Xue Huai brought the few excellent snow wave papers to the Shenhua Terrace and then compared them to his father’s originally messy design, refining and correcting them one by one. He attempted to draw the completed illustration from the first volume, and the result was quite good.
After blurring the finished product image with a spell, he entrusted the green bird to pass it on to Xue Zong. Xue Zong was very happy and decided to entrust him with full authority for this matter, while also indirectly testing whether he wanted to do anything else or not.
Xue Huai said to the green bird: “It’s alright. I know he’s sick of writing jobs. Before he returns, I’ll help him take care of everything. He never has time to go out because he is always busy all year round. It’s better to let him relax for a while, he can come back after he has had enough fun.”
Seeing Xue Huai being so mature, Xue Zong was moved to tears. Immediately, like an old kid, he simply took a vacation and entrusted Xue Huai with another task.
In addition to the manual requested by the Fuli Heavenly Lord above, the Shenhua Terrace also planned to purchase an ancient magical weapon a few days ago. Xue Zong personally took people to the auction and bought it for 500 million spirit stones.
They originally planned to deliver it after verifying the information, but the goods have yet to arrive. And Xue Zong himself is not in Xianzhou, so he leaves it to Xue Huai to confirm this matter.
When the old man came to report this matter, Xue Huai smiled and said, “Our family is a regular customer. When has this ever happened before? It’s most likely that they’ve been intercepted by someone more powerful than our family. What kind of magical weapon did my father buy?”
The old man said in a deep voice, “The Master said we must get it, but I’m not sure what it is either. However, spending such a large amount of money is probably something that cannot be given up. Young Master, it’s better to confirm this matter carefully.”
Xue Huai brought two or three attendants from the Shenhua Terrace to the scene to inquire.
The hosts and them are old friends, upon seeing Xue Huai, he even began to sweat: “Where did my good fortune come fromthat got Young Master Xue to come here? Please take a seat.”
The father and son of the Xue family, the older one is easy to talk to, but he is a smiling tiger. He is always happy and harmonious, with nine out of ten sentences being false. Secretly selling you behind your back and still wanting you to help count the money; Xue Huai, on the other hand, doesn’t do Tai Chi1Doesn’t do Tai Chi in this context refers to pushing things back and forth, not expressing one’s position clearly, or being vague and not telling the truth. He is sharp to the extreme, and no one can deceive him. There are two generations of people: the father generation is prosperous and steady on the road, while the younger generation shines brightly and successfully. It has to be said that they have just embarked on a path with the unique style of the Xue family… and then left others with nowhere to go.
Someone once vividly said that the Xue family’s master and young master, the old man is like a debt lender, and the son is like a debt collector, seamless. People are always more willing to deal with the former since they are unable to dodge the latter on time.
Xue Huai eventually grasped the situation after sitting down and speaking with the person for a few words, as he expected, the magical weapon was indeed intercepted, and it was not anyone else who stole it. It was one of the teenagers who went to their house for a banquet yesterday, Zhu Xing.
The Zhu family is not as powerful as the Xue family, but Xue Huai clearly knows who was behind him—Yun Cuo.
They wiped their mouths clean and came to rob his stuff as soon as they stepped their feet out of his house’s door. Except for the words ‘pick a fight’, Xue Huai couldn’t think of anything else.
Judging by Xue He and Mrs. Liu’s appearance, these people should not be targeting them, nor did they target Xue Zong, who was currently away. Rather, it could be he himself who does not attend the banquet.
After Xue Huai returned to the Shenhua Terrace, he called the old man and asked, “I was not present at the family banquet yesterday. Did Xue He and Aunt Liu tell them anything about me?”
The old man shook his head and told him, “Because they’re honorable guests, the dishes were prepared in advance and warmed with magic. The Second Madam did not take her seat, and we weren’t even allowed to go pour wine. Therefore, those of us who were there didn’t know what they said during the banquet.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Huai had already understood the situation by ninety-nine percent. He almost laughed and said, “I really underestimated my Aunty Liu and Younger Brother. Speak ill of people behind their backs. If it’s true, it’s not a big deal. If it’s not true, one poke and it breaks2One poke and it break is an idiom, meaning puncture with a single poke.. Don’t they understand this fact?”
