56 – Invitation
The sky is dark.
Although the curtain of night has fallen, but Chang"an city is still brightly lit, and the streets are full of traffic and bustling with noise.
There"s still some time until the hour of the pig [1], still some time until Chang"an city"s curfew, and thus the city is still bustling with activity.
The lanterns hanging from the doors of the shops on both sides of the street illuminate the road ahead. But Shui Yuner hardly looks at the road, and just follows the flow of people.
Until now, she is still muddle-headed.
Is Xue Jiujiu really an apprentice to the Merak Temple"s Young Ancestor? Just now, what was the deal with the water that came out from under my feet and flowed like it had a life of its own? Was it my ability? Or was it Xue Jiujiu"s doing? Shui Yuner"s mind is in a state of confusion and mystery, making her feel ill at ease.
At some point, she fished out a jade pendant from her sleeve.
The jade pendant is dark green in color, and has no apparent blemishes. On the front side, there is a depiction of a greatsword piercing through the clouds, while on the flip side, the words “Merak Temple Outer Sect” are engraved in beautiful penmanship.
After announcing the results, this is the token the Merak Temple"s Fifth Elder gave the candidates who have been admitted.
Of course, the possession of a jade pendant doesn"t mean that you have formally become a member of the Merak Temple. The holder of a jade pendant still has to go to the Merak Temple. After the Merak Temple has officially registered you information, only then will you have truly joined the Merak Temple and become an outer sect disciple.
Having said that, since the girl has this jade pendant, it means that she has been admitted by the Merak Temple, and can be regarded as a quasi-disciple.
Is this all true? Despite the jade pendant in her hand, Shui Yuner still can"t believe it.
These past few days have been something of a roller coaster, making it all feel surreal. For a time, she thought that she was just dreaming. But she didn"t want to believe that it is just a dream. As such, she could only choose to believe that everything is true.
As she struggled, a shadow suddenly broke into her field of vision.
“Ah?”
Someone emerged from an alley.
It was so sudden that they had no time to dodge, and the two b.u.mped into each another.
“Ah!”
“Ouch…! That hurt!”
Two voices sounded at the same time, and water-colored threads filled the s.p.a.ce.
Shui Yuner who lost her center of gravity plopped on her but.
“Sorry, I was distracted… Are you okay?”
Ignoring the pain coming from her b.u.t.tocks, she got up nimbly, and quickly reached out to help the charming and beautiful figure whom she has knocked to the ground.
Dressed in a light purple dress, a bun on the right back side of the head, the figure looks elegant and adorable.
“Gosh, watch where you go!” The girl who was b.u.mped into rubbed her b.u.t.tocks and looked up, tears rising at the corners of her black eyes. She is obviously in pain.
Shui Yuner was slightly surprised by the appearance of the other party. She looks familiar.
“Hey, are you…?”
“Huh?” The girl in purple froze.
At this moment a head popped out from the alley.
It is a little boy dressed in dark purple clothes. Shui Yuner is still impressed by those eyes full of vigor.
“Ah! Beautiful big sister!” His gaze fell on Shui Yuner, and he exclaimed joyfully, and then trotted towards Shui Yuner. He extended his hands, as if to give Shui Yuner a hug.
“Nangong Mingye! You should care about your sister first!” Nangong Mingming, the girl sitting on the ground, jumped up like a wildcat whose tail was stepped on and grabbed the little boy by the collar.
They"re really from the Nangong family… Shui Yuner"s mood is inexplicably complicated.
“Older Sister Mingming, aren"t you all right?” Nangong Mingye spread his hands and pouted adorably.
Nangong Mingming raised her eyebrows and hit the little boy on the head.
“Older Sister Mingming, you hit me!” Nangong Mingye touched his head and complained with tearful eyes.
“So what! As soon as you see a beautiful girl, you don"t care about your sister, you little lecher! I"m surprised you still call me sister!” The more she spoke, the more Nangong Mingming became unhappy, and she slapped her little brother on the b.u.t.tocks.
“… Ouch!” The little boy cried out, “Older Sister Mingming, you hit me again! I will tell mother!”
“You good-for-nothing!” Upset with her brother for not living up to expectations, Nangong Mingming stomped her feet angrily.
“Later when we go to the Merak Temple, if you don"t mend your ways, you"ll be bullied! By then, I want to see to whom you"ll go crying to!” Although her tone is that of rebuke, but it also contains a hidden concern and worry.
Incidentally, Nangong Mingming and Nangong Mingye also got a jade pendant each from Xia Xue.
What a good older sister… Shui Yuner thought.
“Of course to you, Older Sister Mingming!” After he listened to his sister, Nangong Mingye stopped crying and said ingratiatingly.
“How crafty!” Nangong Mingming murmured. However, Shui Yuner discovered that the corners of her mouth contain a faintly discernible “coddle”.
This warmth, they must be very close siblings.
Siblings, family? Shui Yun"er sighed softly.
She has no family. Her family was “taken away” from her.
Perhaps the sigh caught her attention, and Nangong Mingming remembered about Shui Yuner. She looked at Shui Yuner and apologized sincerely, “I"m sorry for the disturbance, Miss Shui. This brother of mine is very naughty.”
