Chapter 54 (2/2)
“What’s the matter?” Zhu Minglang was confused.
-I only didn’t come yesterday because of classes…
-Why does he look like we haven’t met for years?-
“Come take a look quickly. Look at what’s pasted at the doors. Is that person really you?” Master Zhao Long said in a hurry as he pulled Zhu Minglang to the streets.
Zhu Minglang moved along, and discovered there really was a portrait pasted by the doors. The quality of the paper was extremely similar to the bounty for wanted men!
-What’s the situation? Did I do something atrocious?
-But the person on the portrait indeed does look identical to me!
-Am I really wanted?
-But why!?-
Zhao Long lowered his body and told Zhu Minglang in a suppressed voice, “Word was spreading crazily yesterday, saying that this person is the vagrant who was with the Valkyrie in the same cell. Rumor says that this person was originally a silkworm farmer from Mulberry Town, born to a poor and lowly background. He is lazy and doesn’t raise silkworms well, and with no money, he became a beggar in Ever City. By some coincidence, he was thrown into the dungeons, and unspeakable things happened between him and the Valkyrie, who was locked up at the time!”
“Huh?” Zhu Minglang looked like he wanted to die after hearing that.
He wanted to correct the story, but he quickly realized he would be admitting to it if he did so.
“You look too similar to that vagrant. I recommend you best wear a mask for now. Many people catch the flu in winter, anyway. Maintaining a habit of wearing masks is good for your health,” Zhao Long told Zhu Minglang very seriously.
“It’s not a matter of whether I look similar. Why did such rumors pop up all of a sudden?” Zhu Minglang asked.
“Who knows? Everyone is talking about it all of a sudden, and your portrait is pasted all over the city. The stores around here are all talking about how you look very similar to the portrait, not to mention those from our store. Everyone thinks it’s you!” Zhao Long said.
“Well, I’m all locked up alone in the foundry anyway,” Zhu Minglang nodded.
Thinking back to when he separated with Li Yunzi, she did remind him that her enemies would likely make a big deal out of him. It seemed those people were making their moves now!
Of course, it was also possible that Luo Xiao was taking his revenge. After that traitor was exiled and listed as a wanted man, he no longer dared to move about freely in the Ancestral Dragon City State, and could only resort to such lowly tactics to annoy him.
“Ah, you, not living their life, but bearing their sins. If it’s impossible for you, go find the doctors and change your appearance,” Zhao Long said, looking very concerned for him.
“…” Zhu Minglang didn’t know how to reply to that.
Some things would come to him no matter what. Actually, Zhu Minglang was already mentally prepared for this.
He would never change his appearance. It was about time for Ancestral Dragon City State to switch up its atmosphere. Whatever nonsense about the man with the Valkyrie being a vagrant or a lowly beggar, he was sick of hearing all of that!
Zhu Minglang would rise to brilliance in Ancestral Dragon City State!
Upright and honorable, that was Zhu Minglang’s reply!
—–
Unsurprisingly, that night, even his name had spread to the people.
When Zhu Minglang walked out from the private workspace, tired, Master Zhao Long and the apprentices were all standing outside, looking at him with strange gazes.
Old Master Zhao Long had a look of disbelief. He thought that portrait only looked similar to Zhu Minglang, but now that the name had spread, there was no mistake!
As for the apprentices…
In fact, they had discussed Valkyrie’s matter a lot in private, during their drinking sessions. There were countless versions of the tale between the noble crown princess and the beggar making their rounds, dominating the sales chart of mature-only books. Zhu Minglang was described in countless ways imaginable…
“Xiaozhu, are you really that… that vagrant in Ever City?” the master couldn’t resist asking in the end.
Zhu Minglang knew making excuses was pointless.
However, the one spreading rumors was indeed disgusting, describing him as lazy, and becoming a beggar because he couldn’t raise silkworms well. He was clearly robbed!
Of course, Zhu Minglang had also realized that since the rumors were so detailed as to mention his identity as a silkworm farmer from Mulberry Town, it was obvious that Luo Xiao was involved in spreading this rumor.
Luo Xiao didn’t want to let Zhu Minglang live peacefully in the Ancestral Dragon City State, holding an unbearable, yet envious identity. If he didn’t have the ability to protect himself, it would indeed be very tough for him to survive!
“Zhu Minglang, you really slept with the Valkyrie?” one of the apprentices, Zhou Xin, asked in a strange voice.