Chapter 293: Chapter 215: An Unreasonable Request
"That Gongye Bai fellow was a bit better when he was young. At worst, he’d just use those fists of his to bully people."
"Now that he’s older and his Martial Arts Cultivation has deepened, he’s become an insolent old fool."
"He wants a hand in everything, stirring up the entire Jianghu until it’s in chaos."
Granny Shan seemed to be recalling some old grudges. Her tone grew heavier and her voice rose.
"The way I see it, the name he chose for his Wind and Rain Tower is perfect—it exists solely to stir up wind and rain in the Jianghu..."
Listening to Granny Shan’s endless tirade against Immortal Bai, a rare smile touched Xiao Jinghong’s lips.
That Immortal Bai was indeed an anomaly in the Jianghu.
His cultivation was clearly profound, and he was generally considered a righteous man, yet his actions always had a hint of perversity.
It was hard to say if he was born a jinx or if he could truly determine a person’s fate with just his words.
In any case, those for whom he had read a fortune never ended up well.
In fact, Granny Shan wasn’t the only one wary of Immortal Bai.
Even Xiao Jinghong’s master—the Sword Master, Li Wudang—had privately grumbled about him.
Without any actual profanity, of course.
"Jinghong, most of the old-timers in the Jianghu will give your master some face."
"But there is one person—Immortal Bai of the Wind and Rain Tower—whom you must be wary of. If you meet him, run as far as you can."
"That old coot is like a Dog Skin Ointment; once he sticks to you, nothing good will come of it."
Recalling her master’s words, Xiao Jinghong could understand Granny Shan’s feelings as she berated Immortal Bai.
But after listening for a moment, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt. ’It seems Granny Shan really did have some kind of history with Immortal Bai when she was young.’
’Her words, both spoken and unspoken, gave off a sense of exasperated disappointment in him.’
Just then, Granny Shan noticed the look in Xiao Jinghong’s eyes, realized she had misspoken, and paused before saying:
"Girl, in short, just try to avoid getting involved with Immortal Bai in the future."
Xiao Jinghong smiled. "This junior will remember your advice."
Granny Shan adjusted the small pendant bottle hanging on her chest, shifted twice to get comfortable, and continued:
"For Immortal Bai to leave his mountain, something must be drawing him out. That man... AHEM. As for what it is, I’ll need to see where he shows his face."
"He’s being watched by all those idlers who love a good spectacle, so hiding his tracks will likely be difficult."
Xiao Jinghong nodded. "The letter from just now also mentioned that some other seniors have emerged."
After listening to Granny Shan ramble on for so long, she certainly didn’t believe that Immortal Bai was simply restless at the Wind and Rain Tower.
Just like her master, the Sword Master, grand masters of that caliber were like divine dragons—showing the head but hiding the tail.
Their thoughts and motivations couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards.
"Girl, let them chase who they will. We’ll focus on our own business."
After this word of advice, Granny Shan changed the subject. "A few days ago, I heard from Ah Da that the progress on the Wu Mountain Mutual Market has been slowed by the rain?"
Xiao Jinghong hummed in affirmation. "Before I came to see you, I had already ordered them to speed up the work. I’m aiming to have it completed within two months."
Granny Shan nodded slightly, her old face breaking into a smile. "You are so steady in your work. I can rest easy."
"Unlike my Mountain Race, who are all just a bunch of mud-legs. They can’t read a single character and only know how to charge ahead recklessly."
"In the future, if Ah Da and the others go to the Mutual Market, please look after them if any issues arise."
Xiao Jinghong agreed, not feeling that it was beneath her status to do so.
Granny Shan then asked about the follow-up arrangements for the Mutual Market, mostly concerning which merchants would be coming and going, and what could be bought and sold.
In reality, according to the agreement between the Xiao Family and the Mountain Race, the market was only intended to bring convenience to the various tribes living on Wumeng Mountain.
Though it was called a "Mutual Market," the term "bazaar" would have been more accurate.
After all, whether it was the Xiao Family, the Dingyuan Army, or the people of the Mountain Race, they were all subjects of the Great Wei Dynasty.
The reason for establishing such a market, from the Xiao Family’s perspective, was to earn some silver to supplement the funds and provisions for the Dingyuan Army.
For the Mountain Race, it would make their lives more convenient, so they no longer had to travel hundreds of miles of mountain roads just to buy salt or fine grains as they had in the past.
They chatted idly for a bit.
As evening approached, Granny Shan invited Xiao Jinghong to stay the night.
"Girl, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since you’re not going back to the Prefecture City, you can stay here and keep an old woman company."
Xiao Jinghong thought for a moment and didn’t refuse. "Then I shall impose on you tonight, Granny. I will return to the Mutual Market tomorrow morning."
Granny Shan chuckled. "Don’t be a stranger."
"This Wu Mountain Mutual Market is beneficial to us both, but I know your Xiao Family is under a lot of pressure."
"If the one in the Capital Prefecture doesn’t give his approval, the Capital Commandery here in Shu State will also have complaints."
Xiao Jinghong said in a level tone, "As long as the two Commanders don’t show themselves, you have no need to worry, Granny."
"I’m not worried about the Mountain Race. I’m afraid it will only worsen the Xiao Family’s situation."
"You arrived in time to avert the disaster in the Three Towns this time, but there’s no guarantee something similar won’t happen at the Wu Mountain Mutual Market next time."
As soon as she finished speaking, a grim, cold smile appeared on Granny Shan’s aged face.
"If you can’t handle it in the future, you just tell me. I’d like to see who in this land of Shu State dares to get out of line."
Xiao Jinghong smiled and nodded, lifting her mask to her face. "This junior will remember."
Then she bowed, turned, and left the bamboo house.
Watching Xiao Jinghong walk away, Granny Shan couldn’t help but sigh.
"That poor girl."
"If Xiao Fengchun hadn’t died so young, why would she have to shoulder the entire, immense weight of the Xiao Family alone?"
Xiao Jinghong faintly heard Granny Shan’s words, but her steps didn’t falter as she continued forward.
From a very young age, she knew her life was destined to be tumultuous, that she could never be a carefree wanderer like her master, Li Wudang.
Even if Xiao Fengchun hadn’t died, as a member of the Xiao family, she would naturally have to do her part for them.
