A Dream of Red Mansions: A Fairy Tale of Dreams (Complete) - Part 2

Chapter Twenty-Five: Passion Burns

Yu Chuan'er watched Bao Yu flee, and couldn't help but chuckle again, muttering to herself, "Bao Yu has really become much more interesting, and he even seems more handsome now. Oh dear! What am I thinking?! How embarrassing!" The girl touched her burning face, her heart secretly pondering, "My sister has already found her ideal husband, shouldn't I also find someone to rely on for life?" Lost in thought, the girl suddenly remembered the playful words the two sisters had exchanged as children: "When we grow up, we will never be separated, and even if we marry, we will marry the same person." Yu Chuan'er cursed herself inwardly, "What am I thinking?! That was just a childhood joke, and besides, I have no romantic feelings for Bao Yu."
Sigh! I don't want to think about it anymore. The girl's emotions shifted rapidly, and suddenly, listless, Yu Chuan'er lazily went to her room and fell asleep.
In a hazy state, Bao Yu looked at the empty space beneath his feet as usual, knowing he had "dreamed" of being in the "Land of Illusion" again.
As always, he recounted his extraordinary encounter at the Xuanzhen Temple to the Fairy Jinghuan without reservation. Finally, unable to suppress his intense doubts, he asked the same old question, receiving the same unchanging answer. Just
as the fairy was about to "send" him away again, Baoyu hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "No, no! This time I'll do it myself." He suddenly realized he was merely a soul, everything was a product of his thoughts. Baoyu focused his mind, and wherever his thoughts went, his "body" instantly transformed into countless points of light and disappeared into the "Land of Illusion."
Guanyin, within the "Illusion," smiled contentedly. After all, she was the reincarnation of Wukong, so naturally understanding the power of the "mind." Whether it was divine power or demonic power, it was all driven by the "mind," and the "mind" could do anything!
Baoyu awoke from his slumber. He would no longer find his dreams strange or doubtful; reality was unchangeable, even if he didn't want to accept it.
"Second Master, Miss Xue is back. Aunt Xue and Master Xue are both at the Old Madam's. Madam is urging you to go and pay your respects quickly!" Xiren urged softly as she dressed Baoyu.
Xue Baochai! Upon hearing this, Baoyu's heart burned with excitement, instantly feeling invigorated and wide awake. He sprang out of bed, still wearing his undergarments.
"Ah!" Xiren exclaimed softly, her jade-like face flushed with embarrassment as she turned away, unable to face him directly.
Baoyu was startled, but upon looking down, he immediately realized what was happening and, embarrassed, shrank back into the bed. Because of the thin clothing, the man's "morning erection," coupled with the mention of Baochai's name, caused "Little Baoyu" to be "fully exposed," erecting a high tent. How could the reserved young girl not be extremely shy?!
"You naughty boy!" A moment later, the girl's face was as red as a peach blossom in March. She tried to remain calm and dressed Baoyu again, but her slightly trembling hands completely betrayed her inner nervousness.
Seeing the beautiful woman's rapid breathing, her firm, full breasts trembling with his hot breath, and the alluring waves that rippled with every movement of hers,
Baoyu felt a surge of heat in his heart. Although he hadn't fallen in love with Xiren, he felt a deep affection for this gentle and lovely girl. A profound saying suddenly popped into his mind: "Women are driven by true feelings, men by love." The fire
in Baoyu's heart ignited his long-suppressed passion, and a powerful lust burst forth, instantly drowning out any clarity in his eyes. Taking advantage of Xiren's momentary movement to adjust her clothes, he pulled her into his arms like a fledgling swallow.
"Ugh!" Caught off guard, Xi Ren fell into the "clutches." Before she could react, a cry of surprise escaped her lips, but burning lips pressed down like a mountain, swiftly sealing her mouth and silencing her cry. The sound transformed into a series of alluring moans that echoed in the small space.
The instant their lips touched, Xi Ren felt a jolt in her heart, her mind going blank as if struck by a heavy blow. Everything in the world seemed to crumble away, leaving only the two of them locked in a passionate embrace, inseparable.
Bao Yu's large hands quietly climbed onto the girl's firm breasts, gently caressing and kneading them. His burgeoning passion quickly flowed through his fingers and into her breasts. Filled with heat, her breasts stood proudly erect, two perfect nipples protruding through her clothes, rubbing against the "naughty boy's" chest with each tremor of her body.
In the midst of this slight twisting and friction, a torrent of passion finally erupted. Baoyu, his heart burning with lust, roared and laid the girl's beautiful body across the bed, pressing down hard, ready to carry his passion to its climax!
At the crucial moment, the disruptor descended from the sky. Musk Moon's urging voice came from outside the door, "Sister Xiren, is Second Master up yet? Madam has sent someone to urge him again!" "Ah!" The girl instantly "awoke" from her passion, realizing that her clothes were half-undone and her breasts slightly exposed. She hurriedly pushed Baoyu away from her.
The man, consumed by lust, ignored the calls outside, his hands still roaming freely over the girl's breasts, waist, and arms. Once the pent-up desire of many days erupted, it was like a wild horse, difficult to calm down.
"Baoyu, no... ah... Old lady... um!" The girl struggled with difficulty, and hearing Musk Moon's cries outside the room again, she became even more anxious. She twisted her jade face forcefully, freeing her lips from the pressure, and said quickly, "Good Second Master, you go and see Madam first, and I will be with you when no one is around tonight!" Afraid that Baoyu would be angry, Xiren took the initiative to lightly kiss his face before she finished speaking.
The "bad boy" saw that the situation was indeed not good, so he had no choice but to give up; his greedy hands once again kneaded the girl's full breasts hard before obediently turning over and getting off the bed.
Baoyu forcibly suppressed his surging desire, and cried out to the heavens in his heart, "God, please, don't ruin my good time every time! Please?
" "Greetings to Old Madam, Mother, Aunt!" Baoyu hurriedly stepped into Grandmother Jia's residence and respectfully greeted everyone.
"Baoyu, why are you so late? Haven't you greeted your Sister Xue and Brother Xue yet!" The old lady scolded her precious darling with doting affection, her plump face radiating heartfelt joy. Baoyu was becoming increasingly well-behaved and sensible.
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Beauty Baochai "Brother Bao, I didn't greet you when you recovered from your illness a while ago. I apologize to you here!" Her gentle words were melodious and graceful, like heavenly music entering Baoyu's heart.
Baoyu's heart trembled, and his gaze was drawn to the source of the celestial music. Their eyes met, and he felt a sudden, overwhelming shock that stirred boundless waves within him.
Her beautiful eyes were like water, serene and elegant, with a few strands of wisdom and intelligence flickering within them. Her jade-like face was full and smooth as cream, like the resurrected "Yang Guifei," captivating the soul; her hair was tied up high, flowing gracefully, revealing a dignified and holy air, like the reborn "Zhaojun," a woman of unwavering virtue!
Baoyu forced himself to maintain a calm expression, but inwardly he was screaming, "A beauty of unparalleled grace! This is the legendary beauty of unparalleled grace!" "Ha, ha..." A rough laugh suddenly rang out, startling the "foolish" Baoyu from his reverie. "Brother Bao, I thought you'd changed completely, but you're still as amusing as ever!" Xue Pan, initially finding Baoyu's proper demeanor dull, was naturally uninteresting; he was by nature forthright and disliked honest, unassuming people. Seeing Baoyu standing there, eyes gleaming with "intelligent" light, he felt a sudden sense of kinship.
"Pan'er, stop talking nonsense!" The middle-aged beauty sitting beside Lady Wang reprimanded sharply. Her face, bearing a seven-tenths resemblance to Lady Wang, still retained its charm. At this moment, her eyebrows were furrowed, her delicate body trembling slightly with anger at Xue Pan's outburst.
"Sister, don't be angry. He didn't mean it. Don't take it seriously!" Lady Wang gently comforted her younger sister, holding her wrist; the deep sisterly affection between them was evident.
"Aunt, don't be angry. Brother Xue's frankness only shows the closeness between us brothers." The "fake" Baoyu spoke sincerely, looking at the dignified and graceful "mother" and Aunt Xue. His serious "Oedipus complex" was churning in his heart, and he wished he could really be "Jia Baoyu"!
"Brother Bao, I love to hear that! We brothers should be closer!" Although Xue Pan wasn't afraid of his mother, he was still grateful for Bao Yu's words of help. He secretly thought that his cousin seemed to have finally seen the light. He should take him out to have fun sometime, and with him as a cover, his mother and sister wouldn't nag him so much.
"Brother Xue is absolutely right. I hope you'll give me more guidance in the future." Bao Yu was facing Xue Pan directly for the first time, and he was also full of curiosity about this "tyrant of Jinling." Considering that the Xue family was a family of officials and merchants, he had ulterior motives and tried to befriend him.
Xue Pan was indeed as his name suggested, a born "tyrant"! Tall, broad-shouldered, and with long arms, his originally handsome face was covered by a fierce aura, and his eyes revealed a hint of arrogance. He truly lived up to his name as the "Demon King of the World"!
"Pan'er, don't lead your precious brother Bao astray!" Aunt Xue said softly with a helpless expression. Then, her tone softened as she spoke to Baoyu, "Baoyu, come here and let your aunt take a good look at you. It's been a while since I last saw you, and you've become so well-behaved!" The middle-aged beauty gently embraced Baoyu, who was standing nearby. Seeing that he no longer wore makeup and was now clean-cut and handsome, she loved him even more! She held him tightly to her chest as if he were her own son. "Baoyu, my son, you're the only one who knows how to care for your aunt!" Although Baoyu was only a teenager, his inner self was that of a "ripe" and "mature" man. Now, his cheek was pressed against the beautiful woman's full and bouncy breasts. The smooth flesh and the fragrance of her mature body permeated his heart and soul. He was intoxicated by the sensation and felt a surge of heat in his heart. A warm current rushed down to his abdomen, and his desire instantly "stood up."
The man with a "mother complex," overcome by lust, deliberately moved his cheek slowly and forcefully, carefully savoring the fullness and softness of her mature breasts. His large hands unconsciously kneaded his aunt's smooth waist.
The widowed Aunt Xue, her voluptuous body trembling, blushed rapidly. She glanced down at the "child" in her arms, seeing his eyes slightly closed and a look of "happiness" on his face. A question arose in her heart: was Baoyu basking in familial affection, or was he deliberately taking liberties with her?
Unsure, the beautiful woman didn't dare push Baoyu away, but simply turned slightly to avoid direct contact between her breasts and his cheek. Even so, Aunt Xue, long deprived of intimacy, felt deeply ashamed, her heart trembling! Baoyu's "unintentional" intimate gesture instantly stirred up her deep-seated resentment, and a sudden realization arose in the middle-aged woman's mind—the little boy from years ago had grown into a handsome young man!
"Baoyu, you're so big now, yet you still act like a child. Stop bothering your aunt!" Seeing her son "acting spoiled" in his sister's arms, Lady Wang, as a mother, felt an inexplicable pang of jealousy, as if her son were about to leave her side.
Baoyu, still "enjoying" the moment, was startled. What was wrong with him? This woman he had "molested" was his mother's own sister! How could he have such "improper" thoughts about her?! A pang of guilt flashed through his mind, entangled with the pleasure of breaking taboos, wrestling endlessly!
Facing Lady Wang, he always saw himself as the real Jia Baoyu, longing for a mother as caring and considerate as she was! A deep blush crept onto Baoyu's cheeks. He stood up, conflicted and uneasy, and subconsciously stole a glance at his aunt. Unexpectedly, his gaze met that of the middle-aged beauty with a questioning look in mid-air. Their eyes met briefly,
then quickly looked away. Both of them trembled simultaneously, overwhelmed by endless shame and unease! Aunt Xue, amidst her shame and anger, felt a strange, inexplicable stirring in her lonely heart. Having grown up in a noble family, she was dignified and proper, but she was no stranger to the incestuous relationships within wealthy families. Now that this had happened to her, she felt a surge of heat throughout her body, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She didn't know whether she was angry, ashamed, or...!
Baoyu, filled with unease, only calmed down after a moment when he saw that his aunt hadn't exposed his outrageous behavior. No longer wanting to stay, he excused himself and fled in a panic, no longer even wanting to look at Baochai's peerless beauty.
Seeing his hurried figure, everyone looked puzzled, knowing he usually loved noise and bustle! Only Aunt Xue seemed to understand, finally confirming her guess. She felt a surge of heat in her mature body and was lost in thought.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Book of Moving Doors. "A dark and windy night for murder, a time for whispered secrets in the dead of night." These are two completely different lives. The naturally passionate Baoyu would not choose the former. His heart was burning, and he felt hot all over, only hoping that the bright moon would rise quickly in the sky so that he could meet the gentle and lovely Xiren.
To kill time, which was moving at an extremely slow pace, Baoyu casually picked up a book from the bookshelf and began to flip through it aimlessly. His unfocused eyes swept over the difficult and obscure words, and he complained inwardly, "This era is good in every way, except for something good to kill time!" He couldn't help but deeply miss the realistic, immersive, and brain-connecting 3D movies of the 21st century.
He flipped through half the book in a flash, but not a single word left an impression on his mind.
"Eek!" A hint of surprise flashed in Baoyu's eyes, his scattered gaze instantly becoming bright and alert as he stared intently at the pages, his handsome face quickly turning red. After a long while, the guy, who was completely absorbed in learning "knowledge," couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration, "What a good book, truly a good book!" How could this guy, who usually gets a headache just looking at these ancient books, like this one so much?! His next exclamation was even stranger, "It's so good, how could I have forgotten about it? Hehe..." A lewd laugh echoed in the room, finally revealing the secret of the book!
"This thing is much more interesting than movies!" Baoyu murmured to himself, his face beaming with excitement, a drop of saliva dripping from the corner of his wide-open mouth, the guy so engrossed in his book that he didn't even realize it.
With a "drip," saliva landed on the naked female body depicted on the book's pages. Baoyu quickly and carefully wiped it away. "Is it raining?" He looked up and "realized" he was inside the bed curtains. The "lecher" who had just realized what was happening closed his wide-open lips in embarrassment, still "shamelessly" focusing his attention on the "pornographic book." As he read, he "rigorously" commented, "This painting is really good, the brushstrokes are smooth and lifelike; the woman in the painting is truly captivating, her face can rival Daiyu and Baochai; her figure is even more amazing, even Fengjie and Li Wan are a little inferior! Truly an angelic face and a devilish figure! If there really were such a woman in this world, then…!" The guy with "green" eyes was momentarily lost in endless lewd fantasies, his mouth unconsciously opening again, but fortunately this time he didn't drool.
Having feasted his eyes on the book, the "fake" Baoyu turned back to the first page, where he found the "Dongmen Dharma Book" he had obtained from the "Xuanzhen Temple." The "lecherous man," initially drawn by the "wonderful" illustrations, finally began to read it earnestly.
The world was indeed wondrous, and he wanted to study it carefully, but fate intervened. The characters on the book seemed to swim across the pages like tadpoles, chaotic and unpredictable. He believed no one in the world could decipher this strange "heavenly book"!
Seeing this "strange sight," Baoyu rubbed his eyes in disbelief, opening them wide again, but the "strange" characters remained unchanged. He subconsciously twisted his thigh—he could feel it! He wasn't dreaming!
"Alas!" Confirming reality, Baoyu looked disappointed. It seemed he was destined to never have such a "good book"!
Just as he was feeling dejected, a sudden change occurred.
Suddenly, the "Spirit Jade" emitted a five-colored glow, enveloping Baoyu and the book within it. The faint heat within his body instantly surged and began to circulate rapidly, while the glow emitted by the jade gradually joined this heat, amplifying it.
The characters on the "magic book," enveloped in the glow, continued to move rapidly, their speed increasing uncontrollably. Finally, with a "boom," they burst from the pages, transforming into countless points of light that merged into the five-colored glow, rushing into Baoyu's mind like a thunderbolt.
For the first time while fully conscious, Baoyu witnessed the wonder of the "Spirit Jade." Seeing a point of light rush into him from between his eyebrows, he cried out in alarm, instantly terrified and utterly horrified!
"I'm alright, I'm actually alright! Ha, ha..." After a moment, Baoyu, whose body had been stiff with fright, carefully moved his hands and feet. He was completely unharmed; it turned out to be just a false alarm.
Such a "strange" scene made him wonder if it had really happened. When the "Dongmen Fashu" (a book on the movement of magic gates) appeared blank before his eyes, Baoyu once again affirmed the existence of "ghosts and gods" in the world!
"Baoyu, what happened?" Xiren, Qingwen, Sheyue, and Qiuwen rushed into the room almost simultaneously, checking Baoyu over with concern.
"Why are you so startled? Do you think we're too idle and want to play tricks on us servants like this?!" Qingwen, after confirming that Baoyu was unharmed, playfully punched his arm.
The girl's soft, jade-like hands felt like a back massage, and Baoyu hummed comfortably, a mischievous grin on his face. "I just had a nightmare, and I didn't mean to frighten you all. I apologize to you all." "Second Master, would you like us to stay and chat with you to calm your nerves?" Musk Moon carefully draped an outer robe over Baoyu's shoulders.
Seeing that the girls were all very interested, Baoyu quickly stopped them, saying, "No need, I'm sleepy too. You all go back to your rooms to rest! Just leave Xiren to serve you in the outer room!" He then stretched and lay back on the bed with hazy eyes, and the girls had no choice but to comply. While Xiren came forward to cover him with a blanket, Baoyu secretly squeezed her jade-like hand. The two exchanged a knowing glance, and Baoyu chuckled, while Xiren blushed and her heart fluttered with trepidation; fortunately, none of the girls noticed, so he didn't reveal his secret.
The moonlight was like water, and the bright moon hung in the sky.
Unable to sleep, Baoyu's heart burned with desire, his pent-up passion surging forth, ready to erupt. Seeing the night deepen, the lustful wolf, unable to restrain himself any longer, sprang to his feet and nimbly darted out of the room, his movements swifter than ever before!
In the deep night sky, the bright moon quietly hid behind the clouds, too embarrassed to witness the enchanting scene about to unfold.
What changes would occur to Baoyu after absorbing the "Dancing Gate Manual"? Would fate allow him to enter the world of "mythology"? All the answers would be revealed in his act of "stealing fragrance"!
He had finally taken the first step towards becoming the new "Great Sage Equal to Heaven," and the day when the "Ruyi Jingu Bang" would return was drawing ever closer!
When would the hardened steel be able to be transformed into the softest silk at will?!
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Yin and Yang in Harmony. A swift figure flashed out from behind the mirror door, and in a few steps, he was before the bed in the outer room. Facing the curvaceous body on the bed, Baoyu felt his mouth go dry, and a surge of suppressed passion welled up like a tsunami.
His excited hands trembled slightly as he reached for Xiren's delicate neck, his burning palms exploring her smooth skin. With each tender caress, the fire in Baoyu's heart began to spread. He saw the girl's eyes closed, her high, firm breasts rising and falling gently with her steady breathing, her rosy face serene and captivating. Even in her sleep, Xiren still exuded such gentleness, tenderness, and endearing charm.
