Chapter 1: Matchmaking

Early spring, Lin'an City.

The accumulated snow had yet to melt, but the streets were already bustling with a constant flow of carriages and horses, exceptionally lively.

Mengxian Tower in the south of the city.

Although it was only afternoon, this famous Brothel was already packed with guests.

Some were drinking, others were enjoying the music.

There were those holding loud, boastful conversations with friends, and those embracing young women in intimate whispers; everything one could imagine was there.

Of course, in the private rooms upstairs, there were even more exciting things.

The second floor.

Passing through the long corridor on the right, in the innermost room in the corner, a young woman was kneeling on the edge of the bed, her waist lowered and hips raised, her face buried in the quilt, her hands gripping the bedsheets tightly, a look of pain on her face.

"Doctor, be gentle, I'm afraid of the pain..."

As soon as her clothes were pulled down, the woman blushed and said nervously.

Behind her stood an elderly man with gray hair and beard; he took one look at her backside and said with a face full of disgust, "Alright, put it back on."

Having said that, he called out toward the outside, "Zijun, come in and write the prescription."

The door creaked open.

Luo Zijun, wearing gray, worn-out clothes and carrying a Medicine Chest, walked in from outside and took out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

The woman hurriedly pulled the quilt over to cover her body, her lips moving as if she wanted to ask about her condition, but she felt too embarrassed.

After grinding the ink, the old man began to recite the prescription.

Luo Zijun lowered his head to write.

Soon, the prescription was finished and handed to the Young Maid standing nearby.

"Twice a day, taken internally and applied externally..."

The old man gave the Young Maid a few more instructions, then left with Luo Zijun, seemingly afraid to stay in this place for even a moment longer.

"Probably a venereal disease."

Once out of the Brothel, the old man wiped his hands with a handkerchief while shaking his head.

"The place I least like to make house calls is this Brothel; those women look bright, beautiful, and fair as flowers on the surface, but in reality, they are filthy beyond words, riddled with disease..."

It was now midday.

Luo Zijun looked at the sky and hurriedly said, "Master, I would like to ask for a moment of leave, just a quarter of an hour will do."

The old man glanced at him sideways and said, "What, just finished peeking at someone's fair, plump bottom and now you can't hold it back?"

The corner of Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he said, "My elder sister has arranged a young woman for me to meet. If I don't go, I'm afraid I won't be able to go home tonight."

Hearing this, the old man waved his hand and said, "Go, go, come back early."

With that, he walked off on his own.

After he had walked far away, Luo Zijun suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to return the Medicine Chest on his shoulder.

"Forget it, it's only for a little while anyway."

He sighed, carrying the Medicine Chest, and walked toward the "Qingshui Pavilion" his sister had mentioned.

Back in that world, he had long since seen through the coldness and warmth of human relationships; now that he had come to this world, he naturally did not want to have any entanglements with anyone.

Besides, once the mission was completed, he would have to leave this place.

Speaking of the mission, the matter had to start from half a month ago.

At that time, he was in another world, and after encountering various major setbacks, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness; in despair, his life was soon coming to an end.

However, at the moment of death.

He suddenly heard a voice:

"People have joys and sorrows, the moon has its brightness and darkness... love, family, friendship, there is always too much regret and sorrow... I am the master of the Moon Palace, and I have a mission of darkness, deficiency, sorrow, and separation here. If you help me complete it, I can rid you of your illness and evil, and grant you a new life..."

He thought it might have been a dream at the time.

That voice rambled on for a long time, and then began to speak of the mission.

"Mission: Save the White Snake."

"You may have heard the story of 'The Legend of the White Snake', but in truth, the actual events may differ from what you have heard or seen... The White Snake repays a debt of gratitude, Xu Xian is heartless, bringing about Fahai, harming her life, an eternal tragedy..."

"You must enter the game yourself, save the White Snake, stop her marriage with Xu Xian, make her completely give up on Xu Xian, leave forever, or find another marriage; only then will the mission be considered a success."

"Before the mission begins, you will receive a divine ability and a special constitution."

"During the mission, you must play your role well and protect your own life. Because once you die in a certain world, you are truly dead and can never be resurrected..."

And so.

Half a month ago, he came here and became an apprentice at a Pharmacy in Lin'an City.

It was only then that he realized this "dream" was actually real.

He made some inquiries.

