Chapter 124 - New Mission (1/2)

Hao Xuan went straight back to the base and was met with Third at the entrance.

”Ninth brother where have you been? I've been waiting all day,” he said running up to Hao Xuan impatiently.

”Did something happen?” Hao Xuan was taken aback by his senior brother's attitude. He was normally very composed and never lost his cool.

*sigh*

”You will see. Someone has been waiting for you all day,” he gestured towards Hao Xuan's courtyard.

Hao Xuan looked at Third for second and then proceeded to his quarters where Yun Wentian was standing outside.

”Why are you outside? What is going on?” Hao Xuan asked with furrowed brows.

”There is someone waiting for teacher. She has been here since morning. We tried contacting you but didn't get a response,” he stood up and replied respectfully.

”No response?” Hao Xuan gave it some thought and soon remembered what had happened. They had probably tried contacting him when the Spirit Band was with Green and Red and he didn't check the notifications after getting it back himself.

”Well, it's fine now. I don't understand why everyone's acting so fidgety though. Who is so important?” while talking he opened the main gate and entered the courtyard.

It was about 8 p.m and the night was chilly enough that you could see your own breath. Even Hao Xuan felt like wearing a jacket even though he couldn't really feel the cold that much.

As he stepped into the courtyard, he froze mid-stride. There was a single red maple tree in his courtyard that he sometimes sat under whenever he was bored.

Right now there was a petite lady standing under the tree with her back against the trunk. Her eyes were closed and Zhurong was soundly sleeping in her arms.

Her age seemed to be around 25 at most. She was wearing a simple light blue gown without any lavish engravings.

Her long black hair were coming down to her hips and she had a bountiful figure. Even through the loose gown it was obvious how well endowed she was in all the right places. And with her pale skin, she looked like a fairy under the moonlight.

Even without doing anything at all she was exuding an aura and that made people want to turn away in shame. A holy kind of aura. Although she was standing right in front of Hao Xuan he got a feeling that she was an illusion and was in a trance ever since he laid eyes on her.

The lady sensed his presence and walked towards him with her eyes still tightly shut.

She came right in front of the dazed Hao Xuan and gracefully got down on one knee, ”My lord.”

Her voice sounded like coming of spring. Flowers blossomed and birds chirped after hearing her speak.

”What are you....?” Hao Xuan mumbled unconsciously as he looked at her.

”This one's name is Xu Qing. I am your slave,” she said the last part very softly.

”My.....slave?” Hao Xuan was still in a daze and just repeated her words.

”Yes. My father is the foolish King you encountered in your journey several months ago. You spared his life and our kingdom, and in return, I am to be your slave till the end of my time,” she replied calmly, still down on one knee and her eyes shut.

It took him several minutes to regain his composure and finally wake up.

*cough*

He cleared his throat with a blushed face, ”How could I become entranced just by looking at a girl?” and berated himself inwardly.

”Please stand,” he gestured towards her and noticed she still hadn't opened her eyes.

”You can open your eyes, it's alright, I don't mind,” he said jokingly.

”Yes,” she complied and opened her eyes which at first looked fine, but after closer examination seemed like rough blue diamonds.

Noticing his silence, she explained, ”I was born like this my Lord. I am blind,” and she closed them back again.

”Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. My apologies if I was rude in any way,” he quickly followed up with a smile and a slight bow but then remembered that she wasn't able to see any of that.

”Although I cannot see, I can still detect vague images and shapes with the use of my Spirit energy,” she said as if answering a query that he had yet to ask.

”Aha,” Hao Xuan nodded his head with some understanding. No wonder she knew when he entered.

He looked at Zhurong who was purring away in her arms with a smile on his little face.

”Must be nice,” he thought looking at him snuggle in her embrace.

”Um Miss Xu Qing, that matter has already been resolved. Whatever happened is in the past. I hate slavery and more importantly, do not need anyone to take care of me. You can just return to your kingdom without any worries and live a normal life. I'm sorry to have troubled you so much,” he said all in one breath.

There was no way he could take a blind woman with him out into the wild where even his own survival was 'iffy' at best.

”She can't,” just as Xu Qing was about to reply, Third's voice came from outside. He walked in as well and sighed looking at her.

”She has cut off all her blood ties before coming here. There is no place left for her to go than with you. The great general told me to tell you this clearly, 'She belongs to you now. If you don't want her then she will be sold off as a common slave where her future will be even worse'.”

*sigh*

”She is your responsibility. Whether you want to actually form a slave contract with her or not is on you, but she must stay under your care in this life,” he said with a heavy heart and quickly left after giving her a pitiful look.

”Poor girl,” he mumbled on his way out.

”Eh?” Hao Xuan was stumped. How did he just gain another person to take care off?

”My Lord,” Xu Qing interrupted his thoughts. She bowed and said, ”Although I am not that useful in combat, I can still do normal chores without too much trouble. I can cook and clean and won't be a burden on you so please....don't throw me away,” the last part was lighter than a whisper but Hao Xuan still heard it clearly.

He looked at her for a few minutes as many thoughts passed through his mind.

”Miss Xu Qing, I cannot take you along with me,” he said straightforwardly which made her expression take a turn for worse.