A Different World - Chapter 20: Why

Yanzhou City, Yuechun Tavern.

The hall was bustling with guests, and the sound of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air. Red silk draped from the second floor danced lightly in the breeze. Looking up, one could see the elegance of a flower-filled building. A waiter carried a tray and weaved through the crowd. Seeing a guest entering, he hurried to greet them, “Ah, welcome, esteemed guest!”

Min Chengzhe responded with a nod and turned to warmly invite Ye Cichuan upstairs. “Hero Ye, please take the seat of honor.”

“No need, thank you.” Ye Cichuan did not take the primary seat but casually chose a spot to sit down.

Seeing this, Min Chengzhe took the seat opposite him. Ye Cichuan pursed his lips and found a topic to ease into the conversation. “Since Mr. Min wishes to discuss business with Zheyue Tower, why not first introduce the situation of your shop? For instance, the location—if you say Zhuque Alley is the most prosperous area in Qingdu, where exactly is your esteemed shop located?”

Min Chengzhe immediately understood and replied, “Rest assured, Hero Ye, the location is naturally the best in Qingdu, even better than Zhuque Alley. If Zheyue Tower cooperates with my shop, there will undoubtedly be significant benefits. I was deeply impressed by your heroic demeanor today, and if you are interested, you could certainly secure a position in Qingdu.”

Over the years, he had worked in the Ministry of Personnel and had encountered many capable individuals. However, someone as young and skilled as Ye Cichuan was a rarity. In fact, he had only seen one other person like this—someone who had perished in a great fire behind Kongshan Temple a decade ago.

Now that he had met Ye Cichuan, he could not help but feel admiration for his talent. If this man could be utilized on the battlefield, he would undoubtedly be a formidable weapon.

As the two conversed, a waiter brought hot water and clean towels. Min Chengzhe turned slightly to wash his hands, but his gaze remained fixed on Ye Cichuan. He subtly signaled the waiter in front of him with a slight tilt of his chin.

The waiter understood immediately, bowed slightly, and quietly exited the private room.

Although Ye Cichuan did not involve himself in the affairs of Zheyue Tower, he was no fool. The man sitting opposite him was clearly a government official sent by the court. On the surface, he claimed to discuss business with Zheyue Tower, but in reality, his true intent was to have Ye Cichuan relay an offer of recruitment to Ye Yin.

Now that the olive branch had been extended, if Ye Cichuan avoided the topic and continued to probe about Zhuque Alley, the other party likely wouldn’t divulge more details. He could only play along for now and find another opportunity to inquire further.

However, since Ye Cichuan was unaware of Ye Yin’s plans, he could not afford to show weakness before Min Chengzhe. Lowering his gaze to the green tea in his cup, he lightly traced the rim with his fingers, feigning a thoughtful demeanor. Then, he shifted the conversation. “Oh? The twin states of Jian and Yue are currently flourishing, and with their peaks overlooking the sea, the stunning scenery is unparalleled. Otherwise, why would Mr. Min seek cooperation with Zheyue Tower?”

Though Qingdu might be prosperous, Zheyue Tower was no less impressive. Even though Ye Cichuan was not privy to Ye Yin’s overall strategy, by gauging Min Chengzhe’s intentions today and raising Zheyue Tower’s standing, the outcome would benefit them regardless of Ye Yin’s decision on the court’s offer.

Min Chengzhe’s hand paused slightly as he poured tea, and a small spill occurred. He understood clearly—Zheyue Tower was trying to raise their value and demand fair negotiations. But how could mountain bandits dare consider themselves equals to the court? It seemed Ye Cichuan’s perspective was still too limited.

He responded, “The Xiu River originates from the Yagong Mountains and flows down, nourishing the entire Great Qi. Now that the canal is completed, trade between the regions has become routine. If this deal goes through, the trading company will surely support Zheyue Tower, and in the future, your group will enjoy a respectable reputation in Qingdu. I hope Hero Ye will put in a good word with your tower master to facilitate this beneficial partnership.”

In recent years, the court had suffered significant losses and was unwilling to engage in further conflicts. Thus, they sought to persuade various factions to submit peacefully wherever possible.

If this recruitment effort failed, the court would not tolerate Zheyue Tower for long. Once external threats were resolved, they would eventually eliminate these local rebel groups.

With that, Min Chengzhe clapped his hands. The women waiting outside the door entered in a line, carrying trays of dishes. They carefully set the food before the guests, their delicate hands pouring wine into cups and gently pushing them toward the table.

