Ma the Fifth stood upon the newland Li Banfeng had granted him, scrutinizing the five thousand three-headed people one by one.
He did not overlook a single one, for these five thousand three-headed people had brought him far too many regrets, yet had also brought him boundless expectations.
Among them was one three-headed person whose central head was named A-Yun. She was also the primary controller of the body.
A-Yun was pretty and considerate, and Ma the Fifth liked the young woman very much. But to A-Yun's left was A-Gong, an old man in his fifties, and to her right was A-Liang, a lad of fifteen or sixteen.
These two also kept their eyes fixed on Ma the Fifth, their faces tinged with faint bashfulness.
That rather ruined the mood. It meant Ma the Fifth and Miss A-Yun were fated to cross paths, but never to be together.
Among the five thousand three-headed people, those whose three heads were all female numbered fewer than six hundred, and those who caught Ma the Fifth's eye numbered fewer than a hundred. These hundred individuals were the primary focus of Ma the Fifth's special care.
"Once our territory turns into proper land, I'll build another Xiaoyaowu right here and hire only three-headed people as performers—one lead singer accompanied by two harmonies! Out of these hundred people, we're bound to produce a song queen!"
Feng Daiku laughed upon hearing this. "If you make three-headed people song queens, will anyone still dare come to your Xiaoyaowu? Aren't you afraid of scaring people away?"
"They might be a bit frightened at first, but after visiting a few times, they'll get used to it." Ma the Fifth stood on the hillside, looking over his territory and gazing at every three-headed person around him. "Old Seventh is right. They are human, no different from us. Anything we can do, they can do as well. If Jiang Mengting can become a screen queen, so can they."
As they spoke, the two caught the sound of Jiang Mengting's singing.
Jiang Mengting had not been initiated into a pathway for long. Today she had come to the newland to see whether its unique environment could help her advance a layer.
Even without accompaniment, her voice was enchanting. Taking a break from their toil, the three-headed people sat gathered nearby, quietly listening to her perform "Song of the Four Seasons."
"Spring arrives, filling the window with greenery;
The young maiden sits beneath, embroidering mandarin ducks.
Suddenly, a merciless cudgel strikes down,
Driving the pair of ducks far apart."
Feng Daiku murmured in admiration, "She sings so wonderfully. This lass has immense talent."
Ma the Fifth smiled. "It's not that she sings every song this well. 'Song of the Four Seasons,' 'Pretending to Be Serious,' and 'Full Moon, Blooming Flowers' are the three she sings best."
"What's so special about those three songs?"
"What's special is that Old Seventh loves them dearly—especially 'Song of the Four Seasons.' I don't understand why Old Seventh is so fond of it either."
***
"Wife, sing 'Song of the Four Seasons' for me, won't you!" Li Banfeng rolled about on the bed, clutching the gramophone in his arms.
The gramophone struggled with all her might. "I won't! I simply won't sing it for you!"
Li Banfeng pulled his wife into his arms once more. "Wife, after eating so many fine ingredients these days, it's time you rewarded your husband a bit. Otherwise, your husband will have to use force."
The gramophone rolled over and pinned Li Banfeng down. "What if you use force? Does your humble servant fear you? Let's see who's stronger!"
"Wife, now you're being unreasonable!" Li Banfeng reached out and firmly grasped the joint beneath the stylus arm.
The gramophone yelled amid peals of laughter, "You crazy madman! When you can't win, you resort to being a scoundrel! No, stop, don't tickle my armpit! Your humble servant can't take this! Husband, spare me! Your humble servant has a stitch in her side! Listen to your humble servant explain first!"
Li Banfeng was truly growing anxious. His Journey cultivation had been at layer two above the clouds for some time now, yet his Homebody cultivation remained at layer one above the clouds. Li Banfeng did not dare go to his territory to gather human vitality right now; once his Journey cultivation advanced again, it would begin to backlash against his Homebody cultivation.
Yet the gramophone kept insisting this matter could not be rushed: "Husband, layers must be stabilized through techniques. You haven't mastered Form and Shadow Pitying Each Other at all. How could your humble servant dare let you advance to layer two?"
"How can you say I haven't learned it!" Li Banfeng summoned his shadow. "My shadow comes when called and fights when told. Its moves are no worse than mine."
