Chapter 46: Tit-for-Tat

Two classes in the afternoon.

After class, Luo Zijun and Su Bie and a few others left the Academy together.

"Shall we go to Tianxian Pavilion?"

As soon as they stepped out of the Academy gate, Wang Dafu immediately proposed.

He looked like he was about to burst from holding it in.

"Are you paying?"

Su Bie asked.

Wang Dafu was immediately unhappy: "Between brothers, talking about money hurts our feelings; you, Eldest Young Master Su, aren't exactly broke."

Su Bie said: "I really am short on cash lately, lend me some, I'll pay you back next month."

"Get lost!"

Wang Dafu ignored him, turned to put his arm around Luo Zijun, and chuckled: "Brother Luo, shall we two go together?"

Luo Zijun said: "I'm a bit tight on cash lately too, if Brother Wang lends me some, I'll go, the kind that doesn't need to be paid back."

"Get lost!"

Wang Dafu immediately let go of him and went to call Zhang Yitian instead.

Zhang Yitian shook his head repeatedly: "Didn't we agree to go on a spring outing outside the city tomorrow? If you go to a Brothel tonight, will you be able to walk tomorrow?"

Wang Dafu clapped his hands: "Almost forgot about that! And we have to climb Hanshan Temple; just thinking about it makes my legs ache, I really can't go tonight."

Su Bie said: "You bought so many Young Maids at home, haven't you had enough?"

Wang Dafu sighed: "Don't mention it, my Old Ancestor keeps a close watch and won't let me touch them, fearing I'll lose my life while still young."

"That's true, if you overindulge in that stuff, it really can be fatal."

"I heard someone from Linfeng Academy went to a Brothel every day, and a while ago he died right on the bed of two prostitutes; the doctor said both of that man's kidneys were squeezed dry..."

As they chatted about women, they parted ways one by one at the intersection.

Luo Zijun first went to a general store.

When he came out of the store, his arms were already filled with two bags of Lime Powder.

He had originally wanted to buy some poison, but they didn't have any.

It seemed he would have to ask his master for help.

As the helmsman of Bao'an Hall, his master had practiced medicine for half a lifetime and could concoct all sorts of medicines.

He reckoned that concocting poisons, toxic powders, and the like would be a piece of cake.

He soon returned to the Pharmacy.

His master had not yet returned from his house calls, and only his senior sister was standing at the counter clicking an abacus; she didn't acknowledge him when he saw her.

Luo Zijun looked at the counter, waited a while, and couldn't help but say: "Senior Sister, I'm back."

Su Qingling continued clicking the abacus and ignored him.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to say: "Um... is something missing from the counter today? I keep feeling like something is missing, it doesn't look quite natural."

Su Qingling still ignored him.

Luo Zijun shrugged, stopped teasing her, and went inside to wipe the tables and sweep the floor.

After a while.

His master, Su Dafang, returned carrying his Medicine Chest. Seeing him sweeping, he asked: "Zijun, are you studying at home today? I heard from Ling'er that you went to an Academy yesterday. Which Academy? Are you planning to take the exam for that Academy next month?"

Luo Zijun was puzzled upon hearing this: "Master, didn't Senior Sister tell you? I have already been admitted to West Lake Academy; yesterday was to report, and today I went to attend classes."

Su Dafang was stunned: "West Lake Academy? You've already been admitted?"

"Yes."

Luo Zijun looked at the young girl behind the counter.

"Tsk tsk, you brat really know how to brag!"

Su Dafang looked disbelieving, and after putting down the Medicine Chest, he added: "Are you trying to bully your master because I don't understand schooling? That West Lake Academy is the most prestigious Academy in the Outer City of Lin'an City. You've only been studying for a few days, and you can just walk right in? Besides, I heard the Academy Examination doesn't start until a month from now. Did you climb over the wall to get in today?"

Luo Zijun was speechless and had no choice but to take out his Student Nameplate for West Lake Academy from his robes.

"This disciple was admitted by the Academy ahead of schedule as an exception, so I don't need to participate in next month's Academy Examination. Senior Sister knew about it the night before last."

Su Dafang was stunned for a moment, then immediately snatched the nameplate, examined it carefully front and back for a long time, and only then did he widen his eyes and say: "Really? Zijun, were you really admitted to West Lake Academy ahead of schedule as an exception?"

Luo Zijun nodded.

Su Dafang immediately turned his head to look at the counter and shouted: "Ling'er, you girl, why didn't you tell your grandfather?"

Su Qingling continued clicking the abacus and ignored him.

Su Dafang slapped his thigh and said excitedly: "Zijun is a Literary Star descended to earth! In the future, he's going to be a top scholar!"

Su Qingling finally spoke: "A Literary Star descended to earth? Hmph, I think it's a Lustful Star descended to earth."

Su Dafang ignored her, immediately walked over to snatch the Broom from Luo Zijun's hand, and said with a face full of smiles: "Zijun, don't do these menial chores anymore. These hands of yours are for reading and writing; they are precious!"

Luo Zijun nodded very seriously: "This disciple thinks so too, so from now on, let Senior Sister do them."

Su Qingling narrowed her eyes and picked up the Rolling Pin from under the counter.

"Master, Senior Sister is going to use force again!"

