Night. Book Pavilion.

  "Hum? Young Bubai, are you saying you look so sick because someone broke into your tower, knocked you out, swiped your key, and… you even had your cultivation drained when you woke up?"

  Behind the front desk, both the young and old shared the same “I don’t believe you” look.

  Bubai really felt their trust in his strength, but his “sick” face didn’t expose the horse’s leg in the slightest. Slouching slightly, he gave the granny a courteous salute. "Precisely."

  Shu Ling rolled her eyes, "Wow~ fairy brother must have met a very, very powerful evildoer."

  “Hum… that’s right." Granny Shu’s eyes twinkled with a knowing look. "But even if he is an evildoer, he is still just a member of the younger generation..."

  "Go on, tell this old dy what this daring young man looks like. This old dy wants to meet this uprising junior and have a nice long chat to teach the boy a lesson about how to live a good, long life."

  Facing the silver-haired duo that were singing the same tune, Bubai knew they had probably guessed a part of the truth, but his calm mask still didn’t break.

  "Junior doesn’t wish to trouble Shu Po Po with such minor problems."

  Granny Shu waved her hand dismissively.

  "Nonsense, it’s no trouble at all. This old dy sits here all day and always enjoys a good talk with juniors. No need to be afraid. Just tell this old dy if young Bubai wants an answer."

  The offer to cover him was clear, but unless it was a st resort, Bubai still didn’t want to bank on the granny’s generosity, lest he owed another heavy favor.

  "Forget it. Junior simply wants to let bygones be bygones."

  Granny Shu’s beady eyes squinted, and she pursed her lips thoughtfully.

  "Hum… very well. But remember. Should young Bubai ever find yourself caught between a rock and a hard pce, don’t hesitate to come to this old dy."

  Bubai gave a deeply appreciative salute. "It's Junior’s fortune to have Shu Po Po’s favor shining upon me."

  "Fufufu…" The ughter tinkling like silver bells came from the Shu Ling lightly hammering her granny’s shoulder. "Fairy brother really knows his way around with words."

  Bubai responded with a courteous smile. "It is my honor to receive beautiful fairy’s praise."

  “Hum. Hum. A man’s mouth is as deceptive as a ghost’s.”

  Hey, the fairy’s got a sharp tongue, but her change into a more pleasing massage attitude was a melody of approval and clear sign of switching sides.

  Granny Shu threw a helpless look toward her silver cotton jacket before shifting back to Bubai, decring in a tone as steady as an old oak. "Hum, young Bubai, your words, this old dy has taken note of. If there’s nothing else…"

  Bubai got the usual “off to work you go” hint, but he remained rooted in pce and politely bowed once more, "There is indeed another matter…"

  Looking up again, Bubai wore the face of a mourner.

  "Yesterday night, junior’s mortal maids were taken in for questioning. Because the methods were a bit heavy-handed, they unfortunately passed away. Junior would like to request a few days leave to handle their funeral matters."

  "Fuu?! A few days off?” The cheery Shu Ling became alert. "Fairy brother really needs to go now?"

  Bubai earnestly nodded. "These matters are better finished earlier than ter."

  Granny Shu patted her gray-silver bun that was perched like a wise old sage’s crown and offered a practical insight.

  "As far as this old dy knows, the crematorium stays open at night, but the funeral parlors are usually closed. It won’t be too te for young Bubai to go in the morning."

  “That…” Bubai weakly coughed a few times. "Junior also wishes to take some time off to heal from my injuries."

  At his excuse, both young and old stared at him with the same "are you kidding" eyes.

  After a moment, Shu Ling pouted unhappily. "Fairy brother can’t even come up with a better excuse. If you don’t want to keep this fairy company, just say so. Humph!"

  Bubai’s face flushed and he hurriedly denied, "No, no, I’m always happy to accompany the fairy, but—"

  “No buts!” Shu Ling poofed out of existence and popped up at his side, literally attaching herself to his arm. "Since fairy brother is happy to, then accompany this fairy to read books and discuss poetry tonight!"

  Bubai forced a wry smile. "Fairy, my injuries…"

  Shu Ling rolled her eyes and poked his face hard as if bursting his bubble. "Others can’t see it, but do you take Granny and this fairy as fools?"

  “Bubai didn’t have this meaning.”

  “Humph, then what does fairy brother mean?”

  Bubai sighed inwardly, knowing they saw through all his pretense.

  This granny and fairy definitely ranked amongst the top of those in the sect who knew him best.

  It goes without saying that his recovery abilities were something they were privy to.

