Chapter 14 (2/2)

The girl said “Whatever the price, I’ll pay double”

Another girl said “The detail is passable but the coral isn’t very good If little sister wants it, I’ll order my master artisans to craft a coral set just for you”

Xiao Yao felt their voices were fa

Feng Long and Zhuan Xu alking over with a few servants trailing the Yue said to a servant “Pack up this coral box” and then glanced at Xiao Yao before turning to Yi Yang “I’s, this is hardly worthso want to buy it as a reward forwords toYue, and actually wished Ah Nian or Hai Tang were around right now She re Yue’s had for a stack of rare wood and started laughing and said “If the lady likes it, then she can have it”

Zhuan Xu called out “Xiao Yao! It’s really you! How co?”

Xiao Yao said “I was bored so ca and saw quiet joy in his sleep deprived eyes and Xiao Yao couldn’t help butcasual conversation, it was clear Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao were very close Xing Yue warily looked at Xiao Yao and then said to Zhuan Xu “Your lady friends are soon the street”

Feng Long and Hou both laughed while Zhuan Xu cleared his throat and uys all want toLong stopped laughing and everyone got serious and respectfully greeted Xiao Yao When Feng Long raised his head, he carefully looked at her but her face was covered in a veiled hat so he couldn’t see her features

Xiao Yao greeted everyone back and glanced at Tu Shan Hou She thought even if he was handsome, he likely looked rather beastly, but who kneas unexpectedly dashi+ng He looked very si, but harder, fiercer, and he had a save off the aura of intensity even when he s Yue handed the coral box to Xiao Yao with a laugh “I’ toot anxious and wanted to buy it Please accept it as an apology”

Xiao Yao was iest noble clans so she had finesse She looked at Zhuan Xu and he nodded so she accepted with a s Yue was ecstatic “It’s more fun to shop with more people, please coreed

Everyone shopped and talked but Xiao Yao didn’t say h everyone was very solicitous of her and the entire outing was very pleasant

Xing Yue and Feng Long bought a lot and their servants had their hands full in boxes and bags Xing Yue apologized “Don’t laugh at us, both our parents sides are large fa presents ho to one side, we have to give to the other”

Hou said “We won’t laugh, we’re all just envious”

Xing Yue s Yue was very nice to Hou, and treated hi Yue said “I can’t shop anymore, let’s find a place to rest”

Zhuan Xu said “I knew you were tired out There is a restaurant over there that has good food It’s almost dinner time, why don’t we have dinner there and it’ll be my farewell treat”

Zhuan Xu led everyone to the restaurant and the owner ca them to a private rooftop area It was surrounded by two sides as tall as buildings and lots of flowers and vines were growing along the sides, giving off theYue complimented to Zhuan Xu “This place is lovely”

The owner led thelanced at Zhuan Xu before sitting but before she could choose, Xing Yue placed her next to Feng Long, then took the seat to her left beside Zhuan Xu, that left Yi Yang and Jing across fro, and Hou took the solo seat on the final side

The owner brought various types of wines, soht and sweet like honey He then placed several plates of fruits and appetizers on the table to start

He saw Zhuan Xu nod in approval and then excused hihed “You don’t seem like a customer and oing to lie to you guys, I a wine and it’s no fun to drink alone so I opened a few stores”

Xing Yue was interested so continued the conversation, with Yi Yang and Hou also joining in so the talk was flowing

Feng Long used a clean chopstick and picked up soetables for Xiao Yao and placed it on her plate “I saw you ate this first but then didn’t take anyet you so and then ate a piece before saying “Thank you”

Feng Long had tried all the wines and poured a sweet fruit wine for Xiao Yao “Try this”

Xiao Yao accepted it and said “You chat with the Yue heard and interjected “My Gege isn’t like this normally, usually people take care of him and he never takes care of others He’s definitely different today, and I’ve never seen hi chastised her “Nonsense!”

Xing Yue e, you’re close withs was not happy and pointed at Jing before saying to Yi Yang “Sister-in-law, please help shut hi’s face was red with e “Stop it!” before swiftly putting so hi shook his head “This doesn’t count as shutting his lips up”

Feng Long and Xing Yue were playfully cheering her on so Yi Yang didn’t ’s lips and said “Please enjoy”

Jing sat there stiffly and didn’t move, a very aard s wondered “Eh? You’re not aard nor lowered his eyes and drank the cup of wine fro said “Good for sister-in-law!”

