Chapter 87: The First Kiss

The rain had ceased.

The morning streets had returned to their usual bustle and prosperity.

Pedestrians were like a woven fabric, and peddlers were calling out their wares.

Luo Zijun walked along with two beautiful young girls, drawing gazes and discussion everywhere he went.

"I wonder which family's young ladies are out for a stroll; they look so delicate and lovely."

"Tsk tsk, it's my first time seeing such pretty young girls."

"Look at their clothes, their skin, their appearance, their temperament—one can tell at a glance they come from a noble family."

"They must be noblewomen from the Inner City."

Luo Zijun sneered inwardly; these two demons were truly good at pretending.

At this moment, someone began discussing him as well.

"Look at that lad in front, with his red lips and white teeth, handsome face, and slender frame—he looks like a... 'pretty boy'."

"He must be a servant kept by those two young noblewomen."

"That can't be right, he's wearing a scholar's robe."

"Pah, servants of noble families can wear scholar's robes too; how many scholars break their heads trying to become servants for noble families."

"It could also be a matrilocal son-in-law."

"Isn't that still just a servant?"

Luo Zijun could not hold back any longer, turned his head, and retorted: "Are you all blind? Have you ever seen a servant walking brazenly in front of their master?"

The few women who were gossiping immediately fell silent.

Seeing his gaze shift away, they whispered again: "Look, he's embarrassed and angry; we must have hit the nail on the head, he's probably just a servant used to clear the path."

"Tsk tsk, that's the lowliest kind of servant."

Luo Zijun: "Get lost."

Bai Bai covered her mouth and giggled behind him, her eyes curving into crescents.

Luo Zijun went to the agency.

Before long, under the guidance of the agent, he found a house.

The house was very dilapidated and quite small.

Aside from a narrow main room, there were only two side rooms suitable for living.

As for the other two rooms.

The roofs had already collapsed, and the ground was full of rainwater.

However, everything else was there: a small courtyard, a kitchen, and a well.

Luo Zijun was very satisfied.

Two taels of silver a month was enough.

Besides, he wasn't the one living there.

And these two weren't even human, they were two snake demons; having a house to live in was good enough.

Back then, they probably could only live in caves.

After the agent left with the silver and the lease, Luo Zijun turned around, looked at the White Snake and Green Snake behind him, and smiled: "Are you two ladies satisfied with this place?"

Bai Bai and Qingqing shook their heads at the same time.

Bai Bai pouted her little mouth and shook her head with a bitter expression.

Qingqing hugged her sword, cold as ice, and shook her head.

"Since you're satisfied, then start your new life. There are brooms and rags there, and there is water in the well; go clean the house."

Luo Zijun ignored their head-shaking.

Living for free without spending a cent, yet they still dared to have so many demands?

Who gave them the nerve?

Bai Bai flattened her little mouth and said with a mournful face: "Young Master, it's so dirty here..."

"It's fine, it will be clean once you sweep it."

"It's so broken..."

"It's fine, as long as it can shelter you from the wind and rain, that's enough."

"It's so..."

"Alright, I have things to do, so I won't accompany you; I'll come to see you when I have time."

Luo Zijun did not linger and left directly.

There were some things he needed to think about, to think about very seriously.

He needed to make up his mind.

The gears of fate had already begun to turn.

Should he seize the opportunity, complete the mission immediately, and then gain a new life, or should he resist and embark on another path of defying heaven to change his fate...

These were all things he needed to think about again.

At this moment, various scenes from his past world and his current world were surfacing and colliding in his mind.

He walked all the way with a heavy heart to the Academy.

Because renting the house had delayed his time, he did not go over to greet anyone when passing by Bao'an Hall, walking straight past it.

When he appeared, Su Qingling behind the counter calmly puffed out her chest and placed it on the counter, then with a cold expression, she continued to lower her head and fiddle with the abacus.

Yet he did not even turn his head and walked straight away.

Su Qingling raised her head, stunned for a moment, then came out from behind the counter, arrived at the entrance, and gazed at that retreating figure.

That figure walked away quickly and soon disappeared around the street corner ahead.

West Lake Academy.

Luo Zijun entered the classroom, and Xu Xian looked at him with a resentful expression.

"Xiaoxian, what's wrong?"

At this time, the teacher had not yet come to give the lesson, and everyone was talking noisily.

Xu Xian's gaze was gloomy as he whispered, "Brother Luo, I saw you taking those two young girls to... to get a room on South Street last night."

