Chapter 115: The Young Master's Body is Frail, Two Women Pine in Vain

At night, all was silent.

The rain from yesterday seemed to have washed the sky clean, and the entire world along with it.

Tonight's night sky appeared even more tranquil and clear.

The bright moon hanging in the night sky also seemed to have become more luminous.

Xiaohuan was already asleep.

After taking his tonic, Luo Zijun lay on the bed to rest.

He slept until the third watch.

Upon waking, he couldn't help but ruminate on his tragic encounter from last night for a while, then sat up, took out that book, "Soul Cultivation Technique," and continued reading.

At this moment, he felt a sudden intuition.

His heart stirred, and he took out the Copper Mirror.

Sure enough, a message had been sent to it.

Fairy of the Jade Pool: 【Can't sleep】

Luo Zijun thought for a moment and replied: 【Fairy, let me ask you a question, are you a man or a woman?】

Fairy of the Jade Pool: 【Can't sleep】

Dongfang Junnan: 【Then I'll just assume you're a woman. Listen to me, I'll f*** your mother!】

The other party did not reply again.

Luo Zijun put away the Copper Mirror, ignored the other party, and continued to read the "Soul Cultivation Technique" earnestly.

After reading for a while, he felt a bit restless and decided to give it a try.

No sooner thought than done.

He got out of bed, lit a stick of sandalwood incense on the table, then sat cross-legged on the floor and closed his eyes.

He calmed his mind and focused his spirit, with no distracting thoughts.

First, he emptied his mind until it was void of everything, then slowly visualized a nine-story pagoda standing between heaven and earth in the darkness.

All around, it was pitch black, and all was silent.

His consciousness slowly entered the pagoda and began to climb from the first floor.

Step by step, he lifted his feet upward.

It was pitch black all around; he could only vaguely see a flight of stairs winding upward, extending into the darkness of the floors above.

His consciousness transformed into a human figure, fixed its gaze on the stairs on the ground, and walked upward cautiously.

However.

Before he could even ascend the first floor, his consciousness suddenly collapsed.

That pagoda also suddenly vanished.

Many chaotic images and emotions began to rush into his mind, throwing his consciousness into disarray.

The first attempt failed.

He opened his eyes, steadied his mind, took a deep breath, and began again.

He emptied his thoughts, leaving his mind blank.

Soon, the vivid nine-story pagoda from the book was visualized once more.

His consciousness turned into a figure, pushed open the door, and entered the pagoda.

Then, he continued to lift his feet, starting from the first step, and began to climb upward step by step.

This time, he finally climbed onto the first floor.

But, just as he prepared to continue climbing to the second floor, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his mind; the figure formed by his consciousness shattered instantly, and his mind fell into chaos.

"Hiss..."

He hurriedly clutched his head, withdrew from the cultivation state, and dared not try again.

Bursts of sharp pain pulsed in his mind, and his consciousness was in a state of utter confusion.

He quickly closed his eyes and rubbed his head, letting the emotions in his heart calm down and allowing the consciousness in his mind to return to a normal state.

Only then did the pain slowly subside.

He thought about it carefully; it must be because his body was too weak.

A weak body leads to a weak soul and mental exhaustion.

In such a state, it was naturally impossible to concentrate his spirit and continue cultivating.

Only after his body recovered to its peak state and his spirit was full could he try again.

"Sigh..."

He couldn't help but let out a sigh.

He did not know when he would truly become strong enough to protect himself.

After letting his mind wander for a while longer, he lay down to rest.

After the attempt just now, his spirit was already extremely exhausted; after closing his eyes, it wasn't long before he drifted into dreamland.

That night, he had another dream.

In the dream, he was once again pinned to the bed by a spider spirit with eight jade feet and wantonly humiliated; he struggled desperately, but it was to no avail.

In the end, he had to submit to her lewd might and began to move on his own.

Finally, the spider spirit laughed wildly: "Young Master has great ability; this concubine has finally conceived your child. Now, my belly is full of your children!"

Having said that, countless little spiders with fangs crawled out from the spider spirit's belly, dense and numerous, crawling all over his body and face, shouting in unison: "Daddy! Daddy!"

Luo Zijun's soul flew out of his body in terror, and he was startled awake.

Looking out the window, the sky was not yet bright.

He gasped in the darkness, his heart still pounding with lingering fear, then wiped the sweat from his forehead and closed his eyes again.

He fell asleep again very quickly.

