Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

It had been a while, and the chubby Wang Rui had slimmed down considerably. The cheerful grin he used to wear was gone.

”What a rare sight!”

Zhu Ju waved for tea to be prepared and gestured for him to sit down.

”You rarely come by.”

”I used to be afraid of your father’s scoldings—they left a scar. Now, it’s just somewhat inconvenient,” Wang Rui sighed.

”I wouldn’t have come without a reason, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

Zhu Ju nodded.

”I’m here to...” Wang Rui pursed his lips, an embarrassed look on his face, and said in a low voice,

”...borrow money.”

”Borrow money?” Zhu Ju frowned.

”Your family can’t come up with the full amount of tax silver either?”

”Hah...” Wang Rui gave a bitter laugh.

”After the Qingyi Gang has extorted everyone time and time again, how many families in all of Taiyuan Prefecture can easily produce that kind of silver?”

”Unless you’re the Zhou Family or the Nie Family... For them, paying taxes is just for show, anyway.”

That was true.

According to Guo Jie’s ledgers, the top families of the Prefecture City, like the Zhou Family and the Nie Family, not only didn’t pay, but actually profited from the situation.

The tax levies had to be raised under various pretexts.

Once the wealthy households paid, the common folk would follow their lead.

After the money was collected, the saying proved true: the money from the powerful gentry was to be returned in full, while the commoners’ money was split seventy-thirty. This was no exaggeration in the slightest.

”You’ve probably heard about my family’s situation.”

Zhu Ju sighed softly.

”First we sold the Ink Jade Dyeing Formula, then we let go of two shops. That’s the only reason we weren’t delinquent.”

”Yes,” Wang Rui said with a wry smile.

”I know things are tight for you, but I’m truly out of options, which is why I’ve turned to you.”

”Besides...”

”I’m not asking for much.”

”Oh?” Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

”How much?”

’A few days ago, he truly wouldn’t have had any spare silver to lend out, but things were different now.’

’If he really wasn’t asking for much, it wouldn’t be a problem.’

”I’d like to borrow... eight hundred taels,” Wang Rui began cautiously.

”If you’re really short on cash, six hundred taels would be fine... if that’s too much, then five hundred taels.”

”Eight hundred taels?” Zhu Ju was taken aback.

”Even if times are tough for the Wang Family, surely you’re not telling me they can’t even scrape together a few hundred taels of silver?”

”Well...” Wang Rui’s expression shifted.

”My father doesn’t need this money. I’m using it myself.”

”For yourself.” Zhu Ju stroked his chin.

”That’s a bit much, then. And since your family covers your expenses, what do you need so much silver for?”

”...” Wang Rui’s expression stiffened. He paused for a moment before sighing.

”I plan to buy Li Ping’s freedom from the Drunken Fragrance Residence.”

Hmm?

Zhu Ju froze.

Then his brow furrowed.

Li Ping was originally from Taiyuan Prefecture and was even distantly related to the Wang Family. She had married and moved away years ago.

After her husband’s family met with disaster, she was sold to the Drunken Fragrance Residence.

’Wang Rui had a crush on her when they were children. I never imagined he’d still be pining for her after so many years.’

To the point that he planned to buy her freedom.

’Speaking of the Drunken Fragrance Residence, there was also that Second Sister Song who never made it into the Zhou Mansion. I wonder how she’s doing.’

”Brother Zhu,” Wang Rui said, seeing him lost in thought.

”I’m not like you. You’re the head of your family now, whereas I still have two older brothers.”

”When the Wang Family inheritance is divided, I’ll get next to nothing. That’s why I had to come to you for a loan.”

”In that case, you have all the more reason not to buy the freedom of a courtesan,” Zhu Ju said, sitting up straight to persuade him.

”If your father finds out you bought a prostitute, you can forget about ever seeing a single coin of the Wang Family’s inheritance!”

”The inheritance?” Wang Rui shook his head.

”That doesn’t concern me anymore. I have an apothecary in West City now. From now on, I’ll be self-sufficient.”

”To be honest,”

”I’ve been buying all of Li Ping’s time lately, so she hasn’t had to entertain any clients. But the madam at the Drunken Fragrance Residence told me it will take one thousand silver taels to secure her freedom.”

Zhu Ju picked up his teacup, shaking his head again and again.

”You’re still so young...”

”Do you plan to marry Li Ping?”

”Exactly!” Wang Rui’s eyes lit up.

”I have my shop, which makes dozens of taels of silver in profit every month. That’s enough for the two of us to live on.”

