Hearing that someone actually shared her fondness for Miaobi Ke’s books, Kong Hou was very curious and turned her head to look behind. A man wearing a plain-colored brocade robe was walking in. His hair was combed neat and tidy, not a single strand out of place. This was an extremely clean and orderly person, so clean that it made one feel that letting him be stained with dust would be a sin, an insult to him.
Kong Hou blinked her big eyes and stepped back.
The man who entered gave her a slight nod, looked at the book in her hands, and his eyebrows that carried a sickly air relaxed: “My apologies for disturbing you both.”
He probably didn’t smile often. His slightly pale lips curved up slightly at the corners, looking somewhat uncomfortable, but very attractive. In fact, people who were extremely good-looking—even when crying—looked better than others when smiling.
“Not at all.” Kong Hou came back to her senses and returned him a big smile. “I’m also just someone passing by to buy books.”
The man coughed lowly twice: “Just now outside the door, I already heard your conversation with this shopkeeper. You… also like this person’s books?”
“Also?” Kong Hou’s eyes lit up. Could it be that this good-looking man also liked Miaobi Ke’s books? Thinking of this, she nodded happily: “Yes, his books have very exciting plots. The protagonists are both capable and likeable. I have many of his books at my place. If you like…” She wanted to say, if you like them, I can lend them to you to read. But thinking that she was about to leave Yong City, she could only smile apologetically. “If I weren’t about to leave, I could lend them to you to read.”
“You’re leaving the city?” The man glanced at the drifting snowflakes outside, slightly worried: “The wind and snow outside are so heavy, and the cultivators outside Yong City have unfathomable intentions. If Miss is leaving the city, you must be careful in your actions.”
“Thank you. I will be careful.” The goodwill from a stranger didn’t make Kong Hou feel the other party was being nosy. She returned a bow to the other party. Turning to the bookstore owner, she said, “Shopkeeper, you must keep them well for me. When I return from my training, I’ll come to collect them from you.”
“Rest assured, Immortal. I will certainly keep them for you.” The bookstore owner thought for a moment, then added another sentence: “Not only will I keep them for you, but my son and grandson will keep them for you too.” These immortals sometimes went out for decades. He was afraid he couldn’t outlast the other party’s time, so he included his son and grandson as well.
“Shopkeeper, you’re so good at joking.” Kong Hou handed over several spirit stones. “Consider these as a deposit. Farewell.”
“Immortal, take care. This one awaits the Immortal’s safe return.” The bookstore owner smiled as he watched Kong Hou leave the shop, then politely said to the man, “Young master, please wait a moment. I’ll go fetch the books for you right away.”
Finding several of Miaobi Ke’s books from under the bookshelf, the bookstore owner wanted to casually hand them to the man. But seeing the other party’s clean white brocade robe and jade-like white hands, he turned to find a cloth to wipe the books completely clean before respectfully handing them to the man with both hands: “Young master, please.”
“Much obliged.” The man’s eyebrows and eyes were sparse and indifferent as he received the books and held them in his hands. Those hands, so clean they almost glowed, made the bookstore owner feel that placing these shabby books in the other party’s hands was simply defiling his noble purity. The bookstore owner, who always loved to promote his own books, didn’t dare say a single superfluous word in front of this noble young master who looked physically unwell.
However, what he didn’t expect was that this noble young master who looked full of immortal air would actually take the initiative to speak.
“That fairy just now—is she from the Yunhua Sect?”
“Young master has good eyes. Not only is this immortal from the Yunhua Sect, she’s even a direct disciple of the Yunhua Sect.” Mentioning the Yunhua Sect, the bookstore owner’s tone carried several parts pride. For the citizens of Yong City, when the Yunhua Sect had face, that meant they had glory on their faces. “When she first came to my shop, she was still a small child with double buns. In the blink of an eye, she’s a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Tell me, isn’t that amazing?”
The man nodded and pulled out spirit stones to hand to the bookstore owner.
“These few books don’t cost this much.” The bookstore owner only took one spirit stone and gave the man forty jade coins in change. “Although you’re from outside, young master, our Yong City emphasizes honest business dealings. Outsiders and locals all pay the same price. These few books aren’t worth much. Don’t give me so much.”
The man put away the spirit stones, gently caressing the story books in his hands, his movements so gentle as if treating treasures: “These books aren’t worth much?”
“This Miaobi Ke isn’t a famous author. Naturally, the books he writes aren’t as expensive as others’. In our entire Yong City, the reader who most likes Miaobi Ke is probably only that immortal just now.” The bookstore owner saw the expression on the man’s face was somewhat cold and indifferent, thinking he had spoken too much and annoyed the other party, he quickly said: “Customer, is there anything else you need?”
“No need.” The man put away the books, turned and walked out the great door. His entire person almost merged with the gleaming white snowy sky.
Yong City had four great gates. Kong Hou chose the East Gate among the four gates. To the east of Yong City were several prosperous large cities as well as many small cities, each guarded by cultivation sects. Kong Hou had heard Senior Martial Sister Linghui mention that to the east was a sect called Water Moon Studio. The disciples inside were all very beautiful young ladies. They could brew delicious fine wines, make beautiful clothes, and when they fought, it was like fairies dancing. She, she wanted to go see.
No matter what, seeing beautiful young ladies could always make one unable to resist feeling pleased.
On the streets of Yong City, stepping on thick accumulated snow, Kong Hou walked very slowly, walked very seriously. She observed every person passing by her side, listening to their fragmented conversations, her face showing a contented and carefree smile.
