Li Youwei, pure of heart by nature

He had passed the first trial, so casually, so intriguingly.

Li Ziye would not admit that he had given gifts.

Qin Enuo would not admit that she had gone easy on him because she had accepted them, either.

At sunset, Qin Enuo left. Before leaving, she announced the second trial.

Create a sword technique within a day.

"A freebie."

After hearing it, Li Ziye said only those two words.

Even the people of Yuzhou City were saying that he had created a sword technique called Taiji at the age of ten. This question was simply giving him points.

Old Qin had really taken great pains to go easy on him.

"Son, are you confident?"

Seeing his son's breezy composure, Li Baiwan asked excitedly.

"Nine chances out of ten."

Li Ziye waved a hand casually, then went to the back courtyard to prepare to continue fishing.

"Passed?"

In the back courtyard, beside the lake, Zhang Lata was still resting with his eyes closed, utterly at ease. Sensing Li Ziye's arrival, he asked.

"Passed."

Li Ziye nodded.

"Just with that lousy sword of yours cast from gold?"

This time, Zhang Lata was the one surprised. He opened his eyes and asked.

"Of course... not."

Li Ziye gave a smile that never reached his eyes. "Yesterday, Sister Youwei sent Old Qin a luminous pearl from the Eastern Sea, a suit of heavenly silkworm soft armor, and that Fish Intestine Sword. Our Old Li really poured his capital into this."

"The Fish Intestine Sword?"

Zhang Lata sat straight up, greatly startled. "The Fish Intestine Sword was in the Li residence all along?"

"Where else?"

Li Ziye picked up a pebble and tossed it into the lake. "Without bringing out a few family treasures, how would we get Old Qin to go easy on me?"

"Impressive, impressive."

This time, Zhang Lata was truly convinced. He sighed with feeling. "Sure enough, money can make ghosts turn the millstone. Qin Enuo, such a transcendent figure, actually couldn't rise above worldly ways either."

"We're all human. Why pretend to be pure?"

Li Ziye smiled. "Old Qin certainly isn't an ordinary person, so the price we offered was far from ordinary, too."

"Then what's the second trial?" Zhang Lata asked curiously.

"Create a sword technique within a day," Li Ziye said.

"..."

Zhang Lata was speechless. He might have harbored some doubts just now, but now he was certain Qin Enuo was going easy on him.

"I don't understand. I just don't understand."

Zhang Lata looked at the shimmering lake before him. "Qin Enuo has always cherished her reputation. Isn't she afraid she'll end up taking a wastrel as her disciple and ruin a lifetime's good name?"

"Of course she is. Otherwise, why would she still not have made a decision after traveling through half the Great Shang Dynasty?"

Li Ziye chuckled softly. "I didn't go to all that trouble to have people spread rumors just because I had money burning a hole in my pocket."

"So what?"

Zhang Lata frowned. "Qin Enuo wouldn't believe you're the legendary peerless genius just on the strength of rumors."

"The fact that she came means she believed them. At least, she believed part of them."

An odd smile appeared at the corner of Li Ziye's mouth. "You don't understand, Old Zhang. This is called psychological suggestion. Why have there been so many muddleheaded rulers throughout the dynasties? Were they really unable to tell right from wrong? Of course not. There were treacherous ministers whispering slander and favored consorts whispering into their pillows. Often, even if they didn't believe it, they eventually did."

At this point, Li Ziye picked up another pebble and threw it into the lake. "Actually, the task Old Qin set today was already influenced by those rumors. Creating a sword technique within a day is difficult even for a grandmaster of the sword. With doubts in her mind, Old Qin naturally wanted to see whether it was true. If it was, taking a peerless genius like me, who also knows how to behave, as her disciple would be well worth it."

Beside him, Zhang Lata listened to the youth's words and fell silent. After a long while, he said, "Boy, I really did underestimate you before. Your strengths aren't limited to your looks and family background."

