Chapter 39 Grasses—Part Seven
A-Qing seemed to have paused shortly before answering, Y-yes.
Xiao XingChen, Then, walk a bit slower. Dont be so fast. You wouldnt want to bump into someone again, would you?
He didnt mention at all that he himself couldnt see either. Holding A-Qings hand, he led her to the side of the road, Walk here. There are less people.
Both his words and his actions were gentle yet careful. A-Qing reached out with hesitation, but in the end, she still snatched away the money pouch that hung by his waist, Brother, A-Qing is very thankful of you!
Xiao XingChen, Not Brother. Its Daozhang.
A-Qing blinked, But youre both Daozhang and Brother.
Xiao XingChen smiled, Then, since you call me Brother, why dont you give back Brothers pouch?
No matter how quick a street-roamer like A-Qing was, they wouldnt be able to fool the senses of a cultivator. Startled, she took her pole and sprinted as fast as she could. Yet, not having run very far, Xiao XingChen grabbed the back of her collar with one hand and brought her back, As Ive already said, you shouldnt run so fast. What if you bump into someone again?
A-Qing struggled to escape his grasp. With a twitch of her lips, her upper teeth bit down on her lower lip. Wei WuXian understood at once, Oh no, shes gonna shout molester! Suddenly, a middle-aged man hurried out of a street corner. As he saw A-Qing, his eyes lit up at once. He stormed over as he cursed, You little bitch. Ive finally caught you. Give back my money!
Simply cursing wasnt enough to relieve his anger. With a wave of his arm, his hand swung toward her face. A-Qing immediately looked down and closed her eyes. Yet, before the slap landed on her cheek, it was stopped halfway through.
Xiao XingChen, Sir, please calm down for a moment. Its quite an impolite way to treat a young maiden, dont you think?
A-Qing secretly peeked from behind her eyelids. The middle-aged man clearly used a lot of strength, yet his hand was held by Xiao XingChens in a seemingly light way, unable to move an inch. Although he was nervous, he accused stubbornly, What is a blind guy like you doing here? Saving the damsel in distress? So the little bitch is your lover? Did you know that shes a thief? She stole my money! If you protect her, then youre also a thief!
With him in one hand and A-Qing in the other, Xiao XingChen turned around, Give the man his money back.
A-Qing fumbled out the small amount of money and passed it over. Xiao XingChen let go of the man, who counted the money. Everything was still there. Glancing at the blind cultivator again, the man knew that hed be difficult to deal with, so he trudged awkwardly away.
Xiao XingChen, You really are too bold. How do you dare steal things even when youre blind?
A-Qing leaped up three inches high, He touched me! He pinched my butt, and it hurt so much, so whats wrong with me taking some of his money? Theres only so little inside of such a big pouch, and hes being a bully about it. Hes gonna die flat broke!
Wei WuXian disagreed, You clearly had stealing intentions and bumped into him first, but now youre saying it like he wronged you first. What a fraud argument.
Xiao XingChen shook his head, Such being the case, you really shouldve known better than to provoke him. Today, if nobody was here, the matter wouldnt have been solved with a mere slap. Maiden, take care.
After he finished, he turned to the opposite direction and left. Wei WuXian observed, He didnt ask for his money pouch back. This shishu of mine is gentle towards women as well.
Holding the money pouch that she stole, A-Qing stood and stared blankly for a few seconds. Suddenly, she stuffed it into her lapel, chased over with her pole, and crashed right onto Xiao XingChens back. Xiao XingChen could only help steady her again, Is there anything else?
A-Qing, I still have your money pouch!
Xiao XingChen, Its yours now. Theres not much inside, anyways. Before you spend all of it, be sure not to steal anything else.
A-Qing, I heard the filthy man curse. So youre blind too?
Hearing the second sentence, Xiao XingChens expression faltered at once. His smile disappeared as well.
The bold, innocent remarks of children were often the cruelest. Children didnt know anything. Precisely because they didnt know anything, they hurt peoples feelings in the most direct of ways.
Under the bandages wrapped around Xiao XingChens eyes, a smear of red grew darker and darker, almost seeping through the cloth. His raised his hand for it to hover over his eyes, while his arm trembled slightly. The pain and injury that came with gouging out ones eyes were not that easy to heal. However, A-Qing simply thought that he was feeling dizzy. She beamed, Then let me follow you!
Xiao XingChen managed to smile, Why would you want to follow me? To become a cultivator?
A-Qing, Youre tall and blind, and Im small and blind. If we travel together, we can care for each other. My parents are gone and theres nowhere I can stay. Ill follow anyone to anywhere. Being as clever as she was, she was afraid that Xiao XingChen would refuse her, so she took advantage of his agreeable nature and threatened, I spend money really quickly. If you refuse to take me with you, the money will be gone at once, and Ill have to go steal and trick people again. And then somebody will slap me hard and Ill fall down and I wont even be able to find my way. Poor me!
Xiao XingChen laughed, Someone as clever as you should be able to fool others so that they cant find their way. Who in the world can do the same to you?
After watching for a while, Wei WuXian found something interesting.
Now that he had seen Xiao XingChen himself, he discovered that, in comparison to the real one, Xue Yangs imitation really was precise! Aside from his face, all of the details were true to the real Xiao XingChen. If someone told him so, he couldve even believed that Xiao XingChen had possessed Xue Yangs body.
Pleading, pestering, and pretending that she was pitiful, A-Qing clung to Xiao XingChen the whole way. Xiao XingChen warned her quite a couple of times that itd be dangerous if she followed him, but A-Qing never listened. She wasnt even scared after Xiao XingChen exorcised an old cattle that had gained consciousness when they passed a certain village. She still kept on calling him Daozhang and stuck to him as if she was syrup, never going more than three meters away from him. As she followed him, possibly deciding that A-Qing was quick-witted, brave, and never a hindrance all the while being a young, blind maiden with nowhere to go, Xiao XingChen finally gave tacit permission to her staying with him.
Wei WuXian originally thought that Xiao XingChen must have had a destination. However, as a few pieces of memory passed, judging from the climates and dialects, the places that they went couldnt at all form a distinct route. He didnt seem like he was going anywhere, but rather night-hunting by chance. He went to wherever people mentioned peculiar things were happening. Wei WuXian guessed, Maybe the YueyangChang Clans case had too big of a blow on him. He didnt want to be among the clans and sects anymore, but he couldnt give up on his aspirations, so he chose to night-hunt as he wandered around, solving as many problems as he could.
At the moment, Xiao XingChen and A-Qing were walking along a long, flat road with weeds and grasses of waist height growing on both sides of it. Suddenly, A-Qing cried out with an ah. Xiao XingChen immediately asked, Whats wrong?
A-Qing, Ugh. Nothing. My ankle twisted.
Wei WuXian could clearly see that it wasnt because her ankle twisted at all. She was walking as fine as ever. If not for that she was pretending to be blind in front of Xiao XingChen so that he couldnt come up with any reasons to shoo her away, she could hop up to the heavens as she walked. A-Qings exclamation was because as she glanced around, she suddenly saw a black figure lying among the bushes of weeds.
Although she didnt know whether he was dead or alive, most likely thinking that itd be a drag either way, she obviously didnt want Xiao XingChen to find the person. She urged him, Lets go, lets go. Lets rest a bit at that whatever city thats ahead. Im so tired!
Xiao XingChen, Didnt you twist your ankle? Do you want me to carry you?
A-Qing was ecstatic, knocking loudly on the ground with her bamboo pole, Yes, yes, yes! Smiling, Xiao XingChen turned around with his back to her and kneeled down with one leg. Just as A-Qing was about to throw herself over, Xiao XingChen suddenly stopped her. With a serious expression, he stood up, Something smells like blood.
A-Qing could also smell a faint hint of blood. Amid the night wind, it was indeed discernible at times. She bluffed, Really? Why cant I smell it? Are any families around the area killing livestock?
Just as she finished speaking, as if Heaven wanted to go against her wishes, the person in the bushes coughed.
Even though the sound was almost imperceptible, it couldnt escape Xiao XingChens ears. He immediately found the direction, stepped into the bushes, and squatted down beside the person.
