Chapter 70: People's Hearts Are Not What They Used to Be
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Xu Yan had a sharp eye. From the handsome youth’s eyes across from him, he saw a trace of hateful gaze.
Thousand-section flowers only existed in Pu Nation. Since the youth carried this floral scent, he must be from Pu Nation. Xu Yan didn’t understand the feeling of meeting a fellow countryman in a foreign land, but if the handsome youth across from him was temporarily blinded by hatred and threw away his life, he felt it would be a pity.
Whether the other person’s hatred came from Ghost King Gate’s Grand Guardian or that General Yan, with just one youth, revenge was absolutely impossible.
“Hatred breeds sorrow, vengeance breeds resentment. When you can catch rabbits, never think about catching tigers. Only when you can catch wolves should you consider catching tigers, otherwise you’ll be eaten.”
Swallowing the last mouthful of rice, Xu Yan said with good intentions. These words were what the old Taoist had once told him, meant to warn young Xu Yan not to aim too high, and that everything should be done cautiously, especially hunting or revenge.
Originally good words, but they might not sound good to the listener.
They say honest advice is hard to hear. For true masters, being lectured by others using rabbits and tigers was simply a great humiliation.
“I never catch tigers.” The handsome youth withdrew his gaze from the distance. The Ghost King Gate people had already gone far. Looking at Xu Yan across from him, who was of similar age, he said with furrowed brows: “I only slay dragons!”
The phrase about slaying dragons startled Xu Yan so much his mouth gaped wide. He hurriedly asked curiously: “You’ve killed dragons? How many have you killed? Do you have dragon teeth? I heard dragon teeth are the hardest. Can you sell me one?”
Slaying dragons was just a metaphor, but he hadn’t expected the other person to take it seriously. The handsome youth snorted angrily: “No dragon teeth, but there is one pig head—it’s on top of your neck!”
“There’s a pig head on top of my neck!”
Xu Yan was even more shocked. He hurriedly touched his own face and wiped away cold sweat: “You’re lying. This is a human head. The pig head should be on you.”
Glancing at the other person’s chest, Xu Yan frowned: “You’ve hidden the pig head in your chest, haven’t you? It looks somewhat bulging.”
He had kindly reminded the other person, but not only did he receive no gratitude, he was scolded instead. Xu Yan wasn’t truly stupid. He hadn’t seen clearly yesterday, but today he could see clearly—the handsome youth across from him had a fair neck and a somewhat bulging chest. Dressed as a young man, but actually should be a girl.
Good intentions treated as ill will—regardless of whether the youth across from him was male or female, Xu Yan had to respond. When he said this, the handsome youth’s face immediately turned red, staring deadly at Xu Yan with a murderous expression.
Women disguised as men weren’t uncommon, especially among martial world people. When traveling outside, male clothing was more convenient. Being exposed wasn’t a big deal, but being exposed through such a place as the chest—how could a girl not be angry?
“Lecher!”
Cursing in a low voice, the girl said hatefully: “Scum like you should be sent to the imperial palace to serve the royal family!”
“Isn’t that a good position?” Xu Yan really didn’t understand this time. Scratching his head, he said: “Even ruffians and scum can enter the palace? Could I also enter the palace to work?”
The imperial palace—was that somewhere you could just enter? If one could really serve the royal family, wouldn’t that make one a high minister, below one person but above ten thousand?
“Yes, if there’s a chance, I’ll help you once.” The girl said through gritted teeth: “I’ll send you to the palace to become a eunuch!”
These words were truly unpleasant. Although Xu Yan was a Taoist who considered himself outside worldly affairs, he was still a man. For a man, becoming a eunuch was shameful.
Good advice had turned into verbal sparring. The little Taoist’s gaze began to turn cold: “I couldn’t handle such a high official position. If there’s a chance, you should go yourself. I still want to eat, drink, and enjoy myself at Plum Fragrance Tower. How could I do that missing something important?”
