Chapter 2284: The Mouth Is Unwilling, but the Body Is Honest

Meanwhile, in the academy’s rear mountain, Xie Xiu was sitting in Xie Daoyun’s room, his chair leaning unsteadily from side to side. He had clearly been tormented by Hei Baizi badly, and finally found some time to take a small break at his big sister’s place.

“Big sis, I heard that many people went to visit Brother Zu. Why are you still here day after day?”

Xie Daoyun had her sleeves pulled up a bit, revealing her bright and exquisite wrists. She was practicing a rune she had recently learned with a brush. When she heard that, her hand shook and ink almost fell onto the paper.

However, she quickly calmed down. She continued to draw on the paper while replying, “So what if I went to see him? So what if I didn’t?”

Xie Xiu looked up in confusion. “Sis, don’t you like him?”

If Xie Daoyun had heard those words before, she likely would have been really embarrassed and started beating her brother up. But ever since that kiss with Zu An, she'd felt that she was just deceiving herself with such behaviors, so she decided to just tacitly accept it. “So what if I like him? He’s so amazing and has a lot of women around him. All of them are prettier than me and more outstanding than me. It wouldn’t make a difference at all if I waws there or not.”

Xie Xiu replied with a big smile, “Says who? You're so pretty, and you were even known for being beautiful in Brightmoon City. Who knows how many young masters dream about you day and night. You’re incredibly popular even in a place like the Royal Academy that's full of talents. The students who like you could form a line all the way up the rear mountain!”

“It’s nowhere near as exaggerated as you’re making it sound.” Xie Daoyun shot him a look. She almost laughed out loud.

Xie Xiu cried out, “What do you mean? Do you know how much I’m benefiting because I’m your brother? If they aren’t giving me things to eat, they’re helping me with my homework...”

Xie Daoyun said in annoyance, “You should stop going around and breaking people’s hearts. If you don’t like them, stop flirting with them! And yet you’re using them to help you with your homework? You damned playboy!”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

“Big sister, you’ve misunderstood. They’re all men,” Xie Xiu quickly said.

“Men?” Xie Daoyun immediately looked up and couldn't be bothered with writing runes anymore. She quickly put down her brush and grabbed his ears. She pulled him all the way to the window, looking toward Brightmoon City. “It’s one thing if you like to play around, but you’re getting more and more out of hand! Our Xie clan still needs to rely on you to carry on our ancestral line, but if father and mother found out about what you're doing, wouldn’t they just die of anger?”

“It hurts, it hurts... Huh? What are you talking about?” Xie Xiu finally reacted to what was going on and quickly struggled free. “Those men have been approaching me because they want to get closer to you! They’re all scheming all sorts of things, so of course I need to keep them in check!”

“Huh?” Xie Daoyun quickly let go of her little brother’s ear. She looked really embarrassed.

“A lot of them actually wrote you love letters.” Xie Xiu rubbed his ears and grimaced in pain.

“Where are the love letters?” Xie Daoyun asked, stunned.

Why have I never heard about them before?

“I burned them all, of course. Those toads actually want a taste of swan flesh? They’re all calling me brother, but they want to become my brothers-in-law!”

Xie Daoyun harrumphed. “Quit it with the nonsense. If he found out, he'd probably think that no one wants your sister and that she has to marry him or something.”

“Do you not want to marry him?” Xie Xiu asked curiously.

“Nope,” Xie Xiaoyun said coldly with a frown.

“Is it because you think brother Zu isn’t proactive enough with you? I think he actually treats you pretty well. He promoted our dad and also made me a high official. Everyone who’s smart knows that the reason our Xie clan has been able to enjoy this much glory is because of you,” Xie Xiu said with a chuckle.

Xie Daoyun became quiet. She picked up her brush, but her strokes clearly weren't as calm as before.

“Sis, listen to my advice. When a man chases after a woman, it’s as if there’s a mountain separating them. If a woman chases a man, it’s as if there’s just a thin curtain. Brother Zu has too many things to take care of, so how could he chase after you like a normal man? You need to be a bit more proactive yourself!” Xie Xiu said in a sincere and earnest voice.

Xie Daoyun’s eyes turned a bit red. “Was I not forward enough before? But he didn’t even show anything in return, always seeming neither close nor distant. Am I supposed to shamelessly throw myself at him?”

