SES Chapter 173 Part 2

“In the future, whether you marry Luo Ren or another man—no matter how good he is—don’t depend on him. Always be yourself first. You are Mudaidai before you’re my disciple or someone’s lover. Stand like a sail, and the wind will come on its own.”

“Yes.”

“If you like him, be with him. If one day you realize he was the wrong choice, then leave him and find someone better. People say a woman’s biggest fear is marrying the wrong man—nonsense. If you marry wrong, then change course. Follow your own heart. There’s nothing to fear. If he wrongs you, teach him a lesson. If you can’t win, call your senior brother and beat him together.”

Mudaidai couldn’t help laughing.

Meihua Jiuniang let out a soft sigh.

It would take time for Mudaidai to truly understand her words.

Luo Ren was the first boyfriend Mudaidai had ever brought home. As for the future—who knew? Maybe she would stay with him, maybe she would fall for someone else. Meihua Jiuniang didn’t have the time to lecture every young man who might take her disciple away, so she spoke directly to Mudaidai instead:

I don’t care who you end up with—tall, short, handsome, plain—as long as you live well, guard your heart, suffer no indignity, and never swallow your grievances, I’ll be at ease.

Perhaps she was being pessimistic—but happiness is hard to hold onto. Avoiding harm was good enough.

She began coughing. Mudaidai quickly got up to pour tea. As the clear tea trickled into the cup, Meihua Jiuniang spoke from behind her.

“After dinner, come to my room alone. I need to speak with you about the matter of passing on my legacy.”

Mudaidai’s hand trembled.

Those words meant her master intended to pass everything to her. But shouldn’t it go to her senior brother?

Leaving her master’s room, Mudaidai felt heavy-hearted. Passing by the triangular pavilion, she saw Zheng Mingshan feeding the fish again. Without a word, she went to sit beside him. “Senior brother, if you feed them like that, you’ll burst them.”

Zheng Mingshan gave her a sideways look. “They’ll burst? What, do they have needles for stomachs?”

Mudaidai hesitated, then couldn’t hold back. “Senior brother… did you know Master plans to pass everything to me?”

Zheng Mingshan said, “Of course.”

He sounded completely matter-of-fact. “You know I never trained in the sect’s martial arts. Master’s skills—especially lightness techniques—you learned them far better than I ever did. Who else would she give it to?”

Mudaidai asked quietly, “Senior brother… you’re not upset?”

Zheng Mingshan stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter. He reached out to ruffle her ponytail until it was a complete mess.

“You’ve watched too many TV dramas. Do you really think I’d fight you over a tiny inheritance?”

Master occasionally talked to him about these things, but every time she said “passing on the legacy,” he had to hold back a smile.

Yes, they were technically a martial lineage. But it hadn’t been a proper sect in years. With only two or three people left, talking about “inheritance of the sect” just sounded… pitiful.

He pointed toward the courtyard. “And what would I be upset about? Master will leave you this Guansi Pavilion. But you know it can’t be sold or rented out. You’ll have to hire someone to clean it, guard it… who would be jealous of such trouble?”

Mudaidai sighed, glancing around at the familiar old courtyard. “You’re right.”

While she chatted with Zheng Mingshan, Luo Ren called Aoki to ask about the situation in Lijiang.

Aoki said, “I’ve already arranged things with Uncle Zheng. Phoenix House is closed for a few days. I moved him and Pingtīng somewhere safe. I’m keeping an eye on the bar. Nothing unusual so far except…”

Except what? Luo Ren’s chest tightened.

“Except every couple of days, they’re fighting over that damn chicken again. Honestly, why not just slaughter it?”

Uncle Zhang could not stand Cao Jiefang. At all.

Lijiang was supposed to be a refined, romantic place with boutique guesthouses. Everyone else kept a cute dog or cat. Who else ran around with a chicken?

And this chicken didn’t even behave. It didn’t lay eggs—not one. Instead, it strutted around the courtyard yelling “kuh-koh-looo” at all hours. If someone forgot to close the bar door, it would saunter inside like it owned the place and wander around like a barnyard tourist.

It had gone too far! Huo Zihong was too easygoing and always said, “Let it be,” but Uncle Zhang refused to tolerate it. He had to show the chicken who was boss.

So after breakfast, he grabbed a cleaver and stormed into the courtyard.

Cao Jiefang was out walking. The moment he saw Uncle Zhang, he knew things were bad. He broke into a panicked little run, circling the courtyard, before finally fluttering straight into Yan Hongsand’s arms.

Wan San, with his arm in a sling, rushed after them, smiling awkwardly. “Uncle Zhang, come on—it’s just a chicken.”

“A chicken?” Uncle Zhang pointed at his huge dark eye bags. “It crowed all night! If I don’t teach it some discipline, the neighboring inns are going to complain! You—get down here and stand still!”

He meant the chicken. Yan Hongsand helplessly set Cao Jiefang down and patted its head. “Don’t move.”

Cao Jiefang drooped its head pitifully.

Uncle Zhang crouched, revealing the gleam of his cleaver. He tapped the blade with his finger—clang, clang, clang.

“You know what this is? A knife! With that skinny little neck of yours, one swipe—poof, legs in the air. Got it? Then nod.”

Cao Jiefang rolled its eyes. Yan Hongsand pressed its head down, making it nod three times.

“If you crow again tonight, I’ll chop you. I mean it.”

Then Uncle Zhang waved the cleaver a few times in front of the chicken and left.

Cao Jiefang puffed up angrily, opened its beak—and right as the first “kuh—” escaped, Wan San slapped two fingers over its beak.

Yan Hongsand sighed. “Maybe… tonight we should wrap its beak with tape?”