“Excellent! It’s raining heavily outside, and everyone is bored here. Why don’t you tell us a few stories to cheer us up, old lady?”
His words struck a chord with the other bored drinkers, who chimed in, pleading, "Yes, old lady, tell us a few stories, and you'll be well rewarded."
The old woman pondered for a moment and said, "Since you gentlemen are in such high spirits, I will tell you a few stories. What would you like to hear?"
"Grandma, tell me what's been happening in the martial arts world lately."
"Alright, let me tell you some interesting things happening in the martial world," the old woman began, and two twin boys accompanied her with their instruments. "There are so many interesting things happening in the martial world, ye sirs. Please listen to me slowly. Qiao Yijun, a leading figure of Wudang, was engaged to the daughter of the Xilin Pavilion Master. The Xilin Pavilion Master's daughter was named Cheng Ling. She was as beautiful as her mother, and her zither could produce five different sounds with ten strings. She was talented and beautiful, and very learned. Qiao Yijun of Wudang was skilled in both literature and martial arts. He and Cheng Ling were a match made in heaven. But then Qiao Yijun went to the Xilin Pavilion Master and hurriedly broke off the engagement. Poor Cheng Ling was all alone from then on!"
Xue Qing held her head. No matter the era, no matter if there were hidden cameras, listening devices, or paparazzi, the human instinct for gossip has never changed. Poor Qiao Yijun, although Xue Qing knew the reason he broke off the engagement was because he loved someone else, his stain as a man who broke off the engagement had already spread.
The listeners chatted and cheered, and the old woman, encouraged, continued singing: "Willow Green Lake, its waters reflecting the blue waves, a paradise on earth, a new red-light district, named Yi Chun, both new and old customers are busy. Speaking of this Yi Chun girl, her beauty goes without saying, but her skill on the zither is renowned far and wide. A thousand pieces of gold are offered to pluck a single string, and the lingering sound will resonate for thirty days. Truly, a beautiful woman's slightest frown or smile can topple cities, kingdoms, and empty pockets, causing countless princes and nobles to fall at her feet."
The listeners burst into laughter. One listener, engrossed in the conversation, asked loudly, "Old lady, do you know everything?"
The old woman sang: "Ask me, what do I know? I can only shake my head slightly. Ask me, what don't I know? I can only shake my head slightly as well."
"Hahaha, old lady, you're pretty arrogant. Since you know everything, tell me, who in this martial arts world can be called the number one in the world right now?"
"Esteemed guest, that's a good question. The martial world is vast, teeming with talent. Countless heroes emerge from among the young. If you ask who can claim the title of number one, I'll only mention one person: Xiao Guiying, the master of Dongqi Pavilion. Whether in literature or martial arts, his virtue and talent are renowned throughout the world. If you don't believe me, I'll mention another person. Head east to the Lingyu Sect. The sect leader's junior sister is named Xue Qing. This Xue Qing, at five years old, conquered the desert; at seven, her swordsmanship was mastered; at ten, her swordsmanship was refined. Her talent is unparalleled, and her martial arts are even more captivating. Such an extraordinary woman, yet she fell in love with Xiao Guiying at first sight. Do you think Xiao Guiying can be considered a hero?"
"Pfft!" Xue Qing sprayed a mouthful of sake all over the table. Luckily, she didn't bring up any stomach acid. The storyteller was talking about Xiao Guiying, so why did he suddenly drag her into it? She wasn't prepared at all.
Xue Qing felt her mental fortitude had reached its limit, and decided it was better to go up. What if someone recognized her as the woman in the scandal and forced her to give an autograph? She had only gone halfway down the stairs when she bumped into Liu Ying.
"Uncle-Master, I was just about to come looking for you." Upon seeing Xue Qing, Liu Ying's face turned a strange light pink.
"Don't go down, it's too scary down there. Let's go up instead." Xue Qing pushed Liu Ying up.
Liu Ying was inexplicably pushed back up, blinking her puzzled eyes as she asked, "Uncle-Master, why is your face so red?"
"I'm exhausted!" Xue Qing insisted. Liu Ying looked at her soft body; a man's body is indeed different from a woman's—it was too heavy!
"Uncle-Master, I'm sorry... I panicked and didn't know my own strength..." A light pink blush crept onto Liuying's face again.
