Chapter Fifty-Seven: An Unexpected Reunion

As evening descended, the various influential guests in and around the courtyard gradually took their leave. Jiang Yu stood in the small yard, gazing toward the horizon where a thousand streaks of crimson seemed as if they might press down from above. Compared to this vast world, he suddenly felt himself insignificant, swallowed beneath the glorious canopy of sunset.

Xia Housheng sat near the tea set, his movements deft as he washed the leaves. The aroma of fresh tea filled the air, and those standing nearby—Xia Qinghan among them—could not help but be captivated. By seniority, Xia Qinghan ought to call Xia Housheng second uncle, but the Xia family had splintered, kinship and shares pitting former relatives against each other, none willing to yield an inch.

Xia Qinghan’s expression was awkward, unsure whether to stay or leave, her delicate fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt.

Liu Shao and a few others, on the other hand, adapted quickly, addressing Jiang Yu as “Boss Jiang” with no sense of shame. They even declared that, so long as Boss Jiang didn’t mind, they’d be content to be his loyal dogs.

As for Lin Dong, the recent events had left him utterly dispirited, as if his soul had fled. He spent his days hiding in his room, sleeping.

After a while, Xia Housheng presented a cup of tea to Jiang Yu. “Master Jiang, I have tracked down the main ingredients you requested. One of them, the Azure Rock Snow Lotus, is controlled by a pharmaceutical company in Yuzhou; it appears they intend to auction it off.”

Yuzhou?

Jiang Yu took a sip of tea, thinking to himself: isn’t Huating Entertainment’s headquarters in Yuzhou? Since he needed to go to Huating Entertainment anyway, he could retrieve the Azure Rock Snow Lotus at the same time. Even if he couldn’t find the remaining herbs, suitable substitutes could be used. So long as he had the Golden Ember of Clear Water, he could concoct the great elixir.

When the pill was complete, the foundation would be laid!

“Once I step into the Foundation Establishment stage and awaken my divine abilities, in this vast world, so long as I avoid large-scale weapons of destruction, nothing can truly harm me. Then, I will no longer need to hide in the shadows.”

Jiang Yu nodded. “In the next couple of days, I’ll set out for Yuzhou. There are some personal matters I need to settle as well.”

Xia Housheng glanced at the alluring figure beside Jiang Yu and suddenly felt a twinge of crisis. In both beauty and charm, Gu Feifei was in no way inferior to Xia Ning. Everyone knew Jiang Yu’s trip was for the matter of Gu Feifei’s ban.

He sighed to himself, thinking, “When I get home, I should remind Xia Ning. With someone as outstanding as Master Jiang, how could women ever be in short supply?”

Everyone harbored their own thoughts.

Xia Housheng asked in a low voice, “Master Jiang, would you like me to accompany you? I have some connections over there.”

Jiang Yu chuckled and shook his head. “Right now, the last thing I lack is contacts. If I so much as beckon, no matter where I am, countless people will scramble to help me.”

Xia Housheng could only offer a wry smile and say nothing more.

“We leave tomorrow. Feifei will accompany me; everyone else will return the same way you came.”

Gu Feifei asked curiously, “What about Ma Tianzong and Li Hao?”

Jiang Yu replied calmly, “Their matters here are not yet resolved. We’ll go ahead; in a few days, they’ll come find us in Yuzhou.”

That night, joy and sorrow were divided among the households.

—

The next morning, while the others were still lost in sleep, Jiang Yu and Gu Feifei quietly slipped away.

Not long after their departure, a slender figure stood at the entrance, lips pressed together, watching their backs recede into the distance. Xia Qinghan had not slept all night; every time she closed her eyes, she saw Jiang Yu slaying Shen Wanan. Tossing and turning, regret consumed her.

“Jiang Yu, do I still have a chance to be your friend?”

A look of sorrow shadowed Xia Qinghan’s face. The morning in Liusha Town was chilly; she hugged herself, standing there for a long time before moving.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yu and Gu Feifei strolled slowly down the street. Since her ban, laughter had been rare for her, but now a radiant smile bloomed on her face. She wanted to taste everything, smell everything, tugging at Jiang Yu’s hand with childlike delight.

“Brother Yu, look—doesn’t it smell delicious?”

Her form of address had also shifted back to the familiar “Brother Yu.”

Jiang Yu smiled, ruffling her silken hair. “Aren’t you worried you’ll gain weight, and your fans won’t like you anymore?”

