Die dümmsten Menschen der Welt

Kapitel 8

Tan Huan seemed to understand but not quite, and said, "Then I won't say anything more."

Pei Jin smiled slightly and patted her head, "Good girl."

Tan Huan felt a warm hand on her head, so warm that it even made her cheeks blush. The person smiled at her, a smile as bright and dazzling as sunshine. It was the first time someone had touched her head and called her a "good girl."

"Bear with it a little, it hurts a bit." Pei Jin supported her shoulder with one hand and held her arm with the other, carefully and gently applying pressure. With a "crack," Tan Huan frowned slightly, accidentally biting her lip. She reached out to touch her right hand. "Is that all?"

Pei Jin nodded, "It should be alright now." Looking down, he saw that the clothes Tan Huan had used to cover her chest had fallen down again. He coughed twice, "Aren't you afraid of being seen naked?"

Tan Huan glanced down and said indifferently, "It's alright, there's still the undergarment to cover it up, you can't see anything."

Pei Jin was speechless. "You'll be getting married in two years. Shouldn't you be behaving more like a girl?"

Tan Huan tilted her head to look him over, and slowly said, "How about I marry you?"

Even Pei Jin, with her exceptional composure, was startled and exclaimed in shock, "What did you say?"

Tan Huan stared at him intently, her eyes unblinking, and repeated, "Will you marry me?"

Pei Jin sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Children shouldn't talk nonsense."

Tan Huan stared at him intently. "I'm not talking nonsense, I'm very serious." Life after marrying him would likely be much better than life in the Wu family. Although she currently lived a life of plenty in the Wu family, she didn't like it. This man had a very handsome smile, was skilled in martial arts, was willing to spend money on her, and even heal her injuries. If marriage meant living with someone else, then she'd rather marry him.

Pei Jin turned her back, not intending to pay attention to this meaningless topic. "Put your clothes on and get some rest tonight."

"...You've seen me take off my clothes." Tan Huan racked her brains to come up with this excuse. "You have to take responsibility for me."

Pei Jin was at her wit's end. "This is for healing."

"We are a man and a woman alone in a room..." Tan Huan recalled what Du Suizhi had said before.

Pei Jin sighed and turned around, "Don't learn from people like Du Suizhi."

Tan Huan gazed at him with bright, large eyes, reached out and took his hand, then placed it on her head and whispered, "Your hands are so warm. I love talking to you."

Pei Jin trembled slightly, her gaze softening. "You're going to marry me just like that?"

Tan Huan nodded. In her twelve years of life, this was the first time she had met someone like this. How rare! "And your martial arts are also very good."

Pei Jin chuckled, "Anything else?"

"You're good-looking," Tan Huan listed off, "You can teach me swordsmanship, and you'll even buy me things..."

Pei Jin was both amused and exasperated. He withdrew his hand, realizing he really couldn't handle this situation. "You're still young. Getting married is something you have to wait until you grow up."

Tan Huan held his hand tightly, refusing to let go. "You just need to wait for me for two more years. I'll be fourteen soon."

Pei Jin was utterly helpless. He had faced women's advances before, but he had never encountered one so young. In the past, a cold glance from him would discourage them, but to be honest, he didn't dislike this girl at all. "How about this, if you really want to marry me, let's wait until you're fourteen. I'll seriously consider it then."

Tan Huan looked at him with dissatisfaction. "Are you trying to brush me off?"

Pei Jin looked at her amusedly, "I promise you, I will not get married for the next two years, okay?"

Barely satisfactory. Tan Huan nodded reluctantly, "Mm."

After Tan Huan finished dressing, Pei Jin opened the door and went out. As soon as he opened the door, Du Suizhi from the next room rushed out and burst in, asking, "How is it?"

Tan Huan moved his right hand and said, "It's alright now."

Du Suizhi's gaze lingered on her lips, and he smiled ambiguously, "Young Master Pei, you still couldn't resist making a move?"

Pei Jin narrowed his eyes.

Du then turned his head with a sly grin, pointing to the bite mark on his lip, "Did you bite me?"

Pei Jin took a deep breath. "Du Suizhi, do you think our relationship is too peaceful?" As she spoke, a hint of murderous intent lingered.

Tan Huan ignored him, jumped off the edge of the bed, picked up the Lonely Dust Sword from the table, and happily handed it to Pei Jin, saying, "Here, yours, don't forget." Then he turned to Du Suizhi and smiled.

Du Suizhi's lips twitched. Damn it, he actually handed the Lone Dust Sword to Pei Jin. What a traitorous bodyguard. He spoke slowly and deliberately, "Young Master Pei, do you remember you once said that if you were to marry a certain woman, you would give her the Lone Dust Sword?"

Pei Jin was taken aback.

Tan Huan was also taken aback, then withdrew the hand holding the sword and hugged the Lonely Dust Sword tightly to his chest.

Pei Jin's expression was somewhat unnatural.

Du laughed heartily. Tsk tsk, although he couldn't see the good show before, this show in front of him was not bad either, was it?

