Chapter 44: The Art of Misdirection and a New Assignment

In the courtyard, dozens of yellow talismans shimmered with spiritual light, coalescing into an aura of profound mystery.

Master Qian and his entire household, even the seasoned guards accustomed to the ebb and flow of life and death, stared in utter stupefaction.

This spectacle was utterly beyond anything the itinerant sorcerers they had encountered could ever hope to achieve; it was nothing short of divine intervention!

“An immortal! The female hero is truly an immortal descended to the mortal realm!”

Master Qian’s face, flushed with excitement, trembled visibly as he fumbled a heavy silver ingot from his robes, presenting it with both hands.

“For the life you have saved, and for demonstrating such divine magic, this humble offering is but a small token of my gratitude. I implore the female hero to accept it!”

Su Qinghan waved a dismissive hand, the fluid execution of the spell having exacted a considerable toll on her spirit, leaving her complexion even more pallid.

“Master Qian, our encounter is simply a matter of fate.”

Her voice, though soft, carried the serene detachment of one far removed from worldly concerns.

“To speak of money would be to diminish the purity of this interaction.”

Su Qinghan gestured towards the talismans affixed throughout the courtyard.

“This formation will safeguard your family’s well-being and invite prosperity. To have been permitted to impose upon your hospitality for these few days is already a blessing for both my friend and me.”

Upon hearing this, Master Qian felt his admiration for her deepen immeasurably.

Behold! Witness such magnanimity! This was the true mark of a transcendent master, utterly unlike those mercenary charlatans of the jianghu who spoke only of silver and reeked of greed!

He hastily retrieved the silver, bowing even lower in deference.

“Yes, yes, yes, this old man was indeed coarse! Female hero, your integrity is unparalleled! Quickly, Xiao Li! Arrange the finest guest rooms for the two female heroes! Attend to their needs diligently; under no circumstances should they be neglected!”

Inside the guest room.

The moment Lu Hongzhuang closed the door, she could no longer contain herself. She strode towards Su Qinghan, her face a mask of profound bewilderment.

“That talisman array… can it truly enhance one’s fortune?”

Su Qinghan, having deftly leveraged herself from her wheelchair, executed a skillful flip onto the plush bed, sinking into the covers with a contented sigh.

“No, it cannot.”

“Ah?” Lu Hongzhuang remained utterly dumbfounded.

“Do you truly take me for the God of Wealth?” Su Qinghan rolled her eyes. “Such a good fortune, achievable with merely a flick of a finger, simply doesn’t exist.”

Lu Hongzhuang’s confusion deepened. “Then what was all that effort for? I genuinely thought you intended to help him…”

“It’s a simple warding array,” Su Qinghan explained languidly. “It’s sufficient for repelling minor malevolent spirits and specters.”

“Consider this: if a family remains safe and sound, free from illness and misfortune, wouldn’t that save them a substantial sum on medical treatments and medicines? And isn’t money saved, in essence, money earned? Round that up, and what do you have but abundant prosperity?”

“…”

Lu Hongzhuang found herself utterly speechless, choked by the sheer audacity of Su Qinghan’s convoluted reasoning.

Observing Su Qinghan’s completely self-assured demeanor, she silently walked to the other bed in the room and began to shed her red outer robe.

“I had assumed you would accept Master Qian’s silver without a moment’s hesitation.”

“Tsk.” Su Qinghan turned onto her side, propping her head with her hand. “Do I truly seem like someone so utterly devoid of principles? He provides food and lodging, and I establish a protective array for his family’s safety. This, my dear, is a fair transaction, an exchange of equal value. Understand?”

Lu Hongzhuang’s movements faltered, and she remarked pointedly.

“Yet, you also ‘conveniently’ acquired a substantial quantity of his unused yellow paper, glutinous rice, and cinnabar.”

Su Qinghan’s expression momentarily stiffened.

A brief silence descended.

Then, with a sudden jolt, she sat upright in bed, her face contorted into an expression of exaggerated shock.

“Oh my! Who could have done this? Which wretched soul clandestinely stashed these items into my satchel? This, this, this is a sign of declining morality! The hearts of men are no longer as they once were!”

Witnessing her theatrical display, Lu Hongzhuang finally succumbed, letting out a soft chuckle.

Shaking her head, she pulled the quilt over herself and turned to lie down.

“There’s no debating with you.”

As night deepened, the two young women lay on their respective beds, their breathing gradually settling into a steady rhythm.

 The following morning.

