Hu Liena: The Latrine Here Didn't Stink!

Was this man an idiot?

How could Teacher possibly agree to a method like that?

Teacher can't wait to reward these elders with even more money. How could she possibly agree to confiscate their family fortunes? It's simply impossible!

It seems this Tenth Elder really doesn't have a shred of wisdom!

Hu Liena mocked him inwardly.

But then.

Bibi Dong's next words left her dumbfounded.

"Good idea!"

Hearing Bibi Dong praise him like that, Hu Liena turned to stone on the spot.

Her little mouth fell open in an O, her face full of disbelief.

What had she just heard?!

She had actually heard her teacher praise someone.

This was straight out of the Arabian Nights!

After all.

She had followed Bibi Dong since childhood, for more than a dozen years now.

Yet she had never heard a single word of praise for anyone from her teacher's mouth.

Whether dealing with her or the other elders, Bibi Dong's expression was remarkably consistent.

Her face was forever like the depths of winter.

Though breathtakingly beautiful, she was also cold to the bone, her expression always icy.

And now.

Not only had she heard her teacher praise someone, she had also caught another rare glimpse of the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.

She had seen this miraculous sight in the carriage earlier.

And now.

It had happened again.

Hu Liena couldn't understand it.

Clearly, what the Tenth Elder had said was no more useful than a fart.

Yet he had still earned her teacher's praise.

And what about her?

Whenever she had broken through a major realm in the past, she had run to tell her teacher the good news.

She had hoped to earn her teacher's praise.

But how had that turned out?

In the end, not only had her teacher withheld her praise, she had even told her with a cold face not to aim too high or become complacent.

She had to remember that there were heavens beyond the heavens, and people beyond people.

She had also said that Hu Liena really wasn't working hard enough at her cultivation, or with her talent and intelligence, she would have been far beyond her current realm.

Even the elders had never seen the slightest smile on her teacher's face.

And now.

In this short span of time.

She had actually seen her teacher smile twice.

Though her teacher's smiles had been faint, Hu Liena had spent so many years at her side.

She could still tell at a glance that they were smiles.

Besides.

She could clearly feel it too.

Ever since her teacher had come here, she no longer had that cold, stern air that kept people a thousand miles away.

On the contrary.

Hu Liena could even sense a hint of relaxed, carefree pleasure about Bibi Dong.

What was so special about this Tenth Elder that he could make her teacher show a side of herself she had never shown before?

Could Teacher have fallen for this elder?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!!

Teacher has never been interested in romance between men and women. How could she fall for someone who looks...

Hu Liena looked at Li Mubai and studied him closely.

His long hair was coiled atop his head, and his thick eyebrows gave him a somewhat heroic air.

His eyes, beneath their double eyelids, held a slightly frivolous look.

For some reason.

Hu Liena even sensed a hint of loneliness in them.

His face had well-defined features, and unlike the other elders, he wore no beard.

He only had a little stubble, which gave him some of the charm unique to a mature man.

All in all.

Hu Liena actually found him rather handsome!

Suddenly.

She remembered the scene of Xiao Qian calling him "Master."

He's not handsome at all. He's just a bastard who toys with women in the palm of his hand!

Hu Liena shook her head.

Her opinion of Li Mubai fell to rock bottom once more.

Just then.

She suddenly felt some pressure in her lower abdomen.

She had gotten up that morning and, before she'd had the chance, Bibi Dong's maid had summoned her to the carriage.

And now.

Hu Liena felt she could hardly hold it anymore.

She looked at Li Mubai, a flash of urgency in her eyes. Her little mouth opened, then closed again.

It was really hard to bring up something like this, especially with a man.

Hu Liena felt the pressure in her lower abdomen growing harder and harder to bear.

Suddenly.

Her eyes darted about.

Only then did she remember that there was someone in the house who seemed to be one of the elder's wives or concubines.

She hurriedly got up and walked awkwardly to a bedroom.

Bibi Dong paid no attention to Hu Liena's actions.

Her mind was entirely on Li Mubai's inner thoughts.

Although most of those thoughts were complaints about her, a word or two would always pop up that made her struggle not to laugh and put her in a good mood.

The bedroom door was ajar, not fully closed.

Knock, knock...

Hu Liena knocked gently on the door.

Soon.

The door opened all the way.

A gentle-looking woman holding an embroidery piece appeared before Hu Liena.

"Miss, what can I do for you?"

Seeing that it was a guest at the door, Xiao Qian couldn't help smiling as she spoke.

"Sister, may I ask where your latrine is?"

Hu Liena asked a little shyly.

"The latrine?"

Xiao Qian immediately left the room and headed toward the rear courtyard.

"Miss, please follow me. The latrine is in the rear courtyard."

Hu Liena followed Xiao Qian down the passage.

At the end of the passage was a large door connecting the house to the rear courtyard.

Creak.

The door leading to the rear courtyard opened.

Greenery and flowers in a riot of colors came into Hu Liena's view.

Following Xiao Qian through the door.

Only then could Hu Liena see the entire rear courtyard. All sorts of flowers and plants grew there.

Right in the middle stood a peach tree, its branches and leaves lush, its boughs laden with slightly red peaches that were nearly ripe.

Under the peach tree.

There was also a wooden armchair.

The rear courtyard was a little world of its own.

Hu Liena was immediately drawn to the layout. The surroundings made her feel refreshed and carefree.

"Miss, here's the latrine."

Xiao Qian spoke as she came to a tiny enclosed room in the corner.

Hearing Xiao Qian's voice, Hu Liena finally came back to her senses.

She then walked over to the latrine.

She opened the door and went inside.

Hu Liena instinctively held her breath.

In her experience, all latrines shared one characteristic.

The stench inside was enough to make a person gag.

She closed the door.

Hu Liena loosened her clothes and squatted down.

Before long.

She felt a tightness in her chest. She had clearly reached her limit and could hardly hold her breath any longer.

Oh... never mind, I'll just take one breath.

As long as I'm fast enough, I shouldn't smell the stink, right?

With that thought.

Hu Liena breathed out a lungful of stale air, then quickly drew in a sharp breath of fresh air.

No smell entered her nose.

A trace of triumphant delight appeared on her face, and she praised herself inwardly for being clever enough to come up with such a method.