Chapter 86
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The two of them, along with the toad, ate and drank their fill before returning to their room on the second floor of the inn. Lu Liangsheng instructed the innkeeper to have someone bring up hot water. Meanwhile, Nie Honglian, hiding from the sunlight, took her robes and placed them behind the screen.
This inn wasn’t particularly large, with only two attendants working there. One of them busied himself carrying water in and out of the rooms. As Lu Liangsheng removed his outer garment and hung it on a rack, he looked at the attendant, who was testing the water temperature, and asked:
“Why are you the only one? Where’s the one who was downstairs earlier?”
The attendant checked the water, wiped his wet hands on his clothes, and carried the bucket past the scholar.
“Ah, that guy just settled his wages with the innkeeper and left. Said something about ghosts in the city and a toad that can talk. People these days—something’s just not right in their heads. When he first arrived, he even said his own village was haunted.”
Lu Liangsheng smiled and glanced at his master lying on the bed. He could more or less guess that someone had overheard them talking during their meal earlier. Taking a small coin from his pocket, he tipped the attendant to send him on his way.
“Master, next time, don’t go talking in public. Look, you’ve gone and made someone lose their job.”
The Toad Daoist opened his eyes briefly, crawled toward the sunlit corner of the pillow, and let out a yawn.
“What does that have to do with me?”
He stretched his four limbs comfortably, lay down, and lazily waved a front limb.
“Hurry up and bathe, then go meet that old scholar.”
By now, Lu Liangsheng had already stripped bare and sat in the large wooden tub. Resting his head on the rim, he reflected on everything that had happened since arriving in the capital: the “destined person”, the “Protector of the Nation”, the “monsters within the court”… and now the desolation of the city.
It all seemed to have something or another to do with him.
After thinking for a while, Lu Liangsheng shook his head with a faint smile. He decided to wait until he had asked his mentor before making any decision.
Moments passed, and suddenly a chill brushed his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw that Nie Honglian had somehow slipped into the tub. Startled, he hastily covered the water’s surface with a scrubbing cloth and sank lower into the tub in embarrassment.
“Uh… Honglian, isn’t this a bit inappropriate for you to come in?”
Nie Honglian pressed a finger to her lips, smiling slyly as she leaned closer. She dipped her fingers into the water, splashing lightly, her eyelashes fluttering as her enchanting gaze fell on the scholar in the tub.
“When I was still alive, I loved soaking in warm water like this. It felt like being embraced. But now, I can’t feel even a trace of warmth anymore. Young Master, why not let me help you…”
Before Nie Honglian could finish her soft, lingering words, Lu Liangsheng sighed and interrupted her.
“Don’t lose hope. There will be a way… a way for you to become human again.”
Nie Honglian puffed up her cheeks, pouted her red lips, and let out a humph. With a flick of her sleeve, she turned and walked through the screen, leaving without looking back.
Soaking in the tub, the scholar frowned in confusion, muttering as he scrubbed his arms and underarms.
“What did I say wrong? Women are truly impossible to understand.”
Half an hour later, after finishing his bath and grooming, Lu Liangsheng emerged in a fresh set of clothes. The Toad Daoist was already snoring soundly. Before leaving, Lu Liangsheng spoke to Nie Honglian, who was inside the painting. “If Sun Yingxian comes looking for me, just tell him I’ve gone to meet my mentor.”
From the painting came a muffled response, still carrying a hint of anger.
“Got it… young master.”
And then, nothing more.
Lu Liangsheng sighed helplessly, pushed open the door, and stepped outside. It was already afternoon. Most households had shut their doors, and the streets near the inner city were sparsely populated. It took quite some time to even spot someone to ask for directions.
Back when Wang Shuhua had left a letter, he hadn’t yet departed from Fushui County, so there was no address left behind. Now, trying to find someone in the vast city of Tianzhi was proving to be a real challenge for the scholar.
“If only he’d left behind a strand of hair…”
A gust of wind blew past, carrying dry, yellow leaves across the ground, brushing against his feet as they drifted away into the distance.
Turning a corner, Lu Liangsheng spotted a shop in the process of closing up. He quickened his pace and approached, but before he could say anything, the shopkeeper shrank back in alarm, clutching his chest as he stared at the scholar in front of him.
“A proper person walking without making a sound—scared me half to death!”
Lu Liangsheng, needing help, managed a sheepish smile and clasped his hands in apology before politely asking for directions to the residence of Minister Min Changwen.
“So you’re just asking for directions? You nearly scared me to death! From here, walk straight ahead, follow the inner city wall to the east, and take the first street heading north. You’ll have to find your way from there.”
The shopkeeper pointed out the directions, glanced at the sky, and quickly retreated into the shop. With a few loud bangs, he shut the door in a hurry.
Following the inner city wall, Lu Liangsheng passed one street after another. Along the way, most shops were already closed, as if adhering to a strict schedule. In other counties, even the markets outside the city walls would still be bustling at this hour.
It seemed the people of this city were following the clock…
…and it surely had something to do with the imperial court’s demons.
Lost in thought, the scholar followed the shopkeeper’s directions and reached the northern inner city. The wide avenues here were likely imperial roads reserved for the emperor, princes, and nobility.
Not far ahead, he turned into another street. Compared to the outer roads, this one was pristine and orderly. On either side were high walls and grand courtyards adorned with large red lanterns. Merely being wealthy wouldn’t grant one the privilege to live here—this was a realm for the elite.
“So many residences, am I supposed to check each one?”
