A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 114 The Bastard of the He Family

"It's been many years, brother."

His tone remained flat, with little variation in his voice, just as usual.

His words, though seemingly ordinary, were startling. The three women and the newcomer were all astonished, comparing the two faces back and forth, finding them quite dissimilar.

The woman who had approached him earlier asked in surprise, "Young Master He, is this... your younger brother? They don't look very alike. Are they distant relatives?"

He Sui'an did not resemble the man at all. Xiang He had met the Tang family before, and he should look more like his maternal family.

Thinking about it this way, Xiang He's mind was in turmoil; He Suian's matter was truly not simple...

Just as she was lost in thought, the man spoke, "Long time no see, wishing you a peaceful year."

Xiang He turned her eyes slightly to look at him. It seemed that this person was also a ninja. His eyes had been so sharp just now, but now he was smiling gently, acting like a refined young gentleman.

He smiled modestly, "Arriving in Beijing today?"

"Hmm," He Sui'an replied with a smile, "I never expected to run into you here. How have you been?"

The question was simple, but Xiang He felt that it had a profound meaning.

"It's alright. My grandfather is in good health, my father has been promoted one rank, and my mother is also in good health."

"That's good."

After the two finished speaking, they fell silent. People around them approached, all wondering who He Suian was in the He family.

After an unknown period of silence, someone suddenly pointed at He Suian and shouted, "That bastard He Suian from the He family!"

This shouting, naming names, startled not only their small group but also passersby who were sightseeing, causing them all to stop and look on curiously.

The three women who had just struck up a conversation covered their mouths, their eyes gradually turning disgusted.

Even under the scrutiny of everyone's different gazes, He Suian remained as gentle as ever. Xiang He frowned, tightened her grip on the large umbrella, and glanced at the group, saying, "You're just a lowly bastard. Even noble families are no better than this, utterly lacking in manners."

The man who had shouted suddenly covered his mouth, his face flushed red, whether from drinking or from the shame of being subtly pointed at by Xiang He, but in an instant he glared angrily at Xiang He.

The three women looked slightly angry, and the woman who had approached them raised her head high and questioned, "And who are you, young lady? Young Master Xiao was just speaking his mind; when did it become your place to give him advice?"

"She's nothing special, just a country girl."

Hearing about her background, and seeing that her clothes were simple and plain, without any pearls or jade ornaments in her hair, my disdain for her only increased.

One of the women sneered, "It would be beneath me to lower myself to the level of a country girl."

This blatant sarcasm made Xiang He roll her eyes. "Status? Your status was given to you by your parents. Who's more noble than whom?"

The woman, not to be outdone, raised her head and stepped forward, "And what about your parents? What status did they give you? A village girl?"

Instead of getting angry at the question, Xiang He laughed and said, "What, are village girls inferior to you? Without village girls, would you have food to eat?"

"you!"

After venting his frustration, Xiang He smiled and crossed his arms, looking at the group.

He Sui'an, who was standing to the side, did not stop her. She never argued with people. Her sudden outburst tonight must have been because she was angry and wanted to vent her anger to feel better.

Seeing the smug look in her eyes, He Sui'an's gaze softened. "Satisfied?"

"After sitting in the carriage for several days, I'm really bored! I miss those oddballs back home. I didn't expect to find even more beautiful oddballs in the capital. It seems that life won't be too boring."

Although I didn't understand what she meant by "weird," I knew it wasn't a compliment.

He Sui'an nodded slightly, "Is there anything else you want to see? Or are we going back?"

"Let's go back and get a good night's sleep to recharge." Xiang He glanced at the woman as she turned away. "You need to be energetic to fight these oddballs."

The woman was furious, but had lost the upper hand, and could only grit her teeth and glare angrily at He.

He Sui'an placed his hands on top of the table, "Young Master He, please convey my regards to the elders of the He family."

The man's smiling face froze for a moment, then he quickly put on a smile again. "Young Master He, you're too kind. I will certainly pass on your message."

He Sui'an turned around and followed Xiang He, speaking softly to soothe her little emotions. The two talked as they walked away, leaving behind that group of self-proclaimed noble people.

The anger in the woman's eyes faded, and she blinked sweetly, "Young Master He, is that the one who was kicked out back then...?"

“Hmm,” He Yuncheng gestured, “It’s late, let’s go home.”

Seeing that none of his family members wanted to bring it up again, the others didn't press the matter further and quickly changed the subject, strolling across the stone arch bridge and going their separate ways.

The two wandered the streets and headed west of the city. As night deepened, the liveliness subsided considerably.

He Suian led Xiang He through a maze of turns, showing his familiarity with the city's streets and suggesting he had lived there for a long time.

"Aren't you curious about the bastards they're talking about?"

The alleyway, though not quiet, was clearly audible. Xiang He kept his eyes straight ahead and said, "You will speak when you want to. Answers obtained through questioning are against your conscience."

He Sui'an guessed her answer and said calmly, "Nineteen years ago, my mother was framed for having an affair, and the evidence was irrefutable. To prove her innocence, my mother ran into the front door of the He family and died. The He family had already accepted the facts and kicked me out of the house. It was my maternal grandfather who brought the whole family to take me back to the Tang family."

As he recounted his story, Xiang He simply nodded in agreement. "Then why were you being hunted down? Were you also sent by the He family?"

"Exactly, perhaps they feel that my use of the surname He is a disgrace to the family, and they want to wipe me out."

"They haven't given up after all these years; it seems they're very determined."

He Suian couldn't help but laugh. "It was alright in the capital. But ever since I left the capital at the age of eight, they have never given up the pursuit. Their obsession is indeed deep."

Xiang He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Then why did you leave the capital? Was it just to find medicine?"

"It was from that time that I began to seek out learned scholars from various places, and then I was constantly pursued and killed."

"It was so dangerous, we really have to thank Xing Ji and Zhu Nan for it."

Those years of relentless pursuit would have required an incredibly strong will to withstand the mental and physical torment.

It's quite unique for a father to kill his son for the sake of his reputation.

It's just an obsession that's lasted for over a decade, and some...

Xiang He's calm eyes flickered. "Even if it disgraces the family, so many years have passed, he should be indifferent by now. Why is he so persistent? What if he kills you? Does he think he can hang your head outside the door to uphold the family's reputation?"

"Who knows..."

The two turned into an alley and walked out onto a main street, where many people were carrying their belongings home.

A gentle evening breeze blew by, and Xiang He pulled her collar tighter. "Is it possible that there's something else going on that makes you so determined to destroy us?"

Gazing into the distance, He Suian blinked, his dark eyes remaining completely calm.

“I’ve considered other reasons, but no matter how I investigate, I can’t find any other cause.”

The long, silent street was filled only with the sound of the wind. The two walked in silence, and ahead of them, a carriage was parked, with a tall figure waiting quietly.

The figure was very familiar; Xing Ji had been waiting for the wind and others all night.

A question pounded in her mind, "Xing Ji and Zhu Nan... were they found for you by the Tang family?"

A sudden twitch appeared between He Sui'an's brows, but his expression remained unchanged. "I saved her on my way to my studies."

"Help...help?" Xiang He pinched her chin with one hand. "They're not assassins, are they? I think they always use deadly moves..."

"He was before, but now he's just my guard."

"All right……"

Xiang He was suspicious of the assassin she picked up along the way who was willing to serve her.

On second thought, if she could think of it, He Suian would naturally think of it too.

Xiang He frowned and glanced at He Suian, but ultimately didn't ask. She quietly walked to the carriage and greeted Xing Ji.

The moment the raised hand fell, a strong odor swept past—

"do not move!"