Something Wrong

"Listen, it's your birthday in 2 days, isn't it?" he said earnestly. I nodded. "Yes, why?" "Well... as you know... I resigned because I'm going to get married, so I won't be around at that time. I got you a birthday present. I know secular world items aren't much for cultivators..." he said, shyly handing me a package.

I looked at the package, surprised. This wasn't a typical brown paper package, but beautiful colored wrapping paper. "Can I open it?" I asked. He nodded. Inside the bag was an elegant periwinkle blue dress, along with a matching ribbon. Although I was raised by cultivators, after spending much of my time forced to eke out a living in the secular world, I had also started to develop the heart of a young girl, seeing girls on the street my age being happy and cared for. No one had ever given me clothes before. "I love it. Thank you so much." I said, hugging the bag to my chest. "Well... I wasn't sure what to get, but my little sister is also 12, and she helped me pick this out. All young girls I figured liked beautiful things... And although you're acting like an adult... you are 12... You should enjoy something your age." he said.

"I got you a wedding gift too." I said. A few days earlier, I had gone to the temple to pray for his marriage and get a good luck charm. After this exchange of gifts and a bit of small talk, I bid my farewell to him and made my way home. Although we had a good relationship as colleagues, in the end, the world of cultivators was very touch and go. Cultivators couldn't have much relationships with mortals, who were much more fragile. At home, I washed up, then rested in preparation for the following day.

"Good morning Old Man Zhao!" I said cheerfully, as I entered the bookshop. "Someone's in a good mood today." he said gruffly. "Hehe, it's my birthday tomorrow. Why wouldn't I be in a good mood." "You have someone to celebrate with?" he asked. "No, but I have an excuse to spend some taels and get myself a cake." I said happily. "Silly child..." he muttered, but I saw him smiling. The day was breezy. A day at the bookshop consisted on sorting inventories, managing orders and accounts, doing some cleaning, and entertaining customers. Most of the time, Old Man Zhao was at the counter, and I was his little assistant, doing all sorts of miscellaneous tasks. It was very tranquil. We usually saw all manner of customers.

Then he came in. I was sorting books in a corner when my divine sense picked up a cultivator coming in. Old Man Zhao greeted him as the man went up to the counter to ask for a book. From the corner of my eye, he looked like a regular man. But for some reason, Old Man Zhao handled his request himself instead of asking me to look for the book for him. I didn't think anything of it and went on with my day. As I was closing up for the day, Old Man Zhao suddenly sank into thought and looked very panicked. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Ying Yue..." he beckoned me to come over. I suspiciously went to his side, only to see him hand me another Qiankun bag. What was with him? "More money?" I asked. "Ying Yue... this old man... just realized something. There are some people after me. Listen, you aren't to come back here ever again, alright? It's for your own safety. If possible, move to another town. Here, this is your severance pay." he said. I was startled, but knew he wouldn't sack me out of nowhere. "Is it that man who came into the store today?" I asked. He nodded. "You're a perceptive child. This old man is glad to have picked you up and taught you. You will do well in the future."

"What about the bookshop?" "I will close it up and take it away." "Alright... will I be able to contact you in the future?" I asked. "No... you shouldn't. Those people will be watching. You aren't able to protect yourself, so you must stay away. When it is safe, I will send you a message and you can find me then." he said. I nodded. I sat at his side, unwilling to leave before he shooed me away. "I have to make preparations." he said.

Somehow, I felt something was very wrong. When I went home and opened the Qiankun bag, I saw he had given me not only about 20 000 taels and 300 spirit stones, but also a good few books and knick-knacks I had been browsing, as well as a few pills and things. It was truly goodbye. I promptly packed up all my things in my room, and left a note in my landlord's letterbox saying my relatives had come to get me and I was moving away. Since I had paid for my rent in advance, there shouldn't be a problem. Then, I went to my usual night job at the depot. However this time, I resigned. Now that Yu Xi wasn't here, and I had quite a sum of money on my hands, I was indeed rich enough to stop working and move away.