Lu Liangsheng realized that without some token or object related to the person he sought, even spells would be of little use. He couldn’t very well climb onto the city wall and shout his mentor’s name for the whole city to hear.
After knocking on several gates, some stewards peeked out, glanced at his attire, and either shook their heads or closed the door without a word. A few demanded visiting cards, and if he wasn’t there to meet their masters, they didn’t even bother responding.
Eventually, after several attempts, he obtained directions to the residence of Minister Min Changwen. When he arrived, he noticed the Min Residence stood out from the surrounding mansions—its walls, buildings, and even the main gate bore a weathered appearance that spoke of its age.
Straightening his robes, he knocked on the gate. A cautious gatekeeper cracked the door open slightly. Lu Liangsheng quickly introduced himself, presented the letter his mentor had left, and explained his purpose.
The gatekeeper, who could read a few words, examined the letter, then lifted his eyes to study the scholar.
“Young master, I’m afraid you’ve come at a bad time. Our master is not home, and neither is Sir Shuhua. He’s gone out of the city to visit an old acquaintance.”
Lu Liangsheng furrowed his brow in thought before clasping his hands and asking:
“Then, may I ask when my mentor will return?”
“That’s hard to say. Sir Shuhua usually returns after nightfall these days. He’s even been eating dinner in the study.”
“I see. Then please inform my mentor when he returns that Lu Liangsheng visited and is staying at the Yue Lai Inn.”
The gatekeeper nodded, noting down the name and address, then escorted Lu Liangsheng to the eaves outside. Looking at the sky, the elderly man added:
“Young master, it’s getting late. Return to the inn quickly. If you encounter a procession of monks along the way, either kneel and lower your head or avoid them altogether. Don’t just stand there foolishly.”
Hearing the warning, Lu Liangsheng nodded and turned to bow in thanks.
“Thank you, elder, for the reminder. But may I ask, this procession…?”
Before he could finish, faint sounds of golden cymbals and copper gongs drifted from the distance. The gatekeeper hurriedly urged: “Young master, quickly head back and remember what I said.”
The old man promptly shut the door and bolted it from inside, the sound of the latch clicking faintly audible.
Lu Liangsheng didn’t pay too much attention to the gatekeeper’s actions. After all, as a mere servant, how could the man dare admit anyone without his master’s permission?
“What kind of procession could this be… to scare people so badly, even here in the shadow of the emperor’s palace? Does neither the government nor His Majesty do anything about it?”
Curiosity is a common trait.
Lu Liangsheng prided himself on having witnessed many spectacles before. With his cultivation having reached the Foundation Establishment stage for quite some time, even if he encountered a demon he couldn’t defeat, escaping wouldn’t be an issue.
Moments later, with a few agile leaps, he landed atop a nearby courtyard wall, sprinting swiftly along its edge.
Clatter, clatter, clatter…
Loose bricks shifted underfoot as he reached the wall’s end. His scholar’s robe flapped noisily in the wind as he leapt once more, landing steadily on the street below. His gaze locked onto the peculiar procession of monks approaching from the distance.
On either side of the long street, every household had its doors and windows tightly shut. The bolder residents peeked through cracks, catching sight of the scholar standing boldly by the roadside.
“Wife, come look! There’s a gutsy scholar standing out there!”
“…Then move aside and let me see!”
“This is terrifying. Isn’t he courting death?”
Meanwhile, some pedestrians who hadn’t managed to leave the street were bowing their heads, staring at the ground. They couldn’t help but call out warnings to Lu Liangsheng.
“You there, scholar. Please kneel down.”“Yes, don’t act on impulse!”
“If you offend the Lord Venerable Master, you’ll be thrown in prison…”
But Lu Liangsheng stood unmoving, his gaze fixed intently on the approaching procession.
“Indeed… such heavy demonic energy. There isn’t a single human among them…”
Ahead, in his line of sight, white flower petals rained down from the sky, scattering across the ground. A procession of black-hatted female monks, their faces devoid of expression, marched forward, holding ritual implements and staffs aloft. Suddenly, the footsteps, chanting of sutras, and the sounds of golden cymbals and copper gongs all came to an abrupt halt.
The figures in the procession froze mid-step like wooden statues, plunging the street into an eerie silence.
Nearby, beneath the sleeve of Lu Liangsheng’s robe, his fingers silently formed a hand seal, suppressing his aura.
The kneeling pedestrians beside him didn’t dare breathe too loudly, their faces drenched in sweat. They trembled as they tried to inch away from this foolhardy scholar, thinking: We warned him, but he wouldn’t listen. If he loses his life, it’s his own fault.
As this thought flitted through their minds, a woman clad in a blue and green patterned kasaya turned within the procession. She looked at Lu Liangsheng, raised her orchid-like fingers, and bowed slightly.
“Young Master Lu, the Venerable Master invites you.”
Her words left Lu Liangsheng momentarily stunned. Following her gesture, he saw a large palanquin, its lacquered red wood beams gleaming, clearly prepared just for him.
They not only know who I am but also that I’ve arrived in the capital…
Since it was an invitation, it likely wasn’t dangerous.
Calming his thoughts, Lu Liangsheng nodded at the woman before striding toward the palanquin.
On either side of the street and behind window slits in the surrounding buildings, hearts pounded wildly. Expressions of disbelief filled the faces of onlookers as they watched the scholar step into the Venerable Master’s palanquin.
A Connection of Hearts.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Yue Lai Inn, a snoring toad suddenly opened its eyes.
“What audacious little demon!!”
