Chapter 93: Am I Xu Xian???

"Creak..."

The door opened.

Bi'er appeared in the doorway, cast a cold glance outside, then turned and went into the room.

Luo Zijun did not mind and followed her in.

The young girl, who had been waiting for a long time, still wore a smile and bowed gracefully: "I am truly sorry for making Young Master Luo come for nothing yesterday."

Luo Zijun glanced at her and said, "It is fine, it was I who disturbed you, Miss."

Their gazes met.

There was a moment of silence in the room.

Liu Chujian smiled and said, "Congratulations, Young Master Luo. That book, *West Chamber Romance*, is selling very well. It is out of stock almost every day, and many people who cannot buy it even go to argue with the shopkeeper."

Luo Zijun nodded, not saying much more.

No matter how well that book sold, it had nothing to do with him anymore.

Seeing that he seemed unwilling to talk, Liu Chujian's bright eyes dimmed slightly, then she smiled again: "Because *West Chamber Romance* is selling so well, the other side said they are willing to offer one thousand taels of silver for the second book, *Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai*. However, I did not agree. In my heart, the price should be at least two thousand taels. The story of the second book is even more poignant and moving; in fact, in my heart, even two thousand or five thousand taels cannot reflect its true value."

She paused.

She added, "If you are willing, Young Master Luo, I can take you there today to discuss the price with them in person."

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is there a good chance of raising the price?"

Liu Chujian pondered for a moment and said, "In theory, given the sales of the first book, *West Chamber Romance*, there should be no problem. However... to be honest with you, Young Master, the other party has official backing, and it is difficult for other merchants to compete with them. If they do not agree, I fear other merchants would not dare to print the second book casually..."

Luo Zijun nodded and said, "Then let it be one thousand taels."

A look of guilt appeared on Liu Chujian's face, and she said softly, "It is a pity that I cannot help you, Young Master. If it were before, when my father was still..."

She did not continue, gave a bitter smile, and asked, "Have you decided, Young Master? You are not going to discuss it?"

"I am not going."

Luo Zijun looked calm, without any sign of regret.

He was leaving soon anyway.

Liu Chujian looked at him again, said nothing more, went over to pick up the money bag on the table, handed it to him, and said softly, "There are five hundred taels of silver inside. Three hundred of it is the remainder from the sale of your previous book, and the other two hundred... is what I earned myself. Please take it for now, Young Master. Once I bring the contract tomorrow and you sign it, they will provide the silver."

Luo Zijun looked at the money bag in her hand, then at her clear and gentle eyes, hesitated for a moment, reached out to take it, and said, "Thank you, Miss Chujian."

This time, he did not refuse.

Bi'er, who was to the side, finally could not help but say with red eyes, "I hope Young Master Luo will not take my young lady's silver and spend it on other girls."

Liu Chujian hurriedly said, "Bi'er, don't talk nonsense."

Bi'er said with tears in her eyes, "I am not talking nonsense. He takes the silver my young lady worked so hard to earn and goes to be with Miss Shui Shui and Miss Ziwei, and even writes poems for them, he..."

"Bi'er!"

Liu Chujian's expression became stern for the first time.

Bi'er's tears immediately rolled down, then she turned away, looking elsewhere, her shoulders heaving slightly.

A look of embarrassment appeared on Liu Chujian's face, and she lowered her head, saying, "I hope you will not take it to heart, Young Master Luo."

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, did not explain, took the new manuscript from his sleeve, placed it on the table nearby, and said, "Miss Chujian, you may decide the price for this book yourself. No matter how much silver it sells for, you may keep it yourself; this is a gift from me to you."

After saying this, he did not linger and took his leave.

When he reached the door.

He suddenly stopped, turned his head, looked at the gentle young girl in the room, was silent for a few seconds, and said, "Miss Chujian, thank you."

After saying this, he left quickly.

Liu Chujian stood stunned in the room, her gaze fixed on the manuscript on the table.

