Chapter 57 - 57: How Could He Forget Her?
Those who were there for the spectacle in the school hall, including a few of Zhu Minglang’s hallmates, all had their jaws drop, unable to close them for a long time!
He took it upon himself to challenge all of Li Yunzi’s admirers, that was one thing, but not one by one—he wanted to take on a group at once!!
Even the most energetic and warlike Dragon Shepherds in the academy wouldn’t dare do such a thing!
There were easily twenty or thirty people around Zhu Minglang, all students indeed, but nearly all of them were Dragon Shepherd Students with True Dragons.
If each summoned a dragon, that would be twenty or thirty dragons!
“You… you… are you out of your mind!” a tall and thin student with a hair bun exclaimed.
“I’ve said it before. I alone will guard her illustrious reputation. I don’t need you bunch of hypocritical and laughable ‘admirers’. Also, I’m the jealous type and don’t like you pretending to be my wife’s admirers. Just sign your names on the collective challenge letter, and if defeated, dissolve on the spot and scram!” Zhu Minglang declared, his tone not softening one bit—it seemed he had long been fed up with these morons!
“You… you… you! Those admirers were so angry they were stuttering.
“When my wife fell into distress and was ravaged by public opinion, none of you dared to bark like dogs. Now that she’s returned to her holy seat, you come out and try to defend the Female Monarch’s reputation with your tongues. Hmph, you’re all a bunch of chicken-hearted curs. Either sign up to fight me or shut up and get out of my sight,” Zhu Minglang repeated.
There was no point in reasoning with them; they just wouldn’t get it.
“Moreover, should any student not like the look of me, Zhu Minglang, or covet my wife, there’s no need to follow any so-called civil procedures. Just sign up on the challenge letter and once we gather twenty people, I’ll take care of all of you at once.”
“You’re oblivious to your own impending doom. I was going to let you live a little longer, but it seems there’s no need for that now!” The handsome young master Yin Yaowu’s eyes were filled with outright murderous intent.
A Wutu commoner’s death would matter to no one.
And for Yin Yaowu, slaying this disgusting refugee who’d been talked about for months would definitely be a pleasing deed to the people of Ancestral Dragon City!
“Go, draft the challenge letter. Make a few extra copies for me; the whole Ancestral Dragon City probably has no shortage of your kind, and I’m ready to overturn them all, ” Zhu Minglang said.
The academy allowed students to challenge each other with challenge letters.
The challenge had to be filed with the academy, and they usually assigned a teacher to supervise to prevent any unnecessary accidents.
After getting rid of Yin Yaowu’s band of Female Monarch supporters, Zhu Minglang sat back in the school hall with ease and continued with his important monthly class.
The class was about the Forest Giant Dragons in the Li Chuan Forest, and Zhu Minglang didn’t want to miss a thing since he still wasn’t sure what kind of dragon the little juvenile he had revived was.
As its body gradually healed, it seemed quite different from traditional Giant
Dragons; at least its skin didn’t resemble regular dragon skin, but more the
smooth bark of a birch tree.
After drafting the challenge letters, they had to choose a Dragon Battle Field.
Although located on this lake island and sand bar, the Dragon Taming
Academy was surrounded by vast tracts of land near Phoenix Embankment Town and Li Chuan Waterfall, including large orchards, medicinal gardens, pastures, and Dragon Battle Fields.
No sooner had Zhu Minglang left the school hall than the challenge letter was delivered into his hands. Their chosen venue was the River Battlefield, a place Zhu Minglang had never visited before.
The time was set for the afternoon, and Zhu Minglang wasn’t in a rush. After enjoying a delightful lunch, he strolled leisurely towards the upstream area of the Li Chuan Plain.
Passing through a forest of willows, their withered branches stood desolately in winter, yet frost-covered grasslands sprouted some winter flowers, adding splashes of color to the somber willow woods.
After noon, the gloomy sky held a slight hint of sunlight, but it was blocked by layers of thick winter clouds. The clouds glinted with a silvery-gray sheen, unable to bring the same brightness to the vast river plain below.
Just as he was about to cross through the willow grove, a woman, resting a paper umbrella on her delicate shoulder, appeared in Zhu Minglang’s line of sight. Her figure was slender and graceful, her attire elegant, exuding the charm of a beauty from a painting.
Zhu Minglang slowly walked past the woman, who indeed had an impeccable profile, but he pretended not to notice.
Li Yunzi wouldn’t normally dress like this, with such a poetic and picturesque quality… If she dressed this way, she would surely be breathtakingly beautiful.
“Do our hearts resonate at first sight?” the woman suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet dignified.
Zhu Minglang feigned surprise, bowing courteously like a humble gentleman, “Miss Nan Lingsha.”
“Did I say I was Nan Lingsha?” the woman slowly turned around, a gorgeous smile gracing her lips with an innate allure.
“What a coincidence, Miss Nan venturing out here in winter. I have other matters to attend to, so I will be taking my leave now,” Zhu Minglang pretended not to hear and quickened his pace.
“Stop right there,” the woman said.
“Oh dear, Miss Nan Lingsha, we’re hardly acquainted, and it’s rather unseemly for a man and a woman alone together in such a desolate place. I, Zhu Minglang, am already entangled in enough scandals,” Zhu Minglang hurriedly said.
Run.
Zhu Minglang quickened his step further.
If Li Yunzi asserted she wouldn’t appear at the academy, then this person could only be Nan Lingsha.
She must have learned about the words he had spoken at the school, which obviously differed from the version he had told her in the Book Pavilion.
“What did Li Yunzi tell you?” the woman asked coldly.
Zhu Minglang did not reply.
“Did she tell you to be wary of me?” the woman asked again.
“No, but think about it, miss. Most people can’t tell the difference between you and your sister. There are quite a few people passing by this road. If they see you and me talking here, there’s no telling what misunderstandings might arise. Things are already complicated enough, I just think it’s better to avoid trouble,” Zhu Minglang explained.
“Wouldn’t that be even better?” the woman laughed.
“How would it be better?”
“It was you who told everyone that we have mutual affection. So if I appear here, concerned about your well-being, isn’t that the most natural thing in the world?” the woman’s smile grew brighter.
“Miss, I have nothing to do with you!” Zhu Minglang called out loudly.
“Others don’t see it that way. I’m tired of wearing a veil all day. It’s good to breathe some fresh air. Come on, Mr. Zhu, let me accompany you to your men’s battlefield.” The woman extended her hand, elegantly gathering up her willowy hair.
This action left Zhu Minglang stunned.
She intended to impersonate Li Yunzi!
In fact, once she pulled her hair up, her aura aligned with Li Yunzi’s, not to mention their appearance.
Those equally dazzling eyes, that equally stunning beauty.. Zhu Minglang involuntarily took a few steps back, fearing that a few more glances would make him completely unable to discern the difference!