The Sorrowmender

Chapter 29 – I want Ning Feng

The woman restrained her smile, becoming as composed as when they first met.

"What do you think women across the land seek from Mister?"

As she spoke, she picked up the purple clay teapot and refilled Xu Qingzhou's cup with hot tea. The sound of the tea pouring into the cup accompanied her words.

"Naturally, they come to relieve worries and dispel sorrows."

Xu Qingzhou tapped his index finger on the table, his eyes slightly narrowed, and replied with just one word.

"Yes."

The woman was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Mister doesn't ask questions and just says yes. Aren't you afraid that my worries might be beyond your help?"

"Since Lady has found me, I assume you've already heard about me from others. I don't think I need to repeat myself. There's no need to doubt; when I say yes, it means yes." Xu Qingzhou smiled calmly, exuding confidence.

"Mister truly is a remarkable person, so confident. It seems the rumors are true?"

Xu Qingzhou didn't mind, gently rotating the celadon cup with his right hand as the thick aroma of tea wafted into the air.

"Whether it's true or not, Lady will soon find out."

He took a sip, savoring the rich tea flavor, and continued, "But before that, I have a small request, and I hope Lady will agree."

The woman adjusted her black sleeve, her calm eyes full of curiosity, "Mister, please go ahead."

Xu Qingzhou put down the cup, his gaze casually glancing at Ning Feng, who stood behind him, before speaking to himself:

"Normally, I don't ask for anything in return when helping women relieve their worries. As for compensation, it's up to others to decide. If they give more, I accept it; if they give less, I don't mind. Everything is casual. By rights, I shouldn't be making a request to Lady."

"But today is different. I came to find Lady, not the other way around. So this opportunity was offered by me, and thus I must ask for some benefit. I believe Lady can understand."

He spoke at length, but it was just a roundabout way of explaining why he was making a request.

It made everything sound reasonable and logical.

Lady smiled faintly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she gazed at Xu Qingzhou, saying:

"Mister's words make sense, and I completely agree. So what does Mister want? Feel free to say it directly. I don't like beating around the bush; it's troublesome."

"Alright, Lady is straightforward, so I won't be a verbose scholar. I'll just say it: I want a person from Lady."

"Who?"

Xu Qingzhou raised his hand, his gaze and fingertip simultaneously falling on Ning Feng.

"I want him—Ning Feng."

Ning Feng's expression froze, his heart filled with joy. He hadn't expected Mister Forgetting Worries to fulfill his promise. Whether it would succeed or not was another matter, but he had indeed acted.

He held his breath, slightly lowering his head, yet occasionally glancing at his mistress with the corner of his eye, constantly observing her reaction. He was eagerly anticipating, anxiously hoping that Lady would grant his wish.

Even though he already had an answer in his heart.

He was merely a dispensable pawn, at most more useful than other pawns. Lady had traveled a long distance to seek Mister Forgetting Worries, clearly for something important.

So how this deal would be made, whether it would be made, was obvious to anyone with insight.

Thinking about the freedom he had longed for, which was about to arrive, he felt a bit at a loss.

Of course, knowing his mistress well, he was certain she wouldn't immediately agree.

Lady merely glanced at Ning Feng, then withdrew her gaze, resting her chin on her hand, her expression troubled, her tone wistful as she said:

"I have no shortage of people here, yet Mister has chosen the best one. It seems Mister truly likes Ning Feng."

"What, is Lady reluctant?" Seeing through her act, Xu Qingzhou teased.

A person's eyes can't lie. Even though the Lady before him was deep and hid her emotions well, her eyes told Xu Qingzhou that Ning Feng had a price, but it was definitely not high, at least not compared to what the woman before him wanted.

Raising her dark willow eyebrows, Lady's tone became somewhat somber.

"Of course, I'm reluctant. Ning Feng is in the Innate Realm, Ninth Layer, my most prized subordinate. If Mister takes him, who will protect me?"

Xu Qingzhou didn't mind, merely shaking his long sleeves, sitting up straighter, and gazing at Lady without avoidance, saying:

"What, does Lady not want to agree and intends to get free help from me?"

"Of course not. Why not ask for something else, like gold, jewels, or beautiful women—or all of them."

The woman before him was testing, testing whether Xu Qingzhou would persist.

Similarly, as a shrewd woman, she was always rational, maximizing benefits was ingrained in her subconscious.

Ning Feng wasn't important, but he was valuable, more so than the mundane things she mentioned.

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She kept her eyes on Xu Qingzhou's expression.

Ning Feng also slightly raised his head, secretly glancing at Xu Qingzhou. He didn't know if this chance acquaintance would persist for his sake, even though he couldn't find any reason to convince himself.

Xu Qingzhou opened his folding fan, leaning back, no longer modest, but with a hint of flamboyance.

"I only want Ning Feng. If Lady is unwilling to give him, then there is no fate between us. If there is no fate, then please seek another expert."

"Which is more important, whether to give this person or not, whether to relieve worries or not, is up to Lady."

Xu Qingzhou's words brought a brief silence to the scene, the atmosphere inexplicably tense, and the surrounding candle flames seemed to dim for some reason.

The maidservants were all anxious, worried about Xu Qingzhou's boldness. After all, the last person who dared speak to Lady like this was no longer in this world. They didn't know if Mister Forgetting Worries would be the next unjustly killed soul to report to the underworld.

Ning Feng's eyes darkened, in this eerie atmosphere, his hand involuntarily tightened around his sword.

Lady's shrewdness was expected, but Mister Forgetting Worries' determination was not.

A chance meeting, just a night's conversation, and a ten-mile journey together, yet Xu Qingzhou was making such a firm stand for him, leaving no room for retreat in his words.

His tone was clear: today, I want Ning Feng, if you don't give him to me, I won't relieve your worries.

What virtue or ability did he, Ning Feng, possess to be so favored by Mister, deeply moved, he silently vowed that if Lady made things difficult for Mister today, he would protect Mister with his life.

Lady's expression also turned unpleasant, her gaze shifting, yet she spoke in a low tone, fully displaying her authority, no longer the initial lighthearted and polite demeanor.

"Mister, don't forget, it was you who came to find me."

Her implication was clear: this is my territory, and in my place, some things are not up to you.

This was both a reminder and a warning.

How could Xu Qingzhou not understand? He remained calm and composed, gently waving his folding fan, his face unchanged, his eyes unflustered, instead carrying a playful smile, appearing particularly relaxed.

"May I understand Lady's words as a threat?"