Misery: There is a pawn shop here

Chapter 210 Lao Wuyan

Misty Valley, a place of breathtaking scenery and a place of unparalleled elegance.

When her true name was revealed, Lao Wuyan was filled with surprise and astonishment. She had lived in seclusion in Yanxia Valley for many years and rarely had contact with outsiders. Even when she did have dealings with them, she would disguise herself. How could the person in front of her be able to reveal her identity so easily?

Lao Wuyan pondered in vain, then looked at the person in front of her. After weighing the options in her mind for a moment, she slowly removed her disguise, revealing a charming and alluring face beneath.

What a remarkable old woman!

Li Xuanxiao thought to himself, “Strictly speaking, there are many beautiful women in the martial arts world of the Bitter Realm, but most people do not show much interest in women. There are very few people who have caused a series of troubles because of their appearance, but Lao Wuyan is just one of them.”

Now that Li Xuanxiao has seen Lao Wuyan's original appearance, he understands why Hen Bufeng and Feng Qianji went to such lengths. Even the previous Jueqing Shu, if compared, is slightly inferior to Lao Wuyan in terms of charm.

"Your Mightiness……"

Seeing that Li Xuanxiao's gaze remained fixed on her, Lao Wuyan felt a chill run down her spine. She regretted revealing her true form like this. If she were to be humiliated, she feared she would rather end it all herself...

"Ha, sit down and eat the fish." Li Xuanxiao chuckled and gestured. "There's no need to be so wary. I have no ill intentions towards you. Of course, if I did, your resistance would be futile."

After saying that, Li Xuanxiao casually picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth.

"Your Excellency, you haven't come here for Lao Wuyan, have you?" she finally couldn't hold back and asked tentatively. If it weren't for her, why would he go to all this trouble to find this place and reveal her real name?

Li Xuanxiao put the fish into his mouth, raised an eyebrow and said, "When I came to Yanxia Valley, I did have the idea of ​​seeing it for myself, but it was just that. It's like when you hear that a flower is blooming somewhere, you get curious, go and see it, and that's it, nothing more."

His words seemed perfunctory, but Lao Wuyan strangely understood them. Just as she would occasionally play tunes late at night, not seeking anyone to join in, but simply expressing her emotions through music. This man might really just be passing by, and she just happened to be the "blooming flower" in this valley.

"I clearly have very little contact with outsiders, so how did you come to know about Lao Wuyan?" she pressed, this was still the biggest question lingering in her mind.

“Is there anything in this world that is absolutely unknown to anyone?” Li Xuanxiao put down his bamboo chopsticks and tapped the stone table lightly with his fingertips. “There are too many questions. Sit down and eat the fish. If it’s really not to your liking, you may leave.”

"This……"

Lao Wuyan initially thought the other party had ill intentions, but Li Xuanxiao's attitude greatly surprised her. He had come for her, but it seemed that he hadn't come purely for her.

Lao Wuyan then looked at Jueqingshu and Yan Qingcheng. While she was still wondering, Yan Qingcheng took the initiative to get up, whispered a few words to Lao Wuyan, and then took the initiative to pull Lao Wuyan to sit down when Lao Wuyan hesitated.

Li Xuanxiao just watched from the side with his eyes half-closed. Good-looking people are always more appetizing than ugly ones, aren't they?

Before long, the group finished off the grilled fish. Manager Li, showing no sense of public responsibility, swept the scraps and garbage into the water, claiming it was a matter of returning what was taken from the water.

“You’ve eaten the fish, seen the people, it’s time to go.” Li Xuanxiao stood up, brushed the crumbs off his clothes, and his gaze suddenly fell on Lao Wuyan’s face. “Staying in Yanxia Valley will be a good ending for you.” These words came out of nowhere, and Lao Wuyan was taken aback: “Huh?” A good ending? She was now all alone. Although staying in this valley meant seclusion from the world, her days were monotonous. It wasn’t bad; she didn’t dislike this kind of life, but it was still very different from what the world considered a good life… So how could it be “good”?
Li Xuanxiao offered no explanation. He looked at the confusion in Lao Wuyan's eyes and sighed inwardly. If she hadn't left Yanxia Valley in the drama, she might have truly avoided the turmoil of the martial world. But once the wheels of fate begin to turn, how could a mere word of advice stop them? What will become of your fate this time?

Thinking this, Li Xuanxiao took out an ebony pawn token from his sleeve. The token was covered with dark red patterns, like congealed bloodstains, exuding an ominous aura.

“This pawn token can be used to sincerely call out when you are in despair, and you will have a chance to change your fate,” he flicked his finger, and the pawn token floated lightly to Lao Wuyan. “Of course, this also comes at a considerable price. Whether you can use it or not is entirely up to you.”

Lao Wuyan instinctively reached out to catch the pawn token. It was icy cold to the touch, and the blood-red patterns seemed to wriggle slightly in her palm. She wanted to refuse, but seeing the fleeting pity in Li Xuanxiao's eyes, she inexplicably slipped the token into her sleeve. This man's gaze was so complex, as if he saw through her entire life, or perhaps he was lamenting something.

"What is the origin of this strange person? And why did he insist that I stay in Misty Cloud Valley?" Watching Li Xuanxiao and the other two turn and leave, Lao Wuyan murmured to herself. A breeze blew, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples.

……

Li Xuanxiao walked ahead, with Yan Qingcheng beside him. She couldn't help but ask, "Shopkeeper, why did you pawn her card? She doesn't look like the type to come to a pawn shop."

“Everyone faces tribulations,” Li Xuanxiao said slowly, gazing at the distant, layered mountain peaks. “Sometimes, not acting rashly or recklessly, but remaining unchanged in the face of change, is a way to deal with tribulations. However, when such a time truly arrives, those who choose this path are actually in the minority.”

He recalled that in the drama, Lao Wuyan eventually left Yanxia Valley, got caught up in the conflicts of the martial arts world, and met a tragic end. Now, he was acting as her pawn, which was both a matter of pity and a gamble—would she choose to live a peaceful life, or would she be driven by her obsession and follow the same old path?

“Strange.” Yan Qingcheng simply shook her head. Li Xuanxiao often uttered words she couldn’t understand, and she was already used to it. According to the shopkeeper, wasn’t this just a form of charlatan or riddle-maker?

Whether they are charlatans or riddle tellers, they all deserve to die!

Of course, Yan Qingcheng wouldn't dare say such a thing in front of Li Xuanxiao.

Li Xuanxiao glanced at Yan Qingcheng and smiled slightly, while Jueqing Shu saw everything.

"Shopkeeper, where are we headed next?"

"It's just a casual trip, why talk about the purpose?" Li Xuanxiao said with a smile.

Even if the pawnshop does get business, returning to the pawnshop is just a matter of time, so there's no need to be too nervous. Since we've come all this way, we should have some fun.

However, at that moment, Li Xuanxiao paused, and his slightly furrowed brows relaxed a moment later.

"The five divine artifacts have all been completely altered, yet they still cannot change your obsession. Really, should I say you are truly admirable?"

(End of this chapter)