Chapter 1033: You Really Have a Lot of Nerve

Ruyi took two kicks to the backside, but she remained entirely unbothered. Having traveled far and wide all these years, she could easily withstand a couple of light kicks. She even stayed cheerful, at least still having the nerve to smile cheekily at Uncle Chen afterward.

Lihua simply watched the fun, enjoying the sight of Ruyi making a fool of herself. But from the look Ruyi was giving it, the cat was likely due for a severe beating soon.

Chen Changsheng sat in his chair and ate a slice of orange.

"How were you sitting just now?" Chen Changsheng asked after a moment of thought.

"With your legs crossed and propped up on that chair," Ruyi offered from the side. "Ah, right, right, exactly like that..."

"Mm," Chen Changsheng murmured. He rolled his neck and said, "It actually is quite comfortable."

Ruyi offered a couple of dry laughs, standing as straight as a board.

Chen Changsheng ate another two slices of orange. "When we head back to Qingshan City," he said between bites, "I'll have a talk with your mother. I'll tell her you came all the way to Shangjing City just to visit brothels. Mm, she might even praise your cleverness. Since you couldn't find a man, you found an alternative route."

"Hehe, hehe..."

"Are you laughing?"

"No, I'm not, I'm not..."

Chen Changsheng lowered his legs and sat properly.

Lihua watched from the sidelines, its whiskers twitching incessantly as if fighting back laughter.

"And you, Lihua."

Lihua froze. "This has nothing to do with Lihua."

Chen Changsheng reached out and tapped the cat's head. "Do you expect me to believe you don't know any better? This Chen saw you having quite a good time too, without making the slightest effort to stop her."

Lihua rubbed its head, feeling it had suffered an undeserved calamity.

He was right in the middle of his lecture.

Suddenly, a figure burst through the door.

"Bang..."

Dong Chiyu stormed in, gripping her spear.

"Don't you dare hurt her!"

Dong Chiyu's eyes were sharp as she lunged forward with a thrust of her Long Spear.

Ruyi's eyes widened, too stunned to react.

Chen Changsheng was mildly surprised as well. In the blink of an eye, he raised his hand. With a mere flick of his fingertips, he blocked the incoming spear.

Dong Chiyu faltered and tried to pull her weapon back, only to find that Chen Changsheng had already caught the spearhead, trapping it so she could neither advance nor retreat.

Ruyi quickly stepped forward and blocked Dong Chiyu, asking in bewilderment, "Wait, what are you doing?"

Dong Chiyu's expression remained cold as she stared at Chen Changsheng. "The girls in the brothel came to find me. They said you offended someone..."

Chen Changsheng paused, then looked at Ruyi. "Who is this?"

"She, she..." Ruyi waved her hand. "Her surname is Dong. She said she wants to learn spear arts from me."

Ruyi then turned back to Dong Chiyu. "Let me introduce you. This is my uncle, Uncle Chen."

Dong Chiyu froze, caught off guard.

Chen Changsheng released his grip.

Dong Chiyu pulled her spear back, looking slightly dazed. She hurriedly cupped her hands in apology. "I... I was too abrupt just now. I beg Senior's forgiveness."

Ruyi rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

As the madam of the brothel, Chunxiu had seen someone storm inside with a spear, so she hurriedly rushed over as well.

Peeking into the room, she saw two young women standing there. One was holding a spear with an apologetic look on her face, while the other kept her head down, as if too ashamed to face anyone.

And there was a mister in green robes sitting in a chair, quietly sizing up the people before him.

Chunxiu froze, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

The white hair and aged face felt somewhat familiar, but she could never forget those green robes.

Wasn't that her benefactor, Mister Chen?

Seeing the situation, Chunxiu roughly understood what was happening. Keeping her head down, she slowly stepped forward to pull the door shut.

It was better not to let others witness this spectacle.

Just as she raised her eyes, she found the mister looking right back at her.

Chunxiu's heart skipped a beat. She slowly backed away and pulled the door shut.

Standing outside, she took a deep breath. She gazed into the distance, lost in thoughts she couldn't quite name.

Sitting in his chair, Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze. He looked at Ruyi, then at Dong Chiyu. "What is This Chen supposed to say about you two..."

"Both of you are young ladies, yet you come running to a brothel. What kind of proper behavior is this?"

Ruyi was speechless, doing nothing but apologizing profusely.

Dong Chiyu lowered her head as well. She had never visited places like this before; she only came because Ruyi was a frequent customer, forcing her to seek her out here.

The two of them had drawn plenty of gossip because of it.

Chen Changsheng stood up. "What are you still standing around for? Let's go."

"Oh..."

Ruyi snapped back to reality and nodded eagerly.

"After causing such a huge commotion, there's a crowd watching out there," Chen Changsheng said. "Are you really planning to use the front door?"

"Ah, right..."

Ruyi caught on and immediately moved to climb out the window.

Lihua and Dong Chiyu followed closely behind her, trailing her like a pair of loyal lackeys.

Chen Changsheng sighed softly and shook his head.

He walked over to the window as well.

Before leaving, he cast a glance back at the door.

A figure seemed to be waiting just outside.

Chen Changsheng stood in silence for a moment. Then, collecting himself, he vaulted out the window, leaving nothing behind.

...

Chunxiu was waiting outside the door.

Her heart pounded with anxiety. After a long while, the noises from the room completely died down.

She kept waiting, her hands lightly clenched beneath her sleeves.

Finally, after endless hesitation, she gathered her resolve and reached out to knock on the door.

There was no sound, and no response came.

Chunxiu hesitated for a second before pushing the door open.

The distant glow of the sunset poured into the room, bathing it in a dim golden hue. A breeze fluttered the corner of a Qin music score lying on the floor. On the table sat a half-eaten orange.

The place was entirely empty, as if nothing had been left behind.

All her previous anxiety vanished in an instant. Her heart settled into a deep, heavy silence, just as empty as the room itself.

She stood there for a long time before she let out a sigh and lowered her eyes.

...

They found a tavern, ordered a few plates of fine food, and asked for a jug of wine.

Since it was dinnertime, the place was inevitably a bit noisy, but the lively atmosphere was welcome.

"This Chen is treating, but Ruyi is paying the silver taels."

"Oh..."

Ruyi pouted, looking completely disgruntled.

Dong Chiyu stared blankly at her. She had never imagined that the person before her possessed such a side.

From hearing about her, to witnessing her skills, to getting acquainted, and finally becoming familiar with her, in Dong Chiyu's impression, Ruyi had never acted like this. She even felt a bit dazed, as if the person in front of her was no longer the Ruyi she knew.

The food at the tavern was excellent—or at least it seemed so to Chen Changsheng. It had been a long time since he last ate. These past few years he had been constantly busy, either occupied with his Cultivation or handling other matters. He hadn't sat down for a hot meal in ages.

Lihua smacked its lips as it ate. It was never a picky eater and savored every bite.

It had always been this way.

"Tell me what you've been up to lately," Chen Changsheng said.

Ruyi mumbled, "I haven't... I haven't been up to anything, Uncle. I've been on my best behavior."

Chen Changsheng reached out a hand.

"No, wait, wait! I'll talk! I'll talk, okay?"

Ruyi started from the very beginning when she received the letter, detailing her journey into the Capital, galloping a horse right through the streets, and sneaking into the Chancellor's Manor at night. She then recounted Li Linheng's death and everything the Tang Manor had uncovered recently.

Chen Changsheng listened in stunned silence for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh.

"You really have a lot of nerve."