"Master Jiang Man, welcome home." The head steward, Hang Ji Chang, stepped forward with a practised elegance, offering a deep, respectful bow to Grandpa Tang.
After straightening his posture, he turned his attention toward Yu Qi to offer her a formal greeting as well.
"Welcome to the residence, Miss Yu Qi. I am the head steward of the Tang House, Hang Ji Chang. I have already heard quite a lot about you from my granddaughter, Miss Yu Qi." Steward Hang Ji Chang said, his eyes twinkling with polite curiosity.
"Huh? Your granddaughter? Who might that be?" Yu Qi asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
She searched her memory but could not recall meeting anyone related to the steward.
"The maid who was tasked with looking after Master Jiang Man back in the town." Steward Hang Ji Chang offered, providing a helpful hint to jog her memory.
"Oh! You mean Sister Chu Xiao." The realisation dawned on her instantly. She remembered Sister Chu Xiao clearly, as she had been the sole dedicated caretaker tending to Grandpa Tang's needs in his smaller residence.
"Indeed. Since the hour has grown quite late, I have prepared a light dinner for both of you. If you would be so kind as to follow me." Steward Hang Ji Chang said politely, gesturing for them to follow as he began leading the way through the grand halls.
"And what of everyone else?" Grandpa Tang inquired, his voice echoing slightly in the corridor as he asked about the other family members currently staying in the house.
"They have already finished their meal and retired to their respective bedrooms for the evening. Your daughter-in-law expressed a strong desire to greet you tonight, but your sons suggested it would be better to wait and pay their respects properly tomorrow morning." Steward Hang Ji Chang answered with the unwavering respect he always afforded his master.
"Good. Yu Qi dear, let's go and eat. You haven't had a proper bite since this afternoon, have you? I find that I am also quite famished." Grandpa Tang seemed satisfied with the steward's explanation and chose not to dwell on the absence of the others. Instead, he affectionately took Yu Qi's hand and guided her toward the dining room.
As he observed the pair, Steward Hang Ji Chang could not help but notice the dynamic between them. He realised with some surprise that his master behaved much more like a doting, loving grandfather toward Miss Yu Qi than he ever did with his three biological grandsons.
Furthermore, he was struck by Yu Qi's poise. She carried herself with the refined grace of a young lady born into a wealthy, prestigious family. However, he quickly shook off these wandering thoughts when his master's voice snapped him back to his duties.
"Ji Chang, see to it that a portion is prepared for my granddaughter's puppy as well." Grandpa Tang ordered.
Aoi was over the moon when he realised his master's grandfather had remembered him. The little creature began barking at Grandpa Tang enthusiastically, wagging his tail as if shouting a heartfelt 'thank you.'
"Woof!"
"Hahaha! Are you thanking me, little one?" Grandpa Tang laughed, his eyes crinkling with genuine amusement.
"Woof!" Aoi replied, as if confirming the old man's suspicion.
"Yu Qi, this puppy of yours is remarkably clever." Grandpa Tang praised, feeling a sense of happiness that his granddaughter had such a bright and loyal companion.
Yu Qi simply offered a knowing smile. Of course, he was clever. Aoi was far from a normal puppy, regardless of his unassuming appearance.
The atmosphere remained serene as the three of them enjoyed their meal in a high-spirited mood. Once dinner concluded, Grandpa Tang instructed Steward Hang Ji Chang to escort Yu Qi to a guest room so she could rest for the night. She thanked the steward warmly for his assistance.
Upon entering the room, she carefully locked the door. Grabbing Aoi, she immediately entered her 'Space.' She intended to rest for about an hour before starting her nightly cultivation routine. She preferred resting inside the Space because the time dilation meant she would not be wasting precious hours of the night.
"Aoi, Bo Ya, I am going to sleep in the pavilion for about an hour. Please wake me up when the time is up, okay?" Yu Qi asked the two little ones, appointing them as her personal alarm clocks.
"Okay, Master!" They both chirped simultaneously, happily obliging her request.
Yu Qi drifted off into a deep sleep almost instantly. Meanwhile, the two small creatures began to chatter amongst themselves.
"You can actually talk now?" Bo Ya asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Yes, I am learning quickly from the Master." Aoi replied, nodding his head with pride.
"What is the outside world like? Is it fun?" Bo Ya looked at Aoi with a hint of envy.
He longed to see the mundane world beyond the borders of the Sere.
"Being out there with Master is very fun." Aoi said, completely oblivious to his friend's jealousy as he gushed about his adventures.
