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Chapter 177 - The Little Fox, Zheng Muyao
The plants swayed in the morning breeze, and the lake shone with gentle sunlight.
After finishing his breakfast, Su Yi took out various items and ordered, “In a bit, go visit the Goldstone Pavilion. We have no use for these, so take them with you and exchange them for tier-two spirit stones and medicines.”
These items represented a portion of the spoils he’d obtained from Liu Hongqi’s corpse yesterday.
Some of them, however, Su Yi chose to hold onto, including the talisman sword, the spiritual sword “Mountain Snow”, fifteen tier-three spirit stones, and nine stalks of tier-three medicinal herbs.
He had to admit that those from the Wheel of the Moon Sect were different; their wealth far eclipsed ordinary martial artists of the same level!
When she saw Liu Hongqi’s former belongings, Cha Jin’s gaze dimmed almost imperceptibly, but she soon nodded.
When she saw Su Yi walking out of the House of Waveswept Rocks, she couldn’t help but ask, “Young Lord, where are you going?”
“I’m going out for a stroll,” said Su Yi offhandedly.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Cha Jin couldn’t help but ask.
“No need. All you have to do is visit the Goldstone Pavilion.” Even as he spoke, Su Yi strode into the distance.
Cha Jin thought for a moment, then gathered up the various items. She’d decided to go to Goldstone Pavilion right now.
However, as soon as she stepped through the doorway, she saw a lavish, exquisitely-crafted carriage waiting outside. The head of the Zheng Family, Zheng Tianhe, and an eye-catching beauty in a black dress and subtle makeup stood beside it.
“Young Lord Su.” As soon as he saw Su Yi, Zheng Tianhe smiled and walked up to greet him.
This was the head of one of the Imperatorial Provincial Capital’s top clans, yet he was acting like a kindly rich man. When he faced Su Yi, his respect came straight from the heart.
The girl in the black dress was stunned. She couldn’t help but seriously evaluate Su Yi. This is the ‘important person’ Father told me about? He really is frickin’ handsome!
Her beautiful eyes lit up, and her angled, willowy eyebrows arched slightly upward. Her deep eyes narrowed slightly, like a little fox, the sight charming and moving.
“Do you have business with me?” asked Su Yi.
Zheng Tianhe laughed heartily. “I heard that you only arrived in the provincial capital yesterday, and I thought you could use someone familiar with the city. Thus, I got up early to wait for you and recommend my good-for-nothing daughter. I plan to have her accompany you. Although she cannot resolve any major problems, you can leave minor tasks to her, and she’ll save you a lot of trouble.”
Cha Jin stepped through the gates just in time to hear this. Despite herself, she was stunned, and her expression went a little strange.
This was the lofty and esteemed head of the Zheng Family. How vast was his authority? How lofty was his position? Who would dare believe he’d be so eager to build a relationship with Su Yi that he’d dash over so early in the morning?
Cha Jin watched, stunned, as Zheng Tianhe smiled his regards, then waved to the girl in black. “Lass, come on over and greet your Uncle Su. Be quick about it.”
The young woman in black approached, light and quick on her feet, blinking her shining bright eyes as she said crisply, “Uncle Su, Father told me about you. Rest assured, I guarantee that I’ll wait upon you carefully, and I absolutely wouldn’t dare do anything to displease you.”
She looked about sixteen or seventeen. Her dark dress swayed as she moved, and her skin was white as snow. She was beautiful, even sultry, but fiery too. Her long hair carried subtle hints of maroon, and her lips were shiny and full, like ripe peaches.
When she looked at Su Yi, her eyes even shone with a hint of worshipful light. This could undoubtedly satisfy any man’s sense of vanity.
Little fox! You’re calling him ‘uncle’? Why not just call him ‘daddy’? Cha Jin muttered to herself.
“Young Lord, this is my no-good daughter. Her name is Muyao. You can just call her ‘Little Yao.’” Zheng Tianhe introduced her with a laugh.
Su Yi could tell at a glance that although the fiery beauty seemed meek and docile, in truth, she was deceitful to the bone. As her gaze shifted, it carried hints of wildness.
