Chapter 53: Treating Guests |
At this moment, the tall man, cloaked and masked, spoke up, "Could it be that Kid's people, putting on a show?"
It was a man’s voice, clearly suppressed to sound hoarse. He hadn't shown his True Appearance since entering, even with a Hooded Cloak and a Face Mask, but the two women knew who he was.
Feng Chi hesitated, "I had that suspicion initially, but after the Higher-ups inquired, they felt that from Manipulating People, to various accidents occurring, if it was truly designed, the changes in such a short time would be too complex and could not Justify it. Of course, the Higher-ups didn't rule out this suspicion; anything is possible."
Xiang Lan'er said, "No need to suspect further.
I can confirm he is not with that old man."
Feng Chi 'oh'-ed and immediately asked, "How can you tell?"
Xiang Lan'er pursed her lips.
The way she got her answer was a bit difficult to speak of, so she simply brushed it off, "It's inconvenient to elaborate. I can be responsible for this assertion, and you can Rest Assured to Report to superior."
Since she said she would take responsibility, the other two had nothing more to say.
Xiang Lan'er, "What else could it be? Simply agreeing to his conditions, to bring him into Wukang Mountain with me."
"Uh…" Feng Chi was Speechless.
The man in the Cloak said in a deep voice, "No, that won't work. Bian Jixiong already knows about this 'Shi Chun' character, and he knows this person got him a Courtesan for a daughter-in-law.
I heard he smashed several Teacups. How could he possibly let him into Wukang Mountain? Young Lady, it's already difficult for you to get in.
If you add him, I'm afraid even you won't be able to enter."
Xiang Lan'er, "Now it's not about whether you or I are willing.
First, I reluctantly agreed to him. Second, he left a Backup Plan.
If I Break a Promise, and our Identity is exposed, the plan to interfere with Wukang Mountain will mean complete failure. How will we explain it to the Holy Venerable? So, this is not asking for your opinion; it's asking you to find a solution.
If you can't solve the problem, what do I need you for?"
The man in the Cloak was completely Speechless.
Ignoring him, Xiang Lan'er first reached out and invited the Severely Injured Feng Chi, who had not yet recovered, to sit and rest.
After a long silence in the room, the man in the Cloak suddenly sighed, "There's a method that might work, but we'll need to persuade Shi Chun to cooperate."
Xiang Lan'er immediately told him to speak…
Shi Chun had already left the Inn.
He didn't care what Xiang Lan'er and the others were doing Behind the Scenes. He would first take a good Stroll around Linkang City, familiarizing himself with the terrain for future use.
This was his old habit from before "working" in the Land of Exile.
It wasn't that he didn't want to Watch Closely what Xiang Lan'er and the others were doing; the problem was they wouldn't give him a chance to peek.
Even with his one pair of eyes, trying to Watch Closely would be tough. The special effect of his Right Eye's Eyeballs couldn't be used under normal circumstances, and Saber Against his own neck wouldn't make him nervous.
Furthermore, he also needed to leave some trail markers In the City so Wu Jinliang could find him when he arrived. It wasn't convenient to do this when he was with Xiang Lan'er and the others.
Walking from the Inn back to the city gate, leaving markers along the way, he was just about to Stroll to his heart's content with his hands behind his back when he suddenly heard a commotion of shooing from ahead, "No money, don't come. This establishment does not allow credit.
Please leave, please leave!"
Shi Chun looked up and saw it was a Restaurant. The Shop Assistant was driving out a Disheveled Old Man.
The Disheveled Old Man's red nose and Wine Gourd were very conspicuous. Shi Chun glanced at him, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat, screaming internally, This is also possible?
Without a second thought, he quickly turned around and walked away quickly.
As a Demonic Path Cultivator, encountering such a Master who liked to Exterminate Demons and Guard the Righteous Path, why wouldn't he run? Was he waiting to be Slaughtered?
"Hey!"
A shout, and a hand, suddenly came from behind, a Sneak Attack, patting him on the shoulder.
The loud voice and sound made Shi Chun somewhat afraid to turn his head.
His whole body felt as if it had been instantly frozen.
It didn't matter that he didn't turn around; the person behind him moved to stand in front of him, pushing aside his dirty, grizzled hair.
A pair of eyes, sometimes dazed, sometimes sparklingly clear, Watch Closely Shi Chun for a good while, then finally laughed and patted Shi Chun's chest, "I knew you looked familiar, it really is you, Kid."
Shi Chun feigned being Stunned for a moment, then, overwhelmed with joy, Cupped his Hands in Salute, "So it's Elder Senior! Junior is being impolite, impolite."
But in his heart, he was cursing the other party's ancestors.
The Disheveled Old Man, Holding his Wine Gourd, tilted his head and asked him, "Enough with the pleasantries. Just one question: do you remember me saving your life?"
Shi Chun gave a Dry Laugh, "I remember, I remember, of course, I remember."
In Secret, he grumbled, Even if you didn't save me, I still would have found a way to Escape.
The Disheveled Old Man gestured towards the Restaurant they had just left, "Then it's only right that you treat me to a meal, isn't it?"
Shi Chun was truly apprehensive. Feng Chi could see through his Demonic Path Identity, so this Master's eyesight must be extraordinary.
Just in Case, he Muttered and Stammered, refusing politely, "Elder Senior, Junior truly has something urgent to attend to. How about…" He reached into his Money Pouch at his waist, grabbed more than a dozen pieces of fiery Tanjin, and offered them, "How about Elder Senior helping yourself?"
