Luo JinXiao pouted, having anticipated such a response from Qu WeiYin.
That night, Luo JinXiao found a spot in Qu WeiYin’s room to sleep. Before dawn, they were already riding their swords, taking off into the early morning mist that shrouded the mountains. From above, the landscape looked ethereal, with only a few peaks peering through the fog.
Qu WeiYin, aiming to conceal her identity, wore a simple white dress typical of a common woman, her hair tied with a ribbon that gave her an air of ethereal elegance. In contrast, Luo JinXiao was dressed more lavishly in a lake-blue gown with embroidered dark flowers and a gold-trimmed belt, her hair pinned up with a silver clasp for a tidy look.
After about half an hour of flight, Qu WeiYin descended, and Luo JinXiao quickly followed. They landed in a small town nestled against the mountains and by a river, its scenery picturesque. Though it was autumn, flowers still bloomed everywhere.
By now, the sun had risen, painting the sky in shades of pink. Street vendors were already positioned along the roadsides, their cries breaking the morning calm.
Despite Qu WeiYin’s simple attire, she still attracted many glances as they entered the town.
Noticing the attention, Luo JinXiao pulled a conical hat from her pouch and placed it on Qu WeiYin’s head. Qu WeiYin instinctively reached to remove it, but Luo JinXiao held her hand.
“Little Martial Aunt, though it’s not pretty, it helps shield you,” Luo JinXiao whispered, leaning closer. “With your looks, people will stare wherever you go if you don’t cover up.”
Qu WeiYin withdrew her hand, leaving the hat in place, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
Luo JinXiao adjusted the hat, feeling it was crooked, and as she did so, their pace slowed, causing them to lightly bump into each other.
It felt as if Luo JinXiao was embracing Qu WeiYin.
Surrounded by the scent of flowers, Luo JinXiao realized the fragrance she’d been smelling came from Qu WeiYin’s hair. She stood there, stunned, before quickly stepping back.
Even after stepping away, the fragrance lingered at her nose.
Qu WeiYin wasn’t unaffected either. Her eyes flickered slightly as she clenched her fists.
A shout interrupted the moment. An old man with a limp pushed a wheelbarrow past, calling out to Qu WeiYin, “Young lady, fresh steamed buns!”
Qu WeiYin snapped back to reality, waved him off, and continued forward.
Luo JinXiao shook off the heat from her face and caught up. They turned into a quieter alley when Qu WeiYin spoke, “The missing people marked their paths with spiritual energy. Help me check for any traces around here.”
Luo JinXiao nodded, now more attentive as they walked. The town wasn’t large, but it had many alleys. Sometimes, after weaving through numerous buildings, they found themselves back where they started, forced to retrace their steps.
To avoid drawing attention, they refrained from using their abilities, making their progress slow.
“Little Martial Aunt, how about I let Xiao Tiantian out? As a fierce beast, her senses should be sharper than ours,” Luo JinXiao suggested after nearly stepping into the river for the fifth time.
Qu WeiYin considered the suggestion, watching the gentle river before nodding in agreement.
Luo JinXiao reached into her pouch, but after rummaging around, she couldn’t find a trace of QiongQi. Frustrated, she turned the pouch upside down and shook it.
Suddenly, a flash of white light burst forth, and out tumbled a person. Startled, Luo JinXiao quickly reached to catch them.
It was QiongQi, half-asleep, her round eyes squinting. She sniffed Luo JinXiao’s scent, wrapping her arms around her neck and nuzzling her with her nose.
If she were a small tiger, the gesture would be natural, but as a human, it was quite intimate.
The girl’s soft arms clung to Luo JinXiao’s neck, her knees held by Luo JinXiao’s hands, her fair feet bare and dangling.
Luo JinXiao was frozen, as was Qu WeiYin beside her.
“When I put her in, she was still in beast form. How did she change inside?” Luo JinXiao hastily defended, nearly biting her tongue, unsure even herself what she was justifying.
She tried to set QiongQi down, but despite her small hands, QiongQi held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Luo JinXiao’s arms ached, so she looked to Qu WeiYin with a pitiful expression.
“Little Martial Aunt…”
Qu WeiYin’s eyebrows twitched as she assessed them. Luo JinXiao’s arm wrapped around the girl’s back, another supporting her knees, the two looking unexpectedly harmonious.
Without a word, Qu WeiYin turned and walked away.
“Hey, Little Martial Aunt, just scare her a bit! Don’t leave!” Luo JinXiao called after her, nearly in tears.
QiongQi tried to lick her face, so Luo JinXiao coughed, feigning sternness. “Let go, or you’ll only get pig’s feet to eat!”
QiongQi blinked, her eyes filling with tears, looking pitiful.
