T/N: This chapter was translated by Elysian Pit. I DO NOT own the translation and all credit goes to the original translator. I’ve picked up this novel to continue from where the previous translator left. Thank you ❤️❤️
Qin Wanwan prepared her ‘present’ and waited for Nan Feng to update her on the situation. While she was waiting, a paper crane knocked on her window.
Qin Wanwan touched the paper crane and it activated a sound transmission from Bai Suiyou. “Miss Li, I have escaped from the forest, intact with nothing missing. If Miss still wishes to leave this place together with me, I will wait for Miss at the East Gate of the Xunxian Town.”
Qin Wanwan touched the paper crane again and sent her reply, “Understood.”
The paper crane lit up and flew out of Qin Wanwan’s vision. Soon after, Nan Feng entered her room and informed Qin Wanwan, “Master, the preparation is complete. You can go downstairs and have a drink with Great Daoist Master Jian.”
Qin Wanwan gave Nan Feng a nod. She gulped down several Sober Pill before she dared to go downstairs.
Tonight, she must get Jian Xingshi drunk!
Qin Wanwan arrived at the courtyard and was greeted with Jian Xingzhi in a blue dress.
Nan Feng is a cultured ant. Within less than half an hour, he, with his subordinates, managed to turn the barren courtyard into a sea of flowers. Jian Xingzhi heard Qin Wanwan’s footsteps and casted his gaze to her, “Finally arrived?”
Qin Wanwan sat down opposite Jian Xingzhi. She put aside the ‘present’ box. The box contained all the stuff she obtained from Wanshifang, all intended for Jian Xingzhi.
Jian Xingzhi eyed the box, “What is that?”
“A present.”
Qin Wanwan sincerely replied. She then poured wine for the two of them.
They tacitly had prepared a bowl for their wine. Qin Wanwan filled Jian Xingzhi’s bowl to the brims before she gave it to him, “I have blown up the Wen Xin Sect and washed away my grievances, such things are worthy of celebration and should have been celebrated. Here, I give you a toast.”
Jian Xingzhi accepted her toast without wasting any time, “Cheers.”
They both downed their bowls. Then, it was Jian Xingzhi’s turn to pour wine for Qin Wanwan, “We have gone through thick and thin together these past days, the priceless feeling is also worthy of celebration. Here, I give you a toast.”
Qin Wanwan ground her teeth and forced a nod, “Cheers.”
Both of them were constantly throwing excuses one after another, neither relenting. After several rounds of going nowhere, Qin Wanwan figured that Jian Xingzhi wasn’t affected at all.
She was here to get Jian Xingzhi drunk, if she were to shoot her own foot and get drunk by herself, wouldn’t that be self-defeating and embarrassing?
Thus, she suggested a change of rule, “It’s boring to toast like this, let’s add something interesting, a game.”
“The rules?”
“We ask each other questions, if we can’t answer them, we drink.”
“Acceptable.”
Jian Xingzhi bit the bullet without hesitation. He pondered about things he couldn’t answer… Anyway, he knew a lot, ranging from all kinds of vegetation, spiritual beast, scriptures, sword styles, to spells.
“That’s settled, then.”
Qin Wanwan nodded, “First question, can you recite a multiplication table from memory?”
“What?”
Jian Xingzhi was dumbfounded.
Qin Wanwan motioned with her hand, “Drink.”
“What is the first sentence in the ‘Sutra of The Supreme Lord Crossing The Hurdle’*?”
[T/N: 太上渡厄真经 – tài shàng dù è zhēnjīng. There is no real work of this. 太上 is the Supreme Lord while 渡厄 is Crossing. 渡厄 is also the name of a character in the novel ‘倚天屠龙记’. His name means to get through hardship.]
Qin Wanwan choked on her breath. She never expected Jian Xingxhi to ask something literate like that at his age. Jian Xingzhi motioned back with his hand, “Drink.”
Qin Wanwan inhaled deeply and drank her bowl of wine. “Do you know the continuation after ‘That wondrous view, so dear and tender all at once. Moved countless heroes, bowing from their waists, to pay their due homage’.*?”
[T/N: “江山如此多娇，引无数英雄竞折腰” is a line from the Poem 沁园春·雪 (qìnyuán chūn·xuě) or Snow (1936) by Mao Zedong. The next sentence is supposed to be… eh, it’s quite long, mentioning some historical figures such as Qin Shi Huang, Han Wudi, etc etc, and the poem ends with “俱往矣, 数风流人物, 还看今朝.” – “They are but history, For those who seek a greater figure yet, Must look toward this age alone.”]
