Suddenly, a deep low voice sounded in front of the distracted Dong Fang Jie.
Dong Fang Jie was startled and looked up at the tall man standing in front of her. Even if she wanted to pretend she did not see him, it was obviously impossible now.
"w.a.n.g.......Master Long, such a coincidence." She hurriedly stood up and her face stiffened slightly. Realizing that she was in a restaurant where dragons and snakes converge*, she quickly changed his words.
(Dragons and snakes converge - a place where there is a mixture of people, good and bad)
"It is really a coincidence. Do you mind if I sit down here?"
As soon as he finished speaking, with a sweep of his hands, lifted his robe and his tall, upright body sat down on the empty seat beside her.
On seeing this, even if Dong Fang Jie was reluctant, she still kept that charming smile on her face that was enough to mesmerize any woman.
"Master Long, did you come out for amus.e.m.e.nt today? Why the sudden interest to come here for a meal?"
"Amus.e.m.e.nt? I don"t have that kind of leisure. Qian Qi ran away from home and as an Elder Brother, I have to take care of her."
Long Hao Tian darken his eyes as he studied the charming smile on Dong Fang Jie"s extremely beautiful face which made him looked even more remarkable. He noticed that many women on the second floor were watching Dong Fang Jie obsessively. Even the men were equally mesmerized. This Dong Fang Jie was obviously a disaster to mankind.
"What! Jun......Miss Long ran away from home? Then is there anyone with her?"
Dong Fang Jie exclaimed. This spoilt and pampered Jun Zhu is truly brave.
"There is only a maid with her."
"If I see Miss Long, Master Long will be contacted. I wonder, where is Master Long staying?"
"If you have any news, you can make a trip to Yan Yun Pavilion. You should be familiar with that place."
Long Hao Tian picked up the wine cup that he had used, helped himself with a cup of wine and down it in one gulp.
"Master Long must really be joking. How would I know where is Yan Yun Pavilion?"
The expression on Dong Fang Jie did not change and he laughed lightly.
"Is it?"
Long Hao Tian played with the empty wine gla.s.s in his hand. His black deep eyes stared at Dong Fang Jie and had a lazy smile on his lips.
"Then it is best that I will remind you once again. Louxia Peak, ten miles to the south. This time, you have to remember."
"I will remember. If there is any news, it will be relayed immediately."
The two of them spoke to each other with surging dark undercurrents. Even the two brothers sitting beside them could feel the awkward atmosphere.
"I still have matters to attend to. I"ll take my leave first. I"ll be waiting for your arrival at Yan Yun Pavilion."
Long Hao Tian put down the empty wine cup in his hand. When he stood up, controlling his inner strength, he lightly patted Dong Fang Jie"s slim shoulders and after seeing Dong Fang Jie"s expression had changed slightly, he laughed loudly before he turned and walked away.
After confirming that Long Hao Tian"s figure had disappeared at the corner of the staircase, Dong Fang Jie"s face turned slightly pale and let out a sigh of relief.
A good move, Long Hao Tian! Before he left, he had tested her inner strength. If she was weak in martial arts, she would have suffered internal injuries!
"Fourth Young Master, are you alright? Who is that Master Long?"
The two brothers saw her acting strangely and stood up with concern. They walked to her side and asked in unison.
"I"m fine. You can continue eating." She nudged the two brothers back into their seats, Dong Fang Jie"s expression changed slightly. "He is Jing w.a.n.g Long Hao Tian. He is unpredictable and troublesome. Strange, how come recently I always provoke him? It seems that I have to go to the temple to burn incense and get rid of my bad luck."
Dong Fang Jie sighed helplessly and in the end, it seems she was talking to herself. To get herself entangled with this Jing Wan whom even the Emperor respected, she will not have any peaceful days ahead and it is best that she pray for more blessings.
"Fourth Brother, do you really want us to stay here?"
While the two brothers ate, they looked around their surroundings. Their voice sounded worried and also had a trace of excitement.
"That"s correct. I will tell shopkeeper, w.a.n.g Qin to take good care of you. It is better for you to stay here and help around rather than to wander outside. I will come back frequently to see the two of you." She patted the heads of the two brothers and looked lovingly at them. Having explained clearly to them, she felt more at ease.
"We will not let Fourth Brother down and will not make you disappointed with us. Fourth Brother, you must not forget to come and see us often."
"No problem."
