Vol 10 Chapter 38 (2/2)

“That’s it then.” Liao Hua sighed as she shook her sleeves, “I have other things to attend to so if my lord has no further business with me, I’ll be…”

“Ah, un. Go on. I’ll be heading to the main hall.” I nodded. Liao Hua saluted once more and took 2 steps back before turning to leave.

As I looked at Liao Hua’s back, I heaved a sigh of relief and then turned to the main hall.

Hu… I was not calm but I had to quickly get my feelings in order now. There is more than enough time in future to indulge in anguish and regret over what happened to Yuan Zhi. Right now, I have more important things to attend to.

On the way to the main hall, I tidied my clothing and when I made my way to the door, I found that it was closed and did a final check before I cleared my throat.

Ahem.

This was to let the occupant in the room notice my presence and I soon raised my hand and knocked on the door.

*Dang* *Dang* *Dang*

After I knocked, there was no reply from the room but I could feel that there was indeed someone in the room and merely waited patiently without knocking further.

“… Please come in.” A deep, male voice came from inside the room. There are not any other men around me so it was easy for me to recognise this voice.

“Yes.” I said as I opened the door.

As I entered the room, I saw that there was a man sitting in the center. His hair was tied back and he was sitting upright with a bamboo scroll in his hands, seeming unaffected by the world around him. Hermit scholars really give off a different aura compared to others.

I saluted him and slowly made my way over, “Teacher Sima, it really has been a while since we’ve met.”

“Hahaha, long time no see.” Sima Hui laughed just as I finished and put down his scroll as he replied.

“Please sit.” He said as he gestured to me. I nodded and seated opposite of Sima Hui, feeling calmer as I looked at him. Sima Hui on the other hand beamed as he looked at me as though I were a long lost friend.

“It’s been 2 months since we last met.”

“Yes,” He nodded as he leaned forward slightly, “The weather has become warmer now and it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Xuan De. You’ve really changed.”

“Changed?”

“Un, you look a lot healthier and your body looks st.u.r.dier as well.”

“Hahaha, I did just come back to life back then after all.”

“Hahaha, I suppose so.”

Looks like it was not my misconception that I had become stronger after all. Zi Long’s training has indeed paid off.

“Let’s not talk abot me. Teacher Sima doesn’t seem to have changed at all.”

“Me?” Sima Hua said as he pointed to himself and I nodded.

He still talks in the same calm and relaxed manner and exudes an easing aura. His beard and hairstyle has not changed at all either. And there are also few men I interact with so I take extra notice of them when I do.

“How is Teacher Sima these days? Living an easy life?”

“Yes, yes indeed.” Sima Hui nodded and smiled as he stroked his beard, “It’s not like my life is exciting at all in the first place.”

“Haha, don’t say that.” I frowned and smiled stiffly, “I admire Teacher Sima’s life as a hermit scholar to be honest.”

“Aiya, being a hermit scholar isn’t something enviable at all.”

Un? I thought that Sima Hui would laugh in response but he frowned and seemed rather serious in his reply.

“Being a hermit scholar is not easy at all.” Sima Hui continued, “One has to continually increase one’s knowledge of various subjects while tending to one’s crops. Additionally, one has to be very careful in one’s social interactions. Us hermit scholars have our own network of peers.”

Sima Hui was rather serious in his answer but it feels like his worries do not seem very different from that of a normal life.

“But even so, Teacher Sima is willing to live the life of a hermit scholar right?”

…

When I finished, Sima Hui smiled and looked at me as he shrugged before taking a sip from a bowl of water nearby, “I suppose. But living alone is becoming difficult, especially during the spring planting. I’m beginning to find it difficult to do.”

“Eh? Alone?” I was stunned and then realised something as I looked about, “Ah… Why didn’t Xiang Lang come along with you?”

<script>