Chapter Forty-Eight: First Encounter at the Peach Blossom Festival

After settling in, Jiu Ya took two subordinates out to try her luck. Although her real purpose was to run into Rong Jiang, she also needed to make sure she had a proper excuse to go out.

The Peach Blossom Festival is in two days, but things are already bustling. Some businesses are decorating their shops, while vendors are selling newly made sachets filled with peach blossoms, as well as peach blossom wine, peach blossom honey paste, peach blossom oil, and peach blossom pastries. It's even more lively than Jimo City.

Jiuya saw a shop with nice decor and a waiter enthusiastically hawking his wares at the entrance, so she turned towards it and said, "Let's go check out that pastry shop."

Seeing Jiuya approach, the waiter's smile grew even warmer. "Please come in, Miss!"

"Miss, what would you like? Today we have freshly baked peach blossom pastries, which are sweet and delicious. They're perfect for the upcoming Peach Blossom Festival, aren't they? We also have soft and sweet walnut pastries. If you've had too much sweetness, you can also have some radish cake to cleanse your palate. All our pastries are freshly baked and very fresh."

The waiter's work attitude was very proactive and deserves praise. Bai Yu, however, had no reaction to this, and even looked at him with disdain. "Do you think your humble earthly shop can make things better than the imperial chefs of our Demon Palace?"

Jiu Ya nodded slightly. "Okay, I'll take a look."

Following the direction the waiter pointed, Jiu Ya immediately spotted the peach blossom pastry that he had praised so highly. It was pink and delicate, with the flower stamens probably made of egg yolk liquid, and the green leaves, made of some unknown material, resembled peach blossoms quite a bit. "This? Is it made of peach blossoms?" She had drunk tea made with dried peach blossoms before, and it gave her diarrhea afterward. She seriously suspected that peach blossoms had a diarrhea-inducing property.

The waiter's smile remained unchanged as he patiently explained, "Miss, these peach blossom pastries are made by using flour, carrot juice, and egg yolks to create the shape of peach blossoms, but they don't actually use any peach blossoms."

Seeing Jiu Ya's time travel, Xiao Er understood that such a young lady from a wealthy family wouldn't know much about cooking, so it was normal for her to think that peach blossoms were in the peach blossom pastry. He only mentioned a few ingredients, since recipes are kept secret, and it wouldn't be good if someone else learned them.

"I see!" Jiu Ya nodded. "This flavor is on the sweeter side, right?"

"That's right. If you don't like things too sweet, our shop also has some milder pastries, such as yam cake and pea flour cake," the waiter continued.

"That doesn't matter." Jiu Ya waved her hand. "Little brother, I'd like to ask you about something."

The waiter was quite surprised. What could this young lady possibly want from him? However, he remained enthusiastic, after all, it was important to listen to the customer's needs. "May I ask, miss?"

"Is there a Rong family in Linzi City?" Jiu Ya asked casually.

"Miss, there aren't many families with the surname Rong in Linzi City," the waiter said, finding it quite strange.

Jiu Ya asked, "What about the west side of the city? Is there any there?"

The families living in the west of the city were all wealthy and powerful, and it was precisely because of these families that they were well-known to the public.

"The Rong Mansion in the west of the city?" The waiter frowned, thought for a long time, and then said, "There used to be one, but it's gone now."

That was all, but it wasn't the last thing the waiter said. The waiter glanced at Jiu Ya's still calm face and said in a low voice, "When I was young, my grandmother told me that there used to be a Rong family in the west of the city. But when the Qi Kingdom fell, their family suffered huge losses, and I heard that everyone died. After that, they disappeared without a trace. Perhaps they changed their names and surnames."

Xiao Er's ancestral home was Linzi, but the State of Qi had already fallen by the time he was born, so he had no interest in the affairs of the old state.

Alright, Jiu Ya understands now. This Ye family must have been a powerful and influential family in the former Qi Kingdom. Now that the Qi Kingdom has fallen, how could they possibly escape unscathed? "Thank you, Brother Er."

After thanking him calmly, Jiu Ya asked about the price and bought two catties of each of the pastries recommended by the waiter. Anyway, with the mustard seed space, she wasn't worried about them expiring.

Before leaving, they didn't forget to ask where the most lively place was during the Peach Blossom Festival.

After leaving the shop, Bai Yu asked in a low voice, "Does Miss believe that the one from the Underworld has a connection with Linzi?"

Bai Yu was completely bewildered. Weren't they supposed to come to the mortal realm to fulfill the old lady's last wish? Could it be that His Majesty was investigating the origins of the Underworld Emperor? Otherwise, why would he ask about the Rong family? But that name was most likely an alias, wasn't it?

"No, that's not it. When I was little, my mother mentioned my maternal grandmother's surname to me. I vaguely remember that it was either Li or Rong. I can't remember clearly, so I just asked casually." Jiu Ya lied without batting an eye. In fact, she remembered very clearly that it was Li. Asking about the Rong family was just her way of trying her luck.

"Then this servant and Li Yue will focus on finding out about the Li family and the Rong family later." Bai Yu had previously assumed that the old lady's surname was Li, so she naturally focused her inquiries on families with the surname Li. Now she had to add another family to the list. Since they were all inquiring anyway, it didn't matter if there was one more family.

Jiu Ya replied succinctly, "Okay."

Actually, she wasn't particularly anxious about the Li family's affairs. Li was a very common surname, and there were countless families with the surname Li in Linzi City. So, she could take her time with the investigation; otherwise, what excuse would she have to stay in the mortal realm?

