Chapter 92: Seeing Liu Xiu Off

Liu Chuanxiang waited in the teahouse for most of an hour before the county office finally received news. A dozen or so officials were sent to carry back Zhao Kuang and his six companions, who were groaning in pain. To his frustration, these officials did not stay but followed back to the county office as well.

After waiting for two or three more hours—though the overcast sky made it difficult to tell the time—he could faintly see smoke rising from various households, indicating it must be noon by now.
“The time to go and return should have been more than enough. Why haven’t they arrived yet?”
Liu Chuanxiang could no longer bear the wait and stood up. When he returned to the end of the street, Qiao Tianhao was already gone.
“An impatient coward!”
Muttering under his breath, Liu Chuanxiang hesitated for a moment before heading straight to the county office.

After being informed, Zhou Zhengye personally came out to greet him. Only then did Liu Chuanxiang understand why no further action had been taken. It wasn’t the owner of Linji Inn who had beaten those officials away, but a guest—according to the officials, possibly even a warrior—who also stayed at Linji Inn.

What a miserable morning! All in vain!
If it was a warrior, sending more officials might provoke him further. If angered, killing those officials would be the least of his concerns; he might even attack the county office itself. If it were a warrior loyal to the court, although he still couldn’t kill officials, submitting a complaint to Tianwei Pavilion would ensure justice. Even with powerful backers, Zhou Zhengye would undoubtedly be dismissed from his position.

Although dissatisfied, Liu Chuanxiang could only accept his misfortune. Putting himself in their shoes, he realized no one would act rashly in such a situation. To bring down Linji Inn, he would have to wait until that guest left.

Helplessly, Liu Chuanxiang left the county office with Zhou Zhengye’s kind words and escort. Back at Fenglin Restaurant, he immediately sent an employee to spy at Linji Inn, to find out when that hero who always stepped in to help would leave.

Over five days, they learned his appearance: in his early twenties, plain-looking, but with an aura that made people afraid to make eye contact. His name was also found—Jiang Zhen, according to the registration book. Even the reason for his stays was discovered: he loved Linji Inn’s braised tofu so much that he ordered three plates at each meal.

Beyond that, they found nothing else.

Liu Chuanxiang was furious. How could a simple plan be blocked by just some braised tofu!
Ordering three plates every day, for five days straight—how much could he possibly like it? Only heaven knew how many more days it would take before he grew tired and left Linji Inn.

Another five days passed. During that time, Liu Chuanxiang even asked his subordinates to highly praise the braised tofu at Fenglin Restaurant in front of this young man named Jiang Zhen, saying it was delicious. Sure enough, the man showed up, and after much pleading, Liu Chuanxiang finally got Qiao Tianhao to prepare a plate of braised tofu. Yet, after taking one bite, the man didn’t take another.

The taste was good, but not the kind he preferred.

Liu Chuanxiang was so frustrated he almost vomited blood. Eventually, he couldn’t bear it any longer and visited the county yamen once again in the middle of the night.

Zhou Zhengye was as enthusiastic as ever, serving tea and water. He called Liu Chuanxiang affectionately. Upon learning that the man hadn’t left yet, he sent yamen officials to shut down the restaurant. The look on his face was heartbreaking, as if a thousand-year-old resentful woman had met the country’s most ugly man.

Gritting his teeth, Liu Chuanxiang offered five thousand taels of silver. Instantly, Zhou Zhengye transformed from a resentful woman into a gambler.

Wealth comes from taking risks. If Zhou Zhengye was willing to gamble, it was on the idea that this Jiang Zhen wasn’t a warrior.

Early the next morning, Liu Chuanxiang followed the yamen officials straight to Linji Inn. Although Lin Dong had already heard the news, he didn’t stay at the inn to watch the chaos. Instead, he got into the newly hired carriage and told the driver to leave the city.

The carriage was simple and dry, with nothing but two rows of benches and some dry food and water bottles. On the benches, besides Lin Dong, were Liu Xiu and Old Ding.

“Work hard when you get home. It doesn’t matter if your talent is poor. If I’m lucky enough to meet Yun Cangqiong, I’ll ask him to give you one or two Reverse Meridian Pills. Taking one will ensure your cultivation talent surpasses that of a genius within a year!” Old Ding dozed against the carriage, but raised his right arm to pat Liu Xiu’s shoulder.

“Reverse Meridian Pills?” Lin Dong exclaimed in surprise.

