Chapter 25: Trepidation Upon Approaching Home (Please bookmark and follow the updates)

Before long.

Li Yaozu, his wife, and Wei Tu, as an outside guest, also sat on the stools by the dining table.

"Brother Wei..."

Li Xingye was the first to greet Wei Tu. He did not call him "Wei-ge'er," but instead addressed him as "Brother Wei."

Furthermore, there was not a trace of arrogance on his face.

He was humble and calm.

His hospitality was impeccable.

Wei Tu raised his eyes slightly, feeling an immediate increase in goodwill toward Li Xingye, while inwardly he could not help but sigh—no wonder the local gentry of the county flocked to the Li residence to seek kinship after learning of Li Xingye's results in the county exam.

If he was like this, then Li Xingye's conversations with those gentry must surely be gentle, polite, and elegant.

"I am away from home often, as I have been studying at the prefectural school, so I have not had many opportunities to see you, Brother Wei. I did not expect that despite living in such a humble abode, you would still harbor such great ambitions..."

"After hearing this extraordinary tale from my father, I, too, feel great admiration for you, Brother Wei."

Li Xingye wore a smile. As he spoke, he raised his hand in a gesture of respect, performing a formal bow to Wei Tu amidst the meal.

"With your martial skills, you will surely shine in the military imperial examination during this upcoming county exam. When that time comes... let us go to the prefectural capital together; that way, we can look after one another..."

He spoke sincerely.

Hearing Li Xingye's request, Wei Tu's expression froze slightly. He did not know what to say and felt a sense of awkwardness.

Aside from Shan Yancheng, he had not had much interaction with the scholars of this world. He truly could not discern whether Li Xingye's enthusiasm was perfectly measured or excessive.

It would naturally be good to travel to the prefectural capital with Li Xingye, but he did not wish to endure any more "care" from the Li family.

Had it not been for his current lack of funds and the fact that Xinghua was at the Li residence... he would not have been so eager to knock on the Li family's door.

"My master's eldest son runs a school in the prefectural capital and has a spacious residence..."

"When I left the Shan residence, Brother Yancheng already told me to stay at his place during the prefectural exam, so I will not be troubling Brother Xingye further."

After a moment of thought, Wei Tu shook his head and declined.

As his voice fell.

The smile on Li Xingye's face stiffened slightly, only relaxing once he heard what Li Yaozu said next.

Hearing this, Li Yaozu said, "Scholar Shan has lived in the prefectural capital for a long time. Once Wei-ge'er leaves the Shan residence, given Scholar Shan's personality, he will surely insist that Wei-ge'er stays with him..."

"I was being rash."

"I hope Brother Wei will not take offense."

Li Xingye did not know if his father's words were meant to provide him with an exit or if they were the plain truth, but he did not show any sign of being bothered by it during the meal.

Once the food was served.

The people at the table fell silent, adhering to the traditional etiquette of "no talking while eating."

...

After finishing the meal in the inner quarters.

Wei Tu did not stay in the inner quarters longer than was socially appropriate. After offering a respectful salute, he left the inner quarters under the guidance of the maid, Chunlan.

As he was about to walk out of the inner quarters, Wei Tu seemed to hear something. He paused slightly and looked up at the tall, straight ancient cypress tree planted deep within the inner quarters.

The courtyard walls obscured the main trunk, but its lush branches overtopped the roof tiles, swaying slightly in the moonlight.

Wei Tu shook his head, a look of relief and relaxation appearing on his face as he stepped through the courtyard gate.

Having mastered the Life-Nurturing Cultivation technique, his senses were sharp, and his hearing far exceeded that of an ordinary person.

Otherwise, he would not have discovered the slaughter of the Baiyang County swordsmen by the State officials outside the inn during his trip back home.

Wei Tu heard it: the ancient cypress in the inner quarters had been kicked—given a heavy, violent kick.

And based on his guess, the source of that kick was likely the humble and polite Li Xingye from just now.

"Zixiao's father..."

"That part is certainly true," Wei Tu mused.

...

Arriving at the front courtyard of the Li residence.

In the same hall where he had lived six months ago, Wei Tu saw Xinghua standing by the door holding a lantern.

"Wei-ge'er..."

"You... you're back..."

Seeing Wei Tu, Xinghua did not excitedly rush forward to embrace the man she had known since childhood; instead, she lifted her foot and then recoiled.

Her gaze drifted downward, her eyes seemingly piercing through her purple velvet jacket to see Wei Tu's bare torso.

More than half a year had passed, and Xinghua could see that Wei Tu's chest muscles were harder and larger than when he left home, and his waist was broader. The stitches she had made had been undone and re-sewn, the needlework now even finer and denser...

Familiar.

Yet unfamiliar.

In particular, the vigorous aura of a martial artist surrounding Wei Tu was soul-stirring.

An ordinary person seeing him would feel a sense of trepidation and step aside.

When speaking to him, they would inevitably become more polite and use more humble language.

Xinghua was certain that she, too, was intimidated by this aura. After all, she was a frail woman, a maid from a deep household who had seen little of the world.

Wei Tu stopped in the courtyard. He saw Xinghua's slight retreat and the fearful look in her eyes upon seeing him.

"Eating in the inner quarters was too formal; I didn't get enough to eat. Are there any more pancakes in the house?"

"Bring me a few, and get me some bathwater. I've been traveling all day."

Wei Tu spoke to Xinghua in the tone one would use to command a maid.

Hearing these words, Xinghua felt a slight pang of disappointment, but at the same time, she felt that being by Wei Tu's side meant she was no longer a useless person.

At least she could serve as a rough maid to her husband, who had prospects in the military examinations.

To this, Xinghua was submissive.

She was used to it.

She turned and walked into the house to find the flour pancakes that had just been made in the kitchen fifteen minutes ago.

However.

Just then.

Wei Tu walked up behind her soundlessly and gave her butt a pinch.

Xinghua's face instantly turned bright red. She spun around and glared at Wei Tu, looking displeased.

This time, the force with which Wei Tu pinched her was much heavier than before.

"Wash up and wait for me in bed. I've been pent up at the Shan residence for too long."

Wei Tu spoke shameless, skin-flushing words without the slightest hint of modesty.

"Eat first."

Xinghua stuffed the scalding pancakes into Wei Tu's arms, stomped her foot, and left the hall, obediently running to the maids' washing area to bathe.

"Perhaps..."

"This is Xinghua's 'fear of returning home'..."

Watching Xinghua's retreating figure, Wei Tu shook his head and mused.

He was different from Xinghua; he had received a modern education. The thoughts Xinghua thought she had hidden so deeply could not deceive his eyes.

At this moment.

Xinghua feared him.

She feared that once he achieved fame and success, he would no longer recognize her, his wife of many years.

Half an hour later.

Xinghua entered the hall. She deliberately kept her head low, burying her neck—which had been rubbed red by the soap—into her collar so that Wei Tu would not see it.

Her worries proved unfounded.

After Wei Tu closed the door and blew out the candle, he hoisted her onto his shoulder and tossed her onto the prepared bedding.

A short while later.

The bed swayed amidst the passion.

Late into the night, the two woke halfway from their exhaustion, embracing each other tightly, with none of the awkwardness from a few hours prior.

"Wei-ge'er..."

Xinghua opened her eyes, kissed the back of Wei Tu's head, and continued sleeping, feeling completely content.