Chapter 48 Just Friends
Ren Yi's speculation that Xiao Zhiyu knew Bai Jinliu's whereabouts was not unfounded. In the story, Xiao Zhiyu helped the chosen one and his true love develop their relationship several times, and had a very good relationship with Bai Jinliu.
While Ren Yi was still pondering the right way to ask, Xiao Zhiyu couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first, "Why are you looking at me?!"
Xiao Zhiyu's tone wasn't very good, but Ren Yi didn't mind. It's impossible for everyone to like him; on the contrary, his reputation in the Xiao family was basically negative.
If Xiao Zhiyu's attitude improves, Ren Yi will start to suspect that something is amiss.
Ren Yi pondered for a moment, then decided that he shouldn't be unaware of the other person's identity at this point, so he asked, "Are you a disciple of the Xiao family?"
Xiao Zhiyu responded stiffly, then Xuan Ji demanded in an extremely harsh tone, "What tricks are you planning to use now?!"
Ren Yi raised an eyebrow. "Again?"
Her stunningly beautiful face, coupled with her lively and expressive face, stunned Xiao Zhiyu for a moment. When he came to his senses, his expression grew even more grim. As if to prove something, Xiao Zhiyu forced himself to stare directly at Ren Yi, gritting his teeth, "If you hadn't used some tricks, why would the patriarch have sent the seriously injured Uncle Bai out of the Xiao family?"
Ren Yi thought to himself, "Just as I expected."
Xiao Zhiyu knew about Bai Jinliu's current situation.
Since Xiao Zhiyu could say these words now, Ren Yi was almost certain that the other party knew Bai Jinliu's current location.
However, it's impossible to ask directly. Given Xiao Zhiyu's current attitude, there's no way he'd take the initiative to tell him the answer.
In that short time, Xiao Zhiyu's expression had turned into a warning, "Let me tell you, being the mistress of the Xiao family isn't so easy! No matter what methods you used to get the family head to temporarily agree, the matter of becoming Daoist partners will absolutely not succeed! Just you wait!!"
Ren Yi didn't take this elementary school-level boasting to heart, and even had the leisure to laugh, "How do you expect me to wait?"
Those peach blossom eyes looked over with a half-smile, the owner of the gaze seemingly unconcerned about the previous targeting, a casual glance that was full of tender affection. Xiao Zhiyu's face still maintained the warning expression from before, but his neck and ears were flushed red, as if they were on fire.
Xiao Zhiyu!!!
He also realized what he looked like, and his face instantly turned as if a palette of colors had been overturned, swirling with every hue.
"you!"
He blurted out that word angrily, and when he met Ren Yi's gaze, it was as if he were being burned by fire, and he abruptly lowered his head.
After choking for a while, the boy finally managed to throw out only two words indignantly, "Shameless!!"
He turned and left without looking back, appearing rather disheveled as if he were fleeing in panic.
Is Ren planning to try and extract more information?
He pondered the last two words Xiao Zhiyu left behind, and considering how quickly the man left, he felt that the other party might have already seen through his intentions.
Ren Yi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that he was indeed the disciple of the chosen one of destiny and should not be underestimated.
Although Ren Yi felt that Xiao Zhiyu had probably seen through his purpose, Xiao Zhiyu was much easier to deal with than the Chosen One, so Ren Yi decided to start with him to find out Bai Jinliu's whereabouts.
However, Ren Yi's good plan ultimately failed, because Xiao Hanzhou seemed to have suddenly become free recently and devoted himself to wandering around Tianhuan City.
Ren Yi: "..."
There's no such thing as a third time. Ren Yi tried to refuse Xiao Hanzhou once or twice, but he couldn't completely disregard the dignity of the chosen one. If Xiao Hanzhou found out something was wrong, it would be a huge loss. In the end, he reluctantly agreed.
But Ren Yi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Aren't you busy lately?"
Rebuilding a cultivation family from scratch is no easy task. In Ren Yi's opinion, rebuilding the Xiao family is much more difficult than seeking revenge. Even Xiao Hanzhou was overwhelmed for a while. Although things are now barely on track, it's not yet time for the family head to go out and have fun.
Xiao Hanzhou replied casually, "It's nothing important."
He repeated to himself that nothing was more important than being with A-Yi right now.
He came back this time only for A-Yi, and he no longer cared about anything else.
Aside from the initial reorganization on the night he returned, Xiao Hanzhou didn't put much effort into the Xiao family this time. He understood that the Xiao family lacked a solid foundation, and its current state was entirely due to his efforts. After the Dao Initiation Ceremony, when he was gone, the Xiao family's decline was inevitable. Xiao Hanzhou did hope that Zhao Yu and Zhi Yu, the two brothers, could work together to revive the Xiao family, but those matters after his death were no longer his concern. Right now, he only wanted to spend these last moments with A Yi.
The date for the Dao-completion ceremony has been postponed again and again, and it has not been set yet. He always wants to spend more time with A-Yi.
These interactions, which seem unremarkable now, will become something he could never have dreamed of in the days to come.
He owes A-Yi so much that he has no right to ask for anything more.
But in the very end, he still wanted to leave something behind. At least in A-Yi's heart, he was no longer the repulsive figure he once was.
