Sept nuits de neige

Chapitre 77

Tianxiu's eyes were blurry with tears, and she was still wailing, "Mother... Mother..."

Nineteen was completely speechless at this situation, unsure whether to join Tianxiu in framing Tang Diku or to clear Tang Diku's name.

That Tiger Earth Lord was eight zhang tall, with a righteous and proud face. Under his open robe, his chest muscles were bulging, and black hair grew in abundance.

Seeing Tang Shijiu's blank expression, he assumed she was terrified and felt even more protective of her. He said loudly, "Miss, miss, don't be afraid. Although this old man is covered in poison, we are all righteous people in the martial world, so we are not afraid of him doing anything reckless!"

The crowd cheered and surrounded Tang Diku.

Tang Di was speechless and could only glare at Tian Xiu resentfully before turning away.

Tianxiu tugged at Tang Shijiu's sleeve: "Good sister, I've dragged you into this... I... this jinx, it's better for me to leave."

He winked and made faces, and Tang Shijiu, at a loss, subconsciously said, "No..."

Tianxiu burst into tears, and everyone praised Tang Shijiu's kindness and righteousness.

Tiger Earth Lord clearly had a special fondness for Tang Shijiu and spoke up to stop him: "Hey, this young man is really lacking in consideration. This young lady is not yet married, how can she be hanging out with a young man like you for no reason? If you have any difficulties, you should tell us. There are many people here, so we can give you advice and help."

"The moment this Bodhisattva saved me, I decided to serve her for life. I will be her slave, her servant. If she tells me to empty the chamber pot, I will empty it. Whatever she tells me to do, I will do. I don't want the Tang Clan or anything like that. I only want to repay the Bodhisattva!" Tianxiu stared innocently at the towering Tiger Earth Lord, then suddenly blushed with shyness. "Actually, I am not a man... I just do it for convenience... You can ask this Bodhisattva if you don't believe me."

A gasp rippled through the crowd! His exposed wrists were fair and smooth, indeed resembling those of a young woman. While he was somewhat tall, it wasn't excessive; it wouldn't be polite to actually tear open his clothes to examine his chest. Then, as he moved, his robes slightly opened, revealing a thin strap on his shoulder, vaguely resembling a bodice.

Before Tiger Earth Lord could say anything more, Tianxiu suddenly knelt down and grabbed Tang Nineteen's legs: "Please, miss, let me stay! I can do anything, I can endure any hardship. Just please, Goddess, don't send me away... I beg you..."

He spoke with great emotion, wiping his snot and tears generously on the hem of Tang Shijiu's skirt.

Tang Shijiu had no choice but to go along with the lie, having been forced into this situation: "Alright..."

Tianxiu was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Bodhisattva..." She then bowed to Hutujun, her eyes full of charm, "Thank you so much for your help, brother! You are truly a hero of the martial world!"

Unfortunately, her alluring eyes were hidden beneath a mess of rouge and weren't very seductive. Tiger Earth Lord was so frightened that he took a step back and dared not pursue her any further, watching helplessly as Tang Nineteen led the pitiful "girl" upstairs.

After closing the door, Tang Shijiu said irritably, "When did you take my undergarment out and put it on?"

As Tianxiu wiped the rouge off her face, she laughed, "I can take off my clothes very quickly, Nineteen-year-old beauty, would you like to try it..."

Recalling the farce that happened downstairs today, Nineteen was both amused and exasperated: "Tianxiu, your imitation of a girl's voice is really awful. It's especially scary when you wail. And you even remembered to wear your hair down so that no one could see your Adam's apple."

Tianxiu smiled without saying a word. Today's performance was enough to ensure their safety for the next few days. Tang Di had lost face in front of so many martial artists and made enemies in public, so he certainly wouldn't dare to make any big moves. Otherwise, if the two of them disappeared, it would be seen as the Tang Clan bullying the weak, which would only dispel any doubts those who had questions about today's events and completely solidify the Tang Clan's crimes of forcibly taking women, breaking faith, and even killing their own flesh and blood.

