Chapter 106 Longlan City
Looking down from above, Longlan City was surrounded by a few scorched-brown villages, while a vast expanse of green fields outside stood out. The moat surrounding the city was still full, but the dense black mass lining the moat was even more eye-catching than the water.
They were farmers who had trekked from other villages, carrying water back to the village on shoulder poles or in backpacks like ants carrying sugar.
The guards on the city wall usually turned a blind eye to these behaviors and allowed the villagers to collect water, but today they were not allowed to do so.
"Hurry up, hurry up! No water is allowed today! An immortal is coming!"
The soldiers lined up and left the city. The leading captain quietly looked up at the city wall. After confirming that Longlan City Guard Lu Gu and Chief Secretary Cheng Kehan were anxiously pacing the wall and had no time to look at them, he whispered to his soldiers, "We are all fellow villagers. There is no need to embarrass them. Shout loudly and put away the sticks!"
"Of course everyone understands!" The soldiers chuckled, and under the captain's glare, they immediately solemnized their faces and started shouting to drive away the villagers, but they still couldn't help but find time to complain.
"Those immortal cultivators really don't take our lives seriously."
Having served as a city defender for twenty years, Lu Gu could immediately see through the soldiers' perfunctory attitude, but he was only pretending to be so. He paced back and forth anxiously, his hands nervously twirling his sleeves, but he spoke leisurely, "Have you arranged everything?"
The Chief Clerk, Cheng Kehan, was even more ingenious. He took out a hand towel and quietly unscrewed the spout of a water bottle hanging from his waist. He would wet the hand towel a little and wipe his forehead from time to time, ensuring that his head was always "sweaty like a pulp": "All good, all good. I guarantee that whatever those idiots want to investigate on a whim will not be found out at all."
"You were recommended by His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi. Don't be careless and disappoint His Royal Highness's expectations of you." Lu Gu was a little tired from walking. Seeing that there was still nothing unusual in the sky, he walked over to Cheng Kehan and took the sweat towel from his hand, wiped his head with it, and returned it. "This is the first time I've seen such a disaster. It's really hot and gives me a headache."
"At least there's still something to be gained from the disaster of the fat legacy. Back then, when the husbands and the others were traveling... Alas, those bastards were so useless. It's a pity that the dog emperor was still so filial to them!"
"Alright, cut the crap." The entire city was basically made up of his own people, so Lu Gu only spoke lightly, though he actually agreed. "We need them to get there quickly. If the people can't get water today, they're going to die of thirst again. It would be terrible if a plague started in this weather."
"You are so careful." Cheng Kehan chuckled twice, and seeing that the "sweat" on Lu Gu's head was almost dry, he took the initiative to wipe Lu Gu's forehead again.
"Wait, old man, look, someone is coming!"
Of the four, Luo Xuanyi deliberately slowed down the speed of her bamboo slips, allowing her to fall slightly behind the other three and land on the city wall. In reality, she had already spotted her destination on the horizon, using her maximum controllable range—due to her breakthrough, the radius had increased from one mile to ten—to arrive at the city wall first to observe. Naturally, she overheard Lu Gu and Cheng Kehan's conversation. As the two men, feigning fear, approached and greeted the three righteous cultivators, Luo Xuanyi silently pondered their conversation.
No matter how one listens, it feels like civil unrest is about to break out in the Mortal Empire. Furthermore, based on Luo Xuanyi's observations of the three righteous cultivators, it seems highly unlikely that they, and the six alliances behind them, will demand a specific reception. Are Lu Gu and the others clearly trying to dislike the Immortal Sect? Or is there something else going on?
Luo Xuanyi's focus on the Mortal Dynasty stemmed primarily from the previous experiment in Guning Village. Guning Village had only a few hundred people, but the evil thoughts and death energy they contributed were enough for Luo Xuanyi to break through the third level of the Evil Dynasty Ghost Technique. After comparing and choosing, Luo Xuanyi concluded that she believed she could achieve victory through sheer numbers. Therefore, if war broke out in the Mortal World, it would be the best option. She would definitely observe the opportunity, and if that didn't work out, she might even secretly incite it.
