Seeing Sesshomaru's reaction, Xiangyi knew the Great Yokai was embarrassed and that lingering any longer would only make him throw another fit. He certainly didn't want to wake up in the middle of the night to find himself trapped in a bed of flowers, forced to sleep out in the open for the entire night. Quickly composing his expression, he stopped looking at the Yokai and simply followed his master deeper into the courtyard.
At the end of the bluestone path lay the outer courtyard of the Qi Family estate, where guests were received. As soon as they stepped inside, little Xiangyi heard a flurry of hurried footsteps. A middle-aged man wearing purple brocade robes, standing over six feet tall with short facial hair and a dignified appearance, strode briskly toward them.
The servants rushed to bow as he approached, calling out "Master." This was the very man Qi Mushan had referred to as an "old codger."
Upon seeing Qi Mushan, Qi Tianhu could no longer maintain his dignified facade. He burst into hearty laughter and strode forward, immediately reaching out to grab Qi Mushan's hand.
Looking thoroughly disgusted, Qi Mushan employed his lightness skills to dodge out of the way. Unfazed, Qi Tianhu spun around and gave little Xiangyi a hearty smack on the shoulder, his voice booming and cheerful. "You must be my nephew Xiangyi! What a vibrant, spirited young man indeed. Since you came here with your master, you must know who I am by now. Your master and I are thick as thieves, so you should just call me Uncle Qi!"
Little Xiangyi looked at this genial Uncle Qi, who bore no resemblance to the swaggering, relentlessly pestering figure his master had described. It occurred to him that if his master spoke of the man that way, their relationship must genuinely be very close.
Qi Mushan chuckled and scoffed, "Qi Little Tiger, stop flattering yourself. It was clearly you who wouldn't leave me alone. Who are you calling thick as thieves?" Despite his words, however, he made no move to correct the title Qi Tianhu had claimed.
Little Xiangyi quickly straightened up, cupped his fists, and offered a junior's bow. "Xiangyi greets Uncle Qi!"
Qi Tianhu stroked his short beard, smiling and nodding. He pulled a delicate sleeve crossbow from his robe and handed it to the boy. "This sleeve crossbow is called Sleeve-Enclosed. While it can't quite compare to the Nangong family's Silver Moon Crossbow, it's still crafted by top-tier artisans. Take it and play with it, nephew."
Seeing that the crossbow was indeed an exquisite piece of work, far beyond ordinary items, little Xiangyi instinctively glanced at his master. Only after seeing Qi Mushan nod did he accept it with another expression of gratitude.
Only then did Qi Tianhu gesture to a boy of about fifteen or sixteen standing behind him. The youth stepped forward, and Qi Tianhu looked at Qi Mushan. "Brother Qi, this is my youngest son, Qi Yun." Turning to his younger son, he instructed, "Yun'er, come pay your respects to your uncle."
Qi Yun did not look like his father; he had a slender build, refined features, and the distinct air of a youth from the water towns of Jiangnan. His eyebrows were thick and long, their slightly upturned tips radiating vigor and arrogance.
Qi Yun had long heard of Qi Mushan's great reputation. His bow to the older man was respectful and entirely sincere. Stroking his long beard, Qi Mushan saw that the youth had clear, bright eyes and a vibrant, spirited aura—truly deserving of the title "young talent." Ignoring the old codger beside him, he patted the boy's shoulder, stroked his beard in praise, and presented him with a pair of mechanical bracers he had made himself. All one had to do was press a mechanism, and these bracers would transform into two delicate, sharp swords for self-defense.
After receiving the gift, Qi Yun offered his sincere thanks, causing Qi Mushan to nod in approval. The boy had clearly been raised well...
Having carefully put away the gift from his elder, Qi Yun turned his attention to Li Xiangyi, the boy his father had been praising relentlessly. Seeing that Xiangyi was not even nine years old yet, he felt a flicker of skepticism in his heart. Walking over to little Xiangyi, he spoke up, "Li Xiangyi, I've heard of you. My father says you're a peerless prodigy who defeated the young master of the Nangong family when you were only six. But I met and sparred with your senior brother previously, and his martial arts were truly mediocre—quite undeserving of his reputation. I wonder if your skills live up to your name? You must be tired from your journey, but how about we have a match once you've rested?"
