Chapter 34 Unable to Pay Off Debts

Thanks to Bai Hua, Ning Jue, a man who was usually unconventional and averse to trouble, one day learned how to skillfully take care of a drunk and limp girl.

I only realized today after trying it that fruit wine is the same. It's not about how strong the wine itself is, but that it makes you drunk as soon as you touch it, because it's too weak.

The two booked two rooms at the hotel, which were adjacent to each other and separated only by a wall.

Ning Jue originally planned to help her into the house, settle her in, and then leave. But as he bent down to lay her down on the bed and was about to sit up, her arms suddenly wrapped around his neck.

A sweet, delicate fragrance wafted from her neck.

It's alluring to men, and even more so to gods.

Ning Jue froze, nearly staggering, but held her back and didn't forcefully break free.

Bai Hua moved closer to him, squinting her eyes, and muttered, "Delicious..."

It turns out they were reminiscing about the fresh seafood they had just eaten.

Ning Jue reached out and gently flicked the tip of her nose, letting out a helpless sigh, and chuckled, "You little glutton."

Bai Hua tilted her head and looked at him, feeling drowsy and drunk. She felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier. It was noon, and it would be nice to have a good nap after a full meal.

Seeing that her eyes were almost closed, Ning Jue coaxed the little drunkard, saying, "Go to sleep first, and when you wake up I'll take you out to stroll around. Ye City is the most prosperous trading place in Great Yan, and there are many novelties that you probably can't see in Jingqi."

Bai Hua retorted in a muffled voice, her tone slightly drunk: "Jing, Jingqi, I know that place, I've been there... How could it not be there? Jingqi shops have plenty of good stuff too."

Ning Jue smiled and said, "Alright, alright, there's plenty more. You're from Jingqi and have seen the world, while I'm just a country bumpkin with limited experience. Okay?"

Bai Hua's eyes darted around, and she exclaimed in surprise, her face showing a guilty expression as if she had done something wrong.

Ning Jue asked her, "What's wrong?"

Bai Hua put on a serious face and whispered to him, "What should we do? We've been exposed... How did you know I'm from Jingqi? This is a secret."

It's hard to believe she was so drunk, her speech was incoherent, yet she was still preoccupied with her undercover mission, afraid of making a careless mistake that would reveal her identity.

Ning Jue raised his voice, asking her in a light tone, "What if we get caught?"

Bai Hua's face showed even more sorrow, her brows furrowed slightly, and she answered softly, "Young Master will hate me and despise me, and perhaps in a fit of anger, he will even kill me..."

"No." Ning Jue spoke up before she could finish speaking, and then added, "I can't even bring myself to hate you, let alone kill you. I've never worried about you or troubled myself with my thoughts."

Bai Hua looked up at him blankly, as if trying to process and understand his words. After a long while, she murmured, "Really? Young Master won't kill me?"

Ning Jue nodded and replied, "Really."

Bai Hua smiled, her eyes wide open, half-drunk, her gaze gentle and charming, as if a pool of water rippled in her eyes.

She bent her arms, put them around his neck, and leaned closer.

The two were face to face, only inches apart, and Ning Jue held his breath for a moment.

Fearing she might lose her balance, Ning Jue supported her waist with one arm.

Bai Hua leaned against him with her soft body, and said in a gentle voice, "Young master, you are such a kind person."

Ning Jue stared blankly, her face expressionless, but the tips of her ears were flushed.

Bai Hua asked him with a smile, "Would you like to stay and keep me company, young master?"

After several days of sailing, Bai Hua had developed a habit of sharing a room with him. Now, drunk, she had forgotten that they had already gone ashore and should keep their distance after their identities were restored.

Ning Jue patiently replied, "Sleep peacefully. I'll leave after you fall asleep."

Bai Hua thought for a moment, then obediently closed her eyes without objecting.

Ning Jue pulled down her clinging arms, carefully supported her neck, gently laid her down on the pillow, and then covered her with the blanket.

He sat quietly on the edge of the bed, turned to the side, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face, his eyes slightly deep.

She was adorable when she was drunk, and he didn't want anyone else to see even a glimpse of this adorable scene; he only wanted to possess it all to himself from now on.

...

Ye City and the Southern Min Kingdom enjoyed prosperous trade, mainly exporting silk, Shu brocade, tea, and porcelain. Meanwhile, the small kingdoms in the southern regions were rife with witchcraft, medicine, and alchemy, producing many strange and unusual items. When these items were introduced to the Great Yan Kingdom, they became a novelty for a time, and Min merchants set up shops and made a fortune.

