Chapter 23#
Is Immortal Lord Chongwu perhaps taking him back to hold him accountable?#
“Have you heard? The entire Liu family is to be executed, and their bodies are to be paraded through the streets!”
“That really is a joyful day…”
Their carriage had just arrived in Fuyang City when they heard this news. The carriage wheels turned endlessly on the ground, making the streets seem all the more bustling.
The city was teeming with people, more than ten times the usual crowd.
Hearing the news that the Liu family was to be executed, the common folk of the city completely shed the obsequious faces they wore during the previous porridge distribution, all of them cursing and venting their anger in satisfaction.
“…What’s going on?” Yu Lin asked, turning around as he didn’t know the reason behind this.
Ruo Baiyu lifted the curtain to take a look and sent a guard to make inquiries. In the meantime, while waiting, he explained to him, “The Liu family has a very close relationship with the prefect and they can afford to pay well, so they practically rule Fuyang City with an iron fist.”
“Every year, the Liu family collects an extra twenty percent in taxes, leaving the common people in utter misery. The porridge distribution a few days ago… was probably because they didn’t want the Liu family to benefit for free.”
Hearing this, Yu Lin’s expression darkened. “How do they have such immense power? They even dare to collect taxes managed by the government?”
Ruo Baiyu lowered his voice, his tone growing slightly cold. “The Liu family’s daughter is a Noble Consort in the palace, highly favored. Is there anything the Emperor wouldn’t grant her?”
“The Liu family’s two sons are also accomplished, having paved a path to immortality by connecting with the Fusheng Sect, making them even more insolent.”
Just then, the guard returned from his inquiries and whispered his report to him.
After they finished speaking, Yu Lin said, “Now that the Liu family’s affairs are known to everyone, I’m afraid even the Emperor won’t be able to protect them.”
Ruo Baiyu nodded slightly. “The royal family has always been extremely courteous to cultivators, let alone a figure like Immortal Lord Chongwu.”
“I heard that this time, the entire Liu family is to be executed, and the execution will be personally presided over by Immortal Lord Chongwu.”
Yu Lin joked, “To have the very sect powerhouse they aligned themselves with personally preside over their execution—how much hatred must there be?”
Unexpectedly, Ruo Baiyu took up the conversation in all seriousness, “Indeed. I heard that when Liu Yuyan returned to Fuyang City, he was in an utterly wretched state. No one knows what he did to offend Immortal Lord Chongwu.”
Yu Lin was stunned for a moment, murmuring in a low voice, “He certainly didn’t hesitate to strike.”
“Today, all food in our establishment is discounted! Everything is marked down by thirty percent!”
Through the curtain, they heard the waiter’s enthusiastic shouting. Yu Lin lifted the curtain and saw a crowd of people rushing into a massive restaurant.
Yu Lin raised an eyebrow. “Dining at such a large restaurant shouldn’t be cheap. Are the people of Fuyang City really this wealthy?”
Ruo Baiyu smiled and shook his head. “There are only a few occasions to celebrate throughout the year. Now that the Liu family can no longer run rampant, the lives of the common people will be much easier.”
Yu Lin fell into deep thought.
With the sea of people, the carriage could only move slowly, and the pedestrians whispered among themselves.
The carriage slowly proceeded and stopped in front of a restaurant.
Ruo Baiyu got off the carriage first, preparing to help Yu Lin down, only to see Yu Lin asking with a troubled expression, “Do you have a veil?”
Ruo Baiyu blanked for a second, then his shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Yes, I do!”
He turned around to retrieve it, murmuring with a smile, “I almost forgot. If you get off the carriage now, someone is bound to mistake you for Liu Yuyan, which would surely cause a massive uproar.”
Yu Lin rolled his eyes at him and put on the veil.
“A-Yao, come.” Ruo Baiyu moved to the other carriage to lead his younger sister out.
Ruo Junyao placed her hand on his and lifted her skirt to step down. She also wore a semi-transparent veil, revealing a pair of gentle yet bright eyes, as her elegant and delicate water-blue skirt swayed with her movements.
