Maple Fire Reflecting Frost
How can something between friends be called being a liar?
"What's it called?"
"Consider it a favor I owe you—wait, no! You still owe me two favors! That settles it!" Han Jiang said.
Cang Jingqi chuckled and said, "Where did these two favors come from?"
“Yes, count them yourself!” Han Jiang said seriously, “Once at the medicine shop, and once in Yinzhou.”
Although Cang Jingqi helped conceal the fact that she was not the original owner and that she and Wen Xu had engaged in the treasure hunt at the Three Gates, and the two sides could be said to be even, Han Jiang had to ignore some "details" in order to fool Cang Jingqi.
Surprisingly, Cang Jingqi was easy to talk to this time: "Alright, Han Xiaoman, from now on, consider it me owing you two favors."
Having been in this world for half a year, apart from the necessary plot requiring Wenxu to descend into the cold, Hanjiang has been staying in the villa in Hanshan, while Wenxu has been going on inspection tours with the elders of the Four Continents Sect.
Hanjiang doesn't understand this world, nor does she want to.
As Han Jiang flew over Yinzhou City on Cang Jingqi's folding fan, he saw people setting up stalls before dawn.
The sky was overcast, and only a few people stood in the fields.
She suddenly realized that this world was so real, no different from reality.
Everyone has their own life; people are born and people die every moment.
Before this, she always thought that the world in the book only revolved around the male and female protagonists, that the scene the camera focused on was the main plot, and that outside the camera was the life of the people there.
Yinzhou City can be considered wealthy, but Yinzhou is adjacent to Anzhou. In recent years, Anzhou has been in turmoil, and the border of Yinzhou is also in chaos.
Feng Huo Ying Shuang Lou has branches all over the country, but the main building is located in Anzhou.
"Anzhou is in such chaos, does Feng Huo Ying Shuang Lou not care at all?" The Four States Sect is located at the junction of the four states and is responsible for the peace and tranquility of the four states.
Cang Jing said, “Maplefire Reflecting Frost Pavilion is different from the Four Continents Sect. The sect leader, Gui Xu, established his own sect, which was once regarded as a heretical sect and suppressed. The Vermilion Bird Pavilion tried to suppress it many times but to no avail. Gui Xu adhered to the idea that everyone can cultivate, which attracted wave after wave of people. The imperial court simply changed its strategy and incorporated Maplefire Reflecting Frost Pavilion.”
"Acquired? Maplefire Reflecting Frost Pavilion is now under the jurisdiction of the imperial court?"
"No, it's just that the imperial court recognizes its status, allowing it to exist legally and retain autonomy. Feng Huo Ying Shuang Lou, on the other hand, must abide by the laws of our dynasty," Cang Jingqi explained. "The imperial court does not interfere with the management and decisions of Feng Huo Ying Shuang Lou."
"So, since the Lord of the Palace doesn't care about the unrest in Anzhou, the imperial court can't do anything about it?"
Cang Jingqi nodded: "Anyway, Anzhou City is far from Feng Huo Ying Shuang Tower, and her location is near the border of the two states."
Han Jiang only met Gui Xu once, during the Three Gates Treasure Hunt.
She was a very beautiful woman, wearing a bright red robe, much more radiant than the red-clad Zhuque Pavilion women. She looked very young, around thirty years old.
The bright red lipstick doesn't make her look old at all; on the contrary, it makes her look incredibly beautiful. If this were real life, Han Jiang would definitely go up and ask her for the lipstick shade.
As we left Yinzhou, dawn was breaking. Upon entering Anzhou, the sun was rising directly in the east, its fiery rays illuminating the tall buildings, red bricks, glazed tiles, and crimson silk fluttering at the corners, exuding extravagance. Anzhou had just experienced a snowfall, and some of the white snow had accumulated on the eaves, creating a striking contrast with the red walls.
Maple leaves reflecting frost, Gui Xu is very good at choosing names.
"The host hasn't gotten up yet, please wait a moment." The young woman led Han Jiang and Cang Jingqi to an empty room to rest.
