Chapter 73 - Storekeeper Yue, a Life Lived in Vain
Yuan Luoxi and company all picked up on the displeasure in Zhang Yuanxingâs tone. It caught them all off guard. This guy sure has gall. How can he talk to Mystic Master Su like that?
Then, they seemed to realize something. Zhang Yuanxing most likely doesnât understand Mystic Master Suâs capabilities, just like us when we first met himâŚ
A strange light shone in Yuan Luoxiâs eyes. Indescribable shame and discomfort coursed through her. When she first met Su Yi, she was far more brazen than Zhang Yuanxing was now. Looking back, I was really stupidâŚ
Cheng Wuyong coughed dryly and explained, âYoung Master Zhang, youâve misunderstood. We and Mysâ... Young Lord Su were just traveling together.â
As he spoke, he suddenly recalled Su Yiâs warning against revealing what had happened in Mother Ghost Ridge. That was why he changed Su Yiâs title from âMystic Masterâ to âYoung Lord.â
âIs that really the case?â Zhang Yuanxing was stunned, and he didnât seem fully convinced.
âZhang Yuanxing, is my business with Young Lord Su any of your concern? Actually, Iâm the one who ought to be asking questions. Why are you here?â Yuan Luoxi furrowed her brow and interrogated him coldly.
Zhang Yuanxing hurriedly laughed, âMiss Luoxi, I heard you were in Guangling City too, so I asked around and learned that youâd led a group to Mother Ghost Ridge. I decided to wait here for you.â
Yuan Luoxi gazed coldly at him. âAnd why has the glorious young master of the Zhang Family taken it upon himself to wait for me? If you have no other business with me, get out of my way!â
In the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, both the Yuan and Zhang families were among the four peak-level factions.
In terms of both status and cultivation, Yuan Luoxi wasnât the least bit inferior to Zhang Yuanxing. In some ways, she even surpassed him. There was naturally no need to be polite to him.
Zhang Yuanxingâs smile went a little rigid, and he inwardly felt stifled. In the past, Yuan Luoxi wasnât so impatient with me! Whatâs going on?
Just as he was about to say something, he saw Yuan Luoxi turn to look at Su Yi, her oval face carrying a hint of nervous anticipation. âYoung⌠Young Lord Su, how about we get something to eat in the city?
Zhang Yuanxingâs pupils constricted, and doubt rose within his heart. Whatâs going on here?
Cheng Wuyong smiled too. âThatâs right. Without you and Elder Guo, we never would have found the spiritual medicine we were looking for in Mother Ghost Ridge. Now that weâve returned to the city, itâs only right that we arrange a banquet to express our regard.â
When he saw this, Zhang Yuanxingâs jaw practically dropped.
He knew full well that Cheng Wuyong was an elder of the Yuan Family, as well as a peak Qi Accumulation Realm expert. In terms of status, he wasn't inferior to Zhang Yuanxingâs Uncle Xiong.
Seeing Cheng Wuyong treat Su Yi with such respect, it was inevitable that Zhang Yuanxing would be stunned!
âSure.â Su Yi nodded.
Dawn had passed, and morning had come. Hunger was already gnawing at his stomach.
Yuan Luoxi instantly broke into a radiant, moving smile. âThatâs wonderful! Letâs go right away. I heard that the Immortal Gathering House is the best restaurant in the city, so letâs go there!â
âElder Guo, you should come too.â Cheng Wuyong smiled at Guo Bing.
Guo Bing hurriedly clasped his fist. âIt would be my honor!â
Then, without any further ado, the whole group set off.
From beginning to end, none of them paid Zhang Yuanxing any further heed.
âUncle Xiong, can you tell whatâs happening here?â Zhang Yuanxing furrowed his brow. He felt thoroughly unpleasant. He was the young master of the Zhang Family, yet theyâd completely ignored him!
