Chapter 335: The Gadfly [Taking a break]

A low-class scholar?

White pigment?

Gong Shuwu's words seemed to come from a distant horizon, ethereal and light, yet somewhat unreal. Bai Su took a long time to react to this tremendous good news, though her expression remained dazed. Her eyes remained open until they stung.

"A low-ranking scholar... Bai Su?" She never imagined that her name could be associated with these four characters.

I've fantasized about it countless times.

She thought she would be ecstatic to the point of losing control, but the moment her dream came true, she found herself unnaturally calm. Calm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Upon seeing this, Gong Shuwu felt a sense of appreciation. With a more stable mindset, he wouldn't lose his composure when faced with real trouble in the future. A martial artist needs a strong heart.

"Bai Su, it's time to go back."

Who knew—

"Chief Gongshu, I have another matter to discuss."

Bai Su remained calm and composed, drawing her twin swords with two swift movements.

Upon seeing this obvious challenge, Gong Shuwu raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Bai Su, do you know what you're doing?"

A low-ranking official is, after all, just a low-ranking one.

Is this a challenge to oneself after barely taking the first step?

Bai Su said, "I understand."

She knew she was throwing an egg against a rock, overestimating her own strength, but she still wanted to see with her own eyes just how high this mountain was! And how much she would have to give to climb it! Gong Shuwu saw the fighting spirit surging in her eyes and did not refuse.

It won't take much time anyway.

Just as Gong Shuwu thought, it did not take much time.

He subdued him with a single move, breaking both of his swords.

"Remember to check in at the camp in half an hour."

Gong Shuwu had no intention of showing mercy to women; anyone who dared to hold two swords and point the tips at him was an opponent. He wouldn't kill Bai Su, but he wouldn't show any mercy either.

This is a basic respect for martial arts practitioners.

As for whether the blow will be too great?

If she can't even withstand this level of hardship, and loses the courage to go against the current and fight against the storms, she won't go far on the path of martial arts.

Bai Su held the broken twin swords and bowed her head, saying, "Yes."

"He really doesn't give me the slightest bit of face, does he?" As soon as Gong Shuwu left, Bai Su keenly noticed a familiar presence nearby. Looking in the direction of the voice, she saw Gu Chi. She pursed her lips, guessing that Mr. Gu had been here for a while.

She lowered her eyelids and said, "Mr. Gu."

Seeing that she looked slightly frustrated and annoyed but not discouraged, Gu Chi felt relieved and teased her, "Have you seen it clearly?"

Bai Su looked confused.

Gu Chi prompted her, "Look closely at how high the mountain is."

How big is the difference between a low-ranking scholar and a tenth-rank Zuo Shuzhang?

It's almost as if Bai Su thought the mountaintop was in the clouds, but little did she know that it wasn't even halfway up; the vast majority of the mountain was above the clouds. To try and climb this high mountain... commendable courage indeed.

"What?"

Bai Su took a moment to realize that Gu Chi was teasing her inner thoughts. Her usually calm face showed a rare hint of embarrassment and annoyance, but she still managed to hold back her anger.

He inwardly grumbled at this philistine, thinking that this seemingly respectable, well-read scholar was actually a rogue who used his spiritual powers to spy on a young woman's thoughts.

Naturally, the tone wasn't very friendly.

"Mr. Gu, you've come to watch the show?"

They mocked her for overestimating herself and having unrealistic ambitions. They laughed at how a lowly scholar dared to challenge a tenth-rank Left Vice Minister.

"Of course not." Gu Chi overheard the conversation among the people in the camp and learned that Bai Su had been missing for several hours. He thought of coming to look for her, worried that it might be the remnants of the local thugs hiding in Fugu City. It was much easier for him to find her than for Gong Shuwu.

Upon hearing this, Bai Su's expression softened.

However, he still subtly reminded Gu Chi to be mindful of his actions.

What's the difference between an older unmarried man eavesdropping on the thoughts of a young woman of marriageable age and being a pervert?

Gu Chi: "..."

He does want to be mindful of his actions.

However, the way of the literati was beyond his control.

To be honest, Bai Su was the first person to bring this up with him, but he couldn't admit that he hadn't used the power of words to eavesdrop but rather that it was the way of the literati that caused it, so he accepted the blame with a wry smile.

