Chapter 844: Chapter 98: Where Emotions Arise
She was as beautiful as a dream.
She would come to my dreams every night.
That yearning, tossing and turning, sweetness and sorrow, need not be mentioned in detail.
"If the beloved is a dream, then every night she arrives on time," eight characters are enough.
Jiang Wang could not comprehend this feeling.
He rarely slept, and thus seldom dreamed. The dreams he did have were often of the terrible state of Maple Forest City Region.
So when he heard Xu Xiangqian’s words, he was not moved, but actually felt like laughing, "When you pursued Longchuan’s sister, did you talk like this as well?"
"Everyone has a love for beauty. My feelings for Feng Yao were out of admiration for something beautiful."
Xu Xiangqian was not at all embarrassed and continued with deep emotion, "At first, I thought my feelings for Instructor Zhao were the same. I, Xu Xiangqian, am greedy for money and lust for beauty; I love to appreciate beautiful scenery, and there’s no need to feign otherwise. If I like it, I draw near; if I don’t, I turn away. But through our time together, I’ve discovered that my feelings for Instructor Zhao are different. This feeling, it is love."
"Love for beauty" and "love for someone" are similar yet distinct.
Li Longchuan muttered, "Could it be because Miss Zhao hasn’t hit you yet?"
Pfft!
Jiang Wang, who had been on the verge of being swayed, nearly sprayed out all his drink.
Xu Xiangqian, after being severely beaten eighteen times, finally gave up pursuing Li Fengyao. This had long become a matter of jest among the noble sons of Linzi.
If you count the time before Jiang Wang participated in the Seven Stars Secret Realm when he was beaten for spreading rumors, that would be a total of nineteen times.
No matter how Jiang Wang and Li Longchuan took turns mocking him, Xu Xiangqian never seemed upset, exhibiting the magnanimity of "Mock me, slander me, what harm could it do to me?"
Instead, with a mischievous smile, he suddenly grabbed Jiang Wang’s arm and stood up, "Aren’t you curious about Instructor Zhao? Come on! I’ll take you to see her!"
"This is so sudden!" Caught off guard, Jiang Wang was pulled to his feet, "Why now?"
Xu Xiangqian had already pushed his chair back and was striding forward.
He simply said, "I miss her, so I will go see her!"
His answer was simple, direct, and taken for granted.
He reeked of alcohol, as if he were drunk, as if his words were drunken babble.
Dragging Jiang Wang along, he even started running.
It was clear, he was really anxious, really eager!
Jiang Wang was hurriedly dragged through the Spring Breeze Building by the impatient Xu Xiangqian. They caused mayhem, disturbing many people’s peace.
"Sorry, sorry."
Jiang Wang kept apologizing, but suddenly felt that Xu Gaoe this time... seemed to be serious.
Li Longchuan was cleaning up the aftermath, but going back and forth, he only needed one phrase: "Put it on Yan Fu’s tab!"
No one doubted that young master Yan Fu could not afford to pay, so even though the Spring Breeze Building was grand, not a single curse was heard. They let the drunkard drag his friend out without opposition.
Xu Xiangqian, dragging Jiang Wang along, raced out of the Spring Breeze Building with a bang and into the bustling street crowd.
At this moment, he did not resemble a disciple of a famous sect, nor did he seem like any young, promising Transcendent Cultivator. Like so many young men caught in love’s net, there was no difference.
After a rough look around and discerning the direction, he recklessly started running to the right.
"Where are we going?" Jiang Wang, unable to extricate himself, could only ask as he ran along.
"Zhihu Tea House!" Xu Xiangqian responded in the midst of hurry, "Instructor Zhao loves tea, is fond of tea; she must be there at this time!"
Time flows like water, swift and sudden. What a good name.
Jiang Wang commended silently in his heart, and said aloud, "Then let go of me, I’ll follow. Dragging me like this, it’s unseemly."
"Hehe," Xu Xiangqian chuckled cunningly, "I can’t let you run away."
Before Jiang Wang could figure out the meaning, the two had already stopped in front of a tea house.
They saw bamboo walls and green leaves as tiles. White stone paths and beaded jade curtains.
In front of the house stood a red peach tree, blooming in the spring breeze.
Jiang Wang and Xu Xiangqian stormed into the tranquil peach haven like two boorish men who knew nothing of subtlety.
