The Thirteen Trials of the Deceptive Monk

Her eyes were full of anticipation, just as they had been when she decided to explore the Thousand-Year Cave. Lu Wenjun thought to himself that this school was full of restless people, and she was definitely the most active one among them.

"Keep going, I'll be cheering you on from afar."

"What are you talking about? Of course we'll investigate together. You're looking for books anyway, right?" Linggong said cheerfully.

She picked up her schoolbag and food basket, said goodbye, and walked away, her cheerful demeanor resembling that of a primary school student who had just learned about a school field trip the next day. Perhaps because she was too happy, she didn't return for several minutes: "—By the way, what are you going to do for lodging tonight?!"

"I have a brilliant plan, and I've already made preparations."

Lu Wenjun's calm demeanor, like that of a strategist in charge, impressed Ling Gong, who then left with peace of mind. He waited for about ten minutes, making sure the other party was far away, before picking up a pebble and throwing it away listlessly.

Be prepared for anything.

Who would have thought that my dorm room would be flooded with X on the second day of school?

Now it seems that going back to the Thousand-Year Cave would be suicide. Even if Kano and Polly forgive him, Fang Mo will never forgive him. In fact, after this incident, he and Fang Mo have formed a deep-seated grudge; that petty senior will surely cause trouble in the future…

In the distance, the water giant-like Fang Mo, having seemingly hurled enough shit at him, began a new round of roars: "Lu Wenjun, just you wait! I will never let you go!!"

Great, now the whole school will know about his new achievement without even waiting for the newspaper to be published.

Even if he gets incredibly lucky and saves up enough magic coins tomorrow, which landlord would be willing to rent to him? What if Fang Mo and his men smash up his house? Would Lü Wenjun have to pay compensation?

Lu Wenjun tossed pebbles one by one. He had felt somewhat relaxed when class ended, but now his mind was a jumbled mess. His identity as a secret agent, the "Jade Record," accommodation, going home... all sorts of troubles were intertwined, and he couldn't seem to get to the bottom of it no matter how hard he tried.

At this moment, the water giant Fang Mo exploded, and the shouting finally stopped. Lü Wenjun saw a flash of golden light, and when he looked up, Ming Xiao was already beside him.

"This is the first time I've ever gone through so much trouble. This mop is practically invincible when it's covered in X!" Mingxiao said sullenly.

"Then senior sister's skills are still unparalleled and she is superior."

Mingxiao looked at his miserable state and twitched the corner of her mouth: "You really are something... Where are you staying tonight?"

"Prepare for camping," Lü Wenjun tossed a stone, "or stay in the classroom."

Mingxiao crossed his arms and pondered for a while, looking him up and down. His gaze made Lü Wenjun feel uneasy.

"May I ask what insightful opinion you have, senior...?"

"Why don't you come to my house?" Mingxiao said.

Chapter 26 Fully Automated Cohabitation-Friendly Youth

If Trista, the Great Mythic+ dungeon, had a tourist brochure, Meditation Avenue would undoubtedly be a top-ranked popular spot. This maple-lined slope starts at the main entrance of the teaching building, passes a chain supermarket, the cafeteria, and the laboratory building, and ends at the descent point halfway up the mountain, making it a one-stop destination covering all the famous locations on campus.

Few know that beyond the back door of the teaching building, amidst the thinning maple grove, lies a contemplative path leading to the back mountain. This unmarked path is winding and narrow, like a trail trodden by wild animals, leading deep into a gloomy and secluded bamboo forest.

Mingxiao's home is in the bamboo forest.

Mingxiao led the way, occasionally pushing aside bamboo stalks that blocked his path. Lü Wenjun carefully turned his head to avoid the rebounding bamboo, repeatedly seeming to want to speak but then stopping himself.

He couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Senior, do you often do these kinds of...helping others...?"

"I don't mind helping people with small favors, but this is the first time I've taken someone home by chance."

Lu Wenjun felt as if the words were stuck in his throat. He really wanted to remind this brave senior that what she was doing wasn't safe... but then again, what danger could a mere rookie of the unorthodox level pose to a legendary senior like him?

This is a formidable person who can easily destroy a building with a wave of her hand; the one who should be worried is yourself, standing next to her.

He could only awkwardly say, "I am truly terrified."