Yong City was very large, but no matter how large a city was, there would be a time when one reached its end. Looking at the towering city gate, Kong Hou turned to glance at the prosperous streets, then resolutely walked forward.
Walking out the East Gate, Kong Hou had just summoned her flying sword and hadn’t yet jumped on when she heard the sound of bells behind her. Two pure white horses pulled a carriage walking toward the outside of the city. The bells on the horses’ necks made tinkling sounds, and the red tassels on the bells floated back and forth in the wind.
Driving the carriage was a middle-aged man in black robes. His body carried the aura of a cultivator, but Kong Hou couldn’t see through the other party’s cultivation level, indicating the other party’s cultivation far surpassed hers. So she very sensibly moved aside.
Rule number one for going out: when encountering people more powerful than yourself, don’t put on airs, and even more, don’t be arrogant. In story books, people who dared to do so generally died quickly.
The carriage slowly stopped just as it was about to pass her. Kong Hou took a deep breath. Here it comes, here it comes—the law of being inexplicably provoked while walking outside was about to manifest on her!
The curtain was lifted, revealing a handsome and not unfamiliar face.
“Miss?” The man saw her and seemed somewhat surprised. He wanted to say something more but suddenly began coughing violently. He quickly used a clean white handkerchief to cover his mouth and turned his face away, no longer facing her.
Good-looking men—even their coughing looked good.
Kong Hou saw the other party cough until both cheeks were flushed red, looking as if his life was almost gone. She took out a medicinal pill from her storage ring, stood on tiptoes, and handed it before the other party: “I am a disciple of the Yunhua Sect. This is a medicinal pill refined by the elders of my sect. Eating it might make you feel somewhat better.”
Casually giving medicine—others wouldn’t dare eat it. Making her identity clear, the other party might be more at ease.
Thinking of this, Kong Hou secretly sighed in her heart. Before leaving, she had secretly vowed that when encountering matters, she couldn’t rely solely on her sect’s reputation to resolve things. Who would have thought that not even half a day after leaving, she would already have to rely on her sect’s face to gain trust from others.
Fortunately, she had never spoken this vow aloud. Better to just consider it as not existing. Words not spoken aloud could be discounted at any time.
“Thank you, Miss.” The man accepted the medicinal pill and swallowed it without hesitation. The middle-aged man driving the carriage glanced at Kong Hou standing by the carriage, smiling with curved eyes and brows, then lowered his eyelids without speaking.
“No need for courtesy.” Kong Hou flew up and jumped onto her flying sword, saying with a smile: “The wind and snow outside are heavy. Young master’s health is poor. It’s better to wait until the snow stops before going out.” Looking at this young master’s weak breath, he should have no cultivation. This kind of heavy snow weather might torment him somewhat uncomfortably.
“Thank you for your concern, Miss. It’s just that I need to go to Water Moon Studio to seek a certain medicine. This medicine is only available in winter, so I can only make this trip.” The man looked up at the young girl flying in front and above him. “My secular name is Huan Zong. Thank you, Miss, for gifting the medicine.”
“So that’s how it is.” Kong Hou saw this person’s body was weak and guessed this medicine might be very important to him, so she said: “Then I wish young master an early acquisition of the medicine and good health.”
“Thank you, Miss, for the auspicious words.” Huan Zong curved his lips slightly. “Farewell.”
“Farewell.” Kong Hou saw that the other party said farewell but didn’t lower the curtain, and tilted her head in puzzlement.
Noticing this movement of hers, Huan Zong laughed lightly. After coughing delicately once, he said: “Miss, please go first.”
So he was letting her go first. Kong Hou suddenly understood. She cupped her hands toward the other party, stepped on her flying sword and flew away. Flying up into the air and looking down, she could still see that carriage stopped outside the East Gate.
Mother Empress had once told her that beautiful women were calamitous waters. She wondered what a man who looked this good was. She hoped his body would be alright. Looking this good, if something untoward happened, it would be too much of a pity.
Outside the city gate, a very large territory belonged to Yong City’s jurisdiction. Kong Hou didn’t fly fast, so it took several days before she arrived at the next town. Compared to Yong City, this city was much smaller, though it was also quite lively.
When entering the city, Kong Hou discovered that the people guarding the city would collect tolls from ordinary citizens, but cultivators didn’t need to pay. She was somewhat puzzled. By logic, cultivators were wealthier. Why did they only take money from ordinary citizens and not from cultivators?
After entering the city, the streets were bustling with activity. Kong Hou wore luxurious clothes. Though young, no ordinary person dared to provoke her. Although ordinary citizens couldn’t discern a cultivator’s cultivation level, they could distinguish the difference between ordinary people and cultivators. Whenever encountering cultivators, they would respectfully avoid them.
“Inn, inn…” Kong Hou searched along the street. When traveling outside, if one didn’t stay at an inn, how could one call it traveling?
Searching back and forth, she finally selected an inn with a bright and spacious entrance. The front hall was where diners ate. The rooms were probably all built in the rear courtyard. She walked in the door. Before she could open her mouth, a waiter came to greet her and introduced the prices of various rooms.
“If the fairy needs an alchemy room or wants to rent a small courtyard separately, our humble establishment also has them.” The waiter asked enthusiastically: “Whatever you need, just give your orders.”
“For a young lady to live outside alone is so unsafe. Why not stay in my courtyard?” A man in luxurious clothes sitting at the side eating said lazily. “My place is spacious and has servants to wait on you. I certainly won’t let Miss suffer any grievance.”
Kong Hou looked toward the man who spoke. Her eyebrows moved slightly.