But Su Yi naturally wouldn't concern himself with that. Besides, it was true; he really did need someone familiar with the city to accompany him. Thus, he nodded calmly, “There’s no harm in letting her accompany me. All I ask is that she does as she’s told and doesn’t make trouble.”
“Uncle Su, please rest assured. I’ve always been obedient!” The girl smiled faintly, her eyes narrowing like a crafty little fox.
Su Yi saw through the girl’s petty schemes at a glance. She only said she was obedient, but she never agreed not to make trouble.
But of course, this was a trivial matter, and Su Yi couldn’t be bothered to correct her. If she really dared make trouble for him, he certainly wouldn’t hold back out of respect for Zheng Tianhe; he guaranteed he’d teach her the rightful consequences of causing trouble.
“Well then, Young Lord Su, Miss Cha Jin, I’ll be on my way.” Zheng Tianhe didn’t linger; he simply turned and left, leaving the exquisite horse-drawn carriage and the carriage driver behind for Su Yi.
Cha Jin then walked over and said lightly, “Little girl, your father left you here with good intentions, to work on the young lord’s behalf. You cannot let him down! Think twice about what you should and shouldn’t do before taking any action.”
Zheng Muyao noticed Cha Jin a long time ago. After all, it was hard not to notice a stunning beauty like her.
She giggled. “What’s your name, Auntie?”
Cha Jin’s beautiful face froze. “What did you call me?”
Zheng Muyao looked at her guilelessly. “You’re with Uncle Su, so you’re presumably of the same generation. It’s only right that I address you with respect.”
It was hard to say whether it was intentional or not, but she placed a lot of emphasis on that last word.
Cha Jin was inwardly furious. How could she miss that this little fox spirit was deliberately provoking her?
She couldn’t help but smile faintly, stretch out her hand, and tousle Zheng Muyao’s hair. Then, with the tone of an elder, she said, “You really have a childish nature. In that case, you ought to bear this in mind: when children make mistakes, they get a wooden plank across the buttocks.”
Zheng Muyao was briefly stunned, but then, she smiled sweetly. “Auntie, please don’t worry. I understand; if Uncle Su really hits me, it’ll be for my own good!”
Every time she opened her mouth, out came another “auntie”. This made Cha Jin gnash her teeth, but outwardly, she smiled and nodded. “I’m just glad you understand. I’m sure this is what your father wishes to see. You surely won’t let him down, right?”
Zheng Muyao snorted inwardly, but on the outside, she smiled gleefully. “It doesn’t matter if I disappoint my father so long as I don’t disappoint my Uncle Su.”
Su Yi was starting to lose patience. “Are you done yet?”
Zheng Muyao and Cha Jin. Two beauties, one older, one younger, staring each other down. The formless air of competition arose between them, and it was starting to grow and ferment in their hearts.
“Come on. Let’s go look around the city.” Su Yi climbed straight into the carriage.
Zheng Muyao hurriedly raised the hems of her dress and followed. In the moments before they departed, she waved. “Auntie, I’m going to go keep Uncle Su company for now. Later, let’s find some time to have ourselves a nice chat.”
With that, she boarded the carriage, and it slowly drove down the street and disappeared from view.
Cha Jin watched the carriage disappear into the distance, and the smile on her charming face gradually faded. “A little scamp dares compete with me? It’s true what they say; newborn calves don’t even fear tigers….”
Although she said this, she felt a thread of worry in her heart. What if that little fox uses unscrupulous methods to win Su Yi over? What then?
Wait.
Why am I even thinking about that?
Cha Jin was briefly stunned. Then, she shook her head in self-depreciation and extinguished all thoughts of arguing with Zheng Muyao any further.
A little girl, that’s all. At most, she’d accompany Su Yi for a few days. She was unworthy of Cha Jin’s concern.
……
The carriage interior was spacious, with a tanned beast hide rug and a sandalwood trunk filled with alcohol, tea, fruit, and various other refreshments.
The expertly crafted seats were comfortable, and if you leaned into them, you couldn’t feel the bumps in the road at all.