Due to how Xiao XingChen discovered the person anyway, A-Qing stomped on the ground, then pretended to find her way over, What happened?
Xiao XingChen was feeling the persons pulse, Someone is lying here.
A-Qing, So thats why the smell of blood is so strong. Are they dead? Should we make a ditch and bury them?
Of course, a dead person was less of a hassle than a living one, so A-Qing couldnt wait for the person to die. However, Xiao XingChen replied, Not yet. Hes just badly injured.
After giving it some thought, he gently carried the person onto his back.
Seeing that a filthy, bloodstained man took the position where she wouldve been and that Xiao XingChen wouldnt be able to carry her to the city anymore, A-Qing pouted and poked a few deep holes on the ground with her pole. Yet, she knew that Xiao XingChen wouldnt not help the person, so complaining wouldnt work anyway. They went back onto the road and continued walking. The more they walked, the stronger Wei WuXians sense of familiarity grew. He suddenly recalled, Isnt this the road that Lan Zhan and I used to get to Yi City?
Sure enough, Yi City could be seen looming at the end of the road.
As of this time, the city gates werent as run-down. The tower was still in fair condition and there werent any scribbles on the walls. Entering the city, the fog was somewhat denser, but compared to the unnatural density in later times, it was not a hindrance at all. On the sides of the road, lights and even human conversations leaked from the doors and windows of houses. Although it was an obscure place, it had some liveliness to it.
Carrying a person with severe injuries and drenched in blood on his back, Xiao XingChen definitely knew that no shops would let someone like him inside. Thus, he didnt search for places to rest, but instead directly asked a night watchman who walked by if there were any idle coffin homes in the city. The watchman told him, Theres one over there. The guy who guarded it passed away last month. Theres currently nobody there. Seeing that Xiao XingChen was blind and might have difficulties finding the way, he decided to lead them over.
This was precisely the coffin home where Xiao XingChens corpse was put after he had died.
They thanked the watchman, and Xiao XingChen carried the injured person into the chamber on the right. The room wasnt large, but wasnt too small either. Including a low bed by the wall, the room had all of the necessities. He carefully laid the person onto the bed. Taking an elixir from his qiankun pouch, he pushed it through the persons clenched teeth. A-Qing felt around in the room for a while before she beamed, There are so many things here! Heres a basin!
Xiao XingChen, Is there a stove?
There is!
Xiao XingChen, A-Qing, why dont you try to boil some water? Be careful and dont hurt yourself.
A-Qing pouted some more and got to work. Xiao XingChen touched the persons forehead, then took out another elixir and fed it to him. Wei WuXian really wanted to take a good look at the persons face, but A-Qing was clearly not interested in him. She was rather annoyed and refused to spare him a single glimpse. After the water had been boiled, Xiao XingChen slowly wiped off the blood on his face. Out of curiosity, A-Qing gave him a glance, and made a soundless huh.
Now that the persons face had been cleaned, she could see that his looks were actually quite decent.
As Wei WuXian saw the face, his heart immediately sunk.
Just as he had expected, it was Xue Yang.
He sighed in silence, Enemies really cant avoid each other, can they? Xiao XingChen, you really are hopelessly unlucky.
At this point in time, with a childish charm, Xue Yang looked nothing more than a boy. However, who couldve known that a boy like him whose canine teeth showed when he smiled was a maniac who wiped out entire clans.
Counting the years, this was probably after Jin GuangYao became the Chief Cultivator. In such a difficult situation, Xue Yang had probably just escaped Jin GuangYaos elimination. Since he couldnt kill him, Jin GuangYao naturally didnt want to let anything out. Or, maybe because he believed that he wouldnt be able to live, he told the public that Xue Yang had already been eliminated. However, villains always tended to outlast heroes. On the brink of dying, he was saved by his old rival XingChen. It was unfortunate that Xiao XingChen wasnt cautious to the point of feeling and examining his face. By accident, he had saved his enemythe one who made his life this way. Although A-Qing could see, since she wasnt a cultivator, she didnt know of Xue Yang, much less the immense hatred between the two of them. She didnt even know what Xiao XingChens name was
Wei WuXian sighed again. Xiao XingChen couldnt be any more unlucky. It was as though all of the ominous energy in this world had tainted him.
