Zhao Family

Zhao Ping'an gave Butler Fu an awkward smile, then immediately followed him.

Zhao Residence wasn't very large. It faced south, with two courtyards, and occupied a little over one mu of land (about 700 square meters).

At the southernmost end were the quarters where Butler Fu and several maids and servants lived. Beyond the second gate lay the main courtyard.

There were four bedrooms, a reception hall, and a kitchen. Aside from a few paths of blue bricks connecting the buildings, most of the courtyard was filled with exotic flowers and rare plants, a feast for the eyes.

"Ping'an, you'll be staying here from now on! A'Fu, have Xiaolan and Xiaoju tidy up."

Zhao Xiuyun pointed to a bedroom in the northwest corner and spoke to Zhao Ping'an, then instructed Butler Fu to get it ready.

"All right, miss!"

Butler Fu bowed quickly.

"Put your luggage on the table, then come out with me for a walk."

After entering the reception hall, Zhao Xiuyun pointed to the spotless table in the middle and spoke to Zhao Ping'an.

"All right, Mistress. Where are we going?"

Zhao Ping'an obediently set down the two bundles, one large and one small, he was carrying, then asked curiously.

"To buy you a few things. You've grown so fast, your clothes don't fit anymore."

Zhao Xiuyun pointed at Zhao Ping'an's tight-fitting clothes and rapidly growing stature, speaking softly.

"Uh, hehe..."

Zhao Ping'an awkwardly scratched his head.

The two didn't take a carriage when they went out. They simply walked.

Zhao Xiuyun had already become a Martial Artist who had developed Inner Force. Her stamina, energy, and strength far surpassed those of ordinary people.

As for Zhao Ping'an, there was even less to say.

Zhao Xiuyun led Zhao Ping'an to a clothing shop she knew well and bought him a well-fitting outfit: a blue Martial Artist's uniform embroidered with purple patterns.

It was clearly expensive.

She then ordered three more uniforms in different colors, asking the shopkeeper to deliver them to Zhao Residence in the city once they were finished. After paying a deposit, she left.

As for the outfit Zhao Ping'an had been wearing, which had grown a little too small, she simply had it thrown away on the spot.

Afterward, Zhao Xiuyun took Zhao Ping'an to a pastry shop called Yunfang Zhai. Only after waiting in line for half an hour did they manage to buy five kinds of fragrant pastries.

Finally, they went to a restaurant called Baiwei Lou and picked up a packed food box.

But none of it was for Zhao Ping'an to eat. It was all a gift.

The gifts were for Zhao Xiuyun's parents, though Zhao Ping'an didn't know that.

"Ping'an, come back with me for a while."

Zhao Ping'an was carrying the things and looking around when he suddenly heard his Mistress speak. He paused, then asked in confusion:

"Mistress, are we going back so soon? I want to look around a little longer."

It was his first time exploring an ancient city. Unlike the streets on television, where vendors could be seen hawking their wares everywhere, in this world, street stalls were forbidden except on a few designated commercial streets.

Zhao Ping'an was on one of those commercial streets now. Shops lined both sides, selling all kinds of things: clothes, pastries, Spiritual Medicines, weapons, cosmetics, restaurants, and inns.

At the intersections between shops, small vendors hawked their wares: all kinds of fruit, sugar figurines, snacks, and even two Houtian Martial Artists performing in the street.

Zhao Ping'an was dazzled by it all and had no desire to go back.

"I don't mean Zhao Residence. I'm going to my parents' home, Zhao Mansion!"

Zhao Xiuyun clearly realized he'd misunderstood, so she clarified.

"Zhao Mansion? All right, Mistress."

Hearing that they were going to his Mistress's family home, Zhao Ping'an immediately perked up. He'd never seen what an ancient wealthy household looked like. He was going to get a look now.

Though Zhao Family wasn't one of South Ridge City's three great clans, it was still among the most prominent and powerful families, just below them. Within South Ridge City, its standing was roughly on par with Blazing Blade Sect.

Among the retainers in the household were three Innate Realm Martial Artists. And Zhao Xiuyun's eldest and third elder brothers were both seventh-level Innate Realm experts. In South Ridge City, they could practically walk wherever they pleased.

That was also why Zhao Family had opposed Zhao Xiuyun marrying Zheng Hetong in the beginning: at the time, Zheng Hetong hadn't yet broken through to the Innate Realm and wasn't worthy of a daughter of Zhao Mansion.

But several years ago, something had happened that led Zhao Xiuyun to reconcile with her parents.

The two walked to Zhao Mansion carrying the things. Zhao Ping'an carried them, while Zhao Xiuyun led the way.

Half an hour later, they arrived at a grand residence. Two large characters, written in sweeping strokes, hung above the gate: Zhao Mansion.

The gate stood half open, guarded by four men, all Houtian Martial Artists, though only at the third or fourth level.

The four guards clearly recognized Zhao Xiuyun. They bowed, and their leader spoke:

"Greetings, Fourth Miss. The master is in his study, and the madam is admiring the flowers in the western garden."

"Mm, I'll go in by myself. This is Zhao Ping'an, my husband's youngest disciple."

Great families had their rules. The guards at the gate had to know the identity of any unfamiliar visitors entering or leaving. That was their duty.

"All right, Fourth Miss. Please come in!"

The four guards immediately bowed and returned to their posts.

Zhao Mansion was enormous. Zhao Ping'an passed through seven or eight gates before following his Mistress to a garden full of vivid flowers and rare trees.

The garden covered about a thousand square meters, with paths a meter wide winding through it, all paved with white pebbles.

At the center of the garden stood an elegant pavilion.

Several figures were inside it.

"Mother! Xiuyun's here to see you!"

From a distance, Zhao Xiuyun happily hurried forward, calling out excitedly.

Zhao Ping'an followed close behind and soon got a clear look at the people in the pavilion.

A woman in her fifties or sixties sat sideways on a bench. Her hair was white, yet she looked youthful and full of vigor. Four maids stood at her sides.

As the two approached, she quickly rose to her feet.

"Xiuyun's back! I figured you'd be coming down the mountain in the next day or two. Come here and let Mother have a look. Have you lost weight these past few months?"

The old woman took Zhao Xiuyun by the hand and fussed over her, asking question after question. Bored, Zhao Ping'an stood outside the pavilion and looked around curiously.

There was no denying that it was good to be rich. The flowers competed in beauty throughout the garden, and they looked expensive. Even the pebbles on the ground had been carefully selected, each one plump and free of discoloration.

"Ping'an, come over. This is my mother. Just call her Grandmother."

"Mother, this is Zhao Ping'an, the youngest of my husband's disciples."

Before long, Zhao Xiuyun called Zhao Ping'an over and introduced him.

"Grandmother!"

Zhao Ping'an immediately stepped forward obediently, offering the pastries he carried as he bowed.

"Good, good! Ping'an, that's a wonderful name. A life of peace and safety is best. Unlike your eldest and third brothers, who are always running around and making people worry."

The old woman was clearly fond of Zhao Xiuyun and, by extension, Zhao Ping'an. She praised him happily, completely forgetting that he was a Martial Artist too.

Thankfully, he hadn't brought his Hundred Refinement Blade when he went out today. Otherwise, this would have been awkward.