19: Chapter 21: Old and Scheming 19: Chapter 21: Old and Scheming Luo Yun Mansion, situated atop the hills of the suburbs of Jinnan City, featured architecture entirely in the traditional classical style.

Small bridges over flowing water, ancient pines encircling, birds chirping amidst fragrant flowers, this was truly a sacred place for cultivating the body and mind.

The perimeter of Luo Yun Mansion was encircled by iron fences, with security patrolling twenty-four hours a day.

Luo Yun Mansion was renowned throughout the province as ‘Heaven on Earth,’ and those who could enter were all geniuses in their respective fields.

There was nothing you could think of that Luo Yun Mansion could not achieve; this place was a den of squandering wealth.

Urban elite white-collar workers could not imagine the lifestyle and attitude to life here; this was truly the upper crust of society.

In an attic, in a private room, two elderly men in their sixties were playing Chinese chess, their demeanor carefree.

Beside them was a three-legged, two-eared incense burner, emitting wisps of smoke from the heart-and-spleen nurturing natural wood incense, complementing the room’s exquisite decorations, akin to an Immortal Realm.

The elderly man in a Zhongshan suit twirled three walnuts in his hand and pressed the cannon chess piece down, ‘bang,’ with a crisp sound.

He laughed warmly, saying, “Ha ha, the cannon charges at the front lines, moving as swiftly as flight!”

The elder with black hair, dressed in a white martial arts uniform, shook his head and laughed, saying, “Xiahou Yuan, everyone calls you the smiling tiger, as walnuts hit the ground and people lose their lives.

In my view, that is not so, not so.

You are far stronger than those hypocritically virtuous Taoists.”

Mister Third took a sip of his six-figure tea, took a deep breath, and said, “To understand me, no one but you could.”

The black-haired elder named Mo Gong, sitting solidly with his hands on his knees, laughed and said, “I’ve heard you’ve troubled a junior, who doesn’t even have a place to eat.

Why is that?”

Mister Third sighed, gazed at the incense burner for a long while, and said, “I believe you’ve already inquired about this lad; what do you think of him?”

“Oh?” expressed Mo Gong with a look of anticipation, “Anyone associated with you, Xiahou Yuan, must be extraordinary, right?”

Mister Third solemnly asked, “If I want this young man to become your disciple, how much of your power could he learn?”

Mo Gong, not hurrying to respond, stood up, and the two walked out of the private room one after the other, overlooking the dazzling night view of the entire Jinnan City, and said cryptically, “More than seventy percent!”

Although Mister Third wore a smile, his eyes conveyed shock and incredulity as he said, “I’ve never seen you praise someone so highly; do you really believe in him that much?”

Mo Gong performed the starting move of Tai Chi, then slowly executed Yang-style Tai Chi, calmly stating, “Grandfather was eighty-eight, a successor of the Li family’s acupuncture.

In his youth, he visited many masters and thereby, established the ‘Xing Yi Fist Manual.”

“Due to his strong sense of justice, he assassinated several national scoundrels, ultimately attracting retaliation from enemies; his relatives were massacred.

Since then, with his son, whose leg was cut off by enemies, he hid his identity in Gancha Town, married a local woman, and lived a life of poverty.”

“His eldest grandson, Li Xiaoqiang, was soaked in top-grade Chinese Yam from childhood, and was physically outstanding.

His younger grandson, Li Xiaopin, possessed Innate Divine Strength, being required to mimic various animals in the mountains for years.”

“Moreover, often sent into the mountains to gather herbs and chop firewood, with Innate Divine Strength coupled with the Major Mastery level Xing Yi Fist Technique, even the kings of special forces couldn’t last ten rounds against him.”

Upon hearing Mo Gong’s words, Mister Third took a deep breath and expressed, “I didn’t expect you to understand more than I do.”

As Mo Gong finished speaking, having just completed a Tai Chi sequence, he laughed and said, “Don’t think I don’t know your tricks, you sly rascal.

You’ve moved faster than me, deservedly known by those in the underworld as the devilish smiling tiger, deep and scheming indeed!”

Both laughed together, saying, “Mutual, mutual!”

…

Li Xiaoqiang arrived at the bus stop, and it wasn’t long before Su Xiaoya got off the bus.

When she saw Li Xiaoqiang, she smiled slightly, “Ke’er asked me to chat with you.”

Li Xiaoqiang nodded slightly, “Let’s walk and talk.

How did she know I was feeling down?”

Su Xiaoya shook her head, “I don’t know either, but what’s troubling you?”

After saying this, she suddenly stopped, lifted her head, and gazed into Li Xiaoqiang’s eyes, a certain beauty in her expression.

Matched with a white shrug, cascading curly hair, and a pair of slim jeans that highlighted her shapely legs—a typical campus style.

Her canvas shoes, cute and obedient, were imprinted with bear patterns, intriguingly designed.

Li Xiaoqiang looked up at the pitch-black night sky, “As I approach the age of thirty, I find that there are more and more things I don’t understand, more areas where I need to strive.

But sometimes, no matter how hard I try, it seems futile, leaving me feeling lost, helpless, and afraid.

My emotions are very complex.”

Hearing this, Su Xiaoya’s beautiful eyes twirled, her eyelashes fluttered twice, revealing a sweet smile, “That means you’ve grown up.

Let me take you somewhere, then you won’t feel lost anymore.”

“Where?” Li Xiaoqiang asked, puzzled.

Su Xiaoya took the initiative to grab Li Xiaoqiang’s hand and strolled along the road.

Before long, the two arrived in front of a café named ‘Master and Servant Coffee Shop.’ Li Xiaoqiang questioned, “To have coffee?”

Su Xiaoya just smiled mysteriously, “Guess?”

Helplessly, Li Xiaoqiang shook his head and walked in.

Once inside the café, the décor was warm, mainly in warm tones, and most of the attendants were dressed in animal costumes, such as rabbits, lambs, dogs, etc., all of which had one thing in common: they were innocently cute.

Su Xiaoya led Li Xiaoqiang to a seat and whispered, “Just wait a moment!”

After saying this, she ran off to the backstage of the café.

Just as Su Xiaoya had entered the backstage, a tall girl peeked outside, chuckled softly, and said, “Xiaoya, is that your boyfriend?

He’s so handsome.”

Blushing, Su Xiaoya replied shyly, “Wenjie, stop teasing me, he’s just a friend.”

“Really?” The purple-haired woman’s eyes lit up, “Then introduce him to me?

Xiaoya, if you and I made it, I promise to treat you to a big meal.”

Hearing this, Su Xiaoya bit her lip, not knowing what to say, her emotions were complicated.

She looked in the direction of Li Xiaoqiang, then back at the purple-haired woman, hesitantly said, “Wen, Wenjie, um…”

The purple-haired woman smiled seductively, “Relax, Wenjie is just teasing you.

How could I steal your boyfriend?

You’re so thin-skinned, if I were you, I would have made it a done deal long ago, hehe, Xiaoya, you better hurry up, I can’t keep my customers waiting too long.”

“Mm!” Su Xiaoya nodded slightly.

Li Xiaoqiang was restless, eagerly anticipating the surprise Su Xiaoya had for him.

However, when Li Xiaoqiang saw Su Xiaoya, he felt his fragile little heart pounding…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep