This scholar is a bit cruel

Chapter 338 Sweetheart

The forest was deep and secluded, untouched by sunlight.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves and snow that had not yet completely melted.

It creaks when you step on it.

In this quiet mountain forest, it sounds exceptionally clear.

Occasionally, a squirrel would dart past on an ancient tree in the forest without making a sound.

The group spoke in hushed tones, as if afraid of disturbing something in the ancient forest.

Xu Ziyin followed at the back, remaining silent for a long time before finally asking a question.

The physique and back view of the flippant young man in front of her reminded her of a certain bad guy.

Of course, that bad guy is much more handsome and domineering than this guy in front of me.

She went to the inner city several times but did not see him. She also heard that he was seduced by his sister-in-law and was keeping many noble ladies in many places in the inner city.

She went to the First Encounter Bookstore and then to the Grand View Garden, where she watched the beautiful and charming noble ladies before silently leaving.

Finally, she went to Baoan Hall.

The moment she stepped out of Baoan Hall, she suddenly realized that perhaps she had nothing that made that bad man even glance at her.

Therefore, she decided to work hard to cultivate.

At least, she has some talent in this area, and she is definitely better than those women in this area.

Once she becomes powerful, she will naturally have value.

Therefore, she returned to her sect and volunteered to join the team heading to the Women's Kingdom.

Although she knew very well that more than half of the team would die every year, and sometimes the entire team would be wiped out.

Once outside Lin'an City, she tried her best to forget that figure for the time being.

But for some reason, looking at these pretentious and despicable young masters along the way, she couldn't help but think of them again.

Judging from his accent, he was also from Lin'an City.

So after holding back for a long time, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Where are you from? Lin'an City?"

He turned around, his gaze still lingering frivolously and rudely sweeping over her face, chest, waist, and under her skirt, and said, "Yes, a genuine Lin'an native."

Then he began to boast: "Miss Xu, my family is very wealthy. We have businesses in the inner and outer cities, and in other cities as well. Our silver is piled up all over the house, and the entire mansion can hardly contain it. Even my old steward can easily drop thousands of taels of silver with a flick of his sleeve. Even the maids in my mansion use the most expensive cosmetics and eat the finest delicacies..."

Yang Yan, standing to the side, suppressed a laugh.

Xu Ziyin's face showed impatience. Before he could finish speaking, she interrupted him, "So you're considered someone important in Lin'an City?"

"Of course, everyone in Lin'an knows me. Although I usually keep a low profile, my status and wealth make it impossible for me to remain low-key."

"How does it compare to the Duke's mansion?"

"Guo... Guogong's Mansion?"

Seeing his expression change, Xu Ziyin's eyes immediately revealed a hint of sarcasm: "Didn't you say your family was very powerful? Is it even more powerful than the Duke's mansion?"

Luo Zijun chuckled dryly: "Miss Xu is joking. My family is just rich. How can a rich person compare to a powerful person, especially one from the Duke's mansion?"

At this point, he couldn't help but sigh and said, "A businessman is a businessman after all. Even if he has a fortune, he can't compare to the power of a person with a single finger. With a flick of their finger, we can be wiped out."

Xu Ziyin sneered, "Weren't you just bragging about how powerful your status and position are?"

Luo Zijun smiled bitterly, "That's for ordinary people, but in front of those in power, it's worthless. Haven't you heard the saying, 'Ordinary people are the beasts of burden for the rich, and the rich are the slaves of those in power'?"

"You are self-aware."

Xu Ziyin initiated the conversation, but her intention was elsewhere. Seeing that the topic had come up, she took the opportunity to ask, "Your family is so wealthy, you must have met many important people, right? Have you heard of that son-in-law of the Bai family?"

"That son-in-law of the Bai family? You mean that dashing, talented, and handsome young man from the Bai family named Luo Zijun, right?"

Luo Zijun looked surprised: "Why are you asking about that boy, young lady?"

Xu Ziyin said with a cold expression, "I've heard a lot about him lately, but I don't know if it's true."

Luo Zijun asked, "About seducing your sister-in-law?"

