Call Me Ba Ba!

Looking at the scholar's appearance, Jiang Lin vaguely remembered him.

This scholar was the one I had met in the Empty Spirit Sect Sect's Secret Realm; he was quite powerful.

What was it called again?

It looks like Zhen Jian?

"This is one of my younger relatives, named Zhen Xian."

"From the tree, "Kong Ba Ba explained.

"Oh, it's Zhen Xian."

Jiang Lin nodded, realizing he hadn't misremembered much; it was only a difference of one word.

"Brother Jiang, do you know Junior Brother Zhen?"

"Fortunately, we sparred a few times back in the Empty Spirit Sect Bewildering Secret Realm. His strength is indeed impressive, but he seems rather laid-back."

"Buddhist-like? This guy has switched to Buddhism again?"

"No, that's not what I meant, wait, what the heck is 'again'?"

Jiang Lin was a little confused. Wasn't Zhen Xian supposed to be a Confucian scholar?

Leaving aside the fact that in Confucianism, advancing from a gentleman to a sage requires not only reaching the Dragon Gate Realm, but also joint recommendation by ten sages and three chief priests, followed by a personal examination by the academy's dean, before one can finally become a sage.

Moreover, Confucian sages have the power to oversee the Vast and Righteous World.

Aside from the Sun Moon Sect, a Demon Sect, all the Famous Righteous Sects are examined by wise men every ten years to see if they are oppressing the people or showing any signs of turning evil.

This goes without saying that if a Confucian scholar were to pass through a human empire, the emperor would have to personally greet him and seek his teachings, a practice known as the mortal etiquette.

And this Zhen Xian, it seems, not only studied Confucian classics? He even considered changing jobs?

Sure enough, this is so Kong Ba Ba...

"Alas, Brother Jiang, you are unaware of this."

Feeling Jiang Lin patting his shoulder and seeing the look in Brother Jiang's eyes, Kong Ba Ba knew what Brother Jiang was thinking.

"This junior brother Zhen Xian is extremely talented in both cultivation and studies, no less so than me. He was recommended as a sage at a young age."

The wise men observed the world outside the academy, studied within it, and occasionally lectured the children of Lords and nobles.

During one of Zhen Xian's lectures, he encountered a woman in red, and it was then that he developed feelings for her.

Jiang Lin rolled his eyes at Kong Ba Ba: "You're not Buddhist disciples, so what's wrong with having worldly desires? It's not like you can't get married!"

"Brother Jiang, you are unaware of this."

Kong Ba Ba explained.

"At that time, my junior brother Zhen Xian was completely focused on his studies and wanted to become a Confucian sage."

Not to mention that the girl was already engaged at the time, having been betrothed to a prince of a dynasty.

At that time, the seven princes of that mortal dynasty were vying for the throne, and the girl was the only daughter of the dynasty's Great General. The alliance between that Great General and the crown prince depended on this future crown princess.

The scholars and cultivators of the Nine Great Academies were forbidden from interfering in the power struggles of mortal dynasties, let alone virtuous people.

Brother Jiang, please consider this: if my junior brother were to steal the prince's love, not only would the alliance between the Great General and the prince fail, but it would also disrupt the fate of the mortal dynasty.

What if that Great General gets into trouble then? Would my junior classmate help someone who isn't even his "father-in-law" yet?

Once entangled in worldly karma, one will find oneself sinking deeper and deeper.

If he doesn't help, the woman will be in tears, and his conscience will be troubled.

If they help, they will be breaking the rules. The academy will not only intervene but will also separate the two, leaving them to suffer the pain of unrequited love.

Rather than that, it's better to cut the Red Thread and end the mortal world.

"A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one."

"So this Female Soul is that mortal woman?"

"No, this is that woman's daughter."

"???"

Jiang Lin was stunned...

Listening to Kong Ba Ba's description, Jiang Lin had already imagined a scene where "after the two separated, the woman would rather die than marry, and then committed suicide, but in the end her thoughts did not dissipate and turned into a soul."

But this is a lot of information.

Before Jiang Lin could figure it out, he saw the scholar in the courtyard stand up and bow to him.

"Would you two like to have a seat in my Humble Abode?"

Jiang Lin and Kong Ba Ba were not surprised at all that they had been discovered, because neither of them had ever intended to conceal their presence.

When Zhen Xian saw Jiang Lin and Kong Ba Ba walk out, Zhen Xian was surprised.

"Master Kong... Young Master Jiang..."

At the entrance to the courtyard, Zhen Xian bowed respectfully.

When Zhen Xian was there, the seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl in Red Dress also bowed slightly.

"Junior brother, it's been a long time."

"Brother Zhen does seem to have a lot of free time."

"Please stop joking. If you don't mind, I'd like to take you for tea."

As he spoke, Zhen Xian gently closed the courtyard gate.

"What's wrong, junior brother? Are you not welcoming your senior brother? Or are you looking down on our Young Master Jiang, who even managed to win over the Empress of the White Empire? Aren't you going to let us in for a seat?"

"Sir, you're too kind. It's just that it's rather simple."

"It's alright, it's alright, we don't mind."

After saying that, without Zhen Xian's consent, Kong Ba Ba and Jiang Lin into the courtyard, which seemed somewhat unreasonable.

However, Zhen Xian was not displeased at all. He simply shook his head, feeling that Master Kong and Young Master Jiang were indeed unpretentious, and felt a little relieved.

In the courtyard, Zhen Xian poured a cup of tea for Jiang Lin and Kong Ba Ba. The woman in red stood behind Zhen Xian with great poise, like a virtuous wife.

"Young Master Jiang's 'What is a Gentleman' is indeed brilliant. It's a shame to have heard it casually. I'd like to offer you a toast."

Zhen Xian raised his teacup and drank it all in one gulp, displaying the boldness of a scholar, even though it was just tea...

"No, I'm just a relayer of famous quotes." Jiang Lin quickly waved his hand and looked at the woman behind Zhen Xian, "And who is this?"

"So, Young Master Jiang can see it too?"

Hearing Jiang Lin's words, Zhen Xian shook his head.

"Su Hongqin, the daughter of an old friend of mine."

"You can't see it?"

"Um."

Turning his head, Zhen Xian saw no woman in Red Dress behind him, as if she didn't exist at all.

"Perhaps she didn't want me to see it..."

Is it that she doesn't want you to see her, or that you don't want to see her?

Kong Ba Ba shook his head.

"Gentlemen..."

Call me Daddy!

"... Then let's call him 'Senior Brother,' it sounds more intimate."

"Tch, he won't even call me 'Dad,' what's with all this talk of intimacy!"

"..."

"Alright." Kong Ba Ba took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Zhen Xian. "This is the Soul Revival Method you asked for. I begged my Chuuner Zhenjun) lord for a long time before I finally got it."

The Buddha's Golden Lotus inside was also made from the urine of a bald boy from my Sun Moon Sect, and it also contains Dragon Carp Whiskers, Longhorn Beetle Horn Powder...

Anyway Zhen Xian! I've collected all the medicinal herbs for you. Now there's only one last step. So, are you brave enough to go see her?

[There will be another update... but it might be a little late...]