Chapter 101: The protagonist comes from afar
The blazing sun hung high in the sky, and the weaver’s melodious chirps echoed through the forest.
In the blink of an eye, spring passed, and summer had arrived. Chilong Mansion, initially situated in a hot region, was filled with highly scorching spiritual energy in the mountains. Not only ordinary people but also many local cultivators were on the verge of heat stroke due to this intense spiritual energy.
“Ah~~ It’s so hot~~”
On the mountain road of Duchun City, a gently moving carriage with two horses emitted a pleasant scream. A female cultivator with long, snow-white hair held a round fan, lifting her skirt to fan herself inside. This action resembled those of ordinary old men on the street, completely mismatching her square peach-like face.
The lavender-haired female cultivator beside her glanced at her, took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and said disdainfully, “If you feel hot, you can return to Xuanxing Sect immediately. I didn’t ask you to follow, so you must follow, huh!”
“Hey~” Feng Yudie quickly put down her skirt and became obedient, “Isn’t this… Junior Sister Pei is not here. Is it boring to stay in the sect? And I can also protect Senior Sister Xiao.”
“Who wants your protection?”
“But if you meet someone bad…”
Xiao Yunluo rolled her eyes at her, “This is not about hunting monsters or catching criminals. Immortal Master Li is stationed around Chilong Mansion. Not even a single monster, a bad person, can be seen. I’m just here to wish you a happy birthday, and you must follow.”
“Okay… Now that I’m here, Senior Sister Xiao, just think of me as your little follower~ I can mix it with tea or water.”
Xiao Yunluo sighed, lifted the carriage window’s curtain, and looked at the Chilong Immortal Mansion standing in the clouds on Chilong Mountain in the distance.
About half a month ago, Mr. Qi found her and said that Li Feng, the owner of Chilong Mountain, would live to be 1,200 years old. Because Li Feng and her mother were close friends and now supported Chilong Mansion, they were considered a relatively large immortal family in the Western Region. So, this time, she celebrated her mother’s birthday on her behalf. Of course, this was only one of the reasons.
After all, the Chilong Conference was one of the significant events in the Western Region, coinciding with Li Feng’s 1,200th birthday. Those present at that time included almost all the young masters or elders of the Immortal Sects in the Western Region.
Xiao Yunluo came to celebrate her birthday on behalf of the Xuanxing Sect this time. It would also allow her to become familiar with the elders or young masters of each sect and build up a particular reputation.
After looking at Chilong Mansion in the distance, Xiao Yunluo glanced at Feng Yudie, standing aside, and suddenly sighed in relief. How she wished now that the person next to her was Ye Anping…
If she and Ye Anping came there, they could go shopping together when they arrived in Duchun City at the foot of the mountain. Moreover, at the banquet of the Chilong Conference, she could also use her status as the young lady of the Xuanxing Sect to help the little young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect support the show.
After that, Ye Anping would feel that she was very reliable, and then he would fall in love with her or something…
Upon hearing Pei Lianxue, Xiao Yunluo instantly felt a basin of cold water poured on her head, and she immediately woke up.
Yes…
Lianxue also liked Ye Anping; she and Ye Anping had grown up together since childhood. But then she thought that if Ye Anping wanted to become a Daoist couple with Lianxue, they would have become a Daoist couple long ago.
Since the two still maintain the relationship of senior brother and sister, it was most likely because they grew up together, which led to Ye Anping being utterly unaware of Lianxue’s feelings.
At least Lianxue was easy to fool and naive regarding relationships. If she thought about it this way, it seemed that she could not just watch Ye Anping fall into the arms of others.
“Well, there is still a chance…”
“Huh! What chance?” Feng Yudie asked, tilting her head.
Xiao Yunluo glanced at her and said, “Fan yourself with your fan.”
“Oh…”
After a while, the carriage entered the gate of Duchun City. The heat in Duchun City remained relentless, and many commoners on both sides of the road were now primarily shirtless. Even many cultivators seemed unable to endure the intense spiritual energy here, slumped in the shade, pulling at their collars.
Xiao Yunluo strolled on the street, using a paper fan to fend off the heat. Feng Yudie kept squeezing under her umbrella, earning her a look of disdain and helplessness.
Feng Yudie complained, “Isn’t it hot? If you want an umbrella, go buy one yourself.”
“This umbrella is so expensive. I won’t be a fool to buy it,” Feng Yudie said, pointing to a nearby umbrella stand.
Xiao Yunluo raised her eyebrows and glanced at the sign in front of the stall – Sunshade Umbrella, thirty spirit stones each.
Xiao Yunluo frowned slightly and observed the sign in front of the tea stall next to her – Cooling Herbal Tea, one bowl for ten spirit stones.
“This price is already exorbitant,” She remarked.
Feng Yudie joined in, “Really… the merchants in this city are profiteers. The prices for summer items have skyrocketed. Regardless of cultivators, the mortals here will have a hard time.”
Xiao Yunluo nodded in agreement. However, as they were about to continue walking, Feng Yudie ran directly to the umbrella stall.
“Hey! Boss, is this umbrella made of spirit stones? Why is it so expensive?” Feng Yudie inquired.
The boss, hiding in the shade, glanced at her, waved his hand, and replied, “Cultivator! But if you want! Don’t buy, then scram.”
“Hmm,” Feng Yudie frowned, hands on hips. “I’m your senior. Can’t you speak more politely?”
The boss, seeing her mention her cultivation, became slightly more courteous. “Fine, but if you want, don’t buy, then get lost. Our young master said, for cultivators pay according to the price on the sign with spirit stones. It’s the original price for mortals, one spirit stone per umbrella. Same for the tea stall over there.”
