Chapter 9: If you like me, don’t tell me!

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Cang Ye smiled and nodded.

“Naturally, I’m willing.”

“Good~”

Qian Yue simply knelt quietly on the ground, her arms wrapped around Su Wan, a bewitching yet gentle smile on her face.

She blinked gently and innocently at those around her, glanced sideways at the crowd on both sides, then chuckled softly as she drew out from her left sleeve a…

Short branch.

“A branch?”

One of the Second Quarter’s young masters had good eyesight—he practiced martial arts—and recognized what it was at a glance.

“What does this mean?” the Third Quarter’s concubine asked.

“This…”

The old monk stirred lightly, walking over to stand beside Cang Ye, Qian Yue, and Su Wan. He bowed respectfully and said, “Would it be possible for this old monk to take a look?”

“Sure~”

Qian Yue let out a charming, delicate chuckle, gently forming an orchid finger pose as she handed the short branch—only about half a finger’s length—to the old monk.

The old monk examined it carefully and said, “This is a small section of supple twig. It appears to be from the tip, torn apart by something.”

“Moreover, it must have come from… a tree demon!”

“A tree demon?!”

The moment the old monk finished speaking, the courtyard erupted once more with the Su family’s noisy discussions.

“Not only are there fox demons and cat demons in this residence, now there’s a tree demon too?!”

The crowd continued their clamoring.

Qian Yue knelt on the ground with a provocative smile, casting a weak glance at Cang Ye.

Cang Ye furrowed his brow slightly, recalling how he had wounded the fox demon earlier—had wounded Qian Yue—but likewise, when he withdrew his branches…

The skin on the fox demon’s neck had clamped down hard, snapping off and carrying away some of his tree tendrils.

So…

At the same time he had obtained leverage over the fox demon, she too had secured evidence of his identity!

“Master! Elder Monk!”

The Su family patriarch hurried forward, carefully stepping around Su Wan and his mother who knelt on the ground, shouting with trembling hands:

“My household has always been peaceful. I regularly perform charitable deeds, taking in homeless girls and helping them find wealthy families to marry into.”

Su Wan: ‘In other words, buying thin horses and selling thin horses. And buying them without paying a cent.’

The Su patriarch continued, his voice mournful: “But first there’s a fox demon in my house, then a cat demon, and now a tree demon as well! A fox demon, I could tolerate… cough! You must save our entire family!”

Su Wan: ‘The fox demon only seeks pleasure, not necessarily lives. My mother is easy to handle and isn’t cruel. Father is afraid of the cat demon and tree demon.’

Although Su Wan couldn’t confirm his mother’s identity, he was already assuming she was the fox demon.

“No worries.”

Cang Ye was the first to raise his hand with a light laugh.

He waved it dismissively and said:

“The elder monk and I have already taken residence here. Even if there are fox demons, cat demons, or tree demons, the two of us will bear that burden. Patriarch Su need not trouble himself at all.”

The Su family patriarch immediately turned his gaze to the old monk.

The old monk also hesitated before nodding.

With three demons currently present, he felt this was getting somewhat tricky.

He worried that if more appeared later, he might not be able to hold his ground.

He turned his gaze toward Cang Ye, his fellow demon hunter, and saw Cang Ye offering him a warm smile.

“Wonderful, wonderful!”

The Su family patriarch said repeatedly, his face filled with relaxed joy.

He declared:

“Everything in this household is at the disposal of the two masters and elder monk—whether money or manpower, all shall follow your commands!”

The Su patriarch added: “Let’s prioritize catching the cat demon and the tree demon. The cat demon might be hard to pin down, but the tree demon…”

The Su patriarch hesitated, then said: “The trees in the courtyard can all be chopped down. I’ll leave that to the servants. If a demon jumps out midway, we’ll call upon the two masters.”

“Good.”

The old monk nodded.

Cang Ye smiled slightly but said nothing.

He simply nodded along with the old monk, then turned his gaze toward Su Wan.

Once more, his eyes met Qian Yue’s, who still knelt on the ground.

One tree demon and one fox demon—both knew the other’s identity, both knew the other was deliberately framing them. Their eyes carried mutual hostility and amusement.

The one staring hostilely at Cang Ye was Qian Yue;

The one looking on with amusement was Cang Ye.

Cang Ye’s target was Qian Yue’s child, not Qian Yue herself.

Cang Ye thought to himself, ‘This mother fox probably hasn’t yet focused her attention on her child. Once the child matures into a daughter…’

‘No,’ Cang Ye frowned again, thinking: ‘Everything Su Wan said makes sense. Unless Su Wan isn’t the fox’s biological child, then… Su Wan must surely be female.

When the opportunity arises, I should carefully examine Su Wan’s body, since he’s the vessel for cultivating the third divine art.’

“Come, come,” the Su patriarch said:

“Hurry and settle the two honored guests for rest. You mother and son, stop getting in the way. Su Jiu, get up and lead Master Cang to rest.”

Su Wan looked up, glancing at his father and mother.

Seeing his mother pat her own cheek at him with a gentle smile, saying, “Go on~”

His mother’s pure gentleness was reserved only for him.

Toward everyone else—whether man or woman—she wore that bewitching, enticing expression that made people want to do things.

“Yes, Mother.”

Su Wan rose, leaving his mother’s embrace on the ground, then turned his gaze to Cang Ye and said:

“Follow me.”

“You brat!” The Su patriarch scolded:

“Show some respect to the master! Heh heh~ Master, my apologies. My boy doesn’t understand manners. Perhaps we should find someone else… to escort you?”

Cang Ye waved a hand, turned around, and followed Su Wan’s footsteps with a smile, saying:

“No need. I like this child just as he is. I’m thinking of taking him as my disciple.”

