Bamboo Chest Chapter Nineteen: The Youthful Spirit

“Ah, so this is our little junior disciple.”

Lu Yun and Sheng Ge were brought to a mansion in Qianjing City.

In the courtyard, a red-haired woman was sitting in a tree, swinging her legs as she sized them up.

“Not bad looking,” the red-haired woman chuckled.

“Hongyu, don’t be ridiculous,” the scholar frowned and said, “The junior just arrived; be more proper.”

Hongyu pouted, clearly displeased. “How am I being improper? Junior, do I look like some frivolous woman to you?”

“You’re a demon, a spider demon, not a woman,” a deep, dull voice sounded. Lu Yun looked over and saw a bald, burly man.

The man gave Lu Yun a few appraising glances before turning to the scholar. “Though he’s a born sword immortal in the making, it seems not worth my trip.”

The scholar, called the Bookworm, chided him bitterly, “You’re here to broaden your horizons, don’t you get it?”

“Where’s this place to broaden horizons?” the bald man asked in a low voice.

The Bookworm twitched his mouth and pointed in a direction. “There’s a hot spring north of the city. The noblewomen of Qianjing City all like to go there!”

“Really? Senior, why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Hongyu’s expression lit up, and she leapt down from the tree, vanishing in an instant.

The bald man grew bored and returned indoors, leaving only Sheng Ge, Lu Yun, and the Bookworm behind.

The Bookworm looked awkward and chuckled, “They’re usually normal people, not like this…”

“Senior, you lied to me. There’s no hot spring north of the city!”

Hongyu returned, furious.

“You’re hopeless!”

The Bookworm lost patience and scolded, “I told you to study at the academy, but you insisted on tagging along. I’ve never met a nascent soul stage cultivator who’s afraid of the cold!”

Hongyu flared up, “Stinky senior, let’s fight!”

Before the Bookworm could respond, the bald man pushed the door open again.

“Fight? Count me in!”

…

“Ahem, junior, don’t be so formal,” the bruised Bookworm rubbed his face regretfully. “That idiot’s strength has grown again. This can’t go on — how can the Taiping Academy produce such brutes…”

Lu Yun’s lip twitched.

Does the Taiping Academy even have any normal people?

Seeing the uneasy glances exchanged between Lu Yun and Sheng Ge, the Bookworm coughed and said, “Don’t mind these little things. You’ll get used to it. I’ll take you to find your rooms.”

Sheng Ge suddenly said, “We need two rooms.”

“Huh?” The Bookworm turned, stunned. “But there’s only one room left here.”

Sheng Ge just stared at the Bookworm.

The Bookworm remained confused.

“Then let’s go,” Sheng Ge said, turning to pull Lu Yun away.

“Hey, wait, wait! Two rooms it is!”

The Bookworm hurried to stop them, looking at Lu Yun with a pained expression.

Junior, I can only help you this far.

Lu Yun didn’t want to say anything more.

Once inside the room, the Bookworm said he had some matters to attend to and left Lu Yun alone.

Lu Yun stood with hands on hips, surveying the room.

A wooden table was set with a few simple books and ink brushes, a bed, and a bookcase.

At the bookcase, Lu Yun was shocked by the dazzling array of books.

“These writings... they’re all from Haoran World, not the ones created by Zhou…”

Since arriving in the Wilds, all the scripts Lu Yun had seen were created by Zhou Mi. Seeing these Haoran characters for the first time filled him with an unexpected warmth.

“The books are quite good. You should read more,” Sheng Ge’s voice came from behind Lu Yun. He turned and saw her in a white dress, smiling softly.

“How do you like it here, Sheng Ge?”

Being called “young master” by the boy made the girl a bit awkward, but she feigned indifference, “These rooms—and the entire mansion—are styled in the Haoran World fashion.”

“Yeah…”

Lu Yun casually picked up a book and flipped through a few pages.

Could even Jia Sheng of the Wilds feel homesick?

“By the way, should I take you for a walk around Qianjing City? That senior mentioned we can move about freely here; no one will attack us without reason.”

Lu Yun asked Sheng Ge.

In his memory, this was the first time a girl had appeared by his side and not disappeared into his spirit sea for a long while.

“I don’t want to go,” Sheng Ge glanced outside.

It was drizzling; though the rain was light, she looked unusually lethargic, so she sat at Lu Yun’s wooden table.

The boy flipped through his book while the girl watched the rain.

“Three people: a seventh-level martial artist, a nascent soul cultivator, and a…”

Sheng Ge rested her head on the table, strands of black hair falling across her cheek.

She frowned, “That Bookworm—I can’t tell his cultivation level.”

“Hm, it’s fine. He probably won’t harm me,” Lu Yun said, looking at the book.

“Probably?” Sheng Ge tilted her head.

“My intuition is usually accurate,” Lu Yun smiled.

“Yet you still stabbed that guy in the back…”

Sheng Ge muttered.

The boy’s expression turned awkward.

“Did he really come?”

Sheng Ge suddenly looked at Lu Yun, a hint of schadenfreude in her eyes.

“Who came?” Lu Yun asked puzzled.

“The one you stabbed,” Sheng Ge yawned and stood. “Want to go meet him?”

Lu Yun smiled, closing the book and placing it back.

“Why not meet him?”

…

Outside the mansion, Yuan Bai only had to lift his head to see the Taiping Academy’s signboard.

“Your Highness, will he really come out…”

A long-haired man respectfully stood behind Yuan Bai, hesitating.

Lu Yun knew the man; this was Chang Qi.

“If he doesn’t, it’s fine. I’m just here to test my luck,” Yuan Bai said calmly.

“Then your luck is quite good.”

Lu Yun stepped out the front door, walking with Sheng Ge to stand a few steps from Yuan Bai.

“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever seen.”

Though restraining himself, Yuan Bai couldn’t help but want to kill Lu Yun at first sight.

“You’re the youngest hostage I’ve ever seen,” Lu Yun chuckled. “I never thought someone sent away as a hostage ten years ago would return so…”

The youth looked at Yuan Bai for a long moment before uttering two words.

“Immature.”

The youth-bodied Yuan Bai sneered coldly, pointing at Lu Yun. “Do you think you have so many supporters? The Sword Qi Great Wall’s sword immortal, Taiping Academy, and Luozecity… Do you really believe that with these backing, I wouldn’t dare kill you?!”

“Your Highness, the hostage, you may try. I’m standing right here.”

Lu Yun extended his hand, inviting Yuan Bai to make a move.

…

Behind the mansion’s gate, two heads peeked out.

The bald man scratched his head. “Temperamental, I like it.”

Hongyu cupped her face and nodded vigorously. “Living off others, but with personality — I like that too!”