Chapter 176: Chapter 38 The Guan Family Patriarch has already decided
Time quickly approached the first day of the following month.
Initially, An Zhisu still had the mood to eat and drink and, during Ling Yunpo’s sword practice, would offer guidance on his swordsmanship. But as time drew closer, she seemed to grow increasingly agitated.
On the morning of the first day, Ling Yunpo changed into his long robe and left his room to call for Senior Sister An.
As a result, after knocking on the door for a long time, An Zhisu refused to come out, only making excuses such as “I’m not feeling well today” and “Let’s not go.”
Ling Yunpo flew into a rage, “A cultivator, telling me ‘I’m not feeling well today’—do you take me for a fool?!”
He pinched the Sword technique, and the Thunder Punishment Sword flew out of the Sword Box, directly smashing the door, and then he strode in.
Not long after, An Zhisu, who was already dressed, was forcibly dragged out of her room by Ling Yunpo.
Overall, with Senior Sister’s looks and temperament, she didn’t need any makeup at all.
She just needed her hair done well and to choose a good hairpin and dress.
Before travelling here, Ling Yunpo had been a typical man with no sense for such things, but Luo Yan had spent enough time at the Heavenly Craft Workshop with Miss Shi (whose clothes managed to vary every day for a whole year), and had thus gleaned some experience in this area.
Using an oxhorn comb, he meticulously combed Senior Sister’s long hair, simply tying it into an elegant chignon at the back of her head, then inserting a jade hairpin.
He chose a goose yellow long dress for her attire. Although the dress was connected, it had a tighter fit from the cuffs to the shoulders, facilitating the movement of the arms for casting spells.
The hem of the dress was quite loose, but considering Senior Sister was wearing knickers inside, there was no worry of decency issues.
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As for boots, people in this world were not very fanciful about them, so Ling Yunpo chose a pair of cloud-patterned shoes interwoven with silver threads for Senior Sister An.
Only after completely dressing her in front of the copper mirror did he notice that Senior Sister An’s face and neck had turned red-hot.
Ling Yunpo chuckled inwardly, pretending to be oblivious, and pulled the Senior Sister out the door.
After leaving the Daoist temple on Qingluo Peak, An Zhisu had also calmed down.
Truthfully, all the junior brother did was help her dress up, which couldn’t count as any inappropriate intimacy.
Although the ancients used “the joy of painting one’s eyebrows” to illustrate the affection between a married couple or Daoist companions, the junior brother didn’t paint eyebrows, did he! What’s wrong with combing one’s hair or choosing an outfit?
After convincing herself of this, An Zhisu called out her Harsh Cold Sword, and together with Ling Yunpo, they flew away on their swords.
The two headed north across the Qin mountains, reaching Tianshui County, where they descended from the Sword Light outside the city.
The way of the Clarify Cult differed from the Intercepting Cult, typically valuing subtlety and restraint. If they flew into the city ostentatiously, it wouldn’t matter if the common people gathered to gawk, but being looked down on by fellow cultivators and laughed at behind their backs would be a far greater problem.
After asking passersby nearby, they learned that the Longxi Guan Family did not reside in the city of Tianshui County, but near Mount Guan to the east of the city.
The reason why the Guan Family was named “Guan” was because they had lived near Mount Guan for generations.
Thus, Ling Yunpo spent some money to hire a horse carriage, carrying Senior Sister An eastward.
After about half an hour, they finally arrived at the entrance of the Guan Clan’s estate.
The estate covered a vast area, with towering walls, and further up along Mount Guan, it was filled with layers of buildings that truly epitomized “built along the mountainside.”
There were many servants at the gate who, upon meeting them, first respectfully checked the invitations and, after confirming the identities of Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu, immediately welcomed the two inside and arranged for them to stay in a guest room.
The guest room was extremely luxurious, with six rooms and two halls, including a bathroom with a spacious hot water pool built of stones—a far cry more comfortable than soaking in a bathtub.
Although Ling Yunpo had completed the Marrow Cleansing and no longer produced dirt or dead skin, he too thought of Xu Yinglian’s “a good wash is more healthy.”
