Peerless Spirit Master - Chapter 9

“Would you like to go to Lan City with your father?”

During the meal, Ye He brought up the suggestion as if it were an afterthought. Ye Guilan suddenly looked up, her response so eager that she nodded several times in quick succession.

Ye He looked at her with a gentle, doting smile and placed a piece of meat into Ye Guilan’s bowl. “Alright, then we’ll set off in a little while.”

Seated in the carriage on the way to Lan City, Ye Guilan felt that Ye He’s love for her truly ran deep-almost to the marrow of his bones.

His gaze never left his daughter. If Ye Guilan made even the slightest movement, Ye He’s concerned eyes would sweep over her at once, to the point where she barely dared to move at all, anxious about attracting even more of his attentive worry.

Ye He was going to Lan City to buy some rare medicinal herbs, but what truly stirred his excitement was that, for the first time in over a decade, he was traveling somewhere together with his daughter.

Throughout the journey, Ye He’s care was so devoted it was as if he wished he could keep Ye Guilan safe and pampered in the palm of his hand. At every bump of the carriage, he immediately asked if she was hurt; when Ye Guilan tried to lift the curtain to peek outside, he would instantly pull a blanket over her, worried she’d catch a chill from the wind.

For Ye Guilan, the entire journey was excruciatingly awkward.

She knew full well how much Ye He longed to grow close to his daughter, but to be doted on to this extent… She looked at those eyes that saw only her, and blurted out, “Father, I have a few things to take care of on my own. I’ll be going ahead.”

“You don’t need your father to come with you…”

“No, no, really, it’s just something small.”

As soon as Ye Guilan spoke, feeling the warmth of her father’s overbearing care, she immediately leapt from the carriage and dashed away without so much as a backward glance.

Watching the carriage roll off, Ye Guilan took out the promissory note. The handwriting on it remained clear, and the signature below was refined and elegant: Song Haoran.

It was noon-she couldn’t show up to collect a debt on an empty stomach. While asking around for the Song Family’s address, Ye Guilan also found a place to sit down and eat.

Looking up, she caught sight of Liu Ruyu heading straight toward her. The bite of food in her mouth nearly lodged in her throat.

Ye Guilan coughed a few times in embarrassment. It was already too late to dodge him.

When Liu Ruyu saw Ye Guilan, his eyes instantly brightened, and his steps quickened, as if he was afraid she would flee if he hesitated for even a moment.

The truth was, he was suffocating with boredom in Lan City.

Though the Liu Family had been promoted to a Fifth-Rank Family and had moved to Lan City with much fanfare, they were not well received.

Among the Fifth-Rank Families of Lan City, the Liu Family was, at best, the newcomer, with rather unremarkable strength.

Back in Chunyuan Town, Young Master Liu had always been surrounded and admired by girls. But in Lan City, not a single girl even glanced his way. The difference was hard to swallow.

On top of that, having been so flattered by admirers back home, he had grown arrogant and oblivious, offending many of his peers, so no one was willing to befriend him or even speak to him here.

He had only set out for a stroll to clear his mind-he truly hadn’t expected to run into Ye Guilan here.

Just thinking about Ye Guilan made Liu Ruyu burn with frustration. She had once been hopelessly infatuated with him, listening to his every word, but now she acted like she couldn’t stand the sight of him. This sudden shift in attitude had already left Young Master Liu feeling bitter.

And seeing her again now, Liu Ruyu felt as if his anger was being fanned into flames.

Ye Guilan could tell he was up to no good, so she prepared to pay and leave at once. Her anxiousness to avoid him only stung Young Master Liu’s already fragile pride all the more.

He strode quickly forward and grabbed Ye Guilan’s arm, grip tight. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Ye Guilan frowned. In the past, Liu Ruyu would never have even bothered to glance at her-now, this pitiful abandoned-husband act was simply ridiculous.

“I’m not running away. Let go of me.”

If he didn’t, she wouldn’t mind giving him a punch.

