229 A horrendous assortment 3 (1/2)
To have what?
Her mind dreamy and detached from reality due to the pain racing through her body, An Fei failed to recognize the implications behind the old shopkeeper's words.
The young girl gently rocked back and forth with an ashen countenance with her hands gripping her arms, only to be shaken awake by a concerned Shen Ming Yue.
”Little Sister, are you alright?”
The youthful girl patted at the beads of sweat laced on An Fei's brow with a lace handkerchief, her graceful countenance full of warmth.
An Fei paused with an eerie expression plastered on her lips, though the words that ultimately departed her throat were calm and unhurried.
”Elder Sister, I'm fine – nothing is of much concern.”
”I see… the Esteemed Senior is waiting for you then, Little Sister should hurry, ah!”
Shen Ming Yue could only reply after noticing the disharmony between the young girl's expression and her words.
Helpless, the youthful girl extended a hand to gently pat the young girl on the shoulder in encouragement.
An Fei was about to nod, when she abruptly froze in place.
”…why is the old man looking for me?”
The young girl felt genuinely confused, prompting her to glance around her surroundings.
Other than an elite few who had emerged from their enlightenment at an earlier pace including Shen Ming Yue and Cheng Yu Xuan, the remainder of the practitioner youths were still in a state of meditative repose.
From the corner of her eye, An Fei could spot the old shopkeeper seated at the farthest region of the room, silently sipping at his tea with a contented expression.
As if having noticed her probing gaze, the elderly man rose his head to nod back towards her, prompting a rush of cold sweat the drip down her spine.
The young girl promptly returned her gaze to stare deeply into Shen Ming Yue's eyes in silence.
”This… ah,” the youthful girl twitched at the intense stare boring holes into her body.
”Little Sister, I didn't think that the Esteemed Senior would notice…”
”What does he want me to do, then?”
An Fei pressed with a soft yet imposing voice, her countenance morphing into one tinged with frost.
The young girl's fingers reached for the strings in her newly acquired dress that supported the qama's position to her side, ready to draw the vicious blade in an instant.
Shen Ming Yue clearly noticed the coldness behind her voice, but before she could hurriedly console and diffuse the bubbling powder keg that was An Fei's temper, the elderly shopkeeper's voice cut across the room.
”Ming Yue, your guest – did you not tell her the rules of this organization?”
The elder's voice was inviting and inquisitive, with a gentle warmth that caused the listener to pause and calm themselves from their agitation.
Her brows evening out as if she had found a lifeboat, Shen Ming Yue heaved a slight sigh in relief, bowing towards the shopkeeper in a respectful salute.
”Little Sister, sorry about not telling you,” the youthful girl earnestly apologized.
”I got too excited about the news that the Esteemed Senior had just arrived in Dong Lin City, so I dragged you here without telling you about the rules.”
”Just arrived in Dong Lin City?” An Fei's eyebrow rose in surprise.
”The old shopkeeper doesn't stay in one location?”
Shen Ming Yue quickly shook her head, her beautiful countenance suffused with pity and disappointment. The youthful girl sipped at her tea to calm her nerves and plan her words, parting her lips after a sufficient amount of time had passed.
”The Esteemed Senior's status is well renowned throughout Great Yong. Thus, it's natural that the Esteemed Senior has numerous students throughout the empire; usually, he remains in a region for less than a month each year, hence my excitement upon hearing the news that the Esteemed Senior had decided to stay by at Dong Lin City.”
”Oh…”
The young girl murmured whilst lightly nodding her head, the degree of understanding unknown.
An Fei tapped the base of her chin with her index finger, her other hand tracing the implicit patterns inscribed onto the wooden table during its crafting.
”So… why do I have to do this – introduction?”
”Esteemed Senior, my Little Sister…”
Shen Ming Yue quickly realized the intention behind An Fei's words, prompting her to shiver in a bout of panic. The youthful girl quickly bowed towards the old shopkeeper, her countenance apologetic.