Yunmeng Marsh was located on the border of Linjiang.
Thanks to Zhao Shuning, in recent years, the cities near Linjiang had all developed quite well. Yunmeng Marsh was one of them.
Zhao Shuning had merely passed by Yunmeng Marsh. But by chance, she saw a signboard reading "Shu An Ning Ran" hanging above an inn in Yunmeng Marsh. The characters on the signboard were very powerful. If Zhao Shuning was not mistaken, they should be written by Zhao Zheng.
Thinking that she had been on the road for more than a day and her throat was a bit uncomfortable, she decided to take a break in the inn first.
The innkeeper served Zhao Shuning a plate of snacks and a pot of wine, then withdrew.
Not long after Zhao Shuning finished eating and was about to return to Linjiang quickly, she heard hurried footsteps downstairs.
For the convenience of traveling, Zhao Shuning always wore a bamboo hat when going out and took it off after arriving at her destination.
However, the Eastern Swamp Wilderness was no longer what it used to be. Nowadays, few people could recognize Zhao Shuning's face. Most of those who could should be quite old by now.
"Eldest Young Master, the Second Young Master has gotten into another fight with someone in the Wanhua Tower over Miss Chuchu."
At this call, a young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes walked out from the backyard on the first floor. At first glance, Zhao Shuning thought this young man looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember exactly where she had seen him.
She thought she must be overthinking. This young man was probably just in his early twenties, and they were not from the same era. How could she have met him?
"Got into another fight? Good-for-nothing playboy!"
Hearing that his younger brother had gotten into a fight, the eldest young master was not in a hurry. He picked up the wooden sword beside him and was about to walk back to the backyard.
"Oh! Eldest Young Master, where are you going?"
"Where else could I go? I'm going back to the backyard to continue my woodworking. That brat only acts so recklessly because Father and Mother are far north of the Huai River and can't control him. He's becoming more and more unrestrained. Don't worry. I know his abilities. An ordinary spiritual pharmacist can't kill him. At most, he'll get injured. He deserves it."
At such a young age, he didn't know better. For the sake of Chuchu from the Wanhua Tower, he went there every night. He probably had forgotten the teachings of his elders at home.
"Oh! Eldest Young Master, this time is different!"
The old man who looked like a butler grabbed the young man.
"Uncle Gong, why are you so anxious? I'm his elder brother, and I'm not worried. You don't need to be either."
"Eldest Young Master, the person the Second Young Master is facing this time is a life - refining alchemist!"
"A famous alchemist?"
"Yes, he's not just an ordinary spiritual pharmacist."
"What's the alchemist's cultivation level?"
"His cultivation seems quite high. The Second Young Master should not be his match!"
"That's even better. That Xie Jing has been arrogant for years. He should really meet a few tough characters like this. It would be good if they even cripple half of his leg."
"Oh, my Eldest Young Master! This time is really different from before! No matter how naughty our Second Young Master is, he's not the kind of person who can't tell right from wrong. You don't know, this time it's not the Second Young Master's fault at all. That brute insisted on taking Miss Chuchu by force. You know, Miss Chuchu from the Wanhua Tower has always only sold her art, not her body. Just then, Miss Chuchu was singing on the stage. That man rushed onto the stage, grabbed Miss Chuchu, and was about to take her to the flower room. Our Second Young Master couldn't stand it and got angry. Everyone knows that Miss Chuchu is the Second Young Master's confidante. So, after persuasion didn't work, they got into a fight."
"If they're fighting, why didn't they just kill him? If he's dead, I'll be more at ease. He's just a good - for - nothing prodigal!"
The so - called eldest young master cursed while putting down the wooden sword in his hand.
"Can't that Xie Jing handle it?"
"By the time I came, the Second Young Master was already beaten black and blue."
"Why didn't you say so earlier! It's not right! Uncle Gong, did Xie Jing cause trouble again, and you're in cahoots with him to make me clean up his mess? I'm telling you, this isn't the first time this has happened. Don't think I'll be fooled by you again."
Uncle Gong was so anxious that he slapped his legs.
"Eldest Young Master, this time it's real! That person is really too powerful. Our Second Young Master really can't beat him. Please go quickly. If it's a bit later, I'm afraid the Second Young Master will really be crippled!"
"Although that Xie Jing is good - for - nothing, his spiritual power attainment is not low. In Yunmeng Marsh, who can bully him?"
"Eldest Young Master!"
"Fine, fine, fine. I'll go. If I find out that you're playing the same trick as last time, I'll make you and that Xie Jing kneel in the ancestral hall together."
"Eldest Young Master, let's go quickly!"
The young man took off his gray - white apron, replaced the wooden sword with a real one, and then followed Uncle Gong out.
Zhao Shuning shook her head with a smile. Every family had its own hard - to - read scriptures. Judging from the young man's appearance just now, he must have been constantly tricked by his younger brother.
Just then, a little child ran out. Immediately afterwards, a woman also ran out.
The child was about two years old, and the woman was at most in her early twenties.
Zhao Shuning called the innkeeper to settle the bill. Just as she was about to get up, the child ran too fast and stumbled into Zhao Shuning.
"Xiaotuanzi! Why are you running around again!"
"Miss! I'm really sorry!"
"It's okay. The child is quite cute. What's his name?"
"Miss, you're laughing at me. Our child doesn't have a formal name yet. In our family, most of the children's names are given by the elders at home."
"I didn't know there was such a custom."
"Miss, you're not from around here, are you?"
"Yeah. So what?"
"No wonder. Our Shu An Ning Ran Inn has been open for several years. This is just one of our branch inns. Our hometown is the Xie family north of the Huai River, which is quite a distance from here. Everyone knows that this is a property of the Xie family, so there are many more customers who come to support us. North of the Huai River, it's basically like this. When children are young, they're usually given a humble name first. The elders in the family say that this way, the children are easier to raise. After they're four or five years old, they'll be given a formal name. My husband thought that names like Ergou were too common, so he called our child Xiaotuanzi."
"You mean the Xie family north of the Huai River? Which Xie family is it?"
"Miss, how many Xie families could there be north of the Huai River?"
Zhao Shuning was speechless.
Indeed, north of the Huai River, the only Xie family that had the surname Xie and the strength to open so many branch inns was Xie Yu's family.
So!
"The person who was just called the eldest young master?"
"He's my husband. His name is Xie Buyan."
"Are their father Xie Yu and their mother Zhao Xiangxiang?"
"How does Miss know?"
Zhao Shuning covered her forehead.
No wonder!
No wonder she felt that the young man looked familiar. It turned out that he was Xie Yu's child!
It had only been such a short time, but her seniority had suddenly risen so much.