Chapter 72: Whether he is a true master or a fake master, what does it have to do with me

Time caressed the fingertips like morning dew sliding over the tip of a leaf, and in a flash, a few months passed.

At the foot of Jiuhuashan, two people walked over.

One was wearing red, fifteen or sixteen years old, with an extremely handsome face, but his whole body exuded a casual and lazy temperament.

One was wearing white, twenty or so years old, with a handsome appearance, exuding a warm aura. The so-called modest gentleman, gentle as jade, mostly refers to him.

"Hua Qitong, if Bitter Melon Master's vegetarian meal is not as delicious as you said, how do you think I should settle the account with you?"

"You are either lying down or sleeping all day; you should move around. Fortunately, the limelight has passed, so it's just right to take you out for a walk."

Hua Manlou praised with a full face of smiles:

"Rest assured, those who have eaten Bitter Melon Master's vegetarian banquet all say it is unparalleled in the world, and even he himself often says that the vegetarian dishes he makes would move even a Bodhisattva if they smelled them."

"I have eaten them, so I specifically brought you here. It definitely won't disappoint you."

The red-clothed youth suddenly sensed something and smiled lightly:

"During this period of time, you go out from time to time, not with Lu Xiaofeng, and when you come to my small building, your breath has hidden spring intent. You don't go to find the woman you often meet to eat vegetarian meals, so why force me to come?"

Hua Manlou's expression was rarely frozen, and it was a good while before he said:

"I have already made an appointment to meet her at Jiuhuashan."

"Tsk tsk, although I like planting peach trees, I didn't expect peach blossoms to bloom on you." The red-clothed youth said leisurely:

"Let me think, the woman who welcomed you away with the etiquette of a guest of honor last time should be your first love. It hasn't been long, and you have already met another sweetheart."

"Hua Qitong, I underestimated you. You play quite fancy!"

"Hua Little Eight, speak carefully!" Hua Manlou's expression straightened: "I am just talking to her now; we are considered confidants. When we meet later, don't be as rude as you are at home."

"Fine, fine, fine. Who let you be my brother." The red-clothed youth shrugged:

"Whatever you say later, that's what it is. I only bring a mouth up the mountain to eat vegetarian meals, and my eyes can't see anything, so you two can completely act as if I don't exist."

"You, still so unreliable." Hua Manlou said helplessly.

The two arrived halfway up the mountain, and a girl with light steps, a slender waist, long legs, and a graceful figure walked toward them.

She shifted her gaze to the red-clothed youth beside Hua Manlou, and her steps suddenly stopped, stunned on the spot.

"Miss Shi, let me introduce you. This is my younger brother, Hua Manxin."

"Little Eight, this is a high-ranking disciple of the Emei Sect, one of the Four Beauties, Miss Shi Xiuxue."

After Hua Manlou introduced them to each other, Zhuang Buran's lazy smile remained unchanged, and he cupped his fists with proper etiquette:

"Manxin has met Miss Shi."

As soon as Shi Xiuxue saw the red-clothed youth's humble and friendly posture, she couldn't help but open her mouth slightly, her eyes suddenly widening. Her dress and appearance were exactly the same as before, but where was there even a bit of the willful, lawless temperament from before?

If she didn't feel she was dreaming, she would only feel that the red-clothed youth she saw today was completely different from the one she saw before.

But looking at the lazy smile on his mouth and her own heart beating fast, it was already explained that she definitely hadn't recognized the wrong person.

"Miss Shi, what is this?"

"Uh... just didn't expect your younger brother to also have an eye disease." Shi Xiuxue came back to her senses and hurriedly found an excuse.

Hua Manlou smiled and said:

"It can be said that creation plays tricks on people. Both he and I have shallow virtues, so we cannot see."

"If you say so, I have a congenital eye disease, doesn't that mean my virtue is the shallowest?" Zhuang Buran said casually.

Hua Manlou, upon hearing this scenery-spoiling remark, only felt a headache and smiled helplessly:

"Little Eight, did you forget what you just told me?"

"Oh, then I'll walk in front, and you two talk slowly." The red-clothed youth walked forward with big strides.

"Miss Shi, let's go. He has always been a straightforward person, so please don't take offense."

"It's okay. Hua Manxin should be the younger brother you mentioned before who likes to stay indoors, right?"

