dognovel Chapter 134 Hard-spoken but soft-hearted
Chapter 134 Hard-spoken but soft-hearted
The sun sets, and night falls. The moon hangs high in the night sky, casting its silvery light. A gentle breeze blows, carrying away whose longing...?
"You've been standing here for quite a while, is there something important?" Liu Yun appeared behind Xuan Yue, interrupting his thoughts.
"..." Xuan Yue was silent for a while, then turned back with a slight smile on her lips: "It's nothing, I just thought that since it's my first time meeting Shen He, as an elder, I should naturally prepare a gift. Here, what do you think of this piece of fabric? With your skills, you should be able to make a stunning work of art."
After saying that, Xuan Yue took out the piece of fabric that had been auctioned off, and with words of praise, she managed to win over Liu Yun.
"You don't trust my craftsmanship? Wait, I'll use this fabric to make something that's unprecedented and unparalleled."
"Wait, it's not one, it's two. Liu Yun, little Gan Yu, don't forget, the Lantern Festival is almost over. If you go into seclusion like this... it won't be out for several years." Xuan Yue immediately reminded him.
Liu Yun: "Oh...cough cough, then let's wait until after the Lantern Festival to start. It's already this late, I wonder how Shen He is doing in the mortal realm, I need to go check on him. Xuan Yue, do you want to come with me?"
"No, I haven't looked at the reports I just got from the Chamber of Commerce yet. We need to finalize a new plan tomorrow, so time is tight. Shen He has Traveler and Paimon with him, so nothing will go wrong."
"Then I'll go back and rest now. Please say hello to Shen He for me when you see him..."
Xuan Yue quickly left Mount Aozang, and Liu Yun watched his departing figure with a deep sigh. Time continued to flow; no one stays in one place. What seemed like the most normal tone on the surface was merely a facade…
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"...Kong, I just saw a customer come into the store with a huge roasted chicken leg in his hand! Let's buy one for Shen He too, as a midnight snack... or maybe breakfast tomorrow!" Paimon's mouth was watering; she felt hungry again even though she had just eaten.
"Didn't you just eat a sweet Sichuan peppercorn chicken, a crab roe tofu, a plate of mint meat rolls, two plates of braised shredded vegetables, and two bowls of dragon beard noodles? Are you hungry again?"
Paimon's appetite is truly terrifying. Sora shifted her gaze to her little belly; it was unbelievable that someone who looked so small could eat three times her own weight—it was like a bottomless pit…
Paimon: "I haven't had lunch yet. I've been climbing mountains and traveling all day, and I even spent half the day solving puzzles in the cave. Now that I'm relaxing, my stomach is rumbling with hunger. I just had dinner, so now I'm going to eat my lunch back!"
"Then... how about we add another one? I'll get my share back too."
Kong was also getting a little restless. He could just take on more missions and earn back the Mora.
"Alright, let's add one more...wait, isn't that True Lord Liuyun Borrowing Wind? What's she doing here?"
Paimon saw Liu Yun, who had landed nearby to visit Shen He, and couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.
"So you really are here." Liu Yun began the conversation as soon as they arrived: "Xuan Yue said that Shen He traveling with you made me feel more at ease. But I still had to come and see for myself. How are things going with her?"
"It's alright... So even the True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng knows Shen He?" Paimon felt he had guessed right; Shen He was indeed an immortal.
Liu Yun: "That's natural. Besides Gan Yu, who lives in Liyue Harbor year-round, there are also Xuan Yue and Xuan Qing, who have been sleeping for a long time. All the existing immortals have had some interaction with Shen He."
"Hmm? Since they are all immortals, why haven't Jin Xuan and Qing Yue seen Shen He?" Paimon couldn't help but wonder.
“Immortals? Xuanqing and Xuanyue know all the immortals, but… Shen He is human.”
"But...but..." Liu Yun's words shocked Little Paimon so much that he could barely speak.
Kong, on the other hand, had an expression of expectation: "Just as I expected. Every time the topic of her being an immortal comes up, she always deliberately avoids it, looking as if she has something on her mind."
Paimon: "Huh? How did you figure that out?"
Sora: "I don't know, Shen He gives me a very familiar feeling. Hmm, how to describe it? It's like she always likes to keep things to herself, and she won't show her sadness or distress, so you can't detect it. But you can find loopholes in her words and know what she cares about."
"As expected of you, Traveler..." Liu Yun shook her head. Kong's words reminded her of two figures—weren't they exactly the same? Those two brothers... Sigh...
Liu Yun: "In your opinion, what are the differences between Shen He and ordinary people?"
"Hmm...it seems like she always tries to solve problems using some 'very direct' methods..." Paimon hesitated before speaking more tactfully.
(It was really "direct," almost killing the person on the spot...) Kong said it was hard to explain.
Liu Yun: "Hmm... I'll give her a different book next time. It seems that Xuan Yue's book really isn't suitable for her."
Kong: "This is related to Jin Xuan again?"
"It's a long story... I found Shenhe in a cave. I happened to be passing by and sensed the aura of a demon god's remains in the cave. I'm always on guard, so I immediately went inside to investigate. Shenhe, who was about six years old, was holding a dagger and confronting a monster formed from the demon god's remains."
"When I arrived, she had been confronting the monster for several days. Most mortal children are physically and mentally fragile and rely on their parents for protection. But she was different. She was able to survive such a dangerous situation, not only because of her strong willpower, but also because of her innate bloodlust and killing intent."
"Even after I cleared out that demon, she wouldn't let her guard down, still pointing her dagger at me and remaining cautious. Only after confirming that I wouldn't harm her did she faint without a sound."
"How dangerous... Why does she have to fight against the vengeful spirit of a demon god at such a young age?" Paimon's mind was instantly filled with images after hearing Liu Yun's words. Even though he knew Shen He was safe and sound, he couldn't help but worry...
Liu Yun said, "It seems she has also experienced all the hardships of the human world. Since I saw that she had nowhere to go, I took her in."
Sora: "So the 'master' that Shen He mentioned is actually..."
Liu Yun: "It should be referring to me. Shen He has a special physique and is a promising candidate for cultivating immortal arts. I and the other immortals cherish her talent and are willing to teach her. However, the murderous nature she displayed since childhood has not diminished with age; in fact, it has only grown stronger..."
"When I divinated her fate, I said she was a solitary star, afflicted by malevolent energy, and prone to harming her relatives and friends. This matter is dangerous, and we need to use a red rope to lock her soul and suppress the murderous nature in her blood. After being tied with the red rope, she became more docile, but her expression softened and she seemed somewhat wooden... Perhaps it was because the red rope was so powerful that it also suppressed other emotions."
"To solve this problem, I looked through the notes left behind by the Heavenly Lord and the others. I happened to come across a guide written by Xuan Yue that taught people to distinguish right from wrong. I gave it to Shen He, hoping it would help her integrate into the mortal world as soon as possible, but..."
Paimon: "I understand. So, Lord Liuyun Jiefeng came along because he was worried about Shen He?"
"Hmph, it's not that simple. Liyue Harbor may seem peaceful now, but it's fraught with hidden dangers. Ningguang once boasted that this is the era of Liyue making contracts with people... I'd like to see how she handles the coming storm."
Having his thoughts read, Liu Yun's tone instantly rose several degrees: "If she handles it well, I am willing to be a witness to her achievements. If not... I will take over the whole situation myself."
"It is fate that we meet in this vast sea of people. You are destined to meet Shen He, so please take good care of her." Liu Yun said with concern before leaving.
Paimon: (So, you came because you were worried...)