Chapter 34: All the money I earn in the future will be yours, for you to spend on your cousin.

Zhao Qiaofeng began to tear up again, unable to fathom why she simply couldn't stop herself from crying. It was the enemy who ought to have been in tears, after all.

Ji Ci twitched the corner of her mouth as she watched. The scene looked exactly as if they were the ones being bullied—after all, they had just robbed someone, so why did they feel so aggrieved?

"Hurry up!" Zhao Qiaofeng sobbed, pushing her sword forward a fraction more.

Song Lecheng immediately raised his hands and grabbed the blade. "I'll go back to the manor and get it for you right away, Miss."

Wang Feng scrambled to his feet, pulled a pitch-black pellet from his robes, and shoved it into Song Lecheng's mouth. "That is the Seven-Day Intestine-Severing Powder. Take us to get the silver." He grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth. "If you try any tricks, your guts will rot away."

Song Lecheng realized he had kicked a steel plate this time; this man, woman, and fox were nothing but bandits! He trembled with rage. As the son of a county magistrate, he had actually been brought to his knees on his own turf.

"Let's go." Song Lecheng clenched his fists and led the two toward the magistrate's manor.

Zhao Qiaofeng picked up the little fox, using a handkerchief to wipe the dust that had splattered onto its head. Ji Ci’s eyes darted around; she was taking the opportunity to learn the route, as she hadn't explored this area much before.

In front of the magistrate's manor, Zhao Qiaofeng cradled the little fox while Wang Feng, acting like a lackey, found her a small stool. "Miss Feng'er, have a seat."

Zhao Qiaofeng gave a light harrumph and turned her head away. This blockhead—he had been beaten so badly just moments ago, yet he still had the heart to try and curry favor.

"Miss Feng'er," Wang Feng said, suddenly serious. "Teach me martial arts. I promise I won't embarrass you in the future." He swore to himself that he must become stronger to be worthy of his Feng'er. His mother had always said that beautiful women were the most deceptive, but his Feng'er was so kind—she even cried when she had to hit someone—so she would surely never deceive him. He had set his heart on her, and he would not change! He had to grow stronger.

Zhao Qiaofeng’s eyes lit up. "Truly?"

"Naturally, truly," Wang Feng said, beaming. "When we roam the world together, we’ll call ourselves the 'Black and White Duo.' How majestic that will be!"

This struck a chord with Zhao Qiaofeng. She had yearned for the unfettered life of a martial artist since she was a child, but her cousin had always kept her on a tight leash. Before the age of seventeen, the furthest she had ever traveled was the sesame cake shop in the west of the city. If she had a sidekick like Wang Feng, perhaps her cousin would feel at ease letting her go out.

"Very well, I shall teach you martial arts starting tomorrow." Zhao Qiaofeng agreed with a feigned reluctance, though her heart was blooming with joy.

Song Lecheng kept his word, bringing out ten thousand taels in banknotes and tossing them directly to Wang Feng. "Give me the antidote."

Wang Feng shrugged. "It was a mud ball, not poison, you big idiot!"

Song Lecheng looked as if he were breathing fire. He had actually been played by a group of outsiders! "I will definitely kill you all!" he roared.

"Come and try it if you have the ability. I'm not afraid of you." Wang Feng wiped the banknotes clean and handed them to Zhao Qiaofeng. "Miss Feng'er, from now on, keep all the money we earn. If I need money, can I ask you for it?"

"No, this money is for my cousin." Zhao Qiaofeng tucked the notes away without ceremony and walked off, cradling the little fox.

"That's fine, then. I'll give you all the money I earn in the future, and you can spend it on your cousin," Wang Feng said.

Ji Ci shook her head while watching. *Tsk, tsk, tsk, isn't this the definition of a 'simp'? I earn money for you to spend, you spend it on your cousin, and I end up earning money for both of you.* Ji Ci rolled around in Zhao Qiaofeng’s arms, laughing—a 24-karat gold-plated simp.