âWhen Yuan Luoxi went looking for the medicine picker, Guo Bing, Su Yi was there too. The information you obtained yesterday said as much. It also said that all of them went to Mother Ghost Ridge together.â Uncle Xiong murmured, âFrom the look of things, Su Yi and Guo Bing helped Yuan Luoxi find the medicine they came here in search of. Thatâs presumably why theyâre so grateful?â
âThatâs right! It seems Iâm overthinking this!â Zhang Yuanxing clapped his hands, and the scowl disappeared from his brow. âUncle Xiong, letâs go! Weâre going to the Immortal Gathering House too!â
When he saw Zhang Yuanxing regain his usual high spirits, Uncle Xiong couldnât help but warn him, âYoung Master, Yuan Luoxi is the Yuan Family Headâs youngest and most spoiled daughter, and her maternal grandfather is the famous âJingyuan Marquisâ, Gu Chenfeng. Heâs famous for his temper, and he once said that if anyone sets his sights on Yuan Luoxi before she turns eighteen, heâll sever all three of the offenderâs legs!â
Zhang Yuanxingâs smile froze, and he unwittingly clenched his legs. âWhatâs there to be afraid of? Iâm just trying to make friends for now. Even if thereâs a chance of making this a proper marriage, I can just wait until she turns eighteen.â
Uncle Xiong said, âBut Young Master, you ought to know that Yuan Luoxi has been thoroughly spoiled from a young age, and sheâs proud and unreasonable. If you want to pursue herâŚ. Youâll have to mentally prepare yourself first.â
Zhang Yuanxing nodded animatedly. âHer wildness is the thing I like best about her. Sheâs like a wild horse; you canât help but want to tame herâŚ.â
Uncle Xiong made no further attempts to persuade him. Heâd been around the block before, and he knew that when it came to pursuing women, young men wouldnât give up or lower their heads without first falling flat on their face a few times.
Meanwhile, in the Immortal Gathering House.
It was still early in the morning, so the building was mostly empty, with few guests.
But when he learned that the daughter of the prefectural capitalâs Yuan Family had come to dine, the owner, Yue Tianhe, struggled free from his concubineâs tender embrace and rushed over to the restaurant at top speeds.
He had a servant fetch an aged wine heâd been saving for years. Then, he followed the serving girl delivering their food into the private room on the second floor of the Immortal Gathering House.
His face was nothing but warm, welcoming smiles. He was just about to bow and introduce himself when he froze and gasped, âSuâŚ. Su Yi?â
The sizable private dining room currently sat just four people: Su Yi, Guo Bing, Yuan Luoxi, and Cheng Wuyong.
And Su Yi sat calmly in the seat of honor!
Yue Tianhe was so shocked, his jaw practically fell off.
He naturally knew Su Yi, and he knew better than most that this young man wasnât just some ordinary live-in son-in-law. Even City Lord Fu Shan and Commander Nie Beihu treated him with the utmost respect.
News of Su Yi taking first place at the recent Dragonâs Gate Banquet had already spread throughout Guangling City. How could someone like Yue Tianhe remain in the dark?
But he still never would have guessed that this early in the morning, the daughter of the prefectural capitalâs Yuan Family would host Su Yi at his restaurant, and furthermore, that heâd be the guest of honor!
For a moment, Yue Tianhe forgot the greetings and self-introductions heâd prepared.
âWho are you?â asked Yuan Luoxi. She certainly didnât recognize Yue Tianhe.
Yue Tianhe jumped, then hurriedly bowed, his face nothing but smiles. âYoung Miss Yuan, Iâm the owner of the Immortal Gathering House. When I heard that youâd graced us with your presence, I came to offer you a pot of quality wine as a humble token of my respect.â
As he spoke, he proffered it to her.
âOh,â said Yuan Luoxi. âDo you recognize Mystâ⌠Young Lord Su too?â
Yue Tianhe hurriedly said, âHow could I not know an illustrious youth like Young Lord Su? Heâs a first-class celebrity within Guangling City, and I admire him from the bottom of my heartâŚ.â
The words came out in an unceasing torrent. He praised Su Yi with the utmost enthusiasm, clearly trying to indicate that he and Su Yi were on good terms.