"It was my fault. I thought there was a thief in your room. Your master was worried about your safety, not the money in your room. Don't worry, your master didn't see anything... probably."
"Uncle-Master!"
Liu Ying didn't sleep well that night, tormented by alternating sweet dreams and nightmares. When he woke up from a nightmare, he cried out, "Uncle-Master! No!" At that moment, Xue Qing was sleeping soundly on the bed in the next room, hugging her pillow and letting out lewd laughter. If she saw Liu Ying's miserable appearance and went through her mother's treasured family doctor's book again, she would know that Liu Ying's symptoms were called excessive fright.
After getting up early and packing her luggage, Xue Qing set off again. As she left her room, she ran into Liu Ying, who had also just gotten up. Xue Qing stared at Liu Ying's face and said, "Hey, junior niece, why are your eyes swollen?"
"I didn't sleep well," Liu Ying replied listlessly.
"Is the bed here uncomfortable? Then we'll try a more expensive inn next time."
"It's my own problem, it has nothing to do with the bed. Don't worry about me, Uncle-Master, I'll be fine in a while." Liu Ying believed that time would heal everything, including her wounded heart.
"If you still can't sleep, just tell me. I haven't used the sleeping incense in the bag yet; there's a whole bag of it," Xue Qing said, patting the bag.
"Uncle-Master..."
After breakfast, the two went to the innkeeper to settle their bill.
After quickly calculating on the abacus, the shopkeeper looked at the ledger and said, "It's seven qian of silver in total. You've paid a deposit of one tael, sir. Here's your change."
Xue Qing took the change from the shopkeeper, a thought flashing through her mind, and asked, "Shopkeeper, did a girl in red stay at this shop yesterday?"
"There is one, living right next to you. What's wrong? Are you being disturbed?"
"No, thank you, we'll take our leave now."
Could it be the same person? She really was stalking me. I have to catch her and get to the bottom of this, otherwise I'll never be sure.
My niece in red
The carriage would travel another day to reach the town closest to Broken Sword Manor. The official road was extremely smooth from the constant flow of carriages and pedestrians. Xue Qing lay dozing in the carriage, unaware that she had been watched by suspicious eyes as soon as she left the inn.
"Brother, if we don't act soon, we'll be in trouble once they enter Broken Sword Manor's territory," the bandit's second-in-command said anxiously.
"That woman is easy to deal with, but the man with her should know martial arts," the bandit leader said hesitantly.
The second-in-command of the bandits became even more agitated: "So what if he knows martial arts? Can he take on more than ten of our brothers by himself?"
"Yes, Boss, if we slow down any longer they'll escape!" "Boss, give the order!" the henchmen shouted from behind.
"Alright! Brothers, follow me!" the bandit leader shouted, leading more than a dozen henchmen to run out and block Xue Qing's carriage.
The carriage braked suddenly, and Xue Qing inside felt a noticeable jolt. She lifted the curtain to see what was happening, and wow, it was quite a sight—she was surrounded.
"Leave the silver, and we'll spare your lives," the bandit leader shouted.
"Money is my life. Without money, how can you talk about sparing my life?" Xue Qing shouted back at him.
"Boss, this woman is arguing with you!" one of the henchmen said indignantly.
"Stop talking nonsense! This is the main road. Do you want trouble? Hurry up and grab the silver and throw their corpses to feed the wild dogs!" the second-in-command shouted anxiously.
The henchmen roared in response, brandishing their weapons. Liu Ying placed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist and said to Xue Qing, "Uncle-Master, stay in the carriage and don't move."
"No, you stay here too, don't make a move." Xue Qing hurriedly said, her eyes scanning the woods on both sides. The mysterious red-clad female warrior always seemed to appear when she was in danger, and she was probably following her. Now was a good opportunity to lure her out. Although she was her benefactor and shouldn't have planned this, Xue Qing was really curious about her identity. She hadn't done anything good, so why would heaven send an angel to protect her?
Liu Ying understood and did not make a move, but his hand remained on the hilt of his sword. If the woman in red did not appear, he would not hesitate to draw his sword.
The girl in red indeed appeared, leaping over several bandits who blocked the carriage like a ball of fire. Her slightly tight red dress outlined her exquisite figure. Her face was still that of a young girl, yet she possessed a youthful charm that suggested she would grow up to be an enchanting beauty!
"Desert people," Firefly whispered.