They say it's better to be timely than early.

It happened to be the evening of the seventh day of the seventh month (NT: Qixi festival, celebrating the love story of The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl), with lights shining throughout Hangzhou. Daughters released river lanterns to pray for blessings, and there were also those who pledged love at West Lake, intoxicated by the beautiful scenery.

Hua Che lay on the roof, the tiles a bit rough, but nothing serious. He drank some clear wine, feeling a bit tipsy, and soon felt drowsy.

Chu Binghuan sat beside him, releasing some true essence to protect Hua Che from mosquitoes and insects.

The bright moon hung high, and shooting stars streaked across the sky.

Suddenly, he remembered his past life when he and Hua Che went to the Shangqing Immortal Sect to participate in the disciples' assessment, becoming the focus of the entire event with their outstanding performance.

Compared to the threshold of the Lingxiao Palace, the Shangqing Immortal Sect was much stricter. From the foot of Mount Kunlun to the summit, there were countless traps along the way: poisonous mists, mazes, monsters, ghosts, and even illusions.

Chu Binghuan still remembered when they faced a hundred miles of toxic gas, Hua Che forcefully fed him the only detoxification pill he had.

"Young hero, if you can survive, please take my bones to Hangzhou and give them to my dearest Nanny Jiang."

History always has astonishing similarities.

Chu Binghuan, with no mood to recite his usual mantra, squatted down to check Hua Che's pulse, asking, "Why did you save me?"

Feeling extremely dizzy, Hua Che leaned against the tree stump, closed his eyes, and said, "My mother taught me from a young age to repay kindness. You saved me from those two little rascals, so I should repay you."

Chu Binghuan remembered encountering a monster blocking the road half a month ago, and Hua Che instinctively saved his life. He said, "You've already repaid it."

Hua Che: "A drop of water shall be repaid with a spring."

Chu Binghuan frowned. "It was just a small favour; you didn't need to risk your life. Besides, I've been immune to all poisons since I was five years old. That bit of miasma couldn't harm me."

"What?" Dying Hua Che suddenly played dead. "So, my good deed was all for nothing?"

Chu Binghuan was amused by this reaction but restrained himself. To prevent Hua Che from taking advantage of the situation, he sternly asked, "What do you think?"

“……” Hua Che was left breathless with anger.

Of course, with Chu Binghuan around, the bit of poison Hua Che had inhaled dissipated quickly. The subsequent illusions were extremely dangerous. According to the disciples of the Shangqing Sect, this was the real test before entering the sect.

Only those with lofty ideals, integrity, and no desires could emerge from the illusions. Otherwise, they could go insane or die from excessive bleeding.

Hua Che was quite unhappy with the rule of "pass or die."

Compared with how the sect regarded human life like mustard grass, Chu Binghuan was more worried that Hua Che would stumble inside.

After all, this person had a mischievous streak, far from being virtuous, and he was frivolous and unruly, far from the concept of "no desires."

What Chu Binghuan never expected was that when he emerged from the illusions, Hua Che was already waiting on the Shangqing stage.

"You..." Chu Binghuan could hardly believe his eyes.

To cultivate the Dao, one must sever the seven emotions and six desires. Not to mention that Hua Che was accustomed to reading some licentious books, and his upbringing was filled with worldly desires. If he were to talk about romantic affairs, he could go on endlessly for seven days and nights without repeating.

How could such a person pass the illusions of the Shangqing Sect?

After hesitating for a while, Chu Binghuan asked, " Have you... abandoned your engagement?”

"You mean Chu Tianyu?" Hua Che chuckled. "I didn't really do anything to him. A couple of days ago, I sent a Ling Talisman to Yuntian Shuijing and also sent the token from back then. For the reputation of Yuntian Shuijing, we will claim that we are both men to avoid gossip, which wouldn't be good for Chu Tianyu."

Chu Binghuan hesitated to speak.

"By now, the talisman should be arriving soon! By the way, young hero, we've known each other for so long, and you still haven't told me your name. It feels weird calling you 'young hero' all the time. At least tell me your surname?"

Chu Binghuan looked at Hua Che, but before he could speak, a brilliant golden talisman streaked across the sky. The talisman was folded into the shape of a bird, with a long jade pendant hanging from its tail, perfectly finding its owner with the pendant's aura.

As the talisman dissipated, the jade pendant fell into Chu Binghuan's hands, and countless words appeared in the air.

—"I was supposed to be your future husband, but fate had other plans. We were destined to be separated. Please publicly announce that neither of us is suitable for marriage to avoid malicious rumours, which could harm Lord Chu's reputation. Here's the token returned. See you later in the jianghu."

Chu Binghuan: "..."

Elders of the Shangqing Sect: "..."

"You, you, you..." Wide-eyed, Hua Che pointed at the embarrassed Chu Binghuan, terrified. "You're actually my betrothed?!"

Chu Binghuan: "..."

*

The fireworks in the night sky were a bit dazzling. Hua Che turned his head and happened to see Chu Binghuan lost in thought.

"You've returned home?" Hua Che asked.

Chu Binghuan looked at him and nodded gently.

Hua Che sat up. "I actually have someone to see."

