Chapter 7
Zhu Yun did not go far. Instead, he went to the street opposite the teahouse and stood with his arms crossed in the shadow of the signboard.
The long street was bustling in the morning. Pedestrians gradually noticed the long sword with a small section of cold light showing. At first, they looked frightened, and then they tucked their tails between their legs and went around it, as if they had planned it together.
He ignored her and fixed his gaze on the girl through the wide-open door.
Luo Yan's dress today was not fancy, and her hair was adorned with an ordinary wooden hairpin, but her long black hair was particularly eye-catching in the crowd.
Many people at neighboring tables glanced at her discreetly, and after seeing her face clearly, they couldn't hide their amazement.
He frowned, regretting not choosing a larger teahouse, at least one with a private room decorated with gauze curtains...
The jewelry in her arms was digging into her sore spot that Zhu Yun stopped standing as punishment and took a shortcut to the pawnshop.
Passing through Bajiaoli Alley, he saw two children wearing masks chasing each other. He looked them over and realized that one was dressed as a righteous knight-errant and the other as a remnant of a demonic cult, and they were putting on a fierce battle.
"Demon Sect" is a derogatory term used by people in the martial arts world. Before their demise, they called themselves the Western Mountain Divine Sect.
The owner of Lanyue Tower is the only daughter of the former leader of the sect.
Zhu Yun couldn't help but fall into memories—
As a child, I didn't understand why the master hated his talent so much, yet also placed such high hopes on him. As the young master, he possessed the best martial arts manuals, but also endured the most severe punishments.
Later I realized that the poster wanted him to restore the religion.
But on what grounds?
Zhu Yun was fed up with her unpredictable temper and also tired of being ordered around.
After learning that people in the martial arts world feared Lan Yue Lou, he first tried to kill Jia Si and found it was not difficult.
So, on yet another day filled with boredom, Zhu Yun chose to draw his sword. After killing three top-tier disciples, he was personally fed the Mandarin Duck Warmth by the sect leader.
Then, we arrived at Qingyuan Village.
He had originally planned to kill the Jia family grandfather and grandson after recovering, then occupy the house to recuperate for a while. Now, the opportunity had passed, and the villagers all recognized him. If he rashly massacred the village, it would inevitably attract the attention of the authorities.
No more killings, no more occupying houses, and no more missions being issued from the building.
Zhu Yun discovered that he had nothing to do.
He remembered Liu Changsheng boasting that he wanted to be a rich man, Wang Guyu saying he wanted to be an accountant, and even five-year-old Guyang aspiring to follow in his father's footsteps and hunt tigers in the mountains in the future.
Everyone has a place to come from and a place to go, except him.
…
Even after leaving the pawnshop, Zhu Yun still hadn't reached a conclusion.
He returned to the teahouse via the same route, where a waiter was slacking off. He beckoned with his finger and handed over the black cloth bundle: "Give this to the girl in the light green dress, about twelve or thirteen years old, the prettiest one."
The young man was not old, but his imposing manner was intimidating. The waiter broke out in a cold sweat and asked respectfully, "Are you referring to... Miss Jia, sir?"
Fake Miss.
He found it inexplicably funny and gave a wry smile: "It's Miss Jia."
The waiter didn't dare to delay and returned to the teahouse with a bow. Seeing this, Zhu Yun also left.
In a flash, he decided to find a more luxurious mansion first, and then finish practicing the "Nine Swords of Divine Capital." After that, he would seize all the famous martial arts manuals and see if any were suitable for him to practice.
Then, we'll think about it then.
After struggling with the problem for several days, Zhu Yun finally saw some progress, feeling relieved, but her steps became increasingly slow.
He deliberately avoided investigating the reason, but his ears couldn't help but perk up. The sounds of hawking, laughter, and arguments came from all directions, but there were no familiar footsteps.
Luo Yan was in a playful mood and didn't think of him at all?
Anyone would react to suddenly receiving unknown valuables. Besides, he didn't promise to go back, so why didn't he suspect anything?
She really is—
Zhu Yun couldn't find the right words to describe it. His anger surged, and he crushed the last gem on the sword hilt.
She should have been killed.
He turned around with a sullen face. At that moment, a section of light green sleeve caught his eye, followed by the aroma of chestnut cake.
"I'm exhausted." Luo Yan stopped half a step away, still catching her breath, and proudly held up the oil paper package. "Guess what this is?"
She had barely finished asking when she felt it was too hot to handle, so she shoved it into Zhu Yun's arms and revealed the answer herself, "It's the chestnut cake that Changsheng mentioned. I waited for almost half an hour to buy it."
The heat traveled through the oil paper to his palm, making his blood boil slightly.
"What are you laughing at?" Luo Yan asked in surprise.
Zhu Yun's expression stiffened, and he avoided her gaze: "Why aren't you staying at the teahouse?"
Luo Yan pouted: "The storyteller only tells stories of Nongyu stealing fragrance, it's better to go shopping."
Suddenly noticing that Zhu Yun's hands were empty and his sword didn't look repaired, she exclaimed in shock, "Have you been robbed?"
"......"
Meanwhile, the teahouse waiter, unable to find Miss Jia, fearing that the young man might draw his sword and kill him in a fit of anger, simply squatted down and anxiously looked around.
Upon seeing the two return together, he repeatedly uttered "May our ancestors bless us" and hurriedly handed them the items.
Luo Yan subconsciously looked at Zhu Yun: "What is this?"
"Go inside and take a look."
This time she requested a quiet private room. As she walked, she unpacked her package and discovered two wooden boxes inside.
The box on top contained jewelry, the very items Zhu Yun had asked her to pawn. The other box was heavier; it was only opened inside the house that it was revealed to be filled with loose silver, its gleaming light reflecting off the silver and brightening her mood.
