Chapter 3 First Meeting with Ning Jue
Inside Jiling City, at the Wangyue Restaurant.
In a private room on the second floor, a young man dressed in a dark green robe and wearing a short white jade crown was leisurely drinking wine with droopy eyelids.
Across the table stood three human traffickers, looking at each other with troubled expressions.
Zang Fan slammed down his wine cup and said shamelessly, "Young Master Ning has high standards. How could an ordinary girl catch his eye? She must be beautiful and gentle. Dark skin is not acceptable, a rough voice is unacceptable, a waist of 1.6 feet is ideal, and those who can write beautiful characters are preferred."
Since Ning Jue wasn't there, he could make up whatever he wanted.
Buying a maid should have been a simple matter, but some people wanted to play dirty tricks behind the scenes. Ning Jue was too lazy to bother with it, but he happened to have the time to play along.
The slave trader standing at the front muttered, "Young master, are you buying maids or selecting concubines for the emperor? Your requirements are a bit too high."
Zang Fan's brow furrowed, and he immediately slammed his hand on the table in rebuttal, making quite a commotion: "Ordinary stewards don't just give you two hundred strings of cash to buy maids. Since our young master has high standards, the money and silk will naturally be provided. If you don't have suitable candidates, there's no need to bring people here to fill the quota and waste your breath. This money is certainly not something you can earn."
Once the slave traders had all left looking disheveled, Zang Fan clicked his tongue and prepared to continue drinking.
Before the wine was even fully poured into the porcelain glaze and before it could be tasted, the short, thin slave trader, who had been standing in the most inconspicuous corner of the room, suddenly returned, re-entered the room, and raised his hand with a broad smile.
Zang Fan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why are you back again? Did you come up with a new candidate so quickly?"
The human trafficker grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and said obsequiously, "That's right. I suddenly thought of someone who might be able to meet your high standards, young master."
Zang Fan gestured for the other person to continue speaking.
"The Li family, a porcelain merchant in Jiling, recently sold a maid. This maid was very beautiful and hadn't done anything wrong, but because she had a face that could cause trouble, the mistress of the house was wary of her and sold her off. And because she was so beautiful, the price was really not cheap."
Zang Fan asked, "Money is not a problem. Where is he? Can you bring him here for a visit?"
Seeing that the deal was promising, the slave trader's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied, "Yes, sir. Please wait here for a moment while I have a drink, and I will bring the girl over right away."
After the person left, the smile on Zang Fan's lips slowly faded, and his eyes turned sharp like a hawk.
Those shameless individuals who claim to be the authentic sword sect, especially the Rong family, use the gimmick of inheriting the exclusive secret sword techniques of the deceased sword saint to recruit disciples and make a fortune. In order to consolidate their orthodox status, they even eliminate dissidents and label all those who do not follow the same path as outsiders, targeting them with their spearheads.
In reality, he's a complete scoundrel!
Ning Jue has more important things to investigate right now and doesn't have the time to care about these empty reputations in the martial arts world. He may tolerate these clowns acting recklessly for a while, but that doesn't mean he will keep indulging them or even let them run wild right under his nose.
Ambushing and spying are old tricks they've been using for ages. Anyone who dares to show off their limited skills in front of them is just incredibly stupid.
Ning Jue sent him over, instructing him to clean up the mess, but Zang Fan didn't want to finish it hastily, so he cooperated and wanted to see what tricks that Rong guy would use.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the slave trader nimbly made his way up to the second floor, stood behind the threshold, and bowed deeply before knocking on the door.
Zang Fan looked up and glanced behind him. Seeing that there was no one there, he lost his patience.
Where are they?
The slave trader chuckled, glanced back, and gestured, saying, "Miss Bai, please come in."
As his voice faded, a small, delicate, pale yellow embroidered shoe stepped across the threshold, causing irregular folds in the plain silk skirt, like the rippling surface of the Qingjiang River. The girl had very fair skin and light makeup, her hair styled in a very simple bun without any pearls or hairpins. Despite being dressed in the simplest of attire, a glance from her bright, dark eyes revealed an innate nobility that could not be imitated.
Zang Fan stared blankly, an inappropriate thought popping into his mind: the beauty of this girl in front of him might surpass even the most sought-after courtesan in Jiling.
Of course, it would be presumptuous and impolite to make such a comparison with a respectable woman. If we put aside these vulgarities and focus solely on her temperament, she is truly as beautiful as a fairy descended from heaven.
Zang Fan looked down on Rong Linyan and was unwilling to believe that he could have such a beautiful woman at his beck and call.
Once his senses returned, Zang Fan was no longer captivated by the woman's beauty and charm. His gaze shifted downwards, adopting a stern and scrutinizing look.
He said sternly, "Name, place of origin, and background."
Upon hearing this, the slave trader stepped forward and opened his mouth to offer to help with the introduction.
