"Why do you wear long shoes? Isn’t it warm?" Lu Sheng asked casually. "Actually, your legs are the most attractive part of your body."
Startled, Chen Yunxi bowed her head, her face flushed.
"You don’t like long shoes...? Then from now on, I’ll reveal more of my legs… just for your eyes only…"
Lu Sheng was merely making a causal remark. Never did he imagine that…
The atmosphere between the two of them had turned rather strange. Neither of them spoke as they walked slowly on the lawn.
Lu Sheng fell into a momentary daze.
It had been half a year.
In that half of the year in which he was in recovery, he had not encountered the supernatural again. Neither did he hear any news of Duanmu Wan or Yan Kai. It was as if all that had happened to him was merely an illusion and everything had now been restored to the usual peace and banality.
If not for the vigorous inner Qi cycling endlessly within his body, if not for his ability to summon the Deep Blue Modifier at his beck and call... perhaps he would really think that he was living in a peaceful world without any supernatural entities.
"Brother Lu…" Chen Yunxi called his name softly all of a sudden, interrupting Lu Sheng’s reverie.
"What’s the matter?" Lu Sheng paused in his steps.
Chen Yunxi looked down, her cheeks boiling hot as she whispered, "My Dad… would like to invite you to my place as guest and have a meal together."
Lu Sheng was stunned. Was he going to meet the parents now? But he and Chen Yunxi weren't even a couple yet. Wasn’t it a tad too soon?
"Brother Lu's unwilling?" Sensing Lu Sheng’s hesitation, a shred of disappointment crept onto Chen Yunxi’s face. "It’s just a casual meal… Daddy… just wants to see what kind of person you are."
Lu Sheng was speechless. He liked Chen Yunxi, but they were not at that stage yet. Moreover, things were developing too fast for his liking and he wasn’t sure what to do now.
After a moment’s silence, he said, "This student would also like to see what kind of person the wealthy and renowned Old Master Chen is."
Upon hearing that, Chen Yunxi’s face broke out into a smile. "I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, then. My Dad’s just an old man who likes to pull a long face. But in private, he’s actually very childish!"
Lu Sheng laughed along. But in fact, he felt surreal. Or rather, he felt out of place.
The next step, if the other party’s family was in agreement, was for him to bring Chen Yunxi to see his own father and Second Mother. Then, after the two families decided on the engagement, they'd prepare the betrothal gifts, pick an auspicious date and then get married.
Of course, that was if everything went smoothly. But, honestly, he wasn’t intending to get married so early.
"The Annual Examinations are almost upon us. If you’re chosen, which institution would Brother Lu like to attend? This affects the future direction of our official appointment and how high we can go.
I’ve hired some experts to solve the last year’s test question. There’re five different ways of answering it. If Brother Lu needs them, let Yunxi send someone to deliver them to you, is that alright?" Chen Yunxi asked softly. "It can’t go wrong to do more practice questions and try to guess at the Examiner’s intentions for this year."
"I… in that case, many thanks to Yunxi," Lu Sheng deliberated and eventually accepted her help. But his heart was actually confused.
If all things went smoothly, he would attempt the Governmental Examination; after that was the Scholar Examination and finally the Imperial Examination. If he could pass all these examinations, he would eventually obtain a formal appointment. And he wouldn’t just be a minor official… flying high and far was to be expected.
But...
So what?
He suddenly recalled the things that Duanmu Wan had mentioned to him. If they were real, then what was the point in becoming a court official?
"As long as we pass the Annual Examinations, we would be recognized as degree-holders in the city and considered scholars. We would be exempted from taxes and even if we were idle for the rest of our lives, we would still live comfortably off the land. This is the dream of many--I’m sure Brother Lu is already fully confident," Chen Yunxi said softly.
"Perhaps…" Lu Sheng smiled and no longer said a word.
No one knew about his other identity. No one knew that he was a powerful expert well-versed in both inner and outer force, and could fight Demonic Ghosts with the strength of his saber technique. Even Strength Proficiency pugilists wouldn’t last for more than ten moves before him.
The present him was growing stronger and stronger with each passing day as his Black Fury Qi increased day and night.
Black Fury Skill and Jade Crane Skill. With the two combined together, they complemented and supported each other. One tempered his physical body while the other healed it and helped it recover, forming a perfect cycle.
In the eyes of Chen Yunxi and Song Zhenguo right now, however, he was but a young master who had come from a wealthy family in Nine Links City. In contrast with others who had come from the countryside, Lu Sheng didn’t have the down-to-earth aura they had. He carried a more refined and learned air than others. But, that was all.
‘But, in this kind of living environment, what point is there even if I’m decked in an official’s robes? If the Demonic Ghost faction--Mortal-Sweeping Manor--comes in pursuit, I’d still be helpless. I can only rely on myself… in these circumstances, am I still going to earn a martial degree like Old Dad asked me to?’ He felt very out of place with the people around him.
From a distance, he could hear laughter and revelry from the pavilion, giving him a strange sense of isolation.
"Brother Lu, I heard that the dried plums on West Village Street are rather tasty. There’re also a number of dried fruits stores there. How about we go explore it together tomorrow night?" Chen Yunxi suggested in a gentle voice. "Tomorrow’s a big festival--Dancing Dragon Festival; it's always been very lively in the past few years."
"Sure…" Lu Sheng had nothing to do while waiting for news anyway--he had sent men to collect information about Crimson Whale Sect. Then, he spent a large sum of money to purchase many expensive herbs. The bit of money he had was now almost spent.
Without money, his training and physical nourishment had slowed down and he needed to find a way of generating more income as soon as possible.
He continued strolling with Chen Yunxi for a while longer. This girl went on and on about the interesting things that she had encountered in school as well as their classmates. She seemed to be in high spirits.
After accompanying her for a few more steps, the two of them began walking back. Everyone had drunk a little too much in the pavilion and so they started to take their leave and return home.
Having bidden Chen Yunxi and Song Zhenguo goodbye, Lu Sheng slowly headed back.
As he crossed the moat, a few mountain-folks carrying baskets on their backs were chatting as they entered the city.
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