Chapter 35: Seeing Xu Xian Again

The next day.

The morning sun had just risen, and Luo Zijun had already gotten out of bed.

He opened the window, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Although he had only slept for a little over two hours last night, he felt no sleepiness at this moment; instead, he felt exceptionally energetic, his whole body filled with strength.

Practicing martial arts really did have its benefits!

In the small courtyard, the sun was bright, and sparrows were chirping incessantly on the branches.

Xiaohuan had gotten up even earlier and was currently squatting in the small courtyard washing clothes.

His sister had already finished making breakfast.

As for his brother-in-law, he left early and returned late; at this hour, he had long since gone to report to the yamen.

After finishing breakfast, Luo Zijun prepared to leave.

Before he left, Luo Jiaorong stuffed three taels of broken silver into his hand and urged him: "Since it's your first time going to the Academy, you will surely meet some friends. Treat them to a meal to get to know them. That way, if you encounter any trouble at the Academy, you'll have someone to help you."

Luo Zijun looked at the broken silver in his hand, then at his sister's loving gaze, and a long-lost emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

He knew that this broken silver was something his sister had taken a long time to save up.

When she went out to help others mend clothes, sometimes she only earned a few coins at a time.

This three taels of silver likely required more than half a year of mending and sewing to earn.

Looking at his sister's hands again, they were covered in scars.

His heart suddenly felt a bit sour.

But he knew he had to accept this silver.

"Thank you, Sister."

He put away the silver and looked at the woman before him.

She was only in her early twenties, yet she had already shouldered responsibilities that should not have belonged to her.

If this were in his world, his sister would be a pitiful and tragic "brother-coddling demon."

And she was stuck with him.

His sister was pitiful, and his brother-in-law was even more pitiful.

Yet, neither of them had a single word of complaint; they were even silently working hard to earn money, preparing it for his schooling and for him to take a wife.

Was this what family affection was?

No.

He did not need it.

He was destined to leave this place eventually.

Of course, before leaving, he would have to repay these kindnesses.

He must repay them!

He stepped out the door and walked down the small alley.

He quickly calmed the emotions in his heart and began to think about the mission.

The first step had already been taken.

Enter the Academy and become friends with Xu Xian.

If he could be inseparable from him and prevent the other party from meeting Bai Niangzi, that would naturally be best.

But that was clearly unlikely.

Since the two had a bond from a past life, they would meet regardless.

Therefore, he still had to proceed according to the method he had thought of before.

Let Xu Xian fall into depravity.

Or, let Xu Xian get married sooner.

As for Bai Niangzi, if she appeared at that time, he could only try every possible way to make her impression of Xu Xian worse and worse.

Or, make Bai Niangzi fall in love with someone else.

As long as Bai Niangzi married someone else, his mission would be completed immediately.

Therefore, whether it was Xu Xian or Bai Niangzi, he had to find a way to deal with them.

Both sides needed to be watched at all times.

A two-pronged approach was naturally the best.

Dealing with Xu Xian should be relatively simple; having money and knowing how to deceive should suffice.

As for dealing with Bai Niangzi...

Besides having money and knowing how to deceive, he also needed real ability.

If he could practice martial arts to the extreme and help Bai Niangzi solve some problems to gain her trust, that would be even easier.

Therefore, his top priority was still to earn money and practice martial arts.

Only by being strong himself could he make others trust him, and only then could the things he said and did deceive others.

Thinking this way, he soon arrived at the Pharmacy.

Since he was going to report to the Academy today, he naturally had to come and tell his master in person.

And, by the way, take his revenge!

After entering the door, Su Qingling was standing behind the counter in a daze; after seeing him, she silently reached out and picked up a thick Rolling Pin.

She clearly knew he would come for revenge.

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched; ignoring her, he walked toward the inside and asked, "Is Master here?"

There was no one in the back room.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to come out again and say, "Senior Sister, I need to go to the Academy. You'll be fine watching the shop by yourself, right?"

Su Qingling held the Rolling Pin, her pretty face cold, her gaze watching him vigilantly, and she did not speak.