An Zhisu, however, showed little interest. She went around each room once and eventually returned to the living room, sitting down to rest and meditate in an armchair.
After getting used to the bathing pool, Ling Yunpo changed into his clothes and got up again, joining an already-waiting An Zhisu to go out for a walk.
Cultivators naturally have long lifespans, and sometimes, relentless cultivation is not necessarily appropriate. Experiencing the diverse states of existence in the mortal world is also a rare form of practice.
Added to that, Ling Yunpo had first entered the Demon Locking Tower and then gone to the Treasure Ship Secret Realm rather promptly, with not much time in between. He was quite fatigued—this was the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind thoroughly.
As the two walked side by side, there was no need to hold hands, yet they seemed to be in perfect harmony, their pace and speed matched just right.
In the courtyard of the Guan Clan’s villa, with its small bridges over flowing water and clusters of bright flowers, all the delicate sights delighted Ling Yunpo, and An Zhisu was exceptionally at ease as well.
Just as they were leisurely appreciating the scenery, suddenly a voice sounded ahead:
“Senior Sister An, you’ve really come. I knew it was right to ask Junior Brother Ling to deliver the invitation.”
An Zhisu’s originally relaxed expression immediately turned cold.
Guan Shanyue, who emerged from behind the archway, seemed completely oblivious to the change and continued to smile as she said:
“Junior Brother Ling, are you settling in well here? Have you tried the stone-built bath?”
Ling Yunpo didn’t pick up on her cue, but responded with a straight face:
“I am deeply grateful for your hospitality.”
“Not at all,” Guan Shanyue covered her mouth and laughed, “How about Senior Sister An?”
An Zhisu looked at her for a long while before suddenly asking:
“What is your intention in inviting me?”
“Intention?” Guan Shanyue blinked and said, “The elder wishes to invite the newcomers of swordsmanship. As the top person under the Shushan Golden Core, isn’t it normal for Senior Sister An to receive an invitation?”
“Whether it’s under the Golden Core or the newcomers of swordsmanship, since when is it up to the Guan Family to decide?” An Zhisu asked coldly.
“Are you questioning my judgment, or do you think you don’t deserve it?” Guan Shanyue narrowed her eyes.
“You know I always decline such invitations.”
“But this time with Junior Brother Ling around, you will definitely accept.”
An Zhisu was slightly taken aback by this statement, then a murderous aura was released:
“I warn you, do not harbor intentions towards my junior brother…”
“Senior Sister An is joking.” Faced with the sharp killing intent, Guan Shanyue treated it as a gentle breeze and continued to smile, “Who meets the conditions of the invitation among other Foundation Establishment cultivators indeed is up to me to judge. However, both of your names were personally decided by the elder.”
Ling Yunpo raised his eyebrows, and he exchanged glances with An Zhisu.
“Chosen by the elder?” Seeing that his Senior Sister was also confused, Ling Yunpo asked in a deep voice, “Both my Senior Sister and I are but mediocre, how did we come into your family elder’s notice?”
“Shushan’s main competition, the Chief Disciple and the second seat, can also be considered mediocre?” Guan Shanyue was still smiling.
“Even if my Senior Sister and I are the Chief Disciple and the second seat, we haven’t yet formed a Golden Core, so how could we be of concern to an immortal?” Ling Yunpo said coldly, “Sister Guan, if you’re thinking of fobbing us off here, I’m afraid that won’t be appropriate.”
“Junior Brother Ling, don’t be hasty, I have no intention of fobbing you off,” Guan Shanyue dropped her jovial tone and spoke earnestly, “The reason the elder specifically wants to see you is nothing else but because you are Su Jian’s disciples.”
………
Even An Zhisu, who had been on guard, could not help but be moved at this point.
If Guan Shanyue had given any other reason, no matter how flowery her words, An Zhisu wouldn’t have believed a word.
But Guan Shanyue mentioned it was “because of Su Jian,” and this An Zhisu could not refute from the bottom of her heart.
Because their master… truly had extraordinary and rare talent in the realm of swordsmanship, highly treasured not only by the Long Eyebrow Immortal of Shushan but also renowned far and wide.
That the elder of the Guan Family knew their master was nothing out of the ordinary.