Chapter 749: Chapter 748: A Love Rival Appears?
Ah Jiu and his team were preparing for their continued journey, while Wufu was busy purchasing and packing up local goods to be sent back to Madam Zhou.
When Ah Jiu saw Wufu return, she had people behind her loaded with large and small parcels. Also, who was that beside her?
"Ah Jiu," Wufu exclaimed as she saw Ah Jiu, quickly walking over with a smile, "Let me introduce a friend to you."
A friend?
Ah Jiu glanced at the man beside her wearing a pale blue robe and a jade crown, a handsome figure with a strikingly beautiful face. Did he look somewhat familiar?
"This is Jin Yu, do you remember him?" Wufu pointed towards Jin Yu.
Jin Yu stepped forward, giving Ah Jiu a cupped fist salute, "It turns out to be Ninth Master, the winner of Peach Blossom Spring, a fortunate meeting indeed."
Ah Jiu responded with a faint smile, "Young Master Jin, what a coincidence."
The man before her was none other than the celebrated Beauty Jade from Auspicious PavilionâJin Yuâwho had won second place at last yearâs grand event.
The courtyard was inconvenient for talking, so everyone went to sit down in the guest room.
"I didnât expect to encounter Young Master Jin here," Ah Jiu inquired intentionally.
Wufu replied, "Donât mention your surprise, I was also unaware. It turns out thereâs also a branch of Auspicious Pavilion here. The biggest coincidence, guess what?"
Ah Jiuâs heart skipped a beat, yet her face showed no sign of it; she just smiled at Wufu, waiting for what came next.
"Itâs that Young Master Jin and his group are also heading to Changan!"
Indeed, it was as he had anticipated.
Ah Jiu chuckled, "That is indeed a coincidence. Could it be that Young Master Jin is going to compete again?"
Jin Yu replied with a smile, "Not at all. This time Iâm going to Changan to attend my cousinâs wedding ceremony, and incidentally to inspect our various businesses. Itâs quite destiny that we met Miss Wufu and Ninth Master here."
Ah Jiu thought, indeed it isâa karmic entanglement, perhaps.
"If Ninth Master doesnât mind, we could travel together. It would be nice to look out for each other along the way, wouldnât it?" Jin Yu added, not sure if it was his imagination, but he always felt that this master had a detached demeanor, as if harboring some animosity towards him.
"Ah Jiu, since weâre all on the same path anyway, letâs keep each other company," Wufu said. If they traveled together, she would have someone to discuss and exchange carving skills with in case she got bored.
Ah Jiuâs brows twitched.
He had finally persuaded Wufu to travel with him, and he certainly did not want another man, let alone one as bewitchingly handsome as Jin Yuâwhich was exactly Wufuâs typeâgetting in the middle of their journey.
"Wufu, Young Master Jin has business inspections to attend to, how could he accompany us?" Ah Jiu said coolly, "They have serious affairs to handle, and our trip is more of a leisurely nature, this..."
His words were a refusal.
Jin Yuâs gaze flickered, he glanced at Ah Jiu while sipping his tea, then lowered his eyelids.
"But traveling is precisely why we should go together. Besides, weâll need to stop for supplies anyway. Just like now, stopping hasnât caused any delay!" Wufu didnât grasp Ah Jiuâs mindset and felt these two points werenât conflicting at all.
Ah Jiu felt utterly helpless, experiencing first-hand what it was like dealing with a girl who just didnât get it.
"I wonder if Ninth Master has heard about the need to purchase water transport for the upcoming Gobi Beach?" Jin Yu set down his teacup, suddenly saying, "We from Auspicious Pavilion have a branch here. Handling these affairs is an annual routine, including this one. It would probably be more convenient for Ninth Master to cross the Gobi Beach with our merchant ships, donât you think?"
Ah Jiu raised an eyebrow, looking towards Jin Yu; he was even bringing this up, was he determined to travel together? For whom? For Wufu?