A deep affection swirled in his mind, intertwining with the image of the girl in his eyes. In this subtle shift, a thread of love overflowed from his eyes, his gaze, brimming with affection, seemingly fixed on the girl's face.
Tormented by budding affection and intense desire, Baoyu slowly leaned down to kiss Xiren's rosy lips. Unbeknownst to her, the girl's face was already flushed. Just as their lips met, Xiren suddenly opened her alluring eyes. The two, so close yet so far, locked eyes, speechless with longing. Deep affection flowed between them, reaching the depths of their hearts. A captivating springtime passion surged and sublimated within the hearts of these two lovers.
Baoyu had barely stepped out of the room when Xiren was startled awake. The girl, her mind racing, was also unable to sleep. Having already shared intimate moments with "Jia Baoyu," she was filled with a mixture of shyness and joy at the impending intimate encounter. With this "fake" Baoyu, the girl's feelings were no longer those of a simple master and servant. A woman's innate yearning for love made her desire Baoyu's attention and affection more fervent. Because of her budding feelings, she couldn't accept Baoyu's advances with the same openness as before, instead filled with nervous and shy anticipation.
As Baoyu leaned down to kiss her, Xiren could no longer suppress the trembling in her heart and opened her eyes. Looking at her beloved's now "fearful" gaze, the sensitive girl was not surprised but delighted. She saw in Baoyu's burning desire a feeling she had never experienced before; happiness had come so suddenly! The girl's beautiful eyes gradually reddened from the surge of emotion in her heart. In her excitement, she unusually reached out and kissed Baoyu's frozen lips. A deep, overwhelming affection flowed from Xiren's clumsy lips and tongue into Baoyu's heart, constantly strengthening the budding "threads of love" within him.
Stimulated by this, Baoyu was slightly taken aback, then overjoyed. A passionate, deep kiss erupted, his nimble red tongue sweeping through every corner of the beauty's mouth, finally kissing her smooth, fragrant tongue tightly, passionately inhaling the girl's sweet scent!
Under Bao Yu's powerful "offensive," Xi Ren's mind went blank, only the electric, tingling pleasure coursing through her heart. In her endless ecstasy, her graceful body was lifted up by Bao Yu, who carried her into his bedroom with passionate kisses and caresses.
Clothes fluttered like colorful butterflies, landing in every corner of the room. When Bao Yu gently laid the girl on the bed, he saw her youthful, alluring, and curvaceous naked body before him, while the beauty remained oblivious to the changes brought about by his fiery "offensive."
His hot hands split into two, kneading Xi Ren's breasts and buttocks with abandon, her firm breasts changing into various alluring shapes under his fingers; his passionate lips rained down on her peaks, across her plains, and finally lingered in the secluded valley hidden by the soft grass.
"Ah!" The girl couldn't resist the intense pleasure. Her body arched, her jade hands gripping Bao Yu's shoulders and back tightly. A fleeting thought flashed through her mind: When did Bao Yu learn these "things"? Last time he... Before she could ponder this further, the raging fire of passion instantly burned away any doubts in her heart.
The tide of passion surged forth, and the girl's slippery valley instantly became muddy. Bao Yu saw that Xi Ren's soft body was covered in crimson, extremely aroused. He felt his own desire harden, the faint throbbing pain seeming to tell of how excited it was.
"Xi Ren, I'm coming!" With a deep, muffled roar, Bao Yu's strong, masculine body suddenly thrust and swelled, and the most beautiful moment finally arrived.
"Ah!" The girl cried out in pain, her ten fingers leaving ten dazzling "love marks" on her lover's back. With Xiren's scream, a vibrant peach blossom, formed from deep affection, drifted down, symbolizing the girl's unwavering devotion to her lover, a vow to be together through life and death!
After a moment of silence, captivating moans echoed like celestial music, an alluring symphony rising and falling, its low notes intermittent, its highs resounding endlessly.
Baoyu tirelessly released the fire within him, and as his body throbbed rhythmically, a wondrous change occurred, true sexual bliss suddenly appearing.
The "spiritual jade" Baoyu had casually placed beside his pillow suddenly emitted a faint glow. The "heat" within him seemed to sense the jade's call, beginning to circulate rapidly, finally surging into the depths of his mind, opening the most mysterious "sea of consciousness"! With a soft "bang," the vanished text of the "Dancing Gate Manual" miraculously reappeared in Baoyu's "sea of consciousness," flashing by like lightning.
Baoyu felt a tremor in his heart; his body was still pulsating, but his "soul" had already been drawn out of his body. Before his eyes appeared the alluring images from the "Dancing Gate Manual," accompanied by detailed annotations. Those originally obscure and difficult-to-understand words now seemed so simple to him!
A mysterious "heat current" began to flow according to the instructions of the "manual," and Baoyu memorized its essence at an unbelievable speed. Those "wonderful" images disappeared again after rotating once, completely merging into his sea of consciousness.
Having gained much, Bao Yu's "soul" understood and smiled knowingly! Unwittingly, he saw his true form manipulating Xi Ren according to the sexual techniques taught in the "magic book." The girl, powerless and unwilling to resist, was lost in a passionate, otherworldly lovemaking! Driven to ecstasy by Bao Yu's body, she lost all sense of time!
"Wow!" the soul exclaimed with delight, never expecting the "things" in the "magic book" to be so useful! He could finally enjoy it to the fullest. With a thought, he felt a blur before his eyes and was back in his body, a surge of pleasure far exceeding his previous one, like a hurricane sweeping through his heart.
Lost in passion, the soul didn't realize that as his pleasure increased, the "heat" within him grew stronger, while the luster of the "Spirit Jade" began to dim almost imperceptibly.
When the divine stone's luster completely disappeared, perhaps that would be the moment when the reincarnated Wukong achieved perfect enlightenment. Although this goal was distant, under the "wonderful" arrangement of heaven, it was no longer hopeless.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Soaring Through the Clouds Under the same cover of night, Bao Yu's room was filled with the warmth of spring, a life of boundless bliss. Meanwhile, a hundred meters outside the Jia mansion's gate, around the corner, a beggar, his hunched back trembling in the autumn wind, stared blankly into the distance,
his eyes lifeless, gazing blankly at the flow of people coming and going from the Jia mansion. Just as Bao Yu's "soul," aided by the "Spiritual Jade," comprehended the "Dancing Gate Manual," a five-colored radiance, invisible to the naked eye, shot into the sky from the "Grand View Garden," instantly illuminating the Jia mansion with dazzling light.
The beggar on the ground, his bewildered eyes suddenly brightening, stared intently at the rosy clouds in the sky, his gaze filled with greed and a hint of fear. He instinctively lunged towards the light, but immediately stopped, his face filled with dejection. He muttered to himself, "Damn it, this 'divine object' is too powerful! Even my two hundred years of demonic cultivation can't break through its barrier. Last time, I was almost forced back to my original form!" Thinking of this, fear crept onto the beggar's face. After a moment of deep thought, he sighed sadly, "Alas! It seems I won't be able to snatch this treasure. I'd better just honestly report to the King!" A strange black mist appeared out of nowhere, and the beggar within it curled up into a ball, his limbs trembling. A night breeze blew, dispersing the black mist. The beggar on the ground had vanished, and a hawk appeared in the void, flying rapidly into the distance.
Inside the "Longcui Nunnery," Miaoyu, who had been meditating with her eyes closed, slowly opened her deep eyes. Her beautiful, ethereal face relaxed, and she gazed at Baoyu's residence, muttering to herself with a hint of excitement, "It really is him!" Then, with a worried look, she turned her head to look in the direction where the "beggar" had disappeared. "Evil aura! It seems the Jia family is no longer a peaceful place. I'd better prepare!" Miaoyu gently raised her hand, and a lark perched on a tree in the courtyard flew in, landing lightly on her palm. The lark spoke in a human voice, "Master, is there anything you need me to do?" Miaoyu lovingly stroked the spirit bird. It was an orphan bird that Miaoyu had unintentionally rescued when she was cultivating in the deep mountains as a child, and it had accompanied her through many years of hardship. During Le Wuyou's childhood, "Cuiyu, you'll have to work hard this time! Go back to the Wuji Cliff Dojo and tell Master that I've found my destined one, but now, due to the 'Jade Stone's Spiritual Connection,'
it has attracted the covetousness of demons, and the situation is critical. I hope the sect can send more people to protect the Jia family!" "Master, don't worry, I will definitely do it!" The spirit bird affectionately pecked Miaoyu's palm, its tiny wings spread in the wind, and it soared into the air. After a slight sway in mid-air, it had transformed from an ordinary "Skylark" back into its beautiful and dazzling true form. Cuiyu let out a melodious low chirp, and its petite figure transformed into a stream of light, flying out of the window and instantly disappearing into the vast void, leaving only a green trail in front of its master.
Not long after the spirit bird flew away, two figures arrived riding the mist and stopped above the Jia family mansion.
"Boss, below lies that recently rumored magical artifact. Will whoever obtains it and absorbs its power truly be able to roam freely throughout the Three Realms?" The shrill, grating voice was extremely unpleasant; was the speaker born with this trait, or was it due to a throat injury?
"Second brother, you don't even believe me anymore? If we two brothers can snatch this treasure, we can save a thousand years of cultivation! Then, with our combined strength, we can naturally dominate the Three Realms and crush those annoying righteous cultivators! Ha, ha…" The "boss" hadn't even gotten his hands on the artifact yet, and he was already fantasizing about the glorious moment of trampling righteous cultivators under his feet.
The two wicked individuals, their magical power already at the "Riding the Mist" level, began to churn and swirl beneath their feet, preparing to pounce on the "Yihong Courtyard."
"Why the rush, fellow Daoists!" A clear voice came from behind them. Before the words had even finished, a figure had already stopped beside them, riding on white clouds. The pure white clouds not only revealed the newcomer's righteous identity but also displayed his profound magical power—he had reached the rare "Cloud Ascension" realm in the mortal world! Regardless of good or evil, anyone who entered this realm was already a "Random Immortal"!
"Boss, this is bad! It's the Taoist priest from 'Wuzhuang Temple' again!" The second brother stopped his movement in alarm.
The eldest brother was also terrified. He knew that "Wuzhuang Temple" was the head of the true cultivation sects in the mortal world, standing tall on the land of China for thousands of years. Its prestige was deeply rooted in the Three Realms and Six Paths. Wherever its disciples went, demons and monsters would flee in terror. Apart from the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven" who dared to provoke it hundreds of years ago, no one in the mortal world could withstand its might.
A beam of moonlight shone down, illuminating the three people suspended in mid-air. Fortunately, the clouds beneath their feet concealed their true forms; otherwise, if mortals had seen them, it would have caused a huge uproar! A
handsome, middle-aged Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly refinement bowed respectfully, saying, "Jingchen, a second-generation disciple of Master Qingfeng, greets you two fellow Taoists!" The two heretical Taoists were startled once more. Disciples of the Wuzhuang Temple, from Zhenyuan Daxian downwards, used "Qing, Jing, Wu, Wei" as their Taoist names. The "Qing" generation of Taoists had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, while the "Jing" generation of disciples were considered the pinnacle of cultivation in the mortal realm!
They weren't impressed by the "bull-nose's" politeness whatsoever. Their voices were tense, their bravado barely concealing their fear as they demanded, "Bull-nose, we have no grudge against each other, why are you blocking my path? Do you also intend to steal the 'divine object'?!" "Brother, you misunderstand," Jingchen replied, bowing respectfully towards the distance. "I have come down the mountain on the orders of the 'Immortal Ancestor Zhenyuan.' The owner of this object has a past connection with the Immortal Ancestor, so I came to protect his safety. I have no intention of taking it!"
"What! The Great Immortal Zhenyuan has returned?!" The two evil cultivators nearly fell from the sky. This was hopeless! Even if they managed to seize the "divine object," they wouldn't live to enjoy it!
"The Immortal Ancestor ascended to the 'Outer Heavens' hundreds of years ago and has long since ceased to concern himself with mortal affairs. This is merely a token of his gratitude," Jingchen said, changing the subject. "The Immortal Ancestor Zhenyuan has decreed: all opportunities are ordained by Heaven, and divine objects possess spirits and will choose their masters! As long as you do not harm the jade's owner, you may do as you please!" Jingchen's eyes swept around, his clear words echoing through the night sky, causing countless unscrupulous individuals hiding in the darkness to shudder and instinctively shrink back.
Jingchen's "warning" was enveloped in magical power, audible only to those with magical abilities; mortals would not hear it. Not interfering with the lives of mortals is a common rule among cultivators, consciously observed by both righteous and evil factions. Anyone who violates it will be punished by Heaven!
Chapter Thirty: The Righteous and Evil Paths "You mean we can rob it?" The two evil cultivators looked at the "Bull Nose" standing with his hands behind his back with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion.
A playful smile flashed in Jingchen's eyes. He bowed with one palm and said, "Brother Dao, please do as you please!" Before he finished speaking, he had already flown away on a white cloud.
"Boss, what should we do?" the second brother asked hesitantly. "Should we still rob them?" "Rob them? Why not?!" The eldest brother's eyes flashed with ferocity. "Once we succeed, we won't have to be afraid of those Taoist priests from Wuzhuang Temple anymore. We can even beat those two old Taoist priests, Qingfeng and Mingyue, to a pulp!" He wasn't completely delusional. He didn't fantasize about trampling "Zhenyuan Daxian" under his feet. You should know that Zhenyuan, as the head of the Earth Immortals in the mortal realm, was someone even "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven" had to be wary of. Even if these cultivators achieved enlightenment in their entire lives, they would only become Earth Immortals. Very few could become Celestial Immortals!
A gust of wind swept through the void as the two evil cultivators used all their power to rush towards the source of the rosy light.
"Ah!" A pitiful scream pierced the sky. The two brothers had just touched the range of the radiant light when an irresistible force struck them instantly, shattering their protective magic shields like dry leaves. The two severely injured brothers were thrown high into the air and flung far away. Only then did they understand the meaning behind the smile in the "Bull Nose's" eyes as he left, but it was too late for regrets!
Seeing the brothers' tragic end, many hidden treasure hunters helplessly flew away, no longer bothering to conceal themselves. For a moment, dust churned and magical artifacts flew through the air.
After a short while, the world returned to calm. The Jia family members were still fast asleep, oblivious to the impending calamity.
Inside Baoyu's room, the "fierce battle" finally reached its climax.
"Ah!" Baoyu roared passionately, and the long-suppressed "volcano" erupted suddenly. The scorching "magma," carrying his true feelings and desires, violently rushed into Xiren's body.
"Oh!" The girl, already limp from the relentless onslaught, couldn't resist the intense pleasure under the fiery infusion. She let out a seductive moan, a final burst of energy before her death, her body arching violently before she fainted in unparalleled bliss.
Baoyu, undergoing the "transformation" of the "Spirit Jade" day and night, was constantly evolving within him. His essence underwent subtle changes within the girl's body, gradually transforming her mortal form. This was the miraculous effect of the "Yin-Yang Harmony" dual cultivation technique of the Dongmen! As
the clouds and rain subsided, the endless glow that had enveloped the "Yihong Courtyard" suddenly contracted sharply and vanished.
The stars shifted, day and night alternated, and dawn broke over the world!
Despite a night of "labor," Baoyu was still refreshed and wide awake. Unable to contain his high spirits, he gently covered the beauty beside him with a blanket, quickly dressed, and strode into the courtyard.
The moment he stepped out of the room, just as the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, the now-unseen Baoyu felt a sudden tremor in his heart, naturally merging with the world and nature, utterly awestruck by this ancient transformation.
Baoyu stood still for a long time, his mind wandering through endless emptiness, subtly experiencing the gentleness of the night and the vigor of the day; unknowingly, tears of emotion silently slid from his eyes, flowing down his cheeks, scattering into the void, disappearing into the dust.
"It's getting cold, don't stay too long." A robe was draped over Baoyu's shoulders, gentle words penetrating his heart, pulling him back from his "illusion" to reality.
"Why did you come out?!" Baoyu tenderly embraced the thinly dressed Xiren, the contrast between the robe on his shoulders and the undergarment she wore deeply moving him, revealing the depth of her affection.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Baoyu returned from his earlier reverie to the mundane world. "Let's go back inside!" he said, tightening his embrace around the beauty in his arms. Her face was like a peach blossom, radiant and captivating, a hint of alluring spring in her eyes and brows, adding a touch of enchanting charm to her gentle and dignified demeanor.
Baoyu was deeply moved, a surge of passion rising within him. But remembering that he had just received her favor, tenderness quickly overwhelmed his desire. Baoyu couldn't help but marvel at the power of "yin and yang in harmony"! Xiren had recovered in just half a night; he had thought she wouldn't be able to get out of bed for three days! Hehe…
The young woman… or rather, the young woman, nestled in her lover's arms, a blissful smile on her face. Her steps were awkward due to the stinging pain in her lower body. Sensing her discomfort, Baoyu gave a lecherous smile, swept her up in his arms, and carefully carried her into the warm bedroom.
The sun rose, illuminating the world. The extraordinary night had finally passed, but the endless turmoil had not subsided.
Demons and monsters, both righteous and evil cultivators, who could not forcibly take the object, all employed ingenious schemes and tricks, determined to remove the spiritual "object" from Baoyu's neck and claim it for themselves!
"Master has returned home. Madam has sent word that you should go and pay your respects!" Baoyu was leisurely eating breakfast in his room when Qingwen entered with an uneasy expression.
"Father?!" Baoyu was slightly taken aback, then realized that Qingwen was referring to Jia Baoyu's father, the second master of the Rongguo Mansion—Jia Zheng. He couldn't help but ponder to himself that he had been playing the "fake" Baoyu for two months now, but had never met Jia Zheng. He wondered what this "father," who was away on official business for many years, looked like.
"Should I go to Yuanyang's place and send a message, telling her to call the old lady to rescue you immediately if anything goes wrong?" Qingwen knew that Jia Zheng was upright and rigid, and was always strict with the eccentric Baoyu. When he was angry, he would even use family discipline. The young girl was naturally very worried.
The "fake" Baoyu chuckled inwardly. He was no longer the "Jia Baoyu" of the past. He knew how to deal with a rigid person like Jia Zheng. "No need, I have my own way. Just wait for me to come back and play with you!" After saying this, Baoyu deliberately brushed his hand across Qingwen's crystal-clear earlobe, leaving behind a string of happy laughter as he hurried out of the room.
The teased girl didn't cry out or blame him; she simply stared blankly at Baoyu's carefree figure, his confident and hearty laughter echoing in her ears. Qingwen's beautiful face flushed with a shy blush, and she murmured dreamily, stroking her touched earlobe, "He's really changed!" Chapter Thirty-One: A Gentleman Can Be Deceived. Before Baoyu even reached Lady Wang's residence, he saw Jin Chuan'er approaching from afar and excitedly went to greet her, "Chuan'er..." His words trailed off as he looked at the girl with a puzzled expression. The lesson from last time was still fresh in his mind; he didn't want to embarrass himself again.
