Chapter 23- Zhao Yu Chun

Today is a very important day for Long Ren.

Standing in the midst of a heavy crowd, Long Ren, grazing his non-existent beard is thinking long and hard about a decision that will decide whether the next month will be heaven or hell.

Well, not really, but having good food will certainly make his next month feel better than not.

This past year, Long Ren had been going out every month to stock up on his food. Every month, he would try out a new restaurant or food stall to stock up on, sometimes a mix of multiples.

There are two places that he really enjoys right now.

One of them had foods that tastes like Chinese foods from his previous world, while the other has a mix of western dishes. In the end, he went with both, mixing them up.

The reason he kept taking his food out every month is due to the awkward atmosphere in the dining area whenever he ate here. Alone.

He only tried it once before, eating at a table. If there is any word to describe his situation back then, it is Depressing.

Eating all alone, with no phone to take his mind off of things, while getting stared at by tons of passers-by, it's kinda sad, but more so annoying really.

He felt like a zoo panda getting watched while eating some bamboo.

Something he found strange though, is that at that time, even when all the other tables are full, no one joined him.

It seems normal to eat together even though they're strangers, a clan's bond supposedly, but it did not happen with him.

It's as if everyone is avoiding him. For what? Long Ren does not know.

He had not done anything that warrants a bad reputation, other than being a loner that is. He also felt like some boot-lickers should have approached him by now, yet none appeared.

Why is it then? Long Ren thought to himself. Well, he's not a social person anyway, so he won't go out of his way to fix this situation, not like he could anyway.

Today though, today is different.

As Long Ren was about to go home with his spoils of war and return to his futon, he was greeted by someone. Something he did not expect to happen.

"Hey! Long Ren right? My name is Zhao Yu Chun, but you can call me Yu Chun!" A 170 cm tall boy wearing traditional star sect disciples' robes greeted Long Ren.

He had a common brown hair color, as compared to Long Ren's black-colored hair with a reddish hue at the tip.

[Long Ren Pic]

As Long Ren had grown to a massive 180cm in the recent years, he towered Yu Chun quite easily. He looks down (literally) at Yu Chun and was greeted by the guy's wide smile.

"..."

Silence ensues between the two as Long Ren was inspecting Yu Chun. This is a habit he acquired after being alone in both lives for so long.

He likes to look at and inspect other people, mainly just to get to know the world's culture a bit more, though that rarely happens as he rarely goes out in the first place.

"Uhm…Hello?" Yu Chun said as he waves his palm over Long Ren's face, trying to get a reaction out of him.

"Hello, sorry, I was just dozing off there. Yes, I'm Long Ren, why?" Long Ren answered, curious at Yu Chun's reason to approach him.

After his one year of observation, he could tell that most of everyone who approaches someone either wants to court him or her or get some benefits out of them, especially when one of the party is of higher standing.

Though this also usually happens in his previous life, here, these occurrences are more pronounced, less concealed bullshit, and more upfront bootlicking, so to say.

Not to toot his own horn or anything, but Long Ren felt a bit offended no one has come up and bootlicked him, not that he would keep that bootlicker, but still.

Sometimes you just want that one bootlicker to come…right? No? Oki.

"Ah, nice to finally meet you! I've heard from our clan mates that you rarely go out so it has been hard to greet you earlier, not that I could since I was away on a mission even before you joined.

Anyway, I'm the Clan Head's personal disciple, and we, the personal disciples usually gather every 6 months to discuss our progress and exchange pointers.

And since it seems like no one had invited you yet, would you like to come for the next one? It's 4 months from now." Yu Chun asked, still with a smile plastered on his face.

'There's a personal disciple's tea party? And I'm not invited? Why…There must be a reason.' Long Ren thought to himself.

Although he would most likely flake from such tea parties anyways, being left out still left a bitter taste in his mouth. It brought out some unpleasant memories.

"Oh, I didn't know about that. Can I know why I wasn't invited?" Long Ren asked

Yu Chun seems surprised at Long Ren's direct question, he felt like Long Ren was offended because he wasn't invited, which is slightly true, but nonetheless, he still answered with a smile.

"Ah, the reason is actually pretty funny, everyone was a bit put off by your lone wolf demeanor and all, but after talking to you, I can see that you're a nice person!" Yu Chun answered

'Lone wolf? I know I'm a loner but is that really why? Hmn…whatever, if that's the reason then that's the reason, no need to think too deeply into it.' Long Ren thought to himself, a bit unsatisfied, but could be bothered to care more.

"Ok then, I'll see in 4 months whether I could go or not, my Master might give me sudden missions after all." Long Ren answered courteously as he had no plans on joining the tea party.

He really didn't want to get too close to anyone right now.

Though Yu Chun seems nice and all, Long Ren is pretty sure there will be some snobby young master cultivators in such a "high" class tea party, and the last person Long Ren wants to get into trouble with is a random and troublesome peng clan young master.

Even without trouble, the tea party is just a waste of time and energy, really.

"Ah, alright, I look forward to your attendance, farewell for now then Long Ren." Yu Chun, satisfied with Long Ren's answer nodded and bid his farewell, leaving behind Long Ren with food in his ring.

long ren looked at Yu Chun's fleeting back, 'At least that guy, Yu Chun seems amiable enough. Maybe he can be my first friend here…,' He thought.

But soon, a mocking chuckle escaped from his mouth, followed by a deep sigh. Long Ren decided to just forget about this and leave towards the direction of his safe home.

(A/N: If the peng line doesn't have at least 10 gifs of the pig, I'll be very disappointed .3.)