A Surname Given by One's Parents Must Not Be Cast Aside; No Martial Dao Expert Ever Rose from Kneeling at Another's Feet!

Serve tea and acknowledge him as a godfather!?

Lin Zhenhai's words were such a startling twist.

They left Lu Yu and Ji Xiu stunned.

They also stunned

the people drawn over by the steward being whipped by today's "coachman."

"Father, are you taking him as your adopted son?"

Behind the gauze curtain, Lin Ruyue had not been seen for some time, and her impression of him had faded considerably. Only fearing that this lifesaver might be treated poorly had she hurried over.

By chance, from behind the curtain, she heard Lin Zhenhai's suddenly resolute words.

Startled, she stopped herself from lifting the curtain. Instead, she quietly poked out half her head, one small hand lightly covering the gauze.

Just one glance

was enough for the peeking Lin Ruyue to spot Ji Xiu.

And when this young miss of the Lin family saw Ji Xiu's face as it was now,

she immediately covered her small mouth, seemingly shocked.

"How has he changed so much after only a few days?"

Lin Ruyue still vaguely remembered when Ji Xiu had reined in the horse at dusk and subdued its mad rampage.

Though his gaze had been sharp, his face had been waxy yellow and his body little more than skin and bones. No matter how she looked at him, she could not make out much of his appearance.

But this time was different.

As the saying went, after three days apart, one ought to look at someone with new eyes.

The young man sitting calmly on a rosewood chair not far away had undergone a complete transformation, utterly unlike his former self.

All she saw was

his temple hair hanging loose, his complexion rosy, his profile sharp as though carved by a blade. A faint chill lingered at the corners of his brows, like cold dew in early spring, carrying an aloof air that kept strangers at bay.

If not for his somewhat shabby clothing,

then in this late autumn, dressed in a fox-fur cloak and brocade crown,

even the descendants of wealthy clans and the Official Aristocracy might not surpass him by much!

The faded impression Lin Ruyue had held suddenly solidified, and this face gradually imprinted itself upon her mind.

At that moment,

"Father, you mustn't!"

"He whipped the estate's steward and guards all over. If you raise his status now, won't that leave everyone resentful and unconvinced?"

The Lin family's only male heir, the concubine-born Third Young Master Lin Du, hurried in.

The moment he entered, he heard Lin Zhenhai's words. In his anxiety, he immediately spoke up.

Earlier, Lin Steward had said that this boy had vaguely guessed at the matter of framing the "Second Miss."

If Ji Xiu served tea and acknowledged a godfather, becoming an "adopted son" of the Lin family from then on,

Lin Du did not even dare imagine what would happen if Ji Xiu exposed the matter one day.

His future would likely have nothing whatsoever to do with the Lin Residence's inheritance!

His father, Lin Zhenhai, had previously intended to find a husband for the Second Miss, Lin Ruyue.

Though Ji Xiu was a few years younger than his second sister, he was still young enough, his bones and sinews not yet set, and had room to be cultivated.

When Lin Du raised his head and looked toward the inner chamber through the gauze curtain,

Lin Ruyue's gaze fell into his eyes.

When he saw his second sister staring unblinkingly at Ji Xiu,

his thoughts immediately hardened further.

As the saying went, a pavilion close to the water caught the moonlight first.

His second sister's gaze left him no choice but to panic.

Letting this brat in

would truly be inviting a wolf into the house!

"Heh."

Lin Zhenhai smiled without smiling.

"Little Third, I didn't ask for your opinion."

"Today, I'll teach you another lesson, lest the servants lead you astray and fill your head with notions you shouldn't have."

He tapped the table.

"In this Lin Residence,

what I give you is yours.

"What I do not give you—

"no matter who comes, their words mean nothing."

"Whom I choose to take as an adopted son is naturally not for the stewards and guards in this courtyard to comment on."

"Withdraw."

A few airy words from Lin Zhenhai were enough to make the veins on Lin Du's forehead bulge.

All the words filling his belly lodged in his throat, unable to advance or retreat.

The old man... had he seen through his thoughts?

Then did he know that he had once framed his second sister?

If he did not, fine.

But if he did—

A bead of cold sweat slid down.

Then this brat could not be allowed to live!

Nor could Lin Steward remain.

He buried his head deeply, struggling to keep his expression from betraying anything.

However,

at that moment, Ji Xiu stood and suddenly spoke.

"Master."

Lin Zhenhai nodded.

"Mm. Speak."

Looking at the cup of warm tea, Ji Xiu pondered for a moment before saying,

"I am merely a coachman. Why has Master suddenly taken such an interest?"

Lin Zhenhai smiled.

"When I was young, I too was only a hunter. I was even a swordsman for a time. I do not care about one's origins."

"Today, when I saw the young master of Fire Kiln Lu Estate protect you so fiercely, even coming to my door to retrieve your slave contract and change your household registration, I knew you were no ordinary person."

"You came from poverty and possess no great skill. If you enter my household, I can teach you blade techniques and the Pile Stance, help you temper your great sinews, and let you manage a shop for the time being, so you may gain experience."

"If you show potential in the future, even methods for 'tempering an iron frame' may be passed down to you."

"I specifically investigated your family circumstances. You have neither father nor mother, only a little sister who is a burden. Changing your surname to Lin and becoming my son would not be treating you unfairly."

"It could even be considered a stairway to the heavens."

He believed the terms he offered were generous enough.

He was also certain that this boy had some potential, but was limited by his horizons and could not refuse.

