Chapter 28: Bamboo Flute

On the street.

Chi Xian was also stunned for a long time. It wasn’t until that aura spread out and then retracted that he regained his senses. He glanced at the upstairs window out of the corner of his eye.

Then, he suppressed his smile, his eyes revealing a serious expression as he turned his gaze back to Xiao Ranshu.

Xiao Ranshu was wearing a bamboo hat, the veil gently brushing against her cheeks.

The veil was naturally no obstacle for Chi Xian. Through it, he carefully observed Xiao Ranshu’s face.

It had to be said, Ji Juexiu’s ninth reincarnated body was more suitable for her to use.

Chi Xian: “Miss Xiao, that mythical story hasn’t been finished yet.”

Xiao Ranshu nodded: “Mhm, what happened next?”

Chi Xian: “That deity reincarnated as a mortal, becoming a female general, a female strategist, a female assassin… living eight extraordinary lives! Tell me, after becoming a woman, was her soul yin or yang?”

Xiao Ranshu’s eyes lit up: “Both yin and yang, possessing the gentleness of a woman and the strength of a man. She was a remarkable person!”

Hearing this, Chi Xian closed his folding fan and solemnly cupped his hands toward Xiao Ranshu: “Thank you for the enlightenment.”

Xiao Ranshu was confused: “Huh?”

How was that enlightening?

Chi Xian reopened his fan and fanned it, smiling as he said, “I never understood the concept of ‘things reaching their extreme will reverse’ before. But after hearing your words, it’s all clear now. Everything has its yin and yang, and harmony is the key.”

Xiao Ranshu: “Oh…”

Sorry, she didn’t get it.

Chi Xian’s smile brightened, and he suddenly called out toward the second-floor window of the teahouse: “Hey! Aren’t you going to give her a gift?”

His words directly broke through the restraint, and he had gained quite a benefit!

On the second floor of the teahouse.

Ji Juexiu’s gaze swept over the top of Xiao Ranshu’s head.

The bamboo hat, the veil.

A stick of incense stood upright.

This image was utterly baffling!

Xiao Ranshu followed the direction of Chi Xian’s call and looked up, seeing a figure in white by the second-floor window. It was likely a man, but his face wasn’t visible.

The figure tossed something down.

Snap!

Chi Xian caught it in one hand and handed it to Xiao Ranshu: “Here, this thing can store the incense on your head.”

Xiao Ranshu saw that it was a bamboo flute, emerald green.

The flute was small and thin, small enough to be hidden in a sleeve. She compared it, and it was indeed just the right size to hold the incense.

But how to store it?

Chi Xian seemed to know her confusion and smiled: “You can store it however you like.”

Xiao Ranshu instinctively twisted the bottom of the flute, and it actually opened.

The inside of the flute was hollow, like an incense holder.

She skeptically inserted the incense into it. It fit perfectly, and the incense didn’t go out or burn the flute.

As if it was custom-made!

Xiao Ranshu’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected it to be stored this way—much more convenient.

Chi Xian smiled meaningfully: “Someone’s gift for meeting you.”

Xiao Ranshu thanked him and said, “You seem to know a lot. I also have a question I can’t figure out.”

Chi Xian raised an eyebrow: “I’ll answer everything I know, without holding back.”

Xiao Ranshu asked the question she hadn’t been able to figure out all night: “What are demon beasts?”

The little girl beside her chimed in first: “Demons are demons, beasts are beasts.”

Chi Xian laughed: “In mythical stories, mythical beasts become spirits, while demons must cultivate to take form. Great demons become sages, and sages ascend to become deities.”

Xiao Ranshu nodded, understanding.

But after all, these were just mythical stories. What did demons and beasts have to do with ordinary people’s lives?

She looked at the little girl and asked, “Is this your sister? What’s her name?”

Chi Xian: “Her name is Si Wu, but she’s not my sister. She’s my child bride.”

As soon as he finished speaking.