It's definitely more fun to be your own boss; you can get up whenever you want.
The woman seemed worried that Han Jiang would be unhappy, so she defended Gui Xu, saying, "The landlord is usually diligent, but he was busy until very late last night, so he got up late today."
"When will the original poster get up?"
"It's not too late, thank you for your diligence."
Gui Xu's diligence and warmth are truly two different things.
Instead of the reception room, it was in a lounge. A woman was leaning back on a soft couch, dressed casually. Next to the couch was a small table with snacks within easy reach.
The room was enchanted and was very warm.
She yawned and tossed the documents aside casually: "I don't want to read them. Give them to the deputy director."
Han Jiang watched as the woman left carrying a large stack of official documents, closing the door behind her with her foot.
"What, do you think I'm lazy as the host? I just don't want to waste time. I only do what I think is important." Gui Xu still didn't sit up straight, leaning against the armrest of the soft couch.
"Lord Gui, I have an important matter to ask of you." Han Jiang got straight to the point, "I've heard that Lord Gui has a crystal coffin here."
In the black market, Maplefire Reflecting Frost Pavilion holds a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of crystal coffins.
Gui Xu asked in a flippant tone, "Little girl, where did you hear that from?"
As the cold descends, I look up and see the vast expanse of the sea reflected in the mirror.
"You're selling it to me like this?" Cang Jing scoffed. "Gui Louzhu, not all the crystal coffins on the black market are made by you. Instead of trying your luck on the black market, you might as well come directly to you."
“Your Highness certainly knows how to save trouble.” Gui Xu straightened up. “Little girl, I recognize you. Han Tian’s disciple? I haven’t met many interesting men, but Han Tian is one of them.”
Han Jiang mustered her courage and asked, "Could the owner of this building sell me a crystal coffin?"
“I happen to have a crystal coffin right here, but why should I sell it to you? For Han Tian’s and the Demon Prince’s sake? Ha! Don’t be ridiculous!”
If it were anyone else, they would definitely try every means to curry favor with Han Tian and Cang Jingqi, one being one of the top experts in the country and the other being the prince of the Demon Clan.
Ke Guixu was no stranger. She was no ordinary person either.
She didn't care.
"Any condition, as long as I can do it!" Han Jiang said.
I knew from the start that Gui Xu was difficult to talk to, but I didn't know what kind of temperament this woman had.
Outsiders say she's capricious and unpredictable, her likes and dislikes impossible to guess. She might love something today and discard it like trash the next day.
"What can you do?" Gui Xu pressed on relentlessly. "Who doesn't know that Han Tian took in a good-for-nothing disciple a few years ago? If it were another disciple of his, I might consider it a little."
We can't involve Han Ya. Han Jiang took a deep breath and said, "Lord Gui, if I were really that useless, why would my master have taken me as his disciple? If I were a piece of trash, the Four Continents Sect wouldn't have kept me for so many years, would it? You can use your magic to attack me and see if I really am a piece of trash."
Gui Xu squinted, made a hand seal, and a ball of flame shot out of thin air straight towards Han Jiang's face.
Han Jiang forced himself to calm down, keeping his eyes open as the flames swept across his face, vanishing like bubbles.
Gui Xu made another incantation, but the cold wind still left him unharmed.
She chuckled: "Spiritual energy dissipates from the body?"
Han Jiang was startled. Had she guessed it so quickly? She tried to remain calm and kept silent.
"You should only be able to block pure spiritual energy damage, right?" Gui Xu stood up, grabbed the sword beside him, and stabbed at Han Jiang.
Cang Jingqi, who had been standing to the side, stepped in front of Han Jiang and used his fan to block the attack: "Why is Lord Gui resorting to violence?"
"She clearly ordered me to attack." Gui Xu sheathed his sword. Cang Jingqi had never shown his strength before, and it was best for Gui Xu not to provoke this demon prince whose background he knew nothing about.
