Su Baiyi closed the door for Xie Yuling and walked back into the courtyard. At that moment, a white butterfly fluttered down onto his hand. Su Baiyi looked at the butterfly and smiled. “This butterfly is truly amazing, always able to find us.”
“Senior Brother may not be skilled in martial arts, but his mastery of mechanisms is unparalleled in the world.” Nangong Xi’er walked over, took the white butterfly, then clenched her right hand, crushing it into dust. She scattered the dust on the ground and unfolded the hidden note .
“What does it say?” Feng Zuojun eagerly leaned closer.
Nangong Xi’er frowned slightly. “Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm, Second House gains power, three days later, the new sect master will have a grand ceremony.”
“What about my father?” Feng Zuojun asked anxiously.
Nangong Xi’er continued to read, “Feng Yuhan, whereabouts unknown.”
“Let’s go!” Feng Zuojun waved his hand, and the door opened once again. Xie Yuling, fully dressed, was holding Feng Zuojun’s long saber in his right hand. He stepped out, tossed the saber to Feng Zuojun, who caught it. Xie Yuling walked past him, adjusting his clothes, “What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”
At the entrance of Moran Manor.
Mo Bai looked somewhat regretful. “Leaving just like that? How about I go with you?”
“Such a large manor relies on you. This journey is fraught with unknown dangers, so Senior Brother should stay here. If someone from the academy comes to help, please inform them about our situation,” Nangong Xi’er replied.
“Of course, of course,” Mo Bai nodded.
“Hyah!” Su Baiyi sharply cracked the reins.
“Tell us about your Feng family,” Xie Yuling suddenly said. “Regarding Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm, the only one known in the martial world is your father, Feng Yuhan. With his glazed saber, he’s one of the four great masters of saber techniques. Rumor has it that your father had the chance to unify the Yunmeng Prefecture, merging the three factions into one, but he wasn’t interested. Your father was only interested in…”
“My father was only interested in women. My mother died early, and no one could control him. Although he never took concubines, he had lovers all over the world. Many elders in the family have complaints about him, but there’s nothing they can do. My father’s saber skills are the best in all of Yunmeng Prefecture. Despite his frivolous ways, he remains the most reliable person in the Feng family of his generation. My grandfather had three sons and a daughter. The second house’s uncle was born disabled and is considered useless. The third house’s aunt has a nature similar to my father’s, keeping over a dozen lovers and living in pleasure every day without concerning herself with family matters. The fourth house’s uncle is a gambler who lost all his inherited wealth and barely survives on the charity of his siblings, holding a status in the family lower than that of a steward,” Feng Zuojun sighed and shook his head.
“And this family is one of the three major factions in Yunmeng Prefecture?” Xie Yuling scoffed.
“That’s why I told you, I’m the most promising young sect master the Feng family has seen in a century, and you guys didn’t believe me. I’m so upright and kind, not touching any vices like drinking, gambling, or womanizing. In my family, that’s practically unheard of,” Feng Zuojun replied.
“Feng Yuhan is not as simple as you might think,” Nangong Xi’er suddenly said. “Most of the senior experts of the Feng family’s previous generation died in the Battle at Heaven’s Gate. Afterward, the family was at constant risk of being annexed. But when the people of Heavenly Book Hall and Heavenly Water Manor arrived at the Feng family in a grand manner, claiming to take care of the Feng family on behalf of the deceased old sect master, Feng Yuhan stepped forward with his saber. He was a chess piece that Old Master Feng deliberately left in the Feng family. At that time, he was already the best expert in the Feng family, but he was hidden by Old Master Feng. What followed was the story of the glazed saber that shocked the world. He doesn’t seek dominance because he has a vision that goes beyond those elders.”
TN: Three major factions in Yunmeng Prefecture: Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm, Heavenly Book Hall (previously Tianshu Academy) and Heavenly Water Manor (previously Tianshui Manor).
