It was the spring season again.

Nie Bufan leaned on the second floor railing of the restaurant, watching the carriages passing by on the street, and exclaimed: “There are so many rich people!”

The news of the arrival of the Tian Nu had been circulating since last year. Young talents from all over the country have gathered in Xishan City. Not only men, but also even some young ladies have come all the way, in order to find a good marriage. Xishan City it seemed, had become a holy place for marriage hunting.

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Nie Bufan turned towards Zhang Junshi and Li Yi and said: “The Tian Nu has not shown up yet, how does she plan to choose her husband?”

Zhang Junshi replied: “The Mistress of Divining Heaven Palace have sent people to buy a manor in Xishan City and renamed it ‘Fragrant Illuminating Garden’. Soon, young talents and young ladies of noble birth will be invited to participate in the garden party. The young ladies will be able to receive an invitation as long as they have a certain family status. But there are only forty-nine invitations for the young men. Forty-nine Jadeites sent by the tian nu will first do the screening, only the ones suitable will be given one of the 49 invitations.”

“Screening? How to screen?” Nie Bufan looked curious.

“It’s hard to say, at least you have to have a good impression on the Jadeite, looks and mannerisms are prerequisites.”

Nie Bufan looked at Zhang Junshi, then at Li Yi, and nodded: “Well, the three of us at least meet this prerequisite.”

Zhang Junshi shook his head amusedly, and continued: “Forty-nine Jadeites each have an invitation card on them. They will choose people according to their own preferences. Sometimes they just chat with you briefly, sometimes they will give a difficult problem that you must solve. But there are also several people who don’t need to go through this much trouble to get an invitation, such as the royal family members.”

“What about you two?” Nie Bufan looked at them and asked, “Have you figured out how to get the invitation?”

“I already have one.” Zhang Junshi smiled.

“How did you get it?” Nie Bufan asked in surprise. As far as he knew, Zhang Junshi was just a merchant.

Zhang Junshi said casually: “I sold Fragrant Illuminating Garden to the Mistress of Divining Heaven Palace.”

“So that’s it.” Nie Bufan looked at Li Yi, “What about Li Fourth?”

Li Yi didn’t answer, just drank his tea slowly.

Zhang Junshi replied for him: “With brother Li’s background, I believe he already has one.”

“What is the background of Li Fourth, don’t tell me it’s the Emperor’s relative?”

“No.” Li Yi said lightly, “Just a family of officials.”

Just a family of officials? The corner of Zhang Junshi’s mouth twitched. Since the founding of the country, the Li family had been granted hereditary nobility. And from the Li family came three prime ministers, two generals, four Shangshu, and the number of officials under the fifth rank was even more uncountable. The family of Li was well-known for its loyalty and talent, surviving for hundreds of years and was the most longstanding evergreen tree in the imperial court. (TN: Shangshu=high official)

Nie Bufan did not delve into Li Yi’s identity. He frowned and thought for a while, then said in a conflicted manner: “You all have one so I can’t fall behind.”

“Do you also want to find a Jadeite for an invitation?”

“Maybe.” Nie Bufan tapped his forehead with a finger, and said seriously, “I suddenly thought that this kind of invitation could also be stolen, right?”

“Steal?” Zhang Junshi disagreed, “Do you know why there is only one invitation card for every Jadeite? Because each invitation card is unique and the stolen invitation card will be invalidated. Additionally, the person who steals the invitation card will also be ineligible to attend.”

“Oh?” Nie Bufan said with a strange expression, “In this case, I can steal an invitation first, and then replace it with someone else’s, this way I can get rid of a competitor without amyone being the wiser.”

How darkly evil are you?

Zhang Junshi and Li Yi were both speechless.

“Even simpler, I can steal directly from a person who got the invitation!”

“You better stop such troublemaking strand of thought.” Zhang Junshi rubbed his forehead and said, “If you really want to go, I will help you find a way.”

Nie Bufan shook his head and tutted, “If I use your help, doesn’t it seem that I am too incompetent?”

“Then what do you want to do?” Zhang Junshi rolled his eyes, “Let me first remind you that you cannot use improper means.”

“Ah-la~, am I such a person?” Nie Bufan waved his hand.

Zhang and Li gave him a slanted 60 degree angle look of contempt.

“Can anyone tell me where I can find a Jadeite?”

“Look, there is one right there.” Zhang Junshi pointed to a place not far away from them.

Nie Bufan leaned forward and saw a seventeen or eighteen year old girl walking towards this side. She was dressed in a light blue and silver-rimmed robe. Her hair was simply tied into a ponytail without any accessories, looking very refreshing and neat. Behind her, there were dozens of people not far away, probably the servants of some Gongzi and young masters, planning to see where this Jadeite will settle down so that they could report back to their master and make a visit.

Nie Bufan raised his hand and shouted, “Lady Jadeite, look over here, do you want to have a meal with us and have a chat?”

This yelling voice caused the surrounding people to suddenly fall into silence.

Zhang Junshi covered his face. He had never seen anyone speak this way to a Jadeite, careless and unruly.

Everyone downstairs were also contemptuous of this hothead in their hearts. If this can even attract a Jadeite then what are they doing following with such difficulty?

But what caused everyone to be stunned was that the Jadeite actually walked towards the restaurant and went up to the second floor.

Everyone collectively turned into statues.

“Milady, please sit down.” Nie Bufan greeted the Jadeite, smiling as he pulled out a chair for her.

The Jadeite’s gaze swept across the three people present and was secretly impressed. One of them was graceful and elegant, one was stoic and unflustered, and the third was like a spring breeze, all of them were superior in manner and aura.

“How may I refer to milady?” Nie Bufan asked politely.

“Jadeites have no name, you can just call me Nineteen. And how may I refer to the three Gongzi here?”

“Humbly yours, Nie Bufan.” Nie Bufan cupped his hands in greeting.

“Zhang Junshi.”

“Li Yi.”

Jadeite Nineteen raised her eyebrows, it was the first time she heard such a simple introduction. However, just looking at the appearance and manners of these three people, they must come from good backgrounds.

“Don’t know which one of you want the invitation card in Nineteen’s hand?” Nineteen asked directly.

“Me.” Nie Bufan raised his hand excitedly.

Nineteen smiled at him: “Then how does Gongzi want to win it?”

Nie Bufan calmly replied: “Literary or martial arts, it is according to the milady’s wishes.”

As soon as these words came out, both Zhang and Li had on weird expressions.

“I didn’t expect Gongzi to be well versed in literary and military matters.” Nineteen however did not catch the looks of the other two people, and just continued, “In that case, I won’t test Gongzi’s literary and martial talent, instead I will test Gongzi on something else.”

“Please speak.” Nie Bufan was calm and composed.

“I passed the market just now and accidentally lost my handkerchief. I wonder if Gongzi can find it for me within the burning of a stick of incense?”

“Don’t know what milady’s handkerchief look like?”

“White silk with two plum blossoms embroidered on one corner.”

“If I find it, does that mean I will win the invitation?”

“If I am satisfied.”

“Okay, I will definitely help milady find it.” Nie Bufan agreed.

Nineteen was quite surprised, the other seemed confident, looking for one lost handkerchief was like finding a needle in a haystack. Why was he so sure about finding it?

Nie Bufan stood up, clapped his hands, and immediately from the corner two roosters walked out. One of them was naturally the loyal Lady Flower, and the other was a new member of Chicken Nest Village, the beautiful as a painting ‘Hero’. It had colorful feathers and was the most gorgeous and proud brother among all the chickens. Recently, because of Hero’s bad mood, Nie Bufan decided to take it out for a walk to avoid depression setting in and causing trouble for everyone.

Nineteen looked stunned when she saw two roosters suddenly appear in the room, especially when seeing that colorful fellow. A trace of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she couldn’t help asking: “This is?”

“My bodyguards.” Nie Bufan replied quite proudly.

“Oh, it’s……it’s quite chic.” It took a long while for Nineteen to come up with such a word.

“If you can please wait, Lady Nineteen, I will be back soon. Zhang Third Gongzi and Li Fourth Gongzi, please entertain Lady Nineteen. If I can’t find anyone when I come back, I will have Pokey accompany you when you sleep.” Pokey was a hedgehog chicken, its entire body of feathers were hard and sharp, and will even give off a peculiar smell. These two people will absolutely not be able to stand it.

Sure enough, both Zhang and Li had disgusted expressions on their faces.

After saying this, Nie Bufan led the two chickens out of the room.

After going out, Nie Bufan knelt down and whispered, “Did you smell it carefully?”

Lady Flower puffed up his chest with a natural self-confident look.

“Good, you lead Hero to find it together. The sooner the better, if you are picked up by someone, you are allowed to use force.”

Lady Flower clucked proudly, raised his head, sniffed the air, and then rushed off with Hero.

Nie Bufan waved his hand at their backs and exhaled as if some big issue was taken care of, then turned around and found a noodle stall, ordered a bowl of spring noodles, and ate it leisurely.

There was no choice, there wasn’t any time to eat the food just now, he was too hungry.

Just after eating two bowls of noodles, Lady Flower and Hero ran back, holding something in his beak. Nie Bufan took it over and frowned, “It’s not this one, but the one embroidered with plum blossoms, do you know plum blossom?”