Hearing these words, coupled with the dismissive evaluation of his senior brother, little Xiangyi—being at an age when youthful pride burns brightest—immediately retorted, "No need to rest! We can spar right now!"
Both Qi Mushan and Qi Tianhu nodded in satisfaction, their faces beaming. The sharp, unyielding spirit of youth—as it should be...
Seeing the arrogance on Xiangyi's face, Qi Yun's own competitive spirit flared up. Refusing to hold back, he declared, "I won't take advantage of you. Since you're tired from traveling today, I'll let you take three moves first. Follow me!" With a light tap of his toes, he flashed toward the inner martial arts arena...
Li Xiangyi followed closely behind, reaching the Qi family arena in a single breath. Qi Yun lifted an iron sword from the rack and gripped it. Seeing this, little Xiangyi unfastened the weapon from his waist, reached out toward Qi Yun, and said, "Senior Brother Qi, give me one of those iron swords as well. Since we are sparring, you don't need to hold back. My master taught me that true martial artists must be sincere at heart, and going all out is the greatest respect you can show me!"
Up on the roof, Sesshomaru heard these words from the human and, for the very first time, felt a genuine acknowledgement of this boy based on strength. Self-respect and perseverance—that was the path of the strong!
Qi Yun was momentarily stunned by the remark, then broke into a hearty laugh. He tossed one of the iron swords to Li Xiangyi and grabbed another for himself. "Li Xiangyi, you're not bad at all. Someone like you is worthy of being called a true opponent."
With that, Qi Yun leaped onto the center of the platform, stood firmly, cupped his fists in invitation, and said, "Li Xiangyi, please!"
Little Xiangyi gripped his sword tightly, leaped onto the platform, and returned the salute. "Senior Brother Qi, please!"
The two stood facing each other, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit. Qi Yun no longer made any gesture of yielding; he launched a fierce, aggressive attack, his refined face turning menacing. The Qi Family's "Tiger-Ferocity Fierce Sword" technique had been comprehended by their ancestors while fighting the king of beasts, and its sword forms were sharp, vicious, uninhibited, and overwhelmingly fierce.
Yet Li Xiangyi did not panic. Though not yet nine years old, he already possessed a composed, unshakeable pride. His "Carefree Unmatched Sword" technique was already deeply ingrained in his heart. He raised his sword to parry every single one of Qi Yun's attacks. In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged over fifty moves. Moreover, as time went on, the sword in Li Xiangyi's hand gradually began to break away from the shadow of the Carefree Unmatched Sword. His swordsmanship grew faster and faster, and his footwork became increasingly agile...
Seeing this, Qi Mushan couldn't help stroking his beard and cursing softly under his breath, though his face carried a hint of a smile. "This brat... he's got quite some nerve!"
The little scoundrel was actually using the number one young swordsman of Jiangnan to test his own sword techniques and footwork! Thinking of this, Qi Mushan felt immense gratification and couldn't help tilting his head back for another sip of wine...
After exchanging another thirty moves, Li Xiangyi's swordsmanship grew increasingly swift and precise. Qi Yun transitioned from his initial ferocious offensive to merely struggling to parry, and soon... even parrying became a grueling task. Finally, amidst the relentless barrage of attacks, Qi Yun suffered a momentary lapse in concentration, falling for a feint by Li Xiangyi. By the time he recovered his senses, the iron sword in Li Xiangyi's hand was already resting against his chest...
Seeing this, Qi Yun decisively cupped his fists in defeat. Yet there was no trace of disbelief or resentment on his face; instead, it was filled with the joy of finding a worthy opponent. "Li Xiangyi, you truly are extraordinary! You should stay here for a while longer. I can see that your swordsmanship is still rather raw and unpolished, so we can spar many more times! Next time, I might not lose to you! Don't worry, the scenery in Jiangnan is lovely, and there's plenty of delicious food. As long as you stay, I'll take you all over Jiangnan!"
It had been a long time since Li Xiangyi had engaged in such a gratifying, uninhibited spar. Previously, he mostly sparred with his senior brother, but since his senior brother always lost, he constantly worried about hurting his feelings...
