Translator: Lordbluefire
Editor: Lordbluefire
Staring at the scene outside where starlight gradually disappeared, he silently left the cultivation chamber.
Dawn just broke, and he already arrived at the pier.
Clatter~
Not long after he arrived, three swift horses galloped through the streets and came in his direction.
On the horses’ backs, it was none other than Xia Qilin and a few of his good friends, as well as a palanquin with eight carriers.
“So my younger cousin is here too.” Xia Qilin coldly glanced at Xia Qingchen after he reached the pier.
Previously, Xia Qingchen had injured Li Weifeng’s son during their grandfather’s birthday celebration and almost caused huge trouble for their Northern Xia Manor.
Now that he met him, he naturally wouldn’t have a good attitude.
“He is that rascal who injured Brother Li?” On another horse, there was a young man with a sharp gaze. He was coldly staring at Xia Qingchen.
“I thought it was some character with three heads and six arms, but it turns out to be someone so poor,” said a silkpants young master clad in luxurious robes. He was mounted on the third horse.
Xia Qingchen merely glanced casually before retracting his gaze.
To him, these three were insignificant ants that couldn’t affect anything. Why was there a need to bother with them?
“Hehe, he has a calm temper. What a pity.” The silkpants young master laughed.
Xia Qilin calmly spoke, “Cousin, why don’t you go back? I can welcome and receive our younger female cousin alone. It is best for you not to remain here to disgrace yourself.”
Xia Qilin was here to welcome his younger cousin and even brought along two young masters of high statuses. He even intentionally ordered over an eight-carrier palanquin.
Later on, they would still be going to some expensive place for the welcoming reception.
What about Xia Qingchen?
He came empty-handed and actually had the face to do so?
Xia Qingchen stood still as though he didn’t hear their words. He actually had no interest in receiving and welcoming his younger female cousin. It was just because this was his father’s instruction.
Seeing that he was unwilling to leave, Xia Qingchen snorted coldly. His eyes flashed with disdain.
Wu~
The sound of a bugle horn rang out from the depths of the canal.
A large merchant ship with the word ‘martial’ on its suspended flag was slowly driven over, following the waves.
On the ship, a beautiful woman could be seen standing alone.
Her figure was exquisite like jade; her brows were like that of a portrait. Her jade-like skin glowed with a faint luster under the dim sunlight.
She stood at the prow of the ship. Through the canal, the row of houses on both sides constituted the entire scene to be like a majestic painting.
“Brother Xia, that is your younger female cousin?” The silkpants young master stared with wide eyes and involuntarily praised, “Fresh and clean with a transcendent aura. Her beauty is not of the mortal world. She is like a fairy!”
As for the youth with sharp eyes, he also stared fixedly. “As expected of someone from the capital. Her aura is truly supreme!”
Xia Qilin similarly was in a daze as he watched. Three years had passed and his younger female cousin had changed so much after she grew up, becoming an absolute beauty.
His heart involuntarily pounded.
When the merchant ship was near the pier, Zhao Churan slowly walked down the deck and came to the pier.
Behind her, a group of female servants and strongmen were helping her carry her luggage.
Her beautiful eyes blinked. Her gaze swept through the people at the pier and she instantly recognized Xia Qilin. She walked over and smiled slightly. “Cousin Qilin.”
Xia Qilin stared at his beautiful younger cousin at close-distance and was in a dazed state. It was only after the silkpants young master prodded him did he wake up from his dream. He hurriedly spoke, “Cousin Churan! You must be tired after such a long journey, right? Let’s go. I’ve prepared a welcoming reception for you!”
Zhao Churan’s personality was quiet. She replied, “No hurry.”
She waved her hand, and a strongman carried two boxes of items over. “This is what Mother carefully prepared for grandfather and second uncle. They are spirit-revolving green hearts and can purify one’s inner force. It’s very beneficial for cultivation.”
Upon hearing that, the silkpants young master’s eyes gleamed. He exclaimed in shock, “Brother Xia, the gifts prepared by your cousin’s family are simply too precious. Spirit-revolving green hearts can only be purchased in the nation’s capital and their prices are exorbitant. These two boxes most probably are worth about 100,000 taels of silver!”
Xia Qilin thanked her, “Aunt’s kind intentions are well received. This will definitely make father and grandfather extremely happy.”
