"Why do you wear boots? Aren't you hot?" asked Lu Sheng casually. "Actually, your legs are your best feature."

Chen Yunxi was startled, slightly lowering her head as her face reddened somewhat.

"You don't like boots... Then from now on, I'll show my legs... only for you to see..."

Lu Sheng only casually commented yet didn't expect...

An awkward atmosphere descended between them for a time as both fell silent, slowly strolling amidst the grasslands.

Lu Sheng felt somewhat spaced out.

It had been half a year. During this recovery period, he encountered nothing relating to ghosts or monsters, nor heard any news about Duan Mowan or Yan Kai. It was as if everything before only seemed like illusions while daily life had resumed its tranquil peace.

If not for the inner qi continuously circulating and strengthening within his body, if not for the Deep Sapphire Modifier he could call out to view anytime proving otherwise, perhaps he truly would've believed himself living in a monster-less peaceful world.

"Big brother Lu..." Chen Yunxi suddenly called out softly, interrupting Lu Sheng's train of thought.

"Yes?" Lu Sheng halted his steps.

Chen Yunxi lowered her head, blushing as she softly said, "My father... wishes to invite you over as a guest for a casual meal."

Lu Sheng was startled. Wasn't this considered meeting the parents? Yet he and Chen Yunxi weren't even in a romantic relationship yet. Wasn't this a bit rushed?

"Does big brother Lu not wish to go?" Seeing Lu Sheng unresponsive, traces of disappointment flashed through Chen Yunxi's expression. "It's just a casual meal. Father simply wants to see what kind of person you are."

Lu Sheng was rendered speechless upon seeing this. He also harbored some fondness towards Chen Yunxi but they hadn't reached that stage yet. Suddenly developing so swiftly caught him unprepared.

After a period of contemplation, he still said, "This student also very much wishes to meet Sir Chen to see what character such an overlord of wealth is like."

Hearing this, Chen Yunxi promptly revealed a smile. "Then you'll be disappointed. My father is just a rotten old fogey who likes keeping a stern face when he's actually wretched in private!"

Lu Sheng also laughed. Yet he constantly felt an unreal sensation, a feeling of not belonging.

If her family approved of him afterwards, then he would also have to bring Chen Yunxi back to meet his own father and Stepmother. Then would be the two families' betrothal, preparing bridewealth and picking an auspicious wedding date before finally completing the marriage rituals.

Of course, if everything went smoothly. But to tell the truth, he didn't actually plan on marrying so early.

"The imperial exams are approaching. I wonder which institute Big Brother Lu wishes to enter if you pass? It concerns the future direction and heights of our official careers," asked Chen Yunxi softly. "I had someone specially solve last year's exam questions here. There are five different solutions. Would Big Brother Lu want me to have them delivered over to help prep if needed? More practice and deducing the examiners' thoughts this year will surely avoid mistakes."

"I... then I must thank Lady Yunxi," said Lu Sheng, hesitating slightly before accepting as feelings of cluelessness rose within.

If things went so smoothly that he passed the imperial exams, then came the provincial exams, followed by the national finals and palace examinations. If he kept advancing through each tier, the eventual outcome would be entering officialdom. Moreover, not as some lowly position... destined to soar in the future.

Yet.

What of it?

He suddenly recalled Duan Mowan's prior mentions. If all was true, what meaning would there be in him entering officialdom?

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The sounds of chatter and drinking carried faintly from the distant pavilion. Lu Sheng felt an intense sensation of isolation.

"Big brother Lu, I heard the dried honey plum flavor at Xixiang Street is pretty good. There are also quite a few dried fruit shops. How about we go take a look together tomorrow night? Tomorrow's Festival, always very lively during past Dragon Dances," Chen Yunxi softly suggested beside him.

"Alright..." Lu Sheng was also free. He had people investigating Red Whale Gang and furthermore spent money acquiring quite a few precious medicinal ingredients, leaving his reserves rather scant now.

With his money depleted, progress cultivating and nourishing his body slowed. He needed to swiftly find ways of earning funds.

After strolling with Chen Yunxi a while longer as she chatted about amusing academy anecdotes and stories of their mutual friends, seeming in pleasant mood, Lu Sheng accompanied her on a bit more walking before they slowly headed back.

Bidding Chen Yunxi and Song Zhenguo's company farewell, Lu Sheng slowly walked along the return path.

After crossing the moat, several mountain peasants lugging shoulder poles passed by while chatting as they entered the city.

"Won't Matrapine River's embargo lift around this time?"

