109 – Strange Shop
Xue Qilin hasn’t given a gift to her only disciple yet.
Although the feelings between two people should not be reflected in objects, but compared to shapeless things that can’t be touched, things with specific shape can make people feel more at ease.
What should I give her? While strolling on the streets, Xue Qilin lowered her head and pondered this question. It’s rare for her to go down the mountain, so she wants to buy something to give Shui Yun’er.
As she pondered, she remembered where she is going next, and suddenly had an idea.
“Little Yun ah…”
“Hmm? Young Teacher, is something the matter?”
Xue Qilin looked Shui Yun’er up and down. She only answered after she had a rough idea in her mind.
“How about I give you a set of clothes?”
“Clothes?”
Xue Qilin’s proposal left Shui Yun’er stunned. It was probably too sudden.
“Um, I think I haven’t gifted you anything yet, so I want to give you something. I am going to get something from a familiar clothing shop, so I’m planning to order a set for you! Those are clothes I personally designed!”
“Young Teacher, I’m fine as is, I don’t need any gifts…”
After listening to the other party, Shui Yun’er showed a faint wry smile.
“Besides, you have already taught me ‘spells’, gave me what I want, gave me…”
Probably looking for the right word, Shui Yun’er paused for a moment.
“Warmth that I deserve…?”
She crooked her head slightly and said with little certainty.
Then she smiled.
It’s a smile that resembles the warm sun in early spring.
“I’m already happy.”
It was a sudden emotional confession.
Shui Yun’er’s words must have come from the heart.
I just want to give her a present, no need to say so much… Xue Qilin scratched her head embarrassedly.
But with this, Xue Qilin’s determination to give Shui Yun’er a gift was further strengthened.
“I will buy the clothes whether you want them or not!”
Xue Qilin pouted and said forcefully.
“This…”
Shui Yun’er showed an expression that is neither that of humor nor annoyance.
“If you don’t want them, then I’ll throw them into the moat of Luoyang City!”
Since the lass is so adamant, Shui Yun’er can hardly refuse her.
“In order for you not to be wasteful and not to be criticized by others, Young Teacher, I have to accept your gift with a fearless spirit.”
Shui Yun’er closed an eye and said playfully.
Xue Qilin humphed twice, crossed her arms, and uttered: “It’s good that you understand!”
Shui Yun’er covered her mouth with her sleeve and issued a bright laughter.
Xue Qilin smiled in return.
Next she pulled Shui Yun’er by the hand.
“Then let’s go! I will lead the way!”
Shui Yun’er smiled, let Xue Qilin lead the way, and rushed after her.
The two people linked together cast a long shadow on the ground behind them.
*
Xue Qilin and Shui Yun’er crossed what seems like a boundary of the world
This is a dark alley.
It is wet and quiet here, and the air is filled with a sour and choking stink. The walls of buildings on both sides of the alley are covered in all kinds of stains – oil stains, ink stains, shoe prints, and even dark blood stains.
The sun hasn’t set yet, but the alley looks dark and secluded, and there is no end in sight.
This is probably because the buildings are too close to one another and block the sun.
Staying in this alley, it seems that even the aura of life is being stifled.
It is a road leading to Luotian Town’s darkest part – the slums.
“Young Teacher, are we really at the right place?”
Shui Yun’er covered her nose, creased her eyebrows, and asked. She probably can’t stand the smell here.
In contrast, Xue Qilin looks much more at ease.
She used to roam battlefields.
Corpses piling up like mountains, a stench of blood impossible to get rid of – there is no place with a worse environment than a battlefield.
“This is a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons!”
The lass objected to Shui Yun’er’s concerns.
“I know… I used to buy medicine in a similar place before, but I don’t think anyone would open a shop in such a place…”
“That so?”
Xue Qilin recalled the strange guy who wears black clothes and covers his mouth even in his own shop.
“Well… that guy is a bit odd. He hates the sun, but he’s not a bad person.”
Xue Qilin gave Shui Yun’er a heads-up, so that she won’t be too scared when she sees him and won’t attack him.
“Is it really okay?”
Shui Yun’er creased her eyebrows even more.
“Well, he’s an amazing tailor.”
At least he can realize Xue Qilin’s “designs”.
Shui Yun’er asked no more questions, but there is still an uneasy expression on her face.
After numerous twists and turns, the two ended in front of a singly-story building’s door.
A sign with the words “Clothes Seller” is hanging high above the door. This seems to be the name of the shop.
“Is this the place?”
Shui Yun’er blinked her eyes, and her gaze wandered about the building in front of her.
“Mhm. Let’s go in!”
Xue Qilin pushed open the door and entered, without even knocking on the door. When the door opened, she immediately covered her nose with her sleeve.
As Shui Yun’er was wondering about Xue Qilin, a cloud of dust with a putrid smell hit her face, and she coughed several times.
Is it really okay? As she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, the girl followed the lass whose figure has already disappeared into the dark shop.
The first thing that caught her eyes was the densely-packed shelves.
The shelves are filled with clothes of different styles, which are a rare sight. But as “merchandise”, these clothes are not appealing, because they are covered with dust, and look very dirty.
“Scoundrel, clean the shop!”
A dexterous voice came from inside the shop. Shui Yun’er followed the voice and quickly saw the lass’s petite figure.
Opposite her is a counter, and he is standing behind the counter.
That’s a strange person.
Judging from the physique, it should be a man.
He’s dressed in black clothes that cover his figure and conceal most of his features, only exposing his black eyes.
Probably sensing Shui Yun’er’s gaze, the man looked at her. There is no emotion in his eyes, which look like stagnant pools of water full of rot and a heavy smell.
Those are the eyes of a murderer.
He must have killed many people! Maybe he was an assassin before! Warnings flared up in Shui Yun’er’s mind, and her right hand moved towards the Hengdao [1] hanging from her waist.
The girl can’t tell whether the man is a martial practitioner or not, she cannot feel anything from the other party – including the person’s aura.
The man seems to have noticed the girl’s movements, and he aimed his gaze at her waist.
But in the next moment, he looked away and focused back on Xue Qilin. He doesn’t seem interested in Shui Yun’er’s movement.
“It you’re not happy, then don’t come here anymore.”
The man answered coldly. Because of the mask on his face, his voice sounds muffled.
[1] – Hengdao
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