Misty Rain of the Old Times

After arranging for someone to deliver the two letters he had written, Chen Xuan put down his pen, shook his head, and said self-deprecatingly, "I really am not cut out for studying. My handwriting hasn't improved at all in the past two years, but it hasn't regressed either. If I were in school, my handwriting would definitely be criticized by the teacher. Fortunately, I'm not some kind of scholar, so it doesn't matter."

He only thinks of his past learning experiences when he picks up a pen. It is true that good handwriting is pleasing to the eye. For example, Xiao Gao's handwriting can be sold for money, and it is quite expensive. Chen Xuan thinks that if he were to sell his handwriting, probably no one would even glance at it.

As he spoke, he noticed Du Juan's unusual expression beside him. Her face was gentle, but her eyes were dreamy. Although he had seen her like this before, Chen Xuan still asked curiously, "What is Sister Juan thinking about?"

"It's nothing, sir. It's getting late. Shall I instruct you to prepare dinner?" Du Juan said, lowering her head slightly to avoid his gaze.

She seemed a little puzzled, but Chen Xuan didn't think much of it. He glanced at the sky and said, "It is indeed lunchtime. Let's make arrangements, and then check on the little girl. It was her first time fighting someone, and she even drew blood, so we need to keep a close eye on her."

"Yes, sir, I'll go right away."

Then Chen Xuan waved to the upstairs window and said, "Wife, it's alright now. Dinner's ready soon, so get ready and come downstairs, or I won't wait for you."

"Okay, I'll be right down."

There were other guests on the ship, so he couldn't just leave them to eat alone in their rooms. After greeting them, Chen Xuan walked over to Liang Ren, who had been silent.

After their conversation ended, Liang Ren was stunned by the series of events that unfolded as the bandits surrounded him. He was completely bewildered and hadn't yet reacted.

"Uncle Liang, are you alright?" Chen Xuan walked over and asked, as if nothing had happened.

Startled awake, Liang Ren immediately said, flustered, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Young Master Chen."

Clearly sensing his restraint, unease, and subconscious distance, and understanding his current state of mind, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Uncle Liang's injury hasn't fully healed yet, so rest for a bit first, and we'll have a simple meal together later."

"No, Young Master Chen, I've already troubled you enough, so I won't bother you any further. I've been away for so long, I need to hurry back so my wife and children won't worry. I'll never forget your life-saving grace. Please let me know if you need anything in the future," he quickly shook his head, feeling out of place and instinctively wanting to get away.

The two had little interaction to begin with, let alone any friendship. After many years, they met again by being rescued, and the previous incident happened again. They were simply not on the same level, and he felt awkward and uncomfortable staying with them.

In response, Chen Xuan earnestly said, "Uncle Liang, you're too kind. You told us many stories about the martial arts world back then, which made my young master and I very much yearn for it. We've always wanted to treat you to a meal, but we haven't had the chance. It's a rare opportunity to meet you, and even if we're in a hurry, a meal won't make a difference. Please don't refuse."

Having said all that, and seeing that he still insisted on leaving, before he could even speak, Chen Xuan delivered his trump card in a half-joking tone: "Uncle Liang, you're pale and unsteady on your feet. You don't want to go back like this and have your aunt see you, do you? If you tell her what happened, she'll worry; if you hide it, she'll be suspicious. She might even think you've been drained dry by some woman. So, eat something first, rest a bit, and think about how to go back and avoid that happening."

Liang Ren, whose mind was in turmoil, changed his expression and was immediately persuaded. He hesitated and said, "I'm not in such a hurry to go back, so please excuse me for bothering you a little longer."

"Haha, Uncle Liang, what are you saying? Come, sit here for a while," Chen Xuan greeted him warmly, thinking to himself that as expected, no matter how fiery and carefree he used to be, he had a weakness once he got married.

Even now, Liang Ren still felt it was all unreal, like a dream. So many bandits, he used to have to be humble and smile when he encountered three or five of them, but before, they were all wiped out in no time.

Especially that bandit leader, the 'legendary' innate master. Just hearing about his strength, Liang Ren didn't have the courage to face him. But in front of Chen Xuan, he didn't dare to utter a word and apologized and ran away. In no time, he was caught and brought back like a dead dog. After that, he listened to Chen Xuan's words without question.

Then there were two men in black who appeared out of nowhere. Even from such a distance, Liang Ren felt a chill run down his spine and his heart trembled just from the aura emanating from them. Yet they didn't even have the courage to look Chen Xuan in the eye. Their lives were not in their own hands, but entirely dependent on Chen Xuan's attitude, and they didn't have the courage to resist.

