Chapter 44: The Robbery

It was already the third watch of the night.

The little maid beside him kept yawning, yet she was unwilling to go off to sleep on her own.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to put away his brush and decide to write the rest tomorrow.

He blew out the lamp and got into bed.

Xiaohuan lowered the bed curtains and first made a show of lying down on the other side.

After a moment.

Seeing that he paid her no mind, she had no choice but to crawl over from beneath the blankets with a blushing face and curl up in his arms.

"Young master, the mistress told this maid... told this maid to serve you..."

"How do you want to serve me?"

"This maid... this maid wants to..."

The little maid's face was burning hot, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.

Her little hands began to grow restless, caressing him in a shy and clumsy manner.

"Snore... snore..."

"Young master?"

"Snore... snore..."

"..."

The little maid pouted, aggrieved for a moment, before having no choice but to crawl back.

After thinking for a second, she tentatively stretched out her little foot.

In the very next second, it was firmly caught and held in the palm of his hand.

"..."

The next day.

After finishing breakfast, Luo Zijun headed straight for the academy.

Since today was the first day of class, he naturally could not be late.

As he passed the West Lake.

He involuntarily looked toward the pedestrians strolling along the lakeside and the Broken Bridge.

Wondering when Lady White might appear...

"Hmm?"

Just then, he suddenly spotted two women standing on the Broken Bridge.

Their figures were graceful, and their appearances quite pleasing.

The two women were standing on the Broken Bridge, looking around anxiously, appearing helpless and lost.

A thought stirred in Luo Zijun's mind, and he walked over.

Just as he approached, the two women suddenly noticed him and hurried toward him.

"Young master, could you tell us where Ding'an Lane is?"

"We came from a neighboring county to visit relatives and lost our way. We would deeply appreciate your help, kind sir."

Both of them appeared to be in their early twenties, their faces caked with thick makeup.

At the same time, a rich, heavy perfume emanated from their bodies.

Luo Zijun looked into the eyes of one of them and heard her thinking inwardly: [I didn't expect to catch one bright and early in the morning, and a scholar at that. Hmph, scholars are the most lustful and care the most about saving face. I'll make him cough up at least fifty taels later before letting him go.]

"Over that way, just walk straight ahead and you'll find it."

Luo Zijun casually pointed in a direction.

The woman in the blue dress hurriedly said, "Young master, we sisters have just arrived in Lin'an City and really don't know the way. Would you be so kind as to accompany us part of the way?"

The other woman, dressed in a green dress, also twisted her waist and hips, speaking in a coy, sweet voice, "Young master, won't you walk us there? Please?"

Luo Zijun thought for a moment and nodded. "Very well, I'm not in any hurry anyway."

"Thank you, young master!"

The two of them immediately beamed with joy.

The green-draped woman sneered inwardly: [He really is a lustful fool. My slight display of charm has already completely turned his head. Just wait till I make you crawl back in tears later!]

Luo Zijun offered a foolish smile and led the way in front.

After a moment.

The blue-draped woman frowned and asked, "Young master, this road..."

"What's wrong with this road?"

Luo Zijun turned his head and asked.

The blue-draped woman forced a dry laugh and said, "N-nothing... Um, does the young master really know where Ding'an Lane is?"

Luo Zijun said with a completely serious expression, "Of course I know. I go there all the time, how could I not know?"

The two women exchanged glances.

This damn place was in the exact opposite direction of Ding'an Lane!

Could this idiot not know the way either, but walked randomly just because he was afraid of losing face?

Luo Zijun led the two of them and continued walking forward.

Seeing that they were getting further and further away from their lair, the green-draped woman couldn't help asking, "Young master, are we going the wrong way?"

Luo Zijun said with absolute certainty, "No, this is definitely the right way."

Then he turned his head and asked, "What is it, do the two ladies recognize this road?"

"No, no we don't... How could we possibly recognize it?"

The two women chuckled awkwardly and dared not speak further.

Luo Zijun continued walking forward.

The two exchanged glances and immediately huddled together, whispering to each other.

"I'm afraid this brat doesn't know the way either..."

"Could he be a swindler too?"

"Pfft, with that frail-looking appearance of his, would we be afraid of him? Didn't you see him wearing a Confucian robe, heading toward the academy? Those in the academy are top-tier scholars, how could he be a swindler? He probably doesn't know the way and is afraid of losing face..."

"Could there really be a Ding'an Lane around here?"

"Never heard of one. No matter, once we get there, we'll just say it's not the right place, make him ask someone else, and then force him to lead the way again..."

"This kid is a total fool, easiest person to scam."

At that moment, Luo Zijun led the two of them into a small alley.

The blue-draped woman immediately spoke up, "Young master, this doesn't look right... This maid heard her parents say there is a sesame cake shop at the entrance of Ding'an Lane, but there's none here..."

Luo Zijun kept walking forward and said, "We'll be there once we pass through this alley."

The two women exchanged glances again and had no choice but to follow behind.

When they reached the middle of the alley, Luo Zijun suddenly stopped, turned to look at them, and said, "Oh, it really does seem to be the wrong way."

The green-draped woman smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, young master. Let's just go back out and find the road again. With the young master keeping us company, we sisters aren't afraid."