This boy's ability to fathom people's minds was truly formidable.

It wasn't that Qin Enuo was going easy on him, but that this boy was guiding Qin Enuo into doing so.

"Actually, Old Zhang, you didn't really underestimate me."

Li Ziye smiled. "Most things in this world can be settled with silver. For those silver really can't settle, I still have these looks. Look at me, don't I cut an impressive figure? How does that saying go? Good looks make quite a difference. If I stood in the street right now and said I was a good-for-nothing without any talent for cultivation, who would believe me?"

As he spoke, Li Ziye stood still beside the lake, head high and chest out. A breeze brushed past, sending his black hair dancing. His brows were like swords, his eyes like stars-a man like jade upon the country path, a young master without equal in the world.

Zhang Lata fell silent. The boy was right. Judging by appearances alone, he really did make an impressive show. Otherwise, Zhang Lata would not have misjudged him before.

Apart from the brutes who tempered their bodies, cultivators were generally good-looking, especially the favored children of immortal sects and great clans. Moreover, even if their looks fell a little short, the bearing they accumulated over the years was enough to make up for it.

Take him, for instance. In his youth, he too had been a handsome lad who swept countless girls off their feet.

Zhang Lata took a drink, feeling a little gleeful at another's impending misfortune.

That Qin Enuo was going to take a fall!

This really was a delightful thing.

Who wouldn't want to see a fairy lose her composure or an emperor get beaten?

He simply couldn't imagine what expression Qin Enuo would wear when she learned that this boy couldn't cultivate martial arts.

"By the way, Old Zhang, how have you been thinking over that matter I mentioned before?" Li Ziye changed the subject and asked.

"Joining the Li residence as an honored retainer?"

Zhang Lata smiled faintly. "Boy, the Li residence certainly has plenty of silver, and no shortage of fine wine, either. But this old man is used to being free. No matter how nice a place is, I can't stay long. Besides, your Li family mainly does business. The hired fighters you keep are enough to handle most trouble. Why spend a fortune keeping a shabby old man like me?"

"That was before."

Flecks of coldness flashed through Li Ziye's calm eyes. "A tree that rises above the forest is bound to be battered by the wind. Ten years ago, the Li family was merely a somewhat wealthy merchant household, and no one cared. But now, the wealth the Li residence possesses has already made many people wary, including that ruler of Great Shang in Fengtian Hall in the Shang Capital. According to the latest intelligence, the third prince, Mu Yao, has already arrived in Yuzhou City. He's probably looking for a chance to make a move against our family."

"From what you're saying, the Li residence really is in some danger. In that case, this old man needs to think it over even more carefully."

Zhang Lata took a drink. "Being watched by the imperial family is no good thing. Your father isn't young anymore, and you, his son, spend all day idling about and never concern yourself with family affairs. If anything happens to your father, that adoptive elder sister of yours, who looks so pure of heart by nature, probably won't be able to hold up the enormous Li family on her own."

"Pure of heart by nature?"

Li Ziye froze, then an odd expression appeared on his face.

Sister Youwei?

There really couldn't be a more fitting description!

In the Li residence's study.

Li Baiwan looked through the account books Li Youwei had brought him, then set them down after a brief inspection.

"Well done."

Li Baiwan smiled. "Thank you for all your hard work over the years. Your talent for business has already surpassed mine, your adoptive father's."

"It's all Little Brother's doing."

Li Youwei said softly, "If he hadn't invented things this world had never seen, like perfume, soap, and mirrors, the Li residence would still be nothing more than an ordinary merchant household."

"Unfortunately, little Ziye's ambitions lie elsewhere."

Li Baiwan sighed softly. "Ever since childhood, he's wanted to follow the path of martial arts. He's never had much interest in business."

"As long as Little Brother wants something, even if it's the stars in the sky, I'll pluck them down for him," Li Youwei said slowly.

"You always spoil him so."

