Spoiled Eldest Miss x Two-faced Madman

CHAPTER 6: “What Kind Of Living Bodhisattva Is It? He's Just A Cripple.”

　　Favorability prompts are still very important. For example, right now, she can clearly observe Pei Ji's psychological reaction.

　　Last night, An Jiu turned off the favorability reminder, only to find her efforts wasted after a whole night of trying, which made her turn it back on this morning. 

　　To prevent another screen-filling barrage of notifications like last time, but still receive important updates, she set the notification threshold to only trigger for increases or decreases of more than 5 points. 

　　One or two points? Forget it. Those are too small, and our young lady doesn't bother with trifles. 

　　After An Jiu left, she didn't dare look at Pei Ji again. He's too perceptive. Earlier, she'd only tried to sneak a glance at him, and he caught her immediately.

　　Taken completely by surprise, she instinctively glared at him.

　　The young man in white paused for a moment, seeming slightly surprised. Then, his long lashes fluttered closed, and he opened his eyes with a gentle, soft smile. 

　　An Jiu: “Such an actor?” 

　　She thought for a moment, then decided to give him a fierce glare before turning her head away naturally. 

　　【Pei Ji's favorability towards you has increased by 5, currently at -101.】 

　　An Jiu: ... 

　　Understood. Pei Ji probably has a bit of a masochistic streak. 

　　The more people ignore him, the more he seems to think highly of them.

　　Both times she'd gotten a favorability increase by scolding him, and An Jiu felt like she'd found a smooth, broad avenue to boosting his favorability! 

　　Ji Xiang tugged at An Jiu's sleeve, whispering, “Miss, why are you picking on Divine Doctor Pei? They say his medical skills are incredible. He's been providing free medical care in Jiufang City these past few days, and the people are so grateful for him, calling him a living Buddha who saves the suffering.” 

　　An Jiu snorted, “What kind of living Bodhisattva is it? He's just a cripple.” She added another insulting remark. 

　　Huh? No increase this time?

　　Ji Xiang was terrified, quickly covering her mouth. “Shh! Miss, be careful what you say! If someone hears you, they'll scold you!” 

　　An Jiu, despite her bold words, was quite obedient in her actions, becoming awkwardly quiet and refusing to speak further. 

　　Meanwhile, Ah Qi was speaking to Pei Ji about An Jiu: “Young Master, that Miss An is truly spoiled and unruly. Should I find a chance to teach her a lesson?” 

　　A smile played on Pei Ji's lips as he gazed at the crimson figure with its back turned to them in the distance. 

　　The spoiled young lady favored red clothing; her entire demeanor was fiery and impetuous, her temperament unruly. She held a white robe in her arms. Her maid tried to help her carry it, but she refused without hesitation, insisting on carrying the garment herself, as if it held some special meaning.

　　The two, master and servant, spoke in low voices, but to the ears of a martial artist, their words were perfectly clear. 

　　Ah Qi speculated cruelly, “It seems Miss An was saved by a hero and has fallen for the knight who rescued her last night. But the knight left before dawn without a word, I wonder if he couldn't stand her.”

　　Indeed, he couldn't stand her.

　　She'd seen him many times throughout the night; even in her sleep, she often woke in a daze, searching for him.

　　Such a frail, dependent being, seemingly so delicate she would break at the slightest touch, like a weak dodder clinging to a great tree, incapable of growth once its support is gone—weak and incompetent to the point of being repulsive. 

　　Fortunately, she was still obedient, and everything was proceeding according to his plan. 

　　Pei Ji shifted his gaze slightly, his eyes warm and gentle. He admonished softly, “Ah Qi, she is merely a delicate young lady from a noble family, unskilled in combat. We, as warriors, have no need to concern ourselves with her. You overstepped your bounds today; go and accept your punishment tonight.”

　　His voice was gentle, his tone calm and measured; he hadn't spoken a harsh word, yet the strong male servant, Ah Qi, behind him, suddenly paled. 

　　“Yes, Young Master,” Ah Qi mumbled, his head lowered, no longer daring to speak out of turn. 

　　After the flower thief awoke, He Ziqing and Lin Qingyan forced him to reveal the whereabouts of the other women. Soon, everyone learned that there was a secret passage beneath the dilapidated temple leading to a hidden location. 

　　Only then did they realize that the flower thief was likely just a pawn, with a mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes. 

　　The flower thief's martial arts skills weren't particularly high, only considered third-rate in the martial arts world. Yet, he had been running rampant in Jiufang City for a long time, with a bounty notice posted at the county magistrate's office for quite some time before He Ziqing finally captured him—a fact that seemed highly improbable.

