Qing Xu - "Poem? What poem? You want to write a poem?" Part 2

"How is that possible! I was just changing lanes normally, he's the one who suddenly rushed out to cut me off. How can I be fully at fault? Officer, you can't just side with him because he's rich and drives a nice car, and bully us common folk."

The middle-aged man was unconvinced and immediately started shouting upon hearing the result.

The traffic officer had seen many people like him. While writing the ticket, he said, "Everyone is equal before the law. If it's your fault, it's your fault. His money doesn't go into my pocket. Alright, please cooperate. Don't block the road and affect traffic."

Seeing that the ticket was being written, the middle-aged man got even angrier. He couldn't lash out at the officer, so seeing that Yu Zhen was a young man, he started yelling at him, "How do you even drive! Did you just get your license! So what if you're rich? Do you know that driving a car like this on the road is an invisible threat to us common folk? If you have money, why don't you do some charity! Really, what kind of person are you!"

For the first twenty-some years of his life, Yu Zhen had lived in a relatively simple environment and had never encountered someone who would blame others for their own mistakes. He was angry but didn't know how to retort, racking his brain for words, when an old man's voice, powerful and booming, rang out from behind him.

"What's wrong with you? Not only do you not admit your mistake, you blame others. What kind of man are you! Is that your son next to you? Is this the example you're setting for him? Aren't you afraid he'll end up like you just now, driving recklessly at an intersection and getting into an accident? Besides, it's his money, he can drive whatever car he wants. Do you own the road?! If you want to do charity, go do it yourself. Stop with the moral policing!"

Yu Zhen turned to look behind him and saw a gray-haired old man standing there with his hands behind his back, a very serious expression on his face. When he saw Yu Zhen turn to look, he even gave him a domineering look that said, 'Don't be afraid, I'll handle this.'

The middle-aged man was completely set off by this tirade. Rolling up his sleeves, he was about to rush forward, his face red with agitation. "Who are you cursing! You old coot, how dare you curse my son, I'll beat you to death!"

Yu Zhen quickly stepped sideways to block the old man, his face hardening as he said, "No fighting!"

"Aiyo, my heart is weak! Officer, come quick, this man is threatening me! Aiyo, aiyo, my heart hurts! If anything happens to me, it's because he angered me! You must make him pay my medical bills."

The old man suddenly clutched his chest in pain, his body swaying as if he were about to faint.

Yu Zhen took it seriously and hurriedly reached out to support him, patting his chest and saying anxiously, "Grandpa, are you okay? Do you have any medicine? Don't get agitated, please don't get agitated, take a deep breath."

"Alright, stop making a scene!" The officer finished writing the ticket, walked in front of the middle-aged man to block his view, and said with a frown, "If you cause any more trouble, you're coming with me to the station. Take it! Pay what you need to pay, apologize where you need to apologize. At your age, you should know better than to not set a good example for the young people. No more trouble!"

The middle-aged man wanted to say more, but the young man beside him tugged at him. So he shut up, snorted with a dark face, shot Yu Zhen a fierce glare, muttered something about bad luck, and stopped causing trouble.

Seeing this, the old man on the other side immediately straightened up. He stopped clutching his chest and complaining about his heart. Grinning, he grabbed Yu Zhen's hand and said, "See? You have to use a scoundrel's methods to deal with a scoundrel. You still have a lot to learn. They say meeting is fate. The weather is nice today, the day is auspicious, and I feel like we're old friends at first sight. I'm sure you feel the same. As it happens, I'm in need of a disciple. How about you—"

"There's no need."

Yin Yan heard this sentence the moment he arrived. He strode forward, pulled Yu Zhen's hand out of the old man's grasp, and said to Yu Zhen, "Don't let people hold your hand so casually. People from the Taoist School can read your fate and your life from your palm lines. You need to be careful."

Taoist School?

Yu Zhen froze. He observed the old man carefully and only then realized the man had the same peaceful aura as his grandfather. Upon closer inspection, he also carried a faint layer of the Golden Light of Merit. Recalling what had just happened and what the old man had said, he began to put the pieces together.

"So you helped me, and grabbed my hand, because you saw that I... uh, am in the same line of work?" He even wanted to read his Fate Line?

His little trick having been exposed, the old man was slightly embarrassed. Seeing Yu Zhen's dazed and silly expression like someone who had been deceived and duped, his small amount of conscience and shame surfaced. He explained, "Don't misunderstand. I helped you purely out of a sense of justice. It was only after helping that I saw your excellent aptitude, and my appreciation for talent stirred up the idea of taking you as a disciple."

So he wanted to take a disciple.

The very gullible Yu Zhen believed him, finding the old man's behavior rather cute. He glanced at Yin Yan, and with a quick turn of his thoughts, he looked back at the old man and replied, "Thank you for your high praise, but I already have a Master, so I apologize."

Hearing this, Yin Yan lowered his eyes to look at him, his aura subconsciously restrained a little.

"You have a Master?" The old man was surprised and glanced at Yin Yan. Although he felt Yin Yan's aura was a bit odd, he couldn't see any signs of cultivation, and he looked far too young. So, he cautiously dismissed the thought. He looked back at Yu Zhen, marveling at the almost blinding Golden Light of Merit enveloping him, and sighed. "That's true. It would be impossible to have this much Merit without a Master's guidance. May I be so bold as to ask, little friend, who is your Master? This old man knows basically every skilled person of the Taoist School in Huaxia Country. We might even be acquaintances."