“Disciple?!” The Su patriarch was immediately stunned, then said happily:

“As long as Master can help handle this matter properly, I’ll make the decision myself—he will definitely take you as his master!”

Cang Ye looked back at the Su patriarch, then smiled again at Su Wan, who had turned to look back at him, and said with a chuckle: “Then it’s settled?”

It sounded like confirmation, yet also like a question seeking Su Wan’s opinion.

But Su Wan simply made a face at him, then ran off ahead with a numb expression.

“Hey! This boy! Wait for the master! If you don’t take good care of him, I’ll dock your monthly allowance!” the Su patriarch shouted.

Su Wan immediately frowned.

He turned and walked back to Cang Ye’s side, respectfully supporting Cang Ye’s left hand, his face lowered as he said:

“Humbly inviting Master Cang… Master Cang-laoshi to take up residence.”

“Good.” Cang Ye said with a smile, but he felt that Su Wan’s face seemed to be holding back some strange amusement.

“Master Cang, this way please. Our Su family…”

Su Wan introduced the layout of the Su family estate to Cang Ye, telling him about the places where one could watch plays and listen to music.

As for the entertainment areas of the estate—or rather, anywhere outside the Nine Quarters—he rarely visited them himself.

But now he had to host Cang Ye, to lead him to those places where family members indulged in courtesans and watched dancers.

As for the courtesan indulgence portion…

As an unavoidable part of entertaining honored guests, it had to be arranged.

Su Wan’s cheeks flushed slightly first, then he felt increasingly anxious and hesitant inside.

There was also embarrassment and awkwardness.

Even a faint sense of anticipation for understanding the estate’s courtesan culture.

Su Wan said: “First, let’s find you lodging, then I’ll arrange maidservants, songstresses, dancers, and… household courtesans. But I won’t be joining for that part—I’m still a child.”

Cang Ye chuckled lightly: “Songstresses and dancers, hmm? Those I could listen to and watch together with you. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything improper. As for household courtesans? Having you alone is more than enough.”

“Huh?!”

Su Wan gasped, his face showing panic as he immediately covered his chest, then belatedly realized he should be covering his rear.

He placed both hands over his backside, cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he stammered:

“I… I… I’m a young master. I haven’t grown up yet. You can’t…”

Cang Ye raised an eyebrow and teased with a smile:

“What are you thinking? I meant I don’t need household courtesans. I only need you to keep me company while watching the dancers, listening to the music, and sharing a drink… Well, perhaps skip the drink. That’s enough for me.”

Cang Ye continued: “Besides, your father asked me here to eliminate demons. If you arranged courtesans, songstresses, and dancers for me every day, letting me wallow in… carnal pleasures, would that be appropriate?”

“Huh?”

Su Wan blinked and asked:

“But… Father said that if I don’t host you well, he’ll dock my monthly allowance. When there are honored guests in the household, songstresses, dancers, even household courtesans—they’re all mandatory… options. Even summoning people from brothels and pleasure houses outside the estate is allowed. Booking them entirely is fine too.”

Because patronizing courtesans was widespread in this world, Su Wan understood the ins and outs of it all.

Though he’d never witnessed it with his own eyes…

When it came to understanding its secrets…

He understood them thoroughly.

As for the actual pleasures of it, those would have to wait until he reached adulthood, when he could take a wife and have children, before he could enjoy and experience them properly.

“Hey,” Su Wan asked again: “Earlier you said you wanted to take me as your disciple—were you serious? What would you teach me? What do you want from me? Don’t tell me…”

Su Wan’s small face turned frightened again. Remembering that “beauties” didn’t only refer to women, he slowly covered his lower back.

“What are you thinking?!”

Cang Ye shook his head helplessly again, lightly flicking Su Wan’s forehead with a knuckle.

A smile crept onto his face as he recalled:

“I have someone I love. I could never love you, so rest assured. Whether you grow up or stay as you are now, that will never change. We can only ever be master and disciple, or…” mortal enemies.

“Or what?”

Su Wan asked curiously.

The two of them were nearly at the lodging area for male guests.

The sound of young women singing could be heard nearby.

Those were the songstresses, who lived close to the male guests’ quarters.

This made it convenient for guests to visit the young ladies’ chambers whenever they pleased, or summon them to their own small courtyards for tea gatherings.

All of them had signed life-surrender contracts. Officially, they only provided song and dance performances, but if something more was requested…

That fell within the unspoken rules.

“Nothing,” Cang Ye explained softly, then added: “I love my wife very deeply. The moment I saw you, you reminded me of her when she was young.”

Su Wan felt another chill run down his spine, then halted in his steps and asked: “Don’t tell me you’re…?”

Cang Ye looked at Su Wan’s face, seeming to seriously gaze at someone else. His eyes appeared to well with love, even longing—as if anticipating something.

But then…

Cang Ye let out a breath. Seeing that Su Wan had already retreated two steps, ready to flee, he quickly said:

“Rest assured. Remember this for the rest of your life—no matter what you become, whether you grow up, whether you’re beautiful, whether you’re as… alluring as your mother, I could never love you. Because I have someone I love deeply, and my heart is already full. So if one day you suddenly fall in love with me… keep it in your heart. Don’t say it out loud~”

A smile had already formed at the corners of Cang Ye’s lips as he turned and walked away.

Watching Cang Ye’s retreating figure, Su Wan’s face showed hesitation, then he gritted his teeth and thought:

‘No, I must serve him well, or else my monthly allowance… Wait!’

Su Wan rushed after Cang Ye, shouting:

“You remember this—don’t go back on it! I promise I will never fall in love with you. Even if I did, it would only be in secret… Pah!”

Su Wan spat, realizing belatedly that in the future he would take a wife and have children. There was no way he could ever fall for…

A Taoist, or a wandering folk physician.