Is this still the same child I used to know? How many years has it been? How could he have changed so much? Even if his young master is the top scholar in the imperial examination, he shouldn't be this arrogant, especially since he's just a page.

Adding to the fact that the maids and crew members on the ship, who initially appeared well-behaved, low-key, and easygoing, revealed a fierce aura as they took action, he realized that Chen Xuan must have undergone tremendous changes over the years that he was unaware of.

But what's the use of realizing all this? He'd rather he hadn't met her at all, and he didn't dare to ask. He could only keep his emotions to himself. They were from completely different worlds. After this chance encounter, they would most likely not cross paths again for many years, just like when they parted ways last time.

If I accidentally wandered into the Heavenly Palace, let's just consider it an unrealistic dream.

He sat down in silence, so Chen Xuan took the initiative to speak: "Uncle Liang, you went out to ferry people, but now the boats are gone. Have you thought about how you're going to explain this to your aunt when you get back?"

"I haven't really thought this through yet," he said, shaking his head instinctively.

With a smile, Chen Xuan pointed behind him and said, "That's easy. There are some remaining small boats floating on the river behind. You can just row one that's about the right size to go back. As for why the tools you use to eat are different each time you go out, I don't need to explain that, do I?"

"That's easy, just say you swapped it for a better one and paid the difference," he quickly came up with an excuse.

Nodding, Chen Xuan looked at him thoughtfully and said, "Although Uncle Liang's injuries are not serious, he still needs to rest for a while. This is the hardest thing to explain, and I can't help you with that."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ren paused for a moment, then shook his head and laughed, "Forget it, instead of making excuses to avoid and cover it up, I might as well go home and be honest with my wife. I'm not very bright, I can't hide it from her at all. Besides, my wife is the person I trust the most. Being honest with her will also prevent her from overthinking. Husbands and wives should trust each other."

“That’s fine, it saves trouble. Since Uncle Liang has already made up his mind, I won’t offer any more suggestions. After all, once you tell one lie, you have to tell countless more to cover it up,” Chen Xuan shook his head and smiled.

He smiled along, then changed the subject, saying, "Young Master Chen, thank you."

Talking to Chen Xuan was very comfortable. In just a few words, all the chaotic thoughts he had been having disappeared and calmed down. He didn't understand why this was, until perhaps this was the wisdom of scholars. Hmm, his own children should also study more in the future, and if they dared not to study, he would beat them to death.

"Thank me for what? Uncle Liang, I don't quite understand what you mean," Chen Xuan said, somewhat bewildered. Without dwelling on it, Liang Ren took the initiative, saying, "By the way, Young Master Chen, where's your... uh, Young Master Gao? Shouldn't you two be inseparable? I haven't seen him since we boarded the ship."

Chen Xuan said frankly, "That's all ancient history. Uncle Liang, you don't know, I stopped working as a page a long time ago. I've served the young master for so many years, it's time for me to enjoy myself. To be honest, I wasn't used to it at first."

Upon hearing this, Liang Renxin said he could see it. Moreover, it wasn't just that you stopped working as a page; it was a complete transformation. However, such changes in personal status and position were somewhat awkward. After all, many people try their best to cover up their past after becoming successful, and bringing it up is like slapping someone in the face.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn't awkward. Soon, they busied themselves serving dishes and setting the table. After the little princess and her family sat down, they were told to start eating.

During the meal, Liang Ren was very reserved, hardly speaking, and not looking up or glancing around. He even only picked at the few dishes in front of him.

On the contrary, the little princess was very generous and took the initiative to encourage him to eat more. She never put on airs when it came to someone her husband approved of. She was a truly virtuous wife, and no one could find any fault with her.

The little girl, who had just taken a nap, also took her seat. Her self-regulation ability was quite good, and with Chen Xuan's subtle influence on her mental will, she acted as if nothing had happened, just like usual, which reassured Du Juan, Xia Mei, and the others who were concerned about her.

During the meal, Chen Xuan also had a couple of drinks with Liang Ren. His injury had not fully healed, so he should not drink too much; drinking a little would actually be better for him.

It was already afternoon after the meal, and Liang Ren insisted on going home. Chen Xuan couldn't force him to stay, so they could only say goodbye and hope to meet again someday.

When they parted, Chen Xuan handed him a small bottle of pills and instructed him on how to take them to heal his injuries as soon as possible. He then gave him a small boat that the bandits had previously rejected. Xia Mei had arranged for someone to bring it from upstream after overhearing their conversation. He also arranged for someone to take him to the shore near his home.

