Chapter 632 - 211: Traces of the Demon Sect (Part 2)

Lin Weiyuan looked at her and spoke in a calm voice, "Shuhua, come with me to the study."

Then, he looked to Lin Ziheng at his side and said gravely, "Ziheng, you come as well."

Without another word, Lin Weiyuan turned and strode back through the mansion’s main gate, his figure disappearing into the brightly lit corridors within.

Lin Shuhua suppressed her panic and confusion, gently smoothing her skirt. Lin Ziheng wiped the smile from his face, his expression turning solemn. One after the other, they followed close behind.

As Lin Shuhua followed behind Lin Weiyuan, her footsteps falling lightly on the stone slabs, the panic in her heart did not subside in the slightest.

’Father is summoning me to the study now,’ she guessed to herself. ’This must be about Yang Jing.’

’In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to deliver the message Hong Qingzhu asked me to relay tonight.’

’For one thing, the occasion was entirely inappropriate. Yang Jing was a distinguished guest of the Lin Mansion, and only the highest-ranking members of the Lin Family were at the banquet. To rashly bring up the rejection of a marriage alliance would not only offend Yang Jing but also cause our family to lose face.’

’For another, Yang Jing had been sitting beside Sun Ningxiang nearly all evening. Their easy rapport was plain to see, their closeness obvious. She had no idea how she could possibly bring up the subject.’

’What unsettled her even more was the thought that had sparked in the study—that her father might want her to marry Yang Jing. Ever since, she had maintained a calm facade, adhering to the decorum of a maiden, but her heart was in turmoil.’

’Yang Jing’s excellence, combined with her father’s unusual arrangements today, caused that idea to take root and grow. Now, being summoned to the study, she had no idea what to expect, and her fingers unconsciously tightened on her skirt.’

Meanwhile, Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang walked out of the Lin Mansion’s main gate and into the night of Jintai Prefecture City.

Lin Ziheng had offered to be their guide and show them the liveliest spots in the Prefecture City, but Yang Jing politely declined.

He could sense the anticipation in his Senior Sister’s eyes for some time alone together, and he also wanted to take this chance to enjoy a quiet stroll with Sun Ningxiang.

’The sightseeing itself was secondary. Being alone with my Senior Sister was what mattered most.’

After asking Lin Ziheng about the layout and highlights of the city’s various streets, Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang headed toward Zhuangyuan Street.

Zhuangyuan Street was the most renowned market district in Jintai Prefecture City. Legend had it that several hundred years ago, a Martial Champion Scholar whose might awed the Great Qi had come from this very place, hence the name.

After centuries of prosperity, it was now packed with shops and thronged with people. The locals had even nicknamed it "Golden Street," and it was the liveliest place in the Prefecture City.

The moment they set foot on Zhuangyuan Street, they were enveloped by a wave of noise and vibrant energy.

The street was lined with shops, their hanging lanterns illuminating the lane as brightly as day. Nobles and officials in fine silks, Martial Artists in practical attire, and women with bamboo baskets on their arms all wove through the crowd.

The cries of vendors, the sounds of laughter, and the clatter of horse-drawn carriages mingled together, creating a magnificent din.

It was immeasurably more prosperous than the Inner City of Yuhe County, exuding the air of a great metropolis from every corner.

Yet amid the bustle, Yang Jing also noticed the dark corners of the alleys lining the street.

There, large groups of beggars and refugees in tattered clothes gathered. Sallow and gaunt, they huddled against the walls, their numb gazes fixed on the prosperity of the street, a stark contrast to the vibrant scene.

Yang Jing sighed to himself. ’In this day and age, with the flames of war still burning, gangs running rampant, and sects carving up their own territories... beneath this veneer of prosperity, the desolation of a chaotic era cannot be concealed.’

’Some feast in brocaded robes while others starve. It has always been this way.’

He pushed aside his complex feelings and turned to look at Sun Ningxiang. Seeing her eyes filled with curiosity for the bustling street, he smiled, slowed his pace, and focused on accompanying his Senior Sister.

Zhuangyuan Street offered a dazzling array of goods. Food stalls, cosmetics, silks, weapons, Elixirs—it had everything. But most numerous of all were the exquisitely decorated jewelry shops.

In their display windows, gold hairpins, jade bracelets, and pearl-adorned hair ornaments glittered brightly under the lantern light, capturing the eyes of every woman who passed by.

The two of them eventually wandered in front of a jewelry shop called "Linglong Pavilion." A gold bracelet in the window caught Sun Ningxiang’s eye, and she couldn’t help but step inside.

Seeing their distinguished air, a shop attendant hurried over to offer her assistance.

Sun Ningxiang gazed at several exquisite gold bracelets on the counter. The bands were carved with an interlocking lotus design, and the clasps were studded with tiny pearls. She gently stroked one, a look of adoration in her eyes.

Yang Jing took this in, a gentle smile touching his lips. He turned to the attendant and said, "We’ll take all of these gold bracelets. Please wrap them up."

Hearing this, Sun Ningxiang quickly tugged on his sleeve. Her eyes were filled with surprised delight and a hint of shyness as she shook her head. "You don’t have to buy so many. I’ll just pick one."

As she spoke, she picked out the simplest of the bracelets. It was a plain gold band with no complex patterns, but at the clasp, a tiny character was engraved—the "Ning" from her own name. It was the one she had liked most from the very beginning.

Watching Sun Ningxiang slip the gold bracelet onto her wrist, her face alight with pure joy, Yang Jing felt his heart soften. He suddenly realized this was the first real gift he had ever given his Senior Sister.

’For so long, I’ve been completely focused on my training,’ he thought. ’I’ve never had the time or inclination for things like this.’ Now, seeing his Senior Sister so happy, he felt a warmth spread through his chest.

After leaving the jewelry shop, they continued their slow stroll down Zhuangyuan Street. Every so often, Sun Ningxiang would raise her arm to admire the gold bracelet on her wrist, a smile never leaving her lips.