Jian Xingzhi drank without the least hesitation.
“Do you know how to stack five-layer of the Thunder Spell?”
Qin Wanwan downed her wine.
Another round of “you ask, I answer” began, now throwing questions instead of excuses. Neither of their knowledge overlapped with the other, and by the end of the night, they already drank enough wine to the point of vomiting.
Qin Wanwan fought to stay sober with the pills she ate in advance, while Jian Xingzhi relied on the last thread of the Sobering Array he placed in his body.
Qin Wanwan could feel the flush creeping on her face. She determined that this exchange of questions couldn’t continue. The dawn was about to break. She propped her head in her hand and rubbed her forehead, “Let’s change the way, we’ll decide on something for each of us to, if I back out, I will drink, and vice versa.”
“Fine by me.”
Jian Xingzhi accepted the offer, “What do you want me to do?”
“Return my Qiankun pouch to me.” Qin Wanwan held out her hand.
Jian Xingzhi also propped his head on his hand and gave her a smile. He fished the Qiankun pouch from his waist and dangled it in front of her face, “Then, you promise me first,” he set his gaze on her, “you will protect me until you ascend.”
They traded gazes wordlessly.
The pear flower fluttered down accompanied by the moonlight. Qin Wanwan grounded her teeth once again, “You know my plan.”
“You want to escape.”
Jian Xingzhi broke the pot.
Qin Wanwan reluctantly forced a smile, “I am planning a better future for you.”
“You plan to dump me.”
Jian Xingzhi’s eyes were sharp. Qin Wanwan struggled to reason, “I do this because I love you.”
Qin Wanwan opened the box she had put aside before to support her statement, “I found a job for you. The job is especially good. You only work ten days a month. The State will provide you with a house and food. You will also get a fixed salary. The job is stable and peaceful.” The more Qin Wanwan spoke, the sadder she was, “This is the greatest happiness I can give you. Zhiyan, just accept it.”
Jian Xingzhi didn’t answer. He stared at the letter of appointment in the box for quite some time before he raised his gaze to meet Qin Wanwan’s, “Is your brain broken?”
He was born with the Golden Core and has always been the best among the Immortal Cultivators. Yet, she actually wanted him to guard a warehouse?
“My outstanding talents,” Jian Xingzhi had reached the end of his forbearance, “Can’t you see it?”
“Zhiyan.”
Qin Wanwan stood up and walked to his front, “I know you can’t bear to let me go, but we all have changed.”
Followed by her words, Qin Wanwan cupped Jian Xingzhi’s face which made him startled. His wide eyes focused on Qin Wanwan, who stared down at him, “You… what are you going to do?”
“I know what you want.”
Qin Wanwan’s eyes deepened with affection, “However, Zhiyan, you are the person on the tips of my heart, also the person that I can’t let go of…”
Qin Wanwan lowered her head, and the pear flower danced around her. Jian Xingzhi looked at her face as their distance narrowed down. The closer she was, the harder his heart thumped. His whole body froze, like an overly frightened cat with its hair blowing up, ready to give all his shot to retreat.
“Precisely because of that, let us part with this kiss. From now on, live a life of happiness that I am unable to obtain…”
Their breath was entangled. She was so close at hand, and the moment before their lips touched, Jian Xingzhi was no longer able to contain himself.
He tried to shove her and threw his face away from her while shouting, “Stay away!”
At the same time, Qin Wanwan moved swiftly, her hand chopped him on the neck, knocking him out.
Instantly, Jian Xingzhi slumped on the table with a ‘Bang!’
Qin Wanwan snatched the Qiankun pouch out of his hand. She stood upright with her hands on her hips, declaring proudly, “I have given you a chance, but you really want it the hard way*, huh?”
[T/N: 敬酒不吃吃罚酒 – jìng jiǔ bù chī chī fá jiǔ. Lit. refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Not willing to do something and must be forced as a result.]
She stuffed herself with another Sober Pill and inclined her head to Nan Feng who had been hiding in the dark and instructed, “Send him to the address reported in the box along with the box.”
“Eh?”
Nan Feng was caught off guard by the sudden twist of events and couldn’t believe his ears, “Send… send him away?”
Qin Wanwan ignored his shock. She took out a smaller bag from her Qiankun bag and bowed herself to squeeze the bag into Jian Xingzhi’s pocket on his chest. Lastly, she patted him on the shoulder.
“The money and the deed of sale are now yours, Jian Zhiyan. I have done the best I can for you, from now on, take care of yourself.”