Bi'er turned around and cried, "Young Lady, did you see? That guy didn't even bother to explain to you. He didn't care about you at all, woo..."

Outside the Brothel.

Luo Zijun stood on the street, looked back one last time, and then walked away quickly.

Bathed in the morning sun, his figure gradually faded into the distance.

When a window in a room on the third floor suddenly opened, his figure had already disappeared into the bustling street.

Luo Zijun returned home.

For the past few days, he had not gone out again.

On the day before his wedding.

At dusk, bathed in the tipsy sunset, he arrived at Bao'an Hall.

He had not seen them for a few days.

Seeing him appear suddenly at this time, Su Qingling was stunned, then lowered her head, fiddled with the abacus, and calmly placed her towering breasts on the counter.

Su Dafang was dozing off in a rocking chair; seeing him enter, he closed his eyes completely and even snored at the right moment.

"Master, Senior Sister."

Luo Zijun looked at the two of them, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "Tomorrow..."

For some reason, he suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

He paused.

He kept the smile on his face and continued, "I am getting married tomorrow. I invite you both to come and drink the wedding wine."

As soon as these words were spoken, the shop suddenly fell silent.

The sound of the abacus stopped; the creaking of the rocking chair also stopped.

The snoring also stopped.

The wind chime hanging at the door by someone seemed to stop ringing as well.

Su Dafang opened his eyes and looked at him in astonishment.

Su Qingling still kept her head lowered, her slender, scallion-white fingers resting on the abacus at some unknown moment, no emotion visible on her face.

Silence for a long while.

Luo Zijun turned to the side, looked at his master on the rocking chair, and smiled: "Sister wants me to get married early, and as it happens, I have also met a girl I like, so... although it is indeed a bit rushed, I think it is quite good. Once married, I should be able to study with more focus."

Su Dafang opened his mouth but did not speak, his gaze turning to look behind him.

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, took two banknotes from his bosom, went over and placed them on the counter, and said softly: "Senior Sister, returning your money. In the future, I might not..."

He did not continue.

"It is getting dark, I should go home. Master, Senior Sister, remember to come drink the wedding wine tomorrow. Of course, the red envelopes cannot be missing, you must pack them generously."

After speaking, he waved his hand, went out the door, and left with quick steps.

The setting sun went down.

He walked with his head down quickly along the busy street, and for some reason, his vision suddenly became a bit blurry.

Inside Bao'an Hall, it remained silent and soundless.

Only the wind chime under the eaves outside was ringing with a *ding-a-ling* sound in the golden sunset and the tipsy evening breeze.

Su Dafang closed his eyes, unable to bear looking at the counter.

The young girl behind the counter stood there with her head lowered, stunned and dazed for a long time, before saying softly: "Grandfather, I want to go home."

The night curtain fell quickly.

A round moon rose into mid-air.

After finishing dinner.

The smile on Luo Jiaorong's face faded, and she said solemnly: "Zijun, you are getting married tomorrow, there is something Sister must tell you."

As she spoke, she stood up and walked toward the room, saying: "Come here."

Luo Zijun felt puzzled and followed her in.

Li Zhengshan went over to help them close the door, not following them inside.

Some things were better left for the siblings to resolve themselves.

Luo Jiaorong lit an oil lamp in the room, then crawled under the bed and dragged out a rectangular wooden box from inside.

The wooden box was covered in dust and locked with an iron lock.

It was clearly from a long time ago.

Luo Jiaorong stroked the wooden box, her expression complex, as if recalling something.

Seeing this, Luo Zijun felt even more puzzled.

"Sister, what is inside here?"

Luo Jiaorong did not answer, sighed softly, fished out a key from the head of the bed, and slowly opened the iron lock on the wooden box.

"Click..."

The wooden box opened slowly, and a silvery-white thing appeared inside.

Luo Jiaorong looked at it with a complex gaze, paused, carefully stretched out her hands, took it out, and placed it on the ground. Then, she slowly unfolded it.

