Chapter 319 - Those Carefree Days of Youth (II)
The scholar carefully deliberated and concluded that there were no loopholes in his words.
The problem was––what did that have to do with the two tigers below? Did they even have any relationship?
His friend continued, “That Langjun who created trouble has some credibility. The county chief does not want to blow the matter up. We hope you can settle the matter privately. The person who started the fight said, ‘I heard from the lady at the brothel yesterday. There were big tigers eating humans at Zhangjiang village. If you consider your glib talk to be fearsome, let us bet and see if your smooth talk can talk the tigers to death, or if the longbows can send them to the netherworld? Looking down on militants all day long, I wonder what the ancestors of Dongqing did to raise their families? They’re forgetting their roots.’”
The scholar pondered and suddenly felt the Lamgjun who created trouble had a wicked mouth, but a genuine disposition.
If anything, he had the guts to bet on killing the tigers… One could see his chivalrous nature from that alone.
“Then these two tigers… were hunted by that Langjun?”
“Most likely.” His friend nodded. “I have a close friend studying at Langye academy. He said something about that person before. He had god-like power since birth, and exceptional strength that could lift cauldrons. It is not impossible to hunt two tigers. On the contrary, I heard that nobleman loitered around brothel lanes, did not use his four limbs diligently, had many in his harem, and was messed up. He can’t even ride a horse or shoot a bow, much less kill a big tiger.”
Just as the sound of the words disappeared, some strong men appeared, weary from carrying the tigers up the streets.
The people on both sides of the street had a hard time suppressing their curiosity, as if there was a cat scratching the itchy spot of their hearts. Yet, they were afraid to come forward, fearing the tigers would come back to life.
Dingdang, dingdang!
The crisp sound of bells sounded clearly. It traveled from far then came closer. The scholar couldn’t bear it, but he stared with his eyes wide open and looked on with steady eyes.
A fifteen to sixteen-year-old youth sat on a horse’s back and cruised through the streets; he did not hold the reins. The horse he sat upon was white as snow and its four limbs were intact.
“What a handsome warhorse!” The scholar sighed deeply.
The youth on the horse’s back seemed to hear the scholar’s praises. It lifted its head, met his eyes, and this caused him to feel somewhat awkward.
He finally managed to see the youth clearly.
He was different from the noblemen and literates who liked wearing scholarly clothes with wide sleeves. He wore clothes exuding with energy. His sleeves were narrow, but they were different from what foreigners wore. From the exterior, they retained the unique, vibrant characteristics of Dongqing. They were altered from normal scholarly clothes, as they were much easier to move around in.
There was a simple, clean, silver ring around his neck. On his waist hung two scented pouches and other accessories. He wore a pair of brown, broad, wooden clogs on his feet and a pair of white stockings. The weather was not currently warm, and those weak in body should have worn two layers of spring clothes before going out. The youth, however, did not seem to care, and wore light and cooling clothes.
Seeing the youth’s face again, his black and handsome brows––which were sightly plucked––brought life to his entire face.
As for his pupils… Perhaps it was psychological, but when the scholar met the eyes of the youth, he unexpectedly had a lack of confidence and the urge to hide.
It was as if he could see through everything, which made people want to avoid his eyes.
The bridge of his nose was high, and his thin lips were somewhat curled. He had an amiable face, such that others felt comfortable around him.
Even if it was a fussy person, one could only exclaim what a handsome young man he was. He had a natural face that did not need any cosmetics.
The warhorse, whose body was completely white, was glorious beyond measure. On the horse’s back was a bow stained with blood. Despite being surrounded by people and their discussions, it was calm and unmoved. It strolled leisurely; its master had full trust in the horse to let it wander.
This man and his horse were so compatible.
The scholar studied them and suddenly discovered that the youth was carrying something in his arms.
“Ah, that is the tiger cub.”
The people gathered opened their eyes wide, and discovered that the object the youth carried was moving slightly. It extended its head out slightly.
It looked like a cat. Both of its eyes were slightly closed. It moved its mouth gently, as if it was being carried very comfortably by the youth.
But if one looked carefully, they would discover that it was not a cat, but a newborn tiger cub.
The youth ignored the discussions that the people around him were having. He made way for the strong men carrying the two big tigers, so they could deliver them to a certain household.
The youth looked at the board hung on the door of the mansion. There were two households who looked on curiously from the outside. She did not waste time talking. She loosened the coiled horsewhip, then rushed towards the board and spoke arrogantly, “Walk a few more rounds around the mansion. You ought to pay an extra half a diao of money for each round around the mansion!”
The scholar and his friend were motivated by curiosity to watch the commotion. Seeing the youth’s actions, they were confused.
It was as if the scholar was dreaming. He mumbled, “This is… too arrogant.”
Even if he was foolish and didn’t know who the owner of the mansion was, upon seeing the youth’s actions, he was able to guess.
After all, the owner of the mansion was the nobleman who was choked by the youth the other day.
Having the two strong men carry the tigers around the mansion to boast… They just smacked themselves in the face right in front of another person’s house!
It was so exaggerated… Why not ascend to the heavens?
Haha! If only the audience in the streaming room could hear the inner thoughts of the scholar; they would probably laugh.
Their streamer had always been aggressive. Once she arrived on top, she never came down.
Yes, the youth on the horse’s back was Jiang Pengji.
Laosiji Lianmeng: “#restingone’schin. The streamer picks on people daily. This unlucky child was probably so scared that he doesn’t dare jump out.”
[Chun Lie]: “Hahaha. Every time we see the streamer act aggressively, we feel extremely satisfied.”
[Dashu Xiaobing]: “#digsnose. What can be done? There’s too much water in that person’s head. The streamer was just being nice and helpful by hitting the water out of his brain. You didn’t witness the situation in Tianya assembly. The more they say, the more exaggerated it got. It was originally trouble brought about by the Lord of Nansheng, but he lied to others and himself. He put the blame on others. Let’s wait and see.. .The present Dongqing will follow in the steps of Nansheng very soon…”
The bullet screen in the live streaming room was full of tiny words. The virtual screen was bigger than the previous one by more than one-fold. The decorated frame in the streaming room was more complex and elegant.
Jiang Pengji was on her horse’s back, her right hand holding the horsewhip. She hit her left palm lightly.
After the few strong men went two rounds around the mansions, Jiang Pengji made a faint, ridiculing sound.
“This is courageous? What a joke!” Jiang Pengji pointed towards the other person’s front door. The people watching the commotion said, “If a person had even a bit of courage, he would rally the servants in his house and rush out. Making a stand is enough, even if one cannot beat them. If the people in Dongqing are all cowards, then Nansheng should be a lesson they learn from. Are they trying to outdo me? Pick up your bones before talking!”
Jiang Pengji sounded her whip in the air coldly, then under her command, the whip, like a snake, obediently recoiled in her hands. “Return back to the manor!” She skilfully cast the whip, which brought a satisfied smile to her face. She bowed all around with her hands in front. “The skins of these two tigers are very good. They can used for making cloaks. As for the meat, if the commoners are willing, they are welcome to try it––it’s fresh.”
Some people knew Jiang Pengji, while others did not. “Which household is Langjun from?” they asked.
Jiang Pengji overheard, turned her head in their direction, and spoke to the people. “It is I, Liu Xi from Hejian.”