"What's wrong?" the girl asked with a smile, clearly understanding the meaning in his eyes. "Do you think I'm gold or jade? Hehe..."
Seeing the girl's lively demeanor, Baoyu couldn't help but think of the straightforward and honest Yuchuan. He almost blurted out the word, but just as the word "Yu" reached his lips, a flash of deep affection crossed the girl's eyes, and he suddenly realized what was going on.
Understanding this, Baoyu deliberately sighed, and taking advantage of the girl's momentary lapse in attention, he suddenly pulled her into his arms. "Good Yuchuan, you dared to pretend to be my sister and tease me! I'll teach you a lesson!" He raised his hand and slapped her pert buttocks lightly.
"Ah!" Jin Chuan'er cried out and jumped back, feigning annoyance. "Who told you to make such a fool of yourself last time? My sister laughed at me for days!" The two laughed affectionately for a moment, then the voice of the real Yu Chuan'er came from afar. Jin Chuan'er's body trembled as she remembered her business. "Madam asked me to pass on a message to you: when you see Master later, you must not talk back to him. It seems Master is not in a good mood this time!" "I know!" Bao Yu couldn't help but recall the loving and beautiful eyes of Madam Wang, a warm current flowing through his heart. Then he was surprised. Why was everyone afraid of Jia Zheng? Was he that powerful?
"Greetings, Father!" Bao Yu's knees buckled respectfully as he knelt on the ground, his eyes carefully observing Jia Zheng, who sat upright in the grand chair.
"Rise and answer." The middle-aged man in the magnificent crown and robes had a square face, bright eyes, a short beard, and a calm expression, showing no emotion.
This is absolutely a model of Confucianism and Mencius! Baoyu instantly made the absolutely correct judgment about Jia Zheng: he's a "gentleman," that's good! Didn't the ancients often say—a gentleman can be deceived by his principles? Dealing with this kind of opponent is a piece of cake for this "fake" Baoyu!
Thinking of this, the guy couldn't help but chuckle to himself, a confident smile naturally appearing on his lips. Although he had a "mother complex," he didn't have a "father complex." He felt no awe towards this dignified "father" before him. Hadn't history already proven this? Such people are often synonymous with conservatism and rigidity, the executioners of countless tragic love stories!
At Jia Zheng's prompting, Baoyu sat down to his left. Before Jia Zheng could ask any questions, Baoyu spoke first: "I wonder if Father's mission went smoothly? I was very worried about you at home!" Jia Zheng, who was about to speak, was slightly taken aback. His eyes flashed with surprise and relief. He wondered why his mischievous son had actually said such thoughtful and sensible words this time. Had Heaven finally opened his eyes and made him see the light?
With a slightly softened expression, Jia Zheng said softly, "My trip went fairly smoothly, but... sigh!
It's better not to say, you wouldn't understand anyway!" "Father, why don't you tell me? Even if I can't share your burdens, it'll be good to broaden my horizons!" Seeing his "strategy" work, Bao Yu continued to flatter him, not wanting to discuss the Four Books and Five Classics with his "father."
Jia Zheng couldn't help but feel suspicious and subconsciously glanced at Lady Wang. He wondered if his usually troublesome son had truly become so obedient, or if someone had "instructed" him beforehand.
Lady Wang understood her husband's look and shook her head slightly with satisfaction, indicating that Bao Yu had indeed, as she had previously said, gained a profound understanding.
Although Jia Zheng was pleased to see this, he wasn't entirely dispelled. "My matter can't be explained in a short time, let's talk about it later. Have you thoroughly studied the Four Books and Five Classics during your time at home? Recite a passage for me now!" Bao Yu was startled; this "father" wasn't so easily fooled! It seemed he wouldn't be able to pass this test without demonstrating some real skill; he didn't want to end up like Jia Baoyu in "Dream of the Red Chamber," beaten half to death by Jia Zheng!
"I haven't been studying the 'Four Books and Five Classics' carefully these past few days," Baoyu said calmly and composedly, showing no sign of embarrassment. Seeing Jia Zheng's expression change, he immediately changed his tone, "It's not that I'm not ambitious, but I've had many confusions in my mind lately. Fortunately, I've recently cleared up from my confusion!" "Then tell me, what have you been thinking about?!" Jia Zheng stared at Baoyu with anger in his eyes. If it weren't for his previous words, Jia Zheng would have already punished him with family discipline.
Baoyu calmly looked back at his "father," and his first words startled Jia Zheng and Lady Wang. "When I was unconscious from illness, I received guidance from an immortal, and only then did I realize the mistakes of yesterday. Fortunately, it's not too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost!" Before he finished speaking, Baoyu knelt down again with a "thump," looking at Jia Zheng with a sincere face. "Father, please punish me for my past misbehavior!" Jia Zheng had heard about Baoyu's "spiritual abilities" on the way, but he had previously thought it was just hearsay. However, upon returning to the Jia Mansion, he received confirmation from his wife, so he couldn't help but believe Baoyu's words. His eyes reddened with excitement, and he murmured to himself, "Thank God! My Jia family has a successor!" On all fours, Baoyu, who was devoutly "repenting," looked miserable, but in his heart, he was secretly laughing. "I can get away with this nonsense. I'm a genius! Heh, heh..."
"It's cool on the ground, get up quickly!" Lady Wang was equally delighted and stepped forward to help Baoyu up, gently brushing the dust off his knees with both hands.
"As long as you study diligently in the future and achieve fame and fortune, your father will be at ease while I'm away!" Jia Zheng sighed with emotion at the sudden surprise.
Seeing that his "strategy" had achieved a decisive victory, the cunning fellow couldn't help but throw out his final trump card. "Father, rest assured, your son has decided to start anew and aspire to 'learn from Confucius and Mencius in literature and to emulate Yue Fei in martial arts'! As the ancients said: 'Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death? Let us leave behind a loyal heart to illuminate history!' Although I do not wish to be remembered in history, I also do not wish to live a mediocre life. I will inherit the legacy of my ancestors and bring glory to my Jia family!" Chapter Thirty-Two: Three Kneels to Jia Zheng "Good!" Jia Zheng's calm expression vanished, and he slammed his hand on the table with excitement. "You truly are worthy of being my son, Jia Zheng. I am proud of you!" Bao Yu pretended to hesitate until he attracted his "father's" attention before stammering, "I have
been pondering this matter recently, and I have an idea in my mind, but I don't know if I should say it or not?" "Speak, even if you are wrong, I will not blame you!" In a great mood, Jia Zheng waved his hand casually, his eyes full of smiles.
"As the ancients said, 'When things reach their peak, they must decline; when things reach their extreme, they must reverse!' Our Jia family is already extremely illustrious. There's a saying in the streets—'Whether it's true or not, jade is used for halls and gold for horses!' I wonder if Father has heard of it?" Although Baoyu was playful, he also wanted to do something real for the Jia family. He believed that his experience and knowledge from the 21st century were enough to change the tragedy of "Dream of the Red Chamber." However, he didn't know that things in the world are ever-changing, and the situation had already deviated from the path of the mortal world. His "knowledge and experience" were useless in the midst of the chaos of demons!
Although Jia Zheng had served as an official for decades, he was upright and inflexible, and did not quite understand Bao Yu's meaning. "I have heard such words before, but they are just idle gossip. What's the problem?" "Father, since the late Emperor moved the capital to Yanjing, the two secret police have been running rampant, deceiving the emperor and concealing the truth from the people. As the saying goes, a tall tree catches the wind. If this continues, our Jia family will inevitably attract the attention of the secret police, and then trouble will be inevitable." Bao Yu paused, and seeing that Jia Zheng did not care, he said sincerely, "I know that Father is an upright and fearless official, but the Jia family is large and powerful, with more than a thousand people, plus relatives and friends..." "Branches and vines are intertwined; who can guarantee that no one among them will make a mistake?!" Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng unconsciously nodded in agreement with Bao Yu's words. "What my son said is right. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes!" Seeing that Jia Zheng had finally grasped the point, Bao Yu immediately added more drastic measures, "If the Imperial Guards find out and we fall into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, even the smallest mistake can be used to fabricate a thousand faults and ten thousand transgressions against us. At that time, the Jia family will be in grave danger!" "This…," Jia Zheng looked shocked, feeling cold sweat pouring down his back. "Then what should we do?" He probably never dreamed that he would one day have to ask his "mischievous" son for advice!
Bao Yu confidently gazed at his "father," "I have a plan. As long as we communicate with the Imperial Guards, rectify the atmosphere of the mansion, and befriend someone like Prince Bei Jing, who is known for his forthright and generous character, we can avoid annihilation!" Although Jia Zheng was old-fashioned, he understood the ways of officialdom, but he considered himself too proud to do so! Startled by Baoyu's words, he suddenly realized, "But I have no connection with the two factories, and I rarely interact with Prince Beijin!" "I am willing to do my best for the Jia family. Please grant me permission to leave the manor at any time!" Baoyu knelt on the ground for the third time, his face showing a willingness to go through fire and water. In his heart, however, a "phantom Baoyu" with two horns on his head kept grinning wickedly. Now he could escape the control of the Jia family rules and play to his heart's content. He could even eat and drink on public funds. What a brilliant plan! Ha, ha...
"Good! Good! You've finally grown up!" Jia Zheng, who had been "sold out," was still happily "counting money" for his son. "Everything is up to you! I will soon be going out to take up a post, and everything in the manor will depend on you!" "Your son obeys!" Baoyu bowed his head and obeyed. His "strategy" had finally reached its perfect moment.
"Baoyu, my child, you've finally come to your senses! All my love and care for you has been worthwhile!" Grandmother Jia's cheerful laughter came from outside the door.
With that, the old lady, supported by Fengjie and Li Wan, strode in, followed by the three sisters Yingchun, Daiyu, and Baochai. It turned out that Xiren and Qingwen were always worried, fearing their "Second Master" would be punished by their master! After much deliberation, the bold Qingwen decided to strike first. Regardless of whether the master was angry or not, just in case, she would call the old lady over.
Although Xiren was gentle and cautious by nature, her heart was now entirely with Baoyu. As the saying goes, concern makes one confused, and having no other choice, she agreed to Qingwen's idea. Seeing that even the usually "timid" Xiren nodded in agreement, Qingwen's face lit up with joy. The lively young woman acted immediately, going to Grandmother Jia's place to tell Yuanyang about the matter.
Although Yuanyang had no feelings for Baoyu, she knew he was a good master, so she readily agreed to go inside and deliver the message to the old lady. Unexpectedly, just as she was delivering the message, the three young ladies of the Jia family came to pay their respects. Upon hearing the news, they were also anxious. Before they even stepped into the room, they bumped into Fengjie. On the way, they also encountered Li Wan and Baochai, who were strolling around idly. That's why there was such a large group of people!
The group of "rescuers" rushed over, but they did not see the "strict father teaching his son" scene they had imagined. Instead, they overheard most of what Baoyu had to say. The ladies, like Jia Zheng, were both surprised and impressed. In the end, they were filled with joy and admiration. When the "father and son" finished talking, the old lady finally couldn't help but reveal their whereabouts.
Baoyu never imagined that his "nonsense" would not only fool his "father" but also unintentionally leave the women of the Jia family completely bewildered. Seeing the "little stars" twinkling in their eyes, the smug young man chuckled to himself, finally shaking off the image of "Jia Baoyu" as a failure in their minds! Now...
"Son greets Mother!" This time it was Jia Zheng's turn to obediently kowtow, much to Baoyu's secret delight. Being a kowtow worm was no easy task!
After the commotion of everyone according to their rank and status, they all took their seats again, making Baoyu's heart ache. The etiquette of wealthy families was truly terrifying! They didn't realize it when surrounded by beautiful women, but now, upon meeting an elder male, their true colors were revealed!
Seeing the old lady's display of force, Jia Zheng, being no fool, naturally understood why. Fortunately, Bao Yu had now repented and reformed, so he would not clash with his mother over this matter again.
Thinking of this, he felt even more fond of Baoyu. "During my absence, it was all thanks to Mother's excellent guidance that Baoyu has finally made some progress. Our Jia family has a worthy successor!" Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia was overjoyed. "What have I been saying since Yu'er was little?! This child was born extraordinary and will surely amount to something when he grows up! You didn't believe me and instead blamed me for spoiling him too much and indulging his whims. Now, do you still believe me?" "Your son was wrong. Of course, I cannot compare to Mother's foresight!" Jia Zheng bowed and apologized to the old lady in a flustered manner. "From now on, I entrust all the affairs of the household to Mother's care for Baoyu!" Chapter Thirty-Three: The Women's Thoughts "Has Master returned? Why didn't you let me go out to greet him?!" A sudden voice came from outside. Upon hearing the voice, the old lady frowned. It seemed that she disliked this person.
Baoyu, unaware of who was speaking outside the door, glanced around curiously. He noticed that most people looked displeased, except for Tanchun, whose displeasure was tinged with embarrassment. Seeing this, a sudden realization dawned on Baoyu. He immediately understood that the newcomer must be Jia Zheng's concubine, Tanchun's birth mother—Aunt Zhao, the most incompetent yet desperately ambitious and foolish woman in "Dream of the Red Chamber."
A flash of inspiration struck him again; the name "Aunt Zhao" reminded him of the strange illness of "Jia Baoyu" and "Fengjie." According to "Dream of the Red Chamber," the culprit was Aunt Zhao; it was she who bribed Granny Ma to perform witchcraft, causing "Jia Baoyu" to go mad. Ironically, this inadvertently created a "fake" Baoyu for himself!
"Should I expose her?" Baoyu pondered to himself. "Will she try to harm me again? It's better to nip it in the bud!" Just as Baoyu made his decision, he looked up and saw Tanchun's complicated expression. His heart softened. "Forget it! Forgive her when you can. Besides, without her 'poisonous scheme,' how could I have had this extraordinary encounter, or this heaven-sent opportunity with Fengjie? But I still need to think of a safe way to eliminate future troubles!" A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. In an instant, Baoyu finally made up his mind. Why should he bother with such a fool?!
Under everyone's gaze, a mature woman with a full waist and plump hips entered the hall. Aunt Zhao, who had given birth to a beauty like Tanchun, was naturally quite beautiful. Unfortunately, her pretty features were ruined by the heavy makeup on her face. Although her eyes were lively, they lacked intelligence. Compared to Lady Wang, she was worlds apart! No wonder she schemed and plotted, only to end up with nothing and a lasting infamy.
"Greetings, Old Madam, Master, Madam!" Aunt Zhao greeted the three, her alluring eyes fixed solely on Jia Zheng, hoping to draw his attention.
Watching this, Bao Yu couldn't help but chuckle. What a fool! How could she possibly win a man's favor if she couldn't please her mother-in-law?!
"Get up!" Grandmother Jia lazily raised her hand, displeased with her behavior. "Don't be so fussy. The Jia family is a respectable household, though not as grand as princes and nobles, we should still maintain decorum!" "I understand!" Aunt Zhao, feeling awkward and embarrassed, sat awkwardly to the side of Madam Wang, her dissatisfaction hidden. She knew that anyone else in the room, even if they raised their voices twice as loud, wouldn't have been reprimanded by the old lady!
Seeing his concubine being mistreated, Jia Zheng didn't speak up for her. Instead, his brows furrowed, and his face showed displeasure. Tan Chun also lowered her head, pretending not to see anything. She had seen this situation many times before; who told her mother to be so tactless!
The two closest to Aunt Zhao remained silent, and the rest of the family, who already disliked her, naturally wouldn't want to embarrass themselves in front of the old lady.
Aunt Zhao's face was so low it almost touched her prominent breasts. Just as she was feeling disheartened, a "savior" appeared, finally speaking a word of justice for her. This person made Aunt Zhao's eyes widen in disbelief!
"Old Madam, I think Aunt Zhao must have been separated from Father for a long time and couldn't help but feel homesick, which is why she was a little impolite. We are all family, so we won't blame her! Old Madam, you are broad-minded and won't mind, right?!" Bao Yu smiled and nodded to the astonished Aunt Zhao!
When did Bao Yu become like this?! He had truly changed completely! Everyone in the hall stood frozen in shock, their minds reeling from the immense impact. His previous words could be considered typical of men's aspirations, but the magnanimity he displayed now was beyond the reach of ordinary men! It's worth noting that Aunt Zhao was known for speaking ill of Baoyu the most!
Tan Chun was even more moved than the other sisters. Although she outwardly ignored her vulgar mother, claiming to only acknowledge Lady Wang as her mother, blood was thicker than water, how could she truly sever kinship?! Whenever her mother made a fool of herself, she would secretly weep alone at night, wallowing in self-pity!
Now, Baoyu's words touched her heart far more deeply than any sweet talk in the world. The girl's deep-seated resentment was completely released in Baoyu's simple words, and she felt refreshed and genuinely happy, laughing for the first time in a long time! The image of "brother" became incredibly intimate, firmly occupying a significant place in the girl's heart!
Feng Jie was the least surprised among the women; she had already witnessed Baoyu's transformation firsthand. From the moment she entered the hall, the beautiful young woman kept avoiding Baoyu's burning gaze. Since recovering from her illness, she had deliberately avoided him, afraid to meet him, preferring to grieve alone in the dead of night, growing increasingly haggard, rather than have him ignite her increasingly uncontrollable passion. Today, hearing of Baoyu's misfortune, she rushed here without hesitation, and upon seeing him, her heart was indeed stirred, her emotions deeply moved. The separation of over a month had not extinguished the fire in her heart; instead, it had made her longing even more unforgettable!
Was all of this fate?! Fengjie sighed inwardly, wondering if she should succumb to destiny?! In that instant, Jia Lian's face flashed into her mind, bringing Fengjie back to "awareness." She subtly twisted her thigh, using the pain to forget the burning desire within her.
Fengjie's subtle movement, however, did not escape the "eagle eyes" of Li Wan beside her! The dignified young widow, widowed for ten years, was astonished as everyone else by Baoyu's dramatic transformation. However, unlike the others, as she gazed at her eloquent and articulate uncle, her heart unexpectedly conjured the image of Baoyu's elder brother, Jia Zhu. The increasingly masculine Baoyu bore the shadow of her deceased husband. If her husband hadn't died, there would surely be a lively scene of the three of them, father and sons, chatting happily!
Thinking of this, Li Wan felt a surge of sorrow, a bittersweet feeling welling up within her. Her soft, beautiful eyes instantly reddened. Not wanting to spoil the mood, she discreetly turned her head to wipe away her tears, only to witness her friend Feng Jie's strange gesture.
The two beautiful young women, each lost in their own thoughts but equally troubled, couldn't help but chuckle simultaneously. Their moods inexplicably lifted in an instant. The gloom that had risen was gone just as quickly; indeed, a woman's heart was like a needle at the bottom of the sea!
Daiyu, Baochai, Yingchun, and Xichun, four beautiful young women, were filled with mixed feelings of joy and surprise, secretly cheering for Baoyu. Although they had grown up with "Jia Baoyu" since childhood, they had only met this outstanding "fake" Baoyu a handful of times. The girls had originally thought he was still the same "handsome young man," but the contrast before them was so huge. It was truly a case of "a scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days' absence!"
