Chapter 39 : Fame Spreads

Chapter 39: Fame Spreads

The next day.

Vast sunlight spread across the streets, with streams of pedestrians coming and going without end.

The drifting aromas of various snacks and breakfast foods mingled with the lively cries of vendors.

In front of the Li Residence, thirty guards escorted a carriage as it set out in a grand procession.

Ever since the ambush by the God-Worship Sect during the previous outing, the number of guards accompanying Li Yunqing whenever she went out had increased by half.

Even Elder Xu, a guest elder, had become her personal guard.

“So this is the carriage of the Li Family’s young lady?”

“I wonder what the so-called number one beauty of Qingzhou actually looks like?”

“She’s truly stunning. I caught a glimpse from afar yesterday—guess what?”

“That Li Family young lady was wearing a red dress, with a slender waist and rounded hips. Walking under the sunlight, she seemed to glow—her skin so tender it looked like it could drip water!”

“And that face—like a painting, even more beautiful and radiant than flowers!”

“It’s only fitting—Qingzhou’s number one beauty, just like a celestial maiden!”

“I’ve lived fifty or sixty years and never seen such a beautiful woman.”

“Ah! I didn’t go yesterday—what a loss!”

As the carriage slowly passed through the street, discussions surged like a tide among pedestrians, shopkeepers, and customers.

Many people stopped in their tracks, craning their necks to peek inside the carriage.

Quite a few young men in their teens and twenties, hearing the discussions, subconsciously began following the carriage.

If not for the thirty guards escorting it, they likely would not have been able to hold back the crowd.

“Who even gave her the title of Qingzhou’s number one beauty? Is she really that pretty?”

On both sides of the street, the chatter continued openly, loud enough to stir even more curiosity.

“No one officially gave it—it spread from the mouths of the young masters of the great families.”

“At yesterday’s engagement banquet, all the major families in Qingzhou attended. It’s said that as soon as it ended, the title spread.”

“The young ladies of the noble families are all jealous and envious.”

“You know the young master of the Qin Family? After returning yesterday, he couldn’t even eat, cursing his concubines as vulgar and inferior.”

“And the Zhou Family’s young master—he used to frequent pleasure houses every few days. But after yesterday, he said that after seeing the Li Family’s young lady, he had no interest in any other woman!”

“Exactly! My young master stayed in his room all night painting. This morning, he cursed his own skills for failing to capture even a fraction of her beauty!”

Hearing such words, more and more people looked toward the passing carriage, their curiosity growing.

“I remember this carriage goes out every morning—why is that?”

“What else? The Li Family’s young lady trains at Mingyu Martial Hall. It’s said she has even been taken as a disciple by the renowned Divine Physician, Ghost Granny!”

“Really? Then how good is her medical skill?”

“If she’s Qingzhou’s number one beauty, her medical skills can’t be bad either!”

Listening to the chatter outside, before Li Yunqing could speak, the maid Xiaolan beside her became excited.

“Miss, Miss—you’re famous now!”

Clutching Li Yunqing’s arm, Xiaolan couldn’t help but shake it lightly. “Miss, you’ve become Qingzhou’s number one beauty!”

“I told you—if you attended more social gatherings, that title of Qingzhou’s Twin Beauties wouldn’t have gone to Zhou Ru and Qin Wan’er!”

“Your Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting are praised even by Qingzhou’s masters.”

“The title of Qingzhou’s most talented lady should belong to you!”

Hearing Xiaolan’s words, Li Yunqing rolled her eyes inwardly, cursing silently.

In just one night, she had become famous?

People feared fame just as pigs feared growing fat—being famous in this era was not necessarily a good thing.

Especially a title like Qingzhou’s number one beauty—was this not inviting trouble from lustful predators?

“Miss, why aren’t you saying anything?”

After chattering for a while without a response, Xiaolan asked curiously.

Among the great families, once young masters and young ladies came of age, they attended various gatherings and banquets—all for the sake of reputation.

Even wandering martial artists sought fame and profit.

With fame, one could gain recognition and secure a better marriage.

If one’s reputation reached the capital, they might even gain the Emperor’s favor.

Even if not favored by the Emperor, there were still princes and the sons and daughters of high officials.

If one truly formed such a marriage, it would be like soaring onto a branch and becoming a phoenix.

If her young lady had cultivated her reputation earlier and attended more gatherings, perhaps her name might have reached those great families and the imperial clan in the capital.

