Shi Jing blushed and quickly stepped forward to bow: "My name is Shi Jing. May I ask if you know the person who came to order the sword last month?"
The girl raised her pretty willow-leaf eyebrows, her voice sounding somewhat familiar: "It seems like I know you."
"Knowing someone is knowing someone, not knowing someone is not knowing someone. How can it seem like we know each other?" Shi Jing didn't know how to ask next, so he stammered, "Last month, a young man took a sword that my uncle had ordered, and then ordered this sword and arranged to pick it up today. So, so, I wanted to ask you, young lady, do you know the person who came to pick up the sword last month?"
The girl tilted her head and smiled sweetly: "Last month, I came to take that sword away."
Shi Jing was stunned: "You!"
"Yes. I came here last month and immediately took a liking to that Shaoguang Sword. Master Mingxiang said that someone had already reserved it and he wouldn't sell it for any amount of money."
"Then how did you take it?"
"Then, I asked the boy and found out that it was arranged by Master Yuanzhao, who had arranged for his nephew Shi Jing to come and collect it. So, I disguised myself as a man, said my name was Shi Jing, and then took the silver and left."
Shi Jing nearly jumped up: "Oh, oh, girl, how could you do this? You can't be like this!"
The girl stuck out her tongue: "All you ever do is say, 'You can't be like that,' so what should you do?"
She wrinkled her nose and imitated his tone to tease him, her laughter both playful and cheeky.
Shi Jing had a headache, but the way she teased him was so cute that it made his heart flutter, making him unable to get angry, and it also felt strangely familiar.
Shi Jing said helplessly, "Miss, can you please give me back that sword? It was ordered by my uncle. I... I can't explain it when I go back."
The fairy snorted: "Your uncle, your uncle, don't you care about anyone else besides him?"
Shi Jing was completely confused: "Ah, these are two different things, miss."
The fairy glared at him, then turned and left.
Shi Jing followed behind her, saying, "Miss, miss, where are you going? Sigh, sigh, you can't do this."
The fairy turned around and wrinkled her nose: "I'm going to do it this way, what can you do about it?"
Shi Jing was sweating profusely because he was anxious because he couldn't do anything to her.
"Oh, oh, can I... can I pay double?"
"don't want."
"Then, how can you pay me back?"
The girl turned her black, pearly eyes and pursed her cherry lips: "Hmm, let me think."
Helpless, Shi Jing followed her around like a shadow all day. As evening approached and it was time to find a place to stay, Shi Jing steeled himself and asked, "Miss, when will you be able to decide?"
The fairy laughed heartlessly, counting on her fingers, "Well, it will take at least seven or eight days, and at most, it's uncertain."
Shi Jing looked at the fairy-like girl with a troubled expression. How could she be so good at tormenting people?
After serving as his follower for seven days, the fairy finally took pity on him and said to Shi Jing, "I've thought it over. I'd like to return the sword to you as a gift, but you have to promise me one thing."
"What's up?"
The fairy wrote a piece of paper and handed it to him: "This is the matter. Words are not enough. You need to make a written agreement."
Shi Jing felt a sudden jolt in his heart. He took the paper and found only one sentence on it: No engagement within one year.
Shi Jing blushed and whispered, "What... what does this mean?"
"That's right, no engagement within a year, and of course, no marriage either." The fairy leaned over from the other side of the table, her bright eyes glaring at him, as if she would immediately turn on him if he dared to disobey.
He noticed that her eyelashes were incredibly long and thick, and her eyes were large and bright; pearls and agates were insufficient to describe their dazzling brilliance.
Shi Jing struggled to escape her gaze, lowered his head and mumbled, "If I agree, will you give me the sword?"
"Okay, sign your name."
Shi Jing picked up his pen, looked at the line of words, and suddenly a thought struck him. He blurted out, "Are you Qiao Mu?"
The girl ignored him and turned her face to look out the window.
Her skin was as white as porcelain, and under the light, it seemed to glow with a warm, ethereal quality, as if a deep breath could break through her jade-like skin.
Shi Jing was a little stunned. She and Qiao Mu didn't look alike, except for her long eyelashes and bright eyes. However, her handwriting was exactly the same as Qiao Mu's.
A strange longing welled up within him; she was Qiao Mu. This longing was so intense that his heart pounded uncontrollably, as if it were about to burst from his chest. Was she really her?
She turned around and smiled at him: "My name isn't Qiao Mu, it's A Qiao."
Side Story – Shi Jing in His Youth (Part 3)
This was the day that Master Yuanzhao was unanimously elected as the leader of the martial arts world by all the major sects in the martial arts world. Shi Jing was even more excited than if he had become the leader of the martial arts world himself.
The leaders of various sects and martial arts masters gathered together, and Yun Zhishi and Qi Chong also came in plain clothes to offer their congratulations. In terms of martial arts skills, the three of them may not be the top masters of the time, but because of their widespread fame from their battles in the south and north, their reputations are much more renowned than those of ordinary people in the martial arts world, and even the common people speak highly of them.
During the banquet, the Qingcheng Sect leader drank a few extra cups. Seeing that Yun Zhishi and Master Yuanzhao bore a resemblance and seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, he impulsively suggested that Yun Zhishi and Master Yuanzhao become sworn brothers. Upon hearing this, Shi Jing nearly choked on his wine. He desperately tried to signal to his uncle with his eyes, but unfortunately, his uncle was busy with social engagements and didn't see his anxious look.
Sitting next to him was Yun Zhifei, who was winking and laughing so hard his eyes were almost invisible.
Shi Jing, his face flushed, sullenly left the banquet and walked dejectedly to the back mountain. Within the Xiaoyao Sect, he was quite close to Yun Zhifei and Jiang Ruiyang; the three were like brothers. If his uncle and Yun Zhifei became sworn brothers, what would he call Yun Zhifei from now on? Little Uncle? ... He tugged at his hair, his head aching.
"Hey, Shi Jing!" Shi Jing turned around and saw that Yun Zhifei and Jiang Ruiyang had also left the banquet and were walking over with smiles on their faces.
Yun Zhifei, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, said happily, "Junior brother, from now on you'll have to call me little uncle. Hehe."