Ye Shu’s perception was extraordinarily keen. Even though he had never seen Wei Ying’er’s face, just by hearing her voice, he could recognize her. However, he wondered why Wei Ying’er, originally from Wei County, had appeared in the capital after just a few months. What about Yan Changlan…?
Thinking this, Ye Shu glanced over at Wei Ying’er.
Wei Ying’er appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, charming and lively. Her eyes were bright and expressive, and her smiles and frowns carried a captivating naivety, making her especially endearing. At that moment, she was standing close to a young man. The young man was quite handsome, with an arrogant look in his eyes. Though his arrogance didn’t lessen when he spoke to Wei Ying’er, his demeanor was slightly more amiable compared to when he interacted with others.
Ye Shu’s gaze briefly swept over the young man.
He had an aura of spiritual light, indicating a person who had opened innate spiritual orifices through acquired cultivation. This meant he was associated with the class of elite scholars, but since he hadn’t yet established a Dao foundation, he wasn’t particularly noteworthy. Wei Ying’er’s close relationship with him showed that she considered him her beloved, although her choice in men wasn’t very discerning.
Nevertheless…
Ye Shu glanced again at Yan Changlan.
Yan Changlan, who was very attentive to Ye Shu, noticed his gaze and looked back, seeming to ask a question. During this, his gaze also briefly passed over Wei Ying’er, but it didn’t linger at all, as if he were looking at a stranger.
Seeing Yan Changlan’s indifferent reaction, Ye Shu suddenly understood.
So, Yan Changlan indeed had never met Wei Ying’er. Realizing this, he shook his head slightly to indicate there was nothing to worry about.
Yan Changlan was puzzled but didn’t dwell on it.
The two followed Luo Ziyao and found an elegant spot to sit.
Near the private booth, there were some people who seemed to be quite familiar with Luo Ziyao. Seeing him approach, one of them lowered his voice and said, “Ziyao, you’ve come at the right time today.”
Luo Ziyao lazily glanced over, “Oh? What do you mean?”
The person pointed to the arrogant young man whom Ye Shu had looked at earlier and said, “This one is a disciple of an immortal, undoubtedly destined for immortality. Now he’s actually come to Xianyuan Street and directly entered our Yawan Pavilion. Isn’t that exciting? Many noble families’ young masters want to get close to him, but he’s currently flirting with a beauty. Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t approach him right now. Just watch, it won’t be long before someone seizes the opportunity to get close.”
Luo Ziyao immediately adjusted his demeanor, “Oh? He’s an immortal’s disciple? Fu Er, I owe you for this information.”
The second young master of the Fu family twitched the corner of his mouth, “Why call me Fu Er? Never mind, just think carefully about how to act.”
Luo Ziyao thought for a moment and then lowered his voice, “The more you do, the more mistakes you make. We should follow the crowd’s lead.”
Second Young Master Fu nodded, “Let’s do that.”
Ye Shu heard their entire conversation and nodded slightly.
That disciple of the cultivator seemed to have a difficult temperament. If someone went to flatter him, they would either have to be servile all the time or risk offending him, which could be detrimental in the future. Although Luo Ziyao appeared rough and somewhat dissolute, he was actually not short-sighted.
As expected, although most of the young nobles in the Yawan Pavilion were observing from a distance, many were eager to act. After waiting for a moment, some could no longer hold back.
Soon, a young man with a long, angular face walked by with a delicate and charming young woman by his side, and they initiated a conversation. “Master He, your reputation precedes you. It’s truly admirable to have the chance to meet you today.”
Upon the young man’s gesture, the charming young woman giggled sweetly, her eyes full of affection.
The arrogant young man, upon hearing the compliment, glanced over and brightened upon seeing the charming young woman. However, his interest quickly waned when he looked back at Wei Ying’er.
The young man, initially impressed by the arrogant youth’s appearance, felt a pang of disappointment when he lost interest so quickly, causing a slight stiffening of his expression.
The charming young woman, feeling even more disappointed, furrowed her brows as she glanced at Wei Ying’er. She couldn’t see any superiority in her and couldn’t help but feel a hint of jealousy and even some faint resentment—if it weren’t for this despicable girl somehow attracting the attention of an immortal’s disciple, how could she be so embarrassed?
Wei Ying’er was quite perceptive. She glanced at the charming young woman with a hint of hostility in her eyes and, unconsciously, leaned gently towards the arrogant young man’s side.
The arrogant young man noticed and gently placed his hand on her slender waist.
Wei Ying’er blushed, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes, but she ultimately didn’t move away.
The young man and the charming young woman noticed this scene and left in disappointment.
A smug smile quickly flashed across Wei Ying’er’s face, and her posture became even more confident.
The actions of those few people were clearly visible to the many people from a distance.
In an instant, they started to have thoughts.
Ye Shu felt somewhat displeased, but his expression remained unchanged.
However, he had a plan in mind. When there was no one around, he intended to mention to Yan Changlan—since this girl had some connection with that disciple of the immortal, they should be cautious and avoid getting involved with her.
Afterwards, many disciples in the Yawan Pavilion gradually engaged in conversations with the arrogant young man. Some were obsequious, while others maintained their dignity, but all showed a willingness to befriend him. Luo Ziyao and Second Master Fu also approached the arrogant young man, but like many discerning disciples, they refrained from excessive enthusiasm. Their sincerity was evident, neither too warm nor too cold, just right.
