After Prajna finished speaking, Hong Yu offered him a cup of tea that Hua Wuxin had prepared, and then asked with a smile, "Thank you for being polite, senior. I just heard that you seem to know Hong Yu, so I came to bother you. I wonder what you would like to discuss with me?"
Prajna said, "Wuxin, drinking tea alone isn't the right place for a chat. How about you get us some snacks? I've heard the snacks at Qingliang Valley are amazing. I've finally had a chance to come here, and I really want to try some."
Hua Wuxin looked at the two of them and although he was a little confused, he still cooperated and left first. Hong Yu's origins were a bit mysterious, but judging by her surprised look just now, it seemed that she didn't know Prajna, or maybe he was just being too suspicious.
After the troublesome people left, Prajna poured some hot tea into the cup in front of Hong Yu and said, "Although we haven't met formally, I've heard Shi Zairong mention you, Miss Huijue."
In reality, like everyone else, Prajna had never met Huangfu Huijue, the rumored next female head of the Huangfu family. He recognized Hong Yu's identity instantly, not because he had a keen eye, but simply because, when Shi Zairong brought Hong Yu in, he was curious and briefly overheard their conversation.
Hong Yu couldn't hide her surprise. Just as Shi Zairong had said, she hadn't deliberately concealed her proficiency in Gu magic, so it wasn't surprising that she'd been able to infer she was from the Huangfu family. What was strange was that this elder, whom she'd never met before, had seen through her true identity at a glance. It was truly unbelievable. "...Senior, you're too polite. But, I don't think he's ever mentioned you before. And, it seems I've never met you before either."
Prajna said with a smile, "Whether it was mentioned or not is not important. What is important is that I heard that the Huangfu family never interferes in the affairs of the imperial court. Miss Huijue's actions are really puzzling."
Although the elder didn't seem to be coming for Hong Yu, since he asked this question, Hong Yu's attitude was very clear: "I'm here solely for my own personal reasons, which have nothing to do with the Huangfu family's position. Besides, in the eyes of everyone, I'm not Huangfu Huijue, but Hong Yu."
Seeing that Hong Yu seemed a little reluctant to talk to him, Prajna coughed twice and said, "Since Miss Hong Yu doesn't want to talk more, then I won't ask any more questions. I'm not the kind of person who likes to meddle in other people's affairs. Miss Hong Yu, please rest assured that I won't spread things that shouldn't be mentioned."
Seeing Hong Yu's face still sullen, Prajna added, "Besides, I'm only here to treat patients, so I'd also like to hear other people's opinions on Wang Ruo's symptoms. Especially those like you who are proficient in esoteric arts besides Qi Huang's."
Hong Yu's expression softened slightly before he said, "...Even if we can find the cause of the illness, I'm helpless right now."
Prajna couldn't help but look down at the teacup in her hand and sighed slightly: "I originally thought that after seeing the patient, I would go home with my old friends. Now it seems that Hua Wuxin will not let me leave."
Hong Yu said with a smile: "Looking at the immortal aura of the senior, I think even if he wants to stay, it will be easy for you to leave as long as you don't want to stay."
"You kid, why do you always spout such unspoken truths? You really don't know how to chat," Prajna said, originally jokingly to Hong Yu. He was, after all, an older man, and aside from practicing martial arts, he didn't interact much with young people. He had finally met someone who was both likable and talented, and he couldn't help but want to chat with them.
He remembered that when he was talking to others in the past, it seemed that many old friends liked to joke with him, so he said these innocuous words half-jokingly.
Who would have thought that after hearing this, Hong Yu actually put down the teacup in his hand with great concern, stood up, and after a slight bow to Prajna, he said, "It's rare for someone to talk to Hong Yu. I apologize for my words that offended you. If you think Hong Yu can't speak, then I won't bother you anymore."
Prajna said in surprise: "Are all the people in your Huangfu family as arrogant as you? The old man was just joking with you, don't take it seriously."
Hong Yu said it didn't matter whether she was joking or not; the key point was that she felt she had nothing in common with this elder. If the conversation continued, who could guarantee there wouldn't be disagreements? "If you feel you have nothing to say to me, then I'll take my leave."
After saying that, Hong Yu turned around and left. When Hua Wuxin returned with snacks, he happened to see her leaving. Thinking that he had guests, he didn't pay much attention. Only after entering the pavilion did he ask, intentionally or unintentionally, "Why did she leave? Don't you know each other? Why don't you catch up?"
Prajna said somewhat disappointedly, "Who told you we knew each other? Alas, I can't deny my age anymore. I'm not good at chatting with young people like you anymore."
Hua Wuxin smiled and comforted him, "It's normal. It's just a generation gap. Don't think too much about it. Young people nowadays are very different from us back then. If they say they don't want to go together, they won't want to talk anymore."
After hearing what Hua Wuxin said, Prajna calculated in her mind that Jiang Ling was not young anymore. If it weren't for all the misfortunes that happened, he would be either a father or a grandfather by now. "You are almost fifty years old, and half of your body is about to be buried in the ground. Have you ever thought about when to return to Bugui Peak?"
Although Bugui Peak would always be Jiang Ling's home, Jiang Ling had passed away decades ago. Now, there was no need to return and disrupt the peaceful life there. "Bugui Peak is under the watchful eyes of Wangjiu and the others, so I'm relieved. Besides, my nephew did a great job. Although he didn't do anything special, he at least lived on Bugui Peak with the Jiang family, following the ancestral teachings."
Back when Prajna was still roaming the martial arts world, it was truly a martial world. The chivalry of chivalrous men, the grudges and hatreds, were far more interesting than the present, where everything is inevitably entangled with the imperial court. "Alas, Bugui Peak, the Huangfu family, the Zhou family, and even the now-defunct Ouyang and Li families—each one of them was a powerful and influential family in its heyday, but now all they can do is lament the ruthless passage of time."
As Hua Wuxin sipped his tea and gazed at the mist-shrouded mountains in the distance, he couldn't help but ask, "Isn't it a bit selfish for the big families to stay in a corner and guard their own piece of pure land?"
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