of the Yuwen Family. May I ask where you are from, Young Master?"

Hearing that, I gave a bitter smile. "Miss Yuwen, I am the Third Young Master Zhang who was cast out of the Zhang Family. I am now an idle man. Fortunately, I still have a group of brothers and sisters who are deeply attached to me. Otherwise, I would be all alone. Heh heh." I laughed at myself.

Yuwen Rou was somewhat surprised. So he was the Third Young Master Zhang who had been expelled from the Zhang Family, just like my elder brother. Thinking of Yuwen Meng, the elder brother who had cherished and protected her since childhood, Yuwen Rou could not help but feel a sense of closeness toward Zhang Xingfeng, who shared a similar fate.

Just as Zhang Xingfeng and Yuwen Rou were speaking, Li Tianxiang also walked toward Yuwen Rou. Seeing the two of them looking like a gentleman and a graceful lady, Li Tianxiang was nearly driven mad with rage, yet the smile on his face only grew broader.

"Miss Yuwen, it has been a long time since we last met. I truly never expected us to encounter one another here. It seems that fate is indeed a most wondrous thing." Li Tianxiang strode elegantly before Yuwen Rou. As though he had not seen Zhang Xingfeng beside her at all, he immediately began making friendly conversation with Yuwen Rou.

I saw this fellow again—the fellow I despised from the depths of my heart. Yet he possessed considerable power, making it difficult for me to cause him trouble. And now he was actually pretending not to see me. How arrogant. But how could I reveal my dislike of him? If I did, would that not make me seem narrow-minded? My image in Yuwen Rou's eyes would fall greatly as well.

With a smile, I cupped my hands toward Li Tianxiang and said, "My name is Zhang Xingfeng. May I ask if you are Young Master Li Tianxiang, the eldest son of the Li Family?"

Li Tianxiang had no desire to speak to Zhang Xingfeng beside him. But since Zhang Xingfeng had already spoken, if he did not answer, would he not appear petty and disdainful of ordinary people? Would Yuwen Rou not see him as some haughty rich young master who relied on the Li Family?

At that thought, Li Tianxiang immediately turned around with a smile and looked at Zhang Xingfeng. "That is indeed me. You are Third Young Master Zhang, are you? Oh, forgive me. I misspoke. I hope you will pardon me."

Seeing the remorseful expression on his face made my skin crawl. My Spiritual Sense could clearly feel the towering hatred he held toward me. It was precisely because of that that I felt a little frightened. A boy of only around ten could conceal everything in his heart so perfectly—how terrifying would he become once he grew up?

But I was, after all, an invincible cultivator with countless experiences of life. How could I fear him? No matter how formidable his mind was, how deep his schemes, or how convincing his disguise, before my Spiritual Sense, everything was laid bare.

Seeing him greet me with a smiling face, how could I show any pettiness? I returned several friendly smiles as well.

The moment Yuwen Rou saw Li Tianxiang, she felt somewhat uncomfortable. Although Li Tianxiang was perfect, whether in family background or in his conduct, he was simply too perfect. Looking at him felt unreal, and she could not truly accept him in her heart. Young Master Zhang Xingfeng beside her might not have a family background comparable to Li Tianxiang's, but he felt warm and genuine. Still, Li Tianxiang was the eldest son of the Li Family and the future head of the Li Family. For the sake of her own family, she could not slight him.

Yuwen Rou bent slightly at the waist and said with a smile, "Yuwen Rou greets the Eldest Young Master. I truly did not expect to meet you here. Yuwen Rou is very happy to see you."

Though they were merely polite words, Li Tianxiang did not possess my Spiritual Sense—how could he know that? The moment he heard Yuwen Rou say she was happy to see him, he immediately became excited. Yet he had received excellent training since childhood and quickly controlled himself, though the smile remained on his face.

"Eldest Young Master, Young Master Zhang, let us enter the academy now. Many people have already gone inside," Yuwen Rou said to Li Tianxiang and me.

Li Tianxiang and I smiled at one another and exchanged modest courtesies for a while before entering the gates of the National Martial Academy together, leaving behind my Big Brother Lang Feng and the others, as well as Li Tianxiang's study companions.

Amid bursts of laughter, we walked along the stone path and arrived at our destination—the teaching building of the National Martial Academy, the same small island we had visited last time.

Li Tianxiang beside us explained with a smile.

"This National Martial Academy took the imperial court three years to build. They diverted water from the moat to form this lake. The small island was also created by controlling the water level to leave precisely that much land exposed. How could a naturally formed island possibly be so small? And how could a stone path have been built in the water? The stone path was constructed first, and the water was let in afterward."

