Chapter 155: True Colors of a Man?

Inside a stone palace on the mountain behind the Martial Arts Alliance, Wukong Dao wore a troubled expression. Wuqing, by contrast, seemed entirely unbothered, carefully watering the plants around him with a spray bottle.

“I’m telling you, stop fussing over those plants. Xiao Yu knows we’re hiding something from him now. Do you think he’ll come straight to us and demand answers?”

Wukong Dao sounded anxious.

“Keep calm. Xiao Yu isn’t the impulsive sort. It’s true we’ve kept a great deal from him, but when we left the Xuanyuan clan last time, didn’t we ask Xuanyuan Qingshan to tell him on our behalf?”

Wuqing replied evenly.

“Ah, I only wish that day would never come. I’ve grown deeply fond of that boy. If not for who he is, I’d gladly take him as my godson,” Wukong Dao sighed.

“Ah.”

Wuqing let out a long sigh as well. Wukong Dao was right: ever since they had been ordered to come to this star region, they had watched Xiao Yu grow up with their own eyes. Wuqing cared for him no less than Wukong Dao did. But fate had played a cruel trick on them. The Heavenly Realm and Xiao Yu were bound by an irreconcilable blood feud.

“I hope the people from the Immortal Realm don’t interfere. If they make that boy remember his past, the Three Realms may once again be plunged into calamity.”

“Old fossil, suppose—just suppose—Xiao Yu really does recover his old memories and become that monster who knows nothing but slaughter. What would you do?” Wukong Dao suddenly asked in a low voice.

Wuqing paused, then gathered himself and answered, each word deliberate. “I would kill him—for the peace of the Three Realms.”

Hearing Wuqing’s answer, Wukong Dao gave a helpless smile. If Wuqing had asked him the same question, he would have given the same answer without hesitation.

“Let’s hope that day never comes.”

* * *

Time slipped by. Before long, Xiao Yu and the others had spent two days at the Martial Arts Alliance. Throughout that time, Xiao Yu had been glued to Ye Shihan, never even stepping outside their room.

It was not until the evening of the third day, when Gu Jian and Lu Yinning appeared outside their door, that Xiao Yu finally got up and came out.

“You two all right now?”

Seeing Gu Jian and Lu Yinning looking healthy and refreshed, Xiao Yu asked at once.

“Other than our strength not being back yet, we’re fine. Say, are you alone?”

Gu Jian tilted his head to peer into the room, his face full of mischief.

Before Xiao Yu could answer, Ye Shihan emerged, fully dressed, and came to his side, affectionately slipping her arm through his.

“Hello. I’m Xiao Yu’s wife, Ye Shihan.”

As a formidable businesswoman, Ye Shihan could sense at once that there was something extraordinary about Gu Jian and Lu Yinning. Their presence, like Xiao Yu’s, was the kind that belonged to the strong.

During Xiao Yu’s account of what had happened, he had told her about things ordinary people knew nothing of, including ancient martial artists and cultivators.

“Hello, sister-in-law. I’m Gu Jian, and this guy’s Lu Yinning. We’re Xiao Yu’s friends,” Gu Jian said with a smile.

“Nice to meet you.”

Learning that they were Xiao Yu’s friends, Ye Shihan greeted them warmly.

“Uh, looks like we shouldn’t keep you today. We’ll head off and come see you tomorrow,” Lu Yinning said, nudging Gu Jian and shooting him a meaningful look.

Gu Jian caught on at once and gave Xiao Yu a knowing smile. He had tried to be subtle, but Ye Shihan understood perfectly. She waved her hand quickly. “It’s all right. If you have something to do, go ahead.”

After saying this, she patted the back of Xiao Yu’s hand and returned to the room. When she really did leave, Gu Jian and Lu Yinning both gave Xiao Yu a thumbs-up.

“All right, what did you come to see me about?” Xiao Yu asked with a helpless shake of his head and a wry smile.

“It’s this guy’s fault. He said that since we’d finally made it to the mortal world, he wanted to go out as soon as he woke up. He kept pestering me, and I couldn’t talk him out of it, so I had to come find you,” Lu Yinning said with a shrug.

Gu Jian, standing beside him, gazed at Xiao Yu with eager anticipation.

Hearing Lu Yinning’s explanation and seeing Gu Jian’s expression, Xiao Yu understood. So this was what Gu Jian meant by “training”—a sightseeing trip around the mortal world. Xiao Yu had assumed they had something serious to discuss. They only wanted him to take them out for a bit.

Of course he wasn’t going to refuse such a small favor. The two of them had come with him, and because of him, they had fought the Hall of Enforcers and lost some of their strength. As their host, it was only right that he show them some hospitality.

After informing Ye Shihan, Xiao Yu first went to fetch Xuanyuan Jian. Gu Jian and Lu Yinning pestered the martial-arts fanatic until he finally stopped training and agreed to join them in seeing what the mortal world had to offer.

It was already around eight in the evening when the four of them set out, so Xiao Yu couldn’t take them to any of Yanjing’s historic landmarks. After discussing it among themselves, Gu Jian and Lu Yinning settled on a bar on one of the city’s busiest streets. Xuanyuan Jian objected, but the majority ruled, and he had no choice but to go along.

Xiao Yu drove them there, and soon the four of them arrived at a bar called Rap. Yanjing truly lived up to its reputation as the imperial capital. The streets were packed with people everywhere they went, and the three men, who had spent their lives in the ancient martial world, could not help feeling stirred by the sight.

“Look! There’s a beautiful woman over there!”

After getting out of the car, Gu Jian kept commenting on the passersby and pointing them out. The others acted as if they didn’t know him; once they had parked, they simply walked off. Gu Jian hurried after them.

“Welcome! Do you have a reservation?”

As the four of them reached the entrance, a group of hostesses in qipao, their legs exposed, bowed deeply to greet them.

“No. Just find us a table. There are four of us,” Xiao Yu said with a smile.

“Certainly. Please follow me.”

One of the hostesses led the four of them into the bar.

“Wait—where’s Gu Jian?”

Halfway inside, they realized Gu Jian was missing. Xiao Yu looked around in confusion. The sight that met his eyes made his expression darken.

Gu Jian was leaning against the entrance in what he clearly thought was a very handsome pose. Whatever he had said to the hostess in front of him had made the beautiful woman cover her mouth and laugh.

“Is this what he’s really like?” Xiao Yu asked, turning to Lu Yinning.

Lu Yinning hurriedly shook his head, then turned away as if to say he had no idea who this embarrassment was. Xuanyuan Jian was more direct: he walked over, grabbed Gu Jian by the collar, and dragged him back.

“Come on, Brother Gu. You’re a celebrated genius in the ancient martial world. How have you suddenly made me feel like you’ve never seen the world before?”

Xiao Yu covered his face with his right hand, utterly helpless.

“What do you know? These beauties are so much prettier than the junior sisters at our sect. I just couldn’t help myself. Sorry, sorry!” Gu Jian said with a grin.

The other three shook their heads in disbelief, then turned and followed the hostess into the bar.