"Then execute a technique for me to see?"
Li Banfeng tucked his hands into his sleeves and squatted beside the gramophone. "Once Form and Shadow Pitying Each Other is active, I can't use other techniques, but that shouldn't hinder my advancement."
As he spoke, the shadow likewise tucked its hands into its sleeves and squatted on the floor.
The gramophone stared at Li Banfeng with her large horn for a long while before asking, "Precious husband, lately whenever you bring up important matters, you always squat on the ground. Why is that?"
Li Banfeng was taken aback. "What important matters have I brought up?"
"Husband said—" The gramophone gave a cough, nearly derailed by Li Banfeng. "Your humble servant isn't asking about important matters. Your humble servant is asking why Husband is always squatting!"
Li Banfeng let out a sigh. "Your husband feels vexed. Powerful enemies surround us outside, yet my cultivation remains stuck. I can only let others push me around."
The gramophone sighed with emotion. "It must be so hard on Husband—letting others push you around every day, yet still buying so many delicious dishes to bring home every day."
"Isn't that because I'm thinking of my wife's belly?" Li Banfeng stroked the gramophone's belly several times, tickling his wife into helpless laughter.
"Husband, stop fooling around and listen to your humble servant. As long as Husband can draw out a fraction of the power of Form and Shadow Pitying Each Other, your humble servant will help Husband advance to layer two."
"What counts as drawing out a fraction of its power?"
"Husband first summons the shadow, and as long as you can execute a single combat technique, that will suffice."
"What counts as a combat technique?"
"'Wind Rising from Still Earth,' 'Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity,' 'Golden Gaze Discerning the Finest Detail,' 'All Flavors Exquisite,' and 'Discerning Spiritual Sounds' do not count as combat techniques. All other techniques do. Which one you can perform depends entirely on Husband's own capability."
Li Banfeng remained squatting on the floor as he drew his shadow back.
It was difficult.
When executing Form and Shadow Pitying Each Other, Li Banfeng could not even employ Fool cultivator techniques.
It seemed as though an impossible challenge had been thrown at him, but thinking it over carefully, Li Banfeng knew his wife truly had his best interests at heart.
When facing a formidable enemy, if he could use a technique—even just one—it would secure him an immense advantage.
First, he needed to pick a technique that was easy to get a handle on. Which one would be suitable?
***
Leaving the companion dwelling, Li Banfeng arrived at Ma the Fifth's newland. Quite a few guests had arrived to offer congratulations. Compared to when Chu the Second had claimed his plot, the crowd of visitors this time was even larger.
Sha Dingzhong, Rong Sijiao, Xie the Scabby, and several other local spirits of the newland had all come. Hua Manchun and Dou Jiyan, two local spirits of proper land, had also arrived.
Pan Dehai arrived slightly late. Feng Daiku had intended to avoid him, but Pan Dehai proactively bustled over.
"Miss Feng, congratulations to you."
Feng Daiku sneered. "Elder Pan must be joking. This territory isn't mine; what cause do I have to be congratulated?"
Pan Dehai said, "Miss Feng and Young Master Ma share deep marital affection. Why bother making such distinctions between you?"
Feng Daiku frowned. "Are those words meant to mock me, Elder Pan? Wulang and I can hardly be considered husband and wife who have bowed before the ancestral altar."
Pan Dehai hurriedly replied, "Every word this old man speaks comes straight from the heart. If I could tear open this chest of mine, I would be only too eager to pull out my true heart and show it to you, Miss."
"Sure, I'll help you open it!" Li Banfeng strode over, holding a knife.
Pan Dehai promptly bowed in salute. "Brother Li the Seventh, a man of outstanding talent and abundant virtue, now enfeoffed as a feudal lord of your own territory."
Feng Daiku warned, "Careful, Young Master Li. 'Outstanding Talent and Abundant Virtue' is Elder Pan's technique."
"Sigh," Pan Dehai shook his head. "Miss Feng, why must you be on guard to such an extent? This old man truly came with no ill intent today, hoping only that we might look out for one another in the future."
Li Banfeng raised his knife. "Let's crack open your chest and verify it first."
