plumnovel Chapter 13: If you don't work hard, you'll become a woman's plaything.
Chapter 13: If you don't work hard, you'll become a woman's plaything.
After a conversation, Su Wan Ning saw him to the door and stood on tiptoe to straighten his collar.
"Rest well, don't worry. Even if the sky falls, your senior sister will hold it up for you."
Lu Zheji looked at her and finally couldn't help but ask, "Senior Sister, don't you ever ask me anything about my cultivation of demonic arts?"
Su Wanning blinked: "The Lu royal family is descended from that great demon Emperor Wu. What's so strange about them having a lineage of demonic arts?"
Lu Zheji: "..."
Well, Emperor Wu is truly an all-purpose scapegoat.
Su Wan Ning suppressed her smile and looked at him seriously: "I believe that Junior Brother would not use demonic magic to do evil, but if this matter gets out, it will cause a lot of trouble. Please be careful in the future."
Lu Zheji nodded: "I was ignorant. Fortunately, only my junior sister knows about this."
Su Wan Ning covered her mouth and chuckled, "Junior Brother, you wouldn't be suggesting that if this matter leaks out, it's because your senior sister betrayed you, would you?"
Lu Zheji met her gaze and smiled. "Senior sister is the person I trust most. When the time comes, even if I doubt myself, I will never doubt that senior sister would betray me."
Su Wan Ning returned his smile with her signature sweet smile, her eyes curving into two crescent moons and her dimples shallow.
Goodnight, junior brother.
……
Bullfighting Manor.
Night had fallen, and Manager Wang sat alone in his tent.
An oil lamp sat on the table, its flame flickering and casting his shadow on the wall, swaying gently.
On the table in front of him lay a token.
Manager Wang's gaze lingered on the token for a long time before he finally managed to utter a low murmur:
"The Su family..."
When Su Wan Ning and the hostage of the Prince of Zhenbei questioned the Bull Demon King about the matter during the day, the reason why he did not immediately admit it was not because he was truly adhering to the rules, but because he instinctively felt that the Bull Demon King's sudden madness was probably a play staged by the two of them to force a sale.
However, due to their respective positions, they couldn't say it directly.
However, the fact that the Prince of Zhenbei was diagnosed with intellectual disability by that official himself is absolutely true. When he said that "the Empress will definitely agree," he was not referring to the relationship between the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion and the Lin family, but rather to the sake of that official.
Since Lu Zheji is an idiot, the only one who could be behind this is Su Wanning.
Such despicable tactics are consistent with his long-held stereotype of the Su family.
Later, when Su Wan Ning handed over the token, it was a tacit admission that she would take responsibility for the matter.
She'd risk tearing off the mask of kindness she'd cultivated for years in Chang'an circles, risking animosity with the Lin family, all just to get that silly boy a cow? Could this little girl from the Su family really have her eye on him?
Manager Wang shook his head and sighed for Lu Zheji:
"You've been entangled with a woman from the Su family. What heinous things did you do in your past life?"
The Su family.
The family that controls the prestigious Shennong Valley in the cultivation world is the most notorious family in the top circles of the Great Wei Dynasty, without exception.
During Emperor Wu's reign, the Su family committed many evil deeds. However, seeing that Emperor Wu's power was waning, the family turned against him, cleaned their hands, and transformed into pillars of the righteous path.
Today, it is a sacred place for physicians, praised by everyone in the cultivation world.
Glamorous and splendid, yet hypocritical.
The Lin family, who had been rivals with them for many years, knew all too well how much filth was hidden behind the scenes, and how twisted and vile each member was under the influence of that dirty bloodline.
Su Wanning came to Chang'an several years ago. She claimed that she had ordinary talent and was just a marginal figure in the Su family. She was also always simple and kind, and had the demeanor of a doctor.
Many of the younger generation in Chang'an have a good impression of this sweet and lovely young doctor.
Manager Wang scoffed at this.
"If the Su family can raise an innocent and kind girl, I'd rather believe that the goddess can be moved by mortal desires."
