I Don't Care About Society's Cold Shoulder

The reason why Luo Hong chose the fierce-looking guards was for their intimidation factor. The fierce guards would be able to compliment his character and temperament as the new evil young lord.

Of course, the actual reason he brought the guards was that he wanted them to protect him. Luo Hong had yet to start any kind of cultivation, and he could not even kill a chicken properly. He might end up dead if he did something wrong. The only power he possessed was the power of money, and it might turn his plan against him if used wrongly. He might end up being the one harassed instead of him harassing the lady owner.

Right after he stepped out of the Luo Residence, he ran into a skinny middle-aged man in green scholar robes.

"My young lord, where are you heading?" The middle-aged man in the green scholar robes frowned as he wondered why Luo Hong would have two ferocious guards with him.

"Uncle Chen." Luo Hong was slightly surprised when he saw the man. His body's memory somehow revered the man.

Chen Tianxuan was the butler of the Luo family. He came from a mysterious background but possessed outstanding abilities. Furthermore, he had been quite close to Luo Hong's missing father.

Butler Chen was the reason why the Luo family was able to maintain the family business despite the landlord being missing. He was even able to organize everything in an orderly fashion and brought the business to new heights.

Butler Chen sighed at Luo Hong. "I heard you ran into some trouble at Jishan Village, so I went there to look for you. I didn't expect you to come back on your own."

"It's been rather dangerous lately with the bandits running wild outside the city. I even heard there are evil creatures lurking around Anping County. The imperial court sent an emissary over to follow up on the case, so, my young lord, please be careful on your own. I don't think you should collect the rent from the other villages around Anping County for the time being."

Luo Hong fell into silence after hearing what Butler Chen said. He sighed in his heart. 'Your little reminder is a little too late! The old Luo Hong has been killed by the bandits!'

"Uncle Chen, are there really evil creatures or monsters in the world?" Luo Hong asked curiously as he attempted to switch the topic.

Butler Chen was not surprised by the question. He even looked a little more serious than before as he replied, "My young lord, there are many things in the world that mere mortals cannot understand or control. It's better that you believe in their existence.

"Before your father disappeared, he told me to take care of you, so I'll do my best to ensure your safety."

Luo Hong clasped his hand and bowed, "Thank you, Uncle Chen."

"Go on then. Remember, don't go out of the city." He waved at Luo Hong before he glanced at the two guards with a stern gaze. "Take care of the young lord."

The two ferocious guards were slightly scared as they stood up straight and nodded solemnly.

Luo Hong smiled but did not say anything. He then brought the guards out of the residence and disappeared beyond the end of the street.

Butler Chen stood on the stone steps in front of the door, watching as Luo Hong disappeared past his sight. He raised his hand, pressed his fingers against his thumb, performing several hand gestures as he counted.

A formless stream of energy rumbled around him and made his green scholar robes flutter. The energy lingered for quite a while before it faded.

"Strange. The young lord has the presence of death around him. Has he gotten into trouble with the evil beings? But his forehead looks bright and he sounds energetic. He doesn't look like he's being troubled by evil beings. Sigh. I guess I'm worrying too much. All I wish for is for the young lord to be safe and sound."

He kept his hands in his long sleeves and then turned around. Eventually, his arms relaxed and he put his hands behind his back before he went into the house.

…

Luo Hong felt a little heavy after he parted ways with Butler Chen.

'Evil lurks around Anping County…Could that human skin manual be an item of evil? But it doesn't look like it. Based on what I know, once a man is targeted by those evil things, the man will feel weaker and less energetic, and it'll eventually result in his death…'

Luo Hong took a deep breath and shook his head. Nevertheless, the human skin manual was the only opportunity for him to start his cultivation path. It was also his only chance to get stronger. He would not simply give it up.

He planned to take the Antagonist Acts seriously since it was also a test for the human skin manual. He wanted to see whether he could get his hands on the prize from the Prize Pool.

Nevertheless, he was nervous because it was his first time trying to harass a lady.

Luo Hong called his guards.

"My lord, what's wrong?" asked the guard with a scar on his face. He looked at Luo Hong with a confused expression.

"Ahem…" Luo Hong softly cleared his throat while he adjusted his clothes and shot his guards a solemn gaze.

"Later, I want you two to listen to my orders. When we arrive at the soybean pudding stall, you two must look as threatening and dangerous as possible.

"And remember to kick the chairs and flip the tables, but try not to damage them. After that, you two will surround the lady owner to stop her from fleeing. If she escapes, your salary this month will be docked. It will be great if you two can show a natural smirk as well," Luo Hong reminded.

"My lord, what are you trying to do?" asked the guard in a heavy tone.

"I'm harassing her because I'm fond of her." Luo Hong glanced over his robe and added, "Just do whatever I tell you. Why are you asking so many questions?!" 

The guards were shocked.

The Luo Hong they knew was humble, easy-going, kind, helpful, and chaste, yet it seemed like all those qualities were just a cover! He was a fraud!

