HEART PROTECTION: CHAPTER 52The grave of Yan Hui's mother was on a small hillside outside the village . It was almost noon by the time the pair walked up the hill .
It was a little hot, but that was precisely when the sky would be a stunning clear blue . Wild flowers bloomed everywhere . Yan Hui took a deep breath, walked up the hill, and saw the lone grave that had been unswept for so long . She silently stood there for a long time . Then she knelt down in front of it . However, it wasn't a proper posture like when other people payed respects to a grave .
Yan Hui had an innate undisciplined air . She wasn't overly respectful, yet nor was she disrespectful .
"Mother . " She looked off to the side . There was another tombstone erected askew . It wasn't straight like the tombstone Yan Hui was kneeling in front of . She pursed her mouth and called out, "Drunkard old man . " She tapped her head against the ground, "Your daughter has returned to visit you two . "
Yan Hui carried a jar of wine bought from the village's brewer madam . She uncorked it and poured it out in front of the crooked tombstone . "I'm lazy, so I'm not going to pull out the grass growing here . In any case, it's going to grow back . "
Tian Yao had been silently listening for a long time, but in the end he couldn't resist speaking over her: "Since you've come from so far, why aren't you willing to just clean up the graves?"
"When Mother passed away, we were so poor we couldn't even afford a flimsy coffin . She was buried right under the grassy layer . " Yan Hui wiped at the words on the gravestone . "What if the grass was grown by my mother?"
Tian Yao silently listened .
Yan Hui's mother died early, so Yan Hui didn't have many memories of her . However Yan Hui still remembered how she felt sitting by her mother's side, watching her mom mend clothing and listening to her humming .
Yan Hui never felt such tender protection from anyone else after that .
After her mom passed away, her dad started to drink heavily . He was stuck in a drunken stupor all day long . Yan Hui as a result grew up like a wild child . Even though Ling Xiao eventually brought her to Chen Xing Mountain, no one could replace the warmth she felt from her mother .
Yan Hui sat in front of the grave for a long time . Then she dusted her butt off and stood up: "Let's go . "
Tian Yao turned to look at her: "To where?"
Yan Hui rummaged around in her bag . There was a sound of jingling keys: "I've paid my respects to my parents . Of course we're going to get the reward I nearly sacrificed my life for . "
Feng Ya Town was actually still a bit of a distance from Yan Hui's village, but with the Propelling Sword technique, it was only half a day's travel . For the first time, Yan Hui didn't make a fuss about using the Propelling Sword with her tag-along . As long as Tian Yao didn't keep asking her dumb questions, she could pretend to be stupid and silently take him along with her .
In any case, he wasn't hindering her in any way .
With the Propelling Sword technique, they reached Feng Ya Town at nightfall . The pair seemed used to rushing down their journey and staying at inns . Although neither of them had been to this town before, they easily found an inn after reading the signs and asked for two rooms .
Yan Hui originally planned on a calm and deep sleep tonight . But at midnight, she heard a rustling sound on the roof .
It sounded like one person was chasing another right overhead .
Then the two people started to talk right above her room .
According to convention, Yan Hui shouldn't be able to hear what they were saying . However, she used the heart technique Tian Yao taught her and was able to hear the whisperers on the roof right in her ear .
"Crown prince, crown prince . Ow . Please come back with me . Stop searching in Central Plains . The person wasn't found, yet you are still here . How am I suppose to explain this to Seventh Prince?"
"Just say whatever . Until I found my aunt, I won't return . "
The child's voice sounded strangely familiar to Yan Hui .
"Ah you devil . Last time you were captured by Chen Xing Mountain's daoist priest . It scared this servant to death . In the end you were fine . It's been so long, but you still haven't found her . Please give up . The king of course will send other people to search . "
Yan Hui raised an eyebrow at what she heard . For the time being, she put aside her sleep and sat up . Then she dashingly leaned against the wall .
"I won't . I won't return until I find my aunt! There'll be a clue in this town . "
"Ah you brat, come back . What if a daoist priest captures you in the middle of the night?"
The pair's footsteps passed over the roof . Their voices also got fainter and fainter .
Yan Hui rubbed her chin and slowly pondered over what she just heard .
Scared of being caught by xian cultivators . If they weren't demons, then they were heretical cultivators . Earlier, they also mentioned a king . A servant and a prince . Based on those, Yan Hui inferred they were likely from the demon race and might be from the nine-tailed fox demon clan . After all, heretical cultivators didn't have such rankings .
