Lin Yan was frightened and shut his mouth.
Chen glared fiercely at Lin Yan and asked, "Master, can you do it?"
"Yes, but before that, you go prepare the carriage, rations, and a change of clothes. This journey of ours might be slow," Piao said faintly.
Chen was stunned. "Master, can't we just use demonic arts?"
"My business is in a year's time. If I go now, there's no point," Piao said, holding out his hand and conjuring a money pouch. "Go and do it." He tossed the money pouch to Chen.
Chen glanced down at the money pouch and said, "Master, that's not what you meant just now."
"I just remembered," Piao said, picking up his teacup. "Lin Yan, you prepare too. We'll set off tomorrow morning, and it's estimated to arrive in a year."
"Okay," Lin Yan agreed excitedly and turned to leave.
Chen picked up the money pouch and instantly felt like he had been tricked.
At the counter.
Mu Xiang was putting the ledger back into the cabinet while thinking about Piao's words and her original plan with Wan Sha. She hesitated for a moment, then stood up and looked at Shi Jia, who was about to pass by her. "Shi Jia, come here."
Hearing this, Shi Jia was stunned, turned around, and walked to the counter. "What is it?"
"You watch here for me, I'm going to find the proprietress."
"You're looking for the proprietress?" Shi Jia exclaimed in surprise and gave a dry laugh. "Don't."
A clear conscience fears no knocking at the door.
Since Shi Jia stayed, she hadn't been idle. During this time, she had been caught by Mu Xiang many times. It was a coincidence that every time Shi Jia made a mistake, Mu Xiang would go to find Wan Sha, and Shi Jia would see this scene every time.
However, she didn't dare to go to Mu Xiang, so she kept overthinking. Now that she didn't want to think anymore, she showed her anxious emotions.
Mu Xiang frowned. "What does it have to do with you if I go to find the proprietress?"
Shi Jia leaned tightly against the counter and said, "Of course it has to do with me. I slept again at noon today, and you saw it too. Every time you find a problem with me, you go to the proprietress. Let's be straightforward," she said, her eyes firm. "Tell me, do you want the proprietress to fire me?"
"What do you think?" Mu Xiang intentionally tried to scare Shi Jia.
Shi Jia pouted. "It must be like this. As the saying goes, the first and second times are forgivable, but not the third. I've accumulated so many..." She counted on her fingers and mumbled, "It's dozens of times. You should have reached your limit by now."
"..." Mu Xiang just smiled and said nothing.
Shi Jia cautiously glanced at Mu Xiang and said again, "See, it's that look again."
"What do you mean by 'that look'?" Mu Xiang countered.
Shi Jia sighed. "You're smiling with daggers. Just tell me the truth. Are you going to fire me? If so, just say it," she took a deep breath. "I've decided to accept the blow."
"Tell the truth..."
"Yes, the truth."
"....Mhm.." Mu Xiang touched her chin and swept her gaze over Shi Jia's expectant yet nervous expression. She said, "To be honest... you're really..."
"I know I'm not doing a good job. I only wipe the tables five times each time, and I only mop the floor five times a day. Last time, someone tripped over my mop. Fortunately, nothing serious happened. I usually wash the teapot six times. I admit, I'm wasting water, but it's my habit. I was wrong." Shi Jia finished speaking and lowered her head.
Mu Xiang looked at Shi Jia's expression as she voluntarily admitted her mistake and couldn't help but smile. "You're very diligent when you work. You're usually too tired when you rest. I can understand. This shop wouldn't be able to function without you."
"..." Shi Jia thought she had misheard and quickly rubbed her ears. "Are you seriously praising me?"
"I never speak in vain. Good is good, and bad is bad. Compared to those guys, you're the most conscientious worker. The proprietress even said she wants to give you a raise."
"A raise... a raise, really?" Shi Jia smiled.
"Why would I lie to you? Watch here for me, I'm going to find the proprietress," Mu Xiang said. Seeing Shi Jia's expression change, she explained helplessly, "I need to discuss the matter of tea with her, not you."
"Not me?" Shi Jia breathed a sigh of relief, stepped back, and gestured for her to proceed. "Alright, go ahead. I'll watch."
"Mhm," Mu Xiang nodded, walked around the counter, and left.
Shi Jia let out a breath, feeling much better.
A moment later.
Mu Xiang arrived outside Wan Sha's room and gently knocked on the door.
Inside, Wan Sha was sitting at the table, holding a teacup in one hand and a book in the other. "Come in," she said.
Mu Xiang didn't reply. She looked around, pushed the door open, and walked into the room. She paused for a moment, turned, and closed the door without speaking. Wan Sha sensed that Mu Xiang was acting strangely and asked, "What's wrong?"
Hearing this, Mu Xiang turned to look at Wan Sha and said, "Do you know Piao is leaving?" She walked forward.
Wan Sha: "I know about this. He's already left."
"He hasn't left yet," Mu Xiang said, stopping in front of the table.
"Not left..." Wan Sha took a sip of tea. "Then something must have happened. I just saw Lin Yan looking for him."
"Lin Yan looking for him..."
"Perhaps he was asking about Piao again."
In the past three months, Wan Sha had also inquired about Mu An Xiao in various ways. It was also because of Mu An Xiao that she and Piao had grown closer. Therefore, she basically knew what Piao was going to do.
As for why Mu Xiang was acting like this now, she really couldn't understand it.
So, after saying that, she fixed her gaze on Mu Xiang's face.
Mu Xiang felt a little embarrassed under Wan Sha's stare. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You seem strange to me," Wan Sha said.
"..." Mu Xiang thought about her relationship with Wan Sha and Wan Sha's previous agreement with Mu An Xiao. She asked, "Do you think Mu An Xiao is still alive?"
"..." Wan Sha sighed. "To be honest, you know I know quite a few spirits and demons, but they all say they haven't found her. Even Yin Ye went out to look and reported no news. It's really hard to say."
"If Mu An Xiao is dead, your ten years of freedom..."
"They all have tasks assigned to them. Mu An Xiao was specifically in charge of me. If she dies," Wan Sha said, "I will be completely free."
"Completely..." Mu Xiang was confused. "If you've already gained complete freedom, why are you still looking for her?"
"..." Wan Sha lowered her eyes.
Mu Xiang looked at Wan Sha's suddenly somber expression and became even more confused. "What's wrong?"
"At first, I was always hoping for Mu An Xiao's death, but I don't know why..." Wan Sha took a deep breath. "If she really dies, I feel like there's no point."
Mu Xiang followed Wan Sha because she wanted to leave this place. Now, not only could she not leave, but she was also doing business here. Moreover, she kept running into Mu Long on the street, and Mu Long would always mention the marriage that made her upset.
Thinking about it, she asked impulsively, "Do you think these things I've written are still useful?" As she spoke, she took out the small booklet detailing Mu An Xiao's 'crimes' from her怀 and handed it to Wan Sha.
Wan Sha took the booklet and smiled when she opened it.
Mu Xiang: "What are you laughing at?"
Wan Sha, while flipping through, said, "What you've written is much more interesting than this book." She pointed to the book on the table.
"Thank you for the compliment." Mu Xiang tugged at her earlobe, unsure if she should be happy.
"..." Wan Sha smiled, looking at it again, and said, "What you've written is quite rhyming, and it's really inspired me a lot." After speaking, she put down the booklet and tilted her head to look at Mu Xiang.