Dong Fang Jie promised them with a smile. Her two eyes swept below, watched as the tall straight figure retreated and involuntarily the smile on her lips disappeared.
Her hunch has always been very accurate. It seems, in future, it is advisable to avoid any encounters with Long Hao Tian.
***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***
Xilai Inn. Room No. 2. Come quick.
Dong Fang Jie looked at the note in her hand. This note was given to her by the shopkeeper, w.a.n.g Qin when he left the restaurant. w.a.n.g Qin said it was a lady who instructed him to deliver this note. Who is the person who wanted to see her? It seems that the only option is to take a trip personally to get a clear answer.
"This Gong-Zi dressed in white, please hold your steps."
(公子 - Gong-Zi is an honorific for a son of an official, n.o.bility, wealthy family, etc.)
When he heard the voice, Dong Fang Jie turned around. She found the person calling out to her was a fortune teller sitting under a banyan tree. Beside his stall, there was a flag flying in the wind. On it was written four characters "Tie Kou Zhi Duan" (Which meant "Straightforward Iron Mouth".)
"Old gentleman, is there anything I can do for you? I don"t believe in fortune telling."
She studied the old gentleman with her arms folded over her chest and stood in a lazy posture. Even if in her heart, she had rejected the notion, but her beautiful face still maintained her usual grace and smile which made other people unable to detect her impatience.
"Please forgive this old gentleman for being straightforward. This Gong-Zi, according to your facial features, you are born rich, in early age, you gain fame and glory, your life paved with peach blossoms, but......"
The old gentleman spoke halfway and stopped. He furrowed his eyebrows and stared straight at her face.
"But what?........."
So, the important part is about to come. It seems this fortune teller is planning to cheat her of her money.
Dong Fang Jie played along and with full of grace, she asked.
"Gong-Zi, it is better for you to return home within two months. Gong-Zi comes from a benevolent family and that should help you avoid a calamity otherwise, I"m afraid it will be difficult for you to escape this life and death disaster."
The old gentleman wore a large gray robe, look similar to an immortal, with one hand he stroked his silvery beard while his face showed gloom and he heavily sighed.
"Thank you but I don"t believe in this."
Dong Fang Jie put down some silver* and turned around to leave. After listening to the fortune teller"s prediction, she could not help feeling suspicious that this person was sent by her Elder Brother to convince her to return home.
(In ancient times, silver* and gold is used as money)
"Gong-Zi, if you don"t want to return home, there is another way. You have to go towards the south and you will meet your savior. In this way, you will then be saved from calamity. If Gong-Zi doesn"t believe in this old gentleman, then I"m afraid, there is no way you will be able to escape this disaster!"
The old gentleman earnestly shouted with sincerity after the figure dressed in white who had walked far away.
Towards the south? Dong Fang Jie wrinkled her eyebrows. This fortune teller is really capable. He had picked on her sore spot. She had never believed in people who called themselves as fortune tellers that roam throughout the country and of course, she would not keep all of this in her heart.
When Dong Fang Jie saw Xilai Inn in front of her, she quickened her steps, entered the inn and approached the counter.
"Shopkeeper, I"m looking for your guest in Room No. 2"
"Is Gong-Zi"s name Dong Fang?" The shopkeeper asked.
"Correct."
"Gong-Zi, please come with me. The two ladies had waited for a long time."
The shopkeeper led the way by walking in front, reminded him to follow him and picked his way up the stairs to the second floor.
Two ladies? Dong Fang Jie became more skeptical. Who is actually looking for her? Those women who looked for her in the past, she had already settled but who is looking for her now?
While she was wondering who was looking for her, the shopkeeper had already reached the room.
"Dong Fang Gong-Zi, this is the room. If there is nothing else, I will leave first."
Immediately after the shopkeeper had left, Dong Fang Jie reached out her hand to knock on the door. Not long afterward, the two-panel wooden door opened inward and a delicate familiar lady walked out.
When she saw Dong Fang Jie, she was startled then exclaimed and hurriedly rushed back into the room.
"Jun Zhu! Dong Fang Jie is here!"
How can this be?
As soon as she heard those words, Dong Fang Jie"s face instantly sank. When she saw the woman standing behind the delicate lady who had walked out just now, suddenly she felt gloomy clouds gathered above her head. She instantly became mute and froze near the door.
"Dong Fang Jie, why don"t you come in quickly."
