Reputation

The carriage slowed as it entered the bustling market.

The wheels churned, kicking up splashes of dirty snow as they intermingled with the footprints of pedestrians.

As they passed a lively restaurant, Qi Yu suddenly heard his name amidst the din.

Someone was actually discussing him!

He lifted the curtain slightly, a hint of surprise on his face.

It was Pin Hai Restaurant.

This restaurant was an establishment of the Qian Family.

The Qian Family primarily dealt in merchant associations and escorting goods, traveling extensively throughout the land. This allowed them to offer delicacies like sweet shrimp from the Northern Sea and various exquisite raw fish dishes and shellfish at Pin Hai Restaurant. Their "Pin Hai Fish Cake" was also renowned.

"Old Gu, go buy a portion of Pin Hai Fish Cake from the restaurant and bring it to my mother."

"Yes, Young Master."

The coachman, named Old Gu, slowly guided the carriage forward. After a few dozen yards, he stopped, then trotted down from the driver's seat.

Although he was in the Ninth Rank Leather Armor Realm, he was an old hand, having come with Qi Yu's mother, Madam Liu. He was a loyal old servant with considerable experience in the martial world, which was why he became Qi Yu's coachman.

After Old Gu got off the carriage, Qi Yu leaned against the wall and listened to the voices.

"Did you hear? Third Master Qi's son has actually turned over a new leaf and started practicing martial arts these past few days."

"What do you know? It's said that young master has been practicing martial arts in secret all along, and it's only now that he's revealed it. With such a prominent family like the Qi family, how could Third Master's son truly be a dissolute young noble?"

"I heard that Young Master Qi Yu is a martial arts prodigy of the highest caliber. Hall Master Song praised his excellent innate talent."

"How do you know that?"

"My cousin's son is at the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall and heard it with his own ears."

"That's truly incredible. Young Master Qi Yu is likely to become a rising star in the martial world of Wei Mountain."

"Indeed. This morning, they were distributing porridge outside the city. It's said that it was Young Master Qi Yu who arranged for his household staff to do it. Although there were only two stalls, it still saved many refugees."

Qi Yu listened, his expression growing increasingly strange.

Before his transmigration, he had read novels where transmigrators were often mocked. If he heard people discussing things like, "Although Third Master Qi's son has been going to the martial hall these past few days, old habits die hard. He's definitely doing it for the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall's young lady," or "He's like mud that can't be plastered onto a wall. It'll only last two or three days, mark my words, he won't stick with it," or "He's just an untalented good-for-nothing," he wouldn't be surprised...

But now, he had only transmigrated two days ago and had only been to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall for two days. Yet, places like Pin Hai Restaurant, with its immense foot traffic in Wei Mountain City, especially frequented by the upper-middle class, were already praising and lauding him so highly. It was simply absurd.

At this moment, Old Gu returned.

He carefully placed an exquisite food box into the carriage and said, "Young Master, I've bought it."

Qi Yu asked, "What's going on?"

Old Gu blinked his eyes, then chuckled as if suddenly understanding, "These people are all speaking the truth."

Qi Yu saw the old schemer's smile and knew what was happening. He waved his hand and said, "Let's return to the manor."

As soon as Qi Yu returned to the manor, Madam Liu pulled him over.

Madam Liu was his mother. She came from a humble background, the daughter of a declining minor family. She had actively pursued Qi Changshun back then.

She had captured the Third Master's chivalrous heart with a graceful dance, a melody of the pipa, and a night of drunken revelry. She became pregnant with the Third Master's child and received his vows of eternal love.

Later, by unfortunate coincidence, Third Master Qi was severely injured and could no longer have children. Madam Liu, seizing the opportune moment, successfully and swiftly ascended to her current position.

Madam Liu carried herself with dignified grace, clad in luxurious brocade robes adorned with opulent peony patterns that were almost artistic. Her hair was styled in a high bun, and her gaze upon Qi Yu was filled with doting affection.

This was her son.

And he was her true reliance within the Qi family.

Behind Madam Liu stood two personal maids and three burly older women, two surnamed Zhao and one surnamed Wang.

These older women were Madam Liu's maternal relatives. At this moment, they all looked at him with kind smiles, but Qi Yu had seen their fierce demeanor outside the manor. He knew these three women were his mother's informants, their ears perked high. Any stir within the manor, and Madam Liu would know immediately.

