Old Friends Meet, Their Countenances Changed; Within Flying Swallow House, Petty Profits and Rosy Skeletons Were Not Worth Mentioning!

Since arriving at Fire Kiln Lu Estate, Old Yao had been so frightened by the mere glances of the many bladesmen after announcing himself that he shrank his neck. Hong Jiang happened to spot him and led him all the way to Ji Xiu's residence.

When he timidly heard that incomparably familiar young voice—

His spirits immediately rose.

"Ji boy—"

Before he could finish speaking—

He looked up.

Yet where was the skinny youth from the stables, the one who had bustled about everywhere and hugged armfuls of dry fodder as he bitterly fed the horses?

He rubbed his eyes and swallowed all the familiar words that had rushed to his lips.

Looking at Ji Xiu before him—strong in sinew and bone, dressed in black, and even more imposing than the Entering Force martial men of Lin Residence—

The waist Old Yao had slightly straightened abruptly bent again.

Between them, it seemed as though a sorrowful, thick wall had risen.

He stammered, no longer certain whether their old manner of speaking would offend this Saber-Wearing Retainer of Lu Manor, now riding high on the spring breeze.

As he was thinking, Ji Xiu looked Old Yao over twice, then suddenly laughed and patted his arm.

"Been a few days. You got promoted?"

"From horse keeper to steward?"

"Brother Yao, not bad."

He gave Hong Jiang a slight nod. Hong Jiang understood, offered a greeting, and left.

Seeing that there were no outsiders left in the courtyard and that Ji Xiu's attitude remained fairly gentle, Old Yao let out a breath of relief and thought to himself:

Now that no one else is around, even if we bring up those embarrassing old stories about being servants and horse keepers, Ji boy, who has now risen to great heights, probably won't care too much, right?

So he clasped his hands and bowed. With both hands tucked into the sleeves of his cotton coat, he bent at the waist and chuckled ingratiatingly.

"Thanks to Master Ji's good fortune, after Lin Steward was gone, the estate promoted this old man to oversee the outer residence."

"I spent more than half my life as a horse keeper. Never did I expect that, with one foot already in the grave, I would still see a day of turning my life around."

His words were full of sighs at this point, mixed with a few hints of delight. Seeing that Ji Xiu merely smiled without speaking, he relaxed somewhat.

Then, as if recalling something, he hurriedly took a brocade box from his robes and opened it before Ji Xiu.

"Oh, right. This time, I came under the orders of the Master and Third Young Master, to offer Master Ji an apology."

"Here are thirty taels of Fine Silver, one portion of ninth-rank Tiger Blood Powder, and one Tendon Strengthening Pill."

"And tonight, Third Young Master has specially set a table at Flying Swallow House. With every bit of sincerity, he wishes to invite Master Ji to a banquet, settle the past ill feelings, and specifically sent this old man to extend the invitation."

"I wonder... does Master Ji have the time?"

Old Yao lowered his head and opened the brocade box, revealing a gleaming white ingot of Fine Silver, a packet of medicinal powder, and a pill.

These alone were worth a hundred taels.

Not to mention that Flying Swallow House was one of the few respectable pleasure houses in all five hundred li of Anning County.

Its leading ladies and flower queens were said to have been bought by the proprietor from Jiangyin Prefecture. They had been daughters of great families, raised from childhood with refinement, only to be sent to the official brothels after their households were confiscated and their clans wiped out.

Whenever those girls lifted their voices in song or danced a tune, it was said that even a sixty-year-old man like him could turn into an eighteen-year-old lad in an instant, his body hard as iron!

They could not compare to the "Office of Court Entertainment, daughters of official families" found in storybooks, but in this rural place, each and every one possessed a figure beyond compare.

To have one accompany a guest overnight and spend a night of spring together cost several taels, even more than ten taels. And that did not include laying out a table of food and wine. It was truly a lavish display!

Watching Ji boy climb from a mere horse keeper to someone whom even the Third Young Master of Lin Residence had to lower himself to befriend, all in less than a month—

Old Yao clicked his tongue. He remembered how he had repeatedly lectured him, telling him not to do something as absurd as practicing martial arts in pursuit of wealth and status.

Looking back now, he himself had become the clown and laughingstock, standing in another's way.

"Lin Steward is dead?"

Ji Xiu paused.

"Yes. I heard... he had a drink last night, then suddenly died in the night."

"Then this morning, the Master told me I'd been promoted and told me to... told me to bring Master Ji a gift and arrange a table."

Old Yao shuddered. He knew there was something fishy about it and did not dare say more.

Ji Xiu, however, seemed thoughtful after hearing this.

"So it was Master Lin's intention."

"Then, for Brother Yao's sake, I'll go."

