Chapter 16: A Peerless Genius
Page 1 of 3
A Maidservant?
Luo Zijun was utterly bewildered. Why had they bought a maidservant?
Besides, the little girl looked… incredibly young.
And if the maidservant slept in his room, where was he supposed to sleep?
Luo Jiaorong said, “Zijun, you’re a licentiate now. Naturally, you should have a maidservant of your own. Look around—what household doesn’t have one? Even your Aunt Du next door has a maidservant.”
She then continued earnestly, “Your sister didn’t buy one before because she wasn’t worried about the expense. She simply thought you were still young and that I could continue taking care of you. But now you’ve grown up and passed the examination to become a licentiate. You’ll be going to the academy to study soon, and without a maidservant to look after you, people will laugh at you.”
Li Zhengshan nodded as well. “Scholars all have maidservants and pageboys. Our family may be poor, but we can’t look too shabby.”
“Sister, brother-in-law, I truly don’t need a maidservant,” Luo Zijun said.
He knew their family’s circumstances better than anyone.
Buying a maidservant would certainly cost a great deal of money.
And with another person in the household, they would have to spend more on food and daily necessities.
His brother-in-law’s modest income would definitely not be enough.
Besides, he would soon be attending the academy, which would require even more money.
“Why wouldn’t you need one? She can wash your clothes, make your bed, grind your ink, pour your tea, and handle all sorts of chores. She’ll save you plenty of time,” Luo Jiaorong said.
She had clearly already made up her mind.
However, she did not mention the maidservant’s most important purpose, fearing that her younger brother might feel embarrassed.
“That settles it. I’ve already bought her. Surely you don’t expect me to send her back?”
At those words, the thin little maidservant called Xiaohuan hurriedly fell to her knees and pleaded in a trembling voice, “Master, Madam, Young Master, please don’t send me back… I don’t want to go back…”
Seeing this, Luo Jiaorong pulled Luo Zijun aside and whispered, “This little girl is terribly pitiful. Her entire family of seven starved to death, leaving only her. Just look at her—do you see how thin hunger has made her? When she came home tonight, she ate five steamed buns in a row and nearly choked to death. By keeping her, we’ve practically saved her life. If you drive her away, it’s hard to say whether she’ll even survive.”
At that moment, Xiaohuan cried, “Young Master, I can wash clothes and cook. I can brew tea and grind ink. I can learn anything. I’m willing to work like an ox or a horse for you. Please, please let me stay…”
Li Zhengshan said from the side, “Look at her—what a well-behaved little girl. Zijun, just accept her.”
Luo Zijun wore an expression of helplessness. Before he could say anything, Luo Jiaorong waved her hand decisively.
“I’m the head of this household. If I say we’re keeping her, then we’re keeping her! Who dares object? Xiaohuan, go heat some water in the kitchen!”
Luo Zijun: “…”
Xiaohuan hurriedly agreed, wiped away her tears, and rose to go to the kitchen.
“Zijun, have you eaten?” Li Zhengshan asked.
Luo Zijun nodded.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
He suddenly remembered that he still had questions for his brother-in-law about cultivation.
“Brother-in-law, let’s go to the rear courtyard. I have something to ask you.”
“What is it that you can’t say in front of your sister?” Luo Jiaorong immediately looked displeased.
“It’s fine if Sister hears it too. Sister, do you know how to cultivate an inner-power technique?”
Luo Jiaorong: “…”
Li Zhengshan burst out laughing and waved him over. “Zijun, come on. Let’s go to the rear courtyard.”
“Humph! As if you’re the only ones who understand anything!”
Luo Jiaorong curled her lips, then immediately reminded him, “Zijun, bathe and go to bed early. Your studies are what matter now. You can practice martial arts from time to time, but don’t overdo it and harm your health. You’re a licentiate now, after all.”
“So long-winded,” Li Zhengshan muttered, so softly that only he could hear himself.
Once the two men had gone to the rear courtyard, Luo Jiaorong immediately went to the kitchen. Taking Xiaohuan’s hand, she whispered, “Xiaohuan, take a bath later. Tonight, you’ll sleep in the same room as Zijun. Don’t worry. From now on, this is your home. No one can drive you away.”
The little maidservant lowered her head, her face flushed crimson, and softly answered, “Mm.”