Only after hearing this did I understand everything. At first, I had wondered how such a large lake could exist in such a great capital city, and how such a long stone path could have been built in it. It seemed Li Tianxiang truly was no simple person. I raised my assessment of him slightly in my heart. One could never relax one's guard against an enemy.

"The Eldest Young Master is truly learned and well-read. This humble girl is greatly impressed," Yuwen Rou praised involuntarily.

Seeing that everyone ahead had entered the large building at the far west, I headed in that direction. Li Tianxiang and Yuwen Rou followed me toward the same building.

When we reached the entrance and looked inside, we discovered just how vast it was. It seemed capable of holding nearly a thousand people.

The moment I saw the people seated behind the row of tables at the very front, I knew they were holding an entrance assembly. We newly admitted students could only sit in the seats toward the back. Looking at the densely packed crowd inside, I was surprised to find that there were no fewer adults than children like us.

Not long after our group sat down, Yuwen Rou, Li Tianxiang, and I were seated in the same row. My elder brothers and the others, along with Li Tianxiang's study companions, sat beside us, while the maid sat next to me.

"Everyone, the National Martial Academy is opening once more today. Those coming here to study include children of wealthy and powerful families, outstanding young talents, and experts pursuing the Martial Way. On behalf of my imperial elder brother, I welcome you all." The man seated in the center wore a purple brocade robe embroidered with a four-clawed purple dragon. One look was enough to know that he was a prince.

In the Ming Dynasty, officials of the Third Rank and above wore purple robes and carried gold fish pouches; those of the Fifth Rank and above wore crimson robes and carried silver fish pouches; those of the Sixth Rank and below wore green robes and carried no fish pouches. If an official held a high office but had a low rank, he still wore the colors of his original rank. For instance, if someone served as a prime minister without reaching the Third Rank, his official title would necessarily include the words "Bestowed Purple and Gold Fish Pouch." Princes wore purple robes embroidered with four-clawed purple dragons, while the emperor wore a yellow dragon robe. It was said that during the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's robe bore an embroidered golden giant dragon. But the dragon on the current emperor's robe was an azure five-clawed giant dragon, expressing his determination to dominate the Azure Dragon Continent.

"Today, the National Martial Academy is deeply honored, for Young Master Li Tianxiang, the eldest son of the Li Family, has also joined us here. What delights us even more is that Young Master Li will donate two million taels of silver to our academy."

A wave of discussion and exclamations immediately broke out below. Many of them had not attended last year's auction and knew nothing of this. Now that they learned of it, how could they not be shocked? Two million taels! Only the Four Great Families and those count families could produce such an amount without batting an eye.

"Now, let us invite the Eldest Young Master to say a few words." Though this man was a prince, there was still a vast gap between him and the great families, especially the foremost family.

Li Tianxiang smiled apologetically at us and walked toward the stage. He cut a dashing figure, his heroic bearing pressing down on all around him. Those who saw him could not help but applaud inwardly. Though I disliked him, I had to admit that his outward appearance was impeccable.

"Miss Yuwen, I heard from my younger sister Yu Yan that your health is not very good. Is that true?" Seeing Yuwen Rou's frail appearance and the faint pallor on her face, I could not help worrying.

Hearing my words, Yuwen Rou could not help but feel bitterness rise in her heart. With a soft sigh, she said, "I have been weak since childhood. I have seen countless renowned physicians and consumed countless precious treasures, yet none of it has helped in the slightest. Because of this, I have never left home since I was young. Father feared that something outside might affect me. Only today have I finally been allowed to come out." The more she spoke, the sadder she became.

Looking at Yuwen Rou's sorrowful face, I felt as though a stone were blocking my heart, almost leaving me unable to breathe. I could not help saying:

"Miss Yuwen, may I take your pulse? I have also studied medicine before. Let me have a look and see whether there is anything I can do for you."

Seeing how concerned I looked, Yuwen Rou knew that I could not possibly help her, yet she did not wish to waste my kind intentions. So she extended her right hand.

I gently placed the middle and index fingers of my right hand on her wrist, sending out a thread of Spiritual Sense into her body to carefully examine her internal condition.

At that moment, Li Tianxiang had just returned from delivering his speech on the stage. But the instant he came back, he saw the intimate sight of the two of us with our hands together, and rage immediately blazed within him.

"Zhang Xingfeng, I will make sure you are utterly ruined and wish you were dead!"