"Exactly. This time I persuaded him for a long time before persuading him to come out." Hua Manlou said gently:

"Mainly because my mother gave instructions that I must take him out for a walk and bask in the sun."

"So that's it. Then his martial arts must be very good." Shi Xiuxue looked at the figure gradually moving away in front:

"Between his movements, one can see that his ability to distinguish position by sound has been practiced to perfection."

Hua Manlou smiled:

"He is lazy by nature, and I don't know if his martial arts are high or low. However, some time ago, he said that if we talk about martial arts, he is a little bit higher than me. I don't know if it's a joke or if it's true."

"Then he hasn't been out recently?" Shi Xiuxue's expression was strange.

"He hasn't been out of the Jiangnan area." Hua Manlou seemed to have discovered something and said:

"I heard you talk about it before. The person who hurt your master was wearing a red robe. Could it be that he is somewhat similar to Manxin?"

"No... not similar. How could he be similar?" Shi Xiuxue shook her head repeatedly and added another sentence:

"That person's surname is Zhuang. Just now I was just surprised that your younger brother is truly unforgettable, and because of his eye disease, I felt a bit of pity, feeling that Heaven is blind."

When she said this, she couldn't help but urge:

"Brother Hua, let's go quickly, otherwise we will miss Bitter Melon Master's vegetarian banquet."

Bamboo forest, inside a Zen courtyard.

Several people sat there, and Zhuang Buran opened his mouth boredly:

"The rules for Bitter Melon Master's vegetarian meal are really many. Not only do you have to bathe and incense, but you also have to have patience."

"Hua Qitong, I regret it. I shouldn't have come out with you. With this leisure, I could have slept comfortably under the peach tree. Wouldn't that be more comfortable?"

"Little Eight, be patient. The guests today include both Huangshan Gusong Jushi and the Wood Daoist, who is known as the first in Go, second in poetry and wine, and third in swordplay. They are all highly respected seniors."

Hua Manlou said in a low voice:

"They can all wait, why can't you wait?"

"Boring."

Zhuang Buran raised an eyebrow, as if sensing something, got up and walked to the center of the courtyard. In front of everyone, like a magic trick, he used a vine to bridge the two sides of the courtyard, then jumped up lightly, lying steadily on the vine.

"I suddenly don't want to eat any vegetarian meal, just want to lie down for a while. Wait until you have eaten well and come to call me."

At this moment, the courtyard suddenly became quiet.

Hua Manlou felt that the situation was unusual and immediately asked Shi Xiuxue beside him:

"Miss Shi, did Manxin do anything rude?"

"I don't know if he was rude. It's like he cast some kind of spell. A vine grew out of his hand, and then it attached to both sides of the courtyard, and he himself slept on the vine." Shi Xiuxue said with a stunned face.

Wood Daoist's tone was full of surprise:

"Lay Buddhist Hua, I didn't expect your younger brother to have such strange skills. Just being able to sleep steadily on a thin vine shows his light martial arts are superb, not to mention this vine-changing technique that makes people confused."

Hua Manlou couldn't help but walk up and touch the vines on both sides of the courtyard, then said:

"Little Eight, how did you do this?"

"Want to learn?" The red-clothed youth hugged his shoulders, lying leisurely on the vine:

"I can teach you, just call me brother."

"No respect for elders." Hua Manlou shook his head.

At this time, a fragrance that could not be described had already been smelled in the courtyard, enough to arouse anyone's appetite.

After smelling the fragrance, Hua Manlou immediately asked:

"The vegetarian banquet is mostly ready. Are you really not going in to eat?"

"Hehe, arriving at Jiuhuashan today, I only know that the so-called Bitter Melon Master doesn't have a bit of the Buddhist concept of equality for all living beings."

"For some people, it's one attitude; for others, it's another attitude. This is why I don't like mixing in the martial arts world—it's double-standard."

The red-clothed youth put his hands behind his head:

"But having said that, I have no friendship with Bitter Melon Master. Whether he is a true master or a fake master, what does it have to do with me."

"Hua Little Eight, don't be rude." Hua Manlou was afraid he would offend the host, so he hurriedly drank low.

"I won't say it." The red-clothed youth smiled and said:

"Wait until you enter the door and you will know. I guarantee you won't have any appetite."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 73 =====