Long Qian Qi"s beautiful face showed shyness, displayed a young lady"s charming demeanor and she called out in a delicate voice.
Dong Fang Jie had to resignedly accept and walked into the room. Xiao Lan quickly closed the wooden door with her deft hands.
"Jun Zhu, I just met w.a.n.g-Ye a sichen (two hours) ago and he is looking everywhere for you."
What kind of luck is she having? How come she always get entangled with this brother and sister? She cannot help but lament in her heart.
"I know. That"s why I arranged for us to meet here."
Long Qian Qi laughed proudly. Originally, she had wanted to follow Dong Fang Jie into Long Feng Restaurant but she was politely stopped by the impertinent young waiter who insisted that she waited in line! Just as she walked out of the restaurant in anger, she caught a glimpse of her Elder Brother on the second floor which made her so scared that she did not dare to stay for a second longer.
"I wonder why Jun Zhu is looking for me?"
"Dong Fang Jie, it"s seldom that I am able to slip out. I want you to accompany me to tour the country."
Long Qian Qi took the initiative to stand in front of him, lifted her slightly shy face with eyes shining brightly, looking at him.
Dong Fang Jie saw her eyes filled with obsession just like the infatuated eyes of the females that usually looked at her and she sighed heavily in her heart. This is the first time she ever regretted disguising as a man.
She mulled over the words Shi-xiong had used to scold her......sooner or later, one day your romantic debt will be the cause of your death.
"Jun Zhu, I"m afraid I cannot comply. I still have work to do. My paths are usually not certain and also Jun Zhu is a body of a thousand gold*. It is inappropriate to constantly go everywhere together with me."
(A body of a thousand gold - the precious daughter of a family)
"I don"t care! I just want to follow you. I will not affect your work. If you don"t agree, I"ll tell Elder Brother you bullied me. I want to see whether you can afford to shoulder the crime of bullying this Jun Zhu."
When Long Qian Qi"s unreasonable temper surfaced, no one could oppose her. In any case, she was obsessed with Dong Fang Jie.
Dong Fang Jie forced a smile and she could foresee her days would not be peaceful, so she accepted her fate and said.
"If I agree then when does Jun Zhu plan to return to Jing w.a.n.g Mansion?"
"Of course, it will have to wait until I have played enough."
When Long Qian Qi saw that Dong Fang Jie had promised, her face broke into a big smile and unconsciously pulled Dong Fang Jie"s sleeve.
"One month. If Jun Zhu promises to return to Jing w.a.n.g Mansion a month later, then I will promise to accompany Jun Zhu tour the country."
Dong Fang Jie set down her own conditions as she did not intend to accompany this pampered Jun Zhu for too long.
"Dong Fang Jie, how dare you threaten me?"
Long Qian Qi widened her eyes and stared at Dong Fang Jie. Then she huffed and flung away Dong Fang Jie"s sleeves. He really has the courage! She had already specifically said she wanted him to accompany her and he actually did not know what is good for him!
"Jun Zhu thinks too seriously. This is for Jun Zhu"s good and if Jun Zhu does not agree, then I will immediately take a trip to Yan Yun Pavilion and pay a visit to w.a.n.g-Ye. I believe w.a.n.g-Ye is a reasonable person."
Dong Fang Jie took the initiative to find a seat and sat down. She poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. She did not believe she is unable to tame this spoilt and pampered Jun Zhu.
"You......you.......you......."
When Long Qian Qi saw his leisurely appearance, completely ignoring her fury, she was so annoyed that she walked back and forth. Although she could not accept this slight, but when she thought of her main purpose in slipping out this time, she gave him a few glances and compromised in frustration.
"Alright, I promise."
"Well then, we will start with this Gangling City. Is Jun Zhu interested in visiting the Guanyin Temple? The scenery near Guanyin Temple is very beautiful and it"s well worth a visit."
Dong Fang Jie grinned as she looked at Long Qian Qi pout. Although this Jun Zhu is a bit spoilt she is still quite adorable.
"I want to go! We will go right away!"
Long Qian Qi"s eyes lit up, pulled his hand and walked out. She only has a month and she must play enough. Moreover, she has the person she likes to accompany her. She must cherish the time with him.
Dong Fang Jie allowed herself to be dragged away by Long Qian Qi and her face displayed her usual charming smiles. Perhaps this Jun Zhu is not as unreasonable as she had imagined.