Easy to Talk To

The task of decocting medicine was as intricate as threading a needle, and Chen Ping'an handled it with meticulous care, completely absorbed. A strange sense of joy emanated from the young man.

However, the black-clothed girl was not patient. In fact, apart from practicing with knives and swords, she wasn't particularly interested in anything. Having left her home at a young age to travel alone, living a rough life, she felt no discomfort in the impoverished, humble house of the young man. It was simply because she had experienced far more hardship, living through wind and rain, that even the most refined and particular person would become unfastened.

The girl asked, "Is your left hand alright?"

Chen Ping'an, whose left hand was bandaged with cotton cloth, brought over a bowl of medicine with both hands. After the girl took it, he smiled and said, "It's fine. Before I returned to the alley, I found some herbs, mashed them, and applied them to the wound. Back when I worked at the kiln, I used this for any falls or cuts. It always worked. It's a secret recipe an old man from Yang Family Shop told me a long time ago. But I promised the old man I wouldn't pass it on, otherwise, Miss Ning, you travel far and wide, you might need it. If you want it, I can try to find the old man from Yang Family Shop and ask him. It's just that I was in a hurry to get to the apothecary today and didn't see him. I just hope he stepped out temporarily."

As the girl drank the medicine, the long eyebrows, which resembled narrow sabers more than willow leaves, furrowed slightly. Yet, she finished the medicinal soup with a composed expression. After returning the porcelain bowl to the straw-sandaled youth waiting beside her, she muttered, "Soft-hearted fool. No wonder you're dirt poor, you deserve to be bullied."

Before the young man could react, the girl added, "Don't mind me, I just speak my mind."

The girl probably didn't know that the latter sentence was even more hurtful.

Chen Ping'an wanted to speak but stopped himself.

The black-clothed girl wiped away the residual medicinal soup from the corner of her mouth with her thumb, then straightened her posture and said with utmost seriousness, "The Sage currently presiding over this realm, the teacher at your school you mentioned, although he intends to help you tie up loose ends so you'll have no worries for your life, you must understand that human strength has its limits, even for a Sage. Moreover, Mr. Qi's situation isn't good; he's like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river, barely able to save himself. I fear he might not be able to control your life and death later. I, Ning Yao, repay kindness with a flood of gratitude. If you glare at me, I'll retaliate with all my might!"

Human strength has its limits, repay kindness with a flood of gratitude, retaliate with all my might, a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river...

At this moment, the girl's heart was filled with a pride no one knew. Listen, didn't I speak learnedly?

It was a pity that Chen Ping'an's next-door neighbor was a scholar with considerable learning. Almost twice a day, at dawn and dusk, the neighbor would recite the words of the Sages to express his aspirations. According to Song Jixin himself, it was "cultivating my vast righteousness." Therefore, even though Chen Ping'an hadn't eaten pork, he had seen pigs run. He was no stranger to the flowery language of scholars. Even with some obscure words, he could guess their meaning with reasonable accuracy from the context.

The girl stared intently at Chen Ping'an, trying to find shock, admiration, and confusion on the young man's face. But Chen Ping'an merely wore an infuriating expression that seemed to say, "I understand, please continue, miss."

The girl became disheartened. Her spirited demeanor significantly diminished. She said irritably, "For example, you saved my life, so I will help you kill Fu Nanhua of Old Dragon City, or Liu Zhimao of Book Scroll Lake afterward. But if you want both killed to eliminate future trouble, you'll have to pay to avert disaster. Because we're just chance acquaintances, we don't have that deep a connection. So, you'll need to spend a bag of Golden Essence copper coins as compensation."

The girl quickly pointed to one of the bags with her finger. "For example, this bag, I like it very much. The coin styles of the other two bags, Offering Coins and Suppression Charm Coins, are not good-looking, and the inscriptions are not pleasing."

Next, the girl raised her chin slightly. "If, in addition to this deal, you're willing to pay me two bags of copper coins, I'll help you settle things with Old Dragon City and Cloud Mist Mountain. Of course, if I die early at the hands of Liu Zhimao, all bets are off. After all, my cultivation is not high. In the Nine Realms of Martial Arts, I've only just entered the sixth realm. As a pure martial artist, the toughness of my physique is not yet formidable. As for the Fifteen Heavenly Layers of cultivation ascent, I've only reached the Dragon Gate Realm within the Middle Five Realms. Inside my Elixir Chamber, I have six diagrams, none of which have had the 'dotting the eyes of the dragon' completed, nor have I achieved 'celestial maiden flying'..."

This time, Chen Ping'an was genuinely confused, completely bewildered.