Fortunately, Bai Su didn't dwell on the issue too much, only thinking about staying away from Gu Chi in the future. If Gu Chi dared to do anything else offensive, she would do everything in her power to punish him, even if it meant mutual destruction. She wasn't someone to be bullied.

Gu Chi: "..."

Bai Su had striking features and an undisguised ambition between her brows: "...Chief Gongshu is indeed very strong, but—every mountain has a top, and even if we have to climb, we will climb to the top. What I have in abundance is time and energy!"

Starting late doesn't mean you can't reach the top.

Gu Chi was slightly surprised and couldn't help but wonder what kind of constitution his lord had. The young ladies he attracted were all very strong-willed—Lin Feng, who wanted to feed the people of the world with grain; Yu Zi, who was greedy for power; and Bai Su, who was ambitious to reach the pinnacle of martial arts.

I've seen arrogant people, but nothing this arrogant—

Uh, he suddenly remembered.

The most arrogant one seems to be our own lord?

It's true that like master, like subordinate.

Gu Chi's expression softened, and he smiled, "Then I wish Lady Bai Su good fortune in martial arts and that all her wishes will be fulfilled."

The two walked back together, keeping a distance from each other.

Passing by a bustling crafts shop, the heat from the furnace hit him – it was spring planting season, and some rusty farm tools needed to be reworked. The master craftsmen and apprentices in the shop were busy hammering and banging away – Gu Chi stamped his foot.

Bai Su followed the gaze.

"What's wrong? Something's happened?"

Gu Chi remembered something.

"Do you want your sword to be reforged?"

Speaking of this, I couldn't help but criticize Gong Shuwu in my heart.

If you're going to subdue someone, then subdue them. Why break their sword?

Those two swords were probably passed down from someone's sect.

Bai Su then remembered this matter.

but--

Ordinary craft shops don't have this skill.

Bai Su said, "I'll do it myself later."

Gu Chi: "Oh, you do it yourself..."

After saying that, he suddenly realized what he had said and turned to look at Bai Su, whose figure was still quite slender: "You also know how to forge iron?"

Bai Su didn't understand why he had that expression.

He nodded again: "I've studied it and know a little bit about it."

Six words, described in a light touch.

Gu Chi: "..."

He looked at the master craftsman and his apprentice in the workshop, sweating profusely and wearing only a thin cloth shirt, their arm muscles bulging as they swung their hammers to strike iron blocks. Then he looked at Bai Su, dressed in simple clothes, and fell into a kind of silence.

Bai Su clearly didn't understand what he meant.

He simply said, "Under normal circumstances, this skill is indeed passed down to men but not women, but there are always exceptions, aren't there?"

Bai Su did not have this family tradition.

But her teacher does have it.

I've heard my teacher say that his ancestors were a family of blacksmiths who amassed great wealth and a illustrious reputation through their skills.

However, after the thief star descended from the sky, the Martial Warriors were born with weapons that could evolve. Ordinary weapons had no advantage over them and were easily damaged. In addition, due to poor family management and issues such as taking sides, they were regarded as a thorn in the side by the ruling party.

Finally, they found a pretext to confiscate all their assets...

The building was destroyed overnight.

However, in this world where even national changes are so frequent, let alone so-called powerful families. No matter how powerful or prestigious a family may be, they are all lambs to the slaughter in the face of absolute power.

_(:з)∠)_

My period hadn't come for three months, and when it finally did, it was excruciating; the pain was so bad I couldn't even straighten my back...

I typed this chapter while lying down, holding my phone – it was killing me, but it was my perfect attendance record.

I'll try to finish the 10,000-word update in two days, the 15th and 16th.

PS: I saw some questions about pairings before, and well—these girls are all very clear-headed, especially Bai Su. Her character is quite clear-headed. She only takes further action when she feels she might want a child or needs political support, but that's all she does (basically, she wants to sleep with a man and have a child, but doesn't get married). She has "true love," and her greatest life goal is to reach the pinnacle of martial arts prowess.

P.S.: As for the CP (couple pairing) issue, it's too early. The candidates haven't been decided yet, and why talk about romance during the rising phase of one's career?

P.S.: To Bai Su, who was unaware of the truth, Gu Chi's behavior appeared as harassment and indecent assault, which already gave her a poor initial impression of him. Furthermore, when it comes to workplace harassment, boldly say no!

(End of this chapter)