Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Jiang Xiaochuan froze, then slowly turned around and saw Tian Buyi and Su Ru walking out of Shoujing Hall.

Tian Buyi stood with his hands behind his back, a puzzled look on his chubby face.

Su Ru was holding a winnowing basket filled with drying herbs, her gaze fixed on him with concern.

"Master, Master's wife..." Jiang Xiaochuan called out dryly, his eyes darting around, not daring to look at them.

Su Ru put down the winnowing basket, walked up to him, reached out to touch his forehead, and carefully examined his complexion.

She frowned slightly. "It is a bit hot. Are you feeling stuffy indoors? Or... did you have a bad talk with Xueqi and the others earlier?"

Her tone was gentle, with a motherly concern, yet it also concealed a subtle probing.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a warmth in his heart, but also a wave of unease.

He shook his head and said in a muffled voice, "N-nothing, it's just... a bit stuffy. I came out for some fresh air."

Tian Buyi snorted, walked up to him, looked him up and down, his chubby face showing a complicated expression.

It sounded like a mix of relief and a headache, eventually turning into a heavy sigh. A large, fan-like hand patted his shoulder forcefully, causing him to stumble.

"It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back!" Tian Buyi's voice was loud and clear, filled with relief.

"Damn the Ghost King Sect, I'll remember this! But Seventh Brother..."

He changed the subject, leaned closer, lowered his voice, and spoke with a mix of disappointment and a deep headache.

"Just how many romantic debts do you have?"

what?

Junior Nephew Lu is one thing, but how come that girl from the Ghost King Sect is also... and that silver-haired girl, she's obviously not an ordinary person!

"What am I supposed to say about you... what am I supposed to say to you!"

Su Ru gently tugged at Tian Buyi's sleeve, signaling him to say less, but her gaze turned even more worried to Jiang Xiaochuan:

"Xiaochuan, what...what are you really thinking?"

In matters of the heart, the worst thing you can do is drag things out, as it will hurt both you and others.

"Especially that child Ling'er..." She paused, her tone pleading.

"You know what she's like to you...

I've followed you around since I was little; you're all I see and think about.

She was almost driven crazy with worry when you got into trouble this time.

Your teacher's wife doesn't ask you for anything else, she only hopes... that you won't wrong her.

She's stubborn and sometimes willful, but she has a good heart, and she's especially wonderful to you.

Hearing his teacher's wife's words, Jiang Xiaochuan felt even more confused, as if he had stuffed a wad of soaked cotton inside, feeling heavy and suffocated.

He knew, of course, how good Tian Ling'er was to him, but it was precisely because he knew that he felt even more guilty and powerless.

He didn't want to wrong Tian Ling'er, but he couldn't even understand his own heart right now, so how could he make a promise to anyone and not wrong anyone?

"I...I know, Master's wife." He lowered his head, his voice a little hoarse. "I will...think it over carefully."

Seeing his expression, Tian Buyi sighed heavily again and waved his hand:

"Alright, alright, stop standing there."

Just got back, go and get some rest!

Take your time with all that messy stuff!

The sky won't fall down!

That's what he said, but the worry on his face didn't lessen at all.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and quickly nodded, then turned around and tried to sneak back to his own little house.

"Seventh Brother! Seventh Brother!" Just then, a familiar shout, filled with exaggerated surprise, came from the courtyard gate.

He Dazhi, Du Bishu, Wu Dayi, Zheng Dali, and Lü Daxin, among others, escorted Song Daren as they walked briskly from the other end of the bamboo path.

Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan followed behind. All of them wore genuine smiles.

"Seventh Brother! Are you alright? Those bastards from the Ghost King Sect didn't do anything to you, did they?"

Du Bishu was the first to rush up, circled around Jiang Xiaochuan, and made clicking noises.

"You've lost a bit of weight, but you seem to be in good spirits! Looks like Senior Sister Lu came to your rescue in time!"

He Dazhi waved his tattered fan, winked, and lowered his voice, saying:

"Wow, Seventh Brother! Quietly, two of them in one go? Did they break out with Senior Sister Lu?"

As he spoke, he secretly glanced toward the side hall of Shoujing Hall.

Wu Dayi smiled憨厚ly: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Zheng Dali and Lü Daxin nodded in agreement.

Song Daren walked up to Jiang Xiaochuan and patted him hard on the shoulder. He said in a deep voice, "It's good that you're back. From now on... be careful in everything you do."

Jiang Xiaochuan was surrounded by his senior brothers, listening to their chatter of concern and teasing (mainly He Dazhi and Du Bishu).

The slight irritation and confusion in my heart seemed to be diluted by this familiar, slightly rough warmth.

He forced a smile and agreed to each of them.

Lin Jingyu stood a little further away, arms crossed, his cool face expressionless, and simply nodded to him.

Zhang Xiaofan smiled sheepishly and called out "Senior Brother Jiang," his eyes full of joy.

"By the way, Senior Brother," Jiang Xiaochuan didn't want to talk about his "romantic entanglements" anymore, so he quickly changed the subject, looking at Song Daren with a mischievous smile on his face.

