141: Chapter 141 Script

Things were getting rowdy downstairs.

Before White Fox Jiu had even gone downstairs, she could hear the Mortals below making a racket.

"Hurry up and let your shopkeeper come out and meet us."

"Yeah! Is she really as the rumors say!?"

"I heard the rumors say she's incredibly beautiful."

Tao Fu was surrounded by over a dozen customers.

He wasn't very tall, and he was being jostled back and forth, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead one after another.

"Listen to me!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "My shopkeeper really isn't here! If you all are here to buy wine, I welcome you. But if you want to see my shopkeeper, you'll have to come back another day!"

"Another day?"

A burly man with a fleshy face slapped the counter, making the wine jars clatter. "How many 'another days' has it been! If we don't see your shopkeeper today, we aren't leaving!"

"Yeah! That's right!" The people around him chimed in, their voices rising wave after wave.

They had been staking the place out for four or five days, and they were long past impatient.

But the less they could see her, the itchier their hearts became.

More than half a month ago, this Ten-Mile Fragrance Tavern suddenly changed to a new shopkeeper, and then a rumor began to spread.

It was said that the new shopkeeper was a top-tier beauty. One look was enough to make a person lose their soul.

None of those who had seen her said she wasn't beautiful, which led to the previously mediocre tavern becoming extremely popular lately.

A middle-aged man in a green shirt squeezed to the front, clutching a half-finished jug of wine in his hand. He leaned in close to Tao Fu and lowered his voice, but it was still loud enough for everyone nearby to hear:

"Old Tao, do you really think we're here to drink? We just want to know, what exactly is the background of this new shopkeeper who took over your shop? Everyone says she looks like a Heavenly Immortal, hurry up and tell us, is it true or not!"

How could Tao Fu dare to criticize his shopkeeper? Not only did he not have such thoughts, he didn't even have the subjective awareness to do so.

He waved his hands repeatedly, the wrinkles on his face bunching together. "It's all rumors, how could it be that exaggerated..."

"Exaggerated?" The man slapped the table. "Old Tao, you're being no fun! We're all regular customers, what's the harm in taking a look?"

"Exactly! Looking once won't make you lose a piece of flesh!"

"That's right! Hurry and let your shopkeeper come out!"

"Your wine has issues, hurry and let your shopkeeper come out and give us an explanation."

The voices grew louder and louder, the counter being slapped with a thudding sound. Tao Fu was surrounded in the middle, unable to advance or retreat, looking just like a small boat spinning in the waves.

Suddenly! A series of faint bell sounds came from the stairs. "Jingle—jingle—"

The sound was crisp, like wind blowing through wind chimes under the eaves, clearly drowning out all the commotion.

Everyone turned their heads. They saw a figure slowly walking down from the stairs nearby. Simple clothes and black hair, the hem of the skirt at her waist swaying gently with her steps.

A string of tiny gold bells was tied to her ankle, and with every step, it emitted a crisp sound.

White Fox Jiu walked in front of the crowd and stood still. Her gaze swept over everyone present.

"I am the shopkeeper of this tavern." She spoke. "Is there anything that has been lacking in hospitality for you guests?"

Everyone was stunned. The originally noisy hall instantly became as quiet as if its throat had been grabbed.

Some had their mouths open and forgot to close them, some had their wine cups frozen in mid-air and forgot to put them down, and others had their eyes widened even rounder than copper coins.

Where had they ever seen such a beautiful woman? Those eyebrows, that nose bridge, those lips—every single feature looked as if the Heavens had molded it again and again, revising it repeatedly before finally being willing to let it be.

She stood there, not smiling, not speaking, and it already made the entire tavern brighten up by several degrees.

The few people who had just been clamoring to see the shopkeeper were now all speechless.

That burly man with the fleshy face scratched the back of his head and coughed twice, his voice suddenly becoming docile. "No, no... it's just that Old Tao is too slow at pouring wine, we were just complaining a bit."

"Right, right, right, just complaining a bit."

"Old Tao, be faster next time."

The crowd scrambled to make excuses, but their gazes remained glued to White Fox Jiu, unable to look away no matter what.

Tao Fu, standing to the side, watched all of this with a bitter face. He knew all too well that these people's faces yesterday, the day before, and the day before that were not like this.

"That's good then." White Fox Jiu said indifferently, then turned to head back upstairs.

Her appearance, truth be told, had actually already been concealed. When cultivation reaches a certain level, one's appearance and temperament become increasingly close to natural perfection, making people feel comfortable at a single glance.

And at her Dongxu Realm, her appearance was no longer about facial features, but about that hint of spiritual charm.

Although she had concealed most of it, the tiny bit of spiritual charm that leaked out was enough to make these Mortals, who had never seen many beauties in their lives, utterly infatuated.

"Miss, wait a moment!" A voice rang out from the crowd, carrying a hint of urgency.

