Chapter 284: Society, you Ah Fang—ruthless people speak little

However, poverty is poverty.

Having chosen the Wise Lord oneself, what can one do if he's poor?

Marry a husband, marry a husband—just to have clothes and food.

Take a wife, take a wife—just to endure hunger and starvation.

Few know how to choose a lord......

Actually, it's the same.

Chen Weifang no longer wanted to sigh; he lifted his eyes and glanced at today's sky, confirming it should be a cloudless good day, and his heart felt a bit more at ease.

He stepped back into the room, about to tidy his meager belongings, but after taking a step, he suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Chunrijian's demeanor before him remained respectful, yet everyone knows——

Under the Wise Lord, there really aren't many level-headed ordinary people.

Moreover, the other party has long harbored designs on him.

If the Wise Lord cannot find new people, and only they few are shuffled back and forth, Chunrijian would have to run between both ends, occasionally needing to return to Cang Cheng for inspection.

Since the Wise Lord decided to establish two capitals, the authorities of each city can no longer reach into the other's territory.

But Chunrijian will clearly be an exception from now on, not to mention he brought many confidants when he came to seek refuge.

In the future, surely wherever needed he will be transferred, often being assigned to the four directions, so he will often be seen......

Chen Weifang pondered briefly, then completely stopped his movements; his eyes, like a secluded orchid and ancient well, scanned Chunrijian up and down, and he suddenly said:

"Speaking of which, I still have something I want to tell you."

Chunrijian was just collecting his thoughts; hearing this, he became even more respectful and docile, lowering his head to reply:

"If you have any orders, sir, I will not shirk even at the cost of my life."

This is true.

This is certainly true.

He had long known that his own master felt nothing for him, that his preferences were unacceptable to the world, and that he was lame, unworthy of the master.....

But if he could truly do something for his master, Chunrijian still wanted to do it.

He could never forget that, in the dim night of years past, those eyes, clear as the moon, drooping as they read, weary.

He also could never forget how, in the examination hall of thousands, that figure stepped forward and resolved the matter of his clansman brother who had forced him to cheat.

The old man always said, he had lived for however long.

But reaching seventy is rare; what's so remarkable about a life of gloom?

In the end, what one thinks before closing one's eyes isn't just for those fleeting, glancing moments?

For such a gentle, kind-hearted master.

No matter when, if he is willing, he is willing......

Huh?

A sudden weight settled on his shoulder; Chunrijian's mind jolted, only then realizing what had happened.

His master's hand——

had actually reached out and rested on his shoulder???

The master doesn't have such a preference; shouldn't he keep his distance?

Chunrijian was momentarily confused, yet he dared not lift his head; he only lowered it further, stealing a glance with his peripheral vision at the hand resting on his shoulder.

That hand was long, but not fair; quite slender, with veins protruding.

However, paired with the thin calluses on the joints symbolizing years......

Everything was just right.

Chunrijian still dared not raise his head, focusing all the more, trying to hear his master's words clearly.

As expected, the next instant, his master indeed spoke:

"...... Near the left side of the moon gate in the rear courtyard, the third room houses a man named Ruan Jintian."

"His status is special; his grandfather is Ruansizong of the Ruan clan of Jing River, which is of great use to the Wise Lord......"

A few sentences of explanation made Chunrijian understand this man's background.

Logically, although the Ruan clan has risen to prominence, a descendant like him isn't worthy of the master's personal mention.

But since the master said it, although Chunrijian didn't know exactly what was going on, he still committed this person's details to memory.

However, before Chunrijian had finished memorizing, he heard his master speak again softly:

"...... The Wise Lord previously had me copy his notes, but Ruansizong, old and crafty as a fox, even with my cultivation I could only replicate eighty or ninety percent, and errors might still slip...... Better to let him write it himself."

"So I thought, found a pretext, lured away his servant and imprisoned him, pulled out all the nails on his left hand and both feet, cut off his tongue, and sealed him completely behind that door."

Said lightly, in a gentle tone.

Everything, like a gentle spring breeze, bright moonlight shining.

Yet the inner meaning was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, momentarily leaving Chunrijian dazed.

He could no longer hide his shock, lifting his head to stare straight at the person before him; that square face showed shock that could not be concealed.

Chen Weifang, however, remained his usual unchanging, tranquil and elegant self.

His appearance was very fine, and he had also received the favor of the heavens.

Thus, although he is nearly ten or more years older than Chunrijian, his grace and beauty still outweigh Chunrijian's by a hundred, a thousand times.

Chen Weifang casually patted the nonexistent dust on Chunrijian's new clothes; the slight sensation at the shoulder and the violent throbbing in his chest felt utterly disjointed.

Chunrijian felt it all, and for a moment thought the heavens and earth were absurd——

He, he had indeed heard of the title 'Poison Strategist', but when he first saw the master, the master was so breathtakingly beautiful......

And even helped him resolve a long‑troubling matter; therefore, therefore he......

Sir, you are actually such a person?

Sir, how could you be such a person?

Chunri Jian found it hard to put his heart's bewilderment into words, and this bewilderment, seen in Chen Weifang's eyes, actually added a hint of interest to his usually tranquil disposition.

Chen Weifang withdrew his hand, looked at the overly presumptuous young man before him, and lightly laughed:

Ajian, you've fallen for the wrong person.

He never really took Chunri Jian to heart, simply because he knew what this child was after.

Nothing more than beauty, nothing more than a teacher's steadiness, and that wisp of ethereal, elusive tenderness...

It's just a pity that he actually doesn't have any of these things.

His scarce bit of sincerity was given to Chinu, who understood his miserable life.

The sole thread of elder-like kindness and tenderness was also given entirely to that youth who, after his country fell and family perished, scavenged cured meat from his home and declared he would go out to see the world.

As for beauty, at his age, even if he had enjoyed some before, it wouldn't be long before it was no longer enough to behold.

Everything is fake, everything is fake.

Everything that Chunri Jian loves is actually fake.

All of it is nothing more than the false face he wears when disguising himself.

The clear breeze and bright moon, the secluded well and fragrant orchid...

That is nothing short of ridiculous talk.

Only his innate cruelty is real.

Chunri Jian loves his goodness, but he only wants to stay with his own kind; Chinu knows all his evil deeds, and is almost as wicked and venomous as he is, inheriting the same vicious nature...

This is the right thing.

What he needs is not necessarily everyone who comes for his supposed good.

What he needs has always been merely someone who knows his evil yet never leaves.

Just that.

Only this.

Therefore, Chunri Jian's affectionate longing is, for him, truly... somewhat troublesome.

?? No wonder, we Afang are just like this!

? Wearing a beautiful facade, he has done all kinds of vicious deeds!

? The next stop may have a minor change, perhaps causing a half-hour delay~