She could clearly feel that her body was different from before.
In the past, she always felt that her vital energy and blood did not circulate very smoothly.
Moreover, her hands and feet were cold all year round, rarely feeling warm.
But now, Bai Suyin's entire body felt an incomparably smooth circulation of vital energy and blood.
Her hands and feet were also beginning to warm up.
This showed that her body was developing for the better.
And all of this was thanks to Ye Qingyun cupping her.
"No need to thank me. Helping others is a pleasure, and it is my honor."
Ye Qingyun said nonchalantly.
As for Bai Suyin and the other two, they all firmly memorized those four words: helping others.
Helping others?
Was this the breadth of mind possessed by a master of the world?
In such a cruel world of cultivation, to be able to help others for the sheer joy of it—perhaps only someone like Ye Qingyun, who had long since transcended the mortal world, could truly do so.
For a moment, the three women's admiration for Ye Qingyun deepened even further.
"Young Master Ye, I also have a matter I wish to consult you about."
Chu Yanyu looked at Ye Qingyun with a pleading expression.
"Go ahead. Is it that you want cupping too?"
Chu Yanyu shook her head. "It's that my Pingxi Prince's Estate has run into trouble."
"What trouble?"
Ye Qingyun asked curiously.
"It's the Song family of Lingshan. They want to seize my father's fief and also take away my Chu family's heirloom."
"The last time Little Qing and I fled to the mountain, we were being hunted down by people from the Song family."
Chu Yanyu said with lingering fear.
Bai Suyin, standing to the side, continued, "The Song family harbors wild ambitions. Relying on their close relationship with the current Prime Minister, Cao Yuanhua, and their collusion with the Grand Elder of the Taihao Sect, the Pingxi Prince's Estate has been having a very difficult time."
"The Xiling Song family, I seem to have heard of them too."
Xu Jing'er frowned, muttering to herself.
"My father and I are truly at our wits' end. We beg the Saint to guide us and save our estate!"
As she spoke, Chu Yanyu moved to kneel before Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun hurriedly stopped her.
"Sigh, you're a prince's family after all, how did you end up being bullied this badly?"
Ye Qingyun was somewhat speechless.
Chu Yanyu's face was filled with shame.
Although their Chu family was an enfeoffed Prince of Pingxi, they were, after all, a prince of a different surname.
In the Tianwu Dynasty, princes of different surnames did not hold much real power.
The Xiling Song family, however, was different.
Not only was the Song family a martial arts clan teeming with experts, but they also had connections with the current Prime Minister and the Taihao Sect.
How could the Pingxi Prince's Estate possibly be a match for the Song family?
They were barely even able to protect themselves.
Let alone contend with the Song family.
If the Song family hadn't still been somewhat wary of the Pingxi Prince's reputation and dared not act too blatantly,
otherwise, with the Song family's strength, they could have flattened the prince's estate long ago.
"Young Master Ye, please save Yanyu."
Bai Suyin pleaded as well.
Ye Qingyun sighed.
"Actually, this matter is not difficult to resolve at all."
Bai Suyin and Chu Yanyu were both taken aback.
The threat from the Song family had been like needles pricking the backs of everyone in the Pingxi Prince's Estate.
They had never been able to come up with a countermeasure.
Yet in Ye Qingyun's mouth, it didn't seem like a difficult task at all.
"We beg Young Master Ye to untie our knot of confusion!"
Ye Qingyun pointed outside the house.
"Didn't you all see it? The important figures who can help you are standing right outside."
"You shouldn't be asking me for help; you should be asking them."
Chu Yanyu and Bai Suyin were instantly dumbfounded.
They exchanged glances.
What he said made a lot of sense.
Standing outside were the Sect Master of the Profound Sword Sect and the reigning Martial Emperor himself.
As long as they could get these two to lend a hand, mere mortals of the Song family? Could they possibly turn the world upside down?
"Why didn't I think of that earlier?"
Chu Yanyu slapped her own forehead, silently cursing herself for being so slow-witted.
She had even eaten hot pot with Xu Changfeng and Dongfang Su, yet she hadn't thought of asking the two of them for help.
She was truly foolish!
And so, Ye Qingyun led the three women out of the courtyard.
"Sect Master Xu, Your Majesty the Martial Emperor, there is something I'd like to discuss with you both."
Ye Qingyun took the initiative to speak.
After all, Chu Yanyu had asked him for help first.
Besides, these different groups of people had gotten to know each other through him.
No matter what, he had to bridge the gap for Chu Yanyu.
Xu Changfeng and Dongfang Su both looked at Ye Qingyun.
"What instructions does the Saint have?"
Ye Qingyun couldn't be bothered to argue about the title anymore; he was already used to it.