Luo Zijun sighed: "Senior Sister, when will this cycle of revenge end? How about we call a truce? I won't hold yesterday's matter against you, and you won't go tell on me to my sister anymore, how about that?"

Su Qingling looked at him coldly for a while longer and said, "Then will you still pinch me in the future?"

Luo Zijun said: "If you don't pinch me, naturally I won't pinch you."

Su Qingling said with a cold face: "Then I'm still going to tell on you."

Luo Zijun was speechless: "You mean to say, you're allowed to pinch me, but I'm not allowed to pinch you?"

"Yes."

Su Qingling said coldly.

"Heh..."

Luo Zijun let out a 'heh' and prepared to leave.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned around to say: "By the way, Senior Sister, didn't you say last night that if I told you about the ten thousand taels and the poetry writing, you would let me touch your feet?"

"Did I say that?"

"Didn't you say it?"

"Did I say that?"

"..."

Luo Zijun huffed, looking indifferent: "Actually, I never had that thought at all, I just wanted to remind you... Senior Sister, if you tell too many lies, you will face retribution."

After finishing, he walked straight out the door. Su Qingling looked outside, and after a moment, she slowly lowered her head and looked under her skirt.

"Snap!"

Just at this moment, the account book on the counter was suddenly picked up by someone and slapped against her head, then, several fingers curled and knocked on her little head with a 'thud', making quite a loud sound.

Su Qingling raised her head.

Luo Zijun had already quickly run outside the door, turned his head and said: "Senior Sister, look, didn't I say so? The retribution has arrived, right? Remember not to tell lies next time, be an honest little girl!"

Having said that, he left triumphantly.

Su Qingling stayed behind the counter for a while longer, then slowly raised her hand to stroke her head, which was throbbing with pain.

The morning streets were still very lively.

Luo Zijun walked slowly along the way.

Before long, he had arrived at West Lake.

!

West Lake Academy was situated on the hillside to the north of West Lake, nestled against the mountains and by the water, with a beautiful environment.

To go up, one still needed to climb a hundred-zhang-high stone staircase.

Luo Zijun walked along the lakeside.

Just as he reached the vicinity of the Broken Bridge, he glanced over casually and was suddenly stunned.

There was actually a familiar figure on the Broken Bridge.

"Xu Xian?"

He stared intently, his heart jumping wildly!

Wasn't this guy lying at home recovering from his injuries? Why did he suddenly come out today, and why did he suddenly appear in this sensitive place?

Could it be that some accident had occurred?

He dared not be careless and hurriedly walked over.

The lake breeze blew, stirring the young man's long hair and clothes.

Xu Xian stood by the Broken Bridge, hands behind his back, brows tightly locked, staring at the distant lake water in deep thought, as if he were contemplating some great life matter.

However, his standing posture was a bit strange; his waist was slightly twisted, his bottom slightly stuck out, and his stance looked somewhat like a woman's.

Luo Zijun walked close and observed carefully for a while, then glanced at the others on the Broken Bridge, and seeing that no very beautiful woman had appeared, he felt slightly relieved.

"Eh, isn't this Brother Xu?"

Just as Luo Zijun was about to go over to strike up a conversation, a passing youth suddenly greeted Xu Xian.

Xu Xian turned his head to look and hurriedly cupped his hands: "Brother Yan, what a coincidence."

The youth surnamed Yan looked at his bruised and swollen appearance and was suddenly stunned: "Brother Xu, your face..."

Xu Xian sighed bitterly at once: "It is my own stupidity to blame, for failing to recognize the character of others."

He then explained: "A few days ago, I met two women here asking for directions. I kindly brought them back, but as a result, I was misunderstood by the men in those two women's families and was given a good beating."

"How unreasonable!"

Upon hearing this, the youth surnamed Yan was immediately filled with righteous indignation: "Has Brother Xu reported this to the authorities?"

Xu Xian shook his head and said calmly: "It is just a small matter. If I reported it to the authorities and had their whole family arrested, wouldn't that be harming them? I am already fine, and I will be better after resting for a few days, so I haven't taken this matter to heart."

"Brother Xu is truly a good person."

