A Servant

Situ Qin sat in the study, her face brimming with Sha Qi.

Yet she was exquisitely beautiful, with snow-white skin and lively eyes glaring indignantly. Her stunning features were soul-stirring; even when she gritted her teeth fiercely, those close to her found her more endearing than frightening.

But Situ Qin was clearly truly upset, her little face dark and furious.

"Red Aunt, bring me my qin!"

Red Aunt sighed and soothed her.

"Miss, why get angry with someone like that? It would not be worth it if even a single hair on your head were harmed..."

"Yao Tianchuan? Hurt me?"

Situ Qin sneered.

"He can be arrogant before the Yunshan Sword Sect, but once he meets me, he is walking into a dead end."

Red Aunt faltered, while Li Tai shook his head.

"Even so, there is no need to take such a risk."

"He does not count as a risk."

Situ Qin shook her head repeatedly.

"You have protected me all the way, but can you protect me for a lifetime? In the end, once one reaches the later stages of cultivation, I will still have to fight and contend on my own."

Li Tai rarely showed such hesitation.

"That is true, but..."

He exchanged a glance with Red Aunt. Both knew what the other was thinking.

Perhaps under their protection, it was no great matter whether Situ Qin wandered the Sword Sect in search of secrets or climbed over the walls of the Judicial Surveillance Commissioner's Residence and got caught.

But if she came into conflict with members of the Eight Great Families—especially the Yao Family—that would be a genuine blood feud. They would not give her that courtesy. The other great families might somewhat heed the Emperor's words from back then, but the Yao Family, and Yao Tianchuan in particular, would likely never pass up an opportunity to secretly harm Situ Qin.

Moreover, in their eyes, Yao Tianchuan was indeed no weakling. Even if he might not be Situ Qin's match, if he went mad, the consequences would be impossible to predict.

Red Aunt let out a breath and said softly.

"Or I could just go kill him."

Hearing her say it so casually, Situ Qin's anger instead ebbed somewhat. She said helplessly.

"That is not necessary... Killing him now would bring endless trouble, and there is no need for it. I should teach him a lesson myself!"

Seeing that they could not persuade her, Li Tai and Red Aunt frowned and looked at Xie Yuan beside them.

"Xiao Xie, persuade Miss."

"Me?"

Xie Yuan pointed at himself, pondered for a moment, then pushed over the plate of pastries.

"Miss Qin, now that things have come to this, have some pastries first."

Situ Qin had thought Xie Yuan would say something else. She eyed him sidelong, never expecting him to urge her to eat.

For a moment, she did not know whether to laugh or cry. She was about to push the pastries away in a huff, but when her hand touched the plate, she could not bear to. Still puffing with anger, she picked up a pastry and began chewing fiercely.

After two bites, the sweet, fragrant flavor of the delicate pastry—her favorite—gradually took much of the wind out of her sails.

As Li Tai and Red Aunt watched Situ Qin eat and eat, her anger visibly fading, they exchanged startled looks.

Miss had really been won over by him...

Their expressions were complicated. But they had long known that Situ Qin's relationship with Xie Yuan was anything but ordinary; they had watched it unfold all this time, and they would not oppose it.

As for Situ Qin's decisions, so long as they were not too outrageous, they had always let her do as she pleased. Besides, although Situ Qin appeared carefree and unconstrained, someone of her background had matured early and knew exactly what she was doing.

Seeing Situ Qin reveal her true nature as a foodie, Xie Yuan chuckled. Only after her mood had calmed somewhat did he say.

"Miss Qin, a rich man's son does not sit beneath a crumbling wall. Provoking you into acting is exactly what Yao Tianchuan wants. If you go accept his challenge, would that not be fulfilling a villain's wish?"

Situ Qin pursed her lips.

"I would only fight him once. What could he possibly do to me?"

"Dignified Miss Qin! Being provoked into personally stepping onto the field to fight someone to the death would only lower your status!"

Xie Yuan spoke in an exaggerated tone.

"You must maintain strategic composure and not fall for the enemy's treacherous scheme. The more the enemy wants us to do something, the less we should let him have his way..."

Seeing Xie Yuan launch into an endless lecture in the Small Stone Village dialect again, Situ Qin burst into laughter, and the gloom on her face completely vanished.

She smiled, then pressed her lips together.

"Then tell me, what should we do? Are we supposed to let him off just like that? Would that not only make him bolder?

