Changes

Three days after the duel, having returned to the inner courtyard, Xu Changge finally ceased running his cultivation art for the first time. Opening his eyes, all that met his gaze was his austere living quarters. His wing lacked the opulent ornaments and furnishings of their third brother, nor did it have the bizarre formation apparatuses and tools of their fourth sister. There was only a bed, a desk, and two chairs. Looking at this familiar austerity, for some reason, the thought of adding a few furnishings to the room crossed Xu Changge's mind today for the very first time. Yet after pondering for a long while, he ultimately gave up. He did not know what to add, nor did he know what he wanted. Stepping off the bed, he took out a pristine green robe. Tying his hair as he dressed, he walked toward the door. When he pushed it open and stepped outside, the dawn light from the east struck his face, somewhat dazzling. Standing outside, the autumn rain had just ceased. The scent of moist earth greeted his nostrils, fresh and invigorating. In the expansive courtyard, only a single flagstone path led toward the gate; the rest was carpeted in lush flowers and herbs, exuding thick spiritual qi. These plants seemed to have all been planted by their fourth sister. Not to add color to her eldest brother's life, of course, but because the earth in the inner courtyard was living soil brought in from across Great Yan—a supreme spiritual soil that naturally inhaled and exhaled spiritual qi. Xinyao needed this living soil to cultivate new varieties of spiritual plants. Having filled her own courtyard to the brim, she had run over and occupied his as well. Back then, even their parents' and Chang'an's courtyards had been requisitioned by her. All except Changtian's, of course. Changtian had simply blasted Xinyao right out. He wanted to build waterside pavilions to cultivate his refined sensibilities. He had never paid attention before, but looking at them now, these flowers and plants were quite pleasant to the eye. Following the flagstone path through the flowers, Xu Changge walked all the way to the entrance of the study. The courtyard gate was shut fast, devoid of any sound from within. Neither his father nor Changtian seemed to be in the inner courtyard, and Xinyao was nowhere to be found. With only himself remaining in the vast inner courtyard, it felt somewhat desolate. The moment he stepped out of the inner courtyard in silence, Xu Changge suddenly halted, hesitation flickering in his dark eyes. He suddenly did not know what he was supposed to do. He had left the inner courtyard out of habit, intending to head to Moyin Pavilion to handle affairs of the Prime Minister's Manor, but it seemed he was no longer needed there. Due to the myriad affairs of the imperial court, aside from major matters, their father rarely made appearances at Moyin Pavilion, the Prime Minister's Manor's center of power. In the past, he, as the eldest son, had presided over Moyin Pavilion to oversee those daily matters. Yet in the meeting before Changtian returned home, their father had already transferred that authority from him to Changtian. Accustomed to endless busywork, this sudden leisure left him somewhat at a loss. Having stood motionless like a weathered stone at the entrance to the inner courtyard for half a quarter-hour, Xu Changge finally moved his feet again, this time turning toward the Sword Pavilion. In the past, he had always wanted to find time to consult this master of the sword, but his spare time had always been sporadic. Now that he was completely free, he could finally settle his mind and visit his maternal uncle. The inner courtyard was about two li from the Sword Pavilion. Along the way, attendants and retained elders bowed in salutation upon seeing Xu Changge. As always, Xu Changge paid them no heed, his mind lingering on his battle with Changtian. Reviewing every single detail, Xu Changge couldn't help but chuckle softly. That faint smile left several young maids beside the road, who were preparing to curtsy, staring in a daze. Changtian had grown stronger. Truly strong. Even if they fought again, the battle would still devolve into a war of attrition, and once it became an endurance match, the outcome would inevitably be his defeat. His only option was to see if his maternal uncle had any advice. He truly had not discussed the sword with his uncle in a long time, nor had he made any progress along the path of the sword for just as long. At this thought, Xu Changge froze slightly. He realized with a jolt that he actually cared about winning and losing—and against that brat, no less. Pointless pride. With that thought, Xu Changge's pace toward the Sword Pavilion quickened slightly. Just as he stepped onto the bamboo path leading toward the Sword Pavilion, a middle-aged man dressed in the fine black robes of a steward came walking toward him from the opposite direction, his long hair impeccably bound. Catching sight of Xu Changge, a distinct look of pleasant surprise flashed across the middle-aged man's face. Xu Changge halted, waiting where he was. After the old steward who had served the Xu family his entire life passed away peacefully of old age, his son had taken over as the head steward of the Prime Minister's Manor. "Eldest Young Master, this servant has finally found you." The steward in black stepped forward and bowed deeply, his tone tinged with flattery. Xu Changge cast a glance at him and uttered two cold words: "What is it?" Compared to the late, composed old steward, he did not care much for this fawning son. Servile and sycophantic to superiors, harsh