Chapter 4.3 the Jinxiu Workshop
After finishing their meal, the two bid farewell and left. Xu Jiaorong looked at her brother's expression and insisted that Xu Xian accompany the two girls home. Bai Suzhen could not refuse and followed Xu Xian out.
The West Lake's rippling water shone with a faint mist that spread over the surface, and fishing boats were visible through the mist. The sound of the boatman's chant could be heard from afar.
Bai Suzhen looked on with longing and said, "There is heaven above, and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. This is an earthly paradise that I have never seen before." Xu Xian suddenly asked, "Miss Bai, is this your first time at the dock? You came from Shu, so you should have disembarked here." Bai Suzhen was not good at lying and could only seek help from Xiaoqing.
Xiaoqing rolled her eyes at Xu Xian and said, "My mistress misses her relatives in Hangzhou and is in a hurry to get there. She thought the land route was faster than the waterway." Bai Suzhen nodded in agreement, "Yes, I think the carriage is faster than the boat."
Xu Xian nodded and continued to seek conversation, "I heard that the scenery in Jinghu, Hunan, Huainan, and Zhejiang is magnificent and beautiful. Miss Bai, can you tell me more about it?" Bai Suzhen secretly looked at Xiaoqing for help. Xiaoqing had not been to many places, so she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, indicating that she could not help.
Bai Suzhen thought hard and remembered the descriptions of the beautiful scenery in ancient poems. She began to recite them, hoping that she was not too far off. "Along the river, there are fertile lands, and flowers bloom everywhere, green grasses like a carpet. It's fascinating to see the flocks of migrating geese and cranes competing for food on the lake..."
Xu Xian frowned and stared at her beautiful face. "That's strange. You mentioned geese flying south, which only happens after the autumn equinox. But you also said there were blooming flowers and green grass, which only happens before the autumn equinox. I really have not seen flowers blooming everywhere after the autumn equinox except for chrysanthemums, hibiscus, and osmanthus."
Xiaoqing glared at Xu Xian indignantly. "You're just too ignorant." She then gestured with a spell and hit Xu Xian's feet. Xu Xian missed his step and fell into the nearby lake. Luckily, the water was not deep at the shore, but he was soaked and embarrassed.
Xiaoqing went over to help him and pretended to be concerned, "Oh, Xu Xiangong, are you alright? You were so engrossed in talking to my mistress that you didn't watch where you were going. That's so dangerous!"
Bai Suzhen was genuinely worried and asked, "Are you okay?"
Xu Xian climbed up the shore awkwardly and apologized, "Sorry, Miss Bai, for my rudeness."
Bai Suzhen said, "Doctor Xu, it's cold outside, and the water is even colder. You don't have to accompany me. Go back and change your clothes as soon as possible."
Xu Xian nodded and looked back at her reluctantly, "Okay, I'll take my leave now and visit you another day."
After Xu Xian disappeared around the corner, Bai Suzhen scolded Xiaoqing, "It's so cold outside, and you're using spells to play a trick on Doctor Xu. What if he catches a cold?"
Xiaoqing retorted, "If I didn't do that, he would follow us to Qingbo Gate, and we would be exposed. Besides, if you keep talking to him, he'll find out that something's not right."
Bai Suzhen realized the risk and worried, "What if he really comes to Qingbo Gate someday? What are we going to do?"
Xiaoqing looked around and saw a dilapidated mansion with the plaque "Chou Wang Fu" hanging above the gate covered in cobwebs. She was excited, "Don't worry, sister, we have this mansion given to us by fate. Let's go!"
The two of them walked hand in hand into Chou Wang Fu. The mansion was very spacious but rundown and desolate.
Bai Suzhen was concerned, "How can anyone live here?"
Xiaoqing gestured with a spell, pointing to the surroundings, "Of course, it's livable. Look, sister!"
The spell spread throughout Chou Wang Fu, and the dilapidated courtyard immediately transformed into a new one. The broken walls disappeared, replaced by rockeries and corridors, and the sound of flowing water.
Bai Suzhen smiled, "It's just an illusion. Let me help you decorate it."
She gestured with a spell, and the lifeless courtyard burst into life, and dead trees sprouted new branches, flowers bloomed, and birds flew among the branches.
Xiaoqing praised her, "Sister, you are so talented. I can't create living things like you. Unfortunately, we have to get rid of the centipede demon if we want to settle down here."
Bai Suzhen nodded, "We must find them as soon as possible, but it won't be easy."
As they were talking, a voice suddenly sounded, "Who are you looking for?"
Bai Suzhen turned around, surprised, and rushed over. "Jingsong!"
Jingsong stood tall and handsome in his flowing robes, leaning against a rockery, smiling at Bai Suzhen with burning eyes.
Xiaoqing felt uncomfortable seeing their familiarity and pushed a chair in front of Jingsong. "Sit down."
