txolops Chapter 19 People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat.
Chapter 19 People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat.
As the auction came to an end, the gilded plaque of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion disappeared into the twilight, and Han Xiaoliu and his group quietly left with the treasures and the monster cub.
However, the wealth they displayed on the bidding stage and the alluring beauty of Lady Yu had already stirred up ripples in the hearts of the various forces on Kuixing Island, like pebbles thrown into a still lake.
That night, several shadowy figures, like a persistent leech, quietly followed behind Lady Yu and her party.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, a pair of eyes peered through the gaps in the beaded curtain of a teahouse on the second floor across the street, locking onto her residence.
It was a scout dressed in a gray robe, with a communication talisman between his fingers, transmitting back Yu Niangzi's whereabouts word for word.
Meanwhile, in a general store in the back alley, the shopkeeper was chatting with a seemingly ordinary woman, but his words kept mentioning the people in the courtyard: "That house was bought by Master Gu. I heard that it's inhabited by a wandering cultivator from out of town. That female cultivator is very generous; she must have quite a background..."
The woman nodded repeatedly, but a glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes as she silently memorized these words.
However, Kui Xing Island is ultimately a celestial realm under the jurisdiction of the Star Palace, and any attempt to seize or plunder it by force is tantamount to courting death.
The white-clad guards patrolling the streets walked with steady steps, their tokens gleaming coldly in the moonlight. Any attempt to spy or probe beyond their bounds would be silenced by their icy gaze.
It was this peace of mind brought by the Star Palace's ironclad rules that allowed Han Xiaoliu to relax and focus on refining the Foundation Establishment Pill.
He knew very well that in the world of cultivators, those with high cultivation levels were the embodiment of truth.
As the investigation into Han Xiaoliu's background deepened, the clues eventually led to the merchant, Master Gu.
Before long, a detailed intelligence report was placed on Cao Lu's desk in the Sixth Palace.
Cao Lu's gaze was cold as he carefully scanned every word on the file, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table.
After a long while, the murderous intent in his eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a deep sense of apprehension.
"Han Xiaoliu suddenly appeared on Kuixing Island six years ago... he was just an infant at the time!" Cao Lu's voice was deep, exuding an aura of authority from someone who had long held a high position. "The person who introduced him was Master Gu, but the person who actually sent him to the island is unknown. All we know is that he was settled by a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and a Qi Refining stage rogue cultivator."
At this point, Cao Lu paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Although he didn't introduce himself, this person was able to infiltrate Kui Xing Island silently and deliver an infant to the island. His extravagant spending today demonstrates the unfathomable power behind him. Since that person said he would come to pick him up tomorrow, why should our Six-Linked Hall needlessly provoke such an unknown and powerful enemy for the sake of an insignificant brat?"
With this in mind, Cao Lu made a decisive decision and coldly ordered, "Pass down the order to remove all surveillance personnel. This matter ends here."
With the retreat of the Six-Linked Palace, all the forces that had sensed the news and tried to investigate Han Xiaoliu's background also tacitly stopped their spying, just like the tide.
As for the maids and wet nurses around Han Xiaoliu, they were nothing more than ants that could be discarded at will in the eyes of these people.
Such helpless, low-level cultivators are as numerous as carp crossing a river in the Chaotic Star Sea, and are not worth wasting any attention on.
Three months later
Tiandu Street on Kuixing Island remains a bustling and prosperous scene.
Cultivators of all kinds moved about, some talking in hushed tones, others haggling over prices. The air was filled with the salty smell of the sea breeze and the strange aroma of various spiritual materials.
Lady Yu, dressed in a light purple flowing fairy dress, walked gracefully towards the Six-Linked Palace with swaying waist and light steps.
Her face was covered by a thin veil, revealing only a pair of eyes that seemed to express both joy and sorrow, and with each glance, she possessed a captivating charm.
However, beneath this charm lies an impenetrable fog, making it difficult to discern her true thoughts.
Upon entering the Spirit Beast Hall, a scent mingled with the stench of blood and herbs assaulted the senses.
A quick-witted waiter immediately stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said in a courteous voice, "Welcome, Lady Yu, to our shop. The beast essence blood you ordered last month has arrived. Please follow me."
Lady Yu nodded slightly without saying a word, and simply followed the servant to the counter in the inner hall.
