"Alright, wrap these up for me." Xu Shan waved his long sleeves and said with great magnanimity.
A hint of surprise flashed in the shopkeeper's eyes. He quickly instructed his assistant to carefully wrap the selected rough stone and hand it to his two subordinates beside him.
"In a few days, we will have another batch of raw stones of even higher quality. Would you be interested, sir?" The shopkeeper asked tentatively while efficiently handling his business, his eyes full of anticipation.
Headmaster Xu smiled slightly, "Oh? The quality is even better? That's certainly worth seeing. In that case, let's stay a few more days. Is there anything to do here?"
Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper beamed and immediately began to enthusiastically introduce the product to him.
"Oh dear, you've come to the right person! Our Yunyin City is a place where hidden talents abound. Not only does it have the picturesque Green Bamboo Valley, with its babbling springs and tranquil bamboo forests, a perfect place for self-cultivation; but it also boasts the ancient Yunyin Temple, where the morning bells and evening drums, and the chanting of Buddhist scriptures, can purify one's soul. If you enjoy lively atmospheres, the night market in the east of the city is not to be missed. A dazzling array of snacks and handicrafts will surely broaden your horizons and make you want to linger."
Master Xu listened with great interest, stroking his short beard and smiling, "It sounds quite interesting. In that case, I will visit them one by one and experience the unique charm of Cloud Hidden City."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Xu, please stay here for a few days. Once the raw stone is back, I will immediately send someone to inform you." The shopkeeper personally saw them out the door.
"Okay, then thank you for your help." Xu Shanzhang cupped his hands in greeting.
Upon returning to the residence, Headmaster Xu eagerly asked, "How is it? Are those two still following us?"
Qin Xiaolin looked around to make sure everything was in order, and then replied in a low voice, "Headmaster, don't worry, they have already left."
It turns out that any outsider who steps into the mysterious Cloud Hidden City is subject to strict surveillance without exception.
Typically, this surveillance lasts for three to four days.
During this period, the scouts would try their best to find out the background and purpose of these outsiders, and would only leave after confirming that these people were not suspicious.
This measure is one of the important guarantees that has allowed Yunyin City to remain safe and secure for hundreds of years.
“In that case, let’s have a good time,” Li Xi said.
Her affairs cannot be compromised, so even if it's a bit troublesome, it's better than some unpredictable trouble.
Now that the person had been successfully brought here, Li Xi felt a little more at ease.
She thought to herself that as long as everything went according to plan, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Thinking of this, she reached out and took a package from Qin Xiaolin's hand, smiling brightly, "Let's go, Brother Qin, let's put the things down and go out for a stroll."
The streets of Yunyin City are laid out in a well-organized manner, and the bluestone pavement gleams faintly in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The area is lined with shops on both sides, including stalls selling local handicrafts and inns and restaurants serving a variety of delicacies. It is bustling with people.
The air is filled with the enticing aroma of food and the subtle fragrance of herbs and trees, making it impossible not to be captivated by it.
"Do you want to buy some gifts to take back with you?" Qin Xiaolin reminded her.
Li Xi was gazing intently at a uniquely shaped dagger.
Hearing Qin Xiaolin's words, Li Xi came back to her senses and gently shook her head. "No need. It's inconvenient to bring too many things this time." She put down the dagger, but her gaze still lingered.
He couldn't help but feel a little surprised and taken aback, because in the past, whenever Xiaoxi went out, if time allowed, she would always enthusiastically pick out a whole bunch of exquisite gifts for her family and friends.
However, he didn't say much. Perhaps Xiaoxi had something on her mind lately. If that was the case, then he would prepare some things for her.
Like other places, the teahouses in Yunyin City also had storytellers. On stage, a storyteller held a gavel, his voice booming as he recounted long-standing legendary tales.
"Deep within the Cloud Hidden Mountains lies an ancient temple shrouded in mist, named 'Youlan Temple.' Inhabiting the temple dwells an old monk, whose Dharma name is Huiming. It is said that in his youth he traveled far and wide, witnessing countless rare and exotic creatures, and even mastering astonishing martial arts skills..."
Below the stage, the tea drinkers listened intently or whispered among themselves. The teahouse was filled with the aroma of tea and the scent of stories, creating a unique atmosphere.
"One day, Yunyin City was suddenly struck by an unprecedented drought. The fields cracked and the people suffered terribly. The city lord was extremely anxious and offered a reward of a thousand gold pieces to recruit someone who could solve this problem. When the old monk Huiming learned of this, he decided to descend the mountain and use his own strength to save the people."
The storyteller paused deliberately at this point.
His gaze swept over the tea drinkers below the stage, and seeing that everyone was captivated by the story, he continued, "The old monk Huiming, holding a staff and wearing a kasaya, walked slowly towards the center of Yunyin City. With each step he took, the ground beneath his feet became more moist, as if clear springs were gushing from the earth. By the time he reached the city lord's mansion, the entire Yunyin City had regained its former vitality, lush with greenery and filled with the fragrance of flowers."
"Upon seeing this, the city lord was overjoyed and hurriedly went out to greet him, intending to present him with a thousand taels of gold. However, the old monk Huiming smiled slightly and politely declined the city lord's offer. He said, 'The Buddha is compassionate and saves all sentient beings; this is what we should do. There is no need for thanks.'"
The tea drinkers below the stage listened with rapt attention, as if they too had followed in the footsteps of the Venerable Huiming and entered that magical world.
"However, just as the old monk Huiming was preparing to return to Youlan Temple, he encountered a problem. It turned out that this drought was not a natural disaster, but was caused by a demon beast hidden deep in the Yunyin Mountains. It was jealous of the prosperity of the human world, so it used demonic magic to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, causing the earth to dry up and all living beings to suffer."
"After learning the truth, the old monk Huiming resolutely decided to venture deep into the mountains to slay the demon. After a hard-fought battle, he finally subdued the monster and sealed it away in a hidden corner. From then on, Yunyin City never experienced such a severe drought again, and the people lived in peace and prosperity."
At this point, the storyteller finally put down his gavel, ending this wonderfully splendid tale.
Inside the teahouse, the aroma of tea still wafted through the air. The tea drinkers below applauded and cheered, some even discussing the plot of the story with lingering enthusiasm.
Only Li Xi had a gloomy expression, as if she had recalled some bad memories.
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