The little prince wanted to find his aunt . Then his aunt was a princess .
Qing Qiu's nine-tailed fox demon princess .
Yan Hui suddenly had a recollection . Previously when she was at Heavenly Fragrance, Feng Qian Shuo came to save her and Tian Yao . He talked to Feng Ming there and said, "Qing Qiu lost a nine-tailed fox demon princess . "
Looks like that really did happen .
This indeed was big news, but it also had nothing to do with her . Yan Hui curled her lip and yawned . She minded her own business and went back to sleep .
Early the second day, Yan Hui brought Tian Yao along to Qi Jue Clan's jewelry story . She had to first get some money and then figure out where to go along with her permanent second shadow .
Qi Jue Clan's jewelry store was located on the town's business street . Two burly, big men stood in front of the store's main door and guarded it with stony faces . Every person that wanted to walk through the doors was stopped and questioned . Yan Hui was no exception when she walked over . Two big hands extended and blocked her path: "What's your business?"Yan Hui took out the key from her bag: "I"m here to get money . "
The two burly men froze for a second and then immediately withdrew their hands . They took a step back and bowed in greeting: "Us subordinates were impudent . Madam, come in "
So a key could have this kind of effect . Yan Hui was secretly pleased . She even put on an act and nodded her head: "No need to be overly respectful . You may rise . " Yan Hui glanced back at Tian Yao . From her smug smile, it looked like she was showing off . Tian Yao just expressionlessly looked back .
He received this kind of respect plenty of times in the past .
Tian Yao didn't bow and scrape over Yan Hui . In comparison, the moment Yan Hui walked through the doors, the shopkeeper fluttered over and started bowing and scraping: "Madam, did the higher-ups send madam here to inspect our operations?"
Yan Hui shook her head: "I'm just here to retrieve money . I'm passing through . "
"Oh yes, of course," the shopkeeper repeatedly cried . "Perhaps madam would like to rest in the rear courtyard for a few moments . This humble shopkeeper will get some money for madam . "
Yan Hui nodded in agreement and allowed the shopkeeper to lead the way .
They had just reached the courtyard when Yan Hui's sharp ears picked up a familiar voice . It furiously and sorrowfully cried: "There's no news anywhere! Aunt must have ran into trouble!"
"Oh, you little devil . Squash that thought! Don't go thinking nonsense . "
Yan Hui looked up . In front of her was an old man and a young boy . They both wore hats . The old man was slightly stooped over, and he humbly followed the boy, who stood proudly with head high and chest out .
And this boy . . . . . . .
Yan Hui narrowed her eyes . She never thought she would meet him again in the jianghu . It was the young fox demon that was caged in Xin Xiu Peak .
Turns out he was Qin Qiu's crown prince . No wonder why he stood out from the group of fox demons that had been caged . It was the bearing and responsibility of a royal family member .
Yan Hui's gaze rested on the crown prince's face for just a moment . Then she subconsciously ducked behind Tian Yao to avoid inviting trouble . She planned to pass by the crown prince, not wanting to meet face-to-face again .
While Yan Hui wanted to hide, the other party completely disregarded her intention . She heard a sharp shout: "It's her!"
Yan Hui ducked behind Tian Yao's back and let out a long sigh . The crown prince was young . He didn't understand not meeting, just brushing past, was a type of kindness .
The crown prince walked forward two steps but was immediate caught by the old man from behind: "Sir . " The man's voice was quiet but extremely strained: "That person has a xian aura . "
The crown prince actually halted . Someone holding the prince back was really good .
Yan Hui cleared her throat and stepped out from behind Tian Yao . She shot a glance in their direction, clutching at Tian Yao in preparation to dash away . But then she heard the crown prince mumble to himself: "She's different from that xian person . " Then he shook off the man's hand, took three steps, and blocked Yan Hui's path .
Yan Hui sighed . Oh youngster, listen to your elders, so you won't meet disaster .
The boy was shorter than Yan Hui . Standing in front of Yan Hui, he had to look upwards: "I looked a long time for you after what happened . "
Yan Hui wanted to sigh at his words . She turned to look at Tian Yao and saw him staring back with a subtle expression . She didn't know what for . Ahead, the shopkeeper took the initiative to perplexedly call out: "Sir . "
That call made the crown prince's eyes slightly light up: "You're still working here . "
Yan Hui cleared her throat and solemnly looked at the crown prince with bright eyes: "Sir, I don't recognize you . Perhaps you mistook me for someone else . "
The crown prince was stunned . His animated face faltered for a moment . He immediately frowned: "No, it's you . Don't think about pretending to not recognize me . I've always remembered your face . I haven't forgotten for a single day . "
Yan Hui was vexed . She said he made a mistake, so just leave it be . Don't bring up how good your memory is . Yan Hui kept her calm act: "You got the wrong person . " She turned to the shopkeeper . "Shopkeeper, this is?"
