Master's Past

Su Yueli took the clothes and gave them a look.

A light gauze outer robe in pale green and white, a white inner ruqun dress, and a moon-white undergarment beneath.

It was still a dress, but the hem was not overly wide, and the cuffs were relatively fitted. Compared to those cumbersome flowing immortal gowns, this one seemed somewhat more acceptable.

Helpless, Su Yueli took the clothes and went into the changing room.

A moment later, the cloth curtain was lifted.

Tie Ling'er, who had been haggling with the proprietress, turned around and froze on the spot.

Su Yueli stepped out. The pale green gauze robe set off her skin, smooth as ice and pure as jade, lending her an aloof, otherworldly air.

A ribbon atop her head tied her dark hair into a high ponytail.

Her features brimmed with spiritual charm, and paired with her coolness and heroic bearing, she had somehow turned this somewhat gentle dress into the sharp beauty of a female sword immortal.

"Good heavens..."

The proprietress stared blankly, her mouth slightly open.

Tie Ling'er circled Su Yueli twice, her eyes shining. "So beautiful! Sister Yueli, if you walked down the street like this, every young master in Azure Province City would stare his eyes straight!"

Su Yueli tugged at the hem, still feeling a little awkward.

As for young masters staring their eyes straight... better not.

If someone harassed her later, she feared she really would knock them down with two punches. It would not do to cause trouble for Senior Tie Tu the moment she arrived.

Tie Ling'er paid for the clothes, and the two left Splendid Embroidery House, merging once more into the bustling night market.

"Ling'er, how did Uncle Tie and my master meet back then? Can you tell me about it?"

As they walked, Su Yueli voiced the question that had long lingered in her heart.

Over the past twenty-five years, Lu Chen had almost never spoken of his past.

Now that her master was dead, she wanted to learn more about his former life.

Tie Ling'er bit into her candied hawthorn skewer and tilted her head in thought. "Actually, I do not know much either. It was only things Father occasionally mentioned when he was drunk."

"My father said that when he and Uncle Lu were young, they roamed the martial world together. Both of them were stubborn as mules, and they made quite a few enemies."

"Later, Uncle Lu started a family and had originally planned to live a good life. But one time, he got drunk beyond all recognition outside. His enemies found an opening and tracked him to his home..."

Tie Ling'er's voice lowered, and she sighed. "By the time Uncle Lu sobered up and rushed back, his entire family had been slaughtered. From then on, he seemed like a different person. He did not speak all day, only trained in martial arts like a madman, bent on revenge."

"No matter how Father tried to persuade him, it was useless. In the end, he could only promise that once Uncle Lu had mastered his skills, the two brothers would seek revenge together."

"But on the day of Father's wedding, Uncle Lu broke their appointment. To avoid dragging Father down with him, he left a letter and went alone, saber in hand, to his enemies' home. He wiped out their entire household clean, then vanished without a trace."

After hearing this, Su Yueli fell silent.

Twenty-five years ago, her master had fled to that small mountain village with grave injuries. So he had just avenged that sea of blood and deep hatred.

Su Yueli lowered her head, her gaze falling on the wine gourd hanging at her waist.

Back in the mountains, she had once asked Lu Chen why martial artists ate meat but did not drink wine.

Lu Chen had merely waved a hand and said that wine scattered a warrior's qi and blood, muddling the mind.

Only today did she understand that her master did not avoid wine because he feared it would scatter his qi and blood, but because he feared getting drunk.

He had gotten drunk once and lost the people he cared about most in this life. So he used twenty-five years without a single drop of alcohol to punish himself for that drunken mistake he could never undo.

"Master..."

Su Yueli released the gourd at her waist, her gaze dimming slightly.

The two continued onward, and Su Yueli gradually gathered her thoughts.

Now that she had settled down in Azure Province City, she could not keep living off others for free.

Tie Tu might have been her master's friend through life and death, but she, Su Yueli, was a Third Realm martial artist with hands and feet. She had to find work and earn some money.

Whether she wanted to investigate clues about her master's death or continue climbing the path of Martial Dao, without money, she could not take a single step.

Just as she was considering where to look for work, someone suddenly blocked the road ahead.

Su Yueli looked up.

Two young men in training uniforms stood in the middle of the street, looking their way with lewd, roguish expressions.

"Sister Yueli, those are disciples of Mighty Prestige Martial Hall."

Tie Ling'er leaned close to Su Yueli's ear and whispered, "Mighty Prestige Martial Hall has always been competing with our Ironbone Martial Hall for prestige in Azure Province City. Those two are usually foul-mouthed and annoying, but they are not truly wicked people. Let us ignore them."

As she spoke, the two young men had already approached with grins on their faces.

"Well, if it is not Junior Sister Ling'er of Ironbone Martial Hall. Long time no see—you have grown more and more lovely."

The leading young man greeted them in a slick, oily tone. Then his gaze shifted and landed on Su Yueli's face.

A flash of amazement inevitably crossed his eyes.

The young man clasped his hands in a deliberately courteous gesture, but his eyes stared straight at Su Yueli. "May I ask who this young lady beside Junior Sister Ling'er is...? I have not seen her before. Could she be another disciple Hall Master Tie has recently taken in?"

Su Yueli felt uncomfortable as well, and a trace of displeasure touched her brows.

His intentions were far too obvious.

Her voice remained calm. "Move."

Having his face so openly slighted, the young man's expression immediately turned ugly, and his smile gradually faded. "Miss, I merely wish to make a friend. In Azure Province City, one more friend means one more road. You must give Mighty Prestige Martial Hall at least some face, must you not?"

"It is late at night, and it is unsafe for two young ladies to walk these streets. Why not let this senior brother escort you home?"

As he spoke, the young man actually dared to step forward, intending to teach this country girl who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth a lesson.

But before his hand could even reach out, Su Yueli raised her eyes and swept them coldly over him.

With only that glance, the qi and blood of the Third Realm Martial Dao pressed down on the two young men's hearts like a mountain.

The leading young man's face instantly turned deathly pale. He felt the air around him tighten, while those icy eyes seemed to be looking upon a corpse.

"Gulp..."

The young man swallowed, his legs carrying him two steps backward beyond his control as a sheen of cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

"W-We apologize for disturbing you. Farewell!"

How could the two dare say another word? As though they had seen a ghost, they plunged into the crowd and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Watching the two flee in embarrassment, Tie Ling'er's eyes shone, her face full of admiration.

"Wow! Sister Yueli, you are incredible! You did not even lift a hand, and you scared them away!"

Tie Ling'er grabbed Su Yueli's arm, her voice brimming with envy. "If I had not been afraid of pain back then and had kept training in martial arts, could I be as impressive as you now?"

Su Yueli withdrew her qi and blood and smiled helplessly.

"But..."

Tie Ling'er stuck out her tongue and added softly, "Actually, in Azure Province City, they would not dare truly make a move either. The City Lord's Manor has strict laws. The same goes for cultivators—no one is allowed to fight privately within the city, or they will be punished."

"No private fighting?"

Su Yueli raised a brow.

That was a good rule. It would spare her quite a bit of needless trouble.