Chapter 8 Helping Hanshan on a condition

Xu Hanshan looked very solemn as he stepped into the red-painted doors of the Crimson Fairy. A year ago, he had sworn an oath to his wife Wang Xi'er, that no matter what, he would not meet the cursed witch that he had grown up with.

But now, it seemed that he would have to break his promise to her because there was no other way out!

He furrowed his thick brows as he looked about the inn. A waiter with a towel around his neck hasted towards him, politely putting his hands together in a greeting.

"Kind customer, what can I get for you?" Ma Qi asked.

A constrained look was written all over his face. This man had to be worried over something and was not here to dine for fun, Ma Qi observed.

"I wish to meet your proprietress," Hanshan said in a deep voice. His eyes were sunken, and his dark eyebags were very evident. He must have something urgent to see their boss about.

"I apologise, but Miss Muxue is not seeing anyone right now."

"But it's urgent," the man insisted anxiously. "It's only she who can save my wife now."

Wife? Did the customer just say Muxue Xiyu could save his wife? Even a man drinking at a table in the inn suddenly stopped to look at Hanshan. Muxue Xiyu, who practised witchcraft, could save lives?

"What is your name, Sir? I will report this to Miss Muxue at once."

"Xu Hanshan."

Zhan Dongyue's keen ears perked up at the mention of 'Xu Hanshan', and putting down his teacup; he watched the man silently. The man was dressed in a fur coat that looked inexpensive, but under his coat, he could see a few patches on his outer garments. It didn't seem that this Xu Hanshan was rich at all. Since he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he hadn't understood what it was like to struggle for a living. Hanshan got by with doing carpentry, and his wife sewed for a living. But now, his wife's sickness got the better of her. If he didn't act fast, his wife might even die.

What was Xu Hanshan to her? Dongyue wondered curiously, resuming sipping the hot jasmine tea in his teacup and scalding his tongue slightly. Tea was what Dongyue grew up on, and he was glad to know that the people of Muxue did enjoy tea. Did Muxue Xiyu like tea?

Shortly after, the waiter returned with good news.

"Mr Xu, my mistress Miss Muxue will see you. Let me escort you," he offered.

"There's no need," Hanshan said. "I can find my way upstairs myself."

"The upper floor of the inn," Ma Qi said, maintaining his courtesy as he spoke. "She will be waiting in the hall. Do not enter any of the rooms on that floor. They are heavily warded with magic that has the powers to grant you an instant death, Sir."

Hanshan nodded, and the waiter promptly left to attend to another customer who had just walked into the inn.

Deeply intrigued, Dongyue followed the man up the stairs. The man was shaking in a panic, and pearls of sweat adorned his forehead. There had to be something about this man, Dongyue thought, that had triggered Miss Muxue to believe all Han men were like Xu Hanshan.

Hanshan stopped outside the hall. Muxue Xiyu sat, drinking gracefully from a jar of wine. Since Hanshan knew how she looked, she had not bothered to put on her veil. Dongyue felt a tinge of jealousy for the man as Xiyu faced him, gesturing for him to come closer. This man was lucky to have been a part of his Miss Muxue's life, which he envied and wished for.

"Hanshan, take a seat. What business do you have to discuss today?" her cold voice echoed across the hall, making Hanshan shiver with fright. Just a year they had not met, and yet, she was so frightening to him now. The young and chirpy girl from his past had now matured into a cold and unfeeling woman. Was it because of him?

Hiding behind a large pillar to eavesdrop on their conversation, Dongyue watched from the staircase, as Xiyu talked to the guilt-stricken Hanshan while keeping a distance of no less than five metres between them. The poor man related the facts on his wife's sickness and how he believed her to be the only person who could help.

"Hanshan, your friendship with me is over. Why do you think I will help you?"

Hanshan's eyes glimmered with tears as he begged, falling to his knees dramatically.

"Yu'er, you are the only person I know well on this island. Without Xi'er, I have nobody on this island. I only you're a benevolent person, and won't stand by to see me lose my only family."

She shook her head. "Hanshan, it's not about you or me. I'm powerless to help because I don't have healing powers. Hanshan, I am an enchantress, not a witch doctor."

His mouth gaped in awe, but he remained in denial.

"I know you can cast spells, Yu'er."

Dongyue disliked how he continuously called his Miss Muxue with that intimate name, and bravely he strode forward. Albeit his jealousy, he knew that he couldn't stand by and watch an innocent woman die. Even if Hanshan had hurt the woman he deeply admired and had feelings for, it was not a crime deserving of death.

"This young master, she cannot help you with your problem, but maybe I can."

Vexed, Xiyu glanced coldly at the man who had intruded in her matters once again. Instead of expressing her fury, which she knew was useless against the fool, users she smiled icily at Dongyue.

"You never get tired of poking your nose into my affairs don't you, Young Master Zhan?"

She was spooked when out of the blue, he walked right through her barrier spell and took his seat beside her. Holding her hand, he gazed into her cold eyes.

She was as cold as ice, but inside she was a lonely woman yearning for love.

"That's because of you, Xiyu," he said sweetly.

She didn't know what was happening, but he was appearing to melt the ice that had formed around her. His arm curled around her shoulder possessively, teasing her with an amorous stare from his eyes.

Hanshan couldn't understand either, but whom Xiyu chose to be with was not his concern. His only wish was for his wife to be well again.

She trembled as Dongyue swept her in his warm gaze before he turned to the visitor and declared confidently, "I will help you, but on one account, and that is, that you never appear in Xiyu's life again."

What was going on with this man, and what did he want? Xiyu wondered, feeling herself burning with passion at his tender touch.