Then, he had another dream.

In the dream, he was playing with many little spiders when a figure suddenly rushed out from the woods nearby, holding a Rolling Pin, and began beating those little spiders wildly.

After all those little spiders were beaten to death, that figure suddenly lunged at him in a rage, took a bite with a "Woof!", and turned him into a eunuch on the spot.

"Letting you be played with by others! I'll bite you to death!"

That person gritted their teeth, their pretty face cold and stern; it was actually the appearance of his Senior Sister.

Luo Zijun was frightened awake once more.

Looking out the window, the sky was already beginning to brighten.

He broke out in a cold sweat, his heart thumping rapidly, his face pale, feeling as if his mind were on the verge of collapse.

He calmed down a little after a while.

He hurriedly took out the medicinal pill the old Daoist had given him and ate another one.

Having nightmares all night was likely because he had forced himself to practice Soul Refining before his body had recovered.

A weak soul leads to weak Qi, weak Qi leads to a chaotic mind, and a chaotic mind leads to many dreams.

The books say that those with a weak body and soul are easily invaded and frightened by minor ghosts, thus suffering from constant nightmares and rampant hallucinations.

Over time, it is enough to be fatal.

He must hurry to nurse his body back to health and restore his spirit.

He dared not waste any more energy thinking about it, closed his eyes, and slowly let himself calm down.

Right!

He suddenly remembered that the old Daoist had also given him a Jade Pendant.

The old Daoist said that the Jade Pendant could help one calm the mind and focus the spirit.

He hurriedly took it out from his Storage Bag, stroked it a few times, placed it over his chest, and then closed his eyes.

He fell asleep quickly.

This time, he truly did not have any more nightmares.

He actually slept until noon.

When he got up, Xiaohuan was in the small courtyard helping him decoct medicine.

Outside, the sky was clear and the sun was bright.

Luo Zijun had recovered some spirit and physical strength; he went out to wash up and ate the food that was being kept warm in the pot.

Xiaohuan told him, "Third Miss came this morning. I told her that Young Master was still sleeping, and Third Miss said she would come again in the evening."

Luo Zijun asked, "Did Third Miss say what it was about?"

Xiaohuan shook her head and said, "No."

She then added, "Oh, right, that girl named Fenfen also came, saying she wanted to find Young Master to play in the back garden, but after hearing that Young Master was sleeping, she muttered a few words and left."

Luo Zijun said, "Don't pay her any mind. If she comes again in the future, just say I'm not available."

Xiaohuan said, "Oh."

After the medicine was decocted, Luo Zijun drank two large bowls and returned to his room to sleep.

By evening.

The voices of Xiaohuan and Ziyuan came from outside the window.

After Luo Zijun woke up, he discovered that his kidneys no longer hurt, his spirit seemed to have recovered quite a bit, and his legs no longer felt weak.

He did not know if it was the old Daoist's pill that had taken effect, or the tonic.

He felt slightly relieved.

He went out of the room, and when Ziyuan saw he was up, she hurriedly said, "Young Master, Third Miss wants to see you; she asked me to come and check if you are free."

Luo Zijun said, "I just woke up, I have nothing going on."

Ziyuan smiled and hurriedly said, "Then I will go inform Third Miss."

Luo Zijun went to the well to wash his face and had Xiaohuan help him comb his hair.

Xiaohuan looked at the tooth marks on his neck and ears, endured it for a moment, but couldn't help saying, "Young Master, when you went out of the city this time, did you... did you sleep with Sister Ziyuan?"

Luo Zijun was stunned and hurriedly said, "What are you saying? How is that possible?"

Xiaohuan pouted, feeling a bit aggrieved, "But... but on Young Master's body..."

Luo Zijun said, "Bitten by bugs; there are many bugs on the mountain."

Xiaohuan naturally did not believe him, her face full of resentment.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to say, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Ziyuan yourself later. I have only known her for a few days, how could that be possible? Do you think I am such a lecherous person? Or do you think Miss Ziyuan is a very casual person?"

Xiaohuan hurriedly said, "I... I didn't think that at all."

As the two were talking, a knock came from outside.

Xiaohuan hurried to open the door.

Luo Zijun stood up from the stool and pulled at the collar of his robe.

Bai Qingtong walked in wearing a green dress, looking full of spirit.

