Half an hour later, by a small stream near the official road.
A girl in purple clothes was squatting by the water, vigorously scrubbing a pair of trousers in her hands.
As she washed, she cried, occasionally rubbing her swollen cheeks and sore backside.
If those fellow disciples from the Star Constellation Sect who knew Ah Zi saw this scene, they would probably laugh themselves to death.
Who would have thought that the willful, vicious little junior sister would be reduced to such a miserable state, washing someone else’s clothes?
Not far away, Chen Yu sat with his legs bare, his voice completely emotionless, “If I can still smell even a trace later, I’ll beat you to death.”
“Wuu… don’t…” Ah Zi’s body trembled. She lowered her head and continued scrubbing the trousers while crying.
She scrubbed them over and over again. After finishing, she lifted them to her nose and sniffed carefully. Only after confirming there was no smell left did she break off a branch nearby and hang the trousers under the sun to dry.
To make them dry faster, she even thoughtfully started a small fire.
Then, using a large leaf she had no idea where she got as a fan, she pitifully fanned the flames with all her strength.
Her eyes rolled slightly, and she noticed that Chen Yu, who should have already died from poison, was sitting there calmly circulating his Inner Strength and cultivating. She felt both shocked and confused, but recalling the intense pain from her backside, she ultimately didn’t dare to ask.
“I never drank that tea. I poured it all over my clothes.”
Chen Yu knew exactly what the little poison girl was thinking. Seeing her reduced to such a miserable state, he decided to deal her another blow.
He sneered, “Your disguise was terrible. You were exposed long ago. Otherwise, why do you think I chose that exact spot to get off my horse and drink tea?”
Ah Zi’s Lightness Skill and hiding techniques were full of flaws.
His mockery made her face, which had just been treated with medicine to reduce the swelling, puff up again in anger.
However, she quickly suppressed her resentment and instead forced a flattering smile. “Hehe, good brother, I knew you were amazing. I was just joking with you earlier. How could I bear to kill you?”
Having grown up in the den of schemers that was the Star Constellation Sect, she had learned all the tricks of flattery from Ding Chunqiu’s disciples.
Though vicious by nature, Ah Zi was also clever. At this moment, she deliberately chose only pleasant words, praising Chen Yu to the skies.
Seeing that Chen Yu ignored her, her eyes darted around before she asked with a grin, “Brother Chen Yu, are you heading west? There are several bandits in Broken Ravine Valley, very nasty ones. Are you going to wipe them out?”
“How do you know?” Chen Yu frowned slightly, finally looking at her properly.
Ah Zi immediately perked up. She casually tossed aside the leaf in her hand and ran over to his side, flattering him, “Everyone says Beggar Sect disciples are the most righteous, always helping the common people. I saw you heading west, so I guessed you must have taken a mission from the sect, right? Good brother, I know those people’s background. How about I guide you?”
“No.” Chen Yu refused without hesitation. A faint smile curved his lips as he added, “And when did I ever say I’d let you go? You’ve tried to kill me multiple times. Give me a reason why I should keep a threat like you alive.”
Faced with his threat, the girl no longer appeared frightened. Instead, she acted coquettishly, wrapping her arms around Chen Yu’s arm and pouting, “Good brother, don’t scare me. If you really wanted to kill me, why wait until now? You even made little Ah Zi wash your trousers like a newlywed wife.”
By the end of her words, her face turned red, looking shy and innocent.
[Current Target: Ah Zi]
[Malicious Thought 1: Find a chance to let Zhai Xingzi die.] Advanced Reward
[Malicious Thought 2: Find another chance to let Chen Yu die.] Special Reward
[Malicious Thought 3: Damn Chen Yu, before killing you, I’ll make you wash clothes for me too!] Intermediate Reward
What an innocent girl.
As expected, her malicious intent hadn’t faded at all.
Seeing her thoughts, Chen Yu wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
Only the third malicious thought seemed a bit strange, but considering her mischievous personality, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
Intermediate Reward.