He drew a picture on the floor with chopsticks. Lady Flower tilted his head to look, then nodded cautiously, and ran off again.

After a while, they once again appeared with another piece. This time the plum blossoms were there, but it was not white.

So the search continued.

The third time, Lady Flower actually brought back a bra……

After going back and forth several times, finally the target was found.

White silk handkerchief, with two plum blossoms embroidered on one corner, this was it!

Nie Bufan smiled widely, the time was just right.

He returned to the restaurant triumphantly and handed the handkerchief to Nineteen.

Nineteen’s expression when she got the handkerchief was very strange, blue and white in the face. After a while she asked, “Where did Gongzi find it?”

“The market.”

Nineteen took a deep breath, her fingers trembled a bit, she hadn’t lost the handkerchief at all, this handkerchief should have been in her room! The reason she used the excuse of losing her handkerchief was just to test the other’s reaction.

Who knew that he could truly find the handkerchief? Doesn’t this mean that he had sneaked into her room?

How vile!

She had always been cautious when she went out, and Divining Heaven Palace’s clothes were also changed in other places. At present, few people knew where she lived, even if they do know, they would not trespass.

What is the matter with this person in front of her?

Did he really think he can pass by taking a handkerchief from her room? What delusion!

“What’s the matter?” Nie Bufan asked her after seeing her strange expression, “Is there something wrong? Isn’t this your handkerchief?”

“This is mine.” Nineteen gritted her teeth.

“That’s good.” Nie Bufan said with a smile, “So, can I get the invitation card?”

In your dreams! Nineteen yelled in her heart, but said with a fake smile on her face: “Sorry, you didn’t pass.”

“Why?” Nie Bufan said unhappily, “Didn’t I find the handkerchief for you?”

“Hmph, just where you found it, you know it in your own heart, why should I say more?”

“I don’t know!” Nie Bufan retorted without hesitation, “Could the place where you dropped your handkerchief be somewhere unsightly?”

“Don’t pretend to be confused!” Nineteen threw out her previous image of a refined lady, and said angrily, “This handkerchief had never been lost!”

Nie Bufan was silent for a while, then suddenly said, “So, your handkerchief had been in your room all this time?”

“What do you think?” Nineteen exclaimed angrily.

“I truly didn’t know this. I thought it was picked up by someone else. Who knew that that was your room?”

“You dare to lie! If you hadn’t known where I was living originally, how could you find what I wanted so quickly despite having no clues?”

“You look down on me too much, I never lie!” Nie Bufan replied confidently, as if he was in the right and with justice on his side.

Lies! Both Zhang and Li, who had been watching from the side, at the same time thought this in their hearts.

“Knowing others, knowing their face but not knowing the heart, you say you don’t lie then you don’t lie?”

“Then what do you want to do?” Nie Bufan said in a righteous manner, “I will never allow others to insult my integrity casually.”

What is Nie Bufan’s integrity like? Both Zhang and Li slandered silently.

Nineteen’s face reddened and said fiercely: “If you want to prove your innocence, unless your chicken can speak! Otherwise I will never give you an invitation.”

“Are you sure? Have the chicken speak?” Nie Bufan revealed a deep and profound expression.

“Yes!” Nineteen pointed at the two chickens on the ground, “If you are really capable, let them testify for you.”

Nie Bufan picked up Hero and said with melancholy: “Your master is questioned by others, what do you think should be done?”

Hero’s eyes peered around, looking as innocent as if he didn’t understand.

Nineteen sneered and said, “Alright, don’t pretend to be pitiful. I’ve lost too much time here, so I won’t keep you company anymore.”

Saying so, she turned around and was about to leave. At that moment, a sharp and weird voice suddenly came from behind: “Milady, walk slowly.”

Nineteen’s figure paused, turning her head, she saw the colorful chicken standing on the arm of the chair, raising his head and saying: “I am Hero, hello milady.”

Nineteen’s mouth opened and closed pointing to Hero and stuttered: “You are talking.”

Hero spread his wings, clucked a few times, and said, “Cheer up, milady, do you need help?”

This time, not only was Nineteen in a daze, even Zhang Junshi and Li Yi were stiff as if they were struck by lightning.

After a while, Nineteen left the room in a daze, while Nie Bufan took the invitation and turned it over with interest.

Zhang Junshi and Li Yi looked at each other and couldn’t help but ask about the talking chicken.

Nie Bufan glanced at them contemptuously: “You have been in Chicken Nest Village for so long, but your knowledge of Chicken Nest Village is still so superficial?”

The two were silent.

“In Chicken Nest Village, there is only the unimaginable, never the impossible. Anything is possible so long as you can imagine it.”

Indeed, chickens can even talk, what else can’t be impossible?

At this time, they heard Nie Bufan mutter again: “If I put this invitation card out for auction, how much money can I make?”

Both Zhang and Li suddenly sympathized with Nineteen and her master……

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

On the other side, when Nineteen returned to her residence, she found that the room was in a mess. The cabinets and dressers had been turned over. The clothes and silk handkerchiefs were scattered all over the place. Occasionally there were some chicken feathers interspersed with several distinctive claw prints. What’s more maddening was her bra, bra, bra!

Damn Nie Bufan! Don’t let her meet him again!

TN: Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Thank you again for all the support!

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Zhang Junshi was sent out by Nie Bufan to buy New Year goods, which he assigned to his workers as soon as he entered the city.

The worker handed over a letter and said, “Gongzi, this is a letter from the Old Master.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Zhang Junshi opened it and looked for a while, his original gentle expression became a little cold. In addition to asking about the situation of the Xishan City branch restaurent, the letter asked him to prepare to welcome the arrival of the tian nu, and must try his best to win her over.

All the pages of letter paper were about the tian nu, not even a word of concern or care for him. Zhang Junshi skimmed it over and put the letter into a box.

He took out brush and paper, and replied simply to the letter. Zhang Junshi’s father was a very strict man. Although they were a merchant’s family, they had all kinds of strict rules.

He had to learn poetry and etiquette since he was a child, so that he could become an official in the future and glorify his family name. However, Zhang Junshi didn’t want to be an official. After being admitted to jinshi (TN: successful candidate in the highest imperial civil service examination), he was reluctant to go further. Instead, he began to take over the family business and showed extraordinary talent in business.

Father Zhang was furious, and drove him to remote places several times, forcing him to fend for himself, but he was still unable to stifle Zhang Junshi’s ability to make money like the God of Wealth. Even if he had no money, he could find business opportunities. Even penniless he was still able to find opportunities and develop his business step by step.

For example, the branch restuarant in Xishan city was one of the products of his “exile” period.

In the end, although father Zhang compromised, he never recognized Zhang Junshi’s achievements. Until the news of the re-emergence of the tian nu came this time, Father Zhang’s calculations showed up again, using his own life to threaten his son to find a way to marry the tian nu.

You must know that although the tian nu was only a commoner, but was quite valued by the emperor. No matter who married the tian nu, he would recieve great rewards. Of course, the price was one of the three divination chances by the Divining Heavens Palace.

Zhang Junshi helplessly shook his head, and called his workers to take the new year’s goods back to Chicken Nest Village. When he arrived at the entrance of the village, he saw a few chickens running to greet him with clucks. His original heavy mood improved slightly. He took a handful of grains from his pocket and sprinkled it out. The chickens first nodded their heads to express their gratitude, before pecking gracefully at their food.

The two workers had strange expressions, but Zhang Junshi was already very used to it.

“I’m back, Bufan.” He shouted.

Nie Bufan’s head poked out from the window and waved his hand: “Come here, there is something good.”

Zhang Junshi walked in curiously.

Nie Bufan handed him a pile of red paper and said, “Write the Spring Festival couplets (TN: the first line of which is pasted on the right side of a doorway at New Year, and the second on the left side), I will post them on all the village houses later.”

Zhang Junshi looked up and found that Li Yi was already working hard at the table. He glanced over and motioned for him to the seat reserved for him.

Zhang Junshi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He first had the workers put the things down before sending them away. Then he walked to Li Yi’s side to see that his writing was powerful and precise, with a strong foundation. His competitive spirit couldn’t help but be aroused and he spread the red paper out, lifted the brush and started writing.

Unlike Li Yi, Zhang Junshi’s words were elegant and graceful, giving people a refined and cultured feeling.

After writing a few words, he was feeling quite cheerful, and the original troubles disappeared without a trace. Looking at Nie Bufan inadvertently, he saw that he was also writing and drawing with a brush. He couldn’t help but lean in curiously to take a look, only to be struck dumb.

“Uh, what are you drawing?”

“Can’t you see it?” Nie Bufan glanced at him contemptuously and said, “This is ‘Abundance year after year’.”

Abundance year after year? Zhang Junshi looked at it carefully, only to see that there was a radish sporting facial features and limbs drawn on the red paper holding a smaller radish that was distorted and out of shape.

Nie Bufan said again: “Look, this is a cute kid holding a big fish, doesn’t it have the meaning that there will be fish every year? (TN: the word for abundance sounds the same as the word for fish in Chinese)”

“……” It turned out to be a radish-like kid holding a radish-like fish.

