Apprenticed to Chen Chang'an

The private room was filled with a tense atmosphere. In the Langya region, the Lin Family was the undisputed ruler.

Who would dare offend the Lin Family?

Yet right before them stood two individuals who not only dared but even addressed the mighty Lin Xiangliu by name!

In Langya, Lin Xiangliu was not just the strongest cultivator but a living legend, a myth.

He was the idol all cultivators worshipped and the figure they dreamed of surpassing.

Yet when Chen Chang'an and Xuan Wudao mentioned Lin Xiangliu, their tone was casual, almost indifferent.

Their demeanor showed no signs of pretense.

Lin Ruoheng frowned deeply. Were these two deceiving him, or did they truly know the Lin Family’s revered ancestor?

"Hmph, if you truly knew our ancestor, you’d be aware he’s been in seclusion for years," Lin Ruoheng sneered, testing them further before making any rash judgments.

"You can’t just demand to see him whenever you please."

"Seclusion, you say?"

"I wasn’t aware. It’s been… a thousand years since we last met. This is my first time in Langya," Chen Chang'an replied nonchalantly.

A thousand years?

Did this man know Lin Xiangliu from a millennium ago?

But back then, Lin Xiangliu had been nothing more than a youth.

"I’ve never even met him—just heard of him," Xuan Wudao added dismissively.

"After living this long, I’ve no interest in keeping tabs on some junior."

Holy—

This one went even further, outright calling Lin Xiangliu a "junior"!

Lin Ruoheng’s composure wavered. Had he truly offended two formidable figures today?

"Forgive my ignorance, esteemed seniors," he stammered, suddenly at a loss for words.

"I only meant to…"

"Enough. We won’t hold a grudge against someone as young as you," Xuan Wudao cut in impatiently.

"The girl’s made herself clear—she’s not interested. Why keep harassing her?"

"Let her go. Spare yourself the torment too."

Lin Ruoheng hesitated. Clearly, he was a lovesick fool, still clinging to feelings for Gu Xian'er.

No one knew what charm she’d used to ensnare him so deeply.

Yet Gu Xian'er harbored no ill intent. Otherwise, she could’ve easily feigned affection, biding her time to avenge the Gu Family.

Chen Chang'an couldn’t tell whether she hadn’t considered this, scorned such tactics, or had other reasons.

As Lin Ruoheng remained indecisive, Chen Chang'an spoke softly,

"White hair isn’t replaced by snow; merely meeting was fortune enough."

"Lin Ruoheng, not all affections bear fruit. Some people, simply crossing paths with them in this life, is blessing enough."

"No talk of betrayal, no questions of the future. Part ways peacefully, and leave each other be."

His words plunged Lin Ruoheng into deep reflection. Even Gu Xian'er’s gaze flickered, visibly moved.

Only Xuan Wudao scoffed on the sidelines, shooting Chen Chang'an a look of mixed envy and disdain.

"Show-off," he muttered.

"Pah!"

"Can’t even speak like a normal person anymore."

"Da Huang, ignore him. Let’s have our own fun—leave him to his grandstanding."

Bored by the drama, Xuan Wudao turned back to his revelry.

At this moment, Da Huang lay nestled in the arms of a young woman, grinning from ear to ear, his eyes narrowed into slits as he rolled around gleefully in her embrace. The shameless antics of this pair—one human, one dog—were too much for Chen Chang'an to bear.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. This junior… will remember it."

"I won’t disturb you any longer, Senior. I take my leave."

"Very well. Oh, and when Lin Xiangliu emerges from seclusion, tell him to come find me. I have some questions for him."

"This… I will relay your message to the elders of my family and have them pass it along."

It was clear that although Lin Ruoheng was a member of the Lin Family, he had no direct access to a revered ancestor like Lin Xiangliu.

After Lin Ruoheng departed, Gu Xian'er turned to Chen Chang'an and said gratefully, "Thank you for your help, Senior."

"It was nothing."

"I happen to be… fond of stories."

"Come, tell me yours."

Chen Chang'an was a man of many virtues, but he had one weakness—gossip. Especially stories he hadn’t heard before, which never failed to pique his curiosity.

"This… What exactly would you like to know, Senior?" Gu Xian'er asked awkwardly.

