Chapter 006 Encounter

After the young master finished bathing and rested for a while, he presented a ceramic bowl and a small bag of green salt, and also broke off a few willow branches that were hanging over the water's surface, stripped the bark, and handed them to Xi Bin

Xi Bin's condition has improved significantly, allowing him to be supported by someone as he slowly walks on the ground. He was originally a person who valued cleanliness greatly, but after such a long time without bathing, brushing his teeth, or washing his hair, and with the weather gradually getting warmer, he could hardly tolerate his own smell. Upon seeing the clear, transparent stream, he could no longer hold back and quickly ordered the team to stop, set up camp here, and rest for the night

Although Mr. Confucius stands tall at nine feet as a robust man from Shandong, he is a Shandong man, yet not a rogue of the rivers and lakes. He places great importance on cleanliness. Whenever conditions permit, he certainly bathes twice a day. Upon encountering such a beautiful pool of water, he felt immense joy in his heart, so he took up his sword and brought along his toiletries to seek a more secluded spot by the river for bathing and cleansing himself.

As they approached the capital of the Lu State, Qufu, they reached the vicinity of Luqiu. Ahead lay a valley, dense with trees, where a small river meandered out from the forest, winding like a jade belt. At the left side of the valley's entrance, a crescent-shaped pool of water formed, before the river continued its flow into the distance

Xi Bin has been in this Spring and Autumn period for at least over a month. Every day upon opening his eyes, he sees more than two hundred robust men. This is the first time he has encountered a pure-blooded beauty from the ancient Huazhu lineage.

Assassins either lie in wait along the routes that their targets traverse daily or conceal their identities to approach them and seize the opportunity to strike. The scenario where one can randomly walk anywhere and encounter a killer is only plausible in martial arts novels. Furthermore, given that the valley is accessible from all directions, it would be exceedingly difficult to set up defenses. It is likely that two hundred soldiers would need to stand by to attend to the young master during his bath, which is why Xi Bin did not issue any orders for vigilance

Because they are currently within the territory of the State of Lu and are about to arrive at the capital of Lu, they do not expect the troops of Wu to pursue them. Moreover, they stopped here to rest on a whim, making the likelihood of encountering the enemy almost nonexistent. It should be noted that even a deliberate assassin cannot continuously linger around them.

At that time, there were already brushes. The State of Wu referred to them and books as "Bu Lü", the State of Yan called them "Fu", the State of Chu referred to them as "Xing", and the State of Qin called them "Bi". Later, when the State of Qin unified the world, General Meng Tian made some improvements to the brush, standardizing its style, and it has since been collectively referred to as the brush.

There was no one around, nor were there any security arrangements, and the atmosphere appeared unusually tranquil

Xi Bin put on his clothes, while his feet remained immersed in the cool water. He spread a beast skin over his knees and began to paint with a brush. To ensure that the craftsmen could understand clearly, he drew a large toothbrush, measuring nearly one foot in size. One end served as the handle, while the other end was flat. On the upper side, he depicted two rows of eight small holes, with many fine lines drawn above each small hole to represent bristles.

It was said that they were setting up camp, yet there were neither tents nor a large pavilion; the soldiers merely cleared a space in the wild grass by the water for everyone to rest.

Due to Du Bin occupying this relatively calm section of the water, the soldiers who needed to fetch water or bathe consciously moved downstream to a considerable distance away from where he was located

At a glance, Xi Bin's eyes sparkled, and he felt as if he were the sun at eight or nine o'clock in the morning, instantly radiating a strong masculine energy.

Xi Bin chuckled a few times, folded the animal skin, and tucked it into his bosom, planning to find a craftsman in the next city to replicate it. Just then, a rustling sound suddenly emerged from the grass behind him. A Qiu and Zai Qiu immediately grabbed their Wu hooks and leaped up.

Zilu was taken aback for a moment, then after a brief contemplation, he spoke earnestly: "Young Master Qingji, a man should achieve something significant in his life to avoid wasting it. You are a hero of our time, and if Zilu could follow in your footsteps, it would indeed be a great joy in life. However, Zilu has an elderly mother at home. This time, as I accompany Master Kong on his travels between Qi and Lu, I have temporarily entrusted my mother to a friend. If I were to follow you to the State of Wei and later attack the State of Wu, my mother cannot be entrusted to others for long. Although Zilu does not fear death, he is concerned that his mother will have no one to care for her."

The two brothers, A Qiu and Zai Qiu, were unaware of what the young master was painting. Although they found the artwork somewhat unbearable to look at, they could only endure their laughter while maintaining a serious demeanor, as they did not dare to join in the jesting, even though the young master himself was amused.

This is probably why parents do not travel far. Xi Bin did not expect that Zi Lu was indeed a person who prioritized filial piety, willing to set aside his own future and career in order to stay by his mother's side and care for her. Although he felt a bit regretful in his heart, it was understandable for such a devoted son to act this way. Moreover, he vaguely sensed that in this chaotic world, Confucius and his disciples prioritized morality in everything, which sometimes seemed out of place. With a sigh, Xi Bin abandoned his idea of recruiting disciples of Confucius.

Xi Bin was not accustomed to using this item, and he grimaced in pain while brushing his teeth. After brushing twice, using a few willow twigs, his gums had already started to bleed. He suddenly recalled that a toothbrush was not a complex invention; any craftsman could create one just by describing its appearance. He hurriedly called Ah Qiu to fetch a piece of animal hide and some ink from the carriage.

Heaven... so pitiful!

A superior is indeed a superior. Although Qing Ji has always been kind to his subordinates, they still tend to consciously avoid certain situations. This mentality is easily understood, much like how many people view dining at the same table as their leader as a burdensome task. This mindset has been consistent throughout history.

Xi Bin had the A Qiu brothers support him to the riverbank in search of a good spot. He loosened his clothes and unfastened his belt, immersing himself in the cool, clear river water. As he scrubbed away the grime and dirt from his body, he felt refreshed and invigorated, his entire being lightened.

After finishing the drawing and examining it closely, he found that the toothbrush was truly ugly, resembling a mallet used for beating clothes, with one end even sprouting some bristles. Xi Bin couldn't help but laugh at it himself.

Xi Bin tied her freshly washed hair into a ponytail with a silk ribbon, lying on a natural bluestone slab by the riverbank, half of her body submerged in the water. The gentle flow of the water massaged her body, while small fish occasionally nibbled at her soles, creating a truly ethereal sensation

Xi Bin instinctively turned his head and found himself locking eyes with the person emerging from the grass. The newcomer parted the weeds with both hands and poked his head out, and upon meeting Xi Bin's gaze, he was equally taken aback

Xi Bin rinsed the peeled willow branch in clean water, then put it in his mouth and gently bit down with his teeth. The fibers of the willow branch opened up, transforming it into a toothbrush. However, under normal circumstances, people would soak the willow branch overnight before using it, so this hastily made toothbrush felt a bit prickly when used

This person has hair hanging down like a curtain and delicate eyebrows, with eyes as dark as lacquer, resembling a beautiful young girl whose features are as picturesque as a painting. In this desolate wilderness, amidst the thickets of weeds, the sudden appearance of such a charming girl is enough to make one suspect she is a spirit or a fox demon.