Chapter 6

"Zhou Xingyun, you use sweet talk to deceive virtuous women. Today, I will take it upon myself to uphold justice and rid the people of a menace!" Tang Yuanying would never miss any opportunity to teach Zhou Xingyun a lesson. She especially enjoyed humiliating him in public.

"I didn't! Second Senior Sister, let's talk rationally! Put down your weapon and we can talk!"

Zhou Xingyun was terrified and retreated, trembling. Although Tang Yuanying was a woman, she was naturally beautiful and her martial arts skills surpassed Zhao Hua, reaching the level of a second-rate expert. Whenever a beautiful woman came to cause trouble, he could only take the beating...

"Take this!" Tang Yuanying smiled coldly, with no intention of reasoning. Today, she wanted to thoroughly beat up Zhou Xingyun in front of Xu Ziqian, making him look utterly ridiculous.

However, just as the sword sheath was about to hit Zhou Xingyun's rib, Xu Ziqian stepped forward without hesitation.

"Stop! Miss, what right do you have to hurt someone?"

"What right do I have? What right do you have to protect him!"

"One day a teacher, a lifetime a father."

"Ha ha, I am his fiancée, shouldn't you call me Teacher Mother?"

Tang Yuanying smiled mockingly. She had long been annoyed by Xu Ziqian. Whether yesterday or today, she had entered the mountain villa without permission, as if she owned the place. The disciples of the villa were inexperienced and were quickly charmed by this enchanting woman, which was truly embarrassing...

Zhou Xingyun had never heard Tang Yuanying call herself his fiancée before. He didn't know whether to be happy or to cry.

Xu Ziqian looked surprised, seemingly not expecting Zhou Xingyun to have such a charming fiancée. However, her eyes were filled with disgust and disdain, not like someone who was jealous out of love...

The martial arts square was filled with an awkward atmosphere. Zhou Xingyun was at a loss, the scene completely beyond his imagination. The two beauties glared at each other, a hint of danger in the air.

Fortunately, Tang Yanzhong suddenly appeared to inspect the morning practice of the villa's disciples, inadvertently defusing a potential conflict.

"What are you all gathered for? Start your morning practice!"

"Master."

"Father, someone has entered the villa without permission."

Tang Yuanying took the initiative, and Tang Yanzhong then saw Xu Ziqian, dressed in light pink, standing out among the crowd.

"The Sword Sichuan Villa is a place for martial arts practice, not suitable for scholars and literati to visit. If Miss Xu has any needs, she should notify her sect in advance so that I can prepare a banquet to welcome her, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."

Tang Yanzhong spoke kindly, hoping Xu Ziqian would be mindful of her status. Yesterday, when Xu Zhifu brought people up the mountain, it caused a lot of confusion. Moreover, the martial arts of the Sword Sichuan Villa were not taught to outsiders, and Xu Ziqian's sudden entry could easily be seen as an attempt to steal skills.

However, to be fair, Xu Ziqian was indeed beautiful, surpassing even his own daughter. The disciples of the villa were all charmed by her, allowing her to enter and tour the villa freely.

"Uncle, it's not Miss Xu's fault. I invited her to visit the villa."

Zhou Xingyun spoke up, hardening his resolve. Thanks to Xu Ziqian's protection, he had avoided a beating from Tang Yuanying, and now he couldn't stand by and do nothing.

"Meeting in broad daylight, how shameless."

"Stop interrupting!"

"Father, why do you always side with him? Bringing outsiders into the villa without permission, it's clearly his fault!"

"The matter of the marriage proposal a while ago, I haven't settled with you yet. Do you have the nerve to criticize others?"

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault! I don't have the nerve to criticize him, but he has the nerve to marry me! A good-for-nothing who can't even defeat a third-rate martial artist!"

Tang Yuanying glared at Zhou Xingyun, tears welling up in her eyes, and stormed out of the square without looking back...

The farce ended in a bad mood. Zhou Xingyun had no heart for morning practice and took Xu Ziqian to the back garden of the villa to catch his breath.

Seeing Zhou Xingyun's dejected and dispirited appearance, Xu Ziqian felt a sense of sorrow and pity for him. At this moment, she finally understood why Zhou Xingyun had insisted on calling the Earth square yesterday.

The higher one stands, the farther one can see. The world he saw was completely different from theirs. No one could understand the scenery he saw, not even she...

The blue sky she saw was just a vast expanse of blue. The blue sky he saw was a universe of countless stars.

The sea she saw was just a deep, boundless ocean. The sea he saw was a world of diverse life.

The land she saw was just a vast expanse of yellow earth. The land he saw was the foundation of the world.

"Master Zhou..."

"I don't take on disciples."

Xu Ziqian opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she was cut off.

Zhou Xingyun would never take on a beautiful woman as a disciple. It would be too much of a loss to look but not touch.

"Master Zhou has made up his mind. I won't force you. However, I hope Master Zhou can continue to teach me more knowledge as he did yesterday."

After the morning commotion, Xu Ziqian realized that becoming a disciple might be too hasty and could cause a lot of trouble for Zhou Xingyun. Now, as long as he was willing to teach her, it didn't matter whether she formally became his disciple or not.

