Stepping out of the silk shop, Li Jian was about to head to the nearby tavern to order a pot of Crimson Blossom Wine, along with a couple of dishes to pack and bring back for an evening meal, when he was nearly collided with by a servant carrying boxes.
A flustered servant came rushing out from outside, holding two head-sized boxes that completely blocked his line of sight.
Running while shouting, he called out, “Make way, don’t block the path! Manager, you gave me the wrong items for my young miss, hurry up and exchange them, my young miss needs them urgently!”
Seeing the servant stumbling forward as if about to crash into them, Li Jian reacted with swift reflexes, pulling Xuan Lang aside to dodge out of the way. Their bodies brushed against one another as they pressed close together, Li Jian even resting one hand around Xuan Lang’s waist as he let out a long breath of relief.
“Where did this person come from? Not even looking where he’s going, and so rude to boot.”
Fortunately, his cultivation was profound and his movements agile; rescuing Xuan Lang along the way was effortless.
Before Xuan Lang could speak, Li Jian heard a refined voice drift over from nearby not too far, not too close, and thoroughly familiar.
“This is a servant from the Grandson estate. I hear the Grandson young miss just returned to the residence from the capital today, and the estate is currently busy preparing the arrangements. I trust they didn’t alarm the Immortal Elder.”
Finding the speaker remarkably familiar, Li Jian immediately stepped back from Xuan Lang and looked the man up and down. A moment’s reflection revealed this to be none other than the wealthy young gentleman he had encountered at the Qi family’s banquet on the day he transmigrated.
This person had spoken to him back then as well; after a brief recollection, Li Jian matched the face to the memory.
“Young Master Song?” he called out with almost no hesitation.
“I am Song Zhiyuan.”
The person before him cupped his hands in salutation, then turned his head to nod and smile at Xuan Lang standing behind. The entire display of etiquette was smooth and effortless, characterized by poise, exceptional bearing, and extraordinary presence. Combined with his pristine white robes, he truly lived up to the reputation of a young gentleman born to a prestigious lineage.
In Xunyang City, mentioning the name Song Zhiyuan carried roughly the same degree of household familiarity as mentioning Qi Jingyao.
Yet the two stood at opposite extremes: one enjoyed a sterling reputation as a genius gifted in swordsmanship and highly respected for his prestige, while the other was a spoiled, reckless prodigal son who possessed no notable skills aside from his family background and was widely disliked.
True to the saying that the vast world contains all sorts of wonders and every household has its own difficult scriptures to read, the city’s families frequently compared these two young men, as if they had become representative figures of Xunyang City, recognized instantly upon the slightest mention.
Having transmigrated only a few days prior, Li Jian had already gained a basic understanding of these individuals, and he had certainly heard several accounts concerning Song Zhiyuan.
Among them, the most frequent praises centered on his extraordinary natural talent for swordsmanship so much so that it made Li Jian curious to witness his talent firsthand. Could he possibly be more formidable than Immortal Lord Shiyuan after his descent?
One had to bear in mind that the legendary Immortal Lord Shiyuan had earned worldwide renown precisely because of that sharp, chilling sword of his, known to all under heaven.
Setting everything else aside, Li Jian firmly believed that when it came to swordsmanship alone, no one could possibly rival Xuan Lang.
That was simply because the young immortal lord hadn’t begun practicing yet; once he embarked on his cultivation journey, he would show those people what true, awe-inspiring natural talent looked like!
“Yesterday I heard Elder Qi mention that the Immortal Elder possesses boundless powers, having actually recovered Immortal Lord Shiyuan’s divine statue completely intact. Truly, your cultivation is extraordinary. Zhiyuan had always wished to seek guidance from the Immortal Elder, but unfortunately when I went yesterday, the Immortal Elder had already departed, which left me with some regret. I never imagined I would have the fortune of seeing the Immortal Elder here today.”
Song Zhiyuan always maintained a mild and courteous demeanor toward everyone, as if endowed with innate, aristocratic breeding.
Hearing such words, Li Jian naturally had no reason to respond with anything other than a calm smile. “Young Master Song flatters me. It was merely a matter of raising a hand.”
And hardly any trouble at all at most, it had nearly forced him to immediately switch to another mission.