Hou also laughed and Yi Yang glanced at hi into a shten and ate all the vegetables on her plate and Feng Long got her another serving

Yi Yang said “Xiao Yao, there are no other people here, why don’t you take off your hat and beYue concurred “Yes, yes”

Xiao Yao apologized “It’s not that I don’t want to, but Iand I have pimples on my face and it’s not suitable to show it to folks”

Yi Yang and Xing Yue both sighed and Xing Yue turned to Feng Long “Don’t say your sister didn’t try to help you, it’s the Heavens not helping you”

Waiters ca hot plates of food and a fewYue tried a bite and turned to Zhuan Xu “It’s delicious”

Zhuan Xu laughed “With your coet back”

Talk turned to the various families in the vast wilderness, which capable descendants have risen up the ranks, what folks liked, conversation was easy going but within it held lots of i silently drank his wine and his friends appeared to be used to him so didn’t think it weird He see or Zhuan Xu asked hi, he was always able to respond, clearly aware of everything said around hiest wine and started downing it, gradually her bones grew soft and she curled up like a cat, with her one hand propping up her head and the other holding a wine cup

Feng Long didn’t see hera drinking gaet ets who drunk is not clear yet”

Zhuan Xu knew Xiao Yao’s tolerance so said nothing, and lo and behold Feng Long got drunk first Everyone else was all tipsy and it wasn’t clear who suggested heading out to sea and no one objected

They headed to a nearby port where Zhuan Xu had a boat ready and they all boarded and headed out to sea

On the boat and with the cold sea air blowing, everyone’s drunkenness dissipated so, or maybe tomorroas farewell, but everyone was in theot drunk and pulled Xing Yue to dance on the deck Feng Long saw a giant fish swi to catch it and with a plop he juhed “Don’t worry! He’s the son of the Chi Sui clan, he goes crazy around water! Anyone can drown except hio with hiht one servant to steer the boat Hou put down his drink “I’ll go keep him company” and then with a plop he was in the water as well

Zhuan Xu stood at the bow and stared out into the ocean and Yi Yang said with a sht plenty of sea ht need to worrysome crazy seafood back soon”

Zhuan Xu felt the wine getting to his head and it started hurting

Yi Yang turned to Xing Yue with a s Yue shook her head and pointed back at Yi Yang “You’re really drunk” Plop, Yi Yang swanned into the water

Xing Yue laughed while Zhuan Xu said wearily “Should I continue to not worry?”

Xing Yue laughed “I don’t know her water power talents, but we’ll knoe go in the water too” She pulled Zhuan Xu who said “I can’t swilittered like seductive stars “I know you can’t swi and looked at Xing Yue while she laughed with a fire burning in her eyes “Do you dare put your life inat Zhuan Xu before she fell overboard with her back arching

Zhuan Xu smiled and walked over and vaulted into the water

Xiao Yao laughed as she drank her wine and sprawled on the boat thinking to herself that if it wasn’t for Xiang Liu that bastard deht now

Jing silently walked behind her and she turned and sat down on the deck and scoffed “Now you dare get close toand Xiao Yao raised her e poured her another cup and she handed the cup to hiht she wanted him to drink and was about to when she lifted her veil and pointed to her lips

Jing placed the cup of wine under her lips and she grabbed his hand to drink it slowly

The alcohol rushed up and her head was splitting in pain as her stomach roiled She knew she was really drunk this tiainst the shi+p to wait for the nausea to pass

Jing took a few pills and placed it under Xiao Yao’s nose for her to sniff She said “You haven’t forgotten what I taught you”

“I will never forget”

“Seeing Feng Long so nice topaused and said slowly “It hurts a lot”

Xiao Yao laughed “Seeing you hurt, now I feel better”

Jing’s hand brushed her face “Who hit you?”

Xiao Yao said “Ah Nian, I kicked her a few ti’s hand accu her cheek to o down but she pushed his hand away “Your ood wife to have, you two are very suited for each other”

All the blood color in Jing’s face disappeared and he lowered his head “I knew thisfelt like a dreaht you came to see me, and I was even happier…”

Xiao Yao silently sat on desk and said nothing

Xiao Yao remembered when she saved shi+ Qi, he would silently lay there and accept whatever Xiao Yao did to hier, or thirst, and ht shi+ Qi was dead and touched his pulse to confirm he was still alive

Xiao Yao felt her heart hurt and then she felt her sto and threw up

Jing patted her back until she was done, then handed her water to rinse herheld her and gently helped her sit down

Jing srabbed hio see you this afternoon, if you don’t believe ”

Jing held Xiao Yao and rested his cheek on her head It was just a short time, he sunk to the depths of despair and now vaulted back up to the clouds of happiness

He felt Xiao Yao’s body sinking and looked down to see that she was fast asleep He s in his ar as the boat was rocked by the waves He looked up at thelooked at the jug of wine beside hi and enveloped the entire boat in thick white fog It was like the entire boat had been consu was left fro lowered his head to look at the sleeping Xiao Yao and his fingers gently traced her face, over and over, until even if he lost his sight one day, he would still be able to see her face

After an hour, Xiao Yao stirred and called out “shi+ Qi” before opening her eyes Jing smiled at her and she said “I think I fell asleep”

“Yes”

“They are not back yet?”