Luo JinXiao’s heart softened, unable to maintain her sternness.
After much effort, she finally set QiongQi down and sprinted to catch up with Qu WeiYin, panting, “Little Martial Aunt, wait for me.”
“You seemed busy,” Qu WeiYin said coolly.
“Nothing’s more important than helping you find the person,” Luo JinXiao grinned, wiping sweat from her brow.
Qu WeiYin’s lips pressed slightly, her expression softening.
QiongQi caught up, running barefoot, eyes wide with curiosity. The onlookers cast sympathetic glances, some glaring at Luo JinXiao and Qu WeiYin as they passed.
Unaccustomed to such attention, Qu WeiYin paused, saying, “Why not give her shoes?”
“I did, but she won’t wear them,” Luo JinXiao sighed, pulling QiongQi back from the butcher’s stall, securing her by her side.
“I didn’t call you out to play. Help us find traces of spiritual energy,” Luo JinXiao whispered to QiongQi.
Though fiercely animalistic, QiongQi was clever. She puffed her cheeks, searching the street.
Yet she was easily distracted by oddities, like the smell of meat, tugging at Luo JinXiao’s clothes.
Exhausted by QiongQi’s antics, Luo JinXiao bought some chicken legs, holding them aloft as QiongQi stretched to reach, brushing her lips against Luo JinXiao’s face.
QiongQi’s small hands clung to Luo JinXiao’s shoulders, her tiptoeing endearing.
Suddenly, Luo JinXiao sensed malice behind her. Turning, she saw Qu WeiYin watching QiongQi with an unreadable expression, the Crescent Moon Star Sword in her hand.
“Why the delay?” Her voice was icy, sending chills down one’s spine.
Frightened, QiongQi released her grip, stepping back awkwardly, but not before snatching a chicken leg from Luo JinXiao.
“Find it,” Qu WeiYin instructed. QiongQi darted off, leaving her skirt’s ribbons fluttering behind.
Staying put, Luo JinXiao was confused by Qu WeiYin’s sudden anger. She wanted to ask but lowered her head under Qu WeiYin’s sharp gaze, staring at the ground.
“Let’s go,” Qu WeiYin said shortly, striding away. Luo JinXiao exhaled, covering her chest, feeling increasingly puzzled.
After another incense stick’s time, QiongQi abruptly halted, rushing toward a door. Luo JinXiao, quick to react, grabbed her tail, pulling her back.
“Why do you rush everywhere?” Luo JinXiao grumbled, holding her firmly.
“What is this place?” Qu WeiYin asked, eyeing the large sign with confusion.
“Little Martial Aunt doesn’t know?” Luo JinXiao replied, surprised.
Qu WeiYin shook her head. Despite living over two thousand years, she mostly stayed on the mountain, rarely visiting the mortal realm, especially not during her time in the demon realm.
Luo JinXiao hesitated before explaining, “It’s called the Fragrance House—it’s, uh, a brothel.”
Qu WeiYin responded with a soft “oh,” her cheeks subtly reddening, avoiding the entrance.
QiongQi frowned, her round eyes fierce. Turning, she tugged Luo JinXiao’s clothes, trying to pull her inside. Stumbling forward, Luo JinXiao sensed something amiss.
QiongQi wasn’t just playing.
“Is there something strange inside?” Luo JinXiao whispered.
QiongQi grunted in response.
Luo JinXiao exchanged a glance with Qu WeiYin, both turning serious.
“Let’s go,” Qu WeiYin said, leading the way inside. Unable to stop her, Luo JinXiao quickly followed.
As they entered, they were stopped by a richly dressed madam who eyed them up and down, her voice sharp, “Ladies, this isn’t a place for you. Our Fragrance House is for men only. Unless you have other intentions…”
Luo JinXiao frowned, about to speak when Qu WeiYin interrupted coldly.
“And why can’t women be patrons?” Her gaze pierced through the hat, chilling the madam, who broke into a sweat.
She fell silent.
Luo JinXiao, sweating as much as the madam, silently wiped her brow, thinking that Qu WeiYin could make anything sound reasonable.
“Well, we don’t usually serve women, but…” the madam hesitated.
“Then change your rules today,” Qu WeiYin huffed, pulling Luo JinXiao inside. The madam, seeing their hands, was stunned.
Understanding dawned on her, and she quickly bowed, “Please, come in. We have plenty of rooms. Just say which one you want.”
Luo JinXiao blushed, quickly handing the madam a silver ingot, putting a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.
The madam patted her ample chest, smiling knowingly.
At that moment, QiongQi burst in, latching onto Luo JinXiao. The madam’s eyes widened in astonishment, utterly speechless.
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