Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 141
>Chapter Title: Possessed
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Everything happened too fast, so fast that it not only caught Xiaoman off guard, but even surprised Wang Xingde, who was spectating from the side.
"Hmm? Her stance shakes like that. Looks like this girl really has no master leading her. Turns out I got it wrong."
A hint of unwillingness flashed in Chun Xiaoman's eyes. She raised her sword with one hand again and said to the taciturn youth,
"Good. Again!"
After a few quick exchanges, Xiaoman lost again. This time it was even worse—her sword was knocked flying.
Though the opponent's weapon was strange, it was more than enough to handle Xiaoman.
They sparred several more rounds, and Xiaoman basically didn't win a single one.
There was only one time when she went all out, trading injury for injury in a desperate clash, barely scraping by with a win.
Seeing Xiaoman's heaving chest, Wang Chengxing worried he might make the girl cry from frustration and hurried forward to intervene.
"Miss, that's enough. It's getting dark. Let's call it a day."
The disheveled Chun Xiaoman asked him unwillingly,
"Is my swordsmanship that bad?"
What had just happened filled her with a profound sense of defeat. All the training she'd done these past days probably looked like a joke to them.
In fact, it had become a joke—the younger onlookers were snickering nonstop.
Wang Chengxing gave an awkward smile.
"Miss, your empty stance flat chop, bow stance downward chop, sword-leading forward thrust, raised-knee straight stab to resting stance downward chop—they're all practiced solidly. You've clearly put in the work. Against ordinary farmhands, one or two wouldn't be an issue."
He said only that much and nothing more.
Chun Xiaoman could hear the implication: she hadn't even gotten started.
"If I want to keep improving my strength, what should I focus on?"
"Sigh, miss, being a lady hero isn't that easy. Those storytellers are all full of it. Best head home."
Wang Chengxing spoke as he held out the one tael of silver with both hands.
Clearly, he saw Xiaoman as some rich girl fantasizing about heroic deeds.
Xiaoman pushed the silver back.
"Uncle, I don't want to be any lady hero. I just want to protect myself in these chaotic times. Please advise me!"
Perhaps it was the resolve in Xiaoman's voice that made Wang Chengxing sense something different about her. After a moment's thought, he said earnestly,
"Miss, your strength is lacking, but your body's flexible. Best to try sword styles that suit you. Also, your stance isn't steady enough—practice horse stance. And training like this, just grinding away solo won't cut it. You need a sparring partner."
"Of course, for training, it's best to have a master guiding you."
Xiaoman glanced again at the youth with the vine shield, wanting to ask what style he practiced. But in the end, she held her tongue.
One tael of silver, and he'd already given plenty of advice—that was more than generous. Asking more would be overstepping.
Chun Xiaoman wouldn't take good advice for granted. She took her sword back from Little Yang Kid and bowed farewell to Wang Chengxing.
"Sister Xiaoman, you're already awesome. How long have you even been training? Give it a few more years, and you'll beat him for sure."
Little Yang Kid trailed after her, trying to cheer her up.
With that, he shot a disdainful look at the others in the training yard.
"Besides, these guys aren't even that strong. In front of our Senior Brother Li, they'd probably not last a single exchange."
"Shut up and hurry up!"
Chun Xiaoman quickened her pace. Far from comforting her, his words only made her feel more incompetent.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, an old woman reeking of urine, her hair a matted mess like a dog had chewed it, burst out from nowhere and lunged at Little Yang Kid beside her.
Her face was twisted in utter ferocity, making her look no different from a malevolent ghost.
Xiaoman's sword was just starting to clear its sheath when a gust of wind whooshed from behind—Wang Chengxing. Before the woman could touch Little Yang Kid, he'd rushed up and pinned her in a tight hold.
He forced a smile at Chun Xiaoman.
"Miss, please forgive her. My master's wife is like this—possessed for many years now."
"Possessed?"
Xiaoman looked at the old woman and saw her eyes fixed straight on Little Yang Kid behind her, teeth clacking together with eerie chattering sounds.
"If she's possessed, have you had anyone perform an exorcism ritual?"
"Sigh, we have. Nuns from the hills, monks—we've tried them all. But nothing works. Poor master of mine."
Wang Chengxing sighed as he finished speaking and started leading his master's wife away.
"Possessed? Master's wife?"
Chun Xiaoman's eyes lit up. An idea had struck her.
If she pulled this off, it wouldn't just be a bit of advice—he'd probably help them with everything he had.
"Let's go."
Chun Xiaoman rushed back to the inn and began searching the guest rooms.
"Senior Brother Zhao Wu, you're so quick with the abacus—figured it out in one go."
"You're too kind. My family's in the rice trade. Picked it up just from listening and watching growing up."
"Can you teach me how to use the abacus? I need to get good at bookkeeping. If we keep going like this, we'll be broke before we even reach my home."
Hearing the voices, Xiaoman pushed open the door beside her and found who she was looking for: Bai Lingmiao.
She went over, grabbed Bai Lingmiao's hand, and pulled her out into the corridor. Looking around to make sure no one else was there, she lowered her voice.
"Were those things you told me that night true? You've really become a spirit medium now?"
"Of course. What's up?"
Bai Lingmiao looked at her friend in confusion.
"Perfect. Come with me. I need your help with something."
By the time Xiaoman dragged Bai Lingmiao to the escort agency, night had fallen.
Staring up at the massive escort flag, Bai Lingmiao clutched her drum and looked timid.
"Where is this? Can we come back tomorrow?"
"No time to wait. Just do me this favor."
Chun Xiaoman stepped inside, and once again chaos erupted.
After the time it takes to burn half a joss stick, in the agency's reception room, Chun Xiaoman said to the stern-faced elderly man seated ramrod straight,
"Sir, my friend here might actually be able to cure your lady's illness."
Zhao Qin set down his teacup without a flicker of emotion and eyed the unnaturally pale girl nearby.
Over all these years, they'd tried every method under the sun, but his wife remained the same. He'd long since given up.
His jaundiced eyes shifted to Chun Xiaoman. With a wave of his hand, Wang Chengxing entered, placing the two taels of silver on the table in front of her with both hands.
"Miss, you left this behind. As for scaring you today, please forgive us. But no need to trouble yourselves with my wife's matter. She's old now. I just want her to spend her remaining days in peace with me."