[Translation] Fate Chooses You (佳偶天成) by Shi Si Lang (十四郎): Chapter 6: Caught Again…

 

“Young master, with beauty like yours, would you be interested in becoming my husband?”

A certain beautiful young girl smiled with utmost innocence.

“Th-that… well…”

A certain handsome young man blushed shyly.

“If you become my husband, all this money will be yours.”

She patted her bulging money pouch.

“P-please allow me time to consider…”

The young man’s eyes lit up at the sight of money.

“Although an immortal once said I have a husband-killing fate, I’m actually very capable. I can earn money, I’m strong, and I can work hard. If you marry me, you’ll never have to worry for the rest of your life.”

She was an honest good girl and never hid the fortune-telling result, lest people accuse her of fraud after she bought a husband.

A husband-killing fate…

The young man’s face immediately fell.

“Miss, I already have wives and concubines at home… I also have urgent business to attend to. Farewell!”

Ah, another one ran away…

Xin Mei watched the handsome young man flee in despair. This was already the tenth person that morning to change expression the moment they heard “husband-killing fate.”

She was certain her father regretted to the core ever inviting that Immortal Yuqing to tell her fortune. Those two words were simply too destructive.

Forget it. Better eat a bowl of rice noodles to heal her wounded spirit.

After escaping from the imperial mausoleum the previous night, Xin Mei hadn’t dared stay in the nearest town. She had hurried along for nearly three hours before finally arriving at this small city at dawn. Luckily the inn opened early. She rented a room and only recovered after eating three bowls of rice.

That prostitute-visiting general was way too stingy. Just because he refused to feed her, she absolutely couldn’t marry him!

As she rounded a corner, she suddenly saw a rickety ox cart approaching. The wheels groaned painfully against the stone road, and the old ox pulling it was covered in injuries and looked utterly dispirited.

That cart looked awfully familiar. But why did it seem even more broken-down than two days ago?

Xin Mei walked over and lifted the curtain. Inside met a pair of strikingly black-and-white eyes. The reason they stood out so much was because this person… looked like he’d been struck by lightning. His entire body was charred black.

She stared for a long moment before suddenly gasping.

“Lord Meishan! You got struck by lightning?!”

Lord Meishan was mortified. He yanked the curtain shut with all his strength, pretending not to know her.

But then her head suddenly poked back through the window. With a solemn and serious expression, she looked him up and down before saying:

“This is karmic punishment for abandoning someone to die.”

Tears welling up in his eyes, Lord Meishan shoved her head back outside. At this point, his only wish was to turn back time and never have anything to do with this cursed girl again.

The ox cart creaked and swayed all the way to the largest and most luxurious restaurant in town. Looking down at his miserable appearance, Lord Meishan hesitated over and over, utterly unwilling to get out and embarrass himself.

If he used illusion magic… well, his whole body hurt too much right now to use immortal arts.

As he struggled internally, the cart door suddenly opened. Xin Mei stood outside, tilting her head at him.

“You’re going into this restaurant?” she asked, then held out her hand. “Come on, I’ll help you.”

Lord Meishan covered his face.

“No no no no!”

“Don’t worry, I’m very strong. I won’t drop you.”

She spread out the thin blanket covering his legs, wrapped him up completely, and lightly carried him onto her back.

He had reserved a private room on the third floor in advance. Xin Mei carried him upstairs with light, easy steps. Seeing that he was unexpectedly silent, she added:

“Don’t worry, Lord Meishan. You’re as skinny as the bamboo poles we use to dry clothes back home. You’re not heavy at all. I’ve always been really strong. When I was ten I could already carry Senior Brother around the streets, and he’s sturdier than a bear.”

He made a muffled sound, as though someone had suddenly grabbed his throat.

Fortunately the private rooms on the third floor were separated by bamboo curtains, so outsiders couldn’t see inside. Xin Mei called for a basin of hot water, soaked a cloth, and carefully wiped the scorched marks from his face.

“Lord Meishan, aren’t you an immortal? How did you end up struck by lightning like this?”

Blushing and tearful, Lord Meishan replied:

“Immortals… also come in many different kinds… I-I’m simply not good at this kind of physical work!”

“Where did you get struck?”

She gently pressed a cloth against a burn on his face, making him hiss in pain.

“…These past few days, the spiritual energy veins in Wanlan Mountain have been fluctuating abnormally. Many demons there are undergoing heavenly lightning tribulations to ascend into immortals. Last night I was observing a dog demon undergoing its trial. I accidentally stood too close and got struck by heavenly lightning…”

Xin Mei nodded understandingly.

“It’s not easy being a gossip-loving immortal.”

Lord Meishan felt as though ten thousand butterflies were fluttering wildly inside his ears, leaving him flustered and unsettled.

Xin Mei was applying medicine to his wounds. Apparently it was a special remedy made by her family estate with remarkable effects. It smelled like coptis root and bitter gallbladder slowly stewed together for three whole days.