“Ye Guilan, you really know how to climb onto a higher branch, don’t you? Is Song Haoran your new master now? I have to admit, you’ve got good taste!”

Song Haoran-he must mean the one who wrote her that promissory note. Judging from his tone, the Song Family was indeed well known in Lan City; after all, if Young Master Liu called it a ‘higher branch’, the Song Family must truly be stronger than the Liu Family.

Ye Guilan was just about to reply when a clear voice, tinged with surprise, called out, “Miss Ye?”

Ye Guilan turned around. What were the odds? She really was running into everyone today.

When Liu Ruyu saw Song Haoran approach, his expression immediately twisted-as if someone were about to snatch away his most prized possession. The features that might once have been considered handsome now contorted into an ugly scowl.

He simply couldn’t accept that Ye Guilan, who had been infatuated with him for so many years, could so easily become smitten with someone else!

Ye Guilan raised her hand, about to punch him, but Song Haoran moved even faster, giving Liu Ruyu a push.

It wasn’t too hard or too soft-enough to make him stumble, but not fall.

The young man had the unmistakable air of a hero saving a maiden in distress. His clear black eyes fell on the red mark left on Ye Guilan’s wrist, and a flicker of displeasure flashed in his gaze. Meanwhile, Liu Ruyu, like a truly spurned husband, burst out,

“Ye Guilan, you shameless little-!”

“Watch your language.”

Song Haoran stood there calmly. Seeing his upright and poised figure, Liu Ruyu sneered in disdain, his black eyes darting over to where Ye Guilan stood by Song Haoran’s side.

“He already has a fiancée. My advice to you-stop dreaming.”

“That’s got nothing to do with my having a crush on him. Whether he has a fiancée or not doesn’t stop me from appreciating his looks.”

Ye Guilan gave Liu Ruyu a smile. “Let’s face it-you’re just not as handsome as he is. If I’m going to be infatuated, of course I’d pick someone attractive over someone plain, wouldn’t I?”

Liu Ruyu was so angry he was left speechless. He couldn’t even refute her, because he really wasn’t as good-looking as Song Haoran.

Within just a few seconds, Song Haoran seemed to have figured out what was going on. He glanced back, noticing the impatience on Ye Guilan’s face, then turned to look at the smoldering anger on Liu Ruyu’s.

The Liu Family was from Chunyuan Town-they were old acquaintances.

Last time in Chunyuan Town, when she had approached him, Liu Ruyu had also been present.

It was clear she wanted to shake off this man’s unwanted attention.

Song Haoran frowned slightly. He didn’t know what kind of complicated history there was between them that would force her to use such a strategy to escape.
Thinking of that Cloud Armor Leopard, Song Haoran frowned slightly and spoke in a low voice, “I don’t care what your relationship was before, but from now on, don’t bother her again.”

Ye Guilan’s eye twitched at these words.

Liu Ruyu was stunned when he heard this. He glanced at Song Haoran, then at Ye Guilan, sneered inwardly, cursed under his breath, and turned to leave.

Seeing him go, Ye Guilan couldn’t help but say, “What bad luck, I run into him everywhere.”

“Miss Ye… do you dislike him that much?”

Song Haoran looked at Ye Guilan’s undisguised disgust and clicked his tongue in surprise. Ye Guilan raised her eyes, “What, am I not allowed to dislike him?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Song Haoran lowered his voice, “Miss Ye, did you come this time for the IOU?”

“Yes.” Ye Guilan nodded and took out the IOU from before. Song Haoran smiled, “Please come with me. Back then, you were willing to let go of the Cloud Armor Leopard, so our Song Family owes you a favor. The elders at home would like to meet you…”

“There’s no need for a meeting. Just give me the remaining money.”

“Miss Ye, there’s no need to be so polite. The elders are sincere…”

“I’m just a junior, I really can’t accept it.” Ye Guilan looked a bit helpless. “Please don’t make things difficult for me. If I had given you the leopard for nothing, of course I would have come to your house.”