Chu Binghuan instinctively stood up. Seeing his expression, Hua Che laughed. "No, you don't have to go. That place... isn't suitable for the pure Chu Gongzi (NT: young master)."

Chu Binghuan had already guessed.

Hua Che was going to visit the most famous brothel in Hangzhou.

That was also where Hua Mei’er sold herself before she died. Nanny Jiang was the old servant who took care of the courtesans. She had been with Hua Mei’er for over twenty years, as close as a mother. When Hua Mei’er left the brothel, she also redeemed Nanny Jiang, and the two lived alone with their son.

After Hua Mei’er passed away, Nanny Jiang returned to the brothel to work and took care of the eleven-year-old Hua Che.

Unable to bear seeing Nanny Jiang labouring at her age, Hua Che secretly went to work in restaurants, writing letters for people, cleaning pigsties, and clearing horse troughs. He was even splashed with wine by some pretentious customers, scolded by some irritable bosses, and even kidnapped by malicious traffickers.

Much later on, when his so-called biological father approached him, he was already the eldest apprentice brother of the Shangqing Sect, revered as the Immortal Master Hua.

Facing his supposed father, he coldly asked, "When my mother was pregnant with me for ten months and was kicked out of Drunken Mansion, where were you? When my mother passed away, and I roamed around begging for a living, where were you?"

Poor Nanny Jiang worked hard all her life for him and Hua Mei’er, never enjoying a few years of peace, only to suffer because of Hua Che, dying without a complete body.

*

"Young master is back? Quickly, sit down, sit down. Let this old servant pour you some tea." Nanny Jiang was overjoyed, taking the Longjing tea from the servant and filling Hua Che's cup.

Hua Che took out his money bag and handed it to her, saying, "We're not short of money. You don't need to work here anymore. My mother mentioned that you have relatives in Suzhou. Take this money and go to them!"

Nanny Jiang was startled. "Where did you get so much money?"

"From my master!" Hua Che grinned, "I've joined the Lingxiao Palace."

For women like Nanny Jiang, they didn't know much about cultivation matters. For them, as long as it was a sect, it was a sacred place. Moreover, the name "Lingxiao Palace" sounded intimidating, making Nanny Jiang obediently accept it: "But isn't that where the Jade Emperor lives? Young master, don't scare this old servant."

Hua Che patiently explained to her, and Nanny Jiang seemed to understand. She handed back the money bag and said, "I'm an old woman; I don't need so much money. Keep it for yourself and use it in the sect."

Nanny Jiang spoke earnestly, "Relatives in Suzhou are distant relatives that I don't want to turn to. Miss Meier was my mistress, and you are also my master. I just want to take good care of Young Master and stay here."

Hua Che’s eyes welled up with tears, and he stood up to hug Nanny Jiang.

Nanny Jiang chuckled, "Why is Young Master becoming more and more coquettish?"

Hua Che said, "Keep the money. I don't need to arrange anything in the sect. Master is kind, and my martial brothers treat me exceptionally well. They even say which celestial being has nurtured me so well, with rosy lips, white teeth and tender skin, they envy me."

Nanny Jiang was amused.

Before leaving, Nanny Jiang stopped Hua Che. After hesitating for a while, she quietly asked, "Young Master, tell me the truth. Where did you get so much money?"

Hua Che replied, "I said it's from Master's reward, not just for me, but all my martial brothers."

"Not that," Nanny Jiang carefully took out a bundle of silver bills from her bosom, surprising Hua Che, "How did you get this?"

"Didn't you ask them to give it to me?" Nanny Jiang was even more surprised than Hua Che.

Hua Che felt uneasy. "Tell me more."

Nanny Jiang nodded and said, "Old Bao suddenly raised my wages to ten taels a month, which felt odd because even the head mistress didn't earn that much! I asked Old Bao, and she only said I've been working at Drunken Mansion for thirty years and deserve it. Then, a few clients came to Drunken Mansion but didn't call for the girls or go to the second floor for negotiations. They just sat in the lobby and called me over every time, saying I served well and rewarded me with money. Young Master, this three hundred taels of silver is what they gave me."

For common folks, five taels of silver would suffice for their living expenses for a year.

Hua Che couldn't believe it.

Old Bao was notoriously stingy and wouldn't raise wages for no reason. Also, those noblemen who randomly rewarded Nanny Jiang were too abrupt. It was evident they intentionally came to Drunken Mansion to give Nanny Jiang money.

Who would be so generous and kind?

They wouldn't want to reveal their identities, so they would naturally disguise themselves. Asking Nanny Jiang about their appearance wouldn't yield any clues.

It couldn’t be his birth father, could it?

Hua Che felt a chill, instantly dismissing the possibility.

In his past life, he only attracted his real father's attention after becoming famous in the Six Realms. Now, as an unknown soldier, it was impossible.

Hua Che asked, "Do they come regularly?"

Nanny Jiang replied, "Around the middle of each month, from the tenth to the fifteenth."

Hua Che's eyes brightened. With a mischievous glint in his clear eyes, he said, "It's convenient. Master gave me a seven-day break, so I can see where they come from."

 

Translator : DarNan