Yet somehow, to him, it smelled like the faint fragrance from inside her collar earlier.

Looks like even my nose got damaged by lightning, he thought miserably.

“All done. I’ll leave this bottle of medicine with you. Remember to apply it every day. Since you’re an immortal, Lord Meishan, you should recover in a few days.”

Xin Mei picked up her bundle and prepared to leave downstairs.

Unable to stop himself, Lord Meishan asked:

“You… uh, you’re leaving already?”

“Mm. I still need to buy a husband, so I can’t stay with you. Take care.”

“…Buy a husband?” Lord Meishan stared blankly. “Can husbands be bought?”

Xin Mei flashed a grin.

“With enough money, even ghosts can be made to push millstones.”

For some reason Lord Meishan wanted to cry again. Damn it! It seemed even his eyes had been ruined by lightning!

Xin Mei lifted the bamboo curtain. Just then someone outside was entering as well, and she nearly bumped into him. The man steadied her with a hand and said in a warm, mellow voice:

“Miss, be careful.”

She looked up and saw a face… beautiful as a flower. There was a tear-shaped beauty mark beneath his eye, giving him a slightly melancholy air. Seeing her stare at him, the man smiled faintly, warm as a spring breeze…

But at first glance he absolutely did not look like a good person.

She turned and went downstairs, vaguely hearing Lord Meishan cursing furiously behind her:

“Fu Jiuyun! You’re late every single time…”

The rest faded away.

Stepping out of the restaurant and seeing the crowded streets, Xin Mei’s heart filled with delight.

Her husband must be hidden somewhere among all these people!

She was going to find him.

That handsome young man in the yellow robe ahead looked pretty good. Round face, tall build—he definitely looked hardworking.

And the man in blue robes in the alley opposite looked good too. Dark hair, broad shoulders, walking with powerful strides. Definitely practical and reliable.

And also… also…

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

The man standing beneath that crooked tree at the corner had an absolutely beautiful back view. Even an ordinary pale green robe looked extraordinary on him. His glossy black hair practically screamed vitality. That narrow waist and broad shoulders clearly showed he was strong and definitely not some lazy freeloader.

Out of all the people on the street, the moment she saw him, everyone else turned into clouds in the background.

Xin Mei smoothed her hair, straightened her clothes, and checked her money pouch.

Good. Appearance flawless. Money pouch flawless too.

She walked over and spoke in the gentlest voice possible:

“Young master, I am Xin Mei of Xinxie Manor. My background is respectable, my personality and appearance are both excellent. Would you perhaps have time to discuss life ideals and marriage with me?”

The handsome man did not turn around immediately. After a moment, he said:

“I’d much rather discuss the matter of you knocking Si Lan unconscious and escaping on your own.”

…Huh?

Xin Mei stared in shock as he turned around.

Once again, the blade-edge of that peerless saber pointed directly at her.

She panicked, backing up three steps while frantically searching for an escape route.

With a flick of his hand, a talisman landed squarely on her forehead. Instantly it transformed into a glowing ribbon that wrapped around her waist, while the other end remained in his hand before vanishing from sight.

Xin Mei immediately felt her body freeze in place. No matter what she did, she couldn’t take another step backward.

Lu Qianqiao walked toward her. Amazingly, an extremely rare smile appeared on his face.

Except…

That smile was absolutely terrifying.

“Caught you,” he said.

“Y-you-you… what are you going to do?” Xin Mei stammered in horror.

He gave a light tug, and an invisible force dragged her two steps toward him.

“This is called a Demon-Binding Rope. Normally it’s used to capture vicious evil demons.”

For some reason, even his voice carried amusement today. But it definitely wasn’t a gentle kind of amusement. It was more like a cold sneer, dripping with blatant mockery.

“Now that it’s on you, don’t even think about escaping again.”

Xin Mei struggled with all her might, but it felt as though a bronze wall stood behind her. Eventually she tired herself out and gave up.

“H-how did you find me?” Finding one person in countless towns was like searching for a grain of sand on a beach.

Lu Qianqiao turned and started walking, and she helplessly followed three paces behind him.

“The moment you knocked Si Lan unconscious, I knew,” he said calmly. “I’ve been following you this whole time to see who you’d come into contact with. Now I know your identity—the eldest daughter of Xinxie Manor.”

Xin Mei’s heart instantly sank.

“You’re not allowed to cause trouble for my father!”

He said nothing and simply continued walking. Judging by the direction, they were headed toward the restaurant she’d just left.

Xin Mei started to panic.

“Where are you going?”

“That cowardly immortal named Meishan is inside the restaurant, isn’t he?”

Her expression changed dramatically. She quickly grabbed his arm to stop him.

“Y-you-you’re going to kill an immortal?! I never told him anything about the Cloud Mist Formation!”

Lu Qianqiao looked down at her hand, then at her face.

She immediately let go of him like lightning and properly tucked both hands behind her back.

“I have business with him.”

Expressionless-Face dragged the terrified little white rabbit into the restaurant.