I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Enemies Cross Paths

It is said that on that evening, after Shen Mizi encountered that incident on the street, she felt as if she had swallowed a fly, feeling both disgusted and infuriated!

Returning to the mansion, she first scolded and beat Qiu Hen, then locked herself in her boudoir, sulking alone, allowing no one to enter, and even skipping dinner.

Qiu Hen, having been scolded and beaten, dared not persuade her.

Over there, Ma Chunmin noticed something wrong and called Qiu Hen over. After questioning, Qiu Hen tearfully and carefully recounted what she had seen.

This was how the matter of Ma Chunmin hosting a banquet to invite Duan Rong came about!

Ma Chunmin thought Shen Mizi had been frightened, so she didn’t disturb her, wanting her to calm down on her own, and simply had someone send a bowl of lotus seed porridge over!

Shen Mizi sulked the whole night, and the next day, she still felt a stuffy chest and a lingering hatred!

Therefore, early in the morning, she arranged to go out with Xia Shuangshuang from Yun Shui Bank. Both rode a cyan-maned horse each and went for a spring outing in the suburbs!

Shen Mizi played all day, worked up a sweat, and finally felt her mind a bit cleared. Just as she returned to the mansion, she heard about a banquet being set up in the parlor to invite Duan Rong.

At first, she didn’t know who Duan Rong was and didn’t relate it to her own incident.

She even felt somewhat interested and asked Qiu Hen about it while wiping her fragrant sweat!

As soon as Qiu Hen explained, Shen Mizi’s face changed instantly; she nearly rushed over to beat that scoundrel who molested her and drive him out!

Fortunately, she was naturally calm, knowing that if she rushed over and exposed the incident, her reputation for purity would be ruined!

And, just her luck, that scoundrel was trying to save someone when he... molested her!

This was the part she found most unacceptable, as if she deserved to be molested.

Shen Mizi slashed the washstand in front of her with a sword, water splashed everywhere, startling Qiu Hen into jumping back!

Shen Mizi barely managed to suppress her impulse, turning around angrily to rush out of the county office, heading to Xia Mansion to find Xia Shuangshuang.

But Xia Shuangshuang had been dragged out to the suburbs by her, played all day, and was already exhausted, barely managing to play two rounds of chess with her before wrapping herself in the quilt and falling asleep...

Shen Mizi had no choice, and hearing the night watchman’s call from the street, realized it was already 7 p.m.

She thought the banquet must be over, so she left Xia Mansion, walking alone back with a heart full of concerns.

Just as Shen Mizi crossed the threshold of the county office, stepping into the shadow of the lamp, she suddenly saw someone emerging from the path beside the office, holding a dim lantern.

The person seemed a little tipsy, staggering slightly as they walked, humming a little tune softly.

The yellow light of the lantern shone on his face.

Wasn’t it that scoundrel, who else could it be?

Shen Mizi stood there as if struck by lightning, trembling all over!

She wished she could immediately draw her sword and slash this audacious scoundrel in front of her!

Duan Rong, holding the lantern, walked out. He vaguely saw someone standing in the lamp shadow beside the office, but the light from his lantern was somewhat dazzling, and the person was standing in the shadow.

Duan Rong didn’t pay much attention, hiccupped from the alcohol, and swerved around the person, crossing the threshold of the county office, heading onto the street.

Duan Rong had just stepped out of the county office, barely two steps taken when a cold wind blew by, waking him up halfway from his drunkenness.

Suddenly, he remembered the person in the shadows beside the office. He couldn’t see clearly, but the sword in that person’s hand was just illuminated by the light from the office gate.

That sword... why did it seem familiar... as if he had seen it somewhere before...

”Tassel sword, dark red snake skin scabbard...”

”It’s that... young lady!”

”Oh my...”

Duan Rong suddenly recalled the scene, those slender, elegant hands gripping the dark red snake skin scabbard, with knuckles turning slightly white from gripping too hard!

Clearly in a state of rage!

Duan Rong immediately broke into a cold sweat, shrank his head, glanced back, and saw no one chasing from outside the office.

Duan Rong immediately broke into a sprint, the lantern in his hand swaying like being battered by a storm.

Duan Rong dashed into the nearest dark alley, rushing into the night, heading towards the Yuan Shun Escort Agency...

