Chapter 34: So Soon
In the side chamber, Liu Chujian sat quietly before her vanity in a pink gown. She gazed at her reflection, lost in thought, as she combed her long, dark hair which cascaded over her chest.
Suddenly, she lowered her head to look at her small feet tucked beneath her pink hem, then shifted her gaze to her slender, delicate fingers.
“Pink skirts embroidered with golden lotus, red sleeves shielding long, jade shoots...”
She murmured the lines to herself. These were two sentences from *The Romance of the West Chamber*, a book she had just finished reading.
“That man...”
She remembered clearly that when he had come in earlier, he had stolen a glance at her feet. So, he had a penchant for feet.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
A knock came at the door. Outside, Bi’er called out, “Miss, Young Master Luo is here.”
“Please, invite Young Master Luo in.”
Liu Chujian stood up immediately, instinctively tugging at her pink skirt to ensure her small feet were completely concealed.
*Creak...*
The door opened. Bi’er ushered Luo Zijun into the room.
“Miss Chujian.” Luo Zijun bowed in greeting.
“Young Master Luo.” Liu Chujian lowered her head, returning the courtesy with a graceful curtsy.
After the exchange of formalities, their eyes met, and for a moment, neither spoke. The room fell into a brief silence.
Luo Zijun cleared his throat and couldn’t help but speak first. “Miss Chujian, about that manuscript of mine...”
Liu Chujian blinked and teased, “What manuscript?”
Luo Zijun shrugged and said nothing more.
Liu Chujian burst into a laugh, covering her small mouth with her dainty hand. Her eyebrows curved like crescents, and her smile was as radiant as a flower. She then leisurely walked over, picked up the manuscript from the table, and turned to ask, “Did Young Master Luo truly write this story?”
“Naturally,” Luo Zijun replied.
Liu Chujian glanced at him again, then looked down at the manuscript in her hands. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently as she offered soft praise. “I never expected Young Master Luo to possess such talent. Not only are your poems excellent, but you can also write such exquisite stories. I have just finished reading it, and the story within... I like it very much, though I am not quite satisfied with the ending.”
Luo Zijun breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she liked it. In truth, he didn’t consider *The Romance of the West Chamber* to be particularly great literature. Works like *The Plum in the Golden Vase* or *Spring Dreams in the Red Chamber* were the real... well, she would find even more to like later. As for the ending, that had been intentional.
“Then, Miss Chujian, do you think this story might be...”
“I believe it should be possible.” Liu Chujian looked up at him, a smile playing on her lips. “I happen to know someone; I can ask for you tomorrow. As for the price, you can negotiate with them in person when the time comes.”
Luo Zijun felt a surge of joy and quickly thanked her. “That would be a great help, Miss.”
“Hmm.”
Liu Chujian responded softly, her dark, lively eyes gazing at him tenderly. “Young Master...”
As her eyes shimmered and she was about to speak, Luo Zijun glanced toward the window and said, “Well, it is getting late, and I should not disturb your rest any longer. I shall come by tomorrow night, or the night after, to inquire about any progress.”
“Farewell.”
With that, he did not linger. He bowed and turned to leave.
“...”
Liu Chujian opened her mouth to say something, but he had already stepped out of the room and was walking away quickly. The sound of his footsteps in the corridor soon faded and disappeared.
Liu Chujian stood frozen in place. The room remained silent for several moments.
Bi’er spoke up indignantly, “Miss, you see? That man doesn’t hold you in any regard at all. He comes and goes as he pleases. Next time, let’s ignore him!”
Liu Chujian remained still for a long while before slowly lowering her head to look at the manuscript in her hands once more. Outside the window, the bright moon hung in the sky.
When Luo Zijun went downstairs, he was spotted by Madam Liu.
“Oh, Young Master Luo, so soon today?”
The remark immediately drew the attention of the other ladies and guests nearby. Madam Liu realized her mistake and quickly tried to remedy it.
“Haha, Young Master Luo usually spends all day and night playing with the ladies upstairs. Why only two hours these past two days? Are you too tired?”
Luo Zijun: “...”
*My dear Madam, your boasting is truly making me ashamed!*
“I have matters to attend to at home,” Luo Zijun replied.
