"Big Brother, what are you talking about? Hasn't the matter concluded? Why do you still want to go humble yourself and apologize to that person?"
Bai Wei couldn't understand why his brother would do such a thing, and so eagerly at that.
"You fool! Do you not realize he just saved our lives?"
Bai Luo's voice was stern.
"If Young Miss Liu Ji Ya had stripped me of my position just now, both of us would be in grave danger in Jade City. I've worked for the Liu family for years, and in truth, I've offended quite a few enemies. Once I lose the Liu family's protection, those who bear grudges against me will not miss the opportunity to seek revenge."
"Furthermore, managing this street is a lucrative business, and I've profited no small amount of spiritual stones from it. Do you know how many people covet the wealth on my person?"
"Many people know that I am even richer than a Great Grandmaster Realm cultivator. Think about it, how many desperate individuals would risk everything to rob me?"
By the time Bai Luo finished speaking, Bai Wei was drenched in cold sweat.
"Moreover, my going to apologize to Young Master Chu is secondary. The key is that I want to see if I can befriend him," Bai Luo said earnestly.
"Big Brother, I understand." Bai Wei took a deep breath.
"It's good that you understand my intentions; it shows you're sensible," Bai Luo said, pleased.
At the Liu Family Estate
The Liu Family Estate was located in the northern part of Jade City. The entire mansion was magnificent, adorned everywhere with expensive furnishings. Exquisitely refined pavilions and towers could be seen at will. To enhance its beauty, the Liu family had even altered the local topography.
The Liu Family Estate was surrounded by hills, occupying a vast area. The imposing atmosphere of the architecture clearly revealed its solemnity, wealth, and grandeur, far surpassing Chu Hao's and Chu Ling'er's Chu family manor many times over.
To call it an estate was an understatement; this place was more akin to a domain.
Throughout the entire Liu Family Estate, the number of guards and servants alone exceeded a thousand.
This was a clan that had once stood at the pinnacle of Jade City. Though it had declined, its foundations were still far deeper than any other second-rate clan in Jade City.
By the side of a lake, in an exquisite house with a view overlooking the water, a young man sat leisurely on a chair, his eyes holding an ancient tranquility. Across from him, a beautiful young woman held a teapot, wholly focused on the art of brewing tea.
A man and a woman, a table and tea.
Liu Ji Ya's tea brewing skills were superb; she had clearly studied this art seriously. Her every movement was as smooth as flowing water and drifting clouds. Her gentle hands held the teapot, her expression focused, without the slightest distraction.
The tea was clear and limpid, a subtle fragrance wafting from it, transparent and free of impurities. The sight of the tea pouring into the cup was like a clear spring flowing from a cliff, creating a sense of immense comfort.
Chu Hao reached out, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and nodded.
"The tea isn't bad."
This tea possessed a pure taste, followed by a lingering, subtle sweetness—not the sweetness of sugar, but the refreshing sweetness of spring water and herbs. A sweetness was clearly present, yet it was so elusive, making one wonder if it was merely an illusion of taste.
After a single sip, his entire being seemed to relax considerably, and a day's weariness vanished.
Undoubtedly, this type of tea was quite luxurious.
Of course, Chu Hao's comment of "the tea isn't bad" was only in comparison to all the teas he had tasted in this life, over the past sixteen years; this tea could be considered a supreme grade.
If one were to account for all the precious teas he had drunk in his previous life from many years ago, this tea would barely be worth mentioning.
"You went to great lengths to find me. Now that I've come to your Liu family and drunk your tea, speak your mind." Chu Hao disliked beating around the bush and immediately spoke frankly.
From the start, Chu Hao knew that Liu Ji Ya's desire to find him wasn't merely out of admiration, but because she had some request for his assistance. For this girl was one of the few who had seen a very small part of his true capability.
"Young Master Chu possesses extraordinary wisdom; my thoughts must surely be clear to Young Master Chu." Liu Ji Ya set down the teacup, her expression serious.
"I wish to ask Young Master Chu to teach me swordsmanship."
"You are several years older than me, and your cultivation realm far surpasses mine. For me to teach you—are you not afraid of being ridiculed?" Chu Hao said with a smile.
"Learning knows no age, only who has walked further has the greater qualification to be a guide. Young Master Chu is a swordsmanship genius; your To Command the Sword with Will realm is beyond my reach. If Young Master Chu teaches me, it would be my great fortune."
Liu Ji Ya's expression was serious. To Command the Sword with Will was the swordsmanship realm she yearned to achieve. Throughout the entire Yunmeng Nation, the number of such swordsmen was extremely scarce.
As for Jade City, there was only one Zhou Zi Ya, hailed as Jade City's foremost swordsman.
Zhou Zi Ya belonged to the older generation, while Chu Hao was far too young.
Even in legends, Yunmeng foremost swordsmanship genius, Yun Tian, was already 23 when he entered the To Command the Sword with Will realm.
Yun Tian was praised as a swordsmanship genius seen only once in a hundred years!
And Chu Hao... was merely 16!
Without exaggeration, a swordsmanship genius like Chu Hao appears perhaps only once in several centuries, or even a millennium.
With this achievement and talent, Chu Hao was absolutely the foremost swordsman of the younger generation in the current Yunmeng Nation.
When Chu Hao grew up, it was feared that even Zhou Zi Ya would have to look up to him.
Thinking of this, Liu Ji Ya couldn't help but find Liu Qian ridiculous. Liu Qian had always competed with her in the Liu family, but had unfortunately always been suppressed. And today, Liu Qian had just missed an incredibly good opportunity for a counterattack.