Bitter Realm: A Happy Person Traveling Across China

At the foot of Xuefeng Mountain, in a VIP private room on the second floor of a simple teahouse.

The teahouse is built of logs, with strings of icicles hanging from the eaves, reflecting a rainbow of colors in the afternoon light.

Outside the window, there are continuous snow-capped mountains and endless whiteness, while inside, the charcoal fire makes it warm and cozy, creating a stark contrast with the icy and snowy landscape outside.

At this moment, three people are sitting around a square table by the window.

Ye Jinming, dressed in a long blue and white robe, leaned back in his chair with a relaxed posture; Ji Changjia, who was also restless, tapped the table with his fingertips; Mingjian Jueshi slowly sipped his hot tea, occasionally glancing at the vast snow scene outside the window.

Huang Jian Gu Chen, on the other hand, had to take his leave early because he was busy with official duties as the Grand General of Yuehuang Shendu.

The atmosphere, which should have been one of lingering tranquility after a martial arts contest on the snow-capped mountain, felt somewhat... unsatisfying due to the absence of one person.

"Sigh—" Ji Changjia sighed deeply, slamming his teacup on the table with a crisp sound. "What happened to the promise of the four swordsmen gathering at Snow Peak for a sword duel and drinking until dawn? Didn't Huang Jian ask for leave from Yue Huang Shendu? It's rare that the four of us could all find the time, and he ran off without even taking a sip of the last tea. That's so unfair!"

The peerless swordsman put down his teacup, wiped his mouth with a plain white handkerchief, and upon hearing this, glanced indifferently at Ye Jinming, who was pretending to study the ice flower pattern on the window, and said slowly and meaningfully, "This matter... I'm afraid it's the fault of one of our top experts."

Ye Jinming immediately withdrew his gaze from "studying" the ice flower, blinked innocently, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "That's right, who's to blame? It's definitely not me."

His tone was incredibly self-righteous.

The legendary swordsman was almost overwhelmed by his shamelessness. He barely suppressed his laughter and shook his head, saying, "I've discovered someone who is not only fast with his sword, but also has a face that's as thick as a city wall."

"That's right!" Ji Changjia nodded vigorously, matching the famous sword Peerless.

Both pairs of piercing gazes were fixed on Ye Jinming.

Despite facing two accusations, Ye Jinming remained unmoved, even turning the tables and throwing the question back at him. He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and asked mysteriously, "Who is it? Jueshi, confess honestly, was it you?"

"..." The peerless swordsman was momentarily speechless at this counterattack, then chuckled, "You really are turning the tables. If you hadn't been late, would the Imperial Sword have been in such a hurry to return to the Yuehuang Divine Capital for duty?"

Ye Jinming shrugged, giving him a helpless look: "Is it my fault?"

Ji Changjia and the peerless swordsman spoke in unison, their voices resolute: "What do you think?"

Seeing this, Ye Jinming immediately put his clever mind to work and changed the subject: "If you ask me, the root of the problem isn't me, nor is it the Imperial Sword. The person to blame is the God Lord of Yuehuang Divine Capital. Although he is the Imperial Sword's savior, he can't treat people like cattle!"

"This is exploitation, blatant exploitation!"

The peerless swordsman stroked his chin, actually thought about it for a moment, and nodded: "Hmm... what you said makes some sense. The Imperial Sword has indeed had very little free time these past few years."

Ji Changjia wasn't fooled. He slammed his hand on the table: "Come on! Don't try to change the subject! You have to pay for this tea today! Consider it punishment for your lateness, which caused Huang Jian to leave early and ruined our Four Peaks' perfect gathering!"

Ye Jinming immediately clutched his chest, feigning heartache: "Why should I? Forget about Mingjian; he's always been penniless, relying entirely on the Imperial Sword for support. But you, Young Master Ji, the Vice Head of Tianzong Manor, the wealthiest man in the Northern Territory, have the nerve to ask me to pay? Doesn't your conscience hurt?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Changjia's handsome face fell, and he sighed, "Don't even mention it! Being the deputy sect leader sounds prestigious, but in reality, my brother holds all the financial power! My meager monthly allowance isn't even enough to support myself."

