Chapter 80 080 The Wen Family
The next day, Song Chi secretly sent a message to Wen Xiujin behind her master's back, indicating that she would visit him in the afternoon. Although she pretended to ask if it was too much of a bother, Song Chi decided that she would go to his place regardless of whether Wen Xiujin replied or not.
Surprisingly, Wen Xiujin acted graciously this time, quickly getting a reply. Although the tone was cold, it indicated that he was willing to wait for the visitor at his Bilan Xiaozhu.
He really did write the four characters "恭候大驾" (respectfully awaiting your arrival), and I bet he was writing them with a sarcastic expression on his face.
This guy has a lot of prejudice against her.
Regardless of how coldly Wen Xiujin greets her, Song Chi is determined to visit the Wen family.
After receiving the reply, she went to bathe and change her clothes. She secretly called a servant boy to help her style her hair into a double bun, and put on the pink shirt that her senior brother had prepared for her. She also adorned her hair bun with a few small and exquisite peach blossom ornaments on both sides and a small gold butterfly hairpin.
Song Chi even tidied her makeup. Wen Yujiu liked women who were well-groomed, sweet, and loved pink.
Why don't you just fly to the sky!
No wonder he later fell in love with the female lead. Cui Xue Ruo did indeed love wearing pink and dark red shirts. Given her background, she was naturally always impeccably dressed and graceful, and she was indeed a stunningly beautiful woman. She perfectly fulfilled Wen Yu Jiu's beautiful fantasies, so it was only natural that he would fall in love and scheme to seduce Cui Xue Ruo into a state of infatuation.
Song Chi didn't want Wen Yujiu to like her; she wasn't the sweet type, which didn't meet his requirements in any way.
She just wanted to make a good impression on this person. After all, going to his Silver Bell Pavilion to steal Silver Bell Grass was one thing. Later, after entering the secret realm, she would have to track him down to find the Delicate Cloud Grass and plant Silver Bell Grass next to it in order to obtain the perfect version of the Jade Snow Evil-Suppressing Bell.
Look at this, every single one of these requires Wen Yujiu to give him some face. If you don't leave him a good impression, it will be almost impossible to track him down without a trace in the secret realm.
This was known from the previous secret realm where she tracked Hua Shalan; Hua Shalan almost immediately realized she was being followed. However, that person had a rather wicked sense of humor and was simply secretly watching her suffer setbacks in the evil formation, which is why she was able to keep track of her.
If it were Wen Yujiu, although his condition wasn't exceptionally severe—for example, he shared the same hobby as his junior uncle, enjoying being abused—that seemed to stem from his excessive study of wood elemental power. In short, his condition differed from Hua Shalan's purely hobby-based one. This person was incredibly confident, preferred to act alone in secret realms, and would likely find it very likely that he would resent being followed by his little tagalong.
Therefore, she absolutely had to do something to impress Wen Yujiu. Fortunately, he had a strong artistic talent, so perhaps she still had a chance to leave a good impression on him.
But first, she had to get to his Silver Bell Pavilion.
Before the mirror, Song Chi meticulously applied lip rouge and dusted her cheeks with fragrant powder. To appear sweeter, she even added a small peach blossom decoration between her eyebrows. She had to thank her senior brother for those complete sets of headdresses!
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, dressed in a flowing pink dress, she appeared quite charming and adorable. Song Chi could only say that as long as Wen Yujiu liked it, that was fine. Her own opinion was just so-so. After all, she had never worn such pink in either of her lives.
And in her heart, she once again thanked Mo Shubai; without his clothes and jewelry, she wouldn't have been able to put together a look that would make Wen Yujiu feel favorably toward her.
Then, just after noon, Song Chi leisurely went out. Today was an exceptionally lucky day; his master suddenly sensed something and sealed the courtyard for meditation.
Therefore, she no longer needed to sneak around like a thief when she went out. Just as she passed by the neighbor's courtyard, she saw Mo Shubai leaning against the second-floor window, holding a paper fan, gazing at the snow-covered sky, lost in thought.
He glanced at her as she passed by. Perhaps somewhat shocked by her current appearance in her flowing pink dress, his beautiful eyes widened slightly.
