Chapter Ninety-nine: No Problem! Teacher, Please!

Arriving at the rear courtyard of the Qian estate, Tan Xiao drank a cup of tea, then handed Jiang Lin something that resembled an egg.

Jiang Lin remembered this thing—it was a piece of technical equipment he and Tan Xiao had designed together back in the Dragon Gate Sect. All you had to do was throw this "egg" on the ground, and a dozen or so chicken-bros would appear before you, dancing to confuse your opponent.

Jiang Lin recalled that the final design had been handed over to the Dragon Gate Sect's technical department. He hadn't imagined they'd actually managed to develop it. After accepting this egg that Tan Xiao claimed had "pretty good results," Tan Xiao took his leave. But then Jiang Lin thought—his senior sister should be just about waking up by now.

If he didn't get back soon...

Jiang Lin remembered that time he'd gone with the Old Ancestor to learn about... extracurricular activities. His senior sister had found them in less than the time it takes to burn a single incense stick. He couldn't help but shiver.

Was a woman's ability to catch a cheating partner just maxed out from birth?

And besides, was Senior Brother Tan really reliable?

Jiang Lin had originally planned to fabricate a story for Tan Xiao to bring back—something like "Young Master Si had matters to attend to and left ahead of schedule..."

But Tan Xiao had simply waved his hand and said, "No worries, I know what I'm doing. Rest assured, Junior Brother."

Like hell he'd rest assured! That one time, Jiang Lin had led seven or eight brothers from the Dragon Gate Sect on a raid of the drying yard where the sect's female disciples hung their clothes. Tan Xiao was supposed to be keeping watch—but he kept watch so well that he himself got caught red-handed!

Even the senior sister had shown up, and Jiang Lin remembered she never even hung her clothes in that drying yard.

In the end, Jiang Lin and his crew had knelt on washboards in the Punishment Hall for a full day and night. Afterward, they'd hoisted Tan Xiao up, spread his legs apart, and driven him into a tree trunk—just like striking a bell in a Buddhist temple...

But seeing how confident Tan Xiao looked, Jiang Lin didn't have the heart to question him. After all, his senior brother hadn't seemed this self-assured in a long time...

So Jiang Lin let him do as he pleased, trusting that his senior brother wouldn't be quite as foolish as before.

...

Sitting in the rear courtyard, reduced to one man and one dog, Jiang Lin and Doggo enjoyed the scenery of the garden. Jiang Lin stroked Doggo's head as it sprawled on the stone table, while contemplating what to do next.

First—although he did fancy pretty young women, he was an artist of charm, not a seller of flesh. He would absolutely not mess around with that fox.

But he needed to think carefully about how to pry some useful information out of her mouth. After all, a four-tailed demon fox of the Dragon Gate realm appearing in the mansion of a wealthy family in Donglin City at this time of year—there had to be something fishy going on.

Then there was tonight: he still needed to make a trip to the Spring Breeze Pavilion's Donglin branch.

That's right, the Spring Breeze Pavilion had branches. In fact, Jiang Lin wasn't even sure exactly how many Spring Breeze Pavilion branches Aunt Lin had in Wutong Prefecture—definitely quite a lot.

After all, intelligence was extremely important in any era, and the Spring Breeze Pavilion also happened to be the intelligence agency of the Sun and Moon Sect. Anyway, he'd drop by the Spring Breeze Pavilion tonight and take a look. It should be no problem. While gathering intel, he might even be able to offer some guidance to the staff—after all, he was the Spring Breeze Pavilion's gold-plated consultant!

Then there was Little Fatty Qian.

[Qian Zhen Duo: Honest and simple in nature, a bit dimwitted. Possesses many spoiled-rich-son temperament. Kind-hearted at his core, devoted and single-minded in love. Once saved a young woman and fell for her. Wishes to win her heart but lacks the means. Prefers staying home reading novels written by cultivator-authors; rarely goes out. Also enjoys looking at paintings of beautiful women done by cultivator-artists.]