Luo Zijun cupped his hands in greeting, "Sorry to have kept Third Miss waiting. I was a bit exhausted after returning yesterday, so I slept a little longer." Bai Qingtong smiled slightly, scanned his face for a few moments, and laughed, "Sir is a scholar; it is normal for your body to be unable to withstand the fatigue of travel. Those of us who returned yesterday also went straight back to our rooms to sleep; it took half a day and a night to recover."

She then added with an apologetic face, "I heard that Sir was assigned to a thatched cottage behind the temple to rest. There are many bugs there, so Sir must not have slept well. This matter was my lack of proper care, and I hope Sir will not blame me."

Luo Zijun said, "I wouldn't dare. Third Miss represents the Bai Family, so naturally, you had to accompany the young ladies of the Jia Mansion. I understand."

Bai Qingtong couldn't help but sigh again, saying, "This trip was also my fault; I shouldn't have invited Sir along. I never imagined so many things would happen, and that you would almost be dragged into the yamen. I am truly sorry."

Luo Zijun said, "I do not blame Third Miss."

Bai Qingtong looked at his expression, and seeing that he did not seem angry, she finally set her mind at ease. She suddenly smiled and said, "Sir has kept Qingtong in the dark for so long. It turns out that you and Miss Tanchun of the Jia Mansion have known each other for a long time, and you even wrote three poems for her poetry club."

Luo Zijun explained, "I met her by chance while traveling. However, at that time, I did not know that the other party was a young lady of the Jia Mansion."

Bai Qingtong smiled and said, "After Tanchun recognized you, she asked me quite a lot about you. Upon learning that you are now staying at our Anguo Mansion, that girl was very envious and wished she could come to visit today. The other young ladies of the Jia Mansion, upon hearing that the Peach Blossom Young Master was you, were all very surprised as well. They praised you for having peerless talent, being full of righteousness, and, what's more, being very handsome..."

Speaking of this, she couldn't help but smile sweetly, staring at the expression on the young man's face before her, and said, "And that Baoyu Gongzi of the Jia Mansion, after knowing that the Peach Blossom Young Master was you, was both surprised and happy. He said he wished he could meet you immediately to have a long, heart-to-heart talk. Those pretty maids of the Jia Mansion are also all singing your praises, Young Master."

Luo Zijun remained calm and said, "What about that Master Jia?"

!

The smile on Bai Qingtong's face faded slightly. She paused and said, "Uncle Zheng very much likes and admires your talent. When I was leaving, he told me he wanted to invite you to be a guest at the Rongguo Mansion. Uncle She... he asked me if you were already married, and then asked me to come and ask you if you would be willing to marry his daughter, Miss Yingchun."

At this point, she looked at the young man before her with flickering eyes, but she did not see any sign of surprise on his face.

Bai Qingtong smiled again and said, "As for that Miss Yingchun, you have seen her, Sir. She is beautiful, gentle, virtuous, kind-hearted, and very good to everyone."

Luo Zijun said, "It's just that she is too honest, timid, and weak, afraid to argue with anyone, right?"

Bai Qingtong was taken aback upon hearing this, feeling somewhat surprised: "How... how is it that you are so clear about this, Sir?"

Luo Zijun said, "I guessed it after just a few glances."

Bai Qingtong couldn't help but be even more astonished, then she smiled again and said, "Then what kind of personality do you think Qingtong has, Sir?"

Luo Zijun smiled slightly and did not answer.

Bai Qingtong also smiled and did not press further. She said, "What do you think of what Uncle She said, Sir? That Jia Mansion is no ordinary Duke mansion. The current Noble Consort is the eldest daughter of the Jia Mansion. That Miss Yingchun is the Noble Consort's younger sister. If you marry her, Sir, you will be on a smooth path to success in your official career, with no worries about your future."

A sneer appeared on Luo Zijun's face: "That Master Jia is so casual; wanting to marry off his daughter the moment we meet for the first time, I fear what he wants to obtain is more than just a scholar son-in-law, right?"

Bai Qingtong looked at him and said, "What do you think he wants to obtain, Sir?"

Luo Zijun said, "What he wants to obtain is not something on my person."

Bai Qingtong smiled and said nothing more.

Luo Zijun cupped his hands and said, "I must ask Third Miss to help me decline it, and just say that my heart already belongs to another."

Bai Qingtong raised an eyebrow: "Your heart already belongs to another, Sir?"

Luo Zijun glanced at Xiaohuan beside him and said, "That is right, I already have someone I like, my Xiaohuan."

Bai Qingtong was startled. She turned her head to look, and couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter.