“Hehe, looking at your expression, I can tell that you have not seen much.” Nie Bufan waved his hand and said, “This is called abstract painting. It breaks the traditional style of realism and uses rich imagination to create. It is derived from reality and is superior to it. It is the pursuit of the highest state of imagination.”

Zhang Junshi now had a different understanding of Nie Bufan’s painting skills.

Li Yi listened to him speaking in such mystical ways, he couldn’t help but also come over to appreciate it, only to remain silent as before, and turned calmly around to continue to write his own words.

Nie Bufan paid them no heed, and continued to waste brush and ink enthusiastically.

After it was all written, they divided the work on pasting the couplets on the village houses.

The originally empty and plain Chicken Nest Village, with these red auspicious words, it suddenly increased in liveliness.

Zhang Junshi and Li Yi appreciated their masterpieces with satisfaction, but were embarrassed when they saw the “New Year paintings” posted on the door. The abstract paintings when put with the exquisite couplets, it was simply hard to look directly at them.

Nie Bufan himself didn’t have any self-awareness at all. This person never knew what shame was.

Well, in fact, these paintings could be used to drive away ghosts and evil spirits with quite effective results.

Zhang Junshi smiled secretly, and Li Yi twitched his mouth.

New Year’s Eve dinner was very rich and sumptuous, with chicken hot pot, chicken meatballs, chicken dumplings, chicken ribs, chicken stir-fry, fish bone chicken soup, etc.

Zhang Junshi warmed up a small jar of wine, one drink per person. Li Yi didn’t say much, but he was in a good mood.

Nie Bufan told a story to the two while eating, not scary, but very embarrassing. For example, the tale A Chinese Ghost Story, was told in this way: “A female ghost fell in love with a Taoist priest but was thrown into reincarnation by a jealous scholar, and was reborn as a chicken.”

“Wait.” Zhang Junshi interrupted, “Why was the scholar jealous?”

“Stupid, because he liked that Taoist priest.”

Zhang Junshi was a little confused: “If I am not mistaken, the Taoist priest should be a man?”

“Yes, what’s the problem?”

“That scholar and Taoist priest are……”

“Bromance, bromance don’t you understand?”

“Bromance……could bromance be referring to the out of the ordinary intimacy between men that goes beyond friendship?”

“You have hit upon the truth.”

“……”

Zhang Junshi lowered his head, suddenly a little absent-minded.

Li Yi glanced at the two of them and ate his meal silently.

Nie Bufan didn’t pay any heed to their expressions, and continued to make up nonsense: “In the past, there was a scholar who never dabbled in the pleasures of the opposite sex, practically the epitome of a gentleman. A fox demon who didn’t believe that there were men in this world who were not horny, used her life pearl in a bet with the carp demon. The bet was to rip through the hypocrisy of the scholar, so she then turned into a beauty to seduce him every night, but never succeeded. In the end she had to admit defeat and hand over the life pearl to the carp demon. The carp demon won the bet and happily went to thank that scholar, and afterwards, afterwards was eaten by the scholar.”

“Eaten?” Zhang and Li said in unison.

“Yup, the carp demon was a handsome male demon.”

Zhang and Li both understood magically. This “eat” was not the same as the other “eat.”

Nie Bufan also added: “When the fox demon learned about it, she vomited a mouthful of blood and died. She died with deep resentment, and in the end reincarnated as a resentful chicken.”

Zhang Junshi: “……”

Li Yi: “……”

It’s cold. (TN: refers to ‘cold jokes’ which got its name from when one hears a cold joke, he shivers in terror instead of laughing because the joke is so bad.)

“There is another story……”

“Don’t tell anymore, don’t tell anymore.” Zhang Junshi desperately added food into his bowl with chopsticks.

“Eat, eat.” Li Yi also desperately added food to Nie Bufan’s bowl.

A New Year’s Eve dinner ended amidst Nie Bufan’s spoof stories.

After they cleaned up, they sat around the fireplace drinking tea and holding night vigil.

When the sound of firecrackers came from the direction of Xishan city, Nie Bufan suddenly reached into his pocket and took out red envelopes for both Zhang and Li, and said with a smile: “Happy New Year, here are big red envelopes.”

Zhang Junshi and Li Yi silently accepted the red envelopes.

“As the village head of Chicken Nest Village, it is necessary to give out red envelopes to the younger generation. You are welcome, please keep it properly.”

The two looked at each other, both not knowing whether to laugh or cry, but their hearts were warm, even if there was just a copper coin in the red envelope……

Zhang Junshi also reached into his chest pocket and took out a piece of crystal clear green jade, handing it to him, and said: “An auspicious New Year to you.”

“For me?” Nie Bufan took it and played and fiddled with it over and over with a bright smile on his face that was enough to overshadow the fire embers in the furnace.

Li Yi saw this and felt uncomfortable, and so he also reached into his chest pocket, but only found the few banknotes, which were still stained with blood. It was unlucky to take them out, so he could only stuff them back silently, thinking about a later opportunity to make it up.

“Why don’t us three lonely people talk all night long on this night.” Nie Bufan suggested, “we can sleep in my bed together.”

During the renovation, Nie Bufan specially widened his bed which now can fit four or five without a problem.

“So long as you don’t tell that kind of story anymore.” Zhang Junshi said with fear.

“Okay, no problem, it will be your turn to talk when it’s time.” Nie Bufan jumped on his bed, rolled a few times, and then beckoned, “Come on.”

Don’t know why but looking at Nie Bufan’s disheveled appearance on the bed, Zhang Junshi and Li Yi got a weird feeling in their hearts. They couldn’t help but think of those stories, bromance and male-male passions……

The two layed next to Nie Bufan on either side, the three of them lined up in a row.

Nie Bufan sighed: “Don’t you feel lonely if you don’t spend the New Year’s Eve with your family?”

The two were silent.

Nie Bufan said again: “I have no relatives in this world, but what about you two?”

The two continued to be silent, but at the same time they held Nie Bufan’s hand comfortingly.

“It’s too depressing, let’s tell a story.”

The both of them let go of their hands at the same time and turned to lie on their sides.

Zhang Junshi said: “Suddenly I feel a little sleepy, let’s go to sleep.”

Li Yi simply began to snore lightly.

Nie Bufan sighed, and mournfully recited: “Being a stranger in a strange land alone, doubly homesick for our dear loved ones on each festive season, this night I think of my homeland a thousand miles away, tomorrow is another year, for no reason I feel reluctance, the candle shed tears until daybreak……”

Zhang Junshi turned around and said seriously: “Let’s just tell stories.”

Li Yi also turned around and deeply agreed.

“You said it.”

Zhang and Li nodded affirmatively and surely.

“Well, let me tell you a tear-jerking story about the white snake repaying kindness……”

……The two pitiful people suffered an entire night of pain.

The side effect being from now on their outlook on life and the world have been completely overturned.

They realized that there was a kind of emotion in this world called bromance, which was a stunning love that transcended the ways of the world, transcended class, transcended race, transcended gender, and transcended time and space.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Nie Bufan, are you a true gay or a fake gay? Are you aware of how to write the phrase “to eat one’s bitter fruit”? (TN: idiom meaning to suffer the consequences of one’s own actions)

May the Buddha bless him.

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Waking up early in the morning, coming into view was a silver white adorned world, brilliant white snow covering everything, and crisp winter silence permeated the air.

Nie Bufan wrapped himself into a ball, three inner layers under three outer layers, and watched Li Yi in a single shirt practicing martial arts in the yard with a look of envy and hatred.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Resentfully, he started a fire and boiled water in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for those two idlers.

Speaking of, these days he had practically become a full-time house-husband, which was not a good sign. Those two guys eat his food and live in his house, and even have him wait on them?

Eyes inadvertently glanced at something in the cabinet, and his mood brightened. Nie Bufan turned his head and looked outside, only to see Li Yi who had finished practicing and was currently freshening up, so he shouted: “Li Fourth, come here.”

Li Yi came over.

Nie Bufan poured out a bag of flour and ordered: “Please, knead the dough.”

“Knead dough?” Li Yi looked at the pile of powder and hesitated, “How to knead it?”

“You pour some water in the flour, and then knead it with your hands.”

Li Yi pinched a bit of flour with his still wet fingers, and complained, “You should just let me pick vegetables. This thing is sticky, I don’t like it.”

“What? Are you not a martial artist? Why don’t you like kneading dough?” Nie Bufan glared at him.

“Why should martial arts practitioners like kneading dough?”

“Kneading dough is not something that ordinary people can do well, it contains the essence of supreme martial arts, you are actually this ignorant?”

Li Yi was silent for a moment, and said: “The essence of supreme martial arts?”

He can’t see how rubbing this sticky thing have anything to do with the essence of martial arts.

Nie Bufan looked at him contemptuously, and asked, “Have you heard of Taiji?”

“Taiji?”

“Just looking at you I know you haven’t heard it before.” Nie Bufan waved his hand and said solemnly, “Taiji practicioners, born from the everlasting, the moment of movement, the mother of yin and yang, the principle of movement is separation and the principle of stillness is harmony. With static overcoming movement, with softness conquering strength, this contains the essence of supreme martial arts.”

“It sounds very profound, but what does it have to do with kneading?” Li Yi thought it over to himself what Nie Bufan had just said, it did not sound like made-up nonsense.