Mingxiao kicked the bamboo away: "You better be right! It's only the second day of school and you've already caused more trouble than all the freshmen in the previous ten years combined! From tomorrow onwards, the enduring urban legend of our school will become the number one humorous event in the school's history, all thanks to you."

"Honestly, it's not my fault! Who knew that Senior Fang would amplify the damage!"

"Who told him to be such a narrow-minded guy?" Mingxiao said disdainfully. "Just think about it, someone like that ate such a huge chunk of food, won't he come after you later?"

Lu Wenjun said expressionlessly, "Absolutely yes."

Mingxiao smiled brightly: "Of course, that scoundrel won't actually go so far as to threaten to kill you, but given his temperament, he'll probably personally lock you in the Thousand-Year Cave, send a dozen henchmen to feed you cheese like crazy, and then film the whole process for the entire school to enjoy..."

"Please stop talking! The thought that he could actually do something like that is terrifying!"

"That's why I sent you here to avoid trouble." Mingxiao stopped in her tracks. "We're here."

The path seemed endless, and all that could be seen before them was the same bamboo grove as elsewhere. Mingxiao flicked a drop of water with his finger, and the drop fell into Lü Wenjun's palm, where it solidified into a transparent ancient seal script that read the character "mirror".

Lu Wenjun held the water seal and looked up again, only to find that the path had come to an end. The bamboo that had blocked the way had disappeared, and a three-story wooden building stood in the clearing in the woods, with an antique-style plaque at the main entrance bearing the three characters "Shuijingting".

"The house is protected by a barrier; even the teachers can't get in." Mingxiao led him inside. "Tea or coffee, please?"

"Anything is fine..."

"Boys should avoid saying such vague things."

"Please give me some tea, thank you."

The exterior of the building had a distinctly traditional Chinese style, but the interior was furnished like a Western-style mansion. Mingxiao casually tossed her handbag onto the sofa and went into the kitchen to make tea. Lü Wenjun sat awkwardly on the smallest sofa, looking around.

There was fine dust and hair on the floor; it hadn't been cleaned for at least two weeks. The dust on top of the cabinets was quite noticeable; it probably wasn't noticed during regular cleaning. The dining area had many beverage bottles and other miscellaneous items, indicating it was used more frequently than other areas. The garbage bags in the kitchen were piled up so high you could see them right by the door.

Mingxiao's lifestyle habits are quite similar to her fighting style...

While he was lost in thought, Mingxiao came over with two cups of tea. Lu Wenjun smelled the fresh and rich aroma of the tea and his eyes lit up: "Such good Longjing tea, senior, you're too kind."

“How would I know if the tea is good or bad? I just took it from the professor’s office.” Mingxiao shrugged. “Let me briefly explain the situation here. No one lives on the first floor right now. You can stay in the innermost bedroom.”

"The second floor has a study, a tea room, and my room. You should be aware of the dangers of the original texts, so don't go into the study alone. You can go to the tea room as you please."

"Finally, and this is something you absolutely must remember and never forget," Mingxiao suddenly stood up and leaned forward, saying fiercely, "Absolutely! Do not! Go to the third floor without my permission! Understand?"

Lü Wenjun nodded hurriedly: "I will definitely keep it in mind."

Mingxiao sat back on the sofa, looking relaxed: "That's all the things to note. There aren't many rules here. Just don't be too noisy and don't disturb others. And also..."

She rummaged through her small bag for a while, found two palm-sized white feather ornaments, and tossed them to Lü Wenjun.

"Try putting this on the shoe, and tap the heel after it's installed."

Lü Wenjun did as instructed, and the feathers stuck to the outside of his sneakers like magnets. He tried tapping the heels and felt his feet lighten as if they were being lifted off the ground.

Lu Wenjun nearly lost his balance. He steadied himself and stood up, only to find himself standing on thin air. He tried to jump, but didn't land. The feathers on his shoes fluttered, lifting him even higher.

"Perseus's feathered shoes?" Lü Wenjun asked in surprise.

He immediately thought of this story, because it was actually very famous. In ancient Greek mythology, the great hero Perseus, who slew the serpent Medusa, had a pair of flying sandals with feathers, and the origin of this story can be traced back to the elusive messenger of the gods, Hermes.

Mingxiao rested her chin on her hand, her expression like that of a neighborly older sister watching a primary school boy get his first bicycle.

