Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 1592: Did You Say It Backwards?

Upon hearing Little Yu’s voice, the expressions of everyone in the hall shifted simultaneously.

Li Meiyan felt bitterness tugging at her heart. This girl... it would be fine if she came back alone, but why did she have to bring Brother Fang with her?

She instinctively glanced towards Xu Tianhuan and his brother.

Xu Tianhuan remained composed, but his younger brother, Xu Tianmu, wore a predatory smirk. Sensing trouble, Li Meiyan quickly signaled to her eldest daughter.

The eldest daughter gently took Xu Tianhuan’s hand, her eyes filled with entreaty. ”Dear, Mr. Fang is a benefactor to my family. Could you please...”

Xu Tianhuan gave her a doting smile. ”A benefactor to your family is a benefactor to me. I know what must be done.”

Turning to Xu Tianmu, his gaze turned icy. ”When we eat, you are to remain silent. Act as if you are a mute.”

Xu Tianmu froze and blurted out, ”How can that be!?”

Xu Tianhuan simply stared him down with a flat, unwavering gaze. At last, Xu Tianmu shut his mouth, though his face remained flushed with resentment.

In the humble-looking front hall, Li Meiyan began handling the fish Little Yu had brought back, with the assistance of several professional cooks Xu Tianhuan had brought along.

Once Fang Chen was seated, Little Yu stood firmly behind him, distancing herself as much as she could from Xu Tianmu.

This little brat... she seems to have grown even prettier, Xu Tianmu thought.

He narrowed his eyes as he scrutinised Little Yu before shifting his gaze to Fang Chen with an air of arrogant judgment. Remembering his brother’s warning, he held his tongue. Behind him stood the green-robed servant with his head bowed in shame.

Meanwhile, Xu Tianhuan was conducting his own internal assessment. The moment he laid eyes on Fang Chen and realised he couldn’t see through the man’s depth, he concluded that this was likely a hidden hermit.

Li Meiyan’s eldest daughter hadn’t interacted much with Fang Chen in the past, as she had been older back then. Now, it wasn’t proper to linger or chat with a stranger. But now, as a wife of the Xu Family who had seen much of the world, she looked at him with mature eyes. She had to admit that Mr. Fang possessed an ethereal quality that even the high officials in the county seat couldn’t match.

”Mr. Fang, my servant has already recounted the incident. He has offended you, and I hope you will not take it to heart,” said Xu Tianhuan, cupping his fist politely.

”It was just a minor misunderstanding,” replied Fang Chen with a casual nod.

Xu Tianhuan continued his conversation with Fang Chen. To test him, he chose specific topics designed to gauge his background. Eventually, he concluded that this man seemed to know very little about the Dongsheng Empire, though he wasn’t sure if Fang Chen was playing dumb.

”Mr. Fang, I’ve practiced martial arts for a few years. Though this servant of mine lacks talent, he has fought and killed dozens of bandits alone.” Xu Tianhuan glanced at the green-robed servant before looking back at Fang Chen. ”Yet, he couldn’t even last half a move against you. It’s clear your martial lineage is quite extraordinary. May I ask which sect you hail from? Perhaps our paths have crossed before.”

Upon hearing that the servant had killed dozens of bandits, Little Yu was startled at first, then burst out laughing. ”Eldest Brother-in-law, are you bragging? He almost spat blood just by touching Mr. Fang. Did he really beat dozens of bandits?”

The servant’s head dropped even lower.

”Little Yu, you haven’t practiced martial arts, so you don’t understand,” explained Xu Tianhuan patiently. ”My servant has the means to hunt down dozens of bandits alone.”

Little Yu looked at Fang Chen. ”Mr. Fang, is that true?”

Seeing that she trusted Mr. Fang more than her own brother-in-law, Li Meiyan’s eldest daughter could only smile wryly.

Fang Chen nodded with a chuckle. ”He could indeed defeat dozens of bandits who have no martial training.”

”He’s actually that strong?” exclaimed Little Yu. She then stuck out her tongue. ”Then Mr. Fang must be even more incredible!”

During dinner, Little Yu spent the entire time placing food into Fang Chen’s bowl. As women, Li Meiyan and her eldest daughter were most sensitive to this and sensed that something was brewing.

Xu Tianmu had been following his brother’s orders to stay quiet, but eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore. He slammed his chopsticks onto the table and yelled, ”I’ve had enough! Brother, we came here to discuss a marriage proposal for me, yet here is Little Yu, constantly serving food to another man. What is the meaning of this!?”

Xu Tianhuan’s face darkened. Li Meiyan and her daughter also looked abhorred.

Little Yu snapped back, ”I would never marry you! I’m going to follow Mr. Fang to practice martial arts. I want to be a sword-wielding heroine of the martial world!”

Then, she made a scornful face at Xu Tianmu.

”A heroine? You’d be lucky to stay alive!” mocked Xu Tianmu.

Slap!

Xu Tianhuan slapped Xu Tianmu so hard that he flew out of his chair and through the door, rolling several meters before coming to a stop. He had been knocked out instantly.

Xu Tianhuan glanced at the servant and commanded, ”Take your master down to rest.”

”Yes!”

The servant, eyes filled with terror, scrambled to pick up Xu Tianmu and hurried away.

The hall fell into a heavy silence. Li Meiyan and her daughter had never known that Xu Tianhuan possessed such terrifying strength. This man, who usually appeared refined, harmless, and respectful to his wife, had just sent a grown man—his own brother, for that fact—flying with one hand.

”I apologise for the spectacle. My sixth brother’s words were too malicious. As his older brother, I had to discipline him harshly,” justified Xu Tianhuan.

”Will the family blame you when they find out?” asked his worried wife.

”Don’t worry, it’s fine.” Xu Tianhuan smiled gently. ”I’m a bit tired, perhaps...”

His wife stood up immediately. ”I’ll take you to rest then.”

She bid farewell to her mother, gave a slight nod to Fang Chen, and left with Xu Tianhuan.

”Brother Fang, the Xu Family is a prominent family in the county, so some of their children have bad tempers. But my eldest son-in-law is truly pure-hearted,” said Li Meiyan apologetically. ”I’m sorry this meal was so unpleasant...”

Fang Chen waved it off. ”It’s no matter. I had some wine before coming, so I’m full.”

He turned to Little Yu. ”Since we’ve eaten and drunk our fill, let’s go for a walk outside.”

”Ok!”

Little Yu followed him out happily.

As the sun began to set over Peach Blossom Village, the mountain’s sea of blossoms took on an ethereal beauty in the golden light.

”Little Yu, Xu Tianhuan is not a good person. But Xu Tianmu is a kind-hearted soul,” said Fang Chen suddenly.

Little Yu froze and stared at him in utter bewilderment. ”Mr. Fang... do you perhaps mean the opposite?”