Free Web NovelChapter 111: Chapter 110: Roping In
Zuo Yu walked out the main gate and immediately resigned.
Gao Yuerou took a deep breath and looked at Wen Qingye gratefully. "Thank you so much for today," she said. "If it weren’t for you, my mother would have died."
Before Wen Qingye could speak, Gao Yuerou continued, "Things were hard on you today, too. You know my brother has a bad temper, so please don’t stoop to his level."
Wen Qingye shook his head with a faint smile. "Don’t worry, I won’t."
Hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Gao Yuerou breathed a sigh of relief.
The path came to an end. "You should head back," Wen Qingye said. "If you walk me any further, I’ll have to be the one to escort you home."
"Alright, I’ll go back then." Gao Yuerou nodded.
The two parted, walking off in opposite directions.
Perhaps, subconsciously, Wen Qingye still held affection for that kind and gentle woman, as if it were a natural reflex.
"Qingye!" Gao Yuerou suddenly called out.
Wen Qingye turned. "Hm? What is it?"
Gao Yuerou bit her lip. "As long as you don’t resent or blame me, that’s all that matters."
Wen Qingye shook his head. "I don’t. I forgot about it long ago."
Gao Yuerou looked at Wen Qingye, her heart aching. She fought back tears and replied helplessly, "Okay."
With that, Gao Yuerou turned and slowly walked away.
Wen Qingye watched her forlorn figure retreat, a pang of pain in his heart. He felt that Gao Yuerou was always shrouded in a few wisps of an indescribable, tangled emotion.
Wen Qingye’s brows were tightly furrowed. After a moment, they slowly relaxed. Without hesitation, he turned and walked toward the Zhang Mansion.
"Young Master Wen!" freewebnσvel.cøm
Just as Wen Qingye was about to leave, a sudden call stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see it was Jie Jiachun.
Jie Jiachun walked respectfully to Wen Qingye’s side and said with a smile, "Young Master Wen’s mastery of the Alchemy Dao is truly remarkable. This old one is thoroughly impressed."
Wen Qingye didn’t say a word, merely fixing his gaze on Jie Jiachun.
Jie Jiachun gave a dry laugh, then gritted his teeth and said, "I wonder if Young Master Wen would be willing to offer me some guidance on the path of the Alchemy Dao?"
"We are neither kin nor friends. Why should I guide you?" Wen Qingye said coolly.
"I... I..." Jie Jiachun was stunned. ’He’s right. We’re not related in any way. Why would he guide me? Especially since I’m still the Yao Family’s Pill Master.’
Jie Jiachun thought of Wen Qingye’s alchemy skills and his frankly astounding methods. After weighing his options, he made a firm decision. "I am willing to recognize Young Master Wen as my master and serve you faithfully. I only hope that Young Master Wen can guide me on the Alchemy Dao."
"Oh?" Wen Qingye raised an eyebrow. He looked at Jie Jiachun, pondering for a moment before smiling. "Very well. I will teach you a thing or two about the Alchemy Dao. With my guidance, becoming a King-grade Alchemist in this lifetime shouldn’t be a problem. Anything beyond that will depend on your own aptitude and destiny."
A King-grade Alchemist?
Jie Jiachun felt his heart pound wildly, and his body began to tremble. There wasn’t a single King-grade Alchemist in the entire Celestial Martial Country, yet this young man before him was saying he could make him one. At this thought, a fiery passion ignited in Jie Jiachun’s heart.
From that day on, the Yao Family’s chief Pill Master suddenly vanished. No one knew where he had gone. Meanwhile, in a dark, remote corner of Phoenix City, a new, little-visited clinic opened its doors.
...
In a courtyard behind the Zhang Mansion, Zhang Hua was seated by a stone chair, while Zhang Xiaoyun sat nearby, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Zhang Hua spoke with an air of great seriousness. "Xiaoyun, you must take firm hold of your own happiness, do you understand?"
"Yes, I know," Zhang Xiaoyun said softly, her head lowered.
Zhang Hua sighed. "I heard that little slip of a girl from the Gao Family, Gao Yuerou, came looking for Wen Qingye today. Is that true?"
Zhang Xiaoyun nodded. "Yes, she came to see him. It seemed to be for something urgent."
Zhang Hua’s eyebrows shot up. "Look at you, not thinking things through. That Gao Yuerou is pretty and has decent aptitude. She went to Qig Mountain Academy with Wen Qingye, and he’s at that hot-blooded age. What do you think will happen if something starts between them?"
