Morning Sun Peak, Cloud Viewing Pavilion.
Chen Xian accepted the teacup Shangguan Hongyue handed him and lifted the lid. The tea was amber-colored, and a faint floral-fruity fragrance wafted up to greet him. He couldn't help praising it. "Good tea."
Though he didn't know much about tea, he could tell good from bad by its aroma.
After the tea slid down his throat, a nourishing warmth coursed through his meridians, leaving his aged body feeling considerably more comfortable.
"Not bad, right? I bought it especially for you, Granduncle..."
Shangguan Hongyue smiled as she looked at Chen Xian. Before she could finish, she saw him spit the half-mouthful of tea he hadn't swallowed back into the cup with a "Ptooey!"
"What are you doing?!"
"I just remembered that I don't really like tea."
Chen Xian wiped his mouth, set the teacup on the table, and eyed Hong Yue warily.
This girl was being nice for no reason. She was up to no good!
The young woman stared at him with a resentful look. "You old geezer, I finally showed you some respect for once."
"You little brat, just tell me what you want me to do."
Chen Xian ignored her look and gazed at a barren mountain in the distance, where construction was underway. He'd noticed the activity there a few days ago.
The sect seemed to be opening up another peak. He wondered what it was for.
"Come down the mountain with me and help me deal with a problem."
Shangguan Hongyue got straight to the point.
Chen Xian turned back, pointed at himself, then at Shangguan Hongyue. "Huh? Me? You want this old man to help you deal with a problem?"
"Don't tell me you think I can beat someone you can't, with these old arms and legs?"
He had some cultivation now, but Shangguan Hongyue was already at the second level of Dao Master.
"I'm not asking you to fight! Do you really think I'm the kind of person who'd send you to your death?"
Shangguan Hongyue pouted, her resentment almost taking tangible form.
Chen Xian thought it over. Aside from showing him little respect in her words, the girl had never actually set him up.
"Then what can I do for you if I go down the mountain?"
He was curious.
"Um..."
Shangguan Hongyue stammered, her expression conflicted, as if she found it hard to bring up.
But after hesitating for a few breaths, she told him the truth. "I want you to help me break off a betrothal!"
Chen Xian recoiled, his hair and beard standing on end. "What?! You want to break off a betrothal too?"
"Huh? Someone else wants to break off a betrothal?"
Shangguan Hongyue's mouth fell slightly open, her curiosity piqued.
Chen Xian couldn't help muttering, "Has Old Man Moon been having a bad year?"
"Hey, you old geezer! Are you even listening to me?"
Ignored by Chen Xian, Shangguan Hongyue put her hands on her hips and scrunched up her pretty nose, clearly displeased.
"Nothing. First tell me what's going on with your betrothal."
Chen Xian still didn't know how things were going with Lin Xiaoyan, and he didn't want to gossip behind his back.
What if the misunderstanding between the three of them had already been cleared up, and Lin Xiaoyan and his fiancée had made up? Then Chen Xian would've been spreading rumors.
"It's probably not much of a problem, actually. I'll tell you while we head down the mountain."
Seeing that Old Man Chen wouldn't tell her, Shangguan Hongyue remained curious, but didn't press him.
She glanced at the teapot on the table and pouted. "This Hundred Spirit Flower Fruit Tea cost me a full hundred Contribution Points. It can prolong your life, but since you don't like tea, I'll put it away."
She raised her hand, about to stow the teapot and teacup in her Mustard Seed Bag.
"Don't! I like tea. I like it a lot!"
Chen Xian grabbed the teapot.
Anything that could prolong his life was a treasure to him!
He couldn't bring himself to pour out the half-cup he'd spat back, either. He downed it in one go.
"Pfft—hehehe..." Shangguan Hongyue suddenly burst out laughing. Her laughter was brief and clear, like a happy little hen.
Chen Xian, who was sprawled over the table, raised his head in confusion. "What are you plotting now?"
Shangguan Hongyue straightened her expression and pressed her lips together to hold back a smile. "Nothing!"
"Enough. Let's head down the mountain."
Chen Xian stood up with the teapot in one hand and the cup in the other, acting as if they were already his.
He poured himself another cup and savored it slowly. "Good tea! Truly good tea!"
Shangguan Hongyue couldn't hold back her amusement and rolled her eyes at him. "You old geezer, I'll buy you more after you help me deal with my problem, okay?"
Chen Xian shook his head. "No need. Just tell me where to buy it. I have plenty of money now!"
Shangguan Hongyue didn't believe him at all, assuming he was just bragging.
Her flying sword rose into the air. She expertly pulled Chen Xian onto it and quickly flew out of the pavilion.
Chen Xian's gaze shifted again to the distant peak, where pavilions and towers were being built. The mountain wasn't very tall—in fact, it was shorter than even the Sword Sect's Nine Peaks. Its summit slanted flat, as if someone had hacked the top off.
"By the way, what are they doing over there? Is the sect expanding?"
"That's the site of the old Sword Suppression Peak. It's been abandoned for ages. I don't know why they've started rebuilding it now."
"Maybe the war with the Blood Demon Sect has been escalating lately, and the sect plans to recruit more disciples?"
Shangguan Hongyue was just as puzzled. That was the only explanation she could think of that made some sense.
"Could be." Chen Xian nodded. "Those two warships we sent out still haven't returned. What's the situation on the front lines now?"
"I'm not really sure. I'm just an ordinary Inner Sect disciple, unlike a peak master's direct disciple like Senior Brother Lin. I don't have access to news from the front lines."
"But I guess the sect is moving slowly because it's worried about the safety of those mortals?"
Shangguan Hongyue tapped her chin, speculating.
"True." Chen Xian agreed with her analysis.
"Enough about that. What's the story behind your betrothal? Can't you break it off yourself?"
Chen Xian changed the subject.
He knew Shangguan Hongyue's personality. She was simple-hearted, but always independent and decisive.
Normally, a betrothal from the mortal world shouldn't have been able to tie her down.
When she explained how the betrothal came about, Chen Xian saw her expression darken. Even the flying sword slowed slightly.
"Several years ago, after I joined the Sword Sect, my parents followed me to Ask-Dao City."
"Back then, I wasn't capable of helping my family. After settling in the city, they made a living working as servants for a wealthy household."
"I don't know how the head of the household found out I was cultivating in the Sword Sect, but they actually proposed a marriage to my parents."
"My parents thought the household was very well-off, so they promised me in marriage. The family even had a sect steward responsible for mortal affairs in the city draw up a contract, making it legally binding."
Shangguan Hongyue recounted the story slowly.
She didn't go into much detail, but Chen Xian had lived a whole lifetime. He'd seen all sorts of strange things.
It reminded him of an absurd news story he'd read before transmigrating.
A girl from a poor, remote village became a highly educated woman. She went away to study and build a career, but when she returned to her village for a holiday, she discovered that her parents had already arranged a marriage for her. The crucial point was that no one had even asked for her consent.
It sounded outrageous, yet it really happened.
It all came down to a gap in understanding.
Shangguan Hongyue was probably in much the same situation. Her parents didn't know how highly cultivators were regarded. Thinking they'd found their daughter a good match, they'd agreed to the marriage without asking her.
Chen Xian hesitated before speaking. "Little Yue, if this is just a family matter, it wouldn't be right for me to interfere."
"Just help me find a sect steward to cancel the contract. I'll talk to my parents myself."
Standing at the front of the sword, Shangguan Hongyue stared blankly at the bustling city below, lost in thought.