Luo Zijun: "..."

Xu Xian pouted and said, "Hmph, you really wanted to eat alone."

Uh...

Since he had been discovered, Luo Zijun decided to keep up the act to the end.

"That's right, I just wanted to eat alone, and I already ate last night, so what are you going to do about it?"

Luo Zijun said with a domineering look.

Seeing his sharp gaze, Xu Xian immediately lowered his head in guilt, avoided his eyes, and said timidly, "I... I didn't mean anything..."

Luo Zijun patted him on the shoulder and said, "A real man need not worry about having no wife; you can go find other girls."

Xu Xian sighed, looked at him with great envy and jealousy, and asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Brother Luo, you... last night... those two young girls, how was... the taste?"

Luo Zijun reminisced for a moment and said, "Indescribably wonderful."

The corner of Xu Xian's eye twitched, and he felt even more heartbroken and envious.

Luo Zijun looked at him and said, "By the way, what were you doing on South Street last night?"

Didn't this guy live in the north of the city?

Xu Xian looked at him even more resentfully and whispered, "Didn't Brother Luo say yesterday that you would treat me to... to listen to music at a Brothel last night?"

"..."

Luo Zijun slapped his forehead and quickly said, "Sorry, I forgot. Tonight, we'll go tonight."

Xu Xian said, "Brother Luo isn't lying to me?"

Luo Zijun said, "We will definitely go tonight. I had something come up last night, so I forgot. We'll go to Tianxian Pavilion tonight; after class ends this evening, go wait for me at the entrance."

Only then did a smile appear on Xu Xian's face, and he whispered, "En, thank you, Brother Luo."

Brother Luo should be the one thanking you!

Luo Zijun sighed in his heart.

It is somewhat unbearable to deceive such a fool.

However, only such a fool would be deceived by Fahai, would turn heartless, and would hurt such a simple and kind White Snake who would stop at nothing to repay a debt of gratitude.

This marriage, the tragedy is evident.

"By the way, have you all heard? That Bai Daxiaojie who transferred to our Academy some time ago was suddenly abducted on her way home last night. I heard that when she was rescued, she was already disfigured, and... her clothes were in disarray, and she seemed to have gone mad..."

At this moment, someone suddenly broke a shocking piece of news.

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled.

Zhang Yitian's expression changed even more, and he said tremblingly, "Really? Wasn't she protected by guards?"

The person who broke the news said with an air of seriousness, "I heard the culprit had high martial arts skills; those guards were taken down before they could even react."

"Heavens, this is too terrifying, right?"

"The Bai Family is the most powerful of the Inner City Four Great Families; how could anyone dare to provoke them?"

"That Bai Daxiaojie... sigh, it's truly a pity."

"Indeed, such a beautiful person, like a celestial being. When I first saw her, I thought I was dreaming, thinking she was a fairy fallen from the heavens. I didn't even dare to approach her. Who could have imagined that she would actually..."

At this time, Huang Beicheng immediately stood up to stop them, saying, "Alright, alright, everyone be quiet! Do not discuss this matter anymore. We don't know if this is true or false; be careful that if it spreads, the Bai Family will come to cause trouble for the Academy."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed, and they immediately stopped.

The person who broke the news also realized it at this moment and said in a panic, "I only heard it too, it might be fake, everyone must not spread it."

Regardless of whether it was true or false, if this news spread from here and the Bai Family decided to investigate, it would be troublesome.

Even if the Bai Family just stomped their feet, the entire Lin'an City would have to tremble three times.

How could they, these scholars, dare to be targeted by them?

"Teacher Yuan is here!"

At this time, Yuan Mang entered the classroom with a solemn expression, not holding any books in his hands.

"Fellow students, there will be no class today. Starting from today, there will be a seven-day holiday. After you go home, stay at home during this time, do not run around, and definitely do not leave the city. Read your books well at home and do not be slack. If there are other matters, you may come to the Academy to handle them yourself..."

Upon hearing this, everyone thought to themselves: It seems that the matter from just now was true.

The Bai Family is enraged, and this West Lake Academy is likely afraid as well.

In Luo Zijun's mind, the quiet figure from the Hidden Book Pavilion, as white as a fairy and unstained by dust, could not help but emerge, and he thought to himself: It seems that even inside the city is not safe; even the high-ranking and powerful Bai Family has times when they cannot protect their own family members.

Seen this way, one's own strength is what is important.