There were too many guests coming and going, so Ruo Baiyu turned his head and dismissed the guards in a low voice, leaving only two attendants to follow them.
The restaurant in front of them was five or six stories high, luxuriously decorated, with the words “Ruoshui Pavilion” clearly written on it.
“Ruo…shui Pavilion.” Yu Lin raised his eyes to read it word by word, then turned around to tease him, “Are you bringing me to your family’s restaurant?”
Ruo Baiyu said as a matter of course, “Exactly! It saves money and tastes great. We merchants can’t let others take our profits.”
Yu Lin nodded in agreement, looking thoughtful.
Ruo Junyao smiled and chimed in, “Young Master, don’t listen to his glib tongue. Our family’s restaurant is indeed one of the best in Fuyang City. It’s just that the restaurant you saw earlier was too crowded and inconvenient, which is why we brought you here.”
Yu Lin turned his head and said to her with a smile, “I certainly did not look down on it.”
Ruo Junyao went in first to speak with the shopkeeper in a low voice. Meanwhile, Yu Lin’s attention was caught by a nearby notice board.
A massive notice board stood beside the restaurant, with a portrait pasted on it. The appearance and temperament of the person in the drawing were unmistakably identical to his.
It read: “Wanted: Inner disciple of the Fusheng Sect, Yu Lin. Anyone with information will be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold.”
“How did your sect end up looking for you all the way in Fuyang City?”
Yu Lin looked at the notice board, let out a mocking laugh, and did not answer.
Ruo Baiyu studied his downcast eyes and displeased expression, and teased him with a smile, “Perhaps they couldn’t find you these past few days and grew desperate, turning to anyone for help. Your sect actually seems to care about you quite a bit.”
“Care about me?” Yu Lin murmured softly, shaking his head slowly.
Ruo Baiyu fell silent for a moment, seemingly recalling something, and his expression turned serious.
“Actually, I heard about you years ago.”
“Immortal Lord Chongwu is currently the number one cultivator of the righteous path, and his disciples are highly regarded. Fuyang City is so close to the Fusheng Sect, how could any news not reach here?”
“The news that reached us was always about how well your sect treated you. So I don’t understand why you are so averse to Immortal Lord Chongwu. Is it because of Liu Yuyan?”
Yu Lin dazed for a moment upon hearing his words. Treated him extremely well… but that was in the past.
Yu Lin lowered his head and forced a smile. “Yes, and no, I suppose.”
“Then, are you still going back?”
With complex feelings, Yu Lin stared at the notice board for a long while before saying dully, “I don’t want to go back.”
It was already mealtime, and many people gathered before the notice board. Discussions drifted to his ears from time to time.
“One hundred taels of gold… The Fusheng Sect is really sparing no expense.”
“Why are they looking for their inner disciple in our Fuyang City?”
“Fuyang City is the closest city to the Fusheng Sect. It’s not surprising they’re looking for him here.”
Now that the seal on the Demonic Sect’s secret realm had been broken, every second was precious. If he returned to the Fusheng Sect, he would only be wasting his time in vain.
He composed himself. If he couldn’t increase his strength before then, he wouldn’t be able to save his senior brother and sister.
Just then, Ruo Junyao finished arranging everything and walked over gracefully, lifting her dress slightly, to usher them inside.
Once inside the restaurant, Ruo Baiyu put on his air of the young master again, looking quite dignified. Ruo Junyao walked side-by-side with him and whispered, “The Heaven-grade private room is already occupied.”
“Who booked it?”
“The one up there,” Ruo Junyao pouted slightly in the direction of the Fusheng Sect.
Ruo Baiyu fanned himself, casting a fleeting backward glance at Yu Lin.
Yu Lin pretended to look around curiously, but his eyes were unfocused, his mind drifting elsewhere.
Ruo Baiyu shook a small jade bottle from his wide sleeve, pouring some transparent powder into his hand. He took a few steps back and threw an arm around Yu Lin.