Within the joint trade zone where the two countries' territories meet, there are four cities in total, with shops and stalls lining the streets. It is jointly supervised by local officials from both sides and is considered the largest and most iconic commodity trading area in the port city.

The people who come here include not only middlemen who buy in bulk and resell, but also many individual shoppers who browse and buy in small quantities.

Ning Jue brought Bai Hua, who was dressed in men's clothing, to come and see what was going on.

In such a bustling and chaotic place, it was easier to act in men's clothing, so the maidservant became a servant, and Bai Hua calmly dealt with the change in her identity.

The two were browsing the Southern Goods Section. They had heard that the trinkets sold by Fujian merchants were novel and worth seeing. Since they had come to Ye City in person, seeing was believing.

Bai Hua followed Ning Jue to each stall, browsing through the dazzling array of goods, many of which were rare and unusual. What interested Bai Hua the most were the pills sold by the witch doctor, which claimed to have miraculous effects.

The pills come in various colors but are similar in size, including red, blue, green, and purple. The more colorful the outer shell, the more novel and unheard-of medicinal effects they possess.

Bai Hua picked up the small tray, examined a pill inside closely, and asked, "The purple one can change eye color, so what about the red one?"

The Fujianese businessman replied in all seriousness: "If a pregnant woman eats it, she can conceive a girl."

Bai Hua: "...Is market demand high?"

The Fujianese merchant stretched his curly beard and revealed a meaningful smile: "Of course it is superior. In the struggle within the inner quarters, no means are spared. As a mistress without children, one must be wary of pregnant concubines."

"Is it possible to guarantee 100%?"

"There are no guaranteed things in the world, it's just about increasing the probability. Besides, this pill isn't worth a thousand pieces of gold."

That's ridiculous.

It's basically about profiting from human weaknesses and fears. Of course, taking the pills won't have any real effect; the buyers are just seeking psychological comfort.

Bai Hua wanted to hear if there were any more absurd claims, so she asked again, "What about the blue one, and the green one? Could you please describe them separately?"

The Fujianese merchant, speaking with a foreign accent, replied, "If you take the blue pills frequently, you will gradually learn to speak animal language and gain the attention and affection of birds and beasts. As for this bottle of green pills, it is more suitable for the two young masters to try compared to the others."

Bai Hua glanced at the young master who showed little interest and asked the Fujian merchant, "Why?"

The Fujianese merchant countered, "Are either of you married?"

Bai Hua shook her head, giving a definite answer: "Never."

The Fujianese merchant's eyes held a strange glint in them. With a smile, he speculated, "Although neither of you is married, both of you are covered in the scent of perfume. You must be quite the ladies' man, often frequenting brothels. Don't blame me for my presumptuous speculation, but the effects of this bottle of green pills are truly suitable for you two young gentlemen. Try one and you'll know the results."

Upon hearing the other person mention the scent on the two of them, Bai Hua immediately raised her arm to sniff her sleeve and indeed detected a faint fragrance emanating from her body.

It's her fault for not masking her fragrance beforehand, which caused her to make a mistake and even implicate the young master when he got close to her, leading to such frivolous suspicions from others.

Bai Hua glared and denied it, taking the initiative to defend Ning Jue: "Don't speak such nonsense and tarnish my young master's integrity. This place is crowded with people, and when we brush past each other, we will inevitably pick up the scent of the young ladies' clothes. To suspect that we have been to a place of pleasure based on the scent alone is too absurd and rude."

The Fujianese merchant refused to admit his mistake and arrogantly snorted, "What's there to hide about going in and out of brothels? You people from Great Yan, you want to seek pleasure but you're so secretive and afraid to admit it. You're so hypocritical. In our Southern Fujian, this is nothing to be ashamed of."

Bai Hua wanted to argue with him again.

Ning Jue grabbed her wrist, picked up the bottle containing the green pills, and asked, "So, what exactly are their effects?"

The Fujianese merchant stared wide-eyed with an air of importance, as if he had no worries about selling the product, and replied, "This is the work of a genuine Southern Fujian shaman. Take one pill and you'll be awake until dawn. It's just that the price is a bit high. I only took the time to explain it to you because you two gentlemen are dressed in auspicious brocade robes."

