0014 The Ospreys' Call

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Unsolicited kindness is either treachery or theft!

Jiang Mingzhe inwardly remained vigilant, yet wore an innocuous smile, politely declining, “It’s so late, how could I impose on Senior Brother? If Senior Sister has some provisions, a simple bite would suffice.”

Ah Zi was about to respond, but Zhui Fengzi quickly interrupted, “Junior Brother, you’re too formal. Little Ah Zi is your senior sister, and I’m also your senior brother, aren’t I? Taking care of our own junior brother isn’t a burden. Besides, our martial training is already arduous; how can we just let our stomachs go hungry? Come, come, let’s head over to Senior Brother’s place and have a proper drink.”

Zhui Fengzi insisted repeatedly; if Jiang Mingzhe refused again, he might offend him.

Quickly calculating in his mind: among the Stars Sect, the greatest authority besides Ding Chunqiu is Zhai Xingzi, who is narrow-minded. I’ve already offended him just for being handsome. Lao Ba’s Out-of-World Child, with his innate divine strength, is also hated by him. So would the second and third elders, closest to him in rank, be spared?

With this in mind, Jiang Mingzhe guessed the reason behind Zhui Fengzi’s friendliness—

Indeed, when Ding Chunqiu taught me martial arts earlier, he laughed several times, unknowingly making many enemies for me. Especially Zhai Xingzi, I pretended to be dull and clumsy to lull him, but I fear Old Ding’s laughter rendered it all useless. After all, in Zhai Xingzi’s eyes, I am a competitor invading his path. Two tigers cannot share one mountain. That third chubby guy can’t compete on looks and likely has no short-term conflict with me; he probably just wants to use me as a pawn against Zhai Xingzi.

Having been in the workplace for so long, Jiang Mingzhe was well-versed in alliances, factionalism, muddy waters, and backstabbing—these tricks were commonplace. If he were to list them all, even the Thirty-Six Stratagems wouldn’t cover them. He quickly saw through Zhui Fengzi’s scheming.

By this reckoning, Zhui Fengzi likely won’t harm him. As for wanting to use him as a pawn, it’s trivial.

—Who becomes whose pawn is still uncertain.

But nothing in life is absolute. As the saying goes, a round face with a beard, a Lin Xinru from Chengdu—what if that third chubby fellow has other plans?

So, feigning hesitation, he looked at Ah Zi: “Senior Sister, at your age, you probably shouldn’t drink alcohol, right?”

Zhui Fengzi was taken aback, wondering when he had invited Ah Zi.

Ah Zi, however, was delighted, thinking her junior brother was truly thoughtful to include her in the good things.

The disciples of the Stars Sect dared not go to the dining hall and cooked individually. What culinary skills could a little girl like Ah Zi have? Barely enough to cook food without getting sick.

But these three chubby fellows were well-known cooks. Normally without excuse, today was a perfect opportunity to enjoy a meal at his expense.

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Quickly waving her hands, Ah Zi said sensibly, “You don’t need to worry about me. You men drink wine; I’ll just eat the vegetables.”

Zhui Fengzi had originally intended to invite only Jiang Mingzhe for a small drink, hoping to loosen him up and possibly recruit him. He hadn’t expected Ah Zi to tag along.

Momentarily hesitating, Ah Zi’s sharp eyes immediately turned sarcastic: “Third Senior Brother, you wouldn’t be so stingy, would you? Junior Brother is Junior Brother, but Senior Sister isn’t Senior Sister? Hmph! At worst, I’ll bring my own ingredients!”

She then reached into her sleeve and pulled out a large, multicolored snake belt—green spine with black rings, orange above and turquoise below. This wasn’t just any snake; it was the belt Jiang Mingzhe had worn earlier!

Previously, Jiang Mingzhe had received the uniform and changed immediately, naturally abandoning this belt, not noticing when Ah Zi had taken it.

Zhui Fengzi, realizing it was hard to shake off Ah Zi, laughed: “What a wild chicken neck! It just so happens that I have two big chickens. Let’s make one dragon and two phoenixes to give Senior Sister and Junior Brother a feast.”

He added with a teasing smile, “Little Ah Zi, it’s not that I’m unwilling to let you eat; I’m just worried that a girl like you eating late might gain weight. If you grow up looking like Senior Brother, how will you ever get married?”