Pan Dehai hurriedly changed the subject. Cupping his hands toward Hua Manchun, he said, "Manor Master Hua, we haven't seen each other in years. We must share a good drink in a bit."
Hua Manchun was a middle-aged man in his early fifties, dressed in a white scholar's gown, wearing a white silk headband, and holding a feather fan—the spitting image of a scholar-gentleman of antiquity.
Seeing Pan Dehai strike up a conversation, Hua Manchun cupped his hands in return. "Elder Pan, that cup of wine is a certainty between us, but allow me first to discuss some serious business with Miss Feng."
Feng Daiku sensed something amiss. She glanced at Ma the Fifth first, then smiled at Hua Manchun. "Today is Wulang's joyous occasion. Why are you all offering congratulations to the wrong person?"
Hua Manchun waved a hand. "I didn't come today solely to offer congratulations. I also have a matter to discuss with Miss Feng. I heard that Miss Feng acquired the territory of Qishuiyao not long ago and is running it with great success. A tiny place like Kudaikan must be hard to look after at the same time. Would Miss Feng be willing to yield Kudaikan to me?"
Feng Daiku sized Hua Manchun up and down. "I didn't quite catch that just now. Manor Master Hua wants me to yield my territory to you?"
Hua Manchun swayed his feather fan. "I certainly won't take it for nothing. Gold, silver, jewels, spiritual artifacts, Dharma treasures—anything I possess, you may take your pick freely, Miss."
As he spoke, Hua Manchun looked directly into Feng Daiku's eyes, carrying an air of provocation.
Few people possessed such nerve. Staring into Feng Daiku's eyes meant one could be planted with a root of passion at any moment.
Hua Manchun's gesture was both a probe and a warning: he had means to suppress passion roots, and thus had ways to counter an Emotion Cultivator.
Feng Daiku gave a slight shake of her head. "I appreciate Manor Master Hua's kind intentions, but Kudaikan is where I made my start. Though small and remote, a poor home is worth ten thousand strings of cash to its owner; I truly cannot bear to part with it. Manor Master Hua had best ask elsewhere."
Hua Manchun's feather fan came to a halt. His smile vanished instantly, and he fixed his eyes on Feng Daiku. "Miss Feng, were those words meant to deliberately mock me?"
Truth be told, today was Ma the Fifth's joyous occasion, and Feng Daiku genuinely did not want to argue with Hua Manchun.
Hua Manchun had been eyeing Kudaikan for a long time. He had tried to seize it in open combat and had ambushed her in the shadows; with their territories bordering one another, they had clashed more times than anyone could count.
What did he mean by insisting on bringing this matter into the open on an occasion like today?
Feng Daiku said, "Everyone came here today to congratulate Fifth Young Master. Manor Master Hua, as for the old grievances between you and me, let us discuss them in detail another day."
"No waiting for another day; we settle it clearly today," Hua Manchun said. He looked around at the onlookers, then turned back to Feng Daiku. "Let's stick to the facts. Just now, I was discussing serious business with Miss Feng in all earnestness. Every word of mine was respectful, without the slightest breach of courtesy. Yet Miss Feng mocked me in front of so many people—what is the meaning of this?"
Standing to the side, Ma the Fifth could not understand which of Feng Daiku's words had supposedly mocked him.
Feng Daiku signaled for Ma the Fifth to stay quiet. She knew none of her words had mocked Hua Manchun; he was deliberately looking for trouble.
"Manor Master Hua, if you blame me for speaking carelessly just now, please forgive any offense, Manor Master."
"What do you mean by 'speaking carelessly'?" Hua Manchun's expression darkened further. "Are you saying I am deliberately nitpicking?"
Ma the Fifth finally could not hold back and asked, "Manor Master Hua, I usually lack refinement and my mind isn't the sharpest, but I truly couldn't hear which sentence of Miss Feng's offended you. If there really was such a phrase, I will apologize to you alongside Miss Feng today. But if you cannot give a reason, then you are deliberately stirring up trouble on my territory."
Hua Manchun waved his fan and gave a faint smile. "I am a straightforward man, Fifth Young Master; do not take offense. Many heroes came to congratulate you today, and perhaps your mind truly isn't the sharpest, for you thought these heroes were giving face to you. In truth, everyone present knows full well that we came here out of respect for Li the Seventh. We hold this junior's capabilities in high regard, which is why we are willing to lend him support. Elder Pan, am I wrong?"