There really was a person named Xu Xian here, and there was a West Lake.

However, other things seemed to be different from the legends.

For example.

Xu Xian had parents at home, and a younger sister as well.

Xu Xian was not a doctor, but a rather talented scholar.

What he found absurd was:

He, Luo Zijun, was the one studying medicine, and his parents were both dead; his elder sister had raised him through hardship, and he had a brother-in-law who was a Constable...

"Xu Xian has a debt of gratitude to the White Snake, and the White Snake has come this time to repay that debt, even wanting to offer herself in marriage; this mission... is somewhat difficult."

Walking on the road, Luo Zijun was preoccupied with finding a way to break the situation.

The first thing:

I must find a way to get to know Xu Xian and probe his personality and preferences, so that I can prescribe the right medicine for the illness.

Fortunately, he has the Mind Reading divine ability.

It can be used once every day, so it shouldn't be difficult.

He heard that the other party is currently studying at the West Lake Academy.

Then, if he wants to get to know the other party, he must also find a way to enter the West Lake Academy.

And to enter the West Lake Academy, he naturally must first pass the exam to become a scholar.

Thinking this way, he passed through a small alley.

Looking up, the Qingshui Pavilion teahouse appeared right before his eyes.

At the same time.

On the second floor of the Qingshui Pavilion, at a window seat.

Sun Yan'er and her maid had already been there for a long time.

Sun Yan'er is the Young Lady of a wealthy merchant in the city, fond of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and usually goes out for elegant gatherings with literary friends.

However, today, her mood is very bad. It is only because of an old promise between their ancestors that she is now forced to go on a blind date with a Pharmacy apprentice.

"You only need to go and meet him once to fulfill your grandfather's wish. If you don't like him, just find a reason not to marry him; your father won't force anything either. After all, so many years have passed, and the elders of both families have already passed away, so the bond has faded quite a bit..."

It was only because her mother persuaded her like this that she reluctantly agreed.

However, she had already made a decision in her heart: no matter what, she would absolutely not agree to this marriage today!

She heard that the other party is not even a scholar.

"Young Lady, I heard that he is currently learning medicine from a doctor, and his family is very poor. He has never attended school, and he even often goes to the Brothel to mess around with that doctor."

The Young Maid Xiao Cui, who was to the side, was filled with indignation.

Sun Yan'er's tone was full of resentment: "The favor owed by our ancestors is now being repaid by me, and Father only forces me without asking if I am willing."

Immediately, she sighed and said: "Forget it, since I'm already here, I'll just meet him. If he has self-awareness, that would naturally be best, and we can part on good terms; if he wants to use the favor to make demands and pester me, then don't blame me for speaking harshly and showing no mercy."

Xiao Cui pouted in agreement: "Exactly, our Young Lady is going to marry a scholar in the future, at least a scholar. He is just an apprentice at a Pharmacy, how could he have the nerve? Hmph!"

The midday sunlight shone through the second-floor window, falling upon Sun Yan'er's fair skin and slender figure, adding a beautiful scene to this quaint teahouse.

!

The few scattered tea drinkers would occasionally be unable to help but steal a few glances.

Sun Yan'er and her maid kept looking downstairs.

Whenever someone entered the teahouse, Xiao Cui would whisper: "Young Lady, could it be that person?"

The result was that it never was.

Of course, they were also glad it wasn't.

Because everyone who came in was some crooked melon or cracked date, too ugly to look at; they didn't even have the courage to look twice, let alone sit down and have tea and talk with them.

"Damn it, he still hasn't come yet."

"A stinking apprentice from a Pharmacy, how dare he make the Young Lady wait here for him, it's simply outrageous!"

After waiting for a while longer.

The Young Maid finally couldn't hold back.

Sun Yan'er also had a face full of frost. After finishing the last sip of tea in her cup, she finally couldn't help but stand up and say: "Let's go, no need to wait. If Father asks, it's his fault, it has nothing to do with me."

Just as the two were about to leave, a figure happened to come up the stairs.

The person arriving was wearing a gray, worn robe and carrying a Medicine Chest on his shoulder.

He didn't look very old, had a tall and slender build, and delicate features; he looked quite good, but the expression on his face seemed a bit off.

Upon seeing a woman like her, he showed no ripples of emotion.

"Is it him?"

Sun Yan'er was stunned for a moment, thinking to herself.

Their eyes met.

