In the Teahouse (1)

This teahouse was in a rich district of the city and from the look of it, it must be expensive to drink tea from this place.

He was thankful for Lie Xingyuan for bringing him here. If he were to come here alone, he would probably have taken many wrong turns.

A man asked them politely as soon as they had stepped inside the teahouse, "Do you have a reservation?"

Lie Xingyuan smiled to him, "We are from the Heavens Ridge Villa. Our Elder Ouyang has asked us to come to this place."

The man immediately lit a smile as he said hurriedly, "Please come in immediately! He has been expecting you!"

They were soon ushered to a room that was on the second floor and indeed, Elder Ouyang was already there waiting for them.

As soon as Elder Ouyang saw them, he gave a broad smile and said. "Senior Brother, please have a seat. Xingyuan, same goes for you too."

Lie Xingyuan returned a polite smile to Elder Ouyang as she greeted, "Elder Ouyang, your Protégé Xingyuan shall not be polite then."

Lu Qingyun was smiling awkwardly. To have an elder addressing him as 'Senior Brother' was too exaggerating. He knew how low his cultivation level was. He felt he was undeserving to be a senior brother and knew that he was only addressed this title because he was the sect leader's disciple.

Technically, unless the sect leader had other disciples, he was third in line to succeed as sect leader after Qin Keqin and Fairy Jade Light.

In short, even the rank of Elder was inferior to his 'Senior Brother' of his and he was being treated like a Shengzi or Sage Successor instead. 

Lu Qingyun said, "Elder Ouyang, I am honoured to be invited by you here. Actually if Elder Ouyang has any bidding for me, I will be glad to help you. There is no need for us to come to such an extravagant place."

Elder Ouyang was roaring with heartily laughter, "Not at all. It is only polite that I will be able to treat you. After all, I like to offer you my sincere apologies for offending you when we have first met."

"Oh?" Lu Qingyun blinked his eyes, "I don't remember you ever offending me. Instead, I ought to thank Elder Ouyang for your guidance to show me around yesterday." 

Elder Ouyang laughed, "I'm glad that Senior Brother did not put that into heart. Therefore all the more I should treat you. In the future, I am the one who will be seeking favors from you instead."

Lu Qingyun was also laughing jovially, "Naturally I will be glad to help Elder Ouyang…"

Lie Xingyuan was feeling miserable as she looked at Elder Ouyang and Lu Qingyun. She was woefully thinking: Elder Ouyang is just cooking any excuses to treat him. His main aim is to get close to him. But does he know that he is only a first realm expert…

Elder Ouyang laughed, "Please appraise this heavenly lotus tea while we chat. This heavenly lotus tea is able to boost your spiritual energies and vitalize your mind. It is extremely expensive and hard to obtain. In the entire New Empyrean City, this is the only place where you can find the heavenly lotus tea."

Lu Qingyun said delightfully, "Then I shall not be polite." Of course he was not going to be polite. Anything that could strengthen one's spiritual force was very much needed tonic.

Actually Lie Xingyuan was also thinking the same: I may as well drink at the expense of Elder Ouyang. This is perfectly justified for being in this stupid situation. I may be able to recoup some of my losses…

Elder Ouyang had suddenly brandished a precious sword and unsheathed it in front of Lu Qingyun, "This is a heaven-step precious sword. I hope that Senior Brother will be pleased with this gift. I am sure that this sword won't break so easily in your hands."

Lu Qingyun was stunned as he muttered, "This is…really too precious…it is for me?" This is even better than Grand Elder Yun Xing's earth-step precious sword that he had shattered! 

Elder Ouyang laughed jovially, "Indeed! I can see that Senior Brother Lu lacks a good companion sword therefore I have taken the initiative to get you a precious sword."

Lu Qingyun was trembling as he reached out for the sword…

Even Lie Xingyuan was gasping with shock. This heaven-step precious sword was worth at least 100 high grade spirit stones!

1 high grade spirit stone was equivalent to 100 medium grade spirit stones while 1 medium grade spirit stone was equivalent to 100 low grade spirit stones! 

Lie Xingyuan's head was spinning hazily and her eyes were wide opened. This was worth 1 million low grade soul stones. She had to sell all of her everything and borrow from many other protégés in order to raise 10 low grade spirit stones.

The disparity between the rich and the poor was simply too great…

Lu Qingyun was not shy at all and had immediately pocketed the precious sword, "Elder Ouyang, this is just the sword that I need. I am deeply grateful to you. How can I ever repay you?"

He made sure that he had quickly kept it into his spatial storage as he did not want to take the risk of breaking this heaven-step precious sword. 

Elder Ouyang laughed jovially, "There is no need to! We are kindred spirits. To be honest, I've liked you from the very start. Since we get along so well, why don't the two of us become sworn brothers? If we are sworn brothers then there is no need for any repayment."

Lu Qingyun clapped his hands as he laughed, "That is a good idea and it is close to my heart too. Then let's become sworn brothers then."

Elder Ouyang laughed heartily, "Then it is settled then. This toast is for us as sworn brothers, what do you say?"

Lu Qingyun raised the cup with both his hands, "This toast to our sworn brotherhood!"

As the two of them finished their toast, Elder Ouyang said. "Sworn Brother, about our relationship, we ought to be discreet in the clan. In the clan, you are still my Senior Brother and I am your Elder Ouyang. But outside, I am your older sworn brother. What do you say?"

When Lie Xingyuan had heard him, she was thinking: This is too shameless. This Elder Ouyang is making a puppet out of him. Lu Qingyun is supposed to be your senior but now he has become your junior instead...

Lu Qingyun said with great delight, "Well, I totally agree with what older sworn brother has suggested."

Elder Ouyang looked extremely pleased, "Good, good!"

Just as Lu Qingyun had wanted to ask Elder Ouyang about Qin Keqin, Elder Ouyang had suddenly clapped his hands loudly and an astonishing beautiful maiden had walked politely from behind the curtains and into their front view.

Lu Qingyun was startled that there was actually someone else who was in this room with them.

This astonishing beautiful maiden smiled amicably at Lu Qingyun as she said gently, "I wonder if I can sit down with Young Master Lu?"

Up close, he had noticed that she was dressed in translucent silk that showed her inner garment and enticing figure. Even her fragrances were moving to his nose.

Lu Qingyun looked at Elder Ouyang with a startled look, "She is?"

Elder Ouyang laughed jovially, "Look at me. I've forgotten to introduce her to you. She is my adopted daughter, Ouyang Xue."

Ouyang Xue immediately displayed a gentle curtsy as she said shyly, "Ouyang Xue greets Young Master Lu."

Elder Ouyang asked him, "What do you think of my daughter? Is she beautiful?"

Lie Xingyuan who was watching the scene unfolded was a little envious. It was not that she was envious of Ouyang Xue's beauty but she was envious of the benefits that he was receiving. She was thinking: This Elder Ouyang is really such a sly fellow. Should I warn Senior Brother about it? Never mind, he seems to be enjoying it…

Lu Qingyun had to admit that she was indeed an astonishing beauty. So he replied, "Very beautiful, very beautiful."

Then Elder Ouyang had suddenly stood up and gave him a hand bow, "If sworn brother does not look down upon my precious daughter then I shall betroth her to you?"

Not only did Lu Qingyun's jaws almost dropped to the floor, so did Lie Xingyuan.

Ouyang Xue had a flush look on her countenance as she lowered her glances shyly.