The shopkeeper promptly replied: "It was a mistake, a mistake . Sir, so to speak, you truly got the wrong person . "
The shopkeeper was very glib . With just a few phrases, the crown prince was stunned into silence . The prince actually started to think he did make a mistake . The man by his side was still urging him away . After a moment, the old man was able to lead the boy away .
Yan Hui heaved a long silent sigh of relief .
She turned to question the shopkeeper: "What kind of people are they to have with the jewelry store?"
The shopkeeper hurried piled on smiles and replied: "Madam, we are not just a jewelry store . We also deal in information . Those in the rear courtyard are most likely here to buy information . As for who they are, they are clients and big spenders . Naturally, we don't dare pry more . "
Yan Hui nodded her head . They were trying to use Qi Jue Group's intel to find the whereabouts of the nine-tailed fox demon princess .
The shopkeeper continued to lead the two of them out . Yan Hui follow closely behind but discovered Tian Yao didn't keep up . She turned to look, and Tian Yao was still standing in the same spot . He still had that subtle expression that Yan Hui couldn't place a finger on: "Your flings aren't few . "
Yan Hui reflected on what he said: "Tian Yao, could it be that you're jealous?"
Those words were like a slap to Tian Yao . His face tightened, and he became grave . The subtle look in his eyes was gone: "You're overthinking it . " He took two steps past Yan Hui: "That isn't something I would do . "
Yan Hui pursed her lips . She internally agreed . Tian Yao did say in this lifetime he would no longer be infected by love . When all is said and done, someone who has experienced emotional betrayal wouldn't love another again . If Tian Yao was still able to love another person, then that person's charm had to be dazzling, and who knows how much determination Tian Yao must have had .
Yan Hui considered and concluded she didn't have those qualifications .
They sat in the courtyard and drank tea for a little while before the shopkeeper came back . He brought back money, three large silver ingots, which fell heavily in Yan Hui's hand . He also brought back banknotes for use everywhere and a small stack of change .
Yan Hui took them, happiness welling up from the bottom of her heart and warmth spreading throughout her body . However she still hadn't fully appreciated the feeling of money when Tian Yao took one ingot from her hand .
Yan Hui was stunned and indignant . She heard Tian Yao say to the shopkeeper: "If I want to buy intel, is this ingot enough?"
The shopkeeper was also stunned: "Um . . . " He glanced at Yan Hui and saw her pluck the ingot from Tian Yao's hand and cradle it in hers . Then she looked at the shopkeeper and said: "If I want intel, do I also have to pay?"
The shopkeeper wiped away sweat: "Madam just needs to tell us when you want to know . No need to pay . "
Yan Hui nudged Tian Yao: "Then what he wants to ask is what I want to ask . Answer his questions . " She hatefully looked at Tian Yao . Her expression basically said, "I will help you know what you want to know, but don't touch my money . "
The shopkeeper forced a smile and couldn't help silently curse . What kind of people the upper management send?
Tian Yao seemed accustomed to Yan Hui's actions . His expression didn't falter the slightest .
The shopkeeper maintained the dignified shopkeeper appearance . He gave the pair a slight bow: "Intel isn't under my purview . This humble shopkeeper will call over another . Sir, whatever you wish to ask, please ask . "
Yan Hui, still cradling the ingots, waited for the shopkeeper to leave before distractedly asking Tian Yao: "Are you going to ask where your dragon tendons and muscles were scattered? Qi Jue Group didn't exist twenty years ago . My guess is the Group won't know where they were sealed . "
"No . " Tian Yao's finger lightly tapped the tabletop . "I also want to ask about the whereabouts of Qin Qiu's nine-tailed fox demon princess . "
Yan Hui was stunned: "Why?"
Tian Yao shot her a look: "Because genuine fox lust fragrance must be made with nine-tailed fox demon blood to be refined into existence . "
At first, Yan Hui had no reaction to his words . However after thinking it over, she felt like she had been splashed with a bucketful of icy water in the middle of winter . She was chilled to the bone . She turned to look at Tian Yao in astonishment .