The girl suddenly became somewhat enraged. Her low realm had always been a source of shame for her. Chen Ping'an's bewildered look, as if asking, "Miss, can you explain it to me again?" undoubtedly struck her most vulnerable spot.

Seeing the girl's gloomy expression, even a fool like Chen Ping'an knew the situation was not good. He quickly changed the subject, "Why were you so badly injured earlier, and now you seem mostly recovered?"

The girl lowered her gaze slightly, crossed her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I was indeed on the verge of death at the time. If Daoist Master Lu hadn't saved me, I would have... In any case, I owe you a tremendous debt. I shouldn't have taken advantage of your situation to ask for three bags of Golden Essence copper coins. My life, Ning Yao's life, is not comparable to someone like Liu Zhimao. So it was my fault. Just consider me as having said nothing. After I leave this small town, I will do my best to resolve your worries. But I'll be upfront: I, Ning Yao, will only act within my capabilities and will not fight to the death knowingly... to trade lives."

Perhaps because the girl's admission of fault was so rare and precious, she felt extremely dejected.

Chen Ping'an asked, "Which bag is the Offering Coin?"

The girl pointed to one of the golden embroidered bags.

Chen Ping'an took out three copper coins from it, held them in his palm, and then pushed the three bags towards the girl with his arm, smiling, "These, I give them to you."

The girl stared, dumbfounded. After a long moment, she asked, "Chen Ping'an, was your head squeezed by a door when you were a child?"

Chen Ping'an replied helplessly, "No, when I was herding cattle as a child, I was often whipped by the cow's tail."

The girl suddenly became furious, slammed the table, and demanded, "Do you like me?!"

Chen Ping'an was stunned.

The girl grinned, gave Chen Ping'an a thumbs-up, and said, "Good taste!"

Then she bent her thumb, pointing to herself, and said spiritedly, "But I won't agree. The man I, Ning Yao, like must be the most powerful Sword Immortal in the world, the most powerful! Great Sword Immortal! What Dao Ancestors, Buddhas, or Confucian Sages, they all have to bow and make way before his sword!"

Chen Ping'an's face turned red, and he scratched his head. "Miss Ning, you've misunderstood. I don't like you..."

The girl raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, leaned forward, narrowed her eyes, and held up a hand, leaving about an inch of space between her thumb and index finger. She asked nervously, "Even a little bit of liking, you don't have?"

Chen Ping'an stated decisively, his tone firm, "No! Miss Ning, please rest assured!"

The girl withdrew her hand and sighed heavily, pitying him. "Chen Ping'an, even if you are lucky enough to marry a wife in the future, you'll probably be a simple-minded one."

Chen Ping'an sat opposite her at the table and said happily, "As long as she's a good person, that's enough."

The girl offered no comment on this.

Living a life of ease, being content with modest wealth, or striving for great success – as her mother said, these were all matters of fate, with no inherent superiority.

However, her father had a different opinion. If something isn't destined, don't force it. Not forcing it didn't mean not seeking it at all; one should still seek it. If, in the end, it still couldn't be obtained, that was another matter.

Of course, her father would never dare to say these words to her mother directly.

Chen Ping'an casually asked, "Miss Ning, are you also here in our small town seeking opportunities?"

The girl answered without any reservation, "I used all my accumulated fortune from various encounters, plus a favor, to obtain this spot to enter the town. However, I'm different from those people. I'm not seeking any opportunities or destiny. I just want someone to help me forge a sword, preferably one that suits my wishes. As for its sharpness or its ability to hold immense sword energy, those are secondary."

Chen Ping'an asked in confusion, "Forge a sword?"

The girl said, "It's that blacksmith, Master Ruan. He's very famous here. He also has a rule of 'ironclad' discipline: he only forges one sword every thirty years. The reason he's willing to come here to replace Qi Jingchun is that he feels this place is suitable for opening a forge. I'm going to try my luck and see if he's willing to forge a sword for me. If not, then I can't do anything about it; I'll just consider myself unlucky."

Chen Ping'an smiled, "Good deeds are rewarded."

The girl replied listlessly, "No way."

She glanced at the young man. "Doesn't your left hand hurt?"

Chen Ping'an blinked. "It hurts."

She suspected, "Then why don't you look like it does?"

Chen Ping'an said as a matter of course, "Even if I rolled on the ground and shouted, it wouldn't stop hurting."

The girl slapped her forehead. "I'm truly out of ideas. You're just like my father, but your abilities are far inferior to his."

Chen Ping'an smiled and stopped talking, quietly looking out at the courtyard.

The young woman pushed the three bags of copper coins back. "I don't want them."

