Chapter 122: Being Too Charming Is Also a Kind of Trouble

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The four or five people on the platform all wore deeply furrowed brows as they stared at the problems on the table, fretting because they could not solve them.

The spectators surrounding them were pondering as well.

The farce on the second floor had also come to an end. Several people dressed alike hurried upstairs and carried away Hu Hansan, who had been beaten beyond recognition. The onlookers dispersed and returned their attention to the small literary gathering on the first floor.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiang and Miss Xiao were chatting merrily beneath the raised platform, provoking the jealousy of a crowd of scholars.

Xiao Lin was the most beautiful young lady of a distinguished family in the entire city. She possessed an impressive background, exquisite looks, and impeccable manners. Naturally, she was adored by countless lustful admirers.

Hu Hansan had indeed been perfunctory. This girl, Xiao Lin, had taken the initiative to tell Chen Xiang about Flowing Fragrance City, and her account was far more detailed than his.

“Young Master Chu, since you have just arrived in Flowing Fragrance City, there are a few things you should keep in mind.” Xiao Lin spoke with a solemn expression, a faint trace of concern in her eyes.

Chen Xiang found it rather amusing. Could this girl have taken a fancy to him? Well, that made sense. After all, his charm was irresistible!

“Please, Miss Xiao,” Chen Xiang said with a courteous smile.

Xiao Lin nodded. Her cheeks reddened slightly as she gently pinched a corner of Chen Xiang’s sleeve and led him to a secluded corner. Only after making sure there were few people nearby did she speak cautiously.

“Young Master Chu, be careful not to offend the immortals in Flowing Fragrance City. Most of them live in the center of the city and generally do not come into the areas where ordinary people reside, so there is no need to worry too much. Even so, you should still be cautious.”

Miss Xiao had assumed from the outset that Chen Xiang was merely an ordinary man. That was understandable, after all. Very few immortals were like Hu Hansan, wasting their glorious opportunity to cultivate merely for the sake of pleasure. Every ordinary person dreamed of becoming an immortal, but the existence—or absence—of a spiritual root barred most of them from ever doing so.

“Understood.” Chen Xiang chuckled lightly, showing no displeasure.

When Xiao Lin heard his reply, she seemed to relax, as though she had been afraid he would not understand the seriousness of the matter.

Then she lowered her voice even further. “Young Master Chu, that was only the first thing. There is another matter. My family received some information, and I will tell you about it—but you must not repeat it carelessly!”

Chen Xiang nodded calmly.

“I heard that several very important guests have recently come to Flowing Fragrance City. They act without restraint and behave as though they are above the law. Even the city lord has not intervened. So, Young Master Chu, be careful not to provoke them while you are in the city!”

A trace of fear flashed through Xiao Lin’s eyes as she spoke in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

If Chen Xiang had not possessed a high level of cultivation and exceptional hearing, he would hardly have been able to make out her words.

Chen Xiang was stunned when he heard this.

A group of people was causing trouble throughout Flowing Fragrance City, and even the city lord was ignoring them? What kind of development was this?

Was it not said that the city lord of Flowing Fragrance City was the very embodiment of justice? Why would he refuse to intervene?

Chen Xiang thought it over. If this matter was true, there were only two possibilities.

Either the city lord had permitted them to behave this way—or even ordered them to do so—or the city lord truly had no power to control them.

But what did either possibility have to do with him?

Thus, Chen Xiang was merely surprised. He did not take the matter to heart at all.

On the surface, however, he smiled and said, “Thank you for the warning, Miss Xiao. I am deeply grateful.”

“Oh, that reminds me. Miss Xiao, when will the Flowing Fragrance Literary Gathering begin?” Chen Xiang asked with another smile.

Xiao Lin composed herself, then smiled and replied, “The Flowing Fragrance Literary Gathering will begin in two days. Are you planning to attend, Young Master Chu?”