and venomous to inferiors. Xu Changge had originally considered replacing him, but after entering Moyin Pavilion and seeing all kinds of people, he let it be. As long as he possessed the competence to keep the manor's internal affairs in good order, a minor character flaw was negligible. Even a prime minister's gatekeeper ranked like a seventh-rank official, let alone the head steward. The black-clad steward seemed aware that this young master disliked him, so he got straight to the point: "The day before yesterday, three youths arrived from the Feng family ancestral lands, wishing to see you, Eldest Young Master." Xu Changge's brows knitted slightly. "People from the Feng ancestral lands... What do they want with me?" "This servant doesn't know." The steward in black continued without pause, "We sent word to Lord Sword Saint, but received no response." "I will not see them." Uttering those two words, Xu Changge brushed past the black-clad steward and continued down the bamboo path. The steward lowered his head, his mouth twitching, and hurriedly said, "B-but the three of them carry your medallion." "..." The post-rain breeze caressed the bamboo grove, rustling softly. Xu Changge's green robes stirred slightly as he looked back and asked, "They carry my medallion?" "Er, yes." The steward stole a cautious look at him and whispered, "One from the Prime Minister's Manor, and one belonging to you." Xu Changge fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. "Where are they?" "Jiuwen Pavilion, Earth Chamber Two." "..." A gust of wind, and the figure in green vanished. Standing atop the pavilion, the figure in green looked down at the three youths in the courtyard below. Listening to their conversation, his brows furrowed slightly. A cold-faced youth in white. A girl in tight-fitting martial attire, eyeing the courtyard with excitement. And a girl in coarse hemp robes who looked completely drained of energy. The girl in hemp was sprawled across the stone table in the courtyard, her face hidden beneath a black hood. Turning her cheek toward the white-clad youth beside her, she murmured, "Little Brother... Sis wants to go home..." Feng Xianru cast a sideways glance at his older sister and said quietly, "Sis, that's the seventh time you've said that today." The girl in hemp groaned listlessly, "B-but... Sis really wants to go home... This place is scary." Feng Xianru stopped looking at his sister. Gazing toward the Sword Pavilion, his calm eyes carried a trace of anticipation. "We must first bring Fangming to see the Clan Head." The girl in hemp propped herself up languidly and complained, "It's already been three days... If the Clan Head wanted to see us, he'd have seen us by now..." "Sis." Feng Xianru cut off his sister's grumbling. The Chancellor's Manor was not the Feng family ancestral lands. From the entrance of the Prime Minister's Manor to this guest quarter, they had already spotted over a dozen individuals with unfathomable auras. If such disrespectful words were overheard, it would bode ill for them. The girl in hemp pouted and collapsed back onto the table. Beside them, the girl in martial attire poked her gently and whispered, "Sister Xunhua, I'm sorry..." Feng Xunhua glanced sideways at her, raised a hand to pat and ruffle Feng Fangming's head, and fell silent. Feng Fangming tiptoed over to sit beside Feng Xianru, asking softly, "Feng Xianru, did you really see the Eldest Young Master return to the capital?" Feng Xianru nodded with certainty and set a medallion on the table. "That giant eagle... Cough, the medallion we used to enter the city was given to me by the Eldest Young Master." "..." Xu Changge. Feng Fangming lowered her eyes, fiddling with the Eldest Young Master medallion that Xu Yuan had given her back then, and murmured, "Then the Eldest Young Master must have something keeping him busy." Two medallions—the former to enter Di'an, the latter to enter the Prime Minister's Manor. "..." Xu Changge. After a moment of silence, his figure drifted down like a feather. "I will take you to see him." An unfamiliar male voice rang out abruptly beside the trio. Feng Xianru shot to his feet and whirled around, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Feng Fangming stared blankly at this man who had appeared out of nowhere, looking like a banished immortal. Feng Xunhua sluggishly raised her eyes like a sloth, took a glance, and then flopped right back down, pulling her hood down over her head. Seeing that the newcomer's features resembled both the Eldest Young Master and the Clan Head, and sensing his bottomless aura, Feng Xianru released his grip on his sword and furrowed his brows. "Who might you be, sir?" "..." Xu Changge had no intention of answering and simply turned to leave. Feng Xianru felt a spark of anger, but considering the disparity in their strength and status, he followed silently behind him. After a few steps, he noticed his lazy sister and that little idiot were still idling in place. His eyelid twitched, and Feng Xianru hissed, "What are you standing there for? Move!" "!" Feng Fangming snapped to attention and hurriedly dragged the reluctant sloth-girl along, trailing behind as she curiously studied the man whose demeanor seemed so similar to Feng Xianru's. She guessed this man was probably the Eldest Young Master's brother. Yet judging by his face, he appeared slightly older than the Eldest Young Master... Could he be the Clan Head? At that thought, the girl's pretty eyes went wide and round. She instinctively wanted to share her discovery with Feng Xianru, yet she didn't quite dare. The unapproachable, chilly air