Chen Ping'an withdrew his gaze and said softly, "Miss Ning, have you ever considered that keeping them might not be a good thing? After meeting Mr. Qi, I'm even more certain of that."

Once the young woman decided on something, she never changed her mind. She shook her head. "That's your business, it has nothing to do with me. I've made up my mind. I will definitely repay the debt of saving my life in the future, and I absolutely won't cut corners. I have to live up to the name 'Ning Yao'! But you must take good care of yourself during these years, don't die carelessly. As long as you get through this period..."

The young man, who had always been easy to talk to, interrupted the young woman for the first time. "Daoist Master Lu saved you, Miss Ning, so you don't need to feel indebted. If I hadn't thought I was going to die back then and wanted Daoist Master Lu to do more for my parents, I wouldn't have opened the door at all."

The young woman snorted. "That's your business!"

The young man smiled and repeated her words, "That's your business."

They stared at each other.

The young woman surprisingly broke first, rubbing her temples. "If you liked me, I really couldn't agree to it."

Chen Ping'an clasped his head with both hands.

Stuck with such a stubborn and strange girl, he was at a loss.

At this moment, someone climbed over the courtyard wall and into the yard. There was no doubt who it was – Liu Xianyang. He ran to the doorstep, about to shout, when it was as if his throat was suddenly choked, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Chen Ping'an quickly got up and went to Liu Xianyang's side, whispering, "Can I stay at your place for the next couple of days? This young lady might be staying here."

Liu Xianyang pushed Chen Ping'an's head away and rubbed his hands together like a fly grooming itself, solicitously saying, "Miss, my house is large and well-equipped. If you don't mind, would you consider staying at my place?"

The black-clothed young woman, with her back to them, said calmly, "I do."

Liu Xianyang bared his teeth. Looking at the slender and attractive figure with the saber on her back, he said unyieldingly, "Miss, you don't know, but before, two groups of people blocked my way at the Covered Bridge, crying and begging me to sell them my ancestral treasure, but I didn't agree. Those scoundrels almost got Master Ruan to scold me to death. I see you're also a traveler coming to the small town to try your luck, right? Although I might not sell it to you, Liu Xianyang, I can definitely let you take a look and broaden your horizons!"

Ning Yao remained indifferent. "No need."

Liu Xianyang sat down in Chen Ping'an's original spot. Upon seeing the black-clothed young woman's face, his eyes lit up. "Miss, don't be so formal. Chen Ping'an and I are crammed into this dilapidated house. If you go to my big house, you won't feel so constrained, as if you don't even have space to put your hands and feet."

Ning Yao replied with a stern face, "I appreciate your kindness, but go cool yourself off somewhere else!"

Liu Xianyang didn't feel awkward. He got up and said, "Alright, there's no place like home, even a humble one. I understand."

Liu Xianyang pulled Chen Ping'an outside the doorstep and nudged the young man with his elbow. "What's going on?"

Chen Ping'an looked troubled. "It's hard to explain in a short while. Just tell me if I can stay at your place?"

Liu Xianyang rolled his eyes. "What's there to say yes or no to? But you have to promise me you'll help me keep an eye on Zhi Gui and absolutely don't let that little bastard Song Jixin ruin her. You have to help me protect my future wife's purity!"

Chen Ping'an said without hesitation, "Don't even think about it!"

Liu Xianyang patted Chen Ping'an's shoulder and said earnestly, "Just consider it a promise."

The black-clothed young woman inside suddenly turned her head and said, "Do you know that you are a natural sword embryo? The reason the porcelain person didn't take you out when you were nine was probably to let you absorb more spiritual energy here. That choice was correct. So, at Master Ruan's place, you must seize the opportunity and have him take you as a disciple. Remember, at least an indoor disciple, preferably a direct disciple. As for a final disciple, don't even hope for it. Your root bone and talent aren't good enough for that exaggerated level."

Liu Xianyang smiled and nodded vigorously, saying "Okay, okay" verbally. Then he turned to look at Chen Ping'an, pointed at the young woman inside, and then pointed at his own head.

Chen Ping'an said, "What she said is true, don't take it lightly."

Liu Xianyang stopped joking around and fell silent. He said in a low voice, "I think something's not right. The two groups of people at the Covered Bridge, who do you think was leading them? It was that bastard Lu Zhengchun from Fulu Street! Isn't this like a weasel paying new year's greetings to a chicken? I'm not short on money, why would I do business with them? Besides, that armor is an old family heirloom passed down through generations. If I sell it, I'll be scolded to death by my grandfather in my dreams!"

Hearing all this, Chen Ping'an became extremely wary. "You need to be careful. Lu Zhengchun and those outsiders are not to be trifled with!"

