Cuju Ball Game Part 2

The disciples all thought that a monk couldn't possibly be good at this kind of secular game, so they laughed and joked, planning to tease him like they had teased Feng Rugu.

Who would have thought that this person, though taciturn and cold-faced, could handle a ball with ease. Upon entering the field, he nimbly dodged several people and with a kick, sent the rattan ball straight into the goal.

Although his cuju skills were taught by his adoptive father, his temperament was quite different from his flamboyant and unrestrained father. He didn't like to show off fancy moves, but simply moved around with his hands behind his back. Those who tried to block him only saw a flash before their eyes as he had already broken through the heavy encirclement and gracefully arrived several yards away.

The seven or eight people on the field tried to stop him with all their might, but to no avail.

After effortlessly sending the ball into the goal once again, Ruyi didn't even glance at Feng Rugu, only slowly dribbling the ball back and forth with his feet, as if to pretend he wasn't standing up for him.

--He had arrived early and watched everything clearly from the side.

These young people, upon discovering that Feng Rugu was not proficient in cuju, deliberately teased him and made him run around the field.

In Ruyi's view, although Feng Rugu was lazy by nature and frivolous, he was not someone these ignorant youths could casually bully.

Feng Rugu didn't mind Ruyi's cold attitude or the juniors' teasing. He sat cross-legged on the sidelines, propping his chin up and watching Ruyi, his eyes full of smiles.

He felt like a coffin buried in the soil for a long time. Occasionally crawling out to see the fresh world and the energetic youths was quite nice.

Those few youngsters realized Ruyi was a cuju expert and got badly beaten by him. They learned there's always someone better, and voluntarily admitted defeat.

Since they conceded, Ruyi no longer pursued it relentlessly and returned to Feng Rugu's side.

Feng Rugu leaned over and diligently fanned him, saying with satisfaction, "Not bad, not bad."

He didn't expect that after so many years, the skills he taught Ruyi had not been neglected in the slightest, whether it was chess or cuju.

Perhaps, he could play the konghou harp with him again someday...

Seeing how carefree he was, neither angry nor annoyed, Ruyi held back again and again but finally blurted out, "Lord Yunzhong, you and my adoptive father are from the same sect. If you had even a fraction of my father's disposition and aspirations, you wouldn't be so unbearable."

Feng Rugu's hand that was fanning him suddenly paused.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ruyi also felt that "unbearable" was a bit too harsh.

But he clearly felt it was unfair for Feng Rugu.

If it were his adoptive father's temperament when he was young, if some ignorant junior dared to make fun of him like this, he would definitely retaliate a hundredfold or a thousandfold.

Ruyi could see that when dealing with peers and elders, Feng Rugu never minced his words, his mouth extremely sharp. But towards the juniors of the Dao sects, he had a special tolerance.

He was like this with Second Young Master Wen who clamored at the Wenshi Sect to kill him to avenge his sister, like this with Lian Ruxin who wanted to kill him to revive Yi Shangchen, and also like this with these young disciples playing cuju.

Ruyi couldn't bear to see him bullied by juniors like this, but didn't know how to remind him given their current relationship, or from what standing to do so.

In the end, his good intentions came out as harsh words.

Hearing this, Feng Rugu stared at his knees, stunned for a good while.

He originally thought there weren't many people in this world capable of hurting his heart.

He lowered his head and took a breath, his shoulders shrinking for a moment before relaxing.

His expression also relaxed.

He joked, "It's just a little cuju game. Master Ruyi is taking it too seriously, your obsession is too heavy, not good, not good."

Seeing Feng Rugu completely ignore his thoughtless words, Ruyi's heart didn't feel much better.

...Feng Rugu was indeed especially lenient with juniors.

In his heart, perhaps he was the same as those reckless juniors?

Thinking of this, Ruyi's heart felt even more inexplicably shaken, both sour and stifled, his face growing colder.

Feng Rugu saw his expression and knew his mood was poor, but didn't know which heartstring of his he had touched. He couldn't help but scratch his head, thinking that the thoughts of young people were really hard to guess.

But he didn't want to argue with Ruyi, so he changed the subject, "This afternoon, let's set off."

Ruyi: "To where?"

Feng Rugu couldn't help but commit another verbal blunder, "Where does Master Ruyi want to go?"

Ruyi paused, then spoke his mind, "To find Lin Xuejing."

Feng Rugu was curious, "What are you looking for Lin Xuejing for?"

Ruyi inconspicuously touched his chest, then lowered his hand, "Yesterday, Lord Yunzhong said that disciples of the Bushi Sect were killed. As the sect leader, he should appear to handle this matter."

"Him? Don't count on him."

Feng Rugu stretched out his legs to tease the ants on the ground, "About six years ago, a Blood Sect member infiltrated the Bushi Sect. While recuperating under their name, he killed people for their blood to cultivate. Later the matter was exposed, triggering a round of purges in the Bushi Sect. People were in panic, suspecting each other. At that time, Uncle Sa Si wanted him to come out from seclusion, but he didn't."

"Three years ago, a branch of the Bushi Sect was massacred by a small Dao sect. The situation was grim and on the brink of war. The Dao and demon sects nearly went to battle again. It was Uncle Sa Si who mediated to avoid the flames of war."

"Two months ago, there were some minor issues within the Bushi Sect. A son and daughter from two families with past grudges died as the result of a petty fight. It nearly caused an internal conflict but was quickly suppressed."

Feng Rugu spread his hands, "Uncle Sa Si has complained to me countless times in letters. But unless there's an earth-shattering event, Lin Xuejing will not appear."

Hearing this, Ruyi couldn't help but feel anxious.

If he could never find Lin Xuejing, how could he remove that restless evil within his chest?

Seeing his expression was off, Feng Rugu comforted him, "However, Uncle Sa Si should know how to contact him. I agreed to meet Uncle Sa Si at Qinggang in two days. You can ask him then. But before that, we need to go somewhere first to gather some information."

Ruyi: "Where?"

Feng Rugu asked in return, "...Have you heard of Qingliang Valley?"