Chapter 34: A Life Exchanged?

"Do you have any manners?" The boy’s self-esteem was once again hurt, and he couldn’t help but want to cover his chest with both hands.

This was an incredibly unpleasant experience.

In Xu Ziqing’s life, far too many people had stared at his Adam’s apple and chest.

Eventually, everyone’s gaze seemed to speak: "Eh——, it’s a guy?"

Only the tone of this "Eh" varied depending on different people's fetishes.

Xu Ziqing utterly hated this feeling!

Clearly, he was a guy with the proper parts, yet many still thought he was a girl disguised as a boy.

This plot, so common in serialized novels, continued to be adored and endlessly repeated by people.

The endless humiliation and the tension from being the center of attention caused the boy’s face to flush crimson.

Once that delicate face was stained with a red blush, he actually looked somewhat... mouthwatering?

On the forum of 《Borrowed Sword》, some silly players even photoshopped him into women’s clothes.

As soon as the image was posted, the comments underneath were basically:

"It’s not bad, honestly."

"Weibo."

"Totally understandable."

The boy dressed in a menial’s uniform clenched his fists tightly at that moment.

But as his gaze swept over the crowd, when he met Chu Huaixu’s eyes, he couldn’t help but pause slightly.

Because his gaze seemed entirely different from the assessing and amused looks of the others.

There was an inexplicable... certainty and approval!

Yes, approval!

Xu Ziqing didn’t know why, but the sensitive boy’s heart didn’t feel so awful anymore.

He even thought: since I’m going to be a menial anyway, does it matter where I serve? Might as well go with him?

Xu Ziqing didn’t like the Liu family people or the steward very much.

But he didn’t feel any resistance toward Chu Huaixu.

Just as he was lost in thought, he heard the young man speak again.

Only this time, he didn’t raise his hand to point at the menial boy anymore, seemingly thinking that gesture wasn’t very appropriate. His tone was calm yet unwavering: "Yes, I want this boy!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqing’s favorability toward Chu Huaixu actually began to rise.

Instead, Liu Tianfeng and the others began letting their imaginations run wild.

Liu Chengqi, like a lustful ghost, even couldn’t help glancing at Han Shuangjiang, then was struck with shock in his heart.

No way, you’re passing up on such an exquisite beauty, and you actually... you actually... sigh!

There was nothing to be done. Chu Huaixu had changed his mind too quickly. At first, he didn’t want the menial at all, but now he acted like he absolutely had to have him.

Liu Chenggong, with a bit of the fun type personality, was already trying hard to hold back his laughter.

Fortunately, Liu Tianfeng was older and had seen a lot. He’d encountered all sorts of messy things, so after a brief surprise, he continued flattering Chu Huaixu, saying:

"In that case, this menial shall be gifted to you, dear nephew!"

Among the literati and romantic types, gifting concubines to each other was considered a refined affair.

Liu Tianfeng felt that by rounding things off like this, he and Chu Huaixu were now in the same refined circle.

"This could count as... catering to his taste, right?" He felt comforted and believed this wave was secure.

Steward Liu’s persona remained consistent—cunning but unable to calculate clearly.

"Steward Cao, bring over the contract of indenture." The steward acted swiftly.

He didn’t forget to look at Xu Ziqing, releasing the pressure of a Third-Realm cultivator as he sternly warned, "From today onward, you will follow my dear nephew and serve him well. Otherwise, as the Outer Sect Steward in charge of all external matters, I will show no mercy!"

Despite his age, he sure knew how to flatter—never missing a chance to squeeze into favor.

After Chu Huaixu received the contract from the steward, a smile immediately surfaced on his face—a comfortable, joyful smile.

He didn’t care what others might imagine when they saw that smile.

What could he do? He was now holding Xu Ziqing’s contract of indenture—didn’t that mean he had become the owner of 《Borrowed Sword》’s world protagonist...?

"Right? I really am his owner now, aren’t I?" Chu Huaixu thought.

This transmigrator’s heart surged with boundless ambition.

“Both world protagonists of the Eastern Continent—one is now my little housekeeper, the other my menial servant—have all fallen under my command!”

“Dominating the Eastern Continent is just around the corner!”

“Jie jie jie jie!”

Seeing how delighted Chu Huaixu was after acquiring the menial—happier than when receiving lavish gifts—Liu Tianfeng immediately stepped forward to chat with him a bit more, deepening their rapport.