Suddenly, Xue Yang frowned. Xiao XingChen was in the middle of inspecting and bandaging his wounds. Sensing that Xue Yang was about to wake up, he spoke, Dont move.
Someone like Xue Yang who had done countless bad deeds in their life would naturally be more alert than ordinary people. Hearing this voice, his eyes sprang open and he sat up at once. Tumbling to the corner of the room, he glared at Xiao XingChen with a fierce expression and a careful posture. His eyes resembled those of a beast who had been trapped, not at all concealing the malice and cruelty within them. Watching the scene, A-Qings scalp tingled. The sensation also passed onto Wei WuXians head, who shouted silently, Talk! Xiao XingChen definitely wouldnt have forgotten Xue Yangs voice.
Xue Yang, What
As soon as he spoke, Wei WuXian knew that there was no hope. Even after he spoke, Xiao XingChen wouldnt be able to discover who he was.
Xue Yangs throat was injured as well. After coughing up a large quantity of blood, his voice was so hoarse that nobody could tell they were the same person!
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Xiao XingChen assured, I told you not to move. Youre wounds are going to open. Dont worry. Since I saved you, of course I wont hurt you.
Xue Yang was quick at adjusting to sudden changes of situation. He immediately inferred that Xiao XingChen most likely didnt recognize him. With a roll of his eyes, he coughed, Who are you?
A-Qing interrupted, If you have eyes cant you see for yourself? Hes a roaming cultivator. He went to such lengths to carry you back and saved you and even gave you magical elixirs, yet youre so mean!
Xue Yang turned to her at once. He spoke in a cold voice, Youre blind?
Wei WuXian was alarmed.
The little delinquent was both crafty and vigilant. Even though A-Qing had a pair of white eyes, he didnt let down his guard. Not passing any points of suspicion, he immediately caught A-Qings slip of the tongue. Xue Yang had only spoken four words. With only these four words, it was impossible to determine if he was mean or not, unless A-Qing had seen his expression.
The good thing was that A-Qing grew up lying. She replied on the spot, Do you discriminate against blind people? Well a blind person saved you. Or else, nobody would care even if you rotted on the side of the road! The first words you said werent even to thank Daozhang. How rude! And you called me blind in such a tone. Hmph Whats wrong with being blind
She successfully switched the topic and the point of the conversation. As A-Qing muttered nonstop in an unyielding yet dejected manner, Xiao XingChen immediately went over to comfort her. In the corner, Xue Yang rolled his eyes. Xiao XingChen turned to him again, Dont sit by the wall. I didnt bandage the wound on your leg yet. Come here.
With an indifferent expression, Xue Yang continued to think. Xiao XingChen added, If its not treated soon, your might end up crippled.
Hearing this, Xue Yang decisively made his choice.
Wei WuXian could speculate what he was thinking. With a body covered in severe wounds, he couldnt go anywhere if nobody helped treat him. Since Xiao XingChen was such an idiot that he placed himself right at his disposal, why not accept the help?
Thus, he changed his expression at once. In a voice filled with gratitude, he replied, Then, thank you, Daozhang.
Having seen Xue Yangs skill of changing from merciless to affectionate within fractions of a second, Wei WuXian was truly worried for the two blind ones, both real and fake, in the room, but especially for A-Qing. She could see everything. If Xue Yang discovered this, to prevent the secret from leaking out, shed definitely die. Although he knew that, in the end, A-Qing probably died in Xue Yangs hands anyway, Wei WuXian still felt anxious since hed be going through the same experience.
All of a sudden, he noticed that Xue Yang had been discreetly preventing Xiao XingChen from touching his left hand. Taking a closer look at it, he found that the little finger of Xue Yangs left hand was severed. From where it cut off, it could be seen that it wasnt a new wound. Back then, Xiao XingChen definitely knew that Xue Yang only had nine fingers. So this was why Xue Yang wore a black glove on his left hand when he was putting up his act.