"No. I had not even paid him any mind before, and I even thought his arrogance was somewhat interesting. But then he went and set the fire on my head, and he even dared to say that..."

At this point, Situ Qin's face darkened, and she grew angry again.

"No, no. You all refuse to let me go, so should I just let him be so arrogant? How am I supposed to swallow this anger?"

"Simple. I will go in your place."

Xie Yuan pointed at himself.

"You?"

Situ Qin stared at him in surprise, and Li Tai and Red Aunt also turned their gazes toward him.

"Yes, me."

Xie Yuan nodded.

"I found him unpleasant today as well. I will simply go find him tonight and exchange a few moves with him, to vent your anger for you."

When Situ Qin heard that Xie Yuan was angry too, she knew it could not all be because of the Yunshan Sword Sect, and warmth welled in her heart. But when she heard that he intended to challenge Yao Tianchuan, hesitation immediately appeared on her face as she chose her words.

"Chief Escort Leader Xie, I appreciate your intentions! Um, but there is no need to challenge him."

Xie Yuan raised a brow and smiled.

"What? You do not trust me? Afraid I will get beaten up?"

"It is not that I do not trust you. I just suddenly feel that getting angry with someone like him is... meaningless."

Xie Yuan glanced at her from the side.

"I saw you nearly grind your teeth to dust, yet you say it is meaningless. No, I have to vent your anger!"

"Uh... Take a step back, and the sea is wide and the sky is vast."

Situ Qin instead began persuading Xie Yuan.

"I am not angry anymore. Do not bother tangling with him."

By now, Situ Qin had already abandoned the thought of going to cause trouble for Yao Tianchuan.

Red Aunt and Li Tai secretly nodded. This tactic of advancing in order to retreat was quite good, deeply versed in the ways of warfare... Yet for some reason, they also felt worried.

It felt as though Miss had already been completely wrapped around his finger. She would rather give up venting her anger than have him force himself.

Red Aunt shook her head repeatedly at the side, angry that Situ Qin had failed to live up to expectations.

Yet Xie Yuan continued.

"Even if his family and elders protect him, how can he speak such wild words without paying a price? If he dared insult you, then he must be prepared to suffer the consequences."

His tone was serious and level, as though he were stating some self-evident truth.

Li Tai and Red Aunt swiftly turned their heads, surprise showing on their faces.

They had thought Xie Yuan was saying this deliberately to make Situ Qin give up the idea, but now it seemed that he was serious?

This... young people truly were too impulsive.

Both wanted to speak, yet held back.

Hearing Xie Yuan's earnest words, Situ Qin's expression shifted, and her eyes shone as she looked at him. Yet she still shook her head firmly.

"Forget it, Chief Escort Leader Xie. You saw Yao Tianchuan's strength today. He really is quite capable. You have only just broken through to the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm... Help me vent this anger later! After some more time passes, you will definitely have no problem. Mm, dignified Chief Escort Leader Xie, if you fell for his provocation too, would that not also cost you face?"

"You are still worried about me."

Xie Yuan smiled faintly.

"It is fine. I will go test him out and scout the way for you. You know what I can do. If I cannot beat him, I can run; there will be no great problem. If I am defeated, then tomorrow you can go win back our dignity, avenge me, and vent your anger personally. How about it?"

Upon hearing that, Situ Qin felt it made a little sense. He had promised that if he could not win, she could take action herself, so why not? With that miraculous secret technique of his, even Red Aunt could not see through him clearly. If he wanted to run, Yao Tianchuan certainly would not be able to catch him.

Her large eyes spun, and she immediately instructed him.

"Then we will do as you say! Do not try to be brave. If you cannot win, run at once."

"Do not worry. I am not stupid."

Xie Yuan chuckled at her words, then took his leave.

After he left, Situ Qin was still somewhat worried, yet also a little happy. Half-smiling and half-sighing, she said.

"This fellow..."

Li Tai and Red Aunt exchanged glances at Situ Qin's expression.

The latter shook her head.

"That boy has tricks. Miss is completely no match for him."

Li Tai fell silent for a moment, then said.

"For the sake of winning Miss's favor, he is overestimating himself. Most unwise."

Red Aunt rolled her eyes at him and snorted.

"You hopelessly unromantic fool, what do you know? Once he comes back battered and bruised, Miss will only worry about him all the more. If I had not seen that his nature was pure and kind, and that he truly treated Miss well, I would have long ago removed him as someone with ulterior motives."

