I Have a Sword

Ye Guan glanced at Zhao Ye but said nothing.

Realizing that Ye Guan wasn't going to walk away, a dark light flickered in Zhao Ye's eyes. He waved his hand, and two Immortal Treasures Pavilion guards approached them.

Zhao Ye looked at them and made a slicing motion across his neck.

The Guanxuan Universe had the Guanxuan Laws, but Zhao Ye's rank was enough for him to kill an ordinary person quietly. It was mere child's play for him as long as it remained hidden. If the victim had no powerful backers, even a scandal could be smoothed over with a little money.

The guards were about to forcibly remove Ye Guan when they froze in place.

An invisible force immobilized them.

The two guards were utterly shocked.

Zhao Ye frowned upon realizing that the guards weren't moving. He was about to speak when Qin Ran, accompanied by a man in luxurious robes, walked into the pavilion.

Upon seeing Qin Ran, Zhao Ye cast a cold glance at Ye Guan before turning toward her. A sycophantic smile immediately appeared on his face. "Lady Qin, Young Master Qin."

Qin Ran nodded slightly before her gaze fell on Ye Guan. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly upon seeing him. She wasn't around during the great battle at the Qingzhou Sword Sect, so she hadn't seen Ye Guan's true face.

Noticing Qin Ran's gaze, Zhao Ye's heart sank, and his desire to kill Ye Guan intensified.

Qin Ran looked at Ye Guan and said, "What a coincidence."

Ye Guan didn't stand up.

"This time, you didn't reserve this seat, Lady Qin," he said with a smile.

Qin Ran stared at Ye Guan and smiled. "So what? If I wish, any seat here can be mine, even a seat that is already occupied. Do you believe me?"

Ye Guan shook his head. "I don't."

Qin Ran said nothing, merely casting a faint glance at Zhao Ye. Eager to cooperate, Zhao Ye stepped aside, picked up a red sign, and placed it on Ye Guan's table in front of him.

"From now on, this seat belongs to Lady Qin."

Qin Ran looked at Ye Guan and smiled. "Honestly, I don't even consider you worth competing with.

"In my eyes, you're not even qualified to spar with me. To be precise, you're not even qualified to speak to me. You have no idea what someone like you looks like in my eyes..."

Qin Ran held up her thumb and forefinger, pinching them together slightly. "Like an ant. If I wanted, I could crush you in a single move. And don't look at me like that. I just like to speak frankly. If you don't like it, then tough luck."

Ye Guan looked at Qin Ran but remained silent.

Zhao Ye standing nearby turned to the guards and roared, "What are you standing there for?! Take him down!"

However, the guards remained motionless.

Qin Ran frowned.

Just then, a large group of Immortal Treasures Pavilion guards poured into the pavilion. They were all clad in Guanxuan Armor with golden spears in hand. To make matters even scarier, they all exuded a murderous aura.

Zhou Yu stood at the helm of them.

The sudden influx of guards stunned everyone present.

When Qin Ran saw Zhou Yu, she froze momentarily. Then, she broke out into a fawning smile. Zhou Yu wasn't the General Manager of Qingzhou Immortal Treasures Pavilion, but his appointment was guaranteed.

The General Manager of Qingzhou was a position far beyond the likes of someone like Zhao Ye.

Qin Ran quickly stepped forward. "Manager Zhou..."

Zhou Yu suddenly glared at her and stomped his foot. "Get lost!"

Qin Ran froze in place, dumbfounded.

Under everyone's puzzled gazes, Zhou Yu rushed to Ye Guan and knelt down. His voice was trembling as he said, "A-academy Master!"

Academy Master?!

Everyone present went silent upon hearing, and they all stared at Ye Guan in disbelief.

Was he the Academy Master?

Just then, Ye Guan's appearance shifted. When Zhao Ye saw that, he looked as if he had been struck by lightning. His mind went blank, and he collapsed to the ground, paralyzed.

Qin Ran's face turned deathly pale. The man in luxurious robes beside her also slumped to the floor.

He's actually the Academy Master?! The Qin Family is finished! Qin Ran thought in despair.

Ye Guan glanced at Zhou Yu and the assembled Guanxuan Guards kneeling before him. "Stand up."

Zhou Yu and the guards stood up. Ye Guan then looked at Qin Ran, her brother, and Zhao Ye.

"Academy Master, these people..." Zhou Yu started.

Ye Guan glanced at the pale, terrified Qin Ran and said, "They spoke harshly, but they didn't maliciously. Punish them lightly."

Then, he turned to Zhao Ye and said, "However, someone who harbors murderous intent against someone else over a trivial matter is evil—execute him immediately."

An immediate execution! Zhao Ye fainted on the spot upon hearing that.

Ye Guan turned to Zhou Yu as if nothing had happened, asking, "How is the Qin family's reputation in Qingzhou?"

Zhou Yu hurriedly replied, "Old Master Qin is a good man. He tries hard to restrain the Qin family's disciples. However, I'm sure you know that in large families and clans, there are always a few individuals who—"

Ye Guan nodded. "I'm from a large family myself. I hold no grudge against clans, sects, or families wanting to grow. It's understandable, after all.

