Chapter 104: Sugar Figurines
Inside the room, everyone was still trying to process what had just happened.
The elderly woman from the Qingxu Sect stared intently at the now-ended game, unable to believe the outcome.
Though she did not understand the intricacies of array formations, she could clearly perceive the situation on the battlefield.
That mysterious young man hadn’t employed any strange or unfathomable tactics, nor had he done anything extraordinarily shocking—his methods were entirely simple and straightforward.
Yet, in every skirmish, regardless of how uneven the forces were, he always managed to secure a narrow victory with minimal troops. Gradually, he accumulated these small advantages across the various fronts, ultimately achieving overall triumph.
Compared to the old woman’s crude observations, Nangong Rou, who was more versed in the art of formations, had a deeper understanding—and was even more astonished.
Just moments ago, Shen Yu had fought on nine fronts with his remaining forces, each time at a disadvantage, yet somehow managed to scrape out unexpected and narrow victories.
In other words, he had never lost any of those nine battles.
This style of combat, this approach, was practically an overwhelming steamroll.
It meant Shen Yu’s control over the minutest details had reached an astonishing level, and it demonstrated that the Qingxu disciple was fundamentally not on the same plane as him.
A brief silence fell.
As several gazes converged again on the three Qingxu Sect members in the center, the atmosphere turned strangely tense.
Shen Yu said, “You can get up now.”
The old woman narrowed her eyes, flickering uncertainly before slowly replying, “Leave some room for others; it’s better for future encounters.”
Shen Yu’s expression remained indifferent; he said nothing.
“Do you know what that’s called?” Yang Pan’er sneered playfully, “Groveling shamelessly—disgraceful!”
The old woman’s face was expressionless as she calmly responded, “I warned you to watch your words.”
Yang Pan’er lifted her delicate chin defiantly, retorting, “Bah! Shameless ugly hag.”
“Heh...” The old woman snorted coldly, sleeves draping slightly.
In an instant, a cold gleam shot toward the girl’s abdomen.
Though she couldn’t strike a fatal blow against the young girl, inflicting a little pain was no problem.
She had already decided that once the young sect leader grew tired of this mundane girl, she would personally come to teach her proper decorum.
The cold gleam howled through the air.
The dull-looking man behind Nangong Rou opened his eyes slightly but remained unmoved.
—
Shen Yu leaned forward slightly, then suddenly stopped.
The elderly servant of the Yang family, already in his seventies, had stepped protectively in front of Yang Pan’er.
The cold gleam that had shot from the old woman’s sleeve abruptly halted, revealing its true form.
It was a silver needle emitting a captivating light, its tip glowing blue.
“Hmph!”
As the servant’s eyes grew colder, an extremely chilling aura surged forth, quickly filling the spacious room, causing many to feel as if plunged into an ice cellar.
The next moment,
The old woman who had just launched her surprise attack suddenly coughed up fresh blood and crashed into the wall behind her.
Almost simultaneously, the other two young disciples of the Qingxu Sect flew back in unison.
The scene fell into an eerie silence.
Nangong Rou looked at the unassuming old servant with suspicion and astonishment.
She had already uncovered most of the Yang family’s secrets in recent years, but she had never expected this plain-looking servant to possess such formidable cultivation—she was genuinely surprised.
Unlike the shock felt by Nangong Rou and the Qingxu disciples, Shen Yu frowned slightly as he sensed the uncanny coldness in the air. He glanced casually at the servant with an indifferent expression.
The expressionless servant took a step forward and stretched out both hands, but before doing anything further, he was blocked by the dull man from the Nangong family standing nearby.
Nangong Rou smiled and said, “If there are grievances, take them outside. In the Nangong family, such behavior is unacceptable.”
Yang Pan’er, sensing the gravity of the situation, tugged on the servant’s sleeve and whispered, “Uncle Zhao… let it go.”
The servant’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he smiled and said, “Alright.”
...
The three of them left the Square Pavilion, boarded a carriage, and returned to the Yang family.
Yang Pan’er suddenly felt somewhat downcast for no apparent reason.
Earlier, the servant who had displayed immense power at the Square Pavilion bought a few lively sugar figurines on the bustling street, instantly making the young girl beam with delight.
Shen Yu sat inside the carriage, staring at the sugar figurine in his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he took a small bite.
Midway, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted.
It was Uncle Zhao, who had suddenly remembered something and said he needed to handle some matters, turning the return trip into a journey with just two people.
Silence reigned throughout the ride.
Shen Yu broke the quiet first.
He looked at the young girl beside him, who was nibbling on the sugar figurine one bite at a time, and asked curiously, “If you’re unhappy, why pretend not to be?”
Yang Pan’er looked confused.
Shen Yu said calmly, “Depth of feeling can’t be faked.”
The girl lowered her head slightly, hiding her expression.
She gently twirled the sugar figurine with two fingers and spoke with a detached tone, “Well, whenever I was unhappy growing up, Father and Uncle Zhao would buy me delicious sugar figurines and candied hawthorns. I was happy then, but people grow up, and I’m long past the age of loving sweets.”
Yang Pan’er stared intently at the sugar figurine and continued, “But Father and Uncle Zhao want to see me happy. They’re already tired, and I can’t keep being unhappy—that’s childish. Sometimes, when I see Father arguing with those Qingxu Sect people over my marriage, I just think, maybe I should marry off already. After all, I have to marry someday.”
Shen Yu responded, “Aren’t you practicing swordsmanship? If anyone tries to stop you, just cut them down with a single stroke.”
Yang Pan’er wrinkled her nose and snorted, “I know my sword skills aren’t great, but let me tell you, my sister is amazing. She’s cultivating at the Daoist sect and will come back as a powerful cultivator someday. That’s why I’m not afraid of the Qingxu Sect people.”
Shen Yu fell silent for a moment, then said, “Tell me more about the Qingxu Sect.”
Yang Pan’er tilted her head and asked, “Why?”
Shen Yu looked out at the passing scenery and said indifferently, “I’m powerful too. Let’s see if I can help you.”
...
“The leader of the Qingxu Sect, Yan Nantian, is a cultivator at the fifth realm of the Daoist path. The one who wants to marry me, that big wolf Yan Yunyü, is his son.”
“Hmm.”
“But the Qingxu Sect has a strong backer—the Broken Blade Mountain in Eastern Anzhou. You know the Guiyun Immortal Sect, right? Broken Blade Mountain is almost as big a sect as Guiyun Immortal Sect.”
“Anything else?”
“I heard some rumors. The reason Broken Blade Mountain protects the Qingxu Sect so fiercely is that Yan Yunyü was taken as a personal disciple by a female True Immortal from Broken Blade Mountain. But in reality, he’s just that True Immortal’s consort. Really disgusting!”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
“Oh.”
The carriage finally came to a halt.
Before stepping down, Yang Pan’er suddenly turned back and asked puzzled, “How did you know I was pretending to be happy?”
Shen Yu looked at the sugar figurine in his hand, frowning, and said, “Because I can’t understand how anyone could be so happy eating something that tastes this awful.”
Yang Pan’er was silent for a moment, then said resignedly, “You know? The part you bit was overcooked—burnt already.”
The air suddenly grew quiet.
The girl shook her head helplessly and walked away.
Shen Yu remained silent for a moment, then opened his mouth to taste another spot, chewing carefully and muttering to himself, “Still tastes awful.”