novelSusiti Chapter 507 Today, Young Master Qin will be paying for everything!
Chapter 507 Today, Young Master Qin will be paying for everything!
The crowd automatically parted to make way.
A woman dressed in white slowly walked out.
Her face was aloof, her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, and a long sword hung at her waist. The scabbard was snow-white and inlaid with pale blue gemstones.
She walked to the foot of the platform, touched the ground with her toes, and landed lightly on the platform.
Jiang Zhaoyue.
Zhao Wuji looked at Jiang Zhaoyue, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by deeper disdain.
"You, a woman, dare to go on stage?"
Jiang Zhaoyue looked at him, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, the smile was faint, but it carried an indescribable coldness.
"What's wrong with women? Can't women be hit?"
Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking about something extremely ordinary.
Zhao Wuji's brows furrowed even more, a flash of anger crossing his eyes. "Fine, since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish."
He drew the long sword from his waist, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
The audience erupted in uproar.
Some were excited, some were worried, and some shook their heads and sighed.
How could a woman possibly be a match for the guest minister of the Northern King's Palace?
Isn't that just asking for death?
Qin Mu stood below the stage, looking calmly at Jiang Zhaoyue on the high platform.
It was he who sent Jiang Zhaoyue there; he wanted to see how capable she was.
I've known Jiang Zhaoyue for so long, but I've never seen her make a move before. This is a good opportunity to witness it.
On the high platform, Jiang Zhaoyue slowly drew the long sword from her waist.
The Frost Moon Sword gleamed with a snow-white, cold light under the sunlight, and a faint silver glow flowed across its blade.
Her figure floated out gracefully, her sword aimed straight for Zhao Wuji's throat.
Zhao Wuji parried with his sword, and the two swords clashed, sparking a cluster of tiny sparks.
His expression suddenly changed, and his pupils contracted slightly.
The power of this sword strike far exceeded his expectations.
Before he could react, Jiang Zhaoyue's second sword had already arrived.
The sword sliced across his wrist, tearing his clothes and splattering blood.
He loosened his grip, and the longsword flew out of his hand, landing on the ground with a clatter.
Jiang Zhaoyue's third sword strike stopped three inches in front of his throat.
The tip of the sword trembled slightly, reflecting the cold, expressionless face in his pupils.
There was a deathly silence in the audience.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the woman in white on the platform, her mouth slightly open, making a "hoarse" sound from her throat.
Three moves, really only three moves.
Zhao Wuji's legs were trembling, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead, dripping onto his clothes.
His throat bobbed as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't squeeze out a single word.
He couldn't believe that he, a guest elder of the Northern Border Royal Palace and a second-rank expert, couldn't even withstand three moves from a woman.
Jiang Zhaoyue sheathed her sword, turned around to face the audience, her gaze fixed on Qin Mu, and a slight smile played on her lips. "Young Master, I've made a fool of myself."
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled.
That smile was genuine, carrying a heartfelt joy and pride. "Not bad."
The audience then came to their senses and erupted in thunderous cheers.
Cheers, applause, and whistles mingled together, surging in like a tide, wave after wave, each higher than the last.
"good!"
"What amazing skills, heroine!"
"That's amazing!"
Zhao Wuji stood on the high platform, his face as pale as paper.
He lowered his head, looking at his still-bleeding wrist and the longsword that had been knocked away on the ground, his lips trembling violently.
He dared not look up, dared not look at the gazes of the people below the stage, and dared not look at the face of the woman in white.
He lost, lost completely, and lost without a trace.
His attendants rushed up the platform, helped him up, and whispered something to him.
Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth, shook off their hands, staggered down the platform, and disappeared into the crowd.
He didn't turn around.
Qin Mu turned around, looked at Yun Luan, and said softly, "Go buy a carriage. The best one."
Yunluan clasped her hands and bowed. "Yes."
She turned around and walked towards the carriages and horses in the city.
Qin Mu turned his head again to look at Jiang Zhaoyue, the smile on his lips unchanged. "Let's go see what else is fun."
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded, walked to his side, and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
The women followed behind, weaving through the crowd and heading towards the city center.
Qing Shi City was more bustling than I had imagined.
Qin Mu walked at the front, his moon-white robe standing out in the crowd.
He walked with his hands behind his back, his pace unhurried, as if he were strolling in his own backyard.
