Chapter 273 A Dragon Among Men (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Father……
Chen Xuanji...
Chen Yi hadn't heard this title in a long time.
The last time it was mentioned was in a letter written by Cui Yu, the eldest wife of the Chen family.
Unexpectedly, Chen Xuanji's reply to Chen Yunfan also included one from him.
Chen Yi was silent for a moment, then took the letter. "Father Chen... has he returned from the Western Regions?"
Chen Yunfan nodded, then shook his head and said, "The reply said they are coming back."
"However, he has not yet set off, and we do not know when he will be able to return to Kyoto Prefecture."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement and opened the letter in his hand to read it.
It consisted of two pages, filled to the brim with writing.
[To my son Yi, this is a private message.]
[I have heard about your marriage into the Xiao family, and I feel a little regretful. I regret that I entrusted all the affairs of the family to your mother, which led to her making this mistake...]
Upon seeing this, Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly.
What is this, hindsight?
If the dignified head of the Chen family in Jiangnan Prefecture were truly so inclined, how could he not have made proper arrangements before leaving?
However, a man born into this world should stand tall and upright.
[As your father, I believe that even if my son were to live in the Xiao family, he would never forget the patriotic heart he harbored in his youth.]
[Therefore, I will write to His Majesty to plead for your participation in the next imperial examination, or to arrange a job for you.]
[How about the Shu Prefecture Military Command or the Prefectural Government? Consider it my son fulfilling my wish as his father...]
Upon reaching the end, Chen Yi couldn't help but reveal a strange expression.
Imperial examinations, official appointments...
In my memory, Chen Xuanji was never a loving father.
Most of the time, he is serious, calm, composed, and has a powerful presence.
So Chen Yi read the letter again, then looked up at Chen Yunfan with suspicion:
"Brother, are you sure this was written by Father?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yunfan looked at him seriously and said, "Yi-di, you must not be disrespectful to your father."
Chen Yi didn't explain, but handed him the letter: "Read it yourself."
Chen Yunfan paused for a moment, muttering something like, "You made me see this, and my father will blame me," before quickly finishing reading the letter.
The expression on his face suddenly became incredibly interesting.
"This...this was written by Father?"
"When did he become so kind and approachable?"
"Wait a minute, shouldn't he have been sternly admonishing us to stay in the Xiao family and not disgrace the family name?"
Seeing that Chen Yunfan said the same thing, Chen Yi confirmed his thoughts.
Based on my memory of Chen Xuanji, even if he felt guilty about marrying into the Xiao family, he couldn't possibly be this gentle and kind.
So something must have happened that caused Chen Xuanji's attitude towards him to change.
At this moment, Chen Yunfan seemed to have suffered some kind of blow, and took out another letter and handed it over.
“Look at what my father wrote to me, he was simply, simply…”
Chen Yi did not refuse, took the letter, and read it carefully.
[To my son Yunfan, this is a private message.]
[Upon hearing that my son has achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination, I, as his father, am deeply grateful to His Majesty for allowing such an unlearned and incompetent son to be chosen...]
[As your father, I hope you will remember three things: First, you must take responsibility for your family, country, and people, and never treat it lightly or recklessly...]
[I will be returning to the Great Wei soon. If I hear of you causing trouble in Shu Prefecture then, you will be punished according to family rules!]
After reading it, Chen Yi smiled and said, "Father, it's only right that he places high hopes on my elder brother."
Chen Yunfan looked at him with a resentful expression: "Tell me, doesn't he value you more?"
“If you hadn’t come to Shu Prefecture, he probably would have found you a job in the capital city when he returned.”
Chen Yi waved his hand: "It's enough that my brother is working hard for the people. I just want to be a leisurely person."
"Yi-di, you really are..."
Chen Yunfan almost couldn't help but expose him, but considering his current cultivation level and skill level, he had to hold back for the time being.
"In any case, now that Father has spoken, you should think about the next steps."
"I don't want to, I don't want to listen, I don't want to do it."
Chen Yi answered very decisively.
He is now a son-in-law of the Xiao family, meaning he is a "married-out husband".
Everything should be done with the Xiao family in mind.
Naturally, it was impossible for him to follow Chen Xuanji's arrangements—to participate in the imperial examinations or to work in some government office in Shuzhou.
After a moment of silence, Chen Yunfan patted him on the shoulder and said, "You're truly amazing."
"Even though my father has been gone for so many years, I still have a deep respect for him."
He wasn't just flattering Chen Yi.
Rather, it was Chen Xuanji's influence on him from childhood to adulthood.
Even though he was unrestrained and fearless in Shu Prefecture, he dared not act recklessly in front of Chen Xuanji.
They dared not disobey Chen Xuanji's decision.
Just like the three points mentioned in this letter, Chen Yunfan could recite them fluently after reading them only once.
no way.
The letter said "family discipline will be applied," meaning that if he dares to do anything out of line, he will indeed be subject to "family discipline."
Chen Yi, of course, was unaware of these things. He shook his head and said, "It's not that I lack respect for my father, but rather..."
