Chapter 15
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 15: Exposure
As the lights came on, Fuyuan Tavern bustled with guests.
Eating and listening to the music felt quite pleasant. No matter how the dishes tasted, knowing that many outer disciples from the Jade Symbol Sect supported this tavern made it enough to draw in customers.
If the disciples of the Jade Symbol Sect vouch for it, then it must be good. Even if it’s not great, just this connection speaks volumes. People came not just to eat but to seize the opportunity to connect with the sect’s disciples.
Cultivators can speak with authority!
Cultivators can reprimand royalty!
Cultivators can achieve immortality!
For those who haven’t become cultivators or truly entered the cultivation world, all they see are the dignified appearances, leading to wild guesses and blind worship…
With a loud crash, several burly men burst through the tavern’s red silk curtains, rudely shouting, “Manager, come here! We’re looking for someone!”
The manager looked up, frowning slightly in confusion. “These miscellaneous disciples usually know their limits. Given the complex relationship between the tavern and the Jade Symbol Sect, they rarely come here to bully others. What’s going on tonight?”
Before he could act, more miscellaneous disciples entered the tavern. Just their imposing presence suggested they were not ordinary, and they quickly grabbed yellow talismans, quietly chanting while turning around to search, and shook their heads in disappointment.
“Manager, what’s the connection between Li Hui and your tavern?” the short and stout man asked directly. Thanks to Brother Zheng and the triangular-eyed man’s assurances, he felt no hesitation in questioning Fuyuan Tavern.
“Li Hui?” The manager hesitated, almost as if he didn’t recognize the name. After thinking for a long moment, he exclaimed, “Oh, you mean Li Yingjun? I believe he is from the same hometown as one of our cooks. I haven’t seen him in ages.”
Li Hui and Zhu Tianci were cautious in their actions. Even when advertising for Fuyuan Tavern to receive a commission, they deliberately avoided being seen by everyone and contacted the tavern owner directly. Zhu Tianci merely acted as a mutual connection for possible benefits.
Moreover, even when using names externally, they didn’t call themselves Li Hui but rather Li Yingjun.
The stout man felt a sinking sensation in his heart. The manager’s hesitant reaction revealed that Li Hui’s connection to Fuyuan Tavern wasn’t as solid as he thought. However, since they were there, they needed to investigate the matter thoroughly.
“Go to the kitchen and find out which chef is related to Li Hui.”
A dozen men followed the waiter to the back kitchen. After around two cups of tea had passed, they inquired around and eventually found Zhu Tianci in a side room.
As they entered, the smell of wine filled the air, and they found the somewhat drunk second chef. Without any introductions, the stout man shot straight to the point, “Second chef Zhu Tianci, you’re from the same hometown as Li Hui, right?”
“Li Hui? Which Li Hui?” Zhu Tianci asked, hiccupping as he stood up. “Oh, are you talking about Li Yingjun? I haven’t seen him in half a year. I heard he was promoted in the Jade Symbol Sect; why would he pay attention to a simple country bumpkin like me? But it’s true I’ve enjoyed the benefits promised by the tavern.”
The outer disciples applied their own judgments. If they were in Li Hui’s position and became Jin Buduan’s accountant, they wouldn’t be interested in associating with a rough chef either.
“Humph, let’s go.”
The leader of the group didn’t waste any more time. Whoever found Li Hui tonight would earn great merit, and wasting time on this chef would allow other miscellaneous disciples to seize the opportunity first.
Meanwhile, just outside the kitchen courtyard, Li Hui and Ji Mengxue stood close together, hidden in a dark corner.
Upon hearing the commotion in the courtyard, they both sighed in relief. At that moment, they realized how close they were and quickly stepped back to separate, Ji Mengxue’s cheeks flushed crimson, her heart racing. Thankfully, the darkness concealed her face.
“Elder sister-in-law, there’s nothing to worry about here for now; I’ll send you back. Time is tight.”
“Hmm!”
Ji Mengxue nodded, her head feeling a bit muddled as she hurried to keep up with Li Hui’s quick pace. However, before they could leave the alley, a large hand suddenly grabbed her delicate wrist, pulling her back into an embrace.
“Darn it, there are miscellaneous disciples everywhere out on the street.” Li Hui’s voice echoed nearby, but Ji Mengxue widened her eyes, trembling in his hold. She was in Li Hui’s embrace; he was holding her!
“Elder sister-in-law, you must be careful and return to Lingfeng Silk as quickly as you can. I’ll find a way to draw these people away.”
Still dazed from his embrace, Ji Mengxue felt everything she had worked hard to maintain over five years collapse like a house of cards within that hold!
She once thought she could hold on!!
She once thought she could live alone happily!!
She once thought she could endure loneliness and emptiness!!!
Yet, she realized that the figure of her childhood friend had quietly faded, even the details of his appearance became blurred, while the growing image of Li Hui increasingly filled her thoughts.
“A Hui!” Ji Mengxue tried to grab something; she didn’t want to separate, didn’t want to lose him. Yet, ultimately she grasped nothing, feeling as hollow as she did years ago upon hearing bad news, her thoughts swirling without direction…
Li Hui stepped into the shadows at the street corner, finally evading detection as he turned down two streets, scanning his surroundings quickly with a grim expression.
“So many miscellaneous disciples are looking for me. I don’t know if it’s Brother Zheng’s doing or if Jin Buduan is secretly behind this. Regardless of who it is, I must take risks to lead them away; otherwise, if someone follows the clues and takes out their anger on elder sister-in-law and elder brother, the consequences would be unbearable.”
“I can’t think of that now. As long as elder sister-in-law and elder brother are safe, and they return smoothly with the money to Chuxia Mountain, my efforts won’t be in vain.”
In reality, before Li Hui could make a move, two miscellaneous disciples outside held talismans, seemingly grasping an invisible force that suddenly pointed towards the street edges.
“Found it!”
“Over there.”
With their shouts, figures dashed over quickly.
“This is bad! How did they find me?” Li Hui shivered involuntarily. Even if he wanted to attract attention, this was definitely not the right situation; something felt terribly off.
Almost instinctively, he raised his hand and unleashed a flurry of cold lights.
The golden money darts served their purpose again, slightly halting the encirclement of these miscellaneous disciples.
Li Hui dared not linger. He abandoned his pack and fled in the right direction. Even using artifacts couldn’t be done in front of so many witnesses in Frost Town.
As he ran, his hands left afterimages in the air as his fingers flung darts repeatedly.
With the clinking sounds, tiny sparks flew.
The miscellaneous disciples had summoned low-level defense spirit talismans. Though they were just basic ones, they could still block the projectiles.
When Li Hui was only ten paces away from the town gate, his hands felt empty. He felt a sinking feeling in his heart; he had run out of all his coins on the way.
A whistling sound approached; without looking, he knew it was Brother Zheng, flaunting his wings.
“What should I do?”
Li Hui suddenly glanced at his wrist.
At this point, if he hadn’t suspected the extraordinary power of those three ordinary spirit talismans, which related to the mysterious silver snake bracelet, he would have been foolish.
In a moment of crisis, he decided to act recklessly. He drew out the forbidden talisman from the yellow pear wood box, which was used to seal artifacts, made the hand seal, and softly called out, “Swift!”
