In the flower garden bathed in the morning light.

Zhu Yourong looked at the disciple opposite her who was still silent, raised her hand that had put down the teacup slightly, but put it down again. She couldn't help but want to rub Yu Huaijin's head which was tied with a man's hair, but she knew that the disciple would be angry.

Zhu Yourong was dazed for a moment, then smiled silently.

She remembered the first time she was brought to that unknown place by those people and the first time she saw "Xiao Yu Xuan Ji", she felt very familiar with her.

There is a sense of intimacy.

She was very young and of short stature, and she was wearing elaborate and intricate clothes with intricate accessories. Most of her face was not visible, and her eyes were almost covered. However, she stood straight, revealing seriousness in her eyes. She looked seriously into Zhu Yourong's eyes and saluted her in a formal manner.

The moment Zhu Yourong saw her, he decided to take her out, even though Zhu Yourong had no choice in the matter and was being chosen.

But that's what she thought. It wasn't pity or sympathy for this silent little girl who followed the ancient etiquette to the point of being rigid and boring. It was just intimacy and liking for her. She wanted to take her out to see the world instead of staying in a place where the historical dust accumulated on just a roof tile was so heavy that it made people breathless.

When the adults temporarily left to give the two of them some time alone, Zhu Yourong still remembered that this old-fashioned little girl, who was obviously not the first heir to that unknown land but was regarded as the apple of everyone's eye and even more valued than the first heir, to the point of being like an 'outsider', had been silent before. After the adults temporarily left, when everything was quiet, she suddenly spoke. Zhu Yourong felt that it must be her voice, because there could not be two people around.

Xiaoyu Xuanji's voice had the crispness of a little girl, but was also a little hoarse and hollow, with a muffled feeling as if a gauze curtain covered her lips and teeth. It was very contradictory and complicated, and completely different from now. The reason I remember so much about it is because the memory of our first encounter is still fresh.

"Can a sir be a sir, too?" she asked.

At that time, Zhu Yourong remembered that when she heard these somewhat confusing words, she smiled and nodded, and she couldn't help but suddenly reached out and rubbed Xiaoyu Xuanji's hair.

I guess such a rebellious act also frightened this old-fashioned little girl. I remember her face turned red at that time. She stammered a few times at first, and then said with a serious face, "Sir, please respect yourself."

Righteous words.

Zhu Youren couldn't help being handsome.

Afterwards, there was silence as the tea cooled down, and then the adults came back.

Later on, she became Xiaoyu Xuanji's teacher, the teacher who taught her.

Behind the two men, both the Confucian Temple and those people were very satisfied with this relationship.

As expected, Zhu Yourong got an even brighter future, if she had not chosen a narrow path and ruined her future. Even so, Yu Xuanji did not leave, and Zhu Yourong was still not removed from the list of the first-class Confucian scholars by the Confucian Temple.

But Zhu Yourong didn't care about these. She was happy that he finally took her outside as he wished, and along the way he saw Xuanhuang Jiuzhou, a name that they all thought was a bit rustic.

They have walked the same path that Gu Kunpeng walked.

Warriors and ice fields of Beikunpeng Continent.

The sword energy and demonic aura of Kundu in Western Fuyao Continent.

The philosophers and royal family of Tunanzhou.

The female cultivators and the great lake of Yunmeng Island.

The swordsmen and chivalrous spirit of Nanxiaoyaozhou.

Finally, we arrived at this small Wangque Island.

If they wanted to talk about the characteristics of this most remote of the three small continents, according to their master-disciple tradition, each of them would speak one sentence.

Xuan Ji said that Li Du had sword energy.

In Zhu Yourong's eyes, the days passed very slowly.

Therefore, because of some things and some people, the two finally stopped and stayed here. Now they were sitting in an orchid garden in a secluded courtyard of a Confucian academy in this secluded corner of the world, outside the city of monks.

Zhu Yourong picked up the teacup, shook it slightly, took a sip, lowered his eyes, and finally did not reach out to rub his disciple's head.

Apart from the fact that she couldn't do some intimate actions often, she actually didn't think there was anything wrong with her disciples being a bit old-fashioned and serious.

Zhu Yourong had never thought of changing anything about Yu Xuanji. It had been like this since the first time she respectfully called her "sir". Looking back on the journey they had come together while sipping tea, she had only been imparting knowledge and answering questions. She had not intended to teach Yu Xuanji any principles of being a human being or a woman, nor had she intended to make her more lively, more humorous, more cheerful, or even more rebellious.

None of these.

Even though Zhu Yourong knew that this disciple was the one who listened to his elders and teachers the most, even if he might be wrong.