The guards exchanged a gaze but did not say anything. After all, they were the guards of the Luo family, and they had signed a contract to work for the family that would pay them. Luo Hong was their boss, and more importantly, they had received orders from Butler Chen to obey and protect him.

Even though they knew that Luo Hong was going to do something bad, they could not defy him. They braced themselves and put up with it.

The guards did not speak their minds but their gaze at Luo Hong was less respectful. The esteem in their gazes was replaced by a subtle disdain.

The humble and easy-going young lord was just a liar, a shameless hypocrite! Harassing a lady in broad daylight? Rubbish!

Of course, Luo Hong noticed the change in the guards' expressions. He took a deep breath but did not show any emotions on his face. Since he had chosen to be the antagonist, he had to be resolute about it.

'I don't care about the society's cold shoulder!'

…

Yao Jing nervously stood in the corner. Her body was shaking as she clenched her fists anxiously.

Further away, there was a scholar sitting on the chair, eating a bowl of soybean pudding, and drinking the rice wine that he had brought his own while sizing Yao Jing up with a hungry gaze.

His brazen gaze was invasive and it made her uncomfortable.

Yao Jing recognized the scholar. He was actually her neighbor opposite her rented house. She heard that he was a xiucai1 with rich knowledge who was preparing for the imperial examination in autumn to ascend through the ranks.

A few days ago, the scholar had gone to her house to get some water and Yao Jing had carelessly revealed her bare face to him because she had forgotten to smear the black charcoal and dirt on her face before she opened the door. As a result, the scholar saw her true face behind the mask she wore.

It was her first time showing her true face ever since her family status had declined and they fled from the capital to Anping County.

Before her mother passed away, she had told her to never show her true face to people. Otherwise, it would attract trouble. Ever since then, Yao Jing had persistently put on the mask and used an alias instead of her real name in public. She tried her best to make herself ugly and unattractive. She never would have thought she would accidentally blow her own cover.

As Jia Sidao was drinking and eating, his body became hotter.

He would glance at the timid Yao Jing at the corner from time to time while the scene that he could never forget played out in his mind.

When the old wooden door opened, the beauty behind the door looked like she had just emerged from a painting. 

With her straight, beautiful hair, her watery eyes and soft skin, her flawless facial features, the silky brows, and voluptuous body, every aspect of her made his heart flutter.

It was rare to encounter such a beauty in the realm of man.

She was the most beautiful woman Jia Sidao had ever seen. Even the most popular courtesan in Qinghua Theatre, Anping County's No. 1 entertainment theatre, paled in comparison to her. 

Yao Jing's beauty aroused the ember of lust in Jia Sidao's heart. He ought to take the woman for himself. The woman might even be the key for him to make more connections. Then, he might be able to reach higher ranks in the official positions if he had her.

At the thought of it, he could no longer hold back his urge.

Bang! 

He finished his rice wine and slammed the bowl on the table.

The rice wine gave him the bravado that he lacked. Jia Sidao stood up wobbily and looked at Yao Jing like a hungry wolf. He staggered to her.

Under the layer of soot and dirt, her face turned pale.

"Y-you…stay away! It's…broad daylight. Don't…come over! I'll report you to the local office!" Yao Jing was trembling, and she even sounded like she was about to cry.

Her soft and weak voice aroused Jia Sidao even more like fuel to his lustful ember.

Jia Sidao grinned. His breath reeked of rice wine. He reached out to Yao Jing's hands and held them tightly. He was able to touch her soft hands and silky smooth skin, and they further fueled his burning lust.

Controlling a weak woman like her would be a piece of cake for Jia Sidao.

"Report me? The county magistrate of Anping is an acquaintance of mine whereas the chief secretary of the county office is my uncle. My lady, you are so beautiful, but you don't have a decent background. Reporting me to the office will only…bring you more trouble. Why don't you just come with me?"

With the rice wine giving him the courage, Jia Sidao started to get bolder. He had done some background check on Yao Jing before he came to her.

Yao Jing did not have any decent background. That was why Jia Sidao dared to force her to comply.

Her lips turned pale while her eyes were filled with despair. Her mother was right. The scholars were nothing but a bunch of garbage!

The lustful fire in Jia Sidao continued to burn strongly. Even though Yao Jing had soot and dirt on her face, he had seen her true face before, and the mask somehow became the veil of mystery that fueled his passion even more. 

The fact that he could not see her true face directly aroused him even more because the mask turned out to be the biggest temptation.

All of a sudden, hurried footsteps were heard followed by a loud bang. 

The bench was kicked to the floor and the table was flipped over. Bowls fell and shattered into pieces.

Jia Sidao and Yao Jing were both frightened. When they turned around, they saw two hulking savage guards, mercilessly wreaking havoc at the stall.

Behind the two guards was a young man in a white robe. He had a stiff but sinister look and he was slowly coming closer.

Luo Hong felt rather annoyed.

'Damn it! Who would have thought that someone would beat me in harassing the woman!?'