Chapter 040
Chapter 40: She Has Her Reasons
Seeing Daoist Yao still in shock, unable to recover, Shi Zi Chu smiled playfully and teased, “Could it be that Daoist Yao minds my bad reputation and doesn’t want to befriend me?”
“Of course not!” Yao Ruo Ruo quickly protested. “I really like you!”
Though Yao Ruo Ruo knew Shi Zi Chu was only joking, she couldn’t stand to see her make light of herself like that.
To express her sincerity, Yao Ruo Ruo took out three spirit pills, then handed the remaining ones to Shi Zi Chu.
Shi Zi Chu tucked the porcelain vial away, the corners of her eyes and brows rising as she spoke, “You are my first friend.”
Yao Ruo Ruo beamed with happiness, her smile as bright as it was cute.
Shi Zi Chu’s hands itched a bit—she wanted to pinch Yao Ruo Ruo’s face. The round, soft cheeks would surely feel amazing to the touch!
Watching Yao Ruo Ruo’s joyful and somewhat smug expression, Yan Zhou Bai couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance.
It was clearly him who had met Shi Zi Chu first.
Seeing Shi Zi Chu smile even more brightly, he spoke up, his tone tinged with a hint of irritation, “Am I not your friend?”
“Of course, Daoist Yan is my friend,” Shi Zi Chu answered without losing her smile. “But Ruo Ruo is the first young lady to want to befriend me.”
Her voice had the playful, innocent tone of someone who was basking in the warmth of being cared for, and that made Yao Ruo Ruo both happy and shy, causing her face to flush.
She threw a triumphant, somewhat smug look at Yan Zhou Bai.
Yan Zhou Bai gave her a cold glance.
As the food was served, Yao Ruo Ruo and Shi Zi Chu ate and chatted, their conversation flowing so naturally that it felt like they had known each other forever.
Meanwhile, Yan Zhou Bai sat to the side like a mere backdrop, unable to join in the conversation, only able to eat and listen as the two girls chatted away.
Once they had nearly finished eating, Yao Ruo Ruo turned to Shi Zi Chu with a bright smile and proposed, “The Eternal Night Forest has been bustling lately. I want to invite Daoist Shi to join me for some training together.”
Yan Zhou Bai looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Meeting his questioning gaze, Yao Ruo Ruo gave a sweet smile, “Does Senior Brother want to come along too?”
Yan Zhou Bai fixed her with a look.
How had he not realized that this little girl had such a talent for turning her loyalty into something based on looks?
“Is that not allowed?” he asked, his voice cool and indifferent.
Yao Ruo Ruo ignored her senior brother and instead turned to Shi Zi Chu, her big, round eyes full of expectation.
“Alright,” Shi Zi Chu said with a smile, her eyes curving up like a crescent moon. “I live at the manor. You can come find me when the time comes.”
Yao Ruo Ruo nodded eagerly.
After dinner, Shi Zi Chu, who was heading to the tavern, excused herself.
Once Shi Zi Chu left, the room was left with only Yan Zhou Bai and his two younger sisters.
The tension between them was palpable, and their eyes locked for a moment, the air thick with discomfort.
Yan Zhou Bai opened his mouth, his voice serious, “Ruo Ruo, Shi Zi Chu is not someone trustworthy.”
His words, while seeming like advice, carried an intent only he understood.
Looking at him, Yao Ruo Ruo smiled knowingly.
Of course she knew that Shi Zi Chu was no saint.
Rumors and slander often carried some truth behind them, even if they were exaggerated, and those whispers revealed something of Shi Zi Chu’s nature.
But so what?
Besides, she herself wasn’t exactly an angel either.
“Senior Brother, since you know that Zi Chu isn’t a good person, why not keep your distance?” Her voice was sweet and coy, a pointed challenge.
Meeting his calm yet commanding gaze, she smiled, “Senior Brother, you’ve always been known for your intelligence and your dislike of two-faced people. Why are you treating Shi Zi Chu differently?”
“She has her reasons.”
Yan Zhou Bai’s words were calm, but there was no mistaking the sincerity in them, which left Yao Ruo Ruo stunned.
Did Senior Brother have his soul possessed? It had to be that way!
“Senior Brother, you really are…” Yao Ruo Ruo sighed with exasperation, “You’re like a foolish king! Overcome by love!”