Jingsong politely said, "Ladies first."
Xiaoqing put on a master's attitude and said intentionally, "As a guest, you should sit first. Our humble abode is not well-equipped, and my sister and I are not good hosts."
Jingsong smiled and said, "No worries. I have known Suzhen for a thousand years and have always considered her as family. She has been taken care of by Xiaoqing for these few days, and I am grateful to her."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoqing immediately became angry and stared at Jingsong, "Your Suzhen? Who...who asked you to thank me! My sister and I are both snakes and have been a family for five hundred years."
Jingsong chuckled and raised his eyebrows, "Five hundred years ago? Xiaoqing, you were probably still an egg then."
This was the first time Xiaoqing had been defeated, and she angrily said, "You!"
The birds on the branches were chirping, making the yard noisy, and the two of them glared at each other like fighting roosters.
Bai Suzhen frowned and came out to mediate, "Alright Jingsong, don't tease Xiaoqing anymore. We just moved here today. How did you find us?"
Proudly, Jingsong raised his eyebrows, "Have you forgotten who I am? All the rats in the world are my ears and eyes. There is nothing that I, Jingsong, cannot find out."
Bai Suzhen's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "That's great. We have an urgent matter that we need your help with."
Without hesitation, Jingsong guessed what she was thinking, "You want me to help you find the centipede spirit in Lin'an City, right?"
Bai Suzhen nodded, "You really know everything. Please help us find out where the centipede spirit is hiding."
Jingsong put away his folding fan and said solemnly, "No, you must not get involved in this matter. I came to Lin'an City to take you back to Emei Mountain. The centipede spirit has profound cultivation and is no match for us."
Bai Suzhen was anxious, "The centipede spirit has captured many children in Lin'an City. I must rescue them first."
Jingsong knew her temper and patiently said, "Mortal people often say that those who are not of our kind have different hearts. Doing good deeds may not necessarily earn you good results. The world is so cruel to demons. Is it worth risking your life to save these people?"
Shaking her head, Bai Suzhen retorted, "What good is my cultivation if I don't save lives?"
Xiaoqing deliberately argued with Jingsong, "Yes, what's the point of being afraid of danger? I support my sister. Don't listen to this narrow-minded rat!"
Jingsong glared at Xiaoqing, and she provocatively raised her eyebrows at him.
Jingsong sneered, "It's easy to talk big, but what about your strength? How many years have you been cultivating?"
Xiaoqing retorted, "Ha! I know your cultivation is high, but what's the use of that? You're still afraid of death and won't help. No wonder mortals say 'as timid as a mouse.' Sister, we shouldn't count on a rat."
Jingsong finally got angry, "I'm not an ordinary rat. I am the golden rat under the Buddha's throne. Show some respect when you speak to me!"
Xiaoqing smiled provocatively, "What's wrong? Do you want to fight? I'll accompany you!"
Seeing that both sides were about to argue, Bai Suzhen sighed and had to mediate, "Xiaoqing, you have misunderstood Jingsong. Jingsong values loyalty and I have a life-long friendship with him. He will never stand by and watch. Right, Jingsong?"
Jingsong's expression softened, and he asked, "If I didn't come today, how were you planning to save those children?"
"I would have found a way to lure the centipede spirit out and deal with it!" Bai Suzhen replied.
Jingsong frowned and exclaimed, "Are you crazy? You only have a thousand years of cultivation and yet you dare to confront it head-on?"
Bai Suzhen spread out her hands, "I have no choice."
Jingsong shook his head, "I'm really afraid for you. Alright, I'll help you find the centipede spirit. But you must promise me to follow my lead in the next move."
Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing looked at each other with surprise and joy. Xiaoqing sneered and said, "Who said we must follow your lead? You should first let us sniff out your plan and see if it's rotten or not."
Bai Suzhen secretly apologized for Xiaoqing's rudeness and Jingsong smiled knowingly, showing no offense.
The breeze blew and petals fell like rain, landing on the three of them.
Xiaoqing saw that Jingsong kept staring at Bai Suzhen and said dissatisfied, "Jingsong, don't ogle at the beauty."
Jingsong used his fan to flick off the petals on his clothes and raised his eyebrows, "If I don't smile at the beauty, should I smile at you?"
Bai Suzhen watched as the two of them bickered again and took out the Jiaozhu from her sleeve, handing it to Jingsong.
"This pearl is worn by Changsheng. He is my good friend. Please do your best."
Jingsong nodded solemnly, "Of course."
He opened his palm, and a small round golden rat appeared, holding the Jiaozhu in its tiny paws and sniffing it.
Jingsong ordered, "Go and find the owner of this pearl for me."
He let go, and the golden rat shot out like an arrow.
Late at night, when the streets of Lin'an were deserted, tens of thousands of rats came out of their holes and scattered in all directions.