Luo Zijun said hurriedly.

Su Dafang immediately shouted: "Ling'er! You must not use force against a Literary Star!"

Su Qingling walked out from behind the counter holding the Rolling Pin, looked at him coldly, and said: "Then I'll hit you."

Seeing this, Su Dafang immediately lifted his feet and walked outside: "You girl, how can you hit your grandfather? You'd better hit the Literary Star! Just don't hit his face."

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he immediately raised the Broom in his hand to meet the challenge.

The two of them, one holding a Rolling Pin and the other a Broom, stood in a cold standoff amidst the flashing blades and shadows. A great battle was about to break out!

Su Dafang stood outside the door and said, "Well, you two go ahead and get busy; Grandpa will help you close the door and head back now."

As he spoke, he prepared to close the door.

Luo Zijun hurriedly said, "Master, this disciple has a favor to ask!"

Su Dafang immediately said, "If it's about fighting, this master will absolutely not get involved! You're a grown man, and you can't even beat a young girl? If you fight her, aim elsewhere, but you are not allowed to hit her face!"

"It's not about that!"

Luo Zijun hurriedly put down the Broom and said, "This disciple is going to Hanshan Temple tomorrow, and there might be danger, so I am asking for Master's help!"

"Hanshan Temple?"

Upon hearing this, Su Dafang's expression suddenly turned grave, and he immediately stepped into the room, saying, "What are you going there for? That patient died just a few days ago, and even the monks from Jinshan Temple couldn't save him; didn't you see that yourself?"

Luo Zijun had no choice but to explain that the school was organizing a spring outing.

"Two days? And you have to spend the night at Hanshan Temple?"

Su Dafang looked grave and shook his head: "I'm afraid there really will be danger."

!

Luo Zijun asked, "Master, have you ever seen a demon?"

Su Dafang rolled his eyes: "Everyone who has seen a demon is dead; do you see your master dead?"

Luo Zijun asked, "Then where did Master hear about demons? And how do you know so much about that person's illness?"

Su Dafang sighed: "Naturally, it was passed down by word of mouth, heard from others. When I was a traveling doctor in the past, I saw many such illnesses, so naturally, I know."

Luo Zijun asked again, "Then if one really encounters a demon, how should one save oneself?"

Su Dafang frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, "Don't be afraid. As long as there are many of you, demons and ghosts naturally won't dare to approach. Besides, there are high monks at Hanshan Temple; if you don't go out at night and stay inside the temple, there shouldn't be any problems. Also, Master already told you last time: keep your heart and mind guarded, don't be lustful, and you will naturally have nothing to fear."

Luo Zijun asked, "Are there no other methods? For example, medicine, treasures, or something like that?"

Su Dafang glanced at him and said, "I am a doctor, not an immortal."

Luo Zijun felt a bit disappointed.

"By the way, Master, can you concoct some poison? This disciple wants to carry some for self-defense."

Su Dafang looked at someone: "Your Senior Sister can."

Luo Zijun was stunned and immediately threw away the Broom in his hand: "Senior Sister..."

Su Qingling said coldly, "Turn around and stick your butt out."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"You two get busy; I'm a bit tired, so I'll head back first."

Su Dafang left directly and even helped them close the door on his way out.

The room fell into dimness.

A ray of sunset shone in through the window, landing precisely on Luo Zijun's butt.

"Senior Sister, when will this cycle of revenge end? Why bother?"

"Are you going to stick it out or not?"

"Senior Sister, yours is what you call 'stuck out'; I'm not doing it."

Su Qingling ignored him further, put down the Rolling Pin, went to the counter to tidy up, and prepared to leave.

"Senior Sister, do you really not care about your Junior Brother's life or death?"

Luo Zijun asked.

Su Qingling continued tidying up and ignored him.

"Fine! Then don't blame Junior Brother for being heartless!"

Luo Zijun suddenly snatched up the Rolling Pin, went over and struck her shapely buttocks, then immediately threw down the Rolling Pin and bolted toward the door, preparing to flee.

Who would have thought the door had been locked from the outside!

"..."

Luo Zijun tried hard to open the door but couldn't. He turned around to find Su Qingling had already arrived behind him, one hand covering her struck buttock and the other holding the thick Rolling Pin, her face like ice!

"Senior Sister... the cycle of revenge... ah!"

"Bang!"

Luo Zijun was struck once and immediately grabbed her Rolling Pin.

Su Qingling couldn't break free, so she used her other hand to pinch his butt!

"Ah..."

Luo Zijun refused to be outdone and immediately pinched back.

"Ah..."

Su Qingling let out a cry and pinched harder.

Luo Zijun also pinched harder.

The two of them twisted and pinched each other, and the room was suddenly filled with the rhythmic, discordant sounds of a man and a woman.

"Click!"

After a while, the shop door opened.

Su Dafang said from outside, "Almost forgot, you two are still inside; why did you lock it?"

Light shone in.

Luo Zijun clutched his butt, kept his legs together, and limped out, saying, "Master, Senior Sister just now not only pinched my butt, she also pinched my..."

"Grandpa, beat him to death."

Su Qingling lay on the counter, her hair and clothes disheveled, one hand covering her backside, hissing in pain.

(End of chapter)