Struggling a bit, Xi Fuhong managed to crawl out from under the covers. By this time, Shi Cuiyan had already turned to look at her for a while, her bright eyes twinkling with thoughts unknown. Xi Fuhong sat on the edge of the bed, unable to find her outer clothes. Just then, a pair of jade-like hands approached and draped the clothes over her. Xi Fuhong looked up and thanked Shi Cuiyan.
“Sister Cui, where should we go to find Grandma?” The world is vast, and without any clues, where should they start looking?
“Could it be that Sister Xi doesn’t believe in my abilities?” Shi Cuiyan walked to the table and poured herself a cup of cold tea.
“Of course not! I can only rely on Sister Cui now, how could I not trust you?” Xi Fuhong quickly shook her head to explain, her expression suddenly falling as she said, “But didn’t you say there are many people outside looking to take revenge on Grandma? Doesn’t that mean Grandma is in great danger?”
“Don’t worry, those people haven’t entered Wu Feng Valley. In fact, many were killed by the traps. Now they all think Gui Po is hiding in the valley and won’t make a fuss outside,” Shi Cuiyan said with a smile.
Xi Fuhong was stunned. They hadn’t entered Wu Feng Valley… which meant her home wasn’t destroyed? The vegetable garden and flower beds were safe and sound? That’s great! Now Grandma wouldn’t blame her for not taking care of the house and letting bad people ruin it.
“Sister Cui, you’re amazing! You know everything, just like a real fairy!” Xi Fuhong smiled.
Apparently, this unintentional compliment was well-received, as Shi Cuiyan’s smile was radiant. After all, she was known as the Emerald Exquisite in the Jianghu, what information could she not uncover? What secrets could she not hear? A mere Wu Feng Valley wouldn’t stump her; she just couldn’t be bothered to listen.
“If you want to call me Fairy Sister, that’s fine too, hehe.” Shi Cuiyan took a sip of cold tea, but when she glanced back, she saw Xi Fuhong ignoring her, standing by the window looking at something. Her previously elated heart felt like it had been doused with cold water, leaving her quite displeased. She hadn’t expected to become so complacent over a village girl’s praise. How annoying!
“Sister Cui, I read in books that heroes can leap across rooftops, but I don’t know martial arts, so I can’t find Grandma that way.” Xi Fuhong watched the strong men riding horses outside the window and suddenly remembered the Jianghu heroes described in her little books.
They could leap several feet with a few steps and traverse the heavens and seas, almost like immortals. But she had never seen any martial arts, only imagined them, and unknowingly began to yearn for such heroes.
“What a pity.” Shi Cuiyan pouted, thinking that she, a master of lightness skills, was right here, yet the village girl was looking outside. No matter how much she looked, she wouldn’t find anything interesting.
However, she didn’t want to reveal her identity just yet, so she decided to play the role of a wealthy family’s daughter. With a serious expression, she said, “I sent a letter to my father yesterday. Once we receive a reply in a few days, we’ll decide our next move.”
Xi Fuhong turned around abruptly, her face full of anxiety, “How can that be? Grandma is alone outside, if she encounters enemies… wouldn’t that be…”
“Then tell me, Sister Xi, where should we go to find your Grandma?” As soon as she said this, Xi Fuhong closed her mouth with a pained expression. Shi Cuiyan sighed and comforted her, “Sister, you have such a kind heart, worrying so much about Gui Po’s safety. She would surely be deeply moved if she knew.”
“It’s only natural for me to worry about Grandma. She raised me with great care. If it weren’t for her, I would have frozen to death in front of the temple long ago. Now that Grandma is in trouble, I must save her!” Xi Fuhong spoke passionately, the red mark on her face seemed even more vivid, making Shi Cuiyan frown.
“You’re so devoted to her, but I wonder if it’s worth it,” Shi Cuiyan muttered to herself.
Xi Fuhong didn’t hear her, she circled the room once and finally stood in front of Shi Cuiyan with an awkward smile. She used to live in the valley, relying on herself for food and drink. When hungry, she ground wheat to make small cakes, when thirsty, she fetched water from the pond. But now, after leaving the valley, she realized everything cost money, and she was penniless, so she could only rely on the Little Fairy, Sister Cui, in front of her.
