It was in Linzi City.
The gathering had been organized to bid farewell to Jiang Chen. Once he left, everyone dispersed, naturally.
Each person covering their ears as they exited inevitably piqued the curiosity of the teahouse attendants.
Li Longchuan bid the others farewell and returned home alone. His grandmother had been staying in Linzi lately, so he had fewer opportunities to go out and play. He felt obligated to spend more time with the elderly woman.
He did not take a sedan chair, walking with only one attendant.
Stepping out of the narrow alley and crossing a street, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure hurrying past. He called out, "Xu Xiangqian!"
Xu Xiangqian reluctantly stopped and turned around.
Li Longchuan saw him unfurl a folding fan, holding it close to his face as he fanned lightly, revealing only his eyes and exceptionally high forehead.
Muffled voice, "What is it?"
"Where did you just go? How come you vanished without a trace when you were in such a hurry?" Li Longchuan asked with a grin.
"I have business."
Li Longchuan leaned closer. "What business?"
"None of your—Hey!" he shouted.
Li Longchuan had snatched his fan while he was off guard.
Revealing his nose stuffed with a cloth and the unhealed bruise at the corner of his mouth.
"Hahaha." Li Longchuan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Xu Xiangqian snatched the fan back, quickly unfurling it again to shield his face. His voice, menacing, came from behind the fan. "What's so funny! Keep your voice down!"
"Don't be nervous." Li Longchuan couldn't stop laughing. "They went a different way from me, so they won't run into you."
Xu Xiangqian still held the fan, firmly protecting his face, his eyes darting warily. "There are more people in Linzi who know me than just Chongxuan Pang and his bunch."
"And there are more than just them who know you were beaten by my sister."
Xu Xiangqian, furious with embarrassment, stomped a foot. "I told you to stop laughing!"
Li Longchuan, already prepared, lightly stepped back, causing him to stomp on empty air.
He heard Xu Xiangqian add viciously, "Haven't you ever been hit by her?"
"That was mostly when we were children. Moreover, you've already surpassed me in the number of times you've been hit." Li Longchuan looked at him with pity. "Did she hit your forehead higher again?"
Xu Xiangqian: ...
Only Master Xu had ever choked others; when had he ever been choked?
But being beaten for spreading rumors was not something to be proud of.
He stopped being angry with Li Longchuan, his eyes rolling as he changed the subject. "After I left... how did things go?"
"What do you mean, how?" Li Longchuan asked knowingly.
Xu Xiangqian pretended to be casual. "I mean your sister going to Daze Commandery with Jiang Chen."
"What else could happen?" Li Longchuan continued to play dumb. "My uncle asked her to look after Jiang Chen. He also thinks highly of his talent... I can't really say who's looking after whom! Uncle probably thinks that although my sister is strong, she hasn't seen much of life and death. In that regard, she might actually need Jiang Chen's help."
"Mmm... makes sense." Xu Xiangqian continued to pretend. "And then?"
"And then what?" Li Longchuan continued to ask knowingly.
"I mean Jiang Chen!" Xu Xiangqian couldn't keep up the act, asking directly, "Did he get beaten? Hey, did he get beaten?"
Li Longchuan looked at him with disdain. "You're still good friends? It seems like you really want him to be beaten?"
Xu Xiangqian chuckled. "We share joy and sorrow, after all."
Then quickly corrected himself, "We're in the same boat, in the same boat."
"Haha, when he gets back, ask him yourself." Li Longchuan, having had his fill of fun, walked away without a care.
"You!"
Xu Xiangqian couldn't help but point the fan at his retreating figure, but soon remembered and covered his face again.
"Alas."
Only a long sigh.
"People are not what they used to be, people are not what they used to be."
...
Daze Commandery was north of Linzi.
The pretty maid Li Fengyao had brought along was named Xiao Tong. She had chosen a route that would take them through the entirety of Xinming Commandery.
Of course, this route had also been approved by Jiang Chen and Li Fengyao.
"Xiao Wang." Perhaps driven by the sense of responsibility that came with being called "sister," Li Fengyao broke the silence. "Do you know much about the Seven Stars Tower?"
