Chapter 109: Ghostly Gods Intervene, the Outcome Remains Unchanged (Bonus chapter for Alliance Leader 160322003002867)

"The spirit of the Little Xiao Xiao Mudan is passionate and unrestrained, not arrogant..." Xiao Yu said awkwardly.

Granny Feng praised: "You are right, it shouldn't be called 'arrogant Qi'; it doesn't sound good if it spreads. It should be called 'passionate, lively, and unrestrained Little Xiao Xiao Mudan'."

Xiao Yu was speechless.

Jin Lian said: "It's not very realistic to master the Little Xiao Xiao Mudan Sword in seven days. Is there a shortcut?"

Granny Feng said calmly: "Mastering the Little Xiao Xiao Mudan Sword is the greatest shortcut."

Jin Lian's eyes flickered, and she whispered: "I heard Granny also has divine water and divine incantations..."

Granny Feng nodded: "I have divine water. For young women, it can help the joy of union and lead to early childbirth; for old women, it can strengthen the body, prolong life, and maintain youth.

I have divine incantations to drive away evil and demons, purify homes, and protect the peace of the family.

But for you, neither divine water nor divine incantations are shortcuts.

Improving yourself, mastering the Little Xiao Xiao Mudan Sword to enhance your spirit, dressing yourself with good powder, and buying a few lengths of the latest fabric to make new clothes would be more practical."

Xiao Yu really looked at Granny Feng with newfound respect.

Not peddling divine water or talismans, but instead urging others to work hard to improve themselves...

This old nun seemed a bit "upright"; no wonder she could be a shaman for 130 years without being beaten to death!

Jin Lian, however, was not very satisfied.

If she could master the Little Xiao Xiao Mudan Sword, why would she need to hire a shaman?

Hiring a shaman wasn't it just to take a shortcut!

However, Granny Feng's previous "Great Tathagata Dharma of Peering into Heaven and Inspecting the Earth" was too powerful, establishing a sacred and inviolable majesty in her heart. Even if she was dissatisfied, Jin Lian didn't dare to show it... though she didn't completely hide it either.

After accompanying Granny Feng for a sumptuous lunch, Jin Lian gave her a bag of gold beans, about twenty-some taels.

If Granny Feng had been willing to sell her some divine water or talismans, or help her perform a "Fortune-Turning Dharma," she might have taken out forty or fifty taels of gold as a reward; this time, it was half that amount.

Xiao Yu also ran back to Wu Xiaojing Pavilion and wrapped a dozen pieces of gold and silver jewelry in silk to give to Granny Feng.

"Godmother, don't mind it. I'm new here and not as wealthy as Sister Jin Lian. Please do me the honor of accepting it."

Granny Feng was a bit surprised, and also a bit happy.

What Xiao Yu gave wasn't much; after all, as she said, she was new and didn't have much money.

Sincerity is the key!

Today she had conquered this "Little Five Absolute Sword Maiden." In four or five years, when she became famous and became the "True Top Card of Profound Heaven," how much would she, Old Feng, benefit!

Granny Feng's attitude toward Xiao Yu became even more enthusiastic, holding her little hand and talking for a long while at the courtyard gate.

She even told her her home address, range of activities, general rest times, and even her sect lineage.

Now Xiao Yu knew she was the abbess of "Water Moon Nunnery" outside the city, a guest of honor for major aristocratic families, and that a hundred years ago, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden descended to earth to enlighten her. She had attended the Peach Banquet, worshipped the Daoist Ancestor as her father, and recognized Wang Mu as her sister...

Uh, aside from the clear address of Water Moon Nunnery, Xiao Yu felt everything else was nonsense.

If she were a guest of honor for aristocratic families, would she come to Clear Water Bay to mingle with brothel women?

The wives and daughters of aristocratic families would certainly not want to use the same grade of "things" as brothel women.

But Xiao Yu not only didn't expose Granny Feng's bragging, but also cooperated by flattering her.

No matter how Granny Feng bragged, her "Peering into Heaven and Inspecting the Earth" was truly awesome.

Xiao Yu wanted to figure out the secret behind it.

"Sigh, you really should have gone to see Godmother Feng."

After sending Granny Feng away, Xiao Yu returned to Wu Xiaojing Pavilion and sighed to Hong Qu.

When she wrapped the gold and silver jewelry, she had indeed called Hong Qu, asking her to follow along to see Granny Feng off.

Hong Qu refused.

"Only foolish villagers believe the shaman's nonsense." A mocking sneer appeared on Hong Qu's face again.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Godmother Feng's Great Tathagata Dharma of Peering into Heaven and Inspecting the Earth is truly omniscient," Xiao Yu said with a look of worship.

Ever since Tiger Minister from Three Forks Ridge told her about the "Yin Merit Theory," she had begun to be cautious in her daily life, constantly guarding against "inspections" by the underworld ghosts and gods.

