Insufficient balance

  At dawn, when the sky was just brightening, Mu Sheng stopped his cultivation. Feeling that the flow of energy in his body had become stronger, Mu Sheng was very excited. "Cultivation cannot be interrupted", this was Mu Sheng's requirement for himself. After greeting the old man, Mu Sheng followed the small path towards Hunyuan City. When he arrived at the gate of the Zhao residence, a guard asked: "Excuse me, are you Young Master Mu?"

  "It is indeed below," replied Mo Sheng.

  "Master Mu, General Qin is already in the main hall, you'd better hurry over!"

  "Thank you." After finishing speaking, Mu Sheng entered the door and walked towards the main hall. Upon arriving at the main hall, he saw three people sitting inside. Apart from Qin Zongguan and the white-clothed woman from the accounting room that day, there was also a 17 or 18-year-old young man. This youngster was also dressed as a scholar, but his clothes were much better than Mu Sheng's.

  Musheng stepped forward and bowed to General Qin, saying: "Your student has seen General Qin."

  Qin Zongguan laughed and said: "Musheng has arrived, let me introduce you. This is the young lady, this is the young master."

  Mo Sheng did not expect that the woman in the accounting room that day was actually the mistress of the house, so he stepped forward and bowed, saying: "I've seen you, young lady."

  The young lady didn't say a word, she just nodded slightly. Mu Sheng came to the front of the youth and bowed saying "I've seen Young Master".

  That young man patted Mù Shēng's shoulder and laughed, saying: "You're called Mù Shēng, right? From now on, you'll be this young master's study companion. You'd better help this young master share his worries and troubles!"

  "As you wish, young master," Mu Sheng replied respectfully.

  The young man was delighted when he heard Mu Sheng's words, but when he saw the gaze cast by the woman in white, he immediately stopped smiling and his expression became stern.

  At this time, Qin General Manager spoke up: "Musheng, today you will start accompanying Young Master to Yafeng Academy. Someone, bring Young Master's book box here." Before long, a servant brought over a book box containing some books and stationery. Seeing that the book box had been brought over, Qin General Manager said to Musheng: "You carry Young Master's book box on your back. When Young Master is in class, there are many things you need to do. He will tell you at that time."

  Musheng took over the book frame and said: "I know, I will definitely listen to Young Master's instructions."

  At this time, Qin Zongguan took out two silver coins from his waist pocket and handed them to Mu Sheng, saying: "This is your salary for the first half of the month. The other half will be paid next month. You can rest in the mansion tonight, and someone will notify you when it's time."

  Musheng took the silver, responded with a sound. Then he carried the book frame on his back, and afterwards Big Sister instructed Young Master for a while. Only then did Musheng follow behind Young Master out of the door.

  On the road, the young master asked: "Musheng, how old are you this year?"

  "Back to Young Master, I am nineteen this year." Mu Sheng replied.

  "It seems you're one year older than me, but you have to call me Young Master. Don't you feel uncomfortable about that?" The Young Master said with a hearty laugh.

  "That doesn't matter, a title is just a code name, it can't represent anything, I am still me, and nothing can be changed." Murong Sheng replied.

  Young master nodded thoughtfully and said, "Musheng, from now on when there are no outsiders around, just call me Wen Hao. I'm tired of hearing people call me Young Master all day."

  "As you wish, young master," Mu Sheng replied.

  The two walked and chatted, becoming familiar with each other. Wen Hao felt that his companion was not as simple as he seemed on the surface, but he didn't say anything. After about half an hour, they arrived at Yafeng Academy in the east of the city.

  Yafeng Academy is a medium-sized academy, built by the wealthy merchants and officials of Hunyuan City. The invited teachers are all famous figures, so Yafeng Academy basically only accepts children from wealthy and powerful families, regardless of gender. At the same time, Yafeng Academy's facilities are also very complete, and it can be said that its hardware equipment is extremely perfect. The academy not only teaches literary knowledge but also passes on martial arts. For this reason, the academy specially invited two seniors known as "Dragon Valley Two Immortals" from Jianghu to teach martial arts.

