Su Yi saw through Huang Qianjun's thoughts with a single glance and said, "Zhang Yiren said that the military is a cold place, and it's inevitable to feel lonely at times. If you want to indulge yourself tonight, I won't say anything."
Huang Qianjun cleared his throat and spoke with righteousness, "Brother Su, I have already turned over a new leaf. How could I only seek temporary pleasure?"
"You're mistaken. The joys of men and the love of women are common human desires. Suppressing oneself entirely is not good. It applies to men as well as women," Su Yi explained earnestly, correcting him. "You should know that the Daoist tradition has dual cultivation methods, the Buddhist tradition has the Joyful Meditation, the demonic tradition has Yin-Yang cultivation, and even the Confucianists acknowledge that food, men and women, and the desires of people are all part of life. They should be guided by emotions and restrained by rituals."
Su Yi continued, "We cultivators must experience the entanglements of love and emotion. How can we achieve the state of severing emotional ties with our swords if we don't understand and embrace love?"
"When you treat the love and relationships between men and women as a form of cultivation, seeing through it and understanding it, you can then freely enjoy it without crossing boundaries."
He sighed and said, "Love, in a single word, is one of the most formidable challenges on the path of cultivation. It's better to experience the entanglements and hardships of love in your youth. When you truly reach the pinnacle of your cultivation in the future, why would you worry about being harmed by love?"
"I remember an old fellow from the demonic tradition once said, 'What is the highest realm of love? It's just passing through the sea of flowers without getting a single leaf on you.'"
"But I can't agree with that. Wouldn't that make us heartless and cruel, playing with people's emotions?"
Huang Qianjun was thoroughly shaken by what he heard, his eyes wide open, feeling as if he had suddenly gained profound insight.
He subconsciously asked, "Brother Su, what do you think is the highest realm of love?"
Su Yi paused for a moment, patted his shoulder, and with a mysterious look, said, "You'll find out in the future."
Huang Qianjun was stunned, and a sense of regret surged within him. If I had known earlier that Brother Su had such profound understanding of this, why did I bother pretending to be a righteous gentleman?
"That's it then."
Su Yi clasped his hands behind his back and walked back to his room.
The commotion had occurred in the early morning and ended in the early morning, but for Su Yi, the matter was far from over.
The person who had attacked him with the sword talisman must pay the price!
He didn't need to think much to know that the attacker must be connected to Chajin.
After all, it was just yesterday that Chajin had returned empty-handed from the humble abode.
In short, as long as he found Chajin, he would be able to identify the assailant.
And Chajin was at the brothel named Langtaosha!
"Brother, what did Brother Su mean by love?" Feng Xiaoran asked, puzzled.
Both she and Feng Xiaofeng had heard Su Yi's eloquent discourse.
"Uh, you'll know when you grow up," Su Yi awkwardly replied.
Feng Xiaofeng felt a bit embarrassed and found it strange that such matters of love and romance could be so openly discussed by Senior Su. It even seemed to be related to cultivation. How peculiar...
Truly, a few words from a wise person are worth more than ten years of study!
...
Inside the room.
"Qingwan, take a look at this Soul Jade," Su Yi gently tapped the Soul Gourd.
Amidst the white smoke, Qingwan appeared in a blood-colored dress.
When she saw the Soul Jade in Su Yi's hand, her eyes widened, her eyelashes trembled, and a rare excitement appeared on her beautiful and innocent face. She murmured, "Master, this Soul Jade gives me an incredibly familiar feeling, as if it is my birthplace, the place that raised me."
As she spoke, her figure turned into a wisp of light, attempting to enter the Soul Jade, but with a loud bang, she was blocked and stumbled back.
Qingwan held her head, grimacing in pain, looking foolish and innocent, causing Su Yi to shake his head.
He said, "The power of this Soul Jade has been depleted, and it is impossible for you to reside within it again. Take a look, do you recognize the patterns on this Soul Jade?"
Furrowing her brow, Qingwan stared intently and pondered for a while before saying in a bewildered tone, "Wan'er feels it's very familiar, as if I've seen it somewhere before, but I can't recall."
Su Yi sighed inwardly and put away the Soul Jade, saying, "It seems that we have to go find Huo Yanhai and investigate the origin of this Soul Jade to find more clues."
Qingwan whispered, "Master, if it's troublesome, forget about it. When Wan'er becomes stronger, perhaps I will remember some things from the past."
Su Yi smiled and said, "You're considerate of me. Well done."
Blushing, Qingwan lowered her head shyly, thinking to herself that since Master was so good to her, she naturally had to be good to him in return.
Next, Su Yi swallowed some spirit medicine and began to meditate and heal.
Having just experienced a battle and using the Grand Illusory Soul Sword Art three times in a row, his divine soul was exhausted and weakened. Coupled with the surprise attack from the sword talisman treasure, he had sustained minor injuries and needed to take advantage of the time to recuperate.
Otherwise, they might be delayed in their plan to go to Langtaosha tonight.
...
Noon.
Yuan Luoxi and Cheng Wuyong arrived together, carrying stacks of food boxes filled with various delicious dishes.
Everyone gathered around the stone table in the courtyard to have their meal.
During the conversation, Yuan Luoxi and Cheng Wuyong were shocked to learn about the dangerous incident that had occurred at Zhuo'an Cottage earlier that morning.
After some thought, Yuan Luoxi spoke up with a clear voice, "Mr. Su, in my opinion, Zhuo'an Cottage has become a place of trouble. Why don't you and Brother Huang come to stay temporarily at my Yuan family's residence?"
Cheng Wuyong nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right. The Yuan family has several vacant mansions and courtyards in the city. Ordinary people wouldn't dare to approach them easily."