Xu Ziyin looked at him coldly and said, "Are you sure what you heard is true?"

Luo Zijun was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Xu Ziyin snorted coldly and said, "You just said it yourself, that guy is dashing, talented, and handsome. I heard he's currently the Queen's favorite minister, and so many rich young ladies outside can't get their hands on him. Do you think he would do something like seducing his sister-in-law?"

Luo Zijun asked, "Does Miss Xu think this matter is false?"

Xu Ziyin paused for a moment, then said, "I think it must be his shameless sister-in-law who seduced him."

Luo Zijun: "..."

Xu Ziyin looked at him and asked, "Have you seen him before?"

Luo Zijun nodded and said, "I've seen him once from afar. He's not as handsome and dashing as the legends say. He looks delicate and weak, like a dull scholar."

Xu Ziyin glared at him and said angrily, "You're the stupid scholar! Why don't you take a look at yourself in the mirror? Look at what you look like! If you weren't rich, even a female dog on the street wouldn't give you a second glance! Everyone knows how handsome he is, it's obvious to all. You're an ugly freak, and you still say he's not handsome? Are you just jealous and resentful?"

Luo Zijun was speechless: "Miss Xu, let's talk, can we please stop with the verbal attacks?"

Xu Ziyin looked annoyed and ignored him.

Luo Zijun glanced at her a few more times and said, "Miss Xu, I was just casually commenting on that Young Master Luo. Why are you so agitated...?"

You are not qualified!

Xu Ziyin looked at him coldly and said, "You are not as handsome as him, nor as talented as him, nor as powerful as him, nor as charming as him. What right do you have to comment on him? Furthermore, you called him weak and bookish, a dull scholar. Let me tell you, he can make you kneel down and beg for mercy with just one finger!"

Luo Zijun looked at her suspiciously and said, "Miss Xu seems to know that Young Master Luo very well. Could it be that you know him?"

Xu Ziyin didn't speak again, a hint of sadness seemed to appear in her dark eyes.

After a long pause, she coldly replied, "I don't know him. He's from the Duke's mansion, a favorite of the Queen. What merit do I have to know him?"

Luo Zijun glanced at her again and said, "That's right. I heard that guy is extremely lecherous. He's already involved with the eldest daughter of the Bai family, but he's also hooking up with the third daughter. I heard he's keeping many mistresses outside. Oh, and I also heard that he has some unusual fetishes... Tsk tsk... Luckily, Miss Xu doesn't know him, otherwise, with Miss Xu's beauty and figure, and..."

As he said this, his gaze swept over her small feet beneath her red dress.

Anger surged up on Xu Ziyin's pretty face again as she glared at him and said, "I told you, it must have been the second young lady of the Bai family who seduced him! As for those women outside, hmph, they are all noble ladies, and they obviously took the initiative to seduce him. This shows that their charm is something you could never match in several lifetimes!"

Luo Zijun said, "I heard that guy has a peculiar fetish; he likes women..."

Xu Ziyin scoffed, "So what if you like women's feet? So many scholars and poets in ancient times wrote so many poems and painted so many pictures about women's feet. Only a true talent would not be afraid of worldly opinions and do what he likes. He openly expressed it, which is the mark of a true gentleman and a talented person, unlike some people who are hypocritical and lewd, full of bad intentions but secretly hiding them in their hearts, afraid to let anyone know."

Luo Zijun said, "Miss Xu, actually... I also like women's feet."

Xu Ziyin looked at him with disdain: "You're not worthy!"

Luo Zijun: "...But I am also open and honest. I have spoken out, and I am not afraid of worldly opinions. Shouldn't I be considered a true talent and gentleman?"

"You do not deserve!"

Xu Ziyin repeated the same words, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disgust.

Luo Zijun spread her hands: "Miss Xu, isn't this too unfair? Why is it that if he likes a woman's feet, he's a gentleman and a talented man, but I'm not worthy of him?"

You don't deserve it.

Xu Ziyin ignored him and walked straight ahead, her red cloak casting a striking contrast against the dark forest.

Yang Yan was laughing so hard she almost fell over.