Zhou Xingyun, captivated by the beauty, couldn't resist her persistent requests. Before he knew it, he was using a small branch to draw on the ground, explaining the principles of day and night, the changing seasons, and the Earth's rotation and revolution.

As the sun set and the sky turned red, the day passed in a blink. The young man and woman talked so well that they began to address each other by their names.

"Xingyun, have you heard of the First-Class Academy?"

"No."

"The First-Class Academy is the holy land that all scholars and literati aspire to. It gathers the most outstanding geniuses of our dynasty. Its existence is like a legend, and every scholar has heard of it."

"It sounds very impressive."

"Of course, the First-Class Academy is the pinnacle of the academic world, with the most outstanding talents in every field. I can assure you that no other academy in the world can match it."

"Do you want me to join the First-Class Academy?"

"The First-Class Academy isn't something you can just join. Its existence is very mysterious. No one knows where it is or how many disciples it has."

"Then what?"

Zhou Xingyun's calm response made Xu Ziqian very awkward. She didn't expect someone to be unaware of the "First-Class Academy."

But upon reflection, since Zhou Xingyun lived in the martial arts world, it was reasonable that he wouldn't know about the academic world and the "First-Class Academy."

"To be honest, my purpose in the Fucheng City Literary Gathering is to recruit outstanding disciples for the First-Class Academy. In short, I am one of the examiners."

"So?"

"Xu Ziqian hopes you will join the First-Class Academy. But..."

Xu Ziqian rambled on, but as Zhou Xingyun had guessed, she wanted him to join the First-Class Academy.

However, the conditions for joining the First-Class Academy were very strict. Zhou Xingyun's seven-character verse alone was not enough to qualify. Therefore, Xu Ziqian hoped he would go to the capital with her for an interview to convince the other examiners with his actual achievements.

"No."

"Why? Those who join the First-Class Academy can enjoy the treatment of a top scholar and have the opportunity to serve in the government."

"Miss Xu, I've told you many times. The things I taught you are just baseless speculations. Just listen, don't take them too seriously. Besides, I am a disciple of the Sword Sichuan Villa. Once a martial artist, always a martial artist. I appreciate your kindness."

Zhou Xingyun had already broken the rules twice by teaching Xu Ziqian strange knowledge. If his mother found out, he would be in big trouble.

Moreover, early summer was approaching, and it wouldn't be long before he inherited a new set of memories. At that time, he would lose his current teaching ability and could no longer fluently teach Xu Ziqian.

"I'll come again tomorrow."

"You don't need to come tomorrow."

"Why? Does Master think I'm foolish?"

"Tomorrow is the birthday of the wealthy merchant Su in Fucheng City. I have to accompany my master to celebrate. And you, staying in the Sword Sichuan Villa all day, is that okay? By the way, isn't there another person whose work meets the standards? Don't you need to meet him?"

"I've already replied to him and arranged to meet at the New Moon Tower at dusk. They say he is a handsome and elegant young man."

"Good for you." Zhou Xingyun forced a smile, knowing that the girl was teasing him, but he still felt uneasy.

"Will you come?"

"No, it's my turn to do chores today. I have to go back to the villa to chop wood later."

Zhou Xingyun escorted Xu Ziqian down the mountain. The Xu family's coachman was already waiting at the foot of the mountain. Watching her figure gradually disappear, he could only wave goodbye with a lingering heart.

Xu Ziqian told him she would go to the New Moon Tower to meet a talented man later. This news stirred up Zhou Xingyun's heart, making him restless. It seemed he would have another sleepless night...

"Third Senior Brother, why are your eyes even more terrifying than yesterday?"

"Don't mention it, I couldn't sleep."

"Did you have a fight with Miss Xu?"

"No."

Zhou Xingyun yawned and followed the crowd into Fucheng City.

Today was the 50th birthday of Mr. Su. Yang Xiao and Tang Yanzhong, as representatives of the Sword Sichuan Villa, went to the Su residence to celebrate.

"Is Second Senior Sister tired? I have some fresh loquats, please try them."

On the way through the South Gate Street, Zhou Xingyun noticed a street vendor selling loquats, which were Tang Yuanying's favorite. To win her favor, he bit the bullet and spent all his money to buy five loquats for her.

Tang Yuanying, seeing Zhou Xingyun's eager face, frowned in disgust. However, with Tang Yanzhong standing beside her, she didn't dare to be rude to him.

"Yuanying, look how much Yun cares for you. Loquats are used to entertain distinguished guests and are not easily available."

Tang Yuanying ignored Zhou Xingyun, not responding. Yang Xiao had to push the situation.

Noticing her father's growing displeasure, Tang Yuanying reluctantly accepted the loquats from Zhou Xingyun.

Loquats, lychees, and longans were very expensive luxuries in an era where even basic sustenance was hard to come by. Only the very wealthy could afford such sweet fruits. So, despite her dislike for Zhou Xingyun, Tang Yuanying reluctantly accepted the loquats...