“Ah!” Feng Yudie was surprised. “You only make money from cultivators, not from mortals?”
“Yes, ever since our young master of the Dragon Slaying Club returned, other chambers of commerce in Duchun City that wanted to compete, like the Qingfeng Society, were all beaten down by our young master. The young master has a wide network and a senior in the late foundation building stage…” The boss continued.
Feng Yudie interrupted, “Excuse me!”
Ignoring Feng Yudie’s complaints, the boss explained, “Our young master said making money from mortals is unethical. Making money from cultivators is virtuous and beneficial to the Dao.”
Feng Yudie returned dejectedly. “They only make money from cultivators, not from mortals.”
Xiao Yunluo murmured, “Well, the Dragon Slaying Club does have its style. But it makes sense, in Chilong Mansion, where mortals and cultivators live together, the lives of mortals are not easy, and most cultivators don’t think highly of them.”
Xiao Yunluo shrugged and continued walking with Feng Yudie. After turning into another street, they saw a young man squatting in the alley, nibbling on a steamed bun.
They wouldn’t have stopped if it were just a beggar, but the young man was a cultivator at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining. Despite his dirty clothes, the quality of the fabric was noticeable.
Xiao Yunluo wasn’t interested in talking to him, but Feng Yudie was curious and approached him, asking, “Hey, what’s wrong? You’re well-dressed and a cultivator. Why are you squatting here like a beggar?”
The young man sniffed and raised his head, momentarily stunned by the appearances of Feng Yudie and Xiao Yunluo. He quickly explained, “Two senior, I’ve been replaced!”
“Replaced!” Feng Yudie said.
“Yes! I am the young master of the Jiang Mansion, Jiang Yu. I returned after my father’s death, but on the way, I was robbed, and they took away the jade token and letter that prove my identity.”
Xiao Yunluo nodded and asked, “Why don’t you return and discuss it with your family? Don’t they recognize you?”
“I left home to cultivate seven years ago. Besides…” He picked up the steamed bun, tearfully saying, “When I went to the Jiang Mansion earlier, the two servants at the door, after hearing the first sentence, threw the bun at me and chased me away, saying I was the 737th person trying to impersonate Young Master Jiang.”
Feng Yudie was momentarily shocked, then turned to look at Xiao Yunluo beside her. Seeing equally puzzled, she asked again, “So… Can you prove your identity? For instance, tell them your father’s birthday or share something only you would know.”
“I told them! I gave my father’s horoscope, but those two servants said that previous impersonators also provided my father’s horoscope. Some even mentioned a mole on my father’s buttocks,” He explained, frustrated.
Feng Yudie was dumbfounded, and after a moment of silence, she raised her eyebrows and asked, “Do 737 people really know about the mole on your father’s buttocks?”
“I don’t even know if my father has a mole on his butt… Who would know about this except my mother and my father himself?” Jiang Yu exclaimed.
“Then why do so many people want to impersonate you?” Feng Yudie inquired.
“Many of them are commoners. Pretending to be me means they get free steamed buns and herbal tea. That’s why so many people pretend to be me at the Jiang Mansion gate. You can go and see for yourself. There’s still a queue…” Jiang Yu explained.
“Hmm…” Feng Yudie looked at him, pondered for a moment, then confirmed again, “Are you really the young master of the Jiang family?”
“Yes! I swear! May lightning strike me if I’m lying!” Jiang Yu pledged.
“Alright… How about this? The girl beside me and I are disciples of the Xuanxing Sect,” Feng Yudie grinned and said, “We’ll help you prove your identity, but after it’s done…”
Jiang Yu hesitated momentarily, understanding that it involved money, and quickly agreed, “Sure! If you help me prove my identity, I’ll give you whatever you want…”
Before Jiang Yu could finish speaking, Xiao Yunluo swiftly reached out, grabbed Feng Yudie by the collar, and pulled her away.
“Hey!” Feng Yudie protested.
“Don’t meddle in others’ affairs,” Xiao Yunluo instructed.
“Ah! Senior Sister Xiao, there’s an opportunity! There’s an opportunity~ We just need to show our identity badges. The little Jiang Mansion will not deny the identity badges of Xuanxing Sect disciples, right?” Feng Yudie exclaimed excitedly.
Xiao Yunluo rolled her eyes and said, “The identity badge of a Xuanxing Sect disciple is not all-powerful. Besides, this is someone else’s family matter. Whether he is the young master of the Jiang family or not is uncertain. We might not know how this misunderstanding will end.”
“He’s fake, let’s just leave. If he’s real, then it’s free spiritual stones~~” Feng Yudie suggested.
“If you want to help him, come find him yourself later. Don’t involve me,” Xiao Yunluo stated.
Feng Yudie thought for a moment, then quickly called out to Jiang Yu, who was still sitting there,
“Young Master, wait for me. I’ll find you when I have time. We can discuss it in detail then…”
Watching Feng Yudie being dragged away, Jiang Yu’s eyes lit up with hope. Initially, he had considered going back to find his master directly, but since he hadn’t learned how to control a sword yet, he would take at least five months to return. Now, with an idle cultivator willing to speak up for him and that cultivator being a disciple of the Xuanxing Sect, he felt a renewed sense of hope.
He didn’t believe it! The scoundrel impersonating him might not dare to challenge the Xuanxing Sect!
“Hehe!” Jiang Yu chuckled and then stuffed the steamed bun in his hand into his mouth, enjoying his meal.
“Hmm! It’s quite tasty…”