Chapter 125: Fortune or Misfortune?

Looking at them now, the two appeared quite a well-matched pair. Perhaps Old Master Yu was skilled in the art of maintaining his youth; he looked no older than a man of thirty or forty, showing not a hint of age.

"I wonder, though, how they feel about suddenly transitioning from sisters to mother and daughter? Isn't Old Master Yu essentially an old ox grazing on young grass?"

Hu San let these idle thoughts drift through his mind. Having already seen the embroidered ball and witnessed the spectacle of the ball-tossing ceremony, he had no further interest in the ensuing selection of a son-in-law.

However, just as he prepared to leave, the flower-decked carriage, which had been moving at a glacial pace, came to a sudden halt. A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd. People of all ages, genders, and social stations raised their hands high; in this moment, the lines between rich and poor, between the elite and the commoner, seemed to vanish, placing everyone on the same starting line.

Someone shouted that the eldest Miss Yu was about to toss the embroidered ball. The crowd surged toward the center with such sudden intensity that even a martial arts expert like Hu San found it difficult to move without causing injury. He could only drift with the tide, gradually being pressed toward the flower carriage.

Lin Le, who was right behind him, was in an even worse state. Pushed by wave after wave of the throng, he was squeezed toward the carriage. The people no longer cared for the high status of those in front, and the once-spacious area before the carriage was instantly swallowed up by the mob.

Several young masters in fine silk frowned, yet they dared not have their guards push people away, fearing that Miss Yu might look down upon them. The scene was one of intense, fervent excitement.

Amidst the chaos, Miss Yu leaned in and whispered something into Old Master Yu’s ear, gesturing toward a certain direction in the crowd. Once the old man gave a slight nod, she reached out with her delicate hand to take a long bow adorned with a large red flower from a servant girl. From another attendant, she took a long arrow wrapped in red cloth. Before everyone’s eyes, she threaded the embroidered ball onto the arrow and rested it against the bow.

Old Master Yu’s booming voice suddenly rang out across the street, instantly suppressing the clamor of the crowd. The scene fell silent as he spoke: "My daughter is of age, yet she remains playful and headstrong. She insisted on following ancient customs to seek a husband through a ball-tossing ceremony here in Mingling City, and I could not bring myself to refuse her. I am grateful that you have all shown me the favor of gathering here, and I thank you for your support. Regardless of the outcome of this ceremony, I invite all of you to join us at the Yu estate. I have prepared a celebratory feast, and everyone shall receive a gift."

Once he finished, a buzz of conversation rose again. Most of the people were clearly there for the prospect of the feast and gifts; they were overjoyed, some offering thanks, others complaining that they hadn't brought their spouses along. All of human nature was on display.

After letting the crowd murmur for a moment, Old Master Yu raised his hand for silence. "Since you have all come, I assume you have the intention of becoming my son-in-law. Let me explain the rules."

At these words, everyone stopped their chatter and grew solemn. Even the noble young masters who had previously shown disdain now wore expressions of gravity—this was, after all, what they had come for.

"Since it is my daughter seeking a husband, she naturally seeks a man. If, when she tosses the ball, it is caught by a woman or a child, we shall simply toss it again. However, as catching it is a sign of fate, I have decided that anyone who catches the ball—man, woman, or child—will receive one hundred taels of gold."

"Furthermore, any man between the ages of fifteen and sixty who catches the ball shall become my daughter’s husband. It is a day of great joy, and I should not speak too much, but to ensure this auspicious event does not turn sour, I must speak plainly. Regardless of who you are, once you hold the ball, you are my son-in-law. Whether you were previously married or have children, from the moment you claim the ball, those ties are severed."

"If anyone grabs the ball but refuses to follow the rules, then I apologize—my daughter is not someone to be trifled with. While the Yu estate may not be a great power, we are no cowards. Should a dispute arise, it would be unpleasant for everyone. I hope those eligible men here will consider carefully whether they are truly prepared to take on this role."

At this moment, Hu San noticed Miss Yu whispering to her father again.

Old Master Yu looked up, laughing heartily. "Well, well! I should not dampen the mood on such a joyous day with my endless chatter. Since my daughter is impatient, I shall say no more. I wish you all the best of luck."

