Chapter 894 - 411: Sister Xiangrong, Borrowing Flowers to Offer to Buddha, Nine-Story Money Tower, Purging Bodily Toxins (Part 2)

Chapter 894: Chapter 411: Sister Xiangrong, Borrowing Flowers to Offer to Buddha, Nine-Story Money Tower, Purging Bodily Toxins (Part 2)

Tao Xiangrong turned and walked away, her steps graceful, saying, "Isn’t sister’s matters important to you?" She gently waved her hand, signaling Li Xian to follow.

Li Xian hesitated for a moment and said, "Of course, it’s important, but Sister Xiangrong’s important matters naturally have many young talents to share the burden. Perhaps it won’t be my turn."

Tao Xiangrong turned back with a light laugh and said, "You really know how to climb up the pole, now you call me ’sister’?"

Li Xian regretted it secretly, thinking the term "sister" was rather inappropriate, and cursed inwardly, "Li Xian, oh Li Xian, you’ve gotten used to teasing women with your words. Now you’ve got yourself into trouble." Then he added, "It’s my rashness, Miss Xiangrong... If there’s truly nothing urgent..."

Tao Xiangrong’s voice came from afar, "I want you to follow me."

Li Xian was helpless as Tao Xiangrong seemed idle, intent on using him to pass the time, leaving him no room to refuse. Thinking the Bi Xiao Long Dream Tower shouldn’t be a dangerous place, he just needed to be careful. Following her should be without danger to his life. Moreover, he wanted to see what this woman was up to, so he followed.

But he always kept a distance of five zhang. Tao Xiangrong glanced sideways, seeing Li Xian as if guarding against wolves and tigers, always hesitant to approach, she couldn’t help but find it amusing. She muttered to herself, "Those with higher status and greater martial skills than you all hope for a chance to get close to me. Yet here you are, suddenly appearing and acting as if I might eat you." She intended to tease him a bit and suddenly stopped walking.

Li Xian stopped as well, still separated by several zhang distance, waiting for a few moments before hearing Tao Xiangrong scold, "Standing several zhang away, not keeping sister company for a chat, do you expect me to walk like this alone?"

Li Xian said, "This..."

Tao Xiangrong scolded, "Hurry and catch up, accompany sister for a chat. Otherwise, I might find a reason to make things difficult for you."

Li Xian was helpless, thinking this woman’s temperament was hard to figure out. Just now, during the hundred boats race, all the young talents tried their best to catch up but never got close. This time, their accidental encounter left Li Xian no choice but to approach. Seeing no way to evade, he had to quicken his steps, closing the distance.

He caught up with Tao Xiangrong, but still half a body behind.

Tao Xiangrong knew that Li Xian dared not walk side by side, so she didn’t insist and continued to walk slowly. At this moment, she stepped onto a secluded path with lush green trees on each side and no others around.

Tao Xiangrong complained, "You said you came to attend my birthday banquet, yet you didn’t know what I looked like. Just now, when I asked about your age, you rambled without giving an answer."

Li Xian replied earnestly, "It was my oversight. I’m over twenty."

Tao Xiangrong said, "Ah, just a fledgling young man. I see you’re wearing the tiger python uniform; do you know General Xu and General Lei?"

Li Xian responded, "Of course, they are my superiors. I respect them and look up to them as role models."

Tao Xiangrong said, "I guessed so." Her gaze turned playful as she extended her hand and said, "I see you’re quite impatient with me, unwilling to talk. Rather than keeping you forcibly, it’s hard on you. Just bring that item to me and I’ll let you go."

"Otherwise, don’t blame me for using my power to bully and calling people to catch you, the little thief."

Li Xian asked in confusion, "I haven’t taken anything privately; could Miss Xiangrong have misunderstood?"

Tao Xiangrong glanced casually at him without hurrying to answer. Just then she spotted a fallen flower on the path. Leaning down, she picked it up, twirled it between her fingers, and placed it on a branch. The fallen flower rejoined the branch, gaining new life, reconnecting. This time she smiled and asked, "Let me ask you, what kind of banquet is today?"

Li Xian noticed Tao Xiangrong had shown a slight skill, yet it was extraordinary. Pressing down his surprise, he said, "Of course, it’s... Miss Xiangrong’s birthday banquet." He intended to say "good sister’s birthday banquet," since he was adept in sweet-talking women and winning their favor. This ability he mastered naturally, but in reverse, not saying sweet words and deliberately keeping distance, made him awkward and stumbling.

Tao Xiangrong said, "Since it’s a birthday banquet, you’re missing something?" She opened her hand and made a small beckoning gesture, her eyes full of playfulness.

Li Xian said, "Ah! Is Miss Xiangrong referring to a birthday gift?" Thinking to himself, "I only came for the food; how could I prepare a birthday gift? At the moment, I’m penniless, where would I get money for a gift? It’s fate that led me to encounter her. I may as well speak frankly."

Fixing his words mentally, he was about to speak.

Tao Xiangrong said playfully, "Think carefully before speaking. Although my banquet welcomes all comers, at least announcing someone a thief only takes me one sentence. Others eat and drink freely, leave here without pursuit. But you eat and drink freely, I won’t let you go."

Li Xian’s tone shifted suddenly, saying, "Of course, of course, while I may not belong to a grand family, I do understand propriety. Attending a birthday banquet, how could I not prepare a gift? Miss Xiangrong, you truly don’t know, I’ve gone to great lengths to prepare this gift, though I suspect you won’t be interested, I’ll..."

Tao Xiangrong spotted a pavilion and walked over to sit inside. A maid from afar saw this and brought a teacup with hot tea inside. She smiled and said, "Who said I’m not interested, I am quite intrigued. This young Gold Appraisal Guard, take your time to explain clearly after drinking tea."

She handed the hot tea to Li Xian and watched as he drank. Her gaze was very playful.

Li Xian accepted the tea, drank boldly, thinking that since this woman’s nature was as fluid as water, the more he retreated, the more she followed closely. He might as well let go and said, "Since Sister Xiangrong wants to hear, I must start from the beginning."

Tao Xiangrong nodded and said, "Mm, let’s hear it."

Li Xian said, "Once upon a time twenty-one years ago, the weather was extremely cold; that day, nine stars aligned, the earth and rivers trembled..."

This time it was Tao Xiangrong who was stunned, her gaze peculiar, "Wait... are you saying you’ve been preparing a birthday gift for me for twenty-one years?"

Li Xian answered, "Indeed, that year I was just born. If I were to start from the beginning, and explain clearly and openly, then indeed, it must start from that year."