“I will restrain myself,” he replied seriously as he looked at Tang Guo.
“Oh? Daoist Qin means you would restrain yourself from developing feelings for me?” Tang Guo continued. “You even used the word ‘restrain.’ That means your heart is already wavering.”
“That is not the case.”
Qin Jiu quickened his pace. “I have never seen a female ghost as talkative as you.”
Not only talkative, but also thick skinned. Did she really think that being beautiful meant she could do whatever she wanted?
“Well, now you have.”
Qin Jiu looked somewhat helpless. “Can we not talk about this?” If they continued, his thoughts might wander in strange directions.
Tang Guo smiled at him. “Fine, we won’t. I won’t tease you anymore. I’m just bored and wanted to talk to you more.”
Qin Jiu suddenly thought about her past. No matter how extraordinary her origins might have been, he could still sense a kind of loneliness from her.
Even when she smiled and teased him, he felt she was a very lonely person.
“If you want to talk, then talk,” Qin Jiu slowed his steps. “I’ll answer as I see fit. You may not like my answers. But if you truly want to chat, I will keep you company.”
“Really?” Tang Guo’s lips curved upward.
“Of course. You paid a high price to hire me for twenty years.”
The moment he said that, Qin Jiu regretted it. In truth, he wanted to accompany her not because of the immortal sword. He glanced at her expression, relieved to see no sign of anger.
“Then I won’t hold back.”
Qin Jiu was momentarily speechless.
“Daoist Qin, how old are you this year?” Tang Guo asked.
“Twenty five,” Qin Jiu replied. What kind of question was that?
“That’s quite young. If I were still alive, I would be twenty. We could have registered our marriage. We’re only four or five years apart. Not too much, not too little. A good match.”
Qin Jiu fell silent.
“Do you have a wife?”
“No.”
“Do you want to find one?”
“I only want to catch demons.”
Tang Guo floated lazily, resting her chin on one hand. “Have you ever been with a woman?”
“I focus on catching demons and earning money,” Qin Jiu answered stiffly. Why was this female ghost asking him such personal questions? And why was he actually answering them, as if being interrogated?
“Oh, so you haven’t. You’re already twenty five and still haven’t been with a woman. How rare.”
Qin Jiu was silent again. His master had died at eighty and had never been with a woman either. He considered himself quite young.
At twenty five, there was still plenty of time.
“Daoist Qin, what kind of woman do you like?” Tang Guo asked with a smile.
Qin Jiu felt his lips twitch uncontrollably.
“I am devoted to catching demons and earning money. I’m busy. I’ve never thought about it.”
“Well, you’re not that busy right now. Why not think about it?”
System: This is getting out of hand. Host, you’re too much.
“I don’t have much experience. I can’t imagine what kind I would like. Perhaps I’ll only know when I meet her. Or perhaps I’ll never meet anyone.”
His master had lived that way. Qin Jiu believed he might remain single for life. Besides, his talent was not bad. Perhaps one day he would attain immortality.
“If you do meet her, don’t miss your chance,” Tang Guo said, lifting her chin and pointing at herself. “For example, if you ever develop feelings for me, make sure you confess early.”
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