Behind the counter, another waiter had already prepared three dark porcelain bottles that were neither gold nor jade. He carefully took them out and introduced them one by one: "Lady Jade, these are the three bottles of essence blood you requested. This bottle is from the 'Infant Carp Beast,' a level six water-type demon beast. Its essence blood contains water-based energy, making it extremely domineering. This bottle is from the 'Crouching Tiger Shark,' also a level six demon beast. The ferocious energy contained in its essence blood is very beneficial for tempering the physical body. The last bottle is from the 'Glassy Beast,' a level six beast, but its essence blood is mild and best suited for harmonizing yin and yang."
Lady Yu stretched out her slender fingers, picked up the porcelain bottles one by one, and gently sniffed them. After a moment, a look of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
She nodded slightly, put the three bottles of essence blood into her storage bag, then turned around and left the Spirit Beast Pavilion without hesitation.
The moment she stepped out of the store and into the bustling crowd, a gaze as intense as a tangible flame fell upon her without warning.
His gaze was intense and focused, carrying a hint of unbelievable surprise, as if it had pierced through the vast sea of people and precisely locked onto her.
Yu Niangzi felt a sudden chill, a coldness shooting up from her tailbone to the top of her head, making her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
She was all too familiar with this feeling; it was the feeling of being targeted by a venomous snake.
This time, however, there was more than just scrutiny in his eyes; it was also... the excitement of a reunion?
Subconsciously, with a stiffness she herself was unaware of, she slowly looked up.
My gaze cut through the throng of people and landed on an inconspicuous young man on the street corner.
The young man was dressed in a simple blue robe and had an ordinary face, but his eyes were surprisingly bright and were staring at her intently.
His eyes were filled with uncertainty, as if he were confirming the return of a lost treasure, mixed with a hint of barely suppressed joy.
He knows me!
Yu Niangzi's heart suddenly stopped beating for a moment, and then began to pound wildly.
The face, which was covered by a thin veil, instantly lost all color.
She forced herself to suppress the turmoil in her heart, but her face remained calm. She glanced at it casually, then turned and walked towards the exit of Tiandu Street.
Her steps appeared relaxed, but in reality, each step was based on her own heartbeat.
She could clearly feel that gaze hadn't left her; instead, it followed her like a shadow, firmly attached to her back.
It's one of his men! He recognized me! He recognized me!
This thought, like a curse, echoed wildly in her mind, almost threatening to devour her reason.
Fear, like a maggot clinging to her bones, spread from the depths of her heart and quickly filled her limbs and bones.
Her face grew paler and paler, and her lips trembled slightly uncontrollably beneath the thin veil.
She tried her best to remain calm, but her body betrayed her will and began to tremble slightly involuntarily.
The hustle and bustle of Tiandu Street seemed to fade away from her at that moment. In her world, all that remained was the piercing gaze behind her and her increasingly rapid heartbeat.
"Young Master, Young Master!"
Lady Yu practically burst through the courtyard gate; her usual graceful demeanor was completely gone, and she didn't even notice that one of her embroidered shoes had fallen off.
As she stumbled toward Han Xiaoliu's quiet room, she cried out hoarsely, her voice filled with undisguised trembling and panic, like prey being chased by a demon, even her breath carrying broken sobs.
Inside the quiet room, Han Xiaoliu and Daya were meditating.
The sudden noise startled both of them, causing them to open their eyes simultaneously. Daya frowned, her eyes filled with confusion and reproach: "Mother, what's wrong? Why are you being so disrespectful?"
Han Xiaoliu's heart sank suddenly, and a chill ran down his spine.
He knew Yu Niangzi too well. She was always deep in thought and tactful in dealing with people. Even in the face of great storms, she could maintain her composure.
Such a loss of composure at this moment is no ordinary matter.
problem occurs!
The thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.
He didn't have time to think it through, and in a flash, he left the quiet room.
Upon seeing him, Han Xiaoliu gasped in shock.
Where was the Jade Lady before him, who was usually so graceful and charming?
Her face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, her lips bitten until they turned white and even bled slightly. Her eyes, which were always full of affection and a smile, were now wide open, the pupils slightly contracted, filled with pure, almost overflowing fear.
Her body trembled like leaves in the autumn wind, her teeth chattered uncontrollably, and her voice became fragmented: "Young...Young Master...he...he recognized me..."
She was incoherent, her hands gripping Han Xiaoliu's sleeves tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, as if she had grasped the last straw.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, soaking the hair at his temples. He looked as if he had just been pulled out of the water, exuding a sense of despair and helplessness on the verge of collapse.
Han Xiaoliu's heart sank completely.