novelraw Chapter 166 - 116: Life Is Full of Unexpected Encounters
Chapter 166 - 116: Life Is Full of Unexpected Encounters
Wen Kaiyuan led Chu Qing through Luochun Manor.
As they walked, he gave Chu Qing a detailed introduction to the areas and situation of Luochun Manor.
The previous introductions were just a rough overview, but now he omitted no detail:
"The entire manor is built upon the mountain, consisting of seven layers.
"The bottom three layers are the residences for disciples, the training grounds, Instructor Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, and guest rooms.
"The middle layers include the Wen Family branches and core disciples.
"The core area is the residence of the Patriarch.
"The upper three layers correspond to the Library Pavilion, the residence of the Wen Family’s direct line, and the forbidden area on the Wen Family’s rear mountain.
"The patrol is composed of disciples from Luochun Manor, with five people per team, twenty-five per group, patrolling in staggered shifts.
"However, the Patriarch’s residence is of utmost importance, guarded by the Star Guard.
"The Star Guard is directly under the Manor Master, led by Si Ye and Si Chen.
"You’ve met Si Ye, while Si Chen has gone out with the third brother to resolve matters.
"Among the two, one is dressed in black, the other in white, and in terms of Martial Arts, Si Ye is probably more adept... but Si Chen is also very good.
"They are the right and left arms of the eldest brother.
"If the Defense Map is needed by the third young master, I’ll deliver it to you later."
Chu Qing nodded while listening and then asked:
"Thank you very much, Second Master Wen."
Wen Kaiyuan smiled and shook his head:
"No need to be polite, the Manor Master trusts the third young master, and so do I."
"... I am truly overwhelmed by this honor."
Although Chu Qing had journeyed here with Gentle, being trusted by the Wen Family was still unexpected.
Wen Kaiyuan looked at Chu Qing and said with a smile:
"Since Rou’Er trusts you, we all will trust you."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"Moreover, since we will be working together for some time,
"some things should be made clear to the third young master."
"Second Master Wen, please feel free to say it."
Wen Kaiyuan nodded with a smile:
"There are no disputes among the three of us brothers; the eldest brother is the most talented, his Martial Arts is the best, a prodigious talent.
"Since childhood, I and the third brother have admired him; he became the Manor Master, and we have no objections.
"In comparison, I lag far behind, having poor martial aptitude and unremarkable skills... to be honest, I cannot even defeat Si Ye, but I’m not ashamed to say it.
"Luckily, I have come to accept it; since I’m not cut from that cloth, I don’t compete for it.
"Besides, with the eldest brother establishing the prestige of Luochun Manor, as a younger brother, I just follow along, eat well and live leisurely; why not?
"To be honest, the first twenty or thirty years of my life could hardly be described as anything other than carefree.
"It was only because the eldest brother saw me getting older, forced me into marriage... leading me to have children, that I bid farewell to my free and easy life."
Looking at his protruding belly, Chu Qing found it hard to imagine what kind of carefree life he led when he was young.
"Don’t look at me like this, back then I was quite the graceful young gentleman!"
Wen Kaiyuan patted his stomach and laughed:
"Thankfully, life after marriage has been good, gradually settling down, helping the eldest brother deal with daily affairs in Luochun Manor, I am like a grand steward here.
"As for the third brother, his martial talent is above mine, but his thinking is not very agile.
"He can’t manage accounts, and if he wanders the Martial World, he might be deceived.
"So he’s practically the manor’s leading fighter, and when certain matters are inconvenient for the eldest brother to handle personally, it’s the third brother who deals with them.
"Si Chen spends three hundred and fifty-nine out of three hundred and sixty days a year by his side... not so much to help, but to prevent him from being fooled away.
"That’s basically how things stand. I know you harbor precautions because of Rou’Er.
"I hope these words can ease some of your concerns; when needed, feel free to come to me."
Wen Fusheng said that Wen Kaiyuan was astute, and it indeed seemed true.
He truly noticed my cautiousness towards him.
Chu Qing cupped his fists:
"Thank you, Second Master Wen, for your openness."
"It’s my duty."
He said, stopping in front of a courtyard gate:
"The third young master can rest here for the night; next door is Rou’Er’s courtyard."
"Ah?"
Chu Qing was taken aback:
"Is that appropriate?"
When traveling, accommodations are limited, and formalities should be minimized; people in the Jianghu are not bound by trivial matters.
But now that they’ve arrived at Luochun Manor, and since neither is married, we must consider the young lady’s reputation.
"Now is a tumultuous time at Luochun Manor, the third young master’s martial prowess is exceptional, and Rou’Er has great trust in you; having you here will also be reassuring."
Wen Kaiyuan laughed:
"There’s nothing inconvenient."
"Very well."
Chu Qing nodded:
"However, in that case, I must trouble Second Master Wen once more to take me to Hua Jinnian and his group’s residence, as there are matters I wish to discuss with them."
"I understand."
Wen Kaiyuan did not refuse and led Chu Qing to the place in Bian City where Hua Jinnian and his group were staying.
Along the way, as they casually chatted, their relationship improved significantly.
Wen Kaiyuan’s outgoing nature and lack of airs made it easy to win people’s favor with a few words.
As they talked, Chu Qing suddenly recalled something:
"Speaking of which, why did Gentle become a disciple of the Taiyi Sect?"
In the past, the Taiyi Sect, with Founding Master Taiyi, was one of the few great powers in the world.
However, nowadays, the Taiyi Sect cannot be compared to its past glory.
Conversely, Luochun Manor has always been one of the South Ridge’s major powers, both past and present.