Quite ruining the scenery.
Xu Xiangqian belted out another loud shout, "Instructor Zhao! I’m here!"
A whole spring river was ruffled by the wind, and the tranquility of the room was shattered.
The tea house instantly received many disapproving looks.
Li Longchuan, who followed behind, covered his forehead with his hand, unable to witness the scene.
Xu Xiangqian, caring little for the opinions of others, sauntered in with a flippant swish of the curtain and forcefully pulled Jiang Wang along, "Come on in! What are you dawdling for!"
"Brother Xu, aren’t you a scholar? You’re an advanced disciple of Qingya Academy. Where are your manners?" Jiang Wang looked at Xu Xiangqian, who behaved like a boorish drunkard, but ultimately did not voice his thoughts.
Ignoring the attendant greeting the guests and the various dissatisfied gazes...
With a clear goal in mind, Xu Xiangqian, tugging Jiang Wang along, swiftly navigated to the elegant seat where Zhao Wuyan was enjoying her tea.
This private booth was sectioned off with a landscape screen, containing nothing but a low table and two cushion seats.
Two women were sitting opposite each other.
The girl on the left was cute and loveable with dimples, looking indignantly at Xu Xiangqian.
The woman on the right was plain in appearance but had an unforgettable aura of someone standing out, alone and ethereal.
Although, if one were to judge solely on looks, she seemed incomparable to many beauties.
Yet, upon first sight, Jiang Wang was convinced that she must be Zhao Wuyan of Longmen Academy, the woman who haunted Xu Xiangqian’s dreams.
Some women can always radiate their unique charm, anytime and anywhere. That one glimpse of beauty is never obscured by anything.
Looking at the low table, it was simply laid out with just one pot and two cups.
Both the pot and cups looked ordinary, but the tea was extraordinary.
Its fragrance wafted through the nostrils, evoking the vastness of rivers and seas, refreshing the spirit.
"Why has Brother Xu come again?" Zhao Wuyan evidently felt quite vexed.
It appeared Xu Xiangqian had pestered her not just a few times.
Xu Xiangqian grinned broadly, "I missed you!"
Zhao Wuyan was quite helpless, "Brother, you’re drunk!"
Xu Xiangqian chuckled, "A drunken man speaks a sober mind!"
Just then, an angry shout exploded, "I think you’re just spouting nonsense while drunk!"
From a distant private booth, a powdered and painted young master stormed over.
Without need for inquiries, Jiang Wang could guess this was Yang Liu, a Fishing Sea Tower Disciple engrossed in rivalry and jealousy with Xu Xiangqian.
No ordinary person would dare to compete with a disciple of Qingya Academy.
A crowd followed closely behind him, presumably other disciples of the Sea Tower.
Now, without a doubt, Xu Xiangqian was a cultivator of God’s Inner Mansion, and since Yang Liu could match him blow for blow, it showed he was amongst the elite of the Sea Tower disciples.
He was also a leading pursuer of Zhao Wuyan, clearly much more courteous and patient than Xu Xiangqian. He had been sitting silently in a distant booth all along, fearing he might intrude upon the lady.
Imagine, the lady you’re careful not to offend, a shameless brute keeps barging in, how could you not get angry?
Yang Liu’s anger was understandable.
But the likes of Xu Gaoe wouldn’t lose a battle of words.
He responded with a disdainful snicker, "Ha, seems like you’ve had your fill with pleasure! Why are you rushing over for more?"
"I think you haven’t been beaten enough. Are your front teeth fixed yet?" Yang Liu was clearly aware of Xu Xiangqian’s banter tactics and chose not to get entangled, directly hitting where it hurt.
Xu Xiangqian immediately flew into a rage, "You, surnamed Yang, come here and fight me again!"
Yang Liu was not one to back down either, "I’m not scared of you!"
Clang~
A light sound rang out.
It was Zhao Wuyan, unable to stand it any longer, flicking the teacup with her finger. The sound of the cup as clear as a bell calmed the anger in people’s hearts considerably.
"If you wish to fight, please take it outside. Do not disturb the other guests in the tea house," said Zhao Wuyan in a calm voice, but anger was evident, "Being born into a good family and having high cultivation doesn’t give you the right to do as you please and disregard the feelings of others, does it?"
