Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
Li Garden.
On the first day of the New Year, Li Ziye and Little Red Riding Hood scurried throughout the Capital City, visiting every instructor and master at the Imperial Academy.
"Exhausted to death!"
After visiting everyone, Li Ziye collapsed on the carriage, his back nearly broken from fatigue.
He had practically completed a lifetime's worth of formalities in one day.
Beside him, Bai Wangyu seemed lost in thought, slowly closing his eyes.
As the carriage moved along the streets toward Li Garden, a boundless surge of righteous energy erupted above the Capital City, like a tidal wave rushing toward the carriage.
"Seriously, this works?!"
Inside the carriage, Li Ziye's voice echoed in shock, filled with frustration, envy, and resentment.
In the carriage, Bai Wangyu was surrounded by the roaring of three Divine Hidden Techniques, as the righteous energy flowed into him non-stop, breaking through to a new realm after more than two months.
Approaching Li Garden, Bai Wangyu opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Li Ziye's nearly enraged expression.
"Lucky."
Bai Wangyu said with a faint smile on his face.
"Get lost!"
Li Ziye grumbled unhappily, his envy evident as Bai Wangyu broke through realms just by traveling during the New Year.
Li Garden, Li Ziye returned in a huff, his face a portrait of dissatisfaction.
Behind him, Bai Wangyu followed with a smile, seemingly in a good mood.
"Younger Brother."
In the inner courtyard, Li Youwei saw her younger brother's disgruntled face and asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"
"Mid-Third Realm, he broke through?"
In the courtyard, Slovenly Zhang was astonished to see Little Red Riding Hood walking behind Li Ziye.
"Exceptional talent."
Qin E'nuo praised, surprised that the top disciple of the Confucian School had surpassed all of his peers.
"Very impressive."
Hong Zhu also looked on with admiration.
Li Ziye listened to the praises for Little Red Riding Hood, his mood growing even gloomier.
"Someone else's child."
Hong Zhu passed by with a fruit platter, glanced at Li Ziye, and sighed, shaking her head as if to say her own child was a lost cause.
Li Ziye nearly suffered an internal injury from understanding the meaning behind Hong Zhu's gaze.
"My husband, you are the best!"
Noticing her husband's dejected look, Zhu Zhu smiled encouragingly.
"Heh."
Li Ziye's smile was soulless.
"Youth is wonderful."
Slovenly Zhang watched the spirited young people in the garden and couldn't help but sigh.
"Sword Enthusiast, you're not old." Qin E'nuo said calmly.
"When the heart ages, so does the person."
Slovenly Zhang sighed softly, his sword had dulled ever since his defeat to the scholar from the Western Regions.
Hearing this, Qin E'nuo fell silent, knowing the knot in Sword Enthusiast's heart, but that scholar was simply too strong.
"In a few days, I plan to visit the Western Regions again."
Slovenly Zhang said with a smile, looking at the lively younger generation in the courtyard.
Qin E'nuo's expression shook, and she looked at him incredulously, "You want to challenge that scholar again?"
"Li Ziye was right about one thing, a person needs to have aspirations, otherwise, what's the difference from a salted fish?"
Slovenly Zhang smiled, "I was ready to live out my days in mediocrity until I met this kid. He made me realize how cowardly I was. If a talentless kid like him can work so hard, dreaming of defeating Huo Lin'er, who is leagues above him, shouldn't I, an old man, be better than a junior?"
"How long?" Qin E'nuo asked gravely.
"Three months."
Slovenly Zhang said, "In three months, I'll get my body and mind into the best condition."
With a grin, he added, "Maybe, in three months, there will be no more Oracle Hall in the Western Regions."
"That joke isn't funny at all."
Qin E'nuo said seriously, "Does Li Ziye know about this?"
"Not yet."
Slovenly Zhang shook his head, "I just decided recently and haven't told him yet. Let's wait until after the New Year; I don't want my affairs to affect the kids' mood."
As they talked, Li Ziye in the inner courtyard insisted on challenging Little Red Riding Hood but was persuaded not to by everyone.
Ignoring Bai Wangyu's injuries that hadn't fully healed and weren't suitable for fighting, even if they did fight, Li Ziye's strength wasn't enough to be a challenge for Little Red Riding Hood.
The New Year passed gradually amidst the laughter and playful banter of the young people.
At night, a group of people sat in a row like zongzi outside their rooms, looking up at the stars.
Perhaps they were too busy on normal days, but now they realized that even sitting idly like this was a blissful thing.
"I wonder how the little monk is doing now."
Li Ziye said, gazing at the sky.
"He should be nearing the Far North by now."
Bai Wangyu said.
"The little monk is so pitiful."
Hong Zhu motherhood abounds and said indignantly, "It's all that Fahai's fault for meddling, otherwise, it wouldn't have ended like this."
"The Confucian Scholar said it was San Zang's tribulation, unavoidable. Even without Fahai, there was an insurmountable chasm between him and Princess Qing Qing," Bai Wangyu said softly.
"Karma comes and goes, everything is predestined," Li Ziye said slowly.
Hearing this, Bai Wangyu, Hong Zhu, Zhu Zhu, and others turned to look, finding it odd to hear such words from him.