He paused, then looked at Chen Yunfan and continued, "Instead, I will stay in Shuzhou for the rest of my life."
"If it's not necessary, I'm afraid I'll never see him again in this lifetime."
Chen Yunfan paused upon hearing this.
These words inevitably made him feel somewhat sad.
“I wrote to my father about this before, asking him if he knew in advance that you were going to marry into his family.”
"But he didn't say that in his reply to me."
Chen Yi smiled and said, "Thank you, brother."
"However, in my father's reply to me, he made it clear that he learned about this afterward."
The letter was beautifully written, expressing remorse and such, but it made no mention of punishing Madam Chen.
They're all just excuses.
However, for Chen Xuanji, who is usually stern and unsmiling, to say some "soft words" is a way for him to give the original owner an explanation.
Chen Yunfan nodded and sighed, "I hope Father won't regret it later."
I reckon... yes.
If Chen Xuanji knew Chen Yi's current martial arts cultivation, skill level, and achievements in other areas, he would surely regret it.
Even worse, he might take his anger out on Cui Yu.
This is also why Chen Yunfan did not explicitly mention Chen Yicheng's achievements in his last letter.
Chen Yi smiled, put the letter away, and then changed the subject.
Most of them are about the current situation of the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office.
Chen Yunfan also composed himself and began to ramble on about his recent situation and the affairs of the Provincial Administration Commission.
Especially the recent fluctuations in grain prices in Shuzhou.
"Damn it, I wrote to Liu Hong five days ago, asking him to order the price of grain to be stabilized, but he has been holding back and refusing to agree."
"Even Lord Yang couldn't do anything about it."
"Having no other choice, I had to come here myself and give those bastards in the grain store a good talking to."
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Does it work?"
Chen Yunfan snorted and said sullenly, "They didn't agree."
"What? They don't know who you are? They're so disregardful of the Chen family's reputation in Jiangnan Prefecture?"
"It's beyond our reach. Jiangnan Prefecture is Jiangnan Prefecture, and Shuzhou is Shuzhou. After all, Liu Hong is in charge here."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded, comforting him, "Since you know all this, then let's put it off for now."
"Perhaps things will take a turn for the better in a few days."
Chen Yunfan hummed in agreement, and was about to continue speaking when he suddenly seemed to remember something and asked pointedly:
"Has Brother Yi been busy with the academy and the medical school lately?"
"Brother, have you heard?"
"Yes, I've been helping Miss Xiao with the preparations for the Medical Academy these past few days."
"Yeah?"
"Have you heard about Asutai, the son of Muhag, the Left King of the Barbarians, appearing in Shu Prefecture?"
Meeting Chen Yunfan's gaze, Chen Yi nodded slightly, "I just heard about it this morning."
"Brother must be very troubled, right?"
"That's true, but I don't know if it's true or not."
Seeing that there was nothing unusual on his face, Chen Yunfan turned his head to look at Bai Daxian and Ling'er, who were playing around.
He knew that Chen Yi had killed Lü Jiunan.
That's why he subtly inquired about "Asutai".
His intuition told him that the matter might also be related to Chen Yi.
"Ah, Yi-di is becoming more and more profound."
“What you have done is truly beyond my understanding as your elder brother.”
Fortunately, Chen Yunfan believed that Chen Yi would not speak without reason, and that he must have his reasons for doing so.
Perhaps...it has something to do with the Xiao family?
It should be.
Let's chat for a while.
Bai Daxian had already sent Ling'er away. Although the smile on his handsome face remained unchanged, his mood was clearly affected.
Even the previously practiced shouts stopped.
"No wonder the Five Poisons Sect has been incompetent for so many years. How could such a successor possibly compete with the righteous sects?"
Bai Daxian glanced slightly displeased in the direction of Xinglinzhai, then listlessly put away the banner.
Just as I was about to leave, I heard a familiar voice from the side.
"Master?"
A young man dressed in black brocade robes was looking at Bai Daxian with suspicion.
That's fine.
The key point is that, apart from their clothing, the newcomer's physique and appearance were exactly the same as Bai Daxian's at this moment.
Bai Daxian, of course, knew who the newcomer was. He turned his head to look at him and cursed, "Master what? Can't you see I'm wearing your face right now?"
The visitor was both amused and exasperated: "Master, you...you're not telling fortunes for someone again, are you?"
"So what if it is?"
"Shuzhou is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources. What's wrong with me, your teacher, guiding the people here?"
"But you, Shui Hetong... why didn't you stay at the Wind and Rain Pavilion? How did you manage to get here?"
Seeing that Bai Daxian was turning the tables on him, Shui Hetong clasped his hands and bowed repeatedly: "Master, this disciple has come to deliver a message to you."
"A letter? Whose letter?"
"A letter from Uncle Li."
"Li Wudang?"
Seeing that Shui Hetong nodded, Bai Daxian stretched out his hand, "Give it to me."
Upon receiving the letter, Bai Daxian impatiently waved his hand and said, "I've received the letter, now hurry back to Fengyu Tower."
