Chapter 62: Monsters Attacking?

As dusk approached, the setting sun cast a tipsy glow across the land.

Bathed in the evening light, the group walked and stopped by turns, finally climbing up the mountain before total darkness fell.

However, each of them was left panting, drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.

When they reached the entrance of the temple, they could no longer push on and slumped onto the steps to rest.

Despite their fatigue, a deep sense of accomplishment washed over them.

Looking down at the steep, seemingly endless flight of stone steps stretching below, everyone felt a newfound resilience within themselves.

At this moment, Luo Zijun's resolve to practice martial arts grew stronger than ever.

While the others were trembling with exhaustion and drained of all energy, he felt only a warm glow throughout his body and a seemingly endless reserve of strength.

If a fierce beast or an assassin were to suddenly burst out from the surrounding woods right now, the others would probably just tremble in place and wait for death.

He, on the other hand, could immediately turn tail and run.

This was the difference between practicing martial arts and merely reading books.

Often enough, martial arts truly could save one's life, especially in a world infested with demons and ghosts.

Of course, most people here probably knew nothing of such dangers.

Still, this body of his was still somewhat frail.

It possessed strength, but no defense.

According to his brother-in-law, to truly become a martial artist, one needed daily medicinal baths and grueling physical conditioning using external techniques to force out all impurities from the body, tempering the flesh and forging the bones, thereby granting the physique a higher explosive force and greater resilience against impacts.

Only then could one both attack and defend.

He resolved to find a way to begin true martial arts training as soon as the spring outing was over.

Meanwhile, the monks inside the temple had already received word.

Abbot Huitong personally led a group of monks out to greet them, demonstrating the high regard in which they held the scholars.

The students quickly stood up and bowed in return.

"Amitabha. Our humble temple is crude; we hope esteemed benefactors will not mind."

Abbot Huitong led the students into the temple.

Though excited, the students knew they had to maintain a quiet demeanor.

First, they headed to the main hall to pay homage to the Buddha and offer incense.

Some students stepped forward to draw divination lots, hoping for a favorable omen to bless their future careers.

Others prayed piously to the Buddha, seeking peace and fortune for their families.

Xu Xian knelt before the Buddha statue with exceptional devotion, murmuring a prayer that the Buddha would bless him and put an end to his string of bad luck.

Luo Zijun muttered inwardly from the side: Not unless that white snake decides to leave you alone!

The sunset at the edge of the sky quickly faded away.

After finishing their prayers and strolling around the temple grounds for a while, the group headed to the back courtyard for dinner.

The monks brought out freshly cooked vegetarian noodles, steaming hot.

Exhausted and hungry, the scholars didn't mind the simplicity of the meal. Once the monks departed, they picked up their chopsticks and slurped the noodles down hungrily.

After dinner came the inevitable bathing.

Covered in sweat from the mountain climb, none of them could sleep without washing up first.

The male and female students were separated, each accommodated in a few small courtyards where they drew water from the wells and boiled it themselves.

Many of them had been pampered at home, accustomed to personal maids and servants attending to their every need, but now they had to rely entirely on themselves.

Fortunately, with so many companions around chatting and laughing while they worked, the task didn't feel exhausting at all.

In fact, it was rather fun.

While bathing, Zhang Liyan started a playful banter: "Zhaodi, you've already been kissed and groped by Luo Zijun. Why don't you have your father propose a marriage alliance at that fellow's house tomorrow as soon as we return?"

The others burst into laughter.

Sun Yan'er stood quietly to the side, lowering her head without a word.

Huang Zhaodi scrubbed her body casually and retorted, "So what if he kissed me? It's not like I'll lose a chunk of flesh. The guy did it to save me, not to take advantage of me. Besides, a person like him holds such an aversion to women that even if I offered myself to him on a silver platter, he probably wouldn't touch me. Instead, he'd likely think I was insulting him and give me another severe beating."

"Hahahahaha..."

At these words, the girls laughed even more merrily.

"You know, that's entirely possible. That guy truly lacks any shred of tenderness toward women; he probably wants to hit any female he lays eyes on."

Huang Zhaodi snorted again. "Not that I'm afraid of him, mind you! I've been practicing martial arts with my father since I was a child. While I might not be able to beat a true martial artist, beating him would be more than enough—a single punch's work!"

"But the guy saved your life, Zhaodi. Do you really have the heart to hit him?"

"Why wouldn't I? If he hits me, naturally I'll hit him back. As for saving my life—well, the worst-case scenario is that I beat him half to death and then take care of him myself."

"Tsk tsk, Zhaodi, and you still claim you don't want to offer yourself to him in marriage?"

"Pfft."

"Oh, Zhaodi, your chest seems to have grown again. Was it because that guy was pressing on it today?"

"Get lost!"

"Heehee, Zhaodi, tell us what it felt like at the time. Did that guy take the opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth?"

"Get lost, get lost, get lost! Just thinking about it is sickening, stop talking about it!"

"Hahaha, maybe Zhaodi was the one who eagerly stuck her tongue out."

"Say one more word and I'll splash you with water!"

Huang Zhaodi scooped up a ladle of water from her wooden tub, glaring with wide eyes.

Her wheat-toned skin glistened with crystal-clear droplets, reflecting a healthy and captivating sheen under the lamplight—possessing a beauty that belonged to an era yet to fully understand it.

As the girls exchanged jests, Sun Yan'er stood alone to the side, looking somewhat distracted.

Once the male and female students finished bathing, they gathered together once more.

They chatted in the courtyard, admiring the moonlight and drinking tea, feeling utterly relaxed and content.