With that, he stepped back and pushed Miss Yu forward.

In the profound silence that followed, Miss Yu drew the long arrow and fired.

As everyone craned their necks in anticipation, they were stunned to see the ball fly straight toward the center of the sky. It did not veer to either side; judging by the trajectory, it would fall directly onto the roof of the carriage. Everyone was dumbfounded.

Was the eldest Miss Yu just playing around? Did she not want a husband at all? Or perhaps her beloved was already among the guards on the roof?

As the arrow lost its momentum and began to plummet toward the carriage roof, under the wide-eyed gaze of the guards, a hand suddenly appeared.

It did not grab the ball but gave it a light tap, knocking the arrow away. Then, with a horizontal strike, it sent the ball—which had been falling dead—flying in a new direction. It flashed and vanished off the edge of the roof.

There were many martial artists in the crowd, but fewer than ten could truly track the ball’s path. Most were left shaking their heads, searching frantically, unaware that it had gone exactly where the master intended.

***

A moment later, everyone realized the hand that had struck the ball belonged to Old Master Yu. Clearly, Miss Yu had arranged this, but where had the ball gone?

While the scene was in chaos and almost everyone was searching for the vanished ball, Hu San narrowed his eyes.

Fewer than ten people could track the ball, and given his cultivation level, Hu San was among them. Not only could he track it, but he could also predict where it would land.

This was exactly why his brow was furrowed: by every calculation, there was a ninety percent chance the damn ball would land directly in his arms.

This was truly unexpected. Although Hu San generally felt confident, after leaving the Qilian Mountains and witnessing the talents of many young martial arts masters, he had to admit his own appearance was quite ordinary. His current attire made him look even more average.

As for his high level of cultivation, Hu San did not believe Old Master Yu or his daughter could discern it at a glance. He had plenty of experience, and while there might be people in the world who could see through him, they certainly wouldn't be in this secular realm, nor would they be mere herbalists selling Mingling grass.

Thus, the arrival of this ball felt rather ominous.

"Is this a case of the blind turtle meeting the lucky green bean? Or did I forget to wash my face this morning and reveal some rugged charm?"

In a few short breaths, Hu San analyzed himself from head to toe, only to find that even he couldn't justify the ball’s trajectory toward him.

Perhaps ordinary people would call it luck, but in the eyes of an expert like Hu San, Old Master Yu’s strike had been no accident. At that moment, Hu San had clearly seen a dense, black energy—a *gang*—enveloping the old man’s hand. Though he couldn't judge its full power from this distance, just by its appearance, Hu San knew this old man’s strength was not below that of Black Giant Spirit and his ilk.

That strike had been deliberate. If it wasn't intentional, he would eat his hat.

Since he couldn't explain it logically, it could only mean the other party had an agenda. Normally, Hu San wouldn't mind being a son-in-law, but the incident at the Boundless Grotto had sounded an alarm, making him much more cautious. As the saying goes, it is better to avoid trouble than to invite it.

Just then, his peripheral vision caught sight of Lin Le behind him. He smiled to himself and thought, "Good, lucky you, kid! It's yours!"

As the ball flew toward him, Hu San subtly shifted his waist. The ball, which should have landed in his arms, slipped right under his arm and into the hands of Lin Le, who was busy searching for it.

Lin Le held the ball, still frantically looking around. "Strange, where did it go? There are so many people, how can I find it?"

"Wait... what is this?"

Lin Le suddenly felt something in his arms. When he looked down, he couldn't help but tremble. "The... the ball? I actually caught it? This... this..."

While Lin Le was dizzy with excitement, Old Master Yu on the carriage roof tightened his brow. This was not the outcome he wanted.

Hu San’s move had been flawless, so Old Master Yu didn't suspect him, assuming the sheer size of the crowd had interfered with his maneuver.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one had noticed the ball in Lin Le's arms, Old Master Yu flicked his finger. Lin Le, shaking with excitement, suddenly felt his palms slide. When he looked again, the ball was gone.