"Consider it my congratulatory gift for your promotion, seeing as we were once colleagues."

Flying Swallow House.

After three rounds of wine, inside a private room.

Lin Du's eyes were bleary with drink as he watched Ji Xiu sit upright. Every time he picked up his chopsticks or drank wine, his movements were orderly and measured. With a broad sweep of his hand, Lin Du said:

"Brother Ji, sometimes I truly envy you. With nothing but a heart full of blood and courage, you dared to defy my father. With such a difficult background, you still carved out a place for yourself."

"Now you stand among Lu Manor's Saber-Wearing Retainers, with people crowding before and behind you. How carefree!"

"I may be the Third Young Master of Lin Residence, but I was born of a concubine. Since childhood, whether practicing martial arts or studying, I never dared slacken for a moment. Even now, I feel like a caged bird, denied freedom."

By this point, his drunken face had grown ever more earnest.

"You entered the Blade Gate at sixteen, with talent so outstanding!"

"If you do not mind, why don't we turn swords into jade and silk, set aside the filth within our households, and become sworn brothers of different surnames?!"

"As long as you nod, if your monthly martial training resources are ever insufficient, just nod. However much you lack, this elder brother will cover it!"

Lin Du rose to his feet, his words firm and resounding. Then he clapped his hands.

In an instant—

One graceful dancing girl after another, draped in gauzy silk, began to pace alluringly before the dining table amid the warmth of the private room, the furnace, and curling incense.

Their autumn-water eyes glanced toward the black-clad youth, who remained unmoved and merely used his chopsticks to pick up food. They had originally come only to serve as part of their work, but upon seeing the true guest of honor—

Their eyes lit up at once, and they unconsciously pressed closer, looking more than a little willing.

"Brother Ji, martial men are brimming with vital blood. Whenever you finish standing practice and training, your vital blood surges restlessly. If it continues for too long, it will harm the body."

"Tonight, pick whoever you want, choose however you please!"

"I'll pay for everything!"

Lin Du patted his chest, looking utterly sincere.

But Ji Xiu, full from food and drink, merely burped. He fastened his saber at his waist and glanced regretfully at the spread on the table.

This meal was not cheap. Mountain delicacies and Treasure Fish—the expense must have run to several dozen taels of silver.

It would be nice if I could pack it up.

Unfortunately, Ji Xiu was destined not to watch this performance to the end.

"Third Young Master."

He stood.

"You and I have never met before. And between Master Lin and me, if we truly count it, there has never been any ill feeling."

"More than a month ago, Lin Residence gave me a mouthful of food. When I was released from Slave Status, you did not ask for the fee to remove my status, and even wished to take me in as an adopted son. That was already benevolence and righteousness to the utmost."

"After this meal, thank the Master for me."

With that, Ji Xiu left without the slightest attachment. He regarded rosy beauties as skeletons, turned a blind eye to them, and strode away.

He was at the height of youthful vigor, and these women were all ravishingly beautiful. At eighteen, sword in hand, he could slay martial men—if one were to speak honestly, how could he possibly not be tempted?

But—

He could not afford to accept what this Third Young Master was offering!

The youth's gaze was clear as a limpid spring. The instant he stepped out of the private room, he felt the hem of his clothes suddenly being tugged from behind. He could not help but frown.

"Third Young Master."

At some point, the drunken look had vanished from Lin Du's face. His lips were pressed tightly together.

"Lin Steward is already dead."

"Is that not enough?"

"You and I are both clever men. You know exactly what I want to say!"

Ji Xiu raised a brow. He lightly lifted his hand and gathered his force, prying those five fingers apart one by one.

Then, smiling, he spoke each word distinctly.

"Third Young Master."

"I told you, at Lin Residence I was only ever a 'horse keeper.' I only knew matters concerning the 'stables' and 'horses.' I never offended anyone."

"And I bear neither grudge nor enmity toward Lin Residence."

"So, farewell."

Smack!

He stepped over the threshold and strode away!

Only Lin Du remained behind, cold sweat sliding down his forehead as he stayed silent for a long while.

After leaving Flying Swallow House—

A cool autumn wind blew straight at him.

Ji Xiu wrapped his clothes more tightly around himself, breathed out a cloud of white mist, and narrowed his eyes. Just as he was about to step out of the brightly lit bustling streets—

A crisp, pleasant voice suddenly entered his ears.

Ji Xiu's entire body instantly tensed, and he whipped around.

There—

Inside the Flying Swallow House he had just left, a woman in a moon-white dress, a longsword at her waist, was walking toward him with graceful steps beneath the moonlight and the spill of dim yellow lamps.

"Please wait."

"I wonder... what did you mean by what you just said?"