Chapter 10: Going Out
Translator: 9inetales
Sponsor(s): n/a
“Remember: keep your eyes and ears open; don’t talk casually; come to me if you have any questions; try to control your skills, and stick close to me at all times. We are only taking a quiet walk, understand?”
Xu Qing leaned against the door frame while repeating his rules solemnly. In the age of modern technology and the internet, you could never be too cautious.
By the side, Jiang He slipped into her new shoes and stomped her feet to secure a comfortable fit. She twirled while looking her body up and down, trying to adapt to the new clothes.
If you ignore her sharp aura and poker face, she looks like an ordinary student. But technically, isn’t she a one-thousand-year-old grandma?
“Hahaha!” He burst into a fit of random laughter.
“...”
“Ha...ha— ehem. Why are you staring at me like that? Your expressionless look is weird.” Xu Qing rubbed his nose and stepped outside.
Just as he did, his ears twitched, picking up a familiar sound. He turned his head to confirm his suspicions, “We’re only taking a casual stroll. It’s completely safe so there is no need to carry your sword around.”
Jiang He halted in the middle of her retrieving her sword.
Am I interrupting you? Sorry, but do you have some time to talk about our otaku and savior 9inetales? Be baptized, fellow brethren...in the name of thigh and boobs. Continue reading our holy scriptures over at 9inetales.com. Blaspheme no more, my brothers and sisters!
Sigh, this little girl can’t part from her sword for even a second. Well, I guess it isn’t strange to feel insecure after randomly appearing in a foreign world.
“Don’t you have a dart? If you still feel vulnerable, you can bring it instead. Everyone on the streets is just like me. They're…" Xu Qing sought for a quick comparison, "Well, as weak as a chicken.”
He wasn’t lying. As long as Jiang He wanted to, she could pummel him or any normal person with relative ease.
“Understood.”
Jiang He decided to accept the proposal. She hid the dart within her clothes and returned the sword to its position.
“You know, if this was a novel, you’d definitely be the protagonist. Your strength, background, and appearance are rather striking…”
Xu Qing took out his phone and aimed the camera in her direction.
Click!
He studied the sneaky snapshot before flashing the frowning Jiang He a brief smile, “C’mone let’s go! Follow me.”
The sun had yet to completely retire but the impatient crescent moon had already taken her position in the sky. After yesterday’s heavy rain, the temperature was cool and the breeze refreshing. Xu Qing traversed the corridor and stepped out into the open, basking in the wind’s gentle caresses. Looking at Jiang He beside him, a strange enthusiasm bubbled within his heart.
Taking an ancient person for a casual stroll...who else had such fortune?
“Calm down, calm down. Act normal.”
It was unknown whether he was reminding himself or the girl beside him. Jiang He, who was only half a step behind, observed his unnatural behavior, watching his hands fidget in and out of his pockets.
“This is called a community. It’s a residential building consisting of many households where lots of people can live.”
“There is the gate at the exit which leads to the road. Sometimes, shops are situated on both sides of the road which sell all sorts of things such as food and clothes. You can pay for transportation too.”
Xu Qing walked slowly as he spoke. Fortunately, there weren’t many residents in the community which made their stroll more convenient.
As the duo neared the gate, they saw another person next to the security guard. She had black, curly hair which shone under the moisturization of fragrant oils. A scarf was wrapped around her neck and she wore a red and blue shirt. The vegetable basket hung on her arm shook in rhythm to her occasional laughter.
Just— just please support me at 9inehub.com, alright? Or I’ll cry! You won’t like it when I cry; I can get very ugly real fast.
“Hahahaha, you don’t say…” Aunt Cheng chuckled while chatting with Uncle Zhao. She suddenly stopped, turning to face Xu Qing and Jiang He upon hearing the approaching steps.
“What’s the matter, Aunt?” Xu Qing asked, looking back and forth between the staring women.
“This girl seems a bit familiar.”