"yes……"
But before Shui and Tong could go far, they heard Bai Daxian call out to them again.
"Never mind, never mind. I'm traveling, and I just happen to be short of someone to serve me tea and water."
Shui Hetong smiled and agreed, then followed beside him.
Ignoring him, Bai Daxian took out the letter and began reading it by himself.
After reading it, a smile appeared on his face. "Li Wudang, Li Wudang, even you have to ask me for help now."
Shui Hetong turned to look at him upon hearing this: "Uncle Li, are you begging me?"
"Hehe, your Uncle Li asked me to give some pointers to his disciple when I pass through Shu Prefecture."
"His disciple...Junior Sister Xiao?"
Shui Hetong understood, and said thoughtfully, "I remember that Junior Sister Xiao is now the General of the Dingyuan Army in Shu Prefecture, and she is already married?"
"You're asking me?"
"I wouldn't dare..."
"That is indeed the case. I happen to know where her husband is."
Shui He looked at him upon hearing this and saw that he was looking meaningfully in another direction.
Shui and Tong followed his gaze.
Not far away, two young men were standing under the doorway of a pharmacy with a sign that read "Jishi Pharmacy".
And those two were looking over there too.
"them?"
Bai Daxian nodded slightly and waved to Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan, saying, "They are all outstanding individuals."
Shui Hetong fell silent for a moment, and then a sharp edge gradually emerged from his body.
Like a long-forgotten sword, it shines brilliantly the moment it is drawn from its sheath.
His demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation—he became arrogant and domineering.
"To gain Master's approval, they must have extraordinary abilities, especially since one of them is Junior Sister Xiao's husband."
"So, Master, may I go and make some acquaintances with them?"
Master Bai shook his head and said with a smile, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Let's go."
Upon hearing this, Shui Hetong nodded, and his aura quietly dissipated.
"Master, where are we going now?"
"Wumeng Mountain..."
The two chatted and laughed, then vanished into the crowd in an instant, as if they had never been there.
And what's even stranger is—
No one around seemed to notice.
Even though Shui Hetong and Bai Daxian looked exactly alike, no one stopped to watch.
Besides Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan...
The two stared at the spot where Bai Daxian and Shui Hetong had disappeared, their expressions shifting slightly.
A long silence followed.
Chen Yunfan let out a soft breath and asked, "Brother Yi, do you know their identities?"
Chen Yi wanted to say he didn't know, but after witnessing Bai Daxian's extraordinary abilities, he could only nod.
"The mountain tribes brought news that the Great Immortal Bai has returned to the martial world and will soon arrive in Shu Prefecture."
"If I'm not mistaken, the young Taoist priest who offered to tell my fortune was none other than Master Bai."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yunfan looked stunned. "You mean... Master Bai? Gongye Bai??"
"Damn it, thank goodness you stopped me just now."
"Otherwise, if he opens his mouth, I won't even know how I died."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement and said with a smile, "It was just a guess, I didn't expect it to really be him."
Chen Yunfan grinned, still shaken, "Your guess..."
The conversation stopped.
He then let out a long breath, forcibly suppressing the pounding in his heart, and forced a smile, saying:
"It seems that it is not suitable for me to go out today. I will return to my residence and stay indoors."
Chen Yi glanced at him, a half-smile on his face, and asked, "Brother, are you afraid?"
Chen Yunfan snorted, "Scared."
If it were anyone else, he could at least put on a brave face.
But Master Bai...
Putting aside the rumors surrounding him, his cultivation level and skill are not something he can ignore.
"Brother Yi, who came after him?"
"have no idea."
"You don't know either?"
Chen Yi spread his hands and said, "I reckon they're some kind of disciple or servant of Bai Daxian."
"Disciple...does Shui He Tong?"
Chen Yunfan muttered to himself, "No wonder he had such an imposing aura," and shook his head, saying:
"The affairs of the martial world are too far removed from us, so it's best to ignore them."
“Brother is right, but…”
Chen Yi paused, then feigned curiosity and asked, "What were those two talking about just now?"
Why is there no sound coming from here?
Chen Yunfan rolled his eyes inwardly; Yi Di was asking a question he already knew the answer to.
“People like Master Bai, if they don’t want others to hear what they say, then no one will be able to hear it.”
"I see..."
Chen Yi looked towards the East Market and nodded slightly: "Truly a divine figure."
The words had barely left his mouth.
A flash of golden light appeared before my eyes.
[Witness Bai Daxian's divination at the East Market of Shu Prefecture. Reward: The Bengyue Fist Technique is upgraded to the Heavenly Rank, and the Fortune bonus is increased by 253.]
[Comment: The arrival of the person brought their voice and created a spectacle.]
Refuse Master Bai's guidance; sabotage Master Bai's guidance to Chen Yunfan...
Performance – less than satisfactory.
After reading it, Chen Yi's eyes took on a strange look.
Guidance?
Are you sure it's not "a loose tongue that brings disaster"?
(End of this chapter)
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