　　Clearly, someone was protecting him. 

　　And that person might even have connections with the county magistrate’s office. 

　　The secret passage was hidden under a dilapidated Buddha statue and was quickly found. However, looking at the dark, gaping entrance, no one dared to descend immediately. 

　　No one knew if there were traps or hidden weapons below, and if the flower thief was playing tricks, they might never return. 

　　He Ziqing took the initiative, saying, “I'll go down with Miss Lin and Brother Pei, taking the flower thief with us to investigate. Officer Liu, go report this to the county magistrate's office. The rest of you wait here and only enter once we've ensured it's safe.”

　　The families of the victims readily agreed. 

　　At this moment, An Jiu spoke up, “I'm going too!” 

　　Her voice immediately drew everyone's attention. 

　　“Little girl, you're so thin and frail, going with us would only be a burden to Master He and Miss Lin,” someone said. 

　　“Exactly, young lady, since you're alright, just go home.” 

　　He Ziqing, straightforward as ever, said, “Miss An, we're going to rescue people, not sightseeing. This mission might be dangerous; it's better if you stay here.” 

　　“What business is it of yours if I want to go? Is this secret passage your family's property?”

　　An Jiu's eyebrows shot up. Her beauty was already striking, like dazzling sunlight, and her anger only intensified her allure. 

　　She pointed at Pei Ji beside her, her eyes wide, and said crisply, “If he can go, why can't I? Am I slower than a cripple?” 

　　The girl's fingers were slender and white, her nails painted a pale pink, delicate as spring onions. 

　　Being called a cripple in public, Pei Ji only subtly restrained his smile, his expression remaining calm and composed, demonstrating remarkable composure.

　　The others were momentarily captivated by her beauty, speechless and unable to retort. 

　　Lin Qingyan, the only one unaffected, was exasperated. With a cold face, she said, “Miss An, please watch your words! Pei Ji's medical skills are superb; he can treat our injuries. What can you possibly do by following us?” 

　　Ji Xiang, her maid, anxiously tugged at her lady's arm, constantly pleading, “Miss, let's go back! Your wet nurse is waiting for you at home. Don't worry them!”

　　An Jiu had a personality where the more people tried to stop her, the more she would stubbornly oppose them. 

　　The book also described this scene: An Jiu insisted on following He Ziqing into the secret passage. However, the book's explanation was that she had developed a dependence on her savior, feeling anxious and afraid without He Ziqing, thus clinging to him.  

　　On their way through the passage, she desperately clung to He Ziqing, demanding his protection. An Jiu's presence indirectly made the female lead, Lin Qingyan, realize her feelings for He Ziqing. 

　　A vicious female supporting character, wasn't she just a tool to advance the relationship between the male and female leads? 

　　However, this time, An Jiu wasn't trying to awaken the female lead; she simply wanted to create more opportunities to be with Pei Ji.

　　An Jiu forcefully pressed her lips together, refusing to yield. “I'm going anyway. I almost became a victim; shouldn't I be allowed to find out who tried to harm me?” 

　　The young miss was so determined that no one could dissuade her. 

　　Finally, Pei Ji spoke, his voice gentle and understanding. “Since Miss An insists, let's go together. Remember to stay by my side; Ah Qi's martial arts skills are excellent; he can protect both of us.” 

　　An Jiu softly snorted, remaining silent. 

　　However, Pei Ji saw several large characters reflected in her bright eyes: Who needs your feigned kindness? 

　　He smiled faintly, his face as serene as polished jade. 

　　Pei Ji recalled his first encounter with An Jiu in his past life; she had seemed similarly unyielding towards him. This foolish woman, like everyone else in the world, was accustomed to judging people by their appearance.

　　Most people would disguise their true feelings, not foolishly revealing their inner thoughts. But An Jiu, calling him a cripple to his face, wore her emotions on her sleeve, never concealing her true feelings. 

　　He wasn't sure whether to call her foolish or naive. 

　　The young man in white slightly narrowed his long, dark eyes, concealing the fleeting cold light in their depths. 

　　With their decision made, they didn't delay. He Ziqing, taking the flower thief with him, was the first to jump down into the secret passage, followed by Lin Qingyan. 

　　When it was Pei Ji's turn, he smiled faintly, his long fingers holding his snow-white folding fan, politely gesturing to An Jiu. “Miss An, please go first.”

　　An Jiu pushed away Ji Xiang's hand that was tightly holding her, handed her the white robe, and said to the crying little maid: “Go back to the Lin Mansion and tell the nanny that I will be back soon.” 

