Chapter Thirteen: A Chance Encounter in Luoyang

After half a month of recuperating, my injuries finally healed. One day, Daxian suddenly mentioned that the temple fair in Luoyang was quite lively and suggested that we go there after breakfast. Only then did I remember that the sect master had granted me permission to go down the mountain to broaden my horizons. During breakfast, I hurriedly ate a few bites before heading to the mountain gate.

Daxian arrived before me, watching calmly as I panted heavily from my rush. He suddenly leaned in close and used his finger to flick something off the corner of my mouth.

I jumped back, covering my mouth, and asked, "What are you doing?"

"...What are you thinking? There was something stuck to the corner of your mouth." He showed me his finger, revealing a sesame seed stuck to it.

I smiled without saying anything, quickly glancing around to ensure no one else saw. After all the recent chaos, I had come to understand why Lingluo kept targeting me—she liked Daxian and couldn't stand anyone getting too close to him. Knowing this, it was safer to avoid conflict.

At this moment, Daxian summoned his flying sword and gestured for me to come over.

I asked, "Daxian, where's my sword?"

He looked at me quizzically and said, "One sword is enough for the two of us."

One sword? No way. My first experience of flying was awful, being tied up and all. This time, I wanted a more comfortable experience.

I quickly argued, "But I've also mastered the art of sword flying. I want to try flying on my own!"

He raised an eyebrow and said, "You've just mastered sword flying, and Luoyang is quite far from here. If you make a mistake and fall from this height, no one will be able to save you."

I reluctantly agreed, "Fine, one sword it is. But..." I held up a finger and grinned mischievously. "I have one condition. You have to make it comfortable for me, preferably so I can lie down!"

And so, I got my wish.

Lying comfortably on the broad sword, I opened my eyes to see the blue sky and white clouds drifting by like ice floes on a vast sea. The gentle wind caressed my cheeks like soft cotton, making me stretch lazily in contentment.

Daxian, sitting in front of me, turned and said, "You lazy cat, be careful not to roll off."

I huffed, "The sword is so big now; how could I possibly fall off? You immortals have so many practical spells, but you never use them properly."

He frowned and looked at me strangely. "Do you think everyone has as much free time as you to study these opportunistic spells every day?"

I rolled my eyes. "Opportunistic? You immortals must have trained your brains into stupidity. These spells are so useful."

"You... hold on tight!"

"What—"

Before I could react, the sword started to shake violently. I was jolted so much that I couldn't sit up. Suddenly, I felt myself losing balance and falling to one side. In desperation, I grabbed something soft and squishy.

Everything gradually calmed down, but I was too scared to open my eyes. I heard someone calling my name, so I forced myself to peek. Looking down, I couldn't help but scream.

Above me, Daxian's voice came, "Let go. If you keep pulling, my clothes will tear."

How could he expect me to let go in such a critical moment? Was my life less valuable than his clothes?

I asked tearfully, "What should I do then?"

He asked back, "Have you forgotten how to use spells?"

Right, I almost forgot. I quickly performed the cloud-riding spell to safely descend to the ground, patting my chest in relief.

He chuckled and asked, "What made you so dumb just now?"

I stammered, "I'm afraid of heights!"

"Excuses."

I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye and retorted, "Then why did your sword flying fail just now? If we hadn't landed on a tree, I would've been shattered into pieces!"

"If we had flown into the city on a sword, it would have attracted unnecessary attention. But the sword was so large that landing here made it hard to control."

"Excuses!" I used his own word against him and ran ahead.

Finally, we arrived in Luoyang. The bustling streets were lined with towering buildings, and the aroma of various foods created a sweet fragrance that mingled with the lively sounds of trading, making my stomach growl. The plain and simple food at Qiongyun was nothing compared to the delightful pastries here, but now I was penniless, and the temptation was just as torturous.

I walked slowly, eyes half-closed, savoring the smells. If I couldn't eat, at least I could enjoy the aroma.

"Ow—!"

My head hit something as hard as the jade walls of the main hall, the cold impact sending a sharp pain through my skull, making me feel like I was about to faint.