She wasn't trying to cultivate the "Way of Yin Merit."

She just didn't want to expose her identity as a transmigrator.

Or, because of improper words and deeds, expose the secrets of the Purple Mansion and the Kunpeng Transformation.

If a person has a name, ghosts and gods will investigate; if ghosts and gods know, immortals and Buddhas will all know.

Now that she had witnessed Granny Feng's "Peering into Heaven and Inspecting the Earth"... damn it, she even knew about the whispers she had with Hong Qu in the water last night. She not only had to be cautious in words and deeds, but also had to be ready to enter "Best Actress State" at all times.

For example, when mentioning Granny Feng's supernatural powers, she showed an expression and tone of worship.

——Sigh, this life of being monitored by ghosts, gods, and supernatural powers is truly too tiring. When will I truly be able to enjoy freedom?

Xiao Yu felt a bit tired, but kept a natural look of admiration and excitement on her face, detailing what happened in the pavilion of the Yi Hong Academy.

Upon hearing this, the contempt on Hong Qu's face vanished, and she sighed with a frown: "No wonder my father often warned me that there are many capable and strange people in the world, and no matter when or who you are facing, you must not be careless."

Xiao Yu wanted to complain: Your old man said this his whole life, but forgot it at the most important moment of his life.

"In your father's social circle, were there any immortal-like figures like Godmother Feng?" she asked.

She had beaten around the bush for so long for one purpose: she couldn't figure out Granny Feng's Peering into Heaven and Inspecting the Earth and wanted to ask Hong Qu.

She didn't ask directly because she was worried Granny Feng was eavesdropping on their conversation.

Hong Qu sneered: "Granny Feng might have some strange arts, but my father's friends were all immortals, and he never associated with charlatans.

For strange art practitioners like Granny Feng, it is enough to keep them at a respectful distance.

Truly worshipping them as immortals will do you no good.

She can't even save herself; expecting her to help you isn't that like climbing a tree to catch a fish?"

——Respectful distance... as expected of the daughter of "Wenqu," she doesn't understand and looks down on them, so she "keeps them at a respectful distance," but I want others to "keep me at a respectful distance" too!

Xiao Yu's expression changed several times, and she stood up: "Let's read the Daoist scriptures later; I'm going to find Aunt Liu."

"Why are you looking for her at this time?" Hong Qu asked curiously.

Xiao Yu said strangely: "To discuss my future development direction in the Red Sleeve Workshop."

Hong Qu was even more surprised and whispered: "Isn't your future to work hard to cultivate Immortal Martial Arts, kill your way out of the Red Sleeve Workshop before you come of age, and escape from Shu?"

Xiao Yu was startled and lowered her voice: "Is it that obvious?"

Hong Qu rolled her eyes at her, "Do you know that every pore on your body exudes astonishing arrogance?

Anyone with a little experience knows that someone like you will definitely not be content and submissive."

Xiao Yu cried out aggrievedly: "When I meet guests, I must call them 'Grandpa/Grandma'; when I meet elders, I call them 'Sister/Aunt'; when I meet neighbors, I shout 'Auntie' or 'Uncle' from far away.

Everyone likes me!

You actually say that every pore of such an easy-going and approachable person as me exudes astonishing arrogance.

How astonishing? I'm a bit frightened by you."

Seeing that she was truly a bit scared, Hong Qu felt very happy, curled her lips into a smile, and said softly: "You don't need to worry too much; which girl in the Red Sleeve Workshop, old or young, doesn't want to leave?

Sigh, take Zi Ying for example; she isn't as proud as you, but she has a stubbornness that is harder to wear down than pride.

Didn't Jin Lian find Granny Feng just to find a destined one and leave the Red Sleeve Workshop?"

Xiao Yu sighed: "But I don't feel that I am astonishingly arrogant!"

Hong Qu's eyes were a bit envious, and she said: "Maintaining a calm and positive attitude in any environment is true pride.

If you aren't proud, you aren't confident enough; if you aren't confident enough, you aren't dashing enough.

From the born sword-bone Guan Yu who killed a human immortal, to the 'cripple' Yu Fengxian who fell into the Red Sleeve Workshop overnight.

What a huge drop!

Yet you live so dashingly in the Red Sleeve Workshop.

You even have the heart to walk the streets and alleys, visit nearby neighbors, and inquire about gossip in the south and north of the city."

Xiao Yu was speechless, "I live dashingly just because my personality is open-minded and dashing, is that not okay?"

"Say what you will. When I, a dignified daughter of a prime minister, envy your dashingness, your dashingness is definitely not just an open-minded personality," Hong Qu said.

Now Xiao Yu really didn't know what to say.