  Mo Sheng followed Wen Hao into the Ya Feng Academy, and as soon as they entered, a young man came running over and said: "Wen Hao, you've finally arrived! I've already had someone save your seat, let's hurry in!"

  Zhao Wenhao politely said, "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Zikawa." As he spoke, he entered the school building. The seat occupied by Zikawa was exactly in the middle of the second row, a very good location that would be helpful for listening to lectures, while Zikawa sat in the middle of the first row.

  Mo Sheng didn't speak, he just sat beside Zhao Wen Hao, putting down the book frame. He took out stationery and books from inside, then began to grind ink for Wen Hao. For an entire morning, they listened to a lecture by an old man who had once been a top scorer in the imperial examination and had retired to his hometown. Mo Sheng ground ink for an entire morning, during which time Wen Hao got thirsty, so Mo Sheng went to pour tea several times. Zhao Wen Hao also wrote a large pile of things. When it was time for lunch, the young man sitting in front called Zi Chuan turned around and said: "Wen Hao, I'm inviting you out today at noon, let's go to Feng Yue Lou."

  Zhao Wenhao looked somewhat surprised, because Fengyuelou was the most expensive restaurant in Hunyuan City. Before he knew what Wang Zichuan had in mind, Zhao Wenhao didn't dare to agree and could only say politely: "Brother Zichuan is being polite, but I'm busy today, so let's forget it for now! Another day, I'll invite Brother Zichuan."

  Wangzi River heard Wen Hao say this, somewhat unhappily said: "Could it be that Wen Hao doesn't give me this face?"

  "Your face is worth a few bucks, who in the entire Hunyuan City doesn't know that Wang Zichuan is a playboy? What's the value of such a person's face?" However, he couldn't say this out loud. His older sister often told him not to offend people at school, so Wen Hao could only smile and say: "Brother Zichuan, don't misunderstand me, I didn't mean it that way."

  The prince saw Zhao Wenhao's softness and said, "Since it's not that meaning, then Wenhao has agreed. Let's hurry up, or we'll miss the afternoon martial arts class." He pulled Zhao Wenhao out while talking, and Zhao Wenhao had no choice but to follow him. Mu Sheng and Wang Zichuan's study partner carried book boxes behind them.

  Fengyuelou indeed deserves to be the most expensive restaurant in Hunyuan City, looking at the more than 30 dishes on the table, Musheng swallowed his saliva. He hadn't eaten breakfast yet? Now he can only look but not eat, it's really torturing. The companion who followed Wang Zichuan drooled for a long time, and next to Wang Zichuan and Zhao Wenhao sat two women dressed in seductive attire pouring wine, they were closely attached to the men beside them, and from time to time, they twisted their bodies. Wang Zichuan was very enjoyable, while Zhao Wenhao was somewhat flushed, making the woman beside him giggle nonstop.

  At this time, only Wang Zichuan said: "Wen Hao, tomorrow I invited a few people to play at the Hunyuan Temple. Hope you and your sister can participate, and hope Wen Hao can agree." He said and toasted Wen Hao with wine. Zhao Wenhao was somewhat embarrassed, his silent and taciturn sister rarely had time, he didn't dare guarantee that she would go together. However, Wang Zichuan made such a great effort today, if he refused, he would definitely offend him, so he could only say: "I will do my best."

  The prince heard Zhao Wen's words and said, "That's good, as long as Wen Hao does his best." As they spoke, the two of them raised their glasses again. Mu Sheng stood aside, thinking to himself about a phrase his grandfather had once said: "No bowl of rice is easy to eat." Whether it was him being a companion reader or Zhao Wen eating at someone else's banquet, every gain requires a loss, and there's no free lunch waiting for you.

  In the afternoon, an old white-haired man taught Zhao Wenhao and others the swordsmanship of "Fantasy Swordsmanship". The old man first demonstrated it himself, then asked Zhao Wenhao and others to review the moves they had learned before. After they finished reviewing, the old man taught them another move. As a result, in the whole afternoon, Zhao Wenhao and others only practiced this one move. They were very dissatisfied with the old man's teaching method, but they didn't dare say anything. The old man's status was quite high, even the lord of the city had to be polite when meeting him.