He was old, unable to keep up with the younger generation, and didn’t care what peculiar fetishes they had now; he only wondered if he could use this connection to cling to Elder Six’s high branch.

The two exchanged pleasantries like this, talking happily.

The Liu family members only took their leave after quite a while.

Outside the bamboo house, only Chu Huaixu and the two world protagonists remained.

Han Shuangjiang stood off to the side, secretly observing them, her gaze somewhat tinged with a fujoshi's BL-tinted perception.

In fact, her previous brothel also offered this kind of service.

“What kind of look is that?” Chu Huaixu raised his eyes and glared at her.

Just because I’m mildly misogynistic due to my profession doesn’t mean I’m in your contact list.

The cold-faced girl immediately looked away, feeling slightly apologetic. After all, such matters were quite private and should be respected.

Only Xu Ziqing seemed at a loss.

He had just met this man and woman and knew nothing about them.

And he didn’t know what he was supposed to do next.

Back at the Liu residence, if there was any dirty work to be done, the steward would always assign it.

“Maybe I should ask them where their latrine is?” The delicate-faced menial thought, already somewhat used to the job—diligent and proactive.

......

......

It was obvious that Chu Huaixu had some basic decency since childhood.

He didn’t assign any filthy chores to Xu Ziqing, one of the world protagonists, and only instructed him to move the gifts into the house and do a simple sorting.

He had just glanced at them—most of Liu Tianfeng’s offerings were practical and related to food, clothing, and daily use.

But it looked like there were two bottles of spiritual pills too?

“Yes.” Xu Ziqing bowed and accepted the task, but then didn’t know how to address the other party.

Logically, he should be calling him sir, young master, or lord.

After assigning the delicate youth, Chu Huaixu then turned to arrange matters for the cold-faced girl who was watching with a glint of amusement in her eyes.

“Still peeking! You might as well fully master the 【Eight Wastelands Wandering Dragon】!” he snapped irritably.

Han Shuangjiang had a very high level of comprehension and had already learned it, though not yet proficiently.

“Oh.” The ice mountain replied flatly, still expressionless, but seeing his slightly flustered look, she couldn’t help but feel a mischievous bit of satisfaction.

At this moment, Chu Huaixu, who seemed idle on the surface, actually had serious business to handle.

He looked through the bamboo door and glanced at Xu Ziqing, who was squatting inside sorting the gifts, then directly cast an 【Information Probe】.

“Life’s twists are truly strange. I was brought up the mountain by Li Chunsong, yet he ended up as a menial for some reason.” He couldn’t help but muse.

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Right now, Chu Huaixu expected to obtain only a small amount of information.

After all, his current overall strength was low, so his 【Information Probe】 permissions were also limited.

It was like when he had cast a probe at Han Shuangjiang’s rear earlier today; the only result was that her third aperture had opened.

Chu Huaixu knew Han Shuangjiang had a Spirit Embryo: Profound Yin.

However, 【Information Probe】 would not reveal that result.

That was equivalent to the system telling him, "With your current strength, you are not qualified to access top-tier Spirit Embryo information."

To be precise, he had tossed 【Information Probe】 around for fun at the marketplace earlier. At his current Qi-Opening Stage, he couldn’t see the attributes of any Dao Gate disciple’s Spirit Embryo.

But in Xu Ziqing’s case, there was actually an “unexpected gain.”

“【False Spirit Embryo】?”

“How could he have a 【False Spirit Embryo】?”

This was one of the world protagonists!

Since the open beta of 《Borrowed Sword》, the four world protagonists had always been several levels above the players, so players were never granted probe permissions on them.

Thus, Chu Huaixu had previously been unaware that Xu Ziqing had a False Spirit Embryo.

“What’s this? Han Shuangjiang follows the genius route, and Xu Ziqing walks the trash path?”

“These world protagonists in 《Borrowed Sword》 really do have all the tropes.”

But thinking carefully, Chu Huaixu suddenly realized: “It seems Xu Ziqing has always had the lowest cultivation among the four protagonists, often lagging by an entire realm, sometimes even two!”

Yet even so, no player ever underestimated him or considered him the weakest.

Chu Huaixu continued to watch the back of the delicate youth busily working.

The reason was simple: the game was called 《Borrowed Sword》.

“Why did that sword choose him of all people?” he was puzzled.

—That sword left behind by the Dao Ancestor.