Jiang Zhaoyue walked beside him, the Frost Moon Sword hanging at her waist, the pale blue gem on the scabbard gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
A faint smile played on her lips; she was in a good mood.
Xu Fenghua followed behind him, head down, her expression calm.
Her gaze occasionally swept over the surrounding shops and pedestrians, then quickly returned, like an alert cat.
Yun Suxin walked at the very back, arms crossed, expressionless.
Her gaze fell on the high platform and on the crowd still discussing, and her heart was at peace.
She once stood in a higher place, receiving more cheers and worship.
Those are all things of the past.
Han Xin'er clung tightly to Qin Mu, her little hands unconsciously gripping his sleeve.
Her eyes sparkled, like two polished stars, as she curiously surveyed her surroundings, like a child visiting the city for the first time.
Chen Wanqing walked beside Han Xiner, the veil of her hat obscuring her face and making her expression impossible to see.
She walked slowly, lagging behind the group, as if deliberately keeping her distance.
"Selling candied hawthorns—big and sweet candied hawthorns!"
An old man carrying a straw target squeezed through the crowd, the bright red hawthorns glistening in the sunlight.
Han Xin'er's eyes lit up immediately, her gaze fixed on the string of bright red candied hawthorns, unable to look away.
Qin Mu glanced at her, smiled, and took out a piece of silver from his sleeve, handing it to the old man. "Give me a string of them."
The old man took the silver, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Young master, this...this is too much, I don't have change..."
Qin Mu waved his hand, refusing the change, and took a string of candied hawthorns from the straw target, handing it to Han Xin'er.
Han Xin'er took the candied hawthorn, her face slightly flushed, and she lowered her head to take a bite.
The sweet and sour juice exploded on her tongue, her eyes curved into crescents, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.
"Is it good?" Qin Mu asked.
Han Xin'er nodded, took another bite, her cheeks puffed out, like a squirrel that had stolen a nut.
Qin Mu smiled, said nothing, and continued walking forward.
The streets were lined with shops selling silk, jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, and weapons.
The shouts, calls for sale, and sounds of bargaining mingled together, like a pot of porridge boiling and bubbling.
Qin Mu stopped in front of a weapons shop.
The shop was small, with an old plaque hanging above the door that read "Longquan Pavilion".
Several longswords were displayed in the shop window, their scabbards ancient and their blades gleaming with a cold light.
His gaze fell on a sword and paused for a moment.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed his gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips. "A fine sword."
Qin Mu smiled, didn't go in, and turned to continue walking forward.
A burst of gongs and drums sounded from ahead, and a large crowd formed a tight circle, three layers deep, making it impossible to move.
A bald man wearing a red bellyband stood in the center of the circle, holding a torch in each hand, and spewing out a long fire dragon that drew a dazzling arc in the sunlight.
A cheer erupted from the crowd, and coins rained down onto the copper plate in the center of the arena.
Han Xin'er stood on tiptoe and craned her neck, but she couldn't see anything.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips pursed, like a child who couldn't reach the candy.
Qin Mu lowered his head, looked at her, and smiled. "Want to see?"
Han Xin'er raised her head, her eyes sparkling, and nodded vigorously.
Qin Mu reached out, put his arm around her waist, and gently lifted her up so that she could sit on his shoulders.
Han Xin'er's face flushed red, so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
She didn't know where to put her hands, so she carefully placed them on Qin Mu's head, her fingers slightly curled.
"You saw it?" Qin Mu's voice came from below, tinged with amusement.
Han Xin'er blushed and softly hummed in agreement.
Her eyes lit up, like two bright stars, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.
The women stood behind Qin Mu, watching this scene with varying expressions.
Jiang Zhaoyue's lips curled up slightly, her eyes filled with an indescribable tenderness.
Yunluan remained expressionless, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings as if she saw nothing.
Xu Fenghua lowered her head, her fingers clenching slightly inside her sleeve.
Yun Suxin crossed her arms, her face calm, but a complex, indescribable light flashed in her eyes.
Chen Wanqing stood at the very back, her face obscured by the light veil of her veil, making it impossible to see her expression.
The juggling act is over.
The bald man carried a copper tray and walked around in circles, the copper coins clinking and falling into the tray like a cheerful melody.
He walked up to Qin Mu, saw Han Xin'er on Qin Mu's shoulder, grinned, and revealed a set of white teeth.
"Young master, your daughter is so adorable."
