Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Strictly speaking, the master Shengsheng found for the bandits was not human.
She had exchanged a Single-Use Summoning from A-Pang and called forth a puppet from some unknown world.
In life, the puppet had made jewelry. That description was somewhat crude, but he had indeed made jewelry–and had been phenomenally good at it.
The puppet obeyed his summoner. Once Shengsheng issued her instructions, he began teaching in earnest.
Shengsheng had seen nearly every style of jewelry sold in this world during her time in the various imperial palaces. Her stay in Zhen was especially useful. The mountain of jewels gifted by the emperor had cemented her determination to enter the trade.
Interested in a Kuromi choker? My Melody earrings? A Cinnamoroll hairpin?
Shengsheng even showed the puppet master her designs.
Though a puppet, he retained his human temperament and promptly protested with a dead man’s stare.
He was already dead, so Shengsheng ignored him. She ordered him to comply or be sent back.
The master, who had spent countless years in primordial chaos, fell silent.
Shengsheng left the workshop satisfied, already hearing the jingle of silver.
*A-Pang, don’t you think something is strange?*
The black bird had pecked a bald patch into A-Pang’s head. They had hidden for an entire day, and now answered only weakly.
*What?*
*This is supposed to be an ancient romance. Haven’t we veered irreversibly into ancient fantasy?*
*Aside from you, Shengsheng, I don’t think anyone cares.*
She could not dispute that.
She would work hard to transform *The Adventures of Shengsheng Zhou* into *How I Used Magic to Build an Ancient Economy*.
A-Pang objected.
Surely it ought to be *How I Used A-Pang to Build an Ancient Economy*!
“Chief!”
A graceful beauty in red approached from the distance.
Shengsheng’s expression immediately softened. “What is it, beautiful?”
The woman picked her up and kissed her little face several times.
“Chief, that pretty boy keeps demanding to see you.”
Thinking of the bedridden Siran, Shengsheng let the beauty carry her back.
The instant they crossed the threshold, however, the woman’s arms became empty.
She looked down at the vacant space, then across at the pretty boy who had somehow stolen her beloved chief.
Her mouth twisted with rage.
Pretty boy! How dare he compete with her for favor?
“Shengsheng, where did you go?” Siran held her, his head unconsciously burrowing toward her neck.
Shengsheng patted the large dog before her and began to ponder.
*Hasn’t he become a little too clingy lately?*
The next instant, Siran set her down.
Once she stood steady, a sigh drifted from above.
“Forget it. I shouldn’t have asked. I forgot that Shengsheng no longer trusts me.”
As though by accident, he touched the sapphire-blue purse at his waist.
Shengsheng stared.
Why did she suddenly smell the pungent aroma of manipulative green tea? Was something wrong with her nose?
The beauty started forward the moment Siran released Shengsheng.
A vicious gaze swept over her, sharp and brimming with violence.
She shuddered and did not dare move another step.
When Shengsheng looked up, Siran had already returned to his previous appearance. His eyes were lowered, innocent and faintly wounded.
Just as Shengsheng began wondering whether she had indulged Siran too much, footsteps sounded outside.
It was San Zhang, who had raced back overnight and arrived yesterday looking like a dead dog.
“What happened?”
At his grave expression, Shengsheng thought, Wonderful. More trouble.
“Chief, two people came to the foot of the mountain. They say they want to join us.”
Shengsheng said nothing.
San studied her face uncertainly. Did she want him to drive them away?
As he began to move, Shengsheng suddenly spoke.
“San, doesn’t this development feel familiar?”
San, newly christened with an overly intimate nickname, hesitated. “A little.”
Was that not exactly how he and the Chief had fought their way up the mountain?
“I’ll take a look. You don’t need to follow.”
She issued the order and started outside, only for two separate forces to seize her.
“Is something wrong?”
Shengsheng glanced at the beauty on her left and Siran on her right, choosing her words carefully.
They spoke almost simultaneously.
“I’m coming too.”
Her expression turned complicated.
Since when had these two gotten along well enough to develop perfect coordination?
They glared at each other. Murderous intent nearly spilled from Siran’s eyes, but the beauty acted as though she saw nothing.
What good was glaring? He was still here competing with her for the same person!
The beauty glared right back.
Thus Shengsheng, who should have marched majestically down the mountain, was forced to descend with a beauty on one arm and a handsome man on the other.
At the mountain entrance, the first thing she noticed was a conspicuous carriage.
The carriage itself was neither lavish nor drawn by rare horses. The person seated upon it was simply too striking to ignore.
He wore green robes and a veiled hat. White gauze fell from the brim to his long, straight neck, concealing his face. Yet his posture and the aura surrounding him warned no one to underestimate him.
From behind the veil, the man smiled at the child above, embraced by a beauty on the left and a handsome man on the right.
“I have long heard that the leader of the one hundred and eight heroes of Mount Liang knows how to enjoy life. Now that I see you in person, your romantic fortune truly is remarkable.”
His clear voice was like jade striking jade, softened by a warm timbre.
When Shengsheng stared at him in a daze, displeasure stirred within him.
What? Had his transcendent bearing made her want to take him into her Mount Liang harem too?
She remained silent, staring. Siran stepped forward and blocked their line of sight.
Shengsheng’s expression grew complicated.
*I understand the urge to wear a disguise, but couldn’t you at least change your clothes?*
*I’ve wanted to say this forever, Weiqing Song. Do you own only one color? And why must novels always identify their male leads by clothing color? Fusheng wears red, Siran wears black, Weiqing wears green. If you put on another color, would no one recognize you?*
*Do you really love it that much? One color for one lifetime, one shade till death do you part?*
The cannonade of complaints boomed in two men’s minds with three-dimensional sound.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Siran released Shengsheng’s arm and looked down at himself.
Excellent.
Dark gray.