"Hmm, many things. Why did the Lin Family annihilate the Gu Family? And if they did, why is Lin Ruoheng, a member of the Lin Family, so devoted to you?"

"As a survivor of the Gu Family, why haven’t you used Lin Ruoheng’s feelings to seek revenge?"

"…Or perhaps you should just tell it in your own words."

Hearing this, Gu Xian'er let out a bitter laugh. Wasn’t this just a roundabout way of asking her to recount the entire story from beginning to end?

"Then… let’s find a quieter place."

There were still other girls from Huanhua Pavilion nearby. Though Gu Xian'er knew she couldn’t stay here much longer, some things were better left unknown to them.

"Very well."

Chen Chang'an nodded. He had considered asking Xuan Wudao and Da Huang for their thoughts, but seeing how thoroughly they were enjoying themselves, he realized even entertaining the idea was foolish.

Gu Xian'er led Chen Chang'an to her private chambers.

Her room carried a faint, soothing fragrance—neither overpowering nor cloying, but enough to calm the mind.

The decor was simple and unadorned, starkly out of place in an establishment like a pleasure house.

Perhaps this was a privilege reserved only for the courtesans of the highest rank.

"Please have a seat, Benefactor."

"No need to call me that. I merely said a few words."

"Besides, Lin Xiangliu of the Lin Family is an old acquaintance of mine. Don’t think a few words from you will sway me to act against them," Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile as he took a seat.

"You misunderstand, Benefactor. Xian'er harbors no such intentions."

"Good."

Hearing his words, Gu Xian'er remained composed and sat across from him.

"Actually, Lin Ruoheng is merely a young master from a branch family of the Lin Family."

"And my Gu Family was never a prominent clan in Langya to begin with."

"This matter… began a year ago."

As Gu Xian'er recounted the events, Chen Chang'an pieced together the gist of it.

Hmm… It was nothing more than a careless remark from a junior of the Gu Family, overheard by members of the Lin Family.

The ones who carried out the extermination of the Gu Family were the very branch family Lin Ruoheng belonged to.

Coincidentally, Lin Ruoheng and Gu Xian'er had already known each other before this, and he had secretly developed feelings for her.

At first, Gu Xian'er didn’t particularly like Lin Ruoheng, but she held some favorable feelings toward him.

When the Gu Family was annihilated, it was only after Lin Ruoheng’s desperate pleas that Gu Xian'er’s life was spared. However, Lin Ruoheng’s father, fearing any future entanglement between the two, issued an order: from that day onward, Gu Xian'er was forbidden to leave the borders of Langya. She was condemned to spend the rest of her days in the Huanhua Pavilion.

This was meant to crush any lingering hopes Lin Ruoheng might have—after all, even as a branch member of the Lin Family, how could a young master ever marry a woman from a pleasure house?

Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Lin Ruoheng turned out to be a hopeless romantic, persistently pursuing Gu Xian'er despite everything.

"So it seems this Lin Ruoheng is quite the devoted lover," Chen Chang'an remarked lightly.

"You jest, Benefactor. Though Lin Ruoheng is barely past twenty, he’s never been short of women around him."

"His so-called devotion is nothing more than the frustration of unrequited love—a refusal to accept defeat!"

Had Lin Ruoheng truly been a steadfast and devoted man, Gu Xian'er might have hesitated. But the young master was tainted by the habits of a spoiled noble. With his status, few women could resist his advances—Gu Xian'er was the rare exception.

And perhaps that only fueled his competitive spirit and desire to possess her.

"Have you never considered using Lin Ruoheng’s status to avenge the Gu Family?"

Gu Xian'er had shared much, yet she never once mentioned revenge or showed any trace of hatred. This puzzled Chen Chang'an.

"I’ve thought about it. But it’s impossible."

"First, I refuse to manipulate someone’s feelings for my own ends."

"Second, even if I were willing, it wouldn’t succeed."

"Third, as long as I live, the Gu Family’s bloodline endures. If I die, the Gu Family… will truly vanish."

Gu Xian'er was clear-headed, refusing to let vengeance cloud her judgment. She wanted justice, but she wouldn’t gamble on a reckless plan.

"Benefactor, I won’t ask you to do anything for me."

"But… may I beg to become your disciple?"