[T/n: note on chapter title]1
The most prominent feature of Ji Province was its mountains. About 30 li outside of Desheng Prefecture’s capital city stood the middling Luoxia2 Mountain. Despite its relatively unimpressive size, this mountain was well known in the martial arts world of Ji Province and even of Dazhen, likely because of the Luoxia Mountain Villa atop it.
Luoxia Villa’s martial arts mainly included palm techniques, acupuncture techniques, and swordsmanship, and they were famous for their elegance and agility. However, Luoxia Villa’s claim to fa was that its owner, Luo Ling, defeated the Innate-Stage master Zhao Wusheng over ten years ago, showing the world that Luoxia Villa had produced a top-level master.
In recent years, Luo Feng’s title of “Handso Young Man”3 as the Third Master of Luoxia Village had beco more and more famous all over the world.
Titles like Lu Chengfeng’s “Young Gentleman of Cloud Pavilion” were largely flattery. However, another title of the Handso Young Man was the “Cold Faced Gentleman,” which sounded kind but was actually a simple of awe and respect, just like Wei Wuwei’s epithet, “Smiling Tiger”.
At this mont, the “Smiling Tiger” and the “Handso Young Man” happened to be sitting together once again. The head of the Wei family was present in person, and the owner of the villa, Lou Ling, was naturally present as their host. The group was drinking tea and chatting in a reception room of Luoxia Villa.
They had already had lunch and toured Luoxia Mountain with Luo Feng. Now, they had returned to the reception room and, after exchanging so pleasantries, began to talk about business.
“My Wei family will transport all the goods from Luoxia Villa, and sell the winery and textile products of Luoxia Villa to other provinces. We will only share a small part of the profits after deducting the costs, to show the sincerity of my Wei family.”
Wei Wuwei’s smile never faded. He took a gold-bordered book from the subordinate next to him and personally handed it to Luo Ling.
“The details have been thoroughly listed here. I personally reviewed it before coming. Please take a look, sir Host.”
No matter how high one’s martial arts skills were, one had to be cautious when dealing with matters of importance and the future interests of the villa. Lou Ling took the book and looked through it carefully with Luo Feng, who was sitting next to him.
The Wei family had many excellent accountants, who clearly listed the provisions in the book, and also thoroughly estimated the cost and expected benefits of transportation to various provinces.
Luo Ling felt a little overwheld after reading it for a while, seeing just how many entries there were.
“Thank you, Patriarch Wei. Do you mind if I ask the villa’s steward to do a rough calculation?”
“As it should be, business matters should be settled clearly!”
Wei Wuwei certainly had no objections. On the contrary, he hoped that Luoxia Villa would send soone to take a closer look, so that he could discover the Wei family’s full sincerity.
In fact, the output of the various industries in Luoxia Villa was nothing to the Wei family’s chain of interests, and he could easily find better alternatives. However, what Wei Wuwei valued was Luoxia Villa itself.
The Wei family had made many similar moves in recent years. If Wei Wuwei could go to Yuhuai Mountain with his son, then during the ten-year period when the position of family head would be vacant, as decided through internal discussions in the Wei family, then these friendships that demonstrated sincerity would be quite aningful.
The owner of Luoxia Mountain Villa ordered the book to be handed over to the steward and asked his people to look over it together. Then, the reception room was naturally filled with gossip about family matters, and the topic soon turned to so interesting stories from the martial ats world.
They happened to be talking about a new martial arts rookie who had been in the spotlight recently when Luo Feng beca a little interested.
“Speaking of this, there one thing worth talking about. I wonder if Patriarch Wei has heard of One-Ard Du Heng?”
Of course Wei Wuwei had heard of him, and was quite concerned about him, but at this mont, he pretended not to know that much. He frowned and thought for a while before speaking.
“Du Heng? I seem to have so impression of him. Could he be the one with the broken arm from the Du family in Tianyue Prefecture?”
“Hehe, that was in the past!”
Luo Ling, standing next to Luo Feng, interjected with a aningful smile, and Luo Feng sighed.
“Brother is correct. I thought back then that Du Heng’s life could be considered to have been wasted. Unexpectedly, his perseverance and talent are outstanding. After his decline, he was able to overco all his obstacles and rise back up. I recently t a good friend of the Du family, and he said that Du Heng is already the best of the younger generation training in the Mad Swordsmanship of the Du family. His left-handed swordsmanship is unmatched.”
