Chapter 65: Restrain Yourself

The entire Quanzhen Daoist Temple was now bustling with a grand renovation, and Qiu Chuji, in the courtyard, naturally heard the commotion outside. Unable to resist, he donned his Daoist robe, gazed into the bronze mirror before him, and after confirming there was nothing amiss with his appearance, he let out a breath and opened the door.

Yet the moment Qiu Chuji pushed open the door, he stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene before him, confusion flickering in his eyes. He immediately closed the door again, rubbed at his slightly reddened eyelids, and, gathering his courage, opened the door once more. The sight outside, however, remained unchanged despite his actions.

He was bewildered, gazing at the scene beyond his threshold—the villagers coming and going, carrying loads upon their shoulders. The fences of the Quanzhen Temple had been dismantled completely, and the villagers, smiling kindly, nodded at Qiu Chuji; he could only respond with a numb, vacant smile.

Qiu Chuji was feeling utterly disordered, wondering if he was still dreaming. Was this not the Quanzhen Temple? Was this not his own courtyard? If so, then what was the meaning of these villagers? He was thoroughly perplexed, unable to make sense of the situation.

If not for the familiar peach tree standing before him, he might truly have believed he had wandered to the wrong place.

“What... what is happening here?” Qiu Chuji asked, suppressing his embarrassment as he looked toward Fang Xu in the distance.

“You’re awake? I thought you’d rest a while longer.” Upon hearing Qiu Chuji’s question, Fang Xu nodded to the county magistrate and the steward beside him, then approached Qiu Chuji, speaking as he walked.

The villagers nearby, as well as the steward and magistrate behind Fang Xu, all looked incredulously at Qiu Chuji and Fang Xu after hearing Fang Xu’s words.

Fang Xu seemed not to notice, but Qiu Chuji knew well why the villagers regarded him so. They all knew his true identity, and Fang Xu’s ambiguous words inevitably stirred their curiosity.

But it was only curiosity, nothing more. Qiu Chuji, unable to restrain himself, pulled Fang Xu aside.

The surrounding villagers exchanged knowing smiles, sensing Qiu Chuji did not wish them to overhear their conversation, and resumed their labor with renewed vigor.

“What’s the matter?” Fang Xu asked, curious as Qiu Chuji tugged him aside, apparently unaware of the villagers’ peculiar glances.

“What is going on here?!” Qiu Chuji demanded, his tone tinged with anger. Fang Xu’s expression became slightly strange as he looked at him.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Qiu Chuji was unnerved by Fang Xu’s gaze, worried he might have noticed something.

“Have you forgotten what I promised you?” Fang Xu replied, half amused, and only then did Qiu Chuji recall the matter.

“So all these villagers are here to help with the renovation? You can mobilize them?” Qiu Chuji looked around at the laboring villagers in disbelief, unable to understand how Fang Xu had managed it.

It was as if Fang Xu was a mystery to him, and Fang Xu smiled, as if withholding some secret.

“Brother Fang, just tell me—how did you manage to rally these villagers?” Qiu Chuji pestered him like a curious child, for there was no other way. Fang Xu was not a local, so he should not be familiar with these villagers.

If he wasn’t familiar, then how could he inspire such enthusiasm among them? In Qiu Chuji’s mind, only his master could achieve this; how had Fang Xu done it? The question gnawed at his curiosity.

Fang Xu hadn’t expected Qiu Chuji to act so coquettishly; seeing him like this sent a chill through Fang Xu.

“Calm down! Fang Xu, you must control yourself! You like women! Before you stands a true man! Control yourself!” Fang Xu silently admonished himself, afraid he might do something rash.

Yet a voice kept whispering in his ear: “What does it mean to be a man? It means to boldly face it!”

“Brother Fang, just tell me~” Qiu Chuji pleaded in a childlike tone, making Fang Xu uneasy. Then, suddenly, he heard a voice behind him that almost made him want to lash out.

Why? Because Old Wu had somehow appeared at Fang Xu’s side.

Old Wu’s duty was to protect Fang Xu, not to intrude. Yet the events of that morning had convinced him there was something between Fang Xu and Qiu Chuji, though he could only silently remark on Fang Xu’s peculiar tastes. If he spoke up, who knew if Fang Xu would decide to go down with him.

As Old Wu approached, his gossipy nature got the better of him, and he couldn’t help but overhear Qiu Chuji’s words, prompting him to mimic them mischievously.

It was unimaginable—a grown man mimicking so perfectly, but with such a gruff accent that Fang Xu could barely stand it.

Moreover, Old Wu himself was genuinely curious—curious how Fang Xu had convinced the villagers to voluntarily renovate the Quanzhen Temple.

From Old Wu’s perspective, even his own subordinates couldn’t accomplish such a feat; what secret lay behind it?

“I’ll tell you both later, all right?” Fang Xu murmured, glancing at the smiling steward and magistrate not far away.

He felt there was no other way. If he revealed everything now, he might end up mobbed by the crowd. Truthfully, the methods he used were hardly honorable—just some petty tricks, really.