Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 5 Golden Wind Jade Dew Meet Once

"This..." Zhao Sanchong paused, a wave of regret washing over his features as he spoke. "Our Young Master has always been a private man who avoids meeting strangers."

Witnessing his reluctance, Wang Yuqi wasted no time and shouted toward the entrance, "Wang Si!"

The echoes of her voice had barely faded when the middle-aged coachman, who had been waiting outside, suddenly bridged the void. In a single, blurred stride, he crossed a distance of three zhang and materialized instantly before the group.

Stopping before her, he bowed with deep reverence and asked, "Miss, what are your commands?"

Zhao Sanchong was inwardly staggered. This coachman possessed profound martial arts prowess, clearly a peak expert of the Martial World, yet he served the Wang Family in such a lowly capacity.

Wang Yuqi gave her order, "Wang Si, ensure he escorts us to meet his Young Master."

"Wait!"

Realizing the charade was about to spiral into conflict, Zhao Sanchong yelled out, "There is no need for violence, I shall lead you there."

"Lead the way!" Wang Si commanded, his voice cold and uncompromising.

...

Fifteen minutes later, guided by Zhao Sanchong, the party arrived at a residence of exquisite elegance.

Even before crossing the threshold of the courtyard, the Wang sisters were greeted by the melodic strains of a guqin drifting from the rear gardens.

The music was a masterpiece of contrast; at times it surged with the majesty of towering peaks, and at others, it flowed with the gentle, rhythmic grace of a mountain stream, saturated with profound emotion.

Captivated by the ethereal performance, the two sisters found themselves lost in the melody.

Zhao Sanchong secretly marveled at the Ninth Young Master’s brilliance, realizing how perfectly he manipulated the strings of the human heart.

As the final notes gradually dissolved into silence, the Wang sisters shook off their daze as if waking from a trance.

Their loss of composure was understandable given their upbringing. The Wang Family ancestor had been a Loose Cultivator, and because of the hardships inherent in that path, the family focused entirely on Cultivation. Pursuits like the guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting were dismissed as worthless trivialities.

Consequently, the atmosphere within Fragrant Swallow Valley was perpetually cold and monotonous. Never in their lives had the sisters encountered music of such transcendent beauty.

"Take us to see your Young Master immediately," Wang Yuqi urged, her voice filled with newfound anticipation.

Though Wang Yu Yan remained silent, the longing reflected in her eyes mirrored her sister's eagerness.

"Ladies, follow me!"

With those words, Zhao Sanchong guided the three through the courtyard, passing the main hall and navigating a long corridor until they reached a garden adorned with rockeries and flowing brooks.

In the heart of the garden, beneath an Octagonal Pavilion, sat a Young Master draped in white. His face was as flawless as fine jade, his eyes sparkled like celestial stars, and his aura was exceptionally refined as he delicately tuned an ancient guqin.

As the saying goes, "When Golden Wind encounters Jade Dew, they surpass countless encounters in the mortal world."

The elaborate trap Zhao Sheng had set for the sisters was proving effective from the very first moment.

Appetite and attraction are fundamental to human nature. In this world, the appreciation for beauty is not exclusive to men; women are equally susceptible.

Approaching the Octagonal Pavilion, Zhao Sanchong announced loudly, "Young Master, visitors have arrived!"

Zhao Sheng acted as if he were being pulled back from a dream, slowly raising his gaze to meet the Wang sisters.

At such a close distance, his striking features were revealed in all their glory.

What young woman doesn't dream of romance? Even knowing the man before them was merely a mortal, the sisters felt their hearts flutter uncontrollably.

Zhao Sheng paused, then asked in a low, resonant voice, "Manager Zhao, who are these guests? Why have you brought them here?"

Following the prearranged script, Zhao Sanchong explained the Wang Family's purpose, eventually steering the conversation toward the perfume and the concept of the destined individual.

Upon hearing this, a soft smile played on Zhao Sheng’s lips, and his demeanor turned welcoming.

He gestured toward the cushions arranged near the zither table. "Please, honored guests, take a seat."

The sisters traded looks before entering the pavilion and seating themselves with perfect poise.

"I am Zhao Zhiqin. Might I ask for the names of these two ladies?"

"I am Wang Yu Yan."

"And I am Wang Yuqi."

The sisters answered almost simultaneously the moment Zhao Sheng finished speaking.

"Ah, the two daughters of the Wang Family. Please forgive my lack of manners!" Zhao Sheng replied with a polite, graceful nod.

Wang Yu Yan got straight to the point. "Our visit concerns that unique perfume. Young Master Zhao mentioned it is reserved only for a person of destiny. I wish to know, who is this destined person?"

Zhao Sheng fell into a pensive silence before recounting a heartbreaking tale of love.

He had woven the story from famous legends like the Magpie Bridge and the tragedy of Liang and Zhu.

It was a tale of a poor youth and a wealthy girl whose love was shattered by a cruel father. After being shamed, the youth climbed the ranks of martial arts to become an Innate Grandmaster, while the girl was forced into a political marriage, eventually dying of a broken heart.

"...On her deathbed, that tragic woman crafted a singular fragrance to honor their lost love, naming it 'Golden Wind Jade Dew.' There is even a poem to commemorate it!"

With a sigh, Zhao Sheng began to recite: "Delicate clouds craft shapes, shooting stars carry sorrow, the Milky Way stretches long and dark. When Golden Wind and Jade Dew meet, they surpass countless others in this world. Affection is like water, our rendezvous a dream, it's hard to face the road back from Magpie Bridge. If love endures for a long time, does it even matter in the endless cycle of days and nights."

The power of poetry knows no boundaries. Even in this different world, the poignant verses of the Magpie Bridge Immortal struck a chord deep within the hearts of these sheltered young women.

Wang Yuqi’s eyes grew misty with unshed tears, her heart aching for the lovers, while Wang Yu Yan’s stoic mask softened considerably.

Observing their reactions, Zhao Sheng felt a spark of satisfaction. He then lamented aloud, "What is love, that it demands such total devotion? Golden Wind Jade Dew is intended only for those who truly grasp the nature of love."

"Ladies, do you believe yourselves to be such individuals?"

The sisters looked at one another and slowly shook their heads.

Raised in a Cultivation Family where marriages were cold transactions arranged by Elders, they had never known the meaning of true love.

Zhao Sheng let out a soft, regretful sigh. "I am sorry, but it appears you are not the ones destined for Golden Wind Jade Dew."

Wang Yuqi started to protest, but a quick tug on her sleeve from Wang Yu Yan silenced her.

"Young Master, hearing such a moving tale is a gift in itself. If fate has not decreed it for us, we shall not press the matter."

Regaining her composure, Wang Yu Yan added, "However, I have a bold request. I wonder if the Young Master would entertain it?"

"Please, speak your mind," Zhao Sheng replied, nodding for her to go on.

"Would you be willing to sell the formula for this perfume?"

I am after your beauty, but it seems you are after my livelihood, Zhao Sheng thought wryly.

Could the value of this perfume be even higher than I suspected?

The thought flashed through his mind before he firmly shook his head. "The formula is an ancestral inheritance. It cannot be shared with those outside my bloodline."

Disappointment clouded Wang Yu Yan’s face at his refusal.