Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Scholar and Martial Artist

Chapter 41: Scholar and Martial Artist

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

On the second floor, beside the bookshelf.

Xiao Die was holding onto a book. She stared at the four men standing in front of her with a face ashen white with fear.

She did not know these people at all.

However, just as she was reading seriously, she suddenly heard a surprised voice. “Oh? Isn’t this the maidservant we saw at the Falling Willow Bridge previously?”

Then four men in long scholar robes and holding paper folding fans suddenly surrounded her.

The four of them stared at her with burning eyes. Their faces were filled with surprise and joy. Then, they sized her up brazenly.

“It’s really that maidservant from last time! Look at her appearance, she has become more beautiful. She has put on a little more weight, and her skin is supple and soft.”

“Brother Wang, if you didn’t mention it, I almost wouldn’t have recognized her. Last time, she was a young and inexperienced little girl, as unripe as green apples on a tree. Now, she is already a delicate young girl, like a flower bud that has bloomed into a flower. She has grown into her looks and her figure is well-developed.”

One of them even stared at Xiao Die’s feet and laughed shamelessly. “Brothers, ever since we parted on the bridge that day, my soul seems to have been stolen by this little girl. You know that I love such a petite and delicate little girl the most in my life, especially this tiny foot that she has hidden under her skirt. If I hold it in my hand and play with it, the feeling will be…’

Xiao Die was scared out of her wits. She hugged the book in her hand tightly and was forced to move backward. Her back was pressed against the bookshelf.

She shouted once in panic, but following that, she forced herself to stay silent.

Xiao Die was afraid that Luo Qingzhou would come down and investigate after hearing her shout, argue with the four men, and get into trouble.

She had a humble status which resulted in having an inferiority complex from a young age. Moreover, the fear of others was etched deeply into her being.

She did not dare to cause trouble, let alone implicate Luo Qingzhou.

Although the people in the Qin Residence treated the two of them well, Young Master had married into the family, after all. His status was low.

It would be disastrous if he provoked the powerful figures in MO City.

Hence, she did not dare to say anything else. She only hoped that these people in front of her would leave after teasing her.

However, what the four of them said next made her even more frightened.

“Haha, Brother Zhang, don’t scare the girl. We have to ask which family’s maidservant she is from.’

“The last time we saw her, she was following behind a young man. That young man looked young and was also a scholar. However, his clothes were only so-so. It didn’t seem expensive. I wonder where he bought such a beautiful little girl.’

“I guess he bought her when she was still a child, so she didn’t cost him much.

Brother Zhang, your family is rich. We’ll leave this to you.”

The four of them chuckled and began to discuss buying Xiao Die in front of her. It was not that these four people were bold, but that was the way things were back then.

Xiao Die was just a lowly maidservant.

In this era, concubines could be given to one’s friends as gifts. It could be done by an order or on a whim.

If Xiao Die was someone’s legitimate wife, the four of them naturally would not dare to speak so wantonly in public.

“Little girl, where’s your Young Master? Is he not here? Which residence are you from?”

One of the scholars asked with a smile.

The shop assistant following them seemed to know the identity of the four scholars and did not dare to say anything.

Of course, in his opinion, this was nothing.

People with literary talent were hailed as scholars. To them, this incident was merely a love affair. If word got out, not only would they not be criticized and gossiped about, but this incident would be spread far and wide, treated as a legendary tale.

“One day, a certain scholar met a young maidservant in a shop. He didn’t mind her lowly status and fell in love with her at first sight. Therefore, he generously offered to redeem her from her heartless master. Then, he brought her home and doted on her…’

If this scholar was slightly more well-known and became world-renowned in the future, this small shop would also become famous.

No one would bother following up on this matter to see if the scholar had gifted her to someone else or abandoned her once he got tired of her.

“She is just a low-priced maidservant. ”

Just as he was thinking this, the shop assistant suddenly noticed that another person had joined them.

There were only four scholars. Why was there another person?

With a start, he looked up, and his expression changed.

The main character was here!

However, it should be fine. Even if there were disputes between scholars, they would at most bicker, compete in poem recitation, or scold each other.

Very rarely would physical fights break out between them.

This was because their scholarly image and weak bodies did not allow it.

Even if there was a fight, at most, they would just push and shove each other. There would not be any blood spilled.

The best thing about scholars was their words, not their hands.

Moreover, Xiao Die was just a maidservant and there were four men. Anyone smart would decide against falling out with them over a lowly maid.

There was no need for that as the gains would not make up for the losses. “Little girl, I’m talking to you. Look up. Which family are you from?” Unexpectedly, just as he reached out, another hand suddenly reached out and grabbed onto his hand.

