Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 8: Found the protagonist Sheng Yi

After agreeing to visit the Apricot Flower establishment with Ma Jian Chou, the plump man had left early. Giving Murong Lin some time to check on Sheng Yi’s information.

“A time-traveller? Does he know about his own past? Or the version of himself in that timeline didn’t steal the body? Interesting.” Mu Rong Lin was intrigued.

Sheng Yi had a father at the Sky Reaching Realm, his fiance was the sixth princess, and he was also a time traveller.

He didn’t seem like the type of protagonist, that Murong Lin could easily offend!

‘Interesting, have I already reached the boss stage?’

The previous protagonist was clearly very weak.

A protagonist that he could kill with the swat of his palm, and now, this protagonist had the backing of someone that could kill him like he would kill an ant.

“Your Highness, do you think there’s something wrong with Sheng Yi?” Old man Bai looked at Murong Lin, who was lost in thought.

“No, I’m just curious. Right, I have to attend the morning court tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, it is the start of a new week tomorrow, you will also have to attend morning court.”

A month was divided into twelve months, each month had five weeks, each week had six days, a day was divided into twelve Shis (Two hours each), one Shi was then four Kes (30 minutes each), and one Ke was divided into 3 cups of tea (10 minutes each), a cup of tea was two incenses (5 minutes each), one incense was divided into five Fens (1 minute each), and a Fen was divided into six flicks (10 seconds each), and lastly each flick was divided into ten Shas. ¹

One Sha was a second.

On the first day of each week, morning court would be held, and regardless of their status, everyone in the palace had to enter the sacred palace to discuss the important events of the week.

“Boring.” Murong Lin shook his head, he had always hated the subtle yet poisonous arguing and machinations at court.

“Your Highness, tomorrow, the emperor will issue an imperial order dictating your participation in the beast wave suppression in the South. Is there anything you would like for the palace to prepare?”

“No need. Stay here when the time comes, I won’t need anything, I’ll just go myself.” Murong Lin waved his hand.

The old man was bewildered and carefully asked, “Your Highness, are you planning on letting those four people accompany you?”

“Of course not.” Murong Lin knew that the old man was referring to the four great blood paladins of Blood Spirits, “I have other plans.” He was naturally referring to the thirteen people that he had summoned from the system. Why wouldn’t he make use of such a good convoy?

“Search for a remote house in the capital for me.” Murong Lin spoke, “Aside from the both of us, no one should know about it. Got it?”

“Yes!” Old man Bai nodded and stood down.

Murong Lin returned to his room to cultivate, reorganising his mind in the process.

Since he had already killed a protagonist, Murong Lin thought that he could slow down. After all, the rewards obtained from killing a rising protagonist weren’t comparable to hunting a somewhat-developed and powerful protagonist. Aside from their strength, he couldn’t even learn how many fortuitous encounters and resources they had gathered beforehand. In this case, it was only right to lay the bait first and patiently wait to fish all the treasures later.

At night, the lanterns illuminated the bustling city.

Murong Lin was on Ma Jian Chou’s carriage that was headed towards the Apricot Flower establishment, the largest flower establishment in the capital. Apricot Flower establishment was situated in the busiest part of the commercial area, and considering today was the occasion of the Oiran selection, the streets were filled to the brim with people. Lanterns of all colours lit up the roads, and the clamouring crowd made the occasion extremely lively.

Within the carriage, Ma Jian Chou fearfully raised the curtains to peep outside, afraid of being seen by Xue Lin Na.

“Old Ma, I haven’t seen you so afraid before.” Murong Lin teased his friend.

“No, I am not afraid of her, it is just that I can’t defeat her.” Ma Jian Chou spoke seriously.

“Hah, who are the four esteemed courtesans featured today?” Murong Lin fanned himself as he asked, his gaze following Ma Jian Chou’s.

“Who else? The lady Yu Xiu’er, the stunning Ke Ren’er, the breath-taking Zhi Tian’er with her dainty feet and the mysterious Ru Meng’er, who has never taken off her face veil. The four of them have been selling their talents, and not their bodies these past few years, and no one knows who will win the title of Oiran tonight, or if anyone would be able to become their sponsor.” Ma Jian Chou spoke with jealousy. ²

“Tch tch tch, I remember the last one you bought, your father even scolded you for how she eventually turned out with how you played with her.”

“Tsk, what do you know? Let’s go, let us leave this topic and go, we have arrived.” Ma Jian Chou waved his hand as he got off the carriage.

Murong Lin followed behind, his gaze sweeping the surroundings casually as he noticed some familiar people. With an insidious smile, he entered the establishment, the folding fan covering his mouth.

