Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 637 - 248: Burning the Zither and Boiling the Crane (2/2)

Yet, there was an indescribable feeling as well.

Gong Yu might be detached and not fond of speaking now, but there was still a trace of worldliness about her. Her eyes were cold, yet not with a chill that froze one's heart, but as if a whole season's worth of spring snow had melted into her eyes, clear and translucent.

If such a friend were to one day become an Immortal seated in Jade Void, he didn't know whether he should be happy for her or feel a sense of loss.

After thinking it through yet finding no definite answer, he only shook his head and laughed ruefully at himself for worrying unnecessarily over things beyond his control. Whatever choice Gong Yu makes, as a friend, all he could do was watch her move forward.

Besides, even if Gong Yu became an Immortal-like being, it wasn't as if he couldn't visit her.

Shaking his head, he suddenly recalled another matter and his expression became somewhat serious.

If it really was as he thought, and Gong Yu could see through disguises by ignoring external appearances.

Then, not only the identity of Blade Madman of Fufeng, everyone like Yi Nanping, Young Master Ying Lie of the Giant Whale Gang, each and everyone appearing in front of Gong Yu would be exposed right away, even if he turned into ashes, she might recognize him at a glance.

Thinking of how he had intentionally behaved wildly and arrogantly in other identities to differentiate from his identity as a keeper of the books, Wang Anfeng's lips couldn't help but twitch slightly, his face showing a confused look.

Gong Yu had just softly said, "Nice swordsmanship."

Was it the book keeper she was familiar with that she saw in her eyes at that time, or the arrogant madman who had killed someone in the street, threatened the City Commandant, and strode away?

Thinking about the words he himself had spoken, Wang Anfeng felt his face inexplicably heating up, opened his mouth, then lowered his head and directly knocked it on the wooden table, without getting up, almost completely collapsing.

Originally, when he was disguised, he was comfortable and did not think anything was wrong.

Now that his good friend had seen through him, he felt increasingly embarrassed, his face almost catching fire. If it were winter, perhaps white steam would even drift up from his head, like a volcanic hot spring in the wintertime.

Wang Anfeng seemed to have given up on reasoning entirely, lying on the table for at least the duration of an incense stick, decided in his heart that he would never use the identity of Mad Blade in front of Gong Yu again—this time…

This time, it would be as if nothing had happened…

Wang Anfeng took a lot of effort to convince himself to forget those actions and words he hated remembering, poured another tea to calm himself, but then recalled what Yuchi Jie had just fervently twisted his words.

Saying something like, "I'll kill you within three days, and I'll scatter your damn ashes…"

His body trembled, and he crushed the tea cup in his hand to powder. After a moment of silence, a grinding of teeth could be heard:

"Yuchi, Jie…"

......…

Mei Wangsheng carried his sword and returned to the Mei Family compound.

The atmosphere in the mansion was subtly restless.

The deed he had just committed could not be hidden from his family, and he had no intention of hiding it. The entire Mei Mansion fell silent, especially the women who used to whisper in their husbands' ears about how Mr. Mei San should not be trifled with, their faces turned slightly pale.

Entering through the main gate of Mei Mansion, a path hidden in the shade of trees led directly to the deepest parts of the residence.

This path, paved with white stone, was quite spacious, usually wide enough to accommodate several people walking side by side, but now only Mei Wangsheng walked slowly alone.

He greeted others as usual, nodding amiably, not causing panic, but the faces of those who returned the gesture to Mr. Mei, the third grandson, were filled with discomfort.

No one expected that Mr. Mei San, known for his good temper and daily routine of playing the zither and raising cranes, would exhibit such fierceness once he acted.

That sword strike was so decisive that it almost made them doubt if it hadn't been for considering Mei Mansion's stance, would that strike have taken more than just the hair?

In the depths of some people's hearts, another thought grew uncontrollably.

Was Mei Wangsheng's main reason for cutting off those noble scions' hair truly because of the Mei Family?

Fotunately, such a rebellious thought only flashed through their minds for a moment before they dared not ponder it any further.

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The expression on their faces, however, became even more respectful, almost as if they were facing the Family Head and the great grandfather.

They lowered their gaze, not daring to look at him, and only after Mei Wangsheng had walked far away did they dare to breathe out carefully, suddenly realizing that their foreheads were covered in cold sweat.

The old servant quietly relayed these observations to the elderly great grandfather of Mei Mansion, who held his tea cup with one hand, listening somewhat distractedly.

Mei Lianhua sat next to the elderly man, her hands deftly managing the tea, her face calm, but her heart was the most shaken; she had never imagined that her stern and traditional great uncle would do such a thing.

This was almost like declaring war against nearly half of the noble families in Wanling City.

Though on the surface, Mei Wangsheng had only cut off a few younger generation's hair and reprimanded them, shaming only those dozen or so individuals.

Yet almost all of those individuals came from noble families with generations of government officials and renowned scholars. Over centuries, these connections had formed a vast web that enveloped all sectors of Wanling City.

Mei Lianhua could almost feel the oppressive sensation of an impending storm.

Looking at the elderly man beside her, she noticed that his expression remained calm, like an ancient well without ripples.

Mei Wangsheng walked slowly into his courtyard. Although small, the courtyard had all the amenities like a pavilion of green stone, a flowing water bamboo grove, and beneath the pavilion could be found a stream suitable for floating wine cups; beside the green stone was a stretch of pure bamboo grove, and on the stone was an ancient zither from three centuries ago.

The sound was clear, as if it were the sound of gold and jade.

This was nearly the ideal, beautiful dwelling that every scholar in Jiangnan aspired to.

Eighteen years ago, when he had returned to the family, he left the city dressed in white and returned still in white. The courtyard was very tidy, which he disliked; with one sword strike, he split the ground, and the great grandfather understood his feelings, personally arranging for the bamboo of the highest quality to be brought in.

He wanted to raise cranes, so he got the immortal cranes from Zhu Sha; if he played the zither, it was on an ancient instrument from three hundred years ago. At that time, the family faced trials and wasn't wealthy, yet everything he desired was of the finest quality, causing the wives of the other branches behind closed doors to slander him.

Yet eighteen years had passed, and while those wives of other branches still spoke ill of others, he remained the beloved Mr. Mei San of the great grandfather.

During this time, the great grandfather occasionally asked him if he was willing to re-enter office, but he always vaguely avoided the question. The day after each inquiry, someone would send rare treasures from different places; the old man's attitude toward him was almost one of indulgence.

It had been eighteen years.

Eighteen years.

Mei Wangsheng silently repeated twice, raising his eyes to look at the courtyard he had been enraptured with for so long. Raising his right hand, he lightly placed it on the hilt of his sword and sang in a soft voice:

"Eighteen springs and autumns, almost all a dream as the millet cooked..."

That day, a streak of sword light soared into the sky from Mei Mansion.

In the city, some casually talked about how Mr. Mei San from the Mei Family, who had been idly playing the zither and raising cranes for eighteen years, had gone mad again, having committed an extravagant act of destroying his zither and boiling his cranes. However, it was later heard that the elderly great grandfather personally went out, not returning until sunset.

Thereafter, Mr. Mei San, who had been retired at home for eighteen years, was seen wearing a light scarlet military officer's uniform.

PS: Today's second update is presented…