One maid was named Qing Dai, quick-witted and sweet-tongued, skilled at reading people's emotions.

The other maid, Qing Zhu, had a cool temperament and carried a sword on her back, clearly a martial artist. Her realm was the Eighth Rank, with a displayed combat power of "32~52," which was quite high.

Qing Zhu was also Madam Liu's maternal relative. After arriving at the Qi family, Madam Liu discovered her talent for martial arts and spared no expense in cultivating her, even securing her a place to train at the Wei Mountain County Breeze Sword Hall. Qing Zhu usually trained at the martial hall but would return to visit Madam Liu every few days.

Qi Yu looked at the apex of palace intrigue within the Third Master Qi's mansion and called out, "Mother."

Madam Liu smiled, glancing at the food box in his hand, and asked, "Did you go to Pin Hai Restaurant to get fish cakes for your mother?"

"I know you like to eat them."

Madam Liu's face was filled with relief. She turned to Granny Wang and said, "Granny Wang, take the fish cakes to the chef and have them made into fish cake soup for tonight's dinner. Let the Master try them too. Our Yu'er is truly becoming more sensible."

"Certainly!" Granny Wang's face beamed with smiles as she stepped forward to take the food box.

"Fetch the cloak that was custom-made for Yu'er from Heaven Cloud Clothing Shop," Madam Liu commanded again.

Soon, an older woman approached, holding a scarlet cloak.

The cloak was extremely striking, like a ball of flame. The material was top-notch, with snow-white mink fur along the edges and a band of golden cloud patterns at the hem, exuding extreme luxury and nobility.

"Yu'er, try it on."

Qi Yu looked at the red cloak but didn't move.

Yesterday, Master Chen of the Umbrella Sect had said, "He looks fortunate when he wears red." Today, his mother had actually prepared such a scarlet cloak for him.

Madam Liu smiled kindly, "Mother knows you might not like that Uncle Chen from yesterday, but Mother wouldn't harm you. Mother wishes for you to live well more than anyone in this world."

Seeing Qi Yu still silent, Madam Liu didn't beat around the bush and asked with a smile, "What are you worried about?"

Qi Yu said, "Why must we associate with an evil cult like the Umbrella Sect?"

Madam Liu paused, then smiled with immense relief, "Er'er has grown up and can think for himself now."

Her smile softened slightly, and she patiently explained, "However, where is there truly good or evil in this world? There is only who can bring benefits to our Qi family. Don't worry, Mother is aware of this matter, and there are no problems. You just don't need to worry."

Qi Yu saw his mother comforting him like this, as if coaxing a child, so he took the cloak and said no more.

For him, the most important thing at the moment was to diligently practice martial arts and improve his own strength. Only by becoming powerful would his voice be taken seriously by others.

He put on the cloak, and it fit perfectly, making him appear even more distinguished.

Madam Liu and the two maids watched him intently. Green Bamboo remained silent, her gaze calm; Qing Dai, on the other hand, chattered praises, "Young Master looks so handsome and dashing in this cloak, truly elegant and graceful."

Qi Yu then said, "Mother, the rumors outside were spread by you, weren't they? Stop spreading them, your son doesn't want to be so conspicuous."

After speaking, he didn't press further and turned to leave.

As soon as Qi Yu stepped out of the room, Qing Dai smiled and praised, "Miss, Young Master is so intelligent to have guessed this, it seems he has truly awakened."

Madam Liu smiled faintly, "Even if he guessed it, I still have to have people continue. Originally, the young ladies from those prominent families avoided him because of his reputation as a prodigal son. Now that I am restoring his good name, those opportunities for marriage alliances will return."

Qing Dai said, "Didn't Master already arrange a marriage for Young Master with the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall? And Young Master has also been frequenting the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall these days."

Madam Liu couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

Qing Dai immediately understood Madam Liu's meaning and playfully stuck out her tongue, "It was this servant's oversight."

Madam Liu certainly didn't believe her son had truly turned over a new leaf.

His current visits to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall were likely just to satisfy his curiosity, to use the pretext of their previous childhood engagement to test the mettle of that female martial artist, Song Xue... How could he possibly be genuinely practicing martial arts?

Was practicing martial arts really that easy?

If it were that easy, she would have sent the three wet nurses around her, as well as Qing Dai, to practice martial arts long ago.