Tang Xiaoyu was humming a song while walking ahead. Lu Changchun still couldn't help but walk up and ask:
"Xiaoyu, what's so good about that girl that you like her? She has neither good looks nor good family background, so why do you like her?"
Tang Xiaoyu turned his head and asked back: "What do I have? My looks are so-so as you said, and you've seen my family background."
Lu Changchun explained: "What I mean is that Wang Ziyan girl is pretty good, and she also has some interest in you. Why don't you like her?"
Tang Xiaoyu smiled helplessly: "There is a divide between immortals and mortals. Cross-class love stories only happen in novels. My life is just one closed-door cultivation session for you guys. I can't possibly gamble on that slim chance with my whole life."
"A person is valuable for having self-awareness and seeing themselves clearly, which saves them from being self-righteous."
After stating his own view, Tang Xiaoyu hummed a song again and walked ahead cheerfully.
Lu Changchun stood still and murmured: "Maybe I should also clearly see myself."
Arriving at the teahouse, Tang Xiaoyu and his two companions prepared for today's performance. Xiaolian saw that Tang Xiaoyu was in a very good mood and asked: "Brother Tang, what made you so happy?"
Tang Xiaoyu simply said: "You'll know later."
Puzzled, Xiaolian ran to ask Lu Changchun: "Uncle, why is Brother Tang so happy these two days?"
Lu Changchun spat out two words: "Woman."
After hearing it, Xiaolian understood something and said dejectedly: "Oh, that's how it is!"
Seeing Xiaolian's reaction, Lu Changchun shook his head without saying anything.
After being with Tang Xiaoyu for a long time, Xiaolian was influenced by him and was no longer so deferential, hiding things in her heart. Plus performing on stage every day, she became more and more confident.
She walked up to Tang Xiaoyu and said seriously: "Brother Tang, I like you."
When Tang Xiaoyu heard this, he didn't take it to heart. He just said solemnly: "A little girl like you confessing has no credibility."
"I'm serious, I really like you."
Tang Xiaoyu looked into Xiaolian's eyes and said seriously: "The liking of someone who has never experienced feelings is just curiosity about fresh things."
"When I was your age, I was also curious about the opposite sex and love, and thought it was liking, just like you. But after I experienced it, I knew that it wasn't liking, but desire."
Tang Xiaoyu touched Xiaolian's head: "Besides, we're not suitable either. You're not my type, just like you don't like forced engagement."
Xiaolian thought for a while and nodded: "I understand, mutual liking is the most important."
"That's right."
After tricking Xiaolian away, Tang Xiaoyu heaved a long sigh of relief and thought to himself: [Finally got rid of her. Luckily I had a lot of contact with poisonous chicken soup and emotional quotes before, otherwise it would have been hard to deal with.]
He thought that the kind of person who thinks about having three wives and four concubines is either a youngster or a rich man who treats women as accessories. As long as they have experienced emotional and life setbacks, people will treat women like tigers.
Having gone through emotional and life setbacks himself, Tang Xiaoyu knew that women were harder to deal with than enemies.
So ever since he transmigrated over, he had never thought about reigning over the world with three wives and four concubines. He knew that he didn't have the brains or guts to handle that.
Time flew by quickly, and customers walked in one after another. When Old Zhou and Wang Ziyan came in, they saw Tang Xiaoyu's delighted face.
Old Zhou wondered and asked Lu Changchun: "What happened to Little Tang recently that made him so happy?"
As usual, Lu Changchun replied in two words: "Woman."
Old Zhou didn't feel anything special, but Wang Ziyan became unhappy: "What woman? Does he not see this great beauty standing right here?"
Lu Changchun rolled his eyes at her: "Inappropriate family status, no matter how beautiful it's useless."
"I'm a personal disciple of Qingyun Sword Sect. I've got the looks, status, and family background. How is that inappropriate?"
Feeling a little indignant, Wang Ziyan touted her own qualities. But Lu Changchun calmly said: "Isn't that exactly what inappropriate status means?"
"Oh~" At a loss, Wang Ziyan soon understood what Lu Changchun meant.
"What's the big deal, I just happened to find him interesting."
Seeing Wang Ziyan very unhappy, Lu Changchun added: "Why do you care so much then?"
"I'm just concerned about a friend, what's wrong with that!"
