Chapter 77: This Gossip Is Juicy!

The Sword Saint said, "Enough, go see your Aunt Bai. Ever since she found out Xiao Ru still had a son, she’s been wanting to meet you."

"Aunt Bai?" Ji Huo raised his brows in confusion.

"My younger sister," the Sword Saint explained. "Back in the day, my sister and I, along with your father and mother, traveled the martial world together for a time."

"Alright." Ji Huo rose to leave, but noticed the Sword Saint’s lips move as if he wanted to say something more.

"Is there something else, Uncle?" Ji Huo recalled that the Sword Saint had said he had two things to discuss—one was the demonic weapon, but the second had yet to be brought up.

A myriad of emotions flickered across the Sword Saint’s usually calm face—affection, annoyance, helplessness, worry, resentment, murderous intent—each chasing the other in quick succession.

What kind of tangled matter could make someone’s emotions shift like flipping through a slide show? Ji Huo couldn’t help but think.

"Never mind..." The Sword Saint finally sighed, waving his hand dismissively. The proud set of his shoulders drooped, and he suddenly seemed lonely and desolate.

Puzzled, Ji Huo cupped his hands in farewell. He had barely taken a few steps before the Sword Saint called out:

"Ji family boy, if you have nothing urgent, stay at the villa for a few more days."

Leaving the riverside, he soon spotted Hou Baixi waiting for him.

This young man in white leaned idly against a tree, looking for all the world like a dashing youth waiting to flirt with a girl.

He did have the looks, and the white robes only added to his air of a youthful swordsman. No wonder this style was so popular in the martial world.

Rumor had it that some high-born ladies or wealthy widows would even order such outfits specially—no one quite knew what for. There were even women who collected clothing and socks once worn by these young swordsmen, the stronger the scent the better. If the garments had been worn during a day’s hard travel until they were drenched in sweat, they would fetch an even higher price at auction.

When the supply ran out, unscrupulous merchants would wear the clothes themselves to ensure the right "aroma," even hiring extra people to help, but it was grueling work—after a day’s exertion, all they got was a single set.

If it were the Sword Saint’s chief disciple’s own clothing, it would surely fetch a fine price... Ji Huo stepped forward and saluted:

"Hou, my friend."

"Brother Ji, did my master have anything more to say?" Hou Baixi greeted him with a friendly smile, his tone warm and familiar.

You’d never guess his master was my father’s romantic rival, Ji Huo thought, replying, "Your master asked me to visit Aunt Bai."

As if expecting this, Hou Baixi smiled and said, "Please, follow me."

The two made their way toward the front of the villa. Along the way, Hou Baixi said with a pleasant smile, "If you have leisure, Brother Ji, you’re welcome to stay a few days longer. The villa may be a bit simple, but it’s a peaceful place for cultivation."

Ji Huo asked, "Then I’ll trouble you a while longer. Are you always this... austere here?"

There were still a few days before the sixth of July—enough time to stay at Divine Sword Villa before heading to Daxing Mountain to dig for treasure. He wondered what the treasure map would reveal—surely something good, if it was a legendary golden find?

Hou Baixi chuckled. "My master says those who cultivate should not care for worldly possessions, so everything here is kept plain. Actually, quite a few of the disciples complain that the food is too bland, with barely any flavor."

Ji Huo glanced at him curiously. "Do you feel the same, Hou?"

"It’s not so bad," Hou Baixi said, rubbing his nose and looking up at the sky. "Most days I eat at the inns in town anyway."

Well, well.

They reached a courtyard, and after Hou Baixi announced them, he led Ji Huo inside.

One glance, and Ji Huo’s heart skipped. The courtyard was arranged exactly like the one his father lived in.

No way... that can’t be, he thought uneasily.

Inside, a woman in a green dress—looking no more than in her early twenties, gentle and beautiful—sat beneath a tree, lost in thought.

"Good... afternoon, Aunt Bai," Ji Huo greeted, though he could hardly reconcile this young woman with someone of his father’s generation.

Bai Rou laughed and waved her hand. "No need to be nervous. I’m only a few years younger than Brother Bear."

You’ve certainly kept your looks, Ji Huo thought. Martial prowess really does keep one young.

And that nickname—Brother Bear—sounded a little odd...

Smiling awkwardly, Ji Huo stepped forward.

Bai Rou drew him closer, studying his features intently. Her eyes were gentle, tinged with emotion.

Hou Baixi slipped away with practiced ease; who knew where he’d gone to hide.

"You really do look like Sister Ru," Bai Rou said softly.

"I’ve heard for years that Brother Bear had another son. I’ve always wanted to meet you, and today I finally have. My, how you’ve grown."

Ji Huo smiled sheepishly, that odd feeling growing ever stronger.

He caught a familiar scent—melons.

"Have you been well all these years?" Bai Rou asked. "It must have been hard on your own."

"I’ve managed," Ji Huo replied with a well-behaved smile. In truth, his combined years from both lifetimes probably exceeded Bai Rou’s, but he still found such situations difficult to handle, never quite at ease with elders.

Had it been his previous life, he doubted he’d have kept in touch with his relatives at all.

"Aunt Bai, could you tell me your stories from the old days? I’m really curious," Ji Huo asked, playing the dutiful nephew.

"Of course," Bai Rou replied, smiling warmly as a touch of nostalgia flickered in her eyes.

That afternoon, she spoke at length, recounting tales of the four of them adventuring through the martial world. Bai Rou had been young then—just a tagalong, really—but she had weathered many storms and her stories were full of excitement.

Though she glossed over the dangers with the lightest of words, Ji Huo could sense the grandeur and drama beneath.

They talked for a long while. As the day wore on and dusk approached, Bai Rou suddenly asked, almost absently, "Your father... did he ever remarry?"

Just as I thought! Ji Huo mused.

He shook his head decisively. "Never! My father spends all his time with the Flying Bear Army or sneaking drinks. There isn’t a single woman at his side! Even the mosquitoes that bite him are male! So are the horses he rides!"

Though, truth be told, the Flying Bear Army seemed a little off... there was definitely a certain masculine vibe to it.

Bai Rou burst out laughing, tapping Ji Huo’s forehead. "Silly boy, don’t you know that male mosquitoes don’t bite?"

If the Sword Saint heard that, he’d probably start crying, Ji Huo thought.

Though, the Sword Saint was likely already close to tears—defeated in love, and now his own sister had fallen for his married rival, waiting faithfully for years after the man wed another.

Ji Huo could now understand the Sword Saint’s complicated feelings; no wonder he never approved of his sister getting involved with his rival in the first place.

But after so many years, with his sister still waiting, there was nothing left to do but grit his teeth and invite the Ji family over, hoping perhaps there was still a chance.

Talking about the demonic weapon was just an excuse. Though, shouldn’t the eldest brother have been the one to play matchmaker?

Just one glance around this courtyard and it was clear Aunt Bai’s lodgings were far superior to any other at Divine Sword Villa. The Sword Saint, stingy as he was, clearly doted on his sister.

No wonder his mood was so foul; if I were him, I’d go mad too.

My father never seemed the type to inspire such devotion. Could he have dyed his hair golden in his youth?

What a juicy tale, and what a mess!