TRWSB – Chapter 43 Zhuang Hao Visits Tianlan

Zhuang Qian followed Qi Shaoru into the backyard training hall.

Zhuang Hao was punching the crystal wall with his bare fists. This wall was usually used to test the power of battle energy or magic, but Zhuang Hao was striking it purely with physical strength, neither using magic nor energy.

Seeing the blood on Zhuang Hao’s knuckles, Zhuang Qian frowned. It seemed that the Evil Doctor’s departure had affected Zhuang Hao more deeply than he had imagined.

Qi Shaoru approached Zhuang Hao and grabbed his hand, saying, “Ah Hao, what are you doing?”

Zhuang Hao shook her off, replying, “It’s nothing. I was just testing my own strength.”

Qi Shaoru looked at his wounded hand and asked, “Ah Hao, are you worried about the Evil Doctor’s safety? Don’t worry—he’s fine.”

Zhuang Qian sensed a bad feeling and was about to say something, but Qi Shaoru spoke first. “He went to visit brothels far and wide. Zhuang Hao, the Evil Doctor is a reckless and carefree person. Here you are upset over him, while he’s probably having a great time elsewhere.”

Zhuang Qian noticed Zhuang Hao’s face twist in anger and thought to himself: The Evil Doctor visiting brothels isn’t anything surprising; he once invited me to one, after all.

Trying to change the subject, Zhuang Qian said, “Big Brother, it’s the first day of the new school year. A lot of new students are here—do you want to go check it out?”

Zhuang Hao turned to Qi Shaoru and asked, “Who told you the Evil Doctor went to brothels?”

“My brother,” Qi Shaoru replied.

Without another word, Zhuang Hao strode out, ignoring her calls from behind.

Watching him leave, Zhuang Qian turned to Qi Shaoru, clearly displeased. “Sister Shaoru, why did you tell my brother that kind of news?”

“How else should I have told him?” Qi Shaoru replied.

“You should’ve eased him into it gradually, like putting him in warm water and slowly increasing the heat. You can’t just toss him straight into boiling oil!”

Qi Shaoru frowned. “So what if the Evil Doctor visited a brothel? It’s not that big of a deal.”

Zhuang Qian: “…” Whether it’s a big deal or not is hard to say.

…

When Zhuang Hao appeared at Tianlan Academy, it caused quite a stir.

As soon as the academy’s headmaster, Hu Feng, heard that Zhuang Hao had arrived, he quickly rushed over to meet him.

“Zhuang Hao, why are you here? Are you unhappy at Saint Emperor Academy? Are you thinking of transferring to our academy?”

“Zhuang Hao, transferring here would be a wise choice. Tianlan Academy is no less than Saint Emperor Academy!”

“Our library is the largest among the capital’s three major academies, with an extensive collection of rare books. If you join us, we’ll give you free access to our library.”

“Our academy prides itself on fostering student independence. If you join, our mentors will give you as much freedom as possible. That pompous Lu Ming at Saint Emperor Academy would never allow such freedom…”

Zhuang Hao looked at the excited Headmaster Hu Feng and sighed. “I’m not here to transfer schools. I’m just looking for someone.”

“Are you interested in one of our new students? That’s even more reason to transfer—you could be close to them!” Hu Feng suggested.

Zhuang Hao took a deep breath. “It’s not that. I just want to ask him a question.”

Hu Feng, full of curiosity, asked, “Who are you looking for? Maybe I can help.”

Frowning, Zhuang Hao replied, “Qi Shaorong.”

Hu Feng’s eyes widened. “The fourth young master of the Qi family?”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Yes.”

“I remember he’s your fiancée, isn’t he? Though you two seem to have had a falling out,” Hu Feng commented, intrigued.

Zhuang Hao nodded again. “Yes, but I’m here for something else.”

Raising an eyebrow, Hu Feng asked, “What’s it about?”

“Headmaster Hu, it’s the start of a new term, so you must be busy. I don’t want to trouble you with my affairs,” Zhuang Hao replied.

Hu Feng nodded. “No trouble at all! It’s not every day that we get a visit from you, so I must be a good host. Besides, many of our new students admire you, especially those lovely commoner girls. Noble girls can be spoiled and difficult, but the commoners are gentle and sincere.”

Zhuang Hao frowned. “Thank you for your kind offer, Headmaster, but I’m not interested.”

“Ah Hao, why are you here?” Zhuang Ling approached and asked.

She looked at Hu Feng and said, “Headmaster, I saw the dean looking for you earlier.”

“The dean? What does he want with me?” Hu Feng asked, displeased.

“He needs your guidance. Today’s orientation requires your attention to many details, Headmaster. You should go handle it,” Zhuang Ling urged.

Reluctantly, Hu Feng glanced back at Zhuang Hao before leaving.

“Ah Hao, you’re really charming. Even the headmaster is captivated by you,” Zhuang Ling teased.

“Sister Zhuang Ling, please don’t joke around. By the way, will you be teaching at Tianlan Academy this year?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Zhuang Ling nodded. “Yes! So from now on, don’t call me Sister Zhuang Ling—call me Mentor Zhuang Ling.”

Zhuang Hao smiled and replied, “Alright.”