134 The Desires of Three Women 2

The two girls were a little stunned to hear his reply to Xuan Mei's opening gambit, which was supposed to put Qin Feng in a slightly better mood. The fact that they had chosen to start with Ming Qingsong's situation did not surprise him. Xuan Mei's own dilemma was more complex and they were likely to face rejection on both counts, if they did not have the confidence to pull it off as well. Which made Ming Qingsong's 'request' something a lot safer.

Qin Feng hid a laugh as soon as he saw the look on both the girls' faces, and he shook his head at the young women. As if he was going to be pleased with just being a runner for Elder Ming! Did they even know what he had lost already? Why would he bother to continue to do the same, if he wasn't about to make any gains at all?

"I think I would very much prefer to remain here at my little medicine garden, and forgo all further trips into the Woods, thank you very much. Elder Ming should find someone who is better trained to handle the risk of dealing with all those wild animals and Spirit Beasts, if he wishes to keep harvesting his herbs there.

"This little herb-grower is clearly not someone suited for such a heavy responsibility."

Then, without giving Ming Qingsong a chance to speak out against his decision - as if she had the presence of mind to do so, given the shock that he had just given her! In any case, he turned to Xuan Mei instead, and shook his head at her as well.

"And what is this nonsense that I have been hearing about your father betrothing you to me, Sister Xuan Mei? That is a little overdoing it, and we should clarify it as soon as possible, before the rumor mill in the Rear Gardens kick up a big fuss."

Xuan Mei's face went pale, which told him that his strike had hit her where it counted. Clearly, he had just caught her unprepared with that question. Doubtless she had wished to bring it up quietly, and negotiate terms with him. Well, that didn't suit him at all. So he dragged Xuan Mei's issue to the fore at once, so that he could keep both of the Elders' daughters off balance.

"I ... I ... don't believe that ..."

Qin Feng cut her off before she could get any further:

"Of course, you wouldn't believe it! But there are already many rumors floating about the Rear Gardens. So we shall need to put an end to them quickly. How is it that the other disciples, Inner or Outer School, would believe that you have fallen for a herb-grower?

"Besides, I am only intending to remain here for two years, and that will be over by next Spring. Well, late Spring, if you wish to be accurate. I can't understand why someone would go about spreading such gossip about me. Please do not take offence, Sister Xuan. I assure you that I will clear it up quickly."

A panicked expression crossed Xuan Mei's face at the moment that she heard that. And she almost shouted at him immediately. But a quick gesture from Lingxi drew all eyes, including Qin Feng's, and so saved her from having to embarrass herself.

The oldest of the girls managed to speak in a steady voice, which clearly showed just how accustomed to Qin Feng's little tricks she was. "I think there's no need for that. I am certain that ... Junior Brother Qin Feng has already some idea of what Elder Xuan and his daughter are up to, and you are only ... bargaining now? Well, perhaps we can go about this in a more business-like manner. Would you prefer that, Brother Qin Feng?"

"Oh? If that is the case, I would gladly follow your lead. But ... I would like to know just what you are intending with this. Or rather, what lengths Sister Xuan Mei is intending to go, to create this ... illusion. And why this is important to her?"

Xuan Mei took a deep breath then, and after a glance at Lingxi, who nodded in encouragement, she went on to describe her dilemma, and the solution that she and her father had devised. Something that had Qin Feng giving out a bark of laughter, the moment that she was finished.

"But there is hardly enough time for you to receive a reply from whichever Sect that you are applying to join, is it? Or are you expecting me to stay past my sixteenth year? Who is going to allow for that? Your father?"

But her calm reply surprised him. "Yes. And I intend to ask Elder Ming Guanhe to be the one to suggest it, so that my father can be the one to give the first approval, before it goes before the Left Guardian. Everyone would believe that Elder Ming is trying his best to hang onto his favorite herb-grower, given how you have managed to help Qingsong here ... break out of her shell. Lingxi and I can help you with that illusion."

"Help me? Say rather that you are helping yourselves!"

He scowled at the young women then, which seemed enough to make it clear that he was not amused by their tricks. Why did they have to bother him with this sort of thing? As an Elder's daughter, it should be simple to get other disciples, Inner or Outer School, to help her with this little play. Why was she getting him involved?

Lingxi however, was quick to agree with his assessment. "That is true enough. But to be fair, we would all stand to gain. And Xuan Mei should get her reply from ... the Empire by next year. And likely before Winter. Or rather, that should be about how long it will take for her to receive word. So there should be nothing to stop you from leaving after that.

"If you can ... arrange for Elder Ming to receive ... some of what he needs after that, we should be able to keep the illusion going up until about Spring the following year. That should give you sufficient time to make whatever arrangements you need."

"And what sort of arrangements do you believe that I would need?"

Qin Feng didn't give the trio any chance to reply to his question. Not that Ming Qingsong had anything to say about that. He had gone easy on her, seeing how she had bothered to talk to her father, to get him a permanent pass into the Southern Woods. That was, at least, a reasonable payment for the service that he was providing.

But what Xuan Mei had just proposed was nothing more than exploiting him, and his name. And he certainly wasn't likely to get anything that he could use, out of playing such a role. Did she really think him an idiot? Or was that her father's idea?

"I am only going to get laughed at, when you leave for whichever Sect or School that you have applied for, and that would also infuriate the idiotic old man who is trying to win your hand. So I would end up being scorned and win an enemy, through no fault of my own. And what would I stand to gain from this? Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

He scowled at the pretty young daughter of Elder Xuan as he said that, and shook his head at her for good measure. "If you are intending for me to take on this role, you should at least offer me something more tangible. Like a promotion into the Inner School, or for Elder Xuan to accept me as a Core disciple. Not that I would accept, of course.

"But anything less than that would be absolutely worthless."

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