  Just by witnessing how he tanked the fury of tribution lightning, the golden core granny should understand there wasn’t much at the same rank that could keep an evildoer like him under the weather.

  Even if he exaggerated his weakness by intentionally depleting too much of his spiritual power to cultivate refined true Qi, this type of feigned weakness failed to escape the seasoned granny’s keen eyes.

  Well, he didn’t have much hope of fooling them in the first pce.

  At most it was just an excuse to earn a few extra pity points... and he was sure the granny-granddaughter duo wouldn’t tear down this paper-thin wall if he compromised.

  So, Bubai grasped the delicate hand poking him and ventured, "What I meant is… if the fairy doesn’t mind, how about we go for a walk instead?"

  His invitation made Shu Ling’s starry eyes twinkle like a consteltion coming alive, and she immediately snapped her head back to give her granny puppy eyes.

  Granny Shu’s beady eyes had a smile in them. "Fufu, so be it. There’s no need to work these st few days. You young ones go live your two-person world and take care of each other’s health."

  “Granny is the best!” Getting her granny’s blessing, Shu Ling tightened her squeeze on his arm and eagerly tugged him away. "Fairy brother, let’s go, let’s go!"

  Still nailed to his spot, Bubai respectfully crossed his free arm over his chest to offer a final bow. "Goodnight, Shu Po Po."

  He then let the guiding light of the fairy tow him away into the night.

  North District.

  The faint moonlight cast a soft glow on the dimly lit path of the couple walking in companionable silence.

  Shu Ling’s bored eyes swept over the quiet pavilions on one side and deserted Public Commons on the other.

  Finally succumbing to the touch of ennui, she casually nudging the man she was clinging to. "Hum. So, what is it this time?"

  Bubai cast his gaze on the moon that hung like a silver pendant. "What is what?"

  Shu Ling rolled her eyes and poked his fake face. "What is fairy brother asking this fairy out for?"

  Pausing, Bubai smiled softly and brushed her silver hair that shimmered like liquid silver under the moonlight. "The moon is beautiful tonight. Can’t I ask the fairy out just to keep me company?"

  “Fufufu…” The beauty’s subsequent smile was a soft bloom of contentment, and she hid her face against his chest. Shortly after, her eyes that became upturned crescents met his.

  “This fairy is pleased that fairy brother’s silver tongue can sooth this fairy’s heart, but fairy brother knows our retionship is that of a transaction. There’s no need to py these word games. Just ask away.”

  Bubai looked at the face of the moon, its light partially eclipsed by a wise and clear mind, yet in her eyes, he only saw his own reflection.

  Not letting himself get lost in those eyes, he averted his gaze to seek the moon above. "Does fairy know of any trustworthy appraisers in the sect whom you can recommend to me?"

  "Hum?" The silver-haired beauty perked up, blinking her eyes a few times as if waking up from a dream. Right after, she giggled softly, "Fufufu, fairy brother has come to ask the right person."

  When Bubai looked back at her, she pyfully hopped back a step and did a graceful twirl.

  "Where there are books, there is this fairy. Where knowledge is concerned, there’s nothing this fairy can’t carry. One of this sect’s top appraisers at your service."

  Looking at the charming dy reintroducing herself, Bubai sighed inside. With her, or more aptly her granny’s encyclopedic knowledge, why did he not find this surprising?

  Now, it was just merely a matter of negotiating the price.

  "So, what will make fairy happy tonight?"

  Shu Ling csped her hands behind her back, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know what this fairy wants."

  Bubai shook his head slightly. "Be serious."

  Shu Ling melodramatically rolled her eyes. Still, she didn’t push further. Instead, she thoughtfully tapped her finger on her lips, “Hum… then how about… all of fairy brother’s gold?”

  Merlin’s beard! He never knew this fairy can open her mouth so wide!

  Nevertheless, he wasn’t one to accept terms without a bit of haggling. “5%.”

  “Fufufu…” His counteroffer made the silver-haired goblin giggle. "Seems like fairy brother has earned a lot this time, but remember... a word from a reputable appraiser can save a lot of trouble."

  Bubai sheepishly smiled. "Then 10%?"

  Shu Ling rolled her eyes, "This fairy’s service is not that cheap. 70%."

  The bar was set, but he wasn’t giving in so easily. He aggressively took a step closer. "15%."

  Facing the negotiator a breath away from her, the fairy’s eyes became half-lidded. "65. Can’t go any lower-"

  He fenced her in against the fence. Their eyes locked as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them. "20."

  The lovely arms of spring naturally hooked around his neck, lightly pulling him closer while her offer became a hot breath growing on his lips, "60…"

  With each breath, their lips drew closer and closer...