Chapter 1: Young Gentleman in Yu State City

Editor: Atlas Studios

The thirteenth year of Xingping, Yu State City.

It had been ten years since the flood disaster in the third year of Xingping.

Brilliant sunlight spread over the green tiles and red walls, and standing on the Yu State Bridge, one could see the suddenly protruding eaves, the high-flying shop banners, the glittering carriages and horses, and the endless stream of pedestrians.

The streets on both sides of the Yu State River were lined with tea houses, taverns, pawnshops, and workshops, and there were quite a few small vendors with large umbrellas in the open spaces nearby.

This bustling street extended along the Yu State River to the quiet suburbs outside the city, but the streets were still crowded: there were people carrying burdens, driving ox carts to deliver goods, driving mules to pull carts, and stopping to admire the scenery of the Yu State River…

Centered around the tall city gate tower, the neighboring buildings formed a unique pattern of courtyards and alleys.

On the west side of the street, there was a somewhat dilapidated plaque with three large characters engraved on it: ‘Jishi Hall.’

“Clack… clack!”

A series of abacus beads clicking came from within the medicine shop.

The one handling the abacus was a young man. The youth’s appearance was very handsome, with well-defined features. The most distinctive were his eyes, long and narrow with deep-set corners. When his eyelashes softly closed, it was like clouds covering the moon.

The youth was named An Jing.

At this moment, he stood at the counter of the medicine shop, clicking the abacus while recording the ledger.

“Three catties of madder root are three hundred copper coins.”

“One catty of cassia flower is one hundred and fifty copper coins.”

“There’s still stock of coriander; let’s skip the purchase this time and maybe save some money.”

“Clack! Clack!”

……

“Dr. An, do you want a wife or not?”

Just then, an urgent voice came from outside the wooden curtain.

An Jing looked up to see a withered, thin middle-aged man rushing in.

“As long as you say the word, I will bring her to you immediately.”

An Jing looked up, smiling, “If you’re sending me one, why not send a few more?”

This man was Niu Fu, an old resident of Yu State City and a well-known matchmaker. Some time ago, Niu Fu had contracted a severe cold that no doctor in the city could cure, until An Jing saved him from the brink of death.

“Wasn’t it that you failed several arranged matches before? This time I’ve found a good family,” Niu Fu said excitedly. “The young lady from that family just moved here recently and hasn’t been betrothed yet. She’s a real beauty, the likes of which I’ve never seen…”

An Jing asked suspiciously, “Uncle Niu, is it true?”

Recently, An Jing had been through four or five matchmaking attempts, all ending in failure.

When it comes to men and women, it’s about two things.

Whether she could naturally attract the man, and whether the man could control her.

Niu Fu spat excitedly, “This girl is named Zhao Qingmei, from a scholarly family. She excels at needlework, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is a true lady from a noble family.”

“Dr. An, if you marry her, it will be like you’ve lit incense for eight lifetimes of blessings.”

An Jing was puzzled, “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

A noble lady—elegant, gentle, and enchanting—she sounded like the ideal woman for any man…

“How could I lie to you? You are my savior.” Niu Fu patted his chest and assured, “If I speak even one false word, may I be struck by lightning.”

“Alright, let’s meet first.” An Jing nodded.

After all, An Jing knew very well that practice is the only criterion for testing truth.

“Dr. An, since you agree, I’ll arrange for you two to meet tomorrow at the Datong Teahouse. Don’t forget,” Niu Fu said with a face full of smiles. “I’ll go back and inform the young lady, she’s waiting for my reply.”

“Uncle Niu, wait!”

“Tomorrow, you tidy up, and I’ll bring her over,” Niu Fu said as he rushed off, not giving An Jing another chance to speak.

“This Uncle Niu.”

An Jing watched the hurried back and sighed, “So impatient, I didn’t even get to ask clearly.”

An Jing, that was his name in this life.

The original owner of this body had long been dead in the flood, and it was after his soul crossed over that he inhabited this body.