Yan Zhou Bai’s expression remained stoic, his voice cool, “And you, a young mistress who forgets loyalty at the sight of handsome men.”
The two exchanged a sharp look, their gazes like daggers.
Meanwhile, Shi Zi Chu spent the afternoon in the tavern before being “kicked out” by the exasperated owner.
The owner, having faced her first ever defeat, grumbled through clenched teeth, “You look like a delicate young lady, but your waist is stiffer than my connections!”
Shi Zi Chu shifted uncomfortably.
She really couldn’t help it, could she?
The owner, now visibly upset, huffed, “Come back tomorrow! I don’t believe I can’t teach you how to twist your waist properly!”
Shi Zi Chu flashed a sweet, innocent smile. “Alright! Big sister, thank you for your hard work! I’ll bring you some tasty treats tomorrow!”
The owner’s feigned anger immediately melted away in the face of Shi Zi Chu’s charm.
Laughing, the owner waved her off, “Go on, go on. You’re a master at sweet-talking people.”
After leaving the tavern, Shi Zi Chu contacted Xing Lan using her communication talisman.
When she arrived at the manor, Xing Lan was already waiting at the entrance, looking like he had been there for a while.
“Master.”
Shi Zi Chu, holding Xue Gu, quickly walked over.
Xing Lan acknowledged her with a soft hum, but as soon as she got closer, he noticed a faint smell of alcohol.
“Have you been drinking?”
Shi Zi Chu nodded honestly and gestured with her free hand. “Just a little bit.”
Xing Lan nodded but didn’t press the matter further.
She led him inside.
Once they had gone through the manor, Shi Zi Chu retired to rest, leaving all the array formation work to Xing Lan.
After completing the array formation modifications, Xing Lan found Shi Zi Chu in the main house.
She was lying on her side, wrapped in a blanket, still asleep.
Sitting by her bed, Xing Lan waited for her to wake.
When Shi Zi Chu finally awoke, the sky outside had darkened.
“Master.”
Her voice, still thick with sleep, was soft and drowsy.
Xing Lan hummed in response and handed her the array formation disk, “The array and the restrictions have been modified. You just need to use your blood to bond with it.”
Shi Zi Chu extended her hand from under the blanket.
Seeing this, Xing Lan took a drop of blood from her fingertip.
The blood fell onto the array formation disk, activating it, and the formation was hidden underground. The array formation disk, now empty, disappeared.
“Did you not sleep well?”
His deep, indifferent voice suddenly cut through the quiet.
Shi Zi Chu followed his gaze and noticed the incense burner in the corner.
There was no wispy smoke, but the scent of calming incense still lingered in the air.
“Something like that,” she said casually, sitting up, her voice soft as she asked, “Master, are you resting here tonight, or will you be leaving?”
Xing Lan lowered his gaze, not saying a word, but his presence had become colder.
“I’m not trying to drive you away,” Shi Zi Chu said, flashing him a smile. “I just want to go eat something.”
Xing Lan rose without saying anything, heading out.
Shi Zi Chu got up, dressed, and prepared herself.
When she finished, she walked up and tugged at his sleeve, leading him out, “It’s a housewarming celebration! Master hasn’t given me a gift.”
“Helping you with the array formation doesn’t count?” Xing Lan, still being pulled along, was less distant than before.
“That’s not good enough!” Shi Zi Chu let go of his sleeve and stretched out her hand. “Master, you can’t back out of this!”
Xing Lan, momentarily stumped by her request, finally reached out and patted her hand, which was pale with a hint of pink. “If you want something, just ask.”
“Not sincere enough!” Shi Zi Chu shook her finger, clearly unsatisfied.
Could she expect the same from what she asked for as what he might offer?
Xing Lan raised his hand and gently tapped her on the head. His cool, low voice spoke slowly, “If I give you spirit stones, you’ll accuse me of being insincere. If I give you a spirit pill, a magic artifact, or a cultivation technique, it’s the same. Now tell me, what could I possibly give you?”
Shi Zi Chu, preemptively defeated, smiled obediently.
With a playful glint in his eyes, Xing Lan spoke in a tone of mockery, “Planning to ask for something extravagant?”
Shi Zi Chu shook her head.
Under the teasing gaze of Xing Lan, she straightened her face and said seriously, “Master, you can’t think of me like that. I’m actually very considerate.”
Considerate?
Those words had nothing to do with Jiu Jiu at all.