The crowd finally came to their senses and spotted the ball near Lin Le, but before they could move, the ball seemed to sprout legs—or perhaps it had been nudged—and dove straight into Hu San’s sleeve.

Hu San, who had intended to watch the farce, felt his eyebrow twitch. It was now impossible to throw the ball away.

Under the gaze of everyone, a bitter smile appeared on his lips. At that moment, he felt a faint ripple of energy, but when he checked, he felt nothing.

Hu San hadn't noticed Old Master Yu’s subtle actions, so he couldn't be sure if Lin Le had just dropped it out of nerves or if someone was interfering.

***

In the sudden silence, a gong sounded. A team of guards leaped from the roof of the carriage. Led by a large man in black armor, they parted the crowd and arrived before Hu San, who was clutching the ball.

"Subordinates pay respects to the son-in-law. Please, sir, follow us to the estate for the wedding ceremony."

The guards isolated Hu San from the crowd, appearing both as his protection and his jailers. Hu San, already feeling the absurdity of the situation, couldn't help but smile even more bitterly.

Clutching the ball, he looked at Lin Le, who was standing nearby, stunned like a wooden chicken. He then looked at the icy glares from the crowd, who seemed to want to kill him a thousand times over. A thought sparked in his mind: "There are no such coincidences in the world. If this is intentional, then things are getting interesting. I, Hu San, don't want trouble, but I am not afraid of it either. If that's the case, let's play along!"

Having made up his mind, Hu San didn't refuse. He pointed to the distraught Lin Le and smiled: "This man arrived with me. The ball should have been his. I feel quite uneasy having taken his opportunity. If possible, I hope you can grant him some reward so that I may enter this marriage with a clear conscience."

"Hahaha! I never expected that my daughter’s accidental toss would lead to such a sensible and upright man. I am very satisfied! Though marriages are fated, since this young man acted as the go-between, rest assured, son-in-law, I will not treat him poorly."

Old Master Yu and his wife had just descended from the carriage and heard this exchange.

"Young man, if you are willing, you may come live at the Yu estate. We happen to be short of a sub-manager for Mingling grass sales. If you agree, the position is yours."

"Ah! Ah! Thank you, Old Master! Thank you, brother! I am willing, I am willing!"

Lin Le was no longer dazed. Having just lost a heaven-sent opportunity, if he let this one slip, he might as well be dead!

While it wasn't the same as being the Yu family's son-in-law, the position of sub-manager for Mingling grass was incredibly lucrative. Losing one thing only to gain another, Lin Le didn't know what to feel.

"Son-in-law, it is done as you requested. Please follow me to the estate. Let us not keep my daughter waiting!"

Miss Yu had already returned to the estate with her attendants, presumably to prepare for the wedding.

The old man seemed more satisfied with Hu San by the second; he didn't even ask for his background before insisting on the wedding. Before Hu San could reply, the old man turned to the crowd and bowed. "Thank you all for coming. If you do not mind, please join us at the estate to add to the celebration."

Since it had been agreed upon earlier, the crowd naturally did not refuse. Hu San, having made his decision and seeing Lin Le’s spirits restored, also agreed. Surrounded by guards, they headed toward the estate.

Shortly after, the story of the eldest Miss Yu’s ball-tossing ceremony and the two lucky men spread throughout the city, becoming the talk of every inn and tavern.

Listening to the chatter, the leader of the merchant caravan Hu San had traveled with sat among other Mingling grass merchants. He smiled and stroked his beard. "Those two young men are certainly lucky. I wish I had that kind of luck."

"Brother, do you think that young man could be Hu San, who was traveling with our caravan? He looks just like him," one of the merchant's associates said, eyes wide with suspicion.

The leader laughed. "Ha, Old Yu, stop daydreaming. That lad is fine, but how could he catch Old Master Yu’s eye? This ball-tossing ceremony... it’s less about the daughter tossing it and more about the father. There’s a secret to it you wouldn't understand. If he hadn't picked the man, the ball would have ended up in a woman's hands."

The leader shook his head, amused, and turned the conversation back to the quality and price of Mingling grass, never realizing that the lucky man who caught the ball was indeed the Hu San they were talking about.