The tall scholar thought that it was one of his friends. He turned around and was about to scold him when he suddenly let out a scream. His expression changed drastically!

A piercing pain suddenly came from his hand!

Crack!

He even heard the sound of the bones in his palm being dislocated!

This tragic scream immediately shocked the other three people beside him!

The three of them shivered and hurriedly looked in the direction of that arm.

They saw a familiar figure.

There was an impassive look on his handsome face, but his eyes had a look that made their hearts palpitate with fear.

“You… What are you doing?”

One of the scholars snapped back to his senses and hurriedly shouted.

However, there was a lack of energy behind his shout, and because of the sudden shock just now, his voice was trembling.

The other two were also frightened by the sudden appearance of this youth and the aura emitting from him. For a moment, they stood there speechlessly.

Luo Qingzhou stared at the four young men in front of him who had been high-spirited, arrogant, and laughing just a moment ago. Looking at how frightened and cowardly they were behaving, he thought to himself, “No wonder people have mocked me in the past. They say that scholars are weak and useless. It turns out that scholars are indeed so unbearable. In the eyes of martial artists, they’re like clowns… Fortunately, I won’t be like this from now on…”

“Let… Let go of me! Brother Zhang, Brother Qian, q-quickly make him let go…”

The tall scholar whose palm was grabbed was suffering such intense pain that his face turned pale. His body trembled, and his voice had a sobbing tone to it.

After a short moment of shock, the other three scholars immediately reacted.

“Hey buddy, a gentleman settles a dispute through communication instead of a fight. Why must you attack him when you just met him? It’s highly improper to be so rude!”

Scholar Zhang—who had freckles on his nose—immediately shouted sternly, looking righteous.

Bam!

He raised his head and puffed out his chest, trying to look imposing. However, Luo Qingzhou suddenly kicked him in the stomach, causing him to arch his body like a shrimp and slide backward. Then, he fell to the ground with a bang. His eyes rolled back into his head and he fainted.

The other two scholars had already rolled up their sleeves. Taking advantage of the fact that they outnumbered Luo Qingzhou, they were prepared to attack again. However, when they saw this scene, their hearts trembled and their expressions changed drastically. Their summoned courage vanished like smoke and their imposing aura dissipated.

“Kneel!”

Right at this moment, Luo Qingzhou’s eyes suddenly widened. His aura surged, and he stared at them with a savage and fierce expression. His voice was like a thunderclap that resounded in everyone’s ears and struck their souls!

The two scholars, who were already terrified, got a shock. Their legs gave out under them, and their bodies went limp. They involuntarily knelt.

This thunderous roar not only shocked the two scholars but also the shop assistant and the scholar who was being held by Luo Qingzhou.

The shop assistant’s legs trembled and he almost knelt. However, he immediately snapped out of his trance.

“Wait a minute, this had got nothing to do with me!” he thought.

As for the scholar whose hand was being held by Luo Qingzhou, he was already trembling in pain and was filled with fear. Now that he suddenly got a shock, he was so frightened that his entire body trembled. There was a spraying sound between his legs as he lost control of his bodily functions and started peeing.

Standing by the side, Xiao Die was also terrified.

When Luo Qingzhou saw that his first attempt at utilizing his martial arts had such an effect, he thought that he was lucky.

At this moment, he let go.

The scholar who had peed his pants out of fear immediately went limp and fell to the ground. He trembled and his face was ashen pale.

Luo Qingzhou looked at the four people on the ground with a complicated gaze.

Once upon a time, he was also like this.

At that time, he did not know. He thought that scholars were talented and that it was an honor to be one. Now, he realized that it was ridiculous.

This era was ultimately the era of martial arts practitioners.

Even if he was full of talent, what was the use if he was weak and easily scared out of his wits by a martial artist?

“Where’s the Martial Evaluation Stone?”

Luo Qingzhou did not want to stay any longer and looked at the shop assistant who was standing on the stairs in a daze.

Only then did the shop assistant snap back to his senses. He hurriedly came down, bowed, and lowered his head. He respectfully handed the wrapped Martial Evaluation Stone to Luo Qingzhou.

“Xiao Die, let’s go.”

Luo Qingzhou packed up the things and pulled the frightened little girl downstairs, leaving the shop.

Cultivate!

He had to continue cultivating!

Become stronger!

He had to become stronger!

The world of martial arts had no end.

If he slacked off and stopped, he would be surpassed.

Then, the situation today might be reversed.

He would never allow that to happen!

For himself, for Xiao Die!

He had to continue working hard and become stronger!