When Xin Hexue hurried back to Xushou Village, the sun had already set behind the western hills.
He stroked the rooster’s comb, and with a “puff”, the mist dispersed and the rooster at his feet had returned to its original form.
The fox lowered its head and licked his palm in a flattering and fawning way. It was wet and a bit prickly.
Xin Hexue instructed, “I have already opened your spiritual wisdom. From now on, return to the mountains and cultivate properly. Don’t do anything sneaky again or steal things, and don’t harm ordinary people.”
The fiery red fox let out two soft “woo woo” sounds.
Xin Hexue: “Go now.”
The fox turned to return to the forest, but looked back every three steps, filled with deep reluctance as it stared at Xin Hexue.
Xin Hexue didn’t quite understand, [Why is it still looking at me? Doesn’t it know the way?]
K: […]
The “cat” fish really didn’t understand a fox’s thoughts.
That was a male fox, and in the future, he would definitely become a seductive male fox spirit.
K sharply picked up on this detail.
K suddenly said: [Maybe it wants you to take it along to cultivate.]
Xin Hexue: [Cultivation depends on oneself. What’s the use of having someone lead you?]
The paths between demons were different to begin with. Even demons of the same race were not the same. Just like the Blood Brocade Koi the storyteller spoke of, it took the path of feeding on human flesh and blood, completely different from Xin Hexue’s current path of bestowing blessings and fortune.
K: [You’re right.]
Xin Hexue: [Is Du Zi the high monk from Taichu Temple as written in the script?]
Within the bureaucratic system of Daheng’s Ten Temples and Five Supervisories, Taichu Temple was quite special. One could say it was the department specialized in subduing demons and exorcising evil. In addition, it also handled rituals, divination, and prayers for blessings.
K paused and said: [That question is outside the scope of what an examiner can answer.]
Xin Hexue: […Alright ^^]
It seemed that aside from providing script information and automatically notifying him of love value increases, K had completely become a chatbot.
Xin Hexue currently had thirty-five taels of silver. He first went to pay the village man who sold him the fox, then he turned to look for Zhou Shanheng.
Zhou Shanheng was holding something as he walked out. Just as he turned a corner from the courtyard, he bumped right into Xin Hexue.
“Are you alright?”
Zhou Shanheng carefully supported Xin Hexue.
Xin Hexue happened to catch a glimpse of the thin paper in his hand, it was a land deed. “Zhou xiong, this is……?”
Zhou Shanheng looked slightly embarrassed and uneasy. “It’s nothing.”
Under Xin Hexue’s questioning, Zhou Shanheng eventually confessed honestly.
The cost of medicine for Mother Zhou already amounted to thirty thousand coins. The Zhou family didn’t have much savings to begin with. Ever since Father Zhou passed away, the household had lost a laborer, and the grains harvested from the fields, after paying various taxes each year, were barely enough to make ends meet.
After noon, Zhou Shanheng had gone to inquire with the local agency that introduced odd jobs. Starting tomorrow, he would be doing quick-paying hard labor like building city walls as a river worker, but even that only paid three hundred wen per day.
He couldn’t afford to delay the payment for the medicine any longer, and Mother Zhou’s body couldn’t wait either.
Zhou Shanheng had decided to first pawn the few acres of thin farmland at home. No matter what, he had to gather the money for the medicine first, and then find more work afterward.
Xin Hexue stopped him and handed over the heavy money pouch.
Zhou Shanheng held the pouch with both hands, as if he hadn’t reacted yet.
Realizing what was happening, he stared at Xin Hexue. “This…”
Xin Hexue: “Zhou xiong, take it and use it first. With misfortune upon misfortune, how can farmland sell at a good price during a drought? Besides, if you pawn off the land, how will your mother and Erlang eat while you go to the capital for the imperial exams?”
Zhou Shanheng understood what he meant. His eyes grew hot, but his skin was wheat-colored, so the redness around his eyes wasn’t obvious.
For a moment, he was overwhelmed with emotion and a thousand feelings of bitterness welled up in his heart. He pushed the money pouch back and said, “Xin gongzi, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it. I’m already deeply grateful that you even want to help me.”
Xin Hexue smiled faintly and said slowly, “Take it. It won’t be too late to repay me after you are first in the imperial examinations.”
Anyway, it was money he got out of nothing.
When Zhou Shanheng heard him mention taking first place in the imperial examinations, all the past ridicule and disdain from fellow villagers came rushing back. He hadn’t expected Xin Hexue to believe in him so firmly and to think so highly of him.