“Hmph, hmph, you look carefully.” Nie Bufan gathered the flour into a sphere, leaving a space in the middle, and slowly filled it with water, then crossed his hands, kneading the flour into the water in a counterclockwise rotation, and said at the same time, “The strength must be balanced, push, knead, twist, and join, follow the circular orbit, coupling strength and gentleness.”

Li Yi didn’t take it much seriously at first, but slowly, his eyes became sharp, his expression changed, and he seemed to be caught in complicated pondering.

“What do you think?” Nie Bufan stopped and patted the newly formed dough, and said, “Will you knead it?”

“Knead.” Li Yi stepped forward without hesitation this time, copying what Nie Bufan had done just now, kneading back and forth with circle as the center.

This seemingly simple and slow movement does contain a different and complex meaning. It was completely different from the martial arts he had learned. A circle containing a square, rigidness within softness, borrowing strength to fight strength, resembling nature itself……

Nie Bufan nodded with satisfaction when seeing Li Yi’s concentrated expression. If you have watched “Shaolin Soccer”, you will be able to quickly recognize that the action he just demonstrated was the scene where Zhao Wei was kneading the dough using taiji at the steamed bun shop.

Just to make Li Yi do hard work willingly, he used “the essence of supreme martial arts theory” to fool him.

Kneading dough, not to be underestimated.

Nie Bufan moved a cutting board and put it in the yard, then picked up a kitchen knife and a large piece of meat, and shouted: “Zhang Third, come and help.”

Zhang Junshi walked over leisurely.

Nie Bufan lifted the knife and knocked it on the chopping board and ordered: “Chop.”

“Ah?” Zhang Junshi looked at the piece of meat, and pointed to himself and asked, “You want me to chop the meat?”

Nie Bufan nodded: “I will make dumplings later. You chop this piece of meat into minced meat.”

Zhang Junshi hesitated and said: “This……”

“As a resident of the Chicken Nest Village, you must make a contribution, otherwise all the chickens in the village will look down on you.”

As if confirming his words, dozens of chicken clucks sounded around them.

“Uh, fine.” Zhang Junshi rolled up his sleeves, raised the knife hesitantly, and then said, “Can you hand me another kitchen knife?”

Nie Bufan handed him another kitchen knife with a look of confusion.

Zhang Junshi smiled faintly: “It’s been a long time since I used the knife.”

Nie was instantly startled, was this seemingly well-mannered young Gongzi actually a rare and unfounded martial arts master? Seeing him in Confucian attire and appearance elegantly handsome, but holding a pair of knives while standing in front of the chopping board with a look of domineering aura, the image was disharmonic no matter how you looked at it.

In the brief moment when he was spacing out, the knife was raised and then chopped down, and the meat was cross-cut into four pieces. Zhang Junshi adjusted his breathing, and then started to chop it with an imposing expression. The speed of his hand was like flickering lights and passing shadows, faster than the naked eye could distinguish.

This time it was Nie Bufan’s turn to be surprised. How did such a perfectly gentlemanly Gongzi turn into a meat-chopping demon after just picking up a knife?

Nie Bufan just came out of the kitchen with a pot, but Zhang Junshi already finished the meat chopping work, and was currently scraping the knife with an expression of having not fully had his fun.

There was a type of person who appeared gentle on the outside but was a berserker inside. They look normal but were the easiest to become twisted. Could Zhang Junshi also be a member of this dangerous group of people?

“Have you practiced knife skills specifically?” Nie Bufan asked.

Zhang Junshi put down the knife, wiped his hands, and smiled heedlessly: “I used to learn knife skills from the chef at home for several years, but unfortunately my father found out and accused me of ‘disgracing the cultured’, and so I haven’t used the knife again.”

“Why do you want to learn knife skills?”

“I like cuisine, and hoped that one day I could make delicious dishes by myself. Unfortunately, I am not talented in cooking, but my knife skills did make great progress.” Zhang Junshi said with a look of nostalgia, “Of course, with my background, even if I had the talent for cooking, I cannot be a real chef anyway.”

Nie Bufan nodded in understanding, then stepped forward and patted Zhang Junshi on the shoulder, and comforted: “It’s alright, as long as you are in Chicken Nest Village, you can chop all the vegetables and meat as much as you want. From now on, this glorious job is left to you.”

Zhang Junshi: “……”

Li Yi and Zhang Junshi were squeezed out of any surplus value by Nie Bufan, but when lunch came, they did not eat the dumplings they expected.

Looking at the simple three dishes and one soup in front of him, Zhang Junshi asked, “Why not dumplings?”

“Oh, I thought about eating during the day lacked atmosphere, so I decided to make it at night.”

Eating dumplings are dependent on whether it was day or night? Both Zhang and Li slandered Nie Bufan’s words silently.

During the meal, Nie Bufan noticed a strange phenomenon. Li Yi’s chopsticks would make an arc in the air every time he picked up something from a dish. He wanted to pick up something from the dish on the right, but he just had to go around it from the left. When ladling the soup he also must first stir it with the ladle.

Had he fallen into Taiji obsession? Nie Bufan thought unkindly.

Zhang Junshi also seemed to be aware of it. During the period, he glanced at Li Yi several times, but Li Yi was unaware, his expression dazed.

At the end of the meal, Nie Bufan glanced at the last chicken leg left on the plate, stretched out his chopsticks, but ended up crossing the other two pairs of chopsticks in the air.

The three of them looked at each other, and at the same time retracted their chopsticks, humbly saying: “You eat, you eat.”

They were superficially polite for a while, but the three of them saw that no one was moving after awhile so they all stretched out their chopsticks together.

Silence, they once again retracted awkwardly.

“Hehehehe.” Zhang Jun chuckled innocently.

Li Yi had no expression on his face, holding his chopsticks as if he planned to use stillness to overcome movement.

“You guys.” Nie Bufan pointed at them with his chopsticks and shouted fiercely, “No one’s allowed to move! This chicken leg belongs to me.”

Zhang Junshi bowed his head and shoveled rice into his mouth.　

Li Yi turned to the cellophane noodles, picking some up and into his mouth.

Nie Bufan succeeded in capturing the last chicken leg.

After the meal, Zhang and Li sat by the window drinking tea and enjoying the snow.

“Next year the tian nu will show up, is Brother Li interested in participating in the competition?” Zhang Junshi asked.

“Not interested.”

“Hehe, I thought so, otherwise you wouldn’t be hiding in this Chicken Nest Village.”

Li Yi glanced at him and said, “What about you? Are you living in the Chicken Nest Village because you didn’t want to be involved either?”

Zhang Junshi just smiled and did not speak, but his eyes unconsciously looked at the person who was talking to Tu Beng in the courtyard.

Li Yi also followed his gaze. When he saw that person and his rich expressions of annoyance and joy, the expression on his own face couldn’t help become softened.

“Hey, you two, don’t sit in the house and come out to sweep the snow!” After Nie Bufan and Tu Beng finished speaking, he immediately shouted to both Zhang and Li.

The two looked at each other, and at the same time stood up resignedly.

Nie Bufan gave each of them a broom and pointed the area to be cleaned. Chicken Nest Village was now covered with snow everywhere, and the silly chickens were always accidentally getting buried in the snow, making Nie Bufan have to fish them out.

Fortunately, the weather was cold, and not many chickens come out to find unluckiness. Some of them have even entered an intriguing “hibernation” state, saving a lot of trouble. Only, the amount of egg production had decreased. In the past, one egg could be stepped on in three steps, but now not even one egg could be seen in three days.

Nie Bufan directed Zhang Junshi and Li Yi to sweep the snow, chop wood, and take care of the chickens.

Zhang and Li probably have never been this ordered around before, and to be doing the lowest physical labor too.

Nie Bufan never seemed to place significance on the difference between the rich and the poor in his eyes. He knew that Zhang Junshi and Li Yi were from rich affluent families, but he didn’t care at all. He conversed and laughed with them on equal grounds.

Perhaps it was precisely because of such a non-discriminatory attitude that Zhang and Li ignored the class gap and were willing to interact with him, naturally getting closer gradually.

But this person’s occassional carefree ways could be extremely maddening.

After a lot of work, the images of these two elegant Gongzi have changed drastically, looking like two dusty heroes covered in mud and dirt.

Nie Bufan prepared hot bath water for them with a smile. The two men resolutely did not agree to bathe together. Nie Bufan found it troublesome to boil water many times, so he dragged them into the bath together despite objections. In order for convenience, Nie Bufan changed half of the storage room into a bath, which was enough to accommodate four or five people.

Zhang and Li were both in rare states of bashfulness, but Nie Bufan was completely at ease, even showing off his naked body in a narcisstic and pleased manner. He had a well-proportioned figure, healthy complexion, and a special beauty between movement and stillness.

However, after seeing Zhang Junshi and Li Yi’s naked bodies, Nie Bufan stopped. Stronger than him, muscular than him……larger than him.

Nie Bufan silently wept, he will never bathe with them again……

In the evening, Zhang and Li ate the dumplings that they had been looking forward to. For the first time, they felt that dumplings were this delicious. Although ordinary, but full of joy.

“Nie Bufan, will we still have dumplings tomorrow?” Li Yi asked.

“Again? I want to make noodles.”