But when he saw Su Yiâs aloof expression, Cheng Wuyong picked up the hint. He coughed drily and interrupted Yue Tianheâs endless stream of compliments. âThank you. You can go back for now.â
Yue Tianhe knew better than to push. He nodded repeatedly, but before he left, he didnât forget to bid Su Yi farewell. âYoung Lord Su, if you need anything, anything at all, just say the word. Iâll be waiting downstairs, ready to assist at a momentâs notice.â
âYou really canât get rid of this guy.â Su Yi laughed after Yue Tianhe finally left, and the others laughed along.
In short, the atmosphere was pretty good.
But even after returning to the front desk, Yue Tianhe felt dazed. His thoughts kept returning to the same questionâ
When exactly did Su Yi finagle his way into the Yuan Familyâs good graces?
Suddenly, a crisp, hearty voice rang out. âOwner, which private room is the Yuan Familyâs Yuan Luoxi dining in?â
Yue Tianhe looked up, and when he saw who this new arrival was, he couldnât help but gasp. He shot forward with a toadyish smile. âAh, so itâs Young Master Zhang!â
This new arrival was none other than Zhang Yuanxing, who exclaimed, âYou recognize me?â
Yue Tianhe smiled welcomingly and said, âYesterday, I visited the city lordâs manor to deliver wine, and I had the good fortune of seeing you from afar. It was but a single glance, but your peerless grace and lofty bearing left an unforgettable impression on me. Thatâs why I recognized you as soon as you arrived.â
Hearing all this flattery made Zhang Yuanxing feel great, but outwardly, he said, âEnough of that. Hurry and lead me to see Miss Luoxi.â
Yue Tianhe hurriedly did what he was told, practically groveling.
Zhang Yuanxing and Uncle Xiong followed him. When they arrived at the door to their private room, Zhang Yuanxing adjusted his clothes and mentally reviewed the excuse heâd prepared.
Then, he opened the door, and in the face of Yuan Luoxiâs baffled gaze, he apologetically cupped his fist.
âLuoxi, I misunderstood Young Lord Su earlier, so I came here to apologize. Please donât kick me out.â This was the excuse heâd prepared. He was using Su Yi as an entry point, cleverly preventing anything Yuan Luoxi might say to refuse him a seat at the table.
As expected, Yuan Luoxiâs expression softened. This left Zhang Yuanxing pleased with his own skill, but he also felt a hint of wordless irritation.
Why is bringing up Su Yi so effective with her?
âYou said youâre here to apologize to me?â said Su Yi, a strange look on his face.
Zhang Yuanxing walked right up to him and helped himself to a seat, a broad smile on his face. âI misunderstood you earlier. Here I thought youâd joined the Yuan Family, but it turns out that you did Luoxi a huge favorâŚ.â
After explaining himself, he raised his wineglass and said, âIâll start by taking three penalty drinks!â
After draining his glass repeatedly, he glanced at the door to the private room. Yue Tianhe was still standing there, just outside the room.
Zhang Yuanxing couldnât help but frown. âCanât you take a hint? Hurry up and close the door!â
Yue Tianhe quivered, smiled hurriedly, and left, shutting the door behind him.
Tidal waves of shock coursed through his heart, and when he returned to the front desk, he slumped as if heâd lost his soul.
The daughter of the Yuan Family has made him her guest of honor, and the young master of the Zhang Family came to apologize to him in person? Since when was Su Yi in such high demand?
Yue Tianhe just couldnât wrap his head around it.
It took me decades of bitter toil just to become the owner of the Immortal Gathering House. How old is that kid? Yet heâs already extended his reach to two of the prefectural capitalâs peak-level factions⌠Itâs reallyâŚ. It really makes no damn sense!
When he compared himself to Su Yi, Yue Tianhe couldnât help but feel as if heâd lived all these years in vain.
Seth's Thoughts
The author seems to have switched "Elder Xiong" for "Uncle Xiong." Let's wait a few chapters and see which one he settles into. Then, I'll go back and clarify.
Writing this mostly to say that yes, they're the same person. This is a (minor) author error. I would guess it's because of "Uncle Yong". Uncle Xiong is like Zhang Yuanxing's Uncle Yong equivalent.