Chapter 118: Just Call Me Peihan!

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As they continued on their way, the relationship between them grew steadily closer, and they had plainly become friends. Near noon, a small city finally appeared before them. This was Qingdu County.

Though Qingdu County was not large, it had a long and distinguished history. The mother of Emperor Yao had originally been named Qingdu; she was born and buried here, and so the place came to be called Qingdu County. To the south of the county lay Lotus Pond, while to the north stood the Mausoleum of Yao’s Mother. Both were magnificent sights.

However, Zhou Zhi had come to Qingdu County today to seek instruction from the venerable scholar Qu Renbin, so naturally he had no mind to visit scenic spots or historic monuments.

Kou Peihan had originally been depressed because her family was forcing her into marriage. After traveling with Zhou Zhi and listening to him tell so many stories, however, her spirits had lifted considerably. She seemed to have visited Qingdu County more than once and was thoroughly familiar with the place. Besides, the weather was hot, so she had no interest in sightseeing either.

After entering through the city gate, the two of them had walked for half a day and looked thoroughly disheveled. For Zhou Zhi to meet Elder Qu, the county instructor, in such a state would have seemed disrespectful. Kou Peihan was a young woman beneath her male attire, and naturally cared even more about her appearance. She too needed to wash and tidy herself as soon as possible. Thus, they first found an inn and washed up in haste.

When Zhou Zhi emerged, he looked entirely transformed. His figure was straight and graceful, he wore a long robe, and his features were handsome. He truly possessed the air of a refined and dashing young gentleman. Seeing him, Kou Peihan’s bright eyes lit up involuntarily.

After washing, Kou Peihan was still dressed as a man, but her jade-like face and fragrant cheeks were extraordinarily beautiful. At the sight of her, Zhou Zhi’s heart began to pound faster of its own accord.

Yet Zhou Zhi knew that their arrival in Qingdu County also meant that the time had come for them to part. Alas, beautiful moments such as this never lasted long.

He thought silently to himself that, after this parting, he had no idea when he would see her again. Under pressure from her family, would Kou Peihan eventually choose a husband and marry?

The thought filled him with wave after wave of melancholy.

The two ate a simple meal at the inn. Although Kou Peihan was a woman, she showed not the slightest trace of a young lady’s reserve while eating. On the contrary, she seemed even more forthright than Zhou Zhi.

“Now that Miss Kou has arrived in Qingdu County, will you be wandering about on your own?” Zhou Zhi asked softly.

Kou Peihan paused, then raised her delicate brows. “What? Wasn’t I going with you to find that old instructor, Qu Renbin?”

Hearing this, Zhou Zhi was overjoyed, though he was also puzzled. “You still intend to come with me?”

“In any case, I have nothing else to do. It will do no harm to accompany you to meet Qu Renbin. I would like to hear what he has to say about you and see whether a country bumpkin like you can win his approval.” Kou Peihan flashed him a mischievous smile.

Then her expression suddenly turned cold. “What? You don’t want me to go with you?”

Zhou Zhi did not hesitate for even a moment before replying hurriedly, “I do! Of course I do!”

Indeed, every additional moment he could spend with the beauty in his heart was precious.

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“Giggle!”

Kou Peihan laughed brightly.

“By the way, Zhou Zhi, stop calling me ‘Miss Kou’ all the time. I don’t like hearing it.” Her expression grew solemn.

“Then I’ll call you Young Master Kou,” Zhou Zhi replied at once.

“Hmph! What kind of name is that? I don’t like it either!” Kou Peihan suddenly rose to her feet, looking genuinely annoyed.

Her inexplicable anger left Zhou Zhi momentarily bewildered. He stammered, “Then... then I won’t call you Miss Kou or Young Master Kou. What should I call you?”

Kou Peihan lifted her graceful neck slightly. “Just call me Peihan.”

Good heavens!

Zhou Zhi’s heart began to pound wildly.

People might think a change in address insignificant, but calling someone directly by her given name made them seem far more intimate. It appeared that the beautiful Kou Peihan did not have a bad impression of him—in fact, perhaps...

Although he had traveled alongside Kou Peihan all this way, he had always felt somewhat constrained, as though he could never match her ease and confidence. At times, he even seemed rather dull. But as someone who had crossed into this world from another, Zhou Zhi understood perfectly well that he was merely worried about the impression he had made on her, and even more worried that he might upset her.

After all, this beauty appeared so often in his thoughts that, deep down, Zhou Zhi was terrified of losing her.

Zhou Zhi rose as well and smiled. “All right! As you wish, Miss Peihan!”

“You really are hopeless. If I say Peihan, then call me Peihan. Why add ‘Miss’?” Kou Peihan grew even more exasperated.

Zhou Zhi’s face immediately flushed crimson.

Women in the Great Ming were already somewhat open-minded, but Zhou Zhi truly could never have imagined a woman as frank and spirited as Kou Peihan.

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Kou Peihan could not help laughing with great delight.

Every movement and every smile of the beauty became etched firmly in Zhou Zhi’s mind. He secretly scolded himself: He was a traveler from another world, so how was it that this beauty always seemed to be playing him for a fool? Why did he feel as though she were leading him by the nose?

Still... this feeling seemed rather pleasant.

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After noon, the two of them left the inn, one walking slightly ahead of the other.

Kou Peihan turned around and said, “If you want to meet Elder Qu, then follow me.” She waved a folding fan in her hand, appearing utterly calm and composed. Clearly, she knew Qingdu County very well as she led Zhou Zhi eastward along one of the main streets.

As a small city, Qingdu County was naturally far more prosperous than Gaochang Town. Shops stood in dense rows along the street, and the cries of merchants hawking their wares rose without end. Yet Zhou Zhi’s heart was entirely occupied by Kou Peihan, leaving him no interest in admiring the street or the character of Qingdu County.

The county office lay in the northeastern part of the city. As they passed in front of it, Kou Peihan seemed to glance inside a few times without meaning to, though her expression revealed a hint of hesitation.

They went around the county office and continued northward. Before long, they reached the county school.

The school consisted of several rows of gray-brick buildings with tiled roofs. Behind it stood the Temple of Confucius.

At the entrance, Kou Peihan spoke a few haughty words to the elderly gatekeeper. Zhou Zhi had no idea what she said, but the old gatekeeper’s face became somewhat fearful, and he hurried inside to make a report.

Before long, he returned and said with great respect, “Elder Qu invites the two of you inside.”

Zhou Zhi was quite puzzled. Kou Peihan was the daughter of the Kou family of Tang County, yet she seemed remarkably familiar with Qingdu County. Even the old gatekeeper appeared to regard her with unusual importance. He truly could not imagine what connection she had with these people.

Following Kou Peihan, he passed through two rows of tiled buildings and entered a modest courtyard. The little courtyard was spotless, with no flowers or plants growing in it. Kou Peihan slowed her steps and, standing before a wooden door, gently knocked.

“Come in!” a deep, resonant voice called from within.

Kou Peihan turned and smiled at Zhou Zhi. “Come on. The old instructor has asked us both to enter.”

With that, she swept proudly into the room.

The moment to meet the venerable Qu Renbin was almost at hand, and Zhou Zhi grew increasingly uneasy.

Beyond the doorway lay the main hall. Zhou Zhi raised his eyes and saw an old man seated in a high-backed wooden chair. His hair was white as snow, yet his complexion was ruddy, and his eyes shone with piercing vitality.

When he saw Kou Peihan, he began to rise, but for some reason sat back down. Then the old man shifted his gaze away from Kou Peihan and fixed it upon Zhou Zhi.

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