Tan Huan refused to return the Lonely Dust Sword to Pei Jin, and Pei Jin was too embarrassed to snatch it. Du Suizhi was happy to watch the show and naturally did not try to help.

Pei Jin crouched down slightly and asked softly, "What's your name?"

"Indulging in pleasure."

Pei Jin paused, then gave her a deep look. "It was just a joke back then. It's useless for you to have the Lonely Dust Sword."

After thinking for a moment, Tan Huan honestly replied, "Taking it is better than not taking it."

Du chuckled to himself.

Pei Jin had never encountered such a dilemma before, and could only say, "Tan Huan, if you return the Lonely Dust Sword to me, I will be grateful to you." It was clearly his sword, but in the end he had to thank someone else for giving it to him. Pei Jin was helpless. "As long as I don't agree, it's useless for you to have the sword."

Tan Huan pondered carefully. Hmm, it did make some sense. However, "If I were to carry this sword and be seen by people in the martial world, everyone would assume I'm your fiancée, right?" Tan Huan looked up at him, her face serious, and said what was on her mind. "Thinking about it this way, it's better for me to carry this sword."

Du couldn't help but burst into laughter, and shamelessly leaned against the edge of the table. Seeing Pei Jin like this made the trip worthwhile.

Pei Jin rubbed his temples in annoyance. "What's the difference between what you're doing and robbery? The Wu family is a renowned family in the martial arts world. Don't tarnish your family's reputation."

These two sentences were already quite harsh. Tan Huan flinched slightly, her brows furrowed in thought. She thought of Wu Canyang's beatings and scoldings, and then of Pei Jin's warm smile. Then, slowly, she raised her right arm, tilted her head, and said, "It's dislocated..." She spoke slowly and deliberately, word by word, "Don't you think you should give me some compensation?"

Pei Jindu was so engrossed in banging his head against a wall that he said hesitantly, "I've already healed you..."

Tan Huan still looked innocent and nodded, "Yes, thank you." She paused, "But, you don't need to give me any compensation now that I'm healed? It hurt a lot just now."

Du laughed until his stomach hurt. "Very good, very good. Tan Huan has the qualities of a shrewd businesswoman."

Pei Jin sighed heavily, meeting her gaze. "Tan Huan, as I said before, I'll wait for you for two years. I keep my promise, and you must keep yours too. If it were anything else, it wouldn't matter, but the Lonely Dust Sword is my personal sword, and it was given to me by my father. I can't just give it away."

Tan Huan asked in surprise, "I didn't break my promise. I waited for you for two years, and you waited for me for two years. How did I break my promise?"

Pei Jin was speechless. He wasn't good at arguing, especially with girls. He was best at letting his actions speak for themselves. Staring silently at the rooftop, he was already considering whether he should get a new sword.

Du then added fuel to the fire, clapping and laughing, "Tan Huan, well done! Don't be fooled by sweet words. Young Master Pei injured you, so he should give you appropriate compensation. A sword would be too cheap for him."

Pei Jin glared at him. He was too embarrassed to be rude to Tan Huan, but he had no qualms about being rude to Du Suizhi. He was even looking for an opportunity to beat him up! Pei Jin said calmly, "You can try saying it again."

Du then fell silent, lacking any sense of self-respect, though a smug smile still lingered on his face.

Tan Huan deeply agreed with Du Suizhi's words, nodding repeatedly. "I'm not greedy, this sword is enough for me." Finally, she gently asked, "Is that alright?"

"If I say something, you might return the sword?" Pei Jin sighed again. Giving him a sword would have been fine, but his father had repeatedly emphasized its importance, instructing him to keep it safe and carry it at all times. Moreover, of all the swords he'd owned since childhood, this was the one he was most comfortable with. The Lonely Dust Sword was a priceless treasure in the martial world, sharp enough to cut through gold, its blade leaving no trace of blood. Pei Jin truly didn't know what to do. He had indeed said what Du Suizhi had said in his youthful arrogance, and as Tan Huan had said, even if he didn't take it seriously, others in the martial world would.

Tan Huan keenly sensed Pei Jin's emotional changes, blinked, and carefully tugged at his clothes, "Are you angry? Don't be angry, okay? Don't hate me..." As she spoke, seeing Pei Jin's gaze turn to the sword in her arms, Tan Huan immediately clutched the Lonely Dust Sword tightly, refusing to compromise, "Don't be angry, but I can't give this sword back to you."

Du then laughed and said, "Pei Jin, what are you dissatisfied with? She's still young now, but in a couple of years, she'll definitely grow into a great beauty. You should take advantage of this time to train her more, so she'll develop a sensible and understanding personality in the future. Tell me, what else do you want?"

Tan Huan nodded repeatedly, "I will try my best to grow up to be beautiful."

Pei Jin didn't dislike Tan Yuan; in fact, she even liked him somewhat. "Oh well, I can always get another sword," she thought. "Take it."

Tan Huan cried out happily and hugged Pei Jin tightly, "You're such a good person." She was so proud of her own judgment; this was the kind of man she should marry. She had tried everything—feigning helplessness, begging—in the Wu family, but never had it worked. But with this man, it worked on the very first try.