Song Chi quickly pressed his finger to his lips, glanced at his master's courtyard, and made a pleading gesture with his hands clasped.
Whatever you do, don't disturb your master!
At that time, Mo Shubai simply shook his head and smiled, then waved his hand, telling her to leave quickly.
Song Chi smiled at him, then rushed towards the entrance of the guild hall. To avoid being caught by her master, she first used her teleportation to run through two streets before hailing a carriage from the Glazed Palace and heading to the prestigious Wen family in the east of Ice and Snow Lake.
Venerable Xueqiao was in the courtyard; how could he not know all of this?
The reason there was no obstruction was simply because the Wen family lad was likely destined to meet this brat, as they had encountered each other several times in the secret realms. And this time, a protector like Shu Bai wouldn't be traveling with Song Chi, thus unable to safeguard the girl's safety.
Wen Xiujin's situation was different. This man was not a protector; he had his own destiny and opportunities.
Moreover, this child has exceptional comprehension in sword cultivation, and among the talented disciples of the same period, his sword cultivation is on par with Mo Feiyun's.
Therefore, if one were to happen to be in the same place as Song Chi in the secret realm, it might be able to protect this girl to some extent.
This morning, Venerable Xueqiao saw Song Chi secretly sending an invitation to the Wen family. He also noticed that the brat was no longer being difficult this time and knew to reply with an invitation.
He thought, "Fine, if the two are truly so in love, then it's fine for them to be together." He was now at the Ascension Realm, the only one of his kind on the entire continent. He could still keep that kid in check by forbidding him from taking Song Chi back to the Wen family to be humiliated.
The main reason was that Venerable Xueqiao valued Wen Xiujin's courage at such a young age—daring to travel thousands of miles alone to the Jade Ruins Holy Sect to become a disciple. He seemed to be someone who wasn't used to being restrained. It was estimated that after the young couple got married, they probably wouldn't return to the rule-bound Wen family to be constrained.
As for Shu Bai, after Song Chi left, there was a long silence in the neighboring courtyard, followed by a soft sigh.
That somewhat lonely voice made Venerable Xueqiao feel a pang of sadness in his heart.
When he saw those headdresses and clothes, he knew that Shu Bai was probably really tempted.
Unfortunately, all that flirting was in vain; that brat actually thought her senior brother was a rich man who would casually give away money to her and her fellow disciples. Even though You Qin had gone to such lengths to bring them together, she seemed to lack the insight to see through it all.
However, when Venerable Xueqiao thought of Shubai's always calm and elegant face, he wanted to curse in his heart, "Serves him right!" Even he only realized that the child had truly fallen in love when he saw those headdresses and clothes.
But that brat is clearly dim-witted... how could she possibly discern anything from such trivial details?
Besides, that girl probably really has feelings for Wen Xiujin. Otherwise, she wouldn't have sent over ten letters and gotten angry when she didn't receive a response.
That's enough.
Ultimately, Shu Bai and that girl were not meant to be; it was fate, and there was no way to change it. Fortunately, Shu Bai's feelings weren't too deep at the moment, and he should be able to move on soon.
Despite these thoughts, Venerable Xueqiao believed in his heart that it was most suitable for Shubai to be with that girl. Alas, fate did not favor the two of them.
It took Song Chi almost half an hour to reach the Wen family's door.
Unlike the secluded elegance of the Cui family in the sacred Yunji, whose houses presented a simple and beautiful scene reminiscent of a peach blossom garden from the outside, the Cui family's magnificent architectural complex stood imposingly and profoundly amidst the dense pine-covered forest. The solemn scene of the rows of black houses made Song Chi understand Wen Xiujin perfectly at a glance.
If she had been born into that kind of family, she would definitely have chosen to run away from home too. She would have found a place as far away from home as possible to become an apprentice!
She felt suffocated just looking at this house.
However, the Wen family was not as solemn and aloof as she had imagined, and was surprisingly gossipy.
As soon as she stepped into the door, before she could even hand over her invitation, a plump middle-aged man who looked like a manager greeted her with a smile.
"So Miss Song has arrived! Please come in, please come in!"
