Village Head Yang still found it hard to believe, looking at Sun Dazhu. "Master, are you sure? Jiang Xiaoxiao is just a girl of fifteen or sixteen."
Although there were rumors in the county about a young girl solving a major case for the Nie family, it couldn't possibly be Jiang Xiaoxiao!
A bunch of fools!
Sun Dazhu retorted angrily, "Believe it or not, it's none of my business!"
After yelling, he turned back to Jiang Xiaoxiao with an indescribable sense of humility on his face. "Master, can I leave now?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao replied, "Since you enjoy flaunting the name of the Heavenly Master's Mansion to deceive others, you might as well go there and serve as a laborer."
Sun Dazhu faltered, "..."
Jiang Xiaoxiao's expression was serious, not joking at all. "If I don't hear news of you showing up at the Heavenly Master's Mansion in half a month, be prepared for trouble."
Finally, she threw one word at Sun Dazhu, "Get lost!"
"Fine, fine, fine, Master, I'm leaving right away."
Sun Dazhu stood up, abandoning the props in the courtyard, and ran desperately towards the village outskirts.
How far was it from Kaihe County to Cangwu Mountain?
In half a month, he might not even make it on horseback.
Feeling his empty purse, Sun Dazhu cried out in despair.
---
As the farce ended, Jiang Xiaoxiao ignored the gazes of others and was about to leave.
Suddenly, from the courtyard came the voice of Yang Ershun, "Sister Jiang, help me!"
Jiang Xiaoxiao paused.
Yang Ershun cried, "My dad hired a charlatan who almost ruined me. Sob, sob, sob, Sister Jiang, I want to go with you!"
Upon hearing his younger son's words, Village Head Yang's face darkened.
But considering that he did hire a quack from the rivers and lakes, and almost got swindled out of his entire fortune, he sighed helplessly again.
Looking back at Jiang Xiaoxiao, there was no trace of disrespect in his eyes. "Miss Jiang, did you really solve the Nie family's case?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't answer directly, just calmly asked him, "Do you still want to save your son?"
Village Head Yang hesitated.
After all, Jiang Xiaoxiao's identity hadn't been confirmed yet.
He had just been fooled once; it was difficult to accept that such a delicate girl could be a formidable "expert" who even made the charlatans of the rivers and lakes tremble.
Lin Guifang wiped her tears and glared at her husband. "At this point, why are you still hesitating?"
"I..." Village Head Yang couldn't make up his mind and asked his eldest son, "What do you think?"
Yang Dashun also wore a complex expression. When he first saw Jiang Xiaoxiao, he thought she seemed a bit dull, perhaps mentally challenged. Who would have thought she was hiding such a mysterious identity?
And judging by her tone just now, she seemed familiar with the Heavenly Master's Mansion. Who exactly was she?
"If you don't want to save him, then forget it."
Jiang Xiaoxiao grew impatient and walked away after speaking.
Lin Guifang's eyes reddened, pounding on her husband, "If anything happens to Ershun, I'll hold you responsible!"
Helpless, Village Head Yang caught up, "Miss Jiang, let's talk things through, let's talk..."
Seeing Jiang Xiaoxiao ignoring him, Village Head Yang continued, "We do want to save him, but we just don't know how. Since you're an expert, could you show us the way?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao spoke frankly, "Your son has the Yin and Yang eyes, making him susceptible to evil spirits. Unless he learns Taoist skills in the future, he won't be able to fend off evil on his own. Otherwise, he'll just await his fate."
Village Head Yang's face turned pale. "Is it that serious?"
"He's seen ghosts more than once. If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself."
What else is there to ask?
Seeing a ghost eating a candle is already alarming!
Village Head Yang was in a panic, "Master, can you take in our Ershun?"
He added, "We will follow your teachings and won't let you down."
He even used honorifics.
Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't quite grasp the speed at which people from the mountains changed their attitudes, but she still said seriously, "I can take him in, but if you have any doubts about me, I'll return him immediately."
"We dare not doubt you," Village Head Yang hastily replied. "We absolutely trust your abilities."
Now he had no choice but to believe!
Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded, "If there's nothing else, I'll leave now."
Village Head Yang showed utmost respect, "Master, please take your time."
Xie Xun stood on the village road and witnessed almost everything.
As Jiang Xiaoxiao walked towards him, he smirked. This naive girl had learned how to trap people.
Jiang Xiaoxiao noticed his gaze and paused, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, let's go."
As they turned away, they heard Yang Ershun shouting from behind, "Jiang Jiejie, wait for me!"
Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't stop.
Yang Ershun caught up quickly, panting but excited, "Jiang Jiejie, my dad agreed to let me learn from you!"
Jiang Xiaoxiao replied casually, "Is that so? Congratulations then."
Yang Ershun was a bit proud, "Anyway, I'll follow you from now on, Jiejie."
Although he didn't fully understand the recent commotion, Yang Ershun realized one thing: Jiang Jiejie was incredibly powerful, a figure even the charlatans in the martial world would kneel to. With Jiang Jiejie's protection, his dad wouldn't dare to lay a finger on him anymore!
They still needed to hire a carriage to go to the county.
Jiang Xiaoxiao and Xie Xun remained silent.
It was Yang Ershun who kept chattering along the way, asking if he could eat at their house anytime and if they would start training tomorrow.
Xie Xun furrowed his brows and warned him, "Stay a yard away from us, or I'll kick you into the fields!"
This threat proved effective.
Yang Ershun sniffled, feeling aggrieved but dared not approach them again.
In town, Xie Xun went to the same carriage shop as last time, the only one in town.
The shopkeeper recognized him and, from some source, knew that Jiang Xiaoxiao was the expert who had solved the Nie Family's murder case.
Seeing the two, he grinned broadly, "Oh, Mister Xie, it's been a while since you visited our humble shop."
Xie Xun remained expressionless and pulled out some coins, "I need to hire a carriage."
"Don't, don't, don't!" The innkeeper hastily pushed the copper coins back. "In the future, you can ride whichever carriage you like in our shop. Talking about money is unnecessary, isn't it?"
After saying that, he signaled to the coachman, "Know your manners, hurry up and prepare the carriage for Master Xie, and add a couple of extra cushions."
The coachman immediately went to do as instructed.
Yang Ershun stood dumbfounded, staring at the scene.
He knew Xie Xun's reputation very well; previously, calling him a street mouse that everyone would shun was not an exaggeration.
And now, he was being treated like royalty in the carriage and horse business!
It must be because of Sister Jiang.
Wow, Sister Jiang is formidable!
When it came to taking advantage, Xie Xun never refused. He decisively took back his copper coins.
Fifteen minutes later, the carriage was ready outside. The coachman walked in, wearing a respectful expression. "Master Xie, Miss Jiang, please."
Yang Ershun: "..."
I feel like I'm invisible.