Ah Zi’s joyful expression froze, and she slowly looked at Zhui Fengzi, imagining herself putting on so much flesh—it seemed impossible to live.

Jiang Mingzhe, fearing she would back out, quickly encouraged her: “That’s impossible! Senior Sister is naturally beautiful, radiant, fair-skinned, graceful, and at the age of growing. How would she gain weight? Even if she ate supper every day, she would only grow more beautiful.”

Ah Zi’s face lit up as if she had tasted honey, nodding repeatedly, “Right, right, definitely won’t get fat. Let’s go! We have training tomorrow.”

Zhui Fengzi had no choice but to feign happiness and led the two to his quarters.

The little buildings of the Stars Sect were arranged with no discernible logic.

For example, to the left of Building Yi-1 was Building Jia-36 where Ah Zi lived, to the right was Building Jia-27, behind was Building Yi-9, and behind Yi-9 to the left was Building Jia-3 where Zhui Fengzi resided.

Jiang Mingzhe guessed that Old Ding’s original intention was to mix the Heaven Gang and Earth Fiend disciples as neighbors to maintain their sense of crisis. Later, after limiting enrollment to thirty-six disciples, they preferred to be separated by empty courtyards, leading to the current layout.

Passing two narrow paths paved with blue bricks, they arrived at Building Jia-3. Zhui Fengzi entered first, lighting many candles and lanterns, illuminating the place brightly inside and out.

Jiang Mingzhe followed Ah Zi inside, noticing that the blue bricks originally covering the courtyard floor had all been dug up and replaced with thick, neatly mounded soil.

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What was planted was no poisonous flower or exotic herb, but ordinary vegetables—cabbage, chives, green beans, as well as spices like scallions, ginger, and garlic.

In one corner of the courtyard, there was even a half-mu fish pond, its surface dotted with round leaves and small yellow flowers.

Jiang Mingzhe exclaimed with delight, “Is this water shield? Senior Third Brother has such refined tastes.”

Ah Zi was puzzled, “What’s so special about water shield? Why does that make him refined?”

Jiang Mingzhe shook his head and recited with a smile:

“Guan! Guan! The ospreys cry on the islet in the river,
A gentle lady, a fine match for a gentleman.
The water shield is uneven, flowing left and right,
A gentle lady, earnest in seeking her mate.”

Ah Zi stared at Jiang Mingzhe in surprise, a sparkle gradually lighting her eyes. Suddenly, she jumped slightly and pointed to her nose, “Junior Brother, is this a poem you wrote for me? Ah! You truly are from the land of sages. Nobody’s ever written a poem for me before!”

This girl had never read the Classic of Poetry! Jiang Mingzhe was stunned. He had thought that since Ding Chunqiu constantly quoted classics and poetry, he must value cultural lessons for his disciples. Yet Ah Zi hadn’t even heard of “Guan Ju” and thought he had written the poem for her.

Zhui Fengzi smiled wryly, “Little Ah Zi, didn’t you say poets are useless nerds? Why don’t you say Junior Brother is too nerdy?”

Ah Zi rolled her eyes, “Those nerds’ poems aren’t written for me, so I don’t like them. Junior Brother’s poem is for me, so it’s totally different.”

Zhui Fengzi chuckled, “There’s no ‘Ah Zi’ in the poem. How do you know it’s for you?”

Ah Zi retorted confidently, “Is your memory so bad? Didn’t you say I’d eat as much and get as fat as you? What did Junior Brother say? That I’m naturally beautiful, radiant, fair-skinned, graceful! ‘Graceful, graceful, graceful lady!’ He put it right into the poem. If it’s not for me, then is it for you?”

With that, she ignored Zhui Fengzi and happily turned back, tugging Jiang Mingzhe’s sleeve with a smile: “Junior Brother, your poem is so profound! I only understand two lines: one is ‘graceful lady’—that’s me—and the other is ‘a gentleman seeks a good match’—that must be about you, right? You’re from the land of sages, so naturally a gentleman. You like cuju, don’t you? Next time we go to the market, I’ll definitely buy you a ball and have those unregistered disciples play with you.”

Ah Zi chattered and laughed, her rosy cheeks glowing as she shook Jiang Mingzhe’s sleeve again, “So, what do the other lines mean? Please tell me, okay?”