Xiao He comes and goes like the wind, and his mastery of skipping class was by no means achieved in a single day. Xiang Yuan could not help but suspect that Wang Wenxu had not noticed an extra person in the classroom at all, and then failed to notice when one person had disappeared.
So this is not called skipping class. It is simply absenteeism.
Because they were too fast, the servant was still resting the horses by the roadside. The two got into the Carriage and headed straight for the west gate of the County town.
Inside the Carriage, Xiao He was beaming with delight and urged the servant several times to drive faster.
He was eager to “pay a visit” to his Close friend Xu Jixian, wishing he could turn around and arrive at the other man’s bedside immediately.
Xiao He explained, “Although the Xu Family had declined and had few descendants, they once had a Glorious past. An Ancestor in the family had served as the governor of Dezhou, and they had even produced a martial champion. They could be considered a family of eunuchs…”
“You mean a Noble Families of officials!” Xiang Yuan could not help but complain.
“Close enough. Eunuchs are officials too.” Xiao He waved his hand casually. It was not important; they meant the same thing.
Eunuchs did not have that part, so they were a great deal Inferior—and much older.
“By Brother Xu’s generation, the Xu Family had only one Male heir left. He was unsuccessful in literature and had no talent for martial arts. Guarding the family’s Ancestral land, he had no proper income and lived entirely by Collect rent. He is truly an Unfortunate person living a Poor and simple life!”
“Brother Xu’s parents died young, so they named him ‘Jixian,’ meaning to revive the Xu Family. But look at him—he spends all day seeking Fun in the Red-light district. I guess he probably Encountered a ghost that was a female ghost.”
“When I first arrived at the Academy, I saw that he was incredibly ugly, which made me look even more Wise and mighty, so I befriended him…”
Xiao He cheerfully mocked his Close friend and did not forget to tell Xiang Yuan an amusing anecdote.
Xu Jixian possessed both virtue and talent, ranking Last place in the Academy. Some time ago, during an Academy examination, in order to bravely seize second place, he chose a method between solving the questions and cheating.
“Hahaha, it nearly killed me laughing. That day, he almost made the Old man leave in anger.”
“……”
Xiang Yuan Roll eyes, having guessed who ranked second from last.
Judging from Xiao He’s words, the two were more like disappointed, Like-minded people who Huddle together for warmth. After the Xu Family’s decline, Xu Jixian was Unable to rise again, while Xiao He’s family produced outstanding talents who were not appreciated. Both were unfortunate people fallen to the End of the world, and they were Soulmates who invited one another as companions.
It was quite nice. The two stinks only fumigated each other and did not choke anyone else.
No, he would be choked soon!
With the servant accelerating, the Carriage soon reached the west gate.
The Xu Family’s Glorious past had been two hundred years Before. At that time, Fengxian County had not yet built East Main Street, so the family’s inherited Ancestral land was located west of the County town: a large Manor, along with fields and a Land deed, barely maintaining the bearing of a Noble Families.
The outside was Grand, but the inside was another matter.
There was only one Old servant in the household to attend to daily life. The Corridor was dusty in many places, and the courtyard was Overgrown with weeds. Apart from the family temple, which was kept clean with Incense and offerings burning continuously, Cobwebs could be seen everywhere else.
What? This Unfortunate person could Collect rent, so why did he not hire a few more servants?
What a question. He spent it all on his Lover, of course.
“Brother Xu, your Elder Brother has come to visit you.”
Xiao He loudly and boisterously pushed open the door and entered. Xiang Yuan followed, and on the sickbed saw a young man with unusual bones.
He had a Horse face, Dark skin, thick lips, coarse eyebrows, protruding ears, and a garlic nose. His Appearance was not merely Unremarkable appearance, but one of a kind in the World, making Xiang Yuan Curious whether this Brother Xu had hidden away when humans were evolving.
Judge by appearance was wrong, and saying someone was ugly was even less Polite. One could only say that he had taken the dross and discarded the essence, was born highly individualistic, and did not follow the crowd.
Comparing him with the Physiognomy Book, Xiang Yuan was astonished to find Xu Jixian’s face Unsolvable—or rather, it had Too many obvious features, so any interpretation would work.
He was a truly extraordinary man.
Set off by Xu Jixian, Xiao He appeared handsome and dashing, while Xiang Yuan had Delicate and Pretty Features. The two were both graceful and elegant, like two Clear streams flowing into the room.
Xu Jixian groaned several times on the sickbed. Seeing Xiao He come to visit him, he pulled down the White cloth from his Head and sat up with a sudden jerk. “Brother Xiao, what brings you here? You did not go to the Academy again today?”
He was tall, strong, and quite sturdy, though his face looked old enough that saying he was thirty would not be excessive.
“How could that be? Your Elder Brother is no Idle person!”
Xiao He wore a face full of disdain, then said disappointedly, “I heard you Encountered a ghost last night, and that a female ghost took your Yang essence, draining your vital energy until you had only one breath left. How is it that you look perfectly fine?”
“No, it cannot be said that you have no problems either. The female ghost was truly ruthless, beating Brother Xu into this state. Look at you—your face has been Ruined.”
“Brother Xiao, stop fooling around. The female ghost did not hit anyone; she was very gentle. I was born this way.”
