Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 121: Naturally

Her jaw clenched, a gesture he hadn't noticed before. "I have to believe you've got your reasons for saying this. Forgive my skepticism. You've already taken down two creatures, and now you claim there are more? I recall you mentioning that such foes rarely act alone.

We may be far from the untamed lands, but Little Young Master, you must be aware that the demonics are closer to us now than they ever were," Lady Xueyan remarked.

Wuyi tried to understand what lady was getting at but he felt a deep sense of fatigue. How he wished he could return to a life of cultivation and luxury at his estate; the uncomfortable armor and the work of commanding the Qi warriors were not for him. "Might I request a glass of wine?" he inquired.

Lady Xueyan looked surprised. She had been told this young master only drank tea. With a thump of her stick on the floor, she summoned Liwei, who entered the room with her eyes lowered. "Wine for our young guest, Liwei. And keep your gaze down, if you would. Good girl," Lady Xueyan said, smiling warmly at her.

Liwei quietly exited the room to fetch the wine. "My beastmaster hails from the Long tribe," Wuyi began, "and as you may be aware, they are renowned for their expertise in matters concerning beasts."

Lady Xueyan waved her hand dismissively. "The intricacies of beasts and tribes are beyond my humble understanding. You know, when I was a young girl, we were not allowed to learn calligraphy or read scrolls beyond what was necessary to understand our lineage. I was even punished by my elders for daring to read a few lines in the library of my father's fortress.

Later, when I came to power, I could only learn basic languages, so my knowledge is limited even though our fortress and pavilion have a lot of books." She sighed deeply before continuing, "So, you are versed in the Ancient Zenith Script, I presume?"

"High and low," Wuyi responded succinctly.

"I suspected as much. There can't be many young cultivators in the empire proficient in reading such ancient Zenith Texts," Lady Xueyan remarked. She tilted her head slightly, as if to shake off some lingering fatigue. Just then, Liwei returned, carrying a glass of wine for Wuyi. She placed it before him and retreated gracefully, her gaze carefully averted.

Wuyi observed Liwei's enigmatic expression, contemplating the possibility of recruiting her into his group. However, most of his recruits had been in vulnerable phases of their lives, earning them his unwavering loyalty. This disciple of the Lotus Pavilion was different. Wuyi decided to refocus his attention on Lady Xueyan.

The fledgling bird was perched on Lady Xueyan's wrist, and she was gently stroking its feathers while cooing softly. Her throne-like chair provided some support for the bird, but Wuyi was struck by her strength. Despite her apparent age, her cultivation level was likely equal to his own. He considered gauging her cultivation level but deemed it inappropriate.

There was something intriguing about both Lady Xueyan and Liwei. Despite their differences in appearance – Lady Xueyan with her elfin beauty and delicate features, and Liwei with a gentle but sturdier build, and enchanting eyes – there was an unmistakable air of strength about them both.

The words " Life Qi" swirled in his mind, associated with Liwei's bloodline power as guessed by the Statue of Knowledge.

Lost in his thoughts about the two women, Wuyi was jolted back to the present by the thump of Lady Xueyan's staff on the floor. "Assuming I believe you, what does your Beastman have to say?" Lady Xueyan inquired, her eyes narrowing.

Wuyi sighed. "My Beastman, Jin, believes we've eliminated the wrong creatures. My lady, understanding the motives of these beasts is beyond anyone but a Mystic or a sage. It's possible that some were signaling for backup, or there's a nest nearby. What Jin is certain of is that the signs left by the creature that killed Elder Xingchen don't match those of the beasts we've defeated.

And my men," he paused, "also my men, they are all drained. We've lost seven members. The faction is supposed to be a brotherhood because every brother is deeply respected. It will take at least a day for them to recover. So, I apologize, but we won't be taking aggressive actions for a few days."

Lady Xueyan stared at him for a prolonged moment, her eyes searching his face. Finally, she crossed her arms over her staff and rested her chin on her hands. "You think I don't understand your situation," she said, her voice softer than before. "I do understand, and I don't believe you're trying to deceive me."

Wuyi nodded, uncertain how to interpret her words or her sudden change in demeanor. "Allow me to share my pressing matters," Lady Xueyan began. "The Festival of the Harvest Moon is just seven days away. Initially, it's a local affair featuring our own goods and competitions. Then, during the second week, traders from the Leidian sail up the river to purchase our excess rice and silk.

In the following weeks, cattle herders descend from the highlands, followed by hunters and Qi warriors who hunt for beast hides, cores, and materials. Finally, merchants come for cultivation materials like Lotus Dew pills, dawn lotus root, and special robes, while warriors trade in beast materials.

That's the crucial time for trade, and it's then that I require both my bridge and my people to be secure. Do you understand the significance of this fortress's location?" she inquired.

"Naturally," Wuyi responded with a knowing smile, "the fortress exists primarily to safeguard the bridge."

"Indeed," Lady Xueyan conceded. "I've been negligent in maintaining my defenses. To be frank, rogue Qi warriors like your group and ascetic females like us don't usually ally. But with these recent assaults have weakened us, and I'm short-staffed. The Tianqin King might dispatch a few lords to oversee justice during the festival, and I fear he'll uncover how my frugality has jeopardized these lands.

Being an ascetic, I was not made for rule like this."