The Sorrowmender

Chapter 28 – First Encounter at the Post Station

In the vast inn, nearly a hundred people were present, yet it was silent, with only the faint sound of breathing if one listened closely.

Even outside, not a single frog croaked, creating an inexplicably eerie atmosphere.

What is the meaning of "deep into the night," Xu Qingzhou thought. This was it, yet he felt inexplicably restless. No one dislikes silence, but this kind of silence was unsettling.

However, Xu Qingzhou was not idle. He used the system to probe the unusual auras around him.

There were about twenty individuals at the Innate Realm, including Ning Feng, and nearly a hundred at the Acquired Stage.

These visible and invisible presences were lurking around the inn, even on the rooftop of the three-story building, where many were stationed.

Such a scale, Xu Qingzhou admitted, he had never seen in Frostsky City.

This made him even more vigilant, but fortunately, the strongest seemed to be only Ning Feng, which was not much of a concern.

Moments later—

Light footsteps echoed from the third floor of the pavilion.

As the sound grew nearer, the maidservants and eunuchs around instinctively lowered their heads.

Xu Qingzhou also looked in the direction of the sound, just as a group of people reached the corner of the second-floor staircase.

The most striking among them was a woman at the forefront, draped in a dark golden robe, with long black hair cascading down to her waist like a lush waterfall.

Even from a distance, without seeing her face, Xu Qingzhou could sense an aura of nobility emanating from her.

When she faced him, Xu Qingzhou was involuntarily drawn to her presence.

Every move, every smile, exuded luxury and grace.

It was as if one instantly understood the true meaning of the phrase "elegant and noble."

Her face was like congealed cream, lips like peach blossoms, her features harmonious, commanding respect without anger.

Her eyes were calm as water, yet deep as an abyss. Xu Qingzhou thought to himself, this woman was not conventionally beautiful, not a stunning beauty, nor soul-stirring.

Yet, for some reason, her innate aura was captivating, making her the focal point of any crowd.

Simple, yet not simple at all, Xu Qingzhou thought, such a person must be a natural-born queen.

As the woman descended the stairs, her red lips parted, her voice as soft as an orchid, flowing like water, steady and profound.

"Mister Forgetting Worries, sorry to keep you waiting."

Xu Qingzhou recalled the countless short videos he had watched in his past life on Earth, the numerous elegant lady voices he had heard, but none compared to hers.

He instinctively stood up, straightened his posture, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, showcasing his manners, and said slowly:

"Xu greets the Lady."

The woman approached, extending a jade-like hand from her dark golden robe, gesturing towards a chair, "Mister, no need for formalities, please sit."

Xu Qingzhou followed suit, "Lady, please."

The two sat facing each other, exchanging smiles, but Xu Qingzhou remained silent, his gaze occasionally assessing the person before him.

Curious, indeed a word to describe her.

The woman was unfazed by Xu Qingzhou's scrutiny, maintaining her composure and grace.

She asked:

"Mister, you must be tired from your journey. Someone, quickly serve Mister some tea."

"Yes!"

Xu Qingzhou smiled faintly, "It's no trouble, having Brother Ning accompany me made it quite enjoyable."

The woman turned to look at Ning Feng behind her, "It seems Mister is quite satisfied with you, well done."

Receiving the woman's praise, Ning Feng bowed respectfully.

Soon, the tea was served, and Xu Qingzhou, feeling a bit thirsty, took a sip.

The woman also picked up the tea with her delicate fingers, gently blowing on it before taking a sip.

"If Mister wishes to look, why not do so openly? I am not afraid of being looked at, so why should Mister be so reserved?"

Her voice was light, yet it struck a nerve with Xu Qingzhou, making him momentarily stiff and somewhat embarrassed.

He quickly put down the tea and hurriedly explained, "Lady, please don't mind, I tried to restrain myself, but your appearance is too captivating, I couldn't help but steal a few glances. As the saying goes, 'see no evil,' I was impolite, and I apologize to the Lady."

The woman took a small sip of tea, then gently placed the cup down, adjusted her sleeves, sat up straighter, and asked Xu Qingzhou directly, her expression unchanged:

"I am aware of my appearance, it cannot compare to true beauties. Mister says I am too beautiful, but where does this beauty lie?"

Without hesitation, Xu Qingzhou replied with two words.

"Your aura."

"Aura?"

"Yes, it's your aura." He replied firmly, pausing briefly before continuing, "Beauty in this world comes in two forms: inner beauty and outer beauty."

"So Mister is saying I possess inner beauty?" The woman asked with a faint smile, posing a tricky question.

Even Ning Feng furrowed his brows slightly, knowing the Lady's unpredictable temperament. If Xu Qingzhou answered incorrectly, he had no idea what might happen.

The maidservants around them also seemed to hold their breath, their expressions anxious, making Xu Qingzhou feel it was exaggerated.

He shook his head, smiling calmly.

"No, the Lady's beauty is a third kind."

"Oh—please elaborate, Mister?"

The woman's interest was piqued by Xu Qingzhou's words, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Xu Qingzhou, confident in his response, praised, "The Lady's beauty is the embodiment of aura. While ordinary inner beauty remains within, yours overflows, even from several meters away, this aura is palpable."

"And it is precisely because of this that I couldn't help but take a few more glances."

"The Lady's beauty is like the heavenly peach adorned with dew, not just any ordinary flower."

The woman's eyes flickered with a momentary daze, even those around them listened in a haze, not fully understanding, yet simultaneously convinced of Mister Forgetting Worries' eloquence.

Sensing the change in his Lady's mood, Ning Feng relaxed his brows, thinking to himself, "Indeed, Mister is truly exceptional."

After a few moments, the woman regained her composure, looking at Xu Qingzhou, and asked earnestly.

"Does Mister truly believe this?"

"Naturally, Lady, do not forget, I am here to relieve the worries of women across the world. I have seen countless young ladies; if the Lady were ordinary, just a common beauty, how could I be tempted to steal a glance?"

His reasoning was sound, making it easy to believe, including the Lady before him.

She smiled slightly, covering her face as she laughed.

"Hehe—what Mister says, I find quite reasonable."

Her laughter seemed ordinary to Xu Qingzhou, but the maidservants around were bewildered, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

Being the Lady's personal maids, they knew more than Xu Qingzhou. In their memory, the Lady never laughed at men, except for the gravely ill city lord, and even then, it was a forced smile. Yet today, she genuinely laughed at Xu Qingzhou.

Xu Qingzhou merely let out a quiet sigh of relief. Her laughter indicated there was no issue, so he immediately said:

"Since the Lady has laughed, let's discuss the main matter. The Lady has sent for me multiple times, surely it's not just to have tea with me?"