Chapter 124 - That Things Were Not Simple
Guo Fan visited the Night's Fall Sword City branch of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion with the intention of selling all the useless items he had, aiming to exchange them for Soul jewels.
In Lan Fang Garden, Xuegang commenced sharing the information she had gathered from the individuals who had been tailing her for the past few days.
Standing in the pavilion, Xun Yimu gazed at the paper laid out on the stone table before her. She picked up the brush and dipped it in ink.
The young girl possessed a slender and solitary wrist. Her skin was pale, adorned with delicate blue veins. Yet, when she wrote, her strokes were vigorous and powerful.
She had donned an opulent and intricate dress, with few accessories remaining. She wore only a light blouse, giving her a slender and fragile appearance. Even her typically proud expression had softened, and a slight frown made one want to assist her in calming down.
The cool breeze tousled the girl's temple hair and fluttered the edges of her attire, as if it intended to whisk away her slim figure.
Xuegang spoke as she spread ink on the side, “Luo Shun rescued the mortal disciple of the 9-star swordsmith on the way and then returned to the inn. He requested Xia Shui to guide him to the Sword Pavilion, where he astonishingly completed the Jolcana Road trial in less than five minutes. Today, the story of Jolcana Road has reached Night's Fall Sword City, and even those organizing the Sword Singing Conference for betting on the disciples of prominent sects have included Xia Shui. If we obstruct him, he might pass the third round.”
When Xuegang mentioned this, Xun Yimu's eyes flickered with surprise.
For them, Jolcana Road was not particularly challenging, but for a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator attempting it for the first time, success seemed almost impossible.
There was a saying that even with her Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, she wouldn't be able to complete the Jolcana Road challenge at the Sword Pavilion in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
To a sectless cultivator, it was akin to having divine assistance.
Xuegang remained perplexed and added, “Moreover, after descending from the Sword Pavilion, he coincidentally returned the sword to the Sword Pavilion's City Lord Fang. He personally accompanied it down.”
“Personally?” Xun Yimu's hands halted.
Xuegang nodded and affirmed, “Yes. The following day, he had a dispute with Meng Jin from Mount Gargantuan in the inn. He promptly produced the City Lord Token, which must have been bestowed upon him by City Lord Fang during his time in the Sword Pavilion.”
Xun Yimu's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the partially written character “Jun” on the Xuan paper before her.
If Fang Xiang were present, she would undoubtedly notice that this word was an exact match for the word “Jun” she wrote in front of Xun Yimu, whether it was in terms of the strokes or their intensity.
Whether it was the stroke techniques or the force behind them.
Despite being only half of the word, Xun Yimu had flawlessly reproduced it.
Did City Lord Fang truly attach such significance to that sectless cultivator boy at the Foundation Establishing Stage who displayed a variety of expressions?
For a woman as knowledgeable and decisive as her, if this individual exhibited improper behavior or had a questionable character, would it truly be because he had crossed the Jolcana Road?
While it wasn't impossible for him to be putting on an act at the city gate, the likelihood was minuscule.
After all, deceiving Fang Xiang and Gong Wei, two veteran Immortal Cultivators, would be significantly more challenging.
Furthermore, Gong Wei possessed the Mind's Eye divine ability.
Just as Xun Yimu furrowed her brow and sensed that matters might be more complex than they appeared.
Xuegang continued, “But prior to that, he spent a night at the Oriental Lychee Tavern.”
Xun Yimu's countenance, which had slightly changed, reverted to its previous state. She knit her brows and inquired, “Brothels?”
Xuegang nodded and explained, “The only brothels in Night's Fall Sword City are clandestinely controlled by the Soul Haunt Ship. He stayed there for the night, and it's unlikely he didn't spend at least 300 Soul jewels… Considering his status as a sectless cultivator, this is probably the reason. He practically emptied his Soul jewels.”
Oriental Lychee Tavern wasn't in the business of charity. Even if you entered and requested a simple glass of water, you'd be promptly ejected if you kept begging.
Either he entered the Oriental Lychee Tavern and booked a standard room for the entire night due to his reputation, or his behavior was truly uncouth, and he went in for other reasons.
Xuegang added, “Based on his conversation with Meng Jin at that time, he seemed well-acquainted with the internal pricing and background of Oriental Lychee Tavern.”