Madam Liu didn’t dare speak loudly again. She hurried over, pulled him into a corner, and whispered, “Why did you leave so soon after going up? What could possibly be the matter at home? You are so young—surely you haven’t married already? Even if you were, could your wife really force you to obey her?”
Luo Zijun said, “It’s not my wife, but my sister. And my sister has a temper that involves physical discipline.”
Madam Liu laughed. “This is the first time I’ve heard of a man afraid of his sister. Is she a martial artist, perhaps?”
Luo Zijun replied, “She is not a martial artist, but I lost my parents at a young age and was raised by her. Since my eldest sister is like a mother to me, I must naturally listen to her.”
Upon hearing this, the playful look on Madam Liu’s face faded. She nodded and said, “If that is the case, then she certainly has the right to manage you. Since Young Master Luo is so filial, I won’t hold you back. Do come and play again next time.”
Luo Zijun thanked her and exited the brothel. The night breeze carried a chill, brushing against his face like a young girl’s soft hand.
“Young Master Luo, don’t go! Come back up! I’ll let you play for free—really, for free!”
At the balcony on the second floor, Shui Shui, draped in a sheer gown, waved her handkerchief at him.
Luo Zijun looked up and waved back. “Next time! I’m off to the Mengxian Pavilion later. There’s a girl named Shui Shui there too—she’s bustier than you, and not only does she offer her services for free, she even gives me money!”
With that, he strode away.
Upstairs, Shui Shui froze, then stomped her foot in feigned anger. “Young Master Luo, you rascal! Next time you come, I’ll drain you dry! Hmph!”
The other women nearby giggled. “Shui Shui, we’ll help you drain him when the time comes—but you’ll have to be the one to pay him!”
“He’s still a virgin, Young Master Luo is! You should be the ones paying him!”
“Who are you trying to fool? A virgin? Hahaha...”
In Willow Leaf Alley, the courtyard gate was open, and a lantern hung in the corridor.
Li Zhengshan was sitting there, polishing his sword. Xiao Huan stood nearby, lost in thought. Luo Jiaorong stood in the courtyard, wielding a broom, her face dark and filled with murderous intent as she stared at the gate.
The moment Luo Zijun entered, he sensed something was wrong. There was killing intent in the air!
“Come here,” Luo Jiaorong commanded, her expression terrifyingly grim.
Luo Zijun’s heart skipped a beat. He stopped and said, “Sister, what’s wrong? I just walked my martial sister home; I haven’t gone anywhere else.”
Li Zhengshan couldn’t help but look up. “Zijun, it’s one thing to lie to yourself, but why lie to your sister? You’re just asking for trouble. You barely stepped foot into the brothel before Ling’er came here to complain, saying you went looking for the most flirtatious girl, and that you even wanted an older one.”
Luo Zijun: “...”
“Sister, wait! Let me explain!”
*Whack!*
“Ah!”
*Whack! Whack! Whack!*
“Ah! Ah! Ah!”
“Sister, mercy! That girl Su Qingling...”
“So you want the most flirtatious girl, do you? The most flirtatious older one? Is that right?”
Li Zhengshan laughed heartily in the corridor. But when Luo Jiaorong chased Luo Zijun toward him, she swung the broom at him as well. “I’ll let you laugh!”
Li Zhengshan: “...”
After a chase, the ordeal ended with Luo Zijun’s constant apologies and promises.
“If you dare go again, I’ll break your legs!”
...
Deep into the night, after Xiao Huan had fallen asleep, Luo Zijun sat up in bed to continue practicing his internal energy cultivation.
The energy flowed through his meridians and acupoints, finally settling into his Dantian.
After a night of practice, the seed of internal energy, now the size of a green bean, continued to grow slowly within his Dantian.
Outside the window, the eastern horizon began to turn pale.
“I have to report to the academy tomorrow...”
“I wonder when Xu Xian will be going...”
“Right, I need to go find that girl Su Qingling tomorrow morning to get my revenge! I’ll pinch her round, perky bottom!”
“Sleep for a bit...”
Luo Zijun savored the results of his cultivation for a moment before lying back down and closing his eyes.
“Hm?”
He suddenly realized there was something in his hand. It was small, soft, and tender...
“Eh? When did this little girl’s foot slip into my hand?”