132. A Heart Adrift

Qu Bupping and Chu Xiaoyu looked away into the distance in a huff, ignoring whatever the other two were discussing.

Seeing that Qu and Chu had remained silent for so long, Peach Blossom asked with curiosity, "How come you two have nothing to say now?"

Little Yun'er chimed in, "My two elder brothers are too busy eating vinegar to have any time for talking!"

Peach Blossom laughed, "They wouldn't be that petty, would they? I only spoke with Young Master Hua for a moment, what's wrong with that?"

"It doesn't bother me at all!" Qu Bupping declared. Then, pointing at Chu Xiaoyu, he added in a low voice, "As for him, it's hard to say."

Chu Xiaoyu retorted defensively, "Hard to say what? Stop talking nonsense. Fragrant grass grows all over the world; even if you were to marry Young Master Hua right this instant, I wouldn't care in the least."

Little Yun'er interposed, "It couldn't possibly happen that fast for Peach Blossom to marry Young Master Hua, could it?"

Qu Bupping sneered, "Judging by how cozy they looked just now, it wouldn't be surprising if they bowed before heaven and earth and became husband and wife immediately."

Embarrassed by their remarks, Hua Sanxiao cupped his fists and said, "Farewell, everyone. I take my leave."

Hearing this, Peach Blossom quickly said, "Young Master Hua, wait for me! I'm coming with you." Then, turning back to scold Qu and Chu, she snapped, "Hah! If your martial prowess were even half as sharp as your tongues, that would be quite enough." With that, she hurried off after Hua Sanxiao.

Qu Bupping cursed at their retreating backs, "That damned woman! She looks down on people far too much. It's 'Young Master Hua' this and 'Young Master Hua' that—she looked so eager to march straight to the wedding altar with that fellow that it's simply sickening."

"Alright, don't upset yourself," Chu Xiaoyu comforted. "It doesn't matter if others look down on us, as long as we respect ourselves. We just had a fight, so we need to treat our stomachs properly."

Still burning with indignation, Qu Bupping muttered, "That woman kept praising how remarkable Young Master Hua is; she's completely bewitched by him. In my opinion, for all his dashing looks and fine clothes, that Young Master Hua is nothing more than an embroidered pillow stuffed with rotten straw—all show and no substance. I'll definitely surpass him one day!"

"My friend, stop letting your pride cloud your judgment," Chu Xiaoyu advised. "Given that Hua fellow's current poise and martial cultivation, neither you nor I could possibly catch up to him without ten or eight years of grueling practice. They say diligence brings its own reward; there are no shortcuts in learning martial arts.

If that Hua fellow hadn't received excellent instruction since childhood, combined with his own relentless hard work, he wouldn't have achieved such success today. To be realistic, unless we encounter a master of renown, we can forget about surpassing him in this lifetime.

Even if we are fortunate enough to meet a true master, we would still need at least a decade of bitter training to reach his level." By the end of this speech, Xiaoyu looked rather dejected himself.

Qu Bupping sighed, "Ah, to be honest, I know all that. It's just that if I don't curse him a few times, I feel miserable inside."

Little Yun'er laughed, "I understand now. That's called jealousy, and when applied to women, it's called eating vinegar, right?"

"What would a brat like you know?" Qu Bupping scolded.

Little Yun'er chuckled, "It's a good thing this Young Master Hua is named Sanxiao—Three Smiles—because with just three smiles, he hooked Peach Blossom's soul and made her desperate to marry him. If he were called Wanxiao—Ten Thousand Smiles—every single beauty in the world would be seduced by him! By then, who knows how much vinegar Elder Brother Qu would have to drink? You'd probably turn to Little Brother here and say, 'What do you know? The vinegar I've drunk is more than the water you've ever swallowed!'"

"You little imp, so small yet so full of talk! Let me beat you into a pulp!" Qu Bupping threatened playfully.

Little Yun'er replied, "Elder Brother Qu, don't vent your anger at others on me. Actually, even though I might not know what you're thinking, I can guess what your stomach desires."

Qu Bupping laughed despite himself, "We just had a fight and we're starving. My stomach wants food!"

Little Yun'er grinned mischievously, "And here I thought you were already full of vinegar and wouldn't be hungry!"

"Stop fooling around. We still need to look after our stomachs," Chu Xiaoyu said. "Alright, let's cast aside all our troubles and go have a proper meal."

With that, the three of them headed toward the tavern.

Along the way, Qu Bupping sighed, "Looking up at the distant mountains makes me feel so insignificant, yet looking down at the ants beneath my feet reminds me that I'm not the most wretched creature in this world."

Chu Xiaoyu smiled, "That's what they call having your fate controlled by others while you can only control the fate of ants. I reckon if Hua Sanxiao wanted our lives, he wouldn't even need three moves. Previously, we were like frogs at the bottom of a well; now we know there is always a higher mountain."

Little Yun'er laughed, "Elder Brothers, that proves true heroes aren't just empty talk. Just look at Young Master Hua—talented, handsome, and top-tier in martial arts. No wonder Peach Blossom likes him. If I were a woman, I'd certainly... wait, Elder Brother Qu, the 'little fool' in Young Brother's mouth certainly doesn't mean you. How could someone pampered by an extraordinary woman like Long Lengyue ever be a little fool?"

Hearing this, Qu Bupping quickly clarified, "Right, right! Brother Yun'er, you're a gifted youth, definitely not a little fool. In the future, when your elder brother strives to conquer the pugilistic world, I'll be counting heavily on your support!"

Hearing Qu Bupping say this, Little Yun'er was pleased and replied smugly, "That's more like it."