Chapter 9: Destined to be a clown!

"This girl..."

Hu Li stood at the edge of the martial arts field, her gaze closely following her younger brother Hu Tian, who was vaguely surrounded by the crowd.

When she saw the girl, who still had some bruises on her face but was smiling brightly, land lightly beside her brother like a bird returning to the forest, and the crisp flattery sounded undisguisedly...

A trace of solemnity flashed in her eyes.

She wasn't an innocent young lady who didn't know the world.

Her parents died early, and struggling to survive in the village with her younger brother had long since made her see through the warmth and coldness of human feelings and the world.

She knew that where there are people, there is a world.

This martial arts academy seems to be a sacred place for teaching skills and pursuing the Martial Path, but the interpersonal entanglements within it are probably more complex than she imagined.

The junior sister who suddenly showed excessive enthusiasm for her brother had a bright smile on her face, but her eyes carried a shrewdness and assessment she was familiar with.

Her brother Hu Tian was simple-minded; suddenly being lifted to a high place and surrounded by such enthusiasm, it was very easy to get lost in it, or even... be used by others.

She didn't say anything, just watched and listened quietly.

She took in every seemingly innocent and lively praise of Lin Xiaohe, every seemingly unintentional close physical proximity, and kept it in her heart.

In this strange place, her brother was her only concern and hope.

She had to be extra vigilant against any person or thing that might threaten her brother or lead him astray.

However, with so many eyes and ears in the academy, it wasn't convenient for her to say anything.

"Wait until my brother goes home, then I'll tell him."

Hu Li pondered for a moment, then instructed Hu Tian: "Little Tian, then you practice diligently in the academy, sister is going back first, remember to come back early tonight."

"Mm!"

Hu Tian nodded, his young face shining with excitement and longing.

He looked at his sister, his eyes firm and enthusiastic:

"Xu Xu Shijie, don't worry! I will definitely practice diligently, stand out early, and later... later I will definitely let you live a good life and not suffer anymore!"

The youth's promise carried the heat and sincerity of someone who hadn't experienced the world, like a flame without any impurities.

Hu Li looked at the pure light in her brother's eyes, her heart softened, and the heaviness born of vigilance was diluted a bit.

She reached out to straighten her brother's slightly crooked collar, her movements gentle, and her voice became slower:

"Xu Xu Shijie knows."

"But practicing martial arts is not a one-day effort; don't be impatient, and don't... easily believe the praise of others and disturb your original heart."

"Steady and steady, one step at a time, is better than anything."

Her words were pointed, and her gaze swept over Lin Xiaohe, who was smiling and looking over not far away, intentionally or unintentionally.

Hu Tian didn't quite understand, but he still nodded obediently: "I've remembered it, sister."

Hu Li didn't say more, looked at her brother deeply for the last time, and used her peripheral vision to sweep over Lin Xiaohe again.

She turned around, taking her crisp yet slightly heavy steps, passing through those gazes that were either bright or dark, and walked toward the academy gate.

"Old sir, thank you for your introduction today, I'm leaving first."

Passing by the gatehouse, Hu Li nodded slightly to Jiang Ye, who was sitting there.

Jiang Ye raised his eyelids, his aged gaze lingering on her face for an instant, and nodded slightly in return.

Hu Li's figure soon disappeared at the end of the long street.

"Hu Hu Shidi, your sister is really good to you."

Seeing Hu Li leave the martial arts academy, Lin Xiaohe felt a sense of relief in her heart.

For some reason, the calm and assessing gaze of that sister always made her feel a trace of discomfort, as if the little calculation in her heart had been silently seen through by the other party.

This feeling made her quite unhappy.

"Yes, my sister is the person closest to me."

Hu Tian nodded, his mind simple, not noticing Lin Xiaohe's subtle emotions.

He was about to calm down and continue to ponder the fist stance pointed out by the Master.

Just at this time, a breeze with a faint soap fragrance blew close.

Lin Xiaohe leaned forward again, and the distance between the two had already broken the boundary that ordinary fellow disciples should have.

"Hu Hu Shidi, your forehead is sweating, let me wipe it for you."

She said with a smile, actually pulling a plain white, clean handkerchief from her sleeve.

Before Hu Tian could react, the soft fabric, carrying the girl's body temperature and fragrance, printed directly on his forehead stained with fine sweat.

"Zhang Zhang Shixiong Xu Xu Shijie, this... this..."

Except for the sister he had depended on since childhood, Hu Tian had never had such close contact with the opposite sex.

His delicate face turned red instantly, like a cooked shrimp, even his ear roots and neck were stained with a crimson color, heat steaming, standing stiffly in place, forgetting even to dodge.

This sudden and intimate scene made several outer-courtyard disciples who were practicing fist techniques stunned, their fist stances stopping in mid-air, looking at each other.

No!

It's broad daylight, everyone is practicing fist techniques!

"Tsk tsk, this Lin Xiaohe's methods are really something."

"Two days ago she was still sticking to Shi Lei..."

