How Could I Resist His Madness and Charm [Transmigration] - Chapter 7

Zhu Yun didn’t go far. Instead, he crossed the street from the teahouse and stood with his arms crossed in the shadow beneath a shop banner.

The morning street was bustling with activity. Gradually, pedestrians noticed the faint glint of the long sword at his waist. First, their faces showed alarm, then they skirted around him as if by prior agreement, tails figuratively tucked between their legs.

He paid them no mind, his gaze fixed through the wide-open door on the young woman inside.

Luo Yan’s dress that day was far from extravagant, and her hair was adorned with nothing more than a simple wooden hairpin. Yet, her cascading dark tresses made her stand out vividly in the crowd.

Many patrons at nearby tables stole discreet glances at her, and upon clearly seeing her features, they couldn’t hide their astonishment.

He frowned, regretting not having chosen a larger teahouse, one that at least offered private rooms with silk curtains…

The jewelry in his arms pressed uncomfortably against him. Zhu Yun abandoned his motionless stance and took a shortcut to the pawnshop.

Passing through Bajiao Lane, he saw two children wearing masks chasing each other. He recognized their game: one was playing the righteous hero, the other a remnant of the demonic cult, acting out a fierce battle.

“Demonic cult” was a derogatory term used by the martial world. Before their downfall, they had called themselves the Western Mountain Divine Sect.

And the master of the Moon Embracing Pavilion was the only daughter of the former sect leader.

Zhu Yun couldn’t help but drift into memories.

As a child, he never understood why the pavilion master both deeply resented his talent and placed such high hopes in him. As the young master, he was given access to the finest martial arts manuals, yet he also endured the harshest punishments.

It was only later that he realized: the pavilion master wanted him to restore the Divine Sect.

But why should he?

Zhu Yun had grown weary of her unpredictable moods and of taking orders from others.

After learning how much the martial world feared the Moon Embracing Pavilion, he first tried killing Jia Si and found it surprisingly effortless.

So, on yet another day when he felt fed up, Zhu Yun chose to draw his blade. After killing three top-tier Jia-ranked disciples in a row, the pavilion master personally forced him to drink the Mandarin Duck’s Warmth poison.

And then, he ended up in Qingyuan Village.

Originally, he had planned to kill the Jia family grandparents after recovering, occupy their house, and rest for a while. But now, the opportunity had passed, and all the villagers knew him. If he were to slaughter the village recklessly, it would inevitably draw the attention of the authorities.

No killing, no occupying houses, and no missions assigned by the pavilion.

Zhu Yun realized he had nothing to do.

He remembered Liu Changsheng boasting about becoming a wealthy man, Wang Guyu saying he wanted to be an accountant, and even five-year-old Guyang aspiring to follow in his father’s footsteps and hunt tigers in the mountains.

Everyone had a past and a future, except him.

…

He was still pondering this when he left the pawnshop, no closer to an answer.

Retracing his steps back to the teahouse, he saw a lazy attendant lounging on the steps. Zhu Yun crooked a finger and handed over a black cloth bundle. “Give this to the young lady in the aqua-green dress, around twelve or thirteen years old, the one with the most striking appearance.”

Though the youth was young, his aura was intimidating. The attendant broke out in a cold sweat and replied respectfully, “Does the guest mean… Miss Jia?”

Fake Miss Jia.

The thought inexplicably amused him, and he curled his lips slightly. “Yes, Miss Jia.”

The attendant didn’t dare delay, bowing as he hurried back into the teahouse. Seeing this, Zhu Yun also turned to leave.

The moment he turned, he decided to first find a more spacious residence to practice the Nine Divine Capital Swords. Then, he would seize all the famous martial arts manuals in the martial world to see if any suited him.

As for what came after that, he’d think about it later.

Having finally found a direction for the dilemma that had troubled him for days, Zhu Yun felt a sense of relief, both physically and mentally. Yet, his steps grew slower and slower.

He deliberately avoided examining the reason, but his ears couldn’t help but perk up, catching the sounds of hawking, laughter, and arguments, everything except the familiar footsteps he was listening for.

