For the first time, Hua Wuduo, who always thought he was incredibly smart, realized that he was actually a bit stupid.
Hua Wuduo returned to the team with a sheepish expression. No one in the Wen class understood why she had given up so easily. Hua Wuduo explained with a sigh, "I was scared first and didn't have the courage to continue. So no matter whether I could hit the target with the next three arrows, I had already lost."
Upon hearing this, Gongzi Yi cursed her for being spineless.
Gongzi Qi, standing nearby, advised, "She's spineless to begin with, why are you spouting nonsense?"
Hua Wuduo found these words rather awkward, and she really didn't know whether Gongzi Qi was there to help her or to insult her.
Living such a comfortable life almost made Hua Wuduo forget his responsibilities.
A month later, news suddenly came from Nanshu Academy that shocked all the students.
Beiyu Academy sent an invitation to Nanshu Academy, inviting all the students of Nanshu Academy to gather by Daming Lake, saying that they wanted to make friends through literature.
Good heavens, that night, countless students of Nanshu Academy lost sleep.
Beiyu Academy is a world-renowned girls' academy that produces only elegant ladies who are all talented in singing and dancing, and most importantly, beautiful and graceful!
Moreover, Qi Xin, the future most beautiful woman in the world, is currently studying at Beiyu Academy.
That night, in his dream, Gongzi Yi shouted countless times: "My beauty, I'm here."
Hua Wuduo was awakened countless times as a result. Helpless, she put on her coat and went out. Using her lightness skill, she arrived at the spring behind the academy. It wasn't that she didn't bathe, but she couldn't indulge in the luxury of bathing frequently as before, taking her time to bathe.
After taking off his clothes, quickly washing himself, and then putting them back on, he used his internal energy to dry his entire body as he hurried back. The whole trip took only the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
Making friends through literature—listen to this, it's the perfect opportunity for their literary class to shine!
The students in the literature class were all eager to learn and full of energy. They spent their days reciting poems, painting, and competing with each other in matching couplets.
Looking at the martial arts class, everyone was cramming on poetry, and some of the really bad ones even hired several top students from the literature class at high prices.
The students of the Literature Class couldn't help but sigh, "The Literature Class is finally going to be able to hold its head high!"
These past few nights, Gongzi Yi has also been cramming on poetry, and his master is naturally Hua Wuduo, who is always inseparable from him.
This day came too late for the people of Wenban.
This day came both too quickly and too slowly for the people of the martial arts troupe.
With a heart full of trepidation, the martial arts troupe members willingly let the civil arts troupe members lead the way and ride together to the shores of Daming Lake.
It was quite a sight to see so many noble young men riding down the mountain at the same time; they attracted everyone's attention as soon as they entered the town.
On horseback, the young masters, heads held high and chests puffed out, wearing the distinctive robes of the Southern Academy, rode away with haughty expressions and an air of disdain for all others.
A woman carrying a vegetable basket remarked by the roadside, "The students of Nanshu Academy are truly different. Look at their expressions; they all look like grooms going to welcome their brides."
Master Ji, who was leading the group, kept giving instructions and instructions along the way, telling them what not to do and what not to do. Even Hua Wuduo, a woman, started to get annoyed by it, let alone the young masters.
At this moment, Gongzi Xiu suddenly cracked his whip and spurred his horse to gallop ahead. Master Ji shouted, but Gongzi Xiu ignored him completely. When the others saw this, they also spurred their horses and galloped after him, leaving Master Ji behind shouting and beating his chest in frustration.
As the group rode through the forest path, the morning sunlight filtered through the branches, warming their bodies. The morning air was wonderful, and birds chirped incessantly in the trees. The young men couldn't help but slow their horses, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
At this moment, Gongzi Qi took the lead and sang loudly: "Ordinary people, fleeting in the blink of an eye, yet eternally remembered..." Upon hearing this, the crowd sang in unison: "Ordinary people, fleeting in the blink of an eye, yet eternally remembered, only the extraordinary figures remain. The great waves flow eastward, washing away the whitecaps, yet faintly visible is the ancient site of Zhou Yu's Red Cliffs in the west. Waves surge and roll, thousands upon thousands of them, forming this picturesque landscape, a landscape of unparalleled beauty."
For a time, the forest path was filled with the enthusiasm of the young people and their aspirations for the future.
The scenery along the shores of Daming Lake was picturesque. Young girls dressed in the attire of Beiyu Academy had already set sail on the lake in light boats.
Someone was holding an oil-paper umbrella, and the wind blew across the shore, bringing bursts of laughter and cheerful voices. From afar, one could only feel the beauty of the women and the picturesque scenery.
When the young masters of Nanshu Academy arrived, they were greeted by this beautiful scene. They couldn't wait to dismount and gaze at the graceful figures of the girls in the lake, their clothes fluttering and their smiles captivating. They were all mesmerized.
