Li Huai giró la cabeza lentamente para ver a Liubobin, junto con una pequeña niña morena.
En cuanto lo vio, se sintió aliviado: ¡Había encontrado a alguien con quien discutir!Liubobin no hablaba mucho durante las comidas.Pien Qian también guardaba silencio.Así que Li Huai comenzó a hablar de manera exagerada.
Liubobin lo miraba con desafío, pero decía para sí misma: "¿Qué más puedo decirle?¡Ya se ha enterado de la mayoría de las cosas del Colegio de Maestros!".Li Huai continuó provocando a Liubobin, como si estuviera echando suerte.
Decidió enfrentarse a ella después y le daría una buena lección.Mencio no decía mucho durante las comidas;seguía comiendo con la misma lentitud de siempre, pero se esforzaba por servirles comida a los tres niños.Li Huai suddenly asked, "Chen Guangyuan, what’s with the new outfit?You aren’t even wearing shoes!Be careful, or you might go from luxury to hardship!"Before Li Huai could finish his sentence, he began bending over and howling pitifully.Li Baoping and Peiqian gave Li Huai a hard kick under the table.Chen Guangyuan smiled and said, "Actually, I had considered coming to the academy in my old clothes.
But I was afraid of embarrassing you all.
This outfit is for traveling on the path of the world;I have to be careful.
Plus, it helps with cultivation.
So, I got used to this robe after wearing it for a long time.
But that doesn’t mean my old clothes aren’t comfortable anymore."Li Huai gritted his teeth and said, "Back when I was at the private school, you were so much taller!You’ve also become less gloomy.
That’s hard for me to get used to."Chen Guangyuan joked, "Li Huai, you haven’t changed.
Do you fall asleep every time you read?"Li Huai sighed sadly, "Chen Guangyuan, you have no idea how difficult my studies are now.
It’s even harder than traveling with us back then.
Especially during the lectures by our masters, I hold in a full bladder and almost lose consciousness."Li Baoping tapped on the table to remind Li Huai of his words.Li Huai said angrily, "Annoying!The rules are stricter here than those masters!"Almost finished eating, there was little left on the table.Chen Guangyuan said, "I still need to visit Master Mao Shan’s place soon.
There are some matters we need to discuss.
After that, I will go find Lin Souyi and Yu Lu to thank them.
You can explore around on your own but remember not to violate the night-time curfew of the academy."Li Huai asked, "Chen Guangyuan, how long are you staying at the academy?"Li Baoping smiled for the first time.Peiqian looked worried and was trembling with fear.Chen Guangyuan said with a smile, "Not too long but not just for a few days either."Li Huai responded, "Alright.
So, why don’t you stay to study here?We can return to Longquan County together in the future.
You must have gotten tired of wandering around and your heart has wandered, right?Even if you don’t take Li Baoping seriously, there’s me, Li Huai, your bosom friend.
Who knows, I might even call you my brother-in-law some day!How could you leave this little nephew behind in the academy?"Chen Guangyuan said helplessly, "Don’t say that to Lin Souyi and Dong Shuijing."Li Huai sighed heavily, "Those two, one is a stubborn person who doesn’t like to speak his mind and the other is so dull.
I don’t think my sister likes either of them.
My mother likes Lin Souyi more, while my father likes Dong Shuijing better.
But it’s my word that counts in our family;even my sister listens to me.
Chen Guangyuan, let’s make a deal.
You just need to stay at the academy with me for a year.
Half a year would be fine!Then you can become my brother-in-law without any dowry!"Chen Guangyuan said jokingly, "Get lost!"Li Huai thumped the table and said, "Chen Guangyuan, talk properly to your little nephew!You know what I mean!"Li Baoping slapped Li Huai’s head, causing him to shrink back in fear.Once Li Baoping and Peiqian finished clearing the dishes and took them outside to the kitchen, Li Huai came over and whispered on the table, "Chen Guangyuan, my sister looks so beautiful now!I’m not lying."Chen Guangyuan patted his head gently, "You don’t need to go through all this trouble as an intermediary.