That was the System's evaluation of Qian Zhen Duo.

Not only that, the System had even summed it up in three words:

[Die-hard Shut-In Otaku]

Jiang Lin could have simply infiltrated the Qian estate to investigate—whatever, the two approaches were basically the same. But the moment he saw the System's three-word verdict on Qian Zhen Duo—"die-hard shut-in otaku"—Jiang Lin refused to accept it!

What was wrong with being a die-hard shut-in otaku?!

Did otakus not deserve the right to pursue happiness? Were otakus supposed to only fantasize over novels and pictures in a two-dimensional world?

No!

Otakus had the right to pursue love!

Who wouldn't love a tall, long-legged, magically powerful little white serpent who'd waited a thousand years just for you?

Who wouldn't love those young girls who share no blood with you but keep calling you "Onii-chan"?

Who wouldn't love a long-haired, black-haired senior in a JK sailor uniform—even a golden-haired losing dog would love her!

And was it wrong for us to pursue girls like that in reality?

No!

A toad that doesn't crave swan meat wouldn't even be remembered by the swan.

So Jiang Lin wanted to help Little Fatty Qian—help him gain confidence, help him gain love.

Besides, setting aside the fact that he was short and not handsome, Little Fatty Qian was rich!

When you walk down the street, don't you also see guys who are shorter and uglier than you, only heavier, with gorgeous girlfriends wrapped around their arms?

That's when you start to ponder: why is that? Why don't I have a girlfriend?

The reason is simple—because you don't have three apartments in the city center...

---

So Jiang Lin still had plenty of confidence in Little Fatty Qian. Qian's methods must have been wrong—too blunt, too straight-guy. And the other party was an innocent young lady, naturally wary of a rich guy pushing two hundred fifty jin. But with his help, things would be different.

Still... where was Little Fatty Qian?

He'd said he was going to pick out a teacher-appreciation gift, but he'd been gone for a while now. Where had the kid disappeared to?

Fine, might as well practice some boxing.

"Doggo, give me a shout if anyone comes."

"Woof."

Jiang Lin said to the husky, and the husky responded in kind. Though Jiang Lin couldn't understand what it was saying, he simply entered the System's training ground to practice boxing.

The System's training ground had many different map options, including one specifically for stance-walking fist practice. And while you walked the stakes, the System would scientifically and reasonably add weights to you, even manufacture difficulties to make every session better than the last six.

Most importantly, time in the System's training ground flowed at ten times the speed of the real world. You could enter and exit at will, and there was no discomfort whatsoever from the difference in time flow.

So Jiang Lin often used his free time, or whatever scraps of spare time he could find, to walk the stake-posts. After all—a hundred circuits a day... there was no way he could spend three or four hours every single day walking the stakes...

Just as he completed his fiftieth circuit, Jiang Lin suddenly felt Doggo's paw patting the back of his hand repeatedly.

Jiang Lin's spiritual sense exited the training ground. He looked toward the courtyard gate and saw Little Fatty Qian leading in seven or eight maidservants draped in veils.

"Teacher, these are a few new maidservants of our Qian mansion. Let them serve you over the next few days. The steward told me these new maidservants are all of the finest beauty, and the veils add a touch of mystery. Would Teacher like to unveil them personally?"

"Little Qian, that mindset of yours is incorrect." Jiang Lin lectured with full seriousness. "Your teacher may enjoy courting beauties, but Little Qian, do you truly take me for a lecherous man?"

"Ah..." Qian Zhen Duo started, fearing he'd offended his master. "Then I'll have them all withdraw—"

"Wait!"

Before the word "withdraw" could even leave his mouth, Jiang Lin raised a hand to cut him off.

"It's a thoughtful gesture on your part. I'll accept them. Remember—next next time, don't do this again."

"No problem! Teacher, please!"

"Hm."

Jiang Lin cleared his throat a few times. He walked to the leftmost maidservant—one dressed in rough hemp clothing, head kept low—and slowly lifted her veil.