Volume One: Autumn Festival, Chapter Thirty-One: If Not an Immortal, How Could One Be So Fair

Jiang Wang could never have imagined that the little maid who attended to his daily needs was actually a princess.

After all, as a young marquis himself, he knew that royalty and nobility were rare in the Sui Kingdom. His own father was merely a marquis, yet Xiao Yu’s father was a king among nobles.

With a princess stranded in Hun City, the fate of her royal household must have been tragic. Furthermore, since Tan Laoliu was affiliated with the Qingxuan Bureau, it was likely that Xiao Yu’s enemies were powerful figures whose grievances were far too complex to be summarized in a few words.

Because nobles possessed status but lacked true authority, there were no shortage of people in the imperial court qualified to target them.

He stroked Xiao Yu’s head and said softly, "We are companions in misery. Your father was murdered, and my father’s whereabouts are unknown—likely lost as well. Set your mind at ease. By my side, no one will ever be able to hurt you again. Such a deep grudge will surely be avenged."

"Do not think of anything today. Enjoy the City God Temple Fair to your heart’s content, and once you have vented your feelings, strive to become stronger—strong enough that in this entire world, no person, demon, or immortal can ever threaten us again."

Xiao Yu nodded, deeply moved.

At this moment, the two cultivators, one in green robes and the other in white, approached.

"Master Jiang, Feng Linghuai has been eliminated by you. Our great grudge is avenged. We feel deeply ashamed that we were unable to strike ourselves."

They bowed and continued, "We could never repay Master Jiang’s great kindness, even in our next lives. However, the three of us came to Hun City specifically to search for traces of immortals. Since Yue Man Xi Lou also showed us kindness, we must complete this mission..."

Jiang Wang smiled and said, "You may report back to Yue Man Xi Lou that there are no immortals in Hun City at all. Those so-called seekers of immortality are destined to labor in vain."

The green-robed cultivator asked in surprise, "But is it not a fact that a mirage hangs high over Qixia Street?"

Jiang Wang smiled and shook his head.

The white-robed cultivator’s heart trembled. Could it be...?

He immediately bowed and said, "Master Jiang, we understand. We shall send word back to Yue Man Xi Lou immediately."

The green-robed cultivator still had more to say, but he was promptly pulled away by the white-robed one.

"Why are you doing this? Even if no one can guarantee the existence of immortals, we still have to search, don't we?"

The white-robed cultivator whispered, "Are you foolish? Where does the mirage hang?"

"Qixia Street, of course," the green-robed cultivator replied, stunned.

"And where is the Xunyang Marquis Mansion located?" the white-robed cultivator asked again.

The green-robed cultivator’s eyes widened.

The white-robed cultivator patted his shoulder and smiled. "Neither you nor I can see through Master Jiang. Whether facing the demon Aoyin, or the likes of Cai Tanggu and that man from the Qingxuan Bureau, Master Jiang never once fell into a desperate struggle. It may be false that there are no immortals in Hun City, but it is true that the seekers cannot find them. Even as we followed by Master Jiang’s side, did we ever notice anything?"

The green-robed cultivator shivered. He dared not even look back. Lowering his voice as much as possible, he asked, "Is Master Jiang an immortal?"

The white-robed cultivator’s expression was solemn. "It is highly probable. But Master Jiang likely does not wish for others to know, so we must feign ignorance. Above all, we must not reveal a single word of this. Remember, remember."

The green-robed cultivator felt his legs go weak. "We have been following an immortal all these days? So, there really are immortals in this world! That’s right, an immortal must look exactly like Master Jiang. The moment I first saw him, I was struck by his heavenly appearance. If he were not an immortal, how could he be so handsome?"

Although this reasoning was flawed, the white-robed cultivator nodded in agreement.

"But will there be trouble if we report this to Yue Man Xi Lou? Some seekers haven't even arrived in Hun City yet. If we claim there are no immortals, the Master