Ugly Hero - Chapter 17

Lu Nanzhu withdrew her gaze. Under everyone’s eyes, she turned around, picked up the bamboo hat, shook off the dust clinging to it, and put it back on her head.

She had only just taken a step when she heard Xia Qinyi call her.

“Miss, please wait!”

The corner of Lu Nanzhu’s mouth twitched. Powerlessly, she closed her eyes. Xia Qinyi quickly came to her side, and the two looked at each other in silence.

Seeing the green-robed girl say nothing, Xia Qinyi felt a trace of awkwardness cross her heart. She herself did not know why she had called out to this girl she had only met twice. Perhaps she felt guilty.

“I see that Miss is carrying a literary sword. Recently, this town has not been peaceful. Did Miss come here to seek shelter with relatives?”

Lu Nanzhu thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Did you find them?”

Lu Nanzhu shook her head.

“Many households in this town have moved away. I’m afraid it may be difficult to find them for a while. May I ask where Miss’s hometown is?”

Xia Qinyi’s string of questions made sweat break out in Lu Nanzhu’s palms. Xia Qinyi had heard her voice before. Even though Lu Nanzhu had deliberately lowered her voice at the time, she still felt guilty. There were seven people on the other side. Xia Qinyi’s martial arts went without saying, and especially those two people she had brought with her—if they did not have absolute strength, how could Huaxia Manor possibly send only two people to guard the saber?

As they spoke, the remaining people also arrived behind Xia Qinyi one after another.

“Miss, don’t misunderstand. We are not bad people… My name is Xia Qinyi.”

Lu Nanzhu secretly grumbled in her heart: Of course I know you are the Young Miss of Huaxia Manor!

The green-robed girl slowly raised her hand, pointed at her own throat, then waved her hand.

Seeing the green-robed girl’s gesture, Xia Qinyi asked softly, “You… cannot speak?”

Lu Nanzhu had originally wanted Xia Qinyi to think she had caught a cold and could not speak, but then felt that Xia Qinyi’s explanation was also not bad, so she nodded.

A trace of regret crossed Xia Qinyi’s eyes. Such a beautiful woman actually could not speak. That regret quickly transformed into a desire to protect her.

In Xia Qinyi’s view, this green-robed girl had failed to find the relatives she came to rely on, and the town was not peaceful. She did not know martial arts and could not speak, yet she just so happened to have an unrivaled face. For her to travel alone was far too dangerous…

“Miss, if you do not mind, you can come with me for now. I will settle you at an inn for a few days, then send someone to escort you home.”

I mind. I very much mind.

Seeing the green-robed girl nod, Xia Qinyi smiled happily. Being able to do something for this girl seemed to ease the guilt in her heart.

After parting from the Tianqiong Sword Sect disciples, the four found an inn. Xia Qinyi booked four upper rooms. According to usual custom, Xia Qinyi’s room would be in the middle, with Qingzhu and Piaoxue on either side.

But this time, taking the green-robed girl’s “safety” into consideration, Xia Qinyi arranged the two of them in rooms next to each other, while Qingzhu and Piaoxue’s rooms remained on the outermost sides.

“Miss, this is your room. We will eat in one shichen.”

Lu Nanzhu entered the guest room, slid the door bolt into place, and checked it repeatedly several times before coming to the table and sitting down.

She removed her bamboo hat, her long ink-black brows knitting together.

Why had things developed into this? Lu Nanzhu opened the long box. The Canglong Sword emitted a gentle blue light.

Lu Nanzhu found the jade hairpin in her bundle and placed it inside the long box as well. Holding the long box, she flipped up onto the crossbeam and hid the box there.

After coming down from the crossbeam, Lu Nanzhu pressed her forehead and sighed softly. If the box suddenly disappeared, would that not make people suspicious?

Lu Nanzhu leaped onto the crossbeam a second time and took the box back down.

She discovered that every time she encountered Xia Qinyi, strange things would always happen.

One shichen later, an attendant came to tell Lu Nanzhu that the food was ready. Lu Nanzhu had originally wanted to say she would eat in her room, only to remember that she “could not speak.” For a moment, she felt as though she had lifted a stone only to smash her own foot.

Xia Qinyi, however, was very thoughtful. She chose a table in a corner and had Qingzhu and Piaoxue sit on the other side, while she herself sat in the corner.

With this seating arrangement, only Xia Qinyi could see Lu Nanzhu’s appearance.

Lu Nanzhu also understood Xia Qinyi’s intention. This Young Miss seemed somewhat different from the impression Lu Nanzhu had of her.

The dishes had already all been served: twelve dishes and one soup, filling the square Eight Immortals table completely.

