Su Yi said lightly, “It’s dangerous being near me. This is no place for ordinary people.”

It was already late at night. In the past, Feng Xiaofeng would be here to share a drink and conversation, while Feng Xiaoran would stand off to the sides, keeping their glasses full. Huang Qianjun played the part of the straight man and offset the atmosphere.

Alas, starting tomorrow, even Huang Qianjun would leave his side.

Why?

Their situations were different, so the goals were different too.

This, perhaps, was what they meant when they said “gathering and separation are both a part of life.”

Cha Jin, meanwhile, was stunned. She would never have guessed that someone so callous and indifferent would refuse to hire ordinary servants out of concern for their safety!

This answer even dealt her heart an enormous shock. She vaguely sensed that she now understood Su Yi a little better, but she also found it increasingly hard to see through him. He…. Just what kind of person is he?

Su Yi thought for a moment, then took out two stalks of spiritual medicine. “Simmer these stalks of Jadeseed Snow Ginseng into a soup and give it to Huang Qianjun when he gets back.”

With that, he got up and went back to his room.

Cha Jin stood there, opened her mouth, and was just about to ask where she was supposed to sleep when she forced the words back down In his eyes, I’m nothing but a servant. Why should he concern himself with where I spend the night? Besides, I should count my lucky stars that he didn’t let his bestial nature flare up and demand I spend the night in his chambers…..

Just thinking this made her cheeks burn bright red, and she went to look for the kitchen.

“Uh, how exactly am I supposed to make this into soup…?” Cha Jin was at a bit of a loss. Others had waited upon her from a young age. Even after infiltrating the Great Zhou and playing the part of a courtesan, others attended to her meals and basic needs. How could she possibly know how to make soup?

It’s just soup! It can’t possibly be any harder than cultivating! Besides, it’s not like Su Yi’s going to drink this himself. Even if it doesn’t taste good, it doesn’t matter…. Cha Jin thought to herself.

Time slipped by in dribs and drabs.

Gradually, the smell of burning wafted from the kitchens, followed by a bang. It seemed something had exploded.

“What happened?” Su Yi immediately rushed over; he assumed they were under attack.

But when he saw what was happening in the kitchens, the corners of his lips twitched imperceptibly.

Dense smoke billowed out of a cracked earthenware crockpot, and soup spilled from the cracks.

Cha Jin hung her head like a child caught in the act and sheepishly fidgeted with the hems of her clothes. Her fair and beautiful face was now black with ash, and she was coated in soot. Her big, bright eyes were filled with shame and unease.

“Young Lord, I…..” Cha Jin didn’t know what to do.

She was just about to explain when Su Yi shook his head. “Don’t fiddle around with it any further. I’m worried you’ll burn the whole kitchen down.”

With that, he turned and left.

Cha Jin stood there in a momentary daze, then gnashed her teeth. It’s just soup! I refuse to believe I can’t make it properly!

But at least for now, she dared not try again for fear of disturbing Su Yi’s rest.

She left the kitchen and, heedless of everything else, went to bathe. However, to her dismay, she couldn’t figure out how to draw water out of the well.

After several attempts and with great difficulty, she finally managed to obtain enough water, only to realize that she had nothing to wash herself with, nor did she have combs or make-up…..

It’s hard being a servant….. She smiled bitterly and with an indescribable sense of frustration.

Everything has gone too smoothly for me. Now that I’ve hit rock bottom, I cannot adapt. No wonder Master always said that only after cultivating within the mundane world can you comprehend the countless facets of mortal life, with all their ups and downs….

Cha Jin sat alone beneath the gazebo, her thoughts elsewhere as time slipped by. 

The Sand-Scouring Waves.

Huang Qianjun emerged from the building. A cold wind swept by, and he shuddered.

“Brother Huang, were you satisfied with tonight’s arrangements?”

Yuan Luoyu followed him, laughing heartily, his eyes betraying his mocking glee.

Huang Qianjun looked weak and fragile. His face was pallid, there were dark rings around his eyes, and there were numerous red hickeys all over his neck. When he walked, his legs trembled uncontrollably.

It was like he’d been squeezed dry from exertion.

“It was okay.” Huang Qianjun took a deep breath and said with an air of feigned indifference, “It was just thirteen beauties in one night, right? I just had to get through it.”

Yuan Luoyu stuck up his thumb in admiration. “An ordinary man couldn’t bear so much. Only a top-tier talent like you could achieve such glorious results. You’re a model for all men to aspire to!”

Huang Qianjun said irritably, “Come on, I know you’re making fun of me. Why would you do this to me? You’re vicious indeed, Young Master Yuan. If I lose interest in women after this, I might very well hold you accountable!”

Yuan Luoyu was instantly on guard. “I just think of you as a brother. You’d better not get any other ideas.”

“Feh!” Huang QIanjun rolled his eyes. “There’s no way I’d do something like that!”

As he spoke, he staggered and almost fell.

Yuan Luoyu hurriedly supported this wrung-out, soft-footed shrimp. “Bro, how about I take you home?”

As they walked into the distance, Huang Qianjun couldn’t help but recall Su Yi. “Right, Brother Su….”

He set aside his physical weakness; now he felt guilty instead.

“I already asked Madam Fangxiu. She said that Master Su seized a cherished beauty from right under the sixth prince’s nose. They suspect that he’s already thoroughly dominated and tamed Cha Jin by now.”

As he said this, Yuan Luoyu couldn’t help but feel as if he stood, awed, at the foot of a grand mountain. Look at Master Su! He even dared seize a woman the sixth prince took a fancy to! That’s incredible!

“You’re kidding, right?” Huang Qianjun was flabbergasted. How could Brother Su do something like that just because he coveted her beauty? No, he was undoubtedly here for revenge.