Pan Dehai waved his hands repeatedly. "Brother Li the Seventh and I share genuine sentiment; we might be a bit different."
Hua Manchun chuckled. "Sentiment is unreliable; what can be relied upon is leverage. Fifth Young Master, when I speak to you, I truly mean no offense, but right now, you lack the leverage to speak with me. Brother Li the Seventh, these words are meant for your ears. My coming here today proves there is affinity between us. I am willing to be your friend. But if you cannot grasp this affinity and cannot keep these friends, whatever happens between us in the future will be another matter entirely. Brother Li the Seventh, wouldn't you say that makes sense?"
Li Banfeng looked as if he had just seen the light. "So you were talking reason to me! I thought none of this concerned me."
Hua Manchun frowned. "If it didn't concern you, do you think someone of my standing would have come here?"
Li Banfeng pondered carefully and asked, "What standing do you have?"
A cold glint appeared in Hua Manchun's eyes. Pan Dehai hurriedly explained, "Brother Li the Seventh, this is Hua Manchun, the Master of Huaxian Manor. Huaxian Manor is an expanse of proper land."
Li Banfeng looked astonished. "How come I've never heard of this place called Huaxian Manor?"
Hua Manchun stroked the long plumes of his feather fan one by one, thoroughly displeased by Li the Seventh's attitude.
Pan Dehai quickly explained, "Brother Li the Seventh, saying you've never heard of Huaxian Manor can't be right. Huaxian Manor is renowned across Puluo Province; how could you not have heard of it? But if you say you've never been there, that is understandable. Huaxian Manor has a rule: it accepts only women and tolerates no men. None of us men can enter the manor."
Li Banfeng was dumbfounded. "His manor doesn't take men? Then is this manor master a man or a woman?"
Hua Manchun's face turned livid. Pan Dehai let out a dry laugh. "Brother, stop joking around. Manor Master Hua is an accomplished master of the Joy Cultivator pathway. When it comes to combat prowess, hardly any local spirit from any territory can rival him."
This was by no means an exaggeration; Hua Manchun was indeed formidable in battle. In all the years Feng Daiku had clashed with him, she had never gained the upper hand.
Ma the Fifth also understood a few things from this. When Feng Daiku had been so eager to claim Qishuiyao back then, Hua Manchun had certainly been one of the reasons. Hua Manchun had long coveted Kudaikan; if Feng Daiku could not hold her ground, having Qishuiyao would at least leave her a path of retreat.
Li Banfeng was also taken aback. "Hardly anyone can rival him? Does that mean he can fight better than Lühuazi?"
At the mention of Lühuazi, the rage in Hua Manchun's eyes softened considerably.
Pan Dehai's tone softened as well. "Well, of course, the Green Water Bow is a special exception..."
None of the local spirits in Puluo Province could compare to the Green Water Bow.
This was also one of the reasons Hua Manchun felt wary toward Li the Seventh. According to rumors, Li the Seventh shared an extraordinary relationship with the Green Water Bow, and the three-headed people he had secured were closely tied to her.
Hua Manchun said, "Brother Li the Seventh, we can discuss our friendship later. Today we speak only of the matter between Feng Daiku and me. I approached her in good faith to discuss business, yet she mocked me in front of so many people. Sticking to the facts, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
He had caused this scene today with a single goal: to force Li Banfeng to take a stance.
In his eyes, since Li the Seventh could form ties with the Green Water Bow, he had to be a clever man. And in Hua Manchun's worldview, clever people cared only for profit, not sentiment.
By that logic, Li the Seventh would surely strive to win Hua Manchun's support, because Hua Manchun was far stronger. In combat prowess, influence, and financial resources, he surpassed Feng Daiku.
For Hua Manchun, the most ideal outcome was to use Li Banfeng to pressure Feng Daiku into willingly giving up Kudaikan.
Of course, if Feng Daiku refused to yield, driving a wedge between her and Li the Seventh was also an excellent result. Without Li the Seventh as a backer, Kudaikan would belong to him sooner or later anyway.
Li Banfeng thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I still don't understand. Which sentence of Miss Feng's mocked you?"