The following time was spent by Bai Yu and Li Yue diligently gathering information about the Li and Rong families, while Jiu Ya wandered around, going wherever the excitement was, partly to gather information and partly to try and bump into someone.

On the day of the Peach Blossom Festival, the whole city was filled with the fragrance of peach blossoms and orchids, and the entire city was bustling with activity. Just as dawn was breaking, Jiu Ya was awakened by the noise outside.

After Jiu Ya finished breakfast, she walked out of the inn and saw many people rushing towards the river. When the innkeeper saw that Jiu Ya and the other two hadn't moved, he specifically reminded them, "Miss, you're not from Linzi, are you?"

“Yes.” Jiu Ya nodded.

The innkeeper fiddled with his abacus and said with a smile, "According to the customs of our Linzi city, on the Peach Blossom Festival, witches use willow branches dipped in peach blossom water to ward off bad luck and pray for blessings. If you have nothing else to do, Miss, you could go for a walk by the river, it's a good omen. The riverside is quite lively right now." He had gone there early in the morning and had already returned from the river.

"Thank you, shopkeeper." Jiu Ya smiled, turned her head, and said to the two demons who were always by her side, "Bai Yu, Li Yue, let's go to the river to take a look."

Both demons responded accordingly.

Jiu Ya then asked, "Shopkeeper, which way do we go along the river?"

"Miss, just head north," the innkeeper said.

Jiu Ya smiled and said, "Alright, thank you, shopkeeper."

"No need for thanks. But don't worry, Miss, the witch will be there until noon," the innkeeper said cheerfully.

After leaving the inn, they followed the direction pointed out by the innkeeper. In fact, even without the innkeeper's directions, they could have reached their destination by simply following the flow of people. Many people were walking in the same direction, laughing and joking with their friends, and discussing the auspicious time for prayer.

On the riverbank stood a raised platform, adorned with many flowers and ribbons. A woman, dressed in a black shaman's robe, sat cross-legged, her face serene and strikingly beautiful. She held a willow branch in her hand, exuding a dignified and solemn air. This was the shaman responsible for warding off misfortune and bringing blessings. Beside her was a large basin filled with clear water, upon which floated many peach petals.

On the left side of the platform, a line of people were waiting to receive blessings from the witch.

The person receiving the blessing doesn't need to say much; they simply need to bend over and close their eyes. Then, the witch holds a willow branch, dips it in peach blossom water, and silently chants a spell. Finally, she gently touches the forehead of the person receiving the blessing, and the entire blessing ceremony is complete.

The prayer area was quiet and solemn, exuding a sacred and dignified atmosphere, while the other side was much more lively, with people playing with the flowing water and flying kites.

Jiuya stood on this side of the river, watching the blessing ceremony for a while. She did sense a slight fluctuation of energy, but it was far too small to possibly bring good fortune or dispel bad luck. Jiuya thought to herself: This so-called blessing ceremony is truly just a psychological comfort.

"Miss, there's no energy fluctuation here. What's the point of their custom?" Bai Yu whispered in Jiu Ya's ear.

Jiuya whispered, "This witch probably hasn't truly embarked on the path of cultivation yet."

Therefore, this witch's efforts to ward off bad luck and bring blessings are completely ineffective.

"Then isn't what she's doing just a formality?" Bai Yu shook her head.

Jiu Ya smiled and said, "Although it's just a formality, this has been the custom for a long time. Besides, how would ordinary people know if it's true or false? It's just for peace of mind."

Bai Yu agreed, while Li Yue said, "It's just for show. If it's useless, don't come out and take on responsibilities."

"Ordinary people don't understand matters of gods and ghosts. Besides, in my opinion, this witch has a high status in the city. Who would expose her?" On the way here, Jiu Ya had heard some things about the witch in Linzi City. The witch has a transcendent status in Linzi City. Ordinary people only have awe for her. Why would they doubt anything?

Li Yue nodded, "What you say is absolutely right, Miss."

Just as the three demons were having a heated discussion, a female voice suddenly interrupted, "In people's hearts, the things they seek from ghosts and gods are inherently illusory and have nothing to do with whether they are useful or not; they are only for peace of mind."

"Huh?" Jiu Ya turned her head and saw a young girl dressed in plain linen standing quietly to one side, gazing at the prayer platform. The girl was slender and extremely beautiful, with long eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and skin as white as snow. A beauty mark under her left eye added a touch of coldness and vulnerability. The sunlight shone on her, as if coating her with a layer of soft light.

This face... is exactly the same as Rong Jiang described in the book "The Road to the Underworld"!

Jiu Ya felt her heart pounding wildly, almost leaping out of her chest. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. She suppressed her excitement and joy, trying to make her voice sound natural, even with a hint of surprise: "This young lady thinks the same way? Great minds think alike! We've reached the same conclusion, what a coincidence!"

Upon hearing this, the girl in plain clothes slowly turned her head. Her clear gaze fell on Jiu Ya, and she smiled faintly. That smile was like pear blossoms reflected in spring water, revealing an indescribable beauty and ethereal grace within its cool elegance.

"I think I just overheard a few of you discussing the power of cultivation?" the young woman asked, her voice light and melodious, yet also like jade shattering and ice striking, carrying a transcendent charm. "It seems you are also one of us on this path?"

Jiuya felt her heart sway, almost intoxicated by the voice and smile. Her inner voice was screaming: Ahhh! My daughter! It's my real daughter! A visual attack! A voice attack! How can there be such a perfect person in this world!