Ye Jinming narrowed his eyes, sizing up Ji Changjia's obviously expensive robe and the smooth, translucent jade pendant at his waist. "I bet you're not poor, you're just afraid that if you go back to get money, your brother will pressure you to fulfill the marriage agreement!"

"Pfft—" Ji Changjia nearly spat out the tea he had just taken a sip, choking and coughing repeatedly, his face turning red. He frantically wiped his mouth, glaring at Ye Jinming: "Seeing through things but not saying anything, still good friends!"

Ye Jinming slowly straightened his sleeve, which had been splattered with tea droplets from Ji Changjia's spray, then raised his head and announced in a sorrowful yet resolute tone, "Our friendship is over."

Ji Changjia was immediately enraged: "You, Ye Jinming! Our ten-year friendship is worth less than a mere tael of tea! Besides, are you short of money?"

Ye Jinming shook his head, his expression serious: "Of course it's not because of the tea money."

Ji Changjia was taken aback: "Then why?"

Ye Jinming leaned forward slightly and said in a low voice, "Because you betrayed the organization."

Ji Changjia was somewhat bewildered: "Did I?"

Ye Jinming explained, "We agreed to be single, but you're engaged."

Ji Changjia was both amused and exasperated by this absurd accusation. He slammed his teacup on the table with a loud "bang" and shouted, "Don't talk nonsense! This marriage agreement was a childhood betrothal arranged by my family, and I didn't agree to it. It doesn't count!"

Ye Jinming's lips curled into a smug, fox-like smile, but his tone remained unchanged: "Oh? You said it yourself!"

In the heat of his rebellious phase, Ji Changjia continued without hesitation, "I'm putting this out there! I, Ji Changjia, would rather starve to death, die outside, or jump off the summit of Xuefeng Mountain than accept this inexplicable marriage!"

"Good! You have guts! No wonder you are called Aojian Qianqiu!" Ye Jinming immediately clapped his hands, his face beaming like a fox who had just stolen a chicken.

At the same time, the fingers of his left hand, hidden under the table, twitched extremely slightly. A barely perceptible fluctuation of true energy flashed by, and a pre-prepared image-recording bead turned into a glimmer of light and slipped into his sleeve.

With this, you'll have the upper hand later on...

Finally hearing what he wanted to hear, Ye Jinming chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly calm. He waved his hand generously, "Just for Chang Jia's bold words, today's tea is on me! Boss, check please! And while you're at it, bring this young master Ji a pot of your most expensive... uh, plain water, on my tab!"

Ji Changjia: "..."

What's the most expensive bottled water?

The peerless swordsman, who was standing to the side, took in all of Ye Jinming's little actions. His lips twitched involuntarily. He picked up his teacup and took a sip to cover up his actions, silently offering three sticks of incense for Ji Changjia in his heart.

It has to be you, Ye Jinming, you really are a dog...

Then, the peerless swordsman cleared his throat and probed indirectly, "Chang Jia, about that engagement... I've heard a little about it. The other party seems to be from a prestigious family, and is said to be exceptionally handsome and virtuous. Are you... really not going to reconsider? Perhaps things will change after you meet him?"

At the peak of his rebellious phase, Ji Changjia shook his head vigorously: "No way! No need! Jueshi, don't try to persuade me, my mind is made up! A true man's ambition lies in the four corners of the world; how can I be bound by sentimental attachments?"

Seeing his resolute attitude, the peerless swordsman stopped trying to persuade him and nodded, saying, "Alright then. May you...never forget your original aspirations."

The last four words were quite profound.

After chatting for a while longer and finishing the remaining tea in the pot, Mingjian Jueshi and Ji Changjia got up one after the other to take their leave.