Mythical Three Kingdoms

It's evident from Guo Jia's words that he is sincere, but Chen Xi didn't say much. After some light-hearted chat with Liu Luo, he left with Chen Yun. Showing up once a year to demonstrate that this place is under his protection was enough.

"Xiaozhi, are you also planning to leave?" Guo Jia reached out and grabbed Fa Zheng, who was about to leave, with a sly smile. If Chen Xi ran away, he wouldn't let Fa Xiaozhi escape too.

"Tsk, you're drinking from a glass. Shopkeeper, change it to a sea bowl for us. I plan to make Guo Fengxiao leave here lying down today." Seeing that he couldn't slip away, Fa Zheng decided to stay. He would get Guo Jia drunk and deal with it later.

"Uncle Chen." Guan Ping, who was picking out gifts, spotted Chen Xi with his sharp eyes and immediately waved.

"..." Chen Xi showed no expression. He didn't know why, but every time he heard Guan Ping call him uncle, he felt a bit stressed. He wasn't much older than Guan Ping.

Moreover, Guan Ping seemed to have developed extraordinarily well, tall and strong, and appeared older than his late teens, seemingly even older than Zhao Yun. The perpetually eighteen-year-old Zhao Yun was truly impressive.

"Greetings, Uncle." Guan Ping's concubine also addressed Chen Xi as uncle, saying it was fortunate that Guan Yu didn't mind. Back then, Chen Xi took the blame, and although Su Yue, as a Singer Girl, managed to enter the Guan Family by luck, Guan Yu regarded her kindly and said nothing further.

As for the Hu Clan, the mother didn't bother with such trifles. A concubine wasn't a wife, so the mother didn't care. On the contrary, she was pleased that her son had grown up.

Chen Yun made a slight bow in return, while Chen Xi appeared helpless. It seemed they'd encountered quite a few acquaintances along the way. "Tanzhi, keep working hard after the New Year. Look at how Xiao Zhi has already become a Marquis."

Guan Ping smiled. Indeed, Fa Zheng was mostly seen as the model child of other families, making numerous young people aspiring to achieve success in their youth look up to him. Incidentally, the record of the youngest Marquis of Military Merit in the past hundred years was just set by Chen Xi, then broken by Fa Zheng.

"Your advice is taken to heart, Uncle." Guan Ping was naturally gentle and showed no trace of embarrassment. "Marquis of Taiting is indeed a model for my generation."

"I won't disturb you any longer. After the New Year, take some time to interact with Hansheng's son. You will find common ground." Chen Xi patted Guan Ping's shoulder and smiled, indicating that it was important for the younger generation to get along well.

Having said that, he sent Guan Ping away. If he stayed here, Guan Ping would definitely appear restrained. It seemed that somewhere along the way, those who could once be casually teased had started to develop distinctions of status. Poor Chen Xi could now only tease Little Lul Xun and Xin Xianying.

Walking like an old man with his hands behind his back, Chen Xi wandered the streets, looking left and right to see if there was anything suitable. There were those who greeted him cautiously because they knew him, and others who saw him as a rich idler. Overall, life was very harmonious.

After walking down an entire street, Chen Xi halted at an intersection, while Chen Yun quietly followed behind him.

"This one will do." Chen Xi said casually. He had no particular requirements, for all the shops were almost the same to him. Taking strolls to observe the people's livelihood had become a regular habit for him, which he couldn't recall when it started.

"Welcome, Young Master." As soon as Chen Xi approached the entrance, a shop assistant greeted him warmly. This luxury goods store offered decent service.

"Recommend some items suitable for giving to a Lady during the New Year festival." Chen Xi glanced at the decorative items on the shelf. Except for a few, there was nothing particularly good.

Following closely behind Chen Xi, Chen Yun's attire was simple yet elegant. Even a blind person could sense Chen Xi's status wasn't low. Dressed plainly in a white brocade robe covered by a plush coat, adorned with few embroideries, he looked simple yet tasteful.

Contrarily, Chen Yun's attire added a distant charm to her simplicity, making her resemble a noblewoman from an aristocratic family who delved deeply into advanced cultivation. Indeed, Chen Yun had played some roles to the point of ingraining them into her very being.

"Please follow me, Milord and Lady." The shopkeeper addressed both Chen Xi and Chen Yun, unable to see the typical humility of a maid in her demeanor, making it natural to greet her formally.

Chen Xi smiled and followed the shopkeeper, listening to him explain the store's rules as they walked. He was curious to see what marvelous things this store might have since they needed to be hidden away.

Once inside the inner chamber, Chen Xi's gaze fell upon an object, and he couldn't help but furrow his brows. Ignoring the store's previous guidelines, he placed his hand on a chessboard, feeling an imprint where he touched it, and immediately his face softened with nostalgia.

"Besides the chess pieces, was there anything else accompanying this board?" Chen Xi asked with a hint of nostalgia on his face. Seeing this item again truly brought back memories.

"This chessboard is over a hundred years old..." The shopkeeper began to explain enthusiastically upon seeing Chen Xi's evident interest.

"That's enough, no need to introduce it. I'm more familiar with this than you are." Chen Xi, a smile touching his lips, stroked the chessboard. If he brought this item back as a gift for Chen Bo, Chen Bo would undoubtedly be thrilled. This belonged to their family, the things from their ancestral home in Yingchuan.

"What about the original chess box and pieces?" Chen Xi, feeling disappointed, touched the jade chess pieces, as they didn't have the same feel as they did back in the day.

"The board is an excellent antique, so we paired it with new chess boxes and pieces." The shopkeeper responded with folded hands.

"Bring out the original chess box and pieces." Chen Xi turned and instructed the shopkeeper. At that moment, the authority and command he often exerted from his high position made the shopkeeper's face change instantly.

"Please wait a moment, milord. I'll have someone bring it right away." The shopkeeper immediately showed increased deference.

The aura that Chen Xi exuded was enough to make shopkeepers, who relied on observing others' expressions for a living, extremely cautious; it wasn't something an average person possessed.

Soon after, the original chess box along with the coarse stone chess pieces were brought over. Chen Xi touched the pieces, and the image of Elder Master Chen's reluctant expression during his illness returned to his mind; he remembered everything vividly, despite lacking the experience of the tactile sensations.

Yet even written words can move people, let alone the memories stored in one's mind. Given the chance to buy it back, Chen Xi wouldn't miss it, and he never minded being overcharged for it.

Incidentally, what the shopkeeper ordered to be brought wasn't just those items. Nearly all the goods from that shipment were brought out, and among them, Chen Xi noticed Chen Lan's Red Jade Bracelet. Although only one was left, at least it was back.

"Do you recall the other bracelet?" Chen Xi picked up the bracelet and adjusted its angle against the light until a faint "Chen" appeared. It was indeed the bracelet Chen Lan had pawned. Incidentally, this carving, which couldn't be felt at touch, was exceptionally intricate. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please support it by voting for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)