redvbooks Chapter 545 - 512 Leisure Time 2
Chapter 545 - 512 Leisure Time 2
Outside the medical clinic.
On the bustling streets, few people paid attention to the wooden sign standing at the entrance.
Most people were illiterate, and those few who could read seldom passed by. For a time, no one stopped to take a look.
Just as the two medicine boys were bored and listless, a woman with slightly chubby cheeks and almond-shaped eyes approached the clinic’s entrance.
"Where’s your pharmacist boss? Why are only the two of you here?"
The woman wore a pink dress with gold thread edges, a deep green jade belt around her waist, clearly indicating she was not from an ordinary family.
"The sir... is inside, meditating and resting..." Xiaodong, the boy, was momentarily dazzled by her appearance and stuttered. He had never spoken to such a beautiful, wealthy young lady before.
The woman looked up at the clinic’s sign.
"Shanren, quite a common name, but the calligraphy is naturally free and easy."
Lu Meisha had risen early to dress up, having overheard her brother and Zhang Rongfang talking earlier. She knew Zhang Rongfang had returned to open the clinic and planned to stay in Wushan Prefecture.
At that time, she felt nothing, but upon returning home, she thought about the useless bum she had broken up with previously, comparing him to Zhang Rongfang, who had now clearly stepped into the higher ranks of martial artists.
She felt a bit uneasy at heart because she suddenly recalled everything she had gone through during this period.
As her brother’s status in the family rose, more and more people started proposing marriage to her.
But whenever she saw these suitors, she couldn’t help but compare them to Zhang Rongfang, and so every time it ended unhappily.
"Meisha, let me introduce you to Bai Jingyan from the Bai family, handsome and quite capable, why did you not go after meeting him once? He invited you for an autumn outing, and you didn’t go?" Her brother’s voice seemed to echo in her ears.
"Useless compared to Zhang Rongfang! I don’t even want to look! What’s the use of good looks? Can they shield against blades? Protect against bandits outside the city?"
"Well... how about the eldest son from the Lian family? He’s both literate and skilled in martial arts, having gained a good mastery at a young age."
"Can’t even beat Zhang Rongfang. Even with those excellent conditions, he’s still mediocre! Not worth looking at!"
"Then how about the eldest son from the Upper Capital’s Taishi Academy? He’s already reached Seventh Grade at just over thirty years old."
"Already over thirty and only Seventh Grade. If Zhang Rongfang had his conditions, he might already be at Eighth or Ninth Grade now. What’s there to see in these kinds of people?"
Coming back to her senses, Lu Meisha lowered her head. She originally planned just to wander around Jieshan casually, but unconsciously, she had found her way to the clinic.
She didn’t know what was happening to her, but since she was here, she might as well take a look and see what kind of mess Zhang Rongfang had made of the clinic?
Once inside, Lu Meisha immediately spotted Zhang Rongfang meditating behind the counter on one side of the hall.
Compared to before, he seemed to have shrunk a bit in stature, but these martial artists often had some strange occurrences, so it was no big concern.
"Hey!" she slapped the counter with a crisp sound.
"What’s up?" Zhang Rongfang opened one eye to glance at her.
"This clinic looks like it has no business; can it really operate?" Lu Meisha suddenly felt she had nothing to say. She didn’t have a good relationship with Zhang Rongfang and had come inexplicably, unable even to explain why.
"When there are people, we see them. When there aren’t, we rest. It’s all by chance." Zhang Rongfang replied.
He was still channeling his energy into the puppets one by one, observing and searching for a child, seeing which one would be easier to fool.
"I passed by here and saw there wasn’t a soul around your place; it just opened and already so deserted. I’m afraid it’ll close soon," Lu Meisha commented bluntly.
"Aren’t you quite skilled in martial arts? I heard you reached Sixth Grade and above," she continued, "I’ve been practicing recently, and when I reach Sixth Grade, I’ll spar with you."
"Sure..." Zhang Rongfang suddenly recalled the days in Qinghe Palace, where many young men and women struggled for years just to advance one grade... In comparison, Lu Meisha’s casual words seemed to suggest reaching high grades was easy.
He shook his head silently and said no more.
Suddenly, the two fell silent again.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, yet Lu Meisha found her feet rooted to the spot, unable to leave.
"By the way, how is your family’s Jin Xiu doing now?" she asked again.
"She was sent back. We’ve separated, ensuring her wealth for life." Zhang Rongfang replied.
He now understood that his body was too strong, incompatible with ordinary people.
"Separated?" Lu Meisha’s heart skipped a beat.
Suddenly recalling her sister-in-law Zhang Rongyu’s words.
’Maybe Rongfang has never married since, and now he’s back in Wushan. Last time, he deliberately left you single...’
With this thought, an idea flashed through Lu Meisha’s mind.
"Could it be... he really is...!?"
Once this thought took root, it never left.
"No, I must keep a close eye on him; I might as well stay here longer since I have nothing else to do today."
Lu Meisha immediately began asking Zhang Rongfang about martial arts and medicine, engaging in casual conversation.
*
*
*
Mu Chi Mansion, underground.
In a dark stone room.
The oil lamp flickered like a bean, illuminating a circle of surrounding stone walls.
In the stone chamber, a red-faced old man with long white hair and beard almost dragging to the ground was sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, adjusting his breath.