In the rear courtyard, Luo Zijun asked, “Brother-in-law, when you taught me the inner-power technique, you mentioned something called a sense of energy. What is it? How do I know when I’ve reached the entry level?”
Li Zhengshan waved his hand. “Zijun, you’re being too impatient. It’s only been a few days. Didn’t I tell you that even a highly gifted martial artist needs at least half a month to a month to sense energy for the first time? And those people all begin training when they’re children. As for you, it will probably take at least half a year, and you’ll need to practice diligently every day.”
He tried to reassure him. “Don’t be anxious. Your most urgent task now is studying. As for this inner-power technique, practice it when you have time, but don’t take it too seriously. Even if you never reach the entry level, it won’t matter.”
“I only want to know how to tell whether I’ve reached the entry level,” Luo Zijun said.
Li Zhengshan smiled and patted him on the shoulder. He then walked a few steps forward until he reached a wooden stake. After taking a deep breath, he suddenly threw a punch.
Bang!
His fist struck the stake, and the thick wooden post split open with a crack.
Li Zhengshan withdrew his fist and blew on it, looking rather pleased with himself. “See that? I used only ten percent of my strength. When you can split wood with a punch while your own fist remains completely unharmed and you feel no pain, that means you’ve reached the entry level.”
“A punch at this level can even crack a person’s bones.”
After a pause, he continued, “More precisely, once you sense the energy, absorb it into your body, transform it into your own inner power, and release that inner power to produce greater force, you’ve reached the entry level.”
“Zijun, this process is not simple. Just sensing the energy alone requires… Hmm? What are you doing? Don’t! You’ll hurt yourself!”
While Li Zhengshan was speaking, Luo Zijun had already imitated him and walked over to the wooden stake. He took a deep breath, then suddenly threw a fierce punch.
Bang!
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
The wooden stake, which had originally split only along a single crack, broke apart completely with a sharp snap.
Li Zhengshan’s mouth fell open.
Luo Zijun walked over to another support post nearby and threw another punch.
Bang!
The new wooden post split apart under his fist.
“Brother-in-law, have I reached the entry level?” Luo Zijun withdrew his fist and blew on it just as Li Zhengshan had done. He rubbed it thoughtfully and frowned. “Although it still feels a little painful.”
Li Zhengshan stood there with his mouth agape for several seconds. Then he suddenly grabbed Luo Zijun and jumped up and down, shouting excitedly, “Damn!”
Luo Zijun: “…”
Luo Jiaorong came running over after hearing the commotion. She snapped angrily, “Li Zhengshan! What are you yelling about? Who told you to swear in front of Zijun?”
Li Zhengshan threw his arms around Luo Zijun, his face glowing with excitement. “Madam, our Zijun is a genius! A martial-arts genius!”
As he spoke, he hugged and kissed him repeatedly.
Luo Zijun hurriedly covered his mouth with one hand and said with distaste, “Brother-in-law, calm down!”
Li Zhengshan laughed loudly in excitement, completely unable to calm himself.
Luo Jiaorong stared at him in bewilderment.
After being married to this man for so many years, this was the first time she had ever seen him so wildly excited.
“Li Zhengshan! Let go of my Zijun!”
Seeing that something was clearly wrong with him, Luo Jiaorong hurried over and pried his hands away. “What happened?”
Li Zhengshan laughed uproariously. “Madam! Our Zijun is a peerless martial-arts genius! Don’t let him study anymore. Send him to a military academy to train in martial arts! He’ll definitely become the nation’s top military laureate!”
The siblings exchanged bewildered glances.
Only then did Li Zhengshan manage to rein in his excitement slightly, though he remained visibly exhilarated.
“Even a martial-arts prodigy with extraordinary talent needs about a month to go from knowing nothing to sensing energy. Then, from generating inner power to releasing it, takes at least another three months…”
“Madam, guess how long our Zijun took to complete all those stages?”
Luo Jiaorong shook her head in utter confusion.
Li Zhengshan held up three fingers. His face was flushed, and his voice trembled with excitement.
“Three days! Our Zijun took only three days! I taught him the inner-power technique just three days ago! Hahahaha… A genius! A peerless genius!”
“Our Zijun is a peerless genius!”
Page 3 of 3