Chapter 4: Shen Tang
Sheng Yuanyao thought she hadn't caught up with Lu Xingzhou after descending the mountain, and was still puzzled why the Little Daoist pushed the wheelchair so fast… In fact, Lu Xingzhou was still halfway down the mountain; she had overshot him.
Halfway down the mountain, the Master and disciple saw a woman sitting alone in a wheelchair on the cliffside, where a western fork in the road led, quietly gazing at the distant setting sun in a daze.
Her demeanor was desolate and melancholic, and the wheelchair was very close to the edge of the cliff, looking as if it could fall at any moment.
The Little Daoist walked slower and slower, turning his head back at every step to look at the woman's back.
Lu Xingzhou's face was expressionless: "What's wrong now?"
The Little Daoist's chubby face twitched: "Master, is that Older Sister going to commit suicide?"
Lu Xingzhou turned his head to look. From behind, the woman indeed looked like she had no desire to live, but he still said: "What does that have to do with you?"
The Little Daoist pleaded: "She's also in a wheelchair, and all alone, so pitiful…"
"So you've always thought Master was very pitiful?"
The Little Daoist patted his chest: "Master isn't alone! Master has me!"
"It's precisely because I have a little thing like you that Master is pitiful."
The Little Daoist's chest-patting motion paused, his expression filled with resentment.
Lu Xingzhou wanted to laugh at the cute sight, but in the end, he didn't say anything to object. The Little Daoist then understood his meaning and happily pushed the wheelchair, rushing over.
Shen Tang sat by the cliff, quietly watching the glow of the sky, seemingly lost in thought. A cold telepathic message, from an unknown source, quietly entered her ear: "Bai Chi has become the chief Alchemist of the Danxia Gang, and the former Alchemist Lu Xingzhou has been expelled. Should Bai Chi be executed on the spot?"
Shen Tang's lips moved slightly, seemingly soundless, but in reality, her voice carried far: "How is that Lu Xingzhou?"
"His cultivation is ordinary, and he has a disability, but he seems to have a secret. As for his Alchemy skill, it appears to be on par with Bai Chi's."
Shen Tang pondered for a moment: "For now, don't consider killing anyone. You and I have just arrived in Xia Province, so we shouldn't cause too much of a stir, and don't cause trouble for Yuanyao."
At this point, the communication stopped, as she had already sensed someone approaching from behind.
Soon, she heard a gentle male voice: "Young Lady, please move aside, you're blocking my way."
Shen Tang looked back, focusing on the wheelchair and Lu Xingzhou's legs for a long time, finding it quite interesting: "This is a cliff, where is there a path? You're not suggesting I'm blocking your way to commit suicide, are you?"
"Yes." Lu Xingzhou said: "Or would you like to queue? You first, Young Lady. If I jump down after you, I could merge with a beauty, which seems like a good deal."
Shen Tang was slightly taken aback. Her gaze then fell on the Little Daoist's face, half-peeking from behind the wheelchair. The Little Daoist blinked, seemingly sympathetic.
Shen Tang found it amusing. It seemed this Master and disciple had misunderstood something… Lu Xingzhou's words sounded like teasing, but upon closer thought, he was subtly trying to prevent her from jumping off the cliff.
He himself had just been expelled, yet he had the good heart to meddle in others' affairs.
Thinking of this, Shen Tang's eyes shifted slightly, and she chuckled: "Then why are you seeking death? Is it because you were just expelled from the Danxia Gang like a stray dog, and your heart is as good as dead?"
Lu Xingzhou sighed: "You know?"
"Because I followed Bai Chi here. Now he's staying, and you've come out. As for your identity, the wheelchair is too easy to recognize, isn't it?"
"And what about you, Young Lady? Why are you like this in the prime of your life?"
Shen Tang also sighed: "Because the Alchemist Bai Chi, whom I painstakingly hired, was poached as soon as he arrived in Xia Province. Don't you think me jumping down here would cause some trouble for the Danxia Gang?"
Both paused, then suddenly smiled at the same time.
Their experiences in this matter were strongly related, and they were both in wheelchairs, which was quite a fate .
Lu Xingzhou also realized his first impression was a misunderstanding. This woman looked desolate, but she was definitely not here to jump off a cliff. She probably came here to try and win Bai Chi back or for similar reasons. Logically, she should also have a attendant to push her wheelchair, but for some unknown reason, the attendant was not present at the moment, and she was just waiting here for someone.
"If your attendant isn't here, sitting alone in a wheelchair so close to the edge of the cliff is very dangerous. If you slip, you'll regret it." Lu Xingzhou gestured to the Little Daoist.
The Little Daoist scurried over. Seeing that the other party had no intention of preventing his approach, he immediately became happy, pulled the wheelchair back several feet, and turned it around, directly facing Lu Xingzhou.
Before, when she looked back to speak, he could only see a profile. Now, facing her directly, Lu Xingzhou realized how truly beautiful this woman was.
Without makeup, her features were still as picturesque as if painted, and her skin was like congealed cream. Although she was in a wheelchair, her slight smile at this moment made her appear gentle and graceful, giving a very comfortable first impression. In terms of her dignified demeanor alone, let alone some gang's Young Miss Liu Yan'er, even Sheng Yuanyao, who came from the capital with a considerable background, seemed a notch weaker in comparison.
The sun was gradually setting, and the sky was filled with a glow, reflecting on the woman, adding three points of mysterious and ethereal charm, like a goddess descending to the mortal world.
Shen Tang was also observing Lu Xingzhou, secretly marveling. Both were in wheelchairs, both had the aura of a Young Master or Young Miss from a prominent family; they could almost see gender-swapped versions of themselves in each other.