Xiaohuan's little face turned red instantly, and she lowered her head shyly, though her heart was incredibly happy and sweet. She secretly thought to herself: Tonight I must serve the Young Master well and make the Young Master happy too.

Bai Qingtong nodded with a smile: "That reason is not bad either. However, I really did not expect that you would refuse so decisively and without hesitation, Sir."

Luo Zijun paused and said solemnly, "I hope Third Miss will tell Miss Yingchun that while one can endure and swallow one's pride in other matters, one must never be casual about one's lifelong marriage. Although most women follow the orders of their parents and the words of matchmakers regarding their lifelong marriage, women can now enter the Academy to study and have some status. If you encounter something you truly cannot accept, you must resist to the end, even if it means... being shattered to pieces."

He actually did not want to say so much.

But judging from this incident, that Jia Da Laoye was clearly cold and heartless to his own daughter to the extreme, using her only as a tool.

When the time comes, I fear he will truly marry that poor girl off to the Sun Family to pay off debts, causing that honest and kind girl to be tortured to death by that Sun Shaozu.

If he hadn't encountered it, then so be it, but since he had, he naturally had to offer a reminder.

After hearing him finish, Bai Qingtong's expression turned serious. She looked at him deeply for a few moments before nodding and saying, "I will definitely tell Yingchun. That girl is indeed too weak sometimes; I fear that when the time comes, she won't even dare to resist if she is sold by others."

Luo Zijun said nothing more.

Bai Qingtong glanced at him and smiled again: "If you don't fancy Yingchun, Sir, the Jia Mansion has other young ladies, all of whom are beauties of the first rank. With your talent, Sir, it would not be a disgrace to them."

Luo Zijun said, "Is Third Miss trying every possible way to drive me away?"

Bai Qingtong let out a "pfft" of laughter and said, "You are overthinking it, Sir. What Qingtong means is that the Jia Mansion holds you in high regard, Sir. If you are willing, you could easily win the beauty's heart."

Luo Zijun's face remained calm as he said, "Our status and positions are different; I dare not harbor such extravagant hopes. Even if I can pass the provincial and metropolitan examinations in the future, I would not dare to cling to such powerful nobles."

"Oh?"

Bai Qingtong was somewhat puzzled upon hearing this.

Luo Zijun did not explain and changed the subject: "Third Miss, I would like to ask, whose maids are Bai Bai and Qingqing of your mansion?"

Bai Qingtong was slightly startled and said, "They just entered the mansion not long ago. They were brought in by Fenfen, so they are staying with my sister."

She paused.

Her gaze shifted, and looking at the expression of the young man before her, she said, "I heard from Fenfen that you met my sister at the West Lake Academy before, is that right, Sir?"

Luo Zijun nodded: "I have met her a few times."

Bai Qingtong smiled slightly and said no more. Just as she was about to take her leave, she suddenly added, "By the way, it is fortunate that we returned yesterday. A major incident suddenly occurred at the Jinshan Temple last night. All the monks in the temple were beaten by someone, beaten until their heads were broken and bleeding. The Heavenly King Hall, the Mountain Gate Hall, and the Great Hero Hall were all burned to ashes by a fire. The tourists staying in the temple were also all beaten. I heard that several female pilgrims were beaten the worst; not only was all their hair cut off, but their toes were all broken, and they were beaten until they fainted directly."

Luo Zijun was startled upon hearing this and said, "Who was the culprit?"

Bai Qingtong said, "I don't know; it hasn't been investigated yet. However, it is said that there were two people—one doing the beating and one setting the fire—who almost ignited the entire mountain forest."

Luo Zijun asked curiously, "Are there no martial arts practitioners in that temple?"

Bai Qingtong said, "Naturally there are, and there are many experts as well. I am not quite sure why no one stopped them. It may also be that those two culprits were too strong."

Luo Zijun frowned and remained silent.

Why is it such a coincidence?

It was the same last time at the Hanshan Temple; after he returned from there, the Hanshan Temple was immediately burned down by someone, and the monks inside were also beaten.

It is the same this time.

Bai Qingtong looked at him again and said, "Rest early, Sir. I will not disturb you any longer."

After saying this, she left with her maid.

Luo Zijun sat down in the courtyard, thinking to himself.

Xiaohuan walked over with a flushed little face, blinking her pitch-black eyes, and asked happily, "Young Master, do you really like this servant?"

