Scourge Messenger

Chapter 89 Prisoner
Shuiyuexuan is located in the northwest corner of the business district. From the outside, it is just an ordinary courtyard. Shang Xinlei stood at the entrance of the courtyard. The brazier was only four or five steps away from her, but it did not illuminate her face, as if she deliberately hid herself in the shadows and dared not be seen by anyone.

There were no guards nearby, and any messenger could easily escape the shop by scaling the wall if they wanted to; the so-called imprisonment was merely a formality. But no one escaped, neither she nor anyone else living inside. Anyone living within the social network was already tightly bound and unable to break free.

When your every move and word may involve your loved ones and affect everything you value, how can you act recklessly and only care about yourself? Everyone knows that the phrase "consider the big picture" is accompanied by tolerance, retreat, and grievances, but when you are in the midst of the big picture, and the big picture is full of your past experiences, how can you not be careful?

Drawing his sword to pierce the entanglements of the world, facing death as if returning home... But not everyone can appear without any attachments and leave without any mercy, like Jiang Shi.

"Miss."

A maidservant arrived at the door with two servants. "Let me take it in for you, Miss."

"No need." Shang Xinlei reached out and picked up four food boxes. Each food box was quite heavy, but it was nothing to a second-level messenger. "You should go back and not linger around here."

The servants quickly left, and the maid looked at Shang Xinlei with concern: "Are you sure you don't need Hualian to serve you?"

Shang Xinlei shook her head, offering no further comment. The maid wanted to try again, but when Shang Xinlei glanced at her, the maid froze, standing there dumbfounded, watching Shang Xinlei carry the food box into Shuiyue Pavilion.

Once the door to Shuiyuexuan closed, the maid seemed to be released from drowning, leaning against the wall, gasping for breath, her face filled with terror. She couldn't explain why she was so afraid. The Fourth Miss was always kind and cheerful, and she was never pretentious with her servants. She, as a servant, had cared for the Fourth Miss so much, truly treating her like a younger sister. But just now, the Fourth Miss…

Just like the ruthless master.

……

...

"Light rain!"

Qian Gongyu, who was lying on the bed with her legs crossed and reading, immediately jumped up, stepping directly onto the wooden floor without even putting on her shoes. She took a deep sniff, her mouth practically watering, and exclaimed, "It smells so good!"

"Definitely." Shang Xinlei opened the food box, and a burst of steam immediately rose out, filling the entire room with the aroma of delicious food: "Jade Lion's Head Meatballs, Garlic Shrimp Balls, Steamed Giant Prawns, Stuffed Green Peppers, Garlic Ribs, Soy Sauce Sea Bass... How about it?"

"I've eaten here four times, and every single meal is one of my favorite dishes!" Qian Gongyu wailed. "How dare these rich families eat so well every day!"

"Yes, what about yours?" Shang Xinlei feigned surprise: "How can we eat a meal without at least six dishes! Even my servants are never treated poorly when it comes to food!"

"My family only has three dishes at most, and we have to divide them into two meals." Qian Gongyu said with a distressed expression, "Occasionally I have to go hunting in the mountains to get some meat..."

"Then eat more. Anyway, my family is so rich that you can eat nine meals a day and you won't go broke."

Seeing Shang Xinlei take out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, Qian Gongyu asked curiously, "Didn't you say it was a family dinner tonight? Aren't you full?"

“Who wants to eat with that group of people? I lose my appetite just looking at them,” Shang Xinlei said calmly. “I prefer eating with you. You eat like a pig, and it looks so appetizing.”

"Is that so... No, you called me a pig!"

"I didn't insult you, I was praising you! Pigs are so cute, so clean, and so white, why can't that be used as a compliment? Don't be so narrow-minded!"

Qian Gongyu was so flustered by what Shang Xinlei said that she began to doubt herself and didn't know how to refute it. She could only put the food in her own bowl, turn around and eat her rice with her back to Shang Xinlei. Shang Xinlei chuckled, sat down and poked her waist: "Sorry."

"I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry."

Shang Xinlei apologized for each time she poked Qian Gongyu, who couldn't dodge no matter how hard she tried. She glared at her and said, "Stop poking me, it tickles!"

"Am I just imagining things? It seems like your waist... has gotten a bit fuller."

"How can it be!"

Have you exercised in the last couple of days?

"……No."

"Then you just eat and sleep, sleep and eat, like a pig?" "I'm reading! I'm reading 'The Messenger's Handbook,' and I've already finished two volumes!"

"Why are you so proud of it? It's just a romantic adventure novel..." Shang Xinlei reached out and pinched Qian Gongyu's waist, her face stern: "If you don't exercise and eat so well every day, I feel like you'll really turn into a pig in no time. How about this, I'll find you an advanced learning book, you can practice every day, maybe you can get the hang of it."

"No need," Qian Gongyu immediately refused. "Once I get back to Baiyun, I can go hiking and swimming every day, and I'll lose weight quickly." "Besides, the manual for advancing to higher levels... isn't that an important part of the merchant's heritage? How can you let me see it?"

