Chapter 132: Meeting is Fate

As Wei Wuji stepped out of the garden, he was in exceedingly high spirits.

Wang Yu’s sudden appearance had been nothing short of a blessing. In the end, not only had he freed Wei Wuji from Wei Jingrong’s entanglement, he had also allowed him to make a spectacular impression.

This was no ordinary place. It was a club for the children of Wei’s highest-ranking families, and word of Wei Wuji would spread even more rapidly from here.

People said that when a tree rose above the forest, the wind would destroy it. But Wei Wuji was not one to follow the usual path. He intended to become the brightest star in the night sky.

“My mother kept her head down in everything and endured humiliation for the sake of peace, yet in the end she was driven from the palace…”

“But I will not be like her. I will use the greatest strength and radiance at my command to sweep them all away…”

He continued walking, muttering to himself without pause.

“Young Master, you are really leaving just like that?” Zheng Dali asked from behind him, a trace of discontent in his voice.

Wei Wuji remained calm and unconcerned. “If I don’t leave, what else should I do?”

“That Wang Yu was so insolent. You are truly going to let him off?” Zheng Dali said bitterly.

Wei Wuji smiled faintly and glanced back at him. He thought to himself that, after all, there were still people in this world who cared about him.

“He has already suffered the greatest punishment of all,” Wei Wuji said slowly, recalling the agony on Wang Yu’s face.

“What?” Zheng Dali did not understand.

“You don’t understand?”

“This subordinate is dull-witted,” Zheng Dali replied honestly.

“Then let me explain it to you…”

Just as Zheng Dali waited eagerly for the answer, a flash of beauty appeared within Wei Wuji’s line of sight.

Wei Wuji immediately abandoned Zheng Dali and headed toward the lovely woman.

“To run into the beauty Cao again—truly, fate must be at work!” he thought.

It did not occur to him that the garden was not particularly large, and encountering Cao Xin there was hardly remarkable.

At that moment, however, Cao Xin was in dire straits.

Though she came from an official family and was the daughter of a great clan, the men harassing her were no less formidable. The one leading them in particular possessed an extraordinary status, making it impossible for her to escape.

“Xin’er, why are you avoiding me? It is not as though I am going to eat you.”

A lecherous voice rang through the covered walkway. The men beside him burst into laughter, leaving Cao Xin’s beautiful face flushed with shame and fury.

The young beauty snapped, “Gao Yang, do not go too far. The princess is nearby. If she learns of this, you—”

“What about me? I have not done anything to you. Could she really punish me?” Gao Yang cut her off without the slightest fear.

He had taken an interest in the little beauty Cao Xin long ago. Yet she was either kept secluded within her family’s residence or surrounded by other people, leaving him no opportunity to approach her.

Today, he had brought along a few dissolute friends to amuse himself. He had never expected to encounter Cao Xin alone, and the discovery delighted him immensely.

“My luck has been terrible these past few days. That man gave me a thorough beating, but I never thought it would lead to me meeting the beauty Cao. This is not a bad bargain after all,” Gao Yang thought secretly.

Yet whenever he recalled Wei Wuji, he felt uneasy, as though the pain of the whip still lingered across his body.

“Damn it… Why am I thinking about that?” Gao Yang cursed himself inwardly.

Just moments ago, he had even entertained the thought of running away—simply because Wei Wuji’s face had come to mind.

“Gao Yang, you are utterly shameless!” Cao Xin rebuked him.

The smugness on Gao Yang’s face deepened. “Go ahead and curse me. It is not as though anyone will come to rescue you…”

“I already made certain of it. The princess led those noble ladies to Xiangling Hall earlier to watch the spectacle. There are only a few of us here.”

His pride swelled further. He was profoundly grateful for this opportunity. Even Heaven itself seemed to be helping him.

“That is right, Miss Cao. Why not stay a while? All we want is to have some tea and chat with you,” one of Gao Yang’s wastrel companions teased.

They were all sons of influential families in Wuan City. They had tried almost every amusement available, and what they craved most was novelty.

Now that Cao Xin was before them, they were just as reluctant to leave.

“You are utterly shameless. I will return and tell your uncles and elders everything you have done today.” Cao Xin struggled to remain calm, unwilling to let the men’s depravity make her lose her composure.

Instead of being intimidated, Gao Yang and his companions exchanged glances and roared with laughter.

“By all means, Miss Cao! Tell them whatever you like. Why not go now? I can even have my carriage take you there.” Gao Yang’s audacity knew no bounds as he stepped closer.

“Do not be rude to the young lady!” the two maidservants beside Cao Xin shouted angrily.

“Get out of my way!” Gao Yang barked.

He could put on a pleasant face for Cao Xin, but he had no intention of showing the same courtesy to her maidservants.

After the two maidservants were shoved to the ground, Cao Xin was left without anyone to rely on. Faced with Gao Yang advancing upon her, she found herself utterly helpless.

“Young Master…” Cao Xin cried out in surprise, for at that very moment she saw Wei Wuji approaching.

Gao Yang was the grandson of the Pillar of State, Gao. Only Wei Wuji could suppress him. At that moment, Cao Xin could only hope that Wei Wuji truly was as hostile to evil as the rumors claimed.

When Gao Yang heard her cry, his heart gave an involuntary jolt, and he halted mid-step.

Although he felt it impossible, Gao Yang could not help glancing over his shoulder.

The moment he looked, his gaze froze.

How could that man be here?

Gao Yang wailed inwardly. Suddenly, it seemed to him that the entire world was filled with malice toward him.

Under Cao Xin’s gaze, Gao Yang stopped and slowly turned around. His entire body seemed to stiffen as he stared fixedly at the figure approaching from the distance.

At last sensing that something was wrong, Gao Yang’s companions followed the movement of his body and slowly turned in the same direction.

They, too, saw Wei Wuji in riding boots and fitted sleeves. But because they had not been present at Xiangling Hall earlier, they failed to recognize him.

Wei Wuji reached the edge of the covered walkway, carefully lifted his robes, and bowed. He made every effort to move with elegance, hoping to leave a favorable impression on the beauty Cao—especially with Zheng Dali standing beside him as a contrast.

He entered the walkway and looked at Gao Yang, an old acquaintance. After smiling, he said, “Young Master Gao, it has been a long time.”

Gao Yang’s lips were dry, his throat was dry, and his voice was dry—in short, he could not utter a word. The only part of him that moved was the hand hidden within his wide sleeve, trembling without cease.

His mind was filled with the scene on the street that day: the sweeping whip, the cold and terrifying edge of its lash…

“It has only been a few days, and your skin is itching again?” Wei Wuji said as he walked over and patted Gao Yang on the shoulder.

“Who are you, to be so disrespectful to Brother Gao? Are you tired of living?” one of Gao Yang’s companions shouted.

From Wei Wuji’s attire, they judged that he could not have a particularly elevated status. For someone like that to speak so arrogantly here was nothing short of courting death.

“You bastards! How dare you speak to the young master like that?” Gao Yang suddenly came back to life. He hurried over to his companions and slapped the man who had spoken without hesitation.

Once he had moved farther away from Wei Wuji, Gao Yang finally recovered the use of his voice. He forced a smile and put on a pitiful expression.

“Young Master, this has nothing to do with me!”

Wei Wuji paid no attention to Gao Yang’s thoughts. He turned toward the beauty and said slowly, “Miss Cao, meeting you again must be fate.”