Luo Zijun stared intently.

After this thing was unfolded, it looked like a small quilt.

But under the lamplight, it suddenly shimmered with luster, covered in beautiful and eerie patterns, actually looking somewhat like...

"This is a Snake Skin."

Luo Jiaorong raised her head to look at him, her tone complex as she said.

Luo Zijun was stunned: "Snake Skin?"

Luo Jiaorong nodded, looking at him with loving eyes, and said slowly: "Zijun, actually, you were not born to Father and Mother, you were picked up by us. It was winter at the time, snow was falling heavily, and it was already night. Father and Mother were bringing me back from a relative's house, and when we walked to the side of a river, we heard the sound of an infant crying. We went over to look, and it was you."

"At that time, you were completely naked, wearing no clothes, but were tightly wrapped in this Snake Skin. We saw you were cute, so we brought you back..."

Luo Zijun stiffened.

!

In an instant, his mind seemed to suddenly capture something, but it flashed away just as quickly.

Luo Jiaorong then picked up a blood-colored Jade Pendant from the wooden box, as well as a Copper Mirror the size of a palm, and a yellowed piece of paper.

"Zijun, these things were all wrapped by this Snake Skin and placed in your bosom. This paper has your original name and your birth date and time written on it."

Luo Jiaorong slowly unfolded the yellowed paper and said: "Your original name is... Xu Xuan, a very nice name."

"..."

Luo Zijun felt a shock in his heart, dumbfounded.

I... I am called Xu Xuan?

He clearly remembered that in the story of the White Snake, the original male lead was indeed called Xu Xuan.

He recalled the voice in his mind once again.

At the time he was muddled and thought it was a dream; he could no longer remember if the Lord of the Moon Palace had said Xu Xian or Xu Xuan.

But, this silvery-white Snake Skin...

White Snake... Xu Xuan...

"Could it be... could it be that I am that Master Xu who, after being intimate with the White Snake, betrayed her and caused the White Snake to die and vanish?"

Luo Zijun was somewhat dumbstruck.

I came here to stop my own love? I came to ruin my own marriage?

"Zijun, don't overthink it. Because you are getting married tomorrow, Sister is telling you this now. In the hearts of Sister and Brother-in-law, you will always be..."

"Sister!"

Luo Zijun suddenly interrupted her, then took all the things from her hands and said: "I am going out for a while!"

He opened the door and left the room.

He glanced at the White Snake, ignored it, and immediately went out the door.

Li Zhengshan chased him to the doorway and said, "Zijun, where are you going?"

"I'm going to a friend's house. Brother-in-law, don't worry, I'll be back in a while!"

Luo Zijun left in a hurry.

His background was not important to him.

His father and mother, his sister and brother-in-law had raised him; the grace of raising him was greater than the grace of giving birth to him, so he naturally would not forget it.

But the Snake Skin on his body and his true name made him have to be vigilant.

The streets at night had few pedestrians.

He walked quickly, passing through streets and alleys, and soon arrived at the north of the city, entering a small alley.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

Stopping in front of a family's main gate, he immediately raised his hand to knock.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

He knocked incessantly, panting, his heart in a state of chaos.

A moment later, the gate opened.

Xu Ziyin was wearing a red dress, accompanied by a maid and a servant, holding a Red Tasseled Spear, and looking at him with a cold face. After seeing his appearance clearly, she was slightly stunned, then said coldly, "In the middle of the night, what are you here for?"

Luo Zijun cupped his hands and said, "Miss Xu, I have some matters to discuss with Brother Xu, please let him come out for a moment."

Xu Ziyin said coldly, "He is already asleep. If you have business, come back tomorrow."

Having said that, she was about to close the door.

Luo Zijun immediately reached out to prop the door open and said, "I really have urgent business with Brother Xu, I just need to ask a few questions, I ask that you please accommodate me, Miss."