“Our Fifth Young Master has been waiting for Miss Song at Bilan Cottage for quite some time.”
That was fine, but when Song Chi followed Steward Sun through the door, he clearly saw the gatekeepers already holding up jade mirrors and secretly taking pictures, whispering among themselves about how they might be able to sell them for a good price.
Song Chi felt they were overthinking things. No matter how sensational her scandals were, they couldn't possibly have reached this northern icy plain.
Throughout their journey, none of the music emanating from Qiongyu City had been pieces she had played. This suggests that she likely has little reputation here.
In the towns and cities where they had settled before, the tune of Hehuan, the song of Fuguang, and the tender melody she played in Cui Luoying's peach garden were still widely circulated.
Therefore, she simply smiled and let them take pictures. She then followed Butler Sun to the West Garden.
Wen Xiujin's Bilan Xiaozhu (Azure Orchid Cottage) is a courtyard built on a hilltop west of the Wen family's residence. Looking down from over two hilltops, one can see an exquisite little courtyard nestled on a fragrant hillside. Inside, clusters of vibrant light blue and pale white flowers bloom, suggesting that orchids are planted everywhere. Presumably, orchids are Wen Xiujin's favorite.
She landed at the foot of the mountain, stepping on the path paved with tiny wildflowers along the stone edges, and leisurely made her way up the mountain.
Halfway there, Wen Xiujin came down to greet them. He was dressed in a magnificent black brocade robe, with a gold crown and jade belt, which made him look very calm and noble, much more dignified than when he was at the Jade Ruins Holy Sect.
It was rare that he actually came to greet her; Song Chi figured Wen Xiujin had probably let go of his prejudice against her. After all, twenty years had passed; that little thing should have been forgotten by now.
Therefore, she couldn't help but look up at Wen Xiujin and flash a big smile.
The result was good. The guy's clear, bright eyes only glanced at her silently, without saying a word, but it felt like he had already silently cursed her. Then the guy gestured for her to proceed and turned his back to her.
This guy is still angry. He's not kind or magnanimous enough; be careful, or he'll fail in his swordsmanship!
Wen Xiujin seemed somewhat surprised by her flowing pink dress. He was probably still in a bad mood, so after glaring at her and silently cursing, he noticed her attire and then slightly opened his eyes to examine her.
As they escorted her to the warm pavilion, they secretly glanced at her a couple of times. Their eyes lingered on her clothes and jewelry, with a particular focus on her makeup.
But in the end, he didn't say anything.
The two soon arrived at the warm pavilion where they could see the courtyard full of orchids. After tea was served, Wen Xiujin became less aloof, resting his chin on his hand and giving her a cold stare.
His tone was cold from the moment he opened his mouth. "What do you want from me?"
Do you think this is the kind of question that friends should ask each other?
And that guarded look in his eyes—he definitely didn't think anything good about her.
Although she was indeed using him this time... if they were friends, what's a little bit of exploitation? This kid is so petty. Song Chi didn't care anyway; she was determined to get some Wen Xiujin this time.
"Hmph! You're so arrogant. I wrote you over ten letters, and you haven't replied to a single one!" Song Chi planned to use this incident to bluff and establish his moral high ground.
But it would have been better if he hadn't said it. As soon as he did, Wen Xiujin's face immediately darkened.
His gaze was almost piercing, like an ice sword. But whether out of a sense of being too lazy to argue with her or for some other reason, he turned his face away, took a deep breath, and then let out a cold snort.
"Who wants to be your best friend for life!" This shout was delivered with extreme grit, the hatred clearly evident.
Song Chi: "..." This guy won't even be friends with her. He really has a lot of prejudice against her. To be honest, he's a little bit petty.
But she didn't intend to stoop to his level.
She immediately changed the subject, praising the various orchids in the yard, and then asked Wen Xiujin if he liked orchids.
At that moment, Wen Xiujin looked at the courtyard full of flowers and gave a cryptic laugh.
"Because if you are born into our family, you must like orchids."
He said it so casually, but it sounded incredibly sarcastic.