She didn't talk nonsense or teach any profound truths. Perhaps this was the reason why the "adults" in her disciples' families tacitly allowed Yu Xuanji to stay with her.

But Zhu Yourong’s original intention was not for this reason.

The woman in Confucian robes knew that Yu Xuanji had been watching her silently.

Watching her with her hair tied up and her chest wrapped, she was better at Confucian classics and Taoism than thousands of Confucian men of her generation, and dared to make a young gentleman bow his head; watching her at the peak of her career, she didn't know how high the sky was and how deep the earth was, she changed her ways, hit her head against the wall, became rebellious and even unfilial, and fell to the bottom; watching her obsessed with calligraphy, but ended up with a bloody head, with nothing to gain, but she was content, and went all the way south, willing to live in the ends of the earth, writing, teaching and growing flowers.

Zhu Yourong knew that this disciple had many things in his mind that he had not asked, and would only occasionally blurt out a question, like when he asked her if she was tired not long ago.

She answered with a smile.

Zhu Yourong felt that this was enough.

Old-fashioned, stubborn, polite, boring, occasionally saying some strange but interesting words, who says that her little mystery doesn't make her the most extraordinary woman in the world?

Beside the table in the flowerbed, Zhu Yourong smiled sweetly, put down the teacup, and reached out... to rub it.

Yu Huaijin's body stiffened, and he lowered his head slightly, pressed down by the devil's claws of 'teacher's love as high as a mountain'.

She lowered her eyes, staring at the table, and said seriously, "Sir, please respect yourself."

Zhu Yourong smiled happily and took back the hand that was rubbing her head.

A strand of black hair slid down the right cheek of the old-fashioned woman.

Yu Huaijin pursed his lips, raised his hand with a stern face, and tucked his black hair behind his right ear.

Zhu Yourong narrowed her eyes slightly, smiled and nodded.

Yu Huaijin raised his eyes and looked.

Zhu Yourong quickly put away her expression and her mouth returned to its original state. She looked away and glanced around. Suddenly, as if she had discovered something, she pointed at the cucumber and black-hearted red fruit that Yu Huaijin had placed together on the table and asked curiously:

"What is this?"

Yu Huaijin followed the line of sight and looked...

Zhao Rong wandered around Yilanxuan for a while. It was not that he didn't know the way to the flower garden, but he had been following Yu Huaijin. Seeing her hurried steps, he thought she was probably still angry. After thinking about it, he didn't follow her immediately.

So he looked around at the flowers and plants, and found that there were unexpectedly many varieties of orchids here. There were many orchids that he couldn't name, even though he had traveled all over the country on foot across half the continent and thought he was quite knowledgeable.

Zhao Rong admired the orchids with curiosity for a while, then looked at the sun, and estimated that the boring guy should have finished gossiping, so he picked up a remaining cucumber and walked towards the flowerbed...

Soon, in the flower garden.

"Here." Zhao Rong held the cucumber in both hands and placed it solemnly on the table. "It's just a little gift, Brother Yourong, please accept it and don't refuse."

After he finished speaking, he sat down in an empty seat in front of the table in a familiar manner, picked up a small teacup with two fingers, and looked at Zhu Yourong with a smile on her face... and the teapot in her hand with bright eyes.

He ignored the expressionless gaze from Yu Huaijin who was sitting next to him.

Zhu Yourong smiled and nodded, and poured Zhao Rong a cup of orchid tea, "You're welcome, Ziyu."

According to the agreement between the two, they could address each other as equals in private. This also suited Zhu Yourong's wish to ask Zhao Rong for advice on calligraphy. At this time, it was not a bad idea for Zhao Rong to ask for help.

However, a certain old-fashioned woman was staring at the two of them, constantly reminding them that it was okay to address them by name, but it was not okay to overstep the line.

However, Zhao Rong and Zhu Yourong both had a tacit understanding.

Zhao Rong looked down at the cup of orchid tea in his hand, and his mind went to the other cup of orchid tea that someone had not finished drinking.

He stared at the tea and suddenly said, "Brother Yourong, I've always been a little curious. When we met at the intersection that day, how did you recognize me? Or was it something I said along the way that gave you away?"

Zhu Yourong curled her lips, suppressed her laughter, clenched her fist over her mouth and coughed, "Zi Yu, we met a long time ago, have you forgotten?"

Zhao Rong was stunned, put down the teacup, and asked tentatively, "You mean... when Senior Brother Li Jinshu brought me into the academy, I passed you by?"

Zhu Yourong nodded, as if she saw Zhao Rong's confusion, and then explained with a chuckle.

"Although I didn't turn around to look at Ziyu at that time, but... you know, my cultivation is so-so, and some movements around me can still be seen by my spiritual sense. Although I didn't expect at that time... that gentleman with a good temperament is you, Ziyu, the person I am looking for."

