Exploring Yong'an City Part 1
Xuan Ye had read the scroll for Huai Wen and had chosen the best way for her to collect and repay her debts.
So their first stop was Yong'an City in the Kingdom of Zishang!
This reflects Huaiwen's intentions; the place she wants to go is Yong'an City.
For convenience, Xuan Ye changed his attire and even his outer skin, adopting the same skin Huai Wen had worn when they first met. After all, demons can take human form, and for a demon king like him, changing his appearance was nothing unusual.
That night was dark, and Huaiwen didn't have time to see the outer skin clearly. Although it wasn't as good as the outer skin he had in Luofu, it was still amazing enough.
Xuan Ye's eyes, deep and captivating, now appear clearer and brighter. While in Luo Fu City, Xuan Ye primarily wore purplish-red clothing; now, in a black and red Qilin robe, he exudes even more spiritedness.
In contrast, Huaiwen was still wearing the same white clothes, which were covered in grime from working at Zuimenglou. Perhaps Xuanye thought Huaiwen was too dirty, so before setting off, he specially arranged for someone to take her to take a bath and change her into clean clothes.
On the way, Huaiwen didn't want to take a single extra penny from Xuan Ye's pocket. She didn't want to be burdened with debts she couldn't repay herself, leaving her descendants to pay them off. It was the same reason she was now going to collect the debt.
Therefore, she had to keep her distance from Xuan Ye throughout the journey, including her food, clothing, and shelter.
Just to fill her stomach, she went back to her old trade, becoming a fortune teller, selling talismans and trinkets... but business was just as dismal as before.
Xuan Ye saw all this and had only one comment about her: "What a waste of the Ruan clan's bloodline."
After a long and arduous journey, they finally arrived in Yong'an City. Having traveled so far, Xuan Ye instructed Huai Wen to find an inn to rest.
When Huaiwen arrived in Yong'an City, she wanted to visit the stone tablet, but she had not yet informed Xuan Ye and did not want to tell him directly, so she had to find another way.
The scroll states that their primary purpose in coming to Yong'an City was to collect a debt from the Qian family.
Inside the room, Huaiwen took out the scroll and looked at it carefully again.
Records indicate that during the Yongqing era of the Zishang Kingdom, Old Lady Chen of the Qian family in Yong'an City was robbed by bandits while returning home with her children and grandchildren to visit relatives. Initially, the bandits demanded money, which the Qian family paid. However, after receiving the money, the bandits refused to release her and instead demanded the Lichun Grass.
As everyone knows, the Spring-Leaving Grass is a rare find. Besides its own harsh living conditions, it also grows in the territory of the Demon King Yao Ri Ce Mie, so who would dare to take it easily?
But with a life at stake, the old lady still needed to be cared for, and the descendants needed to carry on the family line, so Mr. Qian gritted his teeth and sought help from a shaman. Naturally, with the shaman's help, Mr. Qian got both the money and the person back, with interest.
In the past, the transvestite agency usually charged money for their services, with exceptions depending on the circumstances. However, rescuing Old Lady Qian and her children and grandchildren was a special case. At the time, the head of the agency wanted the Qian family's golden armor and jade suit.
Huaiwen didn't know what was so powerful about this golden armor and jade suit, so he muttered a few words to himself. Xuan Ye sat casually on the couch and said softly, "What else can it be used for? Of course, it's to wear it."
Huaiwen looked at Xuan Ye, who seemed to know a lot, so Huaiwen smiled obsequiously and tried to please Xuan Ye, pressing him for details about the special features of the golden armor and jade suit.
Xuan Ye didn't answer, but instead told Huai Wen to go out and inquire on the street. He said that if he told Huai Wen everything directly, wouldn't it be too easy? That wouldn't be good for Huai Wen's cultivation. Although Huai Wen was angry, her words made sense. She snorted twice and ran out with Oni-slayer.
Once on the street, Huaiwen first found the Qian family's shop. The shop mainly sold two things: jade and cloth. These two items were not only popular in the human world, but were also specially selected by the imperial court as royal tributes every year.