A fist-sized luminous pearl hung from the road, and there was ventilation on both sides, so the air wasn’t at all musty or stifled.
So this is the head of the Zheng Family’s personal carriage? Not bad at all. Su Yi slumped back in his seat. Should I get a carriage like this for myself, too? It would make traveling more convenient.
But he almost immediately rejected the idea.
As you traveled throughout the world, the splendor of nature was one of your greatest pleasures. Appreciating the magnitude and beauty of the mountains and rivers could condense your Dao Heart and help you comprehend the power of creation.
Of course, inside a city, using a carriage like this to get around was undoubtedly the most comfortable.
Zheng Muyao sat at an angle with her knees bent, revealing the pearly white calves once hidden beneath her black dress and outlining her pleasing curves.
“Uncle Su, where are we going?” The girl asked with a laugh, her breath tickling his skin and her eyes sparkling like stars as she stared intently at Su Yi.
The carriage was spacious, but intentionally or unintentionally, Zheng Muyao was very, very close to Su Yi. If you didn’t look closely, you’d think she was right up against his hands.
They were alone, a man and a woman, with so little distance between them, giving the carriage interior an enchanting air.
“First, I’d like to tour around the city.” Su Yi glanced at the little fox, then pointed to another corner of the carriage. “Go sit over there.”
Zheng Muyao was stunned. Then, she batted her eyes. “Uncle Su, I don’t mind, so you… Hm…. You don’t need to mind either.”
Her voice was soft and sticky, but decidedly flirtatious and teasing.
“But I do mind.” Su Yi scrunched up his nose. “The scented sachet you’re carrying contains Nine-Leafed Angelica Root, Hundred-Year Purple Perilla, and Water Radish, among other ingredients, nine or ten in total. The combination results in a sultry fragrance, but to me, the flirtatious, potent smell is more irritating than anything. Do you understand what’s bothering me now?”
Zheng Muyao froze momentarily, the look on her pretty face suddenly awkward. She then took a copper coin-sized sachet from a pocket near her waist and tossed it out the carriage windows.
Then, her delicate frame shifted, and she sat in the corner, gnawing her bright red lips and saying pitifully, “Uncle Su, if I’d known you didn’t like this type of scent, I wouldn’t have brought it. If you want to punish me…. Just scold me, okay? You could hit me too if you prefer; anything so long as you’re happy.”
Su Yi rubbed his brow and sighed in disinterest. “Girl, your flirting technique is far too crude. I urge you to keep up your cultivation. Your looks and figure are excellent, but your temperament and charm are lacking; you’re just not interesting.”
At sixteen or seventeen, what was “charm”? What was “character”?
A youthful, springtime air that came from the heart, originating from one’s true nature. That was the best!
Take Wen Lingxue: her every movement, every smile and every frown, was pleasing both the eyes and the heart.
But what about the girl in front of him, Zheng Muyao? She was obviously “putting on a show.” She was pretty and attractive, but in her bones, she was wild and proud. Moreover, she was continuously repressing her true nature.
In other words, the “her” she had on display was definitely not her true self.
Zheng Muyao just sat there, her elegantly made-up, oval face flitting between different expressions, completely flabbergasted….
Seth's Thoughts
This chapter repeatedly compares Zheng Muyao to fox spirits, a type of yao. The ‘Yao” in her name, 夭, is written differently but pronounced the same. Furthermore, 夭 is a radical in the character 妖. In short, her name reinforces the whole fox spirit comparison. I’d guess it’s intentional.
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“You’re with Uncle Su, so you’re presumably of the same generation. It’s only right that I address you with respect.”
In the raws, the word Zheng Muyao is emphasizing here is actually “you”.
However, unlike English, Chinese differentiates between a standard and more respectful “you”. Emphasizing the polite form of the word emphasizes that she’s using the polite form. It’s a bit sarcastic.
In a language that doesn’t have multiple “you’s”, emphasizing the word “you” doesn’t have the same impact, or at least, not the same meaning.
“It’s only right that I treat you with respect” sounds more like “I respect you, but not those other people”. That’s not the intended meaning here, so I swapped the emphasis around a little.