"How much for this sword?" Ling Chuxi asked as calmly as she could.
"Miss… You want this sword?" The salesperson was both afraid and disappointed. He thought he'd be able to secure a big transaction, but this well dressed young lady wanted to buy an abandoned sword instead? He couldn't shake off his fear of the consequences of selling this sword to Ling Chunxi. If she had bought the sword only to show up complaining of an injury and seeking compensation from them, what was he to do? "No, miss. No good will come from buying this sword. It would be better for you to head upstairs and pick another. This one is unbecoming of you," advised the salesperson earnestly.
"Oh, you misunderstand. What if I wasn't buying it for myself? Can't I give it to someone I detest? That person could get injured every day for all I care." Ling Chunxi let a sly smile spread across her face without caring to put the sword down. "If there are any complications in relation to this purchase, I will be responsible for them. I will not return the goods I have bought from you, nor will I trouble you any further. What do you say? Won't you tell me how much this sword costs?"
"If that's the case, what a good and clever trick that is!" breathed the salesperson in relief as he began to compliment Ling Chunxi. If this was indeed the case, all was fine. A strange young lady this one, to have thought of such a horrible trick. The salesperson didn't know who would end up being the unlucky owner of the cursed sword but that wasn't his business. Selling a discarded sword for a small profit was a good enough arrangement for him. He could just tell the shopkeeper the sword was sent to the furnace and that would be that, wouldn't it?
"One silver tael will be sufficient," proposed the salesperson after doing some calculations in his head. Selling an abandoned sword at such a price wasn't a bad deal at all.
Ling Yichen tossed a silver ingot into the salesperson's hands. It was equal to three to four taels. "Keep the change," he quipped coolly. The salesperson happily accepted the payment and gave Ling Chunxi a scabbard for the sword for free.
"All right then, we'll be off," said Ling Chunxi. She smoothly slid the sword into the scabbard and turned to leave.
"But, miss, don't you want to take a look at the weapons on the upper floors?" asked the salesperson in surprise.
"If this sword is as cursed as you make it out to be then maybe I'll visit you again," answered Ling Chunxi with a grin. "If it isn't, then there might be trouble."
"Ah, I see! Don't worry. Don't worry. This sword is definitely cursed!" The salesperson placed a hand upon his chest as an indication of the sincerity of his words.
"Very well. I will return once I have confirmed the matter for myself." Ling Chunxi then smiled at the salesperson and took her leave holding the sword and Little White. Ling Yichen promptly exited after her, his face remaining as expressionless as ever.
As she walked along the busy street, Ling Chunxi patted her brand new sword hanging from her waist in contentment. There was a complexity to this sword for sure. Her intuition told her as much.
"Who are you going to give the sword to?" asked Ling Yichen abruptly. He was now walking alongside her.
"I'm not giving it to anyone. I plan to keep it," came Ling Chunxi's cheeky reply. "Oh, before I forget, thank you very much for paying for my sword, Ling Yichen. You shall live long and prosper as all good people do."
A barely perceptible movement flitted across Ling Yichen's lips before he turned to walk to the stage station. After taking a few steps, he noticed Ling Chunxi hadn't moved from where she stood. He stopped walking and turned to look at her blankly.
Ling Chunxi had gotten distracted. When she realized Ling Yichen was staring at her, she snickered. "Geez. I'm coming, I'm coming. Why don't you try having more facial expressions? It's like your face is paralysed. No wonder even your admirers stay away," muttered Ling Chunxi under her breath as she hurried to catch up with him. She knew he intended to rush her to return to Shi Qu Town with him but didn't know how to ask. In truth, she prided herself on being able to decipher such blankness of expression.
Throughout the whole journey, Ling Chunxi fondly held on to the handle of her new sword. She loved it so much, she didn't want to let go. Ling Yichen closed his eyes the entire way through. It was evening by the time they arrived in Shi Qu Town. After bidding farewell to Ling Yichen at the station, Ling Chunxi happily skipped home.
Alas, her happiness was short lived. The smile on her face froze once she reached her gate.
At her doorway, two despicable people lay in wait. Qin Xiruo and Ling Xiaoting! Now, who was Ling Xiaoting, you ask? He was the person Ling Chunxi used to "like".