“Xiaolan!” Li Yunqing frowned. “How is your martial training progressing?”

“With such a big reputation, if it attracts some flower-picking thieves… I’ll have to rely on you to protect me!”

Xiaolan, who had been about to speak, froze instantly, her expression turning panicked. “Pah, pah, pah… Miss, don’t say such things!”

As she spoke, she quickly clasped her hands together and muttered while bowing repeatedly, “Bad things won’t come true, good things will…”

Li Yunqing shook her head with a faint smile.

For ordinary women, Xiaolan’s way of thinking was indeed normal.

From the moment they came of age, women prayed to find a good husband and live a happy life.

To marry into a good family, they began cultivating their reputation from the age of twelve or thirteen.

Marrying well was likely the ultimate dream of all women in this era.

But Li Yunqing was different.

If not for practicing martial arts, she would never have shown herself publicly.

She would rather find a quiet, beautiful place and live out her life in seclusion.

But unfortunately, being born into a small family was both fortune and misfortune—some things could not be avoided.

Only by becoming stronger could she take control.

“Such is the nature of the world.”

Li Yunqing understood clearly—nothing ever had only a good side without a bad one.

Because of this, she harbored neither resentment nor complaint.

She was willing to face everything calmly, striving to grow stronger until she could control her own life and destiny.

Only power held in one’s own hands was true power.

If a woman relied on others, she would ultimately become a bargaining chip—or merely someone confined within a chamber.

That was not what she wanted.

Suddenly—

“Creak!”

The carriage jolted violently and came to an abrupt stop.

Li Yunqing and Xiaolan both lurched forward, nearly falling.

“Grandpa Xu, what happened?”

Li Yunqing’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could hear a response, crying suddenly erupted outside the carriage.

“Miss Li, please save my mother!”

“I’m willing to serve as a beast of burden, to be a servant!”

Hearing the voice outside, Li Yunqing’s mind stirred, and her spiritual perception instantly spread out, clearly capturing everything within a radius of five zhang.

“Miss, it’s a young man kneeling and begging for treatment!”

At that moment, Elder Xu’s voice sounded.

Li Yunqing saw clearly as well—a youth of sixteen or seventeen, dirty, thin, with hair like tangled weeds.

Though his features were handsome, he looked extremely pitiful.

He knelt before the carriage, repeatedly kowtowing as he cried out, “My mother is gravely ill. I beg Miss to save her!”

“Miss will be rewarded for her kindness!”

At that moment, a crowd quickly gathered around.

“This kid’s got guts—blocking a carriage in the street!”

“Hm? He looks unfamiliar. Which family is he from?”

“Could he be from the Outer City?”

“Maybe he heard that the Li Family’s young lady is a disciple of a Divine Physician and came to seek treatment?”

“But the Li Family’s young lady hasn’t even married yet—how could she show herself publicly?”

Amid the surrounding chatter, Li Yunqing frowned slightly and spoke directly, “You can bring your mother to Mingyu Martial Hall. I will treat her there.”

“I do not make house calls.”

“Grandpa Xu, let’s go.”

With that, Li Yunqing paid no further attention.

She was already being targeted by the God-Worship Sect—how could she risk making house calls?

Moreover, she learned medicine for self-protection, not to save the world.

If she happened upon someone, she might help—but to put herself in danger? Absolutely not.

“I can’t bring my mother here—please, Miss, have mercy and save her…”

The youth continued kowtowing, pleading endlessly.

But upon hearing Li Yunqing’s order, Elder Xu pulled the reins and guided the carriage past him.

Only after the carriage had gone dozens of meters did the youth stop crying. He slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the departing carriage.

“This method won’t work. I’ll have to think of something else.”

Lowering his head, he hurried away.

People from the sect had long been watching Li Yunqing, yet had never found an opportunity to act.

She simply did not behave like a normal person—either at the martial hall or at home, rarely going out.

What kind of person lived like that?

Not long after the carriage departed, two figures appeared at a nearby restaurant.

A man and a woman, both around their twenties or thirties, stood by the window, looking toward the direction the carriage had gone.

“Senior Brother, should we go to Mingyu Martial Hall to seek treatment?”

“That Li Family young lady is a disciple of Divine Physician Ghost Granny—perhaps she can cure Master’s poison!”

Hearing this, the man picked up the long sword from the table and said as he walked,

“Let’s give it a try and see how good her medical skill is.”

“The poison in Master’s body is demon poison—ordinary physicians likely won’t be able to treat it!”