"However, I will not tolerate their arrogant members. Tell the Qin family to take these two away and have them be disciplined properly. Rest assured, the Academy and the Immortal Treasures Pavilion won't target them."

Zhou Yu nodded. "Understood."

"You'll manage Qingzhou's Immortal Treasures Pavilion from now on. I'll be back here eventually, so keep it in order for me."

Zhou Yu was overjoyed, and he bowed deeply, saying, "Rest assured, Academy Master. Although I'm a pragmatic man, I know what should and should not be done."

Ye Guan nodded. "There's nothing wrong with pragmatism as long as you get things done and do them well."

With that, Ye Guan walked away.

Zhou Yu and the others bowed respectfully.

Thud!

Qin Ran finally collapsed to the ground, unable to hold herself up any longer. Not long after, the Qin family sent people to retrieve Qin Ran and her brother. The Qin Family Head, Qin Li, personally brought a substantial gift for Zhou Yu.

Qin Li bowed deeply to Zhou Yu and said, "Manager Zhou, I heard about everything that happened earlier. Thank you for speaking up on behalf of my Qin family. Without you..."

Qin Li sighed.

Zhou Yu glanced at the storage ring on the table and shook his head. "Clan Leader Qin, everyone knows your character; all of Qingzhou is aware of it. I simply spoke the truth. There's no need for this gift."

Qin Li sighed. "Delinquents within the family nearly brought disaster upon us."

"Do you know why the Academy Master spared your two family members?" asked Zhou Yu.

"Please enlighten me."

"The Academy Master did it to send a message to all clans and families. After what happened with the Heavenly Dragon Clan, everyone in the Guanxuan Universe has become anxious. The Academy Master's actions were meant to tell everyone that as long as they abide by the Guanxuan Laws, they have nothing to fear."

"Ah!" Qin Li nodded. "I can see it now."

"Major clans and families are inevitable, but no one wants to see another Heavenly Dragon Clan. What happened to them will serve as a wake-up call for many. The academy will surely make big moves next."

Qin Li smiled faintly. "The Qin Family has no grand ambitions. We only wish to live in peace."

Zhou Yu nodded, and then he waved the storage ring back to Qin Li. "Take this back with you."

"But—" Qin Li started.

"If I take that, you'll end up harming me instead of helping me," Zhou Yu interrupted.

After a moment's hesitation, Qin Li bowed deeply and said, "Regardless, my Qin Clan will never forget your kindness, Manager Zhou."

With that, he picked up the storage ring and left.

Zhou Yu closed his eyes slowly. As he said, he was a pragmatic man, but his goals extended far beyond the immediate future.

***

After leaving the Immortal Treasures Pavilion, Ye Guan strolled along the street until he came to an alleyway. A steamed bun shop was decorated festively nearby, and red banners were hanging from its two wooden pillars.

There was also a celebratory couplet on them that said…

Celebrate the union of a perfect match.

Rejoice in the tying of a lasting bond.

A match made in heaven.

The shop was covered with bright red characters for the word "happiness."

Several banquet tables were set up in front of the shop, and the guests were small merchants from the surrounding area.

Surrounded by a crowd, Aunt Jiao and Uncle Butcher walked out of the shop.

Today, Aunt Jiao was dressed in a bright red dress, while Uncle Butcher was clad in a red robe. He looked exceptionally mirthful, and the smile on his lips couldn't be erased as he glanced surreptitiously at Aunt Jiao beside him.

According to traditions, the bride and groom were expected to go from table to table to greet and toast the guests.

Aunt Jiao followed Uncle Butcher, toasting each table. Along the way, people occasionally made a few bawdy jokes, eliciting hearty laughter from the crowd, which made the air become even livelier.

After finishing the toasts, the two sat down in their chairs.

Just then, Fu Ji emerged from the thatched hut. He still appeared somewhat frail, but he was all smiles.

The crowd's attention landed on Fu Ji.

Fu Ji was now a recognized swordsman!

Moreover, like them, he had once been at the very bottom of society.

Fu Ji's rise to prominence filled them with pride and joy.

Beside Aunt Jiao, several women kept praising Fu Ji, making Aunt Jiao's face bloom with a smile that looked as radiant as a flower.

Fu Ji walked up to the couple and knelt before them.

Uncle Butcher seemed a bit nervous, instinctively wanting to help him up, but Aunt Jiao grabbed his hand to stop him.

Fu Ji kowtowed three times to Aunt Jiao and Uncle Butcher, and then he looked up at them with a wide grin. "Mother, Father, I wish for you to have a long and happy union."

Aunt Jiao's eyes were instantly filled with tears.

Uncle Butcher said nothing, but he was clearly overjoyed, as proven by his grin that reached both his ears.

Just then, an old man holding a pen walked up to Aunt Jiao and Uncle Butcher.

With a puzzled face, he asked, "Aunt Jiao, Butcher, who is this Ye Guan? He brought a wedding gift, had a drink, and then left.

"That young man doesn't seem like a decent fellow—grinning mischievously the whole time. Look at this gift; he's so stingy!

"And another thing, he swiped a dozen or so steamed buns before leaving. That was really unbelievable! If today hadn't been such a festive day, I would have smashed a chair over his head!"

The crowd had no idea what to say.

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