Chapter 54: 53 The Way of the World (Part 1)

Zhang Rongfang suddenly understood what that inexplicable look in Xia Rongrong’s eyes was when they first met.

It was exactly the kind of look when you pick meat at the market.

So this guy is treating him like a dish?

“Thanks for your kind offer, senior sister, but I don’t like socializing, so I’ll pass,” Zhang Rongfang politely declined.

He wasn’t desperate enough to sell himself for money.

“Junior brother, you’re being narrow-minded,” Xia Rongrong sighed. “Do you think this is about matchmaking? You’ve misunderstood. We’re going to help many young ladies relieve their boredom.”

Zhang Rongfang was speechless, waved his hand, and stopped talking. He turned around and left.

“Hey, don’t go.” Xia Rongrong quickly tried to stop him. She had already sent Zhang Rongfang’s portrait ahead, and the eldest daughter of the Wanyan family, Wanyan Lu, had her eyes on him.

If she couldn’t bring him along, she wouldn’t get her introduction fee this time.

In truth, she didn’t want to do this job.

But she had no choice. Those young ladies were all born into wealth, with such good nutrition that each one had a lush figure and astonishing weight…

Although doing this job frequently made it so that no disciples dared to live in the rooms next to her, everything has its pros and cons. At least now she had a lot more resources and money.

Xia Rongrong tried to persuade Zhang Rongfang all along the way, but after much talking, he was unswayed and refused to agree.

In the end, he went inside, closed the door, and wouldn’t come out.

Out of options, she had to leave Mingjing Palace.

In a nearby yellow-tiled residential building, a three-story small building, Xia Rongrong met a young woman with a ’beautiful’ complexion again.

The woman was 1.8 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide, her nose and eyes squeezed by fat into two slits and two holes, as her blood-red mouth continued tearing at a freshly roasted pork leg.

“Xia Rongrong meets Miss Wanyan.”

Led by a maid, Xia Rongrong stood behind the woman and bowed.

“Hmm, you’re here? Where is he? How many outstanding guys are coming this time? How is the one I liked?”

The woman turned around, her round body like a giant longan, her flesh wobbling slightly as she moved.

“Uh…” Xia Rongrong felt troubled. These young ladies were all difficult to deal with, yet easy to offend.

She had previously drawn portraits of all available young men for the young ladies to choose from. Everything was well arranged.

But she hadn’t expected that Zhang Ying would not go.

“Is it difficult? It’s okay.” Wanyan Lu waved her chubby hand. “Is it about money? If it can be solved with money, it’s not a problem. Let him name a price. As long as it’s not too outrageous, it’s all doable.

However, he must meet in person first.”

“Well… Zhang Ying does need money, but he’s not interested in attending any gatherings,” Xia Rongrong explained.

“Needs money but still doesn’t go?” Wanyan Lu touched her chin and jiggled the three layers of fat on it.

“He’s got guts. I like a man with guts.” She’d participated in gatherings like this over a dozen times.

She’d had at least a dozen suitors.

But each time, the person she had her eyes on would rather take less money and go for other young ladies.

They’d rather not be with her.

Choice is mutual, and if the other party absolutely refuses, she can’t force it.

All she could do was keep waiting. Now this time, she had her eye on Zhang Rongfang, from the portraits she received.

Of course, she fancied him mainly because he had a sturdy build with no foundation, perhaps… willing to be with her.

“But…” Xia Rongrong sighed internally, wanted to say something, but kept silent.

“How about this, I’ll meet him personally and let him name a price,” Wanyan Lu said seriously, tossing aside the pork leg and taking a towel from the maid to wipe her hands.

This tactic of negotiating directly on the spot was quite effective for her, almost working several times.

“But…” Xia Rongrong hesitated.

“No problem, don’t tell him. I’ll just go to Mingjing Palace as a pilgrimage guest for a couple of days,” Wanyan Lu waved her hand.

“Alright then…” Xia Rongrong reluctantly agreed.

Miss Wanyan Lu’s build was quite famous among the circles of Tan Yang’s young ladies.

The Wanyan family had been matchmaking for their precious daughter everywhere, but no one was willing.

After all, with her build, even though one could enjoy the Wanyan family’s wealth and power benefits, one must have the fate to enjoy it.

With her nearly 600 pounds of weight, if she turned over at night, it’d be like Mount Tai crushing down. Even an ordinary Martial Artist would be crushed to death on the spot…

As time passed, the Wanyan family gave up searching.

But Wanyan Lu herself did not give up. She decided to go out and find someone herself, having attended over ten gatherings in the circle.

Yet she hadn’t found a single person.

Her standards were very low; she had her eyes on many.

The key is that others didn’t fancy her.

It was nighttime.

Zhang Rongfang leisurely patrolled the daoist palace with the patrol team.

The daoist palace was much quieter at night; from the halls came faint sounds of evening recitations.

The wind blew through the pine trees, dropping a faint cascade of pine needles.

Soon, they reached a two-story area where the masters lived.

The patrol leader, Daoist Yuanxin, turned his head.

“Split up, patrol around, and gather at the pavilion in the back.”

