Chapter 66: Ch66 - Papaya Flavored Senior Brother Gong (4)

Fresh way of flirting! Let’s go!

Translator: KunLin

Editors: Vez, Blarghette

East Sea, Dragon Island.

Water reflected the mountains in a thousand miles of mist, and a ferry moved through the ripples, sighing into the distance.

The Jiang Residence was located in such a painting-like scenery.

“Honored guests, I apologize for being unable to greet you at the dock despite how far you have traveled.” Old Jiang welcomed them and inquired He Cong and Zhu Fengyi on how their Masters were doing. When he heard that everything was well, he smiled and turned to Gou Liang and Yue Qian, the two people he didn’t recognize, “You two are?”

“Haha, I bet you can’t tell, Elder. This is—”

“Senior Brother!”

A surprised voice interrupted He Cong’s sentence.

Si Tubai heard that the additional group coming to provide support had arrived outside the residence, so he came to greet them. His eyes were bright and he quickened his steps, “Senior Brother, you came as well! Why didn’t Dad tell me!”

He was originally feeling nervous about the mission. “The Score of Resonance” was too attractive of a loot and he wasn’t sure if his abilities were enough should something arise.

But when he saw Yue Qian, his heart settled immediately.

“Third Junior Brother.”

Yue Qian saw him and the smile in his eyes became much more sincere.

Old Jiang laughed, “I was wondering which family’s youngster this was, to have such an outstanding temperament. So it’s Peerless! Haha, this old man is growing senile to not recognize you. Come, come, let this old man take a good look at you. I haven’t seen you in five years and you have already grown into a young adult!”

“Yue Qian greets Elder Jiang.”

Yue Qian was helpless when the elder addressed him by his nickname. The two of them cordially exchanged some conventional greetings.

Back then, Yue Qian had gained fame through a single battle, and at the age of barely fourteen, he had placed first on the Heroes Ranking. But in the same year, the Yue Clan was destroyed. Yue Qian infiltrated the Demonic Cult alone, went missing for three years, and was then confined by his Master in the sword arrays when he returned. His fame as the head disciple of the Southern Sword Sect resounded far and wide, but the outsiders who had seen him in the past years were a pitiful few, resulting in situations like this where he was not recognized upon meeting.

Yue Qian roughly explained the reason for their visit and introduced Gou Liang to Old Jiang.

Although he said that she was just a friend, Old Jiang saw the appearance of the “woman” and his eyes darkened.

The wind wouldn’t blow without a hole. Tang Nuo insisted that the Jiang Clan wanted Yue Qian as their son-in-law only because Old Jiang had, on several public occasions, revealed intentions of joining with the Southern Sword Sect through marriage. His words may be directed towards the Southern Sword Sect, but who couldn’t guess that he was eyeing Sect Master Si Tu’s head disciple, Yue Qian?

He never heard of Yue Qian having a close friend of the opposite sex, but one suddenly appeared today, and Gou Liang’s appearance posed a great threat to his granddaughter…

Just as he was thinking of Jiang Suxi, she arrived.

The crisp sound of bells rang and a young girl skipped over. When she entered through the door, she heard her grandpa cough at her. She stuck out her tongue at him and quickly transformed into the image of a proper noble lady, walking over with graceful steps. However, her eyes were mischievous as she scanned the people in the hall, and her face lit up when she saw Yue Qian. Her smile deepened and her innocent and lively appearance put a small smile on everyone’s face.

“Suxi greets grandpa, and the senior brothers…and senior sister?”

The clear and lively voice greeted everyone, but when Jiang Zuxi saw Gou Liang, a hint of confusion appeared in her eyes before it was quickly thrown to the back of her mind.

She straightened her back and walked towards Yue Qian with eager steps. Her excitement was hard to mask, “When I heard that Yue Qian Ge-Ge had come, I couldn’t believe it. Yue Qian Ge-Ge we haven’t met for so long, do you still remember Suxi?”

Gou Liang looked at Yue Qian with a strange smile and Yue Qian reflexively avoided Jiang Suxi’s hand. He greeted her courteously, “Junior Sister Jiang.”

Jiang Suxi continued to press, “Why is Yue Qian Ge-Ge acting so distant? We’ve only been apart for 5 years and you won’t call me little sister anymore?”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

“Suxi.” Old Jiang saw Yue Qian’s awkward expression and stopped her. He smiled, “Look at you, acting like a kid no matter how old you get. Now that you are of marriageable age and Peerless is also an adult, you should call him Senior Brother. How could you act as willfully as you did when you were still a child?”

“Grandpa, Yue Qian Ge-Ge doesn’t like it when people call him Peerless, but you can never correct yourself.”

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The group agreed.

Since Yue Qian and the others were disciples of the same seniority, they weren’t given separate courtyards based on their affiliation and were arranged to live together. However, Gou Liang was a bit difficult to place.

Jiang Suxi said, “I never knew there was a person as beautiful as Senior Sister within the martial arts circle. Meeting Big Sister today is my luck of three lifetimes. Growing up, Suxi has never left the island, so why don’t Big Sister come live with Suxi and tell Suxi about the sceneries outside the island?”

Gou Liang smiled and asked, “Will we chat on the same bed and lie side by side?”

Jiang Suxi was stunned for a moment but smiled even more happily, “That would be great—”

“Absolutely not!”

Yue Qian interrupted their lighthearted chatter and pulled Gou Liang back to his side. He glared at him and apologized to Jiang Suxi, “I apologize, Junior Sister Jiang. She and I will be fine together, there’s no need for special arrangements.”

Jiang Suxi’s eyes widened, “But…”

Si Tubai was equally shocked by this request. His agape mouth was wide enough for a fist to fit inside.

He Cong and the others had expected as much. It had been like this throughout their entire journey. Even if the rules in the Jiang Residence were more stringent than an overnight tavern, could anyone stop the head disciple of the Southern Sword Sect from sharing a room with his “close female friend”?

When they entered their room, Gou Liang teased him, “Hero Yue has broken yet another maiden’s heart.”

Yue Qian retorted, “Whose fault is it?”

Gou Liang was no longer smiling and the space between his brows was like the arctic. He snorted coldly, “Do you find me to be in your way? Yue Qian Ge-Ge?”

Yue Qian’s face became bright red, but he was already used to Gou Liang’s volatile mood and quickly begged for forgiveness, “Brother Ye, don’t tease me anymore. I only met her a few times as a child, there’s no relationship between us.”

“If that little girl heard what you said, her tears would be enough to drown this island.”

“Brother Ye is joking again.”

Yue Qian couldn’t win against him. He got back to business, saying that he was going next door to discuss sect matters with Si Tubai. Before he left, he told Gou Liang to be careful—security may be tight in the Jiang Residence, but it wasn’t impossible for a Demonic Cult disciple to slip in.

Gou Liang waved his hand, showing that he knows.

“Senior Brother!”

Si Tubai looked behind him and when he didn’t see Gou Liang, he huddled by his side and winked, “Senior Brother, who’s that young lady? Are you guys…??”

“It’s complicated, don’t ask about it.” Yue Qian shot down his questions, “When did you arrive and what are Master’s instructions?”

Sect Master Si Tu had a total of 4 direct inheritance disciples.

Among them, Yue Qian was the youngest but his seniority was the highest. His second junior brother and fourth junior sister were past thirty, and they were both married and had their own children. Si Tubai was ranked third and was Si Tu Zhang Tian’s son; he was already twenty-three this year. The reason there was such a disparity between their age was because Si Tu Zhang Tian accepted disciples based on talents and not blood relations, and even Si Tubai was not an exception. He was only formally accepted by his father as a disciple after he showed a talent for the sword at the age of nine and expressed an affinity with Si Tu Zhang Tian’s sword path.

Yue Qian was young, but even as a child, he has always been reliable and wise beyond his years and didn’t struggle to wear the dignity of a Senior Brother at all.

So, when he expressed that he didn’t want to talk about the topic, no matter how curious Si Tubai was, he could only drop it for now and obediently answer his question.

It turned out that Old Jiang had first written to the Southern Sword Sect to ask for help. He only sent letters to the Fan Yin Pavillion and the Nine Underworld Tower after discussing it with Sect Master Si Tu.

This was why Si Tubai had arrived on Dragon Island before them.

Si Tubai said, “Before I left, Dad emphasized that our only priority should be ensuring the safety of Old Jiang and his granddaughter and that we should minimize damage and avoid confrontation with the Demonic Cult. That’s all.”