Yu Zhen smiled and shook his head, replying, "My Master doesn't often go out, nor is he very famous. You probably don't know him."

Yin Yan watched the smile on his face, ripples of gentleness spreading through his calm eyes. He silently adjusted his cuffs and moved to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

"Tell me, what if I do know him? To be honest, this old man also loved to run around when he was young. I've met quite a few reclusive members of the Taoist School." The old man, however, insisted on asking, showing great interest in Yu Zhen's master.

Seeing that he couldn't fool him, Yu Zhen turned his head again to glance at Yin Yan beside him.

Yin Yan's back straightened even more, his chin lifting slightly. He sighed inwardly, a mix of helplessness and indulgence.

Although he felt that taking Yu Zhen as a disciple again before his past life memories returned was like taking advantage of his situation, since he wanted it, then...

"He's not really an official Master. My grandfather is a Daoist Priest and has his own little Taoist Temple in the countryside of H Province. Most of my knowledge of the Taoist School comes from him."

Yu Zhen looked away and answered, not noticing Yin Yan's mouth opening and then closing, nor the slightly undignified way he turned to look at him. He added, "My grandfather's Daoist Name is Qing Xu, same as his Taoist Temple."

Qing Xu? H Province?

Could it be Qing Xu-zi?

The old man's expression stiffened. He looked Yu Zhen up and down in disbelief. This time, his heart really did feel uncomfortable, thumping wildly. He took a step forward to grab Yu Zhen's hand again but was blocked by Yin Yan.

"Pardon my rudeness, but Elder, this isn't the place to talk."

Yin Yan gestured to the passing traffic and the middle-aged man who was still pestering the officer. He took Yu Zhen's hand and led him further in, then extended a hand to the old man. "Thank you for helping Yu Zhen just now. I am his partner, Yin Yan."

"Mm, ah? Oh, you're welcome, you're welcome." The old man still hadn't quite come to his senses. He politely shook Yin Yan's hand, but his eyes couldn't help but dart toward Yu Zhen, who was shielded from view. As if remembering something, the excitement in his heart gradually faded. He frowned slightly, then abruptly said his goodbyes and melted into the crowd.

Yu Zhen couldn't react in time and just watched his figure disappear. He turned to Yin Yan, his eyes full of confusion.

Why did he suddenly leave? He hadn't even thanked him properly yet.

Yin Yan realized something. He glanced in the direction the old man had gone, and with a flick of his finger, a sliver of Divine Sense drifted after him.

With Yin Yan by his side, the middle-aged man strangely stopped causing trouble. He quickly cooperated with the police to handle the accident, his attitude doing a complete 180-degree turn. He became unbelievably docile.

After discussing compensation and subsequent car repairs, Yin Yan prepared to leave with Yu Zhen.

However, the middle-aged man's son suddenly took a step forward and called out hesitantly, "Yu Zhen? Um, are you Yu Zhen? Yu Zhen from H University's landscaping major?"

Yu Zhen stopped at his words and turned to look at the young man. He sized him up carefully but found that he didn't recognize him. He nodded and replied, "I did go to H University, and that was my major, but you are..."

"It's nothing, just a fellow alumnus. I-I've seen you at school." After getting an affirmative answer, the young man's eyes suddenly became shifty. He gave a vague reply, pulled his father, and hurriedly left.

Yu Zhen frowned, not understanding why he had reacted that way.

Is there something wrong with me?

He raised a hand to touch his face, then suddenly realized something. He glanced at Yin Yan, then at the car he drove and the car Yin Yan drove, then looked down at his own clothes and gave a bitter smile.

Compared to his plain and shabby self from his university days, his current self was indeed wrong in every way.

"Don't mind what others think. You are very good." Yin Yan walked to his side and reached up to straighten his scarf.

Yu Zhen watched his long, slender fingers moving before his eyes, and his heart suddenly felt a little ticklish. He turned away to avert his gaze and replied, "I don't mind... Let's go to the construction site. I'm sorry for delaying you for so long."

Yin Yan glanced at his own fingers, then walked to his car ahead of him and opened the door. "It's fine. Get in. The driver who came with me will handle the rest."

Yu Zhen watched his natural movement of opening the car door, buried his face in his scarf, and let out a small breath. He then walked forward, bent down, and got into the car.

On the way to the construction site, Yu Zhen took out another copy of the Leisure Center design plans to look at, occasionally taking out his phone to calculate something. He didn't speak to Yin Yan.

Yin Yan had been quietly watching him the whole time. As they were nearing the site, he finally couldn't hold back and said, "You..."

"What?" Yu Zhen asked without looking up.

Yin Yan organized his words and said, "If you want to become a disciple..."

"Hm? What? What did you say?" Yu Zhen finally lifted his eyes from the design plan and looked at him in confusion.

"...No, it's nothing." Yin Yan silently turned the car into the construction site. After turning off the engine, he said, "We're here. Let's get out."

Yu Zhen got out of the car without another word, his movements swift and without a hint of reluctance, as if the car were full of germs.

Yin Yan: "..."

He suddenly felt that this kind of rapid departure, this act of fleeing from someone's side, was a bit familiar, as if someone had done it before.