"Today she climbed onto the new junior brother."

Many people exchanged glances, shaking their heads secretly, their hearts filled with disdain and emotion.

Who would have thought that this girl with double buns and baby fat on her cheeks, who looked cute, had so many tricks.

No wonder they say women are actually more precocious than men.

The world is cold, seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages; in this small outer courtyard, it is displayed so directly and rapidly.

Lin Xiaohe didn't seem to notice the different gazes cast from all around, still smiling, the handkerchief in her hand wiping gently, her fingertips brushing over the hot skin of the youth intentionally or unintentionally.

Her voice was as soft as honey:

"Hu Hu Shidi, don't be shy; it's only right for fellow disciples to take care of each other. You are new here; if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me at any time."

Hu Tian only felt dizzy, his nose lingering with a strange fragrance, his heart beating like a drum, his mind blank, and the fist technique essentials he had just remembered were almost washed away by this sudden "care."

Time approached the closing of the academy.

Jiang Ye, as usual, stood silently under the eaves, his aged gaze sending off one figure after another leaving.

"Hu Hu Shidi, are you going to my house to eat sesame cakes today..."

Lin Xiaohe's voice was softer than usual, almost carrying a hook, as she followed Hu Tian out of the academy gate.

"Good..."

Hu Tian paused, looked at Lin Xiaohe with a smile, and was about to agree.

A clear voice carrying a bit of condescension came from behind.

"Hu Hu Shidi!"

Zhang Xu, leading three or four inner-courtyard disciples, walked out of the threshold calmly.

He didn't even look at Lin Xiaohe on the side, just raised his chin at Hu Tian, his smile hearty but not allowing refusal:

"Go, Senior Brother will take you to 'Drunken Immortal Tower' to see the world today!"

"Thank you, Zhang Zhang Shixiong Hu Hu Shidi!"

Hu Tian almost didn't think, the smile on his face instantly turned toward Zhang Xu.

He only had time to give Lin Xiaohe a look carrying comfort and perfunctoriness, then turned around, extremely naturally putting his arm on Zhang Xu's shoulder, his posture intimate and familiar, as if he were already a member of the circle.

"With a little more time, maybe I can mix into this circle too."

Lin Xiaohe stood in place, looking at those few figures surrounded by twilight and laughter walking away, a trace of hope flowing between her brows.

If she could get some relationship with this circle, maybe the Wild Wolf Gang would have some fear of her and wouldn't dare to bully her and extort her so blatantly again.

Thinking of this, the slight unhappiness born of Hu Tian easily casting her aside was instantly covered by a stronger emotion—resentment toward Shi Lei, and... a cold sense of luck.

Resenting him for being reckless and impulsive, not only failing to solve the trouble but bringing greater hidden dangers, almost causing her family's meager assets to be lost.

And even more lucky that she made a decisive decision to cut off completely from him, doing it cleanly and neatly.

What else could a person like Shi Lei bring besides a heart full of untimely honesty and fists that cause trouble?

In this world, that is the least valuable and most harmful thing.

"Hmph! I was... really blind at the time..."

Lin Xiaohe glanced coldly at the dim martial arts field in the academy, squeezed a short sneer from her nose, and turned to step into the thickening night without any nostalgia.

Seeing Lin Xiaohe's back gradually fade away, Jiang Ye shook his head slightly.

In his eyes, which seemed aged, the mockery was so thick it couldn't be dissolved, as if watching a clumsy shadow play with a predetermined ending. ===== CHAPTER 10 =====

Hu Tian looked troubled and said, "Zhang Zhang Shixiong, I promised my sister I would return early..."

"Eh! It's just a small matter, just taking you out for a meal; how much time could it possibly take? I'll have a carriage sent to take you back later, Hu Hu Shidi."

Zhang Xu put his arm around Hu Tian's shoulder and walked forward.

"Exactly, Hu Hu Shidi. Zhang Zhang Shixiong has high standards; it's rare for ordinary people to be invited by him personally."

"Today is your lucky day. Following Zhang Zhang Shixiong, you're sure to see plenty of new and interesting things."

"Rest assured, Zhang Zhang Shixiong has always been thoughtful."

Several inner-courtyard disciples behind Zhang Xu chimed in to persuade him.

"This... this..."

Although Hu Tian said he was troubled, his body very honestly followed Zhang Xu and the others forward.

From beginning to end, the gazes of Zhang Xu and his followers never once lingered on Lin Xiaohe, who was struggling to maintain her smile.

Although the inner courtyard and the outer courtyard were separated by only a wall, it was like a natural chasm.

Outer-courtyard disciples like Lin Xiaohe were not yet worthy of their notice.

Watching the figures of the group walk away, Lin Xiaohe couldn't help but clench her delicate little fists.

The eagerness in her eyes not only failed to cool down but instead burned even more fiercely.

And Jiang Ye, who had taken in all of this, just shook his head slightly.

In his seemingly aged eyes, that trace of mockery was too thick to dissolve, as if he were watching a clumsy shadow play whose ending had long been written.