No wonder Yun Cuo came over to make him remember his name yesterday.
The old man also smiled and sighed as well.
He has been an old servant of the Xue family since Xue Huai was born. He has been serving since Xue Huai’s mother was still alive, until today. This old man has a very clear vision of certain people and things in the family that even Xue Zong might not be able to see.
Even when Xue Huai asked him to replace Xue Zong’s diet and was constantly wary of his stepmother and younger brother, the old man only hesitated slightly but still followed his instructions. He noticed that the young master had changed recently, becoming calmer than ever. Although he wasn’t sure what had happened, it wouldn’t be wrong to follow what Xue Huai had instructed.
Xue Huai said, “Could you pay more attention to the house? The Master is not here these days, and I am working at the Shenhua Terrace. I’m counting on you for the rest.”
The old man repeatedly said that he did not deserve this honor.
After this place was all set up, Xue Huai went directly to the Zhu family.
He did not directly go to find Zhu Xing, but first went to find Zhu Xing’s father, the head of the Zhu family, Zhu Qingcang.
He went over to greet him. “Uncle Zhu, I’m here to tell you that both your son and I have our eyes on a magical weapon. It’s quite important, and our family has already taken the first step. However, there has been an unexpected situation, and it was taken away by your son. We have our own way of negotiating, but I’m afraid we might disturb you when the time comes. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to worry about it, you’re getting older. You don’t have to intervene in the little fights between us juniors, but if you want to intervene, you can do it after tomorrow.”
Zhu Qingcang’s face turned green—his son didn’t even tell him what he had done to provoke Xue Huai. When Xue Huai came over at this moment, there was actually only one meaning:
The thing I want was taken by your son, and what happened to your son at the end, I won’t guarantee.
To clarify, this is a personal grudge, not a public grievance, and it has nothing to do with the interests of the two families.
“Damn it!” Zhu Qingcang was extremely anxious and dared not go against what Xue Huai had said—he would go and see after tomorrow. He sent someone to guard the ground floor of Xunxian Pavilion, hoping that these thugs wouldn’t go too far and he wouldn’t be able to get away with it when the time came.
In short, the Zhu family is a cultural artifacts collector, they’re scholars, while the Xue family is a weapons dealer in the Immortal Realm, they’re hooligans. Even with the Yun family supporting them from behind, there is no need for the Yun family to argue with the Xue family for their sake. These kids are lawless; they never weighed the consequences of their actions, because they have Yun Cuo by their side, so they think that they can do anything.
*
“Zhu Xing is at the Xunxian Pavilion, is that right?”
Xue Huai stood in the weapon room in his house, picking them up one by one.
The green bird stood by the window pane, too scared to step in because of the fierce aura of the weapons in the hall. It could only transmit a message from thousands of miles with fear and trembling, connecting with another green bird in the Xunxian Pavilion while answering him, “Yes.”
Xue Huai asked, “Is Yun Cuo… Young Master Yun also there?”
The green bird was about to speak when suddenly it got stuck and let out a few chirps, telling Xue Huai, “I’m sorry, Young Master Xue. The spell that just sent the message got disconnected. It’s going to take a moment to reconnect. Please wait a moment.”
Xue Huai remained silent.
He circled around the weapons room a few times, his gaze fixed on a thin and sharp butterfly knives.
In his previous life, he followed Yun Cuo to fight for the country’s dominance. He knew a little bit about all sorts of weapons; the long swords and short daggers are both good. He’s also a master of hidden weapons and poisons, but his most common use was still the knives. Short and butterfly knives are used for close combat, while sword are for battlefields.
He had an early contribution in his previous life, and he’s been a great fighter as early as the age of seventeen. Since there will undoubtedly be a fight today, he needs to choose a suitable weapon for himself.