Gu Feifei pondered. “You’re right. Then you eat for me.”

Jiang Yu could only shake his head, smiling in resignation.

After a morning spent in leisure, they rented an off-road vehicle and set off for Yuzhou. The journey, over a thousand kilometers, would take two or three days with stops along the way.

“This, perhaps, is what I long for most in the mundane world,” Jiang Yu thought as he drove, feeling a peace he hadn’t known in a long time.

Gu Feifei, ever the celebrity, drew attention wherever they went, her radiant beauty easily recognized despite the smear campaigns. Crowds pressed in, hoping for a picture, nearly blocking the way.

Helpless, Jiang Yu bought her a mask. She pouted, reluctant, playfully shaking his arm as if to protest but not daring to say so outright, making Jiang Yu laugh. Anyone familiar with her would have been shocked: the usually aloof and glamorous Gu Feifei could be so charmingly mischievous.

In the end, Jiang Yu compromised: she would wear the mask only when there were crowds; at other times, she could do as she pleased.

And so, they wandered and explored together. Jiang Yu had his reasons—he wanted to make it up, in some small way, to this unfortunate woman.

On the second night, as they neared Yuzhou, they found a local restaurant packed with patrons. After a long wait, they finally found an empty table. Gu Feifei, sitting down with a huff, pointed at her mask, “Bighead Fish, do you expect me to eat with this on?”

The nickname, “Bighead Fish,” was her little way of venting about the mask.

Jiang Yu laughed. “Take it off.”

She punched the air in mock threat, then removed the mask and began ordering off the menu with gusto.

At that moment, a voice full of surprise called out, “Feifei? What are you doing here?”

They turned to see a stylish woman with wavy hair and high heels approaching—sensual and confident.

“Du Yanran?” Gu Feifei exclaimed in astonishment.

Clearly, they knew each other.

Jiang Yu found Du Yanran’s face familiar. After a moment, he recalled seeing her on television—another popular actress, though not as famous as Gu Feifei. The most striking thing, however, was the figure behind Du Yanran: an old acquaintance of Jiang Yu’s.

Sun Wanyue—what was she doing here?

Sun Wanyue also saw Jiang Yu and froze in place.

“Wanyue, come here—why are you just standing there?” Du Yanran called out cheerfully, seating herself beside Gu Feifei and beckoning to Sun Wanyue.

After a moment’s hesitation, Sun Wanyue lowered her head and approached, her voice timid. “You’re here too?”

Jiang Yu nodded coolly.

Du Yanran’s curious gaze flickered between Jiang Yu and Sun Wanyue. She noted his ordinary looks and plain attire, dismissing him with barely concealed disdain. She wondered how such an unimpressive youth could be in Gu Feifei’s company, but said nothing. After all, every celebrity had a few relatives—perhaps he was a younger brother or some other kin.

“Feifei, where have you been?” Du Yanran asked, squeezing her hand in concern.

“I went out to clear my head,” Gu Feifei replied with a smile. “Along the way, I met a friend. Since we’re both headed to Yuzhou, we decided to travel together.”

That explained the presence of the young man.

“Come, join us,” Du Yanran insisted, not waiting for an answer as she tugged Gu Feifei toward a larger table. Jiang Yu could only follow.

Seated around the table were two young men, one of whom was Han Chen.

So, in the end, Sun Wanyue had chosen Han Chen.

“Jiang Yu? What are you doing here?” Han Chen’s surprise quickly gave way to a sneer when he saw Jiang Yu with Gu Feifei. His father had not told him what had happened, so to Han Chen, Jiang Yu was still the outcast of the Jiang family.

“Wanyue, why so quiet?” Han Chen, knowing Jiang Yu had once pursued Sun Wanyue, wrapped an arm around her possessively.

A flicker of panic crossed Sun Wanyue’s eyes. She had witnessed, with her own eyes, Jiang Yu’s supernatural slaying of three assassins that night—a memory still vivid and terrifying.

“N-nothing,” she stammered, lowering her gaze.

Meanwhile, Du Yanran held Gu Feifei’s hand earnestly. “Feifei, what’s wrong with the young master of Huating Entertainment? He’s handsome, powerful, and with him, your future would be limitless.”

Another man, seemingly a well-known actor, chimed in, “She’s right, Feifei. Think about it. Not just anyone can catch the eye of the young master.”