Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Kindred Spirits Among Scholars
Editor: Atlas Studios

Backyard.

“Sect Hierarch, is that little doctor your intended?” Li Fuzhou asked, his expression somewhat odd.

“Yes.” Zhao Qingmei replied succinctly, without many words.

Li Fuzhou spoke slowly, “If the Sect Hierarch were not married, then I would undoubtedly advise against it, but since this matter is already decided, whatever I say now is meaningless.”

“However, there are some things that must be said, to serve as a warning.”

Zhao Qingmei responded lightly, “Speak without hesitation.”

She had already prepared herself for Li Fuzhou’s admonition.

Li Fuzhou spoke slowly, “Sect Hierarch, this little doctor is just an ordinary person, whereas you are the master of the Outer Heaven, head of the three sects of Heaven, Earth, and Human. Not to mention external enemies, would the three sects internally agree to this marriage? You must be aware of the Earth Sect Master’s intentions. If the three sects have a rift and cannot unite, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous crisis for the Demon Sect.”

“Moreover, external foes encircle us. The Great Yan may seem peaceful superficially, but it has been idle for decades. Any disturbance could be a great opportunity, and he might become your hindrance, thus becoming the Demon Sect’s hindrance.”

“What you say, I understand very well.”

Zhao Qingmei, with her hands behind her back, responded lightly, “Sect Master Li, do not forget that I am the master of this Outer Heaven, and the Earth Sect is merely a branch of it. It’s not up to him to dictate. If he insists on dictating, what is the point of the Heavenly Sect to me?”

Though Zhao Qingmei’s tone was very calm, it carried a sense of undeniable authority.

Li Fuzhou did not speak, as if he was not surprised by her words.

“A sword in hand is still a sword in hand; do you understand, Li Fuzhou?”

Zhao Qingmei turned her head to glance at Li Fuzhou.

“The way of the gentleman is like walking far, starting from near; like ascending high, starting from below. Your subordinate understands.”

Li Fuzhou, looking into her eyes, bowed and said, “But that little doctor is helpless in self-defense. If someone wishes to…”

“That is why your arrival is timely.” Zhao Qingmei’s lips curled into a slight smile.

“Sect Hierarch, do you mean to have me…”

Li Fuzhou’s eyebrows slightly raised.

Who was he?

The master of the Human Sect of Outer Heaven. Even within the Demon Sect, he was feared.

Similar to one of the three great eunuchs under the Great Yan Emperor, the Chamberlain. Such a person was to protect a little doctor?

“Correct.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded, “Third Master, I’ll be counting on you.”

“Very well.”

Li Fuzhou, hearing Zhao Qingmei speak thus, could only agree, then he seemed to remember something, “When I arrived in Yu State, I heard of a peerless swordsman in Yu State City. It is said he might be a master of our Demon Sect…?”

The Cao Gang was a top-tier gang in the Great Yan. After Tieyun Mountain, one of their seven Vajras, was killed, a whole city headquarters was cleansed by bloodshed. That was a monumental event. He had heard many rumors along his way.

Moreover, as the master of the Human Sect, he was always the first to receive news from the world.

A master of such caliber appeared within the sect, unbeknownst to him.

Zhao Qingmei, lightly, “This person is not of our Demon Sect. It’s likely the Cao Gang sowing confusion, using others to deal with this swordsman.”

“The Cao Gang is indeed audacious. If this swordsman were truly a member of our Demon Sect, it would be a blatant provocation. It seems our Demon Sect’s influence in the Great Yan has gradually waned.”

Li Fuzhou chuckled, “When I arrived, I heard that the Pure Land Leiyin Temple is also moving, intending to come to Fa Xi Temple. This Jiangnan Dao has certainly become lively.”

“Buddhists? They’ve finally made a move?” Zhao Qingmei said seriously.

“Correct.”

Li Fuzhou sighed, “The Pure Land has long intended to return to the Great Yan. It’s no secret. Their first challenge would be the Great Yan’s National Religion, the Zhenyi Sect. We need not worry, as the more chaotic the waters, the better for our Demon Sect. What intrigues me is the identity of this swordsman.”

The Western Pure Land, known to control the Three Thousand Buddha Countries, had countless Buddhist sect masters.

The Zhenyi Sect, since the ascension of the Taiping Human Emperor, had been the Great Yan’s National Religion, enjoying supreme prestige, the foremost sect in the world.

Though the two sides did not have a mortal feud, their relations were fraught with tension and deep-seated conflicts.

Zhao Qingmei lightly tapped the table, “I suspect this person is very likely the one from the Ghost Valley Sword Sect.”

“The old man from the Ghost Valley Sword Sect?” Li Fuzhou’s eyes narrowed to slits, “Didn’t he retire to seek the Dao, no longer concerning himself with the Jianghu?”

Zhao Qingmei lightly nodded, “This person used the Hundred-step Flying Sword when he bloodied the Cao Gang and saved Jiang Sanjia, foiling my plans…”

“That old monster from the Ghost Valley Sword Sect has been inactive for decades. Indeed, as the saying goes, a friend from afar is a joyful occasion.”

Li Fuzhou’s eyes held a hint of expectation.

……

The Yu State River was picturesque, with bustling traffic on the ancient bridge.

Shops lined both sides of the streets, extending endlessly.

After lunch, Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun went out to buy some cloth.

An Jing sat in consultation, while Li Fuzhou was responsible for preparing the herbs according to An Jing’s prescription.

