Chapter 105: Jade Feet Illustration 6

"Creak..."

The courtyard gate opened.

Fenfen appeared outside the gate, holding a large bowl in both hands with a brilliant smile.

The soup in the bowl was rich, and the aroma was mouth-watering.

Luo Zijun glanced at her, then looked into her bowl.

Fenfen immediately gave a sweet smile and said with a fawning expression, "Luo Zijun, this is chicken soup I ladled from the kitchen, brought over especially for you to drink. Since you have now become a teacher in our Anguo Mansion, our previous grievances can be wiped clean. I won't take them to heart; I came here specifically to make peace with you."

"Oh?"

Luo Zijun looked calm: "Then thank you, Miss Fenfen, but I don't like drinking chicken soup."

Fenfen hurriedly said, "You have to drink it even if you don't like it; I brought this over specifically to apologize to you. If you don't drink it, that means you refuse to forgive me."

Luo Zijun still refused: "Sorry, I really don't like drinking chicken soup."

Fenfen immediately pouted and feigned anger: "Luo Zijun, are you refusing to forgive me?"

Luo Zijun said: "Yes."

Fenfen: "..."

"You... you are a grown man, how can you be so petty? Besides, you fought back every time, and you even kicked my bottom so hard. I didn't hold a grudge, so why are you holding one?"

Luo Zijun prepared to close the door and said: "I am going to bathe and rest."

Fenfen hurriedly stepped one foot into the doorway, then held the chicken soup out in front of him, saying both angrily and threateningly: "Luo Zijun, drink this bowl of chicken soup, and our previous grievances will be wiped clean. If you don't drink it, that means you refuse to forgive me. If you refuse to forgive me, then I won't forgive you either, and I will take revenge on you at any time!"

Luo Zijun said indifferently: "As you wish."

Fenfen immediately said indignantly: "Luo Zijun, do you suspect that I put medicine in this chicken soup? You are judging a gentleman's heart with a villain's measure, aren't you? I am so cute, how could I put laxatives in the chicken soup? I came here today to sincerely apologize to you; you are hurting my feelings by suspecting me like this!"

Luo Zijun looked at her with cold eyes and said nothing more.

Fenfen glared at him angrily for a while longer, then had no choice but to pout and say: "Fine, fine, then I will take a sip first so you can see whether it is poisonous or not. Hmph, how excessive, actually suspecting me!"

Having said that, she placed the large bowl against her lips, opened her small mouth, and pretended to take a light sip.

Who would have thought that at this very moment, Luo Zijun suddenly pinched her chin with one hand and supported the bowl in her hands with the other, tilting it upward abruptly, and the chicken soup in the bowl was poured into her small mouth with a "glug-glug" sound.

Fenfen was startled and struggled in a panic, but her chin was held tightly by him, and the chicken soup in the bowl kept pouring into her mouth.

"Glug... glug..."

Fenfen widened her eyes, tilted her small face back, and involuntarily swallowed the chicken soup in her mouth.

Because it was poured too quickly, a lot of chicken soup flowed down from the corners of her mouth, running into her neck and inside her clothes.

"Mmph..."

She twisted her body in a panic to struggle, her two hands balled into small fists, pounding desperately against his chest.

Finally, Luo Zijun stopped.

At this time, half a bowl of the large bowl of chicken soup remained.

"Hiccup..."

Fenfen, her mouth full of chicken soup, widened her eyes and let out a hiccup. After being dazed for a few seconds, her expression suddenly changed drastically. She turned and ran, and while running, one hand reached into her small mouth, starting to gag herself.

Luo Zijun shouted at the doorway: "Miss Fenfen, won't you wait for me to finish drinking before you leave?"

Fenfen retched and soon disappeared from sight.

Luo Zijun glanced at the chicken soup in the bowl again, closed the door, and returned to the small courtyard.

Xiaohuan said with a worried face: "Young Master, will Miss Fenfen go and complain?"

Luo Zijun placed the bowl on the stone table in the courtyard and said: "It's fine. I am a teacher in the mansion, not a servant. Even if she goes to complain, she needs to have a valid reason."