"Sigh... I am so jealous of you. You can roam outside, while I am stuck here, only able to see Master when she visits. I don't understand why. I have tried to sneak out by grabbing onto Master's clothes several times, but it never works." Bo Ya grew even more upset thinking about his failed attempts to escape his gilded cage.
"Oh, I see."
"Also, before I forget, I wanted to ask. How exactly did you end up in this Sere?"
"Hmm... I remember being chased by humans after they killed my mother. I ran until my legs gave out, and then somehow, I ended up here. How I actually entered is a mystery even to me. I was just fortunate enough to find this place."
"I see. I thought perhaps you knew the secret of the Sere's entrance."
They continued to converse like old friends reuniting after a long separation until the hour passed in the blink of an eye. True to their word, the two of them moved to wake their master.
"Master, wake up."
Bo Ya began gently patting his master's cheek while Aoi nudged her hand. Sensing the movement, Yu Qi stirred and woke up. She let out a long yawn, stretching her limbs before heading to the lake to wash the sleep from her face.
Afterward, Yu Qi walked toward the Pagoda. Before heading to her usual training rooms, she stepped into a private chamber she had claimed as her own. She organized a few of her belongings and checked on her supplies. Satisfied, she finally transitioned into her rigorous daily routine.
...
At six o'clock the following morning, she woke up feeling completely refreshed. Yu Qi slipped out of her room and headed toward the kitchen to find Steward Hang Ji Chang. As she expected, he was already there overseeing the morning preparations.
"Grandpa Hang." Yu Qi called out softly.
She had decided to address him this way, assuming he was likely of a similar age to Grandpa Tang and deserving of such respect.
"Yes, Miss Yu Qi. Is there something I can help you with?" Steward Hang Ji Chang asked, approaching her with a helpful smile.
"I was wondering... Is there a place nearby where I could do my morning exercises?" Yu Qi asked.
She did not want to just wander aimlessly. It would be quite rude to intrude on private areas of the estate without permission.
"Oh, you are more than welcome to use the garden. Please, let me show you the way." Steward Hang Ji Chang led her toward the gardens, feeling privately amused by the girl's cautious and considerate nature.
To him, Yu Qi truly seemed like a well-bred young lady of high standing.
"Thank you, Grandpa Hang." Yu Qi followed him through a few winding corridors until they arrived at a lush, open greenery.
"Here we are. Miss Yu Qi, you may exercise here as you wish, but please do keep in mind that breakfast will be served promptly at 8:00 a.m." Steward Hang Ji Chang reminded her kindly.
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." Yu Qi offered a polite bow.
Steward Hang Ji Chang left the garden.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Qi noted that the city air felt different, heavier than the air in her hometown. The crisp, clean breeze of the countryside was a far cry from the urban atmosphere, but she did not let it bother her. She began her stretches while Aoi sat nearby, watching her intently. After thirty minutes of intense movement, she sat down to catch her breath.
Suddenly, without warning, someone approached from behind and pulled her into a sudden hug. Reacting on pure instinct and her recent training, Yu Qi executed a flawless judo move. In one fluid motion, she performed a single back throw, sending the intruder flying over her shoulder.
The unfortunate person hit the ground with a thud, groaning in visible pain. Yu Qi looked down at the stranger. She did not recognise him immediately, but as she studied his facial features, she noticed a striking resemblance to someone she knew. Her sharp instincts kicked in. This had to be Grandpa Tang's second grandson, Tang Jin Wei.
"Are you alright?" Yu Qi asked, though her voice held more curiosity than apology.
"How can a girl like you... throw a grown man like that?" Tang Jin Wei groaned, pushing himself up and looking at her with a grimace.
He had not known who she was and had assumed she was just a new, young maid. He'd decided to pull a little prank to start the morning, but he never expected this petite girl to possess such strength. His back was screaming in protest. The girl clearly knew her judo.
"You are the one in the wrong. How dare you just grab me from behind? You should be grateful I did not decide to castrate you instead." Yu Qi said with a smirk, an evil glint dancing in her eyes.
Tang Jin Wei gasped, utterly shocked. "How can a young lady say such things so shamelessly?" He felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck. Whoever this girl was, she was certainly bold.
Yu Qi did not bother answering him, simply ignoring his protests as she cast a casual glance over her shoulder. Seeing her calm demeanour, Tang Jin Wei quickly scrambled to a more defensive posture. Yu Qi just smiled to herself and turned, walking back toward the house and leaving the stunned young man behind in the grass.
***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. It breaks my heart when someone steals my hard work. Can you consider reading it on the original website for those who read my novel on another website besides w e b n o v e l .c o m, as your support to me? Thank you, from, your shameless author, ZerahNeko**
This chapter is edited by Tzin99... Thank you for your help...