She sneered inwardly: This idiot made us walk all these pointless roads. Once we get back later, I'll slap him hard across the face first, and then demand money!

"By the way, two ladies, how much silver do you have on you?"

Luo Zijun suddenly asked.

The two women were momentarily stunned, not understanding what he meant.

Luo Zijun smiled faintly, stretched out his hand, and said, "Twenty taels of silver per person, and I won't beat you."

The two women: "???"

The air suddenly fell silent.

"Has this young master grown tired of living?"

The blue-draped woman finally snapped to her senses.

This brat actually wanted to pull a fast one and rob them!

Utterly ridiculous!

Utterly lawless!

"Slap!"

"Slap!"

Without any warning, Luo Zijun delivered two fierce slaps that knocked both women flat on the ground!

Then he began rummaging through their bodies for silver.

"Little bastard! I'll kill you!"

The green-draped woman immediately drew a dagger from her clothes, gritting her teeth in rage.

However, before she could make a move, Luo Zijun "bang" smashed a fist into her nose, instantly making her see stars and sending a bloody spray flying from her nose. The dagger in her hand dropped to the ground with a clatter.

Luo Zijun picked up the dagger and began searching her body again.

The blue-draped woman screamed in panic, "Help! Someone help—"

"Bang!"

Luo Zijun landed a punch squarely on her mouth, knocking out two of her front teeth on the spot.

"Holler again and I'll beat you to death!"

Luo Zijun threatened viciously.

"Wuu..."

Blood flowed from the blue-draped woman's mouth, her face a mask of agony and terror as she dared not scream anymore.

Luo Zijun resumed searching her body.

Before long, he fished out fifteen taels of silver from the two of them.

"Slap! Slap!"

After pocketing the silver and the dagger, Luo Zijun dealt each of them another resounding slap to the face.

"Broke asses!"

With that curse, he stood up and said, "Remember to report this to the authorities. Your men at home are still waiting to go to prison and eat prison food."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the two women trembled, suddenly realizing the truth.

"No... we won't report to the authorities..."

The blue-draped woman stammered in fear.

Luo Zijun ignored them further, turned around, and prepared to leave.

To his surprise, someone was standing at the entrance of a residence ahead, staring at him in utter astonishment.

Luo Zijun maintained his composure and walked forward.

Passing that figure, he waved and offered a greeting: "Good morning, Sister Ziyin."

Then he added, "Go call Brother Xu out. Brother Xu should recognize them; perhaps he'll take pity on them and escort them home."

With that, he strode away.

Xu Ziyin stood at the doorway, staring at his retreating back for a moment, and then turned her head to look at the two miserable, blood-mouthed women who had been thoroughly plundered.

Luo Zijun, carrying the massive fortune of eighteen taels of silver, soon arrived at West Lake Academy.

He went straight to the classroom.

As he traversed a pebble-paved path, a delighted and exaggerated voice suddenly rang out from beside him: "Brother Luo!"

Wang Dafu, draped in gold and jade with a protruding belly, came running over, his face beaming with excitement. "You really are something else, kid! If Brother Su hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you were accepted into our academy on exceptional terms! Is your scholar examination paper really that damn impressive? Even our academy's admissions examiners were conquered by it?"

"Just pure luck, pure luck."

Luo Zijun remained very modest.

"Pure luck my ass! If you're awesome, you're awesome, why are you being modest? My favorite thing in the world is making friends with talented people. From now on, you are my, Wang Dafu's, sworn brother! In this academy from now on, if there's anything you can't handle, Brother will help you! If anyone bullies you, just come find Brother!"

Wang Dafu beamed, throwing a comradely arm around his shoulder with great affection.

Luo Zijun asked, "Really? If I encounter trouble in the academy later, can I drop Brother Wang's name?"

"Of course you can!"

Wang Dafu thumped his chest with a smug look. "In this academy, nobody dares refuse to give Brother face! The moment the name Wang Dafu is dropped, those cowards are guaranteed to drop their armor and flee in panic!"

Luo Zijun immediately buttered him up: "Brother Wang is truly formidable!"

"Hehe, naturally!"

Wang Dafu chuckled, looking even more pleased with himself.

"By the way, Brother Luo, are you heading to the classroom? Su Bie said Teacher Yuan assigned you to our class?"

Luo Zijun replied, "Yes."

Wang Dafu immediately laughed, "Come on, Brother will walk you there."

After walking a short distance.

Wang Dafu suddenly said, "Right, Brother Luo, the academy is taking a holiday tomorrow, and our class has an activity—we're going out for a spring outing. Our class is planning to visit Hanshan Temple, burn some incense, and pay respects to the Buddha. You'll be going too, right?"

"Hanshan Temple?"

Hearing that name, Luo Zijun's heart tightened instantly.

That day when he went out on medical calls with his master, a certain man had gone to Hanshan Temple and, upon returning, suffered from daily nightmares, nocturnal emissions, grew withered and emaciated, and finally perished.

Below that man's navel was a spider mark.

His master had said it might be the work of a demon.

Hanshan Temple might harbor demons!

"Brother Su said Brother Xu will be going tomorrow too. Heh, Brother Xu has had terrible luck lately, so he probably wants to go burn some incense and pray for better fortune," Wang Dafu added.

Hearing this, Luo Zijun thought to himself: This sounds ominous!