"Not really." Jiang Chen shook his head, then remembered something. He took a booklet from his robe. "Before we left, Alliance Leader Qing Xi of the Four Seas Trade Alliance gave me some information on the Seven Stars Tower. Um... Sister Fengyao, would you like to see it?"
The way he called her "Sister Fengyao" was truly... three parts shy, seven parts obedient.
Even Li Fengyao, always known as the Ice Jade Phoenix, couldn't help but soften her gaze slightly.
The Seven Stars Tower was a famous secret realm. After years of exploration, various parties had a certain degree of understanding. The Shimen Li clan was no exception. However, their information might not be as comprehensive as that of the Four Seas Trade Alliance.
She reached out and took the booklet, carefully flipping through it. Her phoenix brows lifted slightly as her jade fingers pulled out a letter. "There's also a letter here, a letter from Qing Xi."
She said, gently moving her delicate hand to place the letter on the small table next to Jiang Chen.
The envelope was yellowed, carrying the scent of time. Her jade fingers glowed faintly, like ice and snow moistening jade.
"A letter for me?" Jiang Chen was somewhat surprised.
When had Qing Xi become so close to him that he would include a letter with the information on the Seven Stars Tower?
Mysterious for no apparent reason.
He shook his head and opened the letter.
The letter contained nothing secret. Qing Xi merely offered some words of encouragement as an elder, expressing hope for his future. From the perspective of the Four Seas Trade Alliance, he also subtly showed interest in recruiting him. All standard pleasantries, nothing new.
He also mentioned in the letter that if Jiang Chen encountered any difficulties at the Seven Stars Tower, he could seek help from Fang Chong, a First-Rank Executive of the Four Seas Trade Alliance who was also going there.
At the end of the letter, he casually mentioned that he had an ancient pill recipe, a miraculous formula for extending life. If Jiang Chen obtained any life-extending treasures on this trip, he could give them to the alchemy experts of the Four Seas Trade Alliance. They could maximize the effect of the treasure and ensure Jiang Chen would not be shortchanged.
In short, the entire letter was quite warm, treating Jiang Chen as if he were his own nephew, doting on him meticulously.
After reading the letter, Jiang Chen still wasn't quite sure what Qing Xi wanted. It seemed as though he simply wanted to win him over.
Li Fengyao browsed through the information on the Seven Stars Tower and casually remarked, "My uncle once said that Alliance Leader Qing Xi never makes a losing deal."
Jiang Chen nodded. "I certainly wouldn't dare underestimate him."
That was enough of a hint, and Li Fengyao said no more.
She studied the information for a while, then took out ink and a brush from a hidden compartment in the carriage and began writing on the document.
Jiang Chen closed his eyes and began cultivating.
Silence for a long while.
"Done." Li Fengyao's voice drew Jiang Chen out of his cultivation. "I've made some additions to this information. Take a look again."
Jiang Chen responded, took the booklet, and saw many tiny characters added between the lines. The handwriting was slender and elegant, giving the impression that the writer, beautiful as she was, inevitably carried a sense of distance.
He carefully read through the information on the Seven Stars Tower, committing all the important details to memory.
The Seven Stars Tower was different from the Celestial Residence Secret Realm. No information could be brought out of the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, so no one had any prior knowledge; everyone started on equal footing.
However, the Seven Stars Tower had been explored for so many years that the competition for it began even at the information-gathering stage.
After finishing the additions and handing the booklet to Jiang Chen, Li Fengyao closed her eyes and resumed cultivating.
Jiang Chen carefully finished reading the information and then sank back into cultivation.
Cultivation was quite comfortable for him.
...
The journey continued in silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Chen vaguely withdrew from his cultivation state.
He lifted the curtain and asked, "Where are we?"
Xiao Tong sat sideways, one little foot dangling in the air, swaying gently. After looking at the surroundings, she said, "It should be Song City."
"Oh."
Jiang Chen did not spare it another glance.
The carriage curtain fell.
Silence returned to the carriage.