Chapter Ninety-Nine: Encounter with the Xiang Uncle and Nephew

The world had widely posted a proclamation: Prince Fusu had founded the Hall of Worthies to recruit gifted and capable men from all under heaven.

That was what Sanbao had told them, but Yi Xiaochuan obviously had no interest in such affairs of state.

For him, Yu Shu was everything. Each day, his only thought was to see her.

On the side, Li Lingyun asked with keen interest, "Master, what do you think of this Hall of Worthies?"

Yang Wenhao had not cared much about it at first, either, but after her question he pondered for a moment and said, "I think it is good news for those with talent and intelligence but no place to use it."

"Then, Master, you should go. With your wit and ability, you could even take a hall master’s seat. Then I’d be the young hall master." Li Lingyun smiled faintly, all playfulness and mischief.

Yang Wenhao tapped her lightly and rolled his eyes. "You only know how to dream up nonsense."

"Master, you hit me again." Li Lingyun pouted, displeased.

As for Yi Xiaochuan now, he was drowning his sorrows in wine every day, all because of Yu Shu.

Seeing this, Yang Wenhao shook his head. He had almost given up on Yi Xiaochuan.

Yi Xiaochuan had the makings of a ruler, but not the heart of one. A man like that could be satisfying to aid in becoming emperor, but it would also be exhausting.

As for Fusu, he had at least heard good things. Yang Wenhao felt he could give him some thought.

That day, Yang Wenhao was teaching Li Lingyun swordsmanship in the back courtyard when a clamor rose from the inn below.

At the sound, Yang Wenhao stopped what he was doing.

Li Lingyun said, "Someone is causing trouble for sure. Lingyun will go teach them a lesson."

With that, she took up her sword and rushed into the inn.

Yang Wenhao stepped after her to make sure nothing happened to her.

When he entered the inn and reached the second floor, he saw a sturdy young man shove Sanbao to the ground, then reach for Yi Xiaochuan’s collar.

Yi Xiaochuan and Cui Wenzi were both there. They had come to the second floor because the third floor was empty and the second floor was livelier, so they had gone there to drink.

Who could have imagined such trouble.

Just as the sturdy young man was about to seize Yi Xiaochuan’s clothes, a sword suddenly appeared between them, cutting off his hand.

The young man’s expression sharpened as he turned to look at the one who had drawn the sword. At first sight, his eyes were filled with surprise, for he had not expected it to be a girl. But when he saw her face, he was struck dumb.

Li Lingyun would show him no mercy. She had no one to practice with, and Yang Wenhao was too strong for her to beat, so she had come to bully some common street ruffians instead.

"How dare you cause trouble at my Water Moon Paradise? Taste my sword!"

Li Lingyun thrust her sword toward him, looking for all the world like a little girl who barely knew how to wield one.

The sturdy young man had initially intended to block casually, but when the blade reached him, he realized how terrifying the move was.

In an instant, it seemed to seal off all his options. If Yang Wenhao had been the one to act, he likely could have made his opponent stand there helplessly awaiting death. But Li Lingyun had learned too little, and her talent was too poor, so the flaws in the sword technique she used were far too obvious.

With a sideways twist of his arm, the sturdy young man dodged Li Lingyun’s longsword and immediately turned his hand to seize her. This was Li Lingyun’s first real fight; all her previous sparring had been with Yang Wenhao, and that was nothing like this. For a moment, she panicked.

In truth, even if Yang Wenhao had not stepped in, Li Lingyun would not have been in danger.

Still, in every sense, Yang Wenhao had to act.

His ghostlike speed appeared behind Li Lingyun, and he simply caught her and pulled her back a step, effortlessly evading the sturdy young man’s grasp.

The young man still wanted to make a move, but he was stopped by a middle-aged man beside him. The middle-aged man resembled him somewhat, so he must have been an elder from the family.

The sturdy young man at his side looked puzzled. "Why?"

The middle-aged man glared at him. "This man is formidable. Do not provoke him."

Then the older middle-aged man stepped forward and cupped his hands. "My nephew offended you just now. Please forgive him."

"An honor to meet you." Yang Wenhao smiled faintly.

Li Lingyun, however, was somewhat displeased. If not for Yang Wenhao, she might well have suffered a beating.

Naturally, she had no fondness for the sturdy man.

"Why are you not apologizing to the young lady?" the middle-aged man said.

"Ah, yes." Only then did the sturdy man react. He hurriedly cupped his hands toward Li Lingyun and apologized. "That was my fault just now. I am sorry, young lady."

Li Lingyun turned her head aside and gave a cold snort.

Seeing her reaction, the sturdy man scratched his head awkwardly.

"May I ask why the two of you are causing trouble in my Water Moon Paradise?" Yang Wenhao asked evenly.

"This..." The middle-aged man glanced at Yi Xiaochuan, who had turned his back to them, and said, "It was only a small verbal dispute. My nephew is blunt by nature and has caused you trouble, sir."

Yang Wenhao waved a hand. "In that case, let it be. Please, both of you, take a seat."

"Might I ask your name, sir?" the middle-aged man said. "I am Xiang Liang, and this is my nephew Xiang Yu."

Before Yang Wenhao could reply, Yi Xiaochuan, who had originally been sitting there without a care, suddenly stood up. "Who is pretending to be my master and my big brother?"

When Xiaochuan turned around, Xiang Yu cried out in surprise, "Xiaochuan!"

Even Xiang Liang was greatly startled.

"Uh... Brother Yu, Master." Yi Xiaochuan’s face was flushed red, his expression full of drunkenness, though he was still clear-headed enough.

"Xiaochuan, how did you end up like this?" Xiang Liang could not help but show a trace of anger. "I should never have let you leave the sect so early. To end up in this state now is simply a disgrace to the sect."

"Come with me." Xiang Yu immediately took hold of Yi Xiaochuan and tried to lead him away.

Li Lingyun acted again, placing her sword before Xiang Yu. "You are not allowed to touch my martial uncle."

"Your martial uncle?" Xiang Yu was utterly taken aback.

Xiang Liang looked to Yang Wenhao and asked, "May I ask whether you are Xiaochuan’s friend?"

"Yes." Yang Wenhao nodded, then said to Li Lingyun, "Yun’er, put away your sword."

"All right." Since Yang Wenhao had spoken, how could Li Lingyun disobey?

"I wonder where the two of you intend to take Xiaochuan?" Yang Wenhao asked.

"Recently, Prince Fusu has opened a Hall of Worthies, and we were planning to go take a look. Xiaochuan is my disciple, and since we have met here, he should come with us," Xiang Liang explained.

Hearing this, Yang Wenhao nodded, then turned to Yi Xiaochuan. "What do you say, Xiaochuan?"

"Go, then. What else can I do?" Yi Xiaochuan shrugged.

He had never cared for such matters in the first place, and now that he had run into Xiang Liang, there was no choice. Whether he liked it or not, he had to go.

End of Chapter.