Su Yi shook his head and said, "There's no need for me. If possible, starting today, I would like Feng Shidi and Xiaoran to cultivate at your Yuan family."
He had long intended to entrust Feng Xiaofeng and Feng Xiaoran to the care of the Yuan family before leaving Yunhe County.
Now that Yuan Luoxi brought it up, he directly stated his intentions.
"Mr. Su, rest assured, I promise to treat Feng Big Brother and Xiaoran Little Sister as my own family and won't let them suffer any grievances," Yuan Luoxi quickly assured him.
Feng Xiaoran, however, became anxious and said, "Brother Su Yi, I don't want to be separated from you."
She stared at Su Yi with her deep and beautiful eyes, pleading, "Can I stay by your side, please?"
"Don't you want your big brother anymore?" Su Yi teased.
"Well..." Feng Xiaoran hesitated, struggling within her heart, looking very distressed.
"I will come to see you often in the future," Su Yi gently rubbed the girl's head and said in a warm voice.
Yuan Luoxi felt a tinge of envy in her heart. It was the first time she had seen the esteemed Mr. Su display such tenderness.
"Xiaoran, be obedient," Feng Xiaofeng also persuaded.
In the end, Feng Xiaoran nodded reluctantly, but it was evident that she felt disappointed and gloomy.
After finishing their meal, Feng Xiaofeng packed up their belongings.
He and his sister, Feng Xiaoran, were about to leave with Yuan Luoxi and the others.
"Brother Su Yi, this is the red silk rope that my father made for me when I was a child. Take it with you, and whenever you miss me, just look at it," Feng Xiaoran said, her eyes turning red. She took out a piece of red rope and handed it to Su Yi, reluctantly saying, "Don't worry, both my brother and I will cultivate diligently and won't cause any trouble for Sister Luoxi."
As she spoke, crystal tears welled up and fell from her delicate and fair little face.
Everyone was moved by this scene.
Su Yi raised his hand to wipe away Feng Xiaoran's tears and smiled, saying, "It's not a matter of life and death, so don't cry."
With that, he carefully put away the piece of red rope.
After some thought, he took out the Chenfeng Sword and handed it to Feng Xiaoran, saying seriously, "This sword is called Chenfeng, and it holds special meaning to me. Take good care of it, and in the future, I will come back to retrieve it from you."
"Okay!" Feng Xiaoran held the Chenfeng Sword tightly.
"Feng Shidi, you may go now," Su Yi said with a smile.
Immediately, Yuan Luoxi, Cheng Wuyong, and Feng Xiaofeng and his sister left Zhuo'an Cottage together.
On the way, Feng Xiaoran frequently turned back to look, and her deep and beautiful eyes became teary again...
She held the Chenfeng Sword tightly in her arms.
Watching their figures disappear outside the alley, Huang Qianjun couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental. "I'll be leaving tomorrow too. I really don't know when we will meet again."
"Love and parting have always been the cause of heartache. In life, there will always be joys and sorrows, separations and reunions. Even the mighty immortals and gods cannot truly transcend it," Su Yi shook his head and walked back to his own room.
He had observed the stars of different generations and experienced the impermanence of worldly affairs, joys and sorrows, and separations and reunions.
He thought he had already grown indifferent to all of this, but in the end, he realized that he, too, couldn't escape the ordinary.
Huang Qianjun was taken aback and couldn't help but raise his eyes to look.
In that instant, he inexplicably felt that Su Yi's tall and solitary figure appeared desolate and lonely.
"Don't just stand there, prepare a carriage. We're going to Langtaosha tonight," Su Yi's voice came from afar.
Huang Qianjun was startled but felt his mood inexplicably improve. He also felt excited about tonight's activity.
Langtaosha!
This was the renowned brothel that shook the nineteen cities of Yunhe County...
Evening.
The setting sun's glow.
A carriage stopped in front of the gate of Langtaosha.
Huang Qianjun got off the carriage spiritedly and took a glance at the elegantly decorated and magnificent building, feeling a wave of nostalgia.
Back in the day, he too had ridden a horse and leaned against the bridge, with the whole building beckoning in red sleeves. But now, things had changed, and nothing remained the same...
Su Yi had also stepped down from the carriage. Although it was not yet night, the eaves of Langtaosha were adorned with palace lanterns, each depicting a vivid painting of beautiful women in various poses, exquisite and indescribable.
Many aristocratic young men in gorgeous attire entered the establishment, accompanied by some older gentlemen.
The familiar atmosphere, the familiar sounds of merriment and laughter, and the familiar scenes overwhelmed Huang Qianjun with excitement.
Just as he was about to express his emotions, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure. He couldn't help but freeze for a moment and exclaimed, "Second Young Master Yuan?"
Not far away, a tall and imposing young man turned his head when he saw Su Yi and Huang Qianjun. He appeared slightly bewildered and asked, "Mr. Su, what brings you here?"
Could it be that Mr. Su also enjoys the company of beauties and revels in the flower towers?
I couldn't tell at all!
This person was Yuan Luoyu, Yuan Luoxi's second brother and the heir of the Yuan family.
"What are you here for?" Huang Qianjun countered.
"Oh, well, I..." Yuan Luoyu's expression faltered.
Su Yi couldn't help but shake his head. They were just strolling in the brothel; it wasn't some secretive affair. Why did they both seem so guilty?
"Do you want to join us?" he asked directly.
Yuan Luoyu's sturdy figure trembled, and he hurriedly replied, "It's my great fortune to be able to accompany Mr. Su!"
Huang Qianjun couldn't help but grin.
As a member of the clan and a frequent visitor to the brothel, he could tell that Yuan Luoyu must be extremely happy and excited inside. After all, even if his father caught him, he could proudly say that he was playing with Su Brother...