The young man turned and asked, "Miss Ning, do you know who those people are?"

The black-clothed young woman nodded. "The old man and the little girl are from Zhengyang Mountain, considered a prestigious sect in your East Treasure Bottle Continent. The old man is not human... In short, he is hundreds of times more powerful than Fu Nanhua or Cai Jinjian. The woman and her son are also not simple. Of course, those who can enter the small town together are not just ordinary rich people. That woman is very cunning, and the little boy doesn't seem to be kind-hearted. So I advise your friend to quickly have Master Ruan recognize him as a disciple. It's equivalent to having a talisman for protection. In the small town, no matter how high your backing or how thick your background, no one dares to wrestle with a Sage."

Chen Ping'an asked Liu Xianyang again, "Do you have confidence in becoming Master Ruan's disciple?"

Liu Xianyang was a bit conflicted and stammered, "It's just that on the first day I went to work as an apprentice, Master Ruan looked at me much like Old Man Yao did back then. He's probably observing me for a while before deciding whether to take me as a disciple. It's just that..."

Chen Ping'an glared fiercely.

Liu Xianyang chuckled sheepishly. "It's just that Master Ruan has a precious daughter who eats a lot, which shocked me. So I made a few jokes. I didn't expect that when she was forging iron, she would swing the hammer so powerfully and domineeringly. Yet, she's usually very shy and timid. How could I have known she couldn't take a joke like that? I made her cry right then and there, and her father happened to see it. His look at me was wrong. Taking me as a disciple is definitely out of the question. But anyway, I wasn't planning on being a slave or servant as a disciple. Serving one eccentric like Old Man Yao was enough for us. I was just thinking of making a living at the blacksmith shop..."

Chen Ping'an looked up, his face dark.

Liu Xianyang, who was more than half a head taller than the straw-sandaled youth, lowered his head, not daring to meet the young man's gaze.

This scene made Ning Yao feel a bit puzzled.

This was also the first time the young woman had seen Chen Ping'an truly angry.

Chen Ping'an asked in a low voice, "After what happened at the Old Scholar Tree, did you inexplicably get some Sophora Leaves on you?"

Liu Xianyang shook his head. "No. However, that fortune-telling Daoist, who always liked to peek at women, said some unlucky things to me. I almost smashed his stall."

Chen Ping'an's expression changed slightly, and his brows furrowed. He turned to look inside the house and asked, "Miss Ning, as an exchange, how about the three bags of Golden Essence copper coins? And also, will this cause you great trouble? Please be sure to tell me clearly beforehand."

The black-clothed young woman thought carefully. "The trouble is not small, but the problem is not big. But you must be careful these two days, and tell your friend not to wander around the streets. After all, my current situation is not very good."

She added, "Two groups of people, two bags of money. Having Master Ruan recognize him as a disciple, another bag of money. In short, for each matter you accomplish, I'll take another bag of money. Don't worry, since I've agreed, I'll have at least two bags of income as a guarantee."

Chen Ping'an ran into the house and quickly pushed the two bags of money, including the Spring Welcoming Coins, towards the young woman. "Take them."

The young woman was not one to drag things out. She didn't refuse. After putting away the two bags of copper coins, she said with a forced smile, "There are plenty of people in the world who stuff money into their own pockets, and then there's you, who likes to be a prodigal child?"

The young man did not retort this time, but nodded and smiled. "Money is very important, very, very important."

Liu Xianyang, who had been kept in the dark, said anxiously, "Chen Ping'an, are you crazy? Why are you giving her the money? Two whole bags of copper coins, how long will that last you?"

Chen Ping'an said irritably, "It's my money, what business is it of yours?"

Liu Xianyang said righteously, "Aren't your money and my money the same? Think about it, if I borrowed money from you, would you have the nerve to demand it back?"

Chen Ping'an remained silent, lost in thought.

Liu Xianyang also realized his wisecrack was ill-timed and shut his mouth.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Chen Ping'an asked, "Miss Ning, you really won't... because of this..."

The black-clothed girl glanced at the white-scabbarded long sword on the table and nodded, "No problem!"

Afterward, she couldn't hold back and said, "You're so wishy-washy, aren't you tired? And you still say you're not a softie?"

Chen Ping'an chuckled.

Liu Xianyang thought for a moment and said nothing.

The tall young man finally kept his thoughts to himself, thinking, Miss, you probably haven't seen the other side of this guy.

Chen Ping'an rarely had moments where he was difficult to deal with, but when he did, he was truly difficult.

He, Liu Xianyang, had seen it.

Song Jixin next door had probably seen it too.