NOVPUB36: Chapter 33 Changes in Plot Points (4k two-in-one)_2
36: Chapter 33 Changes in Plot Points (4k two-in-one)_2
Thoughts flitted by as Xu Yuan silently shook his head.
Heh…
how adolescent.
Gathering these random thoughts, his will-spirit reached out and retracted the Source Crystal from the center of the Soul Locking Formation into the Sumeru Ring, after which Xu Yuan sat cross-legged to absorb all the liquid Origin Qi in the room before finally taking a long breath.
Always engrossed in cultivation, it had been over half a month since he arranged for those Protectors to gather information; it was about time he checked on their progress.
Besides seeking information on the main character of the plot, he had also tasked these Protectors with investigating whether the Hook Bars in Jingjiang City had recently groomed any new leading courtesans.
Thinking this, Xu Yuan called out loudly toward the door:
“Someone, go call Xue Yong here.”
….
A quarter hour later,
“Knock, knock, knock—”
The top floor chamber of the Zuixian Pavilion was knocked upon.
“Enter.”
Upon receiving permission, a young man dressed in black, with a handsome face and a serious expression, entered the room.
The young man looked around the room, his gaze resting on the long-haired man leisurely drinking tea in front of the tea tray.
The man’s long black hair cascaded to the floor, and he did not look at the new arrival, continuing to pour and drink his tea on his own.
Seeing the Third Young Master’s pose, a flash of amusement flitted across the eyes of the young man in black.
Rumors had it that the Third Young Master enjoyed imitating his elder brother’s style, and now the young man saw firsthand that the reputation was well deserved, although it amounted to nothing more than a mere imitation, a dog trying to emulate his master.
Stepping forward, Xue Yong bowed slightly and greeted him with a fist wrapped in his palm, saying in a calm voice:
“Third Young Master, we have found the person you previously instructed us to investigate in secret.”
Xu Yuan perked up an eyebrow, sipped the fragrant tea lightly, and asked in an unhurried tone:
“Which one?”
Originally, several Protectors of the Xu Residence were killed or reassigned by Xu Changge, and now these Protectors had been drawn from the ranks of his father’s foster daughter, also known to outsiders as the Fourth Miss, ensuring his basic safety while traveling.
Although there were two great experts, Zhou Chen and Ying’er, to protect him openly and covertly, it couldn’t be that they took care of everything, so naturally, he needed some capable Protectors to deal with those who did not know their place.
Xu Yuan had just utilized these people to inquire about both the protagonist and the whereabouts of a certain “Qing courtesan.”
The young man in black replied quietly:
“It’s the Qing courtesan you previously wanted to find.”
Not the main character of the plot…
Xu Yuan was slightly disappointed, but finding that woman also made him quite satisfied, and he chuckled:
“Is that woman at the Xiao Xiang Pavilion in the southern part of the city?”
The young man shook his head:
“No, she’s here in the Zuixian Pavilion, and tomorrow is her debut day.”
Xu Yuan’s fingers tightened around the porcelain cup for a moment, then he sighed.
Alright, another deviation from the plot he knew was occurring now.
In “Cangyuan Chronicles,” there were many paths where his original self perished in the Wanxing Mountain Range, but there were also many where he was rescued by Xu Changtian.
After returning to Jingjiang City, there were indeed several methods of demise that befell his original self due to the “Qing courtesan” he now mentioned.
The reason was simple, jealousy and rivalry over the protagonist.
The conflicts escalated until, by a twist of fate, he was killed by the protagonist controlled by the player.
Yet, in “Cangyuan Chronicles,” this woman was supposed to appear at the Xiao Xiang Pavilion in the south of the city; now she was unexpectedly at the Zuixian Pavilion in the north.
Over the past month, Xu Yuan had not gone to the Xiao Xiang Pavilion, where his original self frequented, staying instead in the Zuixian Pavilion in the north of the city—and the woman had followed him here.
It was as if…
she came specifically to provoke a conflict between him and the protagonist.
Of course, Xu Yuan knew that it couldn’t be for such a simple reason.
It seemed that the “Qing courtesan,” like Ji Qingyue, had taken an interest in him, the Third Young Master.
But now was not the time to delve into this matter.
Draining the last of his tea, Xu Yuan gazed thoughtfully at the young man in front of him and suddenly asked:
“How long has she been here?”
“Just over half a month,” Xue Yong replied, his voice neutral.
“Over half a month?” Xu Yuan chuckled.
Hearing this reply, a hint of anger slowly rose within him.
It seemed that Xue Yong and his Protectors had utterly neglected the task he had assigned them.
Xu Yuan spent every day cultivating on the top floor of the Zuixian Pavilion, with these Protectors stationed at the key entrances and exits to the top floor.