Luo Zijun said, "Does that even need to be asked?"

Xiaohuan beamed with joy, blinked her eyes, and whispered, "Young Master, then tonight, I will definitely serve you well and let you go 'hiss-hiss-hiss' all night long, okay?"

Luo Zijun's expression changed instantly: "Absolutely not!"

If he were to 'hiss-hiss-hiss' for another night, he reckoned his life would be gone.

After taking the medicine, he returned to his room to read and pondered for a while about what book he should write next.

He was out of money again; it was time to write a book to earn some.

The night was deep and quiet.

When he put down his book and prepared to get into bed, he discovered that the Young Maid had actually stripped naked, wrapped herself in the quilt, and was sleeping on his side of the bed, her watery eyes looking at him with shyness and anticipation.

"Xiaohuan, I'm not joking with you, absolutely not tonight!"

"Don't you see that Young Master is still taking medicine?"

He said very seriously.

Xiaohuan laughed: "Young Master, don't be afraid. This servant will just hold Young Master while sleeping; I definitely won't bully Young Master tonight."

Luo Zijun warned: "If you dare to mess around, this Young Master will punch you until you're smashed to pieces!"

"Wuwu, Young Master is so fierce."

The Young Maid pouted, but she was smiling, and she even deliberately stretched out a snow-white, delicate little foot.

Luo Zijun acted as if he didn't see it, his heart completely calm.

He took off his clothes and got into bed, calm and unruffled.

The Young Maid pressed against his chest and sighed faintly: "Young Master, do you dislike this servant?"

"How could that be?"

"But... every time this servant wants to serve Young Master, Young Master makes excuses and refuses, and then every time Young Master goes out, he comes back covered in bite marks and scars, his body drained empty, and he even needs to take supplements. Young Master would rather give it all to others than give it to this servant? If this isn't disliking this servant, then what is it?"

"..."

Luo Zijun immediately fell into deep thought.

What the Young Maid said actually made some sense.

He worked hard to become stronger and saved up for so long, only to give it to outsiders instead of his own people—wasn't that insane?

As the old saying goes, fertile water should not flow into outsiders' fields.

The Young Maid was so good to him, loyal and devoted, begging him every night in such a humble and low-spirited way, yet he always made excuses to refuse, acting coy and withholding it, and as a result... every time, that female thief would mercilessly drain him dry, leaving not a single drop.

Thinking about it this way, he was indeed a bit excessive.

"Hmph, Young Master keeps saying he likes me, but he's just lying to me."

The Young Maid pouted and complained.

Luo Zijun remained silent.

After thinking for a long time, he finally made a decision.

"Xiaohuan, wait a few days. Once I've recovered my health in a few days, I'll give it to you."

Xiaohuan didn't believe him: "Young Master is fooling me again; every time you just mumble and lie to me, I don't believe Young Master anymore."

"This time it's for real."

Luo Zijun said solemnly.

The reason he made this decision actually had another cause.

If he took the initiative to give it to Xiaohuan every time, then there wouldn't be much left, and if he happened to run into that female flower-thief again...

Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!

Even if he were that unlucky and pathetic, how could he possibly run into her again and again, three times in a row?

Absolutely impossible!

From now on, no matter what damn temple it is, or even outside the city, he would never go there again!

Strive to cultivate, strive to become stronger!

From this day forward, he must protect himself well!

"Hmph, Young Master, if you lie to me again this time, I won't be polite. When the time comes and Young Master is still mumbling, this servant will play by herself, hmph!"

The Young Maid had long since decided to play by herself; she had read quite a few books and learned quite a bit.

Master and servant, each harboring their own thoughts, soon fell asleep.

At the same time.

At Bao'an Hall, the lights were still on.

The cold, aloof young girl dressed in a plain white dress waited behind the counter for a long time before she finally went over to close the door and went upstairs.

In the room, there was a large wooden bathtub.

There was no water in the tub, only a quilt.

She sat inside, quietly hugging her knees, her cold, beautiful eyes staring at the elegant writing on the tub wall, lost in a daze.

And at a street corner not far away.

Chujian Bookstore also still had its lights on.

In front of the second-floor window, a beautiful young girl dressed in a thin gauze dress was looking through the window at the night scene outside, lost in a daze.

Bi'er came over and frowned: "Miss, it's so late, he won't come again. Go to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow."

The young girl remained silent, stood quietly by the window for a long time, and then lowered her head and returned to her room.

(End of this chapter)