Chapter 1157: You Slandered Me

Yu Youyu brought out the sword.

Ruyi's heart jolted at the sight of it.

"Listening to Rain..."

Ruyi murmured. She watched as the sword suddenly shifted, floating straight up into the air.

Yu Youyu froze, stumbling back two steps in fright.

"Ah!"

"How, how..."

She was terrified by the sight.

For no apparent reason, the sword was simply hovering there.

Ruyi raised a hand, and the Listening Rain Sword dropped straight into her grasp.

She gripped the Listening Rain Sword tightly.

"How did this sword end up with you?" she asked.

Yu Youyu swallowed hard and answered honestly, "He... he lent it to me. I don't know why. He just said he was lending it..."

Ruyi stared blankly, a little dazed.

Only after hearing Yu Youyu out did she understand how it had happened.

Ruyi then comforted the frightened young woman. "Don't be afraid. You're a kind-hearted girl."

Saying so, she offered the sword back.

"Since Uncle Chen lent it to you, keep it safe. In times of danger, it will protect you."

Still reeling with fear, Yu Youyu shook her head and refused to take it.

Seeing this, Ruyi placed the sword on the table. "Keep it safe. Don't lose it. Uncle Chen will come back for it."

With that, she walked out the door.

"Next year, right before summer arrives, I'll come find you again."

Leaving behind those words, Ruyi departed without a single word of explanation.

Yu Youyu stood in the wine shop, a little stunned.

She had no idea who this mysterious visitor was, but the sheer presence radiating from her had been terrifying.

Ruyi was someone who had walked out of the chaotic jianghu. The title of Spear Immortal wasn't earned through friendly sparring; it was forged thrust by thrust, taking countless lives before it spread by word of mouth.

A sheltered young woman who knew nothing of the world naturally couldn't withstand such an aura and inevitably felt afraid.

Yu Youyu looked at the sword left behind.

To her, it was like holding a hot coal—she couldn't throw it away, nor could she bear to hold onto it.

She felt terrified.

And then there were the words Ruyi had left her with.

She was coming back next year?

Yu Youyu didn't understand. She carefully put the sword away, too afraid to take it out again.

However, despite the promise of "next year," not even a month had passed before the woman returned.

Not only did she return, but she also brought a cat and another woman. This new woman was even colder, giving Yu Youyu an even worse feeling.

"Didn't... didn't you say next year..."

When Yu Youyu saw Ruyi, she couldn't help but step back.

Ruyi crossed her arms and said, "I changed my mind. Is that a problem?"

Yu Youyu opened her mouth but couldn't speak.

Ruyi reached out and rapped her on the head.

Beside her, Lihua turned its head and looked at Ruyi.

The technique felt inexplicably familiar. In its early years, Ruyi used to knock on its head just like that—a move she had learned from Chen the Good Man.

Yu Youyu touched her head. It didn't hurt. She looked at Ruyi in confusion and asked, "Why did you hit me?"

Ruyi said, "After you close up shop, come find me in Dongshui Alley."

Yu Youyu was a thin-skinned girl to begin with. To her, this unprovoked bullying was simply unbearable, and her eyes suddenly turned red.

Pitter-patter, her tears began to fall.

Lihua noticed and quickly tugged at Ruyi's hair with its paws, whispering in her ear, "Ruyi, Ruyi, you scared her into crying."

Ruyi paused and looked back.

Yu Youyu was glaring at her resentfully, her eyes filled with grievance.

The girl had no idea what she had done wrong.

Ruyi couldn't help but feel a little flustered. Cursing under her breath, she asked, "Wait, why are you crying?"

Yu Youyu shook her head and said, "I won't."

"Won't what?"

"I won't go find you."

Ruyi paused. "That's it?"

Yu Youyu wiped her tears. "I don't know you, and I won't go find you. And don't you come looking for me, either."

Dong Chiyu looked at Ruyi and said, "She's not very brave."

Ruyi curled her lip. "Indeed."

Lihua blinked upon hearing this, looking first at Ruyi, then at Dong Chiyu.

It felt that perhaps these two had some misunderstanding about what it meant to be timid.

As far as it was concerned, the two most brazen people it had ever met in its life were standing right in front of it.

People who wielded spears were somewhat lacking in brains; they had nothing but raw nerve. For two people like this to open their mouths and say someone else wasn't brave—Lihua couldn't bear to listen anymore.

Ruyi felt at a loss. She looked at Dong Chiyu and asked, "What do we do?"

Dong Chiyu raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you the expert?"

Ruyi made faces at her. "Since when am I the expert?"

Dong Chiyu thought for a moment and said, "Shall I demonstrate?"

"Huh?"

With that, Dong Chiyu stepped forward.

Her face perfectly calm, she walked right up to Yu Youyu.

Yu Youyu froze and took half a step back. "Wh-what are you doing..."

Dong Chiyu grabbed her and yanked her forward.

Clutching Yu Youyu by the collar, her expression suddenly turned vicious. "Listen here, you little brat! If you don't show up today, you're dead meat!"

"Do you understand?!"

Yu Youyu was paralyzed with fear.

Her tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Speak!" Dong Chiyu barked.

Yu Youyu nodded frantically, sobbing in terror, "I'll come, I'll come, I'll come..."

Dong Chiyu gave a soft snort and let her go.

Watching from behind, Ruyi stared in sheer exasperation.

Lihua reached up with its paws and covered its eyes.

Dong Chiyu walked back, her face instantly returning to perfect calm.

Ruyi's mouth twitched repeatedly. She said, "Blockhead, you're slandering me."

Dong Chiyu blinked earnestly, her gaze seeming to ask, "Am I?"

Ruyi couldn't help but rub her forehead, sighing that her lifelong reputation had just been completely ruined.

Yu Youyu cried even harder.

Lihua noticed that her sobs were already drawing the stares of many onlookers.

"Let's go, let's go."

At its urging, the two women and the cat finally left.

They returned to the courtyard they had bought in Dongshui Alley.

Sitting on a small stool, Ruyi propped up her chin and stared off into the distance. She muttered, "Do you think she'll come?"

Dong Chiyu shelled a peanut and handed it to Ruyi. "Eat a peanut."

Ruyi reached out, took it, and tossed it into her mouth.

Lihua said, "You two better stop discussing it. I've never met anyone crazier than the two of you."

Ruyi and Dong Chiyu turned their gazes toward Lihua.

Both of their eyes held traces of genuine confusion.

Lihua didn't want to explain. It turned and scurried up the wall to seek some peace and quiet.

These two were seriously sick in the head.

...

By the afternoon, however...

Yu Youyu did indeed come.

But she wasn't the only one.

The moment Ruyi stepped out the door and saw the group of constables and soldiers surrounding the courtyard, she froze.

"That's them!" Yu Youyu pointed a small hand.

The constables and soldiers behind her immediately gripped the hilts of their sabers.

Ruyi's eyes widened, and she blurted out, "You actually reported us to the officials?!"