Li Baiwan said helplessly, "Youwei, do you know that the third prince, Mu Yao, has come to Yuzhou City?"

"I do," Li Youwei answered with a nod.

"He's probably here on the Great Shang emperor's instructions, to probe our family's foundations," Li Baiwan said.

"He won't find out anything," Li Youwei said calmly.

"There's something else."

Li Baiwan said slowly, "Mu Yao is skilled with the sword. He probably wants to take Qin Enuo as his master, too."

At those words, intense coldness flooded Li Youwei's previously calm eyes. She said, emphasizing every word, "I'll send people to slaughter him. I guarantee it'll be done cleanly, without leaving a single trace."

"..."

Li Baiwan smiled bitterly. "Don't become so impulsive whenever Ziye's affairs come up. Ziye must already know about this. Since he hasn't said anything, that means he's confident he can beat the third prince. What you need to do is be more cautious. Don't let this man uncover anything we don't want the imperial family to know."

"Yes, Father."

Li Youwei nodded and did not argue further.

Night fell. The bright moon shone high, and the night was enchanting.

At the Yuelai Inn, a knock sounded at the door. Then a handsome young man dressed in brocade entered Qin Enuo's room.

The visitor was none other than the current third prince of Great Shang, Mu Yao.

Mu Yao held a wooden box in his hands. An ancient sword lay within it, its blade sheathed, a chill faintly emanating from it.

"Fairy, this is my answer," Mu Yao said solemnly.

"The famed sword Cold Light."

Qin Enuo glanced at the ancient sword in the box without looking further and said calmly, "Your Highness's offering is extraordinary indeed. You have passed this trial."

Hearing this, Mu Yao was delighted inwardly, but his face remained calm, betraying neither joy nor anger.

This first trial was not particularly difficult. The key lay in the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's attitude.

If she was willing, even a piece of scrap iron could pass.

He was a prince of Great Shang. Even the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal had to show him some consideration. She would not make the first trial too difficult.

As for his taking the initiative to offer the famed sword Cold Light, that was to leave a good impression on the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal and lay the groundwork for the next two trials.

"You should already know about the second trial."

Qin Enuo gazed at the third prince of Great Shang before her and said calmly, "Wait for me at the Li residence before sunset tomorrow."

"The Li residence?"

At this, Mu Yao's expression tightened. He wanted to say something, but swallowed it back, bowed, and then left the room.

Inside the room, candlelight flickered. Qin Enuo stood before the window, looking out at Yuzhou City's quiet night. Her peerlessly beautiful face bore not a trace of the mortal world.

Behind Qin Enuo, two wooden boxes rested quietly on the table. Within them lay Cold Light and Fish Intestine, the two famed swords exuding an extraordinary chill beneath the candlelight.

The long night passed in silence.

The next day.

The sun rose, veiled by thin clouds.

The Li residence welcomed the most distinguished guest in its history.

The third prince of Great Shang, Mu Yao.

"What a tremendous honor, a tremendous honor!"

In the front hall, Li Baiwan received him in person, his face blooming with delight, his large belly quivering as he laughed.

Looking at the richest man in the Great Shang Dynasty before him, Mu Yao treated him courteously as well, responding with a smile.

After they had chatted for a long while, Mu Yao glanced outside and asked with a smile, "May I ask whether your son is at home?"

"My unworthy son?"

Hearing this, Li Baiwan's smile grew even broader. "My son is untalented. This commoner feared he might be too rash and startle Your Highness, so I did not have him come to the front courtyard. Since Your Highness wishes to see him, I'll send someone to fetch him at once."

With that, Li Baiwan rose and called outside, "Go fetch the young master. Tell him His Highness the third prince has summoned him."

"Yes!"

Outside the hall, a servant accepted the order and hurried toward the back courtyard.

"The third prince wants to see me?"

In the back courtyard, beside the lake, Li Ziye heard the servant's report while fishing. The corners of his mouth curved upward, his smile as radiant as blossoming flowers.