Yingchun and Xichun were a little better off, as they were from the same clan as Baoyu and were only related as siblings. But Daiyu and Baochai, two peerless beauties with lofty ambitions, were both moved. A glint of admiration flashed in their beautiful eyes. The two girls were only cousins with Baoyu, and if they could fall in love, they could become good couples! The "Jia Baoyu" who had been dull and lifeless in their hearts finally shone a little after this day, attracting the attention of the two women. Although they were far from the age of first love, to be able to attract the attention of such a handsome man was already an incredible blessing for any man in the world!
As parents, Jia Zheng and Lady Wang were naturally even more delighted, and the smile in their eyes never disappeared.
A moment later, the old lady's cheerful words broke the silence in the room, "You're becoming more and more lovable! What you said makes sense. If I were to blame your aunt again, it would seem like I'm petty!" "Grandmother, I knew you were the most understanding." Baoyu leaned against the old lady almost coquettishly, gently shaking her arm. He didn't want to lose the old lady's constant pampering because of his "maturity."
Seeing Baoyu's original childishness return, no one could feel any contempt or disdain anymore. Instead, they felt he was even more unfathomable, full of masculine charm!
"My good Baoyu is back!" Grandmother Jia had indeed "fallen for it," affectionately patting Baoyu's hand and turning to the people in the hall, saying, "Everyone has seen each other! Now you can all go your separate ways!" Grandmother Jia's order was obeyed by everyone. Since no one had anything else to do, people quickly left, leaving only Jia Zheng and his two wives in the room to lament their separation.
Everyone followed Grandmother Jia out of the courtyard gate, bidding farewell and returning to their lodgings.
Seeing that Sister Feng was also turning to leave, Baoyu hurriedly stepped forward to block her path.
"You...is there something you need?" Sister Feng, startled by her nemesis's sudden appearance, panicked. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going!" Baoyu's eyes burned as he gazed at the beautiful young woman, and seeing her face flush red, he finally withdrew his "aggressive" gaze. Seeing Li Wan approach the two, he immediately said naturally, "Sister Feng, I promised Sister Qiao the other day that I would tell her a nice story every day. Could you go back and pass on this message? I'll go see her this afternoon!" The clever Sister Feng, of course, understood his true intentions, though she didn't know how he had reached such an agreement with her daughter. But she immediately suppressed the sudden surge of joy in her heart and politely declined, saying, "Children shouldn't be spoiled. It's just a joke, don't take it seriously!" "No!" Baoyu objected loudly, even startling Li Wan who was standing nearby. "I don't want to be a faithless person, that would only corrupt Qiaojie, don't you think?" Changing the subject, Baoyu asked pointedly, "Can a promise be taken back?" The beautiful young woman's heart trembled, and she couldn't help but recall the promise Baoyu had made to her while he was recuperating. She dared not agree to his reneging. Weighing the pros and cons, she could only nod helplessly and say, "Alright, I'll have Qiaojie wait for you at the mansion this afternoon!" Before she finished speaking, the beauty had already hurried away, her quick figure revealing endless panic.
"Yay, done!" The "illusory Baoyu" in her mind stretched out its index and middle fingers and roared joyfully!
Chapter Thirty-Four: The Golden Ox King Hangzhou, a city with a thousand-year history, is famous for its West Lake and is known as "Paradise on Earth."
West Lake is renowned for the legend of "Xi Shi holding her heart," and countless moving stories of talented men and beautiful women have been told along its beautiful shores. People know only of its stunning scenery and romantic allure, but no one has truly unveiled its mysterious veil.
Legend has it that eight hundred years ago, the shimmering West Lake suddenly dried up overnight, causing panic throughout Hangzhou. Soon after, a plague broke out, and demons ravaged the city. The people of Hangzhou, plunged from paradise to hell, could only kneel and weep, pleading with the heavens. Finally, a divine ox descended from the sky, its four hooves treading on clouds, spewing water from the four seas, instantly restoring the vast expanse of West Lake. All the natural disasters and demonic calamities within the city vanished.
The Golden Ox then spoke in human language, instructing everyone to dismantle all the temples and monasteries around West Lake, thus ensuring its eternal peace! After speaking, the golden ox transformed into a ball of golden light and sank into the lake, never to be seen again.
The people, following the ox's words, completely demolished all the temples and monasteries within a ten-mile radius of West Lake, driving away every single monk and Taoist priest. All they wanted was peace for West Lake; they neither wanted nor could care why the divine ox sent by heaven was targeting monks and Taoist priests!
The legend of the "Golden Ox Spitting Water" embodies the love and hope of the people of Hangzhou for West Lake. No one questioned the truth of the legend; they simply hoped that West Lake would truly remain clear and pristine, lasting for millennia, never drying up.
Dusk deepened, the sun set, and the moon rose. West Lake, bustling all day, finally returned to its tranquil state, its calm surface rippling gently in the night breeze.
In the midst of utter silence, a hawk flew in from afar, its clear flapping wings shattering the peace of heaven and earth, bringing endless turmoil to the world.
After circling the water's surface, the hawk suddenly folded its wings and, contrary to common sense, plunged headfirst into the water, never resurfacing until the ripples disappeared.
The hawk, seemingly committing suicide, spread its wings in the water, transforming from "flying in the sky" to "swimming in the water" in an instant—truly, the world is full of wonders! The amphibious monster swam like an arrow towards the deepest part of West Lake, reaching the bottom in moments.
Just as it was about to crash into the thick layer of silt accumulated over millennia, was it truly going to commit suicide, intending to bury itself in the mud?! Suddenly, a strange change occurred, and the answer was finally revealed.
The monster suddenly shone brightly, its wings and legs spreading simultaneously, and a bird-headed, human-bodied monster appeared out of nowhere. If Baoyu could witness such a scene, would he scream in terror and flee, or would he be bold enough to stay and study it closely before exclaiming, "So this is what monsters are like! Just as I imagined!" If Baoyu were even bolder, he might pat the monster on the shoulder and ask affectionately, "Hey, buddy, do you usually eat people?" The bird demon, now demonstrating its power, suddenly surged with magical energy. Black light gathered in front of it, and with a "boom," driven by its demonic power, a large, circular hole suddenly burst open in the mud at the bottom of the lake. The hole was separated from the outside by only one layer, yet not a drop of water touched it.
The bird demon strode forward and disappeared into the hole. A moment later, as the hole disappeared, everything returned to normal.
Before the bird demon, who had crossed the hole, appeared an endless space, just like the ground, with towering mountains and flowing water, lush forests, wildflowers and grasses, butterflies dancing and eagles soaring, tigers roaring, and all kinds of beasts calling out in unison!
The only difference was that here, the sun never blazed, and no one was around. Only an unchanging, gray sky prevailed, a chilling wind blew, and mountain spirits and tree monsters roamed freely. This place was, after all, a realm forsaken by the three realms, a place of utmost yin and evil—the Demon Realm! Who could have imagined that West Lake, the "paradise on earth," would be the entrance to the Demon Realm? The contrast was simply too great!
The bird demon's avatar leaped, its feet treading on black mist, flying towards the highest, faintly visible mountain peak in the distance to the south.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Inside a lavishly decorated, enormous cave, figures were everywhere—yes, figures. Apart from the kneeling bird demon, most of the others looked exactly like mortals.
The Demon Realm—a place where the strong prey on the weak, where strength reigns supreme, and the level of demonic power could be initially judged from the avatars of the demons. The moment all things become demons, their true form transforms into their Dharma body. The appearance of this Dharma body is innate; once formed, it resembles a human face and remains unchanged throughout life. The higher the demonic power, the more human-like the Dharma body
becomes. Those who remain bird-headed, like bird demons, are simply too shallow in their cultivation to shed their innate form. "Have you gathered any reliable information?" A majestic voice echoed from the top of the stone steps, its deep tone reverberating within the cave. The previously noisy chatter of the demons lining both sides of the cave vanished, replaced by utterly subservient bows and groans, demonstrating the immense power of the speaker!
"Your Majesty, I have been scouting outside the Jia residence day and night for over a month," the bird demon, of course, didn't forget to boast to the king, repeatedly reporting his hard work and endurance. "The other day, near midnight, I finally saw the legendary sight. Just as the rumors said, there were rays of light and auspicious clouds surrounding it!" "Oh! Is that really so?!" A burly middle-aged man with a rugged face, large eyes, and a broad nose excitedly slammed his hand on the stone table in front of him, looking at the bird demon again for confirmation.
"What I said is absolutely true! How could I dare to lie to Your Majesty?!" The bird demon quickly pledged his loyalty. This man above him was a ruthless killer; if he aroused his suspicion, his head would be in grave danger!
"Ha, ha..." The middle-aged man couldn't help but laugh loudly with excitement. "As long as I, King Golden Bull, can obtain this treasure, then the four kings of the demon realm will surely be dominated by me, King Golden Bull! No! Not only the demon realm, I will also descend to the Earth Palace and ascend to the Heavenly Court. Then I will unify the three realms and be the only one who reigns supreme!" "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Unifying the three realms is just around the corner!" The demons knelt on all fours and shouted obsequiously.
"Ha, ha..." King Taurus laughed wildly again. "This jade must be the legendary Five-Colored Divine Stone! I never imagined it would appear in the mortal realm. Do you know what's so magical about this divine stone?" King Taurus paused slightly, and before the demons could reply, he excitedly revealed a shocking secret to them: "The wonder of this stone is truly a creation of heaven and earth! If you know that the 'Great Sage Equaling Heaven,' Sun Wukong,
was transformed from this divine stone, you can imagine how powerful it is!" "What?!" Like a boulder crashing into water, King Taurus's words stirred up a storm among the demons. The title "Great Sage Equaling Heaven" was even more resounding in the demon realm than that of the Buddha.
"Your Majesty, how did you learn this?" A rat demon, the leader of the demons, asked cautiously, mustering his courage.
The demons fell silent, quietly awaiting their king's explanation, hoping to learn more secrets.
"Telling you is no trouble at all; these words were spoken by Sun Wukong himself!" For some reason, the Golden Bull King was unusually talkative today. "You should know that my father was the 'Great Sage Equaling Heaven,' the Bull Demon King. He and Sun Wukong were sworn brothers. Once, when Sun Wukong was drunk, he revealed his origins. My father then inadvertently told my mother, the 'Jade-Faced Fox,' and the secret eventually fell into my ears. Now you understand!" The demons suddenly realized, "So that's how it is!"
"You may all leave. I need to think carefully about which brother I should send to retrieve this divine stone. All of you, report here first thing tomorrow morning!" The Golden Bull King waved his hand and led the way towards the back cave.
Chapter Thirty-Five: The Four Kings of the Demon Realm. The demons dispersed, and the commotion subsided. King Taurus sat alone in the back cave, pouring himself a drink. His once rough and bold eyes were gone, replaced by a shrewd, calculating glint . A smug smile played on his lips. Was this the same impetuous, shallow, and reckless "King Taurus" from before?!
"Your Majesty, why are you in such high spirits today?" A pair of delicate hands quietly climbed onto King Taurus's shoulders and back, gently massaging him.
King Taurus grasped the hands on his shoulders and gently pulled the woman behind him to his side. "Hu Ji, come and have a drink with me!" The voluptuous Hu Ji, with her captivating allure, nestled against King Taurus, whispering in his ear:
"Your Majesty, we live a carefree life in the demon realm, why bother to steal that Five-Colored Divine Stone? Let's not go!" "No!" The tenderness on Jinniu's face vanished, replaced by endless hatred in his eyes. "To absorb the essence of the sun and moon, I painstakingly drove away the cultivators around West Lake, cultivating for a thousand years—all for what? So that one day I could storm the Heavenly Court and avenge my parents!" Jinniu downed a full cup of strong liquor, the sinister words dripping from between his teeth. "Eight hundred years ago, Sun Wukong, to protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West, struck my mother with his staff, scattering her soul, and then took my father to the Heavenly Court, crippling his magical powers." He died in despair! Luckily, my mother, fearing I would be harmed by that vile Iron Fan, sent me to live in the demon realm from a young age, thus escaping this calamity! "I will not rest in peace until I avenge my grudge!" "Bang!" Jin Niu, in his excitement, smashed the wine pot to the ground. "Sun Wukong's magic power is too great; I am far from being his match. However, with the help of the divine stone, I will surely be able to achieve my wish and roam freely throughout the Three Realms!" "Your Majesty, why did you reveal such a secret to the public? You know, there are bound to be spies from the other three kings among your subordinates!" Hu Ji, as expected of a fox spirit, not only calmed Jin Niu's anger but also offered him advice.
"Heh, heh..." Taurus laughed smugly. "Otherwise, why would they go to lead the charge for me?! Actually, I already knew the details before the bird demon reported back. Even that foolish bird demon's attempt to steal the treasure didn't escape my notice. How laughable that he still wants to show off in front of me! If I didn't need to use him, I would have swallowed him whole!" "Your Majesty, you will always be my hero!" Hu Ji's eyes shone with adoration, her sexy body writhing passionately in Taurus's arms. Although foxes are naturally cunning, they are born with weak demonic power, and relying on the strong is their only rule for survival.
Taurus's proud hands roamed over Hu Ji's body. "The divine stone isn't something you can get easily. Not only is it protected by the Taoist priest of Wuzhuang Temple, but the divine stone itself is also incredibly powerful. When those three arrogant fools fight with the Taoist priest, I can reap the benefits!" "Ah!" With a passionate groan, Taurus and the fox spirit began their lovemaking in the hall!
Just as King Taurus was indulging in pleasure, everything unfolded exactly as he had predicted. His three subordinates were indeed kneeling at the feet of the other three "Kings" of the demon realm, vividly recounting the earth-shattering secret of the "Divine Stone." Atop a solitary mountain towering into the clouds in the northern part of the demon realm, within a misty cave, King Black Feather, in the guise of a roc, looked down at the traitor he had painstakingly planted beside King Taurus, praising the bird demon: "You did a great job this time. Keep up the good work! When my avian race unifies the three realms, you will be one of the demon generals above all demons!" "Thank you, Your Majesty!" The bird demon's beak almost touched the ground as he repeatedly kowtowed in excitement. He knew King Black Feather was always a man of his word; he never imagined that he, a bird demon with such low demonic power, would one day achieve such a thing! All the fear and anxiety he had endured while serving King Taurus had not been in vain!
At the western edge of the demon realm, a vast expanse of azure water rippled. Within an impenetrable demonic barrier, the underwater palace of the One-Horned King shone brilliantly. Water demons thronged about, their swords and spears gleaming coldly.
Although the fallen One-Horned Dragon had broken away from the dragon clan of the four seas, he couldn't shake his insatiable lust for treasure. The lewd dragon listened to his subordinates' reports while wantonly toying with the female demons beneath him. When he heard of the powerful allure of the "divine stone," his eyes gleamed, his greed uncontrollable. He fantasized about merging with the divine stone, then rushing to the heavenly palace to ravish all the celestial maidens—a "wonderful" life.
"Ah!" The female demon beneath the dragon cried out in pain. The One-Horned King, increasingly excited by his fantasies, unconsciously imagined the female demon beneath him as the seven celestial maidens, their beauty unparalleled, and he began to ravish them uncontrollably.
Strange peaks and rocks, blooming flowers, and lush vegetation—anyone unaware of the truth would surely believe they'd stumbled into a fairyland. Unfortunately, the moving "trees" and leaping "strange rocks" shatter any such "dream"! This is the Grass and Tree Clan of the Eastern Demon Realm!
Beyond the elegant bamboo groves, a magnificent mansion with soaring eaves comes into view, its exquisite craftsmanship indistinguishable from a human mansion. Even the servants, dressed in fine silks, move about. If it weren't for their occasional ability to pass through walls, anyone would think they'd entered a noble family's estate!
Inside the elegant and fragrant bedroom, the Plum Blossom Queen, who had cultivated for a thousand years, reclines on her couch. Ever since hearing the secret of the "Divine Stone," she has been melancholy and for a long time.
"Sister, you're thinking about that damned monkey again!" The stunningly beautiful Peach Blossom Fairy lives up to her name, "Peach Blossom of March." Her full, smooth skin is rosy and her radiant face is full of charm!
"Sister, I've long forgotten what happened back then! I'm just a little tired." The peerless and beautiful Queen Luomei didn't seem like a demon; her beautiful face was even more graceful and elegant than a fairy's, her beauty unparalleled!
Peach Fairy smiled slightly, her voluptuous body gently sitting down beside Plum Fairy, her jade hand lightly stroking her shoulder. "Back then, you were so angry for that dead monkey that you didn't hesitate to fall into the demon realm. How could you forget so easily?! Just now, when you heard about the relationship between the 'divine stone' and him, your expression immediately changed drastically. You can't hide it from me!" "Stop talking!" Plum Fairy's beautiful eyes reddened, her voice filled with panic as she stopped Peach Fairy from continuing.
"No, I must say, you've suffered all these years, while that damned monkey is living a carefree life in Heaven!" Peach Fairy was deeply indignant for her good friend. "Back then, Sun Wukong promised to come and marry you after retrieving the scriptures to save Tang Sanzang, which is why you lent him the 'Mirror of Love and Lust.' But that heartless, fickle monkey has turned his back on you and gone to Heaven to become a Buddha! Why don't we go to the Western Paradise and let Buddha judge this!" "Oh! Sister!" Queen Luomei cried out in sorrow, throwing herself into Peach Fairy's arms. The past hidden deep in her heart was stirred up, and endless resentment flowed like a long river, turning into hot tears that rolled endlessly!
"Sister, don't worry, I will definitely stand up for you!" Peach Fairy gently embraced Mei Fairy with pity. "As long as I obtain the divine stone, I will personally go to Heaven and capture that damned monkey so that you two can get married!" Her melodious words were clear and crisp, yet they revealed an unwavering determination and an unstoppable resolve!
Southern beast demons, northern bird monsters, western water spirits, and eastern flower fairies—the four great demon kings of the demon realm, each with their own motives, are determined to obtain the "Divine Stone"! What chapters will they unfold for Baoyu?
Chapter Thirty-Six: The sun blazes overhead, noon is not yet over.
Ignoring the scorching sun, Baoyu hurried to Fengjie's residence. The scheming fellow had already learned that his cousin Jia Lian would not return home until sunset.
"Second Uncle, you're here!" Before the words of surprise had even finished, the beautiful little girl, Qiaojie, skipped and jumped to greet him. Although her beauty was not yet fully developed, she was already a lovely girl with a charming and innocent air.
"Where is your mother?" Baoyu asked nervously, seeing the empty hall behind the little girl.
"Mother and Aunt Ping went out on errands," Qiaojie replied. Although clever and quick-witted, she was still a child and could not understand Baoyu's complicated feelings. "Oh!" Upon hearing this, Baoyu deflated like a frostbitten eggplant, all his previous excitement vanishing. He casually sat down on the chair, a deep sense of loss rising in his heart. It seemed that Sister Feng still hadn't broken free from the shackles of worldly life!