How much of her confidence and dashingness was due to the Purple Mansion and the Kunpeng Transformation, she wasn't even sure herself.

Perhaps if she lost the Purple Mansion cheat and didn't have the Kunpeng Transformation, which had far more potential than the sword-bone, she wouldn't be as open-minded as Hong Qu.

In the evening, Xiao Yu came from the backyard to the front yard and found Zi Ying, who was clicking an abacus in the "Garden Small Pavilion."

"Has Aunt Liu not returned yet?"

Xiao Yu had a cheat and the confidence to be content with her lot; Hong Qu had a background and could wait for someone to save her.

Their open-mindedness and dashingness were both a bit fake.

Zi Ying, an ordinary girl, lived the most real and hardworking life.

Besides studying with the sisters of Pear Garden, Zi Ying had to practice sword arts with Xiao Yu, deliver lunch and dinner for Xiao Yu to earn "pocket money," and from afternoon to night, she had to act as a little secretary for Aunt Liu, doing many complicated things.

She was busy like a little spinning top every day.

Yet she was energetic and spirited, and could still improve herself amidst the busyness every day.

For example, now that Aunt Liu wasn't there, she was helping to check accounts, and the abacus beads clicked more smoothly than her sword arts.

Being able to check accounts meant her reading, writing, and calculation were all qualified.

She was about the same age as Xiao Yu and didn't have a prime minister's mansion background like Hong Qu.

"Aunt Liu is back; she is in the small pavilion by the lake right now. If you walk toward the lake, you should be able to see her."

Zi Ying didn't even lift her head, her right hand holding a brush writing quickly, while her left hand clicked the abacus beads.

"Is it convenient for Aunt Liu to see me? Is there anyone else with her?" Xiao Yu asked again.

She had come to find Aunt Liu in the afternoon, and the matter to be discussed was quite sensitive; it was best to talk about it slowly in private.

"I heard Uncle Zhang say that Hong Gu sent a little sister over. Sigh, our Red Sleeve Workshop has another 'daughter'." This time Zi Ying put down her pen, looked up and glanced outside, her eyes very complicated.

Xiao Yu didn't say anything and turned to walk toward the small lake.

There were four people in the small pavilion by the lake: Aunt Liu, a little girl of ten or so with double buns, a middle-aged woman with a large mole on her lip, and an old aunt of fifty or so.

The old aunt was squatting on the ground, flipping the little girl over and over to check her carefully, prying open her mouth to look at her teeth, flipping her eyelids to look at her eyeballs, lifting her hair to stroke her scalp inch by inch, and reaching her hand into her clothes to grope...

The little girl was teary-eyed but endured it, not daring to cry, looking extremely pitiful.

The red-skirted woman with a mole on her lip was holding forth on the side, "Hey, Aunt Liu still doesn't believe Little Hong?

I've checked, there's nothing wrong with this girl Hui'er... she's even a rare vessel!"

The last sentence was very soft, very sneaky, whispered into Aunt Liu's ear.

Aunt Liu said calmly: "I saw lice."

"Lice are too normal; whose girl doesn't have lice on her head? Even the girls in the Red Sleeve Workshop often have to apply medicine to kill lice!" the red-skirted woman said disapprovingly.

Aunt Liu pondered: "Forty taels of silver, plus a ten percent stake. Or sixty taels of silver, bought out directly."

"She has talent." The woman in the red dress was not very willing, "At least fifty silver taels, and a ten percent stake."

"Sigh, if it were someone else, your request would be reasonable. But who she is, you must know, right? Honestly, I am very hesitant right now." Aunt Liu frowned and said.

The woman in the red dress changed her expression and hurriedly smiled: "Sister Liu is the most fair. Fine, sixty silver taels for a buyout!"

Aunt Liu glanced at her, "You don't even want the stake? Huier has a good foundation. In the future, if someone redeems her, she will sell for at least a thousand silver taels. Wait seven or eight years, and a ten percent stake will be worth a hundred taels!"

The woman in the red dress said: "Perhaps a patron will redeem her, or perhaps she will be an 'Aunt' in the Red Sleeve House for a lifetime. Better to put the money in my pocket early for peace of mind."

Aunt Liu had already seen Xiao Yu in the distance and said: "Mistress Sang, take Huier down. Also, tell Old Qin and Ziying to cooperate with Aunt Red to finish the remaining procedures."

After they left, Xiao Yu walked over and asked: "That Huier, could it be the Huier from the Xu family? I see a few traces of Mistress Xu in her brows.

Aunt Liu, you have such great courage, actually daring to commit a crime against the wind."

"Cough, cough, cough~~~"

Aunt Liu suddenly turned pale, clutching her chest and coughing violently, threads of fresh blood staining the corners of her mouth.

"Aunt Liu, are you injured?" Xiao Yu said in surprise.