Hidden Anger

When Duan Rong woke up, the room was pitch-black. It seemed the wind had risen outside, making the gauze over the carved window howl and rustle!

Duan Rong stretched and muttered to himself, "Such a strong wind. Looks like the weather's about to change!"

Duan Rong jumped out of bed, picked up a wooden basin, and prepared to wash up by the well.

He was in an excellent mood!

He had not had a wet dream last night!

And yesterday at the hour of Shen, when he had been drawing portraits for those courtesans, no burning heat had risen in his lower abdomen either!

It all seemed to prove that drawing a map on the bedsheet that night had been purely accidental!

Guan Yun's prescription was fine!

Moreover, after two days of stance training, he was still full of vigor, and the medicinal power within his meridians still surged like a tide. The medicine was expensive, but its potency was so fierce that even Duan Rong had not expected it!

After washing up, Duan Rong returned to the Martial Arts Field and immediately began stance training again!

He was practically a crazed cultivation machine!

Duan Rong's insane dedication to cultivation actually had a great deal to do with his experience as a corporate drudge in his previous life!

Only after struggling and clawing your way through society could you truly understand the importance of studying!

The essence of education was not cultivation, but selection!

It selected those with ability, gave them opportunities and resources, and let them develop what needed developing!

As for the cannon fodder eliminated by that cruel selection, they could only drift around the outskirts of the vast machine that was the official structure, left to live or die as fate saw fit!

Of course, you could rise from the deep pool through other paths, but the chances were far smaller! Those who truly accomplished something were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns!

In his previous life, Duan Rong had regretted countless times that he had not studied himself to the bone in high school and had not gotten into a prestigious school!

But now, he had been reborn!

A person should not make the same mistake twice!

He was going to cultivate like mad!

I'll grind you all into dust!

Duan Rong stood there until it was nearly the hour of Shen again.

He exhaled and dispersed his power, a trace of weariness appearing in his eyes.

His body once again felt depleted. The medicinal power of a single packet of medicine had actually allowed him to train bitterly for nearly three days!

"Guan Yun's prescription works." After three days of testing, Duan Rong finally gave his verdict.

"Looks like I'll have to make another trip to the Crude Drug Store after I close up later."

Can't stop taking medicine!

Duan Rong returned to the dormitory courtyard, washed away his rank sweat, transformed into a walking rack, and headed toward the area opposite Flower Shadow House...

Red clouds already hung in the western sky. In the twilight, bats swooped up and down as they hunted little insects.

Xiao Zongting puffed on the jade mouthpiece of his tobacco pipe and limped down the steps before the residence gate.

After several days of medicinal soup and acupuncture, Xiao Baijiao's condition had finally stabilized. Yesterday, she had even been able to get out of bed and do needlework.

The heart Xiao Zongting had been holding in suspense finally settled.

He was now preparing to go to the accounting room in the Inner Courtyard to collect this month's pay.

He had been so worried about Xiao Baijiao's illness that he had even forgotten about his pay.

After finishing a pipeful of tobacco, Xiao Zongting knocked the ash from the pipe against a nearby Willow Tree.

Once the ash was cleared, he clasped his hands behind his back and took a shortcut toward the Inner Courtyard.

Xiao Zongting passed through a winding Covered Corridor and saw two escorts ahead whispering to each other.

Xiao Zongting had never paid much attention to gossip and rumors, so he did not listen closely.

But when he suddenly heard the name Duan Rong, he could not help pricking up his ears!

After all, Duan Rong was an apprentice he had personally begun teaching. If people were speaking ill of him, they might drag Xiao Zongting into it as well.

"...an apprentice... already going to the Medicine Furnace Room to brew medicine..."

"I heard he even went to sell paintings in front of a brothel..."

"Isn't that bringing shame upon our Yuan Shun Escort Agency?"

Xiao Zongting would have been fine if he had not heard it, but once he did, his already gaunt face darkened to a terrifying degree!

Forgetting all about collecting his pay, he turned on his heel and left the Yuan Shun Escort Agency!

Dusk closed in from all sides!

In the dimming light, weary crows flapped their wings and drifted lazily past...

Xiao Zongting stood at the mouth of an alley not far from Flower Shadow House, glaring angrily at Duan Rong, who had set up an easel beneath the Great Locust Tree.

The dim yellow halo of a lantern shone upon Duan Rong's face, and Xiao Zongting could see him clearly from where he stood.

At that moment, only one final customer remained before Duan Rong's stall.

She was a plump young girl with twin flat buns, bangs over her forehead, and a round face like the full moon!

After several days, Duan Rong's skill had become consummate. Before Flower Shadow House had even opened its doors, he had already removed the painting and handed it to the girl.

The plump girl took the painting and looked at it. Two dimples immediately appeared on her face, and she turned excitedly away, delighted. She could not wait to share it with someone.

As the plump girl hurried along eagerly, a gaunt and vicious-looking old man suddenly blocked her path.

The moment she saw what the old man looked like, she clutched her chest in fright. Her expression changed slightly as she asked, "What are you doing?"

"Miss, don't panic!" Xiao Zongting forced out a smile.

He had looked frightening enough without smiling, but his smile made him even more terrifying. The plump girl went pale with fright.

"I only wanted to ask, how much did that painting in your hand cost?"

Hearing that he was asking about the painting, the plump girl's expression eased somewhat. Though the old man looked like that, everyone loved beauty. Who said an old man could not paint? She answered, "Ten taels."

"Ten taels?" Xiao Zongting's face twitched, and he froze slightly.

The plump girl smiled, walked around Xiao Zongting, and left.

It seemed that old man was not only creepy-looking, but a poor wretch too! He had to be some old bachelor!

Xiao Zongting stood at the alley entrance and suddenly sneezed loudly. Just then, he saw Duan Rong had already transformed into a walking rack and turned into an alley.

Xiao Zongting's gaze darkened as he limped after him!

Duan Rong first went to the Crude Drug Store and bought another packet of medicine, then returned directly to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

From the Front Courtyard, Duan Rong passed through the Moon Gate into the Middle Courtyard, crossed the Martial Arts Field, and arrived at his dormitory courtyard.

He planned to put his things in his room, eat dinner, then go to the Medicine Furnace Room to decoct his medicine!

Duan Rong was already extremely familiar with his doghouse, so he did not light a lamp. He intended to put down his things and head straight to the dining hall.

He had just set his things down in the corner and turned around when he suddenly discovered a black shadow standing in the doorway.

The faint light from outside cast that figure into the room, making it look like a ghost.

Duan Rong's heart tightened, and his hand pressed against the hilt of the saber at his waist.

"Come with me!"

The moment Duan Rong heard Old Xiao's voice, he relaxed.

"Bring that packet of medicine you bought!" Having said that, Xiao Zongting turned and walked away into the darkness.

This time, Duan Rong could hear the faint anger in Xiao Zongting's voice!

He picked up the packet of medicine, locked the door, and quickly caught up with Xiao Zongting.

Duan Rong followed Xiao Zongting step for step, his heart pounding like a drum!

Could something have happened? Why did Old Xiao suddenly come to block me at my dormitory?

By now, night had fallen. Uneasily, Duan Rong followed Xiao Zongting all the way to the two-section courtyard where he lived.

Once inside, Duan Rong saw smoke rising from the kitchen chimney. Firelight flickered within, and from time to time, he caught glimpses of Zhu Xiaoqi in red moving back and forth busily...

Duan Rong licked the corner of his mouth. He could already smell the aroma of food!

I haven't even eaten dinner yet!