Chapter 78: Regret

Surviving In A Martial Arts World To Become A Saint

In the inner courtyard of the Huang residence.

Xu Xiuhua was reclining on a luxurious daybed covered with thick brocade cushions, with a maid gently massaging her legs.

Xu Fang sat on an embroidered stool in the lower seat, holding a cup of hot tea. The aunt and niece chatted sporadically about household trifles and fashionable fabrics.

"Xiao Fang, what did you think of those bolts of cloud brocade that Jinxiu Workshop sent over the day before yesterday?"

Xu Xiuhua asked casually.

"The material is excellent and the colors are proper, but the patterns are somewhat too elaborate," Xu Fang replied carefully.

Xu Xiuhua's gaze fell on Xu Fang's lowered face, and she suddenly changed the subject with some worry in her tone, "Xiao Fang, there are some things your aunt must remind you of."

Xu Fang's heart jumped as she raised her head, "Please speak, Aunt."

"We two women in this Huang household may appear glamorous on the surface, but our foundations are actually shallow."

Xu Xiuhua's tone was heavy, "I have no children to rely on, and you have no relatives to depend on. While the master is alive, naturally no one dares to slight us. But in these great households, when people leave, the tea grows cold, which is common. After the master passes away in a hundred years, our days will likely become difficult."

Xu Fang's fingers holding the teacup tightened slightly.

How could she not know? This hidden worry was like thin ice hanging over her head. On ordinary days she could avoid thinking about it, but now that her aunt had directly pointed it out, the chill instantly penetrated to her heart.

Xu Xiuhua leaned forward slightly, her eyes showing shrewd calculation as she said in a low voice, "Young Master Mingxuan is the next family head that the master favors. He's young and capable, with a steady temperament. You should find opportunities to approach him more often, finding excuses to consult him about calligraphy, paintings, or household affairs. Serving tea, attending to his writing, you must make him remember you as a person and leave him with some good impression."

Xu Fang's heart suddenly sank as bitterness spread instantly.

Approach Young Master Huang Mingxuan? How had she not tried?

But that young master had cold eyes and was flawless in his conduct, yet always maintained an invisible distance.

Several times she had tried to strike up conversations while delivering snacks. Either he was reading and handling business, or he would dismiss her with a few bland words. His gaze never lingered on her for even a moment.

That feeling of being completely ignored was more humiliating than cold words.

"Yes, Aunt, Fang'er understands," Xu Fang lowered her head, forcibly suppressing the sourness in her heart.

What could she say? This was the only seemingly viable lifeline they could grasp in this deep mansion.

As they were speaking, a little maid with twin hair buns entered, her face showing undisguised alarm and a trace of excitement.

She was Xu Fang's personal maid.

"Madam, Miss," Xiao Cui curtsied, her voice kept low but urgent, "Something big happened at the Blue Scale Assembly!"

"Oh?" Xu Xiuhua lazily raised her eyelids, "What big thing could happen? Did some martial hall fight for real again?"

"No, Madam!" Xiao Cui spoke rapidly, her eyes wide as saucers, "It's Zhou's courtyard! It's that Chen Qing!"

Xiao Cui then recounted what had happened at the Blue Scale Assembly.

"Crack!"

The tea cup lid in Xu Fang's hand fell to the ground, making a crisp shattering sound.

The scalding tea splashed onto her skirt hem, but she was completely unaware. Her entire body seemed frozen by a paralysis spell, her eyes looking at Xiao Cui in disbelief, her lips slightly parted.

Xu Xiuhua's massage motion also suddenly stopped, her languid expression instantly vanishing without a trace.

She abruptly sat up straight, staring intently at Xiao Cui, "What did you say? Chen Qing? Which Chen Qing? The one from Mute Bay?!"

"It's him, Madam!" Xiao Cui nodded vigorously, vividly describing the news she had heard, "Absolutely true! Many people saw it! He first crippled that genius from Pine Breeze Martial Hall called Gao Sheng with one move, even shattering his spine! Then, even Pine Breeze Martial Hall's senior brother Qu Yaohui was beaten by him until he vomited blood and flew off the platform. They say his chest bones caved in! He's still being treated! The entire platform erupted! Everyone says Zhou's courtyard has produced a formidable demon!"

