The Sorrowmender

Chapter 7 – What is fast!

After explaining to Miss Wang and taking her upstairs to see the Little Beggar Girl, the misunderstanding between the two was finally resolved.

Although the other party was just a six-year-old child, there was still a difference between men and women, and Xu Qingzhou dared not overstep the boundaries.

Wang Dong'er fetched a basin of hot water to clean the Little Beggar Girl's wounds, then found a clean set of clothes from Wang Er for her to change into.

Looking at the little figure lying on the bed, she gently brushed aside the hair from her forehead and held her hand, which was full of new and old frostbitten wounds.

She softly murmured, "So delicate, yet so unfortunate. You've suffered a lot, haven't you?"

After tucking the girl in, Miss Wang went downstairs and sat across from Xu Qingzhou, who was still drinking.

"All done?" Xu Qingzhou took a sip of his wine and asked.

"Yes, she's cleaned up, and her wounds are treated. What do you plan to do next?"

"What else can I do? Everything happens for a reason. Since she drew the lucky number, it means she's destined to be with me. If she's willing, she can stay. Having an extra hand around isn't a bad thing." He answered evasively.

Upon hearing this, Miss Wang's face showed a hint of urgency. She placed her hands on the table and leaned towards Xu Qingzhou.

"I'm not talking about the girl. I'm asking what you plan to do about offending Zhang Meilan."

Xu Qingzhou looked at her beautiful face with suspicion but replied indifferently, "As long as she doesn't provoke me, I won't bother with her."

What status do I have? What status does she have? Naturally, I won't stoop to her level."

Seeing his nonchalant attitude and teasing tone, Miss Wang's fiery temper flared up. She stood up, hands on her hips, and scolded him, "How can you not understand what I'm saying? Do you think I'm joking with you? Do you know who Zhang Meilan's brother is?

Zhang Erhe, Scholar Zhang, a tyrant in Frostsky City, fiercely protective of his own. You hit his sister; he won't let it go easily. I heard he has Innate Realm experts in his household. Killing you would be child's play, you know?"

Listening to her anxious words and reprimands, Xu Qingzhou didn't feel any resentment. Instead, he was a bit touched, knowing that Wang Dong'er was worried about him.

He comforted her, "Don't worry. He wouldn't dare kill me. It's not a big deal."

"He's a favorite of the city lord. Why wouldn't he dare to kill you? You may have some fame now, but don't you understand that civilians can't fight officials?"

Miss Wang continued, pacing back and forth in the room, worried about Xu Qingzhou's attitude towards the matter.

"In my opinion, you should go and apologize. I happen to know the Zhang family's butler, and we might be able to talk. We can spend some money, visit them, apologize sincerely, and offer compensation to resolve the issue. How about it?"

She looked at Xu Qingzhou, her eyes carrying a hint of pleading, though her words were almost commanding. This might be the only solution she could think of to resolve the matter.

Xu Qingzhou propped his chin with one hand, holding a wine cup in the other, occasionally swirling it, his eyes narrowed into crescents, and he remained silent, always with a faint smile on his lips.

Seeing him unmoved, Miss Wang furrowed her delicate brows, snatched the cup from his hand, and slammed it down in front of her.

Bang—

"Why are you just staring at me? Say something—yes or no?"

Xu Qingzhou sighed helplessly.

"Ah... such good wine spilled, what a pity. You might not know my strength. Forget about Scholar Zhang or any Innate Realm experts. They better not cause trouble for me, or else..."

He paused, took back the wine she had taken, drank it all, and then a cold glint appeared in his eyes as he continued to smile, "I'll make sure there's no Zhang family left in Frostsky City."

Miss Wang instinctively froze, meeting Xu Qingzhou's gaze, which was as deep as a dark pool. She felt a suffocating chill emanate from her heart, enveloping her entire body.

At that moment, Xu Qingzhou seemed like a different person to her, with a sinister smile and a grayness in his eyes that sent shivers down her spine.

Her eyes remained dazed, speechless for a long time.

Xu Qingzhou noticed her unusual reaction and quickly added, "Alright, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. It'll be fine."

"Forget it, I won't bother with you anymore. Take care of yourself."

Miss Wang, snapping back to reality, stomped her foot, lowered her head, and hurriedly left the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries.

Facing the swirling snow, her steps were always swift.

She muttered curses under her breath, "Selfish and arrogant fool, you'll suffer sooner or later. I don't care about you; we have nothing to do with each other..."

Though she said this, her heart thought otherwise, and the worry and concern between her brows were the best explanation.

Listening to her footsteps fade away, Xu Qingzhou's lips curled slightly.

"She's got character. I like it."

He squinted his eyes, letting the wind and snow from outside fill the hall, oblivious to it.

He picked up the wine jug on the table and poured himself another cup, speaking to the empty space outside the room.

"Since you're here, why not come in for a drink?"

As his words fell, snowflakes gently dropped from the eaves.

Moments later, a figure descended from the rooftop onto the long street, walking through the wind and snow to the door.

Xu Qingzhou looked up, seeing a man.

The man wore a black velvet coat, a bamboo hat on his head, and as he stood at the doorway, the large room instantly darkened by three degrees.

Half of his face was obscured by the hat's brim, revealing a chin covered in stubble, full of ruggedness.

He held a three-foot-long sword in his hand, unsheathed, yet its chill was palpable.

"Mister Forgetting Worries is indeed not just a name. To detect my presence is unexpected."

The newcomer's voice was low, heavy, filled with danger and killing intent.

Xu Qingzhou chuckled, "Haha... you're too kind."

"Since Mister has discovered me, I'll be straightforward. You've offended someone you shouldn't have, so I've come to relieve your worries by borrowing your head."

Xu Qingzhou put down his cup, gazing at the man with a playful smile in his eyes.

"Everyone in Frostsky City knows my Pavilion of Forgetting Worries only ferries young ladies, not men. So your worries, I can't and won't relieve."

Hearing this, the black-clothed person slightly raised his head, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

He gripped the sword hilt, "In that case, I'll have to take it myself."

He was about to draw his sword when Xu Qingzhou's voice interrupted him.

"When friends come, there's good wine. When wolves come, there's a fist. You're merely at the first level of the Innate Realm. I advise you not to draw your sword, or the consequences might be more than you can bear."

The black-clothed person hesitated, his hand paused, eyes filled with confusion and doubt, forcing him to reassess Xu Qingzhou.

The other party showed no signs of cultivation, at most an Acquired Body Refining Stage, yet he could detect his presence and even discern his realm. Could his realm be higher?

He confirmed multiple times, concluding that Xu Qingzhou had no cultivation.

He thought it must be a coincidence. After all, he had seen many scholars like Xu Qingzhou, who, thinking themselves clever, loved to put on airs.

He also let out a cold snort, "Ha!" slightly bending his knees, preparing to draw his sword again.

"Entrusted by others, I must be loyal. Rest assured, my sword will be swift and painless."

Shing—

As he spoke, the sword was drawn, its sharp light reflecting a chilling gleam, dazzlingly bright.

Xu Qingzhou didn't hesitate. As the other drew his sword, he raised his right hand from his waist, revealing a black object in his grasp as his sleeve fell away.

In a flash, sparks erupted from his palm.

"Bang~"

A loud noise echoed, shaking the surroundings.

The man's sword fell from his hand, blood staining the snow beneath the eaves, and he collapsed with a thud.

Xu Qingzhou casually raised his right hand to his lips, exhaling a breath.

"Whoosh—was it fast?"

His eyes were full of contempt, disdainfully saying: "Beyond seven steps, I'm invincible."

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