The Little Daoist exclaimed: "Older Sister is so beautiful…"
Lu Xingzhou chuckled: "You call everyone beautiful. Just now you called Sheng Yuanyao a beautiful Older Sister."
The Little Daoist mumbled: "She really is beautiful though…"
Shen Tang smiled slightly: "Little Sister, you will be more beautiful than anyone in the future."
The Little Daoist brightened: "Really? Master says I'm fat."
Shen Tang: "…"
Lu Xingzhou couldn't be bothered with him and said to Shen Tang: "There aren't many eighth-grade high-tier Alchemists in Xia Province, but outside, they're as common as ox hair. Being poached for a Bai Chi is not a big deal, Young Lady, there's no need to dwell on it. Well, I see that you are not someone who would commit suicide. I misunderstood earlier, so let's part ways here."
The Little Daoist reluctantly pushed the wheelchair, taking a long time to turn back.
This Older Sister is so beautiful and gentle!
Shen Tang smiled: "I thought you would offer your services."
"Why would you think that?"
"Wouldn't it be good? The Danxia Gang poached Bai Chi from me and expelled you. If you come to me and achieve something, suppressing the Danxia Gang and making them regret it immensely, wouldn't that be satisfying?"
"There are many ways to get revenge. Making someone regret losing you is just something you women like to use."
Shen Tang paused, not knowing what she was thinking, and remained silent in contemplation.
"Even if you just want to make someone regret, there are many ways, and you don't necessarily have to gamble your own future." Lu Xingzhou smiled: "So if you sincerely invite me, I hope to discuss more practical matters. For example, let's talk about your current situation, goals, and the treatment you'll offer me. So far, I don't even know your name, Young Lady, so why would you think I would offer my services to a force I know nothing about?"
"I was presumptuous." Shen Tang looked Lu Xingzhou up and down: "Your Excellency… you don't seem like a Young Man."
"No choice." Lu Xingzhou turned his head and reached out to pinch his Little Daoist's cheek, smiling very gently: "After all, a man who has to support a family doesn't have the luxury of acting on impulse."
The Little Daoist rubbed his face resentfully: "You clearly said I was fat."
Shen Tang found it amusing, but quickly composed herself, her expression returning to the desolation she had at their first meeting. She whispered: "My name is Shen Tang. I was originally the Young Lord of the Tianxing Sword Sect in Yong Province. A month ago, our Sect offended someone, suffering heavy casualties, even my Master… Only I remain, leading the remnants to Xia Province, under the guise of traveling merchants."
"Why choose Xia Province?"
"There aren't many options for a remote place that can avoid enemies and also has good medical conditions to try and treat my leg."
"You trust me so much, aren't you afraid I'll spread the word?"
"We sincerely invite Mr. Lu, so we can't hide our origins." Shen Tang smiled: "I believe Mr. Lu also has no need to betray me."
Lu Xingzhou was noncommittal, staring at her leg for a while: "Was your leg broken in a previous conflict?"
"Yes." Shen Tang said calmly: "From the perspective of Sect development, our Sword Sect also lacks Alchemy talents, which is a bit biased, so we are seeking… Your Young Master's concerns are correct; we are like stray dogs and outsiders, and our conditions are much worse than the Danxia Gang's. If you are unwilling to come, we cannot blame you, we can only say there is no fate. If you are willing, I am willing to pay you double the salary the Danxia Gang offered, and establish you as the Master of the Alchemy Hall, with all authority over Alchemy and medicine production."
These conditions were quite good. Why was Lu Xingzhou not called a Hall Master in the Danxia Gang before, but only the chief Alchemist? Because the Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall was actually Liu Yan'er, even if she didn't manage affairs. After all, a Hall Master is a high-ranking official in a Sect, and it's impossible to just give it to an outsider; there must be a period of assessment. Liu Qingcang's approach was also reasonable. This Shen Tang directly gave him this position, showing great sincerity.
Lu Xingzhou, however, was not swayed: "Your Sect has powerful enemies outside, and the situation is unpredictable… Please forgive me, but I have a child to care for, and I won't stand under a crumbling wall, even if you made me a Sect Master, it would be meaningless."
Shen Tang sighed and nodded, then simply called out towards the mountains: "Qingli, let's go back."
A figure flickered, and a white-clad young woman appeared beside her, emotionlessly supporting the wheelchair and pushing it directly past Lu Xingzhou and his disciple, without even glancing at Lu Xingzhou.
Lu Xingzhou blinked, and the Master and disciple simultaneously turned their heads, their gazes following Qingli.
The young woman had white hair, slightly blue eyes, skin as white as snow, and an unparalleled coldness. Having been reincarnated for nineteen years, he had seen many demons, but this was the first time he had seen such a two-dimensional human in this world!
Shen Tang was explaining to Lu Xingzhou with some apology: "Qingli has a cold temperament, Mr. Lu, please don't mind her rudeness."
Lu Xingzhou stared at Qingli for a long time, then suddenly said: "Listening to you, it sounds like you've just arrived. Do you have a place to stay?"
Shen Tang was startled: "Temporarily staying at an inn, currently looking for a suitable place."
Lu Xingzhou showed all eight of his neat white teeth: "Joining your Sect isn't very convenient… But I can be a landlord for your Sect, what do you think?"
The two women and the Little Daoist looked at Lu Xingzhou with very strange expressions.
Even if he was just a landlord, that would still be standing under a crumbling wall… In a storyteller's tale, wouldn't this be called looking down on the Young Miss, but taking a fancy to the maid?