The huge carriage was rushing through the snowy wasteland, shaking now and then Zhuo Fan who lay inside on the carpet.
Maybe one bump had been too hard to ignore, maybe his Yuan Qi reserves were back, all that it mattered was that he roused, his dried lips parting to speak weakly, âYoung Sanzi, young SanziâŚâ
Then he just bolted to his feet, shouting his sonâs name in panic. He was filled with fear and regret of what might have happened.
He knew he just woke up from blacking out.
But what about young Sanzi? With no one to stop his bleeding or take him to western lands, his life would slip away with every drop of blood.
Zhuo Fanâs brow shook and clenched his fists. The regret inside him threatened to consume him whole. How could he just black out and leave his wounded son uncared for while he rested?
He was so consumed in his thoughts and feelings he failed to notice the missing cold and snow.
âGod damn it! Whatâs with that racket? You scared me to death!â Another shout came that made him flinch.
Only now he took in his surroundings, the ever moving carriage. Across from him was a cute and lovely lady of seventeen.
She was holding an adorable boy of eight, who was looking pale and recovering.
Zhuo Fan eased a breath and scanned the place before asking the girl, âMiss, did you save us?â
âWhy, you donât like it? Then give me your life back!â Shooting him a look, the girl scoffed.
Zhuo Fan grumbled at the most rude reply. Guess he got used to always having the final say, always having the last word. Finally being on the receiving end had him stuck and irate.
The only reason she wasnât a bloody smear on the carriageâs walls was for saving them.
[Thanks to the True Self Art, my violent tendencies had been curbed a lot over the past two years. You should be lucky you met me only now, humph!]
Zhuo Fan forced down his anger, strained a smile and cupped his hands, âHa-ha-ha, I first want to thank you miss for all youâve done. And may I ask what got you in such a bad mood? Do I owe you a fortune? Ha-ha-haâŚâ
âWhat do you think?â
Zhuo Fan was joking but hit the lass right where it hurt and made her more depressed and annoyed.
Startled, Zhuo Fan was even more baffled.
[Iâve only just met her so how could I owe her? By her extreme reaction, I mustâve really done something at some point.]
Zhuo Fan was perplexed but the girl just rolled her eyes at him in despair.
[Ten million, oh, ten millionâŚ]
The two were stuck in a complete tangent from another, with neither getting the otherâs intentions. It was then Murong Xueâs soft voice came from beyond the curtain, âZhuiâer, act like a lady and not so stuck up. Itâs been five days and you still arenât over it?â
âHoly! Someone else is in here?â
Zhuo Fan jumped, now noticing the fourth presence. The sudden rousing and all that happened made him forget to scan the area.
From her voice, he could tell that she was the boss lady and this girl only the servant.
[Humph, what a pretentious maid.]
Zhuo Fan lost his early amiable air, looking coldly at Zhuiâer, âI see, itâs your young miss that saved the two of us, not you. Why the sour look then? You didnât do anything anyway, only using her name.â
Zhuo Fan saluted the curtain with all respect, âThank you, young miss, for saving the two of us in our time of need.â
âYou!â
Zhuiâer was fuming mad and whined to Murong Xue, âYoung miss, see who you worked so hard to save?â
âZhuiâer, itâs you who started it. Donât blame others for your problems. Take it as a lesson and try not to do it again.â
Murong Xue scolded her maid and spoke coldly to Zhuo Fan, âSirâs words werenât propper either. As all life is equal, I do not need any reward for saving you. I only wish for you to be upright and do no evil, making my efforts worth it. Please donât make me regret saving a demon.â
Ugh!
Zhuo Fan let out a dry laugh.
[I only just put the maid in her place and sheâs calling me a demon. Then again, Iâm certainly no saint, ha-ha.]
Zhuiâer glared at him and turned the lecture on him, âHear that? Young miss wants you to be nice later on, or we can take back your life any time we want to.â
âHa-ha-ha, being nice is all up to me. You have saved me but donât need to worry about it. As for taking back the life you just saved, only I decide how I go down.â
Zhuo Fan sneered with a glint in his eyes, âI, Z- Gu Yifan, never owed anyone any favors. Iâll make sure to return this grand gesture at the first chance. So thank you for all the trouble these days, but now itâs time to leave. May we meet again!â
Zhuo Fan grabbed Gu Santongâs hand and stunned the two with his actions.
Zhuiâer was stumped by the nerve of this guy, having just been saved from certain death. Then he started being all cocky-like, as if it was these twoâs endless glory for saving him!
Murong Xue was stunned and sighed, âNot nice at all.â
âEh?â
Zhuo Fan exclaimed having noticed the smooth arm of Gu Santong, with not even a scar on it to show his past suffering, âW-whatâs going on? Young SanziâŚâ
Zhuiâer found the leverage to snap back, âYoung miss, in her infinite mercy, had brought this poor child back. He is unconscious but stable. What a pity, the young one is such an innocent creature, while the elder one is so vile. Young miss saved the wrong person.â
âThank you!â
Zhuo Fan forwent his rude attitude and thanked, âI donât matter, but youâve done me a great favor for saving my son. Any request you may have, I will fulfill it, no questions asked.â
Murong Xue sook and nodded, âSir is quite peculiar, but fond of his son. This proves your heart still has some good in it. My only reward is for you to come back on the straight and narrow.â
[Ugh, good?]
Zhuo Fanâs face twitched.
[I thought you were joking. Iâve been evil all my life. I have no clue what good is. How does it even work?]
âYoung miss, heâs getting off too easy. Just look how cocky he was, itâd be a shame not to ask for anything.â
Luckily, Zhuiâer stepped in to clarify it all, holding out her hand, âSince you wanna pay, then pay your fees.â
Zhuo Fan chuckled and nodded, âAs it is right. How much?â
âJust a smidgen, ten million sacred stones.â Zhuiâer sported a vile grin.
Zhuo Fan flinched, âWhy so expensive? What kind of pills did you use?â
Not like he couldnât pay, but that he was stunned. Even without the fees as an excuse, heâd still give ten million as it was only right.
Those dead rocks meant nothing when young Sanziâs life was concerned.
Zhuiâer misunderstood completely, of course, thinking so many zeros scared him and laughed, âYou canât, can you, you penniless! I bet you donât even know what sacred stones look like. Then just give me all you have, even though itâs hardly anything of worth.â
âZhuiâer!â Murong Xue admonished.
Zhuo Fan spoke, âMiss Zhuiâer, I can give you that much, but Iâm curious what kind of drug you used that is so valuable. If itâs not the drug, then I can still pay it as favor for saving us.â
âYou think weâre lying?â
Zhuiâer huffed, taking out a gourd and showing it to him, âYou know whatâs inside? Miracle drug, North Sea Gel. If not, listen well. Itâs a valuable recovery medicine even in northern lands. We had to spend ten million sacred stones to get this little and used almost all on your son. Isnât it normal for you to pay at least that much?â
Sniffing the gourd, Zhuo Fan frowned.
North Sea Gel?
[Thereâs no mention of it in the Nine Serenities Secret Records. Is it from the mortal domain? But to save young Sanzi, it has to be miraculous.]
He smiled at Zhuiâer, âMiss, since you only have a little left, give it to me for my son and Iâll give you twenty million to make up for it.â
âHa-ha, twenty million? I bet you donât have spirit stones as much.â
âThatâs not the issue here. Will you accept?â Zhuo Fan asked.
Zhuiâer raised her head, not believing a word, âFine then, only a fool wonât take advantage of such a damn deal.â
âGive me your ring.â
Zhuo Fanâs eyes shone and chuckled. Zhuiâer did so and Zhuo Fanâs ring touched hers.
Zhuo Fan then took the gourd and his son and was off, laughing, âMiss Zhuiâer, a dealâs a deal, bye!â
âWait, I still havenât checkedâŚâ Zhuiâer cried out.
Murong Xue gasped, âWhat is it, Zhuiâer?â
âYoung miss, twenty million sacred stones are inside the ring. The guy is actually loadedâŚâ Zhuiâer was bug eyed, struck dumb by the glittering rocks in her ringâŚ
Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.