Light rain, like a thin gauze, drifted over Lake Hongze.
On the terrace of the lakeside cabin, Yang Ge sat cross-legged before the tea table, casually boiling water and preparing tea, dressed in loose beige linen clothes and a pair of worn black cloth shoes. His attire complemented the roughly crafted round log tea table, the black iron teapot, and the yellow clay stove, exuding an elegantly simple and peaceful air of returning to the basics.
The amber-colored Dianhong Tea, as it flowed through the coarse porcelain teaware, released a light mist of steam carrying a faint scent of honey...
A sip of the scalding tea went down, and two satisfied sighs of "ah" sounded simultaneously.
Yang Ge set down his teacup, looked across at the flamboyant young man lounging on the rosewood concubine’s chair with eyes mixed with delight and helplessness, and said, "No sooner had Yang left than you showed up. Did you two plan this together?"
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The luxe material and fine craftsmanship of the rosewood concubine’s chair under that flamboyant young man, out of place in this rustic, locally sourced lakeside cabin, looked utterly mismatched.
Just like his pale blue satin robe with subtle patterns, standing out awkwardly in this humble cottage.
The flamboyant young man, resting his head on his hands and lazily swinging his feet, said, "Just bored…"
Yang Ge, "You’ve just mastered True Qi, is your state stable yet? Lianhuan Fort is fraught with danger, have you settled it yet? Li is deteriorating day by day, have you sought out a famous doctor yet?"
The young man turned his back on him, "Stop nagging, I’m leaving tomorrow. Isn’t that good enough?"
Yang Ge let out a long exhalation and laughed, "That’s more reasonable... You needn’t worry about me challenging Li Qing; I’m not that foolish!"
The flamboyant young man, "But what if you don’t seek him out, and he comes to seek you!"
Yang Ge pocketed his hands and calmly smiled, "I don’t think he will come."
The flamboyant young man, "That’s hard to say. There’s a saying, isn’t there: ’Everyone admires immortals for their powers, yet none can forget the lure of fame and fortune.’ Even if Li Qing seems unworldly, he still has to live like everyone else; as a living person, he has his mortal concerns!"
Yang Ge shook his head, "That’s not what I meant..."
The flamboyant young man turned back and looked at him, "Then what do you mean?"
Yang Ge smiled lightly, "I meant to say, I’m not confident I could beat him, and I suspect he thinks the same."
The young man gave him a thumbs up, "That’s why it’s you, Yang!"
Yang Ge lifted his arms tucked in his sleeves slightly, "There’s your cheeky grin!"
The young man turned back around, waggling his legs, "Speaking of which, I always felt there’s something off about this trend in the martial world, too sinister. You and Li Qing have never even met; how did it escalate to the point where you must fight?"
Yang Ge picked up his teacup and took a light sip, smiling, "As the successor of Lianhuan Fort, you’re being rather obtuse. The atmosphere has become so wicked it’s almost haunting, and you still think it’s just a bit off?"
The young man looked puzzled, "You know?"
Yang Ge, "Of course, I know."
The young man, "You’ve hardly set foot outside of Lake Hongze in four months, where did you get your information?"
Yang Ge pointed a slender index finger gently at his temple, "I use this thing to know."
The young man’s face fell, "Are you indirectly saying I’m brainless?"
Yang Ge spread his hands, "Look, I’m outright saying you’re brainless, and you still think I’m subtly insulting you. Are you sure you even have brains?"
The young man’s eyelid twitched, and after a moment’s deep thought, he desperately tried to salvage his dignity, "You mean... it’s those guys in the upstairs room stirring up trouble, creating storms?"
"This thing... It seems like it was they who started it."
Yang Ge gathered his hands again and spoke slowly, "But for such a rapid escalation, it definitely results from concerted efforts from many sides."
The young man furrowed his brow, utterly confused, "Are you talking about... White Lotus Sect? Ming Sect?"
"Not just them..."
Yang Ge slowly shook his head, lightly laughing, "It includes Quanzhen Sect, Shaolin Temple... Every major force in the martial world might be involved, except your Lianhuan Fort."
The young man, frustrated, "Why do you exclude Lianhuan Fort? What would motivate them to do this? And you still laugh?"
Yang lifted the boiling black iron kettle from the red clay stove, poured the second brew of tea, and said slowly, "Take this as a lesson. You are to be the head of the household. Don’t emulate Yang’s impulsive nature. He has Ming Sect and Yang to back him up; a bit of recklessness won’t do much harm, but you need to be more composed to support Li and your Lianhuan Fort... Historian Sima Qian once said, ’Do not overly rejoice in victory, nor be disheartened by defeat. He who has the tempest in his heart yet keeps a serene facade is fit to be a great general.’ This applies to you as well."
The young man smacked his lips, thinking Yang Ge was starting to sound more and more like his father, and quietly complained, "I’m only like this in front of you. Friends chat casually; why so many rules?"
Yang Ge pushed the teacup back in front of him, earnestly advising, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. You don’t have much time; you must gradually force yourself to adapt."
"Okay okay."
The young man, overwhelmed, waved his hand, "I’ve got it, I won’t do it again."
Yang Ge silently watched him.
The young man, made uneasy by his stare, finally sat up and formally bowed his hands, "I will keep your teachings in mind, reflect daily, and continually contemplate them, never forgetting..."
Before he could finish, the two burst into laughter together.
"Why exclude your Lianhuan Fort..."