"Brother Zhexian, you... you're amazing..."
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan snapped out of their shock and quickly ran toward Li Zhexian.
A sword cultivator's body overpowering a direct descendant of the Strength Clan!
Absolutely shocking!
At this mont, Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, Osler, and the Shi brothers pushed through the crowd to the front.
When their eyes fell on the sight of Li Zhexian pinning Tai Long beneath his foot—
The five of them froze for a mont.
Then quickly rushed over.
"Sword Wine, what happened?!"
Li Zhexian lifted his foot, looking at Tai Long, who was struggling to get up, and smiled.
"It's nothing. He wanted to compete with in strength."
The five of them gave Li Zhexian a thumbs-up in unison. "Sword Wine is aweso!"
Sword Wine didn't even draw his sword, yet crushed Tai Long with his physical strength!
So strong that it's beyond compare!
"Sword Wine, this is the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. If anyone dares to challenge you, we brothers will block them for you." Yu Tianheng said, giving Yu Feng and the others a subtle glance.
The four imdiately stepped forward, laughing, and grabbed the confused Tai Long, leading him toward a secluded corner.
"You, brat, want to compete in strength with our brother?"
"Co on then, we'll give you another round!"
Li Zhexian smiled and waved his hand at Yu Tianheng. "Thanks."
This scene was very much like bad students forming a gang outside a school gate in his previous life.
Li Zhexian let out a light whistle, ignoring the admiring gazes from all around him. He left the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy with Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan.
After saying goodbye to Dugu Yan at a fork in the road, Li Zhexian and Ye Lingling made their way directly to the Ye Manor.
The young girl had shown so liveliness in the academy earlier.
However.
Once her steps crossed the high threshold of the Ye Manor, her aura changed.
It beca cold and dignified, like invisible shackles wrapping her up tightly once again.
Li Zhexian couldn't help but frown.
Ye Lingling had beco the person her mother had always hoped for.
Yet, there was no trace of her own vitality.
It was still the familiar winding corridors.
Li Zhexian followed Ye Lingling into a high-class reception hall
The floor was paved with blue bricks, polished until they glead.
Four vermilion-painted round pillars supported the intricately decorated beams above.
On the east wall was a painting of begonia flowers, partially concealed behind a green bamboo curtain, adding elegance and tranquility to the room.
When Madam Ye, dressed in a purple gauze gown with the hem patterned with pale pink begonia flowers, saw Li Zhexian step into the hall, she imdiately stood up.
"Young Master Zhexian, you've arrived. Please, have a seat."
Her voice was gentle.
With just the right amount of warmth.
Facing the Ye family's head courtesy, Li Zhexian's expression remained calm as he took his seat.
Soon, exquisite dishes were placed on the table.
Li Zhexian's gaze fell on Ye Lingling.
She only picked from the dish of plain vegetables in front of her. Her silken sleeve covered her wrist perfectly, and her movents were so precise they were like a pre-set program.
That rigid dignity was almost unnatural.
Li Zhexian's frown deepened.
When she'd shared noodles with him, Ye Lingling had already learned to choose what she liked.
But that deep-rooted restraint, as long as the Ye family's influence remained, she would never be free from it.
Li Zhexian felt helpless.
Because he had no position to comnt on how Madam Ye raised her daughter.
"Young Master Zhexian, is the food not to your liking? I'll have the servants prepare it again," Madam Ye said, noticing the displeasure in Li Zhexian's brow.
Li Zhexian put down his jade chopsticks.
"No need."
He looked up, eting Madam Ye's gaze directly.
"If the family head has sothing to say, feel free to speak."
Madam Ye was taken aback by Li Zhexian's directness.
She furrowed her brows, unable to understand what had displeased him.
After a mont of reflection, she elegantly rolled up her sleeves and used serving chopsticks to serve Li Zhexian another dish.
"I've heard that Ning Fengzhi will be arriving in Heaven Dou City tomorrow."
Her tone was calm as she observed Li Zhexian's reaction.
"Young Master Li Zhexian, why don't you stay in my Ye Manor for a few days?"