Bai Hua still didn't understand. Did taking this medicine increase her energy so that she wouldn't feel sleepy until dawn?

This makes it suitable for travelers who stay up all night to travel.

She pondered quietly, then heard the young master ask again, "What is the price?"

The Fujianese merchant made a gesture, and surprisingly asked for... fifty taels!

Bai Hua was dumbfounded and wanted to pull the young master away so that she wouldn't be tricked by his clever words.

But the young master seemed to suddenly become interested and asked about the side effects of the medication.

The Fujianese merchant looked more serious, probably feeling that the deal was likely to go through, and his tone became more ingratiating: "In reply to your question, young master, if this medicine is not relieved in time, it will cause excruciating pain, as if thousands of ants are crawling all over your body and biting you. In that case, the precious medicine will no longer be a treasure, but a troublesome poison. I must remind you that if you really intend to use it to your heart's content, you must do so when you are accompanied by a beautiful woman and both of you are in love. Otherwise, the effects of the medicine will not be able to dissipate, and it will be worse than death."

"That sounds interesting."

Ning Jue took the medicine bottle, held it in his hand, said something thoughtfully, and then paid the money readily.

Bai Hua didn't even have a chance to stop it.

The Fujianese merchants bowed to each other, then turned and left the inconspicuous medicine stall, continuing to walk forward with the flow of people.

After walking several dozen steps away and confirming that the Fujianese merchant could not hear their conversation, Bai Hua spoke up in confusion: "Young master, that was just a charlatan, spouting nonsense. The pill that can produce female babies is nothing but a scheme to manipulate people's hearts, and the blue pill that can communicate with animals is just contaminated with some special pollen, attracting bees and butterflies... The effects of the pills are not as mysterious as he described. Young master, you bought them at a high price, you were probably deceived by him."

Ning Jue tucked the medicine bottle into her pocket and replied, "That Fujianese merchant's business is indeed dishonest. His stall is full of medicines, but only the one I bought is genuine."

Bai Hua asked in surprise and disbelief, "Young Master can distinguish between truth and falsehood. Could it be that you are knowledgeable in pharmacology? I have never heard you mention that before."

Ning Jue explained truthfully: "My master's wife was skilled in medicine and poison. She had always wanted to find a kindred female disciple to pass on her skills, but unfortunately she passed away early and we did not have the fate of master and disciple. She did not find a kindred person before she died. I was never formally taught by her, but I have seen and heard a lot of her teachings, so I naturally know a little bit about them."

Bai Hua nodded thoughtfully.

According to the young master's descriptions, his master and mistress each possessed unique skills and were no ordinary people; they might even be renowned figures in the martial arts world.

She couldn't help but feel curious, hesitating whether to ask another question, but she was also worried that saying too much would arouse suspicion.

At this moment, Ning Jue took the initiative to ask her, "Do you remember when you first came to Xianyang Mountain, you helped me apply medicine to treat my wounds, and I scolded you for taking it upon yourself to mess with the medicine bottle?"

He suddenly brought up the past, and Bai Hua's thoughts had no choice but to follow his lead for the time being.

"I remember."

Of course she remembered that when she first arrived on the mountain, she was unfamiliar with the place and the people, and she was always on edge, as if walking on thin ice.

The young master was indifferent to her, and she mustered up a lot of courage to find the hemostatic medicine and go into the house to help him apply the medicine and treat his wounds after hearing the sound of the young master's injury flaring up.

But instead of a word of thanks for his hard work, he coldly rebuked her.

Bai Hua felt deeply wronged, which is why she remembered it so vividly.

Ning Jue didn't say much at the time, but his explanation remains to this day: "That day, you rummaged through my things, unaware that many of the bottles and jars on my bedroom shelf contained highly poisonous powders, some of which could spread poison upon contact with the skin and kill you. So, I scolded you not because you touched my things, but because I was afraid you would be innocently harmed."

So that's the reason.

So much time has passed that Bai Hua had long forgotten about the matter, and her grievances were only temporary. However, she was still happy to hear the belated explanation.

Bai Hua: "So I misunderstood you, young master."

Ning Jue asked her, "Were you thinking to yourself that I was ungrateful back then?"

Bai Hua smiled, not because she was afraid to admit it, but because she stood still and raised an eyebrow, looking at him and saying, "Maybe she cursed once? Or twice? I can't remember."