Luo Zijun cupped his hands and said: "Sun Guniang?"

Sun Yan'er reacted, stared at him for a few more moments, and then said coldly: "It is me. Are you the Doctor Luo that Father mentioned?"

She did not call him "Young Master Luo" but "Doctor Luo," naturally wanting to remind him of his own status. Besides, calling him Doctor Luo was already elevating him; she heard this guy is currently just an apprentice at a Pharmacy.

Luo Zijun glanced at her expression, and he already had the answer in his heart.

"Since Sun Guniang calls me a doctor, is there something wrong with your health that you need me to help check? If it's just taking a pulse and observing your complexion, we can naturally do it here; but if you want me to examine other places, then we need to go to a private room. Also, Guniang needs to pay."

"You..."

Sun Yan'er was suddenly so angry that her face turned red.

For a moment, she was choked with words and couldn't speak.

Xiao Cui, who was to the side, hurriedly scolded:

"What nonsense are you spouting? Our Young Lady is in perfect health, she doesn't need you to check!"

Luo Zijun asked curiously: "Then why did Sun Guniang call me a doctor? Besides, I am not a doctor right now."

Sun Yan'er then suppressed her emotions and said with a cold face: "Then what should I call you? Young Master?"

Luo Zijun did not speak, which was clearly an acknowledgment.

Sun Yan'er wanted to mock him by saying "You are not worthy," but thinking of her father's instructions, she could only sneer, sit back down at the table, and say expressionlessly: "Young Master Luo, since you and I are meeting today, you should know what it is for, right?"

Luo Zijun sat down opposite her, poured himself a cup of tea to drink, and said indifferently: "Naturally, I know."

Sun Yan'er squinted at him and said: "Then what are your thoughts?"

Luo Zijun looked into her eyes and heard her heart say: 【Such a rude and impolite person, even if he looks good, what is the use? Let alone marrying him, even just sitting here drinking tea with him, if others find out later, they might laugh at me. A Pharmacy apprentice... Heh, I must humiliate him severely and send him away quickly, otherwise he might think this Young Lady will give him a chance.】

"Does Sun Guniang want to hear the truth, or a lie?"

Luo Zijun set down his teacup and said.

A cold sneer appeared at the corners of Sun Yan'er's mouth, and she said, "Naturally, the truth."

Luo Zijun looked at her and said, "Sun Guniang is indeed beautiful..."

Sun Yan'er lifted her chin slightly, proud and smug, disdainful and contemptuous: "Then, what you mean is..."

As long as this fellow dared to say he wanted to marry her, she would absolutely not be polite to him again; she would absolutely humiliate him until he had no place to hide, making him leave in shame!

"Sun Guniang is indeed beautiful, but to tell the truth, I do not like you."

Luo Zijun looked completely sincere.

"Therefore, I decline this marriage proposal."

As soon as these words were spoken, the humiliating remarks Sun Yan'er had long prepared in her belly, which were already on the verge of spilling out, suddenly got stuck in her throat; they could neither come out nor go down, making her mouth hang slightly open in discomfort, her face full of astonishment.

She found it hard to believe, suspecting she had misheard: "You... what did you say?"

Luo Zijun raised his voice slightly: "I said, I decline this marriage proposal. Sun Guniang, I am sorry, I do not like you, and I will absolutely not marry you; crying will be of no use."

Sun Yan'er: "..."

The maid Xiao Cui, standing to the side, also had her mouth agape, her face full of disbelief.

Luo Zijun finished the tea in his cup, stood up, and cupped his hands to take his leave.

Sun Yan'er also stood up abruptly at this moment, looked at him, and said: "Why... why? I want you to give me a reason!"

She felt she had been humiliated!

Deeply humiliated by a boor who had never even been to a school!

What did he mean by "crying will be of no use"?

Would she cry over this matter?

What a joke!

She was a dignified Young Lady of a wealthy family! She was a talented woman whom many scholars and literati praised as possessing both talent and beauty!

This was even more unbearable for her than being slapped in the face!

She had to know the reason!

"The reason?"

Luo Zijun seemed to think carefully for a moment before explaining: "Just now, when I came up the stairs, I took a look at Guniang's feet. To tell you the truth, I like... small feet."

After speaking, he waved his hand, went downstairs, and left directly.

Sun Yan'er froze on the spot.

(End of chapter)