Legend Management Bureau Chapter 163

[ … words ]

“Sister Qianqiu, how are things on their end?” Du Yu asked Dong Qianqiu as he sprinted toward Hangzhou City.

“It looks pretty good. Bai Suzhen is currently channeling her energy to heal Medusa’s injuries,” Dong Qianqiu replied.

“That is great news,” Du Yu said with a smile. “I finally managed to light this ‘fire’ for them.”

“Where are you heading now?” Dong Qianqiu asked.

“I need to figure out a way to meet my ‘master.’ Oh, right… Sister Qianqiu.”

“What is it?”

“Do you have a wig over there?”

“A wig?” Dong Qianqiu paused in surprise. “What do you need a wig for?”

“Sigh! This outfit is just too conspicuous. No matter where I go, people will instantly recognize me as a monk from Jinshan Temple. I want to get a wig so I can disguise myself when necessary and help push the plot forward.”

Hearing this, Du Yu came to a halt, though he had no idea what he was waiting for.

It did not take long for the space before him to distort. Zhan Qisheng appeared, standing in front of Du Yu with an impatient expression and holding a wig in his hand.

“I never thought there would come a day when I would become a delivery boy,” Zhan Qisheng grumbled. He tossed the wig into Du Yu’s arms and turned away.

“Old Zhan, what kind of attitude is that?! Watch out, I will file a complaint and give you a bad review!”

“Go ahead and give it. You think I am scared of you?”

In less than five seconds, Zhan Qisheng had come and gone. ‘Things really are much more convenient now,’ Du Yu thought to himself. ‘Everyone’s strengths are being put to good use.’

Du Yu picked up the wig and inspected it. It was a bit ugly, but at least it would serve as a disguise.

He placed the wig on his head, tucked away the Buddhist prayer beads hanging around his neck, and dashed toward Hangzhou City.

…

“Little sister, I have regulated your meridians. How do you feel now?” Bai Suzhen asked Medusa.

“Commoner, you did quite well.” Medusa felt much more comfortable. “However, compared to my Holy Light attendants, it is still a bit lacking.”

“Holy… Light… attendants?” Bai Suzhen offered an awkward smile, completely unable to see through the green snake before her.

“If you still feel unwell, we can head into Hangzhou City and have a local physician take a look.”

“A physician…?” Medusa pondered this carefully for a moment. “Can they heal our wounds?”

“Yes. I have already treated your internal injuries, but for your external flesh wounds, we still need some mortal medicine. Why do we not go to Hangzhou City and have a look?”

“Very well.” Medusa nodded slightly and stood up.

Bai Suzhen waved her sleeve and took to the air, riding the wind. Suddenly, wings sprouted from Medusa’s feet, and she followed closely, flying toward the city.

Glancing back, Bai Suzhen saw the pair of wings on Xiaoqing’s feet and found it quite extraordinary.

But upon further reflection, considering her immense family background, she likely possessed many rare and special magical artifacts. With that in mind, Bai Suzhen no longer found it strange.

“Little sister… could you please stop calling me ‘commoner’?” Bai Suzhen asked tentatively. “Even though your family is powerful and you may look down on rogue cultivators like us, since you have acknowledged me as your older sister, you should really just call me ‘Sister.'”

“Fine,” Medusa agreed reluctantly.

…

Upon entering Hangzhou City, Du Yu immediately asked Dong Qianqiu about Shiranui Asuka’s whereabouts. According to Dong Qianqiu, Ah Xiang was currently working as an apprentice at an apothecary called the Rejuvenation Hall. Du Yu asked around for directions and soon arrived at the shop.

Pushing open the door, he saw a short, plump old man clicking away at an abacus behind the counter. Behind the man was a dazzling array of medicine drawers.

“Oh, dear customer, are you here to fill a prescription?” the plump old man asked Du Yu with a face full of smiles.

“Not exactly… I am here looking for someone…”

“Looking for someone?” The plump old man scrutinized Du Yu’s face in confusion. Certain he did not recognize this young man, he asked, “There are only a few people working in my humble shop. Who might you be looking for, sir?”

“I do not know what name she is going by…” Du Yu scratched his head. “Anyway, she is a clumsy brat.”

“Ah!!” The plump old man immediately caught on. “You must be looking for ‘Xiang Yatou,’ right? Did she cause trouble for you, sir? Please allow me to apologize on her behalf!”

“Pfft!” Du Yu almost burst out laughing. What the hell was ‘Xiang Yatou’?

“Xiang Yatou! Come out here!” the plump old man shouted toward the back room. “Someone is here for you! Hurry up and see if you caused trouble again!”

Shiranui Asuka lifted the curtain from the back room, peering out with a confused expression. Her face was covered in black soot, as if she had just been tending to a fire.

“Huh?!” Shiranui Asuka gasped in surprise. “Senior Du Yu!!”

“You really are here!” Du Yu smiled and walked over to her. She had changed into the plain clothes of a common village girl, but her features remained as delicate and adorable as ever.

“I am utterly exhausted!” Shiranui Asuka complained. “Why is tending the fire and brewing medicine so tiring…? Just where exactly did you guys drop me…”

Du Yu hurriedly stepped forward and clamped a hand over her mouth. “Ah Xiang, watch what you say.”

“Oh, right, right!” Realizing her slip of the tongue, Shiranui Asuka nodded frantically.

“Sir, so you are an acquaintance of Xiang Yatou?” the plump old man said. “Could I ask you to take this girl away…? She has already burned through so much of my medicinal stock.”

Du Yu furrowed his brows. He genuinely had some questions about all this.

Why had Ah Xiang inexplicably become an apprentice at this apothecary? Was there something special about this place?