Without further ado, Ye Qingyun told the two men about Chu Yanyu's situation.
"That's how it is. I am merely an idle crane drifting through the clouds, and I don't have the ability to help her, so I can only ask the two of you to extend a helping hand."
When Xu Changfeng and Dongfang Su heard this, they had no idea what to say.
If even you are considered to have no ability, then what does that make us?
Useless trash?
"The Saint can rest assured. Since that Song family is on good terms with the Taihao Sect, I will personally make a trip to the Taihao Sect and have a proper talk with Chen Gongwang."
Xu Changfeng took the lead in expressing his stance.
He could be considered the one who had received the most benefits from Ye Qingyun.
First, he broke through his cultivation realm by relying on the heavenly treasures gifted by Ye Qingyun, winning the Tri-Sect Tournament.
His three disciples had also seen their cultivation soar right here at Ye Qingyun's place.
Even he himself had attained a flash of enlightenment.
With such grace, how could Xu Changfeng possibly refuse such a minor matter?
"Many thanks, Sect Master Xu! Thank you, Sect Master Xu!"
Chu Yanyu was immensely grateful and offered repeated thanks.
Dongfang Su stroked his beard slightly.
"I never imagined that right under my very nose, such unbridled tyranny would occur."
Dongfang Su felt a surge of anger in his heart.
He had been completely in the dark about this matter.
"I will absolutely not sit idly by and ignore this! Since that Song family has friendly relations with Prime Minister Cao Huayuan, I shall go and question Cao Huayuan himself to see if he is the one backing the Song family from behind the scenes, emboldening them to act with such arrogance!"
Chu Yanyu was overjoyed.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"
With Xu Changfeng and Dongfang Su stepping forward, the Pingxi Prince's Estate would no longer face any danger.
No matter how powerful or arrogant the Song family was, in the eyes of Xu Changfeng and Dongfang Su, they were mere ants.
At this moment, the Song family had no idea that their fate had already been neatly arranged.
Having eaten the hot pot and each gaining their own rewards, the group felt thoroughly satisfied and bade farewell to Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun watched them leave.
"Sigh, it's quiet again."
Looking at the empty courtyard, Ye Qingyun felt a slight sense of desolation.
He still very much enjoyed bustling liveliness.
"It's too stuffy up on the mountain; tomorrow I'll go down to the mountain and wander around the markets."
The next day, Ye Qingyun locked up his courtyard gate.
Taking Damao and the Rabbit with him, he headed down the mountain to a local market.
It was very lively here, with a great multitude of pedestrians coming and going from the south and north.
Ye Qingyun came to a teahouse and found a good spot to sit down.
At that moment, a storyteller inside the teahouse was enthusiastically spinning a tale with flying spit.
The guests inside the teahouse were listening with rapt attention.
However, Ye Qingyun burst out laughing while listening.
"What an ancient, moldy story."
At his laughter, the old storyteller immediately looked over at Ye Qingyun.
The other guests present also glared angrily at Ye Qingyun.
"Young Master, What Are You Playing Storyteller For?"
"This young master, what are you laughing at?"
The old storyteller asked with some displeasure.
Ye Qingyun hurriedly shook his head.
"It's nothing, old timer, please continue."
The old storyteller withdrew his gaze and resumed his tale.
Yet after listening for just a moment longer, Ye Qingyun let out another chuckle.
The old storyteller looked over at him once more.
The other guests in the teahouse also glared at Ye Qingyun again.
"Kid, we are listening with rapt attention here, what kind of trouble are you causing?"
A man stood up and rebuked loudly.
Ye Qingyun ignored the man and instead looked at the old storyteller.
"Old sir, you've been telling this particular segment for many years now, haven't you?"
The old storyteller was taken aback.
"What does the young master mean? I have been telling this story for decades, and every time I tell it, it leaves the whole room of guests deeply engrossed. Could it be that the young master finds something to laugh at repeatedly?"
"Do you find my storytelling laughable?"
Ye Qingyun waved his hand.
"Not at all. It's not that your storytelling is laughable, old sir, but rather that this story is simply too dated and stale."
Upon hearing this, the old storyteller immediately sneered.
"Heh, I have been telling stories for thirty years. This story of the Green Sword Knight-errant has been loved by people ever since it came out, enduring through the years without fading. Why does the young master call it dated and stale?"
The other guests also began to chime in with reproaches.
"Who knows where this young man came from, daring to call the story of the Green Sword Knight-errant dated?"
"Such a classic story can be passed down for a hundred years and still remain fresh."
"An ignorant pup running his mouth randomly, heaven knows how his elders raised him."
......