"Second Uncle, tell me a story!" Qiao Jie's dark, bright eyes stared intently at Bao Yu, her gaze filled with anticipation. Her love of stories was well-known in the Jia family; she had pestered everyone in the household until they had nothing more to say. Faced with her innocent and lovely smile, everyone both loved and feared her, secretly calling her the "Little Storyteller Witch"!
This "fake" Bao Yu had no idea what kind of "trouble" he had gotten himself into! Confidently, he asked, "What kind of story do you want to hear? Second Uncle will tell you one by one right away!" "Any story is fine, as long as it's one I haven't heard before!" Qiao Jie jumped up excitedly. No one in the Jia family had ever been so kind to her! Everyone either begged or avoided her when they saw her; it was so difficult to finally catch one, yet no one could come up with a good, new story. The little girl hadn't thought it through. She'd been pestering him for over ten years; even a storyteller couldn't tell her that many stories!
"So simple?!" Baoyu hadn't truly "realized" the situation; instead, he was astonished by Qiaojie's low request.
"Yes!" The little girl nodded emphatically. "Tell me quickly! If you tell me well, I'll ask Aunt Ping to make you something to eat. Aunt Ping's pastries are delicious!" Qiaojie truly lived up
to her reputation as the shrewd daughter of Fengjie; even at such a young age, she knew how to use gifts to entice him! The boy, unaware of his true "situation," was secretly delighted. He didn't care about the pastries mentioned; he only thought that if he had a reason to stay and eat Ping'er's food, he could naturally see Fengjie!
Thinking of this, Baoyu's spirits lifted, his motivation increased, and he laughed happily like a child, completely unaware of his impending "failure."
Baoyu cleared his throat, his mind racing. "In the Tang Dynasty, there was a boy named Su Shi. He wasn't paying attention in class. One day..." "I've heard that before. Tell me another one!" Qiaojie interrupted him as soon as he started. "Another story about an iron pestle being ground into a needle!" "You've heard that before! I'll tell you another one." Baoyu didn't take it seriously; after all, the story was too common. "In the Song Dynasty, there was a famous general named Yue Fei. He..." Qiaojie immediately waved her hand to stop him. "I've heard that before, 'Serving the country with utmost loyalty'! Second Uncle, tell me another one." "Alright!" Baoyu persisted. "In the Yuan Dynasty, there was a woman named Dou E. She..." "I've heard that before, Second Uncle. Tell me something new!" Qiaojie rolled her eyes.
Baoyu was taken aback. He finally realized something was wrong. This girl was really hard to deal with! He thought to himself, it seems Qiaojie is very familiar with ancient stories. He'll just have to tell some myths and legends.
"Once upon a time, there was a young man named Niulang, he..." "I've heard of him." Qiao Jie's eye-roll intensified.
"..." Bao Yu began to break out in a cold sweat.
"I've heard of him." The little girl's excitement gradually cooled.
Good heavens! How could this be?! Drenched in cold sweat, Bao Yu knew what "embarrassment" felt like!
He tried changing topics more than a dozen times, from famous figures to unofficial histories to myths and legends, but Qiao Jie always knew the rest of the story as soon as he opened his mouth.
"Second Uncle, can't you tell me one I haven't heard of?" Now it was the little girl's turn to be listless; she had given up all hope on Bao Yu.
"This..." Having recognized "reality," the guy dared not "speak recklessly" anymore! Unwilling to lose the opportunity to meet Feng Jie, he began to rack his brains. He refused to believe he couldn't "outwit" a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl!
What to do? It seemed he had no choice but to make one up. But this was only the first day; how could he have the mind and energy to make up stories every day?! Baoyu's mind raced, a thousand thoughts flashing through his head. This little girl was amazing! Even he, a "master" from the future, was stumped by her! A sudden flash of inspiration struck him—the future! That's it, the future! How could he have forgotten that?
Realizing this, Baoyu chuckled to himself. Surely the little girl hadn't heard of *Liaozhai*, which only appeared in the Qing Dynasty. This way, he could fool her for a while!
Confident and profound, he said, "You've definitely never heard this story before. Listen carefully!" "Really?" Qiaojie sat up straight, half-believing, half-doubting, looking at Baoyu expectantly.
"This story is a little scary. Are you afraid?" Baoyu delayed getting to the point, wanting to pique the little girl's interest and vent his earlier frustration and embarrassment.
Qiao Jie fell for the trap, urging eagerly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid! Tell me quickly!" Bao Yu cleared his throat again with satisfaction and, in a low, eerie tone, vividly told Qiao Jie the famous ghost story of "Painted Skin"!
"Ah!" No matter how brave Qiao Jie was, she was still just a child. Whether it was because Bao Yu's description was too vivid or the story itself was too frightening, the little girl listened with great interest while nervously grabbing Bao Yu's arm, her petite body burrowing into his embrace, her lively eyes darting around, afraid that a "ghost face" would suddenly appear out of nowhere!
"Second Uncle, that was so good! Tell me another one, okay?" The little girl truly deserved to be called the "Queen of Storytelling." Hearing such a scary story for the first time, she quickly forgot her fear, only feeling completely captivated. She snuggled in Bao Yu's arms, twisting her body and refusing to get up.
Qiao Jie was still a little girl, but she was naturally beautiful. Her soft body accidentally brushed against Bao Yu's sensitive area. Bao Yu felt his heart tremble, and he almost "revealed his true colors." He quickly pulled Qiao Jie to a seat next to him, away from this terrible "bomb."
A sense of guilt cooled the passion in Bao Yu's heart, which had been aroused. Seeing that the little girl was about to pounce on him again, he hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Little Miss, you can only hear it after I've made it up! Your second uncle promises you, I'll give you a new story every day, okay?" "Then it's a deal, you're so kind!" The little girl's anger turned to joy, and she innocently stretched out her little finger, afraid that Bao Yu would change his mind, and wanted to make a pinky promise with him.
Bao Yu, looking helpless, hurriedly "escaped" from the little devil. He didn't want to stay any longer, he would go find Sister Feng tomorrow!
Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Adorable Little Devil The sun was shining brightly, and noon had not yet passed.
Ignoring the scorching sun, Baoyu hurried to Fengjie's residence. The scheming fellow had already learned that his cousin Jia Lian wouldn't return home until sunset.
"Second Uncle, you're here!" Before the words of surprise had even finished, a beautiful young girl, Qiaojie, skipped and jumped to greet him. Although her beauty was still developing, she possessed a delicate charm and innocent loveliness.
"Where is your mother?" Baoyu asked anxiously, seeing the empty hall behind the girl.
"Mother and Aunt Ping went out on errands." Although Qiaojie was clever and quick-witted, she was still a child and couldn't understand Baoyu's complex feelings. "Oh!" Upon hearing this, Baoyu's earlier excitement vanished. He casually sat down in a chair, a deep sense of loss rising within him. It seemed that Fengjie still hadn't broken free from the shackles of worldly conventions!
"Second Uncle, tell me a story!" Qiao Jie's dark eyes stared intently at Bao Yu, her gaze filled with anticipation. Her love of stories was well-known in the Jia family; she had pestered everyone in the household until they ran out of things to say. Everyone both loved and feared her innocent and adorable smile, secretly calling her the "Little Storyteller Witch!"
This "fake" Bao Yu, however, had no idea what kind of trouble he was getting into! Confidently, he asked, "What kind of story do you want to hear? Second Uncle will tell you one right away!" "Any story will do, as long as it's one I haven't heard before!" Qiao Jie jumped up excitedly. No one in the Jia family had ever been so kind to her! Everyone either begged or avoided her. When they finally caught her, they couldn't come up with any interesting new stories. The little girl hadn't considered that she had been pestering him for over ten years; even the most skilled storyteller didn't have that many stories to tell her!
"So simple?!" Baoyu hadn't truly "realized" the situation yet, and was instead astonished that Qiaojie's request was so easy.
"Yes!" The little girl nodded heavily. "Tell me quickly! If you tell me well, I'll ask Aunt Ping to make something for you to eat. Aunt Ping's pastries are delicious!" Qiaojie truly lived up to her reputation as the shrewd daughter of Fengjie; even at such a young age, she knew how to use gifts to entice him! The boy,
unaware of his true "situation," was overjoyed upon hearing this. He didn't care about the pastries; he just thought that if he had a reason to stay and eat Ping'er's food, he could naturally see Fengjie!
Thinking of this, Baoyu's spirits lifted, his motivation increased, and he laughed happily like a child, completely unaware that he was about to face a "painful" lesson.
Baoyu cleared his throat, his mind racing. "In the Tang Dynasty, there was a boy named Su Shi. He wasn't paying attention in class. One day..." "I've heard that before. Let's hear another one!" Qiaojie interrupted him before he could finish. "Another story about an iron pestle being ground into a needle!" "You've heard that before! I'll tell you another one." Baoyu didn't take it seriously; after all, the story was too common. "In the Song Dynasty, there was a famous general named Yue Fei. He..." Qiaojie immediately waved her hand to stop him. "I've heard that before, 'Serving the country with utmost loyalty'! Uncle, let's hear another one." "Alright!" Baoyu persisted. "In the Yuan Dynasty, there was a woman named Dou E. She..." "I've heard that before, Uncle. Tell me something new!" Qiaojie rolled her eyes. Baoyu was
taken aback. He finally realized something was wrong. This girl was really hard to deal with! He thought to himself, it seems Qiaojie is very familiar with ancient stories. He'll just have to tell some myths and legends.
"Once upon a time, there was a young man named Niulang, he..." "I've heard of him." Qiao Jie's eye-roll intensified.
"..." Bao Yu began to break out in a cold sweat.
"I've heard of him." The little girl's excitement gradually cooled.
Good heavens! How could this be?! Drenched in cold sweat, Bao Yu knew what "embarrassment" felt like! He tried changing topics more than a dozen times, from famous figures to unofficial histories to myths and legends, but Qiao Jie always knew the rest of the story as soon as he opened his mouth.
"Second Uncle, can't you tell me one I haven't heard of?" Now it was the little girl's turn to be listless; she had given up all hope on Bao Yu.
"This..." Having recognized "reality," the guy dared not "speak recklessly" anymore! Unwilling to lose the opportunity to meet Feng Jie, he began to rack his brains. He refused to believe he couldn't "outwit" a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl!
What to do? It seemed he had no choice but to make one up. But this was only the first day; how could he have the mind and energy to make up stories every day?! Baoyu's mind raced, a thousand thoughts flashing through his head.
This little girl was amazing! Even he, a "master" from the future, was stumped by her! A sudden flash of inspiration struck him—the future! That's it, the future! How could he have forgotten that?
Realizing this, Baoyu chuckled to himself. The *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*, which only appeared in the Qing Dynasty—the little girl surely hadn't heard of it, right? This way, he could fool her for a while!
Confident and profound, he said, "You've definitely never heard this story before, listen carefully!" "Really?" Qiaojie sat up straight, half-believing, half-doubting, looking at Baoyu expectantly.
"This story is a little scary, are you afraid?" Baoyu delayed getting to the point, wanting to pique the little girl's interest and vent his earlier frustration and embarrassment.
Qiao Jie, as expected, fell for the trap, eagerly urging, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid! Tell me quickly!" Bao Yu cleared his throat again, satisfied, and in a low, eerie tone, vividly told Qiao Jie a famous ghost story about "Painted Skin"!
"Ah!" Even with her strong will, Qiao Jie was still just a child. Whether it was Bao Yu's vivid description or the story itself being too frightening, the little girl listened with rapt attention while nervously grabbing his arm, her petite body nestled into Bao Yu's embrace, her lively eyes darting around, afraid that a "ghost face" would suddenly appear!
"Second Uncle, that was so good! Tell me another one, please!" The little girl truly lived up to her title of "Queen of Storytelling." Hearing such a terrifying story for the first time, she quickly forgot her fear, only feeling utterly captivated. She nestled in Bao Yu's arms, wriggling and refusing to get up.
Although Qiao Jie was a little girl, she was naturally beautiful, and her soft body unintentionally rubbed against Bao Yu's sensitive area. Baoyu felt a jolt in his heart, almost revealing his true colors. He quickly pulled Qiaojie to a seat beside him, away from this terrifying "bomb."
A pang of guilt cooled the burning desire in his heart. Seeing the little girl about to pounce on him again, he hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Little Miss, you can only listen after I've finished making up a story! Your second uncle promises you a new story every day, okay?" "Then it's a deal, you're so kind!" The little girl's anger turned to joy, and she innocently held out her little finger, afraid that Baoyu would change his mind, she wanted to make a pinky promise. With a
helpless expression, Baoyu hurriedly "escaped" from the little devil. He dared not stay any longer, he would find Sister Feng again tomorrow!
Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Unfortunate Xiangling After leaving Sister Feng's residence, Baoyu looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was only slightly setting in the west, it should be between three or four o'clock. Although he had lived in ancient times for several months, he still habitually used 21st-century timekeeping methods. He was completely baffled by things like "Zi" and "Chou" (子、丑).
Seeing that it was still early, Baoyu secretly pondered to himself that he hadn't seen Jin Chuan for several days and should try to take her into his room as soon as possible! How could he find a good opportunity? Under normal circumstances, his "mother" wouldn't agree, because Jia Zheng had given her instructions before leaving home, forbidding Baoyu from indulging in romantic relationships!
His mind raced, but he couldn't come up with a good idea. He could only force himself to clear his mind of his troubled thoughts. Sigh! Never mind, he'd go see Jin Chuan first.
"Second Master!" A servant came running from afar, sweat beading on his forehead indicating he had been looking for Baoyu for a long time. "You've made me look so hard! Master Xue sent someone with an invitation, inviting you to the Xue residence for a banquet now." Xue Pan!? The image of the rough, uncouth face he had met once before immediately flashed before Baoyu's eyes. He hadn't expected this fellow to actually take his words to heart! What to do? On one hand, there was the tender-hearted Jin Chuan; on the other, there was Xue Pan, from a powerful merchant family. Although he looked down on Xue Pan, this spoiled brat, if he wanted to establish himself quickly so that the Jia family could rise again after its downfall, he had to rely on Xue Pan. After much deliberation, he couldn't find a more suitable candidate than him!
"Second Master, are you going or not? Should I help you decline?" This servant boy, named Pei Ming, had been Jia Baoyu's page since childhood and knew that his master had always disliked associating with vulgar people like Xue Pan.
"No need," Baoyu suddenly had a brilliant idea, "Tell the people from the Xue family that I will be there in a while, and also prepare the horse for me!" "Yes!" Peiming glanced at her master with a slight surprise. Although Baoyu's words were calm and gentle, they subtly revealed an irresistible aura.
Baoyu hurried towards Lady Wang's residence. He wanted Jin Chuan to accompany him on a trip out of the manor, so he could both keep his appointment with Xue Pan and spend time with his beloved—a perfect solution. Lady Wang was known for her leniency towards her servants, so it shouldn't be a problem for Jin Chuan to ask for half a day off.
Perhaps it was a stroke of luck, but when Baoyu arrived, Lady Wang wasn't there, and Jin Chuan was boredly counting ants under a tree. However, the ants had all transformed into the faces of "annoying" creatures.
After a moment of surprise and infatuation, Baoyu whispered his travel plans into the girl's ear, making her so happy that she "forgot" to push him away even when his restless hands roamed freely.
"You're so good!" the girl exclaimed, nestling into her beloved's arms.
Baoyu used the same trick again, dressing Jin Chuan up as a handsome young man, and the two rode out of the Jia manor together.
"Brother, you've kept me waiting!" The two had just reined in their horses in front of the red-walled, green-tiled Xue mansion when Xue Pan rushed forward to greet them.
"How could I dare neglect your invitation, elder brother? But I was delayed by some urgent matter. Please forgive me!" Bao Yu also warmly stepped forward and shook hands with Xue Pan.
"Brother, this is…" Xue Pan rarely frequented the Jia mansion, so he naturally didn't notice Jin Chuan, the woman disguised as a man, behind Bao Yu.
"Heh, heh…" Bao Yu chuckled before speaking, whispering the truth in Xue Pan's ear.
"Ha, ha…" Xue Pan, a notorious playboy, felt a sense of kinship upon hearing this, and felt even closer to Bao Yu. "Good brother, you truly are my good brother, Xue Pan! You should have done this long ago!" "Greetings, Master Xue!" Jin Chuan, dressed as a man, could only awkwardly bow.
"What 'master' or 'grandmaster' nonsense!" Although Xue Pan was naturally domineering, he also had a generous side. "Once we leave the Jia Mansion, you'll naturally be my wife, brother, don't you agree?" These words made Jin Chuan overjoyed. She glanced at Bao Yu with a mixture of shyness and delight, her heart filled with unease. In ancient times, people valued titles and status; the difference between "wife" and "concubine" was vast. Although it was a joke, it left the young woman both happy and flustered.
Bao Yu felt a slight surprise, not expecting Xue Pan to have this side to him. For the first time, he felt genuine affection for him. "Brother is right, Chuan'er, no need for such formalities!" The two, chatting happily, walked arm in arm into the inner courtyard of the Xue Mansion. In the distance, a beautiful figure saw outsiders entering and tried to slip inside to hide.
"Xiangling, come and greet Brother Bao! Why all the formalities among family?!" Xue Pan was delighted to see Bao Yu bring Jin Chuan to the appointment, delighted by his genuine nature. He certainly didn't want Bao Yu to think he was petty!
Upon hearing the name "Xiangling," Bao Yu's heart skipped a beat, and his mind raced. That's right, wasn't she Zhen Yinglian, the one who was kidnapped as a child and sold into the Xue family to become Xue Pan's concubine?! He remembered that she also died tragically under Xue Pan's tyranny!
"Greetings, Second Master Bao!" The gentle words "awakened" the lost-in-thought Bao Yu. The beautiful young woman, in her early twenties, gracefully curtsied. Although she had seen Bao Yu once or twice, she had never had any real contact with him. Now, under Xue Pan's command, she could only suppress her shyness and greet Second Master Bao with a slightly flushed face.
Baoyu gazed intently and saw that her reputation was indeed well-deserved. Her smooth, rosy skin shimmered like jade, and her slightly slender, beautiful face was framed by bright, dark eyes. A faint trace of melancholy was visible, adding a touch of mature charm to her beauty.
With his discerning eye, Baoyu quickly returned the greeting, noticing a fleeting, almost imperceptible resentment in Xiangling's eyes. The clever Baoyu knew she was unhappy that Xue Pan had forced her to pay respects to "outsiders" in the inner courtyard. He sincerely apologized, saying, "It's all my fault, I've troubled you!" Xue Pan, a rough man, didn't understand Baoyu's words at all. "Brother, what are you talking about? What's so tiring about her paying respects?" The intelligent Xiangling, having endured hardship since childhood, had gained considerable experience. After a moment's thought, she understood the implication of Baoyu's words. Her heart was filled with emotion. This Second Master Bao was so understanding and considerate! How could Yuanyang and the others have called him a good-for-nothing?