I already have someone I like."Li Huai looked gloomy.Chen Guangyuan said softly, "Not being your brother-in-law doesn’t mean we’re not friends anymore."Li Huai said with no energy, "But what if you leave for three years and don’t return?Maybe it will be another three or five years the next time!You’re different from me.
You didn’t even stick around to help when I was bullied at the academy!"Chen Guangyuan could not find words.If he followed his heart, it might take several more years before they met again.He planned to travel to Longquan County and Book Scroll Lake, as well as Caiyi Country and Shuisi State after that.
He intended to go north beyond Daliu Dynasty’s northernmost borders.Li Huai sniffed and said with a smile, "Forget it!We’re adults now;let’s not be so sentimental.
We’ll talk about this tomorrow!"Chen Guangyuan patted Li Huai’s head and said, "Peiqian seems to be scared of Li Baoping.
You should spend more time with her."Li Huai replied playfully, "That little black charcoal?No problem!I’m afraid too;it takes a hero to fear someone!"Only Li Huai could speak so boldly.Afterward, Chen Guangyuan went to visit Mao Xiaodong’s study.Empezaron a discutir sobre la segunda criaturaSer vivo nativo sobrenatural.Mao Xiaodong had already received Cy East Mountain’s secret letter.
It was even more detailed than Chen Guangyuan himself anticipated.He had purchased most of the celestial and terrestrial treasures needed for the golden literary soul, although some were still on their way to the academy.
By autumn, he would definitely collect everything without any omissions.Chen Guangyuan said that he might need to repay some money later.Mao Xiaodong did not make a fuss;he agreed to calculate based on market value and hoped to settle in twenty years.Since it was an extremely special golden literary soul as one of the five elements’ life essence, Mao Xiaodong carefully examined the literary soul taken out from the pocket universe.
Before that, he had thoroughly researched Caiyi Country’s history and the county gazetteer where the City God Temple stood, finally concluding that Shen Wen, who became a god after serving as a literati minister, very likely used refined incense offerings, righteous energy, and possibly even the seal personally crafted by the Great Heavenly Master and the Thunder Method to eventually cultivate this golden literary soul.Therefore, Mao Xiaodong planned to take Chen Guangyuan on a private tour of the Imperial City’s Literary Temple, etc.
However, the final transformation would still be conducted at his academy where he could control the fate.They continued refining the details.Mao Xiaodong felt increasingly gratified.Even regarding the fundamental aspect of cultivation that determined their eventual achievements, Chen Guangyuan remained calm and unflustered, which was satisfactory to Mao Xiaodong.Many seemingly casual conversations revealed Chen Guangyuan’s answers and his inquiries about some difficult questions in the books.
While they did not shock him, they showed a sense of realism and humor.
Mao Xiaodong listened silently but was secretly glad that Peiqian could be so bold.Chen Guangyuan left Mao Xiaodong's place and found Li Baoping waiting for him at the door with her small bamboo box on her back.
He wasn’t surprised.When Chen Guangyuan first left his hometown to venture outside the Dragon Pearl Cave, he naturally escorted Li Baoping to study in the Imperial Capital.But how could she not have accompanied little Master as well?During their early journey together, those green hills and clear waters were particularly endearing.Chen Guangyuan did not hurry.
He crouched down and asked with a smile, "Baoping, has anyone bullied you at the academy these years?"Li Baoping thought carefully and shook her head, "Uncle Master, no."Chen Guangyuan scratched his head and felt slightly disappointed.Suddenly, Mao Xiaodong’s words echoed in his heart.Chen Guangyuan's expression remained unchanged.
After listening, he stood up, took Li Baoping’s hand, and began to admire the night view of the capital city outside the academy’s Little East Mountain.The two started their descent."Uncle Master, I already divided the copied books into five parts and handed them to the five teachers last minute.
However, those are just for the one-month skip class punishment, so don’t worry.""Do the masters get upset?""They’re not upset;it’s become a habit.
They only ask me to walk slowly when carrying books.""Then the masters are quite good.""Yes, they are, but none of them match Master Qi in terms of learning.""Why?""Master Qi has the largest knowledge and you’re the best person, so there is no reason.""Haha, that makes sense."