Chapter 458: The Youth Li Ping'an
"Senior Sister Caiyi, how old are your son and daughter now?"
High in the sky, Chen Qianqian sat atop Caiyu Hou's back, asking curiously.
"Almost eighteen," Chu Caiyi replied softly. Her thoughts drifted back to eighteen years ago—to the day her kingdom fell. At that time, she had entrusted her newborn twins to her most loyal palace maid, giving her a large sum of money and instructing her to raise them safely to adulthood.
Over the years, countless nights had passed in longing. Yet, burdened by her fateful constitution—one said to bring ruin to nations—she had never dared to seek them out. She didn't even know how her children were living, or whether they were safe.
Fortunately, Martial Uncle Xiaobai had recently returned with news—they were alive and well.
As long as she reached the Nanyan Kingdom, where her children now resided, she could finally see them again.
Seeing their senior sister lost in thought, Chen Qianqian and Bai Qian remained quiet, not interrupting her.
Bai Qian patted Caiyu Hou's back. "Caiyu, fly faster."
"Understood."
Caiyu Hou responded and immediately quickened his pace.
The Nanyan Kingdom—an inconspicuous mortal nation within the Xuan Continent.
Though cultivators existed within its borders, the vast majority of its people were ordinary mortals. Everyone dreamed of cultivation, yet few ever found a path to it.
Ningzhou City, northern outer district.
This was home to the lower classes—vendors, laborers, and wanderers of all kinds. A chaotic place where corruption and bloodshed intertwined.
As dawn broke, the first light of morning cast a warm glow over the city.
Door after door creaked open as cautious residents peeked outside. Once certain no danger lingered, they began their daily routines.
The streets reeked of blood. Stains, half-dried and dark, marked the cobblestones.
But no one was surprised. Violence had long become a part of life here. In the outer districts of Ningzhou City, gangs and factions clashed each night, fighting endlessly over territory.
Down Wutong Alley, a tall, well-built young man with a handsome face and a long blade at his waist walked calmly toward the alley's depths.
Locals who saw him didn't cower or hide. Instead, they smiled and greeted him warmly.
"Li family boy, you're back."
"Mm."
"Li family boy, have you eaten?"
"I have."
Li Ping'an responded kindly to each greeting, polite and approachable with everyone he met.
Before long, he reached a small courtyard. He knocked rhythmically on the door—three taps, a pause, then two more. Repeating the sequence thrice, he waited.
With a creak, the door opened.
A small, dirt-streaked face peeked out. Upon seeing him, she smiled brightly.
"Brother, you're back!"
"Mm."
Li Ping'an nodded, his gaze soft and full of affection as he looked at his younger sister, Li Yingying.
"Everything fine at home last night?"
"No trouble. The Black Tiger Gang knows this is your home. No one dares to bother us," Li Yingying said obediently. Since their foster mother's passing three years ago, the siblings had relied entirely on one another.
To protect her, Li Ping'an had given up his chance to continue studying and joined the Black Tiger Gang, living a life of blood and danger.
At first, she had been terrified of the dark, but over time, she had grown used to it.
"I brought you something good to eat. Let's go inside."
Li Ping'an entered the courtyard, taking a small bundle from his back.
Li Yingying took it and opened it eagerly. Inside were a basket of steaming meat buns and a roasted chicken, making her eyes light up in delight.
But soon, suspicion crept across her face. "Brother, why so much food today? Weren't you saving money to cultivate—to go to the royal city and find Sister Jiahui?"
Li Ping'an laughed. "I am going to find Xiaohui, but that doesn't mean I should let my little sister go hungry, does it?"
Li Yingying smiled sweetly. "Brother, you're the best. I'll keep saving for you."
"You little money-grubber," he teased, chuckling warmly.
Li Ping'an spoke as he reached out and gently rubbed Li Yingying's head.
The siblings chatted cheerfully as they sat around the stone table, sharing their breakfast.
After the meal, Li Yingying took half the roasted chicken into the kitchen to save it for lunch and dinner.
Meanwhile, Li Ping'an returned to his room to treat his wounds. Before joining the Black Tiger Gang, he had studied a little basic martial arts and medicine, though his focus had once been on reading and study.
But after joining the gang, his life had become one of constant fighting and training.
He did it for two reasons—one, to protect his sister; and two, to save money so he could marry his fiancée, Liu Jiahui.
Once he finished tending his wounds and rested for a while, it was already noon.
Just as he was about to practice the Black Tiger Saber Technique, he heard a series of knocks at the door.
Dong, dong, dong…
"Who is it?"
Li Ping'an asked coldly toward the door.
"Ping'an, it's me," came the familiar voice of a middle-aged man.
Hearing it, a bright smile like sunlight appeared on Li Ping'an's face, and he hurried to open the door.
Creak…
Standing at the entrance was a middle-aged man dressed in silks and jewels.
"Uncle Liu, please, come in."
"No need."
Uncle Liu's tone was cool and distant. "I came today only to tell you one thing. Once it's said, I'll leave."
Li Ping'an, having carved a name for himself within the Black Tiger Gang, was no fool. From that single sentence, he could already sense something was wrong.
"I wonder what Uncle wishes to say?"
Clap, clap…
Uncle Liu clapped his hands. Two servants soon approached, carrying a large chest between them.
"Open it."
"Yes, Master."
The servants obeyed, lifting the lid slowly.
Inside was a full chest of shining silver ingots.
The sight immediately drew the attention of many bystanders. When they saw the silver, several gasped aloud.
Whispers began spreading through the alley.
"How did the fallen Liu family suddenly get so much money?"
"Quiet! I heard the Liu family's eldest daughter caught the eye of an immortal in the royal city. Now that she's been accepted into an immortal sect, the whole Liu clan has risen with her."
"…"
Li Ping'an heard every word clearly, but his expression did not waver. He simply asked in a level voice, "Uncle Liu, what is the meaning of this?"
Uncle Liu smiled faintly. "Ping'an, I won't hide it from you. The rumors are true. Jiahui has entered an immortal sect. They have instructed her to sever all mortal ties.
Years ago, your family lent mine one hundred taels of silver to see us through hardship, and I personally promised to marry Jiahui to you in gratitude.
But fate has taken another path. You two are no longer destined to be together. The least I can do is return tenfold what was given. I hope you won't think it too little."
"This… is Jiahui's decision?"
Li Ping'an asked quietly.
"That's right," Uncle Liu answered without hesitation.
"In that case, let this engagement end here. I want no thousand taels. Just return the one hundred taels I once lent you, along with what I've spent over the years for her sake."
Li Ping'an's calm words stunned everyone present.
Uncle Liu's face, however, darkened. "Ping'an, are you looking down on the Liu family?"
At those words, the atmosphere in the alley instantly changed…
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