Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Chen Sixi was awakened by a splash of cold water.

Upon opening his eyes and meeting Xie Xun's dark gaze, he was startled, jumping up from the small bed like a leaping carp.

Wiping the water droplets from his face, Chen Sixi protested, "Xie Xun, buddy, I acted as your soul guide and helped you out big time, and this is how you repay me?"

Xie Xun looked at him expressionlessly, "If you want to sleep, go home and sleep. We're going out."

"Going out? Where to?"

"The county."

"Hey, I'm heading that way too!" Chen Sixi stood up, stretched lazily and yawned, "Why don't I give you a ride?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Xun handed him a note, "Go to this address."

Chen Sixi: "......"

Good grief, he even wrote down the address, so he was planning to use him as a driver from the beginning?

......

Jiang Xiaoxiao was placed by Xie Xun into a small cage.

The cage was made of bamboo that Xie Xun had cut down a few days ago.

The outside was covered with a thin, breathable cloth, and the inside was padded with a soft mat and a small pillow.

The last time Jiang Xiaoxiao shrank, Xie Xun had trouble finding a way to carry her when they went out.

Putting her in a money bag, either hanging at the waist or the chest, was too conspicuous.

Putting her in a basket was also risky, as she could get hit by things thrown inside.

Before, when Xie Xun went out, people had thrown stones into his basket.

After some consideration, Xie Xun finally made a small cage for her.

This way, he could carry her in his hand at all times, while concealing the fact that there was a person inside the cage.

From the time they returned from the burial ground until now, Chen Sixi had been dazed several times, but his mind finally cleared at this point.

Seeing Xie Xun skillfully carrying the cage containing the miniaturized Jiang Xiaoxiao, Chen Sixi gulped, "So, you've seen the master's shrunken form before?"

Xie Xun neither confirmed nor denied, which was tantamount to admitting it.

"Truly, there are no strange things in this world!" Chen Sixi marveled, "In all my life, this is the first time I've seen a living person who can actually become so small."

If he hadn't witnessed Jiang Xiaoxiao's ability to exorcise demons earlier, Chen Sixi would have thought she had become a spirit.

But such a tiny and cute spirit was completely defenseless, right?

Wouldn't everyone want to have one?

Chen Sixi's heart itched, thinking that one day if Xie Xun mistreated Jiang Xiaoxiao, he would steal her away and keep her for himself.

Jiang Xiaoxiao in the cage was completely unaware that she was being coveted again.

This time when she shrank, her tendency to sleep excessively became even more pronounced.

Despite the bumpy ride of the mule cart, it didn't affect her deep slumber at all.

The address on the note was not in the busy district.

The mule cart stopped, and Xie Xun got off, walking through a moss-covered stone bridge.

There were a few ducks swimming in the small river under the bridge, and two willow trees on the riverbank.

The shop was located at the end of the stone bridge, and the shopkeeper was a middle-aged man.

He wore a brown robe, with his hair tied in a bun wrapped in a cloth, dressed like an ordinary commoner.

But Xie Xun could sense at a glance that the man was a Taoist priest, a true Taoist priest, probably from Cangwu Mountain.

Upon seeing Xie Xun, the shopkeeper's attitude was amiable, "Young sir, what would you like to buy?"

"Help me prepare some medicine," said Xie Xun, handing over the prescription.

The shopkeeper took it and examined it, first with his pupils constricting, then as if understanding something, he didn't ask Xie Xun any unnecessary questions, only saying "Wait a moment" before taking the prescription to the inner courtyard.

An hour later, the shopkeeper came out again, the medicine already prepared and packed.

He handed the medicine pack along with the prescription to Xie Xun.

"This is a three-day supply. First, decoct it, then remove the dregs, and soak the herbal juice in water for half an hour."

The shopkeeper also reminded, "Remember to come again next month."

From his tone, it seemed that when the shopkeeper went into the inner courtyard earlier, he was seeking advice from someone inside.

Xie Xun guessed that Zhang Yu was also there, but he didn't plan to go in and meet him. He merely said a faint "thank you" before carrying the medicine pack in one hand and the cage in the other, leaving the shop.

Chen Sixi was still waiting on the other side of the bridge.

Seeing Xie Xun carrying the medicine pack, he was utterly perplexed, "With so many proper pharmacies out there, why would you come to this rundown place?"

Instead of answering, Xie Xun asked back, "Don't you have anything else to do today?"

Chen Sixi thought for a moment, "It's not busy at the shop lately, and besides, I've already asked my dad for time off."

Xie Xun said, "You don't, but I do."