Hearing Xue Pan's words, the young woman naturally followed suit, exchanging pleasantries with Bao Yu before taking her leave.
"Today, we brothers won't leave until we're drunk!" Xue Pan had no time to care what Xiang Ling was thinking; he grabbed Bao Yu and dragged him towards the table. Chapter
Thirty-Nine: Mischievous Magic. The sun set in the west, the sky ablaze with red clouds.
Bao Yu and Xue Pan floated out of the Xue residence, Jin Chuan'er following closely beside Bao Yu with worried eyes, fearing he might fall and hurt himself.
"Brother, I'm so happy today!" Xue Pan patted Bao Yu's shoulder affectionately. "I was afraid you wouldn't come, so I didn't invite any other friends. Let's invite everyone else another day and have a proper celebration!" "Okay, it's settled then!" Bao Yu's face was flushed, and he patted Xue Pan's shoulder heavily in return. Unexpectedly, since being transformed by the "Spirit Jade" and baptized by the "Yin-Yang Harmony" technique, his strength had greatly increased. With a casual slap, he knocked Xue Pan to the ground.
"Big brother, you're really drunk! Heh, heh..." Bao Yu chuckled and stepped forward to lift Xue Pan up. Still unaware of his own transformation, he stared in astonishment at Xue Pan, whose feet were dangling in the air. "How are you so light?!" Xue Pan was already nine-tenths drunk, and Bao Yu's slap left him completely disoriented. Even after Bao Yu put him back on the ground, he didn't understand the actual situation, only thinking that he had fallen easily because he was drunk and his legs were weak!
Jin Chuan and the Xue family's gatekeeper were stunned, speechless. Bao Yu, such a refined young master, was surprisingly strong!
"Brother, farewell!" Bao Yu declined Xue Pan's offer to escort him in a sedan chair and boldly rode away in a cloud of dust.
Although Jin Chuan hadn't had time alone with Bao Yu, she was content with the half-day. The young woman nestled happily in her beloved's arms as they headed home.
A gentle evening breeze sobered Bao Yu, whose head was hot and eyes red. Looking down at the beauty in his arms, he felt a pang of guilt. He had intended to take her out for a good time, but on a whim, he and Xue Pan had spent hours drinking, wasting precious time. Yet, the beauty in his arms hadn't uttered a single complaint.
Thinking of this, he felt even more ashamed. In his current drunken state, he couldn't even stroll with her. A sudden thought struck him: Baoyu remembered the magical glow of the "Spirit Jade." Could it dispel his drunkenness? Legendary "magic" was supposedly omnipotent!
Baoyu acted immediately, silently chanting "Spirit Jade, you're magical!" repeatedly. But miracles don't happen often. The jade hung silently before his chest, unchanged no matter how many times he chanted.
Alas! Baoyu had no choice but to give up in disappointment. It seemed his "treasure" wasn't like the genie in Aladdin's lamp, obeying its master's commands.
Just as he was feeling disheartened, although the jade remained unchanged, the growing "heat" within Baoyu began to circulate. Wherever this "heat" passed, all his meridians opened. After circulating through his mind, Baoyu felt refreshed and his eyes brightened.
He clearly felt the changes within himself and was overjoyed. Could it be that he had already gained magical powers like Miaoyu?! Didn't she say that she was also a half-cultivator?!
The greedy fellow acted on impulse, directing his magical power to his fingertips. He imitated those "high-level sorcerers," pointing two fingers together with a sword-like gesture at a large tree by the roadside, and even let out a seemingly impressive shout, "Down!" The wind rustled the leaves, and the unharmed tree looked down contemptuously at the whimsical "foolish" boy.
Baoyu's "strange" behavior didn't frighten the tree, but it certainly startled the girl in his arms. She pouted and complained, "What are you doing? Are you trying to scare me to death?!" Baoyu, embarrassed, gently coaxed the pouting Jin Chuan, and the two of them rode away into the twilight, disappearing from sight.
The tree, seemingly unfazed by the "false alarm," swayed its branches and leaves in the cool breeze, utterly disdainful. If it had a spirit, it would surely have extended its thumb and forefinger in a classic "contemptuous" gesture. Just as Baoyu and Jin Chuan disappeared, the tree suddenly felt a powerful force emanating from its trunk. The struck tree let out a mournful cry. "Damn it! What kind of magic is this? It's only taking effect now!" With a "crack," the irresistible force snapped the trunk in two.
This unfortunate tree thus became the first victim of Baoyu's "magical arts," and even more pitiful was a victim Baoyu would never know about!
Having sobered up, Baoyu changed course, dismounting with Jin Chuan and strolling through the brightly lit capital city. The young lovers whispered sweet nothings while haggling at a street stall, experiencing the realities of ordinary life.
Only when the bright moon hung high in the sky did the two slowly walk back to the Jia Mansion, still reluctant to part. As Jin Chuan'er bid farewell, her jade-like face flushed with embarrassment, she asked, "When will you ask Madam to let me into your room? If Madam finds out, I'll be in big trouble!" "Good Chuan'er, don't worry," Bao Yu gently embraced the girl, then changed the subject, saying with a hint of dissatisfaction, "It's all Father's fault. Before he left, he said I wasn't allowed to take a concubine until I achieved official rank. Mother always listens to Father's wishes, alas!" "I understand. I'd be willing to be your maid rather than a concubine!" Jin Chuan'er nestled tenderly into Bao Yu's arms, turning her head to listen to the strong heartbeat of her beloved.
A series of faint footsteps approached from afar. Though the distance was considerable, Baoyu's senses were now far beyond those of ordinary people. He gently kissed Jin Chuan'er's cheek tenderly. "Someone's coming. You should go back quickly!" Although Jin Chuan'er hadn't heard anything unusual, her heart had completely surrendered to Baoyu. She obeyed his every word, shyly returning the kiss before turning and quickly disappearing behind the courtyard gate.
Baoyu didn't leave until the beauty's figure was gone, before the newcomer had seen him.
His naturally amorous nature unexpectedly brought to mind Xiren's gentle face, instantly stirring his emotions. Xiren's alluring body swayed before his eyes. The "
Dongmen Immortal Technique," now deeply ingrained in his mind, ignited a burning passion within him. Such a "miracle technique" should naturally be diligently practiced! Wasn't success supposed to require ninety-nine percent diligence? He was determined to carry forward the "Dongmen Technique," vowing not to give up until he reached its pinnacle!
A smug grin returned to the corner of his mouth. He really was a diligent and studious "good" student! Heh, heh…!
Chapter Forty: The Cold Beauty. A night of springtime passed quietly, the "harmony of yin and yang" miraculously reappeared, and the five-colored light flowing from the "Spiritual Jade" dimmed slightly once more.
Baoyu, dressed neatly, arrived at Grandmother Jia's residence. The old lady was sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) in the outer room eating breakfast, while the tall and slender Yuanyang stood behind her, carefully massaging her.
"Baoyu, come here and let me see. Am I seeing things? It's only been two days, but you seem even more handsome!" Grandmother Jia affectionately pulled Baoyu to sit on the kang, her kind eyes filled with surprise.
"It's because Grandmother misses me," Baoyu said obediently, sitting down beside Grandmother Jia. "Am I not your good Baoyu, Grandmother?" "Heh, heh..." Grandmother chuckled contentedly. "Alright, go and pay your respects to your mother! Oh, by the way, I have some delicious pastries here that I wanted to send to your mother this morning. I'll have Yuanyang go with you while I'm at it!" Upon hearing this, Baoyu subconsciously glanced at Yuanyang, who had been standing silently. Seeing her exquisitely sculpted face, calm and expressionless, without a hint of joy or complaint, he felt a little bored.
As the two left Grandmother Jia's residence, Baoyu noticed Yuanyang's cold expression and silence. Wondering why, he asked, "Sister Yuanyang, are you angry with me?" "Second Master," Yuanyang replied with a polite smile, "we are master and servant, just call me by my name. I dare not call you 'sister'." The smile only accentuated the awkwardness between them. "We have no connection whatsoever, so why would I be angry? I simply don't like to talk much, please forgive me, Second Master!" Baoyu, feeling utterly bored, swallowed his earlier casual conversation and quickened his pace towards his mother's residence.
Seeing Baoyu's demeanor, Yuanyang's eyes flashed with surprise. This Second Master had indeed changed; he wasn't as persistent as before. Good, it would be peaceful! The carefree girl, in a good mood, naturally quickened her pace to catch up.
The two walked side-by-side, each lost in their own thoughts, seemingly strangers despite their close proximity.
Autumn was approaching, a cool breeze was blowing, and the morning dew had not yet completely disappeared. Amidst the cheerful chirping of early birds, the fragrance of roadside wildflowers wafted on the wind.
Standing there, Baoyu witnessed this beautiful scene of birdsong and fragrant flowers. His gloom was washed away by the refreshing air, and he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. How could a grown man like himself have gotten into a fight with a young lady?!
"Let me help you with the food box!" Baoyu, seeing his hands empty while the girl carried a large box, regained his composure and, noticing Yuanyang's hesitation, spoke first: "I have no other intentions. Do you really dislike me that much? Or do you think a man like me can't even lift a food box?" "Pfft!" The girl laughed before speaking, her frosty face thawing. "Second Master, what are you saying?
Don't be so flattering," Yuanyang naturally handed the food box to Baoyu, then changed the subject, her beautiful face solemn: "You are a good mistress, but not the kind I like. Please don't tease me in public or private!" She bravely spoke her mind in one breath, then subconsciously looked around. She knew that although her words weren't exactly unorthodox, they were certainly shocking. If those gossipy old women heard them, it would definitely cause a lot of trouble!
Upon hearing this, Baoyu stood there stunned, his mind racing. He wasn't angry; instead, he was filled with admiration. What a virtuous and self-respecting woman!
Her frankness was familiar to him from the future, and he deeply agreed with her words. Free from feudalistic ideas, Baoyu wasn't angry at all; instead, he was overjoyed. "Miss Yuanyang, you truly impress me! I promise you, from now on, I will absolutely respect your opinion and will never harbor any ill intentions towards you!" Deeply moved, Baoyu blurted out, using "I" as his guarantee, not resorting to the deceptive swearing of "Jia Baoyu."
"Thank you, Second Master!" The young woman hadn't originally intended to gain anyone's approval; she had only spoken these "shocking" words in a moment of haste, fearing Baoyu's persistent questioning. She hadn't expected Baoyu to praise her so highly, and her heart was filled with joy. She never imagined that Second Master Bao would be so open-minded and magnanimous!
Yuanyang finally believed Jin Chuan'er's words completely; Baoyu had changed entirely!
Thinking of this, Yuanyang's eyes reddened, a fleeting glint of light passing through them. Overwhelmed with emotion, she felt deeply ashamed of her previous cold words to Baoyu, and sincerely said, "I was wrong before, please don't mind!" Baoyu waved his hand dismissively, and the two smiled at each other, their earlier unpleasantness instantly vanishing. "Just treat me like a brother, or even a sister!" Baoyu joked lightly, then said seriously, "If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, remember to come to me. I will do everything I can to help you!" As he spoke these solemn words, Baoyu's mind was filled with the image of Yuanyang being forced to hang herself after Grandmother Jia's death. Although they couldn't be lovers, he didn't want such a good woman to suffer such a tragic end.
"Don't worry, with your powerful backer, Master Bao, who else would I turn to?" The girl laughed happily. Bao Yu's resounding words struck her heart, and her excited heart couldn't help but rejoice for her friend. It seemed Jin Chuan'er had found a good husband! In
high spirits, the two chatted and laughed freely as they walked forward. The girl finally witnessed Bao Yu's effortless and natural side, and she was pleasantly surprised by the insightful things he said, listening with great interest!
"Yuanyang, Bao Yu!" A joyful cry came from ahead, and Jin Chuan'er's cheerful figure rushed out of the courtyard.
The two looked up and realized that they had unknowingly arrived at Lady Wang's residence.
When Yuanyang saw Jin Chuan'er rushing out with a happy smile, she knew for whom the girl's radiant smile was for! Her originally calm heart was stirred, and for some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of avoidance, fearing that Jin Chuan'er would misunderstand that there was some connection between her and Bao Yu!
Lost in thought, Yuanyang didn't have time to ponder further. She simply quickened her pace to meet Jin Chuan, trying to distance herself from Baoyu, as if the man beside her had suddenly transformed into a ferocious beast, and she would fall into his gaping maw if she didn't leave quickly!
Suddenly, a strange thing happened. Just as Yuanyang lifted her leg, in her panic, she stepped on a smooth pebble, losing her balance and falling uncontrollably forward. Terrifyingly, her forehead landed right on a stone bench by the roadside!
Seeing the girl about to suffer a head injury, in that critical moment, a large hand suddenly appeared out of nowhere, catching Yuanyang around the waist and preventing a potentially fatal danger!
The girl only felt a blur before her eyes, and her delicate body was already in a warm, complete embrace. She stared blankly at Baoyu
, who was holding her with one arm. Baoyu didn't take advantage of the situation. Filled with respect for the girl, he loosened his grip and gently placed Yuanyang back on the ground. Throughout the entire movement, the food box in his left hand remained perfectly steady, without tilting even in the slightest despite the rapid movement.
"I'm pretty good, hehe..." Baoyu couldn't help but feel smug about his agility.
Chapter 41: Torment of Passion "Are you alright? You scared me to death!" Jin Chuan ran to the two of them, supporting the unsteady Yuanyang with both hands.
"I'm fine!" Yuanyang, who had been lost in thought, was "awakened" by Jin Chuan's worried words. Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly straightened up.
"Is Madam here?" Without thinking much, Baoyu walked into the courtyard before Jin Chuan could answer.
"Yuanyang, why are you with Baoyu?" Jin Chuan'er looked Yuanyang up and down with a questioning gaze, teasingly asking in a slightly exaggerated tone, "Could it be that you and Baoyu...?" Jin Chuan'er knew that her good friend didn't have much affection for Baoyu, and seeing her strange expression after being "rescued" by Baoyu, she mistakenly thought that Yuanyang was unhappy, so she deliberately used laughter to defuse Yuanyang's "dissatisfaction!" Yuanyang was startled by Jin Chuan'er's teasing words and hurriedly interrupted the girl before she could finish speaking, "What nonsense are you talking about?! Do you think everyone is as infatuated as you, insisting on being paired with Baoyu?!" Yuanyang paused slightly, seeing Jin Chuan'er's suspicious and teasing expression, and blurted out in a moment of panic:
"I would never steal your beloved! Not to mention 'Baoyu,' even 'Baojin,' 'Baoyin,' or even 'Baotianwang' or 'Baohuangdi,' I, Yuanyang, would never want them!" The girl spoke rashly in her haste, and as soon as the words left her mouth, a strange sense of regret arose within her. She secretly wondered if this was too hurtful to the Second Master's pride. Fortunately, Baoyu was far away and should not have heard her impulsive words! As
fate would have it, Yuanyang did not want her words to reach Baoyu's ears, but although Baoyu was standing far away, he suddenly stopped at the courtyard gate. His extraordinary senses allowed him to hear the girl's "angry words" clearly.
Although Baoyu knew it was just Yuanyang's playful remark, his pride as a man was inevitably hurt, and he couldn't help but have wild thoughts. "People say that people speak the truth when they're drunk, and I think she revealed her true feelings in her haste! Do I really deserve to be looked down upon like this?!" Thinking this, Baoyu stopped in his tracks, turned halfway around to try to calm himself, and half-truths escaped his lips in anger. "Yuanyang is right, that's what I meant too. We'll always be good friends." His calm tone couldn't hide a hint of bitterness and barely concealed anger. Baoyu retaliated, "Don't even mention 'Yuanyang,' even if it were a 'swan,' a 'crane,' or even a 'peacock,' or a 'phoenix,' I, Jia Baoyu, would never marry her!" Before he finished speaking, Baoyu waved his hand dismissively, then turned and strode into the courtyard, quickly disappearing from the two women's sight.
"This guy just loves to argue, sister, don't mind him!" Seeing her beloved's rude behavior, Jin Chuan'er was afraid her best friend would be angry, so she quickly spoke up with a light laugh to ease the awkward atmosphere between them.
"Hehe...it was just a joke, how could I mind?! Wasn't it me who said that first?!" Yuan Yang comforted the slightly worried Jin Chuan'er with a bright smile, using cheerful laughter to show that she wasn't angry at all.
Yuan Yang's natural expression and fluent speech were actually feigned calmness. When Bao Yu's seemingly genuine but actually feigned "angry words" reached her ears, the girl felt her heart suddenly tighten. Bao Yu's words were like a huge hammer hitting the girl's heart, the powerful impact stirring up a surge of emotions within her, carrying a strange bitterness and an unspeakable sense of loss that swirled and flowed in Yuan Yang's heart, finally quietly disappearing into the deepest part of the girl's heart.
Neither of the two proud individuals realized that a casual remark, half-joking and half-serious, would bring endless turmoil between them, almost leading to their separation by death!
As the saying goes, love is unpredictable, and hatred is insatiable! Who could have imagined that a casual remark would require countless tears and blood to mend? How lamentable! How pitiful!
"Sister Wan, you're here too!" Baoyu had just stepped into the hall where Lady Wang received her relatives when he saw his mother and widowed sister-in-law, Li Wan, sitting side-by-side on the kang (heated brick bed), chatting intimately.
"Brother Bao, you're here too. Sit here!" Li Wan greeted her uncle warmly, her voluptuous figure moving as she prepared to rise and offer Baoyu a seat next to Lady Wang.
Lady Wang grabbed her unfortunate and dutiful eldest daughter-in-law, saying, "Why are you making him do that! Let's have a good talk, mother and daughter." "Mother is right," Baoyu said, quickly sitting down opposite them. Even though he wasn't "Jia Baoyu," he still respected and loved his nominal sister-in-law very much. Although he didn't approve of Li Wan's ten years of widowhood and fidelity, he admired and respected her gentle and skillful virtues, and secretly applauded her.
Baoyu paused, then said softly with a smile, "I thought I was early, but I didn't expect Sister Wan to arrive before me!" Before Li Wan could respond, Madam Wang chided him, "Your sister-in-law is nothing like you, heartless. She comes to keep me company every morning and evening, unlike you, who is often nowhere to be seen!" "Mother, try these pastries, they're quite delicious!" Baoyu took several pastries from the food box he had brought and placed them on the low table. Seeing his "mother" scolding him, he immediately picked up a beautiful pastry and offered it to Madam Wang.
Lady Wang reached out to take the food from her "son's" hand, but Baoyu dodged it, shaking off his "mother's" delicate hand. Half-coquettishly, half-playfully, he said, "Mother's scolding is right, so I'll punish you by feeding you the snacks myself! Heh, heh..." "You child!" Lady Wang was in high spirits, slowly eating the pastries from Baoyu's hand while giving him a playful glare.
She was merely having an intimate conversation with her "son," but to the "fake" Baoyu, it was a different story. He saw only the middle-aged beauty's eyes as gentle as water, her charm captivating, and his heart stirred, his emotions churning.
