Chapter 152: An Old Friend Encountered at the Teahouse

On Yuhuai Street, Yu Youwei led a less-than-enthusiastic Ning Mofei into the newly opened Wanshang Teahouse. This street was prime real estate, where every inch was worth gold, and the surrounding shops exclusively sold cultivation resources. While the food and beverage industry clustered on neighboring streets, this teahouse was the one and only exception.

When strolling down the street yesterday, Yu Youwei had heard that the Wanshang Teahouse bore the emblem of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. Upon entering today, she was surprised to find the manager behind the counter was none other than that nine-tailed fox woman. Unable to hold back a smile, she teased, "Is your young mistress's money burning a hole in her pocket? Tell her to lend me some to tide me over an emergency."

On the wooden spiral staircase leading to the second floor, a lean man dressed in a blue linen tunic chimed in with a joke, "The young mistress of the Ning family needs to borrow money for an emergency? What, were you cast out and swept out the door again?"

"What do you mean 'again'? This young mistress only got married this year, alright? Stop cawing like a bad omen; my husband is right here," Yu Youwei scolded, pulling a long face.

"In your past life, weren't you cast out?" Pulling out the folding fan tucked behind his neck, the man in blue gave it a theatrical, dashing snap, opening it with a crisp rustle. Fanning himself leisurely, he continued, "According to this young master's infallible fortune-telling, you'll be cast out again within the next ten days to half a month. Come now, I'll take care of you from now on."

"Stop fooling around!" Yu Youwei finally couldn't help laughing. She pulled Ning Mofei—who was listening in total bewilderment—up the stairs and said, "Mofei, this counterfeit goes by Baili Feiyan. She's my younger sister."

Everyone strolling along this street was a cultivator, and those who entered the teahouse essentially recognized the emblem of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. Hearing the name Baili Feiyan, they immediately knew she was the young master of the Pavilion, and started whispering among themselves.

Baili Feiyan protested loudly, "I'm your older sister, you know! You're only fifteen; I'm old enough to be your mother." Her voice was crisp and urgent, a stark contrast to the deep male voice from moments ago.

"Whoever has bigger fists is the older sister—we agreed on that long ago. Want to taste some knuckles?" Raising her delicate fist and shaking it, Yu Youwei threatened, "Hurry up and call him brother-in-law! And don't skimp on the wedding gifts, or else your big sister will tear down this shady establishment of yours."

"Hey, if I call him brother-in-law, shouldn't the brother-in-law be the one giving a welcoming gift?"

"When you get married, your brother-in-law will definitely pack a huge red envelope for you. For now, cough up the wedding gift immediately."

"You nine-tailed fox, how is it that I feel like I'm being held up by a bandit? Sob, what a tragic life I have—how did I ever run into such a lawless and heartless sister?" Baili Feiyan covered her face, pretending to cry.

Having grown up surrounded by powder and rouge, Ning Mofei felt rather bad and quickly comforted her, "Don't cry. I won't rob you, and neither will Youwei."

"You're a regular Brother Bao, knowing only how to pamper your younger sister whenever you meet one. The prospects for your life are utterly bleak!" Baili Feiyan stopped fake-crying and gloated, "Those lines you wrote in the past—'secretly shedding tears on the pillow, heartbroken in secret among the flowers'—will come in handy as soon as the novelty wears off."

This woman was also a time traveler, though from a much later era. She allegedly hailed from the twentieth century, having time-traveled while watching a stage play of *Yu Xuanji* with her grandfather. In a way, she was also a devoted fan of Yu Xuanji.

Every single poem Yu Youwei had written in her past life—even the ones Yu Youwei herself had forgotten—had been recorded by this woman in a ledger. Baili Feiyan had even turned her poems into lantern riddles to be exhibited at the lantern festival. When Yu Youwei had felt a momentary itch and filled in the answers, she had ended up being pestered by this eccentric woman and forced into sworn sisterhood.

Hearing this woman recite the poems she had written in her past life, Yu Youwei said irritably, "Baili Feiyan, are you asking for a beating?"

"Violent woman, you only know how to use your fists to threaten the flowers of the motherland," Baili Feiyan whined in a comical, fake sob.