But when Huaiwen asked about the "golden armor and jade suit," the shopkeeper's face darkened, saying that those were only sold in coffin shops. This embarrassed Huaiwen, and he quickly slipped away.
On the way back to the inn, Huaiwen thought that if this "golden armor and jade suit" were just a "funeral garment," the transvestite guild would never have made such a demand. Moreover, it was truly strange that they didn't ask for a "funeral garment" as part of the guild's fee.
That means this "funeral garment" must have something special about it!
Huaiwen wanted to enter the Qian residence to find out what was going on, but she didn't expect it to be so difficult to enter. At first, she thought that she could just give her name, but she was immediately kicked out by the servants of the Qian residence.
Huaiwen felt helpless, but because Xuan Ye had always required her to be self-reliant, she didn't ask him to do anything for her. She wanted to be independent, so she took Oni-slayer and Oni-kiri to inquire how to get into the Qian residence.
Later, I learned that many people were claiming to be transvestites and going to the Qian family mansion to ask for money. As the number of people increased, the Qian family naturally became suspicious, and eventually, they simply turned away all visitors.
In that case, Huaiwen had no choice but to resort to his best skill—performing a "Talented Immortal" act.
Immortals in the mortal realm are always depicted as ethereal and extraordinary. Huaiwen, dressed in simple white robes, possessed a refined and scholarly air, reminiscent of a disciple of an immortal.
She used a white talisman to transform Onikiri into human form, who then served as her acolyte.
This time, instead of visiting in person, they sent a visiting card via Demon Slayer. The card was stamped with an official seal reserved for yokai (demons and monsters).
If it were just a visiting card, the Qian family wouldn't have obediently sent their steward to greet them at the door.
After Master Qian opened the visiting card, a scene from years ago appeared where he had worked for the Qian family. Then, Huaiwen, playing the head of the "immortal" demon household, deliberately asked Master Qian why he hadn't invited him in.
He then asked when he would repay the debt of "golden armor and jade suits" owed by his ancestors. Finally, he said slowly, "Qian Musan, you have many descendants, so don't forget the help you received in the past."
This startled Master Qian, who quickly ordered his steward to come out and greet him.
The Qian family's carriage arrived at the inn to pick up Huaiwen.
She knocked on Xuan Ye's door and said with a smile, "Let's go to the Qian residence."
Xuan Ye seemed to have been waiting for a long time. He got up from the stool and said casually, "Not too stupid."
Huaiwen snorted and ignored him, heading downstairs.
Before long, the two arrived at the Qian residence.
The Qian family mansion truly lived up to its reputation as one of the wealthiest in Zibo, with an imposing entrance. The two large stone lions were particularly eye-catching, gleaming golden in the sunlight.
The Qian family officials had been waiting for a long time, and when they saw Huaiwen and Xuanye arrive, they quickly invited them inside.
Upon arriving at the front hall of the Qian residence, Master Qian rose from his armchair to greet the two.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they were invited to take their seats. Mr. Qian spoke first: "Earlier, too many people impersonated you to come here, and I didn't recognize you. That was impolite of me."
Huaiwen replied with a smile, "It's alright, Mr. Qian. We're just in time to come in."
Master Qian added, “Actually, my ancestors said that all the kindness that humans and demons have shown to the Qian family should be repaid by the Qian family.”
Huai Wen smiled and said, "Mr. Qian, you are too kind! The word 'repaying a debt of gratitude' is too heavy. We simply needed each other and made a transaction."
After a few hearty laughs, Master Qian began to have food served. He inquired about Huaiwen's health and the condition of the transvestite center.
Seeing that Mr. Qian was getting off-topic, Huaiwen glanced at Xuan Ye and then steered the conversation back on track: "Mr. Qian, rest assured, everything is fine at my Demon and Human Bureau. Besides visiting you today, there is something else I need to tell you."