“You heard about them from Yun Nv, right?” Old Ding clicked his tongue. “These are ninth-grade spiritual pills. Yun Cangqiong spends most of the year outside, collecting materials for them. Even so, he’s only managed to make a little over twenty in his lifetime. If you treat me well, I’ll risk my reputation and try to get one from him, even if I have to trick him. If we’re lucky, we might get two—one for Liu Xiu and one for you.”

Lin Dong was stunned. Yun Lan had given away two Reverse Meridian Pills casually. Though he could guess their immense value, he thought she had many more. He had even planned to exchange other things for a hundred or so of them if he got the chance to meet her again.

Ninth-grade spiritual pills—only a little over twenty made in a lifetime. Even with Old Ding’s status as a peak expert and their friendship, they still had to rely on trickery to get one, and luck was needed to get two.

If what Old Ding said was true, his own initial thoughts had been nothing but daydreams! He wondered what Yun Lan was thinking at the time, giving away two pills so casually. Although Lin Dong wasn’t self-centered, he still felt his heart race and his mind wander. After all, using two ninth-tier spirit pills to cover the interest of a hundred first-tier spirit stones—even a reborn Buddha wouldn’t be that generous. “Old Master Ding, thank you. I… I…” Liu Xiu’s voice choked up. On this trip, he not only found the noble person he had been searching for but also obtained several seventh- and eighth-tier spirit techniques from Old Ding. In his heart, aside from his master and Lin Dong, Old Ding was now the person he was most grateful to in his life. “Enough, there’s no need to be so emotional. One’s dazed, the other’s on the verge of tears—it’s disgusting to watch,” Old Ding said lazily, waving his hand. Lin Dong felt ashamed. If Old Ding knew he had been distracted by other thoughts, he would probably die of anger on the spot. After hesitating for a moment, Lin Dong spoke up, “Old Master, even if I have to be persistent to ask for an eighth-tier spirit pill on your behalf, as a backup option, I will always remember this kindness!” Old Ding grinned, “Why does that sound so strange?” Lin Dong felt frustrated. It was his first time saying such emotional words, so it was normal if it didn’t work well. “By the way!” Old Ding patted Liu Xiu’s shoulder again, “If I were still alive, I’d have to work at Lin’s Inn for at least five years. If anyone in your family dares to bully you, just write a letter, and I’ll definitely go to the capital to fight for you. Not to mention just one family—even the emperor can be beaten down for you.” Liu Xiu’s face turned red. His lips moved, but he couldn’t utter a word. Lin Dong smiled, “For someone like you, I’ll fight for you.” Liu Xiu stood up and bowed deeply to both Lin Dong and Old Ding. “Liu Xiu swears that the shopkeeper and Old Master Ding will always be the people he values most in his life. If he breaks this oath, heaven and earth will condemn him!” Old Ding muttered again that it was disgusting. But Lin Dong shook his head secretly. He knew well Liu Xiu’s character—though somewhat cowardly, he was absolutely faithful to his word. Such a small favor made him so grateful; his upbringing, though wealthy, must have been extremely difficult. After hesitating for a while, Lin Dong took out the dark red porcelain bottle containing the remaining Reverse Meridian Pill and tossed it to Old Ding. “What?” Old Ding asked in confusion. “Lending it to you,” Lin Dong said with a grin. “Remember to give it back!”

Old Ding was utterly confused. Just as he was about to open the bottle cap, his expression suddenly turned serious. His hands moved like lightning as he grabbed Lin Dong and Liu Xiu by the shoulders and soared into the sky in an instant.
Boom!
The moment they reached the roof of the carriage, it jolted violently and tilted to one side.
Lin Dong was shocked. Looking down, he saw a group of fast horses carrying a middle-aged man in green clothes racing toward the end of the street.
The street was in chaos, with people and horses falling everywhere—clearly all caused by this middle-aged man.
“Brave kid, even daring to hit an old man!”
After setting Lin Dong and Liu Xiu down, Old Ding snorted coldly and stretched out his right hand.
Twenty-odd meters away, the middle-aged man, moving at lightning speed, along with his horse, mysteriously rose into the air like a kite against the wind, flying toward the three of them.
Lin Dong couldn’t help but swallow hard. Though it was his first time seeing this, he was certain that Old Ding’s move was definitely the third realm of the Four Realms of the Sky Control Art.
The Realm of Unrestricted Control! Nothing beyond heaven and earth remains uncontrolled!