“I said we’ll leave in a few days, why are you looking at me like that?” Shi Cuiyan asked with a suppressed smile. Seeing her blushing face, the rosy cheeks almost blended with the red mark, like a monkey’s red bottom, it was quite amusing.
Xi Fuhong pressed her growling stomach and said ingratiatingly, “I’m not going to find Grandma, it’s just that we’ve been up for so long and haven’t eaten anything… um… can we go eat?”
“Sister Xi, do you think I can sleep like you? I’ve already eaten my fill.” Seeing her troubled expression, Shi Cuiyan couldn’t help but tease her. If it weren’t for the burden of a tagalong, she would have already been mingling with the officials, enjoying delicacies and sleeping in luxurious beds, instead of spending her own money to stay in such a shabby inn.
“…I see, well, okay then.” Xi Fuhong, with her thin skin, couldn’t learn to joke or act spoiled, so she walked to the table, grabbed the water jug, and planned to fill her stomach with water. Shi Cuiyan watched and covered her mouth with a light laugh, thinking how honest this little girl was. She said she was full, but didn’t say she wouldn’t let her eat.
“Sister Xi, aren’t you hungry? I was just thinking the crystal dumplings at this inn are quite tasty, but if you only want to drink water, then never mind.”
“No, it’s not that!” Xi Fuhong immediately put down the water jug and looked at Shi Cuiyan expectantly, “I’m… really hungry. Sister Cui, are we going down to eat dumplings?”
Dumplings were a rare feast for Xi Fuhong. In the valley, she only had the chance to eat them during the New Year. Thinking of those white, plump dumplings with fragrant, tender meat filling, her stomach growled uncontrollably, embarrassing her as she quickly pressed it down to keep it from being too loud. Shi Cuiyan laughed heartily at her reaction.
“I see Sister Xi’s stomach is urging us, let’s go downstairs and eat dumplings,” Shi Cuiyan said with a smile.
Xi Fuhong saw her turn to leave the room and quickly followed in a few steps. The inn during the day was not as quiet as last night; it was crowded with guests. Shi Cuiyan frowned as she noticed several men with large knives on their backs, looking fierce and aggressive. They were likely here for Wu Feng Valley as well. These reckless men, overestimating themselves, would swarm like flies at the mention of treasure, impossible to fight off or drive away, truly annoying.
“I think we should skip the dumplings and head to the street,” Shi Cuiyan said, retracting her step towards the table.
Although Xi Fuhong looked disappointed, she didn’t dare go against her benefactor’s wishes, so she reluctantly glanced at the five dumplings on the neighboring table, pursed her lips in regret, and followed her out.
Outside was no less crowded than the inn, equally bustling with people. The street was filled with vendors, their loud cries echoing through the market. Young women gathered in the hair accessory shop, chatting and laughing. Children clung to their mothers’ clothes, crying for candy. Young boys ran and jumped by the riverbank. A man selling lamb shouted about fresh slaughter, while a few beggars squatted in the corner, begging for food. Such scenes Xi Fuhong had never seen before, nor could she have imagined.
“Let’s go, we’ll eat noodles over there,” Shi Cuiyan said, spotting a relatively quiet noodle stall. Her nimble body weaved through the crowd, already ten steps ahead. Xi Fuhong hurried to catch up, trying to mimic Shi Cuiyan’s way of dodging people, but ended up bumping into five people instead. Embarrassed, she quickly bowed to apologize, finally making her way to Shi Cuiyan’s side after some effort.
“Madam, one bowl of plain noodles,” she called out before the waiter could greet them, pulling out a chair to sit down.
“Alright, one bowl of plain noodles!” the lady responded heartily.
Xi Fuhong looked around, making sure no one was watching her before slowly sitting down. Shi Cuiyan glanced at her but said nothing. Initially saddened by the lack of dumplings, Xi Fuhong soon forgot the disappointment upon seeing the bustling street, her curiosity piqued by the sights.
It turned out the little books were true. The vendors shouted loudly, many young women strolled the streets, children played outside instead of attending school, and there were people in sedan chairs and on horseback. All things absent in the valley, things she hadn’t seen in ten years.
