Wen Li and Yao Dai appeared to have left, but they hadn't actually gone far.
Once she sensed Qi Mei’er and the others return to the tower, Wen Li flew back alone. She saw the maddened Xiao Du and her disciples, Xie Tinglan and Hua Cishu, who were using every trick and ounce of strength they had to hold him back.
“What the heck are you guys doing?” Her surprise was so great she nearly slipped into her old country accent.
Xie Tinglan immediately spoke up. “Master, Xiao Du has recovered his memory! He’s trying to rush over to see Qi Mei’er.”
Xiao Du roared, “Let go of me! Let me go to her!”
“I’ve waited five hundred years for her! Don’t stop me! Get out of my way! All of you, scram!”
Wen Li realized how serious the situation was. She immediately stepped forward and pressed her hand down hard on the fan, right over Xie Tinglan’s hand.
With a snap, the fan closed, and the frantic Xiao Du vanished.
Hua Cishu, who had been death-gripping Xiao Du’s legs, suddenly found his arms empty. He fell onto the tree trunk, gasping for breath as he tried to compose himself.
However...
Crack!
Wen Li’s excessive force had dislocated one of Xie Tinglan’s fingers.
“...”
Xie Tinglan took a sharp breath. He looked up at her, his face expressionless, yet the resentment in his eyes was almost tangible.
“...Er, wait, hold on.” Wen Li didn’t dare meet his gaze. Feeling guilty, she looked away and quickly grabbed his hand, feeling the bone before skillfully snapping it back into place.
Crack!
“There, all better! Let’s go, before Qi Mei’er notices us.” Wen Li forced a smile and hurriedly picked up the exhausted Hua Cishu, then took Xie Tinglan’s hand and flew away without looking back.
Xie Tinglan’s gaze softened slightly, and he simply followed her.
They had come as a group of four and were returning as a group of four—though one month from now, they would be losing one disciple to a marriage alliance. The thought gave Wen Li a headache.
Inside the inn...
Yao Dai and Hua Cishu were sitting on chairs.
Xie Tinglan leaned against the wall, seeking the slight coolness there.
Wen Li sat in the seat of honor. After setting up a barrier, she took out the Cloud Porcelain Kunxu Fan.
Xiao Du appeared.
His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at everyone. “Why won't you let me see her?! She’s right in front of me! I’ve waited five hundred years! Five hundred years! I’m going mad! Let me see her! Argh!”
He tried to fly away, but his form was bound to within a few paces of the fan. His eyes sharpened as he directed his spiritual energy toward Wen Li’s right hand, intending to snatch the fan from her.
This move immediately prompted Yao Dai and Xie Tinglan to stand and prepare to intervene, while Hua Cishu stepped in front of Wen Li to shield her.
The two disciples intended to set up a barrier to trap him.
However, Xiao Du’s spiritual energy was incredibly deep. The force was so strong that the arms Yao Dai and Xie Tinglan used to sustain the barrier were trembling.
Wen Li sat calmly in the main seat, toys with the fan. “If you attack again, I will kill Qi Mei’er.”
“I might not be able to kill you, but I can certainly try killing her.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
Xiao Du’s pupils shrank, and he roared at her. He found this woman the hardest to read; she had actually been able to force the Cloud Porcelain Kunxu Fan shut despite his resistance.
Wen Li replied, “You’re welcome to test me.”
Xiao Du’s expression hardened. “What exactly do you want?”
“My disciple agreed to help you investigate your identity and origin in exchange for this fan. You’ve now achieved your goal, so it’s time for you to sign the soul contract with him.”
“No.”
Xiao Du went back on his word. “I still need him to do one more thing for me. Once that’s done, I will definitely give him the fan. Besides, he’s a mortal right now; he can’t even form a contract.”
Hua Cishu’s eyes dimmed slightly at those words, but he remained silent, only looking toward Wen Li.