Xiao XingChen was rather dedicated to helping him. After applying medicine to his wound, he bandaged it in a remarkably neat manner, Its finished, but its best if you dont move, or else your bones will dislocate again.
Xue Yang had already ascertained that Xiao XingChen was so gullible that he didnt recognize him. Although he was covered in blood and surrounded by other messes, the lazy grin appeared on his face again, Daozhang, so you arent going to ask who I am? Why I was injured so badly?
If someone else were at his position, they wouldve carefully avoided the topic so that they didnt reveal details that would expose their identity. He, on the other hand, deliberately did the exact opposite. Turning to clean the medical kit and bandages, Xiao XingChen softly replied, If you wont say it, then why should I ask? I just happened to have seen you and decided to lend a hand. Its nothing difficult for me, anyways. After your injuries heal, wed go our separate ways. If I were you, thered also be a lot of things that I dont want others to ask about.
Wei WuXian commented, Even if Xiao XingChen asked, the little delinquent would probably make up a seamless explanation and fool him around. It was natural for people to have complicated pasts. Xiao XingChen only avoided inquiring too much out of respect. Yet, it made it convenient for Xue Yang to use his respect. Wei WuXian was sure that he was not only going to get Xiao XingChen to heal all his wounds, after he recovered, he definitely wouldnt let them go their separate ways either.
Xue Yang rested in the bedroom of the coffin homes guard, while Xiao XingChen went to the main hall. Opening up a new coffin, he picked up some of the straws on the ground and thickly spread them over the bottom of the coffin. He turned to A-Qing, The person inside is injured, so lets let him have the bed. Would you mind making do with this? I put straws on the bottom, so it shouldnt be too cold.
A-Qing had been roaming in the streets ever since she was young. Having lived alongside wind and hunger, there was nowhere she hadnt slept. She replied nonchalantly, Not at all. Its good enough that I have somewhere to sleep. It wont be cold. Dont take off your coat for me again.
Xiao XingChen stroked the top of her head. With both his sword and horsetail whisk on his back, he walked outside again. To ensure safety, Xiao XingChen never let her follow when he was on night-hunts. After crawling into the coffin and lying for a while, she heard Xue Yang call her from the other room, Little Blind, come over.
A-Qing poked her head out, What?
Xue Yang, Do you want candy?
The end of A-Qings tongue felt sour, as though she really wanted candy. Despite this, she still refused, Im not eating it. Im not going.
Xue Yang threatened sweetly, Are you sure youre not eating it? Are you too scared of coming? But, did you think that I actually cant move? That if you dont come, Im not going to go over and find you?
Hearing the strange tone of his words, A-Qing shuddered. She imagined the malicious grin suddenly appear on top of the coffin, and felt that it was even creepier. With some hesitation, she finally picked up her pole and slowly tapped her way to the rooms door. Before she could speak, a small object flew straight at her.
Wei WuXian instinctively wanted to dodge, worried that it was some sort of weapon. Of course, he couldnt control this body. Immediately afterward, he finally realized, Its a trap!
Xue Yang was testing A-Qingif she was truly blind, she wouldnt be able to avoid it!
As both a quick-witted person and someone who pretended to be blind throughout the year, A-Qing didnt dodge at all. She didnt even blink as she saw the object rush toward her. Instead, she let it hit her chest, then jumped back and fumed, Hey! What did you throw at me?
With A-Qing having passed the test, Xue Yang replied, Its candy, for you. I forgot that youre blind and cant catch. It landed by your feet.
A-Qing humphed and squatted down. Searching around as if she really were blind, she found a piece of candy. She had never eaten something like this before. She gulped, wiped it, then put it into her mouth, happily crunching it with her teeth. Xue Yang lay on his side with one hand holding his chin, and asked, Is it good, Little Blind?
A-Qing, I have a name. Im not called Little Blind.
Xue Yang, You didnt tell me your name, so I could only call you this.
A-Qing had always told her name only to people who were nice to her, but she didnt like the way Xue Yang said it, so she told him, Listen up. My name is A-Qing. Dont keep on calling me Little Blind and Little Blind! After she said it, she felt that her voice was somewhat harsh. Afraid that shed anger the person, she immediately started another topic, Youre such a strange person. Youre covered in blood and this injured, but you have candy with you.