"How does the family head know about my connection with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Li Zhexian's tone grew slightly cold.
"Have you been investigating ?"
Madam Ye's expression remained unchanged.
Her light purple eyes t his without a hint of unease.
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you will be victorious."
"It's not strange that my Ye family keeps an eye on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's movents, is it?"
"Young Master Zhexian, if Ning Fengzhi visits, it might be awkward when you et."
"Why not stay with us at Ye Manor, where Lingling can accompany you?"
Madam Ye paused for a mont before continuing.
"The heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may not compare to our Lingling."
"What I said last ti still stands. As long as Young Master Li Zhexian is willing, you and Lingling can beco.."
"Family Head is just like she was that day."
Without waiting for Madam Ye to finish, Li Zhexian had already stood up, his expression calm but firm.
This head of the Ye family had beco obsessed with the old wish to "outshine the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with the Nine Hearts Begonia." She had gone too far.
He flicked his sleeve, turning to leave. Just as he reached the threshold, he paused for a mont, his voice reaching back into the hall.
"Ye Lingling, you don't need to feel burdened. You and I are still good friends."
"Just... don't invite here again in the future."
Ye Lingling's tense face relaxed slightly.
She glanced at her mother's absent-minded expression, her blue eyes dimming as they lowered.
Madam Ye stood rooted to the spot.
After a long silence, a soft and sorrowful sigh escaped her lips.
She looked at the begonia flower that had fallen from the eastern flower wall, slowly closing her eyes.
"The Ye family… truly has no hope of that number one auxiliary position?"
Madam Ye's murmurs were filled with exhaustion and unwillingness.
Ye Lingling clenched her delicate hand hidden in her sleeve.
The suffocating pressure at ho made her long for the days when she had shared a bowl of noodles with Li Zhexian.
"Mother, I'm going to find Li Zhexian."
Whenever it concerned Li Zhexian, her strict mother never stopped her.
Sure enough, Madam Ye closed her eyes and weakly waved her hand.
Ye Lingling hurriedly lifted her skirt and dashed out.
...
At the Noodle Stall.
Looking at the elegant girl who had run over, panting for breath, Li Zhexian casually cracked sunflower seeds, and gestured to the noodle vendor with a tilt of his chin.
"I've already ordered your noodles."
Ye Lingling froze for a mont.
Then, a bright smile blossod on her cold, delicate face.
The two bowls of noodles were quickly served.
Ye Lingling buried her face in the steaming mist, taking small bites of her noodles.
"How is it?"
The voice of the young man, filled with a smile, rang out.
"Does it taste better than your family's exquisite delicacies?"
Ye Lingling nodded lightly at first, then gave a more enthusiastic nod.
She kept her eyes lowered, listening to the sound of Li Zhexian slurping his noodles, and occasionally, the loud cheers from the wine stall across the street where the storyteller would deliver a particularly exciting passage.
"Li Zhexian..."
A muffled voice ca from the bowl of noodles.
"Mm?"
Li Zhexian turned to look at Ye Lingling.
The young girl bit her lip.
"My mother... is she really very bad... very bad?"
"Of course not..."
Before Li Zhexian could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Ye Lingling's voice, which trembled with a hint of crying:
"But... but I still feel so sorry for her... What should I do?"
The clear tears fell, dripping into the noodle broth.
In the end...
Li Zhexian couldn't tell Ye Lingling what to do.
He didn't know the answer either.
The Ye family's generations of efforts and obsessions had nurtured the na "Heaven's Jealousy Martial Soul."
And Madam Ye was obsessed with making a begonia flower bloom upon this fate, becoming the "number one Auxiliary Martial Soul."
This knot... was hard to untie.
After escorting Ye Lingling back to the gates of the Ye Manor—
Li Zhexian then returned to his own small courtyard alone.
The next morning, he rose early, cleaning the house inside and out with care.
He wiped the stone steps and put away the miscellaneous items.
On the sandalwood table, he placed a tea set and a chessboard, as if he knew he would have a guest today...
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