If that Bai Daxiaojie had practiced martial arts, the outcome would naturally have been different.

His heart became conflicted once again.

It seems very unsafe here; if he stays here, he must practice martial arts diligently and make himself strong.

Only in this way can he live well.

And in that original world, at least, there would not be a fear for his life at any moment.

Of course, having no worries about his life does not mean there are no other worries.

Thinking wildly like this, he left the Academy.

Wang Dafu had wanted to call him to go to the Brothel, but thinking that it might not be safe in the city during this period, he had to give up.

Everyone was filled with anxiety and went home, not daring to run around anymore.

Luo Zijun went straight to the Martial Arts Hall.

Before he had made up his mind, he naturally had to continue practicing martial arts.

Martial arts practice must never be neglected. However, when he arrived at the Martial Arts Hall, it was desolate and cold, with only Yang Kaiming there alone.

Yang Kaiming told him with a grave expression: "The Master has notified us that the Martial Arts Hall will be temporarily closed for seven days; come back after seven days."

There was no other explanation.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to leave.

After thinking for a moment, he prepared to go home.

There should be no one at home during the day; his brother-in-law is out on duty, his sister has taken Xiaohuan out to do needlework, and the backyard has his brother-in-law's training equipment, so he could go straight back to practice his punches.

As long as he was careful not to break those wooden stakes and wooden dummies, it would be fine.

The sky was overcast, and he did not know if it would rain again.

He quickened his pace.

When passing by Bao'an Hall, he did not stop.

Just as he was walking past while lost in thought, a cold voice suddenly came from the doorway: "Luo Zijun, have you gone stupid?"

Luo Zijun stopped and turned his head to look.

!

His Senior Sister was wearing a plain white dress, standing prettily in the doorway looking at him, appearing cool, aloof, tall, and beautiful.

"Were you drained by a monster again?"

Su Qingling said coldly.

Only then did Luo Zijun walk over and say: "The Academy is on holiday today and I won't go back for seven days; the Martial Arts Hall is the same, so I was planning to go home."

Su Qingling gave him a cold look with her beautiful eyes, then reached out, grabbed his collar, and pulled him into the shop.

Luo Zijun hurriedly said: "Senior Sister, what are you doing? Men and women should not touch when handing things over; stop pulling and tugging."

Su Qingling pulled him directly behind the counter and said: "Since you have nothing to do, then watch the shop."

Luo Zijun said: "I want to practice martial arts."

Su Qingling ignored him, walked out of the counter, and went up to the second floor.

Luo Zijun hurriedly asked: "Senior Sister, what are you going up there for?"

"To sleep."

"Oh."

Did this girl not sleep again last night?

Forget it, he hadn't watched the shop in a long time; he would help watch it today and let that girl get some rest.

A moment passed.

The girl's cold voice suddenly came from above again: "Do you want to come up?"

Luo Zijun was stunned: "Come up for what?"

"To sleep."

"Ah... no, I won't..."

"It's not to sleep with me."

"Ah, I'm not sleeping."

"Then what about sleeping with me?"

"Ah, I... I'm not sleeping either."

"Come up, I'm waiting for you on the bed."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Senior Sister, is it fun to lie to me all day?"

"This time it's real."

"Heh, it's real every time. Where is the Rolling Pin you keep under the counter? Is it currently in your hand?"

"No, come up and help me take off my socks."

"Su Qingling, can you stop trying to seduce me with these childish things? I won't be fooled again."

This scene felt strangely familiar.

It was as if at some stage in the past, this kind of thing had happened many times.

Could it be that when they were young, that girl liked to deliberately seduce him like this and then take the opportunity to bully him?

It finally became quiet upstairs.

Luo Zijun snorted coldly, sat behind the counter, and continued thinking about things.

"Ah!"

At this moment, a cry of surprise suddenly came from upstairs.

Immediately after, with a "bang," it seemed like something had crashed to the floor, and the whole small building shook.

Luo Zijun's heart skipped a beat: "Senior Sister, what's wrong?"

It was quiet above for a while, then Su Qingling's pained voice came: "I... I fell, my foot... my foot seems to be broken..."

Luo Zijun hurriedly prepared to go up.

Suddenly, he stopped again and said toward the top: "Senior Sister, you are not allowed to lie to me again!"

Su Qingling did not speak again, but pained groans came from her mouth.

Luo Zijun hesitated for another moment before cautiously going upstairs, looking toward the top and saying: "Senior Sister, I have practiced martial arts; if you are lying to me again..."

