A Wager

Qin Sanyue pursed her lips and lowered her head. She was still a little afraid and hesitated.

Ye Fu was in no hurry to press her and simply waited. He knew that, for the little girl to work in peace, she had to get over this hurdle at the very least.

Qin Sanyue did not disappoint Ye Fu. In the end, she summoned her courage and took the copper coin back from the person she feared most. At the same time, she wondered, This copper coin is so light. How did it pin down a grown man?

Ye Fu smiled and beckoned. "Let's go."

"What about them?" Qin Sanyue followed close behind.

"Them? I doubt they'll ever show up in Black Stone City again." Ye Fu folded his hands behind his neck and glanced at the sky.

As he spoke, a line of golden characters Qin Sanyue could not see dissolved into three rays of golden light. They entered the three men's heads and became heavy shackles.

From that day on, "Never again set foot within Black Stone City" became a shackle on their thoughts for the rest of their lives.

In the end, the three fled in disarray, stumbling all the way as they scrambled to get away, looking utterly miserable.

As for Ye Fu, he figured that since he was already out, he might as well accompany little Sanyue for a walk.

Along the way, Ye Fu's outfit attracted quite a few looks. In the past, he would have felt very uncomfortable, but now he did not think much of it.

"Teacher Ye, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

"Don't. Remember, don't talk to me like that again. I'd still like to be addressed as someone a little younger."

"But, Teacher Ye, I think the Immortal they were calling out for just now was you."

"It wasn't me. I'm not one. Don't talk nonsense! I'm just an ordinary schoolteacher."

"I see..." Though Qin Sanyue was puzzled, she knew her boundaries and did not press him.

As they walked, Ye Fu suddenly frowned.

He sensed someone entering his residence and instinctively looked toward it. His gaze instantly passed through the buildings and reached the residence.

In the courtyard, beneath the pear tree, he saw a middle-aged man in a green robe. He was tall but exceptionally lean, with a clean face and a faint beard. His long hair, streaked black and white, was gathered with a scholar's headcloth into a slightly raised bun. His green robe had several patches; it was worn but very clean. He had a refined, gentle, and kindly bearing.

The young attendant who had handled the signing stood beside him. That revealed his identity: he was the Teacher the attendant was always talking about.

The man drew a heavily wrinkled hand from his long sleeve and gently caught a pear blossom drifting down from the tree.

The blossom turned into a glimmer of light in his hand, then dissipated.

The corners of his mouth curved upward in a soundless smile. "In only half a day, you've grown this much. It seems the house's new master knows better than I do how to treat you."

The pear tree lowered a branch and lightly touched his fingertip.

The attendant beside him, however, widened his eyes and said in disbelief, "Teacher, are you saying the pear tree gained enlightenment because of that strangely dressed new tenant? Wasn't it because of you, Teacher?"

"Even in another thousand years, I could not have done it. Yet, unexpectedly, someone accomplished it in less than half a day."

"How is that possible? That person clearly doesn't have a trace of Immortal Qi. How could he be more capable than you, Teacher?" The attendant, whose name was Zhichun, found it hard to accept.

The middle-aged man addressed as Teacher frowned slightly. "Zhichun, your heart has grown restless. I taught you before: do not let a single leaf block your view. Heaven and earth hold endless wonders; you must not be a frog at the bottom of a well. A scholar must remain calm and guard against arrogance and impatience. Have you forgotten all of it?"

The attendant fell heavily to his knees as though struck by lightning. At that moment, he suddenly remembered what Ye Fu had said to him before leaving. He remembered Ye Fu saying that because of him, Zhichun, he could not form a favorable impression of Teacher.

Now he suddenly realized what mistake he had made. Bowing low on the ground, he said solemnly, "Please punish me, Teacher."

The middle-aged man's tone remained even as he said softly, "After the curtain falls on Black Stone City, go south."

The attendant Zhichun bowed deeply to the ground. "Yes."

The middle-aged man took a gentle step forward, and the two vanished from where they stood in an instant.

Having seen and heard everything, Ye Fu smiled and shook his head. "It seems this Teacher is a decent person, but-"

He raised an eyebrow, and a strand of Divine Sense carrying a message shot through the air. It instantly crossed ten thousand miles and reached the middle-aged man's ears.

"Although I have a very good impression of you, Teacher, I still hope you'll let me know next time you come. After all, I'm the owner of the house now."

Ten thousand miles away, the middle-aged man froze for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. He muttered softly, "The new tenant is far more extraordinary than I thought. It seems the curtain will fall on a different ending in Black Stone City."

He suddenly felt in high spirits, so he swept aside thirty thousand miles of clouds and rode away on the wind.

Chapter 15: A Wager

"It looks like there's something troublesome going on," Ye Fu muttered softly. Then he shook his head. "Forget it, forget it. As long as it doesn't affect my three meals a day or my leisurely life, it doesn't matter."

"What are you saying, Teacher Ye?" Qin Sanyue asked, looking up.

Ye Fu shook his head. "Come on. Since I'm already out, let's go have a look together." With his hands behind his back, he asked, "Where's a cloth shop nearby? Take me there."

Qin Sanyue nodded, then passed Ye Fu and led the way.

After turning down an alley, they came to a bustling market. There were more people here, and Ye Fu naturally stood out even more.

Ye Fu himself did not mind, but Qin Sanyue felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Before long, Qin Sanyue brought Ye Fu to a cloth shop called the Cloth Robe Workshop. Looking inside from a distance, they could see every color from red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, and blue to violet. Long bolts of cloth lay spread across the counters, shelves, and display stands.

Qin Sanyue stopped in front of the Cloth Robe Workshop. "Teacher Ye, maybe I shouldn't go in. I'm afraid I'll dirty their cloth."

Ye Fu frowned. "How many times have I told you? You're cleaner than anyone." He stepped forward. "Come on, follow me."

Qin Sanyue followed him hesitantly. She pulled a strand of hair down to cover the scar that ran vertically across her right eyebrow and eye.