She smiled radiantly, and before she knew it, she had become much more unrestrained and carefree in his presence. She was no longer as cautious and reserved as she had been at the beginning. Sometimes she even forgot her identity as a maid and thought of herself as a companion to the young master.

Ning Jue was naturally not at fault and was happy to see her at ease. He even comforted himself, saying, "Fine, the curses in my heart don't count."

Bai Hua continued, "Young Master, you have a discerning eye for medicine today. Are you planning to collect it as a poison? Otherwise, why would you keep this harmful and filthy thing?"

Ning Jue: "Poison can also be a weapon; it will be useful someday."

Bai Hua nodded without asking any further questions, assuming that the young master was simply being cautious.

The two continued strolling, and when they came across a stall selling glass lanterns, Bai Hua's gaze was drawn to a lantern painted with a mermaid setting sail. The lantern was ornate, the painting technique superb, and the golden hair and blue shimmering scales were all sculpted with lifelike realism. The colors and scenery were vibrant and the embellishments were unique and unconventional.

Bai Hua stepped forward to inquire about the price, and her interest immediately waned.

These Fujianese merchants were all determined to make a fortune in the territory of Dayan. They asked for ten taels of silver for just a glass lantern, which was not a rare item, but was just a little more exquisite. It was truly astonishing.

Ning Jue was paying attention to the jade stall next to him, and found a small jade whistle interesting. Just as he was about to ask about the price, he heard Bai Hua behind him starting to haggle awkwardly.

His attention was drawn, and he turned around to watch with great interest how she would improvise.

Bai Hua mustered her courage on the spot, returned the lantern she had her eye on to the Fujian merchant, and then put on a nonchalant expression.

She said, "Look at this lamp body, the flaws are so obvious, it's worth at most seven or eight taels."

Fujianese merchant: "Fifteen taels."

She said, "And this handle isn't polished smooth either. It'll rub against your hand if you hold it for too long. Can you give me a discount? It'll be seven or eight ounces."

Fujianese merchant: "Fifteen taels."

She said, "You've had this glass lamp in your possession for quite some time, haven't you? You haven't even wiped the dust off. Since it's just sitting there anyway, why don't you sell it to me today and let it be your first sale? Consider it a good omen for making money."

Fujianese merchant: "Fifteen taels."

He's completely unresponsive!

Bai Hua felt helpless and frustrated. Whether at the Jiling market or the Yecheng trade district, she was unable to prove that she had a talent for bargaining and could only be ripped off.

Could it be that the other party realized she truly admired this glass lamp?

That's why they are so fearless.

Ning Jue walked closer and asked her, "Do you like these colorful lanterns?"

Bai Hua said sullenly, "He wouldn't bargain and wanted fifteen taels of silver, which is almost my annual wages."

Ning Jue smiled, looked at the Fujianese merchant, and mumbled a few words in Mandarin. The Fujianese merchant's eyes lit up, and he replied with a few words in Mandarin as well.

The two exchanged a strange conversation.

Ning Jue turned to Bai Hua and said, "This man only speaks the local dialect, and his accent is heavy, which makes it difficult to communicate with you. Unfortunately, his companion who can communicate with him is in the restroom, so he's the only one watching over things for now. Since the goods on the stall are all 15 taels each, no matter what you ask, he will only answer '15 taels.' I was negotiating with him just now, and he finally agreed to a price of 10 taels."

Upon hearing this, Bai Hua immediately felt less discouraged.

It turns out that it wasn't that she lacked the ability to negotiate, but rather that they had just been talking past each other, like casting pearls before swine.

However, the young master was far more knowledgeable than she had imagined, even knowing a thing or two about the difficult dialects of the Southern Region, which showed how rich his experiences were.

She didn't rashly inquire about Ning Jue's past experiences. Only when he paid the money did she whisper, "It hurts. It's not a yearly allowance, but it's still more than half a year's allowance... I blame myself for not being able to resist the temptation."

Ning Jue took the glass lamp and handed it to Bai Hua to play with.

Hearing her say that, I followed up: "Yes, they'll be selling it to me for another six months or so. What am I going to do?"

His tone was light and airy, without any pressure, yet... it was incredibly alluring.

Bai Hua said to him with a hint of guilt, "Young master, you must not indulge me any longer. You must impose restrictions on money, otherwise we really will not be able to pay off our debts."

Ning Jue looked at her; the light from the glass lamp reflected on her face and eyes, making her look so beautiful.

He replied, "It's better if it can't be resisted."