"I heard that Senior Sister Wenmin was very worried about you and even came to ask about your injuries? How did your chat go?"

Song Daren's face flushed red instantly, even redder than Jiang Xiaochuan's just now. He waved his hands awkwardly, "N-no! Seventh Brother, don't talk nonsense! Junior Sister Wen... she was just asking routinely..."

"Oh my! It's Sister Wen again!" Du Bishu immediately chimed in, "Senior Brother's face is red to the roots of his neck!"

He Dazhi covered his mouth with his fan and laughed, "I think our Dazhufeng is about to have a happy occasion!"

The crowd burst into laughter, and even Tian Buyi stroked his short beard, a smile appearing on his face.

Song Daren was so teased that he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Seeing his senior brother's embarrassed appearance, Jiang Xiaochuan felt a little less gloomy.

His gaze swept over Lin Jingyu. This kid was getting more and more handsome, with a cold and aloof demeanor and high talent. He wondered how many girls he would break their hearts in the future.

He looked at Zhang Xiaofan again, who still had that honest and simple appearance, and his cultivation level... seemed to be only at the second level of Jade Purity.

Jiang Xiaochuan had mixed feelings.

Lu Xueqi acquired all five volumes of the Heavenly Book, and Biyao obtained the Soul-Devouring Staff. Zhang Xiaofan, the original protagonist, seemed to have completely lost his "halo" and become an ordinary, mediocre Qingyun disciple.

However... judging from his rosy complexion and clear eyes, he should be doing quite well?

At least, the Caomiao Village massacre didn't happen, and he has both parents alive, so he doesn't have to bear the burden of a blood feud.

Perhaps this is for the best?

As he was lost in thought, a clear, cheerful voice came from outside the courtyard gate again:

"Junior Brother Jiang! Junior Brother Jiang! We heard you've returned safely, congratulations!"

Zeng Shushu, waving his signature folding fan, wearing a flamboyant light purple brocade robe, and sporting a bright (gossipy) smile, strode in.

Two disciples from Feng Hui Peak followed behind him, carrying two large food boxes.

"Senior Brother Zeng?" Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback, not expecting him to come as well.

"Oh, Junior Brother Jiang, you're finally back! I was so worried about you!"

Zeng Shushu walked closer, first bowing and greeting Tian Buyi and Su Ru, then hooking his arm around Jiang Xiaochuan's neck, winking and whispering:

"How was it? Was the Ghost King Sect place exciting? Did the Ghost King Sect's young master... hehe?"

He smiled ambiguously, but his eyes were clear, showing no malice; he was simply curious and liked to join in the fun.

Jiang Xiaochuan shoved him away impatiently: "Go away! Stop talking nonsense!"

Zeng Shushu didn't mind, laughed heartily, and gestured to the disciples behind him to put down the food box:

"Come, come, this is some 'spiritual tea,' a specialty of Feng Hui Peak, and a few exquisite snacks that my father asked me to bring. Please give them to Junior Brother Jiang to calm his nerves, and also to Uncle Tian, ​​Uncle Su, and all the other senior brothers and sisters to try!"

Tian Buyi thanked Su Ru.

He Dazhi, Du Bishu, and the others were already cheering as they opened the food boxes.

Zeng Shushu pulled Jiang Xiaochuan aside, leaned closer, lowered her voice, and her eyes sparkled with encouragement:

"Junior Brother Jiang, look at you. You've just gone through such a big storm. You must be exhausted. You need to relax!"

It just so happens that a new establishment called "Peach Blossom Garden" has opened in Heyang City. I heard that several courtesans from the southern border have come here. Their figures, their dances, their singing voices...

Wow, that's amazing!

"Brother, it's my treat! Let's sneak down the mountain, listen to some music, watch a play, have a few drinks, and relax. How about it? I guarantee you'll forget all your worries!"

Descending the mountain? Heyang City? Peach Blossom Garden? Listening to music and watching a play? Female concubines?

Jiang Xiaochuan's heart skipped a beat.

He really didn't want to see Lu Xueqi and the others right now. Just thinking about the suffocating scene in the side hall and the moment he "died" made his scalp tingle.

Being able to temporarily leave Dazhu Peak and Qingyun Sect, to go somewhere where no one knows me, to catch my breath, seems... quite nice?

As for listening to music, watching plays, and seeing female concubines... he didn't have any particular ideas. He just wanted a change of scenery and some peace and quiet.

He looked at Zeng Shushu's eager face, which was filled with the desire to "go together," hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.

"Okay. When are we leaving?"

"Now!" Zeng Shushu exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands. "Before Uncle Tian and the others react, let's slip away via the back mountain path! I know a shortcut that will keep us completely undetected!"

Jiang Xiaochuan glanced at Tian Buyi and Su Ru, who were being pulled by He Dazhi and the others to taste the snacks, then looked in the direction of the side hall of Shoujing Hall, and gritted his teeth.

"Walk!"