First Immortal of the Sword

Zhang Yuanxing said hurriedly, “Right, right, Miss Lingxue, please take a seat. All of you, return to your seats. Don’t let my arrival ruin Young Lord Su's good mood!”

When he said this last part, he spoke with extra emphasis.

Everyone’s expressions changed, and their minds went blank, but they did as they were told. Still, although all of them were back in their seats, the atmosphere was tense and stifled.

Zhang Yuanxing was in no mood to concern himself with that. He was too busy worrying about how to keep Su Yi happy and entertained. He turned to Uncle Huang and ordered, “Go fetch a jar of spiritual brew, then tell Miss Cha Jin that when it’s her turn to play, she should face this private dining room’s viewing window.”

Uncle Huang hurriedly dashed off to carry out his commands.

When they saw this, everyone’s expressions were increasingly complex. They felt as if the heavens were playing an enormous joke at their expense! How could a waste without a cultivation terrify a top-level young master like Zhang Yuanxing so badly? Why was Young Master Zhang so terrified, tentative, and polite?

But because Zhang Yuanxing was right there in front of them, they could only repress their curiosity. None of them asked directly.

At times like this, it was better to say less.

When he saw Zhang Yuanxing linger, Su Yi couldn’t help but frown. “Young Master Zhang, do you plan to sit with us the whole time?”

Zhang Yuanxing reacted as if awakening from a dream. “I have other business to attend to,” he said hurriedly. “I shan’t disturb you any. Please, carry on!”

With that, he turned to leave, closing the door behind him.

Once Zhang Yuanxing was gone, Wen Lingxue asked in hushed tones, “Brother-in-Law, what’s going on?” Her eyes shone with curiosity.

The others couldn’t help but look at him too.

“He’s probably worried he’ll offend me,” said Su Yi offhandedly.

“Offend you?” Tian Yao couldn’t help but interject. “But you’re obviously… obviously a….”

She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

“Obviously a waste?” Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

Tian Yao lowered her head in shame. She didn’t know why, but facing Su Yi now, she dared not be as impudent as she’d been before. On the contrary, she felt tense and reserved, and she was inwardly remorseful and despondent.

She was finally starting to understand. Just now, when Su Yi said he wouldn’t pursue the matter, he wasn’t just coming up with excuses. He simply disdained making trouble over something so small!

The most ridiculous part was, she’d thought him a spineless weakling….

But she still didn’t understand the source of his confidence, or why Zhang Yuanxing was so meek and humble in front of him.

Tian Yao felt as if this blue-robed young man were suddenly increasingly inscrutable, but it wasn’t just her. Yan Yufeng and the others were baffled too.

Before long, the door suddenly opened.

“Young Lord Su, my father has come to deliver your wine.” Zhang Yuanxing bowed modestly and introduced his father with a smile.

The slightly plump, whiskerless Family Head Zhang Zhiyan stood beside him.

When they saw this long-established pillar of the city, Yan Yufeng and the others felt as if their butts were on fire. They shot to their feet, and their scalps went numb.

But Zhang Zhiyan paid them no heed. He just smiled, stood beside Su Yi, and clasped his fist. “Young Lord Su, your presence is an honor. Please, forgive me for not greeting you at the door.”

Su Yi didn’t move. He just glanced up at him. “You’re just here to deliver wine?”

“Naturally,” Zhang Zhiyan said hurriedly.

Then, he called Zhang Yuanxing, who was holding the jar, over. He took it, and personally placed it on the table. “Young Lord Su, we won’t disturb you any longer.”

Zhang Zhiyan could naturally tell that Su Yi had no desire to talk to him! Thus, he immediately led Zhang Yuanxing away.

But although Zhang Zhiyan didn’t know it, his arrival was a massive shock to Yan Yufeng and his companions. All of them stared, stunned out of their wits.

Ignoring the silent tension in the air, Su Yi opened the jar of spiritual wine and took a sniff. “This wine’s rather decent. Let’s share it.”

As he spoke, he poured himself and Wen Lingxue each a glass.

“Want some?” Su Yi glanced at Tian Yao.

“Ah? I… Uh… That, um…..” Tian Yao didn’t know what to do. She seemed too shocked to even speak.

Su Yi said no more. He just poured her a glass. “Try it. I know I’m just ‘borrowing flowers to offer the Buddha’, but take it thanks for guiding me earlier.”

Then, ignoring Yan Yufeng and the others’ stunned gazes, he started drinking. It was as if the others didn’t even exist. All of them felt awkward and uncomfortable, but none of them dared speak.

Especially Chen Jinlong. He was inwardly cursing. Last time, I got mixed up in his business and was forced to kneel all night. Now look what you morons have done! Seriously!?? Again?

“Brother-in-Law, how about we leave?” Wen Lingxue whispered. She certainly wasn’t as calm and at ease as Su Yi.

“Sure.” He could tell at a glance that she was uncomfortable, so he immediately smiled and rose. “Let’s find a place to have a nice chat.”

“Mm.”

The two of them turned and left. From beginning to end, no one tried to stop them. None of them said a word.

The room was quiet as could be.

Tian Yao suddenly felt an indescribable bitterness well within her heart. She was finally starting to understand. That blue-robed young man was well aware that they belonged to two different worlds. That was why he ignored her initial attempts to chat him up….

The most ridiculous part was, at once point, she instinctively distanced herself from him.

Of all the world’s absurdities, few surpassed this one.

Bang!

Suddenly, the youth in ornate robes gripped his cup so hard, it shattered, and he cried out, “Don’t tell me he was the young man who killed Qin Wenyuan?”

