Chapter 35: Scheming Against the Green Phoenix

"He is very good to me." Having said that, he buried his head and fell silent.

Although it was a simple sentence of five words, to the ears of the bystanders, it carried a distinct and unsettling implication.

Qingluan tilted his head slightly, looking at Wang Dong with disbelief. Before he could offer any defense, the surrounding discussion erupted again.

"Look, just look! Look at what they've done to the poor child—he doesn't even dare to tell the truth anymore!"

"Exactly! What kind of guardian acts like this?"

"Could they be human traffickers? Hurry and report them to the authorities!"

The crowd chattered away, the cacophony causing a persistent throb in Qingluan's temples. Nestled in the young woman's arms, Wang Dong felt the corners of his mouth curling upward uncontrollably; it seemed that playing the occasional prank felt rather satisfying.

"See? Now, tell me what else you have to say." The woman glared coldly at Qingluan, as if she were ready to pass judgment on him right then and there.

Qingluan’s patience wore thin, and his temper flared. Just then, a voice from not far away reached the ears of both Wang Dong and Qingluan with startling clarity.

"Have you heard? Prince Xue Xing has been placed under house arrest by His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Is that true? But that's his own uncle!"

Hearing this, Wang Dong decided not to waste any more time. He looked up and said, "Big sister, could you take me to the shelter? I’m afraid..."

"What exactly are you trying to do?" Qingluan snapped, his restraint finally snapping.

Seeing this, Wang Dong shrank his neck back and hung his head. "I was wrong, I won't do it again. Please don't hit me."

At these words, the crowd erupted once more.

"He's still trying to hit the child! We must report this!"

"Yes! Exactly! I'm going to find the town mayor right now!"

"Wait!" The young woman reached out, blocking the elderly men and women behind her, and addressed Qingluan. "Judging by your appearance, you must be a Spirit Master. Do not make things difficult for these ordinary people; if you have any grievances, come at me."

A Spirit Master?

Hearing this, the crowd instinctively took a few steps back, except for the old woman who had spoken first. "Abandoning a child—even if you are a Spirit Master, I am not afraid of you!" Her voice was firm and resolute.

Qingluan realized the gravity of the situation. Appearing as though he had exhausted all his options, he spoke under the watchful eyes of the crowd: "I apologize to you all. I promise to treat this child well from now on."

Seeing his sincere attitude, the crowd’s hostility softened, and they began to offer advice. Wang Dong seized the opportunity to murmur, "Big sister, could you please take me to get something to eat first? I'm so hungry."

The young woman hesitated for a moment, glanced at Qingluan, and said loudly, "You don't even know how to take care of a child, do you?" With that, the elderly bystanders crowded around, beginning to lecture him on the ways of child-rearing. Taking advantage of this, the woman quietly slipped out of the crowd with incredible speed. By the time Qingluan realized it, Wang Dong’s presence had vanished.

Realizing he had been ditched, an icy aura began to radiate from Qingluan. He vanished in a flash, only to stop at a street corner after overhearing a conversation between two elderly people.

"That girl, Wanwan, is still as cautious as ever."

"Indeed. Her own younger sister was tricked and sold to another region by their cousin, wasn't she?" The old man’s voice was filled with regret.

"Yes! When her Spirit first awakened, she was the most gifted child for a thousand miles around. It’s a pity she has stayed in this small town for so many years, protecting the children who have been left behind."

"She simply cannot forget her sister."

"Sigh—"

As the voices faded, Qingluan gathered his thoughts. "Men, search with everything you have."

"Yes!" The command was acknowledged by unseen voices.

...

Meanwhile, Wang Dong had traversed two streets in the blink of an eye.

"Big sister, you're amazing!" Wang Dong exclaimed, looking at the changing scenery.

Wanwan was charmed by Wang Dong’s demeanor and reached out to pinch his cheek. "Just call me Sister Wanwan. What is your name?"

While they spoke, Wang Dong was busy observing his surroundings, paying little mind to her touch. He looked into Wanwan's eyes and replied earnestly, "Just call me Xiao Dong."

Seeing that Wang Dong was distracted, Wanwan assumed he was hungry and said softly, "What would you like to eat?"

Wang Dong recalled his earlier excuse and replied, "Anything is fine. I'm not a picky eater."

If Xue Qinghe were to hear this, he would surely narrow his eyes and purse his lips. Wang Dong could even imagine his expression and words: "You, not picky? If it's too hot, too cold, too hard, too soft, too fishy, too smelly, or too fragrant, you won't touch it. The palace chefs are nearly on the verge of a breakdown!"

Why did I think of him?

Wang Dong shook his head. He had to reach the Far North as soon as possible; Xue Qinghe moved so quickly that he might appear before him at any second. The Far North was vast, and even with Qingluan’s speed, he wouldn't necessarily be able to find him.

With this thought, Wang Dong said, "Sister Wanwan, is there anywhere that sells clear porridge? I prefer a lighter diet."

Wanwan paused for a moment. "Clear porridge is quite rare. We locals prefer a thicker congee, but I will take you to look for some."

"Thank you, sister."

After winding through several alleys, the two entered a small street-side shop.

"Auntie, do you have any porridge left?" Wanwan called out loudly as soon as she stepped inside.

Wang Dong glanced at her, confused as to why the soft-spoken Wanwan would raise her voice so much in someone else's shop.

Perhaps sensing Wang Dong’s obvious gaze, Wanwan explained, "Auntie has a hearing impairment. She runs this shop all by herself, so one has to speak loudly for her to hear."

Just then, the voice of an old woman came from the back room: "Is that you, Wan-girl? Sit down, I'll be right there."

"Don't rush, Auntie, take your time," Wanwan immediately replied.

Wang Dong looked curiously into the back room. He originally wanted to leave immediately, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he lingered.

Before long, a woman with a gentle and elegant temperament, who appeared to be middle-aged, walked out from the back room.

Wang Dong blinked hard—she didn't look like an old woman at all, unless... she was also a Spirit Master.

"Wan-girl, it’s been a while. And this is..." The shopkeeper noticed Wang Dong as soon as she walked out and asked.

Wang Dong gave a slight nod. "Hello, Auntie~"

His well-behaved voice and actions immediately brought a smile to the shopkeeper's face. "Oh, such a well-behaved child. What would you like to eat? Auntie will make it for you."

Wanwan spoke up at the right moment: "A bowl of thin porridge and some light side dishes will do."

"Alright! Coming right up!" The shopkeeper was swift and efficient, quickly disappearing back into the kitchen.

Wanwan poured a cup of tea and handed it to Wang Dong. "Warm yourself up first. It's so cold outside, and you're wearing so little; you must be freezing."

Wang Dong reached out to take it. "Thank you, Sister Wanwan."

Just then, the voice of the God of Evil echoed in Wang Dong’s mind.

Hearing the message, he immediately set down his teacup and said anxiously, "Sister Wanwan, I need to go to..."

Before he could finish, Wanwan seemed to have a sudden realization. "It's over there, go ahead."

Wang Dong glanced outside, tossed a small pouch to Wanwan, and said, "Sister Wanwan, this is a token of my gratitude."

...

End of Chapter.