“Well… alright then.”

Song Haoran led her to the entrance of his home. “Miss Ye, please wait here. I’ll go get the money.”

Ye Guilan nodded. She stood quietly at the Song Family’s gate. A few young girls passing by couldn’t help but be surprised when they saw her.

They quickly hid and watched in secret. When they saw Ye Guilan’s face as she turned, they were all a bit stunned.

“What’s going on? How is she so pretty?”

“Yeah, how am I supposed to call her ugly now?”

Ye Guilan heard their voices and looked over, seeing two or three girls peeking at her and whispering.

She frowned slightly, intending to ignore them, but unexpectedly, the girls walked over and stood directly in front of her.

Ye Guilan politely took a step back, thinking they were going to enter the Song Family.

The girls didn’t move. One of them spoke up, “So what if you’re pretty? Don’t think Song Haoran will like you. He already has a fiancée. Don’t even think about it!”

“I don’t like him.”

Ye Guilan replied. The girls were momentarily stunned. “Don’t think we don’t know you’re infatuated with him. Otherwise, why are you standing at his door waiting?”

Ye Guilan frowned, “I’m here because…”

“Song Haoran’s fiancée, Bai Ruirui, may not be as pretty as you, but she’s not bad either. Besides, they’re childhood sweethearts and have been engaged for a long time. There’s no room for you to interfere! Give up already!”

“I said, I don’t like him.”

Ye Guilan repeated. The girls clearly didn’t believe her and continued, “The two of them are going to join a minor sect together, and their families are well-matched. Stop dreaming!”

“Yeah, there’s no place for you!”

The Song Family’s door opened, and Song Haoran came out. The girls immediately turned and ran away when they saw him.

“Them?”

Song Haoran was a bit puzzled. Ye Guilan waved her hand, “Just chatting.”

He handed her a card. Ye Guilan took it and turned to leave, but Song Haoran quickly called after her.

“Is there something else?”

Ye Guilan looked back at him. By her estimation, Ye He should have finished shopping by now. If she didn’t go back to find him, her father would probably start a carpet search for her.

The tall youth in light-colored clothes stood at the door, his upright posture carrying a hint of sternness, and a gentle smile appeared on his handsome face.

“Will Miss Ye attend next year’s minor sect selection?”

“…I can’t say for sure.”

“If Miss Ye needs any help, I will definitely help you. The Cloud Armor Leopard you gave up not only saved lives, but also helped me.”

“It’s fine, I won’t need it.”

Ye Guilan refused directly. If she really needed help, she would ask Ye He. Her father had everything, and if he didn’t, he would find a way to get it.

“Alright then. I hope to see Miss Ye at the minor sect.”

Ye Guilan nodded and turned to leave. Song Haoran stood at the door watching her for a long time before turning back.

His hand paused on the door for a moment. Song Haoran looked back again, but Ye Guilan was already out of sight.

While one side’s feelings quietly faded away, on the other, Ye Guilan had already put him out of her mind.

Ye Guilan walked back to her lodging. Passing by a shop, she saw a handmade doll hanging at the door.

She couldn’t help but stop and take a closer look.

Why did this smiling face look so much like her father?

When she returned to her lodging, Ye Guilan had just pushed open the door when a gust of wind swept over her.

The next second, she was pulled into a warm, solid embrace.

“Where have you been, child!”

Ye Guilan was a bit dumbfounded. She was held tightly in Ye He’s arms and could even feel his body trembling. Was he scared?

“I… I was just taking a walk…”

Ye He didn’t say anything more, nor did he let go, just loosened his grip a little.

Listening to his obviously erratic heartbeat, Ye Guilan suddenly understood why he was afraid.

“Dad, I’m back now, aren’t I?”

She spoke, and Ye He responded with a soft “Mm,” still not letting her go.

Ye Guilan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, feeling a bit complicated inside.