Wei Wuwei looked surprised.
“I rember that there was a Du Jietian in this generation of the Du family who was said to have mastered the essence of the Mad Swordsmanship. But even he couldn’t compare to Du Heng?”
Luo Feng smiled slantwise.
“After being defeated by Du Heng last year, he has never been able to beat Du Heng in a match again…”
Having said this, Luo Feng recalled that ti for a mont before continuing.
“My good friend from the Du family once said that Du Heng has an aura that the younger generation of the Du family, and even many of their elders, don’t have. With a blade in hand, he looks down on the world, unrivaled in his montum. It is said that as early as two years ago, Du Heng helped the governnt wipe out a bandit encampnt with just one arm and a single sword. After the battle, it was discovered that he had suffered several near-fatal injuries. After recovering from his wounds, he returned to the Du family and defeated Du Jietian.”
“Oh… He must surely be an outstanding hero in the future!”
Wei Wuwei sighed.
At this mont, in a corridor of Luoxia Villa, a pregnant Luo Ningshuang was walking slowly, accompanied by her husband, who had married into her Luo family. She happened to notice an old man hurrying towards the reception room, guided by one of the villa’s servants.
“That man seems to be the old housekeeper of the Wei family. Strange, I’ve never seen him look so anxious…”
“Maybe sothing happened to the Wei family.”
“Hmm…”
Just a short while later, the old steward of the Wei residence entered the reception room of Luoxia Villa. Wei Wuwei was very surprised to see him.
The old housekeeper didn’t have the space to care about anything else. He bowed and apologized directly to the Luo family mbers, then leaned over to whisper in Wei Wuwei’s ear.
“Patriarch, Mr. Ji is here, the Third Master asked to find you as soon as possible!”
Wei Wuwei was shocked and looked at the old housekeeper in horror. The other party nodded slowly.
How could he still sit still? Wei Wuwei imdiately stood up and repeatedly bowed with cupped hands to Luo Ling and Luo Feng.
“First Master Host, Third Master Host, I’m sorry, I’m very sorry! Sothing urgent happened at my house, and I have to go back imdiately. Today’s discussion can resu another day. The books will be left at the villa for you to look them over carefully. There is an ergency at ho, I will take my leave!”
“Uh, Patriarch Wei, please do as you please. Speak up if you need any help from Luoxia Villa. If any villains co to your door, let us know!”
Luo Ling was an Innate-Stage master after all, so it was natural for him to say this with an imposing atmosphere, while at the sa ti taking the initiative to speak with sincerity.
“Thank you for your kindness, Master Host. This is not a bad event, though it is inconvenient to elaborate at this mont. I cannot wait any longer. I hope you and your villa will forgive !”
Wei Wuwei tried his best to say a few polite words of farewell, then quickly left with the old housekeeper.
When he arrived at the stables of the villa, he did not take the luxurious carriage, but instead directly selected a good horse and quickly rode away with the old housekeeper.
A mont later, a servant from Luoxia Villa ca to inform Luo Ling and Luo Feng of his departure.
Luo Ling’s expression beca even more puzzled.
“That’s strange. Patriarch Wei actually rushed back on horseback?”
Luo Feng also narrowed his eyes and wondered.
“Mr. Ji? Why does it sound familiar…”
“Huh? What do you know about it?”
Luo Ling imdiately perked up.
“I can’t rember. I feel like I’ve heard it sowhere before. Is it “季”4 or “计”5? These surnas are quite rare. If it’s the latter…”
Luo Feng’s heart suddenly lurched.
“I rember now. When I went to Ning’an County to pick up Ningshuang, I heard them repeatedly ntion a ‘Mr. Ji.’ However, that man was a beggar that they rescued from the mountain. He should not be the sa person as the one waiting in the Wei family’s residence.”
“Hmm…”
The two of them couldn’t guess anything else, so they stopped thinking about it. If Wei Wuwei really needed help, given his personality he would surely ask for it.
Wei Wuwei followed the old steward at full speed towards the provincial capital. Their journey was only a few dozen miles, so he felt no need to conserve the horses’ strength, and continued whipping them forwards.