Hua Manchun's brow furrowed once more. Why was Li the Seventh still obsessing over this point? Was he truly a clever man or not?
Since he had asked, Hua Manchun had no choice but to provide a pretext. "Everyone present heard clearly. I offered a heap of my own assets in exchange for Miss Feng's Kudaikan. Whether she trades or not doesn't matter; a simple answer would suffice. Yet she talked about a poor home being worth ten thousand strings of cash and told me to ask elsewhere! What did that mean? Did she take me for a beggar?"
"You think that counts as mockery?" Li Banfeng stared at the fan in Hua Manchun's hand for a moment. Through the Qiansi earring, a voice whispered, "Master, that fan of his makes no sound."
Not only did it make no sound, but it also seemed devoid of warmth.
Hua Manchun said, "If that isn't mockery, what is? Perhaps you could explain to me what mockery means!"
Li Banfeng glanced at Hua Manchun's headband, detecting nothing unusual. He could basically confirm that this was Hua Manchun himself.
Since the man wanted an explanation of what mockery was, Li Banfeng gave him a thorough one: "Today, our fifth brother is reclaiming land. Everyone who showed up here has shown us brothers respect. Please take a seat, have a cup of wine, and toast our fifth brother individually, and we'll consider this matter settled. If you don't care to give that face and don't care to drink that wine, do me a favor and get the hell out. Roll as far away as you can. *That* is mockery—a slap in the face of mockery. Do you understand now?"
Hua Manchun froze where he stood. He had never expected Li Banfeng to take such an attitude. "Brother Li the Seventh, the Jianghu is vast; the mountains may not turn, but the waters do. There's no telling who will end up in whose hands. You shouldn't burn your bridges so completely."
Li Banfeng looked at Hua Manchun. "Never mind how the mountains and waters turn. Let's talk about how you're going to turn right now. If you're going to roll out of here, you'd better start turning fast."
Hua Manchun ground his teeth. He looked first at Pan Dehai, who lowered his head in silence.
He then looked at Ma Junyang. Ma the Fifth gestured with an outstretched arm. "Manor Master Hua, suit yourself."
The other local spirits looked on with cold detachment, not one stepping forward to ease the tension.
Hua Manchun spun around and walked away. Only after he had walked far into the distance did Pan Dehai try to play the peacemaker: "Brother Li the Seventh, why go to such lengths? Manor Master Hua is not someone you want to offend."
"Did I offend him?" Li Banfeng asked in surprise. "In a couple of days, I'll go have a chat with him. Since he's Miss Feng's neighbor, it's only right that we visit each other."
"Brother Li the Seventh, don't joke around."
"I'm speaking from the heart. I genuinely think he's a decent fellow. Given the chance, I must invite him over to my place to sit for a while."
"Brother, it's better to dissolve enmities than to create them."
Though he kept urging reconciliation, Pan Dehai knew in his heart that this grudge could no longer be resolved. Li the Seventh had thoroughly offended Hua Manchun. With Hua Manchun's temperament, he would never let Li the Seventh off lightly. Whether Li the Seventh could emerge unscathed would likely depend on whether the backer behind him was willing to step in.
Yet this outcome was not necessarily a loss. The way Feng Daiku and the other local spirits looked at Li the Seventh had completely changed.
From now on, Feng Daiku would place greater trust in Li the Seventh, and the other local spirits would regard him with deeper reverence.
The local spirit Dou Jiyan stepped forward with a smile. "Seventh Brother, this is our first meeting. I didn't bring much, only two jars of fine wine—one for Fifth Brother and one for you. This wine can heal injuries and has superb medicinal potency. A goose feather sent from a thousand li away—please don't scorn it!"
"Not at all," Li Banfeng chuckled. "How should I address you, Miss?"
Dou Jiyan did not look old. Two plaited pigtails hung down over her shoulders, left and right. She appeared under twenty, delightfully lively and cute, addressing him as Seventh Brother with every breath.
One could never take that at face value; her true age was impossible to determine.
Feng Daiku introduced, "This is the mistress of Qianliangfang, Dou Jiyan, Miss Dou."
Li Banfeng promptly expressed his thanks. Dou Jiyan whispered playfully, "Seventh Brother, guess which pathway I belong to?"
