Chapter 90: Conflict
Chapter 90: Conflict
The bustling main street of the South District in Yu City.
When it came to the most prosperous areas in Yu City, the main streets of the four districts—South, East, West, and North—were undoubtedly the most vibrant.
While these areas might not match the luxury, spaciousness, and environment of the Inner City, they were undoubtedly livelier. After all, despite the Inner City's affluence, it was ultimately a place for the wealthy and influential, and its entire population was still less than that of any of the four districts.
"Sugar haw, candied hawthorn..."
The wide street was filled with vendors shouting their wares.
Dressed in an inconspicuous plain blue robe, Chen Mu, accompanied by Chen Yue and Yu Ru, strolled through the market. As they passed by a hawthorn vendor, Chen Mu turned to Chen Yue with a smile and asked, "Do you want some?"
Chen Yue rolled her eyes playfully and replied, "I'm not a child anymore."
But she paused for a moment.
Then, with a serious tone, she added, "Yes!"
Chen Mu couldn't help but chuckle at her response. Looking at Chen Yue, he couldn't help but reminisce about the sweet little girl who had always been by his side a few years ago. In the blink of an eye, after sending her to the Inner City for martial arts training for over a year, she had transformed from a graceful and charming young lady into someone with a mischievous and unpredictable personality.
"Two, please."
Chen Mu took out a string of copper coins and paid for the hawthorn. He handed a skewer to both Chen Yue and Yu Ru.
"Thank you, thank you, Brother Chen."
Yu Ru accepted the hawthorn, her face slightly flushed as she whispered her gratitude.
"Don't mention it. Just treat me like your older brother."
With a slight smile, Chen Mu led the two girls forward. After walking around for a while, they arrived at a quieter side street off the main street. The crowd here was much thinner, but the area was cleaner and more organized than the outside.
The reason for the fewer people on this side street was that the shops here were either not what commoners needed or were of a higher-end variety. Some sold luxurious silk fabrics, while others displayed various jade ornaments and trinkets, all belonging to a higher class of stores.
"I noticed that you two seemed to like those accessories earlier, but the jade stones sold by the vendors outside are mostly inferior. The ones here are more exquisite, and if you're talking about quality, the stores in the Inner City are the best."
Chen Mu looked up and spotted a shop called 'Ancient Jade Studio' and walked in.
Chen Yue followed closely behind Chen Mu. As soon as she entered the shop, she was captivated by the exquisite jade ornaments displayed inside, blinking her eyes in admiration. Yu Ru, on the other hand, didn't seem to react much. As the wealthy daughter of the Yu Clan, she wasn't too concerned about the value of the items. At this moment, as she followed Chen Mu into the shop, her attention was more focused on secretly glancing at him rather than the ornaments.
"It's an honor to have Chen Young Master grace our humble shop with his presence."
The shopkeeper of Ancient Jade Studio personally welcomed them and immediately recognized Chen Mu. After all, there weren't many Patrol Commanders in the entire South District, and although Chen Mu had only recently been promoted, his reputation had already spread throughout the entire South District.
Most people might not be able to recognize Chen Mu in his casual attire at first glance, but as the shopkeeper, he was skilled at identifying people.
Chen Mu gestured and said, "I'll pick a few jade ornaments for the two young ladies. See if there's anything suitable."
The shopkeeper glanced at Chen Yue and Yu Ru, his smile widening as he said, "Both young ladies are as beautiful as heavenly fairies. Our humble shop's ordinary jade ornaments can only serve as mere adornments... Hmm, this red jade hairpin here is made from high-quality 'Flame Jade'. It can retain warmth even in the coldest winters, making it suitable for wearing during the chilly season. And this black jade bracelet is made from superior 'Black Jade', keeping you cool even in the scorching summer heat."
As the shopkeeper spoke, he began selecting various ornaments suitable for women.
Chen Yue's eyes darted around, taking in the dazzling array of ornaments. After some scrutiny, she inquired about the prices and immediately retreated to Chen Mu's side, muttering, "They're so expensive, not worth the price."
Chen Mu smiled warmly and said, "I mentioned before that I wanted to make you look pretty. Go ahead and choose. I think that red jade hairpin is quite nice. If it's made from high-quality flame jade, then eighty to a hundred silver coins isn't too expensive."
Had her brother become so wealthy that he didn't even flinch at spending eighty to a hundred silver coins? Chen Yue blinked her eyes in surprise.
She secretly moved to Yu Ru's side and asked, "Little Ru, which one do you think looks good?"
"Ah, I... Um, this one is nice."
Yu Ru, who had been secretly observing Chen Mu, was startled by Chen Yue's sudden question and nervously pointed at random items.
Chen Yue glanced at Yu Ru and then at Chen Mu, who was standing a short distance away. She couldn't help but pout in frustration.
But she didn't say anything.
She continued to examine the jade ornaments.
After a while, Chen Mu approached and asked, "Have you found anything you like?"
Chen Yue's face showed a hint of worry as she replied, "The red jade hairpin is nice, but it might be uncomfortable to wear during the summer. And this green jade bracelet feels a bit cold now. This one..."
"..."
Chen Mu remained silent.
The scene reminded him of a distant and unpleasant memory from long ago. He wondered why he had suddenly decided to take the two girls shopping in the market. Why couldn't they just enjoy the scenery somewhere else?
Chen Mu's gaze swept across the various jade ornaments, finally settling on a pair of delicate and petite white jade pendants. The jade used was 'Ethereal Jade', a lower-grade variety, but Ethereal Jade was a rare and precious type of jade known for its calming and soothing properties. Even the lower-grade Ethereal Jade was still highly valuable.