But now he’s just a young immortal who hasn’t had a chance to contribute. Being too ostentatious is not good, especially because he can’t let Yun Cuo know he can use a knife.
Or rather… if Yun Cuo is there, he might as well just go another day.
The last time he saw Yun Cuo was several days ago. Yun Cuo handed him a box of snacks and a good-night note. His expression that day made it clear that he was angry with him.
That night, as a gesture of gratitude, Xue Huai also had someone go to another Flower Demon pastry shop to buy a box of pastries and send it to the Yun family, but it was returned in its original form.
Then he shuts himself up at the Shenhua Terrace, drawing for a few days, during which Yun Cuo didn’t come to trouble him again.
Xue Huai thought to himself that Yun Cuo was still a proud and mighty young man. In his eyes, he was nothing more than a good-looking mediocrity, and it was not worth spending too much time fighting for.
He said he only wants to maintain a business relationship with the Xue family, it looks like he’s really overthinking it.
Xue Huai waited for a while before seeing the green bird regain its spirit at last. The green bird’s spell was successfully reconnected, and it told him, “He’s not there.”
Xue Huai glanced at the green bird and said, “You didn’t lie to me? Did you really disconnect just now?”
The green bird patted its own chest with its wings and promised, “I really didn’t lie to you.”
Xue Huai smiled and nodded. “Great. If I know you’re lying, next time I’ll put you on the grill.”
*
“Just say it like that, don’t get any funny ideas. If he finds out, next time he will put you, your brothers, and your sisters on the grill.”
In the Xunxian Pavilion, Yun Cuo released the green bird in his hand and casually brushed its fur off.
The green bird was scared to tears, running away while wetting itself.
Zhu Xing, who was on the side: “……”
If it weren’t for him truly witnessing a scene where Yun Cuo grabbed the green bird with a serious expression, controlling the other party, and uttering the three words “I’m not here”, beat him to death and he still wouldn’t believe it. Yun Cuo was actually willing to wait here for a kid he met just once, setting up a trap by every means possible just to see him again.
What is the point of this? Is this gentleman really interested in that snow demon-like, beautiful young man?
He couldn’t tell anything from Yun Cuo’s expression. Yun Cuo had this expression when he killed his enemy, and he also has the same expression when feeding his own silly cat.
It’s true that Yun Cuo has been in a bad mood these days, but no one knows why. He doesn’t say a single word, and he often gets distracted.
He seems to be angry.
Leaving Yun Cuo aside, hearing that Xue Huai was coming, his other brothers also poured out their excitement one by one.
Beauties are rare, but fierce beauties who are indifferent to others are even rarer.
If this person happens to be from a noble background and is equal to them as well, even if none of them speaks out, their interest in Xue Huai is far greater than the obedient Second Young Master, Xue He, who has stuck up to them. Whether or not this interest carries a hint of alluring malice in it or not, they all know what they are doing.
“He’s here, he’s here！”
After a moment, the boys whispered to themselves. Looking down from the second floor, Xue Huai appeared downstairs, standing alone in the snow with an umbrella and a calm expression.
“He came alone?”
After watching for a moment, the boys looked at each other and confirmed it.
This Xue family’s Young Master really came here alone.
Downstairs, Xue Huai spoke softly, “Here we go.”
The warm breath dispersed in the cold air, concealing half of his face. He even had the maid at home apply some thin powder to cover the red tear mole under his eyes before he came out of the house today. The gentle and feminine aura slightly decreased, making him look more heroic.
An immortal in the pavilion led him in, as usual, it’s the private room on the second floor, which was different from a few days ago. From the second floor to the entire Xunxian Pavilion, it was unexpectedly empty and quiet.
In the silence, only his footsteps could be heard.
Yun Cuo sat quietly in the center of the pavilion, and Zhu Xing was sitting next to him. He noticed that the lord beside him had a heavy breath and his fingertips were rubbing against each other, as if… he were very nervous.
The author has something to say: The green bird: What are you nervous about? Ah?! What are you nervous about?