It was just one sentence, but all of them were stunned. Then, they gasped, and their expressions shifted dramatically.

“That’s not possible, is it?” Meng Lu couldn’t help but interject. “Everyone know’s Su Yi’s a cripple!”

“A cripple? How could a cripple make Young Master Zhang bow low at the waist? How could a cripple be worthy of a personal visit from the head of the Zhang Family? Didn’t you notice that Su Yi never once rose from his chair?” The young man in ornate robes had an unsightly expression. “Even the leader of the Zhang Family lowered his head. Who else in the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital has such prestige? It’s got to be him!”

Their minds buzzed.

Didn’t that mean that just now, they were sitting alongside the person who’d killed Qin Wenyuan and son? The young expert who’d defeated Sect Leader Mu Cangtu?

When Meng Lu recalled the way she’d relentlessly poked fun at Su Yi, her soul practically left her body; she realized she’d just had had a close brush with death.

This revelation stunned even Chen Jinlong. His heart thudded in his chest. I’ll never interact with Su Yi ever again, not even if you beat me to death!

It was then that the door to the private dining room opened, and Zhang Yuanxing walked back inside.

His expression was dark as his gaze swept across the group, and he said coldly, “Yan Yufeng, kneel!”

“Young Master Zhang, this….” Yan Yufeng looked frantic.

“Are you going to kneel? Or not?” Zhang Yuanxing said gravely.

Thud! Yan Yufeng knelt on the spot.

Meng Lu hurriedly tried to explain, but her voice trembled. “Young Master Zhang, this wasn’t Senior Apprentice Brother’s fau—”

“Is it your place to speak? You kneel too!” Zhang Yuanxing glared like an infuriated beast.

Meng Lu was instantly so terrified, she collapsed on the ground. She didn’t even notice the damp spot flowing down her thighs….

Without exception, the others fell silent.

“If any of you dare leak even a single word about what happened here today, I swear on my name that you’ll die without so much as a proper burial!” Zhang Yuanxing took a deep breath, then picked up the jar of spiritual wine, turned, and left. The wine was intended for Su Yi. It didn’t matter that Su Yi had already left; he couldn’t just leave it for this bunch!

If not for them bringing Su Yi here, how could he have been frightened so badly?

Everyone in the private room slumped in dejection, their faces ashen.

It was then that the joyful song of a zither emanated through the window. Someone was playing “the Ballad of the Mandarin Ducks”, and the tune was vibrant and lively.

Despite this, the atmosphere in the room beyond the window lattice was desolate and bleak.

……

Outside the Snowy Villa.

Wen Lingxue seemed to have something to say, but she hesitated.

Su Yi laughed. “Follow me home. Once we’re there, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.”

Wen Lingxue nodded, but then, she asked in confusion, “Home?

“A temporary residence,” said Su Yi offhandedly.

But just as he said this, someone raced out of the Snowy Villa and caught up to them.

“Young Lord Su, please, wait a moment.”

She was a young woman. Her hair was dark and thick, with an angled phoenix hairpin holding it up. Her pitch-black eyes shone like the new moons, and her skin looked tender and delicate. She looked about twenty, but she was already a stunner.

“Do you have business with me?” Su Yi’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

This new arrival was none other than Cha Jin, the same artful courtesan Sixth Prince Zhou Zhili had been so infatuated with back on the tower ship.

She first took the initiative to start to conversation with him the day he arrived in the prefectural capital, so this was their second meeting.

Wen Lingxue, meanwhile, was instantly on guard.

“It’s nothing. I simply heard that you were dining here, and I planned to find a spare moment to offer you a toast. Who’d have thought you’d leave early, before I got the chance?” Cha Jin pressed her lips into a faint smile. Her voice was soft and melodious as flute music.

“Brother-in-Law, who is she?” Wen Lingxue couldn’t help but ask. Her woman’s intuition warned her that Cha Jin had plans for her brother-in-law!

Su Yi said flatly, “Just some woman from who-knows-where.”

His tone was casual, but extremely rude.

Cha Jin froze, then laughed, not the least bit upset. “Young Lord Su, this is no place for a conversation, so I’ll visit you at your residence later tonight. I hope that when the time comes, you won’t refuse me at the door.”

With that, she flashed him a radiant smile, bowed slightly, and re-entered the villa.

“Brother-in-Law, I can tell at a glance that she’s scheming something,” muttered Wen Lingxue.

“I’m surprised. Lingxue, your eyes have gotten sharper. That’s awesome!” Su Yi stuck up his thumb, then said, “She really is trouble, but I can’t seem to avoid her. If she really dares show up tonight, I swear I won’t open the door for her.”

Wen Lingxue giggled, then linked arms with Su Yi and said eagerly, “Come on, let’s go! Show me where you’ve been living!”

She was already casting off her former childish immaturity in favor of the vibrant and graceful beauty of a young woman.

But even so, she happily linked arms with Su Yi, just as she had in the past. She wasn’t the least bit concerned that this intimate gesture might cause misunderstandings.

Su Yi was naturally even less concerned. Since when did Su Xuanjun need to concern himself with mundane customs or how mere mortals saw him?

As the gentle light of the sun washed over them, and he took in her delicate scent, he couldn’t help but smile.

If, after reincarnating, there was anyone he really cared about it, first place undoubtedly went to Wen Lingxue.

Seth's Thoughts

Mandarin ducks are symbols of lasting love (as they mate for life), so the ballad in question is presumaby a love song.

As an aside, if you see the word mandarin duck in something food related, it’s unlikely to actually contain duck; the meaning is more like “perfect combination of two disparate things.” Ever tried mandarin duck milk tea? Or eaten out of a mandarin duck pot?