"This pair of Ethereal Jade pendants is quite nice."
Chen Mu held them in his hand, caressing them gently, before turning and handing one of the pendants to Chen Yue. "After Father passed away, I've always wanted to take care of you. These Ethereal Jade pendants can help calm and focus your mind, and they align with the Water Abyss Sword Technique you've been learning. It's a suitable gift for you, especially since your birthday is coming up soon. Consider it my first gift to you."
Chen Yue stood there, her big eyes suddenly misty as she took the jade pendant from Chen Mu. She pursed her lips, rubbed her eyes vigorously, and muttered, "Brother, you're so mean, always saying things that make me want to cry."
Despite her words, she tightly clutched the jade pendant in her hand.
Chen Mu smiled and then turned to Yu Ru, handing her the other jade pendant, "Little Ru, you and Yue Er are like sisters. I also consider you as my little sister. This jade pendant isn't anything too precious, just accept it as a plaything."
"Ah, I..."
Yu Ru's face suddenly flushed, and a hint of steam seemed to rise from her. For a moment, her mind was filled with thoughts of 'love tokens' and other messy words. By the time she snapped back to her senses, she realized the jade pendant was already in her hand, but she hadn't thanked Chen Mu yet. Flustered, she chased after him out the door.
As soon as she rushed out, she collided with another girl coming from the opposite direction, knocking into each other's arms.
Chen Mu stood at the doorway, watching Yu Ru stumble out in a daze and collide with a stranger. He couldn't help but show a hint of helplessness and was about to say something when he noticed Chen Yue's expression change, her eyes suddenly shifting.
"Ouch, who is it?"
The girl who collided with Yu Ru was wearing luxurious silk clothing. After being pushed, she immediately shoved Yu Ru, causing her to stumble and almost fall.
When she saw Yu Ru's face clearly, the girl also paused, then scoffed, "I thought it was someone else, but it's you. Born without a mother, you have no manners, and you don't watch where you're going."
Yu Ru, already a bit dazed, stood there even more stunned, her face turning red with anger, and her eyes misting over.
"You..."
"Yu Yun, watch your words!"
Chen Yue couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed forward, pulling Yu Ru away, and scolded the girl in front of her.
Chen Mu had originally intended to step forward and see what was going on, but seeing this scene, he immediately understood and stood behind them with a thoughtful expression.
In a large family like the Yu Clan, it was natural for internal conflicts to exist, and not everyone would get along harmoniously. Moreover, the martial arts path required constant competition, especially in the martial arts academy, where both male and female students often engaged in open and hidden struggles.
The girl who confronted them was named Yu Yun, clearly also from the Yu Clan. Her bold words towards Yu Ru indicated that she wasn't from a distant branch of the family but was undoubtedly a direct descendant of the Yu Clan, and not from the same lineage as Yu Ru.
"Since when did an outsider like you have the right to speak here?"
Yu Yun proudly glanced at Chen Yue, her height not even reaching Chen Yue's, but her gaze seemed to look down on her.
As soon as she finished speaking, several girls emerged from behind Yu Yun, blocking Chen Yue to the side.
"Chen Yue, you have no right to talk back to Sister Yun. Don't think that just because the teachers at the martial arts academy value you, you can flaunt your strength. In the end, you're still just an outsider."
"Then why don't the three of you try? Can you defeat me, an outsider, together?"
Chen Yue faced the three girls her age without fear, her tone cold and indifferent.
"Arrogant!"
The three girls in front of her immediately showed annoyance.
Just as the situation seemed about to escalate into a physical confrontation, Chen Mu finally spoke up.
"That's enough."
Chen Mu slowly walked forward, his gaze calm as he glanced at Yu Yun and the others, "Is this how your teachers at the martial arts academy taught you to behave in public?"
Yu Yun frowned but didn't recognize Chen Mu, "Who are you?"
"I'm also an outsider."
Chen Mu replied calmly.
Yu Yun's eyes shifted between Chen Mu and Chen Yue, and she suddenly realized, "So, you're Chen Yue's brother."
She carefully examined Chen Mu, and her young face immediately took on an arrogant expression. She lifted her chin slightly and scoffed, "I heard that Sister Hongyu values you highly, but I don't see anything extraordinary about you. What kind of person can come from such a remote and backward place?"
After saying this, she turned around and walked away.
The other girls from the Yu Clan's distant branches were curious about Chen Mu. Although they were in the Inner City Martial Arts Academy, they weren't completely unaware of the Yu Clan's external affairs. They had heard Chen Mu's name many times, knowing that he was someone Sister Hongyu favored and that she even intended to marry him to a Yu Clan girl.
However, he didn't seem particularly remarkable, except for his handsome appearance. And as Yu Yun said, what kind of person could come from such a remote and backward place?
The girls quickly turned around and followed Yu Yun, leaving with her.
Chen Yue, seeing this, pouted indignantly, then turned to Yu Ru and whispered, "Little Ru, she's always been a sharp-tongued person. Don't pay any attention to her."
Yu Ru bit her lip, tears still lingering in the corners of her eyes. Hearing Chen Yue's words, she raised her sleeve and wiped away her tears, "Mhm."
Chen Mu watched the group of young Yu Clan girls leave, shaking his head slightly. He wasn't interested in arguing with a bunch of young girls, but this Yu Yun indeed left a bad impression on him.
The arrogance of the clan's children seemed ingrained in their bones, similar to He Mingxuan, with their noses in the air, looking down on everyone. They probably had a bit of a bully's attitude.
actions.
(End of Chapter)
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