Zhang Kui's Journey to the West in the Investiture of the Gods

Chapter 31 The Relentless Pursuit of a纨绔子弟

The atmosphere inside the store instantly became somewhat tense after Yu De and his group barged in.

The six attendants were clearly skilled soldiers. Sensing the faint yet unfathomable pressure emanating from Zhang Kui, as well as the traces of the fight inside the shop, they immediately and warily shielded Yu De in the middle, their hands unconsciously resting on the weapons at their waists.

Yu De's playful expression faded considerably. Although he had some spoiled habits, he wasn't stupid and could naturally sense Zhang Kui's unusual nature. He sized Zhang Kui up and down, then chuckled dryly and asked, "Aunt Wang, Sister Gao, who is this...?"

Seeing this, Wang Yunniang rolled her eyes at Yu De, but her tone carried a hint of barely perceptible pride: "Yu Xiaowu, how many times have I told you? My family's pharmacopoeia is an ancestral treasure, meant to be passed down to my two sons. As for who they choose to pass it on to in the future, that's their business, and I have no say in it."

Upon hearing this, Yu De's face immediately fell, like a child who hadn't received candy. He waved his hand, signaling his attendants to place the various gifts they had brought on the still relatively intact counter, then scratched his head and said slowly, with a hint of roguishness, "Aunt Wang, you always talk about your son, but I've come so many times and haven't even seen a hair on his head. Let's not trouble those two brothers I've never met before, can you just be kind and teach me? If you don't teach me, my father is really going to send people to arrest me and take me back to Tongguan, and then I won't even have a chance to learn."

As soon as he finished speaking, the attendant named Yu Zhong beside him looked anxious and quickly stepped forward, lowering his voice to remind him, "Young Master, you can't say that. If you say that, this old lady... this old lady won't teach you any better." He almost blurted out "old lady," but he swallowed it back.

Upon hearing this, Yu De retaliated by flicking Yu Zhong's forehead with a sharp "thud," and glared at him, saying, "Yu Zhong! How many times have I told you to call her Aunt Wang? What do you mean, 'old woman'? That's rude. Besides, talking like that, beating around the bush, are you trying to deceive people? Do you think I, Yu De, am that kind of person? If you're going to study, you should act like one."

Zhang Kui's eyes initially turned slightly cold upon hearing Yu Zhong's impolite address, and his inner magical power surged, ready to deliver a slight punishment. However, upon hearing Yu De's seemingly carefree yet strangely principled words, he abruptly stopped himself. A slight smile of interest curved his lips, and he decided to observe further. This kid seems rather intriguing.

Wang Yunniang couldn't help but chuckle at Yu De's comical way of disciplining his subordinates. She cleared her throat, deliberately put on a stern face, pointed to Zhang Kui beside her, and said to Yu De, "Who said you can't see him? Look, this is my eldest son, Zhang Kui. He's currently the commander of the rear army under Grand Tutor Wen of Beihai. You can ask him about the pharmacopoeia now." After saying that, she secretly winked at Zhang Kui and whispered, "Son, this guy may be a bit of a rogue, but he's not a bad person at heart. You decide what to do."

Zhang Kui received a look from his mother and couldn't help but smile bitterly. What kind of mother would do this to her son? He had just returned home and was already given a "wife," and now she was throwing this spoiled young master who was obsessed with the family's hereditary medicine book at him for him to deal with.

But he also realized that Yu De was indeed not a villain as his mother had said, but rather a spoiled big kid who was extremely obsessed with what he loved.

Upon hearing this, Yu De's eyes widened instantly. He turned sharply to look at Zhang Kui, his face immediately plastered with an exaggerated, almost fawning smile. He exclaimed, "Oh my! So you are Brother Zhang! My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. Seeing is believing! You are indeed a handsome and imposing man, worthy of being the son of the old lady and a pillar under Grand Tutor Wen."

As he spoke, he rushed to Zhang Kui in a few strides, grabbed Zhang Kui's hand with remarkable ease, and shook it vigorously, his tone incredibly earnest: "Brother Zhang, I am Yu De, from Tongguan. I have long admired your reputation. You see, I am truly fascinated by medicine, especially the art of treating smallpox; I've been so eager to learn that I can't even eat or sleep. Please, for my sake, teach me! Even just a little bit of the essence would be appreciated!"

His sudden change of expression and the intensity of his enthusiasm caught Zhang Kui off guard, leaving his arm slightly numb from being shaken. Gao Lanying, standing to the side, couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle at Yu De's comical antics.