"The moonlight tonight is so lovely, and since all of us scholars, both men and women, are gathered here, why don't we have a poetry duel?"

Someone suggested.

The others immediately agreed.

But what should the stakes be?

It couldn't possibly be the usual game of men inviting women and women inviting men under the late night sky, could it?

The men would certainly welcome it, but the women wouldn't dare.

"Let's substitute wine with tea. The loser must take a penalty drink," Huang Beicheng proposed.

Mei Yanqiu suggested, "That's too boring. How about the loser is penalized by having to sing or dance? The winner can choose someone to perform a song or a dance."

Upon hearing this, everyone found it amusing.

"Alright, it's settled then!"

Zhang Liyan laughed, "If we win, we'll make the men get up and dance. Hahahaha..."

Imagining that scene, the girls shook with laughter, their laughter blooming like flowers.

Huang Zhaodi immediately said with excitement, "Then if I win, can I order that fellow Luo Zijun to come out and dance for us?"

"Hahahahaha..."

Envisioning the sight of that guy dancing, she nearly collapsed with laughter.

However, the other girls remarked, "You're a fool, Zhaodi. That guy isn't like other men; he never does things by the book. If you dare ask him to dance, he'll likely stride right out and plant two punches right on your face."

Huang Zhaodi: "..."

"Besides, that guy writes such exceptional poetry, there's no way we can beat him—he's more likely to beat us instead. Oh no, what if he makes all of us come out and dance for him?"

Huang Zhaodi remained unimpressed. "Dance if he wants us to; I'm not afraid."

"Zhaodi, what if the guy asks you to do a striptease?"

"Get lost!"

"Giggle, giggle, giggle..."

At this moment, Sun Yan'er softly interjected from the side, "He hasn't even come..."

Hearing this, the laughter died down. "Who hasn't come?"

Realizing what she meant, they quickly looked up to search among the male students.

Sure enough, they couldn't find that fellow's figure anywhere.

Huang Zhaodi hurried over and asked, "Where is Luo Zijun? Why isn't he here?"

Huang Beicheng turned his head to scan the area, looking somewhat puzzled.

Wang Dafu immediately grinned broadly at Huang Zhaodi and replied, "Brother Luo is still in his room taking a bath."

Huang Zhaodi declared at once, "Then I'll go fetch him!"

Wang Dafu's smile froze, and he hurriedly blocked her. "No, you mustn't! Brother Luo is stark naked, so Miss Huang absolutely cannot go! I'll go! I'll go call him!"
With that, he scurried away in a panic.

After a short while, he returned looking sheepish and said, "Brother Luo says he's tired and is going to sleep."

Huang Zhaodi retorted immediately, "How can that be! Everyone is out here having fun, and he's hiding in his room sleeping alone? Isn't that shameful? I'm going to drag him out here!"

Wang Dafu hastily stopped her. "Brother Luo is already lying in bed, and he warned me that if anyone dares to disturb him, he'll greet them with his fists."

Clenching her fists, Huang Zhaodi gave a cold harrumph. "Then let's see whose fists are harder—his, or this young lady's!"

Terrified that she might throw herself into the wolf's den, Wang Dafu had no choice but to lie to her. "When I just went over, Brother Luo had already stripped off all his clothes, wearing absolutely nothing on him. He looked utterly murderous and terrifying—Miss Huang must not go!"

"I'm not afraid of him!"

Though she said those words, she had no intention of going whatsoever.

In the dead of night, she certainly wouldn't barge into a man's room!

"Fine, fine, let's forget about that fellow and just play our game!"

Mei Yanqiu quickly gathered the group's attention.

Meanwhile.

After finishing his bath, Luo Zijun had returned to his room, bolted the door, shut the windows, and prepared to cultivate.

What a bunch of bored people.

Rather than wasting time moon-gazing outside, cultivating in his room was far more practical.

Composing poetry was undoubtedly romantic, but romance couldn't save one's life.

Besides, those men and women were all dressed up like peacocks spreading their tails—who couldn't see right through their little intentions?

He had no interest in such things.

Crossing his legs in meditation, he cleared his mind, cast away distracting thoughts, and entered the state of cultivation.

Soon, a current of energy manifested within his body.

In his dantian ocean, the seed of inner strength, now the size of a broad bean, lit up with a milky-white radiance and began to pulse gently.

The stream of energy meandered through his meridians.

Like a brook winding across the earth, it surged forward with indomitable momentum toward the vast sea.

Time slipped away silently.

Outside the window, the bright moon climbed from the tree branches directly into the center of the night sky.

After an unknown duration, Luo Zijun slowly opened his eyes and emerged from his meditative state.

His entire body felt warmly comfortable, his vigor was exceptionally sharp, and his muscles hummed with a pleasant heat, as if brimming with boundless power.

"If only I had a complete set of cultivation techniques..."

Just as he was feeling a tinge of regret, his gaze suddenly shifted toward the window.

Eh?

It was getting quite late; why hadn't that group returned yet?

There were four rooms in this small courtyard, each capable of housing two people, and he had purposely chosen to room with Xu Xian.

The other three rooms were occupied by Su Bie, Wang Dafu, and the rest.

At this hour, were those people still lingering under the moonlight, composing poetry?

Or had they all paired off and wandered away together?

Just as he was about to step outside to investigate, he suddenly heard an extremely faint sound of footsteps outside his window, which vanished the moment they reached the sill.

An ordinary person would certainly have missed it.

Yet, possessing a unique physique and having cultivated inner strength, his hearing far exceeded that of ordinary men.

Someone was outside his window!

His heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself: Could it be that soul-sucking demon?