“Good-for-nothing who just eats and waits to die!”
The handsome youth spoke coldly. She had no good feelings whatsoever toward Xu Yan. Not only had he pressed close behind her yesterday to smell her body scent, today he had come to freeload at her table. If she didn’t have important matters to attend to, she wouldn’t mind teaching this rogue a lesson right now.
“Eating and drinking doesn’t necessarily mean waiting to die. In life, the five grains come first. Those who don’t eat or drink are stones. Even grass, trees, flowers, and butterflies need rain and dew for nourishment, let alone people.” Xu Yan leaned forward and said in a low voice: “Eating, drinking, and relieving oneself are human nature. Don’t you eat? Don’t you relieve yourself?”
The handsome youth’s face began turning green. When Xu Yan played dumb, he was indeed as stupid as a pig, but when he really became sharp, his mouth was like a knife. The skill of mocking people was child’s play to him.
“Don’t fall into my hands!” The girl suppressed her anger and said: “If I see you again, I’ll personally send you to become a eunuch!”
“Brother Yan, tea is here!” A Plum Fragrance Tower servant saw Xu Yan chatting happily with someone and brought over tea.
The servant was about to pour a cup for the handsome youth too when he heard Xu Yan casually say: “She’s not thirsty.”
Well, if the person wasn’t thirsty, there was no need to serve tea.
The servant went to attend to other matters. Xu Yan held his teacup leisurely, looking at the iron-faced handsome youth while shaking his head: “Forget about the eunuch thing. I still need to carry on my master’s lineage. The old man has no children—I’m his only disciple.”
“Go carry on your lineage!” The handsome youth suddenly stood up. She was afraid that if she continued talking, she wouldn’t be able to resist cutting down this rogue with her sword. As she left, she said angrily: “If anyone takes a fancy to scum like you and carries on your lineage with you, she must be blind!”
“Brother Yan!” A courtesan who was about to go out passed through the main hall. Seeing Xu Yan, she immediately ran over, her fair little hands grabbing Xu Yan’s arm and shaking it: “I want to embroider a belly band with white snow reflecting plum blossoms. There are too many people on the street—come with me to buy silver thread. Once it’s embroidered, I’ll definitely let you see it first!”
Seeing that the little girl was only eleven or twelve years old, the handsome youth became even more furious, cursing in a low voice: “Beast, scum, worse than pigs and dogs!”
Calling Xu Yan a pig was fine—he would accept it with a smile and even praise the other person’s keen insight. But saying he was worse than pigs and dogs was wrong. I am a pig—how am I inferior to dogs?
Since both sides had gotten angry, Xu Yan didn’t plan to save any face. He patted the little courtesan’s hand, who didn’t dare go out on the street alone, and promised to accompany her to buy thread in a while. Then he smiled at the handsome youth who was about to leave and began chanting: “Born a wandering son, living in brothels all day, embracing beauties like jade at night, wearing half-silk robes at dawn.”
The little Taoist, who lived in a brothel all day, didn’t have much literary talent, but doggerel came naturally to him. The handsome youth trembled with anger all over. Using some unknown method, she forcibly suppressed the rage in her heart and left Plum Fragrance Tower without looking back.
“A dog biting Lü Dongbin—I didn’t offend you, yet you curse me to become a eunuch…”
People’s hearts are not what they used to be. Xu Yan shook his head and sighed. It seemed that being a good person in this world was impossible. Not only did people not appreciate it, but it also brought a scolding. What was the point?
With a bitter smile, Xu Yan glanced at the leftover food on the table and suddenly chased out of Plum Fragrance Tower in great anger. By the time he reached outside, the handsome youth had long disappeared.
“Brother Wang…” Xu Yan’s eyelids twitched as he called to Eight Fingers Wang, who was still standing at the entrance, still savoring the experience of guarding the door for the Grand Guardian: “Someone ate and ran without paying!”
