Chapter 310 Senior Brother, “Chance Encounter”
In the afternoon, the scorching sunlight sprinkled on the willow-lined banks of the Tian’an River.
A boatman poled a small ferry across the river. Scholars and beauties on both banks, holding umbrellas or fans, strolled between the shops and pavilions.
Ye Anping, holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked alone along the bank, admiring the lively prosperity of the West District in Tianan City.
He came out to go shopping alone, but admiring the city’s grand scenery was secondary. The main reason was to chance upon Si Xuanji on the street.
Si Xuanji had led him to the Imperial Sect. After arriving in Tianan City, she would naturally come to find him and guide him to understand the deeds of the Central Domain Emperor.
Although he already knew what the Central Domain Emperor had done, Si Xuanji believed he didn’t.
In other words, he had to play along with Si Xuanji’s act and do his part.
Thinking of this, Ye Anping suddenly sighed lightly and reviewed the role he was playing in Si Xuanji’s script in his mind.
“After returning to the Xuan Xing Sect, I planned to return the jade pendant Si Xuanji gave me back then. However, I was told by Qiu Shu Rou that she had run away from the Xuan Xing Sect, so I chased her to the Central Domain.”
After a moment of silence, Ye Anping took out the Returning Star Bell from his Storage Bag and shook it gently.
Jingle bells~~
The crisp bell sound was drowned out by the noisy crowd on the street.
He looked around and saw several cultivators who had come to visit gathered around a traveling merchant, talking:
“It seems the Demon Race has already passed Tiger Pass and is heading towards Tianan City? All the official roads to the west are blocked, and no one can pass now.”
“Yes, I don’t know how the Demon Race suddenly broke the agreement from back then. This will surely cause the immortal families to join forces and surround them. The Western Regions must have already received the news. The world is going to be in chaos.”
“When has it not been chaotic…”
…
Tiger Pass was Three Thousand Li away from Tianan City. However, since the Demon Race was not affected by the flying sword ban, their speed would not be slow. Moreover, there were two Immortal Cities between Tiger Pass and Tianan City.
Ye Anping estimated that the Demon Race would likely reach the city walls and besiege Tianan City within one and a half months.
He overheard a few words and continued to walk forward with his umbrella.
He hadn’t walked far when a shout suddenly came from behind:
“You little girl, stop right there!!”
Ye Anping heard the sound and turned to look behind him.
The moment he turned, a small figure bumped into his chest with considerable force. He staggered and fell backward, sitting on the ground. The small figure also fell directly onto his chest.
Ye Anping looked down. He couldn’t see her face, but just by seeing her black and white hair, he vaguely understood what was going on.
This old woman probably wanted to say, “Oh? What a coincidence, Young Master Ye, how are you here?”
Si Xuanji rubbed her forehead and pushed herself up. Upon seeing Ye Anping’s face, she feigned surprise:
“Huh? Young Master Ye?”
But before Ye Anping could reply, the burly man who had been chasing her arrived in front of them. He thought Ye Anping had helped him stop Si Xuanji.
“You little girl!!”
The burly man cursed and reached out to grab Si Xuanji.
Ye Anping quickly raised his hand to stop him, then helped Si Xuanji to her feet and asked:
“May I ask what happened?”
“This little girl just now broke the teapot on my stall and ran away without paying, even sticking out her tongue at me.”
“I see…” Ye Anping looked at Si Xuanji, who was now hiding behind him. “How much Spirit Stone was that teapot?”
“What? You want to pay for her? Two thousand Spirit Stones, a teapot made of Spirit Jade Porcelain.”
Hearing this, Ye Anping sighed slightly, thinking it was likely a trap. He directly took out two thousand Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and deliberately “accidentally” dropped his Xuan Xing Sect Disciple Identity Token.
The burly man froze upon seeing it. His previously fierce tone turned gentle:
“…So you’re a fellow Daoist from the Xuan Xing Sect. You only need to give fifty Spirit Stones.”
“Hehe…”
Ye Anping chuckled, threw him fifty Spirit Stones, and watched him run away. Then, he frowned and looked at Si Xuanji, who was now holding his sleeve and hiding behind him:
“Miss Xuanji…”
“Thank you, Young Master Ye, for your help.” Si Xuanji pursed her lips and blinked. “I didn’t bring much Spirit Stone with me when I left home, so… But speaking of which, why are you in the Central Domain? What a coincidence to meet you here.”
Ye Anping relayed what he had learned from Qiu Shu Rou:
“A few months ago, when I returned to the Xuan Xing Sect, I originally wanted to visit you and return the jade pendant you lent me last time. However, I was told that you had run away from the Xuan Xing Sect with Young Master Xiao. Senior Qiu asked me to bring you back with this bell.”
“I see… Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Ye.” Si Xuanji smiled brightly. “I usually stay in the Xuan Xing Sect. The Sect Master confined me and didn’t allow me to run around, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to come out with my sister to get some fresh air.”
Ye Anping pondered for a moment about how to play along with her act, then frowned and rebuked:
“Miss Xuanji, the Central Domain is full of ruffians. If you’re going to come out, you should at least let Senior Qiu accompany you, shouldn’t you?”
Si Xuanji pursed her lips and smiled slightly, retorting:
“Didn’t nothing happen?”
“But what if something did?”
“Then I’ll have to trouble Young Master Ye to protect me.” Si Xuanji tilted her head slightly, squinted, and smiled, asking, “Okay?”
Ye Anping sighed with a hint of helplessness. After thinking for a moment, he said:
“Miss Xuanji, you used to give me the impression of being a gentle and elegant intellectual woman. Today, I’ve broadened my horizons. You have such a mischievous side, even secretly running away from the Xuan Xing Sect to such a distant place.”
Si Xuanji tilted her head and smiled, saying, “I’m just a girl of fourteen or fifteen. Isn’t it normal to want to have fun?”
Oh…
Ye Anping pouted, picked up the oil-paper umbrella that Si Xuanji had knocked away, then looked around and asked:
“Where is your sister? I heard she came out with you.”
“Huh? She…” Si Xuanji looked around. “I remember she was always following me. Why can’t I see her? That’s strange.”
…
“Forget it, let’s not mind her. How about Young Master Ye accompanying me to stroll through Tianan City? Consider it compensation for the fifty Spirit Stones you gave me earlier.”
“It’s just fifty Spirit Stones. Didn’t you also borrow my Illusion Transformation Pendant, Miss Xuanji?”
“That’s a different matter.” Si Xuanji narrowed her eyes and smiled. She spotted a theater stall not far away and walked over. “Does Young Master Ye like watching plays? I heard that the theaters in the Central Domain are different from those in the Western Regions?”
“Can I say I’m not interested in theater?”
Si Xuanji pouted and smiled sweetly:
“Then is Young Master Ye interested in shopping with a girl like me?”
Surely no one would like to go shopping with an old woman?… Ye Anping grumbled inwardly, then held up the oil-paper umbrella and held it over Si Xuanji’s head.
“If I refuse again, it would be impolite.”
…