At this point, Master Qian's smile faded considerably, and Huai Wen continued, "Master Qian's ancestors must have already told you that our organization, the Human and Demon Bureau, saved your family's Old Madam Chen and her children and grandchildren. In return, we asked you for the Golden Armor and Jade Robe. You agreed to that, and now it's time for us to take it back."
After hearing Huaiwen finish speaking, Master Qian looked sorrowful, sighed deeply, and after a long while replied, "I know. But to be honest, I'm afraid I can't give you this golden armor and jade suit now."
After exchanging a glance with Xuan Ye, Huaiwen asked Master Qian for the reason.
Master Qian's brow twitched slightly, and he sighed, "I wonder if you have heard of the stone tablet that fell from the sky in Yong'an City?"
Huaiwen paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She quickly nodded and said she understood.
"Since you know, then you must know about the incident where half the population of Yong'an City died not long afterward," Master Qian said slowly. "And my Qian family..."
At this point, Mr. Qian looked troubled and suddenly choked up, stopping in his tracks.
"What happened to your Qian family?" Huaiwen pressed.
With tears welling in his eyes and a heavy weight pressing on his chest, Mr. Qian said after catching his breath, "My only son in the Qian family... died in this senseless calamity. And that golden armor and jade burial suit were buried with him."
Huaiwen moved her lips as if to say something, but couldn't utter a word. She knew that the burial items placed inside couldn't be taken out casually.
This is disrespectful to people.
Xuan Ye suddenly retorted, "Master Qian, the Bureau of Humans and Demons asked you for this golden armor and jade robe a hundred years ago. But you refused to give it to us then, saying that you only had one at home. You promised to make another one and give it to the Bureau of Humans and Demons. Now you say that it was buried with your son. Are you playing me?"
Master Qian jumped up in a panic, his eyes red-rimmed. He waved his hand and hurriedly explained, "How could I dare? This is a matter of life and death. How could I, young master, joke about my life?"
Xuan Ye demanded, "Then tell me why it won't come out!"
Master Qian described the scene with great emotion: "It's not that we can't produce one. My Qian family made another one back then. It's just that the craftsmanship of the jade armor is very demanding. The ancestor who originally knew how to make this jade armor suddenly passed away. His apprentice hadn't had time to learn the essence, so naturally the jade armor couldn't be made well. How could we dare to give you something that wasn't good?"
"Oh? Is that really so?" Xuan Ye sneered.
Master Qian dared not look at Xuan Ye, turning his head to nod at Huai Wen: "It must be true. To my shame, the craftsmanship of this golden armor and jade suit was lost in that generation. Your Demon and Human Bureau saved my Qian family back then, but I am now unable to repay you. If you do not mind that I am a commoner, I will repay you with some gold and silver. Besides—I know that the Demon and Human Bureau is currently more in need of money than the golden armor and jade suit."
Huaiwen sighed; that was indeed true. Money was the only thing that could solve their immediate problem. She glanced at Xuan Ye, and seeing his silence, she made her own decision: "We understand Mr. Qian's meaning, but this is not a matter that can be answered immediately. We ask Mr. Qian to consider it further."
Upon hearing this, Master Qian grasped Huaiwen's hand tightly, thanking him for being a good man. He immediately ordered someone to bring travel money, saying it would solve his immediate crisis.
Normally, Huaiwen would have accepted the money, but since the matter was still unresolved, accepting it would create problems, so she couldn't. She immediately refused and then led Xuan Ye away.
After leaving the Qian residence, they walked for a while. Huai Wencai then asked Xuan Ye how he knew that the demon and the human had wanted that jade garment, and that the Qian family had said they would make another golden jade armor.
Xuan Ye crossed his arms and said, "I have a way."
"Of course! Luo Fu has planted so many spies in the human realm!" Huai Wen chuckled awkwardly, then said, "By the way, what do you think of what Master Qian said? According to him, his son died after that stone tablet descended. This stone tablet seems quite strange. Why don't we go and take a look at it?"
Xuan Ye had the same idea, so the two quickened their pace and left the city.
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