The Disheveled Old Man squinted at him, "Are you treating me like a beggar?"
Shi Chun quickly denied it with a serious expression, "No, no, absolutely not."
"That's good."
The Disheveled Old Man grabbed his wrist, pulling him along without allowing refusal, dragging him directly into the Restaurant to sit down. He slapped the table and shouted, "You Snobbish Shop Assistant, order the dishes! Drunken Phoenix, Exploding Golden Pill, Thousand Jade Stew, Peerless Earth, Snowscape Soup.
Let's start with these few. For wine, Jade Treasure Brew, and fill my wine pot while you're at it."
He pushed his Wine Gourd onto the table.
The Shop Assistant who came running confirmed that Shi Chun, the 'generous' one, had no objections, then smiled and took the wine pot, telling the two to wait.
Since things had come to this, Shi Chun had no choice but to go along with it. He tried asking, "May I ask for Senior's esteemed name?"
The Disheveled Old Man chuckled, "Talking about names is just for profit.
This old man has long since let go of that, no need to mention it. But you, looking like a piece of charcoal, where are you from? State your name."
Shi Chun gave a Dry Laugh, "Junior Shi Chun, 'Shi' as in Master, 'Chun' as in spring.
I just got out of prison, from the Land of Exile."
"Oh, from the Land of Exile, no wonder you're so dark. Someone like you, so young yet daring to oppose the Demonic Path, is truly commendable. Hm, I like it very much."
"Senior overpraises me.
Exterminate Demons and Guard the Righteous Path is Our Generation's duty, regardless of age, none wish to fall behind. But Senior, why are you here as well?"
"No particular reason.
It was that matter when I Run into you a few days ago, that Demoness escaped. Various signs indicate she might have come here, so I naturally tracked her here.
Meeting me is your good luck. You should Guard Against it yourself, be careful not to be blocked by that Demoness again.
I can't always happen to Run into you and help you out."
These words made Shi Chun's Heart Pounding with Fear.
Feng Chi was not dead? And she came here? He had to remind Xiang Lan'er later.
As the two chatted, dishes and wine were continuously served.
Shi Chun Respectfully poured wine for the Elder Senior.
The Disheveled Old Man, picking up his first cup of wine, Retorted, "Little Chun, I won't drink your wine for nothing.
Since we are fellow cultivators with fate, if you encounter trouble, you can come find me. I may not have other Capabilities, but I can handle matters and fight.
Of course, provided I am still in Linkang City. And I won't help for free; each time I help, you have to treat me to a meal once."
Shi Chun was Stunned.
There's such a good thing? With this Senior's Cultivation Level, that would be wonderful! He quickly asked, "May I ask where Junior can find Senior if something happens?"
"Around the city gate area. I might be hiding under the eaves of some house. If you want to find me, go look around, you'll always find me."
The two then exchanged cups, eating and drinking as they chatted.
As they ate, the Disheveled Old Man noticed something was off. He stared at the young man opposite him, who was eating ravenously, and finally couldn't help but complain.
"I say, Little Chun, you're like a hungry ghost reborn. You can devour more than half of a dish with just three or two Chopsticks.
Are you sure you're treating me? Do you think this old man looks like a beggar and only deserves your leftovers?"
"Oh dear, Lose Composure, Lose Composure. Senior, please forgive me.
I just got out of prison, I couldn't Hold Back. To tell you the truth, these past few days since I came out, this is only the second time I've had a proper meal.
I am Inexperienced, I've made Senior laugh. Senior, please don't be reserved, eat as much as you like, we can order more if it's not enough."
Fortunately, he still remembered some etiquette for treating guests.
He quickly put down his Chopsticks and Convenietly wiped his still-chewing mouth, stopping there. His tongue occasionally darted out to lick his lips; delicious.
Afterward, he focused on pouring wine for the Senior and chatting with him.
When he asked about the Senior's Cultivation Level, he was quite shocked.
This Elder Senior didn't specify his exact Cultivation Level, only saying that he should be fine in this area, that Bian Que would have to avoid him, and that he had once beaten Bian Que.
Who was Bian Que? He was Wukang Mountain Sect Master Bian Jixiong's biological Father, and Bian Weikang's Grandfather.
He lived a reclusive life, and it was said that his Cultivation Level had reached the peak of the Human Immortal Realm, only One Step Away from the Earth Immortal Realm. He no longer concerned himself with Sect matters and Cultivated in Seclusion all year round.
Before this, Shi Chun definitely wouldn't have known who Bian Que was. He had only heard about him when Inquiring Bian Weikang about Wukang Mountain's situation.
That was a figure like Wukang Mountain's Founding Patriarch of the Sect, yet he was supposedly defeated by this Disheveled Old Man. My goodness, whether it was boasting or not, just for having the guts to boast like that, Shi Chun quickly raised his cup and offered two more toasts…
At Anle Inn, in Xiang Lan'er's guest room, only she and Feng Chi remained, waiting for Shi Chun to return.
The tall, cloaked Masked Man had already left.
A knock sounded, and Feng Chi called, "Come in."
An Inn Worker opened the door, then quickly closed it, reporting in a Low Voice to the two, "After the man left the Inn, he Sneakily left marks all the way to the city gate.
Afterward, he was stopped by a Disheveled Old Man, who seemed like an Old Acquaintance. He was dragged into a Restaurant by the old man and is now treating the Disheveled Old Man to drinks."
(End of Chapter)