  The old man sat down on a nearby rock to rest after teaching a move, watching the students practice in front of him. For an entire afternoon, not one person was able to master the move he had just taught. The old man didn't show any reaction to this; he didn't place much importance on the results before his eyes.

  Musheng stood with his back to the book frame, not far from where Zhao Wenhao and others were practicing martial arts. He looked at them as they repeatedly practiced a move, then glanced at the old man sitting on a nearby rock. Musheng didn't know what to say to the old man. As a teacher, one should have a sense of responsibility and teach with sincerity. The old man's attitude was unqualified from this perspective. However, Musheng had an intuition that told him the old man's teaching here wasn't simple, but this wasn't something he should be considering at the moment.

  The afternoon passed quickly, and before they knew it, the sun had already set. As Mu Sheng and Zhao Wenhao walked out of the Yafeng Academy gate, a female voice came from behind, "Wenhao, Wenhao, wait a minute"

  Two people turned their heads to look, and saw a young girl running over. She was in the same year as Wen Hao, but the academy separated boys and girls for teaching, so they didn't often see each other. Looking at her appearance, she was lovely, although she was a girl, wearing a white scholar's outfit, which had a unique flavor to it. Although she was a bit young, her body wasn't fully developed yet, otherwise, she would have attracted the attention of many people. Even so, she was still a beautiful young woman. Moreover, she was holding something in her hand, which seemed to be a painting or calligraphy scroll. Zhao Wen Hao asked: "Does Miss Bao Yue have any business?"

  The girl walked up, with a smile on her face and said: "Wen Hao, I hope you can bring this painting to Xinye sister, thank you!" As she handed over the painting, Zhao Wen Hao took it and said: "Of course, does Miss Bao Yue have anything else?"

  Holding his small book box in his arms, Wen Hao waved goodbye and said: "That's all, see you later, Wen Hao"

  Wen Hao also shook his head and then followed Mu Sheng to the Zhao residence. Along the way, Wen Hao said: "Mu Sheng, don't you find Wang Zichuan strange?"

  Mo Sheng nodded and said, "Yes." Zhao Wenhao continued, "Actually, Wang Zichuan and Bao Yue were close to me and looked for me because of my sister."

  "Because of Big Sister", Mu Sheng said with some confusion.

  Zhao Wenhao then asked: "What do you think of my sister?"

  "I didn't know that," Murong Sheng said evasively.

  Zhao Wenhao didn't ask any further, he just said: "My sister is known as the 'Ice Mountain Beauty' in Hunyuan City." Mu Sheng felt that Big Sister indeed matched this title quite well. Since seeing her last time, it seemed like she hadn't smiled yet, and she spoke very little, always with a calm expression, making it impossible to know what she was thinking.

  "How about it? I'm right, aren't I?" Zhao Wenhao said with some pride. Mu Sheng didn't respond, only nodding his head slightly.

  When the two returned to the Zhao residence, Mo Sheng was led by a maid to his room. After seeing that the place was settled, he left the Zhao residence. Since Mo Sheng wasn't a servant of the Zhao residence, he could come and go freely without too many restrictions.

  It was getting late when Mu Sheng finally returned. When he entered the room, only to hear from the pavilion in the backyard, the eldest sister asked: "What did he go out for?"

  The little butterfly stood by and replied: "Miss, he ate several shaobing on the street, then bought a few clothes, and strolled back after walking through several streets."

  "Oh! I see, go take a look at what Wen Hao is up to?" said the young lady.

  "Yes, miss." said Little Butterfly as she quickly ran towards Wen Hao's residence.

  "He walked several streets, why is that? What a strange person." The young lady thought to herself.

  If Mu Sheng knew that the young lady was thinking for him after walking a few streets, Mu Sheng would probably spit out all the pastries he had eaten. He only walked around to get familiar with the environment, did he need to think about it? However, there are many people in the world who look for trouble, and our young lady is one of them.