Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 39: Strange Lady

Fortune favored Wuyi one day when Boluo was preoccupied with other matters, and it turns out his other masters were busy too, handling the welcome of new guests, leaving him with a free day. Seizing the opportunity, Wuyi decided to roam the town. He spent all day roaming, eating, and hanging out with random commoners of the town.

When evening arrived, he decided to return. His first stop after returning was the beast pens where the hounds were kept. All seemed well; even the new puppies appeared to be adjusting to their surroundings. He went to check on the horses; all seemed good. But something caught his eyes—two unfamiliar horses in one of the stables.

One of them was unlike any horse he had ever seen—a majestic creature that radiated an ethereal aura. It was a Spirit Beast.

Boluo had educated him about Spirit Beasts, the mystical creatures often tamed by cultivators or powerful warriors. Yet, this was his first encounter with one. The Luyao clan, despite its grandeur, had always relied on ordinary beasts for their needs. The presence of a Spirit Beast here was both surprising and intriguing.

For a moment, he contemplated using the Statue of Harmony to connect with the creature. But he quickly dismissed the idea; the energies within the statues were too precious to be expended on a whim. General feedback from the statue already told him the beast's mind was as calm as a deep ocean. There were no fluctuations in its emotions.

Curiosity piqued, he wondered what could possibly bring someone capable of taming a Spirit Beast to their Fort at the end of summer. He admired the horse one last time before leaving the stables and making his way back to the Fort.

As was his habit, he passed through the kitchens on his way. The cook, well-acquainted with the unpredictable appetites of nobles in the house and guards and warriors, always had something to satiate sudden hunger pangs.

Lately, Wuyi had found himself growing hungrier at odd hours too—maybe he was becoming a true noble, or maybe he was just growing—a fact that Mistress Jizao had not failed to notice. She jokingly warned that if he continued to grow at this rate, he'd soon have to resort to wearing reptile skin like a desert man, as she couldn't keep up with tailoring his ever-changing sizes.

Wuyi was reaching eleven but he looked fourteen years old; Wuyi let them all think it was because of his bloodline.

While he walked towards the kitchen, Wuyi was considering what meal he would relish today. His thoughts were already drifting towards the steamer filled with freshly made steamed buns that the cook usually kept covered with a cloth. He also thought of a particular jar of pickled vegetables that would pair excellently with some herbal tea.

As he neared the kitchen, the aroma of simmering broths and the scent of steaming rice greeted him, momentarily diverting his attention from the enigma of the Spirit Beast. This is what Wuyi loved about the fort's kitchen; there would always be a variety of food aromas floating around, which gave more appetite to hungry him.

But as he entered the kitchen, his eyes fell upon a woman seated at the table. She had been nibbling on slices of some fruit that looked really tasty—Wuyi had never seen fruit like that in the kitchen—at the sight of Wuyi, she looked surprised.

Wuyi considered what to do, then he remembered Boluo's teachings on noble etiquette. "I did not mean to startle you, lady," he said cautiously. "I was merely hungry and thought to get myself some food. Will it bother you if I stay?" The woman was dressed in noble attire, far more exquisite than anything he had ever seen.

She wore a flowing robe of deep crimson silk, embroidered with intricate patterns of golden threads. A jade belt cinched her waist, and her hair was adorned with delicate hairpins shaped like blooming lotuses. Even her shoes were works of art, made of embroidered silk with upturned tips.

The noblewoman took a bite from her fruit, her eyes still fixed on the young man before her. It was evident from her attire and demeanor that she belonged to a high station in life. This late-night visit to the kitchen was quite unusual for someone of her rank, and her presence there was intriguing, to say the least.

Wuyi couldn't help but wonder if she was the rider of the Spirit Beast in the stables. What made him most curious was where she got that fruit. It was not from this kitchen, and if she brought the fruit with her, why was she eating in the kitchen? Why not eat where nobles usually dine?

After finishing her bite, she finally said, "I

would not keep you from your food," her voice carrying a musical quality. "I was simply a bit startled. Your presence... came in so suddenly." Realization dawned on Wuyi. With Chao's training and the Statue of Shadows, he had become quite stealthy. All the statues in his mind had two modes: they worked passively and actively, just like Harmony.

Even though he had not activated the Statue of Shadows actively, its passive support was enough for him to startle the lady, who herself seemed to be a cultivator or warrior.

Wuyi nodded respectfully. "My thanks, lady." He moved around the spacious kitchen, going about his task of fetching food and tea. Yet, throughout his movements, he couldn't help but notice her unwavering gaze. Her own fruit lay untouched on the table after her initial bite. As he poured himself a cup of herbal tea, he found her eyes still fixed on him.

When he looked back, She quickly averted her gaze, her expression conflicted. "May I assist you with something?" he inquired politely, his curiosity growing. "Would you care for some tea?"

"If you would be so kind," she replied softly. He set the cup of tea before her, noticing the slight recoil in her posture as he approached. A subtle discomfort seemed to hang in the air, and he briefly wondered if the stables had left an unexpected scent on him, though he dismissed the idea as unlikely.

He considered taking his food to his room, sensing her unease. However, just as he began to weigh this option, she gestured toward the bench opposite her. "Sit down," she instructed, her tone a blend of authority and invitation. "It is not right that I should scare you away from your meal."