Chapter 41: Let’s Be Friends
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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Putting Xue Ning’er aside for the moment, Lin Xiu looked at Li Bozhang with surprise. “Brother Li, you just arrived at the Mystic Arts Academy, how do you know so much?” he asked.
Li Bozhang smiled mysteriously. “This is nothing. Before entering the Academy, I gathered quite a bit of information. If Brother Lin wants to know more about any other young ladies, just ask me…”
Unexpectedly, Li Bozhang was a walking encyclopedia. The abilities of everyone in the Mystic Arts Academy – this was precisely the information Lin Xiu needed. Having him around would save him the trouble of gathering it himself.
Lin Xiu slung an arm around Li Bozhang’s shoulder, sighing dramatically. “I feel like I’ve known Brother Li my whole life…”
Li Bozhang responded with equal sincerity. “If I had met Brother Lin a few years earlier, I wouldn’t have been so lonely…”
While his arm was around Li Bozhang, one of the powers within Lin Xiu flowed into him. A brief touch was fine, but if he maintained the contact, anyone would notice something amiss.
He couldn’t rush the acquisition of the power of thunder. He needed to establish a “brotherly” bond first. Then, find a suitable opportunity to get him drunk, and then… hehe…
Thus, Lin Xiu withdrew his arm at the right moment. “I’ll head back now. Let’s have a drink together next time, Brother Li,” he said.
Li Bozhang smiled. “It would be my pleasure.”
Lin Xiu had initially planned to wait a few days, but since Li Bozhang was so agreeable, he said, “Why wait? It’s almost dinner time. Zhaiyue Pavilion, my treat. Let’s drink till we drop.”
Li Bozhang didn’t refuse, laughing heartily. “A meeting of minds calls for a grand celebration! Let’s go!”
Soon after, two figures entered Zhaiyue Pavilion.
Manager Qian was calculating accounts at the counter. He looked up, then immediately put down his work, approaching them with a smile. “Young Master Lin, bringing a friend for dinner? Today, eat and drink to your heart’s content, it’s on me…”
Manager Qian was deeply grateful to Lin Xiu. Although the weather had cooled, the habit customers had formed over the past month wasn’t easily broken. Compared to a month ago, Zhaiyue Pavilion’s business had boomed, with a massive influx of silver every day. As the chief contributor, Manager Qian had been promoted to steward of the Prince Consort’s Mansion. All of this, thanks to Lin Xiu.
Old friends with Manager Qian, Lin Xiu didn’t stand on ceremony. “Since you insist, Manager Qian. Find us a quiet private room, serve us some of your signature dishes, and a jar of your strongest wine! Remember, the strongest!”
Lin Xiu emphasized the word “strongest.”
Manager Qian chuckled. “Rest assured, young master, I’ll arrange everything perfectly. Boy, take these two young masters upstairs.”
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Manager Qian was indeed a man of his word. Even with Sun Dali, there were only three of them, yet he filled the table with dishes.
Sun Dali’s throat bobbed countless times, but Lin Xiu remembered his purpose. He picked up the wine jar, discarded the cups, grabbed two bowls, filled them, and said to Li Bozhang, “Come, Brother Li, let’s drink to this!”
They drained the bowls in one gulp. Lin Xiu refilled them. “This one is for our fateful meeting!”
“This one is for Miss Wan’er!”
“This one is for galloping steeds!”
“This one is for His Majesty and Her Majesty!”
“This one…”
…
When Lin Xiu woke up, it was dark.
“Ugh…”
He sat up in bed, rubbing his throbbing head, taking a moment to recall what had happened. He had treated Li Bozhang at Zhaiyue Pavilion, intending to get him drunk and acquire his power of thunder. He had even asked Manager Qian for the strongest wine.
The plan was flawless, but Lin Xiu had underestimated Li Bozhang and overestimated himself.
Manager Qian had indeed served the strongest wine, but Li Bozhang hadn’t gotten drunk. Lin Xiu had.
In his past life, he had frequented bars and nightclubs. He wasn’t a thousand-cup warrior, but he could hold his liquor. How could his tolerance be so low in this life…?
Careless…
Lin Xiu checked. Besides his own awakened power, dormant within him, he still only possessed three. It must have been Sun Dali who brought him back.
It seemed getting Li Bozhang drunk wouldn’t work.
Lin Xiu could only strengthen their relationship first and wait for another opportunity.
Having slept all day, Lin Xiu wasn’t sleepy at all. As soon as dawn broke, he left home.
It was so early that the streets were deserted, but breakfast stalls selling buns, porridge, and tofu pudding were open. Lin Xiu had a basket of buns, a bowl of porridge, and a bowl of tofu pudding before leisurely strolling towards the Mystic Arts Academy.
By now, pedestrians gradually filled the streets. The Academy had just opened its gates. When Lin Xiu reached the library, it was empty.
He browsed the shelves, picked out a few books, found a corner seat, and began to read intently.
Today, Lin Xiu was studying martial arts.