Song Chi knew this. The Wen family used orchids as their clan emblem; in fact, the eight great families all used plum blossoms, orchids, lotuses, and chrysanthemums as their clan emblems, only differing in color and variety. However, it was clear that Wen Xiujin's impression of orchids was rather so-so; he didn't find them particularly serene or beautiful.
Song Chi immediately changed the subject, feigning admiration. "Your house is quite large! It's said that your garden is like springtime in this northern ice plain, with flowers in full bloom and herbs everywhere, like a celestial paradise!" She steered the conversation towards the garden.
Wen Xiujin immediately glanced at him sideways. "So, you want to go for a stroll in the garden."
Song Chi felt that that single, clear glance had completely seen through her. This kid is really shameless!
But since the message had already been delivered, how could she refuse? She covered her mouth with her fist and coughed silently before lowering it and looking at Wen Xiujin.
"I'm really curious about what the gardens of large families like yours look like!"
Wen Xiujin glanced at her sideways, with the same look that saw right through her, then stood up and walked away, gesturing for her to follow.
The two then strolled around. It must be said that the Wen family's Warm Spring Formation was truly remarkable. In this world of ice and snow, their garden remained lush and green, filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs. The plants were vibrant and abundant, and the houses were exquisitely carved and painted, making them comparable to the Cui family of the Yunji Holy Land.
But Wen Xiujin only took her for a stroll around the West Garden, while Wen Yujiu's courtyard was in the East Garden...
But now, she was being stared at by Wen Xiujin's dark, bright eyes repeatedly, so to be honest, she didn't dare to reveal her purpose for going to the East Garden.
I have a feeling that if Wen Xiujin knew he was being used again, he would definitely kill her with a knife!
His eyes clearly conveyed this meaning.
Song Chi was thinking of going all in and decided to pull out her pipa and play a tune. Wen Yujiu was in the mansion today; she had already investigated the matter before leaving.
He seems to be a lover of art, so it's impossible for him not to be attracted to the new song.
It would be much easier if Wen Yujiu showed up.
However, just as she was about to subtly activate the pipa in her storage ring, she saw a clump of strange, azure fairy grass growing in a row by the pond. The flowers of the fairy grass resembled two small, delicate bells, silvery-white, and extremely beautiful and lovely.
Could this be silver bell grass? Song Chi had previously borrowed the Ancient Collection of Phlox subspinipes from his master and searched through it thoroughly, but ultimately couldn't find any relevant information.
"What kind of grass is this? It's so cute!" she immediately leaned closer and asked.
Wen Xiujin curled his lip. "Just some ordinary herb!" It was clear that he didn't think much of this "immortal herb."
But a sweet, charming voice came from across the lake. "Those are silver bells, but the ones over here don't have that ethereal quality. The ones over there, Third Cousin, are much prettier. They're in full bloom right now, and you can even hear their tinkling, fairy-like music when the wind blows."
A woman in a light blue dress flew over from the opposite side; it was Shi Yuan'er.
"So it's Senior Sister Yuan'er!"
"Junior Sister Song."
Shi Yuan'er came over, and the two greeted each other. Shi Yuan'er glanced at her, then at Wen Xiujin, and then, for some reason, pursed her lips tightly. She looked like she was enjoying watching a gossip unfold.
That was bad enough, but she leaned closer and whispered, "So after all that picking and choosing, you finally chose the fifth one. You have good taste. Although the fifth one is a bit awkward, his temperament is actually top-notch. He must be a devoted lover who will be devoted to you for the rest of his life."
If she had been able to read his thoughts, that would have been one thing, but she spoke in such a low voice, as if whispering something.
But what difference does it make from saying it out loud when you're at the Nascent Soul stage? Song Chi felt that Wen Xiujin was about to explode. This kid really didn't have that kind of relationship with her; it was just a comradeship that developed while harvesting spiritual fruits together.
Sure enough, as soon as she turned her head, she saw Wen Xiujin's face turn bright red as if it were about to explode, and then his eyes and murderous aura rushed over at the same time.
Shi Yuan'er wasn't afraid of him at all. She giggled and pulled Song Chi along as they flew eastward.
"I'll take you to see the real Silver Bell Fairy Herb!"