Lu Hongzhuang had risen early, sitting cross-legged on her bed with eyes closed, her palms and soles facing upwards as she circulated her cultivation technique, drawing spiritual energy into her body.

Su Qinghan awoke, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and immediately noticed the diligent figure on the opposite bed.

“Oh, how diligent.”

She murmured softly, then indulged in a long, languid stretch.

Due to her restless sleeping habits, the thin silk inner garment she wore was already somewhat loose. With this expansive stretch, the collar slipped to one side, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, alluring shoulder and a sliver of fair skin.

Lu Hongzhuang, in the midst of her qi circulation, inadvertently caught sight of this scene from the corner of her eye.

Her mind buzzed, and the fragile wisp of spiritual energy she had so painstakingly gathered instantly veered off course, surging erratically through her meridians.

“Cough! Cough, cough, cough!”

Lu Hongzhuang’s eyes snapped open, and she erupted into a violent fit of coughing, her face turning a vivid crimson.

She whipped her head around, glaring exasperatedly at the still-disoriented Su Qinghan.

“Su Qinghan! Can you not be so utterly careless!”

Su Qinghan glanced down at herself, only then recognizing the impropriety, and quickly, almost clumsily, adjusted her clothing.

As Lu Hongzhuang regained her breath, a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks, and she asked with a touch of awkwardness.

“Are you… equally casual in front of other people?”

Hearing this, Su Qinghan’s movements paused.

“No, not usually.” She settled back onto the bed, her voice softening slightly. “I’ve grown accustomed to a life of freedom and laxity when alone, but in the future… I will be more mindful.”

For a brief moment, a subtle tension permeated the room.

Just then, the rhythmic flutter of wings shattered the fragile tranquility.

“Flap, flap, flap—”

A grey pigeon alighted on the windowsill, cocking its head and cooing twice.

Su Qinghan’s eyes lit up with sudden intensity.

“Wow, what a plump chicken! We can have a feast tonight!”

“That’s a carrier pigeon! You idiot!”

Lu Hongzhuang shot her an exasperated look, then rose and walked to the window, expertly detaching a small bamboo tube from the pigeon’s leg.

Su Qinghan maneuvered her wheelchair alongside, peering over with an inquisitive tilt of her head.

“In my dreams, there’s a place where people can converse across vast distances, with messages arriving in an instant—far swifter than this contraption.”

As Lu Hongzhuang carefully tipped the paper strip from the bamboo tube, she inquired offhandedly.

“Oh? What sort of device is used? Is it some kind of Daoist magical artifact?”

“They use penguins,” Su Qinghan replied with a straight face.

Penguins?

In Lu Hongzhuang’s mind, a comical image involuntarily materialized: a plump, waddling black and white bird, flapping its tiny wings, a message tube strapped to its body, diligently swaying side to side as it attempted to deliver mail…

She vigorously shook her head, dispelling the absurd notion.

“Your dreams are truly boundless.”

She unfolded the paper strip and swiftly scanned its contents.

Su Qinghan leaned in. “Where was it sent from?”

“Qingshi Town.”

Su Qinghan’s brow furrowed in surprise. “How did they know we were here?”

“I had previously taken a moment to send a letter to Senior Sister Liu, informing her of our safety.” Lu Hongzhuang extended the paper strip for Su Qinghan to read. “Senior Sister replied that our meritorious deed of slaying the malevolent spirit in Qingshi Town has already been reported. She instructed us to proceed directly to the Demon Exorcism Division in Wangyue Town to have my waist token upgraded to that of a Sixth-Grade Demon Exorcist.”

“A Sixth-Grade Demon Exorcist?” Su Qinghan raised a playful eyebrow. “Quite the promotion, wouldn’t you say?”

She returned the paper strip to Lu Hongzhuang, her mind already turning to different calculations.

“Alright, then you can attend to your official duties later. As for me, I intend to wander the streets and immerse myself in the local customs and culture.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lu Hongzhuang declared, “I’ll accompany you.”

“Oh, there’s no need,” Su Qinghan waved a dismissive hand. “You attend to your business. Besides, I managed perfectly well on my own for many years before I ever met you.”

Upon hearing these words, an inexplicable pang of discomfort stirred within Lu Hongzhuang’s heart.

At that precise moment, a languid, somewhat naive loli voice suddenly emerged from the depths of Su Qinghan’s consciousness.

“Well, well, idiot, at least you’re not fighting for once.”

“You nearly scared this fox to death; I thought every time I awoke, you’d be embroiled in another brawl.”

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