“No”

Xiao Yao sighed “Normally one is more serious than the other, who knew they were all a bunch of lunatics”

Jing said “I’ and she’s not interested in randement”

“Hhmmm, huh?” Xiao Yao’s mind was still fuzzy so it told her a moment to process it “How do you know? She’s so nice to you…”

Jing cut her off “Xiao Yao, I’ve met plenty of women interested in me, I knooman looks at a man she wants No matter how nice she is tostroked her hair “Now I knohat it feels like to want soh “Okay”

Jing actually felt worse because Xiao Yao didn’t see that when he was alone with Yi Yang, the way she looked at hiht Yi Yang would feel the saht others saw hiht of so and sat up excitedly “If she doesn’t want you, then come back to be my shi+ Qi!” Her eyes lit up “You worried back then that Tu Shan Hou that lunatic would har But Wen Xiao Liu is gone now and I’ Princess Tu Shan Hou can’t har stared at Xiao Yao, saying nothing but the sadness was evident in his eyes

Xiao Yao cal disappeared once already, if it happened again, forget Tu Shan Hou, his grandmother wouldn’t accept his death until she saw his corpse with her own eyes

Jing said in a low voice “It’s not nonsense, bu things have changed After going back, I realized er If I leave, I worry he will destroy the faive ” It actually wasn’t just his family, if Xiao Yao was Wen Xiao Liu then he would be Ye shi+ Qi with her in some remotePrincess, and seeing her at the o back A man who deserved to be with Xiao Yao couldn’t be a coward, if he wanted to be with her, then he needed to end the engage and openly walk to be with Xiao Yao

Xiao Yao s to do?”

“I don’t know, but I knoill come back to you I’ve pro’s forehead rested on Xiao Yao’s forehead and he prayed “Please keep your heart for rabbed it “I can tell you’re a sneaky one, even if I want to forget it, you’ll find ways to keep reo either”

Jing’s voice conveyed his torment “I…I just cannot…I know you deserve better, but I cannot…I’m sorry…”

Xiao Yao quickly said “I understand, I understand”

Jing said in a low voice “You don’t understand”

Xiao Yao was honest “I don’t understand, but I have to try and reassure you”

Jing laughed and then sighed “They are co back”

Xiao Yao looked up “It’s al looked at Xiao Yao and wanted to put the hat on her but she held his hand and wouldn’t let hi tenderly kissed her on the forehead, until the very last minute when he lifted his head and put the hat on her

Xiao Yao ran to the back of the boat to fix her clothes and hair She heard Xing Yue, Zhuan Xu, and Feng Long talking She looked up and saw Jing’s hair was a h it It was too late to tell hi stand up and release the band tying his hair up and sent his hair flying in the sea breeze He leaned against the railing and looked up at the sunrise

Xiao Yao’s heart leaped to her chest like a little deer lost Zhuan Xu had to call her a few tiet her attention He pushed her softly “What are you thinking?”

Xiao Yao quickly said “Oh, you guys are back” Her face was bright red but thankfully it was covered by the veil so no one could see it Zhuan Xu see and concern flitted across his eyes

Xing Yue coot where the boat was so swa it, and how they didn’t run into Yi Yang and Hou and hoped they were alright

Yi Yang swa Yue ran over to pull her up “Did you guys also can’t find the boat?”

Yi Yang paused and then smiled “Yeah”

Zhuan Xu said “There is breakfast inside the cabin, if you guys are hungry go ahead and eat” Those a followed

Feng Long asked Xiao Yao “Want soet it lanced at her with a slared back: how dare you tease me?

Everyone seemed tired so there wasn’t a lot of talk, and even when breakfast was done Hou was still not back

Xing Yue worriedly asked “Is Hou gege alright?”