"But after arriving at the side gate of the academy, I learned from the naughty girl Jingzi and some scholars outside that Ziyu was taken away by Mr. Yan's eldest disciple Li Jinshu not long ago. Only then did I realize that I had met Ziyu before."

The corner of Zhao Rong's mouth twitched.

Zhu Yourong smiled again and said, "We met at the intersection that day. I saw you, Ziyu, walking in the opposite direction of Lanzhou Ferry. I thought I had taken the wrong road, so I asked you. But...well, I didn't expect Ziyu to be so humorous. However, skipping class is wrong. Don't do that next time."

Seeing the smile on her face and Yu Huaijin's curious gaze, Zhao Rong quickly lowered his head to drink his tea. Feeling embarrassed, he calmly changed the subject:

"Um, Mr. Zhu, what is the matter that you called me here today?"

Zhu Yourong squinted at Zhao Rong for a few times, then the smile on his face faded. After thinking for a while, he softly talked about the main purpose of inviting people here today...

As Zhao Rong listened, his expression became gradually stunned, but the one who reacted even more dramatically than him was Yu Huaijin.

She said in a serious tone: "Teacher, please think twice!"

Zhao Rong pointed at himself and said, "Zhu Yourong, are you saying that you want me to help you teach calligraphy classes in three schools and be your...teaching assistant?"

The woman in Confucian robes smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Yu Huaijin who was frowning, raised her palm, and pressed it in the air.

Yu Huaijin wanted to say something but stopped.

Zhao Rong was also a little surprised. He didn't expect Zhu Yourong would give him such a job, the acting teacher of the calligraphy class... Mr. Zhao?

But my goodness, there are only six schools in total, and he is in charge of three of them, which is half. And from what she said, he is the one who is in charge of the whole thing?

Zhu Yourong continued, "Tzuyu, it's not uncommon for teaching assistants to teach for teachers. Xuanji sometimes substitutes for some art teachers. Of course, it may be rare for a teaching assistant to take full charge of the affairs of three schools for me. However, I believe in your ability, Tzuyu, and three schools are more than enough."

The corner of Zhao Rong's eyes twitched. "No, please don't, don't praise me like that. Why do I feel like you just want to be lazy and write, and trick me into doing hard labor?"

Yu Huaijin couldn't help but say, "Sir, this is not rare at all. Let's not talk about whether Brother Zhao is qualified for this position. Just teaching the three schools will consume a lot of his time and energy. The mid-month exam is coming soon, and he has some weak subjects that I need to tutor. How can he have so much time to be distracted... What do you think, Brother Zhao?"

She turned her head and looked at Zhao Rong seriously.

Zhao Rong glanced at her but didn't speak immediately. In fact, he was also reluctant in his heart. After all, it was a troublesome matter. But... Zhu Yourong would not ask him to do hard labor for free, right? What if what she gave was... really too much?

Zhao Rong glanced sideways at Zhu Yourong, whose lips curled up slightly, and did not give a positive response for a moment.

Seeing that he seemed to want to join in the fun, Yu Huaijin frowned even more, turned to look at the woman in the Confucian robe, and said in a deep voice:

"teacher!"

Zhu Yourong was silent for a moment, her smile faded, and she spoke slowly:

"I really don't have enough time. I often forget to go to class while writing. Xuanji, after you and the other five seniors came back and told me about it, I thought about it carefully and felt that this method is very suitable. I believe in Tzuyu's ability..."

She paused, "However, three schools are indeed a bit too many, so let's have two schools, no less. Well, that's settled. As for the deadline, let's set it from today until the end of the next mid-month exam to see how it works. Tzuyu, what do you think?"

Zhu Yourong's tone was somewhat unquestionable, and Yu Huaijin swallowed her words. She frowned and did not speak for a while.

The master, his disciple and two girls all looked towards Zhao Rong.

Zhao Rong stared at the teacup with his eyes downcast, feeling the tranquility in the air. He coughed softly, then leisurely picked up the teacup and took another sip. "Mr. Zhu, this tea is good."

He looked at Zhu Yourong seriously.

Seeing this, the latter smiled and said, "Tzuyu, this tea is just so-so. The water from the Zhengguan Well is really delicious when used to make tea. You tried it last time. Now, I have almost all of it for you. However, in order to reward Tzuyu for her hard work in teaching, although this is difficult to obtain, I have some special methods to get some more. I will make a cup of hot tea for Tzuyu to drive away the cold in autumn."

Zhao Rong tilted his head and looked at the flowers beside him. He was silent for a moment and nodded slightly.

"good."

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.