Chapter 448 - 276: That Husband of Yours... Is Pretty Good
Chapter 448: Chapter 276: That Husband of Yours... Is Pretty Good
Shui Hetong gave a bitter smile. "Master, you... why must you worry Junior Sister Xiao like that?"
"What do you know?"
"Divination and numerology are a grand Dao—seventy percent truth, thirty percent falsehood. I wasn’t finished speaking, but you had to butt in. Aren’t you turning all my words into lies?"
"Yes... This disciple was wrong..."
Watching the master and disciple bicker, Xiao Jinghong couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Immortal Bai was just as the rumors described: a bit of a scoundrel, with none of the airs of a lofty grandmaster.
Fortunately, he and Li Wudang were the closest of friends, so he wouldn’t hold any ill intentions toward a junior like her.
After a moment’s thought, Xiao Jinghong spoke up, "Master Bai, a few days ago, Granny Shan mentioned you. She said that when you arrived in Shu State, she..."
Before she could finish, Immortal Bai raised a hand to cut her off. "That old hag wishes I would never set foot in Shu State. Pay her no mind."
"But I’m going to do the exact opposite of what she wants and come here openly and honorably."
The moment the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize that Shu State was the territory of the Mountain Race. He quickly changed his tune.
"However, I do have important business to attend to on Wumeng Mountain this time. Jinghong Girl, don’t you dare reveal my whereabouts to her."
"To prevent... ah... to prevent her from sabotaging me in secret."
Hearing this, Xiao Jinghong and Shui Hetong glanced at each other, both clearly sensing the strangeness in Immortal Bai’s words.
It seemed there was a deep and complicated history between Immortal Bai and Granny Shan.
Shui Hetong asked cautiously, "Master, did you and Granny Shan know each other in the past?"
"That’s all ancient history."
"Back when I first entered the Jianghu, my fame was second to none. Naturally, I attracted some people with ulterior motives..."
Immortal Bai noticed the looks from the two juniors and cleared his throat.
"It’s all in the past. No need to bring it up."
"But as for you, Jinghong Girl, I’ve been holed up in the Wind and Rain Tower all these years and have only heard about you from Li the Scoundrel."
"I didn’t even prepare a gift for your wedding, which was truly improper of me."
Xiao Jinghong smiled and shook her head. "Master Bai, you’ve been in seclusion for so long. How could I possibly disturb you with such a worldly matter?"
"Nonsense. Don’t talk about ’disturbing’ me. I’ll just..."
As Immortal Bai spoke, he patted himself down, his old face flushing red. He immediately looked at Shui Hetong and gestured.
"My good disciple, why don’t you represent your master and give her something?"
"..."
Shui Hetong gave a helpless smile. After a moment’s thought, he took a White Jade Square Seal from his robes and placed it on the table.
"This is a token of the Wind and Rain Tower. In the future, if Junior Sister Xiao encounters an urgent matter, you can use this to command the disciples of the Wind and Rain Tower."
Xiao Jinghong looked at him and Immortal Bai, then at the White Jade Square Seal on the table, and didn’t refuse this time.
Although she had spent all these years in the Dingyuan Army, she was still knowledgeable about the affairs of the Jianghu.
Thanks to Immortal Bai, the Wind and Rain Tower had long been one of the most prominent powers in the Jianghu.
Even with Immortal Bai in seclusion for so long, under the management of his few disciples, the Wind and Rain Tower’s influence had spread throughout the Great Wei’s Nine State and Three Prefectures.
There was no shortage of powerful Martial Arts experts among its members.
Just like Shui Hetong before her—two years ago, he had made a name for himself as the "Punch that Topples a Thousand Leagues of Mountains and Rivers."
If she could gain the help of the Wind and Rain Tower, Xiao Jinghong would have a powerful ally in the Jianghu from now on.
"Thank you, Master Bai, Senior Brother Shui."
Seeing her accept it, a smile appeared on Immortal Bai’s face.
"I knew you weren’t as stubborn as your master, girl. Years ago, I tried to persuade him to come keep me company at the Wind and Rain Tower, but he refused no matter what."
"If it weren’t for his letter a few days ago, I would’ve thought he’d died in some forgotten corner of the world."
Xiao Jinghong put away the seal and dared not say a word.
Seeing this, Immortal Bai grew even more animated, listing the "sins" of the "Sword Master" Li Wudang one by one.
He went from their time roaming the Jianghu together as youths to their duel thirty years ago.
There was nostalgia, reminiscence, and plenty of cursing.
Getting worked up, Immortal Bai looked at Xiao Jinghong and was about to start pinching his fingers for a divination. "Come, come! I’m in a good mood today. I’ll read your fortune, girl."
Xiao Jinghong froze for a second, then quickly coughed twice once she realized what was happening.
"Master Bai, please wait. The tea is gone. I’ll have someone refill it for you."
As she spoke, Su Zhenyue "burst" in and refilled the tea for the three of them.
This naturally interrupted Immortal Bai’s "fortune-telling."
After Su Zhenyue left, Immortal Bai lowered his hands and smacked his lips. "Boring, so boring."
"You’re just like your husband, girl. You’re both prejudiced against my divination skills."
"My husband?"
Xiao Jinghong’s heart skipped a beat. "Master Bai, you’ve met my husband?"
Immortal Bai nodded and snorted. "He’s a slippery one, too. Not only did he refuse to let me read his fortune, but he also stopped me from divining his older brother’s."
Xiao Jinghong’s heart relaxed. She smiled and said, "Please forgive him, Master Bai."
"My husband is a scholar who has never practiced Martial Arts. Furthermore, he rarely leaves home and doesn’t understand the ways of the Jianghu."
"If he was discourteous to you, Master Bai, I apologize on his behalf."
Upon hearing this, a strange look appeared on Immortal Bai’s face. He asked, "Your husband has never practiced Martial Arts?"
Xiao Jinghong simply thought he was blaming her for choosing such a husband, so she nodded and explained:
"My husband is from the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family. He has loved reading since he was a child and has indeed never practiced Martial Arts."
"But after coming to Shu State, the family did teach him some Pile Skill, just to keep him fit and healthy."
Xiao Jinghong added a few more words, praising Chen Yi. "Fortunately, my husband has an extremely high aptitude for scholarship."
"Not only has his Calligraphy Dao reached the Realm of Perfection, but he also used it to become an Instructor at Guiyun Academy. Even his poetry is quite accomplished."
"Perhaps you’ve heard of it, Master Bai. The recent ’Song of the Water Melody’ was written by my husband."
Immortal Bai and Shui Hetong, who was beside him, exchanged another glance, their expressions growing even stranger.
"Sounds like your husband is... quite something, hehe..."
"So, he can’t heal the sick and save lives? And he can’t wield blades or brandish spears?"