Zang Fan waved his hand, signaling him to shut up and letting the girl introduce herself.
Bai Hua assumed the person in front of her was Ning Jue, and nervously lowered her eyes.
Although she had prepared her speech in advance and practiced her lines many times, she still couldn't suppress her guilt when lying to people face to face, and her heart was pounding wildly.
"My daughter, A Peng, is from Shiyi Township, Jiling. Because her elder brother was a compulsive gambler who lost all the family's wealth, she was sold to the wealthy Li family in the city, who dealt in porcelain, to pay off their debts. Later, because the mistress disliked her, she was sold again. Now she has nowhere to go. I hope that you, sir, can kindly provide A Peng with a place to stay. A Peng will serve you well and will never be lazy."
After Bai Hua finished speaking, she lowered her slender body, her expression sorrowful, her eyes reddening, and tears welling up in her eyes, looking pitiful to behold.
Zang Fan looked away, his heart skipping a beat again.
He remained silent for a long time, and Bai Hua felt uncertain. She raised her head cautiously and asked, "Could you possibly let me stay, young master?"
When Zang Fan came to his senses, he realized that beneath the woman's plain appearance lay a lurking, wicked heart, and all his pity vanished instantly.
His gaze settled on the other person, scrutinizing their shoulders, waist, arms, and wrists from top to bottom, not daring to let his guard down.
If someone were a martial artist, these features would be subtly different from those of an ordinary person, but this woman disguised herself so well that she perfectly concealed all the characteristics that a martial artist should have during the examination.
Zang Fan deliberately tested him, taking advantage of his unpreparedness to strike. He twisted his tiger's mouth and aimed directly at the opponent's vulnerable neck, his gaze fierce and ruthless.
Bai Hua was startled by what she saw, her legs went weak, and she tripped while trying to back up. She staggered and collapsed to the ground, but luckily she managed to grab the edge of the table in time to avoid getting hurt.
Zang Fan reached out but missed, which deepened his suspicion that Bai Hua was deliberately hiding her abilities.
"...What does the young master mean?"
Bai Hua, suppressing her fear, spoke up, attempting to salvage the situation.
She didn't know if her identity had been exposed. All she could do was stall for time and hope that her cousin, who was lurking in the shadows, would come to her rescue in time.
Zang Fan smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "How can a young master Ning's personal maid not know some martial arts?"
Having said that, he pulled a sharp weapon from his pocket.
His movements were quick and fluid; Bai Hua didn't even see what he took out before the sharp tip of the cold weapon was pointed at her.
Her survival instinct compelled her to get up with difficulty and run, but her legs trembled and she couldn't muster any strength. After only a few steps, she stumbled and almost fell.
Next to her was a four-panel screen embroidered with flowers and birds. In her panic, Bai Hua reached out to lean against it, but accidentally knocked the screen over.
With a crash, the screen fell down.
At the same time, a wisp of pale white fabric drifted into her field of vision.
Behind the screen, a handsome young man with an extraordinary appearance and a detached demeanor stood. He glanced at her upon hearing the voice, but showed no reaction whatsoever, as if it were none of his business and he was completely detached from the situation, indifferent even to the bloodshed before his eyes.
These are the meanings revealed by his cold gaze.
But Bai Hua couldn't care less about that. At the moment, she didn't know the situation and knew she couldn't rely on the human trafficker cowering in the corner of the room. She didn't know the identity of the young master in front of her, but since she could only seek his help at close range, she decided to grit her teeth and take a gamble.
So, she took the liberty of reaching out and grabbing the other person's arm, hiding behind him, and refusing to let go no matter what.
The young man in white hesitated for a moment, but did not forcefully shake her off. As if he was too lazy to argue or get entangled, he simply ignored her.
The dart hurtled towards him with undiminished sharpness and force, but the white-robed young man casually raised his sword sheath, deflected the attack, and easily resolved the crisis.
Upon recognizing the newcomer, Zang Fan clicked his tongue in displeasure, thinking to himself that this guy's timing was truly unfortunate; he had almost managed to test the woman's skill level just now.
That really ruined his plans.
"I was waiting for you to drink, but you didn't come for a long time. I wondered what had delayed your journey. It turns out that the wine at Wangyue Tower is better than the wine at my place."
The young man in white spoke, his voice languid yet clear and pleasant to hear.
It turned out the two knew each other. Bai Hua belatedly realized this and was momentarily at a loss for words.
Zang Fan glanced at Bai Hua meaningfully and said, "Not at all. I will do my best to serve you. Although choosing a girl is nothing big, those sword sects in Jiling often have ill intentions towards you. I am worried that they will take the opportunity to cause trouble, so I am being strict in my selection."
Bai Hua's expression changed slightly, and she finally realized that the person who had attacked her so aggressively just now was not Ning Jue, but the real Young Master Ning was right in front of her.