Xiaohuan looked at the chicken soup on the table and said: "Young Master, that Miss Fenfen seems a bit... a bit silly. She just voluntarily blurted out that there were laxatives in the chicken soup."

"Ignore her."

Luo Zijun entered the kitchen and said: "Boil water for a bath; I'll get a good night's sleep tonight."

Upon hearing this, Xiaohuan's eyes lit up, and she immediately entered the kitchen.

"Young Master, tonight..."

"Snore... snore..."

"Young Master, we haven't even gone to bed yet, what are you snoring for?"

"Uh, conditioned reflex..."

"What is a conditioned reflex?"

"It means that as soon as this Young Master mentions going to bed, you start fantasizing about sucking on this Young Master; that is a conditioned reflex."

"Young Master..."

"Don't be impatient. Wait until this Young Master cultivates well and becomes even stronger, then I will play with you properly."

"But Young Master is already very strong."

"That doesn't count as strong. When this Young Master truly becomes strong, I will be able to scare you until you cry."

"..."

Outside the house, the night curtain fell quietly.

After bathing and bolting the door, the master and servant went to bed together.

Xiaohuan pressed against his chest, blinking her large eyes, and said with full anticipation: "Young Master, this servant... this servant wants to be scared until I cry by Young Master right now..."

"Are you already that impatient?"

"Mm-hmm! This servant is already impatient."

"Good, then this Young Master shall grant your wish!"

Upon hearing this, Xiaohuan was overjoyed, her small face flushed, and she looked at him shyly, blinking her large eyes.

"First, listen to this Young Master tell a story."

Luo Zijun held her petite body in his arms, gently stroked her hair, and began to tell her a ghost story very seriously.

"Wuu, Young Master is so mean, this servant... this servant doesn't want to listen anymore..."

Just halfway through the story, the Young Maid was already trembling with fear, her head tucked into the quilt.

"Didn't you just say you wanted to be scared until you cried?"

"Wuwu, this servant..."

"The girl suddenly discovered gusts of chilling wind behind her. She turned her head to look; there was no one by the bed, the windows were tightly shut, so where did the wind come from? At the same time, beneath her bed, a hand covered in fresh blood was slowly reaching out..."

"Ah! Young Master, don't tell it anymore, this servant won't listen, this servant won't listen!"

The Young Maid immediately covered her ears, screaming in terror.

Just as Luo Zijun was about to continue, his body suddenly trembled: "Hey little girl, what are you doing?"

The Young Maid clenched her two small hands and said angrily from inside the quilt: "Young Master, keep telling it. This servant will play by herself. If this servant gets scared, I'll bite something, hmph hmph."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Not telling it anymore, sleep."

The Young Maid still said huffily: "Young Master, sleep by yourself. This servant is too scared to sleep and wants to play by herself for a while longer."

"..."

Luo Zijun ignored her and took out the Copper Mirror.

A message appeared on it.

Fairy of Yaochi: 【Can't sleep】

Luo Zijun hissed, then replied: 【Since you can't sleep, then answer my question】

A moment later.

The message came back, still those three words: 【Can't sleep】

Luo Zijun replied immediately: 【Fairy, are you sick?】

The other party did not reply again.

Luo Zijun also stopped paying attention to her, put away the Copper Mirror, and closed his eyes.

He tried to mobilize the Internal Energy in his Dantian Sea, surging it toward his thumb.

He continued to practice the Liehuo Finger.

"Sss—"

Soon, the energy that had long been accumulated in his acupuncture points suddenly erupted like a tidal wave!

That raised thumb instantly became as scalding as fire...

The time of one night passed quietly.

The next day, the sky was clear.

Luo Zijun had no classes today and felt his body had recovered quite well, so he bolted the door, had Xiaohuan keep watch in the front yard, and went to the backyard to continue practicing the Kaishan Fist.

There were ten classes a month at the manor, which was quite relaxed.

During other times, those young nobles still had to attend etiquette classes, archery classes, horseback riding classes, and so on.

There were also some young nobles who had practiced martial arts since childhood, sweating like rain on the training grounds.

It sounded like it was still very hard work.

Of course, he was also working very hard.

"Swish!"

As he performed the Kaishan Fist, gusts of wind soon began to echo in the backyard.

Before long, his whole body began to heat up.