Han Xin'er's face turned even redder, so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
She opened her mouth, wanting to explain something, but it felt like something was blocking her throat, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word.
Qin Mu smiled, took out a silver ingot from his sleeve, and threw it into the copper plate.
With a "clang," the silver coin rolled twice in the plate and came to a steady stop in the center.
The bald man's eyes widened, his mouth gaped open, and his jaw almost dropped.
He had been performing on the street for so many years, and the most he had ever seen was a few strings of copper coins; he had never seen such a large ingot of silver.
He bowed deeply, his waist almost touching the ground.
"Thank you, young master! Thank you, young master! May you be blessed with great wealth and long life!"
Qin Mu waved his hand, said nothing, and gently put Han Xin'er down from his shoulder.
Han Xin'er's legs felt weak, and she had to hold onto Qin Mu's arm to steady herself.
Her face was still red, and her heart was still pounding, like a frightened fawn.
The crowd gradually dispersed.
Qin Mu led the women forward.
As I passed a restaurant, an enticing aroma wafted out of the window, making my stomach churn.
Han Xin'er's stomach growled softly, the sound not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the moment of silence.
Her face turned red again, as red as a boiled shrimp.
Qin Mu smiled and walked towards the restaurant. "Let's go get something to eat."
The restaurant has three floors, with carved beams and painted rafters, upturned eaves and corners, and a golden plaque hanging above the door that reads "Drunken Immortal Restaurant".
Two waiters stood at the door, dressed in short blue shirts and white aprons. Their eyes widened when they saw Qin Mu and his group.
"Guest...sir, please come in!" One of the waiters was the first to come to his senses and quickly stepped aside to make way, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness.
Qin Mu stepped across the threshold, went up to the second floor, and sat down by the window.
The windows were open, offering a view of the entire street, the high platform, and the still-bustling crowd.
The women sat down beside him.
Jiang Zhaoyue sat to his right, Han Xin'er sat to his left, Xu Fenghua sat next to Jiang Zhaoyue, Yun Suxin sat next to Han Xin'er, and Chen Wanqing sat in the far corner.
The waiter came over carrying a teapot, his hands trembling slightly, and a few drops of tea spilled onto the table.
He swallowed hard, his voice weak.
"Sir...sir, what would you like to eat?"
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the women before finally settling on Han Xin'er's face. "What would you like to eat?"
Han Xin'er paused for a moment, her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "Anything... is fine."
Qin Mu smiled, turned his head, and looked at the waiter. "Bring one of each of your restaurant's signature dishes."
The waiter's mouth opened and closed, then opened again, then closed again. "All...all of you?"
Qin Mu looked at him without saying a word.
That gaze was calm, as calm as a stagnant pool, yet it made the waiter's legs go weak, and he almost knelt down.
He nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, everyone go, everyone go."
He turned around and stumbled downstairs.
The dishes were served quickly.
Braised pork knuckle, steamed sea bass, sweet and sour pork ribs, braised beef, roast duck, beggar's chicken... a whole table full of delicious food, the aroma filling the air, the table piled high.
Qin Mu picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs, and placed it in Han Xin'er's bowl. "Eat."
Han Xin'er's face turned even redder. She lowered her head and nibbled on the ribs in small bites, like a cat that had stolen some dried fish.
Qin Mu picked up another piece of fish and placed it in Jiang Zhaoyue's bowl.
Jiang Zhaoyue smiled, said nothing, picked up a piece of fish, and ate it slowly.
He picked up another piece of beef and placed it in Xu Fenghua's bowl.
Xu Fenghua's body stiffened slightly. She raised her head, glanced at him, and then quickly lowered her head again, softly saying "Thank you."
Qin Mu picked up another piece of roast duck and placed it in Yun Suxin's bowl.
Yun Suxin stared at the roast duck in the bowl, paused for a moment, and her lips twitched slightly, as if she wanted to laugh or cry.
She lowered her head, picked up the roast duck, and chewed it slowly, but couldn't taste anything.
Qin Mu then picked up a chicken leg and placed it in Chen Wanqing's bowl.
Chen Wanqing's body stiffened abruptly.
She looked up, her face hidden beneath the veil, but her fingers were trembling slightly.
She bit her lip, her voice soft, trembling slightly. "Thank you, young master."
A commotion arose downstairs.
Someone was talking loudly, so loudly that even the second floor could hear it.