Jing said “With his ability, he should be fine I’ll have little fox go find him” He took out a little astral nine-tailed fox from his sleeve but it went nowhere and instead yipped in one direction before running back into Jing’s sleeve

Jing said “Hou is back”

In a few iant fierce monster fish and was shi+rtless as he ripped his robe into cloth strips to create a harness to control the fish’s head and he held on and rode it like a horse in the water His body rose and fell with the waves, glistening bronzed in the sun exuding all theaverted their eyes to be polite but Xiao Yao stared in appreciation and called out “Does it listen to you?” Hou s but rode the fish around the boat a few more times Xiao Yao clapped “This is so fun I wanted a ride like this so I don’t need to swim anymore”

Zhuan Xu mocked her “Dream on, with your powers you can to subdue a monster fish like this? It’s easier to ht

Hou held onto the fish and used his other hand to strike its belly and pulled out a red ruby stone the size of an egg He rinsed it in the ocean and then jumped on the boat

The red ruby was crystal clear and glittered in the sun Xing Yue said “Hou gege, can you give that to ive it to her but he sy “This fish ruby I need, next ti Yue sad nothing and walked over to Yi Yang and then two girls stared out over the ocean With everyone back, Zhuan Xu ordered the boat back to the port

Hou went inside to change and Xiao Yao asked Feng Long “What kind of stone is that?”

Feng Long smiled “There is another Tu Shan son here, I’ over “Xiao Yao wants to knohat kind of ge walked over to Xiao Yao “Actually it’s the inner power source of the demon fish of the deep seas It comes in different colors but the red fish ruby is the h one as crystal clear as that is very rare It can be used as a jewel or accessory, or into ical object that can help a person breath underwater if it’s place in theout until the last thing he said and she got interested “What’s considered top quality? Was that piece?”

“The her the quality That piece was one of the best fish rubies”

Feng Long said to Xiao Yao “This cannot be sought and can only be found by chance If you want one, I’ll go ask randfather”

Xiao Yao quickly said “I just found it pretty and was asking for fun”

The ocean under the old dust was sprinkled on it A pack of sea birds flew over head and everyone looked out over the ocean to enjoy the view Xiao Yao snuck a peek at Jing fro sensed it and he lowered his eyes and smiled Xiao Yao also smiled, even if she couldn’t talk to hiether and felt very close

The boat reached shore and everyone got off Feng Long’s servants already had their belongings all packed so they just needed to get back on the Chi Sui shi+p to head back to the Middle Plains

Zhuan Xu led Xiao Yao to say their farewells, and with the talkative and smooth Zhuan Xu around, Xiao Yao only needed to bow and say a feords Xing Yue’s eyes were slightly red and she stood on the shi+p with her brother but kept looking back at Zhuan Xu

Jing got on the shi+p and stood by the railing to stare at Xiao Yao The shi+ps left and Zhuan Xu waved to them but Xiao Yao stood there silently The wind blew the veil on her face and outline her features as she stood there tall in her yellow robe, like a flower blooone froht and he closed his eyes Xiao Yao, Xiao Yao…

Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao returned to Cheng En Palace and he pulled her hat off and sighed “You got slapped by Ah Nian? I need to go see what number you did on her”

Xiao Yao said “She and I resolved our issues, and what happens in the future, only fate will deterot back on the boat and asked the servant, he said he fell asleep last night Did you and Jing have a good time?”

Xiao Yao smirked back at him “Someone jumped in the ocean without fear for his life Did you have fun?”

Zhuan Xu casually said “If she wants to play for real, then we’ll just have to wait and see!”

Xiao Yao asked in confusion “How do you guys knohen a girl is for real? Even if she’s for real, what kind of real is it? Sohty-first Some real can handle poverty, others can only handle wealthy Sooes their separate ways Soether but it’s not real between thee to make it work because they were never faced with any test”

Zhuan Xu laughed “Your questions are giving me a headache If you ask how I know, I don’t know other than I can feel it One cold heart, one clear set of eyes, I’ve experienced a lot so I can see very clearly”

Xiao Yao asked “What if you see wrong?”

Zhuan Xu softly said “The only way to guarantee not being wrong is to have a cold heart”

Xiao Yao scrunched up her face “I thought you had a better idea!”

“I don’t I think even the grandfather of ours that is so ruthless and brilliant that he strikes fear in everyone, even he can’t see genuinely through a person’s heart”

Xiao Yao chuckled wearily “The Xuan Yuan Yellow Emperor!”

Zhuan Xu said “Grandmother, Moraves have been unattended for too many years Next year at Auntie’s re on Cao Yun Peak in Xuan Yuan Montain”

Xiao Yao’s eyes misted with tears and she nodded “Yes!”