Pulling Ning Mofei upstairs to Baili Feiyan's side, Yu Youwei said, "Hurry up and find a quiet place, and send up two pots of good tea, and big sister might consider not beating you."

"And no wedding gift either?" Baili Feiyan asked pitifully.

Yu Youwei remained hard-hearted and unmoved, but Ning Mofei softened and said, "No wedding gift is fine. Whatever Feiyan younger sister likes, your brother-in-law will buy it for you."

"He's a regular prodigal son, buying things the moment he sees a younger sister," Baili Feiyan critiqued ungratefully, making Ning Mofei pout so hard he could hang an oil jug from his lips.

Chasing and teasing one another, the three of them reached a private room on the upper floor. Once seated, Baili Feiyan peeled off a thin mask, revealing her true appearance—rosy lips and white teeth, she looked every bit a mischievous and clever young maiden.

After the attendant served two pots of tea, he bowed out and pulled the door shut behind him.

Baili Feiyan's expression immediately shifted from sunny to stormy, and she said with vexation, "Which of my grandfather's wires got crossed? He actually allowed that insidious wretch Baili Feiyan to enter the main tower and take charge of affairs? Should I have Yang-ge come back home right now?"

Having known Baili Feiyan since she was eleven, Yu Youwei was quite familiar with the inner workings of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. The master of the Pavilion had no sons, and the "Yang-ge" Baili Feiyan spoke of was her paternal cousin, Baili Yang, who was also Yu Youwei's own brother-in-law. He had originally been designated as the successor to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets and had always managed the affairs of the main tower. Baili Feiyan was the son of the Pavilion Master's eldest brother; to vie with Baili Yang for the position of heir, he had resorted to vicious poison to covertly murder Baili Yang last year.

Poisoned and on the verge of death, Baili Yang had been taken in by his maternal grandfather to recuperate in the countryside. Yu Youwei possessed the antidote given to her by Ye Yinchen, and she had had Baili Feiyan deliver it to save his life. Afterward, following Yu Youwei's suggestion, Baili Feiyan had instructed him to pretend his mind was impaired and remain in the countryside until he regained his strength before returning home.

Pouring a cup of herbal tea for Ning Mofei, Yu Youwei said, "There's no rush yet. We cannot let that wolf, Baili Feiyan, know that Yang-ge has recovered just yet."

With a sudden slap on the table, Baili Feiyan raged, "It makes my blood boil just thinking about it. Everyone knows it was that heartless bastard who played the dirty trick, but not a single old fogey in the Baili family made a peep. Even my dad just made a big fuss at first and fizzled out at the end, wrapping things up after slaughtering a few small fry."

"They subscribe to the law of the jungle, accepting the bloody cruelty of the survival of the fittest. They believe that family leaders forged through such brutal competition are the strongest and can lead the family toward glory," Yu Youwei sneered, not without a hint of mockery.

"It seems that's not entirely wrong, though it is a bit cruel," Baili Feiyan said, tugging at her hair.

"Stupid! Mutual benefit is also a vital component of the law of the jungle. A single wolf facing a lion or a tiger can only run away in panic, but a pack of wolves can make lions and tigers run away in panic."

"That also makes sense."

"Don't be impulsive; use your brain more. Although your older sister does have some real authority, she cannot protect Yang-ge's safety all-round. That wolf Baili Feiyan won't care about her; if he strikes again, he will definitely make sure Yang-ge dies."

"If he dares to make a move against Yang-ge again, your sister says she'll risk her life and never swallow her anger again; she will definitely demand justice for her brother-in-law!"

"Stop talking about demanding justice. If Yang-ge loses his life, what worth does justice have to him? Is it worth a single copper coin?"

"Are we just supposed to endure and swallow this forever—would that have any meaning?" After angrily firing off her question without waiting for an answer, Baili Feiyan akimbo declared, "I still think Yang-ge should announce his recovery and make a strong comeback."

"Heroically dimwitted, gloriously foolish," Yu Youwei said, curling her lips in a sarcastic tone.

"Who?" Baili Feiyan froze, pressing further, "Me, or Yang-ge?"