Feng Zuojun gave Nangong Xi’er a thumbs up. “If father were to see you, senior sister, he’d definitely call you a kindred spirit, then compliment your figure, ask your age, whether you’re married, and if you’d be willing to…”
“Get in there!” Su Baiyi suddenly turned around and gave Feng Zuojun a hard shove.
Feng Zuojun tumbled into the carriage, cursing, “Su Baiyi, what are you doing?!”
Xie Yuling quickly drew the carriage curtain and reached out to stop Feng Zuojun, who was about to rush out and confront Su Baiyi. “Don’t come out.”
In the distance, a group of riders suddenly appeared, surrounding a luxuriously decorated carriage in the middle. A flag hung on the carriage, bearing the character “Feng.”
Su Baiyi quickly pulled the reins, bringing the carriage to a halt.
The riders approached and surrounded their carriage. The leading rider looked down at Su Baiyi and asked, “Who are you?”
Nangong Xi’er instinctively reached for her sword, but Su Baiyi quickly pressed her hand down and looked up at the rider. “We are travelers from Jiangnan.”
“Travelers?” The rider looked Su Baiyi up and down. “From Jiangnan? You’ve traveled that far?”
“Yes, we are. And you are…?” Su Baiyi glanced at the flag. “Ah, it’s the renowned Feng family of Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm!”
The rider’s expression turned grim. “You’ve come far enough. The road ahead leads into Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm territory. There’s a major event happening, and outsiders aren’t allowed to enter..”
“May I ask what kind of event?” Su Baiyi smiled. “I wonder if my young master would be qualified to attend.”
“May I ask who your young master is?” The rider, seeing Su Baiyi’s elegant white attire and extraordinary demeanor, assumed he was the owner of the carriage. However, upon realizing he was merely a coachman, the rider surmised that the young master inside must be of significant status, and his tone became more respectful.
“To answer your question, sir, my young master is the third young master of the Xie family of Jiangnan,” Su Baiyi replied.
“The Xie family of Jiangnan.” A middle-aged woman’s voice suddenly came from the carriage opposite them. It was soft and carried a flirtatious charm that tickled one’s heart.
“That’s right,” Su Baiyi replied.
“It is said that the Xie family of Jiangnan produces handsome men. Is that true?” The woman’s voice held a hint of laughter.
“Naturally. Sister, have you heard this poem? ‘The young master in green robes, from Jiangnan, comes and goes with the fragrance of apricot blossoms.’ It speaks of the handsome young master Qing Yilang of the Xie family. But in truth, my third young master is no less handsome than Qing Yilang, although he rarely roams the martial world.” Su Baiyi said softly.
“That makes me quite curious.” The curtain of the opposite carriage was abruptly pulled open, and a voluptuous woman stepped out. She appeared to be in her thirties, her eyes full of charm. The moment she saw Su Baiyi, she smiled.
Her smile was filled with the warmth of spring.
“What a fine young man you are.”
Xie Yuling also lifted the curtain and stepped out, cupping his fists towards the woman. “Xie Yuling, the third young master of the Xie family, greets you, sister. May I ask if you are the third elder of the Feng family?”
“Oh, so you’re the third young master Xie.” The woman sized up Xie Yuling and nodded. “Indeed, you are a rare beauty. But, you’re too cold. I don’t like that.”
Xie Yuling frowned slightly, not understanding her meaning.
“And who might this young master be?” The woman laughed again, her eyebrows raised as she looked at Su Baiyi.
“Oh, oh, oh.” Su Baiyi’s face suddenly flushed red. “I am Su Baiyi, the personal attendant of the third young master Xie.”
“Just a personal attendant? Young Master Xie was right, I am indeed Feng Wan’er, the third elder of the Feng family. The Feng family is holding a grand ceremony soon, and since Young Master Xie is passing by, we naturally need to invite you to witness it. But you, dear brother over there, don’t just sit there.” Although Feng Wan’er’s previous words were directed at Xie Yuling, her gaze remained fixed on Su Baiyi. She paused, then patted her lap, “Come, sit here.”