NOVEL NEXT Chapter 300: Hundred Pavilions
After stealthily moving around all over the place, Shao Cheng finally lost Ren Yuan before he turned back, moving towards a certain direction, which was another location in the same pavilion where Ren Yuan had been acting crazy.
This place was mostly known as the Hundred Pavillion, where the nobles usually gathered for entertainment, meeting places, even dating, or simply handling other private matters.
Soon, Shao Cheng once again arrived in the hundred pavilions, swiftly and skillfully evading the hidden guards around the place before lightly landing on the ground.
And after a few silent moments with his sapphire eyes flickering towards a certain spot, he turned towards the gate which led to the familiar presence he had detected while curiously sensing the large area where all the hundred pavilions had been built up.
I wonder which person is behind this large gathering place.
As soon as Shao Cheng bypassed the gate, there was a quick spike of killing intent for a few seconds, before it quickly disappeared as nothing happened, which was all because he didn't show a reaction and continued to calmly walk further inside the courtyard.
After all, if it was another person with good martial arts skills and sharp instincts, there was bound to be a reaction, because the slip of killing intent wasn't normal at all.
It was strong enough to put a person on their highest guard unless an individual has terrifying great control of their reactions.
Of course, the reason why Shao Cheng didn't react was that he already knew their hidden presence, so he was quite prepared for it.
Besides, rather than using the killing intent as a warning, it was more of a test.
Interesting, I wonder what the identity of the person who this hidden guard is serving is… Definitely a peculiar individual.
Soon, in a relatively normal Pavilion with an elegant setting, there were only three people in the entire place.
One was an old man dressed in servant clothing, pouring hot tea in a young man's empty cup, which is based on the appearance, the young man might be near the aged as Shao Cheng's first or second brother.
Although Shao Cheng noticed how the young man appeared to be sitting on a wheelchair made of luxurious materials despite how normal it looked, his attention was on another person.
That person was standing just outside the pavilion and showing off the spear weapon in his hands.
And when the old servant made a respectful bow with proper etiquette instead of showing surprise, Shao Cheng understood that these people weren't simple.
After all, if the servant was acting so calm then there was no way that the master would be simple.
For now, though, Shao Cheng didn't show any reaction to the greeting of the old servant, even going so far as to ignore the calm gaze that had silently stayed on his figure, by the young man on the wheelchair.
He walked towards the young man who had finally stopped showing off his martial arts.
And when the young man turned around, Shao Cheng called out in a cold voice, causing a surprised and bright smile to instantly appear on the young man's face, particularly the way in which those similar but slightly light sapphire eyes brimmed with happiness.
"Third Brother!"
It was his youngest brother, Shao Cai.
"Third Brother, what are you doing here?"
Remaining silent, Shao Cheng instead raised his hand to gently pat his younger brother's head, which earned him another bright smile, accepting it as an exchange for not replying to his question.
Ren Yuan's voice was loud enough to reach this place but Cai remained oblivious about it.
There was only one reason, this location had been well-protected and guarded for privacy by the hidden guards at the gate, and even the others he detected around the courtyard who had been making sure that no noise could come in or out of this place.
Cai, what kind of unusual and powerful person had you associated with?
Obviously, the young man sitting on the wheelchair looking elegant and gentle with a scholarly aura definitely had a deep connection with the hundred pavilions.
"Let's go home."
"Um… Third Brother… Can I introduce my closest friend to you?"
Instead of receiving a nod, Shao Cheng felt a gentle pull on his long wide sleeves as Shao Cai showed a hopeful expression on his face, appearing to be really wanting to introduce the young man silently watching them in the pavilion.
"..."
"Please, Third Brother…"
… are those the so-called puppy dog eyes I am seeing?
Shao Cheng raised his eyebrow, not fearing about showing his expression since there was still the silver mask on his face, and after a few seconds of making his younger brother squirm in nervousness, he finally nodded his head.
"Great! Third Brother will definitely like him!"
Shao Cheng followed a giddy and overly delighted Shao Cai into the Pavilion. He didn't show any surprise after noticing the extra chair that had been prepared, which was obviously sent by the hidden guard around.
"Please pardon me for not being able to properly greet you."
When the young man in the wheelchair raised his hands in the usual fist and palm gesture with a slight nod of his head, Shao Cheng also showed the proper response, with his left hand covering his right hand, clasped together.