Xu Ziyin raised her eyebrows and said in a chilling voice, "Take your hand away."

Not only did Luo Zijun not take his hand away, he even stuck his leg inside, panting as he said, "Please accommodate me, Miss, I will only ask a few questions and then I will leave."

Just as Xu Ziyin was about to get angry, a woman's voice suddenly came from the courtyard: "Ziyin, who is it?"

Luo Zijun hurriedly looked inside and said, "Auntie, I am a fellow student and friend of Xu Xian. I have some matters to discuss with him, and I hope you can let him come out for a moment."

Upon hearing this, the woman hesitated for a moment and instructed the maid behind her, "Go, call Xian'er over."

Xu Ziyin kept her pretty face sullen and said nothing more.

Before long, Xu Xian hurried over. Just as he was about to reach out to open the door, he was glared at by his sister, causing his neck to shrink instantly. Not daring to open the door anymore, he could only cup his hands toward the outside and say, "Brother Luo, let's discuss things tomorrow. It is too late today, so I won't come out."

While speaking, he was also blinking his eyes hard toward the outside, looking anxious and fearful.

He still thought that this Brother Luo had suddenly remembered his promise to him that day and had come specifically to call him to the Brothel.

Luo Zijun was even more anxious than him and hurriedly asked, "Brother Xu, I have one thing to ask you, and I hope you can answer truthfully."

Seeing that his expression was off, Xu Xian asked suspiciously, "Brother Luo, please ask."

Luo Zijun pushed the door open with force and looked into his eyes, saying, "Has Brother Xu been called Xu Xian since you were a child? Or, have you ever had another name?"

Xu Xian was stunned upon hearing this and said, "I have always been called Xu Xian and have never had any other name. Brother Luo, why would you suddenly ask about this?"

Luo Zijun used Mind Reading and did not find him lying.

While they were silent, Xu Ziyin on the side suddenly turned her head to look at her brother and said coldly, "You have more than one name."

Xu Xian was stunned, as if he had only just remembered something, and his cheeks immediately flushed red.

However, he did not hide it and cupped his hands, saying, "Brother Luo, I just remembered. Actually, my original name wasn't Xu Xian, it was..."

"It was what?"

Luo Zijun asked hurriedly.

Xu Xian blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed, but still said in a low voice, "It was... Goudan, Zhang Goudan. I was adopted, and the name Xu Xian was given to me by my father later on."

"..."

Luo Zijun was completely dumbfounded now.

"Brother Luo, you..."

"It's nothing, thank you."

Luo Zijun did not linger, cupped his hands, and turned to leave.

At this moment, his brain was buzzing, as if thousands or tens of thousands of mosquitoes were flapping their wings and circling in his head.

He felt a bit dizzy.

"I am Xu Xian... I am actually Xu Xian... I am the real Xu Xian who rides the snake..."

"Xu Xian is Zhang Goudan, I, Luo Zijun, am the real Xu Xian..."

"I came here to ruin my marriage with the White Snake, to stop my own good fortune... I want to deceive the White Snake, and I even have to deceive myself..."

"I even wanted to trick myself into going to the Brothel every day, and I even cursed myself to become a eunuch early!"

"I... I am an idiot."

The night wind blew, cool as water, as if it were blowing into his bones.

He couldn't help but shiver.

He suddenly quickened his pace and ran toward home.

Get married?

To hell with getting married!

Once Xu Xian marries the White Snake, it means the mission has failed.

If the mission fails...

Although that voice in his head didn't say what the consequences of mission failure were, if he thought about it carefully, could there be any good consequences for failing the mission?

Or perhaps suddenly vanishing on the spot, which might mean dying directly in this world; or perhaps returning immediately to that world, to continue waiting for death in despair.

Of course, there is also the possibility of another outcome, which is to remain here forever.

However, regardless of which outcome it is, he does not dare to take the risk.

Therefore, he absolutely must not get married now!

(End of chapter)