Xue Yang grinned, When I was young, I really liked candy, but I couldnt get them no matter what and I could only watch people eat. So, Ive always thought that if I become wealthier one day, Id carry an infinite amount of candy with me.
A-Qing just so happened to have finished the candy that he gave her. Licking her lips, she wanted more. Her desire for candy outweighed her fear of the person in front of her, Then do you have any more?
Xue Yang laughed, Of course I do. Ill give you more if you come over here.
A-Qing stood up and, with her bamboo pole, she walked toward him. Yet, when she was halfway there, Xue Yang started to look at her in an eerie way, his smile unchanged. Without making a sound, he pulled a sharp-edged sword out of his sleeve.
It was Jiangzai.
He pointed the tip of the sword toward A-Qing. If she walked just a few more steps forward, shed be impaled by the sword. However, if A-Qing hesitated for the slightest moment, the fact that she wasnt actually blind would be revealed!
Sharing the same senses as A-Qing, Wei WuXian also felt the pins and needles pricking his scalp. Despite this, the young maiden bravely searched her way forward in a calm, ordinary manner. When the tip of the sword was half an inch away from her stomach, Xue Yang took it away and put it back into his sleeve. Exchanging it with two pieces of candy, he gave one to A-Qing and tossed the other one into his own mouth.
He asked, A-Qing, wheres that daozhang of yours gone to in the middle of the night?
A-Qing licked and munched on the candy, I think he went hunting.
Xue Yang tittered, Hunting? More like night-hunting.
A-Qing, Oh really? The two are pretty much the same. Whats the difference? Its just helping other people fight ghosts and beasts without receiving any money.
Wei WuXian was truly amazed by how clever she was.
It wasnt that A-Qing couldnt remember what Xiao XingChen said to her. In fact, she remembered it better than anyone. She said night-hunt wrong on purpose. Since Xue Yang corrected her, in a way, he confirmed that he was also a cultivator. Xue Yangs test failed and was instead tested by her. The maiden was only so young, yet she already had such tactics.
Although Xue Yang looked scornful, his voice sounded confused, Hes blind already. How can he night-hunt?
A-Qing raged, Youre at it again. Whats wrong with being blind? Even if Daozhangs blind, hes still really cool. His swords like whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. One word: fast. As she was prancing around, Xue Yang suddenly asked, You cant see, so how do you know his sword is fast?
The opponent was quick, but her defense was quicker. A-Qing replied in an outraged voice, Its fast because I say so. Daozhangs sword must be fast! Its true that I cant see, but cant I listen? Just what are you trying to say? Do you discriminate against blind people like us? She behaved exactly like a naive girl who was bragging about the person she admired. It sounded as natural as can be.
Now that she passed all three of his tests, Xue Yangs expression finally relaxed. It was likely that he finally believed that A-Qing was indeed blind.
However, A-Qing, on the other hand, grew extremely wary toward Xue Yang. The next day, Xiao XingChen found some wood, straw, and tiles for repairing the roof. As soon as he came inside, A-Qing secretly dragged him out again, whispering on about how this person was suspicious and that he definitely wasnt a good person, judging from him hiding secrets even though they were both cultivators. Unfortunately, she thought that the broken little finger was a trivial matter, so she didnt mention the most fatal characteristic. Xiao XingChen went about comforting her, Youve already eaten his candy, so you should stop chasing him away. Of course hell go after his wounds have healed. Nobody would be willing to stay with us inside this coffin home.
This was indeed the truth. There was only a single bed inside such a shack. It was lucky for them that there was no wind or rain, or else the roof wouldve created a great problem. Nobody would want to live here. Just as A-Qing was about to continue her complaint of Xue Yang, the certain someones voice came from behind them, Are you talking about me?
To A-Qings surprise, he got off the bed again. However, she wasnt afraid of being found out at all, Were talking about you? Dont flatter yourself! Picking up her bamboo pole, she went inside, sneaked behind the window, and continued to eavesdrop.
Outside of the coffin home, Xiao XingChen turned to Xue Yang, Your wounds havent healed yet, and youre walking around already. Are you sure youll fine?