"Just about. My home's also prepared the nets already. Just waiting for the fishing moratorium to end before going to get a huge catch," laughed one elderly farmer.

"If the tides don't surge, yields should be decent this year after such a long prohibition," said another.

"You're right."

The peasants swayed in carrying their mountain goods and vegetables.

Listening in, Lu Sheng also smiled. "It's far too peaceful here compared to Jiulian."

Swiftly returning to his lodgings, Lu Sheng's current dwelling was a small building near the city gates consisting of a two-story shop with the lower level operating a wine workshop while the upstairs second floor was Lu family property. The entire building contained three connected rental units merged into one.

For convenience, Lu Sheng didn't cook at home and instead prepaid meals at a nearby restaurant under the wine workshop, eating there daily at fixed times.

After the meal, he returned to rest. Skipping cultivation, he administered some blood and qi replenishing medicinal paste before turning in early.

Rousing early next morning, he hailed a carriage straight to Xixiang Street.

Still feeling somewhat drowsy sitting in the coach, he figured it was insufficient essence and reached to the medicine pouch at his waist. Fumbling inside, he took out a red medicinal pellet, just about to ingest it, when he suddenly sensed something off about himself.

After carefully examining himself all over, he lightly fished around his own sleeve and took out a slip of light yellow paper stealthily affixed to the inside lining that he only noticed due to bumping into it while feeling for the pouch behind him earlier.

"Hm?"

Lu Sheng removed and slowly unfolded the note.

Written concisely upon it were several lines: 'Young Lord need not worry. The Man Rollers attempted to control a terrifying monster but encountered great calamity with their power obliterated. They've no leisure to bother with settling petty grudges with you. - Mowan.'

Lu Sheng's expression remained aloof as he rolled up the paper and placed it inside his pouch.

"So Duan Mowan still kept watch over me..."

"The Man Rollers were always a major threat weighing on my mind. With my current level, I'm undoubtedly still unable to contend against such a formidable power capable of manipulating monsters and ghosts. To think they would be destroyed just like that after she said so..." Lu Sheng once again felt this world was far too dangerous.

Having stowed away the slip, after a bit more waiting, the carriage slowly halted before the prearranged Xunyang Tower he promised to meet Chen Yunxi and the rest at.

Alighting from the coach, Lu Sheng saw the crowded entryway with streams of people coming and going before Xunyang Tower.

Standing tall at twelve stories akin to a Buddhist pagoda, crimson Xunyang Tower currently had massive crowds packing every floor under the tenth story as citizens vied for views of the dragon dance.

Opportunistic peddlers loudly hawked their wares adding to the surrounding din.

Lu Sheng squeezed through and first entered the tower, climbing up to the calmer tenth floor devoid of previous claustrophobic congestion.

"Are you Lord Lu?" He had just reached the tenth floor when maidservants came over to inquire.

"This way, Brother Lu is over here!" Song Zhenguo's group was already waving over.

Chen Yunxi stood amongst them in charming green form-fitting long dress that perfectly highlighted her sublime figure. Lustrous black tresses draped smoothly past her waist with only a green ribbon tying the ends.

Lu Sheng smiled and walked over. "You all have my gratitude for grabbing such a choice floor!"

Song Zhenguo repeatedly waved his hand. "It is us relying on your radiance instead. Lady Yunxi called in some connections to specially arrange this banquet for Lord Lu."

"Exactly. If not for Lady Yunxi's arrangements, I fear we would've barely made the ninth floor at most. We definitely couldn't reach this tenth floor alone," another student surnamed Wang chimed in laughing. Called Ziquan, he came from Zihua City and cut just as elegant a profile as Song Zhenguo. Lu Sheng was also on decent terms with him.

"How can that be... just coincidentally met an acquaintance..." said the embarrassed Chen Yunxi, sneaking a quick glimpse at Lu Sheng while the red tinge on her charming face betrayed her emotions.

Lu Sheng sighed internally. Still, he smiled at Chen Yunxi and voluntarily walked over to be seated.

The group proceeded to eat, chat and joke around boisterously. Intermingled were several crude couplets they deluded themselves into believing were refined poetry, creating a rather passionate atmosphere.

Lu Sheng sat together with Chen Yunxi while two other girls had arrived, one next to Song Zhenguo and the other beside an icy-faced student. Everyone looked paired up.

Boom! Dazzling golden fireworks suddenly erupted outside Xunyang Tower, blossoming gorgeously against the night sky into a massive peony.

"It's starting! It's starting!" Everyone cheered, getting up and surging to the edges for a better view.