At the bottom floor of the small building, a middle-aged man dressed in wide robes and wearing a headscarf was pacing back and forth slightly anxiously and worriedly, occasionally glancing up at the corner of the staircase.
He had an extremely noticeable horse-like face, with five strands of long beard resembling a goatee. He radiated vitality and walked steadily, yet there was a hint of timidity, which was uncommon for a martial arts expert.
Suddenly, his face lit up with surprise, and he hurried forward: “Second Young Master…”
Midway through his sentence, he paused, his tone shifting to admiration: “Second Young Master, you’ve truly grown up…”
Dressed in a green robe and Confucian scholar’s attire, Meng Qi had a long sword at his waist. His every movement harmonized subtly with the natural world, exuding a relaxed and carefree demeanor. His features had fully matured into a handsome and masculine appearance, with only a faint trace of his former youthful innocence.
This horse-faced man was the first person Meng Qi had met after his arrival in this world, so his impression of him was naturally profound. Meng Qi clasped his hands behind his back and slowly descended the stairs, wearing a smile that was neither warm nor cold: “Indeed, I am now capable of traversing the martial arts world freely, settling scores as I please.”
The horse-faced man’s face immediately turned bright red. These were the very words he had once used to comfort the “Second Young Master.” He never expected they would actually come true!
“I, I…” he stammered, unsure how to respond.
Meng Qi had no intention of embarrassing or humiliating him. He merely used these words to “prove” his identity, ensuring the horse-faced man wouldn’t doubt him. Therefore, he quickly changed the subject, maintaining a polite and courteous smile: “May I ask who sent the invitation?”
The horse-faced man composed himself, bowing respectfully: “It was naturally the Marquis, and also the Fifth Master.”
The Fifth Master Su was none other than “Golden-Eyed Hunter” Su Yue, one of the Eight Divine Captains, standing only a single step away from becoming a Grandmaster.
“Let’s go then.” Meng Qi clasped his hands behind his back and walked past him, his tone calm and indifferent, as if merely attending an unremarkable gathering.
The horse-faced man was both delighted and astonished: “Second Young Master, you’ve agreed to come?”
He had assumed the Second Young Master would harbor resentment and refuse to return home, as evidenced by his years of wandering. He had prepared numerous persuasive arguments, intending to appeal to both reason and emotion. Yet he never expected Meng Qi to simply ask a question and then agree!
This was simply unbelievable.
“I wonder if weeds have already grown thick on my mother’s grave…” Meng Qi sighed, seemingly answering an unrelated question.
Because of his uncle and master’s connection, he felt a particular closeness to the Tang family, and his emotions were sincere, not pretended.
The horse-faced man hurriedly replied: “How could that happen? Although Madam Tang cannot be buried in the ancestral tomb, her grave is still within our Marquis estate, where servants regularly maintain and clean it.”
Regarding his earlier question, he had already found an explanation. It turned out the Second Young Master had not completely let go of his resentment but had returned solely to visit his mother’s grave.
Watching the green-robed figure ahead, observing Meng Qi’s seemingly steady yet carefree gait, and sensing the natural grace in his every movement, the horse-faced man couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. In just a few years, the Second Young Master had truly become a genuine martial arts expert, traversing the martial world and gaining widespread fame.
Although he had yet to break through the Heavenly Divide and become an External Scenery expert, judging from his state of perfect harmony between man and heaven, that day couldn’t be far off.
The horse-faced man himself was a skilled practitioner with all nine orifices open, and he often encountered External Scenery experts from the Su family, so he could make a rough judgment of Meng Qi’s cultivation level. However, how could he possibly see through Meng Qi’s deliberate pretense and realize that he had already returned to his original, unpolished state?
…
During the carriage ride, Meng Qi remained half-lidded and silent, fully embodying the demeanor of a martial arts master. This left the horse-faced man with a mouthful of unspoken words, helplessly watching as the carriage entered the inner city and finally halted outside the Divine Marquis Mansion in Taiping Ward, near the edge of the imperial city.
The Su family had amassed wealth over five generations, and their estate was vast and sprawling, occupying nearly half of Taiping Ward. A black plaque adorned with golden calligraphy hung at the entrance, bearing the inscription “Marquis Shenwei’s Mansion,” personally inscribed by the emperor years ago.
Nobility had its own etiquette. The main gate was reserved exclusively for the extremely honored and noble. Only a small gate was opened to welcome Meng Qi inside.
A screen wall, courtyard, and pavilions gradually unfolded before Meng Qi’s eyes. However, everything felt completely unfamiliar to him. Therefore, he continued maintaining his expert demeanor, steadily following behind the horse-faced man.
“Second Young Master, nothing has changed in the house since you left. Except for the growth and withering of flowers and plants, everything remains exactly as it was when you departed,” the horse-faced man tried to evoke Meng Qi’s familial feelings by reminding him of familiar scenes.
Meng Qi replied indifferently: “Are you trying to remind me of the reason I left?”
The horse-faced man immediately fell silent, afraid of making matters worse.
Meng Qi wasn’t intentionally targeting him; he simply didn’t know how to respond, so he chose to cut off the conversation to avoid revealing any inconsistencies.
Servants and maids passing by curiously watched them. Zhong Shu was deeply trusted by the Marquis and rarely personally escorted guests. What virtue or ability did this young man possess to earn such respect?
“Hey, he looks a bit like the Marquis,” whispered a young maid.
“He does resemble him a little, but he looks more like, more like that woman…” A servant woman seemed to recall something.
“Could it be…? Could it really be…?” Everyone suddenly realized. The person in question was currently in the capital, gaining considerable attention!
The servant woman, with a serious expression, warned: “No one is allowed to mention it again, or you might provoke the Lady’s anger.”
Meng Qi overheard all their whispers, maintaining his composure while analyzing the situation within the estate.
After stepping through a courtyard gate, two figures appeared ahead—a man and a woman. The man was tall and handsome, with prominent eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, exuding a majestic aura. Judging from his age, he might not have reached twenty yet.
The woman had large eyes, a perky nose, and thick lashes. Her delicate and youthful features suggested she had recently come of age. Dressed in a pink dress, she hid behind the youth, her eyes glimmering with curiosity as she stole glances at Meng Qi, appearing somewhat shy.
Fearing that Meng Qi, who had been away from home for many years, might not recognize his grown siblings, the horse-faced man quickly introduced them: “This is the Fourth Young Master, the second son of the Fifth Master, who has been adopted under the Lady’s name. This is the Sixth Miss, your legitimate younger sister.”
Adopted? Meng Qi was slightly taken aback but quickly understood. The Marquis of the Su family had only two sons: one had become a monk, and the other suffered from a hidden illness, occasionally lapsing into madness. According to protocol, neither could inherit the title, so adoption was only natural.
“Is this the Second Brother? I am your younger brother, Su Ziyu,” the youth with prominent eyebrows and tiger-like eyes bowed respectfully, not lacking in etiquette.
Meng Qi had previously studied records and knew that only the Marquis’s sons were named with the character “zi.” Originally named Su Tingyu, the second son of “Golden-Eyed Hunter” Su Yue had apparently changed his name after being adopted.
Moreover, the adoption must have occurred quite recently; otherwise, he would have known about it earlier.
Su Liulang also performed a respectful bow: “I am your younger sister, Su Zi Yue. I greet you, Second Brother.”
Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and shyness. Previously, “Crazy Blade” had gained widespread fame across the country, and among the aristocratic youths in the capital, his reputation was legendary, with many admirers and admirers-to-be. Su Zi Yue was one of them. After Meng Qi had beheaded the Wolf King, creating a sensation in the martial world, and his background gradually came to light, Su Zi Yue was both shocked and delighted to learn that the “Crazy Blade” was actually her own elder brother!
Meng Qi nodded slightly, offering a faint smile to the two: “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
In reality, he didn’t recognize them at all…
Seeing that Su Ziyu and Su Zi Yue both wanted to approach and chat with him, the horse-faced man immediately said: “Fourth Young Master, Sixth Miss, the Marquis is still waiting for the Second Young Master. There will be plenty of opportunities later.”
After speaking, he hurriedly led Meng Qi forward.
Su Ziyu and Su Zi Yue were momentarily startled but quickly exchanged glances and followed closely behind.
Upon reaching the main house, Meng Qi saw a figure standing at the door, exuding a heroic aura with a steady demeanor. He had two small mustaches and wore dark golden hunter’s attire, with a golden eye pendant and an ancient, unadorned long sword hanging at his waist.
“Golden-Eyed Hunter” Su Yue… Meng Qi slightly narrowed his eyes.
Su Yue shared a certain masculine vigor with Meng Qi, and judging from his appearance, no one could tell he was already over fifty years old. He laughed heartily as he approached: “The Qilin of our Su family has finally returned.”
Meng Qi nodded slightly but did not address him, deliberately maintaining a distant and aloof posture.
Su Yue showed no sign of being offended, patting Meng Qi’s shoulder: “It’s good that you’ve returned. While wandering the martial world is essential, one must not neglect cultivating one’s foundation. You’ve faced many dangers over the years and accomplished great feats. Now it’s time to settle down and refine your skills within the family.”
He glanced toward Su Ziyu and Su Zi Yue, who had followed behind: “Many aristocratic families in the capital lack successors because they haven’t experienced the trials of the martial world. Back in the day, my elder brother and I also fearlessly traveled to the northwest.”
As they spoke, they entered the main hall. Inside, a man stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His features bore a strong resemblance to Meng Qi’s, as if looking at Meng Qi’s middle-aged self, yet more masculine and imposing, though lacking the refined handsomeness of Meng Qi.
This man had a long beard, and his gaze toward Meng Qi was complex.
Before he could speak, several figures emerged from behind him. Leading them was an elegant and noble woman, her face unlined and beautiful, but her eyes were cold and fixed on Meng Qi.
“Why have you come?” the Divine Marquis of Might (Shenwei Hou), Su Li, asked gravely.
“Of course, to see our good son,” the woman replied without a hint of a smile.
As the legally wedded wife, all of Su Li’s sons were required to call her “mother.”
Several others stood beside Su Li, while some moved to stand near Golden-Eyed Hunter Su Yue.
Suddenly, a man beside Su Yue chuckled: “Second Brother, did you return to the capital suddenly for any important matter?”
He bore a strong resemblance to Su Ziyu, likely being Su Yue’s eldest son, Su Dingyu.
At his words, the entire hall fell silent. The woman’s gaze grew increasingly cold, while Su Ziyu’s face revealed growing anxiety.
Was Su Zi Yuan returning home to vie for the title?
Although an adopted heir ranked higher than a concubine-born son, martial prowess was revered in their family. The Su family was not a Confucian aristocracy, so with his strength and potential, it was not impossible!
Meng Qi closed his eyes briefly, his mind flashing with the images of everyone present. Except for Ke Weilan and Su Zi Yue, who showed no pretense, everyone else seemed to be wearing masks.
He opened his eyes, his tone calm: “I heard there is a Qionghua Banquet in the capital, and I wish to meet with all the valiant heroes.”
He directly stated his purpose.
“Anything else?” Su Dingyu asked with a half-smile.
Meng Qi’s expression remained unchanged, answering indirectly: “Everyone knows that human strength has its limits. Even an External Scenery expert lives no more than a hundred or so years. Therefore, the existence of the imperial court and the inheritance of titles and family properties are necessary to ensure the prosperity of future generations and the continuity of the family lineage.
“This is the nature of all living beings. However, for true experts, entering and exiting the Qingming realm and existing eternally in the world, titles and family properties are merely fleeting clouds. The Su family only obtained their title five generations ago, while at that time, the senior North Zhou Chonghe had already entered the martial world.
He glanced around the hall: “Though I am not talented, I have lofty aspirations. I wish to dominate the martial arts world, stand shoulder to shoulder with the elders, and be mentioned in the same breath as the ancient immortals. Such ‘prosperity and wealth’ can be obtained with a mere wave of my hand; they are not worth mentioning.”
Although the current lifespan of a Dharma Body was extremely short, the existence of the Journey to the West world brought more hope to Meng Qi.
“Prideful…”
“Arrogant…”
The Su family members remained silent. Even the Golden-Eyed Hunter had never expected Meng Qi to answer in this way, openly showing disdain for titles and status.
Truly living up to his reputation as the “Crazy Blade”!
“I wonder where my mother is buried. Please send someone to guide me there for mourning,” Meng Qi said calmly, returning his gaze.
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