Making it clear that he should know his place and leave.

Xie Xun did not take the pastry, nor did he forcibly explain anything, only a shadowy light flashed quickly in his eyes.

Third Prince Murong Xun had been forgotten for many years, but unexpectedly, he became popular in Yanjing City again, all because of being divorced.

It was not until much later that Xie Xun looked towards Mr. Guo, "Any other gossip?"

Mr. Guo said, "None for now, but if there is any in the future, I will honestly relay it to you, sir."

After a pause, he deliberately covered his mouth and leaned closer to Xie Xun, lowering his voice, "There is actually one more thing."

"Oh?"

"It's a minor rumor." Mr. Guo said, "I've heard that the court is recently planning to establish an office, seemingly related to exorcism and demon-slaying."

"Although I don't know if it's true or not, but I think, since you, sir, understand these things, and have an extraordinary expert by your side, there's no need to go to school. You might as well try to join this office instead."

Although Yan Country emphasized civil service examinations, in this era of rampant ominous events, exorcists were clearly more sought after.

Otherwise, the National Master Bai Cheng would not have been held in such high esteem.

Throughout Yan Country, whenever the commoners mentioned National Master Bai Cheng, who didn't revere and worship him?

It was as if with him around, Yan Country had gained half of its territory.

Now that the court was specifically establishing an office to deal with ominous events, it showed how much importance they placed on this matter.

If the news was true, then this office would most likely be led by the National Master, which was a plum position. Those who joined first would benefit first.

The corners of Xie Xun's lips curved slightly as he thanked Mr. Guo.

Of course, he had to join the Yin Yang Office, but he couldn't enter together with Jiang Xiaoxiao. He had to prepare two paths.

Jiang Xiaoxiao would go to the Yin Yang Office, and he would go to Luming Academy.

That way, even if one path ran into problems, the other could still support them.

Seeing that Xie Xun took his words to heart, Mr. Guo smiled and stood up.

Inadvertently catching a glimpse of the tightly covered cage beside Xie Xun, Mr. Guo curiously asked, "Sir Xie, you also keep a pet?"

Xie Xun made an affirmative sound.

After Mr. Guo left, Chen Sixi couldn't help but twitch his mouth, "Xie Xun, you're really too unscrupulous."

For a perfectly good person to be locked in a cage was one thing, but to even call them a pet...

Although, that said, he really wanted to have such a 'pet' too.

After inquiring about what he wanted to know, Xie Xun picked up the medicine pouch and the cage, paid the bill, and left the tea house.

Chen Sixi trotted to catch up, eagerly taking the medicine pouch from his hands, "Brother, let me accompany you?"

This guy's fawning behavior clearly meant he was up to no good.

Xie Xun's expression remained unchanged, "Just say what you want."

Chen Sixi said, "Nothing much, I just want to mooch a meal later."

Since he was motherless from a young age, and his family didn't have servants, for many years it had always been him and his dad taking turns cooking.

However, the cooking skills of the two of them were not very good.

The dishes they cooked were barely edible, let alone tasty or not. He really wanted to taste someone else's cooking.

"Alright." Xie Xun readily agreed, then immediately changed the subject, "The chores of fetching water, chopping firewood, and sweeping the courtyard will be yours."

Chen Sixi's eyelid twitched.

He knew Xie Xun would never let anyone get even half a benefit for free.

But even so, it did not deter Chen Sixi's determination to mooch a meal.

"Got it!" he grinned, "You lead the way, Brother."

After arriving home, Xie Xun put Jiang Xiaoxiao back in her little nest and immediately went to the kitchen to decoct the medicine.

The tub for the medicinal bath was dug out by Xie Xun a few days ago when he was making the cage, using old tree roots. It wasn't much bigger than a rice bowl.

In other words, the medicinal liquid had to be decocted and concentrated to at most half a bowl, then diluted with water.

The smell of this medicine was far more pungent than ordinary herbal medicine.

Seated in the courtyard chopping firewood, Chen Sixi sneezed several times.

While chopping wood, he complained, "Xie Xun, are you sure this unorthodox prescription is reliable?"

As soon as Jiang Xiaoxiao smelled the odor, she wilted, trying to sneak out of her little nest.

Xie Xun grabbed her with two fingers, holding her up and raising his brows, "Where are you going?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao said, "My stomach hurts."

Xie Xun: "It's because you haven't taken the medicinal bath."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "I'm tired."

Xie Xun: "It's because you haven't taken the medicinal bath."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "I want to eat!"

Xie Xun: "Just take the medicinal bath."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "......"