"Of course it's not the original. This is a 'magical artifact' made using the concept from the original. It can't fly freely; it can only create a platform to stand on," she explained. "I originally wanted to buy a motorcycle, but after living in the outside world for so long, you probably prefer things with a stronger fantasy element, right?"

Lu Wenjun jumped around on the air: "I don't just like it, this thing will keep me excited for a month."

"Perfect, I can use this to avoid those idiots on my way to and from school," Mingxiao chuckled. "If you get caught with your spring legs and flying shoes, I'll laugh at you mercilessly."

"I guess the day will come when I eat cheese until I throw up," Lu Wenjun said. "But this... must be very expensive, right?"

Mingxiao's smile froze instantly. She looked to the side, her face full of pain: "This topic is forbidden, understand?"

"it is good……"

Lu Wenjun tapped his heel again, and the wings stopped moving, allowing him to land naturally. He thanked her repeatedly and said solemnly, "If there's anything I can help you with, senior, I'll do my best."

He lacked common sense about the underworld, but he wasn't stupid. Senior Mingxiao's willingness to take him in as a friend was already incredibly generous, and to give him such an expensive gift meant she definitely hoped he could help her with something.

However, while he was calculating, he also had to repay the favor. He was all alone in this godforsaken place, and regardless of the reason, Mingxiao's willingness to protect him was a tremendous help. Even if he didn't express gratitude, Lü Wenjun was determined to repay this debt of gratitude.

"There are some things I'd like to trouble you with, but let's talk about them when I have time later."

Lü Wenjun said urgently, "I'm doing this now—"

“You look like a stinky, drowned rat right now. Do you want me to get you a mirror?” Mingxiao pointed at him. “I’m telling you, Lü Wenjun, have you noticed that you have a fatal weakness?”

"I consider myself a well-rounded individual."

“Your weakness is that you’re very bad at accepting help from others,” Mingxiao said. “Senior, if I need your help, it means the initiative is in your hands. You should at least try to negotiate, if not demand a higher price. How come someone as smart as you can’t understand this right now?”

Lu Wenjun was silent for a moment: "I don't like to look at things around me from such a... self-interested perspective."

“What a coincidence, me too,” Mingxiao said. “Isn’t it too heartless to force the juniors who have been working so hard all day to do things? So let’s take a good rest today.”

She stretched out a big yawn, her beautiful, spring-like figure stretching and relaxing. She then went up to the second floor, not forgetting to add before leaving, "If you get hungry, you can find something to eat in the ice cellar, and feel free to use the kitchen if needed."

Lu Wenjun sat blankly on the sofa, drinking his tea which was gradually going cold. He stared blankly for about ten minutes before dragging his suitcase and backpack into his bedroom on the first floor.

The room was simply furnished with a double bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. Everything inside was spotless and new. When he pushed open the door, he felt as if he were looking at an old black-and-white photograph, but as he stepped inside, everything suddenly felt vibrant again. It was as if time had stood still at a certain moment in the past, only to begin flowing again when he entered.

He had a towel in his suitcase. He took a quick hot shower, checked out the kitchen, and then threw himself onto the overly spacious bed.

The Water Mirror Garden was very quiet, without a sound. Outside the window, there was only a silent bamboo forest. He thought that if there really was a mischievous monster like the Eight-Foot Man, he would have nowhere to hide here.

Standing in this unfamiliar mansion, Lü Wenjun felt an inexplicable sense of peace. He thought for a moment before realizing it was because Mingxiao was there. With this powerful senior protecting him, no one else could harm him.

There was a bamboo-shaped alarm clock on the bedside table. Lü Wenjun set the time and closed his eyes.

He fell asleep almost immediately. He slept much more soundly than the night before.

·

At 7:30 the next day, Mingxiao walked out of her room with sleepy eyes. She was halfway down the stairs when she remembered that there was an unfortunate guy staying at her place downstairs, and she hadn't even washed up or changed into her pajamas.

Mingxiao looked back for a long time and felt that the stairs he had climbed were like a towering mountain. With a lazy and nonchalant attitude, he went down to the first floor and yawned loudly.

"what……?"

Mingxiao rubbed his eyes, feeling like he hadn't woken up properly.

The floor, which had been mopped just three weeks ago, was now so clean it was practically reflective. The stair railing in my hand was still damp from being wiped down. Even the ancient cabinets, which had been untouched for ages due to their fear of dust, were smooth and shiny, as if they had been whitened.

She stared in astonishment, her mouth agape, before she could even close it, when she smelled the enticing aroma.

