Chapter Twenty-Five: Life Is Like a Play

"Xiaoya? Who might that be?"
"If I’m not mistaken, she should be the young master Liu’s personal maid, right? I’ve heard she’s served him for many years."
"If that’s true, Xiaoya might truly know secrets unknown to us. Brother, do tell us more in detail."
...
So the crowd spoke.
The burly man downed another bowl of wine. "I get along well enough with Xiaoya. She told me herself that young master Liu began cultivating at the age of ten. Now, at eighteen, he’s still stuck at the Body Tempering stage. These secrets, unknown to outsiders, were all told to Xiaoya by Liu himself."
Saying this, he sneered disdainfully. "Now, isn’t that the definition of dull-witted? And that’s with all the resources thrown his way!"
With that, he shook his head in open contempt.
At his words, the others exchanged glances, each seeing astonishment and doubt in the other's face. To begin cultivating at ten, and after eight years—with ample resources—still remain at the Body Tempering stage?
That did seem rather dull indeed!
If it were their own children, or themselves, with such resources, not to mention eight years—even five would be enough to reach the Micro Star stage. By that measure, young master Liu’s talent was truly lacking.
Seeing the skepticism on their faces, the burly man chuckled inwardly and continued, "Moreover, do you know of Liu Ming, the Decurion of the Southern King’s estate?"
He sighed. "He reportedly began cultivating at six. No one knows the extent of his abilities now, but his strength is beyond doubt!"
Then, with a mocking tone, he added, "Do you know when young master Liu started cultivating? At ten! As far as I know, there’s an ancestral rule in the Liu family: all sons must begin cultivation at six. But Liu, due to his dullness and laziness, delayed it until he was ten."
He shook his head ruefully. "Alas, for the illustrious Southern King to have such a dull-witted successor—it truly is a great misfortune for both the King and the Liu family!"
At these words, the crowd once more exchanged glances.
Though the burly man’s words were not fully credible, they took root in their hearts like tender sprouts, leaving them half convinced.
After all, compared to what they knew, the words of a personal attendant carried more authority.
Had they overestimated young master Liu?
Immediately, someone retorted, "All this is just your own claim. How do we know you aren’t deceiving us?"
The crowd thought on this and nodded inwardly. Though the burly man was Liu’s personal guard and his words carried weight, they would not believe him entirely.
The burly man glanced at his challenger, and with a faint smile, replied, "Brother, have you never heard that ‘trouble comes from the mouth’?"
He snorted. "Everything I’ve said is true. Believe it or not as you please. I know these words will offend the young master, but a barefooted man need not fear a man with shoes. I’ve already been expelled from the Southern King’s estate. I leave tomorrow, and no matter how powerful Liu is, can he reach beyond the city walls?"
Someone jeered, "Brother, do you know where you are? This is Southern King City. Aren’t you afraid trouble will find you for saying such things?"
The burly man started at this, hurriedly drained his refilled bowl of wine, wiped his mouth, and replied, "Gentlemen, I must take my leave, lest narrow-minded Liu Ji brings trouble upon me!"

With that, he turned to leave.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
He had just turned when seven or eight warriors in gleaming black armor strode in. In the lead was a bald, middle-aged man, his expression cold as he fixed his gaze on the burly man.
"The Southern Tiger Cavalry?!"
At their entrance, the tavern was instantly in an uproar.
Astonishment colored every face, awe and reverence filling the eyes that turned toward the Tiger Cavalry. Those nearest scrambled away in a panic, as though even proximity to such men was too much to bear.
"Is that... Bald Yan?!"
On the second floor, Zhang Yihan’s brow furrowed, his expression grave. "Why is he here? Is he here to arrest that man?!"
The young masters, Sun Ziang and the rest, looked upon the Tiger Cavalry with deep admiration. This was the Southern Tiger Cavalry, renowned across the empire, hailed as the mightiest force in the land—their glory shone as bright as the noonday sun!
As for the burly man, the sight of Yan Ye turned his legs to jelly, and he collapsed to the floor in terror, his voice trembling with dread:
"D-Deputy... Commander..."
"You have some nerve!"
Yan Ye’s face was icy. "Expelled from the estate, you come here to spew wild rumors out of spite. It seems you’re truly tired of living!"
He waved a hand. "Take him!"
At once, the towering Tiger Cavalry closed in, seizing the burly man with brute force, his face turning ashen.
Yan Ye swept his gaze around the room, his cold eyes silencing the entire tavern—no one dared so much as breathe.
He spoke calmly, "This man has been spreading baseless rumors and slandering the young master. Whatever he said to you just now, pay it no mind."
Then he turned and led his men away.
Once they left, the tavern was silent for a moment before erupting into a clamor.
"Did you see that?! The Southern Tiger Cavalry came to arrest him themselves!"
"What does that mean? It means most of what he said must be true! Why else would the Tiger Cavalry show up in person?!"
"No way! Is Liu Ji really that useless? With all those resources, after so many years, he’s still only at the Body Tempering stage?"
"Heh, looks like we really overestimated our young master Liu. All that praise was for nothing!"
"Guess we’ve only ourselves to blame for being blind..."
"No wonder they’re called one of the empire’s finest. The presence, the efficiency—no ordinary army could compare!"

"Gentlemen, you’ve no idea! When the Tiger Cavalry stood near me, the pressure, the aura, those eyes—I was so scared I couldn’t move!"
...
A chorus of speculation and gossip broke out.
Clearly, when the crowd saw the Tiger Cavalry come in person to arrest the burly man, they began to believe what he’d said—their young master Liu was truly...
A witless wastrel?
...
On the second floor, however, all was quiet.
"Heh... heh heh."
Suddenly, a soft chuckle was heard. Sun Ziang leisurely raised his fine tea, took a sip, and sneered, "I thought Liu Ji was just pretending to be weak, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Turns out... he’s really just a dumb pig!"
The others shook their heads, laughing quietly, their smiles tinged with varying degrees of contempt. If Liu Ji had truly cultivated for so many years and was still only at the Body Tempering stage, he was indeed extraordinarily dull.
Most of those present were at the Micro Star stage.
Some were still at the Body Tempering stage, but if it came to years of cultivation, they could hardly compare—after all, Liu Ji had been at it for eight years.
"Heh, Liu Ji may be a noble, but when it comes to cultivation, he lags even behind us. A tiger father, but a dog of a son!"
Someone snorted.
In terms of family background, none could compare to Liu Ji. But when it came to talent or strength, even ten Liu Jis wouldn’t measure up to them.
Not that they despised Liu Ji—after all, in terms of family, even if they rode hard day and night, they couldn’t catch up to the dust his horse raised. So, cultivation was all they could compete on.
Zhang Yihan, meanwhile, frowned in thought, rubbing his chin as he muttered, "Is Liu Ji truly that dull..."
"Is he?"
...
...
PS: Many thanks to ‘Lord of Azure Flame’ for the 500 book-coin reward~