……
The moonlight, like water, poured down on a spiritual spring in a hidden grotto.
The spring pool is made of green jade, and a faint fragrance floats in the steam.
A graceful figure leaned against the edge of the pool, the water rippling below her collarbone, the surface of the water perfectly concealing her full, rounded breasts, revealing only a slender, jade-like neck and two smooth, rounded shoulders. Moonlight shone on her snow-white skin, as fine as the finest mutton-fat jade, so delicate and flawless.
Her long, wet hair clung to her back, a few strands floating on the water's surface, swaying gently with the ripples. She tilted her head back slightly, closed her eyes to rest, water droplets sliding down her chin and disappearing beneath the surface along the graceful curve of her neck.
A long, bright red dress hung on a screen to the side, like a quietly burning flame, swaying gently in the night breeze.
A very faint sound came from outside the window.
It was like the night breeze rustling the windowpanes, or like a nimble cat landing on the ground.
The woman in the pool didn't even lift her eyelids, remaining languidly leaning against the pool wall. She merely parted her lips slightly and uttered two words: "How is it?"
"As expected, there's a problem. After breaking through to the second realm, he can no longer cast spells." A melodious, girlish voice rang out from the shadows, accompanied by the soft rustling of fabric.
The woman in the pond frowned slightly.
A petite figure emerged barefoot from behind the screen.
The person who came was none other than Su Wanning, who had just suffered a setback on Anfu Road. She walked barefoot to the edge of the pool, lifted the hem of her moon-white thin dress, sat down by the pool, and put her slender legs into the spiritual spring.
The spring water reached her calves, and she squinted contentedly, her toes lightly touching the water's surface, creating ripples.
As the water rippled, the graceful outline of the woman submerged in the pool was faintly revealed, but the water surface stopped at just the right point, allowing only a glimpse of a breathtaking arc before revealing nothing more.
Su Wanning swung her feet and spoke with a smile:
"That child trusted me completely. I only added a tiny bit of the Heart-Searching Incense, and he spilled the whole truth."
"Your brain's really healed; you even know to test if I'm on your side. Too bad, experience counts, hahaha!"
She smiled, her eyes crinkling and her dimples shallow, but the smile on her face was no longer the sweet one that Lu Zheji was familiar with; instead, it carried a hint of sly pleasure.
The woman in the pool ignored her smugness and asked, "You can't cure it?"
Su Wan Ning swung her toes, nonchalantly saying, "I haven't figured out what the problem is yet. We'll see how it goes. But if even I can't cure it, I reckon there aren't many in this world who can."
The woman in the pond then asked, "Then why does he practice demonic arts?"
Su Wan Ning laughed so hard she almost fell over, kicking her feet wildly in the water, splashing water everywhere. "You have no idea, that kid, when he got into this mess, was actually trying to prove to you that he has potential no less than the Holy Body! Hahaha, that's hilarious, even funnier than watching him roll around on the ground from the bitter medicine!"
Amidst the rising steam, the woman in the pool let out a languid chuckle: "Interesting. I'll wait and see."
Su Wan Ning paused in her splashing, turning her head in astonishment: "Are you serious? You really think he can compare to the Holy Body?"
The woman did not answer immediately.
With a splash, the tall, voluptuous figure suddenly stood up from the spring.
Moonlight poured down, and water droplets rolled down the breathtaking curves. The lines of her shoulders and back were as smooth as water, and her waist was as slender as a willow. Every undulation was just right, like a piece of jade that had been meticulously carved by the heavens.
She walked barefoot onto the shore, leaving a winding trail of water on the bluestone slabs.
"Who knows? Back then, the two emperors, Wen and Wu, didn't even have spiritual roots, let alone sacred bodies, yet they still reached the pinnacle of the cultivation world."
Her gaze pierced through the misty water as she looked out at the bright moon.
"Instead of running away, they choose to draw their swords..."
"He does have some of his grandfather's style."
