TGCFNM -Chapter 380 Snatching Fish

When they arrived at the rest stop, Chu Ling couldn’t help widening her eyes in surprise and pointed ahead, asking, “This is the little villa where we’re resting?”

“It’s not small, it’s pretty big,” Fu Qingyu replied.

Wan Sanjin also nodded. “It’s not bad. My Wan family has a villa too, specifically for summer retreats. It’s not here—probably about three or four times bigger than this place.”

Chu Ling: “……” She was seriously jealous!

Zhang Dong led the way. “Sir, our courtyard for resting is here. Everything has been put away, but there’s no small kitchen inside, so we’ll need to cook outside.”

Chu Ling nodded. The group first bid farewell to Fu Qingyu and the others, returned to their courtyard, and after putting down their belongings, headed to the kitchen.

Su He tested the kitchen knives, then went with Zhang Dong to clean and gut the fish. His movements were extremely neat and efficient.

Once the fish were cleaned, they had to be filleted neatly according to Xiao Hua’s instructions… this part was handled by Su He, who was quick and effortless.

Chu Ling, meanwhile, set up a small stove outside with Wan Sanjin and placed the marinated fish wrapped in leaves to roast—three fish in total.

Wan Sanjin flipped one of the fish over, muttering, “Don’t let it burn. This is Qingyu’s fish.”

Chu Ling rolled her eyes and continued roasting her own large fish.

“Master Wan is actually a very straightforward person,” Ghost Scholar sat beside them. “Fu Qingyu nearly risked his life to save him, so he’ll probably remember this forever. He always feels like he owes Fu Qingyu his life.”

Hearing this, Chu Ling suddenly turned to Wan Sanjin. “Did Fu Qingyu take his medicine? How’s his health?”

Wan Sanjin paused. “He did, but it didn’t work.”

Chu Ling was shocked. “Not even the Divine Water worked?”

Wan Sanjin nodded softly. “Yes, it didn’t work. So his lifespan will still be affected.”

Chu Ling sighed. “There’s nothing that can be done?”

“There is,” Wan Sanjin said, looking at Chu Ling with conflicted eyes. “Shi Lanyu has medicine. If Fu Qingyu becomes the top scholar this time, he will give it as a gift.”

“Isn’t Fu Qingyu becoming the top scholar already a sure thing?” Chu Ling asked, puzzled.

Wan Sanjin sighed. “But I still feel something’s off. It’s not as light and effortless as Qingyu says, and this Shi Lanyu is very secretive.”

“Don’t worry. Fu Qingyu isn’t you—I don’t believe a person skilled in both literature and martial arts will suffer a loss.” Chu Ling patted Wan Sanjin on the shoulder to comfort him.

Wan Sanjin exhaled. “You’re right, Sir.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Since I’m right, I’ll help you roast the fish—you’ve been bending over too long.” She handed the grilled fish to Wan Sanjin and stretched her back.

Roasting fish really was tiring.

“Hey, you’re roasting fish?” A student walked over slowly. Seeing Wan Sanjin with the fish, he casually pointed, “Give me that one.”

Before Wan Sanjin could react, Chu Ling, looking at that brazen face, punched him squarely.

The student froze, then clutched his nose and crouched on the ground, tears welling up as he pointed at Chu Ling. “Do you know who I am? How dare you hit me?”

At that moment, there was a sudden commotion from the kitchen. Another student seemed to have been thrown out by Xiao Hua, kicking up dust from the ground.

“How dare you snatch my fish!” Xiao Hua held up a fire poker angrily. “Do you think I won’t twist you into a pretzel?”

“You—you actually threw me!”

Xiao Hua snorted. Throwing people was nothing—what was there to be afraid of?

By now, many students had gathered. They helped the two on the ground up and scolded Chu Ling and the others, “How can you hit people?”

“Then why are you acting like robbers?” Su He stepped forward, brandishing his knife.

Those students froze. “Aren’t you servants? Cooks?”

Someone jumped out and shouted, “Who cares if they’re servants! Who are you people? Do you even know who we are?”

“We’re students of the Canglan Academy. Taking your stuff is already giving you face! And you dare to shout and resist, even dare to hit people?”

“I think you must want to die!”

The commotion grew louder, and gradually more people came out of the courtyard. When they saw Chu Ling surrounded, Shangguan Cheng suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Little brother, what’s going on with those guys? Why are they picking on Lord Chu?”

Shangguan Shi frowned. “Something’s not right.”

Yang Huaishan and Lu Anming also walked over, and upon seeing the scene, their first instinct was to step back.

Nangong Han came out as well, thinking to himself: Have these people gone mad? Zhuang Tianyou never mentioned them. Is this really Lord Chu?

Chu Ling moved her neck slightly, smiled, and waved at the students. “Do you know what the Heavenly Lord’s surname is?”

“What’s the surname?”

Chu Ling smiled, and somehow, the sight sent chills down their spines.

“The Heavenly Lord’s surname is ‘Lao,’ and the given name is ‘Zi.’ Today, I’ll teach you what real character education is!”

With that, Chu Ling rolled up her sleeves and started hitting them.

Those who knew Chu Ling immediately ran, putting as much distance as they could, but the sound of his attacks—the wailing and screams—seemed to follow them, as if the next moment he’d reach them.

Shangguan Cheng shouted in fright, “Lord Chu! Lord Chu, don’t harm the innocent! Those idiots—you can hit them all you want, just hit them!”

Shangguan Shi stole a glance back, then hurriedly grabbed the fleeing Shangguan Cheng, and it took a small stumble before they finally stopped.

“Lord Chu’s done hitting them,” Shangguan Shi said.

Shangguan Cheng panted, “These puny bookworms… how dare they make a ruckus in front of a martial-trained court official? Have they lost their minds?”

Nangong Han, still catching his breath, said, “They definitely haven’t lost their minds. Lord Chu was coming—many knew about it.”

Shangguan Shi leaned on his knees. “Are these idiots really from Canglan Academy?”

Yang Huaishan and Lu Anming panted too, and when Shangguan Shi asked, they explained, “Apparently, they’re a newly recruited batch of students.”

Shangguan Shi slowly stood and looked at Yang Huaishan. “Do you know why?”

Yang Huaishan shook his head. “I was originally one of them too, but I refused to join Canglan Academy. I planned to study with my friends instead.”

Shangguan Shi frowned in confusion. “That’s… really strange…”

Shangguan Cheng hurriedly patted Shangguan Shi on the shoulder. “Little brother, little brother, the Lord is teaching them a lesson over there. Shouldn’t we get out of the way?”

Shangguan Shi glanced over, then held his forehead. “We’ll go over.”

“Go over? Why?” Shangguan Cheng’s face turned pale. “I don’t want to go, I don’t want to get involved!”

Shangguan Shi gritted his teeth and dragged Shangguan Cheng over. Seeing this, the other students also followed.

Chu Ling moved a chair and sat right among the group of students, crossing her legs. “Speak. Who sent you to the kitchen to steal fish?”

All that responded was a chorus of pitiful “ouch, ouch” cries.

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. “Don’t pretend in front of me. Students who study properly wouldn’t run here to commit robbery. If no one ordered you, not even ghosts would believe it.”

Wan Sanjin poked Chu Ling. “Lord, interrogate them properly. Don’t mention ghosts—it’s scary out here in the middle of nowhere.”

Bai Su couldn’t hold back and snatched Ghost Scholar’s fan to smack him.