"I don't mind."
Usually, a person would stand up to greet a person out of respect, and in the aristocratic families being unskilled with the proper etiquette was frowned upon, especially if they had done it wrong.
Of course, there were also rare aristocratic families that didn't always perform this etiquette when facing their loved ones and had more casual ways of greeting each other.
After all, most people would interpret it as the lack of proper manners as showing that they weren't giving the proper respect.
And in the ranks in the officialdom, not showing proper greetings, especially to their rivals or enemies, was already a widely known fact that the person was displaying their contempt.
There was also a fact that they just wanted to offend the person, particularly when they wanted to make the other person feel unpleasant, which could also affect their work.
It was one of the elegant ways in which the high-ranking, influential families and officials displayed contempt rather than choosing a barbaric way that could affect their reputation if they had done it unskillfully.
Shao Cheng had witnessed and experienced all different types of contempt in his previous life after entering the power struggle. It still amazed him how ingeniously they could insult and put a person down.
Of course, when it came to a certain rascal, Shao Cheng didn't have any hope for that man to even perform the proper etiquettes when facing people with respectful identity, either by their ranks, or the family they belong to.
"Please sit."
Without any hesitation, Shao Cheng sat down before picking up the hot teacup that the old servant had respectfully filled.
And after elegantly taking a small sip, he turned his attention to his nervous younger brother who was staring with wide eyes between the young man and him, probably wondering about the silent and awkward atmosphere.
"Third Brother, this is my friend, Lin Renshu."
After being able to perceive the 'go ahead' in his third brother's eyes, Shao Cai instantly felt relieved before he began the introduction.
"Lin, this is my third brother, Shao Cheng. I received the spear from my Third Brother!"
"Hello, nice to meet you, Young Master Cheng. Little Cai had always spoken about you."
While Lin Renshu spoke, Shao Cheng only nodded his head before the entire atmosphere once again descended to silence, causing Shao Cai to once again wonder why his friend wasn't speaking.
Usually, Shao Cai's friend could speak so fluently, able to discuss different topics, and patiently listen to his words, so he couldn't help but assume that despite how his third brother only spoke a few words or remained silent, Lin Renshu could easily make his third brother interested.
"Cai."
"Y-Yes Third Brother."
After hearing how his younger brother stammered from unease and confusion, Shao Cheng softened his voice before once more reaching over to gently pat Shao Cai's head.
"There is no need to be nervous."
"..."
Shao Cai's cheeks instantly flushed in a lovely shade of pink, feeling embarrassed about how he had reacted.
"Sister Xixi is in the eastern pavilion. I would also like our cousin to meet your friend, are you willing to get her, Cai?"
"Of course, as long as Third Brother asked me, I would never refuse it!"
Shao Cai quickly forgot the embarrassment he felt, the expression on his face instantly brightening up before he stood up, appearing to be impatient to fulfill his third brother's request.
Of course, he didn't forget to turn his attention to the silent Lin Renshu, watching the whole interaction with friendly eyes.
"Lin! I'll quickly come back, please take care of my Third Brother while I'm gone!"
"Of course."
As soon as Shao Cai rushed over and walked out of the gate in the courtyard, Shao Cheng finally turned his attention to the young man who still retained a friendly expression on his face while staying silent.
… This young man is a well-hidden person…
Shao Cheng instinctually felt it the moment his eyes landed upon him.
Lin Renshu? It doesn't sound familiar, at least, there wasn't any big situation that this person has caused in the previous life that he could remember.
But the last name Lin made Shao Cheng remember a certain person, which instantly caused his eyebrow to twist after staring at the young man before him.
"Young Master Cheng, would you like to play with me while waiting for Little Cai to come back?"
Elegant, poised with a scholarly attitude, this young man was definitely the one who made Shao Cai interested in the literature despite how he is leaning more towards the military because of their family.
"There is no need."
Shao Cheng finally decided to speak to the young man, before leaning back in the chair, never bothering to hide his certain alertness and difference in temperament from the usual gossip that had been spread around.
"I'm sure you already figured out why I sent my younger brother away."
This person is intelligent, although Shao Cheng could start talking in a more uncertain way, he decided to go straight to the point as soon as he noticed the look in the young man's eyes while gazing at his younger brother.
"Since you seem to be a bit more special to my younger brother among his friends, I'll go to the main point. What do you want from my younger brother?"