“You’ve already broken your promise. Why should we trust you to do anything else?” Wen Li asked coldly.
Xiao Du knew that breaking his word was not the conduct of a gentleman, but he had no choice. Now that they held the fan, he had to cooperate with them. He gritted his teeth and made a concession. “How about this? I left all my wealth and cultivation manuals in a certain place and set a restriction around them. They are hidden within the Nine-Tailed Fox clan. That wealth will be more than enough payment for one more task.”
“Tell me what the task is first.” Hearing that there was money involved, Wen Li’s tone softened.
Xiao Du said, “Help me kidnap Qi Mei’er. I want to take her away.”
Hearing this, Yao Dai, who was scheduled to marry out next month, looked up. Master was clearly baiting Xiao Du into revealing his history with Qi Mei’er to lower his guard. She wanted to use their past to prepare for their own attempt to seize the Dragon-Slaying Halberd...
Seeing that he no longer had the intention to attack their master, she and Xie Tinglan sat back down.
“You aren't unaware that Qi Mei’er is marrying the Dragon Young Master next month. Kidnapping her would mean making enemies of both the Nine-Tailed Fox clan and the Dragon clan. Why do you think we would take such a huge risk for a little money? Unless... you and Qi Mei’er are willing to bear the risk yourselves, and she goes with you of her own free will while we only act as support,” Wen Li said, her eyes meeting his.
Seeing that she had begun baiting him for information, Hua Cishu silently sat down beside her.
Xiao Du hesitated, pondering her words. He knew the risk was immense. If Qi Mei’er wasn't willing to go with him, it would indeed be much more difficult. However, he believed that if she remembered everything, she would definitely want to leave with him.
If these people were to help him, they would need to know the circumstances anyway. Besides, there was nothing they could do even if they knew.
Xiao Du finally began to tell the story of him and Qi Mei’er.
“It all started five hundred years ago...” His eyes were filled with sorrow and reminiscence.
Hearing that there was a story to be told, Hua Cishu took out some chestnuts he had bought from across the street while they were on their way back. He began peeling them for Wen Li to eat.
Yao Dai’s mouth watered. Knowing that Old Five definitely wouldn't share with her, she simply reached into her own storage bag and pulled out a handful of melon seeds to crack.
Xie Tinglan watched them, his own mouth feeling a bit bored. He reached out to grab a handful too. Yao Dai glared at him, but when he tossed her a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, she shut her mouth and immediately pocketed it.
“Hey!”
Xiao Du, who had just set the emotional mood, heard the rustling sounds and looked over. His eyes widened in fury, and he almost jumped with rage.
“Can you all show me some respect?! I’m talking about a major event in my life! This is too much!”
These people were sick! How could they insult him like this!
“Huh? Well, we brought you to see Qi Mei’er first thing this morning. we were so busy we didn't even get to eat.”
Wen Li, who was just about to take the first chestnut Hua Cishu had peeled, turned her head. She also felt this was a bit inappropriate, so she reluctantly handed the chestnut to him.
“Here. We’re not the type to keep all the food for ourselves. We'll share a bit. Hurry up and tell the story; after you’re done, we’re going down to eat a real meal.”
Xiao Du was speechless. Was the respect he was talking about a matter of sharing snacks?!
Seeing her offer it, Xiao Du adhered to the principle of yielding when under someone else's roof. He accepted the warm chestnut as a form of endurance and chewed it forcefully, as if venting his anger.
Huh? It’s actually good!
He leaned in expectantly, looking at the bag of fragrant chestnuts in Hua Cishu’s lap. He reached toward the pile of peeled ones.
“If you want to eat, peel them yourself!”
Hua Cishu handed all the peeled ones to Wen Li and slapped Xiao Du’s hand away, leaving a red mark on the spirit's hand.
“Hey! What's wrong with me eating a few chestnuts? I’m even giving you this fan, you stingy brat!” Xiao Du grumbled, nursing his hand.
Rate on N.U.