Hua Wuduo was no exception. Looking at the group of young masters around him who were practically drooling without any regard for their image, he suddenly swung his riding whip, cracking it sharply on the ground, and shouted, "Brothers, what are we waiting for!"
***************
His words were like a wake-up call; the crowd immediately threw down their reins and surged down the embankment like a tidal wave.
Master Ji, who had just arrived panting, looked at the horses wandering around untethered and sighed to the heavens with a mournful face, "Why is it always like this?!"
It turns out this wasn't the first time; the senior students from Nanshu Academy had done the same thing back then... Poor Master Ji!
Despite his sigh, Master Ji resigned himself to his fate and tied up the horses one by one.
The crowd rushed down the embankment and stood by Daming Lake, watching the girls on the boats with floral umbrellas in the water. The girls saw them too and covered their mouths to laugh. They were all truly charming and beautiful.
Just as the young masters, their minds filled with fantasies and waving flags, stood on the shore, looking rather foolish compared to their former respectable appearance,
Suddenly, Wu Ban's son, Zi Yang, couldn't help but shout, "Ladies, may I, a humble man, sit on the boat?"
One of the ladies replied, "If you're so capable, come up here yourself."
Upon hearing this, the other women covered their mouths with their silk fans and chuckled.
Young Master Ziyang, already distracted, immediately used his lightness skill to leap onto the girls' small boat.
Upon seeing this, the young masters could no longer remain still. They all used various postures to demonstrate their lightness skills and leaped towards the light boats not far from the shore.
Only Gongzi Yi paced back and forth on the shore, anxiously searching like an ant on a hot pan. Hua Wuduo watched Gongzi Yi from the side, thinking to himself: If his martial arts have recovered by now, wouldn't his lightness skill be the Toad Leap?
Hua Wuduo kindly suggested from the side, "How about I carry you across?"
Gongzi Yi said resentfully, "No need. If you have to carry it, I'll lose face."
Hua Wuduo snorted and said, "You think you have face by staying here?"
Gongzi Yi glanced at Gongzi Xiu beside him.
At this moment, Young Master Xiuzheng sat on the shore, gazing into the distance where the water and sky met. His expression remained indifferent, as if he had no intention of boarding the boat at all.
Gongzi Yi's eyes darted around, and he immediately sat down like Gongzi Xiu, saying, "I'm not like them, who immediately fawn over any woman they see."
Hua Wuduo chuckled inwardly and sat down beside him.
Gongzi Yi immediately began to pretend, ignoring the beauties on the lake and focusing only on the surrounding scenery.
Soon after, the sun gradually rose, making the water surface shimmer.
The willows along the shore of Daming Lake are lush and green, and the scenery is delightful. Looking around, you can see several light boats floating on the lake, with colorful oil-paper umbrellas swaying gently with the boats like flowers. Occasionally, the wind carries the soft laughter of young girls across the shore, bringing with it a few alluring fragrances.
Hua Wuduo gradually closed her eyes, listening to the wind, the water, and the faint laughter, feeling that the world was vast and her heart was open and free. But just then, a sharp sound carried on the wind suddenly attacked her and Gongzi Yi from behind.
Hua Wuduo suddenly opened his eyes. Before he could turn around, he used the sound to pinpoint the location and suddenly flicked his sleeve backward, causing golden threads to wrap around the two swords.
But Hua Wuduo was powerless against the four swords that followed. Just then, Gongzi Xiu, who was not far away, suddenly jumped up, drew his sword from his waist, and blocked the attack.
Fortunately, Young Master Xiu was there this time.
At this moment, Master Ji and Master Zhang from Beiyu Academy went to the west pavilion to cool off and reminisce. They were quite far away and did not notice what was happening here.
As for the other students on the light boats, since the boats had already gone far from the shore, even if someone noticed the situation, it would be difficult for them to get back in time.
This time, there were six people in total. Their martial arts skills were higher than the last time, and every move they made was aimed at Gongzi Yi. It seemed that they had only one goal and showed no mercy.
Hua Wudu was starting to feel the strain when Gongzi Qi rushed over from the water.
He held several oil-paper umbrellas in his hands, and with each leap, he threw one into the water. With a slight push from his feet, he finally reached the shore after a few leaps. He flew to protect Gongzi Yi and shouted to Hua Wuduo and Gongzi Xiu, "I'll protect Yi, you just kill!"
With no further worries, the two of them...
Before Hua Wuduo could utter the words "leave behind...", Gongzi Xiu had already sheathed his sword. The sword light was cold and dazzling, and red blood dripped down the blade and into the soil.
Young Master Xiu said coldly, "I never leave a living person under my sword."
Hua Wuduo was taken aback, but Gongzi Xiu had already sheathed his sword and turned to leave.
Before anyone knew it, a small boat approached the shore.
Hua Wuduo heard a woman on the small boat say, "He's so handsome."