Xu Jixian did not get angry after being Mocked twice. He looked Curiously at Xiang Yuan. “Who is this gentleman? Why is he carrying a saber? Did you recruit a Family retainer?”
“He is not a Family retainer. Little Yuan Ge is a Brother I just made. Like you and me, he is an Unfortunate person. He is temporarily staying at Xiao Mansion, and since he felt embarrassed to eat and live for free, he protects me.” Xiao He offered an explanation.
“So you are Little Yuan Ge. My apologies.” Xu Jixian got up and offered an Apology, then had the Old servant Bring over tea.
“Brother Xu, you are too Polite.”
Xiang Yuan Cup hands and accepted the tea. In just a few words, he defined Xu Jixian as a Clown : not a bad person, but lacking all decorum. No wonder he got along with Xiao He.
A Fly and a Fly will always Attract each other.
The three sat down. Xiao He was impatient. “Tell me, tell me! Which establishment did you Encounter a ghost at last night—the Yusheng Workshop, Red Sleeves Pavilion, or Cuiyun Tower?”
“None of them. Your Elder Brother is not some casual Lecherous person!”
Xu Jixian first defended himself loudly, then said, “Last night, I returned home from Cuiyun Tower after drinking a little wine. I do not know which Alley I reached. After a Cold wind blew, my two legs began to Sway. Dizzy, I saw a Woman in white sitting by the wall…”
“She claimed that her husband’s surname was Wang and that she was a Widow, so I called her Widow Wang .”
“Widow Wang had a difficult life. She had sprained her foot while walking the Night Road, and her Lantern was broken. She had Fallen and sat by the roadside, with no one offering Reinforcement.”
“Seeing her in mourning—no, seeing how Pitiful she was, I felt compassion and helped her home to rest properly. It would not be too late to leave once the Daytime came and her foot hurt less.”
“At the time, I was only thinking that my home was nearby. I was simply being Kind; I had no other intentions.”
At this point, Xu Jixian Sighed and lamented that a good person received no reward for his kindness, regretting that he had helped someone last night.
“And then? Keep talking!” Xiao He was frantic. This was no time for “wait until the next installment.”
“There is nothing much to say. Seeing that I was Kind-hearted, Widow Wang was Insistent on repaying me. Brother Xiao, you know me. I am upright and never take advantage of people in distress, much less use a favor to demand repayment…”
“I do not want to hear this!”
Xiao He was furious, and Xiang Yuan also opened his eyes wide.
“Then there is even less to say. I observed proper etiquette and refused again and again, but she looked as though she intended to violate me. I am timid, and when I got nervous, I Forgot to Resist.”
Xu Jixian’s face showed Annoyed regret. Noticing the disdainful Gaze of the two people opposite him, his Dark face flushed red and veins bulged across his forehead. “Do not say you do not believe me. I swear I Struggled at the time.”
“On the bed?”
“In my heart.”
“……” x2
“It is also my fault for being Kind-hearted. At the time, I was afraid that refusing her would hurt her feelings. She was already Pitiful, and now I especially regret it…”
Xu Jixian beat his chest and stamped his feet, saying that he had carelessly stumbled into misfortune and summoned the female ghost, who now could not be driven away.
“What do you mean, she cannot be driven away?” Xiao He’s eyes lit up.
“Last night, Widow Wang and I shared Intimacy several times. Although she had not studied for many years, the moment she opened her mouth, she made people feel very comfortable… Both Elder Brothers, do not glare. What I mean is that Widow Wang was learned and sensible, and listening to her speaking was very pleasant.”
Xu Jixian had probably been bewitched by the female ghost. Although he knew she was a ghost, he still could not help defending her, calling her pure and unaffected, not some Seductive Goods from a book.
After speaking, he sensed something was wrong and defended himself. “At the beginning, your Elder Brother really did pity her. Who would have thought… Sigh, I can only blame myself for making the decision on a whim and miscalculating after patting my Thigh.”
“I slapped the table and laughed myself to death.” Xiao He was utterly disdainful.
Are you two performing Crosstalk?
Xiang Yuan Roll eyes and interrupted Xu Jixian’s Quibble to prove his chastity. “Brother Xu, get to the point. Why did the female ghost refuse to leave?”
“After the Intimacy, Widow Wang revealed her True Appearance. Her Long hair drifted in the air, her White Clothes were like mist, and her body was as cold as ice. Only then did your Elder Brother realize she was not human.”
Xu Jixian wore a face full of lingering fear. “She said she held my life in her hand, so she stopped concealing herself. She also said that during the Daytime she lived beneath the old well in my Backyard, and told me to Find her at Night. If I did not go, she would come Find her. She was not afraid I would run away.”
“How powerful is this female ghost to be so Arrogant!” Xiao He’s face was full of Grudge, as though saying, “I am so handsome, so why did I not Encounter Widow Wang?”
“Oh my, her sinews open, waist soft, and she can rotate. Her cultivation is profound.” Xu Jixian added fuel to the fire, teasing Xiao He relentlessly.
You simply could not sleep, while I fell asleep. That makes you furious.
“Hateful!”
Xiang Yuan: (_)
In this World, there are All sorts of people. Some are Responsible for every sort of appearance, like him; others are Responsible for every sort of sensuality, like Xiao He and Xu Jixian.