Furthermore, upon hearing mention of good food and fun places to visit, little Xiangyi was instantly tempted. He calculated that once Qi Yun showed him around, he could bring Sesshomaru along to explore as well. At this thought, little Xiangyi happily nodded and agreed!
The two observing elders smiled with shared satisfaction at the sight. These two young juniors had excellent character indeed. The future was in good hands! The future was in good hands...
The next morning, Qi Mushan and Qi Tianhu went out to drink early in the morning. After finishing their morning practice and breakfast, Xiangyi and Qi Yun continued their sparring as agreed. This time, Li Xiangyi defeated Qi Yun within fifty moves. Though he lost even faster, Qi Yun was not discouraged at all. Instead, he exclaimed in amazement, "Xiangyi, my friends usually tell me I'm a martial arts prodigy, but they really ought to see you! Still, it looks like your sword technique is newly created and not yet fluid or polished. Are you trying to invent your own sword moves?"
Hearing this, little Xiangyi flashed a proud smile, making no attempt at false modesty. "Yes, Brother Yun. I am creating a sword technique that belongs solely to me. In the future, the title attached to Li Xiangyi will not merely be 'Qi Mushan's disciple.' My name, my sword, and my swordsmanship will make themselves known to the entire martial arts world. I am going to become a legend in this world of martial arts!"
Hearing the bold declaration of the human, Sesshomaru was momentarily stunned. Remembering his own lifelong pursuit of immense power and his desire to surpass his father, he felt a resonance with this human for the very first time...
Seeing this, Qi Yun was filled with soaring ambition and praised loudly, "Fine ambition! I, Qi Yun, will also make my name ring throughout the martial arts world. I want everyone in the jianghu to know the name Qi Yun of the Jiangnan Qi Family!"
The two looked at each other and smiled, their youthful radiance needing no specific direction!
From that day on, the junior brother and senior brother—separated by more than six years in age—became true brothers. With one tall and one short arm thrown over each other's shoulders, they walked out the door, planning to tidy up before heading out to tour Jiangnan. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru remained resting in the guest room and did not tag along...
Qi Yun was dressed like a young master of a prestigious clan: a white robe with fluttering hems, exquisite embroidery adorning the collar and cuffs, a black belt tied around his waist from which hung a jade pendant, and a folding fan painted with a landscape scene held in his hand—all displaying his extraordinary status. Beside him, little Xiangyi wore simple blue-gray cloth garments, yet his presence was not the least bit diminished.
When little Xiangyi first saw Brother Yun dressed this way, his very first thought was what Sesshomaru would look like in such robes. He would surely be gorgeous and noble, resembling an immortal! This led him to realize that in all the time he had known Sesshomaru, he had never seen the Yokai change clothes—he wore only that single manifested robe. It seemed he really needed to start saving up some money...
Following Qi Second Young Master out today, little Xiangyi experienced for the first time the sheer lavishness of a young master from the Jiangnan Qi Family. Naturally, two young lads coming out wasn't about sightseeing or browsing shops; it was about eating their way through the streets...
Qi Yun was a walking encyclopedia of the local delicacies. Treats like crab-shell pastry, osmanthus-flavored sugar taro paste, rice wine dumplings, pan-fried buns, fried glutinous rice cakes, egg-yolk rice dumplings, red-bean-paste rice dumplings, and double-fermented rice balls were all snacks Xiangyi had never heard of or tasted before. Qi Yun led him through the list from start to finish, and since both youths practiced martial arts and burned energy quickly, they ate their way along the entire street without even feeling overly full...
Along the way, little Xiangyi silently memorized the locations of each stall. He only bought a fried glutinous rice cake to take back, filing the rest away in his memory so he could bring Sesshomaru out for a proper feast tomorrow...
At noon, Qi Yun took him to the finest restaurant in Jiangnan, the Pine and Crane Tower. The delicacies there—such as the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, stir-fried shrimp meat, and sizzling eel shreds—truly lived up to their reputation as signature dishes. They were immensely fresh, flavorful, and filled with the charm of the Jiangnan water towns. The only pity was that the meal was terribly expensive. Little Xiangyi patted his money pouch, realizing no matter how he calculated it, he couldn't scrape together enough silver to bring Sesshomaru here for a meal...