"What are you looking at?"
Li Ziye glared at everyone, "The little monk said I have great insight."
Remembering something, Li Ziye looked at Little Red Riding Hood curiously, "Did the Confucian Scholar ever say if I have any tribulations?"
"He didn't mention it."
Bai Wangyu shook his head and smiled, "The Confucian Scholar said that Yan Xiaoyu, myself, and San Zang would face our tribulations, but he never mentioned Brother Li. Perhaps Brother Li's open-minded nature keeps him free from inner demons."
"Little Red Riding Hood, actually, you don't have to be so tactful."
Hong Zhu said with a half-smile, "Tribulations like that are for geniuses like you and San Zang. As for Li Ziye, it's normal for him not to have any."
"Sister Hong Zhu!"
Li Ziye was so angry he almost jumped up.
"My husband, you are still very impressive."
Zhu Zhu comforted him timely, "Otherwise, Fairy Qin wouldn't have chosen you as her disciple."
"I was deceived."
At that moment, Qin E'nuo walked out of a nearby room and said lightly.
"Ha ha!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Fairy Master, you!"
Li Ziye clutched his chest, nearly spitting blood.
"Zhu Zhu, come here for a moment."
In front of the room, Qin E'nuo called out, ignoring her disciple who was about to explode with anger.
"Okay."
Zhu Zhu got up and trotted over.
"What does Fairy Qin want with your wife?"
Hong Zhu asked, puzzled.
"How would I know?"
Li Ziye replied irritably.
"Fairy Qin and Zhu Zhu seem to have an unusual relationship."
Just then, Li Youwei, who had finished her tasks, came out of the room and sat down with a small stool, reminding him, "Younger Brother, your wife seems to have quite a background."
"Old Bai."
Li Ziye turned to Little Red Riding Hood and asked, "With your extensive knowledge, can you tell where Zhu Zhu comes from?"
"I can't tell."
Bai Wangyu shook his head, "It's certain that Miss Zhu Zhu isn't from the Capital City, but it's hard to guess her exact origin."
In a room not far away.
The candlelight flickered as Qin E'nuo faced the young girl and asked, "How long do you plan to stay in Li Garden?"
"Until my husband grows stronger," Zhu Zhu replied with a smile.
"Did the Old Ancestor know you gave him that paper crane?" Qin E'nuo asked seriously.
"He didn't," Zhu Zhu shook her head lightly.
"Why?"
Qin E'nuo frowned, "You've only just met."
"I trust Fairy Qin and the Heavenly Book's choice."
Zhu Zhu smiled, "And after seeing my husband, I didn't find him disagreeable."
"Just because you don't find him disagreeable, you gave him the paper crane?"
Qin E'nuo was puzzled, "Actually, you could have decided two years later."
"I was afraid he'd lose."
Zhu Zhu smiled sweetly, "If that happened, I wouldn't have a husband, would I?"
Qin E'nuo looked at the girl in front of her, unable to understand what she was thinking.
"Fairy Qin, do you regret taking my husband as your disciple?" Zhu Zhu asked.
Qin E'nuo was taken aback, then shook her head softly, "No regrets."
"Me neither."
Zhu Zhu smiled, "Once I've made a choice, I never regret it."
"Forget it, I can't argue with you."
Qin E'nuo sighed softly, "Go on."
Zhu Zhu bowed gracefully and then left the room.
In the courtyard, as Zhu Zhu returned, more and more people sat in a row, all looking up at the sky, enjoying the hard-earned tranquility.
Zhu Zhu sat next to Li Ziye, propping her chin with her hands, sometimes gazing at the stars, sometimes at the young man beside her, her eyes curved in a bright smile.
"Do I have flowers on my face?"
Li Ziye felt the gaze of the woman beside him and asked.
"My husband is more beautiful than flowers."
Zhu Zhu smiled.
"Silly girl."
Li Ziye looked at her disdainfully, shallow, a face-chaser, couldn't she see that his greatest attribute was his depth!
Beside him, Bai Wangyu also subconsciously looked at the woman beside him, quickly averting his gaze.
Amitabha, what was he thinking, getting silly?
Definitely because he spent too much time with the little monk, he was being led astray.
"Let me tell you a story."
After watching the stars for a while, Li Ziye looked around at everyone and said.
"Okay."
Zhu Zhu was the first to agree.
Bai Wangyu, Hong Zhu, and others also nodded, their faces showing anticipation.
"This is a tragic love story."
Li Ziye spoke softly, "A long time ago, Buddha had a disciple named Ananda. Before Ananda became a monk, he met a young girl on the road and fell in love.
The Buddha asked him: How much do you like that girl?
Ananda replied: I would become a stone bridge, endure five hundred years of wind, five hundred years of sun, and five hundred years of rain, just so that girl could walk over me."
After finishing, Li Ziye stopped and continued to look at the stars.
"What happened then?" Zhu Zhu asked curiously.
"There's no more to the story."
Li Ziye laughed, "After thousands of calamities, Ananda became a Buddha, devoid of love and attachment."
"The story is tragic, and the ending, cruel."
Bai Wangyu gazed at the sky, lost in thought.