Pei Jin gave a wry smile.

Du Suizhi's smile deepened, his gaze subtly fixed on the Lone Dust Sword, a glint of light flashing deep within his eyes. "The Lone Dust Sword is a fine sword, one I've coveted for a long time. If I let you name your price, would you be willing to sell it to me?"

Tan Huan shook his head, "This is a token of our love, it's not for sale."

Pei Jin awkwardly turned his head away. He wanted to deny it, but seeing the look in Tan Huan's eyes, like that of an abandoned puppy, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. After thinking for a moment, he simply said, "This doesn't count as a token; you can keep it as a gift."

Du smiled lazily, "Really not selling? You can set the price as high as you want."

Pei Jin turned to look at him, her gaze sharp as a knife, "What do you want the Lonely Dust Sword for?"

“I’ll buy it and take it home to admire.” Du said casually, “This is a famous sword used by Young Master Pei, so it naturally has collectible value. I plan to place it next to the memorial tablet and offer three sticks of incense every day.”

Pei Jin looked at him coldly, not caring whether he was lying or not. This guy's lying skills were improving by leaps and bounds every day, so she didn't bother to pay him any attention.

"...But he's too greedy to sell himself." Du Suizhi smiled faintly, then sighed deeply, "What a pity."

Chapter Five: The Secret of the Lonely Dust Sword

The next day, the three continued their journey. There were many routes to Lingfeng, some circuitous, some shortcuts. Two routes were relatively shorter: one was the official road, passing through major towns, and the other involved traversing forests and rocky paths—pure natural terrain. Given Du Suizhi's temperament, he naturally preferred the comfortable official road. However, traveling with Pei Jin on the official road meant being watched the entire time—while eating, while walking—making him extremely uncomfortable. Thinking about it this way, he gave up on the idea.

They all had their own mounts, so traveling along the rocky mountain path was relatively easy. Tan Huan followed closely behind Pei Jin, while Du Sui walked casually beside Tan Huan.

The mountain path is remote and rugged. Deep in the mountains, clouds and mist swirl, a white expanse spreading before your eyes as you wander in the embrace of the mountains. Tall, green pines stand upright, and on the cliffs and mountainside, there are also pleasingly shaped welcoming pines, their curved branches clinging to the mountainside.

Du broke the silence, though not loudly, "Sigh, with such a steep mountain, you wouldn't survive if you fell down, would you?" He added a long sigh at the end.

Pei Jin glanced at him silently.

Even Tan Huan turned to look at him.

Du then laughed and asked, "If I fall, will you save me?" He pointed to himself, "I don't know any martial arts, but you two are experts, so you should be able to protect me, right?"

"I'm your bodyguard." Tan Huan looked like he had been taken advantage of, and said in a forced tone, "But you should still be careful not to fall. My abilities are limited, so don't blame me if I can't save you."

Du looked at her with amusement, "You seem very unwilling."

Tan Huan glanced at him, then looked away, glancing uncomfortably in another direction before nodding slightly. Yes, she didn't want to. The mountain was so steep; she couldn't even see the bottom. If she went to rescue him, it would be too dangerous; she might even lose her life. She nodded again, her tone becoming more assertive, "Yes, it's too dangerous."

Du Sui grinned from ear to ear, "Not bad, not bad, it was indeed dangerous." He glanced at Pei Jin out of the corner of his eye, then looked up at the sky and closed his eyes slightly, "However, with the right timing, location, and people, and after planning for a long time, I can't just do nothing..."

Pei Jin stared at him intently.

However, Du Suizhi had already taken the dark, spherical hidden weapon in his hand, and looked at Tan Huan with a smile, his tone as usual, "Give me the Lonely Dust Sword."

Pei Jin dared not move. The hidden weapon in the opponent's hand was the Thousand Mountains Dense Rain Needle, the number one hidden weapon in the world. Apart from Baili Liushang, even if his father were standing here, he probably wouldn't dare to make a move rashly. What did Du Suizhi want with the Lonely Dust Sword? From the moment they met, he had shown great interest in the Lonely Dust Sword. Perhaps Du Suizhi thought he had concealed it well, but Pei Jin had seen through it all, only he hadn't said anything.

He won't say, he won't say.

Pei Jin was overconfident. He thought he could keep a close watch on Du Suizhi right under his nose. Moreover, he wanted to find out what secrets the Lonely Dust Sword held through their daily interactions. If he were alone, he might have been able to escape from the Thousand Mountains Dense Rain Needles, but Tan Huan was also there, and he couldn't just abandon the little girl and run away alone.

Tan Huan's expression remained unchanged as she stared directly at him. After a long while, she suddenly smiled and said, "This is called Thousand Mountains Dense Rain Needle? Are you threatening me now?"

Du nodded slowly. "You can think of it that way."

Tan Huan brandished the Lonely Dust Sword in his hand. "You want this?"

Du smiled and said, "Mm."

"If I don't give it to you, you'll kill me?" Tan Huan asked, tilting his head.