Ye Cichuan didn’t even glance at them, his thoughts sinking. Clearly, Min Chengzhe was using the Xiu River to imply, “Water flows to lower places, and people strive for higher goals.”

Judging from his intentions, Min Chengzhe was most likely sent by the Ministry of Personnel. Earlier, when Ye Cichuan tested the waters by discussing potential collaboration, Min Chengzhe had quickly gained the upper hand, demonstrating that the court did not truly regard martial sects as equals. Their current patience was merely a result of the court’s military being preoccupied with internal struggles.

It was also due to Min Chengzhe’s good temperament that Ye Cichuan recalled Jiang Yunxiu mentioning how this Mr. Min had sent invitations to numerous factions—more than the past martial gatherings.

Ye Cichuan deduced that the Great Qi border must indeed be under martial law, and a chaotic battle was imminent. The court was evidently short on manpower, as there was no time to train soldiers. Thus, Min Chengzhe had been tirelessly meeting with sects. Even though Zheyue Tower had delayed its response, he remained patient.

Min Chengzhe subtly signaled the women beside Ye Cichuan, then spoke leisurely. “Hero Ye, do try the food and see if it suits your taste. I’ve searched all over Yanzhou City, and only two taverns serve true delicacies—this one and the ever-popular Zuixian Tavern. However, dishes of this quality are commonplace in Qingdu.”

The women, catching the hint, swarmed around Ye Cichuan, their voices soft and inviting.

“Hero, have a drink!”

“Hero, let me serve you some food. Come on, open up.”

“Hero, don’t ignore me! Did I fail to please you?”

The fragrance of soft beauty by his side jolted Ye Cichuan back from his thoughts. Surprised, he looked at the girl leaning closely against him and quickly stood up. “Please conduct yourself properly.”

The girl chuckled softly at his words. It was the first time they had heard someone in a place like this ask them to behave themselves.

Unwilling to give up, the girls persisted. After all, the guest across from them had given them a generous reward. They tugged at Ye Cichuan’s sleeve, and one even tried to cling to him, attempting to melt this ice-cold man with her soft and tender form.

Ye Cichuan frowned, finding no charm in the scene. He gently pushed the girl away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Already at this point, and still unmoved? Hero, you couldn’t possibly…” One of the girls eyed Ye Cichuan suspiciously. With such a figure and presence, how could he not be capable? She was the top courtesan of Chun Yue Tower. Normally, people couldn’t even tear their eyes away from her, let alone resist her charms. Could it be that this hero had seen someone even more beautiful than her?

“Get lost.” Ye Cichuan’s patience was running thin, his words carrying an unmistakable chill.

Seeing the girls around him retreat timidly, Ye Cichuan’s expression remained tense. His fists stayed tightly clenched, as if he were suppressing something.

He listened intently to the sound of rain falling outside the window and then raised his eyes to look at Min Chengzhe. “The food and wine may be good, but as a mere martial artist, I can’t tell the difference. The rain is getting heavier; I won’t stay any longer. As for what you wish to convey, I will pass it on to my master.”

“Ah, we were having such a good conversation. Why leave so suddenly?” Min Chengzhe asked in puzzlement, casting a glance at the top courtesan of Chun Yue Tower, his gaze now devoid of the affection he had shown in their previous encounters.

Ye Cichuan ran through the rain, his pace gradually slowing while his breathing grew heavier. His mind swirled with confusion.

Why? When those girls touched him, all he could think about was whether Ye Yin would be angry if he found out. How would he explain it? And the thought of Ye Yin not being angry left him feeling uneasy and sad.

Why did he feel uneasy? What was he sad about?

Doctor Zuo often teased him, saying that at his age, he should be thinking about getting married and starting a family. Ye Cichuan had never considered such things. He only wanted to stay by Ye Yin’s side, to share his joys and sorrows, to feel his pain and happiness.

Was it simply the habit of relying on someone after so many years? Was it gratitude for not being abandoned in his childhood? Or was it because of that moment, amidst falling pear blossoms, when Ye Yin had said, “I will never abandon you”?

He couldn’t distinguish the reasons, nor could he let them go. Ever since his awareness became clear, Ye Yin had been the only person in his gaze, leaving no room for anyone else.

Author’s Note:

I’m sorry! I originally planned to add a bit of sweetness today, but due to the length of this section, I couldn’t get to it. Today’s piece will only offer a hint of insight, and we’ll continue tomorrow.

Thank you for reading!