As she spoke, a look of anticipation appeared in her eyes.

Chen Xiang was speechless. Had this girl really taken a fancy to him?

His charm truly was formidable!

Still, he asked, “Are you going as well, Miss Xiao?”

Xiao Lin nodded, her cheeks faintly flushed. “Yes. My family received several invitations, and I would like to go and take a look, so…”

“Well, if you are going, then I shall attend as well and broaden my horizons.” Chen Xiang immediately nodded in agreement, wearing a confident smile.

“Hmph. You? Get an invitation first, then talk!”

An untimely voice suddenly rang beside him.

Chen Xiang turned and saw the plain-looking scholar from earlier standing not far away, staring at him with a cold smile.

Before Miss Xiao could say anything, the man had interrupted her. She glared at him in irritation, making her displeasure plain.

Seeing Miss Xiao’s displeasure, the honest scholar felt as though a knife had pierced his heart. Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth and said, “Hmph! The only ones left on the platform are Young Master Wang Yu and Young Master Zhang Feng. Both are exceptionally talented scholars from East Willow Academy. This year’s invitations will certainly belong to one of them. You still want to attend the Flowing Fragrance Literary Gathering? Keep dreaming!”

At the mention of the two talented scholars, Miss Xiao’s expression changed. She hurriedly looked toward the platform.

There had been five people moments ago, but while she had been speaking with Chen Xiang and neglecting the competition, three had already withdrawn. The remaining two were famous talents from East Willow Academy—and rivals at that. It seemed likely that the invitation on the platform would go to one of them.

Chen Xiang glanced at the plain-looking scholar.

So he was another admirer of the beauty.

What a nuisance it was to be too charming.

A weathered expression appeared on Chen Xiang’s face as he thought this.

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“Hmph, Young Master Chu, you need not worry. I can ask my family for another invitation. Then we can attend the literary gathering together. And besides…” Xiao Lin gave a light snort before lowering her eyes shyly. “Besides, I would like to hear you tell me about the world beyond this city!”

“Uh…”

Chen Xiang’s confident expression froze.

The world beyond? Damn it, girl! So you were not captivated by my charm after all?

No, that was impossible. His ears must have deceived him!

Had she really never left Flowing Fragrance City? Why was she so eager to hear a stranger she had only just met tell her about the outside world?

Pretending not to have heard her, Chen Xiang waved his hand and declared, “Young Master Zhang and Young Master Wang? I beg your pardon, but there is only Young Master Chu here!”

With long strides, Chen Xiang walked toward the platform beneath the gazes of the crowd.

“Young Master Chu! You…” Miss Xiao tried to stop him, but Chen Xiang did not even turn his head.

“Miss Xiao, wait for me to return. I will tell you all about the world beyond this city!”

He seemed to force the final words out through his throat.

Xiao Lin’s body stiffened, and a trace of delighted surprise appeared on her face.

Indeed, because of matters within her family, she would never be able to leave Flowing Fragrance City in this lifetime. She was also an intensely curious girl, which was why she had formed such a desire.

“Hmph, what an overestimate of his own abilities. I would like to see how he humiliates himself!” the honest scholar snorted.

Seeing the expression on Xiao Lin’s face, he hated Chen Xiang so much that his teeth ached.

Chen Xiang stepped onto the platform, and the surrounding spectators watched with curiosity. Why had another person gone up?

“Who is that? I do not think I have seen him before.”

“I have not seen him either. Judging by the way he is dressed, he does not look like a scholar.”

“He was chatting with Miss Xiao just now. Perhaps he is someone she knows.”

“Hmph, so what if he knows Miss Xiao? There are only Young Master Zhang and Young Master Wang left on the platform. What is he going up there for? Is he planning to compete with them?”

“I doubt it. Young Master Zhang and Young Master Wang are both renowned talents of East Willow Academy. If he goes up there, he will only be inviting humiliation.”

…

“To be continued…”

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