Chen Yu hesitated slightly.
But not for long. He lifted his head, looked at the girl beside him, and said calmly, “I’ll help you wash too.”
“Hmm?” Ah Zi’s expression changed instantly. She hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest, eyes wide, forcing a stiff smile, “Brother Chen Yu, are you joking with little Ah Zi?”
Inside, she was already planning how to escape.
“I don’t want to repeat myself.” Chen Yu’s tone left no room for refusal.
Ah Zi’s face turned pale for a moment, then flushed red like a ripe apple.
It’s over… it’s over…
Panic surged through her heart. Facing Chen Yu’s cold gaze, she felt both flustered and ashamed.
She had no choice. She couldn’t beat him at all.
She couldn’t even run. His Lightness Skill was too strange and formidable.
Turning around, she removed her shoes and socks, revealing her delicate, crystal-like feet.
“Give me the trousers.”
To her surprise, Chen Yu didn’t let her continue. Instead, he took the trousers from her.
She scratched her head, then watched as Chen Yu walked to the stream and began washing them just like she had.
However, unlike her careful scrubbing, he only washed them casually for a few moments before tossing them back to her.
[Malicious Thought 3: Wanting the other party to wash clothes] Completed
Hmm… this time it’s Huang Yaoshi’s technique.
Chen Yu’s eyes lit up. Up until now, all he had mastered were internal techniques, palm arts, and combat skills. His weapon usage had indeed been a weakness.
This Jade Flute Sword Art was said to be created by the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi. Its sword techniques were elegant and refined, graceful and otherworldly. Huang Yaoshi loved playing the flute, and from that art, he comprehended this sword technique.
Though the sword art appeared flashy and elegant, it was far from superficial. Its power was equally extraordinary. Even among all sword techniques, it could be considered top-tier.
“You’re… really strange…” Ah Zi’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She tilted her head, looking at him with a puzzled expression, “Do you like washing other people’s trousers?”
“None of your business.” With the reward in hand, Chen Yu didn’t bother with her. He went to the fire and adjusted his not-yet-dry trousers, ignoring her completely.
Ah Zi, unwilling to bore herself, broke another branch and propped her own trousers by the fire to dry. Then she wandered off to the stream, catching small fish for her own amusement.
With a sly grin, she pulled out several colorful pills from her sleeve and tossed them into the water. Soon, numerous fish floated to the surface.
Their deaths were miserable.
She played happily, plucking out their eyes and guts one by one, thoroughly engrossed.
When she grew bored, she simply threw them away.
After a while, she returned carrying a few larger fish, trotting over with a grin. “I’ll treat you to fish.”
Chen Yu’s gaze was inadvertently drawn to her fair, tender feet. Having just stepped into the water, they were covered in droplets, glistening and translucent.
In terms of sheer beauty, they even surpassed Madam Ma’s.
“Why are you looking at my feet?” Ah Zi pouted, not understanding. Then she blinked and added, “If you eat my fish, forgive me, okay? I won’t go against you again.”
“Get lost.” Chen Yu didn’t bother exposing her little scheme. Seeing that enough time had passed, he put on his still slightly damp trousers, mounted his horse, and rode west without looking back.
Ah Zi’s plan had failed. She stomped her foot in frustration, then sat down by the fire in defeat.
Stretching her arms and lifting her legs high, her heart thumped wildly. “That was close… I thought I’d be bullied today…”
She muttered to herself, hatred flickering in her eyes. “Damn Chen Yu, just you wait. I’ll make you fall into my hands sooner or later!”
Ah Zi was as venomous as a snake. There was no way she would submit after just a beating. If anything, her hatred had only deepened.
Even while she had been smiling and washing his trousers, she had already been thinking of how to take revenge.
She only needed to wait until her trousers dried a little more before chasing after him.
Suddenly, she noticed her own feet. She swayed them back and forth, then lifted them toward the sun, where they shone with a delicate, translucent glow.
A puzzled look appeared on her face. “What’s wrong with my feet?”