He did so meticulously and with exact weights.

“The handwriting is too sloppy. It requires a more serious attitude. This matter cannot be taken lightly.”

Li Fuzhou, looking at the handwriting, said sternly.

Old man, what do you know?

“Got it.”

An Jing agreed readily but continued to write messily.

Seeing this, Li Fuzhou felt increasingly displeased with the little doctor, feeling that he was being slighted.

To An Jing, Li Fuzhou came across as serious, rigid, old-fashioned, and crafty.

During the entire morning, apart from that one comment, they did not exchange many words.

“Oh, my back is about to break.”

An Jing stretched lazily, “Third Master, the herbs in the back room can be sun-dried. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Got it.”

Hearing this, Li Fuzhou set down the book and walked toward the backyard.

An Jing, satisfied, nodded his head, then petted the little black kitten, “Little thing, you’ve been quite well-behaved this morning.”

Hearing this, Li Fuzhou’s face darkened as he walked.

Scoundrel!

That statement was certainly a veiled insult.

“Hey, Dr. An, are you alone?”

At this moment, Zhou Xianming walked in, glancing around the back hall as if looking for someone.

“Who are you looking for?”

An Jing raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you here to be a workhorse again?”

“No, I just came to have a look, just came to see.” Zhou Xianming laughed dryly, “I’ve been reading day and night at home lately, so I came out to walk… Achoo!”

As he spoke, Zhou Xianming sneezed, snot streaming down.

“Have you caught a cold?”

An Jing examined him closely, “It’s changing seasons, you need to keep warm.”

With his medical skill, An Jing could naturally tell that Zhou Xianming had caught a cold.

“The wind on the boat was strong, and I caught a chill last night, but it’s nothing.” Zhou Xianming wiped his nose with his sleeve and smiled.

“Wind on the boat?” An Jing showed a hint of doubt.

Zhou Xianming seemed to realize he had misspoken and quickly said, “I’ve spent days diligently studying at home without going to see Miss Li Yue. I was worried she might be concerned, so I went to the Red House last night. At that time, Young Master Ming Fei had booked the entire pleasure boat, and I could only wait outside.”

“How long did you wait?”

“Not long, less than two hours.”

“That’s not long? You just waited?”

An Jing could imagine Young Master Ming Fei and Li Yue in the pleasure boat, entangled with one another, while Zhou Xianming stood outside, eavesdropping and keeping watch.

Truly heart-wrenching and tear-inducing…

Zhou Xianming sighed, “You don’t understand. Young Master Ming Fei visits often and is very generous. The madam doesn’t wish to offend such a big customer and forces Miss Li Yue to accompany him for so long. She has no choice. I just regret I don’t have the money to redeem her.”

“Miss Li Yue, being so proud and pure, how could she willingly accompany such a layabout?”

“She must have suffered last night.”

An Jing paused for a moment, astonished, “Brother Zhou, it’s clearly you who suffered in the cold…”

At this time, Zhou Xianming showed An Jing what it meant to be persistent like a war wolf.

“Though my body is cold, my heart is warm. Forget it, you’re just a commoner. Zhou won’t waste time with you.”

Feeling that talking with An Jing was pointless, Zhou Xianming was about to leave when he noticed a book on the table, “Hey, do you read this ‘Strategy’ book too?”

“No, I use it for toilet paper.”

An Jing glanced at it. This was surely the book that Li Fuzhou had left behind.

“Such disrespect!” Zhou Xianming glared angrily.

“That’s my book, how dare you!”

At that moment, Li Fuzhou walked out, grabbed the ‘Strategy’ book from the table, and coldly glared at An Jing.

“Oh, it’s the old gentleman’s book, my apologies.”

Zhou Xianming saw Li Fuzhou’s attire and quickly bowed, “No wonder Dr. An, who doesn’t enjoy reading, has this ‘Strategy’ at home.”

Li Fuzhou lifted his head, “This book is profound, not something the average person can understand. He is certainly unfit to read it. You, on the other hand, seem to have some insight.”

“I often study this ‘Strategy,’ and the old gentleman seems to cherish it as well. You must be quite a cultured person.”

“Oh? You seem to have some vision. I too enjoy it very much. Whenever I read its passages, my heart becomes clear and open.”

“Especially that line…”

……

The more they talked, the more enthusiastic they became. Zhou Xianming admired Li Fuzhou more and more, feeling as if they were old friends. Li Fuzhou, in turn, grew increasingly satisfied with Zhou Xianming.

An Jing coldly watched the two, realizing his earlier prediction had come true.

They were just mutually flattering and fawning over each other… truly disgusting.

Unwittingly, they had become bosom friends, feeling like the wise finding a kindred spirit.

Zhou Xianming enthusiastically suggested, “Old Gentleman Li, we’ve hit it off so well. How about visiting a pleasure house together tonight?”

Zhou Xianming must have lost his mind to invite this strict, old-fashioned man to a pleasure house? An Jing inwardly ridiculed.

But what happened next astounded him.

“A pleasure house!?”

Li Fuzhou clapped his hands and laughed, “Great! I haven’t been in a while.”

“Old Gentleman Li, when was the last time you went?”

“Two days ago.”

“Two days, huh? That is a long time. I don’t have much money on me. Originally, I was thinking of borrowing some from Lady An. I’d repay her later.”

“No matter, I have some money on me.”

…

With that, the two of them, laughing and chatting, walked out of Jishi Hall, leaving An Jing in a state of stunned disbelief.