The skin membrane had already been successfully refined; next was the flesh beneath the skin membrane—muscles, fat, all kinds of flesh—all of it had to be squeezed and refined.

First, make it exhausted and sore through rigorous training, then soak and nourish it with medicinal water to let it regain its vitality.

Then continue to refine it.

Repeat this over and over until it becomes firmer and tougher, while at the same time being able to store more power and release stronger explosive force.

However, starting the Refining Flesh stage brought new troubles.

The medicinal herbs left for him by his master and senior sister were only suitable for Skin Refining Medicine Bath. Although most of the herbs could still be used, if he wanted to do a Refining Flesh Medicine Bath, he would need to buy at least five more types of herbs.

And the herbs used for the Refining Flesh Medicine Bath were likely even more expensive.

But fortunately, he still had eight hundred and fifty taels of silver on him, which should be enough for a while.

When it was almost used up, he would think of another way.

If there was no other way, he would have to go find that Liu again and write books to earn money.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

He didn't think any further and continued to focus his energy on practicing the fist technique.

A day passed quickly.

By evening.

He dragged his exhausted and sore body, took the medicinal herbs into the kitchen, had Xiaohuan keep watch in the yard, and then began to boil the medicine.

It was more convenient here, so he boiled it directly in the pot.

After boiling the medicine, he entered an empty room, took his senior sister's bathtub out of the Storage Bag, and poured all the medicinal liquid into it.

Five herbs were still missing, but he could test the effect first.

He quickly stripped off his clothes and entered the bathtub.

When the somewhat scalding medicinal liquid enveloped his entire body, he clearly felt the soreness and exhaustion in his body begin to ease immediately.

The effects of aged medicinal herbs were indeed much better.

He closed his eyes and continued to soak.

Not until the medicinal liquid in the tub had turned completely cold did he slowly open his eyes.

The fatigue on his body had vanished, though some pain remained.

The skin all over his body felt exceptionally comfortable, but the flesh beneath seemed to lack a little effect, as if it hadn't been fully nourished and saturated. As expected, one cannot cut corners.

A Medicine Bath not only relieves and repairs bodily trauma but also helps temper the body and accelerate the progress of cultivation.

Therefore, no medicinal ingredients can be spared.

I will go out and buy some tomorrow.

He rubbed his taut skin and muscles, preparing to step out of the tub, when he suddenly discovered a line of small characters carved into the tub.

He stared at them: "Choke you to death, choke you to death, choke you to death..."

Luo Zijun: "..."

Just how much does Senior Sister love choking him, that even when bathing, these words are in her mind.

Sigh.

Thinking of that strange childhood sweetheart, he could not help but sigh once more.

If she hadn't left, what would it matter if he let her choke him a few times?

Senior Sister and Master gave him too much; they were just like his own family.

!

However, he was currently unable to control his own fate and was hiding from enemies; even if Senior Sister and Master were still around, he probably wouldn't dare to approach them.

He tidied up and ate dinner.

He came to the backyard, sat down in the pavilion, and began to continue practicing the Liehuo Finger.

Internal Energy surged from his Dantian Sea and reached his thumb with great ease.

"Sss—"

With a soft sound, an airflow burst out, and a wisp of flame ignited.

It then extinguished.

He then continued to repeat this process.

Until the Internal Energy in his Dantian Sea was exhausted.

The next day.

In the morning, he took Xiaohuan to the Su Guo Fu to visit his sister, spoke with her for a while, and then returned to continue his cultivation.

When evening arrived.

He bathed, changed into clean clothes, and went out, preparing to buy medicine.

This was his first time coming to the Inner City.

So, when he left the residence, he specifically memorized the route.

The prosperity and bustle of the Inner City were by no means comparable to the Outer City.

On the spacious streets, at this time, carriages flowed like water and horses like dragons; pedestrians were bustling, and the noise was deafening.

Luo Zijun was currently exhausted and in pain all over, so he had no heart to look around much.

He searched for martial artist shops along the way.

While passing by a bookstore, he hesitated for a moment and walked inside.

The shop assistant hurried over, his face full of enthusiasm as he said: "What books does Young Master need? Do you need me to help recommend some, or would Young Master like to go in and look for yourself?"