Yue Qian nodded his head, “Our Southern Sword Sect is hosting the Martial Arts Conference this time, if Old Jiang wishes to come, then he is an honored guest, and naturally we would hold his well-being above all else.”

Si Tubai hesitated before saying, “I saw that in the letter Old Jiang wrote to my Dad, he mentioned making you the Jiang Clan’s son-in-law. Dad didn’t seem to be against it either. Senior Brother, what do you plan to do…”

Yue Qian was stunned for a moment but then said calmly, “For something as important as marriage, Master won’t promise the Jiang Clan with asking for my opinion first. It’s not too late to talk to him about it after I return. Moreover, the “Score of Resonance” is a secret manual for sound cultivation, and is incompatible with a sword sect like ours. If it comes into our possession, it’ll only be a pearl collecting dust while attracting greedy gazes. The Fan Yin Pavillion, on the other hand, has many eligible and talented youths. Taking a thousand steps back, if Old Jiang could not trust outsiders and is set on entrusting his granddaughter to Master, isn’t there still you, Junior Brother?”

“Senior Brother, spare me, it would be disastrous if Yuniang hears this!”

“I thought Miss Qin didn’t like you, what ability did you gain in the two months I was absent that made her change her mind?”

“Haha, even mountains could be moved given enough sincerity. She might not like me now, but that might change in the future.”

“If you could use the same dedication in your sword training, then you wouldn’t be scolded by Master all the time.”

“Senior Brother, please spare me…”

The atmosphere between the pair of Senior and Junior Brothers was harmonious as they chatted. Even after Yue Qian returned to his room, a smile was still visible in his eyes. Gou Liang looked up in the middle of his embroidery and was stunned when he saw this. He smiled and said, “You sure have a good relationship with your Junior Brother.”

“Of course, we grew up together.”

It wasn’t a stretch to say that he couldn’t have his current relationship with his other Juniors without him.

Yue Qian was just a one-year-old kid when he was taken into the sect and was barely old enough to swing a small wooden sword.

His Master only knew how to pass on his knowledge and was clumsy at taking care of other people while his Shi Niang was sickly and was unable to oversee everything. Since his childhood, Yue Qian never took the initiative to get close to someone, and it was only after the other three disciples were taken in and they were arranged to live together did the situation take a turn for the better.

Yue Qian was brought up on the rice and water given to him by his junior brothers and sisters. When Si Tubai was still ten years old, he didn’t respect this Senior Brother at all and said that since he was practically raised by him, he should be his younger brother or son instead. He only changed his tune after Yue Qian pummeled him a few times with his heaven-defying talent.

Yue Qian’s childhood was full of warm memories which was the stark opposite of the original host.

Ye Gui’s childhood was spent slaughtering alongside his comrades to seize a chance of survival for himself.

Gou Liang put away his needle and said dully, “Is that so. But nothing says the people you grew up with can’t become your enemy.”

“Brother Ye, you…”

Yue Qian was startled by the iciness in his eyes, but Gou Liang’s smile blocked his question, “Come over here.”

Yue Qian had a bad premonition when he heard this, but Gou Liang didn’t rush him and passed to him the clothes he had just taken off the embroidery frame instead. “Try it on and see if it fits.”

“F-for me?”

Yue Qian asked in disbelief and was both surprised and happy.

Gou Liang raised his brow, “You don’t want it?”

“Want, I want it!”

Yue Qian snatched it like it was a precious treasure. He was afraid Gou Liang would go back on his words, but it turned out he was overthinking—Gou Liang didn’t only embroider him a robe, but had even prepared socks, shoes, an inner robe, and a belt for him.

The outfit was mainly black with dragon and phoenix embroideries. Yue Qian had seen Gou Liang working on it but he thought the other was making it for himself after growing tired of wearing red. When Yue Qian put it on, his stance unconsciously became more confident and his body inexplicably felt lighter. When he lowered his eyes and saw Gou Liang bending over to help fasten his belt, his palms wouldn’t stop sweating.

“How do I look?”

He smiled at Gou Liang with his signature gentleman appearance.

But Gou Liang frowned. He pinched Yue Qian’s face and scrutinized it from side to side, “You’re not allowed to smile, it’s damn ugly.”

Yue Qian’s smile froze on his face. The facade he had worn for so many years to the point of becoming a mask slowly faded, revealing his truest self—

Arrogant, aloof, and inscrutable.