“What he's doing is playing push and pull.” As soon as he said that, Xie Xiu couldn't help but shake his head. “No, wait. If I think about it using my incredible romantic judgment, it might be because he has too many women around him and is temporarily tired of love, so he doesn't want to hurt you.”

“Look at how you’re speaking up for him just because he gave you an official position. Is he your sister or am I?” Xie Daoyun retorted in annoyance.

“I’m speaking from a perspective as a mature man who is extremely popular with women.” Xie Xiu took out his fan and fanned himself. He put on a tired expression as he said, “You know, it’s quite tiring to be people like us who have so many lovers. Being liked by too many women is a kind of burden too. Sometimes I also think to myself, I don’t want to hurt some good women anymore.”

“You’re talking so much, but wasn’t that Madam Wu quickly taken in by him?” Xie Daoyun rolled her eyes.

“So that’s why you’re upset! Actually, that’s just a mature couple taking what they need from each other,” Xie Xiu said. “Or maybe they already knew each other beforehand.”

“Even if they had been each other beforehand, would it have been before meeting the two of us?” Xie Daoyun was feeling really annoyed. “Enough, enough! Quit it with your analysis. I’m getting a headache just listening to you.” She pushed her little brother away as she spoke.

“It would be different if you could just give up on him.” Xie Xiu was being pushed out, so he quickly said, “But there are so many women who are proactively going after him. It’s fine as long as you don’t regret it.”

Bang!

What he received in return was a heavy door slam.

Xie Xiu sighed. This thing called love really was harmful... If not for the fact that he couldn't win against Zu An, he would give the latter a beating for his sister’s sake too.

Inside the room, Xie Daoyun was still in a daze from her little brother’s words. However, she focused again after a while. Her master and martial uncle had recently come up with something, so she could use that as a pretext to...

...

Outside the capital’s city gates, Zu An couldn't help but remember when he went to gather medicine with Ji Xiaoxi in Brightmoon City. He felt really warm inside. As such, he replied, “Of course you can!”

He remembered what had happened when he was arrested by the Embroidered Envoy and brought to the capital. Back then, even though she was so shy, Ji Xiaoxi had still given him some medicine by kissing him in front of so many people. That was something he remembered very well.

Unfortunately, the two of them had ended up living apart from each other, and weren’t able to meet so easily again. Ji Dengtu, that daughter-obsessed maniac, was always on guard against him as if he was some bandit, always finding some pretext to send her away. That was why they hadn’t been able to meet at all.

When he thought of that, he immediately realized something. “Hm? Your dad agreed to this?”

Ji Xiaoxi’s face turned red. She lowered her head and muttered quietly, “Dad... Dad agreed.” She clearly didn’t have much confidence as she spoke.

Zu An thought to himself,

I really would’ve believed you if you weren't sneaking looks at me like that.

“Why even bother thinking about it? There’s no way that old thing would agree.” A woman with beautiful legs clad in black silk stockings walked over with an elegant and mature gait. Her hairstyle that was arranged high above her head made her neck look even more fair and slender. Who else could it be but Jiang Luofu?

At her side was a young lady with a gentle and refined temperament. Her long hair fluttered in the air, and there was a slight smile on her face. Xie Daoyun always had a peaceful presence around her.

“Big sis principal, little sister Ling’er.” Zu An was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected to meet so many people close to him in such a short amount of time.

“Big brother Zu.” Xie Daoyun smiled toward Zu An. What her little brother had said appeared in her mind. Her face heated up a bit from embarrassment.

I sounded so confident before, but didn’t I still come looking for him on my own? If my little brother found out, he’d really die from laughter.

“Xiaoxi’s father definitely wouldn’t agree to let her run all the way to the Demon race territory...” Jiang Luofu said with a smile. She gave Zu An a look and continued, “Especially while at your side.”

Zu An was speechless.

Ji Dengtu really is going too far. He isn’t remembering the favor he owes me from all those books at all!

Jiang Luofu continued, “But Xiaoxi really wants to go, so I gave in to her pleas and agreed to go with her. That way, her dad shouldn’t get too angry even if he finds out later.”

“Little aunt is the best.” Ji Xiaoxi hooked her arm around Jiang Luofu's elbow with a big smile on her face.

Xie Daoyun also quickly said, “My master and martial uncle came up with something new. You can use it as a mode of transportation, so I came to deliver it.”