He arrived on the second floor and suddenly saw that the door to the room was open; someone was lying on the floor, hair disheveled, in a wretched state, groaning in pain.

"Senior Sister!"

Luo Zijun's expression changed, and he immediately ran over.

Just as he was about to help the person on the floor up, Su Qingling suddenly pulled a Rolling Pin from beneath her and started hitting him with it.

Luo Zijun was furious: "Senior Sister, you've gone too far!"

Su Qingling didn't speak; she scrambled up to close the door while continuing to hit him, saying coldly: "That's for ignoring me this morning!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

So it turned out he had forgotten to greet this girl in the morning, which had made her angry.

"Senior Sister, don't resort to violence!"

Luo Zijun was struck a few times and hissed in pain; he immediately grabbed the Rolling Pin in her hand, while his other hand involuntarily clenched into a fist, ready to land a few punches on her face.

But he held himself back.

"Senior Sister, stop hitting me, I admit I was wrong. If you hit me again, I won't be able to hold back... Ah!"

Who would have thought that before he could finish his sentence, Su Qingling's other hand suddenly pinched his chest.

"Hiss! Senior Sister..."

Luo Zijun was in even more pain now and immediately reached out to pinch her back, but just as his hand reached her high, swelling chest, he lost his nerve and had to pinch her slender waist instead.

Su Qingling's body trembled from the pinch, and she said in a trembling voice: "You... let go..."

"You let go first!"

Luo Zijun said through gritted teeth; his chest was truly in pain.

Su Qingling raised her long leg, intending to kick him.

Seeing her aiming for his crotch, Luo Zijun was startled and hurriedly clamped his legs together, tightly pinning that leg.

"Senior Sister, you have such a cruel heart."

Luo Zijun decided he could no longer give in to this girl, lest she become even more overbearing.

Su Qingling stood on one leg, hopped a few times, and then stretched her head over to bite him.

"Bang!"

Luo Zijun lowered his head and met her head with his own, a heavy blow.

Su Qingling let out an "Ah," and fell backward in pain.

Luo Zijun, with his legs still clamping hers and his chest being tightly pinched by her, also let out an "Ah" in pain, and then, involuntarily, fell down along with her.

"Bang!"

The two of them fell together onto the floor covered with a plush rug.

Then, the commotion suddenly turned into silence.

The two people in the room also suddenly became motionless on the floor.

Outside the window, the wind swept by, whistling.

Inside the window, there was silence.

A long time passed.

Luo Zijun slowly lifted his head, his mouth leaving her forehead, and then he looked down at her.

The person beneath him was quiet, lying on her back; her body was soft and delicate, her eyelashes fluttering, and her pair of originally cold eyes were now watery and filled with confusion; her cold and beautiful face was also as vibrant as a flower, stained with two faint blushes.

Her high, swelling chest rose and fell gently, the sound of her breathing through her nose was clearly audible, and her body seemed to emit a faint, maidenly fragrance that belonged only to her.

"Did you kiss me?"

The two stared at each other for a long while before the young girl suddenly spoke.

Luo Zijun immediately denied it: "I didn't."

"You did kiss me."

The young girl opened her pitiful, moving eyes and looked at him with a watery gaze.

"I really didn't."

Luo Zijun continued to deny it.

"Then who kissed me?"

The young girl said softly.

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, then said: "My chin, my chin bumped into you."

"But, there is saliva too."

"Saliva from my chin."

"Where did the saliva come from?"

"From my mouth."

"Why would you be drooling?"

"I..."

"As expected, you covet my body."

"I... I don't."

The young girl's body suddenly moved, and she looked at him with watery eyes: "You don't? Then... what is that thing pressing against me?"

"..."

Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment, then immediately jumped up from her soft body and pulled a Dagger from his robes: "A Dagger! It's a Dagger!"

"Senior Sister, someone might be coming downstairs, I'm going to tend to the shop!"

After saying this, he immediately opened the door and fled.

The room fell quiet.

It was unclear when.

Outside, the sunlight had pushed aside the dark clouds, revealing its brightness.

Then, it shone through the lattice window, spilling into the room and landing on the young girl's white dress, which bloomed like a lotus, and on her cascading, raven-black hair.

The young girl still lay there, motionless.

A long while passed.

Only then did she gaze at the ceiling with Daidai eyes, her red lips parting slightly as she murmured to herself, "That Dagger, so... sharp."

(End of chapter)