People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 195, Did you know we're keeping a ghost in our house?!
Zi Nu led Xu Qing to the room at the very end of the second floor.

"My friend's name is Wei Zhuang. He's rather aloof and not very easy to talk to. Please bear with him and don't let a fight break out or tear down my room."

Zi Nu reminded Xu Qing that she knew him too well, knowing his petty nature and that he would definitely seek revenge on Wei Zhuang. So she just hoped that Xu Qing wouldn't start a fight in the room.

"Don't worry, would I stoop to his level? I'm such a magnanimous person," Xu Qing said proudly.

"Do you think I don't know how petty you are?"

Zi Nu rolled her eyes at Xu Qing. She was already used to this man's shamelessness, but she couldn't help but want to complain about it every time.

As soon as she finished speaking, Zi Nu pushed open the door, and Wei Zhuang, who was inside the room, turned around to look at Zi Nu and Xu Qing at the door.

"Zi La~"

As the door opened, the scene inside came into Xu Qing's view.

The room was furnished the same as his own room, except that Wei Zhuang was by the window.

Wei Zhuang wore a long black robe with gold thread patterns. His white hair was blown by the cold wind. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his face was extremely cold and aloof. His temperament was even more cold and arrogant. His short gray hair added to this feeling.

"As expected of Wei Lao Er, who is known as the King of Pretentiousness."

Xu Qing sized up Wei Zhuang, inwardly criticizing him.

However, the other party certainly has the capital to show off. To become disciples of the Guigu School in the modern era, their own talents must be among the most outstanding.

Moreover, the moment Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie emerged from seclusion, they were destined to inherit the prestige and reputation built up by generations of Guigu disciples. In addition, their own strength was outstanding, making them the cream of the crop among the younger generation.

However, the shortcomings of this generation of Guigu disciples are also very obvious: their pursuit of swordsmanship far surpasses that of other skills.

Throughout history, the disciples of Guiguzi either became like Pang Juan and Sun Bin, who used military strategy to strengthen their states and dominate the world, or like Zhang Yi and Su Qin, who were masters of diplomacy and maneuvering, stirring up the world's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing political landscape, social order, and overall situation), and whose words and actions could lead to the rise and fall of a nation.

These disciples of Guigu truly lived up to the world's praise of Guigu: their anger could terrify the feudal lords, and their peaceful existence brought tranquility to the world.

But Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie, instead of using such a huge treasure, devoted themselves to the most inconspicuous swordsmanship of Guigu.

Instead of learning the skill of defeating ten thousand men, they chose to learn the courage of defeating a hundred men, thus earning them the title of the worst generation of Guigu disciples among the audience.

Wei Zhuang also looked Xu Qing up and down beside Zi Nu. Seeing the other party's ethereal and otherworldly aura, he became slightly more vigilant, but still maintained his previous assessment of Xu Qing's strength.

"I've brought the people. You can sit down and talk about whatever you want." Zi Nu took Xu Qing's arm and walked into the house.

“Brother Wei Zhuang, it’s nice to meet you. You can call me Xu Qing or Brother Xu.”

Xu Qing entered the house warmly without the slightest awkwardness, greeting Wei Zhuang. Naturally, Xu Qing needed to maintain his composure at all times while with his woman present.

Wei Zhuang did not respond to Xu Qing, but stared at Xu Qing with his sharp eyes, maintaining his cold expression despite Xu Qing's enthusiasm.

Like a hunter secretly watching its prey, waiting for the moment the prey relaxes its guard before launching an attack.

Facing Wei Zhuang's gaze, Xu Qing met it head-on, but still maintained her gentle and friendly demeanor.

The two people, with their completely different temperaments, clashed, subtly vying for dominance. Zi Nu watched the two people who had just met and were already at odds, a hint of helplessness flashing in her purple eyes. Xu Qing and Wei Zhuang were both strong-willed people; once they clashed, unless one of them admitted defeat, they wouldn't be able to stare at each other all night.

This man's damned competitive spirit seemed rather childish to Zi Nu.

"Alright, you two are here to get to know each other, not to make enemies."

After Zi Nu finished speaking, she gently lifted her skirt, sat cross-legged to one side, and broke the standoff between the two.

"You seem to have a problem with me?" Wei Zhuang said, looking at Xu Qing.

During their eye contact just now, he could sense that Xu Qing had a strong prejudice against him and even looked down on him.

"First, I don't like being spied on, especially by men. Second, don't you feel ashamed that you, a grown man, are eating and staying at Zilan Pavilion for free?"

Xu Qing sat down next to Zi Nu, raising an eyebrow at Wei Zhuang.

He had no problem with Wei Zhuang, but Wei Zhuang's gaze and attitude earlier made him uncomfortable. It was Wei Zhuang who wanted to see him, not the other way around. Not even a smile in front of a guest was incredibly impolite.

It wasn't because Wei Zhuang had interrupted his good time earlier; he wasn't a petty person.

As for the fact that Wei Zhuang only laughs wildly when fighting his senior brother Gai Nie, Xu Qing deliberately ignored it.

Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Wei Zhuang and Zi Nu both fell silent. Neither of them had expected that Xu Qing's prejudice against Wei Zhuang stemmed from these two incidents.

“I have a partnership with Zilan Pavilion, and I am responsible for its security,” Wei Zhuang said as he sat down in front of Xu Qing.

Zi Nu was somewhat surprised to see that Wei Zhuang had actually offered an explanation. Given Wei Zhuang's personality, he would have undoubtedly ignored such dismissive remarks.

In Wei Zhuang's words, only the weak care about the opinions and criticisms of others.

What Zi Nu didn't know was that not everyone could face the words "living off a woman" as calmly as Xu Qing, and arrogantly say, "If you're so capable, then you should try it too."

Wei Zhuang's pride compelled him to explain these three words, otherwise, if Xu Qing were to spread rumors that he, a member of the prestigious Guigu School, was living off a woman, it would damage Guigu's reputation.

"Safety? Guards are just guards, what's with all this talk about safety? When someone caused trouble at Zilan Pavilion, you didn't even step in to settle things. Instead, you made our Zi Nu, a woman, show her face in public, while you, a grown man, sat back and enjoyed the show, drinking and watching silently." Xu Qing said.

Zi Nu listened to Xu Qing's words without any change in expression on her face, but she was secretly laughing inside.

Although Wei Zhuang was able to eat and stay at Zi Lan Xuan for free, it was because of their collaboration.

However, seeing her man stand up for her and even berate the Guigu disciples made Zi Nu very satisfied and proud.

Wei Zhuang clenched his fists on his knees. He suddenly regretted seeing Xu Qing; this man's mouth was too sharp, as if he came from a famous family.

"I'm not suited to be the one representing Zilanxuan to the outside world; I'm responsible for the safety of Zilanxuan's personnel," Wei Zhuang couldn't help but defend himself.

It's only because Wei Zhuang is still young, hasn't developed a thick skin yet, and doesn't have the murderous intent he'll have later; he still retains some humanity. Otherwise, Wei Zhuang would have already pulled out the Shark Tooth and given Xu Qing a good combing.

"Safe? You're keeping a ghost in your house, do you even know that?!" Xu Qing said bluntly.

(End of this chapter)