Chapter 53

As the winter grass had already sprouted seven leaves, it should have been plucked, but Qin Xianyu did not mind the few silver coins and thus ignored it.

The wind blew, and the winter grass trembled gently.

"Old Master Fu, I always feel this name is not quite right."

"How does Young Master feel about it?"

"Old Master Fu? Thin blessings? It doesn't sound very auspicious. Since you have been with my grandfather since you were young, you will surely enjoy a long life. Why not call you Master Fu?"

"Young Master."

"Hmm?"

"Actually, this old servant is not that old."

Thinking of the old Master Fu who refused to admit his age, Qin Xianyu chuckled inwardly.

After the jade pill was refined into golden jade liquid, the little Taoist's cultivation had rapidly increased to seven and a half inches, a speed that was astonishing and terrifying. With such progress in cultivation, his mood was naturally much better.

Today, Lu Qing had already sent someone to inform him that they would be heading to the capital in ten days.

He had already made his decision. The only thing he was concerned about was Master Fu. He planned to leave several hundred taels for Master Fu and ask Lu Qing to send people to take care of him, or even let him stay at the Liu residence.

While walking on the road, someone suddenly came to invite him.

"Miss Liu?"

...

By the riverbank, a gentle breeze blew.

Liu Ruoyin stood by the river, her clothes fluttering in the wind, making her look very slender. She reached out to gather her scattered hair and sighed lightly, her face filled with worry.

Her slightly furrowed brows evoked sympathy.

When Qin Xianyu arrived, this was the scene he saw.

With his senses, he could detect a gentle breath behind the trees, most likely Ninger watching from the side.

"According to Commander Lu, we will be heading to the capital in ten days," Liu Ruoyin said with a slight smile. "Will Young Master also be going to the capital?"

Qin Xianyu replied, "There is a precious item that is very hard to find. Only in the capital, with its many high officials, might I be able to find it."

He was referring to the jade sword.

The governor was already forging a golden sword, but the jade sword was hard to come by, so he still needed to make a trip to the capital. If he could obtain the jade sword, it would be a great joy. If not, he would have to settle for the golden sword from the governor as the foundation of his Daoist sword.

But the jade sword was the best, and the golden sword was slightly inferior.

"The capital is a place of endless prosperity, where many of the upper-class officials of the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty reside. With just one opportunity, one can rise to prominence and achieve great success. In the capital, examples of commoners rising to prominence are not uncommon," Liu Ruoyin said softly. "Young Master is still young, already famous in Fengxing Prefecture for his medical skills and extraordinary martial arts. This trip to the capital will surely bring you great achievements, and your goals will certainly be fulfilled."

Qin Xianyu chuckled softly, "Thank you for your kind words."

Liu Ruoyin hesitated for a moment and finally said, "I have a question, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to ask."

Qin Xianyu said, "If Miss Liu has any doubts, feel free to ask."

Liu Ruoyin took a deep breath, bit her lip, and said, "I heard that Young Master has a marriage contract and is going to the capital to continue this marriage with Miss Shangguan."

Qin Xianyu had not expected her to ask about this and was taken aback, but he still answered, "I have never met Miss Shangguan, and our family circumstances are now vastly different. This marriage contract is a great burden. Since it is not beneficial to me and also binds Miss Shangguan, it would be better to dissolve it."

Upon hearing that Qin Xianyu was going to dissolve the marriage contract, Liu Ruoyin felt a sense of relief, but then a new worry arose.

Now, the only person left in the Qin family was Qin Xianyu. Apart from him, his cousins were insignificant, and the medicine hall had been taken over. In Fengxing Prefecture, there seemed to be no reason for this young master of the Qin family to stay.

If he had a marriage contract with the Shangguan family, he might return.

But if the marriage contract was dissolved, he would have no ties.

With such a young and talented person, he would surely have a bright future in the capital. If that were the case, he might never return.

For some reason, Liu Ruoyin felt a sudden sense of loss.

"If the marriage contract were not dissolved, it might not be so bad."

She sighed inwardly.

The gentle breeze and clear sky made her hair flutter, but it did not dispel her worries.

After a moment, she finally said softly, "The capital is a place of endless prosperity, where many people long to settle. Young Master, have you thought about whether you will return after this trip to the capital?"

Qin Xianyu was slightly taken aback.

After a moment of thought, Qin Xianyu said, "The capital is a place of great prosperity, the capital of a prosperous era. However, I am a free cloud and a wild crane, not a disciple of a formal Daoist sect, and I prefer tranquility. If I can achieve my goals in the capital, I will return and live a quiet life cultivating Daoism."

In that moment of thought, many ideas had crossed his mind.

The trip to the capital was primarily to dissolve the marriage contract, but that was secondary.

In the capital, he might find the origin of the strange illness, which was related to his parents and master, and he could not let it go.

Seeking the jade sword was also crucial for his cultivation, and he could not let it go.

The parasitic worm in his body, though it had not yet caused any problems, was still a hidden danger. In the capital, he could try to remove the worm's poison.