Xue Yang, Itll heal faster if I walk around. And its not that both of my legs are broken or anything. Im used to injuries like these. I grew up beaten by others.
Xiao XingChen seemed as though he didnt know what to say in response, whether he should comfort him or take it as a joke. After a pause, he replied, Oh
Xue Yang continued, Daozhang, are the things that you brought here gonna be for repairing the roof?
Xiao XingChen, Yes. Ill most likely stay here for a temporary while. The broken roof wont be beneficial to A-Qing or to your injuries.
Xue Yang, Should I help?
Xiao XingChen thanked him, Ill be fine.
Xue Yang, Daozhang, do you know how to do it?
Xiao XingChen laughed and shook his head, Im sorry, but I really havent tried to do such a thing before.
And so, the two of them started to repair the roof together. One of them worked, the other one gave directions. Xue Yang was quite eloquent with words and was especially good at making witty remarks. His humor was accompanied by a presumptuous tone common to street markets. In the past, Xiao XingChen most likely had very rare contact with this type of people. Easily amused, hed start laughing after just a few sentences. Hearing how cheerful their conversations were, A-Qing moved her lips in silence. After careful scrutiny, it seemed to have sounded like let me kill you damn thing.
Wei WuXian felt the same as A-Qing.
Xue Yangs severe injuries that had almost taken his life were partly due to Xiao XingChen. The two had a relationship of absolute hatred. In his heart, he was probably hoping for Xiao XingChen to die in the most gruesome way possible, yet he could still converse with him in such a lighthearted manner. If the one hiding behind the window right now was Wei WuXian himself, he wouldve killed Xue Yang regardless of the consequences to avoid later trouble. However, it wasnt his own body. And, even if A-Qing wanted to, she wasnt capable of killing him.
After about a month, under Xiao XingChens meticulous care, Xue Yangs wounds had mostly healed. Aside from how he limped slightly when he walked, nothing else posed any inconvenience. Despite this, he still hadnt mentioned anything about leaving. He continued to live in this crammed coffin home with the two others. Wei WuXian had no idea what he was scheming of.
Today, after putting A-Qing to sleep, Xiao XingChen was about to leave and night-hunt again when Xue Yangs voice suddenly came, Daozhang, why dont you take me with you tonight?
His throat injury shouldve healed already as well. However, he purposely avoided using his original voice and disguised it in another tone. Xiao XingChen laughed, Of course not. If you talk, I start laughing, and if I laugh, my sword wont be steady anymore.
Xue Yang replied in a piteous way, Then I wont talk. Ill carry your sword and help you. Please dont give me the cold shoulder.
He had always been a master at behaving as though he was a spoiled child. When talking to people older than him, he sounded like a younger brother. And, since Xiao XingChen had probably cared for his shidi and shimei when he was a disciple of BaoShan SanRen, he naturally saw Xue Yang as junior to him. Xue Yang was a cultivator as well, so Xiao XingChen gladly agreed to the request. Wei WuXian thought, Xue Yang definitely wont be so nice that he wants to help Xiao XingChen night-hunt. If A-Qing doesnt go, shell miss something important for sure.
A-Qing was indeed clever. She also figured that Xue Yang probably didnt have good intentions. After the two left, she jumped out of the coffin and followed them from afar. The distance between them was a bit too far, since she was scared that shed be discovered, and she ended up losing sight of them. Luckily, when Xiao XingChen was washing the vegetables earlier, he mentioned that a small village nearby was plagued by walking corpses and told the two of them to refrain from running around. A-Qing could still remember the place. Rushing over, she arrived soon afterward. She slipped into a dog hole on the bottom of the villages fence, hid behind one of the houses, and sneakily peeked out.
Wei WuXian wasnt sure if A-Qing understood what was happening, but he felt a sudden chill within his heart.
With his hands folded in front of him, Xue Yang stood on the side of the road, smiling with his head tilted. Xiao XingChen stood on the opposite side. Calmly unsheathing his sword, Shuanghua flashed its silver sword glare before it pierced through a villagers heart.
The villager was still alive.