Chapter 163: He, He Touched My Hand

Chapter 163 He, Touching My Hand...

As the words faded away,

there emerged two young women in green dresses, their silhouettes graceful as they descended from the luxurious sedan chair.

An oil-paper umbrella was raised.

Then came a tall man in black brocade, he threw off the carriage curtain and leaped down from the horse-drawn cart.

His face was pale, his eyebrows sharp and eyes bright, his appearance undeniably handsome.

Yet those long, slender fingers, those eyes like glowing crimson phoenix feathers, lent him a certain dark, brooding charm.

Especially under the gloomy, overcast sky, he seemed to cast a shadow of his own.

He stood beside one of the maids, urging the carriage forward: "Third Sister, come along."

"Coming."

Her voice carried a cool, detached tone.

A woman in a long gown, her face veiled save for a pair of peach blossom eyes, stepped down from the cart.

Her jet-black hair was adorned with a phoenix crown and pearls, two neat strands falling over her ears, giving her an air of stern elegance.

She glanced at the man and said coldly: "Second Brother, the reason your family came to Shu Zhou isn't for a marriage alliance with the Xiao family."

The handsome man heard her words and a faint smile touched his lips:

"Do you not think the young mistress of the Xiao family would suit me well?"

"Not at all."

Upon hearing the cool woman's words, the dark, melancholic man didn't show any resentment. Instead, he smiled and nodded:

"Third Sister speaks true. Xiao Wan'er indeed doesn't suit me."

"Not to mention her sickly, frail body—our Xiao family, even in its current state of weakness, doesn't match our Liu family."

He continued on his own, his smile tinged with a hint of cunning: "Though, just now, I did catch a glimpse of her, and her appearance isn't unattractive, not compared to you."

The cool woman glanced at him, then led the way toward a lane outside the eastern market.

The dark, brooding man followed suit: "Shao Nü, are you saying I should wait until tomorrow to propose at Hou Courtyard, or should we wait a bit longer?"

"Not urgent."

"Well then, since we've just arrived in Shu Zhou, we should first pay a visit to Third Uncle."

"After meeting Third Uncle, you can accompany me to Hou Courtyard for the proposal."

"No, we won't go there."

Meanwhile, deep within the alley...

Inside the eatery called "Dong Shicheng Banzhuang," the place was bustling with noise.

The small establishment was packed with people—locals from Shu Zhou, travelers from afar, and a few martial artists in the shadows.

Just entering, one could immediately catch the pungent aroma of chili.

Beyond the general clamor, the sizzling of the wok and the hiss of hot oil from the kitchen could be heard.

Since there were no private rooms, Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er had to sit in the main hall.

Yet none of them showed any signs of displeasure; on the contrary, they seemed quite content.

They ordered six stir-fried dishes, two stews, and a few bottles of tea, then settled in quietly.

Xiao Wan'er was in good spirits, her face never losing its smile.

Even though the food here made her feel a bit uneasy, she still examined the surroundings with keen interest.

It had been a long time since she'd been out.

Even when she did venture out, she mostly stayed in the pharmacy or among the farmers on her estate, rarely coming here.

If not for Chen Yi mentioning the "Liberation Pharmacy," she might not have remembered this place at all.

"This place hasn't changed one bit since I last came."

Chen Yi noticed her cheerful expression and smiled: "When was your last visit?"

"Eleven years ago. Back then, Father and Mother were still alive, and they brought me and Second Sister here to buy things."

"When we were about to leave, we happened to pass by, and Father caught the scent of the food, so he ordered the carriage to stop and made us have a meal here."

"I remember we ate quite a lot..."

Xiao Wan'er smiled as she spoke, her eyes revealing a hint of nostalgia, tinged with a touch of sorrow.

She was clearly thinking of her deceased parents.

Chen Yi saw it in her eyes and said nothing, merely smiling warmly.

Xiao Wuge, listening to her recount, paid no heed to the sorrow.

Little Butterfly's attention was fixed on the fiery red stir-fried dish before her, quietly swallowing her saliva.

Zhou Tingyun and Shen Huatang had been here often, familiar with the place.

Yet after sitting down, their faces showed some unease, occasionally glancing toward the doorway.

Chen Yi, seated across from them, noticed their gaze. He glanced toward the doorway and, from the sounds he overheard, pieced together the conversation:

"Second Brother plans to meet Xiao Wan'er here?"