Si Wu’s nostrils suddenly flared, exhaling two puffs of white air.

Then, she headbutted Chi Xian in the waist with a forceful push!

The impact was so strong that it made a loud “duang” sound.

Chi Xian jumped up in pain, exclaiming, “Are you trying to kill me? You’ve got endless bull strength!”

Si Wu seemed to be angry, continuously headbutting him while shouting, “I’ll ram you to death!”

Chi Xian took off running, but not without turning back to yell, “Miss Xiao, farewell for now!”

Xiao Ranshu waved back, “See you again if fate allows!”

She smiled and turned around, heading back to the carriage.

Lao Zhao and Zhao Tiezhu had already returned with a copper pot, not wasting any time.

Before getting into the carriage, Xiao Ranshu suddenly felt something and glanced toward the teahouse.

Coincidentally, she saw the person who had given her the bamboo flute holding a teacup, though his face was still obscured.

But his hands were distinct, with long, slender fingers.

What beautiful hands, she thought to herself.

Lifting the carriage curtain, Xiao Ranshu stepped inside.

Once again, she saw Quanyue curled up in the corner, trembling as if electrocuted.

Xiao Ranshu: “?”

What’s wrong with him? What is he so afraid of?

She couldn’t be bothered to care about this timid servant and called out to Lao Zhao and Zhao Tiezhu to head back to the village.

The carriage moved along, heading toward the city gate.

Ding—

Upstairs in the teahouse, Ji Juexiu put down his teacup and withdrew his gaze.

…

Inside the carriage.

Xiao Ranshu played with the bamboo flute, not opening it, twirling it between her fingers like a pen, then tapping it against her shoulder.

It was about the length of a folding fan, small and convenient.

What a nice item!

Beautiful and fun to play with.

The people in this world are so kind, giving gifts after just a few words. It seems she should talk more in the future and not be so socially anxious.

Rong City was bustling and lively, full of fun and delicious food, and she had even made friends.

She’d definitely come back next time!

By now, the carriage had left the city and was on the road back to the village.

She casually glanced over and noticed that Quanyue had stopped trembling.

Strange, he stopped shaking as soon as they left the city?

Xiao Ranshu pointed to the wooden box, “Apply the medicine. Once you’re better, you’ll have to work, got it?”

Quanyue nodded, his pretty pink eyes looking up at her, misty and on the verge of tears but not quite crying.

He looked so aggrieved, though it was unclear what he was upset about.

Just then, the carriage came to a halt, and a commotion could be heard up ahead.

Xiao Ranshu lifted a corner of the curtain and asked, “Traffic jam?”

Zhao Tiezhu replied, “Just a temporary hold-up. There’s a Divine temple ahead, and a lot of people are lining up to pay their respects.”

“Divine temple?” Xiao Ranshu’s interest was piqued, and she put on her hat and got out of the carriage.

The Divine temple was built along the road leading to several villages, so it wasn’t large, with only one main hall.

Even so, there were many people around, with villagers from the surrounding areas flocking in, bringing offerings of chickens, ducks, and geese. Some passing merchants even threw money in, showing great devotion.

Curious about the deities of this world, Xiao Ranshu stepped forward, wanting to see which God was being worshipped.

If it was the God of Wealth, she’d definitely pay her respects, praying for prosperity and riches!

But as soon as her left foot crossed the threshold of the temple, a strong wave of nausea hit her, accompanied by dizziness, as if her vitality was being drained.

Xiao Ranshu quickly stepped back, frowning as she looked at the statue in the main hall.

The title of this Deity was inscribed above:

Ling Dong God Lord!

Inside the hall, people knelt in rows, most of them ordinary folks praying for good weather and bountiful harvests.

The more Xiao Ranshu looked at the deity statue, the more uncomfortable she felt. As a staunch materialist, she immediately turned and walked away.

Ling Dong God wasn’t the God of Wealth, so she certainly wasn’t going to worship him!

After all, she didn’t believe in any of this!