”We’ll run the apothecary together, have children... I’m not asking to be rich and famous. I’ll be content just to live a peaceful and stable life with her.”

The thought of their future—a devoted couple, always together—brought a healthy color back to his face.

”It’s not that simple,” Zhu Ju said, shaking his head as he watched his friend’s face glow with excitement.

”The Drunken Fragrance Residence preys on people’s weaknesses. If you show up with eight hundred taels of silver, I’m afraid you still won’t be able to buy her freedom.”

”The more desperate you seem, the less likely they are to let her go. After all, as long as they have her, you have to keep paying to stop Li Ping from seeing clients. Why would they sell a cash cow like that for a mere eight hundred taels of silver?”

”...You’re right.” Wang Rui’s expression froze.

”I suspected it wouldn’t be that simple, but what other choice do I have now?”

’His father would certainly never provide the funds, let alone help him handle something that would bring such disgrace upon the Wang Family name.’

”The Wang Family has passed down medical texts for generations. Don’t you have a concoction that can make someone appear sick when they’re actually fine?” Zhu Ju asked, shaking his head helplessly.

”I seem to recall some illnesses have symptoms similar to venereal disease, but are actually just a simple external affliction.”

”We do!” Wang Rui’s eyes brightened.

”I understand!”

”Someone!” Zhu Ju beckoned to his steward.

”Get eight hundred taels of silver for Brother Wang.”

”Brother Wang!”

”I don’t know if this decision is right or wrong, but... I hope you don’t regret it later.”

”I won’t,” Wang Rui said with a grave expression.

”My mind is made up. I will marry no one but Li Ping in this life. I won’t change my mind even if I’m thrown out of my family for it.”

’So that was it.’

’His ”parting from the family” really was about this.’

*

*

*

「A few days later.」

Wang Rui sent a messenger with good news: he had successfully retrieved Li Ping from the Drunken Fragrance Residence, and for only three hundred taels of silver.

Due to opposition from the Wang Family elders, he couldn’t hold a grand wedding for Li Ping; they just went through a simple ceremony.

And so, the young man and Li Ping, who was five years his senior, formed their own small family.

Some more time passed, and the weather gradually turned cold.

The autumn wind was desolate.

Fallen leaves danced in the air.

”Young Master Zhu.”

Zhou Ruxuan smiled sweetly and gestured ahead.

”Please.”

”You are too kind, Miss Zhou.” Zhu Ju put on a look of humble apprehension.

”To what do I owe the honor of being personally invited to the Zhou Mansion by you? I wonder... what is the occasion?”

”There is a good show to watch tonight, so I made a special point of inviting you, Young Master Zhu. My apologies for the intrusion,” Zhou Ruxuan said with a smile before asking,

”Young Master Zhu, what are your thoughts on the current situation in Taiyuan Prefecture?”

”Well...” Zhu Ju frowned.

”I am just a merchant. What kind of opinion could I have?”

”The ancestors of the Zhou Family were also once unremarkable merchants,” Zhou Ruxuan said, turning to lead him toward a tall tower within the Zhou Mansion.

”And now, are we not one of the most influential Noble Families in Taiyuan Prefecture?”

Before Zhu Ju could respond, she continued,

”In recent days, the actions of the Qingyi Gang have caused the people of the entire city to cry out in grievance. Forcibly collecting next year’s taxes is the height of shamelessness. But alas, the Qingyi Gang is powerful, and the people can only suppress their resentment.”

”And yet... in these past days, how many families have been torn apart and destroyed, their members scattered, because of the Qingyi Gang’s barbaric tyranny?”

”He who lives by injustice will die by injustice. There are no exceptions.”

The Qingyi Gang,

’The Qingyi Gang is no exception!’

A chill ran through Zhu Ju.

”It’s enviable that you can close your door and live a quiet life, Young Master Zhu. But while living in this world, one must eventually open their eyes and look around.”

Zhou Ruxuan ascended the tower, her gaze fixed on the distance.

”When you were younger and of lower status, Young Master Zhu, there were things you couldn’t see clearly. Now that you are the head of your family, it is time to climb high and see far.”

”Look!”

She pointed forward.

”That is the headquarters of the Qingyi Gang, and also the residence of its Gang Leader, Hong Qingyi.”

Zhu Ju fixed his gaze in that direction.

In the direction Zhou Ruxuan pointed, flames were already rising, and the sky thundered with the sounds of battle.

”The wrath of heaven and the grievance of man!”

”They courted their own doom!”