Zhang Xiaoyun shook her head. "No, my husband wouldn’t do that."
"Your father has been around the block; I know more about these things than you do. I’m telling you, you must secure Wen Qingye’s heart. From what I can see, he’s a man who values sentiment and loyalty, and he’s still good to you. You..."
Zhang Hua was about to say more when he heard footsteps in the distance. He immediately stopped talking and let out a hearty laugh. "Well, your father is heading back now. You should get some rest."
Zhang Xiaoyun was momentarily stunned, wondering why her father had stopped so abruptly. It wasn’t until Wen Qingye’s figure came into view that she understood.
Zhang Hua passed by Wen Qingye, smiling at him. "I’ll be taking my leave. Rest well."
Wen Qingye said nothing, merely watching as Zhang Hua walked away.
"My husband, you’re back." Zhang Xiaoyun smiled as she walked up to Wen Qingye.
Wen Qingye asked, "Where’s Yunshan?"
Zhang Xiaoyun smiled. "She’s in her room, reading a book."
Wen Qingye nodded and asked curiously, "What did your father say to you?"
Hearing his question, Zhang Xiaoyun blushed and lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper. "My father told me to keep an eye on you... but I trust you."
Wen Qingye smiled, stepping forward and putting an arm around Zhang Xiaoyun’s shoulder. "Who else would you trust, if not me?"
Zhang Xiaoyun nodded. ’I understand perfectly well,’ she thought. ’My father wouldn’t suddenly be so enthusiastic toward me for no reason. The real reason is this man standing right here.’
...
Gao Yuerou looked at Gao Ming in confusion. "Father, it’s so late. Did you call me here for something?" freeweɓnøvel.com
Gao Ming glanced at Gao Yuerou, then said slowly, "I heard Wen Qingye used to like you. Is that true?"
Hearing this, Gao Yuerou’s expression fell. "That was a long time ago."
Gao Ming asked urgently, "And now?"
Gao Yuerou sighed. "I don’t know."
"Then do you like Wen Qingye?" Gao Ming asked.
"I do!" A sweet smile touched the corners of Gao Yuerou’s lips as she replied.
Gao Ming breathed a sigh of relief. "Zhang Hua married his second daughter to Wen Qingye; everyone in Phoenix City knows about it. That girl has had a scar on her face since birth; she’s ugly. Let me tell you, with your qualifications—be it looks or anything else—you’re several times better than Zhang Hua’s second daughter. Sometimes, you have to fight for what you want."
Gao Yuerou looked at her father in shock. "Father, you mean...?"
Gao Ming nodded. "Yes. You should understand what I mean. As long as you use every trick in the book, I’m sure that with your beauty, Wen Qingye..."
Gao Yuerou frowned. "Father, how can you tell me to do such a thing? I would rather have nothing more to do with Qingye than resort to that."
"Nothing more to do with him?" Hearing this, Gao Ming shot to his feet, enraged. "Do you have any idea how irresponsible that sounds? Do you have any idea how many years I’ve toiled to raise you? Now that you’re grown up, you think your wings are strong enough to fly on your own?"
Gao Yuerou shook her head resolutely. "No matter what you say, I won’t do it. It would be too unfair to Zhang Xiaoyun. Her life is already difficult enough; I can’t do this to her."
"Difficult?" Gao Ming sneered. "In this world, no one’s life is easy. Only strength matters. If you don’t listen to me, you’ll regret it sooner or later."
Gao Yuerou said earnestly, "I won’t regret it. There will be nothing to regret."
Gao Ming’s expression calmed. "Fine. I won’t force you. But I’ll tell you this: Liu Tianli of the Liu Family came to propose a marriage on behalf of Liu Wen a few days ago. I neither accepted nor refused. I’ll give you six months. If you haven’t won over Wen Qingye by then, I intend to marry you into the Liu Family."
"What?" Gao Yuerou’s heart lurched in shock. "Father, I don’t like Liu Wen!"
"Liking him has nothing to do with it," Gao Ming said with a sigh of resignation. "The Wen Family is powerful now. On top of that, even the mighty Zhang Family is showing signs of deferring to them. In Phoenix City, both the Liu Family and our Gao Family are facing a new challenge."
Gao Yuerou murmured, her eyes losing focus. "But... must it be a marriage alliance?"
Gao Ming said slowly, "It is the best way. Your mother has already agreed."