It was rare to find a true confidant who knows your worth.
“A mere three feet of life, just a poor scholar.” Zhou Shanheng enunciated each word with solemn feeling. He wasn’t good with fancy or intimate words, but his eyes met Xin Hexue’s with deep sincerity. “Today’s kindness, I, Zhou, will never forget. Even if it means braving boiling water or walking through fire in the future, I will not refuse.”
[Zhou Shanheng love value +30]
[Zhou Shanheng current love value: 60]
The smile in Xin Hexue’s eyes deepened.
‘Zhou Shanheng…Zhou Ziyue…’
‘You had better not let me down.’
**Ziyue is Zhou Shanheng’s courtesy name.
……
Two days later, Xin Hexue transformed again and paid a visit.
Zhou Shanheng was about to head to Huifu Temple.
Xin Hexue asked, “Ziyue, are you going to Huifu Temple to study? Why don’t I see you carrying your bamboo book box?”
Their relationship had grown quite close by now. They called each other by their courtesy names.
Zhou Shanheng only had a cloth bundle slung over his shoulder. He shook his head and explained, “I used to only study in the scripture library at Huifu Temple. Today I’m delivering the Buddhist scriptures I helped copy. I heard praying at Huifu Temple brings blessings, so I’ll also pray for my mother.”
Xin Hexue nodded. “Then I’ll go with you.”
Though Zhou Shanheng saw him walking without trouble, he was still worried about Xin Hexue’s previously twisted ankle. “Is your ankle really healed? The mountain path to Huifu Temple has countless stone steps.”
Xin Hexue casually lifted the hem of his robe, revealing cloud-stepping shoes and clean white socks. There was no sign of the swelling from that day. “I’m completely fine now.”
Seeing that Zhou Shanheng was reassured, Xin Hexue smiled faintly and said, “Besides… the road ahead is long and difficult. But don’t I have you? Ziyue, would you be willing to carry me on your back?”
As he spoke, “the road ahead is long and difficult,” the tail of his voice rose slightly, inexplicably giving the words a lingering sense of affection.
Those eyes, clear as autumn water, seemed to be born to look at others with tenderness and affection.
Zhou Shanheng’s ears turned red, but he didn’t avert his eyes. Instead, he nodded very seriously. “Mm. If you’re willing to accompany me, I’ll carry you up the mountain.”
Hearing this, Xin Hexue added, “I was only joking. I can walk on my own, hmm?”
He walked a few steps, circling Zhou Shanheng once to show that he could move without any issues.
A faint cool fragrance lingered close by.
Zhou Shanheng said in a voice so low it seemed like he was murmuring to himself, “Even if you’re better, I’m still willing to carry you…”
Xin Hexue pretended not to hear. He remembered something and said, “Before we head to Huifu Temple, would it be convenient for me to visit Auntie?”
Zhou Shanheng invited him inside. “Mother just took her medicine. She’s in the room sewing clothes.”
Mothers of this age usually couldn’t sit idle. Even when ill, Mother Zhou was still worried about the winter clothes her eldest son would need for the trip to the capital for the imperial exams.
When Mother Zhou saw Xin Hexue enter, she first exchanged some warm pleasantries and thanked him for taking her by carriage to the medicine shop that night when she had fallen ill.
Xin Hexue lowered his eyes and said, “It was a small effort, Auntie, there’s no need to keep it in mind.”
He brought something up as if joking, “I’ve traveled around a lot before and met a Taoist priest. I picked up a few surface-level tricks from him about palm reading and fortune telling. Auntie, may I take a look at your palm?”
Mother Zhou didn’t think much of it and opened her hand.
It was the hand of a farm woman, with rough palm lines and calluses at the base.
Xin Hexue words were just an excuse. He tapped her palm lightly.
The signs of life were weak, like a crossbow at the end of its strength.
Xin Hexue channeled spiritual energy into the lines of her palm. After a short moment, the color in Mother Zhou’s face improved visibly and looked much rosier.
Xin Hexue let go and said with slight embarrassment, “It seems I didn’t learn the basics well. I can’t really tell anything from the palm.”
Mother Zhou only felt as though the invisible burden on her shoulder had been blown away by the wind.
Her body felt light, her mood lifted again, and she smiled, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Everything depends on human effort. Don’t you scholars always say not to believe in those strange, supernatural things? I don’t know why, maybe it’s because I’ve talked to you children a lot today, but I really feel so much better now.”
