Chapter 260: No One Holds to Loyalty

Half a month later.

Jingyun County yamen, back hall.

County magistrate Xu Wencai lazily leans against the official's hat chair, eyes half‑closed, as if dozing.

A faint, airy voice drifts from between his lips:

"How are the cloth… over at Dong Fu's side, the procurement going?"

In the hall, the strategist Wang Yuan, clad in a blue scholar's robe and about thirty years old, steps forward and bows, replying:

"In reply, sir, the messengers from the Dong Residence just reported that all the cloth has been collected, awaiting official inspection."

He pauses briefly, his tone bearing the careful weight of reporting important matters,

"Speaking of it, it's thanks to a female artisan that Dong Fu has recently employed…"

Although this woman's looks are… rather plain, she is exceptionally clever.

"She not only modified the loom, but also devised a unique technique that can reduce a piece of cloth that normally takes a dozen or so days to weave down to five to seven days! If she weaves it herself, she can achieve a shocking two‑day‑per‑piece speed!"

"Hm?"

Xu Wencai's half‑closed eyes snap open, a flash of keen light passing through, revealing strong interest:

"Modified the loom? Invented a technique? Two days… to finish a piece of cloth? Is that… true?"

Wang Yuan nods confidently, his tone decisive: "My subordinates have already sent people to verify; it is absolutely certain!"

Xu Wencai taps his fingers lightly on the armrest, ponders briefly, his tone becoming calm yet loaded with meaning:

"My third brother is lately planning to open several cloth shops in the commandery, to source goods widely…"

He glances at Wang Yuan, and says no more of the following words.

Wang Yuan, being so sharp, instantly understands.

He is being sent there, to master the loom‑modification method and the weaving technique; if he can also manage to "invite" that female artisan along, that would be the best of the best!

He immediately bows, solemnly replying:

"Yes! I understand what must be done and will not disappoint you!"

Xu Wencai nods with satisfaction, closes his eyes again, and waves his hand casually:

"Go. If this matter is handled properly, I shall reward you handsomely."

"Take it easy; you have a month."

"I take my leave!" Wang Yuan says no more, turns sharply, and exits the back hall.

He does not linger, but returns home directly, pondering how to act, and sends people to Dongjia Village to scout the terrain and personnel… either do nothing, or ensure no future trouble!

After ten‑some days, he goes straight to the yamen, summons several martial‑skilled, agile bailiffs, and the party, once out of the county yamen, spurs their horses and rushes toward Dongjia Village.

Night is the best time to act.

At dusk, the sky neither fully day nor night, the flickering firelight in the stove reflects Dong Yong's focused profile.

He is bent over busy, while Seventh Fairy Maiden quietly washes wild vegetables on a small stool behind him, occasionally looking up, her gaze landing on his broad, reliable back.

In the kitchen, only the faint crackle of firewood and the clatter of a wok spatula are heard.

Suddenly, Dong Yong seems to recall something; his movements slow, his eyes still fixed on the simmering rice porridge, and he speaks in a low voice:

"Qimei… the money you've saved now should be enough for you to get by. When do you plan… to leave here?"

He carefully drops a few pieces of prized cured pork into the pot, his tone tinged with a melancholy and reluctance he himself has not fully realized.

After all, the two have lived under the same roof for several months now.

Seventh Fairy Maiden's hand pauses briefly while washing, then she lifts her head, looks at his back, and gently asks back, her voice revealing no emotion:

"What? Brother Dong… are you trying to drive me away?"

Dong Yong hears this, as if scalded, whirls around sharply, his face urgent, waving his hands repeatedly:

"No, no, no! It's not that! Qimei, you must not misunderstand!"

He stammers a bit, trying to explain:

"I'm just thinking… you're so capable and have such fine skill… In the future, if you find a family, or… even on your own, you'll surely be able to secure a good marriage, find a good household to wed into."

"It's better than… better than wasting years in my shabby house, holding you back."

Hearing him, Seventh Fairy Maiden sighs softly, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy and perhaps deeper meaning:

"Brother Dong, if I truly wanted to leave, I would have left long ago."

She pauses, her tone tinged with a barely perceptible darkness,

"In this Human World… I have no kin left. If Young Master Yu hadn't passed by and saved my life, I'd probably have…"

She does not continue, but the unspoken sorrow and dependence are clear enough for even the most simple‑hearted Dong Yong to understand.

He instantly feels deep remorse, lifts his hand and gives his own mouth a light slap, his face full of apology:

"Look at me! I said the wrong thing again! I'm truly sorry, sorry! Qimei, please don't take it to heart."

"From today onward, I'm your big brother, stay as long as you wish!"

His naive yet slightly comical apology finally makes Seventh Fairy Maiden cover her mouth and giggle, and the faint melancholy dissipates.

She truly does not harbor only pretense in her heart.

About half a month ago, she vaguely sensed her magical power slowly waning; by today, the remaining strength is barely different from a mortal's.

She knows well that her father is pressuring her to return to the Heavenly Court.

Once she steps back to the Heavenly Palace, the dissipated power will instantly recover.

But now… she truly does not wish to go back.

Staying in this humble mortal cottage, though poor, offers a worldly warmth the Heavenly Court lacks, and feels very comfortable.

Moreover, if she truly wishes to return, she can simply ask Yu Lin for help then.

Dong Yong naturally does not know these many twists in her heart; he only sees her smile, feels a sigh of relief, and secretly feels a bit of joy.

He looked at her smiling profile in the lamplight, and suddenly felt that this woman before him, though lacking stunning beauty, was far more pleasing to the eye and far more attractive than Lord Dong's daughter-in-law, the beauty praised by everyone.

A thought quietly arose—if only he could…

He shook his head violently, suppressing this rather abrupt and improper thought, not daring to dwell on it.

Turning to fetch the bowls and chopsticks, he used the motion to hide his feelings, and his tone returned to its usual simplicity:

"The porridge… the porridge will be ready soon."

"Qimei, eat a bit more; when you're full, you'll sleep soundly at night."

"Okay."

After they finished eating, the last glimmer of twilight on the horizon sank completely into darkness, and the little thatched hut was enveloped by the tranquil night.

Just as they had tidied up, preparing to rest early to face tomorrow's labor, some people were still "busy" in the dark night.

"Elder Long, are you sure the Qingzhou Cauldron is here?"

"Of course, if you don't believe me, do you not believe the Qilin and the White Tiger either?"

"Exactly, exactly, exactly!"

"Alright, then I'll ask you a question."

"Go ahead and ask."

"Just now, when I came over, a few Han men stopped me, each saying, 'Big brother, we've finally found you!' They insisted on dragging me to the Earth God's temple to kowtow and become sworn brothers, and even said they'd raid the county office tonight—this matter… was it you who did it?"

"Huh? Nonsense! How could it be me? I wander the martial world, always only chatting with ladies, cheating feelings, not bodies! This kind of roadside swearing-in and house‑robbing rough work is completely at odds with my refined image!"

"Hah, I knew it was you!"

"...... No… you're deceiving me, huh?!"

"Long Ge, just admit it, I........"

"Long Ge, I'm reporting—it's the Qilin pretending to be you pretending to be Yu Lin!"

"Damn it, out here in the hustle, not a single one with any righteousness!"