Luo Zijun leaned closer to him and whispered, "Senior Brother Yang, your junior sister's sweetheart isn't......"

Yang Yan shook his head and said, "Don't ask me, I don't know either."

We walked through the forest.

From morning until night, when I looked up, the sky had already turned dark.

Although everyone was a martial artist with good stamina, they were all somewhat exhausted from climbing the mountain non-stop and having to be wary of the monsters that might appear at any time.

Of course, I was also hungry.

Many monsters lurk in the Cangyun Mountains, and the further you go in, the more dangerous it becomes.

Therefore, they must always maintain peak physical and mental condition.

At the command of Wang Qiangzhuang, the girl with pigtails, everyone stopped, found a clearing on the hillside, took out some equipment, sat down to rest, and ate the dry rations they had brought with them.

"Rest for an hour, then continue on your way."

It seems this young female captain isn't planning on letting them sleep here. "Get out."

When Song Erlang, dressed in white and exuding elegance, walked up to Xu Ziyin with a folding fan in hand, he was greeted with the word "Get lost" before he could even speak.

"Hey……"

Song Erlang sighed and looked at Liu Sisi in Jade Maiden Valley.

Just as he was about to walk over, the girl in pink, who was beautiful and charming but had a cold face, sat cross-legged on the ground, closed her eyes, and said in a light tone, "I'm going to cultivate now, don't disturb me."

Song Erlang stopped and sighed again, his gaze turning to Lu Xiaomei from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

Lu Yao coldly retorted, "You lackeys of the imperial court!"

Song Erlang: "..."

He felt he needed to explain: "Miss Lu, although your elder brother was indeed killed by the court, that was the court of Chu. What does that have to do with me? I've never even been to Chu. Besides, I'm not a lackey of the court; I'm a disciple of the emperor."

"The imperial court's henchmen!"

When Lu Yao heard him mention her elder brother, her face immediately turned cold and filled with hatred. She gripped the hilt of the sword behind her back.

Song Erlang looked helpless and didn't dare to go any further. He sighed and had no choice but to sit down on the spot.

"Amitabha Buddha, this mountain is damn high. When I looked at it from the bottom, I thought it would take less than half a day to climb up."

The mentally challenged monk sat on the ground, gnawing on a cold chicken leg while complaining.

The old Taoist priest, Master Wensong, standing to the side, smiled and said, "The mountains are high and the roads are long; the journey is still a long one."

His disciple, the young Daoist Master Yiye, said with a tense face, "This journey has been another kind of cultivation. Only by enduring hardships can one truly understand the meaning of the Great Dao."

Song Erlang clapped his hands and said, "The young Taoist priest speaks well!"

Yi Ye looked at him and said, "Then, Benefactor Song, would you be willing to take off your brocade robes and golden crown and come to my Azure Dragon Temple to cultivate Taoism?"

Song Erlang laughed and said, "That won't do. I'll suffocate if there are no women in the Taoist temple."

Yi Ye said solemnly, “Benefactor, you are mistaken. Although there are no women in my Qinglong Temple, there are many like-minded fellow Daoists. Cultivating and discussing the Dao with fellow Daoists is surely better than indulging in pleasure with women.”

Song Erlang, fanning himself with a folding fan and eating snacks, laughed and said, "That's because you haven't yet enjoyed the company of a woman. If you had, you wouldn't say such a thing."

Yi Ye closed his eyes and said, "This humble Taoist would rather have fun with Fellow Taoist Huang in the temple."

Who is Fellow Daoist Huang?

Song Erlang asked curiously.

Master Wensong, who was standing to the side, laughed and said, "A big yellow dog."

"Set off."

At this moment, Wang Qiangzhuang, having finished his steamed bun, stood up and picked up the map from the ground.

The mentally challenged master said in surprise, "We've only rested for a short while, not even half an hour."

Wang Qiangzhuang said with a serious expression, "The wind has shifted, so the plan will naturally change."

After saying that, he walked ahead.

Seeing this, no one dared to say anything more and could only get up and follow.

They had walked less than two miles when they suddenly heard the roars of a group of demonic beasts and the sounds of fierce fighting coming from the hillside where they had just stopped.