White Fox Jiu stopped her steps and turned her head.

A young man walked out from the crowd, looking to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a dark blue long gown with a jade belt around his waist, fanning himself with a folding fan. His face was fair, his features delicate, and one could tell at a glance that he was a Young Master from a noble family who had been pampered.

"I am Ximen Shu, a scholar." He closed his folding fan, bowed with a smile, revealing neat teeth, "I am also the owner of the He Cai Pavilion."

He paused, his gaze lingering on White Fox Jiu's face for a moment before moving away with great reluctance, his tone appropriately polite. "I observe that the wine in your shop, Miss, is clear and mellow, so I would like to cooperate with you and bring your shop's wine into my He Cai Pavilion."

White Fox Jiu had no interest. "If you have any business, just speak to my shop assistant." She tilted her chin toward Tao Fu.

Tao Fu stepped forward at the right moment, blocking Ximen Shu, and put on a professional smile. "Young Master Ximen, regarding the matter of cooperation, you can discuss it all with me."

A flash of displeasure crossed Ximen Shu's eyes, but it was quickly covered by a smile. He ignored Tao Fu and continued to speak to White Fox Jiu, who was about to leave. "Shopkeeper Bai, this is a big business deal. I think it would be better to discuss it with you personally."

His meaning was clear: Tao Fu, as a mere shop assistant, wasn't qualified.

White Fox Jiu stopped her steps. She turned around slowly and looked at Ximen Shu.

Wisps of black Demonic Qi had already appeared in her palm. It was very faint, not conspicuous, like ink dripping into water, dispersing instantly.

Wherever that Demonic Qi passed, the air became heavy. Even though it was a bright sunny day, the people inside the room suddenly felt a chill shoot up to their foreheads. But it quickly faded away.

"My Lady! Did something happen?" A weak voice came from the stairs. Jiang Xun came down the stairs, trembling and unsteady.

He held the railing with one hand and braced himself against the wall with the other, taking every step very slowly, as if he might tumble down the stairs at any moment.

Jiang Xun's face was pale, his lips lacked color, and he was wearing a wrinkled old robe.

When White Fox Jiu saw him, the black Demonic Qi in her palm dissipated instantly. She stepped forward quickly and supported his arm. "Didn't I tell you to get some good rest? Why did you come downstairs?"

Her voice carried reproach, but her hands were very light and steady, as if she were afraid of breaking him.

Jiang Xun held White Fox Jiu's hand tightly. "I was just worried about you."

His voice carried the weakness of post-illness, and his eyes looked leisurely in the direction of Ximen Shu.

Seeing this scene, the crowd had mixed expressions. Some sighed that such a woman, looking like a Heavenly Immortal, had actually married a sickly weakling. Others were jealous—what right did that sickly weakling have?

It was no wonder everyone was jealous and hateful. Mainly, anyone who took a look at Jiang Xun's complexion would think he was a short-lived ghost who wouldn't live long. His complexion was whiter than a dead person's. There wasn't a hint of blood, and he looked frail. If he closed his eyes, he would be no different from a dead person.

But no one said it out loud. You couldn't just say, "Your husband isn't up to it, let me come!" could you? Although no one said it, some had already secretly begun harboring devious intentions.

Jiang Xun paid no attention to those gazes. He looked at Ximen Shu. "And this is?"

Ximen Shu stepped forward, bowed, his smile remaining. "I am Ximen Shu, here to discuss business with Shopkeeper Bai."

Jiang Xun pulled White Fox Jiu into his embrace. It was as if he were being vigilant, and also as if he were declaring his ownership.

"So that's how it is." He coughed twice, his voice weak, carrying a touch of politeness. "It's not easy for my wife to run this shop all by herself, so I hope you will provide much support regarding business matters, Young Master."

Ximen Shu smiled, his gaze scrutinizing Jiang Xun's pale face repeatedly. "It's nothing. Your wine is just good." After finishing, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepened.

White Fox Jiu felt that little action of Jiang Xun's. Pulling her into his embrace, declaring his ownership. She laughed in her heart. Sure enough, just like in the storybooks, men need to have a sense of crisis before they will take initiative.

No matter how cold and indifferent he acted on normal days, as soon as someone coveted his woman, he couldn't sit still immediately.

"Husband, you go up and rest." She supported Jiang Xun, her voice as gentle as melting ice. "Leave the matters of the shop to me."

Jiang Xun indeed felt he couldn't help with much. His legs would go soft if he stood for too long now, let alone talk business with people. However, his goal in coming downstairs was just to observe the environment. As for the business, he didn't care at all.

And most importantly, he had to establish behavioral initiative in the Early Stage of their relationship. He had to test where the bottom line of the freedom White Fox Jiu gave him lay.