Zhao Qiaofeng stroked Ji Ci’s little head. "Why are you so happy?"

Ji Ci gestured in her arms, chattering away.

"You're saying you want to earn money for my cousin, too?"

Ji Ci nodded. *Yes, yes, yes, I want to earn money too.*

Wang Feng curled his lip. It seemed everyone was earning money for Dongfang Jiebai, and nobody cared if he lived or died—he might as well eat dirt.

When the three returned to the manor, Zhao Qiaofeng presented the little fox to Dongfang Jiebai like a treasure. "Cousin, this is for you." She handed him the banknotes.

"Keep it for yourself; I have money," Dongfang Jiebai said, taking the little fox into his arms and using a clean cloth to wipe its fur bit by bit.

"Cousin, this is the first money I’ve ever earned. You must take it." Zhao Qiaofeng smiled happily. It was her first time earning money, and it hadn't been that hard after all.

"Oh? You earned money just by going out once?" Dongfang Jiebai took the notes nonchalantly. He had expected at most a hundred taels, but his eyes flickered when he saw the number. "Ten thousand taels?"

"That's right, ten thousand taels! Aren't I impressive?" Zhao Qiaofeng crossed her arms, looking quite smug.

"Did you rob someone?"

"Cousin, you are so smart! How did you know I went out and robbed someone?" Zhao Qiaofeng patted Dongfang Jiebai’s shoulder heavily, her eyes full of joy.

"Who did you rob?" Dongfang Jiebai’s voice darkened. He hoped it wasn't someone untouchable who would expose his identity.

"The county magistrate's son. He’s no great official; compared to you, cousin, he's not worth mentioning." Zhao Qiaofeng shrank her neck, suddenly feeling a bit guilty.

Ji Ci also gestured and chattered from the side, filling in the details of the incident. *Yes, yes, that man even wanted to take us to listen to music. When we refused, he tried to grab us. He was truly wicked.*

Dongfang Jiebai’s eyes dimmed. A mere magistrate's son was already seizing women off the street? How lawless.

"Good. Well done. Go and tidy up; we shall have dinner in a while."

Zhao Qiaofeng snuck a glance at the little fox and, seizing a moment when Dongfang Jiebai wasn't looking, snatched it and ran. Ji Ci felt her body fly into the air, only to land in a warm embrace a moment later.

"I’m taking you to take a bath."

Zhao Qiaofeng ran at top speed; for once, she didn't seem afraid of Dongfang Jiebai at all.

Inside the room, steam filled the air. Zhao Qiaofeng shed her robes and sat slowly into the wooden tub, holding the little fox.

The scene was limited-edition; her snow-white skin was on full display. Ji Ci felt as if her nose was about to bleed. *This... this is cheating.*

[Warning: Adrenaline levels too high.]

*Shut up, shut up, let me enjoy this.* Ji Ci burrowed into Zhao Qiaofeng’s chest, rubbing her little head against her.

"Haha, you little perverted fox." Zhao Qiaofeng pulled the fox away, used a fragrant soap to create suds, and gently rubbed them into its fur.

Ji Ci’s eyes lit up. Does this era have soap? Why does Dongfang Jiebai never use something so fragrant on her! How could life be exactly the same no matter who she lived with?

Covered in milky, fragrant bubbles, Ji Ci left only her two dark, glistening eyes exposed. Zhao Qiaofeng scrubbed her clean and brought her close to her nose to sniff. "You smell so good. Sleep with me tonight."

Ji Ci nodded repeatedly. *I want to sleep with the fragrant, soft sister.*

When the two appeared in the dining hall, Wang Feng eagerly pulled out a chair for Zhao Qiaofeng, while Dongfang Jiebai snatched the little fox out of her arms.

"Cousin, the little fox promised me it would sleep with me tonight."

"Not tonight," Dongfang Jiebai replied.

"Then tomorrow night?" Zhao Qiaofeng pressed her luck.