I shook my head to clear the dizziness and rubbed my forehead. To my surprise, I saw a woman in front of me. Who knew bumping heads could hurt so much?

"What happened?"

Hearing my shout, Daxian rushed over, grabbed my arm, and apologized profusely to the woman opposite us.

Gradually recovering from my daze, I saw the woman clearly. She was stunning, her clothes as bright as flames. Her delicate red lips moved slightly, her soft voice lingering in the air. She raised her hand to reveal part of her face, her beautiful eyes smiling subtly.

"It's nothing. It seems this sister was so eager for the snacks that she bumped into me," she said with a charming smile. She wrapped several portions of snacks from a nearby shop and handed them to me. "Consider these a gift from our meeting, a token of our newfound bond. Please accept my gesture."

Seeing the fragrant snacks, my impression of the woman improved immensely. Who knew an accidental collision could bring such fortune?

I quickly took the snacks, bowed to the woman, and said, "I'm really fine. It's fate that we both suffered from a head bump. Isn't there a saying, 'Share blessings and endure hardships together'?"

The woman covered her mouth and laughed, nodding in agreement. She glanced up at the blazing sun with a slight frown and said reluctantly, "Sister, I still have some matters to attend to. Shall we find a time to chat again?"

"It's my fault for delaying you. Please go ahead with your tasks," I said.

"No need to be so formal, sister," she shook her head gently, bowed slightly, and started to leave. As she walked past me, her fragrance lingered in the air. "By the way, my name is Ji Feng. Remember that, Qingyue."

When I turned to look again, she was already gone.

"That woman is quite mysterious," Daxian said, looking serious as he watched her leave.

I waved a hand in front of his face dismissively. "Daxian, you overthink things. That lady was very kind."

Eagerly, I opened a packet of snacks and popped a piece of peony cake into his mouth. Then, noticing an interesting performance in the distance, I grabbed a few more packets of snacks from him and ran off to join the crowd.

Squeezing through the throng, I watched people performing martial arts. The more I watched, the less impressed I was. Our Qiongyun Sect's sword techniques were much more impressive. I turned to leave, but someone grabbed me and extended a hand.

Puzzled, I asked, "What do you want?"

The man grinned maliciously. "Girl, you're just going to leave after watching our performance? Don't you respect us?"

I pulled my hand back and waved to explain, "No, no, I respect you very much. You are truly impressive." I muttered under my breath, "Though it was quite boring..."

"What did you say?!"

The man had sharp ears and yelled, raising his fist to hit me. I grabbed a few eggs from a nearby auntie's basket and threw them at his face, ready to fight.

Just as we were about to have a dramatic showdown, a young man in a blue robe stepped in to stop him.

The young man took out a silver ingot and waved it in front of the man, whose eyes were glued to the money.

"I'll pay for the lady. Let's not make a fuss," he said.

The man's eyes were fixed on the large silver ingot. Ignoring the eggs on his face, he waved us off.

Before I could thank him, the young man tossed me a money pouch.

"You haven't changed. Even here, you still don't know how to behave," he said.

What does he mean by "even here"?

"Do you know me?" I asked, curiously studying him. He was dressed in a light blue embroidered robe. His bright eyes sparkled with a faint light, and there was an indescribable charm about him that made me uneasy.

"I don't know you. Maybe we have met briefly before?" he replied.

If he doesn't know me, why did he help and give me a money pouch? Did this wealthy young master mistake me for someone else?

I was about to ask him when Daxian snatched the money pouch from my hand and threw it back at the young man.

"Qingyue, don't accept things from strangers. It could be misinterpreted and cause trouble later," Daxian said.

I turned and crashed into Daxian's chest, hitting his jade pendant painfully. His expression was grim as he looked at the young man with hostility.

"I didn't expect you to be so protective. I was merely helping the lady out of a difficult situation. You can ask her yourself if you don't believe me," the young man said.

I quickly explained, "Yes, Daxian. If it weren't for him, I would have been in big trouble..."

"In that case, I apologize. I will repay this favor another day."

The young man smiled, opened his folding fan, and fanned himself. "Very well. I hear there's a flower show at Wanfang Pavilion tonight. I must excuse myself."

With that, he turned and walked away gracefully.