“……Uh. Kneading dough really contains the essence of martial arts, I haven’t mastered it yet.”

“……” Suddenly there was a sense of satisfaction of having successfully tricked the strong and at the same time the guilt of deceiving the innocent.

“If I can comprehend, my martial arts will definitely be more refined.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Nie Bufan was silent for a while, before he suddenly said something very profound: “If you have kneading dough in your heart, then you can knead dough at any time. You can only achieve success if you don’t confine yourself to external matters.”

“This remark is very wise.”

Alas! This was how a generation’s dough kneading master was born……

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“August autumn winds howl angrily, blowing away my three-fold thatch roof……The cloth quilts have turned cold as iron over many years, and beloved son has torn it from kicking in his sleep. The entire house lack any dry place, the raindrops are concentrated like hemp strings……”

The first thing Li Yi heard when he got up early in the morning was Nie Bufan reciting poems loudly outside the house. He had been slightly frightened last night and didn’t sleep well all night. This guy was in good spirits though.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Since the chaos of Anshi Rebellion sleeplessness accompany me, how can we endure this wet and long night! How can we get a wide and spacious house, to shelter the world’s poor scholars so that they may all be joyful, as unmoving as a mountain in the wind and rain!”

En? Unexpectedly, this person had some literary talent, this poem was quite meaningful. 　　 　　

“Ai!” Nie Bufan stood at the door of his house and said with emotion, “When will such a house be seen, it is enough for just my hut to be broken and myself frozen to death!”

Li Yi followed his gaze and saw that half the roof of the house where Nie Bufan lived had been blown away. No wonder he ran over to sleep with him last night.

“Ai, old brother Du Fu’s “The Thatched House is Broken by the Autumn Wind” is too realistic, not possible to disagree even if you wanted to.” Nie Bufan rubbed his nose and shouted, “Chicken Servant, Chicken Servant.”

“Coming, what’s the matter?” Tu Beng ran over.

“Go to the city and find a few artisans. The houses in our village will need to be repaired and add a few fireplaces as well. It would be the best to get it all ready before winter comes.”

Although Tu Beng don’t know what a fireplace was, but he was very happy to be able to repair the houses and immediately made preparations and headed out.

Nie Bufan walked into the room, took out his piggy bank, and counted the copper coins one by one.

Li Yi also followed in. Seeing that his two jars of coins were no more than ten taels at most, he couldn’t help but say, “You only have this much savings?”

Nie Bufan didn’t even look at him, and said lightly: “We are poor people, do you know what poor people are?”

“Then will there be enough money to repair the house later?”

“Wealthy people like you don’t understand how cheap the labor costs of poor people are.”

Li Yi twitched the corners of his mouth and said, “I have some money with me.” He reached into his clothes and took out some banknotes.

Nie Bufan did not bother acting modestly with him, stretching out his hand to take it. Taking a look, he smiled and said, “100 taels per banknote, not bad.”

Li Yi was about to give him a contemptuous look when he heard: “It’s just that, these blood-stains, who dare to exchange silver taels for me?”

Displaying the banknotes in front of Li Yi’s eyes, all three banknotes were baptized with blood, looking very much glaring to the eyes.

Nie Bufan said in a huff: “Taking this thing out, others might think that I had robbed and killed someone. You should keep it yourself.”

Li Yi didn’t move, his expression dark.

“Honestly, if you knew that you have a banknotes on your person, you should have vomit less blood.”

Who was to blame? Li Yi shouted loudly in his heart.

“By the way,” Nie Bufan said again, “Where did you hide the banknotes? I clearly checked you over when I bandaged you.”

“……”

“Don’t tell me it was in the underpants?” Nie Bufan muttered to himself as he counted the money, “No, if it was in the underpants, it wouldn’t have been bloodied. Not like Li Fourth is a woman……”

Li Yi’s cold face collapsed, unable to hold back the blood rushing to his head. Flicking his sleeves he left in anger. If he stayed any longer, he could not guarantee that he would not fall into a violent and murderous rage.

In the afternoon, Tu Beng led a dozen artisans back to the village. These people had clever hands and feet, and soon started to work after some inspection.

Nie Bufan not only wanted to repair the houses, but also planned to install a simple fireplace in each house, and convert the utility room behind his house into a bathhouse as well.

This could be regarded as a big project, and would take two or three months at least. The labor costs plus the material costs were likely to spend all his savings.

But Nie Bufan was a model of looking forward and not looking back, if looking back then not looking forward. Spend if you have money, if you don’t have money……then we solve that when we get to it.

Taking advantage of the renovation of the village, Nie Bufan occasionally herded a group of restless chickens to the next mountain for outings, and bringing along Li Yi on the way.

Li Yi looked at the mighty flock of chickens around him, completely unable to understand Nie Bufan’s mode of thinking, nor could he understand the mode of action of these chickens.

“The scenery is truly beautiful!” Nie Bufan stood on the top of the mountain and looked into the distance.

A chicken spread its wings and flew by, drawing a graceful arc in the air, and leaped down in an extremely tragic posture.

Li Yi stretched out a finger, appearing to want to say something, but remained silent in the end.

Nie Bufan found a relatively flat ground, spread a cloth blanket, and placed fruits and flat bread on it.

“Brother Li Fourth, your injury should be almost healed, right? How about hunting some game?”

Li Yi said: “There are so many chickens, can’t you just randomly grab one and roast it?”

Nie Bufan had yet to say anything, but the chickens that had been wandering leisurely around suddenly looked at Li Yi all at once, their eyes full of killing intent, and some even had their chicken feathers stand upright.

“Okay, lets change the preference today.” Li Yi changed the thread of discussion wisely.

The chicken crowd immediately went on minding their own business as if nothing had happened, not even sparing him a look again.

Nie Bufan was already used to it, and calmly watched Li Yi disappear into the forest.

This mountain stood next to Xishan mountain, but it was much larger. Many of the tragic chickens in Chicken Nest Village came from here.

Nie Bufan started a fire and set up the grill. Li Yi also walked back with two rabbits.

Although it was late autumn and the leaves were falling, there was not much bleakness or desolation in the mountains. It was an ultimate pleasure to watch the scenery and taste the game while being surrounded by the mountains.

Li Yi had never been so casual. There was no need to maintain his manners, no hypocritical socializing, everything was according to one’s desire. The only pity was that there was no alcohol.

The rabbit meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, exuding bursts of fragrance. Nie Bufan and Li Yi both ate busily. In Chicken Nest Village, they could only eat chicken, now there was finally a different kind of taste.

In just a few bites the rabbits were eaten, but both of them still felt as if they had not fully tasted it.

“Bring some wild vegetables and mushrooms back later.” Nie Bufan wiped his hands and said leisurely, “We will come back tomorrow.”

“Fine.” Li Yi nodded in agreement.

At that moment, there were a few rapid chicken crowing sounds in the distance. Nie Bufan and Li Yi looked at each other, and ran to the place where the sound came from.

Pulling aside the dense branches, a huge black shadow came into sight.

“It’s a black bear.” Nie Bufan whispered.

Li Yi’s face was solemn, watching the black bear linger at a certain place unwilling to leave.

“Strange, black bears usually don’t show up during the day. Who provoked it to come out?” Nie Bufan looked around, all the chickens around him moved aside, acting innocently.

“It’s fine, the black bear already has food, it should leave soon.” Li Yi pointed to a chicken near the black bear with its legs still and unmoving in the air.

Nie Bufan squinted his eyes and laughed suddenly.

“What are you laughing at?” Li Yi asked strangely.

“That chicken is not dead, it is just pretending to be dead.” Nie Bufan was very familiar with that chicken. Its light yellow feathers were covered with brown spots. Its previous self was a kind of pig-nosed snake and loved to pretend to be dead, slightly poisonous but very mild, only able to poison some small animals like frogs.

“Pretend to be dead?” Li Yi looked suspicious, but then he immediately saw a weird scene. The black bear rolled the chicken over with its belly down. But who knew that the chicken rolled back into place again, with its belly up, to show that he was indeed dead.

Li Yi was dazed.

The black bear fiddled with the fellow on the ground, seemingly amused. Nie Bufan estimated that this big guy was likely already full, otherwise he wouldn’t be acting this bored.

“What should we do now?” Li Yi asked, “It’s hard to stop the black bear when it’s crazy. Before we attract its attention, let’s withdraw first?”

“That’s not possible, Piggy is still pretending to be dead.”

Piggy……

“You want to save that chicken?”

Nie Bufan nodded.

“Then……should I go lure the black bear away?” Although Li Yi didn’t think a chicken was worth saving, he didn’t want to continue to waste time here.

“No need.” Nie Bufan looked around, suddenly his eyes lit up, and said to a shiny and smooth yellow chicken not far away: “Little Yellow, go, exhibit some brotherhood and save Piggy.”

Little Yellow reluctantly creeped closer towards the black bear under the cover of leaves.

Li Yi said incredulously: “You aren’t going to exchange a chicken for a chicken are you?”

Nie Bufan waved his hand: “Just keep watching.”

Not too long, and don’t know what Little Yellow did but they saw the black bear suddenly cover its nose and jump up and down like it had suddenly developed epilepsy. The big bear’s paw slapped the tree trunk fiercely, and then rushed into the forest, disappearing quickly without a trace.

