Chapter 58: Fooling Around

Kong Bin had just walked out of the courtyard, and hadn't gone far, when he heard some Miscellaneous Disciples who had finished their training discussing something.

Kong Bin didn't pay much attention at first, but after listening for a few moments, the more he heard, the stranger it seemed.

"... A painter?!"

"Ten taels a painting?"

"The County Magistrate invited him to dinner..."

After Kong Bin heard two or three groups of people discussing it, he felt increasingly suspicious. "Are they talking about Duan Rong?"

This was simply a different person from the Duan Rong he knew...

This commotion caused by Duan Rong had not only made him famous in the Escort Agency, but had also become a temporary topic of conversation in every alley of Xiangu County.

Whenever Duan Rong went to the Middle Courtyard canteen to eat, those familiar Escorts no longer called him "Little Rong," but had changed their tune to call him "Brother Rong."

Duan Rong would only give a simple, honest smile each time and never responded.

Since ancient times, the gun always hits the bird that sticks its head out.

His experience as a corporate slave in his past life gave Duan Rong enough survival wisdom.

In interpersonal relationships, it is best to make yourself look a bit foolish; this makes others feel the most secure and makes you the most likable.

The set of Escort attire that Zhou An had gotten for Duan Rong was never worn by him again; he folded the clothes neatly and placed them in his wardrobe.

He continued to wear his short-sleeved tunic every day, doing whatever he needed to do.

Gradually, this commotion passed...

This was exactly what Duan Rong himself hoped for; being honest and steady, and developing stably, was the true path!

The County Magistrate had merely invited him for a casual meal!

If one's own strength is insufficient, any connection is a joke!

If he really took this seriously, that would be the foolish thing to do!

This day, Duan Rong was standing in the Hunyuan Stance in a quiet corner of the Martial Arts Arena.

At this time, he had been practicing the Internal Breath Second Stage for nearly a month; the Internal Breath in his dantian was already as thick as a little finger, and it coiled long and steady, like a small snake, exceptionally agile, spinning around and around without stopping...

Duan Rong estimated that in about ten days, he would be able to achieve the Internal Breath Second Stage!

Just as Duan Rong was performing the Hunyuan Stance, he suddenly heard a crisp female voice call out in front of him: "Hey, silly boy, stop practicing!"

Duan Rong was somewhat annoyed; he was just about to finish a cycle, and being called out like that almost caused him to go off track. Duan Rong barely managed to control his Internal Breath, finished the cycle, and let it coil back in his dantian before opening his eyes. At a glance, he saw the person was actually Zhu Xiaoqi, and his temper vanished instantly.

This was the first time Zhu Xiaoqi had called him "silly boy" to his face, and for a moment, Duan Rong hadn't recognized it was her.

"Is that you, Xiao Qi? Is Xiao Lao looking for me?" Duan Rong asked with a smile.

"No, my Second Young Lady is looking for you."

"The Second Young Lady is looking for me! The Second Young Lady is looking for me... what for?" Duan Rong's heart thumped, and Xiao Baijiao's fair, delicate face flashed through his mind.

"How would I know? She just told me to bring you to her."

"Then... then let me wash off the sweat first..."

Duan Rong felt that being covered in smelly sweat would be disrespectful to Xiao Baijiao.

"Come to the courtyard with me to wash!" Zhu Xiaoqi glanced at Duan Rong and, without waiting for his answer, lifted her feet and walked away.

Duan Rong had no choice but to jog a few steps to keep up.

Zhu Xiaoqi was a head shorter than Duan Rong, and although her legs only moved with a slow, steady rhythm, her speed was quite fast; Duan Rong actually had to jog to barely keep up!

"I'm afraid it has to do with the Lightness Skill she practices..."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he occasionally paid attention to Zhu Xiaoqi's footwork, but his martial arts attainments were limited, and he knew nothing about Lightness Skill, so how could he see the trick to it in such a short time!

However, Duan Rong noticed that Zhu Xiaoqi was wearing a silver anklet on her right ankle!

The two crossed the Martial Arts Arena, walked along a small path for a while, and then turned into another alley. Once they emerged from this alley, they were already outside the gate of the courtyard where Xiao Zongting lived.

Zhu Xiaoqi and Duan Rong entered the courtyard one after the other.

Zhu Xiaoqi scooped a ladle of clear water from the kitchen, stood on the threshold, and said, "Come here and wash your face!"

Duan Rong immediately rolled up his sleeves, walked over, and stood before Zhu Xiaoqi with his hands cupped.

