SQLJBFDTW Chapter 43

Chapter 43: The Child in the Umbrella

After about an incense stick’s worth of time, Chao Jianxue, absentmindedly flipping through a few pages of a book, was informed that someone had arrived to escort them to meet Lady Ying.

Since they were guests in someone’s home, proper etiquette was essential. Chao Jianxue meticulously adjusted his attire in front of the mirror, re-tied his hair, and flashed a perfect smile at his handsome reflection.

He then asked Yu Wei, “How is it?”

Yu Wei carefully replied, “Excellent.”

Upon exiting, a Ying family disciple rushed over with an umbrella. Chao Jianxue, unaccustomed to such pampered treatment, felt a bit awkward. After all, he had his own hands and feet. So, he stepped back to share the umbrella with Yu Wei—

Although Yu Wei still held the umbrella, Chao Jianxue felt much more at ease.

“So, you two are esteemed guests from the Wuwei Sect in Zhongchang Heaven. To be honest, our Third Young Master has been in low spirits these past few days, but upon seeing you two, he’s been beaming like a flower,” the guiding disciple remarked.

Chao Jianxue casually inquired, “Why was your Third Young Master in low spirits?”

The disciple explained, “The Eldest and Second Young Masters have gone to capture demons. The Third Young Master wanted to go as well, but his cultivation is still shallow, and the Madam didn’t allow it, so he’s been throwing a tantrum.”

Chao Jianxue immediately understood Ying Liuzheng. They were in the same boat. He was all too familiar with this longing for power and adventure.

The umbrella tilted even more over his head, casting Chao Jianxue’s face into deeper shadow. He turned to look at Yu Wei, only to find half of his shoulder soaked.

He reached out and grasped the umbrella handle, his hand landing on the back of Yu Wei’s hand, and adjusted the umbrella.

He sent a touched telepathic message: “Little Shidi, you don’t have to be so considerate!”

Yu Wei: “…”

The spiritual energy in the Dream Butterfly Manor wasn’t actually richer than that within the Wuwei Sect, but it excelled in scenery. With each step, the landscape changed. The pavilions and towers were all beautiful, possessing less exquisiteness than the Three Thousand Crossings of West Continent’s Ghost Dream, but more elegance.

If one could grow up here from childhood, free from worries about food and clothing, content to be a useless bum, why bother striving so hard to cultivate?

However, judging from the disciple’s words, the Ying family’s three young masters were not useless bums; they all possessed active and ambitious hearts.

They passed through the Winter Garden, where snowflakes replaced raindrops, rustling as they landed on the umbrella.

Chao Jianxue gazed into the distance. Amidst the snowy landscape stood a Deep Snow Pavilion, and behind the pavilion was a solitary courtyard, its gates tightly shut and no lanterns lit, appearing desolate.

“What is that place?”

The disciple replied, “That is the former residence of Miss Xiangge.”

It turned out that Miss Xiangge was the sister of Ying Liuzheng’s father. Back then, the position of family head was originally to be passed to Ying Xiangge, but she died unexpectedly, and her residence in the Winter Garden had remained unopened ever since.

“Unexpectedly deceased? From illness?”

The disciple seemed somewhat hesitant, shaking his head. “No. It happened two or three hundred years ago. I hadn’t come to Dream Butterfly Manor yet. I only know that Miss Xiangge was killed by a demon. At the time, that demon rampaged through the manor, causing a massacre and even attracting demonic energy. If it weren’t for the assistance of several Zhenren, Dream Butterfly Manor might have been destroyed.”

Another tragedy involving a demon killing someone. Chao Jianxue quickly glanced at Yu Wei, and when the latter didn’t reveal any emotion, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly steered away from the topic.

Strangely, although the Winter Garden was surrounded by a swirling snowscape, it didn’t feel cold at all. Chao Jianxue thought that if he could apply this seasonal magic to the Clear Snow Abode, he wouldn’t have to fear practicing body cultivation shirtless even in winter.

Further ahead was the main hall they were being led to.

Ying Liuzheng was eagerly waiting outside, excitedly greeting them. “The family head is not here today. It’s my mother who wants to see you. I’ve already told her about your plans to go to the Jade Cluster One Leaf Boat, and she knows where it is!”