Was Luo Yan so caught up in having fun that she had completely forgotten about him?

But anyone who suddenly came into possession of unexplained valuables should have some reaction. Besides, he hadn’t promised to return, how could she not be the slightest bit suspicious?

She was really, truly…

Zhu Yun couldn’t find the right words to describe it. Anger surged in his heart, and he crushed the last gem on the sword hilt.

He should have killed her.

With a grim expression, he turned away. Just then, a glimpse of watery green sleeves entered his vision, followed closely by the aroma of chestnut cakes.

“I’m exhausted,” Luo Yan stopped half a step away, still catching her breath. She held up a greased paper package as if presenting a treasure. “Guess what this is?”

Before he could answer, she found it too hot to hold and shoved it into Zhu Yun’s arms, immediately revealing the answer herself. “It’s the chestnut cakes Changsheng mentioned. I waited nearly half an hour to buy them.”

The warmth seeped through the paper into his palm, making his blood simmer slightly.

“What are you smiling at?” Luo Yan asked in surprise.

Zhu Yun’s expression stiffened, and he averted his gaze. “Why didn’t you wait at the teahouse?”

Luo Yan pouted. “The storyteller only tells tales of secret love affairs. I’d rather go shopping.”

Suddenly noticing that Zhu Yun’s hands were empty and his sword didn’t look repaired, she gasped in shock. “Were you robbed?”

“…”

Meanwhile, the teahouse attendant, unable to find Miss Jia, was afraid the young man might draw his sword in a fit of anger and chop him down. He simply crouched in place, anxiously watching.

When he saw the two returning together, he muttered several “thank heavens” under his breath and hurriedly handed over their belongings.

Luo Yan instinctively looked at Zhu Yun. “What’s this?”

“We’ll look inside.”

This time, they requested a quiet private room. As she walked, Luo Yan unwrapped the bundle and found two wooden boxes inside.

The top box contained jewelry, the very pieces she had entrusted to Zhu Yun to pawn. The other was heavier, and she only opened it once they were in the room. It was filled to the brim with gleaming silver fragments, their sparkle brightening her mood.

Luo Yan was overjoyed. “Where did this silver come from?”

“Melted down.”

She remembered there had been more gold items than silver ones in the official lacquer case. Brushing aside the silver fragments, she indeed found a gold bar two fingers wide, and beneath it, several silver notes.

Knowing she was prone to suspicion, Zhu Yun removed his sword. “This sword was forged by the Wanxing Manor, inlaid with various gemstones. When light hits it, they shimmer like stars, hence the manor’s name.”

Luo Yan understood. “You pawned the gems.”

“Mm.”

Once she understood the origin of the fortune, Luo Yan’s worries vanished. She flicked a die-sized piece of silver with her finger and cheered softly, “We’re rich!”

Zhu Yun watched her playful antics quietly, a faint smile unconsciously spreading in his eyes.

…

Jia Yufang returned to the clinic with her reward and found the two children sitting side by side under the window, one holding a book, the other frowning as she practiced calligraphy with a brush.

“Are you hungry?”

Hearing this, Luo Yan snapped her book shut and pointed at the boxes of various sizes beside her. “Grandmother, we’re rich!”

She vividly recounted how Zhu Yun, grateful for their lifesaving kindness, had insisted on repaying them with wealth, and how he had fiercely haggled at the pawnshop…

Zhu Yun timely handed her a cup of cool tea. Luo Yan gulped it down and concluded, “One box contains medicinal herbs gifted by Uncle the physician, two boxes are books, and one is for you, Grandmother.”

Jia Yufang remembered the sword hilt had been adorned with five or six gemstones, now bare, and couldn’t help but sigh regretfully. “Such fine things, alas.”

“I’ll buy A-Yun something even better in the future.” Luo Yan linked arms with her grandmother as they walked out. “I want to eat crystal jelly, and A-Yun said he’d like Wensi tofu.”

“Alright, let’s go to Laifu Restaurant.”