Su Wan Ning raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with disappointment: "The sacred body I had in my hands is now useless, and you're even calmer than I expected. How boring."
The tall woman didn't reply. With a flick of her wrist, the vibrant red dress on the screen billowed up like a leaping flame and draped over her body. The crimson fabric clung to her damp skin, outlining breathtaking curves.
She fastened her belt, her voice languid and nonchalant: "Anyway, the Holy Body was just an unexpected bonus. If it's truly useless, then let it return to its original purpose."
Su Wan Ning was swinging her legs, water splashing lightly, when she heard this she smiled maliciously: "I understand, as long as that thing works, that's fine. Over the years I've fed him plenty of aphrodisiac herbs, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
The tall, beautiful woman simply chuckled lightly, neither confirming nor denying.
The evening breeze blew in through the window, causing her red dress to flutter and rustle.
The beautiful woman raised a hand to gather her wet hair behind her shoulder, the water droplets at the ends creating a delicate arc of light. Barefoot in the moonlight, her waist swaying gracefully, she walked away, leaving only a languid echo in the night breeze that reached the young woman's ear:
"Then I'll have to wait and see, witch. Just be careful not to be possessive of your food then."
Su Wan Ning pouted: "Why would I be protective of my food? I'm happy that the pigs I raise are robbing other people's cabbages!"
……
The day the results were announced at the academy was fine.
On the stone wall at the east end of the training ground, a red notice board three zhang long was laid out in a row, with hundreds of names densely listed.
A large crowd surged in front of the list, with shouts rising and falling.
"Congratulations! Congratulations! You've been promoted to a sixth-rank officer in the Demon Slayer Division—this is an unprecedented opportunity!"
"Not at all, Brother Zhou's entry into the Imperial Observatory is truly a testament to his talent and learning. In the future, we will still have to rely on Brother Zhou's guidance to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and to search for demons."
"You flatter me. It's just a tedious job of observing the heavens and surveying the earth. It's nothing compared to the leisurely life of the Imperial Hospital."
"Why is Young Master Zhang sighing like this? Everyone knows how powerful the Moon Guard is; others would kill to get in."
"You don't know, the Moon Guard is strict with others, and they're just as strict with their own people. If it weren't for my father's insistence, I would rather be sent out as a local military officer, far from the emperor's reach, wouldn't that be more pleasant?"
Amid the noise, a few students walked past the crowd without even glancing at the list, as if the bright future displayed on the wall had nothing to do with them.
They all knew perfectly well that they had no chance of making the list from the very beginning.
Lu Zheji was one of them. He stood with his hands behind his back on the outskirts of the crowd, looking at the faces that were either ecstatic or dejected, and couldn't help but shake his head, sighing:
"The excitement belongs to them; I have nothing."
From within the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, the goddess's clear, cold voice drifted over: "Stop chuckling before you speak."
Lu Zheji subconsciously touched his face, and sure enough, the corners of his mouth had turned up high and he couldn't suppress them.
He decided to stop pretending and chuckled to himself, "No way, thanks to Lady Qiao Qiao, I'm quite pleased with myself now."
Eight days ago, he thought that boosting cultivation was just outsourcing the tedious task of circulating one's energy through the body, so that he could free up his mind to deal with other matters. But after the goddess took over, he realized how wrong he was.
First, circulating spiritual energy requires a calm and focused mind, guiding it along the meridians with intention—an extremely mentally taxing task. Ordinary cultivators usually cultivate for a while, then rest, waiting for their mind to recover before continuing. Otherwise, under such exhaustion, even a slight distraction can lead to sluggish spiritual energy, resulting in less effective results, or even damage to the meridians and ruin one's future.
The effective cultivation time each day is closely related to the strength of one's spiritual soul. Even after Lu Zheji awakened and his spiritual soul grew stronger, he could only cultivate for about two hours a day. Before awakening, half an hour was his limit.
As one's spiritual cultivation level increases, the bottlenecks in the spiritual realm will gradually diminish until they become completely unrestricted. However, people ultimately need rest; it's impossible to meditate all day long.