"Of course."

"As a son of the Liu family from Jingzhou, meeting the Xiao family's young mistress in a market eatery—do you not find it rather... interesting?"

"Not at all."

"But I must warn you, this is Shu Zhou. You'd better not go overboard."

"Do you think I'm as foolish as Liu Jing? How could I come here to provoke trouble?"

"Not to mention it's also to avoid offending my future daughter-in-law."

"Second Brother, the Xiao family hasn't accepted your proposal yet. I advise you not to cause any trouble."

"Ah, I know, I know..."

The second son of the Liu family from Jingzhou?

A marriage proposal?

Chen Yi furrowed his brow, glancing at Xiao Wan'er, who remained blissfully unaware and smiling.

He had already guessed who had given the plaque to Ma Liang.

But why now?

It was so aggravating.

Yet many things and people don't always bring satisfaction.

Not long after, Chen Yi spotted a man dressed in black silk robes, handsome and refined, entering the dining hall. Beside him stood a woman wearing a veil, her eyes gleaming with a cold, sharp intelligence. As the two entered, the man immediately fixed his gaze on Chen Yi and Xiao Wan'er. Soon, they began walking toward them. Xiao Wan'er noticed them as well, but she merely glanced briefly before continuing to smile and say, "Brother Xiao and Brother Wu, you eat a bit more; Xiao and Huatang, our appetites aren't that big."

As soon as her words faded, before Xiao Gun could finish his sentence, the man walked straight toward them, speaking as if they were old acquaintances: "Wan'er, rest assured, my appetite isn't small either—I can take some of your food for you." Xiao Wan'er paused slightly, her smile vanishing, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice: "And who are you?"

The handsome man smiled, bowing politely: "Liu Wen of Jingzhou—Liu Shimeng has met your sister before. I apologize for the intrusion, hoping for your understanding." He paused, then added another bow: "I've also met Young Master Xiao." The woman beside him likewise bowed, her voice crisp and cold: "Liu Zhaoxue has met all of you."

Xiao Wan'er scrutined the two, her brow slightly furrowed, clearly puzzled about why the Liu family of Jingzhou had come to pay a visit. Just as she was about to speak, Shen Huatang leaned close and whispered something to her. Upon hearing it, Xiao Wan'er's eyes widened, and she glanced at the naturally composed Chen Yi, as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders.

She then spoke with a cool detachment: "Since you know it's an imposition, please take your leave." Liu Wen seemed to anticipate her reaction, smiling as he shook his head: "How serendipitous it is to meet again by chance." "My sister and I arrived in Shu just today, so meeting you, Miss Xiao, is no small fortune." "Why should Miss Xiao refuse us from such a distance?"

When he finished, Liu Wen paused, regarding the group with a half-smile, half-sneer: "Perhaps you're worried we might... cause some trouble?"

As soon as his words settled, Xiao Wan'er's brows tightened, her expression hardening with icy resolve: "Huatang, send them away."

Even Xiao Gun noticed the danger in their approach, his face tightening. Shen Huatang and Chen Yi rose as instructed, palms resting on their sword hilts, their presence radiating a stern, unwavering resolve.

Seeing this, Liu Wen's smile remained unchanged, about to speak again, when Liu Zhaoxue stepped forward, blocking his path: "Sister Xiao, my brother means no disrespect—please forgive us. We'll take our leave now."

"Sister, you—"

Before Liu Wen could finish, Liu Zhaoxue tugged his sleeve and led him away. "I haven't even spoken yet!"

"Hmph? Sister, no—Miss Xiao, I'll visit you again in a few days."

Meanwhile, Chen Yi stood silently, watching their retreating figures. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and he inhaled deeply, detecting the lingering aura around them.

Liu Wen—his spiritual root was profound and powerful.

Liu Zhaoxue—her aura was weaker, likely a sixth-tier cultivator.

Thus, Liu Wen's cultivation must be at the fifth tier, slightly below Liu Lang.

After observing this, Chen Yi said nothing, his gaze withdrawing silently.

A moment of silence followed.

The once-solemn dining hall fell into hushed murmurs among the patrons, who began whispering about the Xiao family of Qingduo Hou and the Liu family of Jingzhou.