Seeing so many people supporting him, the old storyteller felt even more proud of himself.
"Young man, offer an apology to me here, and today's matter will be considered water under the bridge."
This was a demand for Ye Qingyun to apologize to him.
Ye Qingyun originally didn't want to argue with him over anything.
But if you're going to pull rank and rely on your age to bully others, then I won't stand for it.
"Why should I apologize? Did I say something wrong? Your story is indeed old, cliché, and utterly boring."
"I could do a better job telling one up there myself."
As soon as these words were spoken, the old storyteller burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha, I have been telling stories for so many years, and I've never seen such an arrogant young man."
"Good, good, good! Today I, old man, will yield this spot to you."
"Come, come, let me hear what kind of nonsense an arrogant young man like you can spin."
The old storyteller stepped right down from the platform.
Ye Qingyun was not intimidated at all.
"If I tell it, I tell it. If your rice bowl gets snatched away by me, don't blame me."
The old man smiled contemptuously.
"I, Old Man Huang, have been telling stories for thirty years and make my living off this craft. If you, a young man, can snatch my rice bowl away, I'll kowtow three heavy kowtows to you on the spot."
Ye Qingyun stared at Old Man Huang.
"Is that what you said?"
"I said it."
"Did you all hear it too?"
"All the guests present can serve as witnesses!"
Old Man Huang was full of confidence, completely disbelieving that Ye Qingyun could tell a better story than him.
Are you kidding?
The profession of storytelling might look simple.
But in reality, it was extremely difficult.
Old Man Huang had been telling stories for thirty years, a craft he honed following his father.
He could be considered part of a storytelling family.
Which storyteller nowadays hadn't spent decades of hard work polishing their craft?
"Let's see what this kid can come up with."
"The youngsters of today truly know neither the heights of heaven nor the depths of the earth."
"I bet in a moment he'll be lowering his head in shame and apologizing to Old Man Huang."
......
The crowd of guests all waited to watch a good show.
Standing on the stage, Ye Qingyun was poised and calm, his expression serene.
He picked up the gavel.
Clack!
The crisp sound carried quite a bit of a professional storyteller's flair.
"Today, I, Ye Qingyun, shall tell a tale before you all."
"However, this story I am telling is one that perhaps none of you have ever heard before."
"This story is called The Legend of the Condor Heroes!"
Everyone was taken aback.
The Legend of the Condor Heroes?
Truly unheard of.
And the name itself sounded rather peculiar.
The corners of Old Man Huang's mouth turned down in a smirk.
"Utter nonsense."
Ye Qingyun smiled slightly and began to speak fluently.
"A hundred years ago, there was a dynasty called the Southern Song, facing perilous times of blazing warfare and foreign invasion."
"The story we are telling today took place right in that era."
"On this particular day, amidst howling winds and swirling snow, a Daoist priest walked step by step through the snow, passing by a place called Niujia Village."
"This Niujia Village......"
At first, everyone listened with an attitude of disdain.
But as they listened, everyone gradually became deeply engrossed.
Especially when they heard about the tragic calamities that befell the families of Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian, many people slammed their fists onto the tables in furious indignation.
"This Wanyan Honglie is truly detestable!"
"Damned villain!"
"It's hateful that he wasn't killed by Qiu Chuji!"
.....
Old Man Huang was somewhat dumbfounded.
He hadn't expected the story Ye Qingyun told to be so magnificent and thrilling.
Merely this opening segment had already completely immersed the guests present.
Seeing this, Ye Qingyun smiled inwardly.
"I might not be a professional storyteller, but the books in my head are as vast as an ocean; I could tell stories for a hundred years and never run out."
He continued narrating the tale of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.
He went all the way until the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan engaged in a fierce battle with Qiu Chuji at the Misty Rain Tower, after which both parties agreed to separately search for the descendants of the Guo and Yang families.
"Now, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan journeyed all the way northward toward the northern desert, seeking the lands of the vast frontier."
"Finally, in the northern desert, they found a child—none other than the descendant of the Guo and Yang families from years ago!"
Clack!!!
Ye Qingyun suddenly slammed the gavel down once more, startling the entire room of guests.
"If you wish to know what happens next!"
"Listen to the next installment!"
With that, Ye Qingyun cupped his fists toward the crowd.
Everyone snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream.
"Why did he suddenly stop talking?"
"Keep telling it!"
"Who on earth is the child the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan found?"
"Is he the descendant of Guo Xiaotian? Or the descendant of Yang Tiexin?"
"Hurry up and continue!"
......
The crowd was filled with dissatisfaction.
Just as they were listening with great delight, it was cut off right at this moment—who could endure that?
Ye Qingyun smiled slightly.