Upon hearing the words "Commander of the Rear Army under Grand Tutor Wen," Yu Zhong, the attendant, turned deathly pale. As a veteran soldier, he knew all too well Wen Zhong's prestige and status within the Shang army. His young master's entanglement with the Rear Army Commander's mother—if this were investigated, it would be a major problem.

He hurriedly stepped forward and forcefully pulled Yu De back, saying urgently, "Young Master, be careful what you say! This General Zhang is an important general under Grand Tutor Wen. We...we must take our leave immediately. If Master finds out that you have offended Grand Tutor Wen, it won't be as bad as just getting a beating."

Yu De stumbled from the pull, but nonchalantly shook off Yu Zhong's hand, scoffing, "What are you doing! Look at your pathetic self. So what if he's a general under Grand Tutor Wen? Grand Tutor Wen is a reasonable man. Besides, I'm here to learn, not to cause trouble. At most... at most, my method is a bit off. I'll just get beaten up by Brother Zhang, or by my dad. I know how to do that, it's fine."

He spoke with such confidence, as if getting beaten up was commonplace, leaving Zhang Kui speechless. However, he was now completely certain that Yu De truly had no ill intentions; he was just a rascal obsessed with medicine, so simple-minded that he was almost endearing.

Zhang Kui shook his head, looked at his mother, and asked for her opinion with his eyes. Wang Yunniang smiled and said in a low voice, "Although this child is noisy, he is indeed a medicine fanatic and not a bad person at heart. Your father also said back then that if those copies of the pharmacopoeia could help people, it would be a meritorious deed if they were spread. It's just that the Yu family... after all, they are the General of Tongguan, which involves the government. I had some concerns before."

Zhang Kui understood his mother's meaning. She had already softened her heart, but had remained stagnant due to the other party's status and manner of doing things. Now that he was back and had someone to rely on, she no longer insisted.

Zhang Kui hesitated for a moment, then said to Yu De, who looked expectant and nervous, "Yu De."

"Yes, Brother Zhang, what are your instructions?" Yu De immediately stood up straight, looking like he was listening attentively.

"The family's medical manual is the culmination of my late father's efforts and is not meant to be passed on to outsiders," Zhang Kui said slowly. Seeing Yu De's face fall instantly, he changed the subject, "However, considering your genuine desire to learn and my mother's intercession on your behalf, I will make an exception this time."

Yu De's eyes lit up instantly.

Zhang Kui continued, "I can lend you a copy of the pharmacopoeia on the prevention and treatment of smallpox for three days. You are allowed to copy it yourself. After three days, you must return it intact without damage. Can you do that?"

"Yes, yes, yes! It's definitely possible. Thank you, Brother Zhang, thank you, Auntie." Yu De was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly to Zhang Kui and Wang Yunniang.

"Stones?" Wang Yunniang looked at Zhang Kui with a question in her eyes, after all, those manuscripts were the Zhang family's heirlooms.

Zhang Kui nodded slightly to his mother, indicating that it was alright. He was already a celestial being with powerful divine sense and a photographic memory; the contents of those copied texts were already memorized. Moreover, he sensed a very subtle, special magical energy fluctuation on Yu De's body, related to life and destruction. Getting too entangled with this person would not be a good thing; it would be appropriate to take this opportunity to end this karmic entanglement.

Soon, Zhang Kui brought out two heavy wooden boxes from the back room, filled with long scrolls of manuscripts on silk, exuding a strong herbal aroma.

Yu De's entourage quickly stepped forward and carefully lifted the two boxes.

"Be gentle, be gentle, everyone be careful, don't break it!" Yu De shouted from the side, nervously giving instructions.

After finally managing to put the box away, Yu De patted his chest again and assured that he would return it intact in three days before leaving Jishan Hall with his entourage.

Watching Yu De's gleeful figure, as if he had received a priceless treasure, and his attendants carefully carrying the boxes, Zhang Kui, Wang Yunniang, and Gao Lanying exchanged glances and finally couldn't help but shake their heads and chuckle.

"What a lively character," Gao Lanying chuckled, her tone no longer showing the annoyance she had before.

Wang Yunniang also smiled and sighed, "Well, at least we've gotten rid of this little devil. Hopefully, he can really learn something from this and stop using those strange smallpox to harm people."

Zhang Kui stared at the doorway, his thoughts racing. Yu De, son of Yu Hualong of Tongguan, was obsessed with the art of smallpox treatment… He vaguely remembered that there seemed to be such a person in the Investiture of the Gods, who would bring great trouble to the Zhou army in the future. He wondered whether forging this good relationship today would be a blessing or a curse.

But in any case, the immediate trouble was temporarily resolved. Afterwards, Zhang Kui turned his gaze to his mother and the woman beside him who was nominally his "wife".