Several small porcelain dishes were laid out on the table, piled high with steaming dim sum. Translucent wheat flour wrappers encased pale pink shrimp, and the open-faced buns topped with sweet char siu pork. Freshly baked chicken feet sat beside them. In front of her usual chair was a small bowl of porridge, with fish slices, egg shreds, and fried peanuts floating among the rice grains.

Lu Wenjun, holding the teapot, nodded to her: "Good morning, senior."

"Wow!" Mingxiao exclaimed. "Wow! Wow! Wow!!"

She rushed to the dining table as if her sleepiness had vanished: "You made this?!"

“Senior, you have a lot of ingredients at home. I was itching to cook some, so I poured her a cup of tea. But I didn’t know which set of tableware you usually use, so I didn’t touch it.”

Mingxiao's stomach rumbled loudly, and she couldn't even remember the last time she had a hot meal at home. She didn't even bother to pick up her chopsticks before eagerly pinching open a shrimp dumpling and popping it into her mouth. The thin skin was easy to bite into, the shrimp meat inside was soft and bouncy, the filling was mixed with a touch of lard for added aroma, and the addition of finely chopped water chestnuts balanced the texture, making it smooth and refreshing.

She ate two more without stopping, and muttered in a daze, "My God..."

Lu Wenjun handed her the teacup: "It's a pity we didn't have time to buy fresh ingredients this time; the frozen ones just don't taste as good."

"This is amazing! This is the most satisfying meal I've had in a while!" Mingxiao gulped down his tea. "Where did you come from, a master chef?!"

"I just enjoy cooking for myself."

Mingxiao ran to the kitchen and grabbed two sets of bowls and chopsticks, finishing her breakfast while it was still hot. She drank the porridge completely, savoring it for a long time before finally asking, "What time did you get up?"

Lu Wenjun finished his steamed bun slowly before replying, "I just arrived a little earlier than you, senior. I'm really embarrassed to be living here for free. If you don't mind, how about I take care of the cleaning and meals for the rest of the time?"

Mingxiao grabbed his wrist and said earnestly, "You must stay longer, Wenjun!"

Chapter 27 My Mission Was Broadcast in Full Screen

An unusual atmosphere permeated the area around the teaching building today. Dozens of men in black uniforms stood guard at key locations such as the front and back gates and the passageway to the laboratory building, armed with various weapons. This formation was already terrifying, but seeing the weapons they carried was even more chilling:

Machine guns loaded with rotten egg bullets, grenades made from whole durians, crossbows loaded with cheese bullets… their appearance alone suggests their formidable power, and their stench is literally terrifying. Students and teachers along the roadside turned to stare; whoever had offended the Thousand-Year Cave was about to be tortured horribly… utterly horrific!

The men in black uniforms had faces as hard as steel, devoid of any basic expression. One of the underlings guarding the door whispered, "Brother Di, could we wear gas masks... my face is stiff from the stench..."

Squad leader Di Ge's face darkened further: "What kind of deterrent effect does wearing a mask have? Have you ever seen any thugs in movies wearing masks while slashing people?"

"But if this continues, we'll be suffocated by the stench before Lü Wenjun even shows up..."

Di Ge also had his concerns. It was already 8:25, and they should have been in class by now. Could it be that Lü Wenjun was skipping class to avoid trouble?

This was a mission personally assigned by the boss; he needed to teach that bastard a lesson. If he failed to complete it by deserting at the last minute, he'd probably get shitted on by the furious boss when he got back…

"Brother Di, he's here!" the underling suddenly said.

Digo shuddered: "Alright, everyone get ready! Pour out all your ammunition like you're having diarrhea!"

"This, this isn't quite right..." the younger brother said weakly, raising his hand.

Di Ge glared at him, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. Lu Wenjun was just 200 meters away, wearing that flashy white uniform he wore as the top student in his grade. His target was extremely obvious, yet no one dared to fire, because he was floating in the air!

With his hands behind his back, he walked through the air, leisurely strolling to the rooftop of the teaching building and landing. Every gesture he made exuded the air of an immortal, making the mortals on the ground envious.

No one in black uniforms around the teaching building fired a shot, because if they fired at him, the ammunition would inevitably splash into the building... and it was early morning, a busy time for people to come and go. If it splashed onto a teacher or a grumpy senior, they would be in for a world of trouble.