"Everyone, I am not actually a professional storyteller."
The crowd was momentarily stunned.
Only then did they react.
The real storyteller, Old Man Huang, was still standing at the back.
They all turned their heads in unison.
They saw that Old Man Huang's face was filled with despondence, his entire person seeming as though he had lost his vitality and spirit.
His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
Yet nothing came out.
Old Man Huang had been deeply shocked by the story told by Ye Qingyun.
Compared to the story Ye Qingyun told, that so-called tale of the Green Sword Knight-errant was indeed far too dated and stale.
There was simply no comparison.
Now this right here was what you called a story!
Old Man Huang suddenly burst into tears.
"For all these years, I, old man, have really been nothing but a frog at the bottom of a well."
Ye Qingyun scratched his head.
Why is he crying now?
Just as he was about to step down from the stage, he saw a middle-aged man hurry over to Ye Qingyun's side and bow deeply to him.
"Young master, I am the manager of this teahouse. Might I ask if you could continue telling a segment for the guests?"
Chapter 17: Dressing as a Man
The teahouse manager had stepped forward.
Originally, he had been watching from the sidelines, and seeing Ye Qingyun go up on stage to speak, he had felt nothing but contempt in his heart.
After all, having watched Old Man Huang tell stories for so many years, he knew the old man's ability very well.
What could a young man like this possibly say up there?
He was bound to make a fool of himself.
Yet he never expected that the effect of Ye Qingyun's storytelling would be good to an absurd degree.
It completely overshadowed Old Man Huang.
Just looking at these guests who were clamoring to keep listening was enough to show how popular the segment Ye Qingyun had just told really was.
This was an effect Old Man Huang had never achieved.
How could the teahouse manager still sit still? He hurried out to invite Ye Qingyun to continue storytelling inside his teahouse.
Teahouses and storytellers had always complemented each other.
For a teahouse to thrive in business, roping in a good storyteller to perform long-term in the establishment was an extremely effective method.
Ye Qingyun shook his head.
"I am not a storyteller. If you want to listen to storytelling, let that old gentleman continue."
With that, Ye Qingyun gracefully stepped down from the stage.
Old Man Huang felt utterly ashamed to show his face.
He knew very well that even if he wanted to go back on stage and tell stories right now, the patrons probably wouldn't want to listen anymore.
The story of The Legend of the Condor Heroes was simply too immersive.
His own moldy, dated stories could never hope to compare.
"Old sir, this junior made a fool of himself just now."
Ye Qingyun was quite polite, bowing deeply to Old Man Huang.
He didn't want to bully anyone.
It was just that a momentary urge to win had gotten the better of him, leading him to go up and tell that segment.
Now that the desired effect had been achieved, naturally he wouldn't push his luck or leave the man without a way to back down.
After all, Old Man Huang made his living by storytelling.
It wouldn't do to ruin someone's rice bowl.
"Sigh, it is I, old man, who should be apologizing to you."
Old Man Huang smiled bitterly, cupping his hands and bowing in return to Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun hurriedly steadied Old Man Huang.
"You mustn't do that."
Old Man Huang sighed.
"This old man would like to ask the young master: is that story of The Legend of the Condor Heroes written by you?"
Ye Qingyun smiled mysteriously.
"Not at all."
"Oh? Then I wonder who authored it?"
Ye Qingyun's gaze grew distant.
"This story was written by an old gentleman surnamed Jin. This man possessed learning that spanned heaven and earth, existing as a being akin to a Saint of Literature."
Old Man Huang wore a look of utter shock.
A Saint of Literature?
That was a being akin to an immortal!
"Where is this elderly Mr. Jin? This old man would like to go pay him a visit."
Ye Qingyun shook his head.
"Elderly Mr. Jin passed away long ago."
Old Man Huang felt a sense of regret.
"That is truly a pity."
Ye Qingyun smiled. "Though elderly Mr. Jin has passed away, he has left countless brilliant and breathtaking stories for us descendants."
Old Man Huang glanced around, and seeing that everyone was still watching them, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Perhaps the young master could go back on stage and tell another segment; otherwise, these guests won't let the young master leave so easily."
Those guests were all staring at Ye Qingyun.
The way they looked at him, they practically wanted to tie him to the stage.
Ye Qingyun felt somewhat helpless as well.
"Alright then, I'll tell one more segment for everyone."
Ye Qingyun stepped back onto the stage.
Before he even spoke, it drew a wave of cheers and applause.
Old Man Huang also sat below with an expectant look on his face, wanting to hear how brilliantly Ye Qingyun would narrate the next part.
Ye Qingyun continued recounting the tale of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.
Everyone listened with undivided attention.