Moreover, neither the Vermilion Bird Pavilion nor the Four Continents Sect allows the use of crystal coffins. It's rather interesting that Han Tian didn't accompany his disciple, but Cang Jingqi accompanied this little girl instead.
"Master Gui, I—" Before Han Jiang could finish his sentence, Gui Xu interrupted, "Fine, I'll sell it to you for a thousand taels—"
"silver?"
“One thousand taels of gold!” Gui Xu sat back on the couch. “Plus, you owe me a favor and you have to do me a favor, how about it?”
Eat and take! Han Jiang cried out in his heart.
"If you think it's too expensive, you can go to the black market and ask. One thousand taels of gold is definitely the lowest price. I would give it to the black market for ten thousand taels. This is already a friendly price. I just don't know if you would be willing to be my friend."
"Okay!" There was no other choice.
Although Cang Jingqi was shocked, she outwardly cooperated with Han Jiang, remaining calm and composed: Where was she going to get a thousand taels of gold?
"Then I'll go get it for you now."
Cang Jingqi and Han Jiang were left waiting inside the house.
Although I don't know what it was about Gui Xu that moved him, at least he agreed.
"Han Xiaoman, where did you get a thousand taels of gold?" Cang Jing asked.
Han Jiang looked at Cang Jingqi embarrassedly: "I will pay you back the principal plus interest when the time comes."
"Huh?" Cang Jingqi should have expected this guy to be broke. "What if I didn't have that much money either?"
"The dignified Demon Prince wouldn't have money? I don't believe it." From the moment Han Jiang learned that the crystal coffin needed to be purchased, she was already planning to squeeze some money out of Cang Jingqi. She certainly couldn't use Han Tian's money to buy it, and she herself didn't have any money, so Cang Jingqi was simply the only choice.
Cang Jing retorted, "Then I'll repay the two favors I owe you here."
"No way!" Han Jiang was counting on him to take her to the Demon Realm, and she couldn't use that favor on him. "I'll find a way to pay him back!"
How long will it take to pay it off?
"Ten years." Ten years from now, my buddy will be leaving this place, and you won't get a single penny. Han Jiang's little scheme is going to be very shrewd.
Cang Jingqi laughed in anger: "Han Xiaoman, do you think I'm a fool? You can't even pay back two thousand taels of gold in a year—"
"how?"
"I haven't decided yet, we'll see when the time comes."
A year should be enough to win over the Demon Lord, right? Han Jiang remembers that in the real world, many people around her got together after knowing each other for only two or three months. Chasing a man shouldn't take too long, right?
"make a deal!"
"What are you two negotiating?" Gui Xu returned just then.
Han Jiang shook his head, his gaze fixed on the crystal coffin that several people were carrying in.
The semi-transparent coffin was covered with an extremely dense layer of spiritual energy.
Gui Xu placed his hand on the coffin lid: "Cash on delivery."
“Returning to the Lord, we urgently need the crystal coffin. I will send someone to deliver the money later,” Cang Jingqi said.
Gui Xu: "It's alright, I'm not in a hurry anyway. I'll leave the crystal coffin here. You two can go and do something for me first."
"How long will it take?" The cold weather can't wait, and the warmth can't wait either.
Gui Xu noticed Han Jiang's anxiety and said, "That depends on you. In Xuanzhou in the north, help me find two things."
She took out a drawing with a map and what she was looking for.
It was a lamp and a stone with a strange pattern.
Han Jiang was worried that there wouldn't be enough time, but Gui Xu's face already showed impatience, and he could no longer bargain.
Without further ado, let's set off immediately. Let me take a nap on Cang Jingqi's folding fan; another long journey awaits.
Gui Xu watched the two head north and then ordered his men to carry the crystal coffin back.
"There are so many guests today. It's a pity your precious apprentice just left." Gui Xu tidied his hair.
Upon receiving Cang Jingqi's message, Han Tian rushed to Anzhou to find Gui Xu.
"Take your crystal coffin and come with me to the Four Continents Sect."
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