39: Chapter Thirty-Six: Offense 39: Chapter Thirty-Six: Offense Some people’s hearts are broad enough to encompass the entire world, while others’ are so narrow that they can only hold themselves.
Xu Yuan never considered himself to be the former, nor did he think of himself as the latter; his heart was neither too large nor too small, just enough to hold those who were important to him.
He was just an ordinary person.
To repay kindness with kindness, and enmity with vengeance, was all that he thought to be fairly reasonable.
If one were to disregard the god-like perspective that foresaw the chaos destined to engulf the world, perhaps he could understand Xu Xinyao’s actions.
Her words were not just empty talk; she had always been acting on them and striving for them.
But her final choice unmistakably amounted to repaying kindness with betrayal.
If at the end of the story, after her father and brothers were all dead, Xu Xinyao had chosen to end her own life cleanly to repay the nurturing kindness, then the indifference or even revulsion that Xu Yuan had built up for this character in the previous plot would probably have vanished.
Feeling guilty, she went on to live a happy life hand in hand with the main character of the story.
Because of this, he felt indifferent.
The voice from beside him slowly brought Xu Yuan back from his thoughts, and he turned to look, only to see Zhou Chen watching him with a grin:
“You look a bit pale…
are you thinking about what just happened?”
Changtian had specifically instructed them to keep an eye on the Third Young Master.
The news that the Third Young Master, previously known for his volatile nature, looked unwell because of killing someone who had offended him, was indeed thought-provoking.
“What just happened?”
Xu Yuan glanced at him, but just then noticed several Protectors carrying a stretcher covered with a white cloth from the room they had just come from, looking over nervously in his direction as they passed.
Xue Yong seemed to be dead.
Although Xu Yuan had not given a direct order to kill, the man’s death was expected.
Ordering a murder for the first time, he actually felt a bit uneasy psychologically.
However, Xu Yuan just nonchalantly shook his head:
You mentioned that wretch, which reminded me of some past events.”
After saying that, he offered no further explanation and turned his gaze towards the stage inside the hall.
While he had been lost in thought, the dancers on the stage had changed.
Now, a pair of beautiful twins was dancing, both remarkably similar in appearance.
Perhaps it was due to the artistic design of “Cangyuan Chronicles,” the ancient costumes of this world had a certain style of his previous life.
The two women were both dressed in pink bras and long skirts with high slits, thin waists and jade legs, floating long sleeves.
Just enough to captivate the soul.
Zhou Chen saw where Xu Yuan’s gaze was directed and suddenly chuckled mischievously:
“Third Young Master, have you recovered well?”
“Mhm,” Xu Yuan did not deny.
Based on the extent of the organ malady he had sensed before, Xu Yuan originally thought it would take at least a year or half to slowly recover, but, as it turned out, it took less than a month.
It could be due to the Blood Power Technique, or perhaps because of his current constitution.
Zhou Chen grinned upon hearing this, scooting a little closer with his wine gourd and lowering his voice:
“Third Young Master, these sisters Ziye and Zihua are quite something.
I watch them dance here every day.
The elder sister’s waist, the younger sister’s legs, tsk tsk…
Although they’re pricey, definitely worth the expense.”
“How about it, Third Young Master?
Would you like to invite them up?”
Xu Yuan frowned slightly, staring at Zhou Chen with a bit of speechlessness.
Familiarity was one thing, but this expert was just too shameless.
This top floor of Zuixian Pavilion, once reserved, came with many pretty and beautiful maids by default, and indeed, one could call for the courtesans from the rooms below to come up.
But calling these courtesans up from the rooms required an extra fee.
And just as depicted in conventional novels, these courtesans with their own rooms from the ninth to eleventh floors had a certain degree of autonomy, and Zuixian Pavilion would prioritize their own wishes.
However, due to Xu Yuan’s status, their willingness became somewhat immaterial.
Ordinary heirs and young masters could also do this, but most would not choose to, for it would damage their reputations.
But did he, Xu Yuan, Xu Changtian, need to worry about damaging his reputation?
Not to mention the courtesans, even if it involved the higher-status courtesans from the twelfth floor, or even having the matron herself, still oozing with charm, come to serve him in his bed, there was no room for negotiation.
It just means paying more money.
I could just steal more paintings, calligraphy, and antiques from home to sell, and if worst comes to worst, there’s still a heap of manuscripts left by my cheap old father from his days of practicing calligraphy in the study.
The manuscripts of the Prime Minister in the calligraphy circle are considered solid currency; those rich merchants and officials who feign refinement all covet such items.
With a smile, Xu Yuan uttered a light chuckle,
Zhou, as I said, I have no interest in being your compatriot.”
Zhou Chen, clearly disappointed, smacked his lips and muttered under his breath,
“Can’t I use my connections if I don’t become compatriots with you…”
Noticing the slight twitch at the corner of Xu Yuan’s eye, Zhou Chen coughed lightly, his gaze mischievous, and he chuckled,
“Cough, Third Young Master, surely you won’t abstain from the pleasures of women and subject yourself to an ascetic life, right?
That doesn’t seem like you at all~”
Xu Yuan murmured softly to himself, then looked down at his own palm without responding, and instead softly asked,
Zhou, may I inquire about your cultivation talent?”
Zhou Chen seemed surprised by Xu Yuan’s sudden question, but after a pause, he answered,
“I was born with ninety-six of the one hundred twenty-seven meridians already open, and my will-spirit is also of superior strength.”
he stroked his stubble and grinned,
“I suppose that would make me a genius.”
Zhou truly is a genius.”
“Hehe, it’s decent,” Zhou Chen said with a wave of his hand, all smiles.
But Xu Yuan did not smile; after a light compliment, he suddenly asked with a gaze fixed on Zhou Chen’s smiling face,
“Since you dare to call yourself a genius, Mr.
Zhou, have you made any progress in your cultivation lately?”
Eye contact, silence.
If Zhou Chen had indeed reached a bottleneck in his cultivation and could not progress, then Xu Yuan’s remarks were naked mockery.
And as expected, Xu Yuan’s words caused Zhou Chen’s smile to gradually stiffen and then vanish.
Zhou Chen’s cultivation had indeed hit a bottleneck, and he had been troubled by it for a long time.
Zhou Chen’s originally languid eyes grew contemplative at the Third Young Master’s mockery.
Xu Yuan’s gaze grew colder as they looked at each other.
After a long stare, Xu Yuan said,
“Zhou Chen, you need not look at me that way.
To have reached this point, you surely are not a naturally indolent person, yet now you indulge yourself in such excess daily; it’s not difficult to deduce you’re struggling with a bottleneck.”
It was the first time Xu Yuan had called Zhou Chen by his name.
And with those words,
Xu Yuan’s narrow eyes slowly narrowed:
“I have spent more than two months with Ran Qingmo, and she is cultivating ceaselessly.”
“Zhou Chen, I am curious.”
Xu Yuan’s eyes displayed a fitting trace of sarcasm called curiosity:
“If you could cultivate without bottlenecks like Ran Qingmo, would you still indulge yourself the way you do now?”
After the words fell,
Zhou Chen understood Xu Yuan’s meaning and fell silent.
The noise and bustle below, the stark cold silence above.
Xu Yuan stared into Zhou Chen’s eyes and said word by word,
“Zhou Chen, answer me.”
Zhou Chen’s eyes flickered for a moment, then he lowered his gaze and bowed slightly with a clasped fist,
“Third Young Master, I was impertinent just now.”