When he first arrived in this world, he experienced the greatest plague in Jiangnan Dao in decades, losing his parents in the epidemic. He survived by luck and opened a medical clinic in Yu State City, living a peaceful life.

In An Jing’s mind, there was a unique Earth Book.

With a single thought, the black Earth Book in his mind opened to the first page.

Cultivation: First Grade

Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining

Root Bone: Born Genius

Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Daluo Heart Method, Concealing Qi Technique

Prompt One: The host’s Life Fate has not taken root yet (remaining one year). Do not let anyone know the host’s identity when performing martial arts, or black karma will be received.

Prompt Two: Recently, a marriage opportunity will arise. If successful, the host will receive green karma.

…..

Black karma brings misfortune; it could lead to fatal disasters and unforeseen calamities.

Following the Earth Book’s guidance, An Jing cultivated step by step, practicing medicine in Yu State City, never exposing his true cultivation and strength. To the ordinary people, he was just an ordinary doctor, and no one knew that Dr. An was actually a First Grade expert.

Just last night, the Earth Book had shown this second prompt, so he did not refuse this marriage proposal.

Green karma was the greatest chance he had encountered so far and could possibly advance his cultivation further.

“I wonder what this green karma is. Still, marrying such a beautiful wife wouldn’t be a loss…”

An Jing put away the ledger and checked the weather, “It looks like it’s going to rain. I need to tidy up.”

……..

Yu State River, in the rain.

Yu State River, also known as Yu State Creek, covered about seventy square kilometers. The Yu State River ran through the entire city, with scenery distributed along both banks. If one took a black awning boat from south to north, the scenery would be clear and serene, moving at a seemingly fast yet leisurely pace.

“Drip! Drip!”

The raindrops fell fast and in rhythm on the black awning, not heavy but creating a comfortable light music.

A young woman stood at the bow of the boat, eyes fixed on the misty Yu State City.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

She was elegantly beautiful, exuding a kind of ethereal charm.

Like a new moon enveloped by clouds, like flowers adorned with snow, indescribably enchanting.

“Tan Yun, do you know? Of all these years, the most unforgettable thing is the rain in Jiangnan.” The woman’s jade hand reached out, letting the raindrops fall into her palm as she murmured, “And the most unforgettable person…”

The maid beside her looked at the boundless mist, somewhat puzzled. People could not always understand each other’s feelings.

Just like at this moment, she didn’t know why their Sect Hierarch loved the rain, nor why she went to such lengths to marry an ordinary doctor.

Could it be that she wanted to experience the life of an ordinary person?

But he was just an ordinary doctor, a nobody. Their identities and positions seemed insurmountably different.

She had many doubts and confusions in her heart, but she knew it was not her place to ask.

“Sect Hierarch, this rain seems like it will last for several days,” Tan Yun said softly.

Tan Yun, ranked eighty-fourth on the Tiger List of the Great Yan Martial World, was renowned in Jianghu for her Futu Sword. Yet, in front of the woman, she was cautious and respectful.

“Let it rain a while longer,” the woman said calmly. “After the rain, the sky will clear.”

“After the rain, the sky will clear…”

Tan Yun mused aloud.

Did the Sect Hierarch mean that our Demon Sect has passed its rainy days and will now welcome its bright days?

Decades ago, the Demon Sect was driven out of the Great Yan Martial World, and three years ago, the Sect Hierarch mysteriously disappeared, leaving the once-famous Demon Sect in decline, until the new Sect Hierarch took over and began to restore its vitality.

A breeze blew, tangling a few strands of hair and causing gentle ripples on the water.

“Tan Yun,” the woman suddenly said.

“Yes, Master,” Tan Yun replied quickly.

“Did you hear that?” “Hear what?” Tan Yun was stunned and quickly looked around.

With her Second Grade cultivation, very few in the world could hide within three zhang of her.

The woman looked up, took a deep breath, and savored it greedily.

“The sound of the wind passing through the bones, it’s truly addictive.”

“Yu State is indeed a wonderful place.”

….