Jian Xingzhi’s voice seemed to carry some kind of magic. As soon as Qin Wanwan heard it, she felt drowsy and fell back asleep.

When she woke up the next day, Qin Wanwan took advantage of Jian Xingzhi still meditating and ran out early in the morning. Just as she left, she ran into Bai Suiyou. Seeing Qin Wanwan, he greeted her happily: “Miss Li, where are you going?”

“Ah, Fellow Cultivator Bai,” Qin Wanwan returned the greeting and pointed outside. “I’m planning to find a job. Fellow Cultivator Bai, do you know where mortals can find work?”

“Miss Li might as well take a look at the All-Purpose Workshop on East Street? I’ve heard that as long as you have money, there’s nothing they can’t do.”

“That’s wonderful,” Qin Wanwan became happy. “I’ll go right away!”

“I also happen to be going to East Street to rent horses,” Bai Suiyou invited. “Why don’t we go together?”

“Good!”

Qin Wanwan agreed and walked toward East Street together with Bai Suiyou.

Bai Suiyou was very familiar with Xunxian Town and spoke interestingly, introducing Qin Wanwan to various local delicacies and specialties along the way. The two quickly became familiar, and Bai Suiyou inquired about Qin Wanwan’s reason for going to the All-Purpose Workshop: “Is Miss Li planning to find a job for Young Master Zhang?”

“That’s right.”

“Miss doesn’t plan to travel together with Young Master Zhang?”

“To be honest with you,” Qin Wanwan put on a troubled expression, “actually, he’s been infatuated with me all along, pestering me relentlessly. Now I just want to settle him down properly and give him a stable life. After all, as a cultivator, dragging him around to sleep rough and eat outdoors makes me quite guilty.”

“Miss Li’s consideration is appropriate.”

Bai Suiyou nodded: “The path of cultivation is perilous. Young Master Zhang looks like a delicate great beauty—I’m afraid he can’t endure such hardships.”

“Exactly.” Qin Wanwan immediately responded. “So I thought I’d find him a job, find an opportunity to leave him behind so he can live a stable life from now on.”

“I understand.” Bai Suiyou seemed to understand Qin Wanwan very well. Seeing they had talked enough, Qin Wanwan finally made her request: “So, in a bit, could Fellow Cultivator Bai lend me some money?”

Bai Suiyou’s movements paused. Qin Wanwan looked at him and revealed a somewhat bitter smile: “My storage pouch is all with Zhang San. Once I’ve handled things properly, I’ll definitely pay you back!”

“Oh,” Bai Suiyou reacted and immediately nodded. “Small matter, Miss can rest assured.”

Hearing Bai Suiyou was willing to lend money, Qin Wanwan immediately became happy. Only then did she remember: “Where’s your martial uncle?”

“After reminiscing with me last night, my martial uncle has already returned to the city first.”

Bai Suiyou smiled: “If Miss is interested, another day I’ll bring you to meet him together.”

Qin Wanwan nodded. She took another look behind Bai Suiyou and smiled: “Good.”

The two went to the All-Purpose Workshop together. Qin Wanwan stated her requirements. The shopkeeper turned and waved his hand. A cabinet high up opened, and scrolls floated down: “Granary manager in Red Bean Town, Lovesickness Kingdom, ten spirit stones. How does Miss find this position?”

“Is the work stable?”

This was Qin Wanwan’s greatest concern—she couldn’t let ‘Jian Zhiyan’ starve to death.

“Stable.” The shopkeeper smiled. “Lovesickness Kingdom has always been peaceful and non-contentious. Now it’s even more a time of great peace. This position receives court salary—very stable.”

“How much per month?”

“Ten taels of patterned silver, two dan of fine rice, two bolts of hemp cloth, two taels of winter coal allowance, and additional compensation during festivals.”

“Is housing allocated?”

“Naturally it is allocated.”

“How long are the work hours?”

“No more than four hours per day, ten rest days per month, holidays follow court arrangements. The work is very leisurely—aside from making records during warehouse entry and exit, there’s almost nothing else to do. You can even read books.”

“I…”

The words “Can I go?” rose to her throat. Only then did Qin Wanwan remember she was finding work for ‘Jian Zhiyan,’ not for herself.

For a moment she felt somewhat sad. Compared to risking life and death as a female lead, she would rather have this kind of job where the state allocates housing and rice, work is stable, daily work doesn’t exceed eight hours, and you get ten rest days per month.

Seeing her silence, the shopkeeper asked carefully: “Miss? Should we change to another one?”

“No need,” though Qin Wanwan was full of envy, she still turned to look at Bai Suiyou. “What do you think of this job, Fellow Cultivator Bai?”

“I think it’s very good.”

As Bai Suiyou spoke, he took out ten spirit stones and placed them on the table.

The shopkeeper immediately smiled and took out a gift box: “You two, the letter of introduction, appointment letter, official seal, and job description are all inside. Welcome to visit again next time.”

Taking these documents outside, Qin Wanwan and Bai Suiyou found a small tavern and sat down to carefully read the job description.

According to this manual, the All-Purpose Workshop had arranged everything. As long as ‘Jian Zhiyan’ arrived on time at the location arranged by the All-Purpose Workshop to board the carriage, the All-Purpose Workshop would handle everything.

Now only one problem remained—how to make ‘Jian Zhiyan’ willingly leave.