However, the most important thing now is to find a place to improve his hard power. Luo Xuanyi refocused her attention on the conversation in front of her. Lu Gu had already begun to invite everyone to the dinner.
"Lord Lu, there's no need to spend so much money. We didn't come to Longlan City for pleasure." Xi Xingji took the initiative to reject Lu Gu's invitation, and the other two acquiesced. "We are here only to perform a task. The Immortal Sect has already informed us in advance. In my opinion, it is best to make a quick decision."
"Of course, of course!" Lu Gu responded with a smile on his face. "Please come this way, my lords. I've already asked Old Cai, the treasurer, to prepare the files."
"Oh right," Xi Xingji suddenly remembered something and turned to Luo Xuanyi and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuanyi, why don't you go to Baosexing first? I'll be out in a while, and we'll meet at the city gate then."
Luo Xuanyi understood that he was politely explaining to her that it was not appropriate for independent cultivators to review the files with them. She would be accompanying them in her spirit form anyway, so she nodded indifferently, "Then let's gather here."
Lu Gu and Cheng Kehan glanced at each other—here they were! They were indeed going to investigate! Cheng Kehan immediately approached Luo Xuanyi and said with a fawning smile, "Then let me lead the way! Lady Xuanyi, please come this way."
Luo Xuanyi controlled her body to follow Cheng Kehan, while she used one eye and one ear to maintain the sight and hearing of one side of her body. She followed Lu Gu and the three people down the city gate tower, listening to Lu Gu laughing all the way to the yamen.
Cheng Kehan simply found Luo Xuanyi difficult to deal with. She listened to him nonchalantly throughout the journey, but rarely responded, refusing to reveal the Immortal Sect's stance. However, his primary purpose for offering to lead the way had been achieved. Responding to the subtle glances from the surrounding shopkeepers, Cheng Kehan thought smugly, now that everyone knew he was accompanying someone from the Six Great Alliances, Luo Xuanyi's covert investigations would be futile.
Luo Xuanyi, controlling the situation from afar, felt a tinge of laughter, though thankfully it didn't immediately manifest physically. She'd been worried that suddenly revealing her identity as a casual cultivator and offering spirit stones for exchange would arouse suspicion, but now that Cheng Kehan had "proven" her identity, she no longer had to act so timidly. It seemed she was quite pleased with Cheng Kehan's cleverness.
The main streets of Longlan City were practically devoid of immortal cultivators. Luo Xuanyi recalled the magic weapon of Qimingzhe. Everything before her resembled the mortal streets depicted in the magic weapon, except that Longlan City felt more alive. The ubiquitous shouts of hawkers and the sizzling sounds of steaming baskets filled the bluestone streets. Street vendors and candied haws craftsmen, sold out, leaned against the doorposts of teahouses and chatted. Teahouses and taverns were packed. Luo Xuanyi's attention was drawn to a banner reading "Bu Ye Hou," but she hadn't realized it was just a teahouse.
Although tea is also known as the Never-Night Marquis, any shop owner who dares to use the word "Hou" directly is either well-connected or foolish. The former is more likely. After all, this Never-Night Marquis seems to be the largest teahouse of all the ones I've visited, and it would surely have been noticed by the successive city guards.
Seeing Luo Xuanyi looking towards the teahouse thoughtfully, Cheng Kehan misunderstood and felt refreshed. He finally had the opportunity to show off his eloquence.
"Ever since Lord Lu Gu came to Longlan City, every household has been living a very good life! You see, even in the years of the fat legacy disaster, the candied haws are sold out! You can't find it elsewhere. In some cities, it's hard to even get food now."
After crossing the main street, Cheng Kehan and Luo Xuanyi turned into an alley. It wasn't long before their view opened up. Inside and outside, it was like two completely different worlds. The attics were ornately decorated in various shapes, practical as well as adorned with colorful ribbons and lanterns. Cultivators were walking along the streets.
"Sir, this is Tianjie. If you want to go shopping, you can go further inside."
"No need, just go directly to Baosehang."
First update~Every time I write transitions and foreshadowing, I feel it’s too empty. I’m trying not to fill it with nonsense hh
The second update is out~ Some of the words are not careful hh
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