Both grandparents had a gentle smile on their faces. Grandma said emotionally, "Finally, he also got someone to lean on. He won't be lonely anymore. I like this little girl more and more; she is not only pure and innocent but also very cute."
Grandpa nodded and said softly, "I am feeling very happy today. I hope that brat brings some good wine for me from the town."
Grandma glanced at him, understanding the hidden meaning behind his words.
The Little Sparrow took out a mirror, handed it to Grandma, then flew toward Su Wen and Du Yue, secretly following them. "Don't worry, I will show you a live broadcast..."
As soon as they were out of sight, Su Wen finally slowed down. Du Yue followed beside him, her steps light and excited. She kept fiddling with the sleeves of his robes, which were far too big for her thin frame, letting the fabric sway with every movement.
She looked up at him. "Su Wen… do I really look like a man?"
Su Wen examined her from head to toe. "…No. You look like a cute scholar who borrowed someone else's clothes."
Du Yue's face turned bright red under the cloth.
Su Wen cleared his throat, put his hands behind his back, and turned away again. 'This girl is going to make my heart explode one day,' he silently thought.
They kept walking until they reached the Five River Village. As usual, kids were playing around, people were busy with their work, and some women were gossiping about someone's wife.
Du Yue looked around excitedly like a child. She asked using her Soul Sense, as it was safer: "Su Wen, what's the name of this village?"
"Five River Village. If we need to buy any meat or kitchen ingredients, we always buy from here. Look at that shop over there; that person's name is James. He is a good, honest man. You can ask for him if you need anything; just tell him my name, and he won't even ask you for money."
Du Yue listened to him attentively, then said in his mind, "Is that so? Should I tell him I am Young Master of Mountain's... F-Friend?" She stuttered, wanting to say something else, but for now settled for "friend."
Su Wen blinked, a little embarrassed, and slightly punched her on the shoulder. "Idiot... Since now you are my brother, I will have to act like a brother with you."
Du Yue scoffed. "Is that so? Can I punch you as well?" She said while rubbing her fingers, looking very cute.
Su Wen suddenly interrupted, "Don't act so cute, men are cool and wild, not cute." He silently mused inwardly, 'You acting cute is too dangerous for my heart.'
Su Wen suddenly remembered, "Hey, I forgot. Yellow Town is more than one hour away from the village. We can't just walk all the way there, otherwise it will get dark."
Du Yue, who only wanted to walk with him, suddenly said, "I can't use my sword to fly as it can be used to figure out my identity." Suddenly, she thought of something. "Maybe, we can fly together on a single..."
Before she could finish, he had already taken out a Grade 2 Sword from his storage ring and said, "Extra sword in case of emergencies..."
Du Yue was angry. "Y-You!!... No, I will go on your sword!" She suddenly sat down holding her belly, starting to act hurt. "My meridians are still hurting."
Su Wen stared at her blankly. The view was like: a young man in scholarly robes lying on the ground holding his belly and arguing like a kid.
"You are a man, not a beautiful lady anymore. I won't fall for your tricks now," he said proudly.
But she didn't budge and kept throwing tantrums, he couldn't take anymore as watching a young mater twirling on the ground, "You wanted to go together... Fine!"
He took out his sword, used his Spiritual Qi to make it hover in the air, and jumped onto it.
Then he flew just above Du Yue, bent down, held both her hands, had her grasp the bottom of sword, then quickly turned back, picked up her legs, and had them hold the sword. Then he stood up again, and his flying sword flew higher in the sky.
Du Yue was holding onto the sword with her back facing the earth, shouting hurriedly, "Nooo, I don't want to go on your sword, please forgive me!"
Su Wen scoffed, "This is how men are treated in this world, little young master, get used to it now, hahaha," he picked up speed and flew away toward the town.
Su Wen! I— I can't—! Stop! Slow down!" she shouted, but her words were swallowed by the roaring wind.
Su Wen glanced back at her, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Scared? Good. That means your heart is alive. Men must face fear to grow stronger!"
Du Yue's cheeks burned hotter under the cloth. "I'm NOT scared! I'm just… I—this is… impossible!"
The sight: a young man standing on a sword flying at high speed, looking like a righteous scholarly cultivator with the exception of his sinister smile, and a young man who was also on the same sword but at the bottom, holding on tightly but with his back facing down toward the earth and tears in his eyes, which were covered with a black cloth...
Su Wen finally slowed down just a few minutes away from the town. He descended gradually, and when he was only a few centimeters above the ground, he stopped. Du Yue got off the sword, lying on the ground looking as if her soul has been sucked out of her.
Su Wen stored the sword back into his ring, then picked up a tree bark and lightly poked her hand… just to check whether she was still alive.
Du Yue finally stood up. Under the cloth covering her face, she glared at him and said angrily, "Su Wen, I will…" Not knowing what to say, she gritted her teeth and finished grudgingly, "…tell Grandmother you bullied me."
Su Wen had been looking forward to what she would say, but the moment he heard that, he broke out in a cold sweat.
He quickly tried to divert her attention. "Hey, don't be angry… Look behind you. That's the Yellow Town."
He held her arm to guide her forward, but she didn't move. Instead, she turned her head away dramatically, clearly waiting for "compensation."
He lifted his hands in defeat and sighed. "Alright, alright. You won't tell Grandma… and I'll do this..."
He leaned in close and whispered in her ear. When she heard what he said, she nodded and looked at him like an empress… or "Emperor" in her current disguise… looking down at a subordinate.
"Haha, good!, good!, not bad..." She scoffed. "Let's go."
Su Wen could only sigh helplessly and followed behind her.
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Poll: Who suffered the most this chapter?
Su Wen's sanity
Du Yue's meridians (fake)
Du Yue's soul (real—after that flight)
The sword, for being used in ways it never asked for
(Please leave a comment on this paragraph, Thanks)