"Legends of Immortal Realms" she murmured, closing the book with a soft thud "I've already read this one"
Su Lan placed the book back on the table, then quietly began straightening Yuan's bed. The room was steeped in the lazy hush of afternoon, until a soft shuffle of footsteps marked Yuan's return.
"Young Master, shall I bring something for you?" Su Lan asked, glancing up.
"Nothing" Yuan replied
Just then, a man stepped in, bowing slightly "Young Master"
"Wu Jian" Yuan muttered, recognizing him.
He stood there in simple robes, in the color of quiet dawn. Yet with a face so striking it could stir the hearts of passing maidens with just a glance. The soft glow of the afternoon light caught his sharp feature—Sword-like brows, clear skin, and eyes like twin lakes under a winter moon.
In Yuan's memory, this man called Wu Jian, was his childhood companion and a fiercely loyal shadow. A week ago, Yuan had sent him away to retrieve something important.
"I've returned, Young Master," Wu Jian said, standing tall.
Yuan remained stunned for a moment after seeing his shining face. But then remembered something he is a man, 'Tsk! Why is this guy so shiny all of a sudden?' he said cursing inwardly and forced out some words, "Good... to see you"
Wu Jian didn't even blink. The previous Yuan had always spoken that way—short, prickly, and impossible to read.
"I've brought what you asked for" Wu Jian lifted his chin slightly
Yuan cleared his throat and motioned toward the door "Let's walk"
The two left the room while Su Lan continued tidying up, her soft humming lingering in the air. They made their way down a quiet hallway.
"So" Yuan asked, keeping his tone light, "You brought that?"
"Yes, Master" Wu Jian trailed a half-step behind him.
The corridor opened to a tranquil garden where gentle winds played with the leaves, and they stepped into a pavilion where the air was clean and sweet with the scent of late-blooming flowers.
"How much did you spend?" Yuan asked
Wu Jian felt little puzzled to hear his words but answered calmly "500 Gold coins". The place fell quite for a moment,
"Sh..Show... Me~" Yuan said in trembling voice
Wu Jian produced a small black wooden box from his Little storage pouch "Are you ready, Master?"
In response Yuan gave a slight nod.
Wu Jian slowly open the box slowly. As the box opened, a striking gleaming light came from box, Yuan shielded his eyes for the moment. And then removed the hands from his eyes and slowly picking something from the box, it was a blue color well designed fan. In the middle of the fan something in dark and bold was written he carefully read it.
.....
....
"Fuck off"
The words he just left him dumbfounded 'tsk! tsk! this shitty yuan' he cursed. The previous Yuan send Wu Jian to a buy a fan for 500 gold coin which equal 5 low grade spirit stone. With that beggar could feast freely for months.
"Do you like it, Master?" Wu Jian beamed. "As you said, it's famous to be owned only few wise and genius of people in mortal world"
Yuan sighed inwardly. 'Aii~ Since we bought it, I have to keep it…' and gave a small nod "It's good"
Then he remembered something "Hey! I only gave you four hundred gold. How'd you pay the rest?"
"I used some of my money, Master"
"Is that so" Yuan checked his little but heavy storage bag. He didnt check it before but somehow just with a touch he can tell whats inside it. He took out another little pouch from his little storage bag.
"Keep it! it's total 100 gold coins" he thrown the pouch to Wu Jian
Wu Jian caught the pouch, blinking in disbelief. For a moment, the world tilted. Thoughts clashed like drunk swordsmen in his mind. 'Did… did he just return my money? Is he sick? or could it be... Lady Lingxi was right—he actually changed? this man... really changed in a week? does this mean he'll return my other fifty gold too?'
Yuan looked at Wu Jian standing he was expecting altleast a little hesitation from him to get his money back "Hey! Wu Jian"
Wu Jian dream world shattered "ah~ Thank you, Master!"
His thanks made him annoyed 'Tsk! he wont return'
Then Yuan remembered something and laughed awkwardly "Ahaha~ It's nothing"
Then, clearing his throat "Wu Jian… do you know any good place with lots of women around here?"
"Huh?"
Wu Jian's expression froze as if someone had smacked him with a cold fish. For a moment, he genuinely believed he'd misheard. Wasn't this man just showing signs of becoming a respectable human being? Hadn't Lingxi claimed he was turning over a new leaf?
But no, Yuan's words stood there bold and unapologetic, like an old drunk refusing to leave the tavern.
"I… I do know, Master" Wu Jian answered hesitantly.
Yuan grinned, a mischievous glint lighting up his eyes "Good! Let's go"
He strode forward with the confidence of a man who'd just declared war on decency, but barely made it three steps before Wu Jian hastily called out.
"Master! Master — we can't just… go like that!"
Yuan paused, glancing over his shoulder "Why not?"
Wu Jian exhaled, already feeling a headache brewing "You know how… respected you are Visiting a brothel just like that — it's troublesome, you know"
"Oh! I didn't think about that" Yuan said brightly, as if he'd just been told the sky was blue. Wu Jian stared, dumbfounded.
'Didn't think…? What's with this man?' Wu Jian cursed inwardly.
But Yuan, undeterred, tilted his head in thought "So how should we go then?"
That question was the final drop. Wu Jian's brow twitched. He'd already stretched the word respected so far it was about to snap like an old string, yet this man still had no clue that his reputation was already nothing but dirt clinging to a boot.
He saw Yuan musing again, eyes glinting like a man hatching fresh sins. "Then… maybe we should find a place out of city where I can see some maidens without the trouble…"
Wu Jian immediately cut him off before he finished whatever idiotic scheme was forming "Master! Let's go tomorrow"
"Huh? Didn't you just say it was troublesome?"
"Don't worry" Wu Jian forced a reassuring smile that felt like holding back tears "I'll handle it"
Yuan considered him for a moment, then shrugged "Alright then"