Liang Ren felt unworthy of his kindness. Due to his personality and poor communication skills, coupled with Chen Xuan's sincere attitude, he couldn't bring himself to refuse and could only keep his gratitude to himself.

Standing on the shore not far from his home, watching the eunuch who had brought him there board another small boat and leave, Liang Ren smiled with emotion. He thought to himself that he had once seen that Young Master Gao and Chen Xuan would become something extraordinary when they grew up, and now it had indeed come true. They had reached a height that he never dared to imagine.

Young Master Gao didn't know how things were going, but after meeting Chen Xuan today, he felt that Chen Xuan was very easy to get along with, without any airs of a big shot, but without being pretentious or abrupt, which was quite amazing.

"Suddenly I feel old. It really is the world of the young now. I used to be so ambitious, thinking I could make a name for myself in the world with my passion. But now I'm crippled and can only make a living by ferrying people across the river. Forget it, why think about this? I should think about how to explain this when I get back. I'll just pretend today's experience was a dream."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, shook his head, and limped home with his cane. The thought of his shrewish wife made his scalp tingle, but as he approached the door, he saw his wife waiting expectantly under the tree. She came over to help him up, showering him with concern and care, and his eyes welled up with tears. It turned out that the person who cared about him the most had always been by his side...

The ship continued carrying Chen Xuan and the others southward. Standing at the bow, the little princess nestled beside Chen Xuan and said, "Husband, that Uncle Liang is a very nice person, it's just that he's had some tough times."

With his arm around his wife's shoulder, Chen Xuan laughed and said, "Of course I wouldn't misjudge someone. He might not be a purely good person, but he can't be categorized as a bad one either. It's inevitable that he's experienced hardships. After all, people who used to be in the martial arts world are bound to encounter accidents. It's already lucky that he was able to escape the quagmire of the martial arts world alive. Countless people in the martial arts world are buried in foreign lands, how many people would even glance at them?"

Nodding, the little princess thought about what had happened during her trip and couldn't help but say sincerely, "The stories I wrote in the past were somewhat presumptuous; now that I think about them, they're laughable—completely detached from reality."

Chen Xuan quickly corrected him, "My wife, don't think like that. Storytelling is meant to entertain the public. Readers need to feel a sense of enjoyment. Life is already difficult enough; if you can't find pleasure in storytelling, wouldn't that just add to their frustration? If it were realistic, why write storytelling? That's what authors are supposed to do."

“That’s true,” the little princess nodded.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "It's quite interesting. Meeting someone you haven't seen for many years unexpectedly, spending quality time together, and then having to part again, yet looking forward to the next meeting—the unknown is indeed what makes it so exciting."

Looking up slightly at Chen Xuan's face, the little princess asked, "What do you think we'll encounter next around here?"

"Who knows? Let's wait and see," Chen Xuan shrugged slightly.

Let's not dwell on that. Looking at the calm river, the little princess said, "According to Uncle Liang, a long stretch of the river was under the control of Fanjiang Village. With my husband's arrangements, Fanjiang Village should no longer exist by now. People like Uncle Liang who make a living on the river will have a much easier time without their harassment."

"To be honest, my wife, without Fanjiang Village, who knows what other bandits might emerge tomorrow? Such a large territory can't just stay there forever; it's just a change of people lording it over it," Chen Xuan said, shaking his head with a sigh.

"Doesn't that mean that solving the problem of Fanjiang Village wouldn't be very meaningful?"

"There are still some, at least it'll calm things down for a while. I just hope the next wave won't get too out of hand. Hmm, my wife, there's something behind your words. Those people just happened to run into me. I'm not here to be a chivalrous hero punishing evil."

"Is not it?"

"Of course not... Alright, my wife, don't look at me like that. Actually, I do feel a sense of accomplishment after doing a good deed."

"I knew my husband was just saying one thing and meaning another. He's too embarrassed to tell everyone, but he probably wishes the whole world knew, doesn't he?"

"No, not at all. Reputation is tiring, and it's hard to be a good person. I still prefer being a ruthless bandit, a bandit who bullies other ruthless bandits. That way, I don't have any psychological pressure, and I'm not morally blackmailed."

"Hehe, forget it, my husband can't be a bandit. Alright, let's not talk about that. Aren't we going to see the martial arts tournament? Where do we go next?"

"Uncle Liang said it's being held in Yinlong County. I'll have Aunt Mei arrange for someone to find out the exact location later..." (End of Chapter)