Staying within the Zuixian Pavilion, even a casual inquiry to the elderly madam of the Pavilion would suffice; considering the status of his identity as the Third Young Master and a major patron, she surely wouldn’t keep secrets.
Helping him, Xu Changtian, to find someone?
What a joke!
If he hadn’t specifically inquired today, he might have waited until the woman made her official debut tomorrow before he received any news.
Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes at Xue Yong and said softly:
“Xue Yong, I recall instructing you to start looking for this woman two ten-day periods ago.
She entered the Zuixian Pavilion half a month ago and you only get this information as she’s about to debut?”
The young man in tight clothes heard the words, glanced at Xu Yuan, bent his body silently, and said:
“I am incompetent, please punish me, young master.”
Although he said as much, his voice was calm, and his gaze was a direct look at Xu Yuan.
As for Xu Yuan’s blame, Xue Yong did not care at all.
The Prime Minister fathered three sons and a daughter, two dragons, a phoenix, and one rat.
He belonged to the fourth young miss and had only been temporarily reassigned to the Third Young Master as a bodyguard because of a kidnapping.
It was common knowledge at the Prime Minister’s Mansion that the fourth young miss looked down on this third brother.
His task was to protect the Third Young Master, not to serve his fancies with women.
His disobedience would simply result in a beating.
Let that worthless Third Young Master strike as he wishes; the sword can’t even injure him.
“….”
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Xu Yuan sat cross-legged on the cushion, his gaze lowered as he toyed with the valuable porcelain cup in his hands, saying nothing for a long time.
His personal experiences made him understand why the original body had been so sensitive and prone to impotent rage.
His status was indeed lofty, but it was an empty shell.
Whether subordinates listened to him was entirely up to their mood.
And most crucially, he was powerless against these people.
Complain?
To complain because they didn’t find you a woman?
Hah.
Of course,
you could beat them in a fit of rage, and indeed, your subordinates wouldn’t dare to fight back, but it would only result in your hands aching.
The gap in cultivation didn’t care about your status.
After a moment of thought, Xu Yuan sighed and suddenly smiled, saying:
“Xue Yong, twenty-two years old, at the peak of Sixth Grade Iron Body, with the advancement into Grade Fifth just around the corner.
My little sister seems to value you highly; very good.
A young talent like you truly has reason to be proud.”
“……”
Xue Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly, surprised that the other party knew his level of cultivation.
Under Xue Yong’s gaze, the Third Young Master across from him slowly stood up and said in a soft voice:
“But since you mention punishment, then so be it…”
Xu Yuan’s cultivation technique quietly circulated as he walked towards Xue Yong with his hands behind his back.
The bewitching blood-colored Origin Qi began to spread over the palms of his hands.
He didn’t know if he could break through the defense of Xue Yong, who had cultivated to the peak of Sixth Grade Iron Body, with his own newly-entered Ninth Grade cultivation, but the other party probably still thought he was an ordinary person and was not likely to use his cultivation technique to defend, so a sudden attack should be able to cause injury.
He must establish his authority.
Otherwise, these subordinates who defied orders would not only be unhelpful, but they might also cause more issues in the future.
Approaching closer,
Xue Yong still looked at the approaching Third Young Master with an indifferent expression, wanting to see an ugly display of frustration and rage.
Xu Yuan gave him a faint smile, the hand enveloped in blood-colored Origin Qi suddenly reaching out from behind!
Time seemed to freeze at that moment,
Xu Yuan’s hand was only halfway extended,
when Zhou Chen, holding a wine gourd, suddenly appeared like a ghost at Xue Yong’s side.
His appearance was still so abrupt.
“….”Xu Yuan.
Zhou Chen shook his head at him.
Then,
he casually slapped the arm that Xue Yong was raising to bow with a gesture of respect.
The air went quiet for an instant,
Xu Yuan saw clearly the transition in Xue Yong’s eyes from disdain, to shock, and then to panic.
“Ah!!!!”
A piercing scream resonated throughout Zuixian Pavilion.
The tremendous force slammed Xue Yong onto the ground, his right arm completely twisted and deformed.
And Zhou Chen, who had done all this, maintained his smile as he glanced at the blood-colored Origin Qi on Xu Yuan’s hand, chuckling as he greeted Xu Yuan:
“Congratulations to the Third Young Master on reaching Ninth Grade.”
Immediately after, he glanced at Xue Yong, who lay on the ground howling like a beaten dog, and leisurely shook his head:
“For a mere Protector to show such disrespect to the Third Young Master…
tsk tsk, are all of the Fourth Young Miss’s subordinates so lacking in discipline?
Heh….”
After that,
Zhou Chen looked towards Xu Yuan, his eyes curving as he casually asked:
“Third Young Master, should this man be crippled, or directly killed?”
