"See that? The one who just swaggered into your master's pavilion is the Holy Maiden of our Qingyun Kingdom," Jun Jiu pointed at the towering pavilion and muttered to Zhao Shuning as she turned around.
"Do you know where this Holy Maiden comes from?"
No wonder. Master never accepts visits from these so - called honored guests with empty formalities. This time is an exception among exceptions.
"I don't know either. But everyone in our Qingyun Kingdom respects that woman. No one dares to say a single bad word about her."
"Is she really that good?"
"Yes. Since the Holy Maiden came to our Qingyun Kingdom, she has opened a medical clinic, treating patients and saving many lives."
"If she's treating patients, why don't they just go to an alchemist?"
"Zhao Shuning, you know how rare alchemists are, and their pills are so expensive. How could they treat so many patients? This Holy Maiden, she searches for those medicinal herbs and boils them into decoctions, which have cured many patients in our Qingyun Kingdom."
"Besides, she's the most approachable woman we've ever seen. She never decides whether to treat someone based on their social status. She treats everyone equally and is very kind. I think the legendary fairies should be just like her."
Seeing Jun Jiu's worshipful look, Zhao Shuning couldn't help but become curious about this legendary Holy Maiden.
Jun Jiu is quite sharp - tongued. If even she praises and respects someone so much, that person must have something extraordinary.
Just now, although Zhao Shuning didn't see clearly the person in the carriage, she somehow didn't find that aura repulsive.
"How old is the Holy Maiden of your Qingyun Kingdom?"
"Older than you."
"Such a useless answer."
"Zhao Shuning, how would I know the answer to a question like that? If you've got the guts, go and ask her yourself!"
"Pretty girl, go and ask for me."
"No way. I'm too scared."
"You're cowarding out at just the right moment."
Jun Jiu sized Zhao Shuning up and down. Her look was as if she could see right through Zhao Shuning.
"No good."
Then Jun Jiu shook her head thoughtfully.
This action really irritated Zhao Shuning.
"Who are you saying is no good?"
Jun Jiu replied, "Your figure is no good."
"What's wrong with me?"
"Your waist isn't thin enough, your legs aren't long enough, you're not tall enough, your chest is too flat, your eyes lack sparkle. Tsk, tsk, tsk - even your hair isn't as shiny as hers."
If Zhao Shuning's eyes hadn't started to turn terrifying, Jun Jiu would surely have come up with a whole lot more of her shortcomings.
Seeing Zhao Shuning's expression, Jun Jiu apologized with a smile, "But it's okay. You're still young. You can't compare with the Holy Maiden."
"Who said I want to compare with her?"
Jun Jiu compared Zhao Shuning's eyes and then pointed towards the pavilion.
"Zhao Shuning, look at yourself. Ever since the Holy Maiden went in, your eyes have been stealing glances up there. What? Are you afraid she'll steal your master?"
"What are you talking nonsense about!"
"You're getting defensive. You're smart about other things, but when it comes to your little girlish thoughts, you can't hide them from me. You think you've hidden them well? I'm with you every day. Whenever you see your master, your expression changes. Also, every day you drag me up to the pavilion. On the surface, it's to let me see the handsome young men, but in fact, it's because you want to see your master, right?"
Caught by Jun Jiu's words, Zhao Shuning didn't know how to refute for a moment.
"Say whatever you want."
Not long after, Xia Wanning appeared in front of the two of them.
The two quickly greeted, "Elder Xia."
"Miss Jun, I have something I'd like to ask you. I wonder if you're available now."
"Yes."
After nodding goodbye to Zhao Shuning, Jun Jiu left with Xia Wanning.
Looking at Xia Wanning's back, Zhao Shuning felt as if she saw the little girl lying in a pool of blood back then. She was so desperate.
She reached out her hand and called out to Ye Ling for help again and again.
Xia Wanning was an abandoned child of that mysterious organization. Because she was useless, the organization wanted to destroy her with their own hands. Xia Wanning's whole family also died at the hands of that mysterious organization.
Such a large family, and only a little girl was left.
Ye Ling could have just ignored it at that time, but she couldn't bear it.
After rescuing Xia Wanning from the pool of blood, Ye Ling took her back to the Eastern Ze Wilderness.
The little girl's eyes were so despairing. After Ye Ling saved her, her face was full of tears, and her voice choked with sobs.
"Please, save my father."
Such a Xia Wanning made Ye Ling feel heartache.
Ye Ling rescued Xia Wanning from the Xia Mansion. Later, Ye Ling changed her name but not her surname.
The reason Ye Ling asked Yan Ruyu to erase their memories was that Xia Wanning had nightmares every day for those few days, and the blood on her body wouldn't stop.
She said she wanted to forget everything. She wanted to start over. She couldn't bear such pain.
So, Ye Ling took those five desperate children to Yan Ruyu.
Without that painful memory, the five children have all been living well.
Zhao Shuning used to think she knew these five children well, but later she felt as if she didn't understand them at all.
Four years ago, because of Ji Qinglin's words, she also began to suspect Xia Wanning again.
But after that, Zhao Shuning kept an eye on her and found that Xia Wanning didn't do anything wrong. She was even very gentle to the alchemist disciples.
Zhao Shuning once thought that maybe she had just over - thought that matter.
She couldn't believe that Xia Wanning, who called her Sister Ling, would do such a thing.
"Xiaoning'er."
"Ah, brother, why are you here?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. I'm just curious about where this Holy Maiden came from today."
"By the way, brother, Elder Xia just took Jiujiu away."
"She probably wants to find out more about this Holy Maiden. When I went to Elder Xia's yard to look for her before, I saw her asking Jun Xuanmo about the Holy Maiden."
"Oh, I see."
The reason Xia Wanning went to the Jun family was that the Holy Maiden had entered Yan Ruyu's pavilion openly today and hadn't come out yet.
Her jealousy was much stronger than Zhao Shuning's.
In the evening, Jun Jiu came back.
Zhao Shuning was just about to go back after practicing her mental cultivation method when Jun Jiu called her.
"Zhao Shuning!"
"What's up?"
"I tell you, Elder Xia of your sect is really acting strange today."
Zhao Shuning replied absent - mindedly, "What's so strange about her?"
"She asked me about the Holy Maiden for a long time. I told her what I knew, but I found that she seemed a bit unhappy."
Zhao Shuning rolled her eyes.
"You didn't tell her all those things you said to me, did you?"
"I'm not crazy. How could I say those things to her? Zhao Shuning, listen to me. I think you should be more careful. Your master might be on someone else's mind."
Zhao Shuning nodded perfunctorily. Her mind was not on Xia Wanning at the moment.
Then, she looked towards the pavilion again.
It's almost evening. Why hasn't the Holy Maiden come out yet?