CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32 THE CHAMBERMAID

Shi Ji replied, "I’ve been feeling restless lately. I cast a divination and it foretold a disaster of the five elements looming over me. I’ve been pondering it, but I can’t find a lead. I recalled a lesson from my teacher long ago: ’Read the book a hundred times, practice the sword a thousand times, no matter how thick the walls, there will always come a day when water breaks through stone.’ I am but a spirit stone that has gained sentience, hence I have always disliked water, so I practiced some Water Avoidance Techniques."

Upon hearing this, Nezha was intrigued and bluntly asked, "In that case, why don’t you give me the Water-Repelling Pearl?"

Shi Ji chuckled, saying, "This Water-Repelling Pearl can only ward off the mortal world’s water, and how could such water ever harm me? You, child, I am not your real mother, so you need not act so sentimental."

Nezha laughed along, but as he laughed, he recalled how Taiyi Zhenren used the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover to burn Shi Ji to death, and his heart tightened with unease.

Even though today’s reality is far removed from the stories, he wouldn’t kill Bi Yun’s servant nor cause trouble at the Qianyuan Mountain Golden Light Cave, but he still had a sense of foreboding in his heart.

So he spoke up, "Since it’s a disaster of the five elements, why does Madam only practice Water Avoidance Techniques and not some fire-repelling spells?"

Hearing this, Shi Ji threw her head back and laughed, "Haha, you mischievous monkey, your words are amusing. I am a spirit stone and was born unafraid of fire. Even if burned in a fire for ten days and nights, I’d remain unharmed. To practice fire-repelling spells would be superfluous."

"No, no, Nezha, a disciple of the Qianyuan Mountain Golden Light Cave, knows that my master Taiyi Zhenren possesses a magic treasure called the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover. This fire is no ordinary mortal fire; it is a Samadhi Fire, refined from essence, vitality, and spirit, capable of destroying steel, jade, and stone, burning things that mortal fire cannot."

Upon hearing this, Shi Ji was secretly alarmed. She had heard of the formidable Samadhi Fire, though it was a Chan Sect skill she had never fully understood. Now, hearing Nezha’s words, she realized this Samadhi Fire might indeed be her nemesis.

Yet, she maintained a calm expression and continued indifferently, "I understand now. What you sought today, I have taught you. It’s already late, do you wish to stay the night here?"

"If that’s the case, then Nezha takes his leave."

With Shi Ji having issued the order to leave, Nezha naturally couldn’t linger, and besides, he had lost track of time while practicing swordplay earlier, and it was indeed late now, so Bi Yun led him out of the cave.

At the cave entrance, he saw Cai Yun still bound by the Chaos Sky Silk, curled up into a small ball, tears in the corners of the eyes, brows slightly furrowed, sleeping in the grass like a young doe.

Bi Yun beside him was about to speak, but Nezha quickly gestured for silence. He crouched in front of Cai Yun, having been thinking all along inside about how to get along well with Cai Yun. But now, looking at the sleeping Cai Yun, who appeared more a beautiful girl than a servant, he couldn’t resist a mischievous impulse.

He took out a brocade box from his robe, which contained a jade-colored flying fish hairpin, crystal clear but not particularly valuable, wanting to give it to Madam Shi Ji but feeling it unworthy. With a sly smile on his face, he carefully inserted the hairpin into Cai Yun’s hair.

"Tsk tsk, Daoist Cai Yun, I think you were meant to be born a girl."

Finished speaking, he immediately stood up, quietly retrieved the Chaos Sky Silk, glanced at Bi Yun, who wanted to speak but hesitated, signaling him to keep silent, and then performed Earth Style to return to the mansion.

The dark of night had long fallen, obscuring the moon, and the stars were not as bright as the gems on the cave ceiling in the White Bone Cave.

Nezha returned to his room and happened to find the little girl Lv Zhu’er, dressed as a maid, astonished, "What are you doing here?"

"My dad brought me to the mansion. Sister Cuiyu said for Sister Hong Fei to arrange it. Seeing I’m young, she said serving the young master here is the easiest, so she sent me to be Brother Nezha’s maid."

Lv Zhu’er spoke while slyly licking her lips, clearly having just been eating something before Nezha entered.

Nezha thought, Isn’t this easy work, clearly that Hong Fei is just being lazy, not wanting to take on one more person, placing you in my room, ultimately under Sister Cuiyu.

The people in this house, each one more cunning than the last.

Nezha shook his head, taking a clean handkerchief, crouched before Lv Zhu’er, wiped her mouth, saying, "Don’t eat so hastily. Since you’ve come to work in the house, you won’t starve. Is your sleeping place arranged, and is your monthly pay clearly stated?"

"Madam said I would sleep in the inner room, meals provided by the mansion, and though it was said no pay was needed, Madam is kind and said the General’s Mansion isn’t a place to oppress the common folks, so she set a wage of two silver pieces for me, and will raise it when I’m older."

The little girl’s face was alight with undisguised excitement, but inside, Nezha’s emotions were tumultuous.

He thought, Sleeping in the inner room?

That inner room isn’t the one in my own room, is it? Though there’s a curtain, I still need to practice daily. How can there be a maid living in my room?

After settling Lv Zhu’er, Nezha went straight to Cuiyu’s Courtyard to find Cuiyu. When he entered, Cuiyu, clad in a white undergarment, was yawning with hand covered.

After explaining his concerns to Cuiyu, she lay back on the bed, pulling Nezha into her arms jokingly, "Coming to find your sister so late at night, I wondered what was wrong. Let me tell you, this was decided by Madam. She saw Lv Zhu’er has a pretty face, a budding beauty smarter than even neighbor girls, so she wanted to let her be your companion maid. You’re getting a benefit and still complaining?"

Wait, wait, Sister Cuiyu, a companion maid?

A maid who could be called upon anytime due to an urgent matter, even nestled in the covers together during those quiet nights?

Though a feudal residue I’d love to experience, Lv Zhu’er is still a mere five-year-old child!

"Little brat, glaring at your sister now, if you don’t want it, go tell Madam yourself; I’m not going."

"It’s not that I don’t want to, just that suddenly having a stranger in the room..."

"She’s just five."

"I’m worst with kids."

"You’re just a kid yourself!"

Unable to argue with Cuiyu, Nezha had to flee hurriedly. On returning to the courtyard, he saw Lv Zhu’er still there, squatting by the big black dog’s kennel.

The usually proud big black was stretching out its head, letting her pet it!

Nezha sighed, helplessly smiling, "It’s getting late, hurry back inside to rest."

"Alright, young master, tonight’s stars are truly beautiful."

Master and servant exchanged a smile when a cold breeze blew by, making Nezha shiver, looking towards the eastern sky, and a sudden foreboding rose in his heart.

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