freenovelworld Chapter 33 Wanted Order
Chapter 33 Wanted Order
Du Rushuang looked embarrassed after hearing Zou Xiaoyan's words and quickly looked up at Wu Song, saying, "I'm sorry! I was just dreaming." Wu Song blinked and asked angrily, "Du Rushuang, you weren't dreaming about roast chicken and fine wine, were you? Otherwise, why would you bite my finger so hard?"
Du Rushuang didn't explain, but turned to Chai Nianci and asked, "Master Wuyuan, after you finished talking with Sister Zou, are you willing to come back to Zixiang Pavilion with me to see my sworn sister?"
“Amitabha! After hearing about Madam Zou’s background and experiences, I admire Du Shiniang and would like to go to Zixiang Pavilion to meet her and have a good chat with her.” Chai Nianci put her palms together and said gently to Du Rushuang.
"That's wonderful! Miss Chai, you've finally come to your senses. I don't need to call you Master Wuyuan anymore. You're so beautiful, it's such a pity you became a nun. I've wanted to call you Miss Chai for a long time." Du Rushuang said excitedly, pulling Chai Nianci's arm. "No! Should I call you Sister Chai or Little Sister Chai? Dear sister, how old are you this year? Tell me quickly."
As Chai Nianci listened to Du Rushuang's nagging in her ear, a slight ripple appeared on her calm face. A cloud of doubt rose in her heart. This girl was too noisy! She had only said that she wanted to go back to Zixiang Pavilion with Du Rushuang and Zou Xiaoyan, but when did she ever say that she wanted to return to secular life? Besides, she looked younger than Du Rushuang, so why did she call her "sister" so naturally?
So, Chai Nianci gently patted Du Rushuang's hand to calm her agitated nature, and then said to her, "When did Wuyuan ever say she wanted to return to secular life? If I did, Shen Daoyuan would be even less likely to let me go. Besides, I'm only seventeen years old, and I look younger than you, Sister Du. I can't accept you calling me 'sister'!"
Du Rushuang's eyes darted around, and a smile curved her lips as she said to Chai Nianci, "So you're only seventeen, little master. Then Rushuang is indeed a year older than you. I was being presumptuous just now; I should have called you Sister Chai. Oh well! Never mind, I'll call you Sister Chai from now on. Calling you Wuyuan feels awkward."
After hearing their conversation, Zou Xiaoyan stepped forward to join in the fun, saying, "I think Sister Rushuang is right. From now on, we'll call you Sister Chai. What nonsense about calling you Wuyuan? You're just practicing with your hair still intact, and you haven't officially become a nun. It's not appropriate to keep calling you Master Wuyuan."
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhichen, who had been sitting diagonally opposite the three of them, heard their conversation and then shouted in a gruff voice, "What's wrong with keeping your hair and becoming a nun? I think it's fine to call her Master Wuyuan. Why are you two women from brothels so pretentious, forcing her to return to secular life? The senior monk likes Master Wuyuan to be a nun. According to seniority, my master and Master Mingfang are fellow disciples. I entered the sect earlier than Wuyuan, so Wuyuan should be my junior sister."
"Junior Sister? I think you're too shameless, Great Monk. You actually want to take advantage of Chai Meimei just because she's pretty." Du Rushuang turned and glared at Lu Zhichen, shouting at him.
“Great monk, what did you just say? Miss Du and I are from Zixiang Pavilion, but you can’t compare us to ordinary brothel girls. We sell our art, not our bodies. Besides, Miss Du is just Du Shiniang’s sworn sister and has never officially appeared at Zixiang Pavilion. You can’t insult us like this!” Zou Xiaoyan stood up and walked angrily to Lu Zhichen, putting her hands on her hips and pointing out the mistakes in his words.
Wu Song also felt that Lu Zhichen's statement about Chai Nianci being his junior sister was somewhat inappropriate, but he ultimately did not want to offend Lu Zhichen, so he spoke up to explain for him: "Madam Zou, my brother Lu does not know what Zixiang Pavilion is, so he accidentally offended you and Miss Du just now. I apologize to you both on his behalf."
As soon as Wu Song finished speaking, he bowed to Zou Xiaoyan and Du Rushuang to express his sincerity in apologizing on behalf of Lu Zhichen. Unexpectedly, Lu Zhichen immediately frowned and shouted at Zou Xiaoyan, "Who said I don't know what Zixiang Pavilion is? I've heard the people of Bianjing mention it, saying that Zixiang Pavilion is similar to the Jiaofangsi (a brothel), what else could it be but a brothel? However, there are quite a few unfortunate women in brothels."
"So, you've been to brothels too, monk?" Zou Xiaoyan squinted and questioned Lu Zhichen loudly.
