“It’s not that I like them, I can only say… they’re somewhat interesting. After all, Your Highness knows well, I live outside the Myriad Demon Mountains. Whenever I go into the mountains to gather herbs, I occasionally run into some members of the Yao Clan.”
“Your Highness, actually, there’s something else I’m quite curious about.”
“Oh? Even you have things you don’t understand, sir? Please, speak freely. If I know the answer, I’ll naturally tell you.”
Xu Ping’an smiled and nodded, lightly tapping the book on the table with his finger.
“I’ve read a number of books about demons and spirits, accounts of the strange and supernatural. What I find curious is that, according to rumors, beyond our Qi Nation, there is an Outer Sea. Beyond that seems to be another nation, one ruled primarily by the Yao Clan. I wonder, is there any truth to this rumor?”
The Zhennan King swept a slightly surprised gaze over Xu Ping’an, sat down at his seat, and nodded.
“It’s true.”
“So that’s how it is… Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Your Highness.”
“No need to stand on ceremony.”
The Zhennan King gave a faint smile, but Xu Ping’an could tell it was just a smile on the face, not from the heart.
Li Huan picked up the teapot and walked over to Xu Ping’an, placing a cup in front of him and making as if to pour tea.
Xu Ping’an quickly took the cup and stood up.
“I cannot accept Your Highness serving me tea personally.”
“Sit down and put down the cup.”
Xu Ping’an paused for a moment, hesitated, but still sat down, curious to see what kind of tea the Zhennan King intended to serve.
Li Huan raised the teapot high and gently tilted it.
Clear tea flowed in a slender stream from the spout, landing in the cup.
Xu Ping’an frowned slightly.
The height at which Li Huan held the teapot made the stream of tea quite forceful; the tea in the cup was swirling and splashing, some already spilling over, but the Zhennan King showed no sign of stopping.
“Sir, about my daughter—how do you plan to resolve this matter?”
The Zhennan King kept pouring.
Tea had already overflowed the rim and was running down along the side.
It seemed that, even if the Zhennan King hadn’t shown it openly, he still had some objections to Xu Ping’an.
But that was understandable.
After all, it was his own daughter.
As a father, no matter how lenient, on such matters, there wasn’t a father in the world who would just stand by.
“Your Highness, the tea is full.”
“Yes, it is full. A cup can only hold so much tea. If you pour more, it spills over. Wouldn’t you agree, Xu Ping’an?”
The Zhennan King, Li Huan, smiled at Xu Ping’an. Xu Ping’an could only smile wryly in his heart, but on the surface, he would not yield.
“Perhaps, Your Highness, your cup is simply too small?”
“Oh? Then, Sir, how big is your cup? How many cups of tea can you hold?”
Good heavens, was this a roundabout way of asking how many wives and concubines he had?
But he could not answer such a question directly, or things would get out of hand.
Xu Ping’an reached out and blocked the spout of the teapot, stopping the flow of tea.
“No matter how many cups, I can guarantee that each one will be as fresh and fragrant as when it first left the pot.”
“Heh~”
The Zhennan King gave a mocking smile, but his eyes flashed with a hint of seriousness.
He slowly put down the teapot.
Of course, the tea in the pot was boiling hot, and by blocking the spout with his finger, Xu Ping’an had naturally scalded himself.
“Mr. Xu… Even if you forcibly blocked the spout, you still got scalded by the water.”
“It’s nothing. Your Highness mustn’t forget, I am a Doctor. Such a small injury is not worth mentioning.”
“Do you really think that, with your medical skills, you can truly handle all these cups of tea?”
“Does Your Highness think I cannot?”
Xu Ping’an did not retreat in the slightest, only smiling as he looked at the Zhennan King, Li Huan. Li Huan stared at Xu Ping’an for a long time before suddenly breaking into a smile.
“Heh~ Hahaha~ Good, good, indeed the younger generation is to be feared. Since that’s the case, my daughter is yours to look after. But, Xu Ping’an, remember: if one day you can’t hold all these cups of tea, be careful not to get scalded by what spills out.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness. I do not fear being scalded, nor will I let any tea spill.”
Xu Ping’an rose and cupped his hands in salute. Seeing this, the Zhennan King, Li Huan, nodded.
“Good! You’ve got courage. I like young men like you. How about it—would you like to serve under me? You could also help my daughter.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m just a country doctor, not suited for such positions. But Your Highness, rest assured—should Li Yuer ever need me, I will not hesitate.”
The Zhennan King was silent for a moment, then waved his hand.
“Enough. Go on now. If you linger any longer, I fear the ears outside the door might barge in.”
Hearing this, Xu Ping’an turned in slight surprise to look toward the door.
At the entrance, though it wasn’t clear, he could sense a faint aura!
That was… Li Yuer’s presence.
No doubt, though Li Yuer had been as careful as possible, the Zhennan King had still noticed her.
But that was only natural.
The Zhennan King was a battle-hardened king; he was skilled and powerful, while Li Yuer was not trained in martial arts, so it was hard for her to hide her presence.
Being discovered was only to be expected.
Seeing this, Xu Ping’an nodded.
“In that case, I’ll take my leave. Oh, right… Tomorrow, I’ll return to the Floating Cloud Sect with my Master. The Shizi’s illness still requires ongoing treatment, so I must bring her along. I trust Your Highness won’t object.”
The expression on Zhennan King Li Huan’s face immediately froze.
Really now!
He hadn’t done anything yet, and already the man was taking his daughter right before his eyes!
He had no way to refuse.
But Xu Ping’an’s reasoning was solid, so all Li Huan could do was force a smile that was more of a grimace as he looked at Xu Ping’an.
“Mr. Xu, your courage is almost on par with a wild tiger, isn’t it?”
“Your Highness flatters me. My courage is actually very small. It’s just that… I don’t wish to see those around me saddened. For their sake, even if faced with the Ten Yama Kings, I would still stand tall.”
“Good, good, good. Go on, then.”
Li Huan said “good” three times, but the last two words were squeezed out between clenched teeth.
From the way he gritted his teeth, if Li Yuer hadn’t been eavesdropping outside, the Zhennan King would probably have drawn his sword and chased him by now.
“I’ll take my leave.”
But Xu Ping’an was not one to cater to the Zhennan King.
He cupped his hands in salute and turned to leave, without a moment’s hesitation.
Feeling the gaze behind him that wished to swallow him whole, Xu Ping’an calmly pushed open the main door, and at a glance saw Li Yuer crouching right outside.
“Sir, are—are you all right?”
Seeing Xu Ping’an emerge, Li Yuer immediately looked worried and hurried over to check him, as if afraid he might have lost something.
“I’m fine.”
Xu Ping’an replied with a cheerful smile, just about to say something when Li Yuer noticed the burn on his finger.
Instantly, those peach-blossom eyes were filled with concern.
“How could Father do such a thing!”
This remark, without a doubt, was heard loud and clear by the Zhennan King, Li Huan, inside the room.
“Li Yuer, come in!!”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.