　　Then she walked to the edge of the secret passage and leaned down to look. 

　　The passage was about two meters below ground level, with no stairs; the only way down was to jump. A two-meter drop was nothing for martial artists, but as a delicate young lady with no martial arts training, it posed a significant problem for An Jiu.

　　An Jiu glanced down, her expression hesitant. 

　　Seeing this, someone said, “Oh, little miss, you can't even get down; don't cause trouble.” 

　　“Who says I can't!” 

　　An Jiu hated being told she couldn't do something. Ignoring Ji Xiang's pleas, she immediately braced herself against the ground and jumped down. 

　　“Miss! Miss, are you alright!” Ji Xiang crouched at the entrance of the secret passage, anxiously peering down. 

　　An Jiu got up from the ground, brushing off the dust, and looked up. “I'm fine!” 

　　While it seemed like An Jiu impulsively jumped down due to provocation, she had actually prepared beforehand, choosing a half-squat landing to minimize impact. Therefore, she landed safely, only experiencing some numbness in her legs but suffering no injuries.

　　The secret passage was long, with paths both ahead and behind, and several branching routes along the way. At that moment, He Ziqing and Lin Qingyan were nearby, questioning the flower thief about the way. 

　　An Jiu stepped aside a few paces to clear the entrance of the passage. 

　　Suddenly, a rustling sound like wind brushing against clothing echoed, and Ah Qi descended from above, holding the armrests of a wheelchair. In the chair sat a young man in white, holding a folding fan, his expression calm and his demeanor serene. The corners of his snow-white robe fluttered in the wind. 

　　When the wheelchair landed, there was only a soft thud, as if not two people and a wheelchair had touched down, but rather a light pebble. 

　　An Jiu's eyes widened in astonishment as she watched this scene unfold.

　　Even though she understood this was a wuxia world, witnessing such a magical scene firsthand still filled her with astonishment. 

　　“Miss An, what's wrong?” Pei Ji asked, noticing her gaze. 

　　Before An Jiu could reply, Lin Qingyan's voice came from ahead: “Pei Ji, this way. Stay close, don't fall behind. The terrain here is very confusing, lots of branching paths.” 

　　Pei Ji responded loudly, “Alright, Qingyan, be careful too.” Then he turned to An Jiu, speaking softly, “Miss An, remember to stay close to me.”

　　“Got it,” An Jiu muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. 

　　The second male lead is such a hypocrite, she thought, even after his rebirth, he's still so kind to the female lead. His tone of voice is completely different when he's talking to her. 

　　Of course, it was also possible he was just acting. 

　　The secret passage was long, with oil lamps hanging on the walls, their flickering light casting dancing shadows. 

　　An Jiu had her reasons for insisting on coming along; she knew there wouldn't be any real danger this time, but she still obediently stayed by Pei Ji's side. 

　　Pei Ji didn't initiate conversation, and she didn't bother him either. 

　　The two maintained a comfortable silence, seemingly avoiding each other, only listening to the exchange between the male and female leads ahead.

　　As they walked, she couldn't help but steal glances at him, one after another. 

　　The young man in white, though seemingly ignoring her, appeared to be fully aware of her little actions. When she looked at him again, he asked, “Miss An, why are you looking at me?” 

　　An Jiu blinked, quickly denying, “Who—who said I was looking at you!” 

　　Caught red-handed, and by someone she disliked at that, the girl's cheeks flushed, her embarrassment evident. 

　　“Oh,” Pei Ji slowly closed his folding fan, a faint smile still playing on his lips. Good-naturedly, he said, “Then you weren't looking.” 

　　An Jiu mumbled, “I wasn't looking, anyway. Why would I look at you?” 

　　The young man in white didn't seem to acknowledge her words, his smile remaining unchanged. 

　　After walking a while longer, the young miss could no longer contain herself. Pressing her lips together, she glanced sideways at the young man in white, serenely seated in his wheelchair.

　　“Hey.” 

　　“Hmm?” Pei Ji subtly turned his head, his gaze gentle, like the surface of a lake reflecting the evening sunset. 

　　The girl's voice was soft, lacking its previous arrogance. “Your martial arts... can I learn them?” 

　　Pei Ji paused slightly, then smiled. “That depends on Miss An's aptitude.” 

　　An Jiu had been waiting for this very response. Immediately, she extended her hand towards him. “Then, since you're a divine doctor, you should be able to tell, right?” 

　　To prevent him from refusing, she stared at Pei Ji with bright, questioning eyes, adding, “Don't tell me you can't.”

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