It's her fault for being so distracted earlier; otherwise, she would have been able to discern the truth from her words much earlier.
Ning Jue didn't look at Bai Hua, but only glanced at the slave trader standing in the corner, not daring to breathe, and said, "It's just a business transaction. If both parties are willing, then it's a deal. If not, then we go our separate ways. Why resort to violence?"
Zang Fan put away the salvaged goods and replied casually, "A swordsman traveling the martial world naturally needs to choose a brave maidservant. I was just testing her, but I didn't expect her to be so timid."
Ning Jue glanced sideways, as if finally realizing there was another person in the room.
His gaze settled on Bai Hua's face, which was slightly pale with fear, and he asked scrutinizingly, "Why won't you let go?"
Bai Hua was embarrassed. Realizing what had happened, she immediately let go and took a half step back.
At the same time, her face flushed uncontrollably, though only slightly, but it still didn't escape Ning Jue's eyes.
Having witnessed countless trials and tribulations in the martial world, Ning Jue found this kind of girlish blush quite novel.
Zang Fan hadn't been able to test Bai Hua's martial arts skills earlier, and only felt that this woman was very good at pretending and was probably a ruthless character. Naturally, he didn't want to keep her by Ning Jue's side as a threat.
So he said, "I was just testing her, but I didn't expect to scare this girl so much that her legs went weak as soon as I made a move. She has no guts at all. How can she follow you? Let's go, let's go back and have a drink. None of today's batch will do. I'll find you another girl another day."
After Zang Fan finished speaking, he took out some loose silver from his pocket and threw it to the broker as a fee for his hard work running errands.
Ning Jue remained silent, but seeing Zang Fan take a step, he followed suit.
Bai Hua snapped out of her daze and remembered her cousin's earnest advice. She mustered her courage and braced herself to ask for his help.
"Young Master Ning, please wait!" she called out to stop him, explaining, "I... I'm not cowardly, it's just that things happened so suddenly, I wasn't prepared at all, that's why I panicked and ran blindly. I've heard that you live a secluded and leisurely life on Mount Xianyang, so why would you need a maidservant as bold, capable, and physically strong as a thug? I, A Peng, am willing to follow you, to be loyal and devoted, to take good care of your daily life, I only ask that you give me a place to stay."
Her voice was gentle and soothing, her pronunciation soft and pleasant to the ear.
Ning Jue turned around, and before him, a beautiful, delicate face, so lovely it seemed to evoke pity, boldly curved her lips into a smile, her eyes sweeping over him as she gave him a soft, gentle laugh.
Seeing this, Zang Fan became wary and thought to himself, "What a blatant honey trap!"
Ning Jue did not reply. Bai Hua suppressed her fear and looked up to meet his gaze.
Only then did she dare to look at him closely.
Young Master Ning was exceptionally tall, even taller than his cousin. Every feature of his was outstanding, handsome beyond compare, like a figure from a painting. If one had to pick one thing to mention, it would be his eyes: sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, deep pupils, as if a pool of stars rippled within them, sparkling brightly.
His skin was fair, which contrasted with his plain white robes, making him appear so aloof and detached from the world. He held a sword, its scabbard rusted and worn. Although he held a weapon, his aura was not sharp or intimidating, unlike someone who had experienced the hardships of the martial world. Instead, he seemed like a young lecturer in the Imperial Academy, gentle and refined.
He was far from the sinister person his cousin had described.
However, much later, when Bai Hua learned about Ning Jue's true nature, she realized how ridiculous and absurd her initial impression of him had been.
What's the point of talking about Wen Jun? He's clearly like a tiger or wolf!
Zang Fan was the one who found the person. Seeing that Ning Jue neither agreed nor disagreed, Zang Fan took the initiative to speak on her behalf: "Please go back, young lady. You did not pass the test just now, nor did you meet our requirements."
Ning Jue seemed to tacitly agree with this statement. He expressionlessly took out a silver ingot from his pocket, handed it to Bai Hua, and said succinctly, "For emergency use."
This was the second thing he said to her after he came in.
Bai Hua stared blankly at the silver coins that had suddenly appeared in her hand, astonished by his kindness—the kindness of a vicious man.
Although the amount of silver in her hand was only fifty, the heavy weight on her heart felt like a thousand pounds.
This was probably her last chance to win him over. Bai Hua was as anxious as an ant on a hot plate. In her desperation, she suddenly remembered that her cousin had once vaguely mentioned to her that Ning Jue was a beautiful woman, but also lustful…
Her appearance did not resemble that of a lewd and lustful person, but Bai Hua had experienced the decline of her family and the coldness of human relationships. She had long seen through the unpredictability of people's hearts and knew the principle that a thousand people have a thousand faces and that one cannot judge a book by its cover.
Thinking of this, a bold idea popped into her mind.
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