Chapter 175: Whatever Makes You Happy

"It has been many years since our clan has seen an outsider, and to think it's a talented young man as handsome and refined as you!"

Looking at Shen Yu, the old man was more and more satisfied the longer he looked; if nothing else, this unique temperament was definitely not something that could be cultivated by someone from the wilderness.

"It's no wonder that Su Er and the others, who have eyes higher than the top of their heads, would take a fancy to you; you truly have extraordinary qualities!"

"You can choose one of the two, and of course, if there are other young women willing to give you their handkerchiefs, you can also choose one from among them!"

"Grandpa, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

With beauty right before his eyes, and the kind that didn't require taking responsibility, especially since these young women each had their own merits, it was truly full of temptation.

Shen Yu admitted that he was almost moved; if it weren't for the hurdle in his own heart, he would have agreed to it no matter what.

"What's inappropriate about it? You're a young man, don't be as indecisive as a woman."

"How about this, I'll make the call. I'll have them wait in a room, and whichever one you take a fancy to, you just carry her away!"

"Wait a moment, Grandpa, this, this..."

"It's just to leave behind some seed, you don't have to be responsible for anything, what are you afraid of? Scholars are so troublesome, acting all high and mighty every day, not straightforward at all!"

"Grandpa, that's not what you said just now, why are you changing your tune so quickly?"

Looking at the handkerchief in his hand, Shen Yu was even a bit shaken. To think that such beauties would throw themselves into his arms; he wanted to refuse, but the temptation was too great.

"Forget it, if you don't want to, then so be it!" Seeing Shen Yu fall into hesitation, the old man lost interest and waved his hand at him.

"Things like this cannot be forced. I also know that you scholars like to cultivate feelings under the flowers and the moon."

"As the saying goes, a twisted melon is not sweet, it's just a pity for Su Er and the others; it's not easy for them to finally be moved by someone, only to be rejected..."

Facing the old man's sour expression, Shen Yu just gave a sheepish smile.

I had almost convinced myself, and now you tell me to forget it—what can I do? I'm also very helpless!

Also, Grandpa, do you have a misunderstanding about scholars? With beauty right before them, how many can actually hold themselves back?

All that talk of love at first sight, followed by romancing under the flowers and the moon—pfft, it's clearly all just lust at first sight.

If someone were ugly, you'd see if they'd go romancing under the flowers and the moon; they'd have run off without a trace long ago. If they ran into two sharp-tongued people, they might even be mocked for being a toad lusting after a swan.

"Come, I have a spare room there, you can stay here for these few days!"

Seeing that Shen Yu hadn't made a decision, the old man didn't force it anymore; he brought him back to his home and gave him one of the rooms.

"We'll build you a house in a few days, and from now on, you can put down roots here!"

"You are a man of principle, such a person is not a bad person!" Nodding at Shen Yu, the old man was more and more satisfied the more he looked at him.

"We have many good girls here; if you take a fancy to any of them, just tell me directly, and I'll play matchmaker for you!"

"Then thank you, Grandpa!" So you were testing me earlier; if I had been impatient and agreed, would you have turned hostile immediately?

"By the way, young man, what is your name? Are you a Xiucai?"

"My name is Shen Yu, courtesy name Hengzhi, a Jinshi from the eighth year of Jinglong."

"A Jinshi, how scholarly!" Leading Shen Yu inside, the old man appeared quite enthusiastic. He had thought he was a scholar, but he didn't expect a Jinshi—what a gain!

If such a person doesn't leave behind some seed, wouldn't that be a pity!

This is a little white rabbit that has entered a wolf's den; he won't be able to run away. Who knows, there is plenty of time in the future. Men, after all, I don't believe there are any who aren't lustful.

"Grandpa, have you always lived here? Have you never been outside?"

While tidying up the room, Shen Yu asked casually, while his ears were quietly pricked up.

"That's right, we have put down roots here for many years, generation after generation in this place; I am very familiar with every blade of grass and every tree here!"

"This place is isolated from the world; the clan records only mention that occasionally someone has stumbled in by accident, but I have never heard of anyone being able to leave."

"Is that so!" Nodding, Shen Yu then asked as if unintentionally, "Then, Grandpa, do you know if there is anything abnormal about this place?"

"Abnormal?" The old man looked at him, as if wanting to say something, but not knowing how to begin.

Seeing the old man before him appearing to hesitate, Shen Yu felt anxious for him and immediately comforted him, "Grandpa, if you have something to say, just say it."

"Since you have arrived here and will live here from now on, then there is one thing I must warn you about; you must keep it in mind!"

"Grandpa, please speak, I will definitely keep it in my heart!"

"Good!" Taking a deep breath, the smile that was originally on the old man's face disappeared, replaced by a look of gravity and sorrow.

"Your name is Shen Yu, I'll call you Little Shen. Little Shen, living here, you must remember one thing!"

"At night, you must go to sleep early, do not go out, and do not be curious about what is happening outside."

"Close the doors and windows tightly, and no matter what you hear or see, you must absolutely not come out!"

"Grandpa, why is that?"

"Sigh!" The old man let out a deep sigh and then said, "To tell you the truth, strange things have been happening here since who knows when."

"Every day at night, we fall into a deep sleep, and we are guaranteed to sleep until dawn, without even a dream!"

"But the next day, the clan will discover that someone has disappeared for no reason, and from then on, they can never be found; even if they are found, it is inevitably a corpse."

"Some people inexplicably have many wounds on their bodies, and some innocent young girls are even violated and humiliated at night, or even left covered in cuts and bruises!"

"So strange?" Frowning slightly, this was truly too eerie.

"Has no one ever tried to investigate the cause?"

"How could they not? Ever since these things started happening, our clan selected several experts to keep watch at night."

"However, when the next day came, those who kept watch were also sleeping on the ground, and they were all covered in cuts and bruises, and several even disappeared."

"Afterward, the clan selected another group of people, but the result was exactly the same. After this happened several times, nothing was discovered, and quite a few people died."

"Gradually, we just gave up; fortunately, everything is fine during the day!"

Seeming to recall something he didn't want to mention, the old man's face showed a bit more sorrow, but it was quickly hidden away.

Afterward, he looked at Shen Yu with concern and said, "Therefore, at night, you must lock the doors and windows tightly and go to sleep early; you will sleep until dawn and remember nothing of the night."

"If you are safe and sound during the day, then you are truly safe and sound!"

"Grandpa, is it like this every single night?"

"Yes, it is like this every night. During the day, we can do whatever we want, and there is no danger at all."

"But when night falls, even if you lock yourself in your house, or even if you find a very secret place to hide, it is of no use."

"Whatever is meant to happen, there is no way to avoid it!"

"Is that so?" Looking at the old man before him, Shen Yu wanted to see something in his expression. But from beginning to end, all he saw in his eyes was sincerity.

This old man was not lying, and when mentioning the night, he was clearly afraid; it was a fear that came from the depths of his heart.

"Little Shen, since you are here, settle in. Don't be afraid, the people here are very hospitable. Besides, you will be one of us soon enough; you'll be fine once you get used to it!"

"They are indeed very hospitable; I had two young women offer to share my bed as soon as I arrived. This kind of enthusiasm is more than anyone can handle!"

With beauty right before him, he still managed to hold back; his willpower was truly nothing to sneeze at. At this moment, as the light shone upon him, Shen Yu felt he had become quite a bit more imposing.