Song Chi: "!!" She made up her mind never to say that Shi Yuan'er was love-struck again. This was not love-struck at all, she was a living Bodhisattva.
Look how well this was done, without leaving a trace. She's about to arrive at Wen Yujiu's Silver Bell Pavilion without any apparent trouble!
The Wen family's East Garden requires crossing several mountains to reach.
However, the two Nascent Soul cultivators landed outside the Silver Bell Pavilion in the blink of an eye.
Even though her cousin Shi Yuan'er wanted to enter the Silver Bell Pavilion, she still had to show her token. Shi Yuan'er quietly explained this to her.
"My third cousin may look gentle and refined, but he actually has the most quirks. The female disciples of the Xuantian Sword Sect don't know this; they just think he's some kind of gentle nobleman, always wearing pink shirts and hanging around him. In reality, my third cousin is very selfish; he doesn't allow a single outsider into his courtyard."
At this point, he glanced at Song Chi.
"You're wearing all pink too? You wouldn't happen to like my third cousin too, would you?!"
Song Chi thought to herself, this was really just to please Wen Yujiu, but she absolutely couldn't admit it, since she didn't actually like Wen Yujiu.
"These are new clothes, I just wore them casually today. So, does Senior Brother Wen like women in pink?"
Shi Yuan'er glanced at Wen Xiujin, who had caught up, and covered her mouth with a smile before bumping Song Chi's shoulder.
"I know you're not after my third cousin because you're wearing a pink shirt. Let's go!"
Song Chi felt as if a cold, sharp arrow had pierced her heart from behind. Especially when that pink shirt appeared, Wen Xiujin's anger seemed to materialize into a murderous aura and rush over.
This kid, once bitten by a snake, is afraid of ropes for ten years; he has a very rich imagination.
Although Lenovo's assessment was at least half correct, she certainly had ulterior motives...
However, Wen Xiujin did not enter the Silver Bell Pavilion, only because the steward summoned him to meet a guest. At that time, Wen Xiujin asked a question.
"Third Brother went too?"
"The Third Young Master has already gone to the Immortal Orchid Pavilion to meet the distinguished guests."
Song Chi heard Wen Xiujin glance at her sideways, looking as if he saw right through her, then put his hands behind his back and followed the steward away.
"Oh dear, why are we having guests now!" Before Song Chi could react, Shi Yuan'er sounded deflated.
She was genuinely disappointed; it was clear she had deliberately planned to stage a scene of brothers fighting over a woman. It was likely that Wen Xiujin had wronged her in some way during their childhood, and she was intentionally putting on this act to provoke him.
When Song Chi glanced at her, Shi Yuan'er smiled and smoothed her temples.
"Let's go check out those silver bell plants. It's quiet now; we might even hear their tinkling, angelic music."
Okay. This is definitely important!
Although it seems unlikely I'll be able to curry favor with Wen Yujiu today, secretly digging up two silver bellflowers shouldn't be a problem. In short, the main task will definitely be completed! I won't think about anything else for now.
Song Chi was still extremely grateful to Shi Yuan'er. Then Shi Yuan'er used the token to break the seal, and the two entered the room. The scene that followed was now laid out before them.
Wen Yujiu's Silver Bell Pavilion is a rare example of a layout that is almost identical to that of later generations. All the flowerbeds in the garden are arranged in an orderly manner, and even the trees grow in neat rows. The pebbles used for paving the road seem to be similar in size and color.
There are no artificial hills or lush greenery in this courtyard. There are no artificial hills or winding paths leading to secluded spots.
As soon as you enter, you'll see flowers, trees, water, and houses.
Song Chi then made a conclusion in his heart: putting everything else aside, Wen Yujiu must be a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
But she actually quite liked this kind of courtyard. Speaking of which, she had indeed moved and planted the flowerbeds outside her Scarlet Rose Pavilion neatly, and every day, watching the flowers swaying in a row in the morning dew smoothed out any wrinkles in her heart. But Song Chi didn't admit to having obsessive-compulsive disorder; it was just a simple hobby.
"You've noticed, haven't you? Your yard is quite similar to your third cousin's," Shi Yuan'er said with a giggle.