Furthermore, by becoming a woman, she could eat and sleep with Tang Shijiu in close proximity, thus preventing the possibility of Shen Yuntan or the Tang Clan mysteriously appearing and abducting Tang Shijiu without his knowledge.

Tang Shijiu saw him smiling smugly and was about to make a few jokes when Tianxiu suddenly said seriously, "Shijiu, there is something I need to tell you."

He was unusually serious, and Nineteen also became serious: "What is it?"

Tianxiu said seriously, "Nineteen, the quality of your rouge is too poor. It dissolves when it gets wet. You should buy a new one."

He was met with the soft pillows of the inn.

"You sissy! It's a loss to the martial arts world if you don't become a woman!"

Tianxiu caught the pillow with a grin, responding with a charming look: "Tomorrow I'll do as the Nineteenth Beauty wishes and appear in women's clothing. As long as it makes the Nineteenth Beauty smile, I'll do anything, even run naked!"

Nineteen was a little touched: "So, you saw I've been unhappy lately, so you wanted to make me laugh... You're belittling yourself like this..."

Tianxiu leaned closer with a devout look: "Yes, Nineteen, if you look so miserable, I can't eat or sleep well, and I feel terrible all over. You should smile more; a beautiful Nineteen looks best when she smiles! Aren't I good to you? Aren't you touched? Why don't you repay me with your body? I won't refuse!"

Nineteen chuckled to himself, realizing he shouldn't have believed this utterly nonsensical genius at all!

She sat down on the bed, rummaged through her bundle, and tossed him a set of exquisite clothes. The clothes were so brightly colored that even a girl would find them dazzling.

"Any girl willing to be my slave for life, go fetch me water to wash my feet! Otherwise, I'll beat you to death, you little hussy!"

Tianxiu had just said it offhand, but she never expected that this woman would seize on it. She immediately looked distressed and asked, "Are you serious?"

"Aren't you a man of your word?" Tang Shijiu chuckled. "Yesterday you made me believe you were a man! I think you might as well wear women's clothes for the rest of your life!"

Tianxiu gritted his teeth. For the sake of his image as a man in Shijiu's eyes, he could only hastily apply some rouge, put on his robe, and, imitating a woman's graceful bow, carry the foot-washing basin out the door with a radiant smile.

Chapter Forty-Eight: The Proposal

As Tianxiu, with her slender waist swaying gracefully, stepped out carrying a foot basin, she saw Hutujun peeking in from the doorway. The burly man, at that moment, resembled a young man experiencing his first love, his cheeks flushed. Upon seeing Tianxiu, he was overjoyed, yet hesitated to speak.

Tianxiu wasn't wearing much makeup at the time and didn't want to say much to him, afraid of being seen through. She nodded slightly and whispered a word of advice as she walked away.

"Miss has already gone to sleep."

—It means, old man, don't be so shameless as to squat at the door and refuse to leave.

She thought that such a sentence would make the reckless man back down, but when Tianxiu returned with the washbasin, she saw that the iron tower was still standing there.

Tianxiu rolled her eyes, intending to pretend she hadn't seen anything, but someone tugged at her sleeve.

"The young lady has already gone to sleep. Please go back, brave warrior." He had to forcefully suppress his anger to avoid slapping this ungrateful toad who dared to dream of eating swan meat.

Tiger Earth blushed and stammered, "I...I didn't come to see Miss Tang."

—Hmm? That's unexpected.

"I came to see you..."

The basin of water almost spilled. No matter how stunningly beautiful she was, she never thought that one day she would be noticed by a man.

"Nineteen...you have to stand up for me!" Tianxiu cried, looking at Tang Nineteen who was laughing so hard she was doubled over. "Tiger Earth Lord insists on marrying me!"

"I'll make the decision for you. I'll give you to him tomorrow." Tang Shijiu, suppressing her discomfort, pounded the bed. "Tianxiu! You're bisexual, a womanizer!"