“Shopkeeper, I am Ah… I am Xiang Yatou’s older brother. The two of us are hopelessly destitute. If I take her away, she will starve to death. Please be kind and continue to take her in.”

The plump shopkeeper looked troubled, casting a look of extreme disdain at Shiranui Asuka. ‘How did I ever manage to take in such a troublemaking girl?’ he wondered to himself.

Just as the three of them were locked in this stalemate, a violent fit of coughing drifted out from the back room.

A handsome, scholarly young man pushed aside the curtain and stepped out. Du Yu found him somewhat familiar.

“Xiang Yatou! Just how much firewood did you throw in?! Cough, cough, cough!”

“Oh no! Brother Xu, what is wrong?” Shiranui Asuka asked anxiously. “I threw in all the firewood I could see!”

Du Yu froze. Brother Xu?

It seemed this apothecary really did have a significant background!

“Shopkeeper, who is this…?”

“Oh, sir, this is my humble shop’s other apprentice, Xu Hanwen,” the plump shopkeeper said, waving at Xu Xian. “Little Xu, come over here and meet Xiang Yatou’s older brother.”

Du Yu nodded silently. Xu Xian, courtesy name Hanwen. It was definitely him.

“Oh?!” Hearing that this man was Xiang Yatou’s brother, Xu Xian’s eyes immediately lit up. “This humble one… greets his future brother-in-law.”

“No need for such formalities, Little Xu…” Du Yu furrowed his brows. “Wait, what did you just call me?”

“Hehe, brother-in-law,” Xu Xian chuckled shyly.

“Forgive me for asking, but what do you mean by ‘brother-in-law’?” Du Yu demanded.

Shiranui Asuka also looked at Xu Xian in confusion. She was still a bit hazy on Chinese titles of address.

“Ah! ‘Brother-in-law’ is the term of respect for a ‘wife’s older brother’!” Xu Xian explained with a smile.

“That is not what I meant…” Du Yu was about to respond normally when he suddenly froze. “Wait, who the hell is your wife?!”

Shiranui Asuka also realized what he meant. “That is right, Brother Xu! It is very rude to say such things!”

“Hehehehe, it is not rude at all. A man has to take the initiative.” Xu Xian turned around and grabbed Shiranui Asuka’s hand. “Xiang Yatou, I already know your true feelings. Do not worry.”

Shiranui Asuka quickly snatched her hand back. “True feelings?! What true feelings?!”

“Hehe, Sister Xiang, must you make me say it out loud? How embarrassing!”

Du Yu suddenly felt that this Xu Xian was acting quite bizarre. He hurriedly stepped in front of Shiranui Asuka to shield her. “Xu Xian!… Let me make this clear right now. Do not get any ideas about my sister, and there is no way my sister has any ‘true feelings’ for you.”

“Sigh, brother-in-law, you simply do not know! I…” Xu Xian suddenly paused. “Huh? The shopkeeper just introduced me as ‘Xu Hanwen.’ How did you know my name was ‘Xu Xian’?”

“Uh, th-that is because…” Du Yu’s eyes darted around before he suddenly yelled, “Do not change the subject! Who the hell is your brother-in-law?”

“Oh my, it is truly embarrassing to say!” Xu Xian covered his face and said, “In the days prior, I would use a specially made medicinal oil to rub down Sister Xiang’s body every single night. The two of us were truly…”

Shiranui Asuka’s face turned beet red upon hearing this. She shrieked, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Du Yu quickly turned back and held her back. “Ah Xiang, calm down. You were not even here before today! The person he is talking about is just the past version of you.”

“Ah!” Shiranui Asuka finally remembered that she had only descended into this world today.

Du Yu furrowed his brows deeply. It seemed this legend had indeed gone completely off the rails. Through a bizarre twist of fate, Xu Xian had fallen in love with his fellow apprentice, Xiang Yatou. Perhaps because Bai Suzhen’s repayment of her debt of gratitude had been delayed, Xu Xian had no choice but to seek out someone else.

“R-regardless…” Du Yu shook his head slightly. “Do not go ‘rubbing oil’ on my sister these next few days. If I catch you doing it, I will definitely cripple you.”

“Uh… this…” Thinking that Du Yu disapproved of the marriage, Xu Xian hurriedly pleaded, “I hope my brother-in-law can grant us his blessing… Sister Xiang and I are truly sincere!”

“I-it is not that I will not give you my blessing,” Du Yu said, looking troubled. “Just wait a few days… Once I am gone, you can do whatever you want. Is that alright?”

Xu Xian pondered for a moment before nodding, seemingly half-understanding.

Right at this moment, two beautiful silhouettes slipped through the front door.

One woman was dressed in white, her face pure and sweet; the other was dressed in green, her features cold and stunningly beautiful. The moment these two stepped into the apothecary, a fragrant scent instantly filled the room.

“Oh! Customers!” The shopkeeper quickly stepped forward to greet them. Just looking at the women’s attire, one could tell they were either wealthy or of noble status.

“Shopkeeper, please bring out some ointment for external flesh wounds. My sister and I need to purchase some,” Bai Suzhen said as she swept her expressionless gaze across the people in the room.

“You…” Medusa recognized Du Yu and Asuka immediately. She was just about to speak when Dong Qianqiu hurriedly sent a telepathic message to stop her.

Left with no choice, she pretended not to know them and silently lowered her head.

It was at this moment that Xu Xian bounded forward, an excited expression rippling across his face. “Dear ladies! This humble one has fallen in love with you at first sight! I wonder if you two might be interested in experiencing a medicinal oil I formulated myself?”