“Little Xu, is she your girlfriend?” Uncle Zhao leaned into his chair while puffing a smoke from his cigar, giving Xu Qing a small wink.
Augh, got to be careful around neighbors, Xu Qing took a small step in front of Jiang He.
“Friends, just friends.” He replied with a smile.
“Oh, I see.” Uncle Zhao raised a grey eyebrow, nodding understandingly.
“Wait, wasn’t she the one holding the knife at the top of the stairs yesterday?” Cheng Yulan connected Jiang He with a suspicious silhouette from her memory.
Xu Qing’s heart jumped. Jiang He’s getup from yesterday was indeed too eye-catching.
“What kind of knife?” Uncle Zhao sat up, startled.
“Hmm, it was this long and silverish…” Cheng Yulan balanced the basket on her forearm and gestured with her hands.
“Haha!” Xu Qing interrupted with a forced laugh and hinted at Jiang He behind him with a subtle glance.
Unfortunately, Jiang He didn’t understand the signal.
“We young people enjoy playing a lot, you know? Like cosplays, pretending to be zombies and fairies...it’s our subculture.”
Xu Qing explained and excused himself. He tugged on Jiang He’s arm and walked towards the road. Though there was some resistance, he didn’t exert much strength and pulled as gently as possible.
“We’re off, Aunty. We won’t disturb you anymore.”
“Ah, young people these days. I guess we’re just gone with the times. Zombies? Is that the one with bloody jaws and green skin? I remember my grandson showed me some pictures last time.”
“Didn’t we also pretend to be ghosts and such when we were younger?”
“No, it’s not the same! Young people play more than we did then…”
As the two walked away, the conversation gradually faded behind them. Xu Qing was relieved, allowing Jiang He’s arm to break out of his grasp. He looked back at her.
“Did she see you yesterday?”
Gimme yo gimme yo gimme yo attention babey! Head on over to 9inehub.com and show some love!
Jiang He simply nodded.
“So before I came home, you two met in the corridor. Then she either ignored you or you ignored her, and then she left?”
Jiang He blinked and nodded, but then shook her head afterward.
Xu Qing was confused but soon understood, smiling wryly.
Oh, it’s because of my rule forbidding her from speaking. I didn’t think she’d take it so radical— a little unexpected.
“Hmm...I guess you met but she didn’t talk to you, only staring at you upstairs from afar.”
This time, his answer prompted a definite nod from Jiang He, confirming his guess. However, her attention was soon attracted by the passing cars that sped up and down the road.
Thank God it was just a stare. If it was someone else that saw and carelessly approached her, like nosey Uncle Zhao for example, things might’ve gotten messy.
Xu Qing relaxed his shoulders. He turned to satisfy Jiang He’s curiosity, “That’s called a car. To put it simply, it’s a steel shell put on four wheels and has the same function as a horse-drawn carriage...but without the horse. You can think of the car as the horse itself. People get in the horse and move it wherever they want.”
The duo journeyed down the sidewalk, one behind the other. Xu Qing spoke and Jiang He silently listened. When somebody passed by, he quietened before resuming his explanations a little after. This loop continued until they made their way to the crossroad.
“That’s clairvoyance.”
Boop! I caught your nose. Head on over to 9inehub.com to get it back!
While they waited for the traffic light, Xu Qing raised a finger to the camera attached to the traffic pole, “It works like how we watched things on the computer this afternoon; they are everywhere. Right now, there could be people staring at us from miles away, but don’t be nervous. Usually, no one is so idle as to watch every action of every person who walks by. However, if you perform any suspicious or unusual behavior, officials will notice and rush over immediately.”
Jiang He’s expression changed, glaring menacingly at the camera.
“Huh? What are you thinking about?” Xu Qing grew concerned at her reaction, “You’re not actually thinking of knocking it down, right?”
Jiang He rolled the iron dart in her palm, her placid pupils reflecting her thoughts exactly.
“Hurry, put away that stuff!”
Comments