"I don't mind being held back," Wu Youren replied expressionlessly. "I appreciate your kind intentions."
"All right." The female martial artist smiled unconcernedly. "Life at the martial academy is long."
"If you regret it, you can have your roommate tell me, but by then, the terms might not be as good as they are now."
"Okay, I'll remember that." Wu Youren nodded. "When I feel helpless, I'll be sure to remember your concern!"
The female martial artist froze for a moment before saying, "You have a way with words."
But the next moment, she turned and left with her close friend. "But martial artists speak with their fists. Words... are useless!"
Great Liang's customs really were fierce. Even women pursuing men could be this fierce!
Wu Youren glanced at Subar, who stood dumb as a wooden chicken. "Will she report me for growing vegetables?"
"Just how much spare time would she have to have?" Subar gave him a speechless look. "Red Pine is a mid-tier martial academy. Everyone's busy!"
He thought the question was far too baffling. How many people who got into Red Pine were simple characters?
Rather than get caught up in petty disputes like these, it was better to do something worthwhile.
Most importantly, how much money could a vegetable patch this size earn? Was it worth someone going out of their way to sabotage it?
"Mm." Wu Youren nodded at that. "That's for the best, then. The sow thistle will be ready in a day or two. You two can come get some to eat."
Vegetables occupied a rather subtle position in Great Liang, mainly because most vegetables could not replenish qi and blood.
But saying vegetables were completely useless would also be a lie.
Trace elements and vitamins... the people of Liang had not studied those much, but everyone knew the consequences of going without vegetables for a long time.
These things were expensive in Liang, but ordinary people could eat fewer without much trouble. If they endured it, they could hold out a little longer.
At worst, they could pull up some weeds by the roadside to eat. As long as they were not poisonous, the effects would not be much worse.
But if vegetables did not sell, they would grow tough and spoil.
So it counted as a gesture of goodwill, neither particularly big nor small.
Unexpectedly, two days later, people from the martial academy really did come to investigate. "Who's farming here?"
Wu Youren was practicing his standing stance beside the vegetable patch. Hearing this, he turned his head to look at them but said nothing.
There was no way they had not seen him, but since they had not asked him, he would not answer.
"I'm asking you." Two people had come: one was a Knight, and the one asking the questions was a Knight Apprentice.
"I don't know you," Wu Youren answered bluntly, his gaze cool.
"I asked you... who's growing vegetables here!" The Knight Apprentice was getting annoyed.
"And I answered. I don't know you!"
"So you're the one who did it!" This one clearly was not reasonable either.
"I have no reason to talk to you," Wu Youren said slowly. "Someone manages this patch of land!"
The caretaker happened to arrive after hearing the news, and his expression immediately changed at those words.
But Wu Youren had no intention of using him as a shield. "The Life and Death Knot gave me permission to farm here. I paid a fee!"
It was not that he thought the Life and Death Knot was stronger than the other party, but if he could stir up discord between the two sides, why not try?
"The Life and Death Knot?" Both men were stunned at his words.
The Knight Apprentice's gaze was genuinely blank, but the look in the Knight's eyes was rather thought-provoking.
After a pause, the Knight, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. "You're one of theirs?"
"I'm not sure either." Wu Youren's eyes were full of clarity.
"That's what they said when they took the money. The fee... was pretty high. Was I scammed?"
The Knight Apprentice finally recovered. "Then call them over."
He had seen plenty of people waving someone else's banner as cover. Never mind who you claimed was behind you-could you actually get in touch with them?
"Wait." The Knight understood a little more than he did, after all. He looked thoughtfully at Wu Youren. "You're from Jin?"
"Mm." Wu Youren nodded. There was really no avoiding that question, and his answer would not stand up to investigation otherwise!
"You're sure it was the Life and Death Knot that took your money?"
"Mm."
"Fuck..." The Knight shook his head and could not help muttering, "What a load of crap. Let's go."
"Please wait a moment, sir." This time, Wu Youren was unwilling to let the matter rest. "Are you two responsible for this area?"
"I'm responsible for discipline throughout the entire martial academy." The Knight rolled his eyes at him. "What, you still have a problem with that?"
He really did have the authority to intervene in this matter. In terms of his duties and powers alone, no one could find fault with him.
However, he had also come this time at someone's urging, deliberately intending to make trouble!
He simply had not expected that this youth from another country also had that detestable organization behind him.
He did not want to provoke them, but within the scope of his authority, he was not afraid of a head-on clash either-the martial academy would be his firm backing.
But when he considered that the youth opposite him also had support within Red Pine, he no longer wanted to touch this trouble.
"I just wanted to ask..." Wu Youren's face was sincere. "Is growing vegetables here such a serious offense?"
"It is against the rules." The Knight was not so lacking in accountability that he would evade that point. "The martial academy has never allowed this!"
"But the main reason we came this time was that we received a report!"
The whole investigation had begun with a tiger's head and ended with a snake's tail. It felt as though the two men from the martial academy had gone into battle unprepared.
That was not hard to understand. The other party was merely a viscount's daughter. She still fell short of being able to do whatever she pleased at a mid-tier martial academy.
Before leaving, the Knight also told Wu Youren that growing vegetables like this violated the martial academy's rules.
But he did not demand that the vegetable patch be cleared away. He merely said that if Wu Youren did not believe him, he could ask someone else.
Ultimately, he did not want trouble. It seemed the Life and Death Knot still had a certain deterrent power in some areas.
The caretaker, however, said, "Little Wu, pick some of your vegetables for these two."
The Knight gave him a look, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Don't push it. You should count yourself lucky we haven't held you accountable!"
After the two left, Wu Youren glanced at the caretaker. "Pick some vegetables for them?"
He kept feeling that the remark had been somewhat provocative.
The caretaker rolled his eyes at him. "Make a joke, and the matter blows over. Otherwise, it's bound to come up again."
"Oh." Wu Youren understood. This was how social dealings worked in Great Liang.
But this was something he could not learn. Circumstances differed from country to country.
Although social dealings were largely alike, some minor differences caused by cultural differences could lead to fatal misunderstandings.
Since someone had come to his door looking for trouble, he went out even less, doing his best to lower his presence further.
Some things, however, truly could not be avoided. Two days later, another two female martial artists came to his door.
Both were strangers, and one was also from Jin. They both studied under the same instructor.
Their instructor was a Senior Knight named Kaili, a native of Liang who had taught at Red Pine for over ten years.
The female martial artist from Jin said that the instructor held no prejudice against people from Jin, and that she herself could contribute some money to support a fellow countryman.
Most importantly, Kaili had also heard of Wu Youren and was willing to waive a portion of his tuition.
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