Chapter 71: Red Flag

It wasn't until late at night that Liu Junyan held me and took me to bathe.

When I returned to the bed again, I felt something was off.

Before, after tossing and turning for most of the night, I could barely keep my eyes open, didn't want to do anything, just wanted to sleep.

But tonight I not only didn't want to sleep, I felt unusually energetic.

A warm current seemed to silently merge into my blood, much like the feeling when Liu Junyan previously infused me with true qi.

This made me think that after Feng Wu returned to her body, my constitution had gradually changed, and at a certain point I could cultivate with Feng Wu's aid.

That night…

I writhed and twisted my body, and Liu Junyan's somewhat hoarse voice came from beside me: 'Xiao Jiu, don't move.'

I glanced at him; he had his eyes closed, one arm under my neck, his big hand wrapped around and gently kneading my earlobe.

His complexion tonight was surprisingly good; before I only thought he was pale.

But that pallor used to be a sickly white from lack of sunlight; now it's a cold white tinged with blood, making him look much healthier overall.

I asked a little embarrassedly, 'Liu Junyan, are we… doing dual cultivation now?'

'Yes,' Liu Junyan affirmed.

Afterward he began teaching me the mnemonics for converting true qi, the essentials of seated meditation, and so on.

We talked until the east began to whiten with fish-belly dawn; I benefited greatly from this night.

I snuggled affectionately into Liu Junyan's embrace and asked, 'Are you about to be able to go out soon?'

'Yes,' Liu Junyan said, 'A friend helped a bit; mainly because Xiao Jiu is capable, and also helped me retrieve a piece of Golden Scale. Xiao Jiu, thank you.'

He lowered his head and gently kissed the top of my head; I nestled in his arms, thinking, 'Sure enough, Xiaoye helped.'

'Liu Junyan, do you know who took your piece of Golden Scale?' I asked.

Liu Junyan shook his head: 'Could it not have been bought from outside by Jiyu Si?'

I thought for a moment and said, 'Probably not; this piece of Golden Scale was taken by Second Master Liu of Wangting Mountain.'

Upon hearing that name, Liu Junyan's body visibly tensed.

I took the opportunity to ask, 'Second Master Liu of Wangting Mountain, are you related?'

Liu Junyan fell silent for a while before saying, 'I suppose so, but our paths differ; we do not plot together.'

From Liu Junyan's tone I could hear a hint of loss.

It seems he and this Second Master Liu have had a falling out; their relationship is nowhere near as good as his with Xiaoye.

I silently noted that Liu Junyan's network of relations is now also mine; I need to keep clear in mind who is favorable and who is not.

After chatting a while longer, Liu Junyan had to return to the black coffin.

Before leaving he told me, 'Xiao Jiu, for the next half month I need to go into closed-door cultivation; with such a sudden influx of merit at the pawnshop, it will surely draw attention, so be careful.'

I nodded straight away: 'Go ahead and cultivate in peace; I'll wait for you to come out.'

Liu Junyan couldn't help but hug me again: 'When I come out again, I should be able to accompany you out, Xiao Jiu; I owe you too much, and later I will make it up to you properly.'

I wanted to say, he has saved me many times and never owes me anything.

But I was reluctant to let go of this moment's warmth.

Regarding Ali, although he has acknowledged me, I also have my own speculations, but that girl still ended up in our field of view, making it hard to ignore her completely.

She is like a thorn deeply embedded in my heart; even if I pull it out myself, it ultimately leaves a bloody hole.

That bloody hole… needs absolute loyal love to slowly nurture and fill.

After Liu Junyan left, I slept in again.

In the afternoon I rode my electric scooter to a driving school and registered.

This driving school in Wufu Town is privately run, not very orthodox, but its unconventional methods work quickly; nearby residents are willing to sign up, giving it a modest reputation.

They're all old acquaintances; after paying the fee, completing paperwork, and arranging the practice schedule, I was already behind the wheel practicing the next day.

During a break, I stood in the shade drinking water when I overheard a few people chatting nearby.

"Hey, have you heard? That little rascal from the Small Stream area has shown up again."

"It's the same guy from a few years ago who would ask everyone if they'd seen his red flag, right?"

"Ah, you got it wrong—it's not a red flag, it's a Red Flag!"

"Isn't a Red Flag just red? What else would you call it if not a red flag?"

"A Red Flag is a Red Flag, not a red flag!"

"You two stop arguing; I heard that little rascal isn't asking about flags this time—he just hits people up for money when he sees them."

"Borrow money? That's really strange! These days, even ghosts are poor enough to come out and borrow?"

"Hey, don't say that—he's borrowing quite a lot, thirty-three silver dollars."

"No paper money, only silver dollars? I haven't seen those in years."

"Exactly—where could you even find thirty-three silver dollars these days? If anyone could, it'd probably be Xiao Jiu's place."

Suddenly being named, my eyelid twitched and I felt inexplicably uneasy.

That day, after returning from Jiyu Si, we also encountered that little rascal and were also asked for money.

It was indeed thirty-three silver dollars.

It's been several days since then—is he still borrowing?

"Enough, enough—I heard that little rascal hasn't been around the Small Stream lately; this morning before dawn, someone supposedly saw him at Xijiekou."

"No way—he used to stay in the Small Stream area all the time in past years; why would he change spots now?"

"Xijiekou? That's not…"

Xijiekou, that's the area right opposite the pawnshop.

In other words, that little rascal very likely really came looking for me?

That day after finishing practicing the car and returning home, I started rummaging through boxes and cabinets, trying to see if I could gather 33 silver dollars.

This little brat's obsession has trapped him for many years; if we give him 33 silver dollars, could that settle his obsession and help him enter reincarnation as soon as possible?

Unfortunately, I've searched every place I could, but I only found nine silver dollars.

While I was sitting at the counter, playing with those few silver dollars and resting, I suddenly remembered something.

Red Flag… a red flag?

I jumped up, rummaged in the corner of the display shelf behind me, and soon brought out a redwood box.

Opening the box, there lay a dark red flag inside.

The flag is not large, triangular in shape, with a dark red triangle inside, a black-and-white striped border around the outside, and three narrow streamers attached to the longest slanted edge, covered in strange runes.

Embroidered in the center of the dark red flag is a pattern of a sword splitting a flame, fixed on the side with a piece of locust wood.

A yellowed pawn ticket was pressed on the edge of the flag; when I opened it, I froze in place.

Red Flag, pawned live, principal 30 silver dollars, pawn period… one hundred years!

I calculated the time, and the pawn period happens to expire today!

How could this be such a coincidence?

What's more coincidental is that the rule of the Wufu Town Pawnshop for live pledges is that the Redemption Money equals the principal plus a ten percent comprehensive fee, i. e., interest and the like.

So, if someone comes today to redeem this Red Flag, the Redemption Money to be paid happens to be exactly 33 silver dollars!