Chapter 0: 42. Making a Friend (Bonus Chapter)
Qin Gou’s expression instantly turned solemn. He gently stroked Mu Man’er’s soft, warm back and patted it, saying, “Master has recently received news that you’ve become an adopted princess of the Tian Kun Dynasty and are holding a martial contest for marriage. That’s why I summoned you. Now it seems things are not as simple as they appear, are they?”
Mu Man’er reluctantly broke free from Qin Gou’s embrace, nodding repeatedly. “Master, I fell into a trap! I went to the Tian Kun Dynasty to return what was originally theirs and to sincerely apologize to those I had hurt. Initially, including the Tian Kun Human Emperor, they treated me very kindly and generously forgave me. But gradually, they began to use various excuses to prevent me from leaving the Tian Kun Dynasty.”
A cold glint flashed in Qin Gou’s eyes. “Such a thing happened.”
“Although they were extremely gentle to me on the surface, they immediately became incomparably resolute when it came to the issue of leaving. When I finally decided to leave without saying goodbye, I was directly stopped by the head eunuch by the Tian Kun Human Emperor’s side. Only then did I realize I had been placed under house arrest. Later, under the Tian Kun Human Emperor’s threats and inducements, I was helpless and became his adopted daughter. But he actually wants to order me to marry into the Marshal’s Mansion. This clearly means he wants to keep me in the Tian Kun Dynasty forever!”
Mu Man’er said with a face full of sorrow and a haggard appearance, “It took me a great deal of effort and all sorts of tricks to beg the Tian Kun Human Emperor to agree to the marriage by martial contest ceremony. The purpose was to make the matter as big as possible, so it would reach your ears, Master. That so-called marriage by martial contest was actually already decided, with the final winner being the eldest young master of the Marshal’s Mansion.”
“The Tian Kun Dynasty dares to be so arrogant and presumptuous,” Qin Gou said with extreme coldness in his tone. “Did you tell them you are actually my disciple, Qin Gou? Aren’t they afraid of me coming to their door?”
“I did, but not only did it not scare them, it even brought them unexpected joy. They finally realized that I, this hostage, had such a powerful background. They immediately changed the candidate for my husband from the Marshal’s Mansion’s third young master, who was born with a disability, to the exceptionally strong eldest young master.” Mu Man’er wrinkled her small nose, saying angrily, “The Tian Kun Human Emperor is very ambitious. It seems he wants to use your name and connections to expand his territory and revitalize the dynasty. He also said that now we are father and daughter, and marriage is a matter of parental command. If you, Master, were to blame him, he could bring thorns to apologize or kneel indefinitely to beg for your forgiveness, but he would absolutely not retract this decision.”
“What a good calculation,” Qin Gou said with a face as dark as water. “This Tian Kun Human Emperor is indeed an ambitious and bold ghost talent who doesn’t hesitate to take risks to achieve his goals. Unfortunately, he dared to set his sights on my Man’er.”
“Master, you must save me! I don’t want to get married yet! Besides, you know, Master, that my true form is actually no different from that of a female child around ten years old. How can I endure the extremely terrifying experience of married life!” Mu Man’er pleaded desperately, shaking Qin Gou’s arm.
Qin Gou almost spat out a mouthful of blood, grinding his teeth. “It would have been so much better if you hadn’t said that last sentence! Master was starting to feel sorry for you, but you completely changed direction.”
Mu Man’er sheepishly scratched her small head and said with a sweet smile, “Hehe, I was just too scared and too anxious. If I didn’t exaggerate, I was afraid Master wouldn’t come quickly enough.”
“Don’t worry, Master will naturally not abandon you. And Master happens to be near the Tian Kun Dynasty, so I will arrive as soon as possible,” Qin Gou said with a helpless smile, dotingly. “However, before I arrive, you must be careful and protect yourself. Master doesn’t want to see you suffer any more grievances.”
“Yes! I listen to Master the most,” Mu Man’er narrowed her eyes and smiled obediently, showing her teeth.
…
Except for Chi Yuchao, all the male disciples from outside had officially set off three days ago, led by Lone Shadow Saintess.
Chi Yuchao was now extremely lonely. In Mystic Maiden Palace, his only acquaintance was Chen Keshua, but that little fatty would go on and on about food, making it impossible for them to have a proper conversation.
The Rebirth Tower held no attraction for him either. Although Palace Lord Ye had said a few days ago that if they performed exceptionally well, the male disciples from outside could even visit the secret cultivation technique repository of the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace. However, after Ling Cuiyan publicly revealed his female body, making it known to everyone, he was no longer sure if he still had that qualification.
In a fit of anger, he abandoned his disguise, which even led some female disciples to subtly inquire if he had any intention of officially joining the Mystic Maiden Palace.
This almost made him furious to death.
Now, Chi Yuchao had only one goal in mind: to leave this place as soon as possible if given the chance, and return to his familiar hometown, Blood Drinking Slope.
At this moment, Chi Yuchao was sitting in a stone pavilion. Outside the pavilion, a tall peach tree was dancing lightly in the wind. A person stood under the tree. Before Chi Yuchao arrived at the pavilion, he had already been there, and still stood motionless, as if he had merged with the peach tree.
Chi Yuchao couldn’t help but walk forward out of curiosity.
Sensing Chi Yuchao’s presence, the person asked, “Do you also love admiring flowers, friend?” The person’s voice was extremely androgynous, making it impossible to discern their gender.
Chi Yuchao glanced at him and was instantly stunned by his exquisite beauty, as if a god of ice and snow descended upon the mortal world. Not only his voice, but his appearance was also ethereal.
Finally regaining his senses, Chi Yuchao stammered, “I come here every day at noon. I know clearly that there are forty-two peach blossoms, but I can’t say I’m particularly fond of admiring flowers.”
“You are mistaken, friend. It’s forty-three. One more has bloomed, it’s beautiful, the most beautiful.” The person smiled like spring flowers and autumn moon, exceptionally beautiful and captivating. “Ordinary people don’t pay attention to the number of flowers blooming and falling. You must be a lonely person, tired of life in this Mystic Maiden Palace.”
“Aren’t you the same? You counted more clearly than I did,” Chi Yuchao shrugged and chuckled.
“Yes, yet I didn’t expect to meet a kindred spirit in this place of turmoil.”
The person turned around, their clear, bright eyes filled with endless loneliness and sorrow, evoking pity.
“I am Zhao Xinting. Shall we be friends?”