Lifting the tinkling beaded curtain, Ying Liuzheng happily announced, “Mother, my friends have arrived!”

“You child, don’t be so impetuous when you walk…”

Through the shadow of the beaded curtain, Lady Ying’s green-clad figure sat upright, her hair neatly combed back without any superfluous jewelry. From her voice alone, one could tell she was a spirited and forthright woman.

Chao Jianxue and Yu Wei stood outside the curtain. As Lady Ying lifted the curtain and came out, Chao Jianxue properly smiled and said, “This junior disturbs the Lady.”

Yu Wei also respectfully bowed.

It should have been a harmonious and pleasant scene, but for some reason, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Lady Ying’s gaze landed on Chao Jianxue’s face, and the smile at the corner of her lips suddenly stiffened. Ying Liuzheng, who was beside him, also sensed her unnatural behavior and asked with concern, “Mother, what’s wrong?”

Chao Jianxue was also puzzled, wondering if there was something amiss with his movements, but when he looked at Yu Wei, he saw that their way of bowing was the same.

However, this subtle awkwardness quickly passed. Lady Ying smiled and said, “Liuzheng must have caused you trouble.”

“Not at all. Third Young Master Ying is lively and very talkative,” Chao Jianxue flattered her son. Ying Liuzheng smiled even more happily, while Yu Wei frowned.

Next, Lady Ying asked about their teachers in the Wuwei Sect and then spoke about the Jade Cluster One Leaf Boat.

“The Ying family has deep ties with the Yu family. Unfortunately, the Yu family closed the entrance to the One Leaf Boat a hundred years ago. It won’t be easy for you to enter the Jade Cluster One Leaf Boat, I’m afraid.”

“Whether it’s easy or not, we have to go and find out. Please, Lady, show us the way,” Chao Jianxue said.

“Today is the Waxing Crescent Moon. It’s in the north of Fallen Flower Valley, in the depths of the mountain spring stream.”

It turned out that the appearance of this One Leaf Boat was related to the lunar phase. Without someone in the know to guide them, they would have indeed spent a lot of effort.

After drinking tea with Lady Ying, she asked Chao Jianxue alone, “Where is your family home?”

Ying Liuzheng immediately perked up his ears, his eyes shining brightly.

Could it be that his mother was going to ask for him…?

Chao Jianxue didn’t want anyone to know about his relationship with Lord Qishan, so he concealed it and said, “I’ve lived in the Wuwei Sect since I was a child.”

“The Wuwei Sect is renowned and a good place for cultivation.” Lady Ying nodded. “In which month were you born?”

Ying Liuzheng was sitting on pins and needles, his face gradually turning red. He suddenly noticed Yu Wei looking at him expressionlessly, his face cold and distant, not at all like his bright and cheerful Shixiong Chao Jianxue. He wondered what it meant.

Chao Jianxue only said, “Winter month.” He didn’t know which specific month.

Lady Ying looked him up and down again, and confidently said, “Already in the late Golden Core stage?”

“Yes.” Chao Jianxue smiled proudly.

After exiting, he hid under Yu Wei’s umbrella and suddenly remembered, asking in confusion, “Why did she only ask me and not you?” Yu Wei seemed more worth asking!

He deliberately looked at his waist. “Where are those lotus tassels that you usually wear? Why have you put them all away?”

Yu Wei said in a low voice, “I was afraid of losing them when I came out, so it’s better to put them away.”

He saw that Chao Jianxue looked carefree, and his voice became even lower. “Lady Ying asked Shixiong so many questions just now. I wonder what it means.”

“Little Shidi.” Chao Jianxue stopped and looked at Yu Wei with a serious expression.

Until Yu Wei’s eyes began to dart away, he smiled brightly. “It’s tiring to think about so many things all the time. Remember one thing: when soldiers come, block them with generals; when water comes, block it with earth. Don’t waste your energy.”

A hint of a smile appeared in Yu Wei’s eyes, and he subtly tilted the umbrella further towards Chao Jianxue again.