The youth surnamed Yan was full of admiration and asked again: "Standing here alone in a daze so early in the morning, what is this for?"

Xu Xian hesitated for a moment and said: "To tell you the truth, I had a dream last night. In the dream, someone guided me to come here, but I don't know for what reason. Waking up early today, I felt bored, so I came over."

The youth surnamed Yan smiled and gave him a strange look.

He probably thought this guy's brain had been beaten broken.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and the youth surnamed Yan took his leave.

Xu Xian glanced at a mother and daughter passing by on the Broken Bridge, then turned back around to continue staring blankly at the lake water.

"A dream?"

Listening from the side, Luo Zijun felt a secret sense of vigilance arise in his heart.

Could it be that the White Snake sent a dream, telling him to wait here, and then have a perfect encounter?

That won't do!

Luo Zijun hurriedly walked over, patted him directly on the shoulder, and said, "Eh, isn't this Brother Xu?"

Xu Xian turned his head and was stunned for a moment.

"You are..."

Damn it! I gave you a free look at my cock, and I was threatened and scolded by your younger sister carrying a Red Tasseled Spear, and you can even forget that?

"Oh, oh, oh! You... you are... that doctor!"

Xu Xian finally recognized him.

Luo Zijun said with a serious face, "Brother Xu, your illness has not yet healed, yet you came here early in the morning to blow in the wind; do you not want your little brother anymore?"

Xu Xian looked confused: "What little brother?"

Luo Zijun pointed at his crotch and intimidated him: "Your injuries are not yet healed; the cold wind here carries the moisture of the lake, and once it drills inside, Brother Xu's little brother will be in big trouble. At best, it won't rise; at worst, it will be ruined, and even immortals couldn't save it!"

Xu Xian's expression changed: "Really?"

Luo Zijun said indifferently: "Do you not even believe what a doctor says? Let me tell you, that part of yours was nearly ruined; the fact that it could be saved this time is because my master's medicine took effect. But if you don't pay attention and get injured again, no one will be able to save you in the future."

Xu Xian was frightened and hurriedly covered his lower parts, saying: "Ah, I shall leave at once..."

Luo Zijun warned him seriously: "In the future, come here less often. The yin energy of this West Lake is too heavy; it invades the soul and corrodes the bones. If you come here often, you will surely suffer for it. At best, you will die young; at worst, you will be castrated first, then die young."

Xu Xian said with a trembling voice: "Is it... is it that serious? But other people..."

"You are different from other people!"

Luo Zijun said with a straight face: "Your constitution is too weak, the yin energy in your body is too strong, and this time that part of yours was seriously injured again. Haven't you noticed? As long as you come here, you will have bad luck. I heard that your injury this time was caused by coming here a few days ago. This place clashes with you; you must never come here again in the future."

Xu Xian was stunned, and after thinking about it carefully, it really seemed to be the case.

A few days ago, he came here happily, was plotted against and beaten, lost money, and nearly became crippled; and before that, when he came to the West Lake, he went home and was inexplicably beaten by his younger sister.

And before that, when he came to the West Lake, he seemed to have suddenly become constipated when he went back...

Sure enough, this place really clashes with him!

"Alas, many thanks to the little doctor for the reminder; I will never come here again in the future!"

The more he thought, the more afraid he became; he suddenly stamped his feet like a woman and immediately cupped his hands to take his leave.

"Brother Xu, my name is Luo Zijun. I am not only a doctor, but I am also currently studying at the West Lake Academy; I am your fellow student."

Luo Zijun suddenly said.

Xu Xian was stunned upon hearing this, turned his head to look at him, and was full of surprise: "You also study at the West Lake Academy?"

Luo Zijun nodded.

Xu Xian was dazed for a moment, then hurriedly cupped his hands: "Brother Luo, when I have recovered from my injuries and go to the Academy, I will thank you in person."

After speaking, he covered his crotch and hurried away from here.

Luo Zijun watched his back until it disappeared around the corner in the distance, then withdrew his gaze and looked at the pedestrians on the Broken Bridge.

Is it a coincidence?

Or did the White Snake really send a dream?

(End of this chapter)