Ren Yi was unaware of Xiao Hanzhou's complex emotions. He was simply puzzled as to why Xiao Hanzhou had suddenly pulled him aside to reminisce about his youth. After all, Xiao Hanzhou had grown up in Tianhuan City, a place filled with many of his memories. Right now, he pointed to a teahouse and said to Ren Yi, "When I was young, I didn't like cultivating. I often sneaked out to wander around when no one was looking. The teahouse owner was kind-hearted. Seeing that I was young and worried that I would go to places I shouldn't, he would often give me a cup of tea and let me sit here for most of the day."
Xiao Hanzhou paused, then continued in a rather complex tone, "It was only after I reorganized the Xiao family that I discovered this teahouse was originally a Xiao family property..."
Ren Yi was somewhat surprised, as Xiao Hanzhou rarely talked about these past events with him. Even when they were mentioned unintentionally during conversations, Xiao Hanzhou would always fall silent quickly with a cryptic attitude, unlike his current nostalgic and tender demeanor.
Just as Xiao Hanzhou's words implied, it became clear why the teahouse owner kept him there. It wasn't out of kindness, but rather the silent doting of Xiao's parents on their beloved son. Parents always hope their children will become successful, yet they worry about pushing them too hard, thinking that their children's well-being is all they need.
Ren Yi understood this implication and couldn't help but feel a little sentimental. Being the chosen one and favored by Heaven sounded wonderful, but if given a choice, Xiao Hanzhou might be willing to give up everything and just want to be a carefree young master of the Xiao family in Tianhuan City. Even being a wastrel was fine.
However, there are many things in this world that are beyond one's control. Ren Yi has seen too many of them. Xiao Hanzhou was even one of the lucky ones. He had a lot of talent and family heritage. In the end, he was able to kill his enemy with his own hands. How many people watched their enemies live a carefree life while they were powerless to do anything about it?
Ren Yi sighed inwardly at all of this, but still went along with Xiao Hanzhou's persona and agreed with him for a few words. The two of them went inside and sat down in the teahouse.
As luck would have it, the storyteller in the teahouse was just getting to the climax of the story of "Sword Master Slaying the Demon Dragon." The Sword Master's deeds were so widely known that Ren Yi had heard them many times when he was disguised as a big cloak. The content of the storytelling varied slightly from place to place, but the only constant was the Sword Master's awesome image.
What does the matter of Sword Master's alternate account have to do with Ren Yi?
With this in mind, Ren Yi not only didn't feel embarrassed about his toes digging into the ground, but also listened to it with great interest every time.
—Rounded up, this can be considered a compliment.
Xiao Hanzhou didn't have Ren Yi's relaxed attitude. He froze the moment he heard the storyteller's words and couldn't help but scrutinize the person opposite him. He saw the young man opposite him smiling gently, as if all his sharp edges had been smoothed out.
Cultivators have excellent memories. Even if Xiao Hanzhou doesn't want to deliberately recall them now, the past events still gradually surface before his eyes. A Yi seems to really enjoy listening to these storytellers, especially the story of the Sword Master. While listening to those stories, he often laughs at some insignificant moment, and sometimes he shows a nostalgic expression.
—Does he like the story, or the people in the story?
If Ren Yi knew Xiao Hanzhou's thoughts, he would definitely cry foul.
There are only so many forms of entertainment in this small world. As a mere tool, he doesn't need to work as hard as a chosen one burdened with family feuds. What's wrong with listening to storytelling in his spare time? As for the so-called "never getting tired of listening," that's even more of a grievance. Is this something he wants to "never get tired of listening to"? Isn't it because the story of the Sword Master is already familiar to everyone, and those storytellers tell it over and over again? What else can he, who is forced to input it, do?
Xiao Hanzhou pursed his lips tightly, his face tense.
He thought that A-Yi should not know about the Sword Master at this time.
Or is it that even if one is unaware, one's soul is still drawn to it?
The latter thought made Xiao Hanzhou feel even more uncomfortable.
Xiao Hanzhou disliked gossiping behind people's backs, but this time he couldn't help but act like a villain. Not long after leaving the teahouse, he couldn't help but speak up, "The Great Dao is ruthless, but the Sword Master has the world in his heart. If it's for personal feelings... I'm afraid we'll have to betray him."
Ren Yi?
Upon hearing Xiao Hanzhou's sudden remark, he couldn't help but look up and scrutinize Xiao Hanzhou's expression, wondering uncertainly if it was a compliment.
But for some reason, it just sounds weird.
Ren Yi hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "That's not necessarily true."
Xiao Hanzhou "..."
He didn't reply, but his expression seemed to darken further.
Ren Yi didn't take this little incident to heart. However, the next day, Xiao Hanzhou brought him to the same teahouse again.
The storyteller on stage had a deep, resonant voice. He had just finished recounting the story of the Sword Master slaying the demonic dragon yesterday, so today's story was naturally different. However, the protagonist remained the same: Sword Master Qingran.
That being said, the style was quite different from the previous day. If the last story was a traditional leveling-up story, then this one was a harem-collecting story. Ren Yi had barely sat down for half a cup of tea when a third person had already fallen for the Sword Master at first sight.
Ren Yi?
How come he didn't know that alt accounts were so popular back then?
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