Chapter 1006: Perfect Couple
Proofreader: Papatonks
Hum~
Zhuo Fan’s team of four carriages made a ripple in the air as it entered the barrier, appearing before a vast body of water. Above it were suspended stairs leading to the abodes of immortals.
The mountain was nowhere to be seen, replaced by three floating islands of great expanse as its only resemblance to the image outside.
This was where the strongest sect in the northern lands stood, the North Sea’s shores.
While deep in the North Sea was the rumored demon of incredible power, and Zhuo Fan’s target.
The monsters of the sea were mere spiritual beasts, with only this demon able to speak like a human. That was why people called it sea demon.
Only Zhuo Fan here knew the sea demon was in fact one of the five great sacred beasts, the only one that could save young Sanzi, the Heaven Sealing Sea Ao.
Staring at the great rolling expanse of water, Zhuo Fan’s eyes shook and his fists clenched. Qiao’er looked excited as well, finally able to rescue her big brother.
Whoosh~
Black figures suddenly dropped before the team, numbering in the dozens. The leader was an old man with a black and white mustache, presenting them a most kind smile as he greeted, “Thank you, Qian clan, for the trouble you went through delivering these goods. I am Executive Dai Qianchou of the Sea Bright Sect.
“Dai Qianchou? Money trouble, he-he…”
Bali Yuyu couldn’t help herself and giggled at his name, whispering to Zhuo Fan, “Qian, you finally met your half. You dislike money and he’s in need of money, a match made in heaven. You’re destined to make the perfect couple, hi-hi-hi…”
(StarReader: she’s making fun of both of their names, making a pun out of it.)
The others chuckled as well.
Glaring at her, Zhuo Fan gave a wry smile and returned the gesture, “Executive Dai, I am but a steward in the Qian clan, Qian Fan. This is the proof of all the sects we’ve passed.”
Zhuo Fan presented a jade slip with both hands.
The executive wasn’t haughty in the least, taking it with equal respect and a smile, “Yes, these are the signatures of the four sects’ executives. Sir is beyond reproach, but the others…”
“Hurry up and present your tokens to the executive!”
Zhuo Fan snapped at them to obey, making them flustered as they rushed to follow his orders.
Only Bali Yuyu was beyond casual as she took it out and threw it to the man with a roll of her eyes.
Glaring at her, Zhuo Fan could only apologize in her stead, “Executive Dai, she just went through menopause and it’s still unstable…”
“Screw you!” Bali Yuyu hissed under her breath.
Executive Dai gave a careless wave, being quite easy going. He checked their tokens and smiled, “You make for a perfect couple, Steward Qian, braving through so many dangers through the now precarious northern lands to send us these goods. That’s very noble of you.”
[Perfect couple?]
Zhuo Fan looked stumped.
“Did I say something wrong?”
The old man scanned the jade slip in his hand again before looking at Zhuo Fan, “Three days ago we received an update on the Qian clan’s roster that the caravan sending us the goods will be led by Steward Qian Fan and his wife, Qian Yu. Your signatures also check out. Is there perhaps a problem?”
Dong!
Zhuo Fan froze on the spot at the heavy blow to his mind. He made a weird face as he tried to keep his calm, “You mean, Qian Fan and Qian Yu, husband and wife are escorting goods?”
Bali Yuyu was also stupefied, looking at the old man with a dumb look. When reality hit her at long last, she gave Zhuo Fan a seething look with a red face as she whisper-shouted, “You dare use me like that, punk?”
“As if. I’m as clueless about this as you are, alright?”
“Lies! Aren’t they just doing your bidding?”
“Yeah, they do, but this time…”
Zhuo Fan’s mouth twitched, looking off there, then turned to the rest with an insidious glint in his eyes.
Zhuo Fan had principles. When it came to taking a wife, he would never do it on a whim, even if it was all fake. Just like how he didn’t do it with Shangguan Qingyan.
But this time, at this critical moment, he found himself stuck with this cover, putting him at an impasse on what he should do next.
If he did go with it, his heart would be totally against it, while refusing it then his cover was blown. He was in a real pickle.
The caravan guards saw Zhuo Fan and Bali Yuyu looking dark there and were tense as they lowered their heads.
Executive Dai frowned, “Why, aren’t you married?”
The two were silent, with neither willing to admit it.
Executive Dai was perplexed, feeling the odd situation and raising his suspicion. He withdrew slowly and was about to signal for his men to seize them.
Everything was about to fall to ruin. Even with Bali Yuyu there to help, it wouldn’t matter much in the strongest sect in northern lands. Not only Ouyang Lingtian lived here, but it also held the strongest experts in these parts.
Bali Yuyu had no way of fending so many attackers. She would end up defeated for sure.
In this dire situation, neither Zhuo Fan nor Bali Yuyu were willing to compromise and save the day, all because their hearts were against it.
Dai Qianchou’s suspicion only grew, his hand close to signaling the men and ruining everything they worked for.
The guards were shivering at the side, looking at the two with pleading eyes.
[Please, just save us! Is it that bad to fake being married? It’s not a hanging, so why?]
[If you keep silent any longer, we’re really going to get the noose…]
They were almost wetting themselves as they saw Executive Dai about to give the damning order.
“Dad, mom, I’m hungry! Are you going to keep arguing until I starve?”
Qiao’er jumped in with her adorable voice, looking annoyed and grumbling at the two.
The guards lit up with newfound hope. One of them rushed to Qiao’er’s side and carried her over to Executive Dai with a smile, “Executive Dai, how can they be anything but husband and wife? Look, they even have a child!”
“Then what are they doing?” Dai Qianchou asked in suspicion.
The guard laughed and sighed, “It all started over nothing and escalated, with Steward Qian even threatening to leave her. Now their fighting still hasn’t been settled.”
“Oh, I see.”
Executive Dai gave a knowing nod and his suspicion was washed away. He smiled at Zhuo Fan, “Steward Qian, it takes years to accept someone and decades to fully be at peace with one’s partner. Why must you insist over trivialities?”
Zhuo Fan glanced at Bali Yuyu and said, “She’s not my wife!”
“Well you’re not my man either!” Bali Yuyu glared back.
The two spoke the truth but Dai Qianchou heard it as nothing more than a lovers’ spat.
So he shook his head and waved, “You need to stop fighting, especially before a child, ha-ha-ha. It wouldn’t help her. Since you’ve all been weary from your long journey here, we’ve got a place ready for you to rest for a few days. You’re welcome to tour our sect if you want. The North Sea’s shore is magnificent, with people from northern lands hardly having the chance to see its beauty. You won’t find this anywhere else!”
“Thank you for everything, Executive Dai.”
Zhuo Fan’s eyes roamed around and settled on a grunt, recalling his true objective and giving the man a bow.
Dai Qianchou smiled and had someone lead the way to their stay.
One figure suddenly appeared just then, whispering to Dai Qianchou. His face changed and blocked Zhuo Fan’s way, “Steward Qian, Sect Leader requests myself and sir’s presence!”
Zhuo Fan and the others’ faces fell.
What would the high and mighty Sect Leader of the Sea Bright Sect want to do with a nobody steward? Were their covers blown?
Zhuo Fan looked at Bali Yuyu, who had a cold gaze, with murder slowly filling her eyes…