And as long as Ji Xiu accepted,

even if the young master of Lu Manor came in person intending to tear up the slave contract,

as long as this boy still submitted to him,

the Lin Residence's reputation and prestige would not suffer in the slightest. He would even gain a martial man bearing the Lin surname for free—killing two birds with one stone.

But

those within the game could not see the whole board, while onlookers saw clearly.

If Ji Xiu truly had been an ordinary mud-legged peasant, that would have been one thing.

But he carried two lifetimes upon his shoulders, and Duan Chenzhou, a man of broad horizons, had awakened his "ambition."

Thus, his eyes saw through it like fire, as though he were not even part of the game.

In Ji Xiu's eyes,

Lin Zhenhai's entire speech was nothing but pretty words for the occasion.

Had Lu Yu not come to his door,

then even if Ji Xiu were a martial man who had found his strength, once Lin Zhenhai got hold of him, he would have plenty of ways to deal with him through the carrot and the stick. Whether he submitted or not, he would be forced to submit.

The reason Lin Zhenhai had brought up taking him as an "adopted son"

was merely because someone had come to the Lin Residence to take him away, and for the sake of his pride, he was unwilling to casually let this "coachman of slave status" go.

He had indeed looked upon Ji Xiu a little more highly.

But only a little.

If that was all,

then asking him to cast aside the name and surname of two lifetimes, sever the bonds of blood, never worship his ancestors or pay respects at their graves again, forgetting his roots and forebears—

that was far from enough.

He could offer tea and kneel to Duan Chenzhou, because he was his "master."

But Lin Zhenhai

was, at most, his former "master."

From the moment Ji Xiu became a martial man and tore apart the slave contract,

all that remained between them was a measure of goodwill.

That goodwill was not enough to make him kneel!

With that thought,

Ji Xiu gently raised a hand and pushed the cup of tea aside.

That action

made the smile on Lin Zhenhai's face fade slightly.

It also made Lu Yu glance at him.

"Master."

Ji Xiu lowered his eyes.

"A surname given by one's parents must not be cast aside."

"My little sister is still young."

"She cannot be without an elder brother surnamed Ji."

"As a son of the Ji family, it is difficult for me to become a man of the Lin clan."

"If I have the chance in the future, Ji Xiu will repay the kindness of redeeming my slave status and the silver reward bestowed by the Second Miss."

"But this time, forgive me for being unable to obey."

He raised his head and stood tall, meeting Lin Zhenhai's gaze directly, even though the man before him had achieved great success in Bone Tempering!

At that moment, Ji Xiu felt no fear.

Calm and composed before Lin Zhenhai, he cupped his hands in salute. Then, by chance, he caught sight of Lin Ruyue beneath the thin gauze curtain in the inner hall, her head half-poked out, staring blankly without a word, apparently stunned by his bold words.

He gave a slight nod, then turned and left.

After a moment of stunned silence, Lu Yu could not help laughing. He bid Lin Zhenhai farewell, then followed Ji Xiu with the Fire Kiln steward.

"My junior brother

has great spirit!"

"He is nothing like a child of poverty!"

Lu Yu's eyes shone brightly.

If Ji Xiu had been intimidated by the title of "adopted son" and immediately knelt to serve tea without delay,

then where would that leave the face of Lu Manor's young master, who had come here to lend him support!?

An adopted son, managing some broken-down shop at most—the title merely sounded nice!

In terms of benefits, it was not even half as good as becoming a "retainer" of Lu Manor!

His junior brother had such resolve.

He could not treat him poorly either.

When he returned, he would ask the old man to offer him superior terms and crush the Lin Residence beneath them!

"This boy is unlike me."

"Back then, for even the slightest opportunity, I gave everything I had. If changing my surname could let me soar into the heavens—

"why not change it!?"

Lin Zhenhai lifted his tea and took a sip.

He watched the light fall upon Ji Xiu's receding back, making this mud-legged boy from a poor family seem reborn.

When Lin Ruyue emerged and he saw that her eyes remained fixed upon that boy, he added another remark.

"He gave Lu Yu face, yet rejected mine."

"Does he think

"I cannot put a few stumbling blocks in his path?"

As the figure gradually disappeared into the distance, Lin Zhenhai snorted.

However, not long afterward,

a burst of commotion suddenly arose from the outer courtyard.

"The Eldest Miss! The Eldest Miss has returned!"

Hearing the disturbance,

Lin Zhenhai abruptly rose.

Lin Zhenhai shot to his feet, his eyes blazing. He cast all thoughts of this brat's utter lack of tact straight beyond the nine skies:

"The Qilin Daughter of my Anning Lin Clan."

"Has returned!?"

Crossing the threshold of the Lin Residence,

Ji Xiu and Lu Yu walked shoulder to shoulder, feeling as though the shackles around them had fallen away. Even their steps carried the wind.

At his side, Lu Yu was still thumping his chest.

"Junior Brother, you gave me plenty of face. Don't worry—once you go to the yamen and change your registered origin, even if I have to beg, I'll beg the old master to grant you top-tier treatment!"

"Just wait and see!"

The two proceeded side by side and left the Lin Residence. Yet just as Ji Xiu passed through the main gate,

he happened to brush shoulders with a woman clad in a cloud-patterned narcissus dress, her face veiled in gauze and a longsword hanging at her waist.

Neither of them noticed.

Only the woman stopped where she was and glanced back.

After that one look, she entered the residence and vanished from sight.

Immediately afterward,

the entire Lin Residence erupted.