Chapter 268: This little girl hasn't even been born yet

Ore veins! Smelting techniques! If we were to mine all these ore veins and forge them into weapons that could pierce armor……

He didn't dare think further—this would literally be a national treasure! Far superior to all this gold and silver in the cave!

Xiao Ningxun's heart surged with tumultuous waves, and the hand holding the booklet trembled slightly.

He carefully put the booklet into his bosom, then rubbed his sister's head: 'Tuan Tuan, you've really done Father a great favor!'

He looked around and said: 'Gang Leader Xie, this treasure will be temporarily entrusted to your Western Ridge Horse Gang for safekeeping; after I report to His Majesty, I will make further arrangements.'

"Third Young Master, please rest assured." Xie Guzhou nodded. "I know the importance."

Xiao Ningxun clasped his hands in thanks: 'Thank you for your trouble. Let's go, we're heading back to Qingzhou Prefecture.'

Everyone withdrew from the treasure cave, and Xie Guzhou activated the mechanism, restoring that wondrous stone door to its original state.

The group hurried back to Qingzhou Prefecture City without stopping, Xie Guzhou worried about Xuan Fu Weng's safety, and hastily bade farewell and left.

Walking along the bustling street, a unique aroma of roasted fragrance mixed with a sweet, rich scent came blowing over.

By the roadside stood a small stall, where a flat iron pan sizzled golden rice cakes, topped with several bright red dates, their fresh sweet scent rushing straight into the nostrils—a snack never before seen in Jingcheng.

"How fragrant!" Tuan Tuan twitched her little nose, gazing longingly.

Xiao Ran also got interested: 'Come on, come on, Ninth Brother's treating, let everyone have a taste!'

Just as several people sat down on the small stools beside the stall, before the rice cakes arrived, a young woman with disheveled hair came rushing out of the neighboring clinic.

Her clothes were in disarray, her eyes filled with panic, and she emitted a strange 'heh-heh' sound from her mouth.

"Oh child! You've come back!" A neatly dressed woman streaked with tears rushed after her, grabbing her in an embrace: "My poor child!"

The woman struggled violently in her mother's arms, her strength astonishing, nearly pushing the woman to the ground.

Bystanders around stopped to watch, pointing and whispering.

"Isn't that the Miss Ding? Such a well-bred young lady from a respectable family—how could she just go mad like that?"

"I heard they had already settled the marriage with Scholar Zhang's family west of the city—what a fine match, now it's all ruined."

"Madam Ding is to be pitied—she has only this one daughter, alas."

"A madman?" Xiao Ningxun hastily pulled Tuan Tuan's stool closer to himself.

Tuan Tuan looked at the frantic Miss Ding, her eyes full of confusion: 'No way! This sister's luck is clearly good—she shouldn't be like this.'

She sprang to her feet and, with her short little legs, ran over.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er immediately rose to follow, flanking her on left and right.

"Little girl, don't go over!" a kind-hearted person warned urgently, "When she has an attack her strength is enormous—she'll hit people!"

But Tuan Tuan seemed not to hear, walking straight up to Miss Ding, she lifted her little face and softly called: 'Sister, what's wrong with you?'

The originally frantic Miss Ding stared blankly at her, then stopped struggling and gradually grew calm.

Tuan Tuan gently took one of her hands, wrapped it in her own small hand, and lightly rubbed it: 'Sister, don't be afraid, don't be afraid...'

Miss Ding stared blankly, lowering her head to look at the little rice ball before her, as large tears rolled down.

Madam Ding wept uncontrollably: 'I don't know why my daughter suddenly became like this. I've sought doctors and medicines everywhere, but she hasn't improved at all.'

"Even the Qingwei Taoist Priest was summoned to perform rites for her, yet it was of no use."

Upon hearing the name Qingwei Taoist Priest, Miss Ding shuddered violently, her hands instantly clenching into fists and trembling slightly.

Tuan Tuan gripped her hand firmly and softly said: 'Sister, you don't need to be afraid.'

"You're the kind of person who would bring home an injured little kitten; good people have nothing to fear from bad ones."

Madam Ding shot up her head, face full of shock: 'You! How do you know my daughter's cat was the one she rescued?'

