Ghost Songstress
Once Zhao Hui heard the name Fangsu had chosen for herself, "Aren't you quite a fan of the Ghost Songstress, " Chuckling at Fangsu at the obvious usage of the name which was very suitable for her appearance but he didn't think she had any musical abilities.
Fangsu smiled at Zhao Hui, "You would be surprised," Before leaving him behind in the massive crowd of people. Fangsu began walking around the place with Ming Yue floating above her to find any item emitting spiritual energy. There was a stall in the dark corner where any old man quietly sat as people walked passed him but there was a slight barrier which caused him to become invisible to people around him.
Fangsu approached the old man easily bypassing the barrier which surprised the old man, "Young Boy, you study under the Spiritual Techniques?" Asking the young man who was easily able to bypass the barrier that was made from spiritual energy. Fangsu shook her head which surprised the old man again, "Since you were able to see me through the barrier I set up, Take this as an introductory gift from me." The old man handed Fangsu 5 small sphere that gave off a luminous glow as it shifted to different colours of the rainbow. Placing it into her robe, Fangsu scanned the merchandise that was laid out in front of her were martial art tablets, cultivation manuals specifically for spirit energy users, but the main merchandise was the spheres that contain spirits. Fangsu could tell there were powerful spirits was contained in the small spheres but its power had been subdued.
Picking one of the spheres that emitted special energy compared to the other spheres, Fangsu peered into the sphere seeing a female spirit that was powerful. "This spirit," Fangsu looked towards the old man who grinned at her.
The old man was fascinated by the young boy in front of him and he was able to identify the spirit was indeed special, "This one is powerful and has the ability to somewhat maintain a physical body despite not being at the proper level." The man stroked his wispy white beard like he was an old immortal and had removed himself from the mortal world, "If you don't have enough power to tame this spirit I recommend putting the contained spirit as a power core for a weapon," Smirking towards the young man who was unfeeling towards the information giving off a slight unusual aura.
Fangsu began playing with the sphere letting it roll in between her fingers like an optical illusion. But, the old man stiffened as he was panicking when Fangsu played with the sphere haphazardly, "Power cores?" Stopping with her boredom to ask questions about power cores.
The old man gave out a helpless laugh as he gestures at Fangsu to come closer, "Lately, there has been someone making power core out of contained spirits," Whispering to avoid raising suspicion even though they were in the protective barrier, "The usage of spirit power cores exploded in popularity once people knew of its combative potential," The old man continued the long lecture about spirit power cores but eventually he sighed as the young man remain silent after the explanation.
Fangsu thought about the potential of the spirit cores but to be able to contain them was a difficult task as there weren't many cultivators who underwent training under spiritual cultivation techniques. As Fangsu gave money the old man for the contained spirit sphere in her hand, "Thanks for the information," As Fangsu went to leave the stall.
The old man stopped her, "Take this, I have no need for it." Handing her a black ticket with rough golden writing saying Golden Coin Auction. How innovative of a name for an auction house. Fangsu smiled as she took the auction ticket, leaving barrier that the old man set up.
As she continued to walk through the Treasure Trove absentmindedly, Ming Yue came to Fangsu as her search through the Black Market for a useful item was fruitless. A crowd of masked people surrounded a stall that was selling illegally imported slaves, "Master! That child has a special constitution," One slave stood out from the rest sitting in the far corner, a child with muddy debris struck to their seemingly brown hair and the brightest golden eye similar to that of amber.
Walking up the slave trader, "How much for the one at the far corner over there?" Fangsu waited for the slave trader to answer when he began slightly sweat under the waiting Fangsu.
Nevertheless, the slave trader rubbed his hand together as he turned to the young person, "Customer! I wouldn't recommend that slave for you!" Redirecting Fangsu's attention, "These are the most desirable merchandise we have on hand right now," The slave trader showcased the more desirable slave that the other customers were bidding for.
Fangsu shook her head, firm in her decision on buying that slave. Fangsu pulled out the banknotes which caused the slave trader's eyes to widen at the sight of money, "10 Gold, Take it or Leave it," Giving a sleazy smile the slave trader ran to the child and grabbed them by their arm dragging them in front of Fangsu.