The trees on that hillside fell one after another.

At this moment, no one dared to doubt the orders of the twin-tailed squad leader in front of them, and they became more confident about the road ahead.

They traveled silently and quickly.

As dawn approached, the group finally crossed the first ridge.

"So much honey!"

When they reached a precipice, the mentally challenged monk suddenly pointed upwards and said...

Everyone looked up and saw that the cliff face was covered with huge, golden honeybees, crawling with wasps the size of fists.

This is certainly not an ordinary wasp.

"These should be bull-headed bees. It is said that their honey can cure all diseases, relieve hunger and fatigue, and can also be used to treat wounds. We have traveled a long way through mountains and rivers, so it would be good to bring some of these things with us."

Song Erlang waved his folding fan, speaking with an air of great knowledge and experience.

Then he turned his head and glanced at the three girls behind him, Xu Ziyin, Liu Sisi and Lu Yao, and said with a smile, "It is said that this honey can also beautify the skin and nourish the complexion. Many women in Yujing spend a lot of money to buy it, but they can't get it. If the three ladies want it, I can risk going up and try it."

Upon hearing this, everyone was somewhat tempted.

But Wang Qiangzhuang, who was both the captain and the girl, only glanced at her indifferently, and then said with a serious expression, "Let's go."

Lu Yao couldn't help but ask, "Captain, what about the honey..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Qiangzhuang suddenly shouted, "Run!"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly they heard a thunderous roar coming from afar!

Upon closer inspection, a swarm of even larger bull-headed bees flew out of the nearby woods, each one looking fierce and menacing as they charged towards the group!

At the same time, the bull-headed bees on the cliff seemed to have received the news as well, and immediately swarmed over in dense numbers.

"Holy crap! This monster bee can understand human speech!"

As the mentally challenged monk ran, he took out a golden rich man's hat and wrapped it tightly around his shiny bald head.

Wang Qiangqiang said, "Song Erlang, you stay behind to cover our retreat!"

Song Erlang, who was running alongside her at the front, looked distressed upon hearing this: "Captain, with my handsome appearance, what if I get stung..."

Wang Qiangzhuang just gave him a serious look and didn't say anything more.

"All right……"

Song Erlang didn't dare to say anything more. He could only snap open his folding fan and stop, landing at the very back of the group.

"go with!"

With a gentle wave of his folding fan, a whirlwind two meters tall appeared and roared towards the dense swarm of demonic bees behind him.

But there were just too many demon bees. Although the whirlwind swept away many, many still chased after them.

Song Erlang continued to wave his fan as he ran.

At this moment, the demon bees split into three groups: one group chased after them, while the other two groups surrounded them from the woods on the left and right.

Because of their speed, the group was quickly surrounded.

"Captain, can we use fire?"

Lu Jianchen of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect asked.

Wang Qiangzhuang flatly refused: "No way. If a fire breaks out in the mountains, can you put it out? Burning down the mountain is burning down people's homes, which breaks the rules. Do you think those old monsters in the deep mountains will let it go so easily?"

With that, she reached out and threw out a large net, instantly covering everyone inside.

The net flashed and transformed into a thin curtain of light, keeping all the demon bees outside.

"Woo——"

Suddenly, everyone heard her make a deep, drawn-out sound.

The once aggressive demon bees were stunned for a moment after hearing this sound, and then began to stumble and fall to the ground from mid-air.

The three neat rows of bees suddenly became chaotic and collapsed.

"go!"

Wang Qiangzhuang immediately led everyone away.

After walking a distance, the demon bees gradually regained their senses and got up from the ground one after another, but hesitated and did not dare to chase after them.

"Captain is mighty!"

Knowing he had made a mistake, Song Erlang quickly smiled and flattered him, but he was somewhat doubtful: "Can those bull-headed bees really understand human speech?"

Wang Qiangzhuang put away the large net and said with a serious expression, "Just like us martial artists, we can only sense the hostility around us."

"I see."

At this moment, everyone's admiration for this squad leader deepened even further.

(End of this chapter)