Suddenly "attacked," the man quickly composed himself, repeatedly reminding himself that the woman before him, still charming and beautiful, was his "mother"! Having finally calmed down, Baoyu quickly shifted his gaze to the gentle and dignified Li Wan.
His "strategy" was correct, but reality was cruel. Li Wan, at twenty-six or twenty-seven, was already exceptionally beautiful and at the most alluring mature age for a woman. Her graceful curves undulated, causing the "lecherous wolf" who was standing very close to her to feel a surge of desire and become parched. Without any "taboos," he became even more unrestrained, his mind filled with lustful thoughts and a rush of heat. He was about to "reveal his true colors" and embarrass himself on the spot!
Chapter 42 Enjoying Pleasure Just when things were "critical," the arrival of Yuanyang finally rescued the guy who had been "tortured." While Yuanyang and Li Wan were whispering to each other, he immediately made an excuse to leave and fled in a panic.
Lady Wang and Li Wan, unaware of the truth, found it quite amusing, while Yuanyang, thinking that Baoyu didn't want to see her, felt resentful and muttered to herself in a huff, "If you don't want to see me, do you think I'll deliberately provoke you? At worst, we'll go our separate ways and never see each other again!" The misunderstanding arose naturally by chance, and the manipulation of fate was truly flawless!
Several days passed uneventfully.
Baoyu, unusually, enjoyed a few days of genuine leisure in the "Yihong Courtyard." During the day, he frolicked and played with several pretty maids, relaxed and carefree, a truly delightful experience. Late at night, he and Xiren engaged in passionate lovemaking, a truly "heavenly" life! His "yin-yang harmony" technique also became increasingly proficient through his "diligent" practice, and his internal magical power grew stronger day by day. However, having suffered a setback, the guy no longer dared to overestimate his abilities, only using it occasionally to tease Qingwen and others. He laughed heartily and felt completely at ease amidst the girls' sweet and charming coquettishness.
The smug guy secretly thought to himself, "This thing is truly a great helper for picking up girls!"
Inside the "Land of Illusion," Guanyin, who was constantly observing the changes of the reincarnated Wukong, could only manage a wry smile. Despite her millennia of cultivation, she couldn't help but smile helplessly. The yin-like magical power contained within the "divine stone" was arguably the purest and most powerful force in the world, on par with the yang-like magical power of Wukong's original body. She never imagined that the "fake" Baoyu would use it for such a "great" purpose! What "feats" would he accomplish after he achieved the unity of yin and yang and reached the state of chaos?!
"Xiren, why is your face so rosy and beautiful?" Xiren, who had been experiencing the wonders of the "Moving Gate Magic" with Baoyu every night, was gradually revealing her youthful radiance and the effects of the magic on her face, finally attracting Qingwen's attention.
Qingwen exclaimed in a surprised tone, "It seems to have a shimmering luster, even more beautiful than the jade in Madam's room! Tell me quickly, did Second Master secretly give you something good?" Musk Moon, Autumn Pattern, and the other girls nodded vigorously in agreement, their beautiful eyes involuntarily glancing at Baoyu, their curious gazes revealing a hint of dissatisfaction amidst their doubts—clearly blaming him for favoritism!
"You're so suspicious!" Although Xiren was already a virgin, her face was still flushed. She stretched her face in front of Qingwen and said, "Feel it yourself, I didn't put anything on it, how could Second Master have given you anything?!" Qingwen and the other girls indeed surrounded Xiren, touching her and clicking their tongues in amazement! The guy who had been silently watching the spectacle was inwardly laughing hysterically!
Xiren, suppressing her embarrassment, finally breathed a sigh of relief after all the women had examined her. "Now you believe me, right?" Although she knew about her changes, without Baoyu's explanation, she couldn't fully understand, only knowing it was related to their nightly intimacy! Fearing her close friends would find out and tease her, she tried her best to conceal it.
"No!" Qingwen, known for her intelligence, exclaimed, "It's not right that she's not wearing rouge or powder! Baoyu, tell me honestly, what good things did you secretly give Xiren?" Before Baoyu could answer, Mushe snuggled up to him, gently shaking his hand, her words sweet and coquettish, "Second Master, just tell her! Or, I'll let you eat the rouge from Qiuwen's lips!" Mushe, so clever, truly knew Baoyu's weakness, willing to use her beauty to seduce him, but the bait became Qiuwen!
There were no weaklings among the maids of Yihong Courtyard; they were all handpicked by the old lady, and Qiuwen was no exception. "Good Second Master, just tell me! If rouge isn't enough, how about letting Musk Moon bathe with you? That's your favorite! Hehe..." Baoyu saw the barrage turn to him, and before he could even speak, "sensual" bombardments were already flying in one after another. He was overjoyed, and the "illusory Baoyu" in his mind had his eyes shining, lips wide open, and drooling! He had long been itching for the beautiful and clever maids around him, but he had never had a good opportunity. Now that they had voluntarily "offered themselves," he was naturally overjoyed!
"It's possible, but I don't know how to say it. It's a big secret!" Baoyu pretended to be troubled.
"Just tell me! There are no outsiders here, what secret is so difficult to tell?" Sure enough, the girls obediently fell into the lecher's trap.
Baoyu's serious expression and deep tone piqued the girls' curiosity even more. What started as playful banter, typical of young girls, had unexpectedly uncovered a "big secret." Curiosity is a woman's nature, captivating everyone regardless of age!
"You can know, but this secret is best left unsaid. I can't explain it clearly!" Baoyu paused slightly, then, amidst Qingwen and the others' eager anticipation, opened his "wolf's" jaws. "Only by experiencing it firsthand will you understand. Why don't you all go to my room one by one and experience it for yourselves!" The seemingly calm Baoyu chuckled inwardly. Heh, heh… this is going to be great! He won't let this cooked duck fly away!
Xi Ren, initially fearing the conflict would spill over onto her, had allowed Bao Yu and the other women to continue their foolish antics. Now, seeing her beloved's lustful desires flaring, and the smug look in his eyes, Xi Ren was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Although she knew that Bao Yu and the women would inevitably end up together, seeing him resort to such methods, the gentle and charming woman felt a pang of bitterness mixed with amusement. This Bao Yu…!
Seeing her close friends' faces light up with joy, eager to jump into the "wolf's pit," Xi Ren inwardly grumbled. This was broad daylight, not a romantic evening! Bao Yu was being too reckless! Her red lips parted, about to speak to stop them.
"Second Master, Second Master Lian from the East Mansion needs to see you!" At the crucial moment, the servant Bei Ming called out loudly at the courtyard gate. Except for Bao Yu, Yi Hong Courtyard was always a forbidden area for men; servants could only announce such matters at the main gate.
"Stop fooling around, Second Master Lian is looking for you, go quickly!" Xiren hurriedly straightened Baoyu's clothes, which had been messed up by the sisters. She breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that she wouldn't have to be the heartless stick that ruined Baoyu's good time!
"Sigh!" Baoyu glared resentfully towards the gate, then said disappointedly to Qingwen and the others, "I'm going out now. If you still want to know, wait until I get back. Who's going to serve me tonight? I'll share the secret with her first!" Chapter 43 The纨绔族 (Wansha Zu, meaning a spoiled and dissolute family) "It's me!" Xiren winked mischievously at Baoyu. Seeing her good sisters still looking disappointed, Xiren could
n't help but chuckle. She thought to herself, "After you know the 'truth,' I'll ask you how you feel. Let's see if you'll still laugh at me then, hee hee…!" Baoyu walked towards the door with a smile. He dared not show any disappointment. Besides, Xiren's alluring body truly captivated him. Although he couldn't have her yet, wouldn't waiting a few more days be even more exciting? Hehe… As
Baoyu secretly chuckled to himself, a thought flashed through his mind: Why did Jia Lian want to see him? He had no dealings with him. Could it be that he knew about his affair with Sister Feng? But he and Sister Feng hadn't actually cheated on each other, so what could he possibly have to accuse him of? How strange!
Filled with doubt, Baoyu's thoughts were in turmoil, and before he knew it, he had reached the courtyard gate.
"Second Master, let me lead the way!" Beiming greeted him with a grin, bowing respectfully. "Don't forget me when you leave the manor. Let me bask in your glory and broaden my horizons." In just a few months, the "fake" Baoyu had become quite familiar with everyone in the Jia household. The servants no longer dared to be disrespectful to the drastically changed Second Master Bao, but his current generous nature made them even more delighted. They would occasionally receive rewards from him, and if they were lucky, they could even accompany him out of the manor for a lavish feast! For Baoyu, all of this was approved by his "father," so he was naturally generous with his "public funds.
" "No problem!" Baoyu patted Beiming's shoulder generously, making the servant feel flattered.
"Brother Bao, it's been a long time! You are indeed quite remarkable. I'm truly impressed." Warm words accompanied by bright laughter reached Bao Yu's ears.
"Greetings, Brother Lian!" Bao Yu bowed deeply, then looked up and saw Jia Lian, dressed in white and dashing, standing under the shade of a tree. Even Bao Yu, who considered himself exceptional, couldn't help but admire his handsome appearance. The Jia family was indeed filled with good-looking men and women; there were no vulgar ones among them!
"Brother," the two approached warmly. Jia Lian's slightly unfocused eyes, a result of excessive drinking and womanizing, caught Bao Yu's eye. He immediately made the right judgment: Jia Lian was indeed the stereotypical playboy, a real waste of his fine clothes!
"What brings Brother Lian to see me?" Bao Yu asked calmly, but his heart began to race.
"We're brothers, no need for such formalities!" Jia Lian affectionately took Bao Yu's arm and lowered his voice, saying, "I heard from Xue Pan that you've finally seen the light, so I came to take you out of the manor to play. Xue Pan and the others are still waiting at 'Tianxianlou,' let's go!" Before he finished speaking, Jia Lian pulled Bao Yu towards the manor gate.
So that's how it is, Bao Yu breathed a sigh of relief. It seems Jia Lian and Xue Pan have a close past; they're birds of a feather. But wasn't he also planning to join their circle? Heh…
"Does 'Tianxianglou' have anything good?" Bao Yu grabbed Jia Lian's wrist, his face burning with anticipation, giving him a knowing look.
"Ha, ha…" Jia Lian laughed heartily, "Xue Pan was right, you really have changed! That's more like it, worthy of being my brother Jia Lian. Don't worry, everything's been arranged, just waiting for you, the 'newbie,' to take the stage, hehe…"
The two "brothers" exchanged a knowing smile, and with a laugh typical of men, they disappeared from the sight of the Jia family.
"Gentlemen, please come in! The ladies are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of two handsome gentlemen like you!" At the entrance of the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion, a typical pimp, seeing Baoyu and his companion dressed so elegantly, hurriedly stepped forward, showering them with flattery.
Baoyu ignored the man, his body burning with desire as he stared at the towering, luxurious building before him, his mind churning. Was this the legendary brothel? While brothels of the 21st century were plentiful, they were either shrouded in secrecy or feigned elegance—none could match the authentic standards of ancient brothels! Seeing the surging crowd, everyone embracing beautiful women, a cacophony of sweet voices filling the air, Baoyu couldn't help but marvel. Truly professional! Truly alluring! No wonder this thing has endured for millennia, never fading!
"Brother, don't just stand there, it's even better inside!" Jia Lian, an old man, casually tipped the sycophantic pimp a piece of silver, then pulled the shy Bao Yu into the "Heavenly Immortal Pavilion."
Inside the luxurious private room, a group of young men clinked glasses, talking nonsense while groping and messing with the women around them—a truly wanton and erotic place.
"Brother, let's have a blast this time!" Xue Pan sat with Bao Yu and Jia Lian. "This is paradise, unlike home where it's so stifling, don't you agree?" Bao Yu, who was drinking with Jia Lian, turned around and smiled. "Brother, you're absolutely right, this is truly a wonderful place!
Shall we brothers have a few drinks?" "No need, I wouldn't dare!" Having witnessed Bao Yu's drinking prowess, Xue Pan waved his hands frantically. Seeing Jia Lian's swaying figure, he laughed gleefully. "You should let them experience your incredible capacity!" Xue Pan's cronies were indignant at this and all crowded around to get the newcomer Bao Yu drunk.
Protected by his "divine magic," Baoyu was naturally fearless and quickly became acquainted with the crowd amidst the endless clamor. It turned out that these people were all descendants of princes and nobles. Among them, six families, along with the Jia family and the Rong family, were known as the "Eight Founding Dukes." The lowest-ranking among the others was a viscount, and one of them, Feng Ziying, even held the official title of Divine Martial General.
Looking at the group of spoiled brats lying on the ground, Baoyu, still full of energy, secretly marveled. Weren't these the sons of high-ranking officials in ancient times? A whole "princeling party"!
"Brother, you're really something!" Xue Pan, who was careful to protect himself, chuckled when he saw that only he and Baoyu were still sitting. "You've avenged me. In the past, I was always the one who got drunk by them. Today, I've gotten my revenge, hahaha..." Baoyu heard the truth in Xue Pan's cheerful laughter. Although the Xue family was also a powerful clan, they were still inferior to the people before them in terms of power. Moreover, the Xue family's roots were in Jinling, while these native "high-ranking officials' children" in the capital naturally had a tendency to gang up on him, an outsider! Although everyone was similar in temperament and played together, Xue Pan inevitably suffered losses at times. As the "tyrant of Jinling," he was naturally dissatisfied but helpless. No wonder he was so affectionate towards Bao Yu, whose temperament had changed drastically!

Chapter 44 Shi Yu's Appearance (Part 1) The experienced and insightful Bao Yu felt a trace of sympathy for him for the first time. He affectionately put his arm around Xue Pan's shoulder and said sincerely, "Brother, don't worry. With me here, no one can get you drunk. We brothers are of one mind and can break gold together!" "Good brother!" Although Xue Pan was violent, he also had a true side. His eyes were red, and he gripped Bao Yu's shoulder tightly with great emotion.
Lost in thought, Baoyu ordered the courtesans to help their patrons back to their rooms, leaving only him and Xue Pan alone in the private room. The two brothers resumed their feast, sipping their drinks lightly.
"Brother, you've been in the capital for quite some time now. I wonder if you're doing well?" Baoyu raised his cup to drink with Xue Pan, his seemingly casual words actually intended to provoke Xue Pan's dissatisfaction, forcing him to reveal his true feelings in the process of venting his anger.
"Sigh!" Xue Pan downed his cup of strong liquor in one gulp, not even bothering to wipe the stains from his mouth. He let out a heavy sigh. "Brother, there's not a single good guy in this capital city except you. They're all snobbish bastards. If this were Jinling, I, Xue Pan, would be the one beating people up. I wouldn't put up with this nonsense! Sigh!" Xue Pan sighed helplessly again. "Come, let's drink to forget our troubles!" Bao Yu generously filled their cups again, secretly chuckling to himself. Birds of a feather flock together. You, Xue Pan, are a "wolf," so of course you can only associate with "jackals"! You can't possibly befriend gentlemen, can you?!
Thinking of this, Bao Yu chuckled smugly. That wasn't entirely true. Wasn't he, this "good guy," drinking and chatting happily with him right now?!
"Brother, let's drink this cup together!" Baoyu tilted his head back and gulped down the strong liquor like water. Seeing that Xue Pan was already somewhat drunk, he asked in a low voice, "Since you have such a strong foundation in Jinling, why did you move to the capital?" "Don't mention it!" Xue Pan thought of his unfortunate troubles and waved his hand in the air. "It's all that bitch Xiangling's fault!" Baoyu's eyes showed surprise. A beautiful young woman with a slightly melancholy face and extraordinary beauty appeared before his eyes. He never thought that this matter was related to her!
Before Baoyu could ask any questions, Xue Pan revealed the truth himself, "Back then, I took a liking to this wretched woman, but little did I know she was a jinx! In my quest for her, I accidentally killed a poor, arrogant scholar. It wasn't a big deal; a little compensation would have been enough. But the new prefect has a grudge against my Xue family because of past events, and he's been relentlessly pursuing this matter." Xue Pan paused, and Baoyu immediately filled his cup again. Xue Pan drank it all in one gulp, his face filled with gratitude. "It's all because my father died too young that this prefect dares to abuse his power! This time, I'm so grateful to my uncle—your father—for his help; I escaped this ordeal! But I can't stay in Jinling anymore, so I had to come to the capital to seek a way out, but alas…!" Upon hearing this, Baoyu suddenly understood. No wonder Jia Zheng was so irritable when he returned home last time; it was because of Xue Pan's murder.
"Brother, what businesses do you run in the capital? Are they going well?" Baoyu calmly and casually steered the conversation to the main point.
Xue Pan, slightly drunk and in a state of turmoil, had come to regard Baoyu as a confidant and, in his anger, spoke candidly and without reservation. "It's mostly pawnbroking and freight between the north and south, but it's far less profitable than before! Only the trade with foreign countries is going smoothly, with considerable profits!" Foreign countries?! Baoyu's mind raced, and he realized that "foreign countries" must refer to Westerners. He couldn't help but think of the mirrored door in his room; it must be one of the goods they dealt in.
"Brother, why did you ask this? Don't tell me you're interested in business?" Xue Pan, though a rough man, possessed a businessman's mind. His questioning eyes fell on Bao Yu, then a look of delight appeared on his face. "If you really have that idea, that would be wonderful! If we brothers joined forces, we could definitely gain a foothold in the capital!" Seeing the conversation had reached a crucial point, Bao Yu blurted out his already prepared idea. "I am interested, but you know the old lady won't agree," he said, seeing Xue Pan's disappointed expression, he immediately changed the subject. "However, I have a very close friend who has a natural affinity for business. My idea is for you to cooperate with him, just like you and I would team up—no difference!" "Good! Good!" Xue Pan laughed happily. "Just hearing that is enough!" "I wonder what kind of business you and my friend are planning to do?" Bao Yu temporarily put aside his own plans, wanting to see if Xue Pan had any better ideas.
"With the Rongguo Mansion as our backer, there are plenty of opportunities to make big money!" Xue Pan confidently patted the tea table. "Just like in Jinling, we can open gambling dens and brothels, and lend money at exorbitant interest rates." Bao Yu felt a chill run down his spine and subconsciously shivered. This Xue Pan was indeed true to his name, a standard "devil incarnate," whose thoughts were all about eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. He wondered if Xue Pan would do anything like swindling and cheating.
"Brother, although these can also bring in a fortune, didn't you say that trade with foreign countries can also make a lot of money?" The last bit of conscience in Bao Yu's heart prevented him from immediately agreeing to Xue Pan's proposal.
Seeing the hesitation on Baoyu's face, Xue Pan understood his concerns. "Trading with foreign lands is very profitable, but the court bans maritime trade every now and then, so this business is unpredictable. It's not as lucrative as the business I'm talking about!" He paused, then leaned closer to Baoyu and whispered mysteriously, "Brother, let me tell you a secret. Your mistress, Feng, has been secretly lending money at exorbitant interest rates for a long time. I was the one who arranged it. Now you don't have any worries, right?" "Really?" Baoyu's eyes widened in disbelief. In his heart, he already believed Xue Pan's words. He hadn't expected Feng to be so bold!