The boy, not yet nine years old, learned for the first time the difficulty of making a living and sighed despondently. *Sigh, to properly raise this great Yokai, it seems I really must work hard to make money...*
As soon as the two finished their meal and stepped outside, they ran straight into a group of people. Leading them was a girl of about eleven or twelve with fair, flawless skin, dressed in a pink long dress and looking as cute as a carved jade doll. Seeing her, Qi Yun closed his folding fan and greeted her with a smile, "Wanwan, you've come here to eat today as well!"
The girl bowed to Qi Yun and replied softly, "Second Brother Qi, Grandmother's appetite hasn't been good lately, and since she's always liked the shrimp dishes from the Pine and Crane Tower, I came to buy some." With that, she curiously looked over at Li Xiangyi. "Is Second Brother Qi bringing a friend out for the midday meal?"
Qi Yun nodded and introduced the girl to Li Xiangyi. "Xiangyi, this is Miss Qiao Wanwan, the daughter of the Jiangnan Qiao family. You two are about the same age..."
He then introduced Li Xiangyi to Qiao Wanwan. "This is Li Xiangyi, the beloved disciple of my father's good friend, Senior Qi Mushan."
Qiao Wanwan looked at Li Xiangyi with eyes full of curiosity. Li Xiangyi offered her a smile and greeted her formally, "Miss Qiao!"
Seeing him deliver such a serious, by-the-book bow, Qiao Wanwan couldn't help pursing her lips in a chuckle. "Since you are Second Brother Qi's friend, and the Qiao and Qi families are family friends as well, there's no need for such formalities. I should be a bit older than you, but since Second Brother Qi says we're of a similar age, you can just call me Wanwan, and I'll call you Xiangyi!"
Little Xiangyi nodded. He wasn't one to care much for tedious formalities anyway, so he smiled and didn't insist on further bows.
Seeing the food box carried by the maid beside her, Qiao Wanwan smiled a farewell. "The weather is turning chilly, and Grandmother is still waiting for me at home. Second Brother Qi, Xiangyi, I'll take my leave now!"
Qi Yun and little Xiangyi smiled as they said goodbye. Looking at the food box carried by the maid, little Xiangyi felt a lingering pang of reluctance. *I really need to make money... Having money means you can even take food to go straight away~*
That afternoon, Qi Yun still took little Xiangyi out to stroll around the streets. The thoroughfares were lined with all sorts of stalls and shops selling silk, tea, porcelain, books, and paintings. A dazzling array of goods filled the streets, making it impossible to take everything in.
Little Xiangyi caught sight of a set of celadon lotus-leaf tea cups, calculating that he should buy them to give to his master's wife, along with some local specialty Longjing tea—she would surely love it.
However, when little Xiangyi felt his money pouch, he realized he still didn't have enough silver. His eyes rolled, and a thought struck him: *I'll just borrow it from Master! Master definitely has hidden private funds. I'll borrow it first, then go hunt more game and gather mountain goods in the mountains later, and exchange them for silver in town to pay Master back slowly...*
That evening, little Xiangyi asked his master to lend him some silver. Qi Mushan looked at him and casually tossed him a one-hundred-liang bank note. Looking utterly shocked, little Xiangyi asked, "Master, did you just give me all your private savings?"
Qi Mushan nearly spat out his mouthful of wine and angrily snapped, "Since when is your master hard up for cash!" With that, he raised his hand to snatch the bank note back. Nimbly dodging out of the way, little Xiangyi bolted off like a wisp of smoke, shouting from a distance, "Since Master is so rich, I won't pay this money back! Once you give it to me, it's mine. You're not allowed to go back on your word, Master~"
Qi Mushan let out a hum and didn't give chase. Shaking his head, he thought to himself that with this brat's thoroughly punchable attitude, he had better keep holding onto the Li family fortune for now, lest the boy develop a habit of reckless spending. Once this rascal got married, he would hand the wealth over to his disciple's wife instead~ Thinking of this, Qi Mushan took another pleasant sip of his wine!