“Is that the third prince? Why is he hanging around with such a person, how disgraceful.”

“What do you even know? The third prince doesn’t have any influence or support, so he can only try to seek help and company with these wealthy playboys.”

“Hah, I see, in the end, he’s just not comparable to the other princes.”

“Look over there! The first prince and the sixth princess are here! They’re the true dragons among people! Oh my! Isn’t that the ‘Hundred Flower Fairy’ next to the sixth princess?”

“How beautiful, how magnificent!”

Ignoring the chatter around him, Murong Lin maintained a smile on his face as he followed Ma Jian Chou to their room.

The oiran selection was held in the Apricot Flower establishment, on an extremely large stage surrounded by seats as well as 33 private rooms divided into three upper floors, meant for VIPs.

“Seems like you won’t be able to avoid her anymore.” Murong Lin spoke.

Ma Jian Chou trembled in shock, hearing Murong Lin’s words, he turned to look at Xue Ling Na, who was standing at the corner of the stairs.

The three of their eyes met.

All of a sudden the surroundings went silent.

Ma Jian Chou smiled, “Isn’t this cousin Xue, I didn’t expect to see you here? Please, go ahead!”

Xue Lin Na disregarded Ma Jian Chou’s flattering actions and expression, and instead looked at Murong Lin, who was fanning himself, and mocked, “Oh, isn’t this the third prince? Why are you so free to come here today?”

Murong Lin, was unbothered by her enigmatic tone, smiled and answered, “I came because I knew you were here.”

His retort disgusted Xue Lin Na.

Hearing this, she furrowed her brows as she turned around, and started walking up the stairs.

She was followed by a group of Xue clan’s disciples, each looking at Murong Lin and Ma Jian Chou with contempt.

“Tch tch tch, is this how it feels like to have no support?” Murong Lin murmured softly.

“What’s wrong?” Ma Jian Chou glanced at Murong Lin as he led him to their private room, which already had a few people inside.

“Nothing much, I was just lamenting.” Murong Lin walked into the room, closing the door behind him.

Within the room were the wealthy disciples that Murong Lin had won over.

“Old Lin, how are you so late, come come, take a gander at the great golden-headed general I’ve been training!” A monkey-like youth dug out a cricket from his body, caressing it between his hands.

“Aiya, did you guys meet that woman just now?” A man wearing a pink, bewitching outfit spoke, his fingers bent, resembling an orchid. ³

A skinny man smoking a cigarette looked at the two of them, and then continued to smoke without saying anything.

“I’ve been busy these days, you guys should know, I’ll probably be sent to the south to suppress the beast wave tomorrow.” Murong Lin casually sat next to them, placing his legs on the table as he looked at them.

These people had treated him with hostility and contempt in the past, due to the fact that he had the reputation of a third prince that neither had the support of the emperor nor his maternal family.

“It can’t be, has it been confirmed?” The vixen-like man was shocked, and he quickly expressed his concern, “Should I lend some servants to you?”

As the bastard of an officer in the army, he had a obviously had some warriors under his control.

“Old Lin, I’ll pay today, order as much as you want!” Li Ming, who was still playing with his cricket spoke up, as the son of a merchant, he was naturally wealthy.

“I have some detailed information about some places in the south here, take it.” Zhou Miao, the skinny guy, who took a strong puff as he spoke, threw a jade tablet towards Murong Lin.

“Don’t worry, don’t you believe in old Lin’s strength?” Ma Jian Chou spoke as he patted his belly, causing the surrounding people to laugh as the atmosphere relaxed.

And at this moment, as Murong Lin was catching the jade tablet that Zhou Miao had tossed, the system’s voice rang out in his mind.

“Ding! The system has detected a protagonist nearby! Please note!”

Murong Lin’s gaze turned to the outside, and he could see an aloof figure entering the area, walking towards a private room.

He had a delicate appearance, but looked fierce with his contemptuous gaze, giving off a strong aura. He had a tall body, dressed in simple clothes that were similar to the clothes that the people following him wore.

1. I will not stick to ancient China’s timekeeping throughout this novel, and this explanation was only directly translated as it was mentioned in the novel. Moving forwards, any mention of time would be adjusted to today’s terms.

2. ‘er is a suffix added as an endearing way to call a woman’s name

3. Womanly way to hold your hands

Translator’s note

Thank you to Nyx for helping edit this chapter.

In the future, all unedited chapters will be uploaded on my ko-fi, but if you want to help speed up the releases, do consider applying to be an editor by contacting me on discord at HotToast#5928.

This chapter upload first at NovelBin.Com