Fangsu pulled the child's blank face stared back at Fangsu's, "Choose now, " The child's eye began to brighten slightly as Fangsu was the only person who humanises rather than animalise them, "Live your life by my side or continue to waste your life away in slavery," Between the choice of freedom and the choice of continuing to live in slavery, it was obvious the child would choose the former. Releasing them from the shackles of slavery.
Opening their cracked lips a small voice creaked out, "L-Live by your side," the child tried to croak out an answer but it was deemed too difficult for the child but it was enough for Fangsu to hear. Throwing the ten coins towards the sleazy slave trader who jubilantly jumped at the sight of gold. After receiving the money, the slave trader went off to count the money.
Taking the child by their hand, Fangsu walked at a pace the child was comfortable with, "Child, do you have a name?" Questioning the young child only to have the child stare blankly at her. Fangsu was obviously unsure what to do with a child that had undergone harsh treatment from being a slave. As they continued to walk towards the exit of the Treasure Trove, "From now on you are free to live however you want," Fangsu held the small hand of the child feeling troubled that a small child had to handle the harsh treatment of being a slave as a child.
The slave soon collapsed as they weren't able to continue walking. Fangsu carried the child in her arms, singing. Calming the child who panicked in her arms they have never been held like that before. But, as she continued to sing the child slowly become calm before nestling in her arm and falling asleep.
—————
「 Falling from the celestial heights to the very bottom of the ocean
Swirling bubbles are my every breath
You stand, far away,
Like a lone island
When I raise my head, I see the starry skies above,
Filled with the glittering brilliance of the Milky Way
And yet all this does not compare
To the endless worlds within your eyes.
The wind sometimes stops here and rest,
Kissing your cheek and your hair.
The rain sometimes falls into your palm,
Watering the dense, thick forest all around you
All this makes me drown,
I am but a fish, drowning in the depths of the sea
Your voice enraptures me
So I spread apart the brambles growing thickly on the seabed
Yearning to touch your shadow
Until the light disappears completely,
Until I lose the strength to shake my tail.
The wind sometimes stops here and rest,
Kissing your cheek and your hair.
The rain sometimes falls into your palm,
Watering the dense, thick forest all around you
All this makes me drown,
And I know it is but a futile hope.
I am but a fish, drowning in the depths of the sea
Your voice enraptures me
So I spread apart the brambles growing thickly on the seabed
Yearning to touch your shadow
Until the light disappears completely,
Until I lose the strength to shake my tail.
It is my final fate to be darkness's kin
Yet for the rendezvous tomorrow
My heart is deeply moved.
When that time comes, I will gift the purest, whitest sea-foam
To you
This is all the beauty that I possess.
If you like it,
Why not give it all to you.
If you like it,
Why not give it all to you. 」
(This song belongs to 西瓜Jun)
Fangsu's hauntingly beautiful voice resonated through Treasure Trove. The wind carried her voice through the underground market. People who were wandering in the market were stunned by the singing. The Ghost Songstress has appeared once again. They tried to find the source of the sound to see who was the songstress. It was the person with ash grey hair with a white face mask carrying a small slave child in her arms nestled against her chest walking towards the exit. The androgynous physique of the Ghost Songstress made it difficult to identify if the person was male or female. Many people tried to follow Fangsu to find her identity but they were immediately stopped by someone, "Looks like some little pest have been following the little birdie," Zhao Hui lazily leaned against the supporting pole that held up the structure of the entryway of Treasure Trove, "I expect some compensation from the little birdie," Rolling his head Zhao Hui released his Qi, stunning the opposition in their place. The opposition trembled in fear as the pressure released from Zhao Hui exceed their own even though they had a decent cultivation level.
—————
Fangsu continued to walk away from the fight that was being ensued of her attempting to calm the slave child in her arms. After the grunts and groans of men were finally silenced, Zhao Hui appeared by Fangsu side, "Little birdie how will you compensate for my help?" Circling around Fangsu and eventually looking at the child that was nestled in Fangsu's arms, "Oh! You picked a useful one!" Smirking as he poked at the sleeping slave's cheeks which woke up the child who instantly snuggled deeper in Fangsu's embrace, frightened by Zhao Hui's suddenly popping his face in their view.
