Chapter 14: Don’t Be Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

With a single sentence from Xie Qiao, the many questions in Zhao Xuanjing’s mind were stuck in his throat.

Coincidence?

She even counted the time down to the exact hour, and now she was telling him that it was just a coincidence?

However, when he thought back about what happened yesterday, he was about to send her to court. So it was reasonable if she would not care to be bothered with him today.

“Ms. Xie, could you help me check if there will be any other dangers or obstacles along my journey?” Zhao Xuanjing looked up and down Xie Qiao’s face. For some reason, his tone was a lot gentler.

Xie Qiao rolled her eyes in her mind.

He would not just encounter dangers in this journey alone. There was no way this person would ever live a peaceful life.

She had never seen anyone who attracted spirits and ghouls as much as he did. The amount of black smog oozing from his body was enough to reach the skies!

She had to keep her distance from people like this …

“You will… encounter danger. Just be more careful. If we have to perform divination for every little thing, then all the fortune-tellers would die from exhaustion… Besides, Heaven’s secrets must not be divulged,” Xie Qiao said lackadaisically.

Smack.

A silver ingot was placed on the small desk in the carriage.

Judging by the size, it should be worth 10 taels.

“Danger’s close.” Xie Qiao took the silver and kept it in her bamboo basket.

Zhao Xuanjing’s eyebrows rose. Barely holding back his laughter, he asked, “That’s it?”

Xie Qiao kept quiet.

Zhao Xuanjing smiled. He was rather amused, so he deliberately took out silver notes worth 50 taels of silver and placed them on the desk. “How much of your advice can this buy?”

“Be careful of soldier’s blades and sparks.” Xie Qiao continued to pocket the money, then she picked out a yellow talisman and a small copper mirror from her bamboo basket. “Here’s a safety talisman and blessed mirror to keep you safe. All you have to do is to keep them by your side at all times. These are only for this journey, they won’t work for any others.”

Zhao Xuanjing took the two items over to examine them.

The safety talisman was folded into a small triangle. It had a faint scent of incense; somewhat similar to the scent on this maiden.

This copper mirror was the size of a palm, the perfect size to be brought around.

There was no way to know if the money was worth it. But since he had already bought them, he would use them at some point.

Just as Zhao Xuanjing was about to thank her, Xie Qiao spoke first, “I can’t read your fortune even if you pay me more.”

In Xie Qiao’s face, Zhao Xuanjing tucked these items in his arms.

“You have quite the personality, Ms. Xie,” Zhao Xuanjing said with a laugh.

Delicate, money-grubbing, and a bit like a bandit.

The reason he said she was like a bandit was not because of her looks, but the air she had that he felt from her.

She was just like a stray cat. She looked pretty pitiful and weak at first glance, but her claws were way sharper than a house cat’s.

“You are quite the dawdler, Sir.” Xie Qiao’s voice was mild as she finally raised her chin. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned on the carriage frame and took out a feather fan to fan herself.

Her face was no longer flushed, and neither was she panting. The sickly look she had was all gone now.

Zhao Xuanjing glanced her over. He noticed that there was a small bell swaying on the half-immortal’s wrist. It was actually made out of real gold.

It may not seem that heavy, but she seemed a little less forlorn with that.

When he saw her fair wrist move, he felt seduced as well.

He looked to the side.

They were about to reach Floating Pavilion Town.

This group was obviously planning to rest in the town.

They had originally wanted to send her to an inn, but Xie Qiao remembered that the Lu mother and daughter duo were strict with rules. They would not be happy to see all these burly men accompanying her, so she alighted at the town’s gate.

“Quickly go ask Ms. Xie for tips won’t you?!” Imperial Bodyguard Zhou quickly pushed Qin Zhi.

Qin Zhi was like a log, struck dumb on the spot. Each step was hard. “She is a lady… She will definitely talk drivel.”

Imperial Bodyguard Zhou rolled his eyes. “If she really talks drivel, would the young master invite her for a ride? Would I really tell you all this throughout this whole journey? Your pride is important, but your life is even more important. Besides, this lady just indeed saved our lives. What’s so embarrassing about running along to ask her some quick questions?”

This guy was just shy!