about the green-robed man was simply terrifying... However, as they walked and heard how the attendants and retained elders addressed the green-robed man as they bowed along the way, Feng Fangming could finally hold back no longer: "Y-you... you are the Eldest Young Master? Then... then who was that Eldest Young Master?" "..." Xu Changge glanced at the girl, his pitch-black eyes deep and serene. Feng Fangming shivered and shrank back. "The medallion." Feng Fangming timidly stepped forward again and handed it over with both hands. Taking back his medallion and stowing it into his Sumeru ring, Xu Changge asked in a quiet voice, "Why did you come to the capital?" Feng Xianru had long since learned the background. Neither servile nor arrogant, he answered, "In response to the Eldest Young Master, the Third Young Master once—" "Did I ask you?" "..." Feng Xianru. Xu Changge cast a glance at the kid's attire—virtually identical to that of his maternal uncle—and shook his head. "Your clothes and bearing are similar enough, but your strength falls short." "..." Feng Xianru's face gradually flushed red, and he looked away. He should... he should have changed his clothes. Xu Changge shifted his gaze back to the girl in her early teens. Feng Fangming lowered her head, her little face flushing crimson, before stammering, "I-in response to the Eldest Young Master, I... I came to seek treatment..." "Seek treatment?" Xu Changge's brows arched slightly. A wisp of green light flashed through his eyes as he murmured, "The Yin-Yang Profound-Pattern Physique... Just what is that kid Changtian plotting?" "Changtian...?" Feng Fangming lifted her eyes, her gaze flickering. "That's... the Third Young Master's courtesy name," the sloth-girl beside her reminded her in a drawl. Hearing this, Xu Changge turned his gaze upon this last girl. Feng Xunhua tilted her head, confusion in her dark eyes. "Eldest Young Master?" After locking eyes for a breath, Xu Changge withdrew his gaze and remarked, "The branch families have produced a few talents, yet their temperaments... Heh. Never mind." They proceeded in silence until stopping together before an imposing, seven-story pavilion. On the pavilion's plaque, three characters were written in bold, flowing calligraphy: Moyin Pavilion. The seat of power in the Chancellor's Manor. Looking at this vital place bustling with retained elders, shock filled the eyes of two of the three youngsters from the Feng branch family, save for the sloth. Out of every ten passersby, eight were Grandmasters or above, and the auras of many were no weaker than the Grand Elder of their clan. As the four stepped inside, those unfathomably strong experts bowed solemnly with lowered heads upon seeing the green-robed man before them, yet the figure in green didn't even acknowledge them. Only when a white-haired elder surrounded by a crowd walked over from the end of the corridor did the green-robed man halt for the first time, nodding in greeting: "Mr. Hua." Hearing this, the various experts and shopkeepers clustered around the white-haired elder tactfully bowed and took their leave. The corridor fell quiet. Hua Hong looked at Xu Changge and said with a chuckle, "Changge, this old man thought you would drop by these past few days to lend Changtian a hand. That kid has been in a complete fluster lately." Xu Changge shook his head and said, "If Changtian were truly in a fluster, Old Hua, you would already be cursing up a storm by now." "..." Hua Hong visibly froze at those words before remarking oddly, "Since when do you make jokes, kid? But Changtian has indeed done well. He knows how to open new revenue streams for this old man, and he balances the bowls quite steadily." "In that case, Changtian must have repaid the silver owed to you." "Hahahaha..." Hua Hong clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his face flushed with good cheer. "On that point, Changtian is far more sensible than you." When Xu Changge had run Moyin Pavilion, he had always been domineering, slapping the table and demanding funds. Hua Hong's attitude had been simple: No money to give; take my life if you want. Over this, the two had nearly come to blows right here in Moyin Pavilion on more than one occasion. Recalling those past memories, Xu Changge shook his head in silence. Hua Hong then noticed the three youngsters standing behind Xu Changge. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Changge, these three little fellows have decent cultivation. Where did you find such prodigies?" Xu Changge did not hide anything, answering directly: "The Feng family branch." Hua Hong's expression changed instantly. His smile vanished, and his genial gaze turned razor-sharp with scrutiny. "The Feng family branch... coming to Di'an? Who gave permission?" "..." The immense pressure choked the breath in Feng Xianru's chest. Though he did not know why, he could feel an unmasked killing intent radiating from the old man. Xu Changge shifted half a step to shield the three behind him and said calmly, "Changtian." Hearing that, Hua Hong's expression shifted once more. Rolling his eyes, he chuckled, "That kid isn't even worried about a repeat of the Long family incident. Ah, whatever. Since he did it, he must have his reasons. "Are you planning to take these three little fellows to see Changtian?" "Yes." Xu Changge nodded. Glancing up toward the floor above, he asked, "Is Changtian available right now?" Hua Hong hesitated briefly before saying in a low voice, "You'll probably have to wait a moment. When this old man stepped out, I ran into Lou Ji. That woman likely has business to report to Changtian."