Tuan Tuan didn't answer, merely squeezing Miss Ding's hand tightly with both of her small hands, her clear gaze probing her fearful eyes: 'The bully who's tormenting you is none other than that Qingwei Taoist Priest, right?'

Miss Ding bit her lower lip hard, her whole body trembling, tears streaming down, and she gave a slight nod.

Madam Ding stared, mouth agape: 'After the ritual, the Qingwei Taoist Priest said he would purge her of foul vapors, having stayed alone with her for two hours, and then came several more times, always the same...'

The surroundings instantly erupted in an uproar!

"What? The Qingwei Taoist Priest? He's the one bullying Miss Ding?"

"Impossible! The Taoist Priest is a revered master!"

"It's just the ravings of a lunatic—why are you taking it seriously?"

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er's brows furrowed: 'A Taoist Priest actually using such means to bully a weak woman—truly despicable!'

Xiao Ran widened his eyes: 'There's actually something like this?'

Lu Qi wore a look of disgust.

Miss Ding turned a deaf ear to the bystanders' chatter, fixing her gaze intently on Tuan Tuan, as if she were the sole clarity in this murky world.

"Sister, don't be afraid—it's that bully who's in the wrong, not you! I guarantee he won't come to harass you again; I'll help you chase him off! Do you believe me, okay?"

She repeated it over and over.

Miss Ding locked eyes with her, as if summoning all her strength, squeezing out a few words from her throat: 'I... I trust you.'

As soon as the words left her mouth, the murky madness in her eyes receded like a tide; she suddenly enfolded Tuan Tuan in her arms and burst into heart-wrenching sobs, as if to vent all her grievances.

Tuan Tuan gently patted her back with her small hand, offering a mature‑like comfort: 'Don't cry anymore, from now on you won't cry.'

After a long while, Miss Ding's sobs gradually subsided.

She released Tuan Tuan, took out a handkerchief to dry the tears on her face, tidied her collar and hairpins, and actually regained the tranquil grace of a well‑bred young lady.

She gave Tuan Tuan a deep bow: 'Thank you, little girl.'

She turned her head to her tear‑streaked mother and gave a gentle smile: 'Mother, I'd like to eat the crystal cakes you make.'

"Ah! Good! Good! Let's go home, Mother will make them for you right away!" Madam Ding wept with joy, thanked Tuan Tuan profusely, took her daughter's hand, and turned to leave.

Left behind, the crowd of onlookers exchanged glances, chattering away.

"Is it… already settled? Amazing!"

"Incredible! Where does this little girl come from?"

They don't look like locals.

Could it be that what she said is true? Is the Qingwei Taoist Priest really...?

Shh! Don't talk nonsense! The Qingwei Taoist Priest is indeed a disciple of the Xuanyu Taoist Priest!

Xuanyu Taoist Priest? That senior disciple of Qixiazi?

Yes! I heard that the Xuanyu Taoist Priest has extraordinary aptitude; although he entered the path midway, he is now a high-ranking person among the Xuan generation of Qingyunguan.

Someone couldn't help but ask: "Little girl, you may be young, but your skills are not small. I don't know how you compare to that Xuanyu Taoist Priest."

Tuan Tuan frowned, her voice clear and loud: "That Qingwei is not a good person! His master must also be a scoundrel!"

Oh dear! Little girl, you mustn't talk nonsense!

At such a young age, you must not speak recklessly and slander the exalted!

The Xuanyu Taoist Priest is compassionate; what do you know!

Just then, a clear voice reached everyone's ears:

Infinite Heavenly Venerable! I don't know where this poor Daoist has offended this little girl, to provoke you to hurl abusive words at her in the street!

Everyone followed the sound and saw a middle-aged Daoist wearing a blue Dao robe, with a gaunt face, holding a whisk, walking slowly over.

The crowd automatically parted to make a path.

His gaze was calm, his eyes deep, and he walked straight to stand before Tuan Tuan.

The Xuanyu Taoist Priest has arrived!

Now there's a good show to watch!

Watch how this little girl will end up!

You guys guess, who is actually stronger?

Nonsense! Of course the Xuanyu Taoist Priest is stronger! When he attained the Dao and received the precepts, this little girl wasn't even born yet!