The trip to the capital had four main goals: investigate the strange illness, find the jade sword, remove the worm's poison, and dissolve the marriage contract.

He thought to himself, "If these four matters are resolved, there will be no need to stay in the capital. After the grand assembly, I can leave."

As the sky grew darker and it was time for meditation and cultivation, Liu Ruoyin also needed to return to the Liu residence. It would be dark and unsafe on the way.

Since the last attack, Liu Ruoyin had many guards around her. With Qin Xianyu by her side, her safety was not a concern, and the guards kept their distance. However, as it grew dark, the guards became worried and moved closer.

When he felt the guards getting closer, Qin Xianyu bid farewell to Liu Ruoyin and returned to the Taoist temple.

...

After Qin Xianyu left, Ninger quietly came out of the woods and walked to Liu Ruoyin's side.

Qin Xianyu's medical skills were not low, and with the use of spiritual water, Ninger had recovered well. Although her injuries were not fully healed, her complexion was much better.

Ninger looked in the direction Qin Xianyu had gone, a mischievous look in her eyes, and suddenly shook her head, saying, "Miss, I don't think there's much hope this time."

Liu Ruoyin frowned and said, "You silly girl, what are you talking about?"

Ninger said, "I think this little Taoist will probably not return after going to the capital."

Liu Ruoyin's heart stirred, and she bit her lip, saying, "He said he would return."

"How can words be trusted?" Ninger said, widening her eyes. "Look at how many scholars go to the capital for the imperial exams. As soon as they achieve a little success or are favored by someone, they never return. I haven't been to the capital, but I've heard it's the most bustling and prosperous place in the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty. Who would want to return after going there?"

"I heard of a scholar in the neighboring county who was so poor he couldn't even afford lamp oil. His neighbor's girl held a lamp for him and provided him with money to study. Later, the scholar went to the capital for the imperial exams, achieved success, and never returned. The girl has never married and waits for him every day."

"People who go to the capital, if they achieve success, usually don't return."

Ninger said seriously, "I think this little Taoist is much better than a scholar. He has medical skills, martial arts, and can read. In the capital, he will surely have a bright future. Even if not, he is handsome, and some young lady might take a fancy to him, make him leave the Daoist path, and become a son-in-law in her family."

"Look at the talented scholars from Yulin Prefecture, several of whom have achieved success in the capital and have been taken as sons-in-law by young ladies in the capital."

Ninger rambled on, giving examples of poor scholars and talented young men who had settled in the capital and never returned.

In short, in Ninger's words, once someone went to the capital, they would become unfaithful, favoring the new and abandoning the old, and even forsaking their childhood sweethearts.

Liu Ruoyin's face turned slightly pale, and she said softly, "Ninger, if you keep talking nonsense, I won't pay attention to you."

"How is it nonsense?" Ninger pouted. "Look at this little Taoist, he is so handsome and refined, and he is not as weak as a scholar. He has looks, medical skills, and martial arts. Some young lady might take a fancy to him."

"Besides, look at this little Taoist, his family is poor, the medicine hall was taken over, and his parents are gone. He is left with a dilapidated Taoist temple and is all alone. If it weren't for the treatment fees from our Liu residence, he would have trouble eating. In his situation, if he is favored by a high official in the capital, he would at least have a life of no worries. Who would refuse that?"

Ninger thought of the little Taoist and said fiercely, "I think this little Taoist is that kind of person. Even if the young lady in the capital is a 200-pound fat pig, he would still be willing to be a son-in-law in her family."

Liu Ruoyin felt a bit anxious and bit her lip, saying, "Don't talk nonsense anymore."

After laughing, Ninger finally sighed and said, "Miss, you are nineteen, not young anymore. Look at other young ladies, they get married at fifteen or sixteen. At your age, their children could already go to the market to buy soy sauce. Actually, Lady is always worried about your future. You were tormented by illness before, but now that you are cured, you should consider your future."

Liu Ruoyin bit her lip, looking at the river, and remained silent.

Ninger sighed, "This little Taoist is good, but he is not a match for you. With his poor background and living in a dilapidated Taoist temple, and you being the daughter of the governor, there is no future for you two."

Liu Ruoyin scolded, "Nonsense, I never had such thoughts."

"We have been together for so many years, can I not see through your thoughts?" Ninger said softly. "Actually, the young master who came to propose last time was good. He is handsome, young, and already a deputy general in the capital's imperial army. He has only taken concubines and has no wife. And the young master last year, though he has no official position, is the grandson of the Minister of Revenue, unmarried, and wants to marry you as his wife. And there are more..."

"Ninger."

"Hmm?"

There was a moment of silence. Liu Ruoyin looked at her and said, "These are the words Lady taught you, right?"

Ninger lowered her head, "Yes."

Liu Ruoyin looked at her and sighed, "Actually, you don't dislike this little Taoist."

Ninger's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head.

The wind blew.

Ripples spread across the river.

The water was not calm, and how could the heart be calm?

With a soft sigh, Liu Ruoyin said gently, "Let's go back to the residence."