"Heh, heh..." Xue Pan laughed before speaking. "Why would I lie to you? Otherwise, do you think the Jia family could support such a large family with just a little salary and land rent? Even a mountain of gold can be depleted!" Bao Yu's thoughts raced, his conscience and money battling each other. After a moment, he perked up and made a wise decision. His original plan might have yielded huge profits, so why bear the pangs of conscience?!
"Heh, heh..." Bao Yu chuckled to himself. It's better not to be a villain if possible! It's not too late to do it if things really don't work out!
Chapter 45 Shi Yu's Appearance (Part 2) "Brother, I think what you said is feasible, but my friend has a better idea. Would you like to hear it?" Bao Yu also teased Xue Pan with a mysterious whisper.
"Oh, tell me!" Although Xue Pan disliked Bao Yu's "cowardice" slightly, he was quite interested in what he was saying.
"My friend learned a new thing from the foreign lands. I've tried it, and it's absolutely amazing! It's all the rage there, and every man loves it!" Bao Yu said proudly, seeing Xue Pan's delighted expression. "You haven't heard of 'cigarettes,' have you, brother? It's a truly wonderful thing from the foreign lands. Just as we're unwilling to sell our best things to them, they haven't sold us this truly wonderful thing either. If my friend hadn't returned from his travels, how would I have known such a wonderful thing!" "I really haven't seen it before!" Xue Pan said awkwardly, his face flushed.
"I've never seen it before either, brother. It's not surprising that you haven't!" Bao Yu gently comforted Xue Pan, but inwardly he was laughing. This thing only appeared hundreds of years later. Not only Xue Pan, but even the foreign lands he mentioned had never seen it! Ha, ha… In the future, he would not only have everyone in the Ming Dynasty smoking cigarettes, but also exporting them to foreign lands, making a fortune!
"Brother, when will you introduce me to your friend? Let me see this 'cigarette' stuff!" Xue Pan sensed the confidence in Bao Yu's words. Having been a businessman for many years, he saw the potential for huge sums of money in it. Western goods were always a favorite of wealthy families in the Ming Dynasty, especially something he'd never heard of before—a "foreign" thing that was best kept from being sold abroad!
Before he finished speaking, Xue Pan asked again, "By the way, what's your friend's name?" "Shi Yu!" The "fake" Bao Yu blurted out without thinking. He had already decided that it was time for his true self to make his appearance!
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Bao Yu cast a long shadow behind him. Lost in thought, he entered the Jia mansion, his mind preoccupied with the issues of "Shi Yu" and "cigarettes."
As a young master of the Jia family, he couldn't engage in business. Not only would the old lady disapprove, but Xi Ren and the others would likely object. After all, this was an era where merchants held a low social status; all other professions were considered inferior, only studying was noble! What is the purpose of studying? Only to achieve fame and recognition, and after passing the imperial examinations, one inevitably faces the ups and downs of officialdom. Therefore
, becoming an official is ultimately more important! To get everyone to agree that "Jia Baoyu" should go into business would be no different than killing them! This is why the "fake" Baoyu, after much contemplation, came up with the idea of having his true self appear. All his inspiration stemmed from his advancement in the "Dancing Gate Technique." A transformation technique naturally appeared in his mind. Although he hadn't tested it due to the constant presence of Xiren and the other women, he thought of Miaoyu at the Green Bamboo Hermitage. With her guidance and help, and his own "extraordinary" talent, everything would naturally fall into place! Baoyu was full of confidence, even fantasizing about his former self appearing before others, enjoying a carefree and idyllic life in ancient times!
As for "cigarettes," they were completely foreign to the people of the Ming Dynasty, which is why he fabricated the story of "imported from overseas." Imagining the "grand spectacle" of every man with a cigarette in his mouth in the near future, Baoyu seemed to see endless money flowing into his pockets. The "illusory Baoyu" was completely intoxicated and dizzy, staring at the mountains of gold and silver that the "cigarettes" had transformed into in his mind, oblivious to the passage of time!
Now, he had finally successfully persuaded Xue Pan to join him. With the Xue family's marketing channels, coupled with his own business philosophy that was hundreds of years ahead, he could sell even rotten wood as an antique, let alone "cigarettes" being a good thing! The smug fellow secretly pondered that he still needed to be wary of Xue Pan, this spoiled brat. Although the possibility of him betraying him was unlikely, it was better to be safe than sorry. It was best for him to control the processing of the "cigarettes" himself!
Thinking of this, Baoyu was filled with distress. Although he was never short of money, the monthly allowance from the Jia family was only enough for pocket money. To build a cigarette processing factory would be a drop in the ocean! Where could he find this enormous first pot of gold?
Fengjie! The beautiful face of the young woman flashed through his mind, and Baoyu smiled happily. How could he have forgotten her? She was the second mistress in charge of the Rongguo Mansion, and the Jia family's treasury was under her control. This way, he could have two benefits at once, easing his longing for her!
Thinking it, Baoyu turned and quickly headed towards Fengjie's residence. Jia Lian was still drunk at the "Heavenly Fairy Tower" and probably wouldn't be back tonight. But that was good, hehe… The enthusiastic young man had just stepped into the East Mansion when he ran into his nemesis—the little devil Qiaojie!
"Second Uncle, you're here! I went to Yihong Courtyard to look for you, but Sister Xiren said you went out. I thought you were going to trick a little kid like me today!" The little girl excitedly rushed over. "Second Uncle, you're so kind!" Baoyu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. How could he have forgotten about this little girl?! In recent days, she had already drained his mind of all the "new" stories. Now, like everyone else, Baoyu was afraid of Qiaojie whenever he saw her. Naturally, he wanted to hide, but he could never escape! Because no matter the time of day, as long as he didn't report for duty, the little girl would search the entire Jia mansion and never give up on him easily!
The guy who received such "attention" was grateful to the point of tears, but he had no choice but to pour out his grievances to Jin Chuan. What he got in return was Jin Chuan's heartless laughter. The girl's happy smile completely forgot that she was also one of the parties involved. Sometimes, she even helped the little girl catch the "fugitive" Jia Baoyu herself!
The "prey," delivered to her doorstep, saw the "hunter" welcoming her with obvious delight. She quickly forced a smile, feigning happiness, and said, "Why would I lie to you? But..." Before she could finish, Qiao Jie's smile vanished at the word "but," her bright, innocent eyes instantly welling with tears. Endless grievances and sorrow were conveyed through her gaze to Bao Yu's heart.
Here we go again! Bao Yu exclaimed inwardly. Although he knew this was Qiao Jie's usual "trick," he still couldn't resist its powerful impact. Who could truly be so heartless as to hurt such a lovely little girl?!
Chapter Forty-Six: The charming Ping'er suddenly changed the subject, leaving Baoyu with no choice but to compromise. "However, I've been working on a wonderful story for you recently, called 'Sanmao's Dream Journey to the Future World.' It's absolutely fantastic, though I haven't finished it yet. Tomorrow, I'll definitely tell you this new story you've never heard before, okay?" "I believe you!" The little girl smiled radiantly, the tears in her eyes completely evaporated. Baoyu secretly smiled wryly; just as he expected! Helplessly, he couldn't help but wonder if this little girl's trick could also be considered a form of "transformation"?
"Is Sister Feng home?" Baoyu peeked into the courtyard. "I need to see her!" "Mother isn't here; she and Aunt Ping are in the steward's room!" The little girl, perhaps thinking that Baoyu would tell her a new story tomorrow, was unusually well-behaved and didn't try to extort him.
Baoyu finally managed to shake off Qiaojie and hurried towards the steward's room, thinking to himself, "Sister Feng, being the steward's wife, is really working hard. It's almost dark, and she's still not back in her room! If I had known she wasn't home, I wouldn't have walked right into her trap!
" Sighing, Baoyu sighed helplessly. How was he going to deal with the little devil tomorrow? How should he adapt "Sanmao's Dream of the Future World"? After Sanmao finished telling the story, should he start talking about Wang Xiaoer fighting the Japanese?!
A brilliant idea flashed into his mind, and Baoyu smiled happily. Such a good idea! Why hadn't he thought of it sooner?! He could easily fool the little girl by simply telling her about a few ordinary items from the future! Heh, heh... Little girl, think about it slowly after you finish listening! I can keep fooling you about the future for a long time!
Inside the steward's room, Fengjie sat hunched over her desk, engrossed in writing in the account book. A young woman, a pretty and charming woman, stood beside her, putting down her account book and glancing at the sky outside the window. "Grandma, it's getting dark. Let's go back to the manor!" "Finish today's accounts before going back," Fengjie said, twisting her aching neck. Her tone shifted, and she sighed sadly, "Going back will be so quiet and lonely. It's better to go back exhausted and just lie down and fall asleep. That would be much happier! Ping'er, don't you agree?" "You're right!" The slender and gentle Ping'er, as Jia Lian's concubine, was also alone in her chambers. "It seems we'll be alone again tonight!" The two women looked at each other sadly, their hearts filled with sorrow and bitterness. They stared blankly at the vast sky outside the gate, envying the weary birds returning to their nests at dusk, their minds no longer on anything else.
With mixed feelings, Fengjie couldn't help but see Baoyu's image before her eyes. Her heart was filled with a hundred emotions, a mix of sorrow, conflict, and a yearning for happiness. She missed the wicked man who had stirred her heart even more!
Baoyu's "phantom" grew closer and clearer in Fengjie's eyes. The beautiful woman's heart was in turmoil, her full, firm breasts heaving rapidly. She finally realized something was wrong—how could this "phantom" be so real?!
Fengjie closed her beautiful eyes and opened them again, finally seeing her destined nemesis at the door. She couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, "Heavens! He actually chased me here! Is he really going to break his vow and not let me go? What should I do?"
In contrast to Fengjie's panic, Baoyu was overjoyed to see the beauty. His already swift steps quickened even further.
The two women in the room only felt a blur before their eyes, and Baoyu appeared out of thin air in front of them. Fengjie and Ping'er were both startled, thinking they were seeing things.
"Sister Feng, I've been looking for you everywhere!" Baoyu's burning gaze was fixed on the beautiful young woman, deliberately using ambiguous words to stir her emotions.
Fengjie's heart trembled; Baoyu's words instantly shattered the peace in her heart. She glanced guiltily at Ping'er beside her, afraid she would hear the hidden meaning.
Before Fengjie could respond, Ping'er interrupted with a laugh, "Hehe... I say, what kind of play is this, Master Bao? It's almost dusk. Do you need something from our mistress?" Ping'er and Xiren were both maids in the Jia family, having grown up together and sharing a close bond. Because of Xiren, she and "Jia" Baoyu were very close, though they didn't interact much, their conversations were always quite casual.
Blinded by the flames of passion in his heart, Baoyu only then noticed the enormous "light bulb" in the room, and remembered what Qiaojie had said. It seemed this was Ping'er, who was always by Fengjie's side!
Baoyu glanced sideways and couldn't help but marvel, wondering if all the beauties in the world had ended up in the Jia family! He saw Ping'er, petite yet charming, her delicate and refined face flawlessly adorned with natural features. Her gentle and endearing nature was no less than Xiren's. Perhaps because she was already married, her every move exuded a dignified allure, surpassing even the still-undeveloped charm of Qingwen.
"Sister Ping'er, can't I come to your 'Three Treasures Hall' if there's nothing wrong?" Baoyu teased Ping'er softly, trying to distract her and prevent her from realizing his inappropriate behavior.
"Stop fooling around!" Fengjie regained her composure after a moment, waving her hand to stop their playful banter. "Brother Bao, what's wrong? See if I can help you!" "This…" Baoyu hesitated slightly, glancing at Ping'er, signaling Fengjie to turn off this beautiful "third wheel" so the two could be alone.
How could the clever and shrewd Fengjie not see through Baoyu's gaze?! The beauty's heart immediately clenched in panic. She mistakenly thought Baoyu was really about to take action, and instantly felt flustered, helpless, and her limbs tense.
"Madam, I'm a little tired, so I'll go back first. You and Master Bao can talk slowly!" Ping'er, being Fengjie's confidante, was no fool. From Baoyu's expression, she could also tell that the two masters had something to discuss; as a maid, she naturally understood this.
"Don't rush, wait for me a moment, we'll go back together after we're done talking!" Fengjie's mind flashed with Jia Lian's face. Seeing Ping'er's alluring figure, she quickly called her back. "You silly girl, you always think you're so clever! When have I ever kept anything from you?" Fengjie calmed herself and looked back at Baoyu. "Brother Bao, just tell me! Ping'er is my good sister, it's nothing!" The beautiful woman's phoenix eyes widened slightly, a surge of vengeful pleasure rising in her heart. Who told this guy to not only follow her here but also not know how to restrain himself, making her feel guilty in front of Ping'er? How could she quell the fire of hatred in her heart if she didn't get angry with him?! Let's see what excuse he can come up with this time?
Chapter Forty-Seven: Reunion with Miaoyu Seeing that Sister Feng still wouldn't give him a chance to be alone, Baoyu felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. His spirits lifted, and he forcibly erased the disappointment in his heart, secretly telling himself to finish his business first. In a few years, when the Jia family fell, he would have somewhere to stay, and Sister Feng would naturally fall into his arms!
"I was overthinking it, please don't be offended, Sister Ping'er!" Baoyu sincerely bowed to Ping'er, expressing his apology.
"You've really changed, but there's no need to be so polite; it only makes us seem distant." Ping'er returned the bow with a light laugh. She had indeed been unhappy earlier, but seeing Baoyu's sincere expression, Ping'er, no ordinary woman, with her gentle and intelligent nature, immediately erased her gloom and even took the initiative to tease Baoyu.
"Sister Feng, I've come to borrow some money for you this time!" Baoyu calmly stated his purpose.
Seeing that his words were serious and not casual, Fengjie couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. She hadn't expected this rascal to actually have something on his mind! A subtle disappointment crept into her heart, and in her absent-mindedness, she forgot to respond to Baoyu.
Ping'er, noticing Fengjie's strange expression and prolonged silence, quickly interjected, "Baoyu, your monthly allowance is the highest in the mansion, how could you be short of money?!" "Why would I ask you two sisters for a little pocket money?" Baoyu used his old trick again, looking around mysteriously before leaning close to the two women. "I'll tell you a big secret, but don't tell anyone else!" A tactic never needs to be old, as long as it works! Curiosity is indeed human nature, and women's curiosity is even more intense. Although the two women were intelligent, they were not immune. "What big secret? Tell us quickly!" Baoyu then recounted his conversation with "Xue Pan," naturally leaving the two women stunned.
"Sister Feng, you'll lend me money, right?" Baoyu, his throat dry from talking, finally got to the point.
Whether Sister Feng was genuinely moved by his rosy vision or simply couldn't resist his "simple" request, she turned her beautiful face away, slightly avoiding Baoyu's burning gaze. "I can't touch the Jia family's treasury, and the Old Madam won't agree to let you set up that 'cigarette' factory!" Seeing Baoyu's gloomy expression, the beautiful young woman changed her tone, "However, I do have some savings I can lend you, but I don't know if it'll be enough?" Baoyu was overjoyed. Sister Feng's "savings" were completely different from the Jia family's "public funds"—it seemed the beauty wasn't as heartless as she appeared!
"Is this enough?" Seeing Baoyu's delighted face, Sister Feng also became happy, holding up her index finger to indicate the amount of money!
"A thousand taels of silver isn't too bad. I'll think of a way to make it up to you. You're so kind to me, sister!" Baoyu's pointed words made Fengjie's heart skip a beat, and she almost gave herself away in front of Ping'er. Even so, her face flushed with shyness.
"It is a thousand taels," Fengjie smiled charmingly, almost bewitching Baoyu. "It's just a thousand taels of gold!" Baoyu didn't say thank you. How could a simple thank you be enough to express the kindness of such a beautiful woman? After gazing deeply at Fengjie, he took his leave, his heart pounding.
As Baoyu disappeared from sight, Ping'er asked in surprise, "Grandma, that thousand taels of gold is all your savings, aren't you afraid..." "Don't say anything, only the three of us know about this! He will pay me back, I have faith in him now!" The beauty leaned softly against the back of the chair, sighing inwardly, "Baoyu, this is all I can do to help you!" The morning dew had not yet completely disappeared. Walking on the gravel path in the woods, Baoyu smelled the birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, and his mind was refreshed and invigorated. His intoxicated figure moved like flowing water, and in no time he had returned to the front of the "Longcui Nunnery".
Could that mysterious celestial beauty Miaoyu already know that I have come? Baoyu secretly wondered. Having witnessed the wonders of the Tao many times, it seemed that he had been "frightened" out of his habitual thinking!
Baoyu imagined the tightly closed nunnery door suddenly opening, and then the moving scene of Miaoyu standing quietly in front of the door, but when he deliberately tiptoed to the door, the world remained quiet and unchanged.
Baoyu chuckled self-deprecatingly; it seemed he was being a bit neurotic! Just as he was about to knock on the door, Miaoyu's beautiful, calm voice suddenly rang out, not from inside the door, but from behind him.
"Second Master Bao, are you sneaking around trying to steal something? There aren't any treasures in my nunnery that you, Second Master Bao, would want!" Miaoyu remained as elegant and graceful as ever, ethereal as a fairy. Returning from her morning exercise, she had seen Baoyu's "strange" actions from afar. For some reason, Baoyu always managed to easily break her long-cultivated Daoist resolve and stir up a wisp of childlike innocence hidden deep within her heart. That's why the serene and elegant Miaoyu spoke with such teasing and playful words.
Baoyu showed no embarrassment, shamelessly chuckling and getting away with it. While outwardly silent, he inwardly scoffed, "Who says there aren't any treasures here that catch my eye? Aren't you a 'priceless treasure'? Too bad mortals can't 'buy' you! If you're unhappy, you can transform yourself at will, scaring people to death several times over!" Inside the room, the two sat across a table.
This time, Miaoyu didn't offer him the Plum Blossom Tea, but instead intently scrutinized Baoyu from head to toe, her gaze full of scrutiny. Although being 'admired' by a beautiful woman was something to be proud of, being stared at like an antique by a beautiful woman, without blinking, finally broke even Baoyu's thick skin.
He looked down at himself, then gazed at the celestial beauty with a puzzled expression. "Is there something wrong with me?
Why are you looking at me like that?" Miaoyu didn't answer immediately, but after a moment, she withdrew her gaze and solemnly declared, "You really are a freak! In such a short time, your magical power has reached such a level!" Baoyu couldn't help but laugh and cry. He hadn't expected Miaoyu to have a penchant for teasing people! The helpless fellow, needing a favor, had no choice but to reluctantly accept the "great" title of freak!
After hearing Baoyu's purpose, the beauty laughed again, realizing she hadn't been wrong. Among all the cultivators in the world with magical power, perhaps only Baoyu would think of using transformation techniques for such a pointless thing. What else could he be but a freak?!

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