The powder rubbed onto Yu Lin’s clothes. It had no color, only giving off a faint, sparkling luster.
“What are you dazing about?! Hurry up, let’s go. I haven’t eaten anything good in days!” Ruo Baiyu grinned, dragging him forward quickly.
Yu Lin stumbled slightly from the pull, gave him a fierce glare, and followed him forward.
Ruo Junyao had arranged an open table by the window with a pleasant view. The semi-transparent screen divider was embroidered with vibrant, colorful patterns, featuring delicate and beautiful light-purple flowers.
Because they were guests of the owner, the shopkeeper had instructed the kitchen early, so the food was served very quickly. Before long, a waiter brought the dishes.
Ruo Junyao took the trays, gently pulling back her sleeves as she arranged the dishes one by one. Her eyes curved into crescents, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
“I didn’t know what you like to eat, so I ordered our family’s signature dishes.”
She naturally picked up a bowl, ladled some sweet soup into it, and handed it to Yu Lin.
“There is also some iced curds sweet soup, please give it a try.”
Yu Lin took the small bowl containing the sweet soup and offered his thanks.
It was a hot summer, and they were exhausted after traveling for so many days. Even after using cleansing spells, they still felt a wave of oppressive dry heat.
Gulping down a mouthful of the sweet soup, the icy liquid coursed through his body, making Yu Lin feel much more refreshed.
Yet, when his gaze landed on the greasy dishes on the table, he still instinctively flinched.
Swallowing hard, he braved himself under Ruo Junyao’s expectant gaze, picked up his chopsticks, and took some food.
The braised pork, perfectly balanced with fat and lean meat, entered his mouth, releasing a rich aroma on his tongue. Yet, he felt a wave of greasy nausea rising from his nose to his throat.
The sweet fragrance of osmanthus cake, the heavy grease of the meat, and a hint of pungent spiciness rushed straight toward his nose from the table.
He instinctively felt repulsed. Closing his eyes, he forced down the urge to vomit.
Seeing his pale face and bloodless lips, Ruo Baiyu asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Is the food not to your liking?”
Yu Lin shook his head, barely forcing a smile. “The food is delicious, I’m just spoiling the mood.”
Ruo Baiyu sighed and squeezed his shoulder. “You’re so thin you’re practically skin and bones, how can you not eat? You’re still sick, so eat at least a little.”
Only then did Yu Lin remember that he was injured and hadn’t achieved inedia yet, so he forced himself to eat a bit more.
Ruo Junyao called the waiter over and ordered a few lighter dishes, saying remorsefully, “It was my oversight. I forgot you are still injured.”
“It’s fine.”
As they were speaking, a creaking sound came from the private room in the distance, and the door was opened from the inside.
Right after, a flurry of light footsteps could be heard.
“There is still a quarter of an hour before the transport time.”
“Master, are you going personally?”
“Naturally.”
At first listen, these turned out to be the voices of Immortal Lord Chongwu and Yu Ming.
Hearing the familiar voices, Yu Lin’s body stiffened. He looked at the figures, who seemed to be separated from him by a layer of fog, with a complex expression.
He heard Immortal Lord Chongwu glance at Yu Ming and ask, “Is there still no news of Yu Lin?”
Yu Ming shook his head, looking dejected. “No.”
The air pressure around Immortal Lord Chongwu dropped visibly. “Keep searching.”
Yu Lin instinctively shrank back slightly.
He hadn’t told anyone about his trip to the Spiritual Medicine Valley. For an inner disciple to leave without reason for so long, could it be that Immortal Lord Chongwu was planning to take him back to hold him accountable?
Seeing this, Ruo Baiyu gently patted his shoulder and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “I sprinkled some aura-concealing powder on you. Don’t worry.”
Yu Lin hesitated for a moment and asked, “…Did you know they were here?”
Ruo Baiyu nodded. “We only found out just now after asking the shopkeeper. It will soon be time to transport the Liu family. They must have just finished their meal and are preparing to head over.”
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