Qin Wanwan straightened herself and lifted her head to the sky that began to light up. She pressed on hurriedly, “I will meet with Bai Suiyou first. After you put him in the carriage, go to the Tian Jian Sect and report I have found Qian Liu. Sense my location from our contract and bring the person you find in the Tian Jian Sect to me.”
Nan Feng was still in a daze. Only after Qin Wanwan left did he respond blankly, “Understood, Master.”
He turned to face Jian Xingzhi sprawled on the table and couldn’t help but show some sorrow.
This man, ah.
A man who lost his heart to a heartless woman.
How miserable!
Still, Nan Feng carried his Master’s order perfectly. He fetched Jian Xingzhi on his back and the box in his hands. Then, he dispatched Jian Xingzhi to the location designated by the Wanshifang.
All according to Qin Wanwan’s plan.
People came and went, and many got into the carriage. Jian Xingzhi, who was unconscious, was arranged in the best carriage. He was the last person to arrive, and as soon as he got into the carriage, the carriage set off.
On Qin Wanwan’s side, she arrived at the city gate half sober. Seeing Bai Suiyou waiting for her there, she smiled apologetically, “It’s my bad, Fellow Daoist Bai. I drank too much last night and might have to sleep in the carriage later.”
“There’s no harm.”
Bai Suiyou chuckled with amusement, “It’s good to sleep more.”
He reached out to Qin Wanwan, “Miss Li, hop in.”
Qin Wanwan entered the carriage with Bai Suiyou’s help. The sleepiness became even more unbearable after she entered the carriage. She leaned against the carriage’s wall and fell into a deep slumber.
The two carriages went in opposite directions. When the sun hung high in the sky, Jian Xingzhi woke up with a start. He got up abruptly and discovered a large group of people surrounding him. These men were all thin and bony, wearing rags and sackcloth. All of them curiously looked at him.
Jian Xingzhi pushed the crowd aside. He lifted the curtain and noticed the road was unfamiliar to him.
He sensed something near his arms when he moved. He pulled out a bag from his chest pocket and probed the inside of the bag only to find many spirit stones and his deed of sale, as well as a letter.
He took out the letter and saw it was signed by ‘Qin Wan’.
[My Love, Zhiyan.
When you read this letter, you should already be on your way.
I know you don’t understand my actions. Why must you have to leave me? I’m going to tell you the truth, it is because I am no longer ‘me’.
One day, I woke up and my view of the world changed a lot. I am no longer the one you love, and you are no longer the one I love.
We both have changed a lot. I hope, before the last bit of beauty in our hearts is exhausted, we can part and keep those beautiful memories of each other in our hearts. Whenever I recall you, I will remember deep from my heart that you are the gentlest, kindest, and loveliest Jian Zhiyan.
I scoured for a good job for you and found this one. You will have a stable salary and career. You can find your own happiness in this world.
May we not hate each other and love each other forever.
Yours,
Qin Wan.]
Jian Xingzhi sank into contemplation as he read the letter.
666 heaved a long sigh, “Ai, she must have a change of mind. She finds that you are not as gentle and delicate as the person in her memory.”
“Are you saying I am not gentle enough?”
Jian Xingzhi’s expression turned into a scowl and 666 immediately shut her mouth. It opened its mouth again after a while to comfort Jian Xingzhi, “If I may say, the job she found for you is actually not half bad. If it was given to me, I would accept it. Her action is also a kind of love on its own.”
As it finished her word, the carriage halted.
A rough male voice shouted, “All of you! Get down!”
The people inside jumped down as ordered, Jian Xingzhi also followed suit. Once they got to the ground, they found themselves in front of a huge cave
“Stand straight! Divide them, send the good-looking one to Lord Qian Liu*. As for the ugly ones, all of you are going to be miners in the Qianshan Mine! We won’t treat you badly in Qianshan Mine. We will guarantee one steamed bun for every meal. You will mine for eight hours daily and won’t have any vacations!”
[T/N: 大人 – dàren. A title of respect toward superiors. Lord.]
“We welcome you, new slaves!”
Jian Xingzhi: “……”
“So, this is,” Jian Xingzhi clenched his fist as he eyed the brutish man bearing a mace in front of him, “what the ‘good’ job in her mouth is.”
[Mini Theater]
Jian Xingzhi: Didn’t you say the job you arranged for me is a job in a unit owned by the State. How come I got arranged to go down the mine to be a miner?
Wanshifang: A miner, is also a worker who works in a unit owned by the State.