"Friend? Is Tang Xiaoyu even your friend? How come I don't know about it?"
With that said, he beckoned for Tang Xiaoyu to come over.
"Xiaoyu, she said she's your friend."
When Tang Xiaoyu heard this, he immediately understood and pretended to be puzzled: "I don't have female friends!"
After saying that, he turned and left, not paying attention to their conversation.
"Did you hear that, Little Tang doesn't have female friends."
Wang Ziyan was so angry that she stomped her feet, humphed, then went to sit down and sulk.
On the other side, Lin Qingying stretched and got out of bed to start tidying up and dressing up.
"It's another nice day for shopping, not suitable to go to Qingyun Sword Sect for business. Let's talk a few days later!"
Walking out of the room to the yard to exercise, a voice came from behind.
"Sect leader, can we go to Qingyun Sword Sect today?"
Without turning back, Lin Qingying said: "It's a nice day for shopping today, let's go in a couple of days."
"Sect leader, you've been saying this for almost a month now. We really can't wait any longer."
Lin Qingying turned around. A skinny old man was standing there with a respectful yet sinister look on his aged face. Especially his emotionless eyes made one not dare to look straight at him.
Impatiently, Lin Qingying said: "I came out so early just to relax! Don't keep a long face every day for no reason. Go drink some tea and listen to music if you have nothing to do, relax more."
"Life is not just about cultivation, there's also life to live. Don't come again, go back and wait for my notice."
The old man shook his head helplessly: "Don't forget it, alright?"
"I know, I know."
Just as the old man was about to leave, he was called back: "Elder, leave me some silvers!"
The old man shook his head mechanically: "I don't have any either!"
The two leaders of Sky Demon Sect stared at each other, not knowing what to say.
Lin Qingying said: "Why don't you go ask your disciples for some and bring it to me?"
The old man directly refused: "I won't go, I can't afford to lose face in front of them."
"Then give me some low-grade spirit stones and I'll go exchange them for silver myself."
The old man shook his head again: "I only have top-grade spirit stones."
Regretfully, Lin Qingying said: "I should've been more frugal with my spending."
"It's hard to exchange top-grade spirit stones for silver!"
The old man covered his forehead: "First exchange the top-grade spirit stones for mid-grade ones, then use the mid-grade to exchange for low-grade. Doesn't that solve the problem?"
"I know that!"
Hearing the "I know", the old man left a sentence before disappearing: "To put it bluntly, you're just lazy."
Lin Qingying pursed her lips: "It's not that I'm afraid of trouble, I just won't ask you!"
Soon after, the old man came back with some silver bills and ingots but didn't say anything before disappearing again.
Putting away the money, Lin Qingying gloated: "Sharp tongue but soft heart. Who would've thought you have a villain's face."
Going out the door, Lin Qingying shopped wildly in the streets and alleyways while sampling snacks and tidbits along the way.
While walking, she heard singing coming out from a teahouse. Out of curiosity, she walked in.
At first glance, she saw Tang Xiaoyu singing with a group of people. She didn't recognize the song but it sounded quite nice. Paired with the scenery projection in the background, it gave a special feeling.
Quietly finding a seat to sit down, she ordered some sweet pastries, dried fruits and a pot of good tea to enjoy the atmosphere. Lin Qingying felt an immense sense of relaxation.
When the song ended, there were loud cheers and generous tipping.
Then Old Zhou eagerly volunteered to give everyone a song performance.
Amidst loud boos from the audience, sounds of approval soon took over.
Seeing Old Zhou, Lin Qingying frowned, apparently recognizing his identity.
[What is this old guy doing here? Are Qingyun Sword Sect Elders this free? Or is he here to monitor our Sky Demon Sect?]
Soon she realized whether Old Zhou was here to monitor them or just to have fun.
As Old Zhou's much touted song "Song of the Western Sea" started playing, everyone quieted down.
Behind the scenes, Tang Xiaoyu was gnashing his teeth and cursing: "This is the song I wanted to use to make a name for myself. With you old fart singing it all the time, you're about to surpass my popularity."
But Old Zhou didn't care and started it off by taking the mic: "As far as the eye can see..."
"Everyone sing together," he said, holding the microphone out to the people below.
It wasn't that everyone was giving Old Zhou face, but rather that everyone was used to this approach - they couldn't grab the mic back from Old Zhou, so they could only sing along!