I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Rumors and Gossip

Duan Rong appeared to be holding Shen Mizi’s fragrant shoulder as they fell backward, but in truth, his hand had tightly brushed across her chest before landing on her shoulder!

The two fell to the ground, Duan Rong pressed on Shen Mizi. His left hand was on her shoulder while their necks were almost touching, Duan Rong’s heavy breaths rushed directly into Shen Mizi’s neckline...

Shen Mizi, proud and known for her cleanliness, was immediately filled with shame and anger. She flailed her arms and bent her legs, kicking Duan Rong away!

Duan Rong was kicked in the abdomen by Shen Mizi, sliding close to ten feet on the ground, his clothes and pants scraped and torn. He curled up like a shrimp, his internal organs churning, and he braced with his right hand, immediately retching out stomach acid and bile...

Shen Mizi was lying on the ground and couldn’t exert her full strength, and besides, Duan Rong’s First Level of Inner Breath was already achieved, and he’d been practicing the Second Level for over ten days.

If it weren’t so, in Shen Mizi’s fury, this kick could have crippled Duan Rong!

After vomiting, Duan Rong’s eyes watered and his nose ran, choking out tears. He turned his head to look at Shen Mizi, his eyes furious!

Shen Mizi saw Duan Rong was unharmed and wanted to act again, but then she caught sight of the voluptuous woman lying on the ground with terror in her eyes and a circle of blood lining her neck, seeping down.

Shen Mizi suddenly paused; if not for this person grabbing her shoulder and crashing into her, she feared she might have stabbed the woman’s throat right on the street!

All this over a signature, committing violence in the street!

Not only would it cause great trouble for herself!

If that woman’s family made a fuss, it might implicate her father!

Having this on record would mean losing eligibility for next year’s Taiyi Sect’s Registered Disciple selection...

Though this person was so annoying, where couldn’t he have touched! Of all places...

At this point, Duan Rong had struggled to stand up, Shen Mizi looked at him with a flushed face, only to see this person, face dark and square-shaped, slick hair, his brown short attire had been ground into tatters, spit smeared over his chest and mouth, resembling a beggar!

Shen Mizi thought of herself, inherently proud, yet defiled by such filth, unable to attack because of the circumstances, words stuck, overwhelmed with anger!

Her sword pointed at Duan Rong from a distance, shaking steadily from fury and excitement...

”Miss, I was only trying to save someone, without any other intentions,” Duan Rong spat out some residue and took two steps back, sincerely explaining.

He knew clearly what happened just now, if the girl got reckless, it might really be dangerous for him!

Shen Mizi glared at Duan Rong, clenching her teeth, remained silent for several breaths, suddenly sheathed her sword, turned away briskly, passed by Qiu Hen and yelled angrily, ”Let’s go!”

Qiu Hen was startled by Shen Mizi’s shout, her face flushed, and she immediately ran quickly to catch up.

Duan Rong watched Shen Mizi’s graceful silhouette blend into the crowd, then looked down at his left hand, still feeling the faint soft sensation lingering in his heart...

Meanwhile, the voluptuous woman just calming down stood up, still showing traces of fear on her face, knowing well she had narrowly escaped death just now at the Ghost Gate!

She looked gratefully at Duan Rong’s back, pulled out the Yanling Saber stuck in the street, sheathed it, and quickly left...

When Duan Rong acted just now, it was simply not wanting to see the two cause a loss of life over fighting for a signature.

If a murder occurred right in front of the painting stall, he, the originator of the signature, couldn’t avoid implication...

Unexpectedly, trying to save someone not only was unappreciated but also got him kicked, his clothes ground into tatters, and he vomited on the ground.

”Damn it, what bad luck!”

After this, not only did the people queuing for paintings not leave, but instead surrounded him with gawkers.

Especially under that crooked-neck willow tree, a crowd gathered.

Duan Rong held his belly and walked to the painting stall, saying, ”No more painting today, please disperse.”

Seeing the painter clutching his belly with clothes in tatters, the queue had nothing to say and slowly dispersed.

Duan Rong packed up his things, looked rather disheveled, and returned to Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

At this time, it was dinner hour, people either gathered at teahouses or restaurants, strolled by roadside stalls, or lounged under trees, an hour when news spread fastest...

Thus, shortly after Duan Rong left, street gossip began brewing in conversations...

”Two young girls fought on the street over getting a painting...”

”Both were skilled fighters, almost cost lives, didn’t they?!”

”If a murder had occurred on the street, imagine how terrible that would be!”

”You bet! Both young ladies were fair as flowers...”

”I heard that painter charges ten taels of silver coins per painting...”

”Also heard he’s an Escort Master from Yuan Shun Escort Agency?”

”In these days, can anyone live at peace? Escort Masters not escorting but painting...”

Duan Rong hung his head low, passing through Yuan Shun Escort Agency’s Martial Arts Arena, the canteen already serving meals, leaving few people around the arena.

Yet still, Duan Rong felt somewhat embarrassed; no one likes being seen in tattered clothes.

Today was surely the most embarrassing day since crossing into this realm.

His short attire was torn, half his body smeared with dust, sick remain speckled over his clothes...

Duan Rong, in the twilight, returned to his dormitory, placed his things, balled up the ragged short attire, and tossed it by the door.

Naked, Duan Rong went to the well, washed thoroughly, dried off with a towel, and pulled out another short attire from the wardrobe.

These two short attires were given when he worked as a Servant Disciple.

In Yuan Shun Escort Agency, rules dictate that different positions wear different attire.

Though selected as an Apprentice, until graduation and becoming an Intern Escort Master, he cannot yet wear Escort Master attire.

Duan Rong donned fresh short attire, cleansed himself thoroughly, feeling refreshed.

He picked up the ragged attire, locked his dormitory door, slipped out of the dormitory yard to the canteen.

Outside the dormitory yard, at the corner of the courtyard wall, was a brick-walled rubbish heap, piled with withered branches and leaves.

As Duan Rong passed by, he tossed the ragged attire into the heap as he walked.

The Escort Agency’s front, middle, and rear yards were maintained by designated personnel.

Cleaning the yard was considered easy and leisurely among Miscellaneous Tasks, if you’re not connected, you won’t get this kind of job.

By the time Duan Rong reached the canteen, it was nearly empty, the dishes were reduced to scraps and soups, he ate two buns with cold soup feeling hollow and then ambled out of the agency, drank a bowl of steaming meat soup, and ate two biscuits on the street.

Full and satisfied, Duan Rong wiped his mouth, patted his belly, and ambled back to Yuan Shun Escort Agency’s Martial Arts Arena.

He arrived at his corner for practicing piling skills, stood straight, sunk his waist, bent his legs like bows, held his hands forward hugging vacantly, started practicing the Complete Round Pile Skill!

This ancient pile skill had no distinct features, yet it had been handed down for tens of thousands of years on the Nine Provinces Continent.

No matter if you’re a novice or a prodigy, everyone begins with this pile skill!

The simpler and older something is, the less likely there will be issues!