Lately, he’d been busy cultivating or dealing with matters at the palace, without a chance to learn about martial arts. Today, he had the time to catch up.
Lingyin had told him that martial arts was a path of cultivation created long ago by those who hadn’t awakened mystic abilities.
After entering the path of martial arts, a power called “True Qi” would be generated within the body.
True Qi was the foundation of martial arts cultivation, just as Yuanli was the basis for using mystic arts.
Channeling True Qi into the body or weapons could unleash power beyond human limits. Unlike mystic arts, anyone could cultivate martial arts, though the process was much more arduous.
In Lin Xiu’s view, mystic artists and martial arts experts were like the difference between those with superpowers and martial arts masters in wuxia novels.
Only, these martial arts masters were far more powerful than those in fiction. Even mystic artists might not have an advantage against them.
According to the books, cultivating martial arts required a certain level of physical foundation, otherwise it would be detrimental. No wonder Instructor Sun had assessed them first.
To begin cultivating martial arts, one needed a sufficient physical base, and an Earth Realm expert to impart a sliver of their True Qi. Then, one had to guide this True Qi through specific pathways within the body.
Coupled with specific training, and by repeating this process many times, one might be able to retain this sliver of True Qi.
Of course, some prodigies could generate True Qi on their own, but that took much longer and was more difficult. Most people needed guidance to begin their martial arts journey.
Even an early-stage Earth Realm martial artist was roughly equivalent to a mystic artist with five ability awakenings. Some martial arts schools specialized in this service, charging exorbitant fees. However, the instructors at the Mystic Arts Academy offered it for free. This was one of the Academy’s resources.
Lin Xiu slowly turned the pages, and as time passed, more students entered the library.
Suddenly, a delicate fragrance wafted towards him. He looked up and saw Xue Ning’er walking towards him and sitting opposite him.
Xue Ning’er looked up, saw Lin Xiu, and feigned surprise. “Oh, it’s you, young master. What a coincidence…”
Lin Xiu returned her smile. “Indeed, what a coincidence to meet Miss Ning’er again.”
Xue Ning’er looked surprised. “Do you know me, young master?”
Lin Xiu replied, “How could I not know one of the Four Beauties of the Mystic Arts Academy? Besides, yesterday, those classmates kept shouting your name…”
Xue Ning’er lowered her head shyly. “Those are just frivolous rankings…”
Lin Xiu shook his head. “There are many women in the Academy. Miss Ning’er is one of the Four Beauties for a reason. No need to be modest…”
Xue Ning’er was indeed beautiful. This was something both Lin Xiu and Li Bozhang, as connoisseurs, agreed on. Her looks were slightly inferior to Qin Wan, Zhao Lingyin, and Princess Minghe, perhaps only by half a point, but her figure was better than Princess Minghe’s, and her demeanor more approachable than Lingyin’s. Such a woman was naturally more appealing to men.
Of course, Lin Xiu and Li Bozhang had also agreed that while Xue Ning’er was excellent, Miss Wan’er was still their ultimate goddess.
Xue Ning’er sat opposite Lin Xiu, sometimes twirling a strand of hair, sometimes biting her lip, displaying her feminine charms. But when she glanced at Lin Xiu, she found he wasn’t looking at her at all, his eyes glued to his book…
Xue Ning’er was annoyed. Such a beauty sitting opposite him, and he was completely indifferent, not even glancing at her. It made her doubt her own charm.
However, this feeling quickly dissipated.
Lin Xiu, handsome and composed, sitting quietly opposite her, turning the pages, exuded the charm of a serious man.
Recalling his perfect physique, Xue Ning’er blushed.
If he weren’t that woman’s fiancé, if his family background were more prominent, Lin Xiu would be her ideal husband. What a blissful feeling it would be to hold such a body every night…
The thought alone made her flush.
But the thought that such a man belonged to Zhao Lingjun filled her with resentment.
Why did she have to hog all the good things? Even such a perfect man. This time, she would make Zhao Lingjun’s fiancé fall for her. Then, would that woman still have the right to act so high and mighty?
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Unconsciously, an hour had passed.
Lin Xiu had read for an hour. Xue Ning’er had watched Lin Xiu for an hour.
After a while, Lin Xiu looked up and said to Xue Ning’er, “Miss Ning’er, you’ve been staring at me. Don’t tell me you’re interested in me? I’m engaged, you know…”
Xue Ning’er blushed, then retorted, “Young Master Lin, what are you thinking? Of course I know you’re engaged. I just want to be friends. Is that not allowed?”
She knew his identity. This meant his other guesses were likely correct as well.
However, Xue Ning’er’s words still sounded strange to Lin Xiu.
“I just want to be friends” – wasn’t that his own pick-up line? He never thought the day would come when he, Lin Xiu, would be the one being pursued…
Prey delivered to his doorstep – he wasn’t about to let it go. He smiled at Xue Ning’er. “So that’s it. Of course. I love making friends…”
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