When meeting for the first time, asking about someone's pathway was exceedingly impolite. Yet Dou Jiyan had taken the initiative to let Li the Seventh guess.
Then guess he would.
Li Banfeng thought for a moment and said, "Miss Dou brought us fine wine, so you must be a Wine Cultivator."
Dou Jiyan shook her head. "You guessed wrong! I'm not a Wine Cultivator; I procured this wine from elsewhere. Let me give you a hint—don't you think my name is strange? Actually, I wasn't originally called Dou Jiyan. It's just that Qianliangfang loves gambling, and I love gambling too. My favorite thing is cockfighting, and I have extraordinary eyesight. Every fighting rooster I pick wins without fail! Everyone said I had an eye for fighting roosters, so they gave me the nickname 'Cockfighter's Eye.' I knew they were poking fun at me, but I wasn't afraid of their teasing, so I simply named myself Dou Jiyan! Now do you know what pathway I belong to?"
Li Banfeng looked enlightened. "So you're a Chicken Cultivator!"
"There's no such thing as a Chicken Cultivator pathway!" Dou Jiyan waved her hand dismissively. "I said my eyes are sharp!"
"Then you're an Eye Cultivator."
"Not an Eye Cultivator either!" Dou Jiyan laughed. "Are you trying to annoy me on purpose?"
Li Banfeng didn't laugh; he was guessing with utter seriousness. "Then what pathway is it?"
"I'm a Gambling Cultivator—always winning every bet!"
"So you're a Gambling Cultivator!" Li Banfeng had another flash of realization. "Miss Dou, I have a friend who is also a Gambling Cultivator. He is charitable and loves doing good deeds. I must introduce you two another day."
The guests took their seats one after another, exchanging toasts and cups of wine. The local spirits of the newland each pledged to provide a batch of strange beasts to Ma the Fifth's territory for testing purposes.
The local spirits of proper land also made promises, though theirs were somewhat more abstract; Pan Dehai and Dou Jiyan promised to look out for Ma the Fifth in the future.
Once Sha Dingzhong and the others gradually delivered the strange beasts, the land reclamation officially began.
When He Yuxiu had opened up land previously, these local spirits had caused trouble. Now that they offered support to Chu the Second and Ma the Fifth, the past grudges were considered settled.
Yet someone's grudge remained unsettled.
At the edge of the newland, a woman concealed her figure, gazing wistfully at the lively scene across the territory.
She possessed exquisite beauty: a broad forehead, a rounded face, slender arched brows, eyes like curved crescents, and lips like cherries. Her features were delicate and refined. Her long hair was pinned up, with two strands resting snugly against her cheeks, making her appear all the more gentle and lovely.
Her figure was even more striking, slender yet carrying a delicate grace, especially that narrow waist—truly small enough to encircle with a single hand. Draped in her long gown, she looked just like a beauty painted in ink wash.
She was the local spirit of the newland, Chu Yaoxian.
When He Yuxiu had organized the three-headed people to reclaim land, Chu Yaoxian had dispatched Madam Bagworm Moth, A-Rou, to conduct the testing, nearly forcing He Yuxiu into an all-out battle with A-Rou.
Li Banfeng still remembered that enmity. When taking over Lu Huowang's territory, Li Banfeng had deliberately given himself the alias Chu Yaohan. If complications arose in the future, he intended to settle the score on her.
If Chu Yaoxian stepped forward now, apologized to Li the Seventh, and sent over a few strange beasts from her territory as a token of goodwill, the matter could also be smoothed over.
Yet she hesitated, because she had arrived late.
When Chu the Second had claimed his newland, she hadn't gone to show support. Now at Ma the Fifth's place, she had arrived late again. She worried Li the Seventh wouldn't give her a pleasant face, and in her hesitation, she didn't know whether she ought to show herself.
*Forget it, better to leave.*
Among the local spirits of the newland, Chu Yaoxian enjoyed some renown. If Li the Seventh truly ridiculed her in public, she would lose far too much face.
After walking for over ten li, Chu Yaoxian felt a pang of regret.
Being ridiculed a bit wasn't really a big deal. If she acted coquettishly toward Li the Seventh, showed some submission, and sent over a few strange beasts as a token of goodwill, she could not only resolve the grudge, but also gain a friend.