“Yes.”

The others quickly responded.

This small building area had many narrow alleys, so they needed to split up to patrol.

Zhang Rongfang chose his usual way, walking from the outermost alley.

He and another tall thin daoist moved step by step along the alley.

Suddenly, two people in brocade clothing were seen wobbling towards them.

The two kept their heads down; one seemed drunk, staggering.

The other was holding him firmly, berating his friend for drinking too much as they walked.

Seeing the visitor, Zhang Rongfang and his companion stepped aside, making way for the other party to pass.

These days, pilgrims who can stay at the Taoist temple have certain status and background; they are not ordinary people.

Thus, seeing them this late, naturally, one should be more courteous and polite.

As the two lanterns they carried cast speckles of light.

Both parties gradually approached, brushing past each other.

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang narrowed his eyes, noticing that the robe of the supported man seemed a bit disheveled.

It was as if he had just gotten up at night, threw it over himself, with the belt not properly tied, and the hem slightly askew.

“This gentleman, why do I feel like you look unfamiliar?” Zhang Rongfang suddenly spoke.

Not many pilgrims staying at the temple would be wandering around so late.

When they go out to patrol, they must remember and recognize the people.

But this person….

The man paused in his steps.

“I came to the temple to drink with Brother Huo Yun. With so many people around, not seeing each other should be quite normal?”

“Is that so?” Zhang Rongfang examined the hand supporting the drunken man.

Those hands….

In an instant, he lunged forward, hand shaped like a knife, striking directly at the man’s waist.

This move was incredibly fast, reaching the level of a second-tier master in terms of speed alone.

Not only did this person fail to react, but even the Daoist patrolling with Zhang Rongfang couldn’t react.

Neither of them expected Zhang Rongfang to suddenly launch an attack.

Under the dim glow of the lantern.

Zhang Rongfang’s single-handed strike was about to hit the man’s waist.

Thunk.

A hand came down from above, precisely blocking the blow.

The man realized something was wrong, released the drunken man, and sprinted away.

After several steps, he swung his palm heavily, striking the other patrolling Daoist away.

His strength and speed were far beyond what a first-tier martial artist could match.

“Trying to escape!” Before finishing the sentence, Zhang Rongfang quickly advanced, arms spread wide, performing both a palm and a punch, simultaneously using the Mountain-shaped Talisman and Morning Energy Talisman, feet executing the Mist Smoke Step.

In an instant, the two exchanged over a dozen moves in the alley.

The man suddenly retreated quickly, tossing his embroidered robe high.

By the time Zhang Rongfang pulled down the robe with a palm, the person had already vanished.

“Such a quick body technique!”

His face slightly tensed.

He had already used second-tier ability just now, but still, the man managed to escape.

It seemed that unless he revealed his full body technique at the fifth-tier level to suppress him, it would be extremely difficult to capture this man.

’Indeed, Tan Yang is a place where hidden talents lie, much stronger and more dangerous than Huaxin County.’

He turned to look at the drunken man who had collapsed softly on the ground.

Immediately walked forward, grabbed the man’s collar, and gently patted his cheek.

“Hey, pilgrim, are you still awake?”

He attacked just now because he saw that the man was not supporting this person.

Instead, he was controlling this drunkard with a backhand grip.

With that man’s skills, to kill an ordinary person at close range, it only took a single power move to instantly end their life.

Therefore, Zhang Rongfang launched a sudden attack, with a stance of disregard for others’ lives, forcing the man to act too late.

If the opponent had acted first to kill, he himself would have been struck fatally by Zhang Rongfang due to hesitation.

So the momentary hesitation determined the outcome.

Often, victory or defeat doesn’t depend solely on martial prowess but on decisiveness.

The difference between victory and defeat is merely a hair’s breadth.

Life and death also, in fact, are only separated by a thin line.

“Dao brother!!” The drunken man tightly gripped Zhang Rongfang’s arm. “Thank… thanks to you, otherwise today I… I…”

He swayed, seeming to completely relax, his head lolling to the side, fainting away.

Zhang Rongfang faintly detected a subtle medicinal scent from this person.

At this moment, the other patrol martial artists hurriedly arrived.

Daoist Yuanxin, leading the team, approached quickly, squatted down without a word to inspect.

“Affected by Enchanting Wine Fragrance, a type of intoxicating drug. Quickly send to the pill chamber for antidote.”

He stood up, looked at Zhang Rongfang and the other patrolling Daoist.

“What happened? You better explain everything carefully!”

“Yes!”

Zhang Rongfang and his companion quickly responded.

After narrating the events thoroughly.

“Good job! Consider it a merit for you!”

Daoist Yuanxin patted Zhang Rongfang’s shoulder.

“Had you not acted decisively, there might have been trouble.” He glanced at the drugged young man, his eyes showing a hint of fear.

“Quickly notify the patrol room, increase manpower, and tightly patrol the entire Taoist temple.”

“Yes!”

A group of people immediately raised their spirits.

Zhang Rongfang was also forced to work overtime, digging into the night, ensuring nothing else was amiss, before being released to return to his room.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep