The guard noticed Zhuo Fanâs blank look and looked at the carriage going into the snowstorm, âSir, these carriages are common. Is there something wrong?â
âNothing, just very familiar.â
Zhuo Fan was in a dilemma, âI just canât place where Iâve seen it.â
Baili Yuyu used this chance to mock him, âYou rotten man, did you have too many old flames to remember them all?â
âOld flames?â
âDid you ever see a man driving such a fragrant carriage then? Humph, Sir Qian, you sure know how to spread your love.â Baili Yuyu patronized.
The other men sniffed the air and picked up the scent. The notion hit them as well, but kept it to themselves with lowered heads. Though they still smiled.
[A woman?]
Zhuo Fan thought hard for a bit then exclaimed, âOh, itâs them!â
âWho, a lover on the side?â
âMy auntie?â
(StarReader: it can also mean fatherâs concubine.)
Baili Yuyu capitalized on this chance to mock him. Qiaoâerâs eyes lit up as well as she played along. While Bali Yuyu hated Zhuo Fanâs guts, she ended up finding a friend in the small child, the two growing close these days.
Men never were able to unravel a womanâs mind. The two girls became fast friends in no time, with Bali Yuyu leading Qiaoâerâs astray, pulling pranks together against Zhuo Fan.
Zhuo Fan ignored all that and said, âWhen young Sanzi got hurt, the lady inside saved him by sheer coincidence and Iâve yet to thank her. I have to go say hello and figure out a way to repay the favor and not be left owing anyone anything.â
âYou owe them a favor so why the long face? Why on earth are you scared you may never return it instead?â Getting the picture, Baili Yuyu was baffled how this cunning and shrewd man would look at favors with such gravity, restless all the time unless he returned them. This was a first for her.
Qiaoâer waved her hand with a smile, âSister Yu, thatâs just how dad is, always clear on favors and hatreds. My brother had the fortune to be rescued and my dad used the chance to swindle them out of a treasure and must now be feeling guiltyâŠâ
âThey saved your son and you robbed them?â
Bali Yuyuâs face twitched, changing the way she looked at him, filled with disdain, âI knew you were bad and this proves it; repaying kindness with malice.â
Zhuo Fan sighed with a shake of his head, âI just thought that twenty million sacred stones in exchange for a bit of North Sea Gel would be a sky-high price, returning the favor. But not only did I not return what I owed, but ended up finding out that I took something worth fifty million sacred stones instead. Curses, how was I supposed to know that thing is so great? It looks as if I strong-armed them, feeling me with guiltâŠâ
Frigid Rain Sword King cocked her head with a wide smile and a roll of her eyes, âHere I was thinking youâre a conniving man, but now I know youâre just a dumb fool. Who in their right mind would ever weigh the North Sea Gel in sacred stones?â
âHow was I supposed to know?â
Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes, calling the driver, âHurry up and catch up to that carriage! Donât surprise them and make things worse either!â
The man nodded and sped up, Bali Yuyu cocking an eyebrow at him with a smirk, âYou sure go the extra mile when it comes to your saviors, devious man, even worried you might startle them. I just canât tell if youâre nice or pure evil. Devil Mountain does have an evil vibe, but does it raise demons or saints?â
Picking up on her angle to squeeze info about Devil Mountain from him, Zhuo Fan didnât fall for it, returning a mysterious smile.
Bali Yuyuâs face fell and cursed.
Qiaoâer grabbed her hand before she could, giggling, âSister Yu, donât make that long face, you look so much better with a smile.â
âYeah, young miss Qiaoâer is right. Frigid Rain Sword Kingâs smile is like a warm spring rain, ha-ha-haâŠâ One guard teased.
Thanks to Zhuo Fanâs hard work and sharp tongue in putting Bali Yuyuâs nasty temper in its place, everyone pretty much lost their fear of her.
Flushing red, Bali Yuyu glared at him, âTry saying that one more time and see where that gets you!â
The guy flinched and shook his head around, but the more Bali Yuyu looked around at the others, the more she found their eyes odd and her face went redder.
But then she noticed Qiaoâerâs bright smile that eased the tension and made her smile as well.
She was one of the Nine Sword Kings, Frigid Rain Sword King. No one had ever said that she had a smile like warm rainâŠ
âThe ever-present frost and ice in the north begins to thaw under the warm sunâs rays. Spring has come.â
Zhuo Fan gave his two cents as he looked from Bali Yuyu to the icy world outside with a sigh.
He felt that the changes in the world were going to happen within the heart as well, the heart shifting softly along with the rest of the environment. This ineffable feeling left him dazed, finding it natural and harmoniousâŠ
The carriage rumbled through the snow and followed the other one in front. They soon came upon a town looking like a pile of snow from the distance, with a ten-meter-tall stone plaque standing in front, covered in snow yet still able to convey its words, Galefrost Town.
All the carriages stopped and the driver said, âSir, the carriage in front has stopped in Galefrost Town as well. Weâll be spotted if we follow it in. What should we do?â
âYou guys get Frigid Rain Sword King her token and I will find the carriage myself. Weâll meet outside town.â Zhuo Fan spoke and reached out to Bali Yuyu, âTake out your jade slip with your aura signature so they can do their job.â
Bali Yuyu pouted, âThereâs no need for thatâŠâ
âIs that what Miss Yuyu will say to Sword Patriarch?â
âFine, here!â Bali Yuyu huffed and threw out a jade slip.
While still difficult, she at least lost her murderous glares from the start.
These few days of chatting had helped in smoothing things over.
Zhuo Fan gave the token to a guard then he took Qiaoâer out, âMiss Yuyu, will you go with us or them? Weâll be meeting back outside town anyway.â
âIâm going with Qiaoâer, humph!â
Bali Yuyu stuck out her nose as she jumped off the carriage, taking Qiaoâer and going ahead, leaving the rest shaking their heads.
The rest of the carriages stopped as well and Zhuo Fan went to catch up to the girls. It was hard to see Bali Yuyuâs expressions clearly in the dim lit carriage, but now, in full daylight and snowy fields, her red swelling cheek was quite conspicuous.
Zhuo Fan rushed over, âMiss Yuyu, itâs been a week since we first saw each other so how come your face isnât healed yet?
âIt will stay like this until Patriarch says otherwise.â Bali Yuyu was stubborn.
Sighing, Zhuo Fan said, âBut youâre with me now. What will people think seeing you like that?â
âDoes it give the wrong impression?â
âIf only. Itâll only make things worse. Now that Iâm going to give thanks, your Patriarch will think I did this to you. How do you think itâll reflect on me? You donât care about face, but I do!â
Bali Yuyu giggled, âFine, Iâll just let your saviors see me, see just what kind of man you are. It should at least make them think twice about saving such an evil brute, he-he-heâŠâ
âYou still say Iâm evil? Heal it already, or just wait in the carriage!â Zhuo Fanâs face fell as he demanded.
Sticking out her tongue, Bali Yuyu was being childish for once, âNot happening! Iâll be sure to wipe the floor with your name in front of your saviors so you wonât get to repay the favor. What are you gonna do about it? Ha-ha-ha, you kept pushing me every time you got the chance on our way here now itâs my turn, ha-ha-haâŠâ
Hum~
Zhuo Fanâs hand shone green and looked at her coldly, âBali Yuyu, Iâll just do your face for you then. Itâs been ages since I last used Returning Dragonâs Roar and youâll make a fine subject!â
Zhuo Fanâs palm went for Bali Yuyu, straight for her swollen cheek, bubbling with vitality.
âDonât even try!â
With a sinister face, Bali Yuyu giggled and dodged. No matter how monstrous Zhuo Fan was, he could do nothing against a Sword King.
Zhuo Fan and Bali Yuyu ran around Qiaoâer for thirty moves, with Zhuo Fan never hitting her once. Qiaoâer was having a blast watching them and laughing.
Bali Yuyu held Qiaoâer and laughed as well, feeling free for the first time in a long time. She teased and played the victim, âWould no one be willing to save me from this deviant man?â
âCurses, me, a deviant? You have the nerve to say that? Who in this world would ever have the guts to be fresh with you?â Panting, Zhuo Fan glared, âStop this instant! Iâm only going to touch it once!â
âAnd you call it not being fresh?â
An icy voice echoedâŠ
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