“Here’s what we do.” Bai Suiyou gave Qin Wanwan advice. “In a bit, I’ll invite you to catch Heart-Confusing Ants, then I’ll rent two horses to catch Heart-Confusing Ants. I’ll tell him there aren’t enough horses and ask him to wait at the inn, have him give you the storage pouch, then we’ll leave together. You’ll leave him a letter. When he waits for you and you don’t come back, he sees the letter and gives up. He’s just a mortal with nowhere else to go—in the end, he’ll have no choice but to go take up the position in Lovesickness Kingdom.”

“You’re right.” Qin Wanwan nodded. “Let’s do that then.”

After the two decided, they had the shopkeeper bring out brush and ink. Together they discussed and wrote an emotionally moving breakup letter with full sincerity. After Qin Wanwan finished writing it and read it again, even she herself was moved.

She blew on the letter, put it in a peach blossom envelope she had the boss buy, then placed it against her chest before returning with peace of mind.

Back at the inn, Jian Xingzhi was still meditating. Qin Wanwan carefully tucked the letter into the bedding when she heard Jian Xingzhi speak: “Aren’t you going to catch Heart-Confusing Ants? If not, then catch Qianliu.”

“We’ll catch them.”

Qin Wanwan quickly spoke and cleared her throat lightly: “But catching Heart-Confusing Ants might be very dangerous. Why don’t you stay at the inn instead?”

“No need,” Jian Xingzhi opened his eyes and got up from the couch. “I’ll go with you.”

“Oh.”

Qin Wanwan nodded and led Jian Xingzhi downstairs together. When they reached the entrance, they saw Bai Suiyou had already prepared two spirit horses standing at the door.

Seeing Bai Suiyou, Qin Wanwan began making eyes at him. Bai Suiyou quickly stepped forward: “Brother Zhang, Miss Li.”

“Let’s go.”

Jian Xingzhi walked toward the spirit horse. Qin Wanwan grabbed him: “Wait.”

“Ah, um, Brother Zhang,” Bai Suiyou blocked Jian Xingzhi. “Well, this trip is dangerous. Why don’t you not go?”

“Li Si will protect me.”

Jian Xingzhi raised his chin toward Qin Wanwan. Qin Wanwan squeezed her eyes at Bai Suiyou. Bai Suiyou showed difficulty: “But I didn’t expect you to come. I only prepared one horse. Riding together is inconvenient. Why don’t you wait for us at the inn?”

“Right, right,” Qin Wanwan quickly spoke. “You shouldn’t trouble yourself, and there’s no horse for you. Just give me the storage pouch and wait for me at the inn.”

“No problem.”

No horse? No problem.

Qin Wanwan’s words trailed off, somewhat confused. She watched Jian Xingzhi raise his hand to take the sword from her waist and slash it at the inn’s signboard.

“Wait!” The innkeeper cried out in alarm and ran out of the inn. The signboard fell in response, but while still in midair, Jian Xingzhi’s sword went into a frenzy of carving. By the time the wooden board hit the ground, a skateboard-shaped board had already appeared on the ground.

Everyone was dumbfounded as they watched Jian Xingzhi walk to the horse, tie the skateboard behind it, then turn to say to the innkeeper who was staring at the empty signboard with shock all over his face: “The characters on your signboard were too poor. I’ll write you a new one later.”

After speaking, he crossed his arms and stood on the wooden board.

“Let’s go.”

He urged Qin Wanwan.

Qin Wanwan said nothing. She looked at this skateboard-like thing and fell into deep thought.

After a moment, she solemnly raised her head and recited a code phrase: “Odd changes, even stays the same.”

Jian Xingzhi looked at her quietly. Qin Wanwan’s face showed delight. Just as she was about to speak and warmly greet her fellow countryman, she heard Jian Xingzhi order her: “Hurry up and mount the horse.”

Hope shattered. Qin Wanwan sighed. She exchanged glances with Bai Suiyou, and Bai Suiyou gave her some encouragement.

Failing now, there were still other opportunities!

Anyway, the job was already arranged—she could always find a chance to dump him.

The two calculated together, put their minds at ease, and mounted the horses together. Jian Xingzhi stepped onto the skateboard, crossed his arms, and balanced bizarrely on the wooden board.

With a “giddyup,” the horses ran swiftly. Jian Xingzhi stood on the wooden board, rapidly moving parallel with the horse.

The person on the board had his arms crossed, his spine straight. The horse kicked up dust and wind that swept his hair and slapped against his face. The entire figure alternated between ethereal grace and being covered in dust, carrying an indescribable strange aura as he quickly disappeared from everyone’s view.

After a long while, the innkeeper finally reacted and asked someone nearby: “Who is he?”

Everyone was bewildered. One person hesitantly spoke: “I heard Fellow Cultivator Bai say his name is Zhang San.”

“Who is Zhang San? What kind of expert?”

Everyone discussed among themselves. The innkeeper finally realized he’d been deceived and cheated. He knelt on the ground and cried out: “My signboard was personally written by Xie Gutang, champion of the previous Sword Trial Conference, containing Dao Sovereign Xie’s exquisite and incomparable sword intent. How many people traveled thousands of miles to come see it! That damnable Zhang San, smashing people’s signboards, utterly unconscionable! Dao Sovereign Xie, I’ve failed you! I couldn’t protect the signboard you gave me—it’s my fault, I’m useless! Don’t let me ever meet him again, or I’ll stage an accident and make him pay with his life!”