When Xie Yuan returned to the Servant Courtyard, he found everyone seething with emotion. They were even discussing the many private fights that had broken out during the day, with brutal outcomes. Only then was he startled.

He had remained at the Flower Valley Guest Courtyard until now and had not known that, in just half a day, the conflict between the two sides had escalated this far. Later, even grandmaster elders had stepped in to suppress it, preventing an all-out clash.

Yet when Yao Tianchuan was mentioned, though everyone gnashed their teeth, they could do nothing.

All had witnessed his formidable performance. He was nearly invincible within the Qi and Blood First Transformation Realm. At any rate, the Yunshan Sword Sect could not produce an opponent for him. Other than swallowing their anger, what else could they do?

As for sending someone from the Second Transformation Realm to teach him a lesson, they were a great sect after all and could not afford that humiliation. Many even doubted whether an ordinary Second Transformation Realm cultivator would truly be Yao Tianchuan's match.

The suspicion was utterly absurd. Every transformation in the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm was a true transformation, and defeating an enemy across realms was almost impossible. But Yao Tianchuan's performance had left too deep an impression, and he already possessed similar battle records. Thus, the Yunshan Sword Sect disciples' spirits had wavered, their courage stolen away.

Xie Yuan joined in the discussion briefly, then fetched water to wash up, steadied his breathing, and waited until the sky darkened further before silently heading out.

Outside a guest courtyard.

Yao Tianchuan stood at the edge of a cliff, wielding his longsword as he practiced his swordsmanship.

After finishing one set of sword techniques, he practiced another. Only when he began to sweat lightly did he stop.

Though the silver moon had already risen, the sparring during the day had been nowhere near satisfying enough for him. It was not as pleasurable as practicing a few more sets of sword techniques.

Moreover, Situ Qin's refusal to accept his challenge had left him deeply dissatisfied.

At that thought, Yao Tianchuan's face darkened slightly. He thrust his sword viciously, piercing straight through a massive boulder beside him.

With a bang, the boulder exploded, shattered stones flying through the air and striking his body. Yet he did not react at all.

He slowly withdrew his sword and gritted his teeth.

"Enchantress, for the blood feud as deep as the sea, I will surely repay you. Otherwise, may I end up like this stone!

"And the Enchantress's daughter, I will surely..."

"What will you surely do?"

A ghostly voice sounded, and Yao Tianchuan's expression changed as he whipped around.

Beneath a large tree by the cliff stood a figure in Yunshan Sword Sect attire. No one knew when he had appeared. His face was hidden in shadow, impossible to make out clearly.

Yao Tianchuan frowned deeply and shouted.

"Who... A servant? Did I not tell you all to leave this place? Is this how your Yunshan Sword Sect disciplines its disciples? Have they not taught you that spying on others practicing is a grave taboo?"

He sensed that something was wrong. This person wore a servant's uniform, yet had approached so closely without him noticing in the slightest. Had he truly been that careless just now?

Yao Tianchuan walked toward the figure and said coldly.

"I already told all of you to get the hell out of here, so why are you still here? Are you trying to steal my techniques? State your name. I will speak to your master and elders about this!"

Standing beneath the tree, Xie Yuan kept his face hidden and laughed softly.

"With those three-legged cat tricks of yours, you think they are worthy of me stealing?"

Yao Tianchuan's expression changed slightly as he said in a deep voice.

"Arrogant! A mere servant dares speak such wild words. Speak! What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing? I heard you did not enjoy yourself enough during the day, so I came to grant our honored guest his wish."

Xie Yuan said calmly.

Yao Tianchuan froze, then revealed a disdainful look.

"With a servant like you, do you deserve to make me draw my sword? Your senior brothers have all been defeated, and you..."

Yao Tianchuan's words came to an abrupt stop.

A cold gleam flashed, like a long dragon emerging from the clouds.

Xie Yuan's hand had only moved slightly, yet the Sword Peak had already stopped at Yao Tianchuan's throat. Advance it another inch, and it could pierce straight through.

Yao Tianchuan excelled with the swift sword, yet he had not guarded against this strike. For a moment, he did not dare move at all, his eyes narrowing.

Xie Yuan smiled.

"May I invite you to draw your sword now?"

"You... who exactly are you?"

Yao Tianchuan's throat moved as he asked with a grave expression.

Xie Yuan said calmly.

"Yunshan Sword Sect. A servant."

Thank you, Summer Flowers' Splendor, for the reward! Thank you, Yingxu L, for the reward!

Thank you, bosses, for your support! orz