"So what if I've been there, or I haven't? Although I'm a monk, I was forced into it to avoid being hunted down by the officials. When I lived in that mountain temple, I lived a carefree life, indulging in wine and meat while keeping Buddha in my heart. So, let alone brothels, I can freely come and go as I please. Who dares to say a word against me!" Lu Zhichen puffed out his chest and proudly recounted his experience as a fake monk.
“Amitabha! I feel that since Brother Lu has put on a cassock and shaved his head, he should live a life of purity and detachment, instead of living such a flamboyant and casual life of cultivation.” After listening to Lu Zhichen’s arrogant and unorthodox words, Chai Nianci frowned, picked up her prayer beads, and muttered a few words to him.
Zou Xiaoyan pursed her lips, walked up to Lu Zhichen, and sized him up. His robes were somewhat tattered, exposing his chest, and a thick Bodhi seed necklace hung around his neck. His thick eyebrows were raised, and his large, round eyes looked rather eerie. Despite Lu Zhichen's somewhat frightening appearance and his status as a fugitive from the imperial court, Zou Xiaoyan still admired the monk's carefree and unrestrained lifestyle.
"Why are you staring at me with such a strange look, woman? Did I say something wrong? My junior sister Wuyuan doesn't need to return to secular life. You can call her whatever you want, but I'm worried about sending her to that Zixiang Pavilion. Besides, the three of you women traveling together will definitely attract some shameless troublemakers. How about I escort you on your journey?" Lu Zhichen said to Zou Xiaoyan, Chai Nianci, and the others in a serious tone.
"No way! You careless monk, you kidnapped my sister Chai and took her down from Fragrant Hills without even asking why. If we take you with us now, it'll attract the attention of the soldiers." Du Rushuang jumped out and was the first to object to Lu Zhichen escorting the three sisters back to Zixiang Pavilion. She then turned and pointed at Wu Song, saying, "I think it would be better to let this tiger-slaying hero escort the three of us. I think his kung fu is alright, barely a match for me."
"I'm barely a match for you? Du Rushuang, you underestimate me. I am Wu Song, the hero who fought the tiger on Liangshan Marsh." Wu Song walked up to Du Rushuang and grabbed her outstretched hand that was pointing at him, protesting loudly. However, this grab only hurt his own finger that Du Rushuang had just bitten. He was in so much pain that sweat beaded on his forehead, and he quickly released Du Rushuang's slender jade finger.
At this moment, Yang Bingnan hurriedly dragged Chen Cheng to the table where Wu Song and the others were sitting. Chen Cheng quickly reached out to his mother, shouting, "Mother, my stomach is growling! Why did you chat with your sisters for so long?"
"Cheng'er, my dear, your mother and Sister Du have finished chatting. Shall we go eat wonton noodles later?" Zou Xiaoyan quickly picked up Chen Cheng, pinched his chubby cheeks, and said to her son with a doting expression.
"Madam Zou, something terrible has happened! I just saw several constables outside the hall looking for someone with a portrait. The portrait looks like the young monk behind you, but it should be what he looked like before he became a monk. There's also a wanted poster on the wall outside our tavern, saying that the whole city is searching for the monk Lu Zhichen, saying that he's a womanizer who abducted a young lady from a wealthy family." Yang Bingnan told Madam Zou and everyone present the information he had gathered in the dramatic tone of a storyteller.
"Bullshit! That bastard surnamed Shen actually slandered me! He was the one who wanted to ruin my junior sister's reputation, and I caught him in the act first, which is why I brought Wuyuan down the mountain." Lu Zhichen said through gritted teeth, then picked up the monk's staff that was placed aside, preparing to get up and run towards the door.
"Brother Lu, don't be anxious! Everyone in Bianjing knows you now, and you, a monk, are far too conspicuous. It would be better if you went to Zixiang Pavilion with Miss Du and the others to hide for a while. Otherwise, someone with ulterior motives will definitely report your whereabouts to the authorities in order to collect the reward money." Wu Song frowned and pulled on Lu Zhichen's monk's staff to persuade him.
“Brother Wu is right. Senior Brother Lu, you should come with me to Zixiang Pavilion to lay low for a while and then find a way to secretly leave the capital.” Chai Nianci also quickly tugged at Lu Zhichen’s sleeve and gently advised him.
"I am not a coward, and I do not wish to go to Zixiang Pavilion. I am going to kill the entire Shen family to vent my hatred!" Lu Zhichen flung Chai Nianci's hand away and forcefully pulled his staff back from Wu Song's hand.
"Brother Lu, this is Bianjing City, under the Emperor's nose, you can't act recklessly!" A familiar male voice entered Wu Song and Lu Zhichen's ears. Lu Zhichen quickly focused his attention and saw that the man who had just spoken was Lin Chong.
"Instructor Lin, what brings you to Hongyanfang?" Yang Bingnan hurriedly stepped forward to greet Lin Chong with a smile, but he knew that since Lin Chong was here, Lu Zhichen would definitely not give him face and would probably go to Zixiang Pavilion with him.