“What happened?” Li Yi asked with bewilderment.

“The Buddha said: It cannot be spoken.” Nie Bufan said with a smile.

The previously pretending to be dead Piggy, twisted a few times, and came back to life.

Little Yellow also meandered back arrogantly.

Nie Bufan nodded privately, not bad, the weasel’s ability carried over.

The little episode ended and Nie Bufan and company set off on their way home. The chicken flock was huge, the whole way leaving behind products of digestion.

Soon after, a new group of chicken brothers and sisters were welcomed into the Chicken Nest Village. Following the scent of chickens, many wild animals were deceived and from then on reduced to chickens as well.

The saying, people die for money and birds die for food, truly words of wisdom.

Two months later, Chicken Nest Village transformed into a new look. Not only were the houses renovated, but also each having a simple fireplace installed, and the utility room even became a bathhouse, able to enjoy the fun of bathing at any time.

The chicken coops were also newly covered with a thick layer of straw. In addition, Nie Bufan also had them install a fence at the front and back of the village to clearly delineate the scope of the village, and added a plaque inscribed with “Chicken Nest Village” at the entrance. On the two pillars holding up the plaque was engraved with the warning “Non-chicken animals are not allowed to enter, if entering, we will not be responsible for the consequences.”

After the rennovation of the village, Zhang Junshi specially sent a generous gift, including four sets of washware, cups, tableware, and tea sets, four sets of bedsheets, four sets of winter clothes, and two pairs of woolen boots.

Li Yi twitched as he looked at it all, this was seeking marriage.

But Nie Bufan liked it very much and gave a gift back, still a basket of eggs, but all large sized.

Zhang Junshi really wanted to say: “You really, truly don’t need to be this courteous……”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

After enjoying the warmth of the fireplace, Zhang Junshi decided to move into Chicken Nest Village temporarily. His family were not in Xishan City. Instead of spending the winter with his servants, it was better to spend the winter with Nie Bufan. The occasional masochistic abuse could also be delightful.

This winter, it should not be too cold……

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Zhang Junshi was a pitiful child. After Nie Bufan disappeared inexplicably, he lost any good mood he had. He searched the city from the south part to the north part, and then from the east part to the west part, searching all the places he could have gone.

Although he knew that Nie Bufan was an unreliable person, but not seeing any sight of him for so long, he was unable to rest assured.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

He was surrounded by large crowds of people who flow past him, but no matter where his line of sight passed, there was still no sight of the person his heart held concern for.

Zhang Junshi had to admit that his concern about that strange fellow was out of the ordinary. Once he was found, he must be severely beaten! Zhang Junshi thought sullenly.

“Boss, how much is this?” Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.

Zhang Junshi turned around abruptly and looked in that direction, only to see a person standing in front of a peddler not far away, hand holding a weird mask that covered his face. As the mask slightly moved away, it revealed a brightly smiling face. It was indeed the Nie Bufan who he had been searching for nearly half a day.

As the saying went searching amongst the crowds a thousand times, suddenly looking back, that person was standing in the dim light all along.

Nie Bufan also saw Zhang Junshi. He raised his mask and called out, “Brother Zhang Third, I’m here!”

Zhang Junshi was full of mixed feelings, quickly walking up to him, he wanted to question him angrily. But once he saw that harmless smiling face, he was filled with an inexplicable feeling of powerlessness. But not even showing any temper would seem as if he was too soft.

After struggling with himself for a long time, he finally asked aggrievedly: “Where did you go, not even saying a word.”

Nie Bufan rubbed his nose and said with a smile: “Sorry, I just saw my chickens get lost and accidentally entering the restaurant. In order to avoid having them fall into evil hands, I had to go take them out first.”

“You could also tell me in advance!” 　　 　　

“The incident happened suddenly and I forgot, haha.” Nie Bufan patted Zhang Junshi on the shoulder and promised, “It will definitely not happen next time.”

Next time when they went out, he must put a rope on him first. After spending a longer time with Nie Bufan, he discovered that nine of the ten sentences he said could not be taken seriously. Zhang Junshi had a clear realization now.

The incident was put aside, and the two of them bought two river lanterns and headed towards the riverside according to the original plan.

The moonlight was enchanting, the dark river surface seemed to be dotted with starlights. In the distance the song girl’s mellow and moving song reached them, adding a bit of charm and gentleness to this poetic night.

Zhang Junshi and Nie Bufan stood quietly beside the river, shoulder to shoulder. Under the beautiful night sky, they seemed like a pair of whispering lovers. If it was drawn into a painting, it would be a romantic and elegant moon viewing by the riverside picture.

However, if there were an addition of two chickens on the side, then it would be a romantic and elegant riverside chicken love picture……

“The sky and river become one color without even a speck of dust, only the lonely moon shines clear and bright in the sky.” Zhang Junshi’s inner poet popped out and he recited the poem emotionally.

Nie Bufan looked deeply into the darkness in the distance, and said: “But I see tourists sending off lanterns, riding the winds overnight the chrysanthemums are ruined.” (TN: very difficult to translate Chinese poems >.< so that it would look nice and make sense. Here Nie Bufan is describing how the floating river lanterns will end up torn and ruined after a night of sailing in the winds, and compared it to a ruined chrysanthemum. And chrysanthemum in Chinese slang is euphemism for anus so……)

“……” The beautiful atmosphere was like the chrysanthemum, ruined.

“Let’s go back.” Zhang Junshi said miserably.

“En, fine.” Nie Bufan rubbed his arms and said, “just now I wanted to say, the wind sure is chilly.”

Zhang Junshi turned his head away, his heart was also feeling chilly.

It must be said, being romantic and lyrical with this fellow was just looking for abuse.

Nie Bufan slept in the Zhang family restaurant for the night before returning to Chicken Nest Village.

As soon as he stepped into his room, he felt an immediate difference. Not only was it much cleaner than usual, all the objects were neatly arranged, and the tables and stools were all repaired. Although it was still simple, it at least looked like a place where a human was living in.

Nie Bufan in bewilderment called over Tu Beng to inquire, only to find out that it was cleaned and repaired by Li Yi himself. He was quite amazed. Li Yi’s background was obviously not low, his whole aura was full of toothaching coolness and deeply hidden pride. This kind of person could actually do such rough work?

In view of his unexpectedly outstanding performance, Nie Bufan found him and told him something specifically: “I met your little brother last night.”

“Oh? Li Huai?” Li Yi replied indifferently. 　　 　　 Nie Bufan nodded, “En, I saw him eat a dine and dash meal at Drunken Immortal Pavilion.”

“Ah?” Li Yi raised his head with a strange expression, his eyes flashed with disbelief.

“I’m not lying to you. That guy ran to the most expensive restaurant in Xishan City, ordered a table of dishes, and even called a song-girl to lift the mood, but after eating he didn’t have any money to give. He made quite a scene, practically leaking dominance, incomparably alluring.” Nie Bufan said seriously, “I have to change my opinion of him. When I first saw him, I thought he was the kind of superficial Gongzi who looks down on people, but it turns out he is a real man with personality.”

So in your eyes, a person who ate dine and dash meals was a real man?

Li Yi’s eyebrows twitched a few times, he didn’t dare believe that Li Huai would go eat a dine and dash meal, but Nie Bufan did not seem to be lying either.

He suddenly regretted not having followed and joined in the fun last night. He wondered what kind of brilliant expressions Li Huai had at that time. Next time when they meet, he must ask: “Do you still remember the dine and dash meal on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival?”

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather gradually got cooler day by day, and the temperature in Xishan City dropped down fast.

The Chicken Nest Village was so poor that only a group of chickens were left. Although after several repairs, the houses only just reached the standard of preventing the cold wind, but the indoor temperature was still always very low.

That night, the surroundings were quiet but for the cold wind whistling and the occasional chicken cackle that sounded like a ghost’s cry, don’t know which type of chicken was weeping mournfully in the cold night.

Li Yi was laying on the bed and already deep in sleep when he suddenly sensed a black shadowy figure at his bedside. He immediately became alert and was about to attack when he heard the night visitor speak: “Brother, the night is long, do you feel empty, lonely, cold?”

“You, what do you want to do?” Li Yi half propped up his body, with his back against the wall, staring at the weird fellow who came to disturb people’s dreams instead of sleeping when it was the middle of the night.

“Brother, do you need someone to warm your bed?” Nie Bufan revealed a row of white teeth, looking quite terrifying in the dark.

“No need.” Li Yi refused without thinking.

“Don’t be like that.” Nie Bufan threw his pillow on the bed and then nimbly got under the blankets, saying after getting himself comfortable, “Come on, let’s sleep.”

Li Yi was speechless, not moving for a while.

“Quick, don’t be shy, we are all men, you understand.”

Understand what! Li Yi almost rolled his eyes. Since he could remember, he hadn’t shared a bed with anyone, but this fellow was completely at ease.

Forget it, any more struggling was just a waste of time, just have to make do for one night.

“Brother Li Fourth.”

“En?”

“Seriously, why are you here in Xishan city?”

“……”

“Although I don’t know your true identity, it’s obviously not something this little Xishan City can hold in.”