Shixiong didn’t notice this time, and walked forward in high spirits.

Yu Wei felt that there was nothing wrong with Shixiong.

Only…

“Shixiong was born in the winter month? I’ve never heard Shixiong or Shizun mention it.”

Chao Jianxue didn’t care much about it. “Birthdays are just a formality. I don’t want to celebrate them. What about you?”

Yu Wei said, “June 1st.”

However, birthdays are somewhat special in the Profound Truth Realm. Most people celebrate them every ten years.

June 1st.

Chao Jianxue said happily, “Little friend.”

Although Yu Wei didn’t understand the meaning behind it, upon hearing these three words filled with laughter, an uncontainable feeling spread from the bottom of his heart, and his ear tips turned slightly red.

The rain was dense, like an impenetrable wall, enclosing their world into a small space.

Ying Liuzheng reluctantly watched the two walk away from the window, then immediately turned around and asked, “Mother, did Mother notice my feelings…”

After all, he was just beginning to experience love, and it felt like he was going to bite his tongue saying it.

Lady Ying supported her forehead and sat in her original position without moving, her eyebrows furrowed, as if she had twelve points of worry.

Ying Liuzheng: “Mother…”

“Liuzheng, go put out the incense.” Lady Ying instructed.

So Ying Liuzheng obediently went to cut the incense, and a faint sandalwood fragrance spread throughout the room.

He was still thinking about that matter, walking awkwardly to her side. “Mother just saw…”

Lady Ying raised her head solemnly, her voice sharp. “I know what you want to say. Mother is only telling you one thing: don’t even think about it.”

It was as if he had been slapped twice, causing his head to buzz. Ying Liuzheng was stunned.

“Why…”

“There is no why. You just need to listen to me.”

The astonishment faded, leaving only anger. Ying Liuzheng said stiffly, “This son takes his leave,” and then turned and ran out.

He even pushed away the servant who came forward to hand him an umbrella.

He ran hastily all the way, and then bumped into his own courtyard, where Chao Jianxue and Yu Wei had just walked to the porch to put away their umbrellas.

Ying Liuzheng was panting, and when he saw Chao Jianxue turning to look at him, all the words he wanted to say were swallowed back into his stomach.

The light rain made Chao Jianxue’s face even brighter, like that red iris he treasured, so beautiful that it was beyond description. When he gave him a concerned look, he felt that even the heaviest rain was nothing.

“Third Young Master Ying, is there anything else?” Beside Chao Jianxue, Yu Wei’s calm and indifferent face squeezed into Ying Liuzheng’s vision. Ying Liuzheng came back to his senses, calmed down, and shouted, “No. Tomorrow, I’ll look for the One Leaf Boat with you!”

Chao Jianxue was overjoyed, thinking that was a great idea.

“Thank you!” He cupped his fist and bowed with a smile.

Seeing this smile, Ying Liuzheng immediately threw all his grievances and confusion to the back of his mind. He fell in love with Shixiong Chao of the Wuwei Sect at first sight. Even if his mother didn’t agree, as long as the two of them could understand each other’s hearts, what did anything else matter?

Yu Wei took one last look at the third young master Ying standing under the eaves and closed the door expressionlessly.

With a “click,” the lock on the door fell into place.

Chao Jianxue asked, “How is your cultivation progressing recently?”

Yu Wei shook his head. “Slow and steady.”

“See, I told you I had to come. Relying on your own cultivation, it would take until the Year of the Monkey… Sigh, I just hope the people of the Yu family will be polite and reasonable tomorrow.”

Chao Jianxue kicked off his shoes, casually cast a cleaning spell on himself, and started taking off his clothes in a very unceremonious manner.

Yu Wei turned his eyes away, then heard Chao Jianxue rambling, “If they’re willing to give it to us, then everyone will be happy. If they’re not willing, then shall we try to steal it? Or just stay in the One Leaf Boat and never leave!”

“One should not be a petty thief.” Yu Wei couldn’t help but remind him. Turning back, Chao Jianxue had already put on his inner clothes and untied his hairband.

His waterfall of black hair was damp.

He smiled and said, “Your senior brother is not a gentleman.”