This apology came completely unexpected, and she even changed the way she addressed her.
Shui Yuner waved her hands repeatedly, “It"s okay. I think that his willful character is rather pleasing.”
“Thank you, big sister.” Nangong Mingye smiled mischievously. But then his sister glared at him, and he shrank back dejectedly.
“The two of you seem to be quite close!” Shui Yuner couldn"t help but laugh out loud, “Miss Nangong, you"re a good sister.”
“There"s no way around it. After all, he"s my little brother…” Nangong Mingming looked away, a bit awkward.
“Yes… After all, you"re family.” Shui Yuner"s eyes revealed unconsciously a complex look of nostalgia and melancholy.
“Big sister, why are you sad?” Nangong Mingye asked worriedly.
Is that the expression I"m making? Shui Yuner was taken aback at first, and then adopted a smile and patted the boy"s head.
Nangong Mingye narrowed his eyes in enjoyment and giggled.
“Me? I"m just hungry.”
“That"s it?”
“Yes, that"s it.”
“Then have dinner with us, big sister.” Nangong Mingye asked probingly, “Okay?”
“I have a big appet.i.te. Aren"t you afraid that I bankrupt you?”
“I"m not!” Nangong Mingye fished out a gold ingot from his sleeve, “I have money.”
I almost forgot that this little guy is a member of the Nangong family! Helpless, she looked at Nangong Mingming with a bitter smile, hoping that the other party will help her out.
“Put it away! Don"t you know that you shouldn"t reveal money?” Nangong Mingming grabbed the gold ingot and put it in her sleeve.
Nangong Mingye who had his money stolen pouted and looked aggrieved, “Older Sister Mingming, you pilfered my money again!”
“Who pilfered your money? I s.n.a.t.c.hed it!” Nangong Mingming retorted.
Then, she asked Shui Yuner with an apologetic expression, “If you don"t mind, would you join us, Miss Shui?”
“This…”
“Although we haven"t formally joined the Merak Temple, but we can already be regarded as sect-mates. Since this is the case, then let"s share a meal and get to know each other.”
When Shui Yuner"s gaze landed unintentionally on the other party"s eyes, she noticed that the other party is gazing at her with an expression that says “there is something I want to discuss with you.”
Thus she cannot refuse.
“Than… okay. But as the old saying goes, there is no free lunch, so I"ll pay for my share.”
“Even though we have something to ask of you?” Nangong Mingming looked straight at Shui Yuner, her black eyes reflecting the surprised expression on Shui Yuner"s face like a mirror.
“Not mincing words, are we?” Shui Yuner muttered with a forced smile, and Nangong Mingming nodded in affirmation.
“This method of inviting others to a meal is really old-fashioned… But, Miss Nangong, this should be something you devised in the spur of the moment, right? If not, I would have to consider my safety.” Shui Yuner snickered a few times and joked playfully.
She naturally knows that Nangong Mingming isn"t plotting against her, because they are both regarded as quasi-disciples of the Merak Temple.
If something despicable happens between sect-mates, the Merak Temple won"t remain indifferent.
Although the Nangong family has huge power, but they isn"t stupid enough to go against one of the Five Great Sects.
After all, no one wants to lose their head in their sleep.
“Of course I don"t mean you any harm, Miss Shui. I, Nangong Mingming, disdain such despicable acts.” She spoke in a resolute, unquestionable tone.
Next, Nangong Mingming showed a bitter smile, “In fact, as you can see, we are from the Nangong family. I"m sure you must be aware of the Nangong family"s circ.u.mstances, Miss Shui. Except for a few people, the rest are birds in a cage… You may ridicule us, Miss Shui, but me and my brother belong to the latter group of people… So, on the way to the Merak Temple, I wish to have someone that can look after us.” Putting her pride aside, she confessed to Shui Yuner.
To put it plainly, Nangong Mingming knows that she lacks experience in the outside world, and wants to find someone to travel with them in order to take care of them.
But…
“Why me?”
As if she has antic.i.p.ated this question, Nangong Mingming answered without missing a beat, “Because you knelt for three days outside the courtyard house.”
“So… you saw it?”
Nangong nodded, and then continued earnestly, “Although I am a little unwilling to admit it, but I know that I couldn"t do the same… Regardless of your ident.i.ty, but just your perseverance alone is enough to convince me that you aren"t an ordinary person, Miss Shui. You must have gone through unimaginable suffering.”
Shui Yuner silently faced those limpid eyes that seem to be capable of seeing through everything.
The girl in purple didn"t urge her, she just stared quietly at Shui Yuner.
Before long….
“Okay, but this meal won"t be cheap?” Shui Yuner retracted her gaze, and showed a mischievous smile.
Nangong Mingming breathed a sigh of relief, and then put on a confident expression, “Miss Shui, be at ease, the Nangong family isn"t short on money.”
Shui Yuner and Nangong Mingming looked at each other and showed a smile of tacit understanding.
“Older Sister Mingming, big sister, your smiles look rather treacherous!”
Bang! Nangong Mingye"s head was. .h.i.t again.
[1] – Hour of the pig – 9 to 11 pm