“……”

“There is also Zhang Junshi, who said he was here to inspect their branch restaurant, but I have not seen him leave after finishing inspecting. Not only that, I saw many young men in expensive attire when shopping that day. Based on the scale of Xishan City, seeing several wealthy Gongzi is not surprising, but it is suspicious that so many appear all at once.”

Li Yi gave the person next to him an approving look for the first time. He hadn’t expected that this carefree and foolish looking fellow had such a thoughtful side.

He thought for a while and said, “Have you heard of Divining Heaven Palace?”

“Divining Heaven Palace? No.”

“Then it will be a long story to tell, too troublesome, you don’t have to know then.”

“Don’t be like that.” Nie Bufan turned over and half-lay on Li Yi, patting his muscular chest, he said softly, “Tell me, otherwise you don’t need to sleep today.”

Nie Bufan was not a curious person, but once his curiosity was tickled, he wanted to know the follow-up.

Li Yi pulled the person on him away, turned over, and gave him his back.

After a moment of silence, Li Yi’s forbearing voice suddenly sounded out: “What are you doing?”

“I’m cold.” Nie Bufan answered calmly.

“Take your hands away!”

“No.”

“Take it away.”

“No way.”

Li Yi clamped the hand that reached into his clothes and pulled it out forcefully.

Nie Bufan paid it no heed, raising his leg he wrapped it around his waist like a soft-bodied animal.

“Will you stop!” Li Yi let go of his hands and moved to lift his leg.

Nie Bufan, not bothering with half-measures anymore, completely sat on him, threatening: “Tell me, otherwise don’t blame me for destroying the flowers! (TN: expression for a wicked person who will destroy beautiful things, also used on rapists)”

Flower my foot! Li Yi’s expression finally couldn’t remain calm anymore, that important place was being rubbed up against, nearly inciting a response.

“What do you say? Brother, will you confess or suffer (punishment)?”

“Alright, alright. Just hurry and get off me, I’ll tell you.” Li Yi succumbed to Nie Bufan’s tyrannical abuse, and agreed.

“Very good.” Nie Bufan immediately got off him, laying down properly, and said, “Go on.”

Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief, and said slowly: “This began from two hundred years ago……”

Two hundred years ago, the situation in Yu country was turbulent, and foreign enemies eyed the country covetuously. At the time of the crisis, a woman named “Bo Huaisu” appeared from nowhere. She came to see the monarch of Yu Kingdom, calculated three trigrams for him, and divined the secrets of Heaven. The King of Yu used this to break out of the predicament and gradually reversed his kingdom’s chaotic situation, finally achieving true unity.

For this reason, King of Yu established Divining Heaven Palace for Bo Huaisu, announcing that all future generations must be grateful to her kindness and treat her with respect. Since then, Divining Heaven Palace became a special existence in Yu kingdom.

Divining Heaven Palace recruited disciples from outside every five years, accepting females but not males. Every 18 years, Divining Heaven Palace would select a Tian Nu (TN: literally translate to heavenly goddess) to go out of the palace and find a husband. Becoming the husband of Tian Nu would not only get a large dowry, but the current Palace Mistress would also give out a precious chance for divining three trigrams on one’s fortune. For these three trigrams, don’t know how many aristocrats became restless.

Next year would be another eighteen-year period. According to rumors, the Palace Mistress divined that the marriage of this generation of Tian Nu would be in Xishan City, and the Tian Nu will come here in secret. The aristocrats who received the news all sent their unmarried young talents to gather here in advance.

“Li Huai and I are here for this, but I am not interested in the Tian Nu. In order to leave, I had a fight with a martial artist. Although I won, I also recieved a slight injury. You……”

Li Yi turned his head and was just about to condemn Nie Bufan’s cold blooded behavior that day, but the person had already fallen asleep.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Hey, you were just now making trouble about wanting to know, what is the situation now?” Li Yi gritted his teeth and looked at this carefree and heartless guy, and finally couldn’t hold back his hand, reaching out to pinch his face hard. Only then did his annoyance cooled and he was able to sleep.　　 　　

This was truly an anger invoking fellow!

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Zhang Junshi had always felt that Nie Bufan was not like an ordinary young man of humble origins. His appearance was handsome and aura pure like snow, but his usual way of dress was too casual, even terrible. If he were to change his way of dress to a more elegant ensemble, he would definitely have an extraordinary appearance.

But despite thinking so, when he finally saw it with his own eyes, he was still shocked. 　　

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The person in front of him was clad in a navy blue silk shirt, over it was a light blue robe, the collar embroidered with clouds. His narrow waist was emphasized by a belt while wide sleeves flow lightly downwards creating an overall image of a gentle and elegant Gongzi who had just stepped out of a painted scroll. 　　

Zhang Junshi stared at this Nie Bufan who was so different from his previous appearance as if a completely different person was standing before him, and the fondness in his heart erupted spontaneously. 　　 　　

Nie Bufan snapped his sleeves and said, “Okay, shall we go to dinner?” 　　

“Wait.” Zhang Junshi turned around and pulled out a scholar’s hat from the cabinet behind him and personally placed it on Nie Bufan. 　　

Nie Bufan’s hair only just passed over his ears so not suitable for tying up, but wearing a hat instead was perfect. 　　 　　

“Alright.” Zhang Junshi smiled and led him out of the room by his hand. 　　

The two chickens that Nie Bufan brought along were currently squatting outside the door. He was just about to pick up their leash when Zhang Junshi said, “Do you need to bring them tonight?” 　　

Nie Bufan thought about it for awhile before stepping forward to untie their leash, warning: “Lady Flower, Langya, today is a holiday so you can move freely, just come back to me when you are tired. Don’t cause trouble, otherwise you’ll be punished by family law!” 　　

Zhang Junshi’s mouth twitched, his original intention was to leave these two chickens here.

“If you let them go, aren’t you afraid they will get lost?” 　　

“It’s fine.” Nie Bufan smiled brilliantly, “They know the way.” 　　

Chicken can recognize the way? Were they all actually dogs? 　　

In a situation where he was unaware of the facts, Zhang Third Gongzi miraculously stumbled upon the truth…… 　　 　　

The two chickens ran out happily, meanwhile Zhang Junshi and Nie Bufan had a simple dinner before strolling their way to the night market. 　　

The Mid-Autumn Festival’s night market was crowded with people and was extremely lively. Various auspicious items could be seen everywhere. Lanterns were also hung along the street, creating a gorgeous river of lights that lit up the night. 　　

Zhang Junshi led Nie Bufan the whole way, either discussing with him about interesting anecdotes from various places, or watching juggling, or listening to the tunes played by song-girls, or admiring chrysanthemums under the lantern lights……generally having a great time. 　　

Of the two of them one was cultured and refined while the other was handsome and cheerful, so walking in the crowd they attracted quite the attention.

Especially those unmarried young ladies who rarely go out onto the streets. Every one of them who passed by, all couldn’t help taking furtive looks at them, with some even sending servants to inquire about their origin. 　　

But they soon discovered that the two of them turned a blind eye to the young ladies around them, especially the cultured Gongzi, whose eyes had never left the other one, smiling and whispering, behaving quite intimately with his companion. 　　

The two of them acted as though there was no one around them present, completely unaware that there was something strange about their gestures.

Zhang Junshi stopped at a street vendor selling river lanterns and said, “Let’s buy a river lantern. How about going to the riverside to release it later?” 　　

“Alright.” Nie Bufan looked at the river lanterns of various shapes and sizes displayed out on the stall with interest. It included butterflies, jade rabbits, roosters, monkeys, etc. The workmanship was delicate and exquisite, and overall extremely attractive. 　　

“En, which one do you like? How about the jade rabbit?” Zhang Junshi picked up a jade rabbit lantern and turned to smile at the person beside him. 　　

But looking up, he saw a big man with a sturdy body and a beard instead. The burly man responded shyly: “Am I suitable for jade rabbit?”

Zhang Junshi’s smile immediately froze up in that instant, the person who should have been by his side had disappeared at some point. His eyes searched around, only to see people coming and going, where was there any sign left of Nie Bufan?

………..

A quarter of an hour ago. 　　

The two chickens that had been allowed to roam freely ran out of the restaurant happily, jumping through the crowd, crowing loudly from time to time, and then leaving behind a memorial of their presence in the corner. 　　

Suddenly, Langya stopped, head turned towards an inn and eyes revealed a light of delighted surprise, before rushing in.

Seeing this Lady Flower adhered to the good value of taking care of the younger generation as the boss chicken also followed soon after. 　　

Langya’s goal was clear, going straight up to the second floor, and dexterously maneuvered into a room with the door slightly ajar. 　　

The room was beautifully decorated and filled with fragrant incense. In the middle of the room was a beautifully carved mahogany wooden table. Next to the table sat a young man in extravagant clothes. His clothes were lavish but his expression was cold and arrogant.

It was the peacock man who had once been to Chicken Nest Village. 　　 　　

In his hand was a pair of chopsticks and he was just about to pick up a piece of meat from the dishes on the table, when he felt a warm object rubbing at his legs.

Looking down, it turned out to be a chubby and dumb looking hen! 　　

The peacock man immediately acted as if it was the plague and kicked it hard away. 　　

