The market at the foot of the mountain was as bustling as ever, filled with endless cries of peddlers and hubbub.
As soon as Dongfang Qinlan got down the mountain, she was like a flying bird and disappeared completely. Dongfang Huaizhu sighed helplessly and had to start searching for her on her own.
The stalls here were a dazzling array, selling all kinds of things. Dongfang Huaizhu just glanced at them briefly. Seeing nothing she needed, she continued walking forward.
"Eh?"
She paused slightly, then quickly stepped up to a stall in front. Reaching out her hand, she picked up a sword on it. Dongfang Huaizhu murmured, "It really does look a bit like the Wangquan Sword."
"Miss, are you interested in this sword?"
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "This sword is very sharp. It only costs five taels of silver."
Dongfang Huaizhu tried the feel of it. Although she found it a bit unsatisfactory, she really liked the appearance of the sword, so she agreed to buy it.
After strolling around for a while, she happened to come across Dongfang Qinlan who was playing the ring - tossing game. Dongfang Huaizhu said helplessly, "Still playing? Let's go."
"Sister, did you buy a suitable sword?"
"I'm not sure."
She waved the sword in her hand and secretly curled her lips. "I bought one that looked pleasing to the eye. I couldn't find any others I liked. Since we've finally come down the mountain, let's stay here for a couple of days."
"Okay, but..."
Glancing at the gifts in the shopkeeper's arms beside her, Dongfang Qinlan gave a flattering smile. "Sister, I haven't had enough fun yet. How about you accompany me to play for a while longer?"
"Tomorrow then."
Dongfang Huaizhu was utterly helpless. This girl didn't even notice how much she had won. If she continued, this shopkeeper would surely go bankrupt.
Dongfang Qinlan, of course, always listened to her sister. She nodded in agreement. "Then I'll come and play again tomorrow."
The two found an inn to stay in. Dongfang Huaizhu once again devoted all her energy to sword - dancing. But after a whole day, not only did she fail to learn the essence of sword - dancing, but she also got herself all bruised and battered.
"Sigh..."
Looking at Dongfang Huaizhu's swollen wrists from practicing sword - dancing, Dongfang Qinlan said helplessly, "Sister, you're just asking for trouble. There are so many other things you could do with this time. Look at what you've done to yourself."
"Do you think I want to?"
After drinking several cups of tea in succession, Dongfang Huaizhu gasped slightly. "But this matter is very important to me. I must learn it."
Who would have known that although she saw those dancing girls dance with swords so effortlessly, and the sword wasn't made of stone, why was it so difficult for her?
"How about going back to the mountain villa and asking the dancing girls to teach you?"
"Forget it!"
Leaning back on the chair with her head tilted up, Dongfang Huaizhu secretly shook her head. "I'm afraid I just don't have the talent for sword - dancing, so I just can't learn it no matter what."
Seeing Dongfang Huaizhu like this, Qinlan felt really bad, but she didn't have any good ideas either.
Rolling her eyes, Qinlan suddenly grabbed Dongfang Huaizhu's hand. "Sister, let's go out for a stroll. You've been tired all day. We should relax. Maybe practicing sword - dancing tomorrow will yield twice the result with half the effort."
Dongfang Huaizhu didn't want to stifle herself either, so she nodded in agreement. "I'll also take a look to see if there's a suitable sword. Let's go."
The local market changed locations every day. Some people left and new ones came. The things on sale were different every day. Of course, this was also the reason why Dongfang Huaizhu decided to stay in an inn near here.
"It's strange. Why isn't that ring - tossing shopkeeper out today?"
Rubbing the tip of her nose, Dongfang Qinlan snorted. "I just won a bit more from him yesterday, and he doesn't come out today. It's really not right."
"Are you still talking about it!"
Dongfang Huaizhu was also extremely helpless. "You've almost won most of his family fortune. If you keep playing, will he have a way to live? Do you want to turn him into a beggar?"
Although a bit unconvinced, Dongfang Qinlan still nodded. "I admit you're right. Then let's take a look at other swords."
"Okay."
The two walked back and forth several times. Dongfang Huaizhu tried a lot of swords, but she couldn't find one that felt right for her. She couldn't help but feel depressed. "It seems I'll have to go back empty - handed today."
"The swords here are naturally no match for those in the Shenhuo Mountain Villa. Even if you come ten times, it'll be the same."
On the way back, Dongfang Qinlan asked curiously, "Sister, it seems you really like that Wangquan Baye, so you've been torturing yourself like this."
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Am I talking nonsense?"
Putting her hands on her hips, Dongfang Qinlan showed her dissatisfaction. "I've seen everything you've done. If it weren't for the Double - Seventh Festival, would you work so hard? I really don't know what you're thinking. Do you think he'll fall in love with you just because you perform sword - dancing for him?"
"..." What was this silly girl so excited about! She was just preparing for the appointment in advance. How come in this girl's eyes, it seemed like she was in love with Wangquan Baye?
Seeing Dongfang Huaizhu not saying a word, Dongfang Qinlan thought she had guessed right, so she got even angrier. "I'm hungry. I'll go back first."
"We're staying in the same room. You have to wait for me."
The two walked back to the inn one after another. They just sat there staring at each other. After an unknown amount of time, just when Dongfang Huaizhu felt she was about to fall asleep, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Come in."
The waiter smiled and said, "Two young ladies, someone is looking for you."
"Looking for me?"
The two sisters looked towards the door in unison. They saw a woman in the attire of Shenhuo Mountain Villa standing at the door. The woman smiled and said, "Senior Sister Huaizhu, Master asks you to go back. He has something important to discuss with you."
"Master?"
Dongfang Huaizhu and Qinlan glanced at each other. Qinlan pointed at herself and asked, "Feng Hua, didn't Master ask me to go back with you? Asking only Sister to go back alone. Could it be something big that he doesn't want me to know?"
"Senior Sister Qinlan is joking."
Feng Hua smiled. "I'm not really sure what it's about. Master just asked me to come and pick up Senior Sister Huaizhu. Senior Sister Huaizhu, please pack up and come back with me."
"Okay."
Her eyes flashed slightly, and Dongfang Huaizhu frowned. "Feng Hua, look, it's already dark. It's really not safe for us to travel at night. How about we start our journey tomorrow? Besides, you also need to rest, don't you?"
Hearing this, Feng Hua nodded without any suspicion. "Then you two senior sisters should rest well. I'll go and ask the innkeeper for a room."
"Okay."
Watching Feng Hua leave, the smile on Dongfang Huaizhu's face gradually faded. Dongfang Qinlan beside her couldn't help but ask curiously, "Sister, what's wrong? Why did you make an excuse to postpone going back?"
Sister's expression was so solemn. It seemed like something big was about to happen. Could it be that Sister knew the reason why Master asked them to go back, so she was so solemn?
"Nothing."
Shaking her head, Dongfang Huaizhu had a complicated and unfathomable look on her face.
According to the plot, was it time for that event next?