During the eight days that the goddess took over the cultivation, she worked tirelessly day and night, without fail, for twelve hours a day.
Lu Zheji initially felt a little guilty, thinking it was unreasonable to make her work overtime all day without rest, but the goddess simply replied, "For me, it's as natural as breathing."
Gold-level power leveling is a type of service.
That's not all. Even when circulating the same energy throughout the body, the efficiency of different cultivators varies drastically, which is a manifestation of aptitude. Before awakening, the original body's aptitude was actually quite remarkable under the blessing of the Dao Embryo. Its mediocre cultivation was purely due to being held back by its divine soul. Now that the Dao Embryo has transformed into a Sacred Body, its cultivation efficiency has reached a new level.
Compared to a goddess, she is still not worth mentioning.
Her state of circulating energy has a special name—the perfect energy circulation.
This is a mysterious state that cultivators can only occasionally reach when they enter a rare moment of enlightenment, and its efficiency is several times greater than that of normal cultivation.
The goddess maintains a perfect cycle of energy, as naturally as breathing, 24 hours a day!
Absolutely terrifying!
In just eight days, Lu Zheji's cultivation level made visible progress. At this rate, he would be able to reach the threshold of the third realm in less than three months.
Even if such talent meant he was crippled and unable to cast spells, it would still be a sure-fire way to make money. He couldn't think of any reason why that important person wouldn't accept it.
At this moment, Lu Zheji had no worries about the future; all that remained in his heart was a restless desire—the desire to show off.
However, there is still a small matter at hand...
The goddess asked in her mind's eye, "Whom do you intend to practice martial arts with?"
The way sects recruit students who failed the imperial examinations is called the "class examination," which is basically an interview. Those with connections can simply bow and scrape and be accepted, while those without connections have to show off their strengths. A simple way to do this is to find someone to fight.
This is something you have to arrange yourself. Outsiders can't enter the academy, so you can only ask your classmates for help.
The original owner of this body isolated all her classmates by herself, and her popularity was completely ruined.
Lu Zheji smiled slightly: "I have my own way."
He quickened his pace, walked through the corridor, and arrived at his assigned Class 2, Section A.
This school exclusively admits the sons of nobles and officials, making it a veritable playground for spoiled brats.
Of course, not everyone in the "spoiled brats" class is a spoiled brat. Often, the range of their potential is vastly different, including both lazy good-for-nothings and geniuses from prestigious families. It just so happens that Lu Zheji's class was mostly composed of mediocre individuals.
He had heard Su Wanning mention that at this age, anyone who dared to call themselves a genius was at least at the third realm, and some prodigies could even reach the peak of the third realm.
His classmates, whose highest cultivation level was only at the peak of the second realm, were now surrounded by a crowd in the center, with flattery rising and falling.
"Brother Liu, you've just been promoted to a minor officer in the Demon Slayer Division, starting at the sixth rank. Your future is limitless!"
"Congratulations, Brother Liu! May you achieve great success in the future, and don't forget to give me a hand!"
"Yes, Brother Liu, I am not very talented, but I have been fortunate enough to get a job as a clerk in the Demon Slayer Division. If I am assigned to your command, I would be grateful if you would take good care of me!"
The student surnamed Liu cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, his face displaying just the right amount of humility: "Fellow students, you flatter me. I was merely fortunate. In the future, as fellow students in the Demon Slayer Division, we should look after each other and work together through thick and thin."
No one noticed Lu Zheji's arrival.
This eccentric and withdrawn person had long been ignored by them.
In the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, the goddess slowly opened her beautiful eyes. She was not good at socializing. Although she had become a little more talkative during the days she spent with Lu Zheji, it was still limited.
At this moment, she wanted to see how Lu Zheji would get help in this situation. Would he just take out money directly?
To her astonishment, Lu Zheji's actions left her speechless. He waved his hands and shouted:
"Brothers! All eyes on me! Look at me! I have something to announce!"