Langya screeched, flapping at its wings before falling to the ground. As soon as it got back onto its feet, it immediately rushed with valiance toward peacock man again.

Peacock man’s face turned purple, grabbing the wine cup and smashing it towards Langya who tumbled with feet in the air. 　　

Although Langya was now a chicken, but its body was several times stronger than before. The wine cuo thrown by the peacock man was wrapped with internal force but it only caused slight pain. After turning over and standing up, it was once again a sorrowful but fierce chicken…… 　　

With such a disturbance, the servants who were not far away soon ran inside. 　　

Langya burst into tears, crowing miserably, and continued to chase its original master. 　　 　　

“What are you all standing there for?” Peacock man shouted angrily, “Hurry up an drive away this inexplicably crazy chicken!” 　　

The servants seem to wake up from a dream, and began to encircle the chicken, working with each other to force it out of the room. 　　

But who knew that sister chicken had a nimble figure. Those people didn’t even touch a single feather. Instead, it managed to hook the peacock man’s clothes several times with its claws. 　　

The peacock man was a martial artist, but now he was actually being ravaged and bullied by a chicken to this extent. If it got out he would have no face to show up in public. 　　

Peacock man was so angry that smoke seem to blow out of his ears and nostrils, saying sharply: “Kill it, kill it!” 　　 　　

The servants having received their orders, all of them had on a fierce and sinister countenance.

Langya’s entire focus was on peacock man, and neglected the danger that was coming. Just when it was about to fall into evil hands, the majestic and tall figure of Lady Flower appeared at the door. It flapped its wings once and sharp claws soon exerted a powerful attack force. 　　

“Ah!” The screams came one after another. 　　

In that instant, the room was thrown into chaos, figures bumped into each other, feathers danced wildly, the huge disturbance attracted all those near them.

Considering himself to be of high and noble birth, peacock man completely lost face this time. 　　

After taking out its anger, Lady Flower strutted around proudly, letting out a few satisfied crows before leading Langya away in their escape. 　　

Peacock man let out an angry huff and jumped down from the window. As soon as his feet landed firmly on the ground, he saw two chickens flashing by. Without hesitation he chased after them. Behind him the servants also followed closely. 　　

Lady Flower and Langya ran wildly, following Nie Bufan’s scent trail. Langya’s leg was injured and its speed gradually slowed down.

When they turned a block, the peacock man jumped several times, one foot for one chicken, kicking them into the lane.

And this scene happened to be seen by Nie Bufan, just when he was about to select a river lantern, so in a flash he ran towards that side, decisively abandoning Zhang Junshi in place. 　　 　　

“Hmmph! Let me see where else you can run to?” Peacock man stared coldly at the two chickens in the corner.

Lady Flower’s feathers stood upright all over its body, putting on a battle ready appearance; while Langya looked wilted, chicken head drooping, looking at the peacock man pitifully. 　　

Peacock man cracked his knuckles and said viciously: “Tonight will be a chicken feast, one steamed and the other grilled.” 　　

“Hai.” Suddenly, a soft cough came from outside the lane. 　　

Peacock man turned and looked, only to see a handsome man dressed in elegant attire approaching slowly. 　　 　　

Lady Flower and Langya’s eyes lit up, and they rushed to Nie Bufan’s feet. 　　

Peacock man saw this and asked: “This is your chicken?” 　　

“Exactly.” Nie Bufan smiled, “Don’t know how they have offended Gongzi?” 　　

Peacock man put on a cold face and did not speak, such a shameful thing, how could he let it be publicized? 　　

Nie Bufan said again: “My pet chicken is very mischievous. If they have offended Gongzi then please be magnanimous and don’t mind too much about it.” 　　 　　

Pet? Chickens as pets? Peacock man examined the person in front of him carefully, and saw that he had excellent aura and mannerisms, not like an ordinary commoner, so he resisted his anger and asked: “I am Li Huai, don’t know what Gongzi is called?” 　　

“I am Li Xiaoyao of Xing Rong.” Nie Bufan introduced himself without showing even a hint of guilt.

Xing Rong was the capital of the country of Yu. Anyone who had even a small connection with the capital had the opportunity to pull the flag (TN: expression for borrowing someone or something’s influence and power). 　　

Nie Bufan had long recognized that the man in front of him was the peacock man who had been to the Chicken Nest Village last time. After all it was really hard to forget someone dressed the way he did. At that time, peacock man and his servants hadn’t even bothered to spare a glance at him so he was completely unworried about being recognized. Besides, he was now dressed in fine clothes and looked completely unlike what he did before. 　　

Sure enough, when the other heard “Xing Rong”, as well as sharing the same Li surname, peacock man’s expression became sligtly better. There were many influential Li families in Xing Rong, and perhaps they were even related. 　　

“So it turned out to be family. Well met, well met.” Peacock man cupped his hands in greeting and asked: “I don’t know which Li family Xiaoyao Gongzi came from? I seem to have not heard of Gongzi’s name.” 　　

“Oh, it’s not surprising that you have never heard of it before. My elders have long retired from the secular world and live in seclusion.” 　　

“So that’s the case.” Peacock man’s countenance became wary, and said to himself: Could it be that Li family? 　　 　　

Nie Bufan said politely: “Meeting is due to fate, so how about I act as host and treat you to a table at Drunken Immortal Pavilion? Let me entertain Li Gongzi, and at the same time ask Li Gongzi to forgive them.” 　　

Nie Bufan pointed to the two chickens at his feet.

Peacock man was used to dividing people into different classes. If they were of the same class, he wouldn’t mind giving the other face. So, he reluctantly nodded and agreed. 　　 　　

At this time, several of peacock man’s servants finally chased up to him, only to be dismissed with a few words. He then accompanied Nie Bufan to Drunken Immortal Pavilion. In fact, Nie Bufan hadn’t even heard of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion before. He only heard it from Zhang Junshi when they passed by just now. It was said to be the most luxurious restaurant in Xishan City.

Nie Bufan had Lady Flower and Langya wait outside. The two walked into the restaurant and a waiter immediately greeted then with a smile on his face: “What do the two nobles like to order?”

“Are there any booths available?” Nie Bufan asked.

“Yes, yes, please, come this way.” The waiter took the two of them to an elegant room, which was much more tranquil and elegant than the noisy first floor tables. 　　

Peacock man was used to luxury so the room before him did not leave much of an impression, and Nie Bufan naturally had no feelings towards this kind of thing either. 　　

But in the eyes of outsiders, the attitude of the two was completely that of nobles. 　　 　　

In order to convey importance, the shopkeeper personally came to wait on them. 　　

Nie Bufan said: “I won’t order specifically, just serve your best dishes. The one next to me is used to the delicacies of all kinds, so shopkeeper you must not fool us.” 　　

“Of course, the humble me will definitely satisfy the two distinguished guests.” Saying so, he ordered to have drinks and a few plates of appetizers to be served first. 　　

“Li Gongzi, please.” 　　

Peacock man made a toast before drinking. 　　

The two chatted together over this and that. Peacock man’s background was out of the ordinary and had a wide range of knowledge, which could be glimpsed when speaking. And Nie Bufan was completely ignorant of the current affairs of the country and time period he was now living in. But, luckily he excelled at lying, not even a hint of a blush or nervous guilt to be seen as he repeated the anecdotes that Zhang Junshi had told him, so in the end the chat was quite successful. 　　 　　

In a short while, delectable dishes were delivered one by one, adding up to a dozen or twenty dishes in total. 　　

The peacock man had on a normal countenance, each dish only taking a few servings, evidently used to this kind of situation. Seeing this Nie Bufan couldn’t help but to lament on the rich and wealthy and their wasteful extravagance. 　　 　　

“Aiya.” Nie Bufan suddenly slapped his forehead and said, “Today is a holiday, it would be too boring to just eat. I will go down and call a song-girl to cheer up the atmosphere.” 　　

“No need.” Peacock man smiled, “This kind of small town song-girls are all vulgar commoners, what skill could they even possess?” 　　

“Hehe, since ancient times, there have been many experts among the commoners. In this Drunken Immortal Pavilion there is a famous singer, her musical skills superb. Most people can’t even invite her services.” 　　

“Oh? In that case, I have to see it.” 　　

“Li Gongzi, please wait just awhile, I will personally invite her over.” 　　

“Then I will trouble you.” Peacock man waved his hand gracefully. 　　

Nie Bufan walked out of the room calmly, going downstairs with a smile, and then went straight out of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. 　　

“Lady Flower, Langya, let’s go.” Nie Bufan called out, leading his two chickens swiftly away…… 　　

Poor peacock man, who did not bring money before going out, and also having sent all his servants away. As a result, he was cheated by the pure-faced and noble-looking ‘young master’ Nie Bufan. This matter would definitely become peacock man’s life’s shame…… 　　

If you dare to bully Nie Bufan’s chickens, you must be prepared for being tricked. 　

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Having already walked far away, Nie Bufan seemed to be able to hear the roar of peacock man: “Li Xiaoyao, don’t let me come across you again!!!”

If you want to look for Li Xiaoyao, you would have to cultivate immortality first……

TN: LOL! So the joke behind Nie Bufan’s fake name Li Xiaoyao is that it is actually the name of the main character of Chinese Paladin, a famous franshise in the Xianxia genre.

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