Indeed, the arrogant young man’s attitude towards Luo Ziyao and the others was neither good nor bad, neither close nor distant, but also not disdainful.
Moderation was key; this was sufficient.
After the arrogant young man impatiently left, the atmosphere in the Yawan Pavilion relaxed, and the mood became lively. Among them, discussions inevitably arose, sharing various pieces of gathered news.
Naturally, what they were most curious about was Wei Ying’er: “Just now, I saw a young girl so intimate with Master He. I wonder what her identity is and where she comes from?”
Another person remarked, “Master He seemed to value her greatly. Even Miss Xiao from the Xiao family, who was so beautiful, couldn’t attract Master He’s attention. It seemed quite strange.”
Then, another added, “You all were unaware. I heard that Master He arrived earlier than his mentor, Master Liu. With nothing else to do, he traveled around our mortal realm for a bit. He encountered that girl while traveling, and they developed some feelings. He brought her back, intending to take her to the immortal realm.”
A member of another prestigious family gasped, “That girl was so fortunate! We didn’t even know if we’d have the chance to go with him, yet she had already received a promise. If only I were a beautiful woman, then I could also try my luck.”
Wei Ying’er had been following that Master He for more than just a day or two, so naturally, people had noticed her and inquired about her background. Later, as everyone exchanged words, her origins became clear.
Someone who was previously unaware scoffed, “So she’s just a coarse and vulgar martial arts woman. Who knows where she learned her fox-like charms to entice Master He. Although she has some looks, her demeanor is ordinary. I imagine Master He’s affection for her is just a passing fancy and won’t last long.”
Another person chuckled, “Well said, brother Zhang. These women may have some initial allure, but unfortunately, they never seem to last long…”
Afterwards, these aristocratic youths began discussing the appearance of women they preferred, their words tinged with bitterness. Implicit in their words was the idea that they would return to find more enticing women to present, in exchange for more opportunities to enter the immortal realm.
Such a scene made Luo Ziyao and Second Master Fu somewhat displeased.
Those youths were all talking about their sisters, who were usually considered for marriage alliances. But now, they were speaking so casually about sending them off, even openly criticizing them. It was truly a loss of dignity.
On the other hand, Yan Changlan’s eyes also showed a hint of surprise.
Ye Shu thought to himself that there was no need to mention it again now that everyone had already talked about it.
Yan Changlan also noticed the attitude of the crowd towards Wei Ying’er and many other women, and he couldn’t help but furrow his brows slightly. “How can they be so disdainful towards women like that?”
Ye Shu replied, “In the past, it wouldn’t have been like this naturally. But now that the opportunity for immortality is right in front of them, in their eagerness to compete for that spot, they may have become somewhat crazed. On the path of cultivation, countless cultivators fight tooth and nail for opportunities. Some shameless individuals can even kill their own parents and children for the sake of gaining an advantage. So what does it matter to them to send their sisters off to be someone’s pillow companion?”
Yan Changlan felt somewhat heavy-hearted hearing Ye Shu speak so calmly about it.
He didn’t doubt Ye Shu’s character because of it, but from Ye Shu’s calm attitude, he understood that what he said was true, and such occurrences were probably very common and didn’t need to be concealed.
Just thinking about it, he could better understand why this brother Ye warned him about the cruelty of the path ahead. What he couldn’t bear before might become commonplace in the future, just like what he saw today.
Yan Changlan paused for a moment and asked softly, “If this person is Miss Wei, the only daughter of the Wei family, and if she truly has feelings for Master He?”
Ye Shu hesitated slightly, “Are you fond of this girl?”
Yan Changlan was startled and hastily said, “It’s not like that! It’s just that uncle Wei has been kind to me, so now that I see Miss Wei, I should look after her. If she’s in a difficult situation now, it would go against my conscience to turn a blind eye.”
Ye Shu knew that Yan Changlan had a broad mind and a kind nature, so it wasn’t surprising that he would be concerned about the safety of this Wei girl. After a brief thought, Ye Shu spoke up, “In your opinion, would the Wei family consider giving Miss Wei to Master He as a concubine?”
Yan Changlan was quite certain about this: “Certainly not.” A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, and he continued, “Madam Wei treasures her daughter dearly and is determined to find her a marriage that satisfies all criteria. Even if she knows about the opportunity for entry into the immortal realm, she wouldn’t trade her daughter’s innocence for it. Uncle Wei is a man of virtue and wouldn’t stoop to using his daughter to seek glory.”
Ye Shu nodded slightly, “In that case, Miss Wei must have feelings for Master He, which is why she came with him. As for her future, it will probably depend on her talents.”
Yan Changlan seemed to understand something.
Ye Shu continued, “If her talents are good and Master He has feelings for her, they can be a proper couple; if Miss Wei’s talents are ordinary, there may be controversy over the title of wife or concubine; and if her talents are lacking or nonexistent, she may at most become a concubine. In the world, marriages between men and women are often said to be based on matching social status and backgrounds, while among cultivators, it’s about having comparable resources and talents.”
Therefore, whether Wei Ying’er becomes a wife or a concubine, and what her fate will be, will ultimately depend on whether she has spiritual roots, and what kind of spiritual roots she possesses.