Luo Yan was overjoyed: "Where did the money come from?"
"Melted."
She remembered that there were more gold items than silver items in the official's briefcase, so she swept aside the loose silver and indeed saw a gold bar two fingers wide. Further down, she also found several silver notes.
Knowing that she was suspicious, Zhu Yun took off his sword: "This is a sword forged by Wanxing Manor. It is inlaid with various gemstones. When it is illuminated, it sparkles like stars, hence the name of the manor."
Luo Yan understood: "You pawned the gemstone."
"Um."
Having ascertained the source of the huge sum of money, Luo Yan's anxiety subsided. She fiddled with the dice-sized pieces of silver and whispered with delight, "I'm rich!"
Zhu Yun watched her play quietly, a smile unconsciously spreading across his eyes.
*
Jia Yufang returned to the clinic with her reward money and saw two children sitting side by side by the window, one holding a book and the other holding a pen, practicing calligraphy with furrowed brows.
Are you hungry?
Upon hearing this, Luo Yan slammed the book shut and pointed to the various boxes beside her: "Grandma, we're rich!"
She vividly recounted to Jia Yufang how Zhu Yun was grateful for being saved, how he insisted on repaying her with money, and how he bravely bargained at the pawnshop...
Zhu Yun handed Luo Yan a cup of cool tea at the right time. Luo Yan gulped it down and concluded, "One box is a gift of medicinal herbs from the doctor, two boxes are books, and the other box is for my grandmother."
Jia Yufang remembered that the hilt of the sword was inlaid with five or six gemstones, but now it was bare, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for it: "Such a good thing, alas."
"I'll buy A-Yun something even better later." Luo Yan took her grandmother's hand and walked out. "I want to eat crystal sashimi, and A-Yun said she wants to eat Wensi tofu."
"Okay, let's go to Laifu Restaurant."
...
After a hearty meal, the three generations of the family went to the West Market under the scorching sun to hire a carriage. They then asked someone from the clinic to deliver a message to Wang Tianquan before returning to the village with their large and small boxes.
Luo Yan was afraid of the sun, and even the warm sunlight made her drowsy. Seeing Zhu Yun sitting upright, she nudged him: "Please shield me from the sun."
Zhu Yun did not refuse and even unfolded the black cloth covering the box so that she could open her eyes normally.
"You're in a pretty good mood today."
He chuckled softly after hearing this, offering no explanation.
Luo Yan almost thought she was seeing a ghost in broad daylight.
But then I thought, Zhu Yun has only been in Qingyuan Village for three or four days, so it would be unfair to define his character too early. Perhaps his previous gloom, sarcasm, and meanness were due to illness, and now that he has recovered, he has become more cheerful?
She quickly found refuge in the shade, feeling at ease, and casually informed her grandmother: "I invited Changsheng and the others to come to our house to study. They'll be in the shed for half an hour each day."
"That would be great."
In the past, the Luo family had a private school for girls.
Jia Yufang didn't know exactly what the young ladies were learning, but upon hearing the word "studying," she felt that the gap between her and the past had narrowed, and that she could explain things to her master's family when she went underground.
So when he returned to the village, he was busy tidying up the table and mending the mats.
Luo Yan went into the study to organize her study materials.
She divided the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones into eight sets, then categorized the books. Just as she was about to ask Zhu Yun for help, she saw him putting on and taking off his outer robe right in front of her.
He was so shy and timid at the clinic during the day, how come his personality changed so drastically at night...?
Noticing her gaze, Zhu Yun raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"
"No, no." Her eyes burned, and she quickly lowered her head, pretending to be busy, while thinking about whether she should move the bookshelf and other things back to her own room.
Zhu Yun changed into his newly bought outfit, tightened the cuffs, and walked out with his sword in hand.
Luo Yan exclaimed in surprise, "Not only are you not going to help, but you're also leaving me to go out and have fun all by yourself!"
He didn't see what was so interesting about a few books and pens, but he still put down his sword: "How can I help?"
Unexpectedly, Luo Yan fell silent, because she remembered that Zhu Yun was illiterate. But it didn't matter, she said confidently, "Come sit down and talk to me, I can't eat alone anyway."
"..."
Where were you planning to go?
Zhu Yun rubbed his temples and explained lazily, "The eastern mountain is quiet; I'll go there to practice my sword."
Qingyuan Village is located in the mountains, but there are still high mountains in the mountains. The game that Guyu's father hunted came from the mountains to the east.
Luo Yan dared not let him go to the area where wild animals roamed, and advised, "Grandmother has always been a woman of few words, and I am also very quiet. You can practice in the back of the house."
He asked with great interest, "Are you quiet?"
"I'm not quiet?" Luo Yan raised her voice, revealing an incredulous expression.
Zhu Yun took a deep breath to avoid laughing out loud and irritating her, and said seriously, "You are the quietest."
"..."
It sounds like you're not saying it sincerely.
But Zhu Yun still insisted on going up the mountain. According to him, his internal strength has now recovered to 100%. He said that the beasts in the mountains are nothing to him. If he really encounters them, he will hunt them down and add them to his meal.
This time, Luo Yan did not raise any questions, because she remembered that the world she lived in was not ancient times in history.
If it can defy gravity, then mere wild beasts are nothing.
She had just finished sorting the items, washed her hands with clean water, and told Zhu Yun, "I'm going too."
After he finished speaking, I noticed a flicker of hesitation on his face.
However, Luo Yan noticed that after going to town, Zhu Yun's temper had improved considerably; he was more responsive to questions and generally granted requests.
She silently counted in her mind:
One, two...
"good."
Before Luo Yan silently counted to "three," Zhu Yun spoke.
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