Zhu Xiaoqi tilted the ladle and poured a scoop of water for him.

Duan Rong held the water, splashed it onto his face, and then scrubbed it!

After three or four scoops of clear water, the sweat on Duan Rong's neck and face was washed clean.

Zhu Xiaoqi took a towel to wipe him off, then led him toward the Inner Courtyard.

Xiao Zongting was standing on the rattan chair at the entrance of the flower hall, smoking and basking in the sun. Suddenly seeing Duan Rong follow Zhu Xiaoqi in, he blew a smoke ring, looked at Duan Rong, and asked coldly, "What is it?"

Zhu Xiaoqi rolled her eyes at Xiao Zongting and said, "I'm not looking for you, I'm looking for the Second Young Lady!"

Duan Rong followed behind Zhu Xiaoqi and gave Xiao Zongting a silly grin, looking like someone who had backing.

Xiao Zongting just grunted when he heard this, then turned his head away, closed his eyes, and continued to smoke and bask in the sun.

Zhu Xiaoqi entered the main room of the Back Courtyard, lifted the cloth curtain of the inner room on the east side, and walked in.

Duan Rong's heart was thumping; smelling the faint, elegant fragrance wafting over, he followed Zhu Xiaoqi into Xiao Baijiao's boudoir.

The layout of this boudoir was quite large; behind a four-paneled screen was a carved wooden bed with hanging gauze curtains.

Cabinets and chests were all in their proper places, and the carved window lattices on the south side were propped open with poles, letting sunlight shine into the room.

When the two entered, Xiao Baijiao was sitting at a small table, holding a needle and doing needlework. She was wearing a scallion-green gauze dress, and under the sunlight, it looked as if she were plated with a halo of light.

Duan Rong stood at the doorway, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

Xiao Baijiao smiled, gently placed the needlework in her hand onto the table, rose slowly, and said with a smile, "Senior Brother Duan, please sit!"

Duan Rong glanced at it; the needlework depicted a peach blossom bud about to bloom, with dense stitches and excellent embroidery!

Xiao Baijiao was Xiao Zongting's daughter, and since Duan Rong was currently learning his craft from Xiao Zongting, it was not inappropriate for Xiao Baijiao to call him Senior Brother.

Moreover, Duan Rong had already been here several times, and last time they had even eaten together, so they could be considered quite familiar!

Otherwise, it wouldn't be easy for Xiao Baijiao to just have Xiao Qi go and call him over!

Duan Rong smiled and sat down at the small table. Xiao Baijiao brought over a plate of snacks and a pot of tea, personally pouring a cup for Duan Rong. Her voice was soft and beautiful as she said, "The mung bean cake tastes quite good, Senior Brother, have a taste."

Xiao Baijiao calling him Senior Brother with every breath already made Duan Rong's heart go numb; catching the faint, lingering fragrance drifting from her body, Duan Rong was already intoxicated before even drinking the tea.

"I've brought him to you! What do you want with him?" Zhu Xiaoqi stood at the doorway and asked with some curiosity.

In fact, the basket of dried long beans in the courtyard was already dried, and Zhu Xiaoqi still needed to chop them up today to steam a pot of buns.

When she went out to call Duan Rong, the dough had already finished proofing.

She had walked so fast the whole way just because she was afraid the dough would turn sour.

But at this moment, seeing that Duan Rong had arrived, although she was in a hurry, she was also very curious about why Xiao Baijiao was looking for Duan Rong, so she lingered at the doorway and refused to leave.

Xiao Baijiao rolled her eyes at Zhu Xiaoqi and didn't answer her, only looking at Duan Rong with a smile: "Senior Brother Duan, Baijiao would like to request a painting!"

The turmoil surrounding Duan Rong a few days ago had already caused quite a stir.

But Xiao Baijiao lived in seclusion in her boudoir, and Zhu Xiaoqi was busy running around all day; if Xiao Zongting didn't tell them, they naturally wouldn't know.

The two of them only found out recently because Zhao Mu came to find Zhu Xiaoqi, told Zhu Xiaoqi, and then Zhu Xiaoqi told Xiao Baijiao.

As soon as Zhu Xiaoqi heard it was to ask Duan Rong for a painting, she turned around, lifted the curtain, and left.

Not only did Zhu Xiaoqi dislike those books and paintings, but she was also quite annoyed by needlework; in her view, these things were all just nonsense done by people who had nothing better to do.

(End of this chapter)