Shen Mizi, already trembling with anger, became more furious from the foul stench of alcohol lingering beside her...

She held her breath for several moments, her emotions finally reaching a breaking point...

Shen Mizi suddenly turned around like an angry lioness and charged out of the government office!

If I don’t beat you till your dad can’t recognize you, then I’m doing your annoying face a disservice!

But when Shen Mizi rushed out, the West Main Street at 7 p.m. was already deserted, with only two night watchmen walking past the entrance of the county government office with their necks hunched...

Shen Mizi was filled with grievance, stomped her foot, and tears instantly flowed down uncontrollably!

Shen Mizi returned to her boudoir courtyard somewhat disheartened.

She stood there, looking at the mulberry tree in the small courtyard, which would bear mulberries in summer, tasting very delicious!

She had always loved eating mulberries, so she took great care of this mulberry tree, often having Qiu Hen water and fertilize it!

At this moment, looking at the mulberry tree illuminated by the dim lamp light, Shen Mizi suddenly went insane and drew her sword to slash wildly!

Her figure was like a rabbit’s rise and falcon’s fall, flickering left and right, the long sword in her hand flashing cold light like water, wildly dancing with her movements.

”Little thief!”

”You didn’t even look at me!”

”And you dare burp that disgusting alcohol breath in front of me!”

”Someday, I’ll skin you alive!”

The cold light of the long sword flashed, and the branches and leaves of the mulberry tree were like having endured a storm, scattered all over the ground...

As Shen Mizi slashed, she didn’t realize her hands were already trembling!

Breathless, Shen Mizi looked at the ground covered in broken branches and fallen leaves, and finally, some of the pent-up frustration in her chest was released...

She was clear in her heart, she was engaging in self-abuse!

Just like those years after her mother passed away when she had just begun to understand things!

She sheathed her long sword, turned on her heel, and returned to the boudoir, silently lying on the bed sulking.

As soon as Shen Mizi lay down, Qiu Hen came in holding a quilt, preparing to sleep on the floor...

This was also part of a maid’s daily routine, getting up at any time to serve if the young lady needed water or anything at night.

Just as Qiu Hen placed the quilt, Shen Mizi turned to the side, her almond-shaped eyes full of venom glared at Qiu Hen, and she cursed: ”Get out and sleep! Just seeing you annoys me now!”

Scolded for no apparent reason, Qiu Hen felt a deep grievance, and with sobs, she took the quilt to sleep in the main hall.

Shen Mizi blaming Qiu Hen was not without reason. If Qiu Hen hadn’t dropped the number stick in line, none of this mess would have happened, and she wouldn’t have been taken advantage of by that little thief.

Moreover, if she hadn’t spoken out of turn, there wouldn’t have been an invitation to Duan Rong!

Now, enduring the humiliation and full of anger, how could she show Qiu Hen any kindness?

Yuan Shun Escort Agency, in a secluded wood and charcoal yard in the outer court.

This place was intended for the servant disciples to practice martial arts.

However, the servant disciple assessments for this year had ended, and the next batch of servant disciples wouldn’t be recruited until after the Lantern Festival in January of the following year.

The yard that should have been empty had one person standing a Complete Round Pile Skill!

The dim evening light fell on his face, his whole body drenched in sweat, with steam rising from his head!

This person standing in the yard had broad shoulders and a large frame, it was the apprentice escort master Kong Bin!

Ever since Kong Bin was nearly discouraged after being struck by Duan Rong’s progress last time, he never went to cultivate in the Martial Arts Arena anymore.

Whenever he encountered Duan Rong, he felt that his practice was nothing but a joke.

But he knew in his heart, the abnormal one was actually Duan Rong, not him!

However, everyone understands the logic, but who wouldn’t get confused when it actually happens?

Later, Kong Bin stopped practicing in the Martial Arts Arena and preferred to take a few extra steps to cultivate in this secluded courtyard in the front.

As a result, his mind indeed became much more peaceful, and his advancement in the First Level of Inner Breath gradually sped up!

It was already dusk, and the time for dinner in the middle courtyard was approaching.

Kong Bin dispersed his skill practice and exited the courtyard through the corner door, heading towards the dining hall in the middle courtyard.