Chapter Seventy-One: A Visit to the Botanical Garden

Fu Yang felt his body regain its weight.

He opened his eyes, returning once more to reality.

He was still sitting on the bed in his room. Dong Weike’s exquisitely beautiful face was only a fist’s distance from his, watching him closely!

The moment he opened his eyes, she giggled and darted away.

“All right, silly boy, I’ve told you so much and even passed you the Nameless Dao Scripture. Your queen is exhausted. I’ll rest for a few days. Take care of yourself, and try not to cause trouble while I’m gone.”

With that, she began to dissolve into a wisp of blue smoke, ready to return to her memorial tablet.

Fu Yang muttered, “Why is it that you always vanish after only a couple of days?”

“Then train well! After your first ordination, I should be able to stay outside for much longer…”

Dong Weike’s voice faded away, lingering ethereally until it disappeared.

Looking at the piles of women’s clothes and handbags from all sorts of brands still scattered in the room, Fu Yang suddenly felt an emptiness inside.

He clenched his fist in a gesture of encouragement. “All right! Let’s work hard to become a true Daoist first~”

Ring ring, ring ring.

His phone rang on the table.

The caller ID read: Goddess.

Qin Mei’s call?

Fu Yang realized he hadn’t seen Qin Mei for a day or two. Since returning from Ronghua Village and learning that Liu Mengshu would likely lay low for a while, he and Ah Huang had stopped guarding Qin Mei closely.

Yesterday, he’d spent the whole day with Weike and had forgotten to let Qin Mei know.

“Damn!” He slapped his forehead and answered the call.

“Oh, my personal bodyguard little brother? I thought you’d found a new flame and didn’t want to answer your sister’s call anymore.” Qin Mei’s voice was as alluring as ever, carrying a charm that was impossible to resist.

Hearing “new flame,” Fu Yang’s heart thumped.

His pulse seemed to skip a beat; he felt a pang of guilt…

“Damn! Why should I feel guilty? Qin Mei isn’t my girlfriend. Hmph! Didn’t she reject my confession last time? I’m single now—no one has a say!”

He gave himself this pep talk, though deep down he knew he had feelings for all three beauties around him.

If certain “fierce women” found out about these thoughts, he’d surely be branded a super scoundrel, dragged out and stripped, and flicked on the forehead until he died…

But matters of the heart are never dictated by reason.

Fu Yang, for all his glibness, had no real romantic experience, nor had he ever been forced to reject anyone. He was utterly clueless in this realm.

“Hello? Why aren’t you saying anything?” Qin Mei feigned annoyance.

“No, nothing! I tripped last night and scraped a long cut. I was just applying a band-aid.”

“Oh? Is it serious? I just finished another final exam today and have nothing to do. I wanted you to go to the botanical garden with me. If you’re hurt…”

“It’s nothing! I’ll go with you! When the goddess commands, I dare not disobey.”

Throwing aside all worries and tangled thoughts, Fu Yang reverted to his cheeky, smooth-talking self.

They agreed to meet at the school gate in fifteen minutes.

Fu Yang hurried to wash up and picked out some newer clothes. To keep up his earlier lie, he pulled a band-aid from the cabinet.

Slap.

He stuck it on his forehead, then set off to meet Qin Mei.

Perhaps it was the merit he’d earned from early morning rites for a little ghost, or maybe it was officially becoming a successor of the Ghost Dao, but his mood was excellent. Even the blue skies and white clouds seemed more beautiful than before.

When he reached the school gate, he saw Qin Mei was already waiting.

Today, she was unusually dressed—not in her usual goddess attire of a skirt, but in sporty casual wear.

Her hair was tied simply in a ponytail, topped with a baseball cap and a hint of light makeup. She looked less seductive, more lively. Yet, when she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, she still exuded that enchanting, mature aura that could easily captivate young men…

“My personal bodyguard looks rather handsome today!”

“Of course! Otherwise, how could I guard the goddess?”

“By the way, the evil villain you and Ah Huang talked about isn’t going to be trying to kill me every day anymore, right?”

“He’ll be quiet for a while, but you can’t let your guard down. Especially at night—stay safe. Keep the talisman Ah Huang gave you close at all times.”

The two chatted at the school gate, waiting for their ride to the botanical garden summoned via a phone app…

River City Botanical Garden.

Under the jurisdiction of the River City Landscaping Bureau, it covered hundreds of hectares, featuring zones like the Lilac Garden, Tulip Garden, Hundred Trees Garden, Wetland Park, and Greenhouse, among others. It was always a popular tourist attraction and a favorite spot for locals’ leisure.

Fu Yang and Qin Mei entered the garden, surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers, the sun shining brightly.

They strolled and played, taking in the scenery and breathing fresh air, feeling their spirits lift.

When they reached the bike rental, Qin Mei insisted on riding. Fu Yang rented a tandem bike so they could ride together, one in front, one behind.

“Whoo~ This is so much fun!”

Qin Mei, determined to ride up front, stood up now and then, waving her hands and shouting with excitement.

“Hey, watch your goddess image—don’t turn into a tomboy…” Fu Yang muttered quietly as he pedaled from behind.

Passersby glanced at the young pair, offering warm smiles.

Indeed! At this age, still in school, untouched by the pressures of adulthood, life was pure and beautiful…

Screech.

A sudden, sharp sound of brakes.

Fu Yang was pedaling energetically in the back when, out of nowhere, the bike stopped. The sudden inertia sent him lurching forward, his nose colliding with the back of Qin Mei’s head!

“Ouch, damn…”

He covered his nose with both hands, tears streaming down—it hurt like hell.

“Sister Goddess, next time you stop suddenly, give me a warning…” Fu Yang rubbed his nose, half laughing, half crying.

“Are you all right, Fu Yang? I didn’t do it on purpose—someone suddenly blocked our way up ahead.”

Qin Mei had already hopped off, coming over to check his injury, hurriedly explaining.

Fu Yang looked up, and sure enough, not far ahead, a police officer was signaling people to stop on that path. Behind him, two other officers were setting up barricades, seemingly about to close the road…

“What’s the point of blocking the road?” Fu Yang grumbled, taking Qin Mei with him as he walked forward. He was just about to argue when a familiar voice came from nearby.

“Hurry up! Block both sides of the Hundred Trees Garden. Have the visitors in the botanical garden take detours.”

It seemed to be a superior officer, directing the others.

“That voice sounds familiar…”

Fu Yang started, turning around.

Sure enough, dressed in police uniform, Zhao Shanshan was walking over. She spotted Fu Yang right away, but before she could smile and greet him, she saw Qin Mei beside him, pushing the tandem bike…