Xu Liling had just left, and Guan Yi went to the Xuanya for duty.
Passing by Yuehong Tavern, he entered to greet Yingran and the steward sent by the county office.
The steward took Yingran to a guest room where four women were sitting, cracking melon seeds and peanuts, some sorting vegetables or doing embroidery.
The steward said Yingran was recommended by Guan Yi and assigned tasks to the women in the room, including Yingran.
“Today, with one more person, each of you will handle five rooms. Just go upstairs later, knock on each door, and ask if there’s anything they need.”
The steward smiled at Yingran, “Usually, there’s nothing to do. After asking, you can come down and rest.”
Yingran nodded.
Being new, she was a bit reserved, with a shy smile on her face.
The others, more familiar and older than her, took care of her: “You take the five female disciples on the fourth floor. They’re all young girls, so it’s convenient.”
Yingran thanked them.
They waved it off: “No need to be polite.”
The group chatted and laughed as they followed the steward upstairs.
On the fourth floor, the steward waved his hand, assigning five rooms to Yingran.
Yingran knocked on the first door.
“Please fetch me a basin of water.”
A female disciple’s cold, polite voice came from inside.
Yingran agreed and went to knock on the second door.
The woman in that room ignored her.
After knocking three times, the female disciple snapped irritably, “Get lost!”
Yingran apologized, unfazed by the outburst.
Back when she was a corporate drone, being scolded by people or chewed out by bosses was routine—this was nothing.
As she was about to knock on the third door, the steward suddenly came up and called her: “Lady Qin, you’re to handle the third floor instead.”
Yingran looked puzzled.
The steward frowned slightly, “There’s an elder cultivator on the third floor who specifically requested you.”
Yingran: “Does he know me?”
Steward: “No, he doesn’t. He saw you when you arrived today.”
He led Yingran to the third floor, where Lady Wang, originally assigned to that elder cultivator, whispered to Yingran, “He better not have improper thoughts just because you’re young and pretty.”
Yingran: “It’s probably not that.”
Though she said this, she found it odd. Why would someone who saw her briefly insist on her service?
With caution, she knocked on the door.
A deep, resonant voice came from inside: “Come in.”
Yingran hesitated and didn’t enter.
Lady Wang comforted her: “I’ll be here on the third floor. Call if you need help.”
The steward didn’t leave either, staying nearby.
These women were all relatives of the Xuanya officials. If anything went wrong, he couldn’t bear the responsibility.
Yingran pushed the door open.
A strange herbal fragrance filled the room. A middle-aged man with a broad face, dressed in a cultivator’s robe, sat at a table, his sharp, eagle-like eyes sizing her up.
Yingran stood by the door and bowed: “Esteemed Cultivator, is there anything you need?”
Zhou Tuya held a demonic compass, detecting no spiritual or demonic energy from her.
With his experience, he could tell at a glance that she was a mortal.
He lifted his teacup: “Come pour me some water.”
Yingran walked over, picked up the teapot, and poured water for him. After pouring, she stepped back, keeping her distance.
Zhou Tuya swirled his teacup and asked, “I heard that those hired to tend to us are all married women. Are you as well?”
Yingran: “Yes.”
Zhou Tuya: “The two men who brought you this morning, one after the other—which is your husband?”
Yingran: “The first one is my husband; the second is my brother.”
Zhou Tuya glanced at her, his eyes glinting sharply: “Was your husband introduced by your brother? Is he also a cultivator?”
This was what he truly wanted to know.
His earlier questions were just to avoid suspicion.
Yingran shook her head, feeling uneasy at his excessive questioning.
Zhou Tuya sensed her discomfort and gave a gentle smile: “Please don’t mind my boldness. When I saw you from upstairs earlier, you reminded me of my late sister.”
“She was called Zhou Lin, also a mortal. If she hadn’t been killed by demonic forces, she’d likely be married by now. How old are you?”
Yingran thought, So that’s why, and answered, “Nineteen.”
“My sister was nineteen when she died… Is your husband also nineteen?”
“He’s a bit older than me.”
“…”
Zhou Tuya smiled warmly, took out three spirit stones, and handed them to her, apologizing again: “I miss my sister so much that I called you here just to talk. I hope I didn’t disturb your work.”
Guan Yi had mentioned that some generous cultivators might give extra spirit stones as a tip. If offered, it was fine to accept.
Three spirit stones!
Yingran suppressed her excitement, accepted them, and took her leave.
Seeing her come out with a smile, Lady Wang and the steward asked, “Why did this Yunzhou cultivator specifically call for you?”
Yingran answered honestly, “He said I resemble his late sister.”
“So that’s it.”
The steward and Lady Wang sighed in relief, not thinking much of it, and even told Yingran to tend to this cultivator in the future.
Inside the room, Zhou Tuya listened to the voices outside, his face darkening.
He had thought the person he saw this morning was the demon supposed to be slumbering in Saint Demon City.
To his surprise, it was just a mortal.
He had no doubt about the mortal status of her husband either.
Because if a woman could make that demon settle down and lay down his blade,
the cultivators who tried to reform him with various methods during that 500-year war wouldn’t have all been slaughtered by him.
That was a demon.
The truest, most absolute demon in this world!
However, there exists in this world someone who looks so strikingly similar to that demon.
And almost no one in this world knows the demon’s appearance, except for him, who had a rare encounter.
Yet, this person was seen by him…
Zhou Tuya stroked his long beard, a dark glint flickering in his eyes.
Back then, he was too afraid and closed the realm gate too early, causing the deaths of several disciples. He didn’t follow Xuanheng Sect’s rules, letting the disciples escape first while he, as an elder, stayed behind.
Now he was fretting over how to explain himself when the sect came to retrieve them.
At noon, Yingran mentally prepared herself to head to Chunchen Academy for lunch.
As she left the Yuehong Tavern, she turned and saw, among the bustling crowd on the long street, a man carrying a food box walking toward her.
She joyfully rushed to meet him: “Huaizhen?”
Xu Liling steadied her with one hand as she charged over. “Let’s find a place to eat.”
Yingran’s heart softened with emotion: “Why are you here? Jinshui Town is so far away.”
Xu Liling’s expression remained calm: “I told the shopkeeper I’d take an extra hour for lunch and leave an hour later tonight. There’s only so much accounting to do each day; once it’s done, it’s fine.”
Talking on the busy street wasn’t convenient, eating in the tavern wasn’t ideal, and joining the women eating flatbread would be improper.
Yingran led Xu Liling to the back alley of the tavern, part of its premises, usually used for deliveries and mostly deserted.
“Then won’t you get home really late at night from now on?”
“Just for half a month. Leaving an hour later lets me pick you up.”
Yingran and he sat on a long stone bench in the alley meant for delivery workers to rest. She looked around, saw no one else, and threw herself into his arms: “Huaizhen…”
Xu Liling held her waist with one hand, set down the food box with the other, and took out the meal.
Since it was packed food, bringing extra bowls and chopsticks wasn’t convenient—just one bowl of rice and a pair of bamboo chopsticks.
He let Yingran eat first.
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