The pharmacy was silent, the atmosphere a little unusual.
After the gauze was retied, Yang Shifei lowered his sleeve and said softly, "Regardless, it's thanks to Miss Luo's help that I had the opportunity to spar with a master today. I've benefited greatly."
Luo Xian'er casually tidied up the bottles and jars. "It's not yet noon. What are Young Master's plans?"
"Er… I was preparing to go back and handle the Clear Moon Pavilion's accounts?"
"That matter won't take more than a few hours."
Luo Xian'er washed her hands in the basin, her voice faint. "Young Master's old wound has reopened, so it's not advisable to engage in martial arts again. Why not accompany me for an outing to relax?"
Yang Shifei's eyebrows rose slightly. "Continue strolling through the streets?"
"East City is divided into six streets, each with a different environment and atmosphere."
Luo Xian'er smoothed her skirt and stood up. "When Young Master was looking for work before, you presumably walked around the central main roads. That area has many travelers and is indeed a good place for business. But other places, I imagine Young Master hasn't visited yet."
Yang Shifei rubbed his chin. "That's true."
At the time, he had followed the flow of people, turning away whenever he saw a deserted street to avoid delaying his job search.
"Why don't we go to the area around the South City Gate? The riverbank there is wide, and the greenery is lush. It's especially beautiful in the spring."
Luo Xian'er pressed her pink lips together lightly, her fingers tightening on her sleeve.
Hesitating, about to speak yet stopping, the young woman turned her head aside, avoiding his gaze, her voice growing softer. "But I still don't know if Young Master would like it…"
"…"
Yang Shifei was taken aback by her words.
He looked at the shimmering light in her eyes beneath her bangs and suddenly realized—was Eldest Miss Luo actively inviting him on a 'date'?
"Of course, I can!"
Yang Shifei cleared his throat, trying his best to maintain his composure. "I haven't been in East City long and indeed know too little. To have Miss Luo accompany me would be wonderful."
Luo Xian'er subtly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded slightly. "Then let's go."
But after pushing open the door, both of them paused in their steps.
Tanxiang was standing by the door, having appeared at some unknown time. She silently offered a small bamboo basket she held.
Luo Xian'er blinked, and just as she raised her hand to accept it, the servant girl turned and left.
Yang Shifei could vaguely smell a hint of sweet fragrance.
"This is?"
"…It should be the lunch Tanxiang prepared for us."
Luo Xian'er smoothed her glossy hair, her expression still calm. "Her culinary skills are quite good; she usually prepares many pastries as well."
Yang Shifei nodded in understanding. Miss Tanxiang was indeed very virtuous.
The two didn't take a carriage but walked the entire way.
At first, Yang Shifei had the leisure to look at the streetscape along the way, but as they walked, the expression on his face grew increasingly awkward.
—He didn't know what to say.
Or rather, he didn't know what to talk about with the Eldest Miss beside him, so they could only walk in silence.
He secretly glanced at Luo Xian'er beside him. Her cool, pretty face was unperturbed, like an exquisite, emotionless doll.
Thinking about it carefully, from the time they had met until now, the topics they had discussed revolved around martial arts, livelihood, or his past experiences in Niu Family Village.
As someone who had been single his entire life and never been in a relationship, he had no idea what topics girls liked, let alone a high-born young lady from an ancient noble family.
When they first met, he could still approach it with a 'business-like' mentality, reciting the script he had prepared beforehand. But now, with this 'going out on a blind date' atmosphere, if he brought up those same topics again, wouldn't it be too much of a mood killer?
"Young Master."
Luo Xian'er suddenly parted her lips, continuing to walk without looking sideways. "You don't need to be so nervous."
Yang Shifei was taken aback, then couldn't help but give a sheepish smile. "I've made a fool of myself in front of Miss Luo. To be honest, I've never been out alone with a woman before, so I'm a little apprehensive."
Luo Xian'er shook her head. "This is only natural; I can understand. Besides, I'm not much better off compared to you, Young Master."
She lowered her eyelids slightly, as if murmuring to herself, "I've learned much in the past, yet now I find it hard to utter a single word. Trying to accept a relationship… is indeed not a simple matter."
"…"
Yang Shifei was silent for a moment.
Perhaps he had thought of her as too 'mysterious.'
Even if she had the identity of a female ghost and usually appeared calm and unruffled, at her core, she was still just a young girl who had recently come of age.
"In that case—"
Yang Shifei took a slight breath and extended his hand towards the young woman's side. "Can we be considered 'friends in misfortune,' both struggling with blind dates?"
Luo Xian'er couldn't help but look sideways at his 'silly' smile, then lowered her gaze to his outstretched hand.
"…Young Master is a little foolish."
"?"
But before Yang Shifei could react, Luo Xian'er gently squeezed his hand.
"However, I indeed wish to see Young Master's true self more."
"Miss Luo, you can't subtly disparage people like that."
Yang Shifei smiled helplessly, though his heart felt considerably lighter.
"Actually, there's no great 'true self.' It's just that after losing my memory, I can't recall many things clearly. And not wanting to be mistaken by everyone for someone who's lost their mind, I racked my brains to memorize those overly formal phrases."
"So that's how it is."
Luo Xian'er covered her lips and said softly, "I originally thought Young Master was a refined scholar with an elegant demeanor."
Yang Shifei gave a dry laugh. "Although I'm not exactly a scholar, 'elegant demeanor' still fits, right?"
"Apart from this face, you're clearly quite rough."
Luo Xian'er pointed to her own left shoulder and said with a sidelong glance, "I was quite frightened by you last night."
Yang Shifei: "…"
This girl certainly held a grudge.
The two chatted idly along the way, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Before long, they arrived side by side at the bank of East City's Liu River.
Just as Luo Xian'er had said, both banks of the river were adorned with clusters of flowers, and willow trees swayed in the breeze, presenting a vibrant and beautiful spring scene.
The river's surface shimmered with light, and pleasure boats drifted by, creating a rather tranquil atmosphere.
"It truly is a beautiful sight."
Yang Shifei stepped onto the grassy riverbank, looked around, and couldn't help but praise it inwardly.
In the distance, there were also pedestrians out for a spring stroll, somewhat resembling a park from his previous life. If one came for a walk here every day after meals, it might be quite healthy.
All that was missing was a cup of goji berry tea.
"It seems Young Master is quite satisfied."
Luo Xian'er gathered the long skirt behind her waist and was the first to sit down on the ground.
She sat elegantly with her knees together, turned to the side, holding down her beautiful long hair that billowed in the wind. Her transcendent, refined features seemed to be imbued with light, beautiful beyond compare.
"Beautiful scenery is naturally liked by everyone."
Yang Shifei averted his surreptitious gaze and also sat down beside her. "Has Miss Luo ever tried boating on the river before?"
"I took a pleasure boat once. It was so bumpy I nearly got sick."
Luo Xian'er pursed her lips, as if still having lingering fears. "After that, I never dared to try again."
Yang Shifei was slightly surprised. "So, there are things Miss Luo isn't skilled at?"
"…I'm not some omnipotent immortal who knows everything."
Luo Xian'er sighed softly and passed the small bamboo basket she held in her lap over to him. "Just like Young Master—clearly outstanding in looks and exceptionally talented in martial arts, yet completely stumped on how to please a woman."
Yang Shifei: "…"
This girl, why did she keep attacking his weak spots?
He took the bamboo basket with a rueful expression, lifted the wooden lid, and took out a piece of crispy fried pastry.
"Miss Luo is deliberately trying to provoke me. It seems I should also try to be a bit more assertive?"
Saying this, he offered the pastry to the young woman. "Try some first?"
Luo Xian'er blinked her beautiful eyes repeatedly, seemingly not expecting this direct approach.
The two looked at each other silently, neither moving, as if whoever moved first would be 'admitting defeat.'
Only when Yang Shifei nervously swallowed did a hint of a smile flash in the young woman's eyes. She took the pastry and took a delicate bite.
"So Young Master can also be shy."
"Staring at your face, this reaction is only normal."
"But Young Master's eyes are clearly very restless."
Luo Xian'er cast a reproachful glance at him and raised a hand to cover her chest slightly.
Yang Shifei, quite embarrassed, shifted his gaze away. "I was afraid the pastry crumbs… would fall on you."
The Eldest Miss's dress is expensive; it wouldn't be easy to wash if it got stained with oil, right?
Yang Shifei himself thought this excuse was quite appropriate.
"Your words don't match your heart." Luo Xian'er licked her pink lips, now shiny with a trace of oil, and blinked again. "That's not good."
Yang Shifei felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at like this, feeling as if he had become a glib, frivolous man. He decided to just go for it. "Miss, your figure… is truly exquisite, so I couldn't help but look a couple more times."
"Mm."
Luo Xian'er, on the contrary, nodded as if quite satisfied and also picked up a piece of pastry, offering it to him. "Try some."
Yang Shifei stared blankly for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle.
This girl, she could sometimes make jokes with a perfectly straight face.
Oh no, isn't this charm a bit too potent?
He feigned calmness as he savored the pastry, his gaze once again falling upon the river, and soon his eyebrows rose.
"Those few boats over there are quite large, aren't they?"
The most eye-catching was a man in white standing at the prow of a boat, facing the wind, his hands behind his back, a longsword strapped to his back. From afar, he looked quite dashing.
"Judging by the insignia on the side of the boat—clear wind, white jade—it should be people from the Lingering Wind Sect."
Luo Xian'er spoke softly. "The two boats behind belong to Xishan Manor and White Horse Pavilion."
Yang Shifei was surprised to hear this. "They sound like they're all from martial arts sects?"
Having been prompted, he quickly noticed that many boats on the river bore certain insignias.
"You've just left Niu Family Village, so you don't know much about the affairs of the pugilistic world."
Luo Xian'er's expression gradually turned serious, and she murmured, "Many martial arts sects will be rushing to East City in the coming days. You will see even more figures from the pugilistic world hereafter."
"And why is that?"
"Because of a major event."
Meeting his curious gaze, Luo Xian'er said slowly, "Everyone… is coming for the 'Sacred Weapons'."