Fortunately, they were excellent horses, able to carry even Wei Wuwei’s large girth and run wildly. However, once they arrived at the Wei’s family mansion, the horses were obviously exhausted. As the horse Wei Wuwei had ridden was taken away by the servants, it was panting so hard that it seed as though its lungs were about to explode.
. . .
Without even taking the ti to tidy up his appearance, Wei Wuwei simply smoothed his hair and brushed off the dust on his clothes, then went directly to the reception room alongside the housekeeper.
When he walked to the door and saw Ji Yuan, he truly felt that this was the sa person he had t before, as if nothing at all had changed.
“Mr. Ji, it’s really you!”
Wei Wuwei, with a look of surprise on his face, stepped into the room and bowed respectfully to Ji Yuan, making the Third Master of the Wei family beside him breathe a sigh of relief.
Ji Yuan also stood up and urged Wei Wuwei to stand.
“After so many years of since we last t, it’s unusual for Patriarch Wei to still rember .”
“How dare I forget your great kindness, Mr. Ji? The kitchen has already prepared a banquet, and I think the ti is just. How about we have a simple al in my humble abode?”
Humble abode?
Ji Yuan laughed.
“It’s a rare opportunity to have a good al, so I certainly won’t miss it.”
“Okay, Mr. Ji, this way please!”
Wei Wuwei winked at the people around him, and personally escorted Ji Yuan to the banquet hall.
. . .
After an evening full of wine and good food, the Wei family mother led the timid Wei Yuansheng to the table bowed respectfully to Ji Yuan. The latter watched with pale eyes.
“Wei Yuansheng greets Mr. Ji!”
Ji Yuan smiled as he saw the child’s cute chubby face.
“Co sit in your father’s arms, let’s have a good chat.”
Wei Yuansheng looked at Wei Wuwei, feeling a little hesitant to act rashly. The latter quickly picked up his son, then dismissed all the servants, leaving only his closest circle in the room.
“A few years ago, when I was traveling, I happened to calculate a divination on the affairs of the Wei family. Now that the ti is approaching, I ca to take a look.”
Wei Wuwei asked nervously.
“Mr. Ji, in your opinion, what are Yuansheng’s chances of entering the Immortal Mountain?”
It was one thing to have confidence, but another to truly know the outco.
“With your young master’s spirituality, Yuhuai Mountain will naturally not turn him away. However, it will be difficult for you, Wei Wuwei, to join him.”
Wei Wuwei smiled and rubbed his hands, then cautiously tried again.
“I wonder if Sir likes my little Yuansheng?”
“Hahaha… don’t think about it, Patriarch Wei. Yuansheng’s fate lies in Yuhuai Mountain. Even if did take a liking to Xiao Yuansheng, I wouldn’t consider the troubleso idea of taking him as a disciple.”
Wei Wuwei sighed with regret at his words.
On the other hand, Mother Wei had other worries in her heart.
“Husband, if you can’t accompany Yuansheng up the mountain, then this child will be alone…”
Wei Yuansheng shrank in his father’s arms. He was young, after all, and a little scared.
Ji Yuan glanced at others and then looked back at Wei Yuansheng.
“I only said that, even with the help of the crane, there was very little hope… I did not say that there was absolutely no hope…”
Ji Yuan smiled mysteriously.
“I also have an old acquaintance on Yuhuai Mountain. When the ti cos, Patriarch Wei could tell the immortal crane that there is an old family friend surnad Ji who knows the immortal Qiu Feng. I believe this should settle the matter.”
Wei Wuwei was surprised. Ji Yuan now held an extraordinary position in his heart. If Mr. Ji said that it could be done, then he considered it to be foolproof.
道道关系 lit. “Dao-Dao relationships” This could refer to 2 people’s fate (as Dao/Tao is repeated 2x), or indicate a network of fated connections, or a lot of people’s destiny, or a connection between one individual and the Tao… lots of options here. I chose the translation that could cover the broadest amount of interpretations. 落 (luò): to fall/to drop/to set (the sun)/to lower, 霞 (xiá): rose-tinted sky/clouds at dawn/dusk – Lit “Rose Sunset Mountain” 俏 (qiào): good-looking/charming, 面 (miàn): face, 郎君 (lángjūn): husband/master/rich family playboy – they’re literally calling him “pretty rich playboy” in the most respectful way they can manage LOL 季 (jì): season/last month of the season 计 (jì): to calculate/to plan/to regard as important – our MC’s last na 😀
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