Read Novel Full Reborn into a New Sect, the Pitiful Girl is Doted on by All the Big Shots Chapter 259
Chapter 259: Inquiries
You Ying’s body visibly stiffened, her eyes instantly welling up with tears as she choked out, “I’m not worthy… not worthy, not worthy to be his disciple anymore.”
Seeing her emotional distress and overwhelming pain, Shen Ci tugged at Da Hua’s sleeve, quietly signaling with her eyes for her to stop pressing further.
Shen Ci then turned to You Ying with a gentle tone, “Alright, Miss You Ying, since you’re awake, what are your plans now? This isn’t a place for long stays. If you need healing pills or travel funds…”
“Dao friend Shen!” You Ying urgently interrupted, struggling to rise and bow, but Shen Ci gently held her down.
Lifting her tear-filled eyes, full of pleading, she said, “Please, let me take shelter here for a while! Once I’ve recovered from my injuries, I’ll leave immediately, without staying a moment longer… I truly have nowhere else to go.”
Naturally delicate and charming, her tear-streaked face now appeared even more fragile and pitiable. Shen Ci looked at her, weighing the situation in her heart, and ultimately softened with a light sigh:
“You may stay to recuperate, but you must promise me not to step beyond this courtyard during this time. Otherwise, if trouble arises, I may not be able to protect you.”
Seeing Shen Ci relent, You Ying hurriedly expressed her gratitude through tears, “Thank you, Dao friend Shen, for taking me in! Don’t worry, I definitely won’t wander around, and I dare not…”
Seeming eager to prove her worth, she quickly added, “Also, I… I can brew tea and prepare simple soups and Spirit Dew. If you need anything, I can help…”
“Brew tea?”
Shen Ci’s heart stirred slightly. For some reason, this word suddenly reminded her of Mo Cheng—that elder brother who always dressed in white, sitting quietly brewing tea with fluid, masterful movements. That this unfamiliar woman also mentioned this art made the little guard Shen Ci had left fade a bit more.
A gentle smile appeared on her face as she replied, “Alright then, when I go down the mountain today, I’ll buy some fine Spirit Tea leaves. It’ll be nice to taste your skills.”
“A-Ci.”
Da Hua, standing nearby, frowned slightly and called her name in disapproval.
After the three finished preparing and carefully instructed You Ying not to leave the courtyard, they headed down the mountain together.
Along the way, Da Hua continued murmuring in Shen Ci’s ear, “A-Ci, I’m not criticizing you, but when will you ever change this soft-hearted nature of yours? That You Ying’s origins are unknown—what if she ends up bringing us major trouble…”
Shen Ci patted her shoulder reassuringly, “Alright, my dear Hua Hua, I’ve checked—her Spirit Energy is depleted, and her meridians are severely damaged. She’s truly at the end of her rope. Besides, we’re new here with nothing to our names. What could she possibly want from us?”
What concerned Shen Ci most was an indescribable, faintly familiar aura about You Ying—it was this sense of familiarity that ultimately made her decide to offer shelter.
But she couldn’t pinpoint what felt familiar.
“Right, Brother Xiao?” Shen Ci said, turning to seek agreement, only to find Xiao Lie frowning slightly, lost in thought with a deeply pondering expression.
“Brother Xiao?”
Xiao Lie snapped back to reality with a simple smile, “Wh-what is it, A-Ci?”
Shen Ci found it somewhat amusing, “What were you thinking about just now? You were so absorbed.”
Xiao Lie scratched his head, a flicker of confusion in his eyes: “N-nothing… It’s just that the name You Ying… feels like I’ve heard it somewhere before.”
“Hm? Heard it…” Shen Ci’s footsteps paused slightly.
Just as she was about to press further, an extremely loud voice suddenly erupted nearby, “Esteemed Dao friends and immortals! Premium spiritual beast meat here! Don’t miss out as you pass by, come take a look!”
Shen Ci’s attention was immediately drawn. She walked over to the small stall and carefully examined the neatly arranged pieces of meat glowing with Spiritual Qi, nodding in approval: “Truly premium quality. Perfect for hotpot tonight.”
The stall owner was a simple-looking man who grinned at her words, revealing two rows of white teeth: “You’ve got a good eye, Dao friend! This is top-grade goods that slipped out from the Chuimen Sect! Rare find indeed!”
“Ah?” The three of them wore identical blank expressions.
Shen Ci asked doubtfully, “Chuimen Sect’s spiritual beast meat… how did it end up at your small stall?”
“Hey! You folks must be new to Sky Promise City!” The stall owner slapped his thigh, lowering his voice slightly but unable to conceal his excitement, “A few days ago, the Chuimen Sect was hosting their Lotus Viewing Ceremony up in the eternal ice chains of the far north. Everything was going splendidly until some bratty girl came out of nowhere and ruined everything! I heard she even stole the eternal ice lotus! The grand feast planned for nine days and nights had to be canceled, leaving all these premium ingredients behind!”
“Small business folks like us just seized the opportunity to get some bargains! Just look at all the posters everywhere…”
He pointed casually at a nearby wall where a detailed portrait was posted with a generous bounty: “Seems like the Chuimen Sect is going crazy searching for that girl!”
Ahem…” Shen Ci choked on her own saliva, guiltily rubbing her nose before decisively changing the subject: “Boss, wrap up all the ingredients at your stall for me.”
Good thing they’d disguised themselves beforehand, she thought while silently wiping cold sweat. Though they could probably handle a fight, being constantly pursued would be troublesome and inconvenient.
The three purchased several large bundles of spiritual beast meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, various spiritual plant seedlings and seeds, along with daily necessities. By the time everything was settled, the sun was already setting, and the sky was gradually darkening.
Shen Ci glanced at the darkening sky and contemplated: “Brother Xiao, Da Hua, let’s call it a day for now. We need to inquire about the Fleeting Life Spring first. We can come back another day to buy the daily necessities for our brothers and sisters.”
She calculated in her mind: aside from Brother Jun who had refined tastes and preferred luxury, the others were quite easy to please—especially Big Brother Ye and Brother Mo, who had always lived simply and required little.
Xiao Lie, carrying numerous packages, asked naively: “Wh-where should we go to ask?”
“Hehe,” Shen Ci smiled mysteriously, a gleam in her eyes, “I heard when I first arrived in Sky Promise City that there’s a Myriad Treasures Pavilion in the city center. Not only do they sell all kinds of rare treasures, but they also specialize in trading all sorts of information. Let’s go ask there.”
Da Hua clutched her stomach, urging impatiently: “Then hurry, hurry! If we’re late, this child will be starving to death! You’ll need to steam three pots of glutinous rice lotus root for me to recover later!”
Shen Ci gave her a speechless glance: “When have I ever shorted you on food and drink?”
Half an hour later – Myriad Treasures Pavilion
“What? Fleeting Life Spring?” The shopkeeper behind the counter suddenly brightened, his voice unconsciously rising a few notes.
Seeing his reaction, Shen Ci felt hope kindle in his heart: “What is it? Do you have some clues here, boss?”