Chapter 448 - 14: Tenderness Like Water
The evening wind caressed the face, carrying with it the scent of sulfur hot springs.
At this time of the day, Yue Jinghua would usually be sitting in Helen Tavern, listening to the mercenaries with their rough voices telling all sorts of bawdy jokes, gathering news.
But upon receiving that message from Lady Qingyan, she couldn’t stay put.
After viewing the treasure map clearly, the mystery of the Ancient Hero Treasure that had puzzled her for over a month was suddenly illuminated.
Despite not knowing what game Lady Qingyan was playing, her announcement had made Yue Jinghua notice a place she had overlooked all along.
Ancient Hero Statue.
Everyone thought that this treasure map was a map of Five Saints Town, so in the past month, some even searched every corner of the whole town, not sparing the ordinary residences, yet no one noticed that this map was a bit different.
On the map, it marked all of Five Saints Town’s landmarks, save for one place.
The map did not show the Ancient Hero Statue.
As the landmark of Five Saints Town, the Dragon Slayer Hero Statue was conspicuously absent from the map.
Upon realizing this, Yue Jinghua walked along Sis Street to the side of the Ancient Hero Statue after nightfall.
The moonlight was as cold as frost, and the Ancient Hero Statue, which was quite popular with tourists during the day, was now shrouded in moonlight.
After receiving the message from Lady Qingyan, the mercenaries rushed about, and at this time, Helen Tavern is probably already filled with all sorts of wild news.
It seems that this place is the only quiet spot in the entire town.
The Dragon Slayer Hero Statue, having stood in the wind and rain for hundreds of years, appeared mottled with rust.
Just half a day ago, due to Lady Qingyan’s words, Yue Jinghua could anticipate that in a month’s time, countless crazed people would swarm in front of the Ancient Hero Statue.
The Dragon Slayer Hero Statue, approximately the height of a story-tall building, sat silently in the moonlight.
Yue Jinghua raised her head, eyes meeting the statue’s gaze.
It was unclear what material the statue was made of, but it was said to have been carved entirely to the Dragon Slayer Hero’s life-size proportions, including the features and form, with complete accuracy.
Yet upon closer inspection, Yue Jinghua could see that in the statue’s face, the left eye was missing an eyeball.
"Blind despite having eyes? What a jest you’ve played on the world, oh Dragon Slayer Hero," Yue Jinghua muttered to herself as an unexpected figure appeared beside her.
In the moonlight, Zong Shaoqing’s silver hair was as white as snow, his deep-colored robe was broad and voluminous, and even the night couldn’t obscure the radiance he exuded.
He tilted his head up slightly to look at the Ancient Hero Statue in front of him, then shifted his gaze down to Yue Jinghua’s face.
Yue Jinghua squinted her eyes lazily like a cat, glancing sideways at him.
As the wind passed by, a pleasant fragrance wafted from him.
Even though Yue Jinghua was dismissive of the Divine Court, the presence of Zong Shaoqing before her was indeed hard to dislike.
"Divine Son, it seems we are cut from the same cloth. Now that you’re here, why don’t we chat about those matters of the Divine Court," Yue Jinghua leapt onto the fountain, not bothering to give the Ancient Hero Statue another look. She kicked off her boots and dipped her feet directly into the hot spring water, letting out a contented hiss.
Last time she saw the hot springs, she felt like doing this, so now that she had left what’s called modern civilization, she thought, why not be a barbarian for once.
Watching her nonchalantly take off her shoes, her pale and delicate feet like the corners of a water chestnut soaked in the water, swaying gently.
Without hesitation, Zong Shaoqing lifted his robe and, following Yue Jinghua’s lead, removed his footwear and also dipped his feet straight into the fountain.
Not far away, the Ancient Hero Statue stood quietly, facing the two of them.
In the fountain, underneath the warm water, a few playful hot spring fish encountered the strange objects and swarmed over, nibbling at their toes.
Zong Shaoqing had never experienced such a sensation before, feeling ticklish underfoot, but embarrassed to show any misstep in front of Yue Jinghua, he could only keep a straight face, sitting stiffly like a block of wood.
"So even the Divine Son of the Divine Court is not completely detached from the mundane world," Yue Jinghua saw Zong Shaoqing sitting down with much restraint and, feeling playful, scooped up a handful of clear water and splashed it over.
Under the moonlight, the droplets scattered on Zong Shaoqing’s face, dripping down his nearly perfect contours, catching him by surprise and leaving him momentarily stunned.
Seeing his dazed look, Yue Jinghua bent over with laughter, hands unceremoniously flinging more splashes of water his way.
Just then, a scolding voice came from behind: "Who is this thief, daring to soak feet beside the Hero Statue, it is strictly forbidden to bathe or feed in the fountain, violators..."
"Tsk, the meddlesome Mercenary Inspection Team," Yue Jinghua jumped up, finding no peace anywhere she went, hopping madly while grabbing the hem of her robe and said to Zong Shaoqing, "Don’t just stand there, let’s go."
Upon hearing this and seeing Yue Jinghua, who didn’t even have time to put her shoes back on, scampering away like a monkey, Zong Shaoqing was stunned for a moment.
He stood frozen for a second, but the members of the Mercenary Inspection Team were already approaching.
With Yue Jinghua’s skill, she vanished in no time, and when the Inspection Team arrived, all they could stare at were the two sets of wet footprints on the ground.
After running for a while, Yue Jinghua found a patch of grass to sit on, took out a packet of dried squid and a packet of Mazaro beef jerky from her Desire Gourd, and began eating, not in a hurry as Zong Shaoqing hadn’t arrived yet.
After a while, Zong Shaoqing came floating over, his dress fluttering; he looked well-groomed with his shoes neatly put back on, in stark contrast to Yue Jinghua who was drinking barefoot, quite indecorously and devoid of any ladylike demeanor.
When a visitor arrives, they’re a guest, Yue Jinghua glanced at her own beer, which was not much left, and muttered, "It’s not that I don’t invite you to drink, but the Divine Court must prohibit drinking, right?"
Unexpectedly, Zong Shaoqing helped himself to her beer and took a gulp, ambiguously saying, "I’m a Divine Son, not a Monk."
Yue Jinghua almost spat out the drink in her mouth, and as she looked at Zong Shaoqing, she saw his deep purple eyes staring at her intently.
Anyone being stared at by a silver-haired, purple-eyed beauty like him would feel awkward all over.
"What’s the difference, both are detached from worldly desires," and under the moonlight, Zong Shaoqing seemed even more like the radiance of the moon, flawlessly perfect from head to toe.
To hide the discomfort in her heart, Yue Jinghua feigned a cough and struggled to shift her gaze away from Zong Shaoqing’s handsome face.
"I can take a wife, Monks can’t," had this come from the likes of Xie Yu, Yue Jinghua would have instantly shot a disdainful look, but it was Zong Shaoqing who said it.
And he spoke with such seriousness, as if he were taking an oath.
Just as Yue Jinghua was pondering the meaning behind his words, all of a sudden warmth covered her feet; her bare ankles had been caught in a pair of strong hands.
"!!" Yue Jinghua looked down to see her feet cradled in Zong Shaoqing’s hands.