Chapter 77: The Greatest Sect Under Heaven

Luo Changning and Xiang Yinglong first met in their childhood. One was three years old, the other only five—both could barely be called more than infants. One often pestered Aunt Qing to take him to the Su family’s clinic to broaden his horizons, while the other accompanied his senior brothers to the clinic for treatment of their bumps and bruises.

The two children struck up a friendship in the clinic at their first meeting, as if they had known each other forever. Over the years, that friendship only deepened, never once wavering.

Of course, Luo Changning and Xiang Yinglong’s feelings at the time were quite different. After all, Luo Changning harbored the soul of a sixteen-year-old in his young body—how could he possibly take a liking to a five-year-old child, even if to outsiders he appeared two years younger than Xiang Yinglong?

The reason he became friends with Xiang Yinglong was, firstly, because Xiang Yinglong had persistently insisted they become sworn brothers.

Xiang Yinglong had said, “I’ve never seen such a delicate and pretty child before. Will you be my brother? In the future, my senior brothers and I will look after you and drive away anyone who tries to bully you!”

At the time, Luo Changning looked at the young master of the Xiang family, who in his eyes was just a little boy, clenching his tiny fists and making solemn promises. On one hand, he found it amusing, but on the other, he felt a gentle warmth in his heart. Somehow, he agreed to Xiang Yinglong’s friendly overture.

Naturally, Luo Changning had other considerations. After all, in the eyes of others, he was just a three-year-old child himself, and making friends with those his own age was only natural. He might as well treat himself as having gained a little brother.

But after nearly ten years together, Luo Changning had come to truly regard Xiang Yinglong as a lifelong brother.

Yet, fate is unpredictable. When he returned from Miao’nan Road to Qingyang County, would everything remain as it was now? What changes awaited them?

Though Luo Changning and his companions were leaving Qingyang County, they had no intention of giving up the Su family’s clinic. More than ten years of painstaking management had not been in vain; at least there were a few trusted people in the clinic to whom they could temporarily entrust it.

Besides those confidants, Ma Qingyun also volunteered to help look after the clinic, reassuring Su Meng. Ma Xue’e patted her undeveloped chest and promised to guard the Su family courtyard with the big bear, letting no harm come to anything inside.

Entrusting the Su family clinic and courtyard to the Ma siblings, everyone in the Su family felt at ease.

As for Chen Gouzi, whom Luo Changning had rescued from the little grove at the foot of Mount Tianmen, arrangements had also been made. When they returned from Dingjia Shop, they brought Chen Gouzi along. Since they had rescued him, they would see it through to the end. With his injuries yet unhealed, they naturally wouldn’t abandon him.

Moreover, Chen Gouzi was now one of Luo Changning’s people, and Luo Changning had his own plans for him.

All preparations were complete. The following day, the four members of the Su household, master and servant, would depart for Miao’nan Road.

Night fell deeply, the sky glittering with countless stars. Luo Changning, stepping in the moonlight, made his way to the little house where Chen Gouzi was resting and knocked on the door.

Inside, Chen Gouzi, who was just about to retire for the night, was surprised to hear someone knocking. He hadn’t expected anyone to visit him so late at the Su family’s courtyard.

Ever since he had been brought back, he had spent most of his time in the small room recuperating, only going to the kitchen at mealtimes. Except for Uncle Zhong, who came by during the day to check his pulse, he had seen no one else.

It wasn’t that he was ungrateful, but having come from such a sordid place as the Red Pavilion, he felt unworthy to appear before the master of the courtyard. All he wanted was to recover quickly, so he could stay and help out with chores like chopping firewood and carrying water, repaying his benefactors with servitude if need be.

His benefactor was, of course, Luo Changning—that brilliant young boy, dazzling as the sun. Though several years younger than himself, Chen Gouzi found himself utterly awed by Luo Changning’s presence.

So, when he opened the door and saw Luo Changning standing outside, he was momentarily stunned, only after a long pause realizing this was not a dream.

Rubbing his hands nervously, he stammered, “Young Master Luo, what brings you here so late?”

Seeing Chen Gouzi’s flustered and overwhelmed expression, Luo Changning found it somewhat amusing. Was he a monster to inspire such anxiety?

“Ahem, Brother Chen, aren’t you going to invite me in to sit?” Luo Changning said with a warm, sincere smile that set people at ease.

Chen Gouzi, hearing Luo Changning’s words, was stunned again. An unfamiliar feeling rose in his heart. When had anyone ever spoken to him in such a tone?

Brother Chen? How could someone as lowly as himself deserve to be addressed as ‘brother’ by this handsome young man?

From childhood until now, the only people Chen Gouzi had known were those from the Red Pavilion or the patrons skilled in all manner of vice. No one had ever truly respected him; at best, he was pitied as an orphan, at worst, treated as a performing monkey. The women of the Red Pavilion, stripped of their own dignity, could hardly afford to grant any to him. Even Chen Gouzi himself felt unworthy of respect.

His eyes stung with emotion. Forcing a thin smile, he said respectfully, “Young Master Luo, please come in!”

Luo Changning smiled, stepped inside, and seated himself gracefully on a huanghuali wood stool in the middle of the room.

Chen Gouzi hurried forward to pour tea for Luo Changning, only to realize there was no hot water in the pot—just some cold tea leftover from earlier that day. Scratching his head in embarrassment, Chen Gouzi said awkwardly, “Young Master Luo, there’s no hot tea left. Shall I fetch a fresh pot from the kitchen?”

Luo Changning replied calmly, “No need. This will do; it’s late already.”

He took the teapot from Chen Gouzi’s hands, warmed the cold tea with his inner force, and poured a cup for each of them.

The tea was nothing special—just ordinary leaves, not the prized Snow Green from Cangshan.

Yet Luo Changning drank the leftover tea without the slightest discomfort, his demeanor relaxed and at ease. Watching him, Chen Gouzi felt his heart steady for reasons he could not explain. He had thought someone like Luo Changning would be aloof and unapproachable, but he saw not a trace of arrogance in this young man.

His resolve only strengthened—no matter his limited abilities, he was determined to stay by Luo Changning’s side and do his utmost.

To serve such a pure and handsome youth must surely be a blessing. He, too, could become a better person—not a performing monkey in the filthy brothels, pandering to the whims of fat, leering patrons, relying on the pity of courtesans for survival.

Just as Chen Gouzi was lost in these thoughts, Luo Changning began to speak.