"Crippled Gao Sheng with one move? Severely injured Qu Yaohui?!"

Xu Fang murmured in a lost voice, her face instantly turning pale before quickly flushing with incredible disbelief.

Her mind buzzed as the image seemed to float before her eyes again of that silent figure in shabby training clothes drawing a ten-stone bow at the martial examination grounds.

The enormous sense of absurdity and intense shock made her almost unable to breathe.

He had actually truly leaped like a carp over that dragon gate?!

Xu Xiuhua's reaction was more direct. Her well-maintained face lost all color, leaving only shocked pallor.

Every word now transformed into invisible slaps, harshly striking her face with burning pain.

Regret? Perhaps there was some.

But more was incredible shock and a sense of absurdity at being mocked by fate.

That fisherman's son whom she had considered only fit to be a guard captain had transformed into a demon capable of severely injuring a famous transforming strength expert!

This enormous contrast made her feel as if she were dreaming.

The warm chamber fell into dead silence.

Xu Xiuhua slowly leaned back against the soft pillow and waved her hand, "I understand. Go down now, and don't spread this matter around carelessly."

"Yes, Madam." Xiao Cui quickly responded and carefully withdrew.

Huang residence, Warm Fragrance Pavilion.

Outside the window, the early snow continued, patting against the window frames with rustling sounds.

Huang family head Huang Chengzong, a middle-aged man with a gaunt face and profound eyes, said, "Hall Master Shi, how are your two beloved disciples' injuries?"

Shi Wenshan's expression was frighteningly grim, "Gao Sheng had his spine destroyed by him, with major tendons severed. He's ruined for life! Yaohui's chest bones are shattered and his internal organs severely damaged. Although his life was saved, his foundation is injured. Whether he can recover to his peak in the future remains unknown!"

Gao Sheng was one thing, but Qu Yaohui was his eldest disciple, the one he valued most, and his hope for old age.

Huang Chengzong sipped his tea and said slowly, "Although Gao Sheng had good aptitude, his edge was too exposed. He didn't know how to hide his abilities. When he crippled Qin Lie at the martial examination, he had already cornered Zhou Liang and warned that Chen Qing. At this Blue Scale Assembly, having him provoke a newly advanced transforming strength expert whose foundation was already stable was poor judgment to begin with. As for Qu Yaohui, his skills were inferior to others. He can blame no one."

Shi Wenshan's expression became even uglier as Huang Chengzong's bland but sharp words stung him. His chest heaved violently, but he couldn't refute.

"That Chen Qing," Huang Chengzong set down his teacup and frowned, "truly surprised me. A fisherman's son from Mute Bay could break through to transforming strength in such a short time, and upon first entering this realm, display such ruthless decisiveness and seasoned combat power."

He paused, a barely perceptible cold light flashing in his eyes, "Such a person, if he cannot be used by us, becomes a serious threat to our hearts. Especially at this moment when the 'Gaolin Merchant Guild' is newly established and various forces need to be reshuffled."

"What does Family Head Huang mean?"

Shi Wenshan forcibly suppressed his anger, catching the deeper meaning in Huang Chengzong's words.

"He ruined your disciple and damaged your reputation, which means he slapped Pine Breeze Martial Hall's face and indirectly undermined our merchant guild's prestige in integrating forces."

Huang Chengzong said blandly, "This account naturally must be settled. But how to settle it and when requires long-term planning. After all, Zhou Liang is still alive."

Shi Wenshan said nothing, only listening quietly.

Huang Chengzong continued, "Zhou Liang has old grievances, your Pine Breeze has blood feuds. Be patient with the county garrison, Hall Master Shi."

"The merchant guild is newly established and has plenty of 'legitimate' methods. The urgent matter is stabilizing the guild situation and not letting today's events affect our grand plan."

Shi Wenshan took a deep breath, picked up the cup of tea that had long grown cold, and drained it in one gulp.