Another woman asked, "Who are you talking about?"
The woman said, "I was saying that the young master has little left."
What?!
Hua Wuduo glanced to the side, thinking he had misheard, but when his gaze turned to the girl speaking on the light boat, he clearly saw that the round-faced girl blushed.
Hua Wu quickly averted his gaze. He couldn't help but think to himself: Have these women been trained? They're not afraid of dead bodies, and they even have the nerve to comment on who's more handsome! These young ladies from wealthy families are truly not to be underestimated.
Just then, another woman said, "That young master Yi is quite handsome, but unfortunately he's a coward and can only be protected by others."
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo immediately looked at Gongzi Yi, but Gongzi Yi remained calm.
Another woman said, "I knew it. He's just a pretty face, all show and no substance. I was almost fooled by his appearance."
Hua Wuduo suddenly felt a surge of anger and turned to glare at the women talking not far away. The women saw Hua Wuduo's gaze, immediately turned their heads away, and remained silent.
Hua Wuduo turned to look at Gongzi Yi, only to see that Gongzi Yi's gaze was deep and his lips curled into a mocking smile. At that moment, Hua Wuduo suddenly felt that this Gongzi Yi was a stranger.
Perhaps those few were relatively brave. As the other tour boats gradually approached the shore, the women, still frightened by the sight of dead bodies on the bank, dared not go ashore.
These young men seemed to have seized a good opportunity to show off, each of them standing tall and proud like heroes, comforting the young ladies while bravely shielding them from the bloody scene.
Now, their enjoyment of sightseeing, flirting, and reciting poetry was completely disrupted by this accident. A large group of government officials arrived. Knowing that they were students of the Nanshu Academy, all of whom were wealthy and noble, the officials treated them politely. After several rounds of questioning, they were originally going to take Hua Wuduo and the others to the yamen for questioning and fingerprinting. However, when Gongzi Xiu showed the gold token he carried, the officials immediately said that they would handle everything themselves and that Hua Wuduo and the others did not need to go. They also diligently cleaned up the scene as quickly as possible before the group left.
The current emperor is frail and sickly, Empress Liu secretly controls the government, and the Liu family, his maternal relatives, wields immense power. Young Master Xiu's gold medal is more effective than anything else.
Everyone knew the truth, but no one said it aloud.
This delay meant it was already afternoon, and everyone was starving, having missed lunch. Someone suggested hunting some wild game to roast, a suggestion immediately met with enthusiastic support, even from the most traditional-minded Master Ji. Immediately, a group of men and women busied themselves with the task. Poetry and tea were long forgotten; filling their stomachs was the priority.
Since what had just happened, Hua Wuduo, Gongzi Xiu, and Gongzi Qi have been approached by women from time to time, intentionally or unintentionally, to chat with them. Gongzi Xiu, in particular, is surrounded by several beautiful women.
Gongzi Yi remained unnoticed, probably because his cowardly, protected appearance greatly diminished his image in the eyes of the women.
Gongzi Yi was very annoyed by this. Looking at Hua Wuduo, who was being oblivious and evasive, he became furious. Suddenly, he stretched out his arms and hugged Hua Wuduo, saying, "Cousin, don't you like me anymore? Are they better than me?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to shock everyone. Hua Wuduo was slightly taken aback before saying, "No, my cousin is still the best."
With just one sentence, countless hearts were broken, and no one came to talk to Hua Wuduo anymore. Hua Wuduo was happy to have some peace and quiet.
With a strange smile, Gongzi Yi released Hua Wuduo and walked towards Gongzi Qi. Suddenly, he hugged Gongzi Qi's lower back and rubbed his cheek against Gongzi Qi's back in an ambiguous way, saying, "Qi, you too, you don't pay attention to me at all. Are they better than me?"
Gongzi Qi's eyes sparkled as she said gently, "Yi, I like her the most."
Ah... The woman who was blushing and talking to Gongzi Qi couldn't accept reality and ran away.
Gongzi Yi released Gongzi Qi, and the two exchanged a smile. They then glanced at Gongzi Xiu, who was surrounded by a group of girls but remained indifferent. Their smiles were malicious, revealing sinister white teeth. Hua Wuduo, watching from the side, felt a chill run down her spine. Her intuition told her that such smiles from these two young masters were anything but pleasant. Sure enough, the two immediately adopted a very serious demeanor, walking side-by-side towards Gongzi Xiu, but not getting close, standing at a distance.
Gongzi Qi said to Gongzi Yi, "Xiu looks cold on the outside, but he's actually quite wild inside, isn't he, Yi?"
Gongzi Yi replied, "Yes, Xiu loves looking at erotic pictures the most. When the Master teaches, although the cover is the Analects, the content is all erotic pictures."
Hua Wuduo noticed that the women surrounding Gongzi Xiu's expression had begun to stiffen.