Luo Zijun saw that there were quite a few bookshelves inside, all packed with dense rows of books.

If he were to look for them himself, he feared it would be somewhat difficult.

He had no choice but to ask: "Do you have 'West Chamber Romance'?"

Upon hearing this, the shop assistant hurriedly apologized with a smile: "Young Master is one step too late; the last copy of 'West Chamber Romance' was just sold. But Young Master need not worry, more stock arrives tomorrow; Young Master can place a reservation today and come pick it up directly tomorrow."

Luo Zijun nodded, thinking to himself: It seems that 'West Chamber Romance' sells quite well in the Inner City too.

He glanced inside and asked casually: "Besides 'West Chamber Romance', which books have been selling the best during this period?"

The shop assistant hurriedly led him inside, pointed to the innermost row of bookshelves, and smiled: "The best-selling books are all there; Young Master can go look for yourself."

As he spoke, he gave him a look that every man understands, and then retreated.

Luo Zijun suddenly asked again: "By the way, do you have a book called 'Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai'?"

The shop assistant immediately smiled bitterly: "That book just came out; I hear it's even more popular than 'West Chamber Romance'. Our shop probably won't be able to stock it for a while."

Luo Zijun said no more and went inside.

It seems that people of any era will like these stories.

That put his mind at ease.

He arrived at the innermost bookshelf and flipped through them at random.

As expected, they were all messy books that offended decency; the pictures in some of the books had even been secretly torn out by others.

Truly outrageous.

After a moment, his gaze suddenly shifted.

Then, while flipping through, he complained: "This book dares to claim it's the number one bestseller? Is it bragging?"

After reading a dozen pages, he suddenly frowned.

The pictures in the back had actually all been torn out, and what had been torn out were all feet.

Truly perverted.

He flipped through another dozen pages and, seeing that there wasn't a single complete one, felt a tightness in his chest and had no choice but to put it back on the shelf.

"Forget it, I'll go find a martial artist shop."

He did not linger and immediately went out.

The shop assistant saw he had not taken a book and hurriedly said with a smile, "Young Master, the books over there are incomplete; they have all been torn into a mess by some people. If you want them, Young Master, the ones I have in this drawer are all complete."

Luo Zijun hesitated for a moment upon hearing this.

At this moment, two young women walked into the shop and asked directly, "Assistant, has *Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai* been stocked yet?"

The shop assistant accompanied them with a smile, "Not yet, in a few days, in a few days."

That young woman was immediately somewhat disappointed. Her gaze turned to the young man before her, and seeing him wearing a Confucian robe with a handsome appearance, she could not help but take a few extra looks.

At this time, the shop assistant opened the drawer and was about to speak when Luo Zijun hurriedly waved his hand and said, "No need, I am not interested in those books."

After speaking, he left immediately.

From behind came the curious inquiry of the two young women: "Assistant, what book did that Young Master want to buy?"

Luo Zijun hurriedly quickened his pace and left.

After walking another street, he still had not found a martial artist's shop.

"Could it be on a street with fewer people?"

He thought for a moment and immediately headed toward a slightly quieter street.

When he reached a corner, he suddenly saw another bookstore.

The bookstore was cold and deserted; there was only a young girl dressed as a Young Maid inside, tidying up books, and there were no customers.

Luo Zijun walked past the door, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly turned around and walked in.

Seeing a customer enter, the Young Maid hurriedly put down the books in her hands and said in a crisp voice, "What book does Young Master want to buy? We have everything here: imperial examination books, stories, calligraphy, classics..."

As the Young Maid introduced them enthusiastically, she stole glances at his handsome face, thinking to herself: This Young Master is so handsome.

"I will take a look myself first."

Luo Zijun went straight inside and then headed to the innermost bookshelf.

The Young Maid said "Oh," took another secret look at him, and then continued to tidy the books.

Luo Zijun arrived in front of the bookshelf and searched carefully for a while, but he did not find the book he needed.

He had no choice but to go to other bookshelves to search.

The Young Maid looked up at him from time to time, feeling somewhat puzzled.

After a moment.