“What do you mean? I’m not kidding; he already led her away. She’s going to follow him going forward.”

Suddenly, he said warningly, “Brother Huang, you must remember: you are not to have any untoward thoughts regarding Cha Jin. Nothing causes a disaster faster than succumbing to beauty. You know what they mean when they speak of dangerous beauties, right? Actually, you ought to know better than me.”

“Come on! I’m enlisting tomorrow! How could I be in any mood to worry about that?” 

“That’s good. I was just worried that your excessive lustfulness might bring you harm,” said Yuan Luoyu with a sage nod.

Huang Qianjun instantly felt warm inside. “Young Master Yuan, I didn’t realize you were so considerate. Let’s hang out again sometime. Next time, it’s my turn to treat you!”

Yuan Luoyu laughed. “I was waiting for you to say that.”

The two wrapped their arms around each other’s shoulders. They weren’t brothers, but they were like brothers.

Friendship between men was just this simple.

When they left the Sand-Scouring Waves, Yuan Luoyu personally carried Huang Qianjun back to Bottlegourd Alley on horseback. It was only after seeing him back to Humble Tranquility Cottage that Yuan Luoyu bade farewell.

It was the middle of the night, and a cool breeze blew past.

By now, Huang Qianjun had sobered up somewhat, and he cautiously knocked on the door. “Brother Su, I’m back. If it’s inconvenient to get up, I can go over the walls….”

Creak.

The door opened, revealing a face covered in dust.

Huang Qianjun jumped in fright before realizing that it was just Cha Jin. He exhaled. “Miss Cha Jin! You’re not with Brother Su?”

He initially assumed that she was here to ‘warm Su Yi’s bed.’ To his surprise, it seemed that wasn’t the case at all.

“Young Lord Huang, you’re finally back.” Cha Jin glanced at him. “There’s a few things I’d like you to teach me.”

“Teach?” said Huang Qianjun hurriedly. “I don’t know about that, but if you need help with something, please ask.” 

He subconsciously recalled Yuan Luoyu’s warning, and he saw Cha Jin as Su Yi’s woman, so his tone was polite and respectful.

“Young Master Huang, it seems you’ve misunderstood. I’m now just a servant; my job is to wash and fold laundry, brew and pour tea, attend to the garden, and clean the residence… In short, I’ll be responsible for all odd jobs and housework from now on,” whispered Cha Jin.

She couldn’t just let Huang Qianjun treat her with such politeness; she dared not.

“A servant? I won’t lie to you: an opportunity to work as Brother Su’s servant is unquestionably a grand stroke of fortune,” laughed Huang Qianjun. How could he really treat her as a servant? One way or another, she now followed his Brother Su, so he’d treat her accordingly.

Fortune? Do you have any idea how he made me submit to this….? Cha Jin’s spirits sank. She then proceeded to welcome Huang Qianjun into the courtyard and pepper him with questions.

For example, where did they keep the toiletries and make-up? Which room was she supposed to sleep in? What should she do about Su Yi’s daily meals? Etcetera, etcetera.

Even Huang Qianjun was flabbergasted. It seems Brother Su really has made this stunning enchantress his servant girl!??

This level of skill sure is something. He’s a man among men, a role model for all to look up to!

Huang Qianjun exclaimed. He finally understood how it felt to gaze up at a vast mountain and what it meant to be ‘a skilled disciplinarian.’

Morning the next day.

The Spiritmartial Marquis, Chen Zheng, and Zhang Yiren led a group of young people from Blueriver Sword Manor. Their next destination, Humble Tranquility Cottage.

“Where is the Marquis taking us?” En route, Li Moyun couldn’t help but turn and ask his companion.

“They say he plans to bid an extremely important person farewell, but I’m not sure who exactly it is either,” whispered a valiant-looking young man.

“Someone important enough for the marquis to bid farewell in person? How lofty of an existence must they be?”

“They’re surely a top-tier, long-established expert of the prefectural capital.”

There were seven or eight youths in total, all of them good seedlings Chen Zheng had selected personally. They were about to leave for Bloodthistle Yao Mountain alongside him.

An important person…. Li Moyun thought to himself, In the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, who but the leaders of the four peak-level factions is worthy of a personal farewell from the marquis?

Ni Hao, meanwhile, inwardly steeled himself. He was full of hope for the future. I’m definitely going to establish myself during my time in the Greenplate Army. I just have to make something of myself! Then, when I next return to the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, which of those lofty authority figures will dare look down on me?

Nan Ying, meanwhile, was smug and complacent. Although it’s extremely rare for women to enlist, that will only highlight how extraordinary I am, and it’ll make it easier for me to attract the attention of the powerful and influential. With the methods at my disposal, is there any need to fear failing to connect with those of high rank? They say birds need skies high enough to fly in, and they’re right. With this chance, I, Nan Ying, will change my destiny!

This time, the Spiritmartial Marquis had selected only eight inner sect disciples, and of them, she was the only woman!

To Blood Circulation Realm cultivators like them, if they wanted to advance further down the path of the Martial Dao, they had only two choices.

Either they passed the test and were selected to cultivate in Heaven’s Origin Academy, or they joined the army.

The reason for this was simple: although Blueriver Sword Manor was strong, it lacked methods and resources for Qi Accumulation Realm cultivators.

Thus, when a disciple’s cultivation reached the later stages of the Blood Circulation Realm, they had to consider their next steps.

The way Li Moyun, Ni Hao, Nan Ying, and the others saw it, being chosen by the Spiritmartial Marquis was no different from leaping over the dragon’s gate. They now had a chance to reach greater heights of the Martial Dao!