Xiao Wan'er, having heard the commotion, was about to rise and leave when Chen Yi called out loudly: "Server, when will the dishes be ready? I'm starving!"

"Your Excellency, a moment—we'll bring them out shortly."

Huh?

Xiao Wan'er stared at Chen Yi, her expression uncertain. When their eyes met, she instinctively lowered her head.

The words Shen Huatang had just whispered had unsettled her, erasing her earlier unease.

The others also looked at Chen Yi, their expressions varied, some puzzled.

Chen Yi scanned the room, then smiled: "A person is iron, food is steel—you get hungry if you don't eat. Besides, it's rare to be out, so we should try the delicious dishes our elder sister recommended before heading back."

He reached out and patted Xiao Wan'er's hand: "What do you think, big sister?"

Xiao Wan'er hesitated, her gaze fixed on the hand he had just touched, a warmth spreading through her body. The earlier discomfort vanished, replaced by a single thought: *His hand... he touched my hand...*

Without a word, Xiao Gun agreed: "Brother Xiao said it right."

"Sister, we can't let some little things ruin our mood, can we?"

After a long pause, Xiao Wan'er regained her composure, her face tinged slightly with red as she gently patted Xiao Gun's arm: "What little things? We shouldn't be so uncivilized."

Xiao Gun's eyes lit up, chuckling: "That's what Brother taught me."

"He also said we shouldn't let others' mistakes spoil our own moods. People who do that are usually rather foolish."

Chen Yi gave a hollow laugh, clearly unprepared for Xiao Gun to remember his offhand remark. "I don't even recall saying that."

But Xiao Wan'er's face grew even redder, her lips twitching with playful annoyance: "You often teach him good things, don't you?"

Chen Yi spread his hands: "Me? I haven't learned much, really."

"Don't believe it..."

At that moment, belief or disbelief mattered little.

At least Xiao Wan'er had smiled, if only temporarily forgetting her earlier irritation.

The little butterfly by the side, Zhang Shunyuan and Shen Huatang, upon seeing the scene, let out a breath they hadn’t realized they were holding, and both could finally enjoy a spicy, steaming lunch.

Chen Yi, however, didn’t dwell on such matters. In this rare moment of levity, he sought only to lighten the mood among the group.

“Brother, leave me some meat slices.”

“My—”

On the other side,

When Liu Wen returned to the carriage, the laughter from the dining hall darkened his expression.

He glared at Liu ZhaoXue and demanded, “Shouldn’t you explain this?”

Liu ZhaoXue stared out the window, her voice cool as winter. “If the elder brother keeps at it, he’ll only make things worse for himself.”

“Just like that?”

“Those two maids are Zhang Shunyuan and Shen Huatang from the Tian Shan Sect. Can you even match them?”

“And what of Xiao Wan’er? You’ve already offended her—do you still dare to seek her hand in marriage?”

Upon hearing Liu ZhaoXue’s words, Liu Wen paused, his anger melting into a reluctant nod.

“The third sister reminded me of that, nearly forgot the matter at hand.”

“Don’t blame yourself. Don’t blame yourself.”

Liu ZhaoXue gave a noncommittal nod, yet still avoided his gaze, her eyes fixed on the alley ahead, lost in some unspoken thought.

Liu Wen, meanwhile, pretended not to notice, continuing in a casual tone:

“That man earlier—surely he was Xiao Jinghong’s husband, the one from the Xiao family. Hmm, he does look rather weak and feeble.”

“Rumor has it he’s been teaching the Chen family’s illegitimate son in the arts of literature and martial arts. I don’t believe it—a mere husband from the Xiao household…”

At that moment, Liu ZhaoXue’s voice cut through the air like a blade:

“Elder brother, the Xiao family’s husband—before coming to Shuzhou, he was the illegitimate son of the Chen family in Jiangnan Prefecture.”

“Forgot how Father taught you? He let you surpass Chen QiuZhou in literary prowess and outshine Cui Xianyang in martial arts.”

Liu Wen blinked, recalling the past, his face darkening with unspoken resentment:

“Indeed, I’d forgotten. We had our share of rivalry. If the chance arises, I’ll have to settle this with him.”

Liu ZhaoXue shook her head silently, her voice a whisper:

“Come. Let’s go to Uncle Three’s residence…”

(End of Chapter)