Volume 1: Forgetting Each Other in the Jianghu Chapter 352

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua acting like this, Nie Qianyu was truly driven to madness. She had never met anyone as shameless as Zhang Xiaohua. The men she’d encountered before, regardless of their age, had always treated her with utmost respect or at least with kindness. Why was it that today she had run into such a… peculiar person?

But if she didn’t ask this question, not only would it leave a knot in her heart that she’d keep thinking about, but wouldn’t Little Orange have revealed her own age for nothing? Wouldn’t that mean she’d suffered a big loss tonight? Rather than that, she might as well ask his age, too.

Having thought this through, Nie Qianyu said: “Since you put it that way, I’ll tell you my age. After you hear it, you must immediately tell us yours. How about that?”

Zhang Xiaohua frowned and said: “Miss Nie, why are you so eager to know my age? Is it that important?”

Nie Qianyu smiled and replied: “It’s nothing, really. Just curiosity, that’s all.”

Little Orange chimed in as well: “Does a woman need a reason to want to know something?”

Clang! Zhang Xiaohua nearly tripped and fell. Was that really the true reason?

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s embarrassed look, Nie Qianyu and Little Orange seemed to regain their dignity and looked quite pleased with themselves.

Realizing he couldn’t avoid the question, Zhang Xiaohua said: “Alright, Miss Nie, go ahead. Once you’re done, I’ll answer your question.”

Nie Qianyu froze for a moment, feeling her face heat up. After all, it was her first time revealing her age in front of a boy her own age; how could she not be shy? This Ren Xiaoyao, if she ever had the chance, she would definitely have to teach him a lesson.

“In exactly one month from today, it will be my twelfth birthday.”

Nie Qianyu spoke in a very soft voice, but fortunately, Zhang Xiaohua’s hearing was far keener than most, so he caught every word clearly.

“Oh, twelve years old already.” Zhang Xiaohua blurted out unconsciously, but in his heart, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

“Back then, let alone being under twelve, even when I was thirteen, I was still a muddle-headed kid in Pingyang City, completely inexperienced and making a fool of myself at every turn. My mouth was always faster than my mind, often blurting out nonsense and making people laugh. But look at her, not even twelve, yet she’s already out handling affairs with her maid, speaking so clearly and logically, and even when faced with danger, she remains so calm. Just think of how decisive she was last night! She’s even more capable than I am now, as if she’s already seen the world. Sigh, they say you shouldn’t compare people, but once you do, it’s hard not to feel inferior. Compared to her, I’m really good for nothing.”

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua truly wished he could stretch his arms to the heavens and cry out: “Why is there such a huge difference between people?”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua lost in thought, Little Orange grew anxious and said: “Ren Xiaoyao, are you trying to go back on your word?”

“Oh?” Zhang Xiaohua snapped out of it and smiled, “Do I, Ren Xiaoyao, look like someone who would go back on my word?”

Nie Qianyu and Little Orange exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of mutual understanding, though neither would admit it out loud at this moment.

“I’ve already passed my eighteenth birthday by two months.” Zhang Xiaohua said without hesitation.

“What?” Nie Qianyu and Little Orange both cried out in surprise, “You… you’re not lying to us, are you? You’re already eighteen?”

“That’s right,” Zhang Xiaohua replied, puzzled. “What would I gain by lying about this? Since I promised to tell you, why would I deceive you? Is there any need?”

“But you only look about fourteen or fifteen!”

“Fourteen or fifteen? That was me four years ago. Heh, maybe the heavens are just jealous of me, so they made me look so young and tender?” Zhang Xiaohua stroked his chin, looking smug.

“Pfft!” The two girls in the small room simultaneously spat in disdain.

For a moment, an odd silence settled over the room.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua cupped his hands and said: “If there’s nothing else, Miss Nie, I’ll take my leave. It’s getting late, so please rest early.”

Just then, Nie Qianyu softly spoke up: “Um… Ren Xiaoyao, I didn’t expect you to be so much older than me, even two years older than my cousin. From now on, can I call you Big Brother Ren?”

“Huh?” This time, it was Zhang Xiaohua and Little Orange who were both caught off guard.

Zhang Xiaohua quickly waved his hands: “Miss Nie, you’re clearly a young lady from a distinguished family. Why make things difficult for me? If you call me that, I’m afraid it’ll shorten my lifespan!”

Nie Qianyu smiled and said: “It feels rather impolite to keep calling you by your full name, Ren Xiaoyao. What if I called you Brother Xiaoyao instead? Would you mind?”

The words “Brother Xiaoyao” had barely left her lips when Zhang Xiaohua shrank his neck in alarm, goosebumps rising all over. He hurriedly waved his hands and said: “Call me whatever you like, Miss Nie. Anyway, it’s only for a few days, so call me as you please, just don’t call my soul away. Alright, you should rest early. I’ll be going now.”

With that, he didn’t wait for Nie Qianyu’s reply, folded his arms as if he were freezing, and hurried out.

Before Zhang Xiaohua’s figure had even disappeared, a peal of silvery laughter rang out from behind him.