The so-called "advanced learning manuals" are teaching materials compiled by skilled messengers based on their own experience and techniques. The more prestigious the family, the more valuable the advanced learning manual, because multiple messengers can verify each other's work and even innovate upon it, continuously refining it generation after generation. In prominent families like the Jie, Shang, Chen, and Zhou families, almost all their elite disciples comprehend advanced techniques on their own, relying on the advanced learning manuals passed down through generations.

Footwork is a skill that almost all messengers must learn, and the advanced footwork manual from merchants is probably more valuable than the advanced footwork manuals produced in secret realms. After all, manuals can only be used by one person, while the manual can give countless clansmen the hope of a second job advancement!
"Now that I've mastered the Blood Wheel Secret Technique, exchanging a footwork manual from the family will be a piece of cake. If you don't tell and I don't tell anyone, who will know you've seen it?" Shang Xinlei used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of shrimp that Qian Gongyu had peeled. "What, are you afraid I'll laugh at you if you can't learn it?"

"Also," Shang Xinlei said, taking out a basic swordsmanship manual, which she had bought from the trading board that day: "I see that your fist techniques are mainly claw, palm knife, and finger sword. Mastering basic swordsmanship will greatly benefit you and can help you comprehend the secret techniques. Don't refuse. I've already bought it. Do you want me to return it and lose face? People will think that I, the dignified Fourth Miss Shang, can't even afford to give a gift."

Basic swordsmanship manuals are quite rare in Jiangnan, only appearing in two or three secret realms, and all of them are family-run secret realms. Purchasing one requires not only good relationships but also waiting. In comparison, spending more money to bid for the manuals on the trading board is much more cost-effective, which explains why everyone flocks to the trading board.

Having come this far, Qian Gongyu had no choice but to reach out and take the sword technique manual. However, she was trembling as if she were receiving a death sentence, which made Shang Xinlei both angry and amused: "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid, you're so good to me, I just..." Qian Gongyu's bottom tightened: "I, although I like sleeping with Jiang Shi, I still want to find a suitable husband..."

Shang Xinlei chuckled and asked in return, "Then what kind of ideal husband are you looking for?"

"Handsome, capable, fragrant, aloof, and someone who values ​​me highly. And ideally, he should marry into the Qian family!"

"Except for the last sentence, it feels like you're describing Jiang Shi the whole time. But it's not impossible, after all, you're already ranked thirtieth on the Hidden Dragon List, who knows?"

"I only made basic requirements, not exactly according to Jiang Shi..." Qian Gongyu waved her hands repeatedly, then suddenly realized, "Wait, I'm on the Hidden Dragon List!?"

“Yes, after all, you’ve already completed your second job advancement and are under thirty years old, so it’s only natural that you’re on the Hidden Dragon List.” Shang Xinlei stuck a piece of lion’s head meatball into her chopsticks and took a big bite. “Our generation is a rather weak one. All the people ranked after you got their job advancements by feeding them secret manuals.”

The so-called Hidden Dragon List is a selection list by the Liang Kingdom's court for young messengers under the age of thirty. Being on the list not only brings fame but also greatly increases one's family's prestige, making it very attractive to a small but prestigious family like Qian Gongyu's.

"So I'm famous now?" Qian Gongyu asked excitedly. "Will people recognize me when I go out now?"

“Passersby might not recognize you, but many from prominent families might.” Shang Xinlei shrugged. “It’s not because of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, but because you are Jiang Shi’s…master?”

Qian Gongyu sighed, her face full of melancholy: "Jiang Shilian hasn't even sent a letter. I wonder if he still cares about me as his master."

"I dare say you actually dare to agree..."

"What's wrong? Even if Jiang Shi is in front of me, she still has to call me Miss!"

"Yes, yes, yes," Shang Xinlei said. "By the way, I'm already third on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. I'll do my third job advancement as soon as possible, then you can move up one rank, okay?"

"Okay!" Qian Gongyu stuck out her tongue and made a face.

Laughter filled Shuiyue Pavilion as Shang Xinlei ate with great appetite, seemingly transforming back into the energetic and mischievous Fourth Miss. Just as Qian Gongyu finished peeling another shrimp, Shang Xinlei suddenly tried to grab it, but Qian Gongyu swiftly pulled away, resulting in a rapid exchange of attacks and defenses. The battle for the shrimp ended with Qian Gongyu simply popping it into her mouth.

“Speaking of which, the Mansu Forest will be closing in a few days, and there will be a settlement of ten large treasure chests. I wonder what will be in them.” Shang Xinlei said, biting her chopsticks. “Because the four of us made great contributions, we can take 40% of the total share of this large treasure chest, 10% each. Yes, Jiang Shi’s share is also on your head. If she comes back someday, you can return it to her.”

"You actually shared some with me?" Qian Gongyu said in surprise, "I thought..."

"With me and Miss Jie here, what's yours will be yours in every single penny," Shang Xinlei said earnestly.

“I know.” Qian Gongyu nodded. “Xinlei, you wouldn’t hurt me. So…”

She picked up a large prawn, peeled it, and asked:
"Does this mean I'll never be able to leave the business again?"

(End of this chapter)