His gaze swept over everyone present; they were all men, so he naturally understood what they were thinking in their hearts, and Jiang Xun felt that there would be no shortage of trouble in the future. However, the more attention there was, the more constrained this fox spirit would be.

He had already guessed why White Fox Jiu was hiding in the Mortal World. She wanted to use this complex Mortal World Qi to cover her own Karma. Once he understood this point, things would be easier to handle.

Jiang Xun applied a slight force to the hand supporting White Fox Jiu. He pretended to look hesitant. "Um..., if there's anything you need, just call me."

"Hmm." White Fox Jiu let him go and watched him go upstairs, trembling and unsteady. Every time he climbed a step, he had to stop and catch his breath, like an old man of seventy or eighty.

When he disappeared at the stairs, White Fox Jiu retracted her gaze. She turned around and looked at Ximen Shu. "Young Master, follow me into the inner room to talk."

Ximen Shu's eyes lit up, his smile growing even brighter. "Good."

The two walked into the inner room one after the other. The door curtain fell, obscuring the scene inside. The people left outside looked at each other. Then, they all had expressions of gritting their teeth.

"Damn! It looks like he's going to succeed again." "Why..." "That kid Ximen Shu, one look and you can tell he's up to no good!"

"Why do you care? He's a shop owner, and a scholar, what are you?" "I... I'm just envious!"

The inner room was not big, with a square table, a few chairs, and a landscape painting hanging on the wall. The window was half-open, and one could see half of the street scene outside.

After Ximen Shu entered the room, his gaze swept around the room and then landed on White Fox Jiu. He had long been drooling over this beauty. He had both looks and wealth, so taking down a small tavern's shopkeeper should be easy.

If he could do it here... "Hehe!" Ximen Shu laughed evilly in his heart; doing it right under her husband's nose would be too exciting.

Ximen Shu smiled gently on his face. He said with a somewhat concerned tone: "Shopkeeper Bai, dragging such a sickly weakling around, you must be very tired on a daily basis."

He said it very casually, as if it were just simple concern. But in those eyes, there was hidden testing, hidden scrutiny, and a hidden eagerness to try.

White Fox Jiu sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea. "It's not really tiring. After all, he is my husband." She picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Ximen Shu sat down opposite her, his tone guiding. "I actually think that women also have the right to pursue happiness. Why make yourself suffer for the sake of a man?"

White Fox Jiu raised her eyes to look at him. "But if I leave him, I am helpless and alone, how could I live?" Her voice was very soft, carrying a hint of helplessness and a hint of grievance.

Ximen Shu leaned forward, his gaze burning. "Actually, sometimes, your horizons can be broadened a bit. People must live for themselves."

In his view, Bai Jiu, carrying a sickly weakling, was probably long tired and annoyed, but was afraid of secular social norms, so she had endured it until today. And the fact that Bai Jiu had led him to this place where they were alone was the best proof.

White Fox Jiu put down the teacup. She looked at Ximen Shu, and suddenly a golden light burst forth from her eyes.

The moment Ximen Shu saw that light, immense fear flooded his heart, and then his whole body seemed to be frozen, the expression on his face fading bit by bit, leaving only empty dullness in the end.

Without any hesitation, his Divine Soul was refined.

White Fox Jiu's voice was cold. "Yes, horizons really should be broadened a bit."

Ximen Shu nodded mechanically. "Yes."

"Come find me again tomorrow." "Yes." "Now, get out."

Ximen Shu stood up, his movements as stiff as a marionette. He turned around, lifted the door curtain, and walked out of the inner room.

When passing through the outer hall, those guests who were still drinking saw him, and someone called out "Young Master Ximen," but he didn't react and walked straight out of the tavern's entrance.

The door curtain fell again. White Fox Jiu sat alone in the inner room, picked up the teacup, and took another sip.

She suddenly raised the corners of her mouth. "Jiang Xun, what must I do to make you feel heart-wrenching pain?!"

Jiang Xun was a block of wood, extremely dull regarding emotions, cowardly, and liked to escape. Relying on the grind of daily life to make Jiang Xun fall in love with her quickly was still somewhat difficult. It didn't mean that just because the two had become husband and wife, Jiang Xun could truly open his heart.

White Fox Jiu had already seen through Jiang Xun. He didn't know how to take initiative, was afraid of emotions, and would rather hide than face them. For such a person, if you don't use some strong medicine, it won't work.

White Fox Jiu pondered in her heart. Recalling some Mortal storybooks she had read recently. Loving but not obtaining, having one's love stolen away—these were the greatest torments for a man. And she wanted to let Jiang Xun experience them all.

If I don't make you love to the bone, how can I make your heart break with pain? White Fox Jiu had already written the script for Jiang Xun.

She wanted to let Jiang Xun know that she didn't just have him alone. If he couldn't keep an eye on her, she would leave. She wanted to make it so that in Jiang Xun's eyes and heart, he could never let her go.