Lu Nanzhu set down the wooden box, then removed her bamboo hat and placed it on top of the box.

Xia Qinyi kept looking at the green-robed girl. The startling glimpse earlier had not allowed her to see clearly. Now that she could look carefully, she discovered that the green-robed girl’s skin was excellent, white as fine jade, delicate enough to break with a breath. Her pair of long brows were like ink.

Especially the girl’s eyes. There was more black than white in them, and they shimmered with a childlike brightness.

Such eyes were not something a young miss from a century-old noble family like Xia Qinyi could possess.

Lu Nanzhu pretended not to notice Xia Qinyi’s examination. Though helpless in a thousand ways, she still reached out and pulled down the veil covering her face.

Xia Qinyi finally saw the green-robed girl’s full appearance. Although they were both women, Xia Qinyi could not help falling into a daze.

After the hidden half of the green-robed girl’s face was revealed, it did not weaken her beauty in the slightest. Instead, it slightly changed her aura. Her high, straight nose bridge made her features seem even deeper, and between her brows there was also an added three parts of heroic spirit.

The green-robed girl met Xia Qinyi’s gaze. As if she had been caught “peeking,” Xia Qinyi’s cheeks flushed pink.

Seeing this, the green-robed girl smiled slightly, her lips red and her teeth white.

“You are truly beautiful…”

The sincere praise slipped out of her mouth. When Xia Qinyi realized what she had said, the pink on her cheeks turned red.

In nearly a year of wandering the jianghu, Xia Qinyi was the first person to see Lu Nanzhu’s true face.

Lu Nanzhu had experienced great ugliness and great beauty. Her state of mind was absolutely not something an ordinary woman could compare with. Faced with Xia Qinyi’s praise, Lu Nanzhu only smiled faintly.

Xia Qinyi remembered that the girl across from her could not speak, so she changed the subject and continued, “I do not know what you like to eat, so I ordered half meat dishes and half vegetarian dishes. Try some.”

Lu Nanzhu looked at the dishes on the table and first picked up a crystal shrimp.

Meat was one thing, but fish and shrimp were foods absolutely unavailable in Tianshan.

Last time, she had originally wanted to order one to try, but the price had been too high. She needed to leave some silver to buy daily necessities like salt and iron for the whole village.

Xia Qinyi held her chopsticks, her arm propped against the table, watching the green-robed girl bring the shrimp to her mouth.

The shrimp was delicious, with a crisp, springy texture that meat did not have. Lu Nanzhu narrowed her eyes happily. Her appearance was like a lazy cat lying in the sunlight after eating its fill.

Xia Qinyi no longer needed to ask how it tasted. Seeing the girl’s expression, she knew she was very satisfied.

Perhaps the girl’s appearance was too endearing. Just watching her, Xia Qinyi also became happy.

Watching the green-robed girl taste three or four dishes and seeming to like the crystal shrimp most, Xia Qinyi remembered it in her heart.

Xia Qinyi secretly laughed at herself for being so silly. She and this girl had met by chance, and perhaps they would never meet again. What use was there in remembering these things?

Xia Qinyi returned to her senses and saw that the green-robed girl had stopped using her chopsticks and was looking at her.

“What is it?”

The girl tilted her head slightly and blinked at Xia Qinyi. Xia Qinyi quickly understood. “Are you telling me to eat?”

Lu Nanzhu nodded. Young Miss, if you do not eat, how am I supposed to feel comfortable?

The corner of Xia Qinyi’s lips curved. She picked up a stalk of green vegetable and ate it.

Seeing that after she had moved her chopsticks, the green-robed girl ate even more happily than before, Xia Qinyi lowered her eyes and could not help smiling.

Born into a wealthy and powerful family, Xia Qinyi lived in incomparable luxury. Very few foods outside could catch her eye.

But during this meal, her mood was happy.

After eating only a few simple bites, Xia Qinyi stopped. She looked at the girl and asked, “Do you like fish and shrimp?”

Lu Nanzhu nodded.

“My home is in a water town, rich in fish and shrimp. If you have the chance, you can come find me!”

Forget it. Let us part here and hope we do not meet again for three to five years.

“My home is in Fanli City…” Xia Qinyi stopped halfway through her words.

This girl did not know martial arts, and Xia Qinyi did not even know where her home was. Besides, they had known each other for such a short time. How could she possibly come find her?

…

“I have already sent out a letter. In a few days, someone will come to escort you home.”

“Right, where is your home? You… can write, can’t you?”

Lu Nanzhu nodded.

Xia Qinyi smiled. “Then that makes things much easier!”