Chapter 84: The Master and Maid [1]

Yu Xuan made his way toward the middle district of the town, where the streets bustled with more people compared to the quieter outer edge.

Following the glowing direction on his medallion, he eventually arrived in front of a modest mansion.

It had a small courtyard, a neatly tended flower garden, and a pond with small fishes drifting through the water. Everything about the place whispered quiet, respectable living.

Stopping at the gate, Yu Xuan tapped into the messaging feature on his medallion and sent a short message to the contractor.

[I_Am_A_Poet]: I’ve arrived outside your mansion.

He had chosen this particular nickname for the client, hoping that a little literary flair might make the task smoother.

Just moments after the message was sent, the front door opened — and out stepped a man.

He was undeniably handsome, though what caught Yu Xuan’s attention immediately were the subtle stripes running along his skin, faint but shimmering in the sunlight. Rather than diminishing his appearance, the stripes gave him an exotic look, and enhanced his charm.

"OMG, little brother, thank you so much for coming early!" the man exclaimed with enthusiasm as he waved.

Yu Xuan offered a polite nod. "Shall we discuss the letter, Senior?"

’This should be a simple job’, he thought. Quick consultation, a little writing, and done.

"Let’s head inside. You can call me Ban," the man replied warmly, gesturing him in.



The interior of the mansion was just as modest and tasteful as the outside. It was spacious without being extravagant, furnished with care.

As they stepped inside, they were greeted by a beautiful maid dressed in a classic black and white uniform, that made her appear cute.

Like Ban, she too had stripes across her skin — but hers were softer, almost like natural ornamentation.

With perfect professionalism, she bowed and said, "Welcome home, Master. You didn’t inform me there would be a guest today. And to our honored guest — what would you like to drink?"

Ban visibly flinched when she called him "Master," as though the word personally offended him. Sensing a minor emotional crisis brewing beside him, Yu Xuan quickly stepped in.

"Thank you for the offer, but I just had tea before coming here," he said gently, diverting her attention and giving Ban a moment to recover.

But the maid, seemingly determined to fulfill her duty, looked back to Ban. "Shall I prepare the guest room?"

"N-no! That’s fine! I just... want to chat with my friend for a while," Ban stammered, clearly flustered. Then, without warning, he grabbed Yu Xuan by the wrist and pulled him down the hallway.

"Let’s go to my room!"

Yu Xuan raised a brow but followed without resistance.

The maid watched them disappear down the corridor. She blinked once, then turned calmly and made her way to the kitchen.

’Seems like Master made a new friend’, she thought. ’I’ll need to cook an extra portion tonight.’

She was the perfect example of a perfect maid.

***



Ban led Yu Xuan into his room, a simple, well-kept space with a bed, a cultivation mat, a study table, and a modest shelf filled with neatly arranged books.

"So, Senior Ban, your request?" Yu Xuan asked, although he already had a vague idea of what was coming.

"You’ll need to know my backstory first to understand it properly," Ban replied, striking a melancholic pose as if preparing for a dramatic performance.

"Yes, please do. It would help immensely in crafting the letter," Yu Xuan said, eager to hear more. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he did enjoy a good story and the occasional bit of gossip.

"Then take a Dao oath that you will not say anything you hear from me to anyone." said Ban appearing serious now.

Yu Xuan looked at him and his serious expression, and took the Dao oath, he didn’t mind it as it would not harm him, thinking ’This must be a very personal thing.’

He said, "I, Yu Xuan, swear upon the Dao..."

After he took the oath, he felt a connection to a mighty power, he was very surprised taking the oath for the first time, and if he broke the oath, the consequences would be serious, he knew that.

After seeing Yu Xuan finish taking his oath, Ban began solemnly, "Once upon a time, there was a prince with immense potential. His parents, seeking to cultivate his strength and wisdom, forced him into isolation training and later sent him to wander the mortal world — to temper his heart and learn the suffering of common folk."

Yu Xuan nodded slightly, already picturing a familiar fairy-tale setting.

"During one such journey, the prince encountered a small, unfortunate household — a young girl living with her elderly grandparents. Because he was traveling incognito, the prince lived among them, blending into their modest lives. Over time, he grew fond of their warmth, their bond... their simplicity."

Ban paused, his expression distant, as if watching the memories unfold again in his mind.

"The prince thought he was unrecognizable. But the old couple, perhaps through intuition or sheer wisdom recognized his noble aura. Knowing they didn’t have much time left, they made a quiet request. They had come to understand his character during his stay, and believed that entrusting their granddaughter to him would offer her a better future."

Yu Xuan listened silently, observing how the sunlight streaming through the window illuminated Ban’s face.



His striped skin shimmered faintly as he stood with his hands folded behind his back.

’He could probably make a good living as a storyteller’, Yu Xuan thought.

Ban continued, voice soft but steady, "The couple believed that even if she served as a maid in his clan, she would be safe from political entanglements. At least she would be secure, protected by someone they trusted. The prince, moved by their sincerity... and harboring feelings of his own, did not refuse."

There was a noticeable change in Ban’s tone, less storytelling, more confession.

"In the short time they spent together, he had fallen for her. She was bright, full of life. Whenever they played games, she always won — and every victory came with a dazzling smile. A smile he could never forget."

Ban’s eyes now held a faraway look, tinged with regret.

"The old couple eventually passed away. On the day of their funeral, the girl wept at their graves. Seeing someone so lively reduced to tears broke the prince’s heart. He didn’t know how to comfort her. And then... she said something."

Ban closed his eyes briefly, reliving the moment.

"She told him that her grandparents had revealed his true identity. That she didn’t want to serve anyone else so she asked, ’Can I be your maid?’"

His voice dropped to a near whisper. "And so... she became the maid of the prince."

There was silence in the room now, a stillness thick with memory and unspoken emotion. Yu Xuan, uncharacteristically quiet, felt a strange heaviness settle in the air.

Ban’s eyes glimmered, not just with nostalgia, but with something more complicated.