He stared quietly at Gou Liang. At the bottom of his eyes, clashing with the temperament he exuded, was a tenderness that arose from the tremors of his heart that even he himself failed to detect.

This version of him was really…super handsome.

Gou Liang’s heart fluttered, and his face was a little red. He coughed, “As I thought, black suits you the best.”

“Really? But pity the color doesn’t suit the head disciple of the Southern Sword Sect.”

Yue Qian smiled and lovingly stroked the golden embroideries on the cuffs.

Ever since he left home at a young age, the sword was his companion. He had practically become a sword—cold and sharp even when dyed in hot blood.

He was too precocious and he never saw eye to eye with his peers that were the same age as him. The things they took delight in were only boring to him. When he invented his first style and comprehended sword intent for the first time, his Master began to worry. His sword was too merciless, too indifferent, and too reckless, and despite having never been stained with blood, it was like an asura.

His Master and Shi Niang exhausted their efforts to correct his temperament, and finally, after many years, he learned how to form a natural smile to express joy.

He grew accustomed to wearing only white and he carried a holding fan despite being a swordsman because it was given by his Shi Niang.

She said that he looked like the very picture of a merry youth.

Later, she gave birth to Si Tubai, soon passed away after succumbing to her illness. But the one she was most worried about, even at the end, was Yue Qian.

Yue Qian didn’t want her to worry about him even in the afterlife, so he cooperated with his Master and Shi Niang’s wishes, and as time passed, no matter how he felt on the inside, the sharp edges on the outside had already been ground into smooth corners, creating his reputation of the present as the “Southern Sword Sect Yue Qian who was upright like jade”.

When he exposed himself for Gou Liang to see, his heart was apprehensive. His image reflected in Gou Liang’s eyes was like a stranger to him. But Gou Liang did not conceal his pleased and appreciative gaze when he looked at him which dispelled Yue Qian’s feeling of unease.

Gou Liang admired him for a while until he noticed Jiang Suxi entering the guest courtyard through the monitor. He retracted his gaze and changed into a new set of clothes as well.

After he got dressed, he did a little spin and asked Yue Qian with a face full of smiles, “Does it look good?”

Yue Qian’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times before he found his voice. He averted his eyes and replied, “It looks very nice.”

Gou Liang walked in front of him, “Then why won’t you look at me?”

The redness on Yue Qian’s ears spread to his entire face and extended down his neck. A new layer of sweat covered his palms.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to look, but he didn’t dare to look. He never thought there would be a day where a man would make him realize how it feels to be besotted. It was too embarrassing. Yue Qian was at his wit’s end when Si Tubai saved him from his predicament, “Senior Brother, Junior Sister Jiang came to ask if you and…cough, cough, Miss Ye have rested up enough.”

Yue Qian hastily gave an affirmative reply.

Tang Nuo had gotten ready for the banquet a long time ago and whispered to his Senior Brother, “Who knows what our Peerless Bro is doing inside with Miss Ye. Junior Sister Jiang called for him so many times but he never answer—”

Yue Qian pushed open the door and walked out, and Gou Liang followed behind him. When they entered everyone’s vision, Tang Nuo’s sentence abruptly trailed off, and his eyes widened as he sucked in a breath.

They saw Yue Qian dressed in a black robe with narrow sleeves, and he stood tall with a dignified air. His waist was tied with a red belt, and a dragon formed of golden threads soared through the sky on the front of his robe, while feathers from the wings and tails of a phoenix fluttered on his back.

Gou Liang wore a red dress with wide sleeves and a long skirt. His beautiful waist made him look like a noble peony, and left everyone stunned and breathless. The front of his dress showed a phoenix rising its head to take flight, and on the back was a dragon’s coiling tail—when put together with the embroidery on Yue Qian’s robe, a complete picture was visible of a dragon and a phoenix forming a circle.

The embroideries were so true to life, they made people gasp in astonishment.

When the pair stood together, they seemed to have no need for words. When their gazes meet and they smile at each other with their eyes, no room was left for a third person.

If this wasn’t a match made in heaven, then what was?

Zhu Fengyi was the first to regain his calm. He turned left and right, looking at He Cong, Tang Nuo, and Si Tubai who were still dazed. He then looked at Jiang Suxi who seemed to have lost her will to fight and was staring blankly at the two’s clothes…

He sighed inwardly: Today he witnessed what an effortless victory was like.