This friend was of immense importance to her.
She had heard about Hua Manchun. She knew Li the Seventh had publicly swept away Hua Manchun's face.
Chu Yaoxian had suffered no shortage of bullying from Hua Manchun over the years. If she could secure a reliable backer, her life would be much easier in the days ahead.
Starting and stopping, Chu Yaoxian remained torn. Suddenly, amidst the mountain woods, she caught the faint sound of laughter.
Chu Yaoxian's brows knit slightly, and she called out, "Which path does this friend hail from? Dare you come out to meet?"
A young man clad in a white robe stepped before Chu Yaoxian and bowed deeply. "He Jiaqing greets Miss Chu."
"The eldest young master of the He family?" Chu Yaoxian had heard of He Jiaqing's reputation. This man was wanted in both the Outer States and the Inner States, and it was said he had recently joined hands with someone to kill Zhang Gunli. She had never expected to encounter him here, and she instantly raised her guard.
He Jiaqing looked into the distance. "Miss Chu, were you planning to congratulate Ma Junyang?"
Chu Yaoxian nodded. "I originally intended to. I have some acquaintance with both Li the Seventh and Ma the Fifth, and on such a grand day, it's only right that I deliver a congratulatory gift."
He Jiaqing shook his head and sighed. "If you truly had an acquaintance, you wouldn't be hesitating like this, Miss."
Chu Yaoxian pouted slightly, looking somewhat helpless. "Blame only my love for sleep; I missed the hour. Going now, I fear they'd say I lacked courtesy."
"If it were merely a matter of lacking courtesy, it would be easy to handle. But if there is a grudge involved, I advise you best not go. Li the Seventh is a man who holds grudges; some matters cannot be resolved with just a few pleasant words."
Chu Yaoxian smiled. "What grudge could there possibly be between Li the Seventh and me?"
He Jiaqing said, "He Yuxiu is my aunt. Do you think I truly don't know what you did on the day she began reclaiming land?"
Her cover blown, Chu Yaoxian did not try to argue. "That matter was carried out under orders from the Inner States. I wasn't the only one who offended Li the Seventh back then. If others could dissolve the grudge, why can't I?"
"Miss Chu, being unable to dissolve the grudge might not be a bad thing. You also know that orders from the Inner States are not easily defied. For the local spirits of the newland, half of their covenant deed remains in the hands of the Inner States. If you cannot retrieve that deed, your life remains in their grip. If you go congratulate Ma the Fifth on his territory today, and tomorrow the Inner States suddenly turn hostile, you should know what the consequences will be, Miss."
Chu Yaoxian lowered her head in silence; she had indeed worried over this exact matter.
He Jiaqing continued, "I love making friends. Anyone who is my friend, I treat as my own flesh and blood. If Miss Chu is willing to be my friend, I will find a way to help you retrieve the other half of your covenant deed."
Chu Yaoxian was taken aback. "Are these words true?"
He Jiaqing nodded. "They are true."
Chu Yaoxian did not rush to declare her stance. Retrieving a covenant deed from the Inner States? She had never heard of such a feat.
Yet He Jiaqing was indeed no ordinary figure; he was the man who had slain Zhang Gunli.
The Outer States hunted him, the Inner States hunted him, and Lühuazi wanted him dead as well, yet he had managed to survive to this day. Perhaps he truly possessed such capability.
Caught between belief and doubt, Chu Yaoxian first raised a relatively easier issue: "My territory directly borders Huaxian Manor, and there are some rifts between Manor Master Hua Manchun and myself. If Young Master He could look out for me a little, this humble woman would be endlessly grateful."
He Jiaqing nodded. "I will handle this matter for you. We shall go to Huaxian Manor at once. As long as you are willing to be my friend, I guarantee Hua Manchun will never dare trouble you again."
Hearing this, Chu Yaoxian replied with a touch of bashfulness, "Then I must thank Young Master He first."
He Jiaqing said, "As I said just now, I treat all my friends as my own flesh and blood. How about I call you Sister Chu from now on, Miss? What do you think?"
Chu Yaoxian lowered her head. "How could that do? We shouldn't judge by age, but by prestige. This little sister had better call you Big Brother He!"
Chapter 557