Zhao Churan smiled, causing Xia Qilin’s heart to burst with joy. He hurriedly spoke, “I’ve prepared a banquet, let’s speak after the reception is over.”
“Mn.” Zhao Churan didn’t reject it. She then followed Xia Qilin.
Just when she strode forward, she suddenly saw Xia Qingchen from the corner of her eye. She exclaimed in shock, “Cousin Qingchen? You also came?”
She had an ill-at-ease look on her face now.
“Cousin, it has been a long time since we last met.” Xia Qingchen walked over. His gaze was calm, completely not affected by her beauty.
Zhao Churan wavered for an instant before a faint smile appeared on her face. “Mother prepared a gift for the eldest uncle as well.”
A female servant walked over and took out a paper bag.
In it, one could see extremely cheap tea leaves. One could even buy this in Lone Cloud City.
An entire bag would cost less than twelve taels of silver.
Compared to the gifts prepared for the Northern Xia Manor that cost over 100,000 taels, this bag of tea leaves truly seemed extremely unpresentable.
Xia Qingchen sighed silently in his heart. Even his aunt was someone who played up to those in power.
His second uncle’s businesses were successful. This was why she prepared expensive gifts. His father’s accomplishments were inferior; hence, a casual gift would do for the sake of putting up a show.
Zhao Churan also felt embarrassed.
She initially intended to separately give the gifts when she visited each of their manors. She didn’t want her eldest uncle to know the difference in them.
But who could have expected that Xia Qingchen would be here to welcome her too?
Her expression soon became natural. In any case, her mother had no intention of being close to her eldest uncle. Even if he was unhappy, so be it. As long as they maintained a good relationship with their second uncle, it was already enough.
“Some tea leaves, this is my mother’s gift.” She passed the paper bag over.
Xia Qingchen accepted the gift with no change to his expression. He calmly spoke, “I will thank you on behalf of my father for Aunt’s kind intentions. Cousin, you must be hungry after your journey. I’ve already arranged a simple banquet to welcome you.”
The two Xia Clans held welcoming receptions for her.
But she didn’t feel too conflicted. She naturally smiled apologetically. “Cousin Qilin has invited me first. I have to apologize to Cousin Qingchen for rejecting you.”
Her original purpose here was to maintain a good relationship with the Northern Xia Manor.
Why should she care about the Southern Xia Manor’s feelings?
Xia Qingchen’s expression was calm. Since she didn’t want it, so be it. He had been unwilling to accompany her originally because it would have meant a waste of time that he could use for cultivation.
“Since this is the case, cousin please go on,” Xia Qingchen spoke nonchalantly. He didn’t feel upset at all.
After speaking, he simply turned and prepared to leave.
“Ai, cousin. Since you are already here, why is there a need to leave in a hurry? Isn’t it good to come with us and accompany our female cousin a little longer?” Xia Qilin suddenly spoke.
“No need.” Xia Qingchen casually spoke.
The silkpants young master understood Xia Qilin’s intention. He continued, “Yeah, if you leave like that, wouldn’t it make things ugly for your female cousin?”
Only then did Xia Qingchen halt his steps.
They had already said this. If he left now, it would truly be considered as him making the situation ugly for Zhao Churan.
“Fine then,” Xia Qingchen indifferently spoke. He completely disregarded the cold intent in the gazes of Xia Qilin and his friends.
“Move out!”
Under Xia Qilin’s lead, they went to the most prosperous region of Lone Cloud City. A majestic and imposing building filled with beauties appeared before their eyes.
“Immortal Pavilion?” Zhao Churan naturally knew about this place. The Immortal Pavilion in Lone Cloud City was a famous place deemed a paradise on earth.
Even for people living in the faraway nation capital, they had also heard of the Immortal Pavilion before.
She glanced at Xia Qilin as she mused silently, “Cousin’s clan must have achieved meteoric success. They can even afford to spend money on the Immortal Pavilion.”
Three years ago, this was clearly impossible.
She then glanced toward Xia Qingchen who remained silent at the side. She sighed again. Three years had passed, the Southern Xia Manor was still dull and lifeless, showing no hints of prospering at all.
Three of them were from the Xia Clan, but they shared different fates.