Luo Zijun had to walk up to her, looked left and right, and said in a low voice, "It is like this: I have a friend who has been particularly wanting to read a book recently. It just so happens that he injured his leg these past few days and is lying at home, unable to come out, so he entrusted me to come over and help him buy it back."

The Young Maid smiled and said, "What book does Young Master want to buy?"

Luo Zijun said, "It is my friend who wants to buy it."

The Young Maid said, "Oh, then what book does that friend of yours want to buy?"

Luo Zijun gave a "cough," looked elsewhere, and said with a straight face, "It is that... that what-is-it illustration; hasn't the sixth volume just been released now?"

The Young Maid asked in confusion, "What illustration? Young Master, do you remember what it is about?"

Luo Zijun said, "I don't remember very clearly either. My friend knows. He told me a name at the time, it seems to be... it is something 'foot'..."

The Young Maid was stunned: "Foot? Is it bamboo? A picture book about drawing bamboo?"

"No."

Luo Zijun looked left and right again, then said in a low voice, "It is not the bamboo of bamboo, it is foot, Jade Foot, it is just feet."

The Young Maid blinked her eyes, seemingly still looking confused: "Jade Foot? Feet?"

Luo Zijun gave a "cough-cough" and said, "Yes, it seems to be... right, I remember now, it seems to be *Jade Foot Illustration 6*; my friend was crying and shouting for me to help him buy it back."

The Young Maid was stunned, thought for a moment, and could only say, "Young Master, please wait a moment."

As she spoke, she hurriedly walked to the staircase inside and shouted upstairs, "Sister Bi'er, a Young Master wants to buy a book called *Jade Foot Illustration 6*. Do we have it here?"

"What book?"

A voice suddenly came from upstairs.

Then, a pretty Young Maid wearing a bright green dress walked down quickly.

Luo Zijun's heart skipped a beat when he heard the voice, and when he saw the figure coming down the stairs, he was instantly dumbfounded.

"Ah! Young Master Luo!"

Seeing it was him, Bi'er was so excited that she jumped on the stairs, then hurriedly shouted upstairs, "Young Lady! Young Lady! Come down quickly! It is Young Master Luo! Young Master Luo is here!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Bang!"

First, there was a flurry of hurried footsteps upstairs, followed by the sound of something falling to the ground.

Bi'er hurriedly ran up and said, "Young Lady, slow down!"

Luo Zijun stood dazed on the spot for a few seconds. Seeing that the mistress and servant were about to come downstairs, he hurriedly said to the Young Maid beside him, "That, I have something else to do, next time..."

"Young Master is not allowed to leave!"

Who knew that the Young Maid in front of him was very clever; she immediately grabbed his sleeve tightly and then hurriedly shouted upstairs, "Young Lady! Sister Bi'er! This Young Master is leaving!"

"Ah! Don't let him leave! Xiao Lan, grab him!"

Bi'er hurriedly said loudly.

Then, two figures, supporting each other, walked down from upstairs.

The Young Maid named Xiao Lan immediately hugged Luo Zijun's arm tightly with both arms, her little face turning red as she said, "Young Master, you are not allowed to leave!"

Seeing this, Luo Zijun could only say in a low voice, "Xiao Lan, you misheard just now. Actually, what I just said was that my friend wants to buy a book called *Jade Bamboo Illustration 6*. Jade Bamboo, it is just bamboo; he likes drawing bamboo."

Xiao Lan blinked her big eyes: "Oh, Young Master doesn't need to explain to this servant; anyway, this servant doesn't understand either. Whatever book Young Master wants, just tell my Young Lady."

Luo Zijun: "..."

At this time, Bi'er had already helped a delicate young girl wearing a pink dress walk down from upstairs.

The young girl's walking motion was not very natural; clearly, she had just fallen and hurt her knee.

However, that face was still as pretty and delicate as ever; her eyes, like water, were just as gentle and moving; her figure was even more slender and slim, possessing a fragile beauty.

"Young Master Luo..."

The young girl looked at him with sparkling eyes, her pretty cheeks carrying an unconcealable look of surprise.

At this moment, Xiao Lan at her side suddenly said, "Young Miss, this Young Master Luo just said he wants to buy a book called 'Jade Foot Illustration 6'."

Luo Zijun: "..."

(End of chapter)