After Transmigrating, My Younger Brother Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 7

Zhu Zhenzhen spoke up, playing the role of a sympathetic listener. Brother Cheng, why have you fallen silent?

Cheng Jiuxiao poured another bowl of wine, draining most of it in one gulp. Wiping the remaining droplets from his lips, he said, Actually, I have an unreasonable request.

Song Heng straightened slightly, crossing his arms and watching Cheng Jiuxiao with leisurely interest.

After all this build-up, the main act was finally about to begin.

Cheng Jiuxiao drew a jade flute from his inner robe. The flute was as white as mutton-fat jade, its surface smooth and rounded, with evenly spaced finger holes. Faint hints of green shimmered through the translucent material, making it exceptionally beautiful.

At a glance, Zhu Zhenzhen recognized its superior quality. Before her transmigration, a piece of jade this fine, even half a finger’s length, would fetch a high price at auction. A jade flute of this size would be worth even more.

Her professional instincts kicked in, and she felt an urge to touch it.

I hope you two will deliver this flute to the city lord of Changding City, Cheng Jiuxiao said.

Song Heng immediately countered, Uncle, Changding City is only a hundred li from Bian City. Even on foot, it would take no more than three days at most. If we ride hard, we could reach it in a single day. Why do you need us?

Uncle…

Cheng Jiuxiao rubbed his face, momentarily speechless. He patiently replied, I cannot leave Bian City at present. If you deliver the item and return here, I will personally hand over the silver.

Money! It was money!

Zhu Zhenzhen shoved Song Heng, who was blocking her way, aside. Rubbing her hands together, her face lit up with calculation, the gleam nearly blinding Cheng Jiuxiao.

How much will you pay after the job is done?

The man held up five fingers.

Zhu Zhenzhen grinned widely. Five hundred taels, right?

Her lively eyes blinked rapidly, their flashing light making Cheng Jiuxiao’s breath catch. Five hundred taels? She really dared to ask for that much. He shook his head honestly.

Song Heng climbed to his feet, brushed off the dust, and silently scoffed at her wild fantasy behind her back.

The maximum is fifty taels.

Zhu Zhenzhen’s face fell instantly, her smile barely clinging to her lips. She muttered under her breath, Hiring an escort when you’re broke? What a cheapskate.

Having been thoroughly corrupted by the Sun and Moon Inn, she had lost all sense of the value of silver. She didn’t realize that fifty taels for a single delivery was already the price charged by many seasoned escorts.

Seeing her disappointment, Cheng Jiuxiao nearly laughed. He cleared his throat and asked, Will you accept the job, young lady and young master?

Yes, yes, yes! Having no money left anyway, any earnings were better than none. They certainly couldn’t let Song Heng and her end up sleeping in a dilapidated temple together.

Cheng Jiuxiao smiled. Then it’s settled.

He pulled out ten taels of silver and handed it to Zhu Zhenzhen along with the Jade Flute. This is the deposit. It’s also for your travel expenses.

That evening, an uninvited guest barged into Cheng Jiuxiao’s room.

Cheng Jiuxiao was undressing by the bed, his belt half-undone, when his hand froze. His slender, well-defined fingers re-wrapped the belt around his waist as he sat down at the table.

He poured two cups of tea and addressed the empty air, Come out. I know you’re there.

A figure emerged from behind the screen, dark hair bound with a jade-green ribbon. As he moved, the dark patterns on his ink-black robes shimmered faintly.

A few days ago, when no inn or tavern dared to take us in, someone secretly used internal energy to whisper words into my ear. As he spoke, he gradually approached, the candlelight illuminating his face. It was none other than Song Heng.

After we left the inn, someone immediately sent word to show us that the Sun and Moon Inn hadn’t closed, as if guiding us there according to a prearranged plan. He tossed his lapels aside and sat down at the table, picking up a teacup and twirling it in his hand.

His hand froze, his eyes sharpening. Today, you led us to Changding City. May I ask, what are your sect master’s intentions?