The old man was dressed in a white scholar’s robe, with two black jade rings on his upper arms, sitting motionless as if he were a sculpture.
If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would surely be mistaken for a mummified corpse.
After a while, one wall of the stone chamber slowly rotated, revealing two wide passages.
Behind the passage was a more spacious gigantic stone palace.
This stone chamber was unexpectedly connected to a large underground stone palace.
A graceful woman in a red dress and black veil slowly walked into the stone chamber.
"Rongyu, greets teacher." She bowed gracefully, showing respect.
The old man in the stone chamber slowly opened his eyes.
"You have just given birth, why hurry here? Resting for a few more days would be beneficial."
"The matters of our line are urgent, and I also need some activity." Zhang Rongyu smiled. Although her face seemed somewhat pale through the veil, she appeared to be in good health.
"You’ve worked hard...." The old man sighed.
Initially, he didn’t pay much attention to Zhang Rongyu, who entered the sect halfway.
It was only later when she displayed various plans and strategies far superior to other disciples.
Combined with her background, the elder then took her under his wing as the last disciple.
"Now, with Mu Chi Prefecture in Wushan Prefecture serving as your cover, we have managed to avoid several inspections by the Spirit Court’s Inspection Bureau. It’s truly difficult for you to deal with those spirit people nobles for us...." The old man sighed.
"Teacher’s words are too much. My husband is sincerely devoted to me, hoping for some leniency when matters arise in the future." Zhang Rongyu earnestly pleaded.
"Naturally." The old man nodded. "Now you have successfully given birth for our line, and your child shall be personally taught as a disciple of our line. The leader will soon arrive, prepare yourself."
"Yes." Zhang Rongyu replied solemnly.
Each leader of the seven lines in the Confucian Sect is extremely mysterious and powerful, with identities highly secretive. Now with her childbirth drawing attention from one of the leaders of the seven lines, it’s evident.... the plan is truly beginning.
"Your child, Huanqing, shall inherit the righteousness. When the Seven Gentlemen reappear, that will be the moment our Confucian Sect returns!" The old man said solemnly.
"Disciple understands!" Zhang Rongyu bowed in response.
The Confucian Sect’s layout is extensive, and her ability to help her husband rise quickly and obtain a higher position in the family relies on the support from the Confucian Sect.
In the Seven Gentlemen plan, to overcome the absolute barrier of spirit people’s bloodline, a mixed-blood child was chosen to be born.
Now she has finally outpaced other candidates, making her child the sole successor!
This also means that Huanqing will receive full support from one of the seven lines in the Confucian Sect.
The Seven Gentlemen represent the seven top martial artists under Chen Junchen in the past.
And their positions are passed down through generations, with each generation of Gentlemen being different.
Every Gentleman, following the ancestors, wields a Gentleman Sword.
This sword possesses the power to cut through ghosts and gods!
And now, Zhang Rongyu, after much strategy, has finally succeeded in securing the sole successor position...
For a moment, tears filled her eyes, feeling that all the years of hardship and patience had finally paid off.
"Additionally, although we have secretly laid various foundations and planted different imprints in Huanqing during your pregnancy, after birth, you must bathe him daily with three different prescriptions." The old man advised again, listing the necessary prescriptions one by one.
The so-called Confucian Sect Seven Gentlemen are equivalent to the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, Daoists and Buddhist sons in other sects. Because of inheriting the Gentleman Sword, their status is even higher.
Such existence, as long as they don’t perish midway, is almost destined to become the top figures in charge of a line in the future.
"Alright, you may leave now." The old man softly said after explaining the prescriptions.
"Yes."
Zhang Rongyu slowly left.
The stone chamber returned to calm, but not long after, another person silently entered and stood before the old man.
"Teacher, someone from the Solitary Plover Academy has arrived, presumably due to Dongfang Mu’s exposure."
"Dongfang Mu...." The old man’s brows furrowed slightly. "Since he’s been exposed, don’t contact him anymore. He’s already under watch outside."
The main forces of the Confucian Sect are the seven lines. Besides that, there are separate forces led by former scattered great scholars as heads.
Dongfang Mu is one of the representatives of these separate forces.
Having been secluded for many years, he has been secretly spreading his master’s theories in Wushan Prefecture, somewhat radical and reckless in words and actions.
Our line maintains a rather detached relationship with him.
"And what about Zhang Rongfang?" The person asked again. "Rongyu’s younger brother seems to be directly connected to that Daoist Zhang Ying. Some suggest they are the same person, but that’s obviously impossible. We’ve inquired from Rongyu, her brother Zhang Rongfang was just an ordinary person when he entered Qinghe Palace."
"Therefore, it’s likely that Zhang Ying is using Zhang Rongfang’s identity for activities outside. Considering Zhang Rongfang’s rapid progress into high-grade within a few short years, Zhang Ying is likely the one behind him." The old man agreed with a nod.
He changed the subject, "But these matters are irrelevant to us. Whether it’s Great Dao Teaching or other sects, they will be our targets for eradication in the future. Our opponents have never been them... but what’s behind them...."
"Disciple understands." The man cupped his fists.
"Soon... soon.... When the Seven Gentlemen gather, it will be the time for the return of the leaders of the seven lines. Then...." The old man spoke softly, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.