…

After the three generations of grandmother and grandchildren enjoyed a full meal, they headed to the western market under the blazing sun to hire a carriage. They also asked someone from the medical clinic to pass a message to Wang Tianquan before returning to the village with large and small boxes in tow.

Luo Yan disliked the sun, and even the warm, gentle light made her drowsy. Seeing Zhu Yun sitting upright, she nudged him. “Block some of the sun for me.”

Zhu Yun didn’t refuse and even spread out the black cloth used to wrap the boxes so she could keep her eyes open comfortably.

“You’re in a pretty good mood today.”

He chuckled softly at her remark but offered no explanation.

Luo Yan almost thought she was seeing a ghost in broad daylight.

But then she reconsidered, Zhu Yun had only been in Qingyuan Village for three or four days. It was too soon to define his temperament. Perhaps his previous gloominess, sarcasm, and unpleasantness were due to his illness, and now that he had recovered, he had become more cheerful?

She quickly settled into the shade with a clear conscience and informed her grandmother, “I’ve invited Changsheng and the others to study at our house, in the shed, for half an hour every day.”

“That’s wonderful.”

In the past, the Luo family had run a private school for girls.

Jia Yufang wasn’t entirely sure what the young ladies of noble families studied, but the word “studying” made her feel that the gap with the past had narrowed. It would be easier to explain to the ancestors when the time came.

So, as soon as they returned to the village, she busied herself cleaning tables and mending cushions, thoroughly enjoying the task.

Luo Yan, meanwhile, went into the study to organize the learning materials.

She divided the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones into eight sets and sorted the books. Just as she was about to ask Zhu Yun for help, she saw him casually removing his outer robe right in front of her.

Earlier at the medical clinic, he had been so shy, so why had his demeanor changed so drastically at night…

Noticing her gaze, Zhu Yun raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Her eyes warmed, and she quickly lowered her head, pretending to be busy while thinking she should move the bookcase and other items back to her own room.

Zhu Yun changed into the new martial attire he had bought, tightened the cuffs, picked up his sword, and headed out.

Luo Yan exclaimed in surprise, “If you’re not going to help, fine, but don’t just leave me here to go have fun by yourself!”

He didn’t see what was so complicated about a few books and brushes, but he set his sword down anyway. “How can I help?”

Unexpectedly, Luo Yan fell silent, remembering that Zhu Yun was illiterate. But that didn’t matter, she declared confidently, “Just sit here and keep me company. You can’t have all the fun to yourself.”

“…”

“Where were you planning to go earlier?”

Zhu Yun rubbed his temples and explained lazily, “It’s quiet on the eastern mountain. I was going there to practice swordplay.”

Qingyuan Village was nestled in the mountains, but there were still higher peaks within them. The game that Guyu’s father hunted came from the eastern mountain.

Luo Yan didn’t dare let him venture into an area frequented by wild beasts and tried to persuade him, “Grandmother is usually quiet, and I’m quiet too. Why don’t you just practice behind the house?”

He asked with amusement, “You’re quiet?”

“Am I not quiet?” Luo Yan raised her voice, looking incredulous.

Zhu Yun took a light breath to keep from laughing and upsetting her, then said seriously, “You’re the quietest.”

“…”

That didn’t sound very sincere.

But Zhu Yun still insisted on going up the mountain. According to him, he had fully regained his internal energy, and if he encountered any beasts, he’d simply hunt them for an extra meal.

This time, Luo Yan didn’t question him because she remembered that the world she lived in wasn’t the ancient past of history.

If they could defy gravity, mere wild beasts were truly nothing to worry about.

Just as she finished sorting and washed her hands with clean water, she informed Zhu Yun, “I’m going too.”

After speaking, she noticed a flicker of hesitation on his face.

However, Luo Yan realized that since their trip to the town, Zhu Yun’s temper had improved significantly, he answered her questions and generally complied with her requests.

She silently counted in her heart:

One, two…

“Alright.”

Before Luo Yan could count to “three,” Zhu Yun spoke up.