Song Zhiyuan continued, “That enshrined divine statue embodies not only the sincerity of the Qi family, but also the deep reverence of all the common folk in Xunyang City toward the Immortal Lord of Mount Donglu; it cannot be treated lightly. If it truly could not be found, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”
While Li Jian couldn’t quite fathom why they would offer gifts to the Immortal Lord of Mount Donglu while accidentally directing them toward the statue of an immortal lord who had descended to undergo tribulation, completely unaware that the deities on the high mountains were far too busy with tribulations to pay attention to them evidently barking up the wrong tree he nonetheless nodded along in agreement.
It didn’t matter; after all, they had no idea that Immortal Lord Shiyuan had descended anyway. Letting them labor under the misconception until he completed his mission and escorted the real Immortal Lord Shiyuan back wouldn’t be too late.
Li Jian was already beginning to picture what it would look like when he successfully completed the mission.
“Right, I heard from Qi Jingyao that the Immortal Elder has already left the Qi residence. I wonder where the Immortal Elder intends to stay next?”
Hearing this, Li Jian immediately knew Qi Jingyao couldn’t possibly have said anything pleasant about him. Far from feeling angry, he straightened his posture and replied with quiet dignity:
“Young Master Song misunderstands. Although I have left the Qi residence, I have no immediate plans to leave Xunyang City. My cultivation journey still has unfinished business, so perhaps I shall linger a few days longer.”
Song Zhiyuan remarked, “Indeed? That is naturally for the best. Coincidentally, I still harbor some unresolved questions regarding swordsmanship and would appreciate the Immortal Elder’s instruction. I wonder where the Immortal Elder is currently residing? If convenient, the doors of the Song estate are always open to the Immortal Elder.”
Was this an invitation for him to move into the Song estate?
Li Jian caught the underlying intent, though instruction was out of the question he had no illusions about his own shallow foundations and had no desire to mislead a promising student.
Yet, looking at Song Zhiyuan, Li Jian felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, perhaps because friendly company was scarce in unfamiliar territory.
Alternatively, perhaps it was his dedication to swordsmanship, coupled with his pristine white robes, that faintly aligned with the system’s aesthetic requirements.
In terms of attire and status, this individual indeed embodied the system’s descriptions of an immortal demeanor, clad in white robes like a graceful gentleman. However, when it came to sheer facial features and innate presence, Xuan Lang clearly surpassed him.
Li Jian felt a brief flash of hesitation, wondering if he might have picked the wrong person.
As the person before him stared fixedly at Song Zhiyuan in deep contemplation, Xuan Lang pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze with an increasingly solemn expression.
With a crisp crack, a sharp snapping sound abruptly yanked Li Jian’s thoughts back to reality.
Tilting his head toward Xuan Lang, he saw that the bamboo skewer of the candied hawthorn in Xuan Lang’s hand had been snapped in half, leaving only a few lonely treats lying at the top.
Meeting Li Jian’s inquiring gaze, Xuan Lang lowered his eyelids. “I’m sorry, Immortal Elder, I accidentally broke your candied hawthorn. We can buy another one on our way back later.”
Taking the remaining candied hawthorn from the boy’s hand, Li Jian inspected it. “It’s fine, only the bamboo skewer broke; it’s still edible.”
The thin bamboo stick had been cleanly snapped right across the middle without leaving a single splinter. Unless one’s cultivation was exceptionally profound, the fault simply lay in the poor quality of the skewer.
Even the peddlers selling candied hawthorns had started cutting corners with shoddily manufactured goods nowadays, sacrificing quality just to squeeze out a few extra coins simply outrageous.
Yet Li Jian still bit off a hawthorn fruit covered in a thick layer of sugar crystal, crunching it down audibly in his mouth to prove to Xuan Lang that it was genuinely edible and that he didn’t mind.
Hearing their exchange, Song Zhiyuan asked in puzzlement, “Is the Immortal Elder currently residing together with Young Master Xuan?”
Li Jian nodded in confirmation. “Indeed. Young Master Xuan is kind-hearted and willing to take me in for a spell, so the two of us came out to procure some everyday supplies.”
Since the question had been posed, Li Jian answered truthfully. Having already spoken those words aloud, he had no fear that Xuan Lang might deny it.
Before Song Zhiyuan could reply further, Xuan Lang glanced toward the nearby tavern and spoke up first, preempting the conversation: “Immortal Elder, we should go purchase the wine first, lest it sell out when the crowd grows larger.”
At that reminder, Li Jian nodded.