It was Nie Qianyu’s joyful laughter.

Little Orange got up and closed the door to the small room, her tone a little disgruntled as she said: “Miss, how could you call him Big Brother Ren? He’s just some wanderer of the martial world. Even if you want to flatter him, there’s no need to go that far.”

“Sigh, what do you know, Little Orange? Could it be that your heart has been stirred? Are you jealous because you’ve taken a fancy to this so-called Brother Xiaoyao?”

Little Orange’s expression grew uneasy, and she protested: “Miss, what are you saying? I’ve only known him for a day, how could it be as you imagine? I just think he’s always so shameless, and I don’t think he’s worthy of you.”

Nie Qianyu looked at her earnestly and smiled: “I was only teasing you, why take it so seriously? You don’t understand, my father once said that people of the martial world are the most carefree, always quick to settle grudges and favors. Judging by Ren Xiaoyao’s attitude, I bet that once we reach the next town, as soon as he finds an escort agency, he’ll try to hand us off to the bodyguards there.”

Hearing this, Little Orange still didn’t understand. “If we run into another escort agency, at worst, we can just hire a few more skilled bodyguards. Ren Xiaoyao is so young, how could he compare to the escorts at an agency?”

Nie Qianyu shook her head. “The escorts at those agencies are, at best, second-rate figures in the martial world. Even the very best barely make it to the edge of first-rate. Ren Xiaoyao might look young, but his internal strength must be profound. He’s certainly far superior to any escort. Besides…”

At this point, Nie Qianyu hesitated, so Little Orange chimed in: “And what? Are you saying he’s even stronger than eight escort guards?”

“Moreover, for Ren Xiaoyao to have such profound internal strength at his age, just think about it, his background must be extraordinary. He’s surely a disciple from a famous sect in the martial world. Didn’t you hear him say he had important matters to attend to, and couldn’t spare the time to escort us? As I see it, disciples of prestigious sects are all chivalrous and righteous, always eager to help the weak and punish the wicked. For him to refuse to escort us must mean he has something even more important to do, perhaps that’s the true purpose of his journey through the Jianghu. By calling him ‘big brother’, I’m simply trying to get closer to him. If he softens and gives me a token from his sect, or even lets it be known that we’re connected, wouldn’t those who want to harm us have to think twice before making a move? They’d have to weigh their own strength first.”

“Ah? So that’s what you were thinking, Miss. Hehe, I thought you just liked him and wanted to get closer-” Little Orange said with a sigh of relief, laughing.

“Oh? Little Orange, could it be you’re the one with such thoughts? All our talk seems to be hinting at that.” Nie Qianyu, clearly used to Little Orange’s teasing, effortlessly shifted the topic. “If that’s the case, you’d better be careful. Ren Xiaoyao is a disciple of a great sect. He may look ordinary, but his background is deep. Who knows how many lady heroes have their eyes on him? You’d better seize the chance and win him over before he leaves.”

In the dim lamplight, Little Orange’s expression was hard to make out, but she laughed: “Only you, Miss, see him as some martial prodigy. I think he’s just a countryside youth. No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t have the bearing of a young hero of the Jianghu. Just look at how stingy he was just now, does that seem heroic to you?”

“Exactly! Real heroes are open and forthright, he’s nothing like that!”

Nie Qianyu, too, was a bit puzzled.

Yet the handwriting on the prescription was still vivid in her mind, the force of the brushstrokes piercing right through the paper; there was no mistaking its authenticity. So, where had things gone wrong?

Seeing her mistress lost in deep thought, Little Orange dared not disturb her. She sat alone under the lamp, resting her chin on her hand, gazing at the flickering flame, lost in her own thoughts.

Zhang Xiaohua walked out of the small room, shaking his head and thinking: “Isn’t she just trying to get close to me, hoping I’ll escort them back? Hehe, am I really so easy to fall for a beauty’s trick? Besides, she’s not even that much of a beauty.”

Humming a little tune, he made his way back to his own room.

Seeing that it was still early, Zhang Xiaohua sat cross-legged, not rushing to cultivate the Carefree Heart Sutra, but instead reflecting on his initial insights into the Dao of Heaven from earlier in the day.

That comprehension of the Dao of Heaven was truly endless. After nearly an entire afternoon of contemplation, he had only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg, yet even these scattered insights brought him immense benefit. It was as if someone had scratched an itch he didn’t know he had. The more he pondered, the more delightful it felt, and the more delightful it felt, the more he wanted to keep exploring. Only at this moment did Zhang Xiaohua truly experience the joy of cultivation, something that could only be understood, not put into words!

Moreover, it was only today that Zhang Xiaohua realized that only understanding the Dao of Heaven was the true path of cultivation. As for cultivating techniques like the Carefree Heart Sutra and other qi-refining methods, while not insignificant, their purpose was merely to strengthen one’s capacity to comprehend the Dao. The eighteen layers of qi refinement, and even the legendary Foundation Establishment, were simply measures of one’s grasp and application of the Dao.

Now that he understood this, how could Zhang Xiaohua possibly neglect the root and chase the branch?