Chapter 34: Shen Yuying (2)

Seeing me swallow it all, the fox-like man in front of me patted my shoulder twice.

“Mmh, Yuying is a good girl.”

The man squatted down until he was at eye level with me.

Though he was still smiling, the threat in his eyes was undisguised.

“But tomorrow, Yuying must work hard, okay? Everyone is looking forward to it, hmm?”

“……Okay.”

That night, I was tormented by severe vomiting and diarrhea, unable to sleep for a single moment.

But the next morning, I still had to go to “work.”

Afraid of being forced to eat that stuff again, I didn’t dare go get food in the morning and left directly.

But perhaps I was truly cursed; from start to finish today, not a single person gave me a coin.

I didn’t have the strength to steal anymore.

Just when I thought I was going to die right there: Cling…

A few pieces of silver scattered like light rain into my broken bowl.

I raised my head and clasped my hands together, just about to utter some words of gratitude, when I saw those eyes that resembled water and light.

“Big brother…”

“I couldn’t tell. At such a young age, you’re moonlighting as a beggar on top of being a pickpocket?”

He said with a light chuckle.

I felt ashamed beyond measure, clutching my hood and pulling it down lower.

“So… you knew all along…”

“You followed me from the street corner to the end of the alley and specifically took a turn to get ahead of me. It’s hard not to notice when you’ve been staring at this gourd the whole time.”

“I’m sorry…”

“What are you apologizing for? You didn’t succeed, so it counts as an attempted theft at most.”

“At… tempted?”

I didn’t understand what he was saying.

Was this some special term?

“Mmh… it means you’re a loser, I suppose.”

Hearing this, I pulled my hood down further.

“Mmh… I am a loser…”

“Heh.”

He chuckled.

I couldn’t see his expression, but judging by the sound, he had walked over to me and squatted down.

Then, he took my broken bowl and shook it in front of me; the silver inside clattered.

“Aren’t you a pickpocket? Someone like you should know this city well, right?”

“Mmh…” I nodded slightly.

“Then take this silver as a tip. Lead me to a restaurant; I haven’t eaten a single bite since yesterday.”

Grumble….

My stomach growled unhelpfully at that moment.

It was no wonder, considering the vomiting and diarrhea had left me exhausted, not to mention I hadn’t eaten this morning…

“It seems your body has agreed?” He chuckled lightly.

“Mmh… I’ll take you…”

I led him away from the Black Water Alley and into the bustling center of the market.

I assume it was because of me; as people on the road saw me, they pinched their noses and waved their hands in front of them, then walked away with faces full of disgust.

But this was normal.

If I didn’t wear ragged, stinking clothes, how would I look like a beggar?

How else would I elicit pity?

However, when he saw this scene, he said:

“Hey, you’re dressed like this. As your companion, I’m finding it quite troublesome.”

“I… I’m sorry…”

I pressed my lips together and gripped the rough hem of my tattered clothes tightly, my toes curling against the floor inside my worn-out shoes.

“Ah, I can’t do anything about you. Let’s go change into some clothes first.”

“Eh?”

Before I could say anything, he began leading me to a place where I could wash up and change.

Eventually, we reached a clothing shop.

He pushed me forward, but I retreated.

Seeing that I was about to cross the threshold, I screamed out.

“No!”

He seemed stunned, as if he couldn’t understand why I was reacting so intensely.

Taking advantage of his confusion, I pulled him into a small alleyway.

He asked, puzzled:

“Why such a big reaction? I’m not going to make a child like you pay for it.”

“It’s not that, it’s not that.” I shook my head frantically.

“Then…”

I raised my head and looked into his eyes, and for some reason, a spark of courage ignited within me.

As if willing to bet everything on a whim, I slowly took off my hood.

Exposing the white and red fox ears beneath, I also extended my tail and held it in my arms.

I lowered my head because I didn’t dare to look into his eyes, but he remained silent.

Out of curiosity, I slowly looked up.

It was different from the two answers I had imagined.

I thought he would find it ugly and ominous, or perhaps feel indifferent like those fellows in the nest, treating it as something superfluous.

But his eyes were shining.

The corners of his mouth gradually rose.

That look was the same one adults had when they saw a treasure.

Was he looking at me like that?

“You… you are a member of the Tushan Clan, a fox spirit!?”

“Fox… spirit?”

I didn’t understand what he was talking about, but he seemed very excited, and the smile never left his lips.

“No wonder you didn’t want to be seen. Now I understand.”

After saying that, he produced a ceramic bottle from a ring on his finger, with a willow branch sticking out of it.

“What… is this?”

“This? It’s called a Jade Purification Vase. I made a replica based on the image in my memory. As for the effects, it’s actually quite different, haha.”

He laughed awkwardly, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying at all.

What Jade Purification Vase?

What replica of a memory?

I didn’t understand.

If it was a replica, what would the original look like, and what power would it possess?

After he finished laughing, he pulled the willow branch out of the bottle and let a drop of dew fall onto my head.

“Don’t be afraid. This is nectar water; you’ll be fine in a moment.”

The next instant, just as he said, the drop of water began to purify my body.

From top to bottom, a cool stream of water gradually enveloped me, lifting me off the ground.

Yet, even though I was submerged in water, I didn’t feel uncomfortable, nor did I struggle to breathe.

When the water finally lowered me back down, I discovered that the dirt on my body was gone, and my clothes were clean, even though there were still many holes.

He looked at me, nodded with satisfaction, and smiled.

“Mmh, the result isn’t half bad.”

After finishing, he put away the bottle and produced a pile of clothes.

He rummaged through them for a long time, finally letting his gaze settle on an ice-blue garment.

For some reason, his expression changed.

Looking at that ice-blue clothing, his eyes inexplicably turned sorrowful, and his voice became much deeper.

“As for clothes… you should make do with this one for now…”

He handed me the ice-blue garment.

I took it with both hands; the material was exquisite, looking even better than what I had occasionally seen on the wealthy officials.

I couldn’t help but put the clothing on with anticipation.

He looked at me, smiled bitterly, and nodded.

“Mmh, not bad.”

“Big brother… what… is your name?”

“Chu Fan. ‘Chu’ for the Chu State, ‘Fan’ for ordinary.”

“I, I’m Shen Yuying! ‘Yu’ for jade, ‘Ying’ for crystal clear!”

“Yuying, what a good name. I’ve got it.”

Was it my imagination?

I felt that the moment he called my name, my heart skipped a beat.

But his smile was too bitter, and even though I was curious as to why, I felt I couldn’t just ask him right now.

“Let’s go. I, I will take you to find a restaurant again.”

“Okay.”

I don’t know where the courage came from, but I reached out to take his hand, walked out of the gloomy alley, and stepped into the sunlight.