Fangsu chuckled at the two, amused by their interactions with each other, "Little one, are you hungry?" Soften her voice so that she would startle him. The child nodded in response as they held their tummy rumbles in hunger, causing them to blush in embarrassment. Fangsu giggles at the child, "Zhao Hui get this child to have a bath and get some new clothes while I try to get us a reservation at Heavenly Aroma," Handing the child to Zhao Hui was startled to carry a child in his arms.
Fangsu left the duo to their own devices as she walked to Heavenly Aroma which true to its name gave off a delicious heavenly aroma of the food fit for heavenly beings. Walking into the entrance, a long queue of people waited for a table. As Fangsu was about to leave the establishment to find another restaurant to eat at, "Fangsu! You want a table?" Wen Cheng called out to Fangsu from the upper floor.
Fangsu laughed at Wen Cheng who was leaning out of the window calling out for her, "I need a table for three," Cupping around her mouth, Fangsu shouted back in response
Wen Cheng went back inside to have the waiter set up a table in one of the private rooms, "Just set up a table for your group!" Gesturing for Fangsu to come up escorting her into one of the private dining room reserved for only his use, "Who are the other two coming?" Wen Cheng gesture Fangsu to one of the tables which had an overlook of the street and Blossoming Fragrance was opposite.
Fangsu took off her mask whilst Wen Cheng happily began the preparations to steep some tea. Fangsu ordered a variety of food that was light in the stomach and nutritious while ordering some order dishes that would suit Zhao Hui's and hers tasted, "Just waiting for Zhao Hui to finish taking care of the child I bought," Fangsu handed the menu back to the waiter who politely bowed, leaving the room.
Wen Cheng stumbled as he poured the hot water in the teapot filled with dried tea leaves, "You went to Treasure Trove?" Gently stirring the teapot to release the flavour into the water releasing a bright jasmine aroma.
Fangsu inhaled the smell with a smile, "Mo Li Long Zhu (Jasmine Pearl)?" The floral scent was quite strong as it wafted in the air which was indicative was the quality that the tea leaves were infused with jasmine flower rather than spray with an artificial jasmine scent which would disappear after being submerged in boiling water.
Wen Cheng smirked as Fangsu guessed correctly just through the scent, "Your grandpa has been giving me quality grade tea," Pouring the fragrant tea into individual cups, "It has really opened my eyes to the world of tea," Wen Cheng offered a cup to Fangsu before seating himself one of the available chair sipping on the tea.
Fangsu gratefully accepted, swirling the tea that was inside, "My sister use to say that it was just hot leaf water," Reminiscing about the past Fangsu would miss them, "Yet, she would always drink the tea I would make saying that tea was one of my talents beside burying my head in books." The pain from remembering her family wasn't as unbearable now than it was previously was.
Wen Cheng stared at Fangsu who would always have a pale face at the mention of her family but she was now much better. Wen Cheng never understood the reason why the Chen family was so shrouded in secrecy and the reason they only reappeared again now in this current time especially during the power struggle for the succession of the throne, "If you don't mind me asking but why did you and your grandpa reappear now when there is a power struggle in the capital?" Wen Cheng directly faced Fangsu with a confrontation question that could easily sever their business partnership but Wen Cheng knew that he was in the dark about the situation of the Chen Family.
Fangsu paused her drinking to stare at Wen Cheng which unnerved Wen Cheng greatly admires if her eyes could easily penetrate through him, "Tonight meet me at the entrance of the Chen Manor," Smiling at him. Fangsu continued to slowly sip her tea, "The rest of our guest is here," Standing up from her chair, Fangsu waved the two up. Zhao Hui carried a cute child in his arms who quickly ran to Fangsu's side holding on the the hem of her clothes.
The group decided to eat together for lunch while Fangsu carefully feeding the starving child the delicious nutritious food.