Song Chi thought to herself that she hadn't actually had any contact with Shi Yuan'er before; at most, they would nod and greet each other when they met. How could she know the layout of her courtyard?
Seeing her puzzled look, Shi Yuan'er smiled silently.
"Everyone in the sect knows that the flowerbeds in your yard are all neatly arranged."
"Hey! Come to think of it, wouldn't you say you and your third cousin are destined to be together?"
Song Chi glared at her, thinking, "Don't say things like that. Do you know what kind of person your third cousin is? If you're destined to associate with someone like that, you'll probably get eaten alive..." While that might be a bit of an exaggeration, Wen Yujiu was capable of using underhanded tactics, though his methods might be a bit more subtle than a madman like Hua Shalan. After all, he was from a prestigious family and held the title of the young sect leader of the Xuantian Sword Sect, so he had to protect his reputation. But Song Chi had a feeling that this person was extremely possessive.
Besides, his destiny lies with Cui Xue Ruo! It has absolutely nothing to do with her.
Shi Yuan'er probably understood her expression, and laughed twice with her shoulders shaking, almost bending over with laughter.
"That's true. Third cousin is actually quite scary sometimes. If it were me, I would never dare to like someone like him."
Of course, you like warm and gentle men. The Azure Lotus Venerable is a truly gentle and warm man, just like a gentle breeze and a bright moon!
"Ring! Ring!"
At this moment, a faint sound came from somewhere, the sound of bells seemed to soothe the mind, very peaceful and distant.
"Ah! That's the celestial music of the silver bell grass. Let's go to the library."
Shi Yuan'er grabbed Song Chi's hand and leaped over. The library was located on the west side of the residence, beside a small lake with gentle ripples. Apart from a small path, there were clumps of bright blue silver bell grass around the lake, and a grove of lush and upright pine trees dotted the southwest side.
In this way, the library, the lake, the blue silver bell grass, the pine forest, and the cobblestone path all perfectly matched Song Chi's aesthetic.
However, some stones that resembled jade but weren't actually jade floated on the lake, scattered haphazardly for several miles. They looked like some kind of formation set up within them, but Song Chi's knowledge of formations was mediocre, so he naturally couldn't understand them.
Shi Yuan'er offered an explanation.
"This is a Three Lives Stone Array that my third cousin copied from an ancient book. It took him a lot of effort to get those stones. It's said that you can learn a kind of Linglong Sect technique! But it probably didn't work out. These past few days, my third cousin has been asking friends from all over to help him figure it out. I reckon today's distinguished guest is one of the friends my third cousin invited."
I see.
Yesterday, when Wen Yujiu and the others visited their master, they did mention the Three Lives Stone Formation when they left.
Song Chi glanced at the stones a few times, but couldn't figure out what they were, so he didn't look at them much longer. The problem now was where to find silver bell grass that was over twenty years old.
All the silver bellflowers spread out like a carpet looked almost identical to her! It was maddening.
Shi Yuan'er was truly her lucky star.
She listened carefully to the intermittent sound of silver bells as she pointed out various parts to her.
"Don't be fooled by how similar these grasses look; there are actually differences. Look, the ones closer to that pine forest are silver bell grasses that are over twenty years old, and their little bells are whiter."
"Silverbell grass is magical; it suddenly withers and dies every twenty years. The silver bells fall and become seeds, and a new batch of silverbell grass will grow the following year. However, the silver bells that bloom will turn silvery-white again."
She knows the silver bell plant like the back of her hand, so she probably really loves it.
Song Chi clasped his hands together in gratitude in his heart, and then, as Shi Yuan'er flew around to catch that faint bell sound in the sea of silver bell flowers.
She pretended to listen attentively, while reaching her wicked hands towards the flowerbed by the pine forest.
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed found that the silver bells on the surrounding silver bell plants were whiter, but still had a silvery sheen.
The golden scroll indicates that the silver bellflower must turn snow-white to be considered mature. Clearly, it lacked that final touch of magic here, and withered before it matured.
In short, the mission objective was right in front of her. So she was about to make her move.
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Author's Note: [doge][doge] First update~
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