Chapter 982: Things Are Veering Slightly Off Track

Seeing the surprise and suspicion on Xiao Zhang’s face, Ye Wenxin clarified.

“My clothes got dirty, so Her Highness lent me hers.”

Xiao Zhang didn’t believe her. Considering their good relationship and feeling a bit jealous of the closeness between the two, Xiao Zhang couldn’t help but add, “Her Highness is extremely fond of her clothes. This is the first time I’ve seen her lend one.”

Ye Wenxin also knew this. Any clothes she got from Long Qingyue were gifts. They never shared as best friends might.

However, she had gotten so carried away chatting with Long Qingyue after switching back their bodies that she forgot to change back into her own outfit.

Seeing Xiao Zhang already dramatizing the situation in her mind, Ye Wenxin untied the sash and took off the clothes. She was now down to a thin white robe.

Xiao Zhang was startled, only to see her neatly folding the clothes before handing them over.

“Although I appreciate Her Highness lending me these, I’d look too conspicuous going back in them. Please return the clothes for me, Commander Xiao Zhang.”

Ye Wenxin sat back down, not taking out another outfit from her bag of holding. She was worried that Xiao Zhang might overthink it and assume she was making a move on Long Qingyue.

“Then… let me lend you a set, Cultivator Ye. Walking in public like that is inappropriate.” Staring at Ye Wenxin’s body, Xiao Zhang unconsciously swallowed.

Even though she admired her mistress, Long Qingyue, looking at Ye Wenxin evoked subtle emotions. It was almost like the one she liked wasn’t Long Qingyue but Ye Wenxin.

But whenever she had such a thought, a splitting headache would follow, forcing her to stop that foolish notion. Now was no different. Xiao Zhang quickly took out one of her outfits from her bag of holding and averted her gaze.

Ye Wenxin thanked Xiao Zhang and was about to put her clothes on when a sudden curiosity struck. She opened her collar and looked down, spotting a red dudou.

The dudou had elaborate embroidery and seemed to have a character stitched on it. A sense of foreboding rose in Ye Wenxin. Regardless of Xiao Zhang’s presence, she opened the white robe.

There was her dudou, with an uneven “正” stitched. (Writing 正 line by line is the Chinese and Japanese way of tallying.)

“……”

Ye Wenxin wanted to rush back and fight Long Qingyue. That woman was getting way too bold. She had deliberately avoided mentioning the clothes, had her wear them back, embroidered such an overly special dudou, and—

Flames raged in Ye Wenxin’s heart. She wanted to say a few words to Xiao Zhang and found the woman staring at her unblinkingly.

Ye Wenxin realized how abrupt her actions must have looked. But she couldn’t exactly remove the dudou now.

She reluctantly put on the clothes Xiao Zhang lent her, humiliation simmering.

Ye Wenxin thought about how to return Long Qingyue’s “generous gift” in kind.

Suddenly, she remembered something. She had found a smartphone in a treasure chest within the Ten Thousand Serpents Hall in Shura Hall’s backwoods.

Since Shura Hall was a dual-cultivation sect, the other chests were filled with adult toys, such as an object shaped like a double-headed serpent.

Ye Wenxin quickly opened a chest she’d taken from her storage ring, retrieving the lifelike double-headed serpent. She swiftly placed it in a small box and handed the box to Xiao Zhang, instructing her to deliver it to Long Qingyue.

Pure-minded Xiao Zhang had no idea what the double-headed serpent was. Seeing Ye Wenxin’s serious expression, she carefully accepted the box and even swore to fulfill the task without fail.

Ye Wenxin felt a bit embarrassed, but Long Qingyue’s antics forced her hand. Just imagining Long Qingyue’s reaction upon seeing the double-headed serpent made her smirk.

……

The two arrived at the Fang residence a short while later. Xiao Zhang lifted the curtain for Ye Wenxin. After thanking her, Ye Wenxin stepped down from the carriage in a cheerful mood.

It was dusk, and Ye Wenxin could already smell food from afar. She instinctively walked toward the dining room and saw everyone gathered for dinner.

Fei Chai, Han Shanxue, the storyteller, Sister Hong, and Young Master Lü sat at the dining table. The Fang kids were nowhere in sight. Across from them sat Qian Duoduo, the Treasure Pavilion’s owner, and the chief appraiser. It seemed they were here to visit the Fang family.

Ye Wenxin’s appearance drew everyone’s attention. Sister Hong was the first to stand, bringing her over.

“Celestial Master Ye, you’ve returned at just the right time.”

Ye Wenxin still wasn’t quite used to Sister Hong’s enthusiasm, especially after learning about her feelings with mind-reading. Of course, that affection wasn’t purely personal but also influenced by the emperor faction trying to win Ye Wenxin over.

And since Ye Wenxin stayed with Sister Hong, she was their best tool.

Ye Wenxin smiled lightly, calmly withdrew her hand, turned to Han Shanxue, and bowed respectfully.

“Good evening, Master.”

She couldn’t neglect her new master, after all.

Everyone except Fei Chai looked surprised. When Han Shanxue remained silent, he awkwardly explained that Ye Wenxin was now Han Shanxue’s disciple.

Ye Wenxin thought this would be enough to shut down any scouting attempts. However, Qian Duoduo beamed even brighter, waving his fan. “This truly is a double blessing! Miss Han has already agreed to help us!”

“???”

Ye Wenxin felt like something was seriously off. This was not how she expected things to go. She looked at Han Shanxue, hoping for an explanation.

Fei Chai quietly whispered from the side, “Junior Sister Ye, Master ran out of spirit stones.”

Ye Wenxin recalled the 1,000 spirit stones she’d given Han Shanxue yesterday. All of that was gone overnight? Han Shanxue was only at the Golden Core stage now, which meant she’d need much more in the future. That was no amount anyone could support on their own.

While Ye Wenxin considered squeezing more manuals out of Han Shanxue as quickly as possible, Sister Hong took her hand with a smile. “Now you must help us! You weren’t here to see it, Celestial Master Ye, but the people from the Cozy Pavilion were simply awful today.”

Ye Wenxin was speechless. She didn’t know whether Sister Hong and the others were pretending or truly unaware that the Cozy Gang was behind the Cozy Pavilion and the gang’s leader was Ye Wenxin herself.