That made sense; the tavern beside them appeared exceptionally bustling. With noon being prime dining time, the restaurant was already packed with patrons, and plenty of people were queuing up outside to purchase wine jars to take home. If they delayed any longer until the wine ran out, they wouldn’t be able to buy any at all.
He hadn’t forgotten Xuan Lang’s claim that this particular tavern brewed the most authentic Crimson Blossom Wine in town, unmatched by any rival establishment.
Cupping his hands in farewell to Song Zhiyuan, Li Jian said, “Young Master Song, we have other matters to attend to and shall not intrude upon your leisure any longer.”
“It is I who have intruded.” Song Zhiyuan returned the courtesy with a mild expression. “Should you have free time another day, I hope the Immortal Elder will honor my humble estate with a visit so that I may have the opportunity to seek your instruction.”
“Certainly, certainly.”
Offering perfunctory assent, Li Jian promptly left the others behind and headed straight for the tavern in pursuit of his Crimson Blossom Wine, without sparing Song Zhiyuan another glance.
Xuan Lang followed closely behind, casting an indifferent, cold glance toward Song Zhiyuan while clutching the unfinished skewer of candied hawthorn previously bitten into by Li Jian.
Their gazes crossed, sparking an invisible undercurrent of tension.
On the return trip, Xuan Lang rented a flatbed cart from an acquaintance who was a carriage driver, borrowing it for a few days so that whenever Li Jian wished to head into the city, he could be readily transported.
Xuan Lang expertly maneuvered the horse, while Li Jian sat beside him, casually crunching on his candied hawthorn. The two of them slowly ambled back along the tranquil, tree-shaded pathway winding through the forest.
Surrounded by quiet woods bathed in a persistent stream of natural light, Xuan Lang maintained his silence throughout the journey until he suddenly turned his head to cast a glance at Li Jian.
“Does the Immortal Elder… happen to be acquainted with that Young Master Song?”
His tone remained entirely devoid of ripples, resembling an inquiry about the most mundane matter.
“You mean Song Zhiyuan?”
Chewing his treat, Li Jian tilted his head in thought. “Not particularly acquainted. I merely met him that day at the Qi estate.”
Strictly speaking, he had gotten to know Xuan Lang earlier than Song Zhiyuan; after all, Xuan Lang was the very first person he had truly met in this world.
Resting his long legs across the wooden board harnessed to the horse, Xuan Lang kept his back held rigidly straight as he held the reins in one hand.
By the time they stepped out of the silk shop earlier, he had already changed into the new outer robe purchased for him by Li Jian.
Accustomed to keeping a low profile and weary of provoking Qi Jingyao, Xuan Lang had previously always worn drab, pitch-black robes to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
Li Jian could perhaps understand why Qi Jingyao loathed Xuan Lang so intensely regardless of the underlying causes, one primary reason was undoubtedly sheer jealousy that Xuan Lang was strikingly more handsome and far too eye-catching, consistently overshadowing him.
One had to ask: which young master of a prominent household could maintain emotional equilibrium when standing beside a cousin who utterly outperformed him in every single aspect?
Consequently, aside from a formal set of white robes that Li Jian intended for Xuan Lang to wear upon entering an immortal sect, the rest of the wardrobe selections remained consistent in their ink-black colorway.
Xuan Lang asked another question: “Then does the Immortal Elder intend to go stay at the Song estate?”
The moment those words left his lips, he received a blank, uncomprehending stare from Li Jian.
Clearly, Li Jian hadn’t anticipated such a query, wondering why Xuan Lang would ever ask something like that. Wasn’t that merely a standard polite pleasantry exchanged with Song Zhiyuan? Just empty politeness—why would anyone take it seriously?
“Of course not. I’m not even close with him; why on earth would I go to his house?”
While uttering those words, Li Jian suddenly paused for thought: when Xuan Lang had taken him in earlier, they hadn’t been particularly close either.
With a solemn expression, Xuan Lang observed, “Young Master Song extended a very sincere invitation.”
Moreover, the Song family belonged to the distinguished elite; by every conceivable measure, their estate was far better suited to Li Jian’s status than his own modest courtyard.
“His sincerity is his own affair. Besides, I’ve already purchased so many supplies how could I possibly let them go to waste?”
Li Jian popped another fruit directly into the boy’s mouth.
“Besides, there is another saying in this world: first come, first served.”