Chapter 100: Spiritual Bracelet
To nobody’s surprise, Gu Ying caught on almost immediately what her young master and young mistress had done. Although MIngshen’s poker face was perfect, Anji was a terrible actress. Ever since she was a child, she had never been able to hide anything from anyone. Most people in the Celestial Dragon Sect noticed Anji’s suspicious behaviour but chose to look the other way. After all, everything would reach her mother’s ears. Anji was safe there.
In the absence of other parental figures during their travel to the Mystical Qilin Sect, Gu Ying assumed that role. Hence, when Anji spilt the beans out of fear, Mingshen was also held accountable. The siblings were punished before dinner and made to fill their own baths. Considering Gu Ying’s temperament, it was considered a merciful punishment. The bodyguard gave them a light sentence when Anji explained how they donated most of the candy flower to other children.
That night, Anji ate her dinner and was supervised strictly by her bodyguard while she wrote her letter to be delivered back to the sect. Gu Ying insisted that she apologised to her mother and Doctor He for going behind their backs with her brother to eat unhealthy things. Anji wrote the letter with a heavy heart and prayed that her parents would not tattle to her shifu. Adopting a vegetarian diet was hard enough for Anji. She didn’t want her access to sugar to be limited on the sage’s mountain.
After more scolding and a short lecture from Gu Ying, Anji took a bath and went to bed. Mingshen had to leave to oversee some business operations in Silver Water Town, but Anji was too tired to follow him. Gu Ying was told to stay and guard Anji, and Mingshen promised to be back in two hours.
With peace of mind, Anji slept soundly.
The next morning, Anji woke up to a surprisingly quiet town. She was used to hearing the shouts from vendors and the laughter of children in the streets by sunrise in the small village below the Celestial Dragon mountain. However, the people in Silver Water Town seemed to be late risers. Even her brother woke up later than usual. He still had dark circles beneath his eyes, indicating the late hour he slept. Likewise, Anji thought the vibrant nightlife made most people in the town sleep later than usual.
"Good morning," Gu Ying greeted, looking fresh as usual, even if she slept late. "Would you like to have some breakfast while the young master is getting ready?"
Anji nodded. Few shops were open at this hour, so it was better to eat something before checking out the morning river market. According to Mingshen’s schedule, they would leave after Anji checked the morning market.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Anji asked. "You don’t seem tired even if you slept later than usual."