Chapter 30: Change

My name is Liu Yao, and I am eighteen years old.

You could say I used to be a pretty impressive man, but honestly, that’s not important right now.

Not long ago, I met a rather interesting kid named Zhao Yi’an. He always seemed to be dogged by misfortune.

Seeing his life was so full of hardship, I, in a moment of great benevolence, took him on as my apprentice.

You could say he was as excited as a child who’d just gotten a treasure.

Maybe that very night, he had already imagined it: before long, he’d master his skills, become a famous hero, rise to become the Alliance Leader of the martial world, marry a beautiful and wealthy maiden, reach the pinnacle of life… just thinking about it probably got him a little excited.

But after spending more time with him, I began to realize…

My apprentice might just have been born in the Year of the Dog.

Otherwise, there’s no explaining how someone could be such a romance brain. But as his Master, I believe it’s my duty to properly educate him on the principle that there are plenty of other fish in the sea, so why get hung up on just one flower!

“Ahem—Yi’an, I’m not trying to criticize you. But don’t you think your behavior is rather… well, you know?”

Liu Yao shook her head, trying to clear away the jumble of thoughts, and looked up at Zhao Yi’an with an expression of exasperated disappointment.

“Know what?”

Zhao Yi’an, still frozen in his previous posture, waiting anxiously for her reply, looked confused upon hearing her words.

“What else could it be!”

Determined to correct her apprentice, Liu Yao leaned excitedly across the table, placing both hands on Zhao Yi’an’s shoulders.

Startled by the girl’s action, Zhao Yi’an hurriedly put down his wine cup and froze in place, not daring to make a sound.

‘Whoa! Master’s robes have come loose!’

‘Hurry up and tie them properly!’

Ignoring her apprentice, whose face was slowly turning red, Liu Yao spoke with grave sincerity.

“Yi’an, I really don’t want you to become what people call a little puppy that can be lured away with just a beckoning finger, you know?”

“Look at what you just said, asking me to help investigate the Wang Family’s affairs. Isn’t that still because you’re thinking about that Miss Wang? Apprentice, a person really shouldn’t stoop so low!”

As she spoke, she began pounding her chest in frustration.

After listening to the girl’s words, Zhao Yi’an, who had initially been feeling a bit of a young man’s awkward embarrassment, was stunned for a moment. Then, somewhat speechless, the corner of his mouth twitched.

It was actually quite reasonable. After all, what Master could accept their apprentice being a simp? Even Liu Yao, who prided herself on enjoying a good spectacle, couldn’t accept it.

Having carefully listened to Liu Yao’s words, Zhao Yi’an now understood. The girl had been completely misled by what he’d said. She thought he still couldn’t let go of that Miss Wang!

“Master, I think you’ve misunderstood.”

Zhao Yi’an gently removed the slender hands from his shoulders, pressed Liu Yao back into her seat, and explained, “I’m asking you to investigate not because I’m still secretly pining for Miss Wang.”

“I remember telling you, Miss Wang showed me kindness. I just want to repay that debt of gratitude, nothing more.”

Zhao Yi’an gave a helpless smile and took a sip from his wine cup.

“Really?” The girl looked at him suspiciously, somewhat disbelieving.

“Of course! As your first apprentice, even if I don’t achieve great things, I at least shouldn’t bring you shame, right?”

The young man curved the corner of his mouth, his eyes crinkling. His smile was as clean as the first ray of sunlight at dawn—youthful, vibrant, carrying the particular brightness of a young man.

Liu Yao was taken aback for a moment.

‘He sure has a way with words.’

She blinked, shaking off that inexplicable feeling, and then also smiled.

The two of them smiled at each other like that, a bit silly, yet carrying a sincerity unique to two young people.

But in truth, Zhao Yi’an knew there was one thing he hadn’t said.

‘That day when you held my face and told me to look at you, I resolved to forget that wretched and pitiful version of myself.’

“Not bad, kid! Very enlightened!” Liu Yao reached out and patted Zhao Yi’an’s shoulder.

“I really didn’t misjudge you. Repaying kindness is the righteous path. Much better than those guys who are always obsessing over love and romance.”

As she spoke, she puffed out her chest and patted it with her hand, adopting the stance of a Jianghu businesswoman sealing a deal.

“Alright! Consider this investigation on me. It’s just uncovering the truth, right? Your Master might not be good at much else, but I do have some skill when it comes to gathering information.”

“Really?”

Zhao Yi’an’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Of course! I was the one who dug up the secret romance your Grandmaster had back in the day!” Having said that, Liu Yao pouted and muttered an addition, “And then I got punished by your Grandmaster to copy books.”

“Ahem! Anyway, let me be clear upfront. If we uncover something we shouldn’t have, don’t you dare cry.”

“Mhm, mhm!”

As if afraid the girl would change her mind, Zhao Yi’an nodded vigorously.

Seeing him like this, Liu Yao couldn’t help but laugh again. She coughed, picked up her wine cup, and swirled it.

“Well then, this wine will serve as payment for my investigation.”

“Your Master can’t work for free, after all.”

With that, she threw her head back and took a big gulp, wiping her mouth with her sleeve in a very bold manner.

“Alright! Since I’ve promised you, I’ll be off now.”

“As for you…” Liu Yao pinched her chin, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Zhao Yi’an. “Focus on recovering from your injuries first. Once you’re better, I’ll teach you some proper skills.”

Having said that, she stood up, patted the hem of her clothes, tapped her toes lightly, and floated up onto the roof as if weightless.

“Master! Can’t you just use the door properly?!”

“You mind your own business!”

Zhao Yi’an tilted his head back, watching the white figure disappear over the edge of the roof, and shook his head with a helpless smile.

‘…I’m in for it from now on!’

‘But come to think of it, my luck has actually been pretty decent since I became her apprentice. Maybe Master is my lucky star?’

Thinking this, he hummed an off-tune little melody as he bent down to tidy up the mess on the table.

After putting the wine pot away and stacking the bowls and chopsticks, he stretched out with a big yawn.

“Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I’ve done any work. There’s a pile of things waiting over at the horse gang.”

“I wonder how everyone’s been eating lately. Hopefully, they haven’t started complaining about Ma Sao’s cooking again?”

He muttered to himself.

A smile unconsciously curling at his lips, he turned and walked towards the courtyard gate.

But the moment he lifted his foot, he heard a squelch.

He had stepped right in the wine Liu Yao had spilled on the ground earlier.

Zhao Yi’an’s whole body tilted backward. His hands flailed wildly in the air, grabbing at nothing, and he fell flat on his back with a solid thump.

The back of his head hit the bluestone slab, and stars danced before his eyes.

Dazed, he lay sprawled on the ground, staring at the stars popping in and out of his vision for a good while.

‘Well… some things never really change.’