The lovely maid let out a disdainful snort and placed her hands on her hips, remarking, “He must have already inquired about it long ago. It's evident that he's not a good person at all! This individual is certainly not the one Young Master is searching for. He's utterly incompetent!”
Xun Yimu shook her head and added, “Even if he isn't the one, the fact that he could execute something like ‘Ten Tea Jolcana Road'… Moreover, he received a personal welcome from the master of the Sword Pavilion. City Lord Fang personally bestowed the token upon him. It's indeed quite remarkable… She continued to keep a close eye on Night's Fall Sword City. It's not a large place, so certain individuals or events tend to draw attention. He may have been involved in all of this covertly.”
Xuegang nodded in agreement. The young master's assessment was likely accurate.
“Exactly.”
Suddenly, Xun Yimu mentioned, “Soul Haunt Ship… I recall that there is a family heirloom related to it, right?”
The Qingfu was flying back and forth, referring to the Qingfu Money ritual. The child's mother and the Qingfu's mother were acquainted. When the child was taken by the mother, the mother would fly over. By smearing the copper coin with the Qingfu's blood, the mother would arrive. By using the child's or the mother's money, one could summon the corresponding money once more.
It appeared that the Soul Haunt Ship's intention was likely to enter but not to exit.
It prioritized profits and various other matters. The range of businesses involved was also quite extensive, encompassing intelligence, resources, slaves, weapons, as well as Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
Although it didn't involve human lives, the nature of the affair was even more extreme than the Snowflake Mansion.
Immortal Cultivators affiliated with such organizations were indeed on the extreme side. They pursued power exclusively and didn't adhere to the righteous path nor engage in wicked deeds. Instead, they operated in a gray area.
Since the Soul Haunt Ship didn't trade in human lives, they were favored by the immortal sects in the Middle Continent. The Profound Yin Family happened to be one of their partners.
The Soul Haunt Ship would offer the mother's money to their partners as a gesture of gratitude, granting them certain privileges.
Xuegang nodded and said, “Yes, and I brought it with me this time.”
She retrieved a copper coin with a blue pattern engraved on it from her sleeve, and the coin's surface shimmered with a green glow.
Instead of immediately giving Xuegang instructions, Xun Yimu cast her gaze towards the word ‘Jun'.
She was mimicking Fang Xiang's handwriting.
After Xun Yimu returned that day, the more she contemplated it, the more she sensed that something was amiss. It was an intuitive feeling that something was off.
When Fang Xiang penned that word, her demeanor and gestures displayed remarkable concentration. She seemed so absorbed in it that it felt like she wasn't merely writing but rather gazing at someone.
Xun Yimu possessed exceptional powers of observation and memory. The form of the word ‘Jun' was undeniably not what a single word should look like. Instead, there were characters both before and after the word. When her thoughts connected the dots, it resulted in this appearance.
She had practiced extensively. She couldn't discern whether it was an illusion or not, but she could only perceive a familiar name on the blank sheet of paper.
Xun Yimu contemplated and said, “Xuegang, let's continue.”
Xuegang obediently replied, “When Xia Shui visited the Sword Pavilion, Luo Shun challenged the Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator for the second time. However, this time it appeared to end in failure, and the Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator didn't retaliate. Nonetheless, it seemed like he employed some sort of magic to immobilize the individual from the Honed Reaver Sword Sect. He soared northward on his sword but returned shortly afterward.”
This was the most perplexing aspect, as it appeared entirely illogical. The Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator had abruptly departed and returned. No one knew its destination or its actions during this time.
Xun Yimu's interest was piqued, and she asked, “Is she as assertive as before?”
Speculation had circulated worldwide that the Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator was seeking talented individuals to emerge from seclusion.
Xuegang nodded in agreement.
Xun Yimu gestured, summoning a map of Night's Fall Sword City onto the blank paper.
The young girl indicated the location of the Sword Pavilion and traced her way down the path. She passed by the Oriental Lychee Tavern and arrived at the Livingbow Residence where Sun Fen was residing.
Coincidentally, it was three o'clock on the same line.
“Prepare a letter for me. I wish to meet with the Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator. Also, provide me with a list of individuals who were received by the Oriental Lychee Tavern on that particular day.”
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