The youth’s face darkened, radiating hostility. Cheng Jiuxiao found himself both amused and exasperated.

Cheng Jiuxiao pondered for a moment before speaking. I harbor no ill will toward either of you. As for why someone sent internal energy to your ears… He shrugged. That’s beyond my knowledge.

Were you the one who led us to the Sun and Moon Inn that day?

Indeed.

Why did the inn help us? And why did you choose us to go to Changding City? You must have known it was a Ghost City.

Cheng Jiuxiao suddenly lowered his voice, and the candlelight flickered, casting his face in alternating light and shadow, giving him an eerie appearance. Instead of answering directly, he posed a peculiar question

Song Heng, do you believe in fate?

Song Heng’s brow furrowed, and he slammed his teacup onto the table, the wide sleeves of his robe concealing the movement. The dagger he had prepared before entering the room slid into his palm.

Since afternoon, neither Zhu Zhenzhen nor he had revealed a single word about their true identities.

Just as Song Heng was about to strike, Cheng Jiuxiao placed a hand on his arm. Though the grip seemed light, Song Heng secretly exerted force to break free, only to find himself firmly restrained.

Song Heng glared up at Cheng Jiuxiao, who returned his gaze with a smile, emphasizing his words Young Master Song, I mean you no harm.

With a clang, Cheng Jiuxiao abruptly seized Song Heng’s wrist, causing a sharp pain. In that moment of distraction, the dagger fell to the ground.

The knife hilt was intricately carved with bizarre, twisting patterns.

What destiny? Does your Sun Moon Sect worship some lewd and heretical cult? Song Heng rubbed his wrist, his words still defiant.

Fortunately, Cheng Jiuxiao had a good temper and didn’t take offense. He continued calmly, If I succeed in delivering the Jade Flute, I will explain everything upon my return.

Mysterious and secretive—are you trying to play god? Song Heng flung his robe, picked up the dagger, and stormed out.

Cheng Jiuxiao watched the young man’s retreating figure, as if struck by a sudden thought. He shook his head with a wry smile. After confirming the room was empty, he peeled off his human-skin mask and placed it on the bedside table.

The next morning, Zhu Zhenzhen took the deposit the innkeeper had given her and dragged Song Heng to the market to buy supplies.

She scrutinized every stall with a sharp eye, haggling with effortless grace and boundless enthusiasm. She managed to stretch a single tael of silver to the buying power of three.

The day’s earnings were truly impressive.

Song Heng struggled under a stack of goods taller than himself, his face strained. He had never carried so much like a servant before.

When he asked Zhu Zhenzhen to take some of the load, she feigned deafness, ignoring him completely as she continued piling items onto the precarious mountain. At this rate, Song Heng’s young back would break before its time.

While she was still counting supplies on her fingers, Song Heng seized the opportunity to signal to a tail that had been following them since they left the inn.

Unfortunately, his hands were full, so he could only purse his lips, hoping Lu Yin would understand his meaning.

Lu Yin froze for a moment, then nodded resolutely. He darted out of the dark alley and into the sunlight.

The bustling marketplace was a cacophony of noise, but Lu Yin’s focus remained unwavering as he sprinted straight toward Zhu Zhenzhen.

She had changed into a goose-yellow dress, cinched at the waist with a plain sash. A different jade pendant hung from her belt, and her unbound black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall.

Originally intending to collide directly with Song Zhen, Lu Yin abruptly stopped just before making contact. In that split second of hesitation, he lost his momentum and began to fall.

Desperate to steady himself, Lu Yin saw the hem of her dress within reach, but he refused to grab it, letting his knees hit the ground.

Zhu Zhenzhen felt a sudden gust of wind. At first, she noticed nothing amiss until the surrounding crowd began pointing and whispering at something beneath her. Realizing what was happening, she glanced down.

A man knelt before her, his frame painfully thin, his shoulder blades straining against his coarse linen clothes. His tightly clenched hands trembled slightly.

Puzzled, Zhu Zhenzhen wondered what he wanted. Was he trying to scam her? She instantly clutched her purse protectively and backed away three hundred meters, her message clear I don’t know you. I don’t know you.

Song Heng watched the scene unfold from afar, feeling a growing discomfort in his lower back.

Their original plan had been for Lu Yin to accidentally bump into Song Zhen, capture her attention, and then recount his tragic past. Given Song Zhen’s soft-hearted nature and Song Heng’s persuasive skills, they were confident she would agree to let Lu Yin join their journey.

But somehow, the first step had gone awry. Dying before the battle even begins, Song Heng muttered, dropping his pile of belongings and rushing forward to intervene.

As Song Heng approached, preparing to help Lu Yin up, a sudden gust of wind swept through. He felt a sharp tug on his arm, and when he regained his senses, he found himself a hundred meters away.

Dazed, Song Heng stared at his outstretched hand, still frozen in mid-air. Noticing the intense gazes of the onlookers, he awkwardly retracted his hand.

Zhu Zhenzhen leaned close to his ear, her breath brushing against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine. Her crimson lips parted slightly as she whispered, He’s just trying to scam you for money. Ignore him.

If the Thunderstruck Man is real, he must be undergoing his tribulation right now.

A complex expression flickered across Song Heng’s face. He brushed off her hand from his shoulder and walked over to Lu Yin, who had been standing motionless with his head bowed for an eternity. He gently helped the young man to his feet.

Lu Yin’s body felt gaunt and wiry, almost devoid of flesh, yet he stood as tall as Song Heng.

As Lu Yin straightened up, his deer-like eyes glanced timidly at Zhu Zhenzhen, as if afraid of making a bad impression, before quickly lowering his gaze again.

Sun and Moon Inn.

What? You’re saying you want to bring him along? Zhu Zhenzhen stood up, staring at Song Heng in disbelief.

He has no one to rely on. After his family fell into ruin, he became a beggar. Since he was old enough to remember, he’s been wandering the city, begging for a living.

In their previous life, Lu Yin had told Song Heng that he’d worn a wooden tag around his neck since childhood, carved with the characters Lu Yin. He’d only learned to read those characters by sneaking into the academy.

Even after his fortunes turned, the first half of his life had been unbearably harsh.

Zhu Zhenzhen pulled Song Heng aside, mimed counting money with her hands, and said with a gloomy expression, It’s not that I don’t want to bring him, but we’re broke! Broke! Another mouth to feed means one less bowl of rice for us.

Besides, what’s he to you?

Song Heng replied, He’s an old friend from the past.

An old friend from the past? Could he be a childhood playmate from before the Song Manor was destroyed? But…

Zhu Zhenzhen was suspicious. How could a noble’s son have anything to do with a beggar?

Her gaze darted back and forth between the two men.

Song Heng was racking his brain for a way to convince her to accept Lu Yin. He vaguely remembered that beneath the osmanthus tree in the Song Manor’s courtyard, besides a jar of fine wine, there had also been several silver notes.

Aren’t we short on funds? Just give her some money.

As the two remained locked in a stalemate, Song Heng was caught off guard when Zhu Zhenzhen suddenly spoke up.

Enough. Since he’s your friend, let’s take him along.

She pulled out the money pouch Cheng Jiuxiao had given her and shook it. This should be enough for us.

What’s your name? she asked, turning to the grimy little beggar.

Lu Yin, he replied, his voice as strained as a violin with a broken string.

Don’t be nervous. Since you’re A’Heng’s friend, you’re my friend too. From now on, we’re all in this together, Zhu Zhenzhen declared.

Zhu Zhenzhen had a knack for making friends with anyone. Her naturally outgoing personality had Lu Yin laughing softly within the span of an incense stick’s burning time.

The sight of the two getting along so well tugged at Song Heng’s heartstrings, stirring up memories of the past.