10: Chapter 10: I Gained a Follower

Chen Fan threw the grape skins on the ground and clapped his hands.

"The mountain is quiet; it's a perfect time for a vacation."

Magistrate Zhao De looked at his impervious attitude, and his last bit of strength drained away.

He closed his eyes and waved his hand, not wanting to say another word.

The butler had already been waiting nearby; seeing this, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to Chen Fan.

"Young Master, the carriage is ready."

Chen Fan nodded and, without even looking at the two trembling women in the courtyard, turned and left.

No lingering attachment, no farewells.

It was as if he wasn't being kicked out of his home, but was really just going to visit a neighbor.

...

It was the same carriage, the same road.

Except a month ago he was going down the mountain, and now he was going up.

Inside the carriage, Chen Fan leaned against a cushion and closed his eyes to rest.

His father Magistrate Zhao De's despondent face flashed through his mind.

Magistrate Zhao De thought he was exiling him to the frontier as a punishment.

But he didn't know that to Chen Fan, it didn't matter at all.

In the Zhao Residence, there were fine clothes, gourmet food, and beautiful women all around.

In the Qingyang Taoist Temple, there were also mountain delicacies and wild game, along with peace and freedom.

In essence, there was no difference.

The carriage reached the foot of West Mountain, and Chen Fan got out.

Zhang San and Li Si followed behind, carrying bags of luggage.

These were all prepared by the butler—food, clothes, and supplies—twice as much as the last time he came.

He was terrified that his Young Master would suffer any hardship on the mountain.

Chen Fan stepped onto the familiar stone steps alone.

This time, he wasn't even out of breath.

Although he had given up on martial arts, the half-month of horse stances had, after all, made this frail body slightly stronger.

The mountain gate came into view.

It was the same two Taoists, Ming Feng and Mingzheng.

As soon as they saw Chen Fan's figure, they were like mice seeing a cat, snapping to attention instantly.

"Young Master... Young Master Zhao!"

The two of them hurried forward to greet him, their faces covered in smiles so humble they were almost fawning.

"Why have you come back?" Ming Feng asked cautiously.

Chen Fan glanced at him.

"What? Not welcome?"

"No, no, no! Welcome! A warm welcome!" Ming Feng shook his head like a rattle. "Your return is a blessing for the Qingyang Taoist Temple! It's a blessing for us lowly ones!"

As he spoke, he deftly took the luggage from Zhang San and Li Si, appearing even more diligent than the servants of the Zhao Residence.

Taoist Xuanli also rushed over upon hearing the news, running until he was out of breath, his fat trembling.

"Oh! Worthy Nephew! My good Worthy Nephew!"

He rushed in front of Chen Fan and grabbed his hand, looking as excited as if they were reuniting after a long separation.

"You've finally returned! This master missed you to death!"

Chen Fan pulled his hand back, his expression indifferent.

He probably missed my father's three thousand taels of silver.

"Uncle-Master Liu, my father sent me back to continue my quiet cultivation."

Xuanli was stunned for a moment, then showed an expression of understanding.

He had heard.

With the news causing such a stir in Qinghe County about the Black Wind Mountain bandits specifically wanting to kill Young Master Zhao, how could he not know?

It seemed the Magistrate was worried and had sent his precious son back to the mountain to lay low.

"Rightly so! Rightly so!" Xuanli patted his chest. "Worthy Nephew, don't worry. In the Qingyang Taoist Temple, you are absolutely safe! Not to mention mere mountain bandits, even if the Heavenly King himself came, he wouldn't be able to touch a single hair on your head!"

As he spoke, he personally led Chen Fan toward Tingzhu Pavilion.

On the way, he asked as if casually, "Worthy Nephew, those bandits down the mountain... has the Magistrate handled them properly?"

"Mhm," Chen Fan replied casually. "My father settled it."

Settled it?

Taoist Xuanli mulled over those words; he had heard that the group of bandits from Black Wind Mountain was not simple.

For Magistrate Zhao De to be able to settle those bandits, he must have paid a heavy price.

His attitude toward Chen Fan became even more respectful.

This was no longer a jinx; this was the biological son of the God of Wealth!

The group returned to Tingzhu Pavilion.

The courtyard was cleaned thoroughly, and the tables and chairs were wiped spotless.

Hearing the commotion, the orange cat poked its head out from the roof. Seeing it was Chen Fan, it actually let out a "meow," jumped down lightly, and rubbed its body against his trouser leg.

Chen Fan leaned over and scratched its chin.

Seeing this, Taoist Xuanli quickly gave Ming Feng a meaningful look.

Ming Feng understood immediately and ran out. Before long, he brought back a small plate of fresh fish straight from the kitchen.

Chen Fan placed the fish on the ground, and the orange cat immediately lowered its head and began to feast.

"Alright, everyone out," Chen Fan waved his hand.

"Yes, yes." Xuanli bowed and scraped as he withdrew, taking Ming Feng and Mingzheng with him.

Peace and quiet returned to the courtyard.

Chen Fan lay back in the familiar bamboo chair and crossed his legs.

Sunlight, a breeze, a cat.

This damn, corrupting feudal society.

It's wonderful.

In the following days, Chen Fan returned to his previous "vacation" mode.

Every day he slept until he woke naturally, and after eating, he would tease the cat, read books, or zone out.

The meals and snacks Taoist Xuanli sent every day were a hundred times more exquisite than before.

Ming Feng and Mingzheng treated Chen Fan like an ancestor, fearing they might fail to serve him perfectly in any way.

This afternoon, Chen Fan was leaning back in his chair, reading a book he had found somewhere titled "Records of Strange Events in Southern Border."

The book talked about all kinds of bizarre Gu insects and local customs.

Just as he was reading with great interest, a commotion suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

There were shouts of scolding, pleas for mercy, and the dull thuds of fists and feet hitting flesh.

Chen Fan frowned.

This sound was a bit annoying.

He put down the book, stood up, and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Outside Tingzhu Pavilion was a small Martial Arts Field.

At this moment, on the arena, seven or eight Outer Sect Disciples in gray Taoist robes were surrounding a small, thin figure.

Leading them was a tall young man with a face full of flesh. He kicked the small Disciple to the ground.

"You blind fool! How dare you dirty Senior Brother Wang's training robes! I think you're tired of living!"

"I'm sorry, Senior Brother Wang, I didn't do it on purpose..." The small Disciple held his head and curled up on the ground, his voice tearful.

"Not on purpose?" Senior Brother Wang kicked him again. "I think you did it on purpose! You're new and don't know the rules at all!"

The surrounding Disciples were all laughing and watching the show; not a single person stepped forward to stop it.

Chen Fan stood at the entrance of Tingzhu Pavilion, watching the scene.

It was that familiar, boring drama again.

In Zhao Long's memories, he himself was the most arrogant protagonist in such dramas.

But he was not Zhao Long.

He was Chen Fan.

He could go with the flow and enjoy the life of a profligate, but in his bones, he looked down on such trash who bullied the weak.

He was about to turn back, too lazy to bother.

The young man called Senior Brother Wang seemed to notice him and turned his head.

"Yo, isn't this Young Master Zhao? What, out to sunbathe?"

The young man's words carried a hint of undisguised contempt.

Chen Fan recognized him.

Wang Chong, a well-known troublemaker among the Outer Sect Disciples. It was said he had an uncle who was a deacon in the temple, so he was used to being arrogant and overbearing.

When Chen Fan emptied the Scripture Pavilion last time, he was the one who gossiped the most behind his back.

Chen Fan ignored him.

Wang Chong, however, was relentless. He walked up to Chen Fan and looked him up and down.

"I heard Young Master Zhao was so scared by bandits that he ran back to the mountain to be a shrinking turtle?"

The Disciples behind him all burst into laughter.

Chen Fan stopped and finally looked him in the eye.

"Is something the matter?"

"Nothing," Wang Chong shrugged, looking nonchalant. "I just see that you have such delicate skin, Young Master Zhao, and wanted to remind you that the wind on this mountain is much stronger than in your backyard. Don't accidentally get sick from it."

This was a blatant provocation.

Since he couldn't bully the newcomer enough, did he want to find a sense of superiority from this "useless profligate"?

Truly boring.

Chen Fan shook his head and turned to leave.

"Stop!" Wang Chong stepped forward and blocked his path.

"What? Scared, Young Master Zhao?" Wang Chong's face was almost touching Chen Fan's.

Chen Fan sighed.

Why were there always such idiots who liked to offer their faces to be slapped?

He looked at Wang Chong and suddenly spoke.

"My father just kicked me out of the house."

His words were very calm.

Wang Chong was stunned for a moment, then burst into even louder laughter.

"Hahaha! So you're just a stray dog that's been kicked out! I thought..."

His laughter came to an abrupt halt.

Because Chen Fan's next words drifted over softly.

"So, I'm in a very bad mood right now."

Chen Fan tilted his head and looked at him very seriously.

"I'm thinking about whether I should write a letter to my father and have him stop this year's Incense Money for the Qingyang Taoist Temple."

"Three thousand taels doesn't seem like much."

"But it should be enough to help my father vent some anger on my behalf."

The Martial Arts Field fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's laughter froze on their faces.

The flesh on Wang Chong's face twitched, and his arrogant expression instantly turned into terror and disbelief.

"Three thousand taels!"

"Another three thousand taels!"

He stared intently at Chen Fan, as if trying to find any trace of a joke on his face.

But there was none.

Chen Fan's expression was as calm as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"You... you wouldn't dare!" Wang Chong's voice was dry, devoid of any confidence.

"Just watch me," Chen Fan smiled.

Just then, a chubby figure came rushing over, stumbling and crawling.

"Stop! Everyone, stop!"

Taoist Xuanli finally arrived; seeing the tense situation, he was scared to the point of his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

He rushed in front of Wang Chong and swung a full-force slap.

"Slap!"

It was crisp and loud.

"You scoundrel! What do you think you're doing! Are you trying to start a rebellion!" Taoist Xuanli pointed at Wang Chong's nose and cursed loudly. "Kneel down and apologize to Young Master Zhao right now!"

Wang Chong was dazed by the slap; he clutched his face and looked at Xuanli in disbelief.

Xuanli kicked him in the knee again.

"Kneel!"

With a thud, Wang Chong knelt before Chen Fan.

Chen Fan didn't even give him a glance.

He walked to the small Disciple who had been beaten and reached out his hand.

"Get up."

The Disciple stared at him blankly, not reacting for a moment.

Chen Fan pulled him straight up from the ground.

"What's your name?"

"Zhang... Zhang Shan..." the Disciple answered timidly.

Chen Fan nodded, then turned to look at the terrified Wang Chong and the other Outer Sect Disciples.

He pointed at Zhang Shan beside him.

"From today on, he is my man."

"From now on, he is Zhao Long's little brother."

Chen Fan's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Anyone who dares to touch a single finger of his is picking a fight with me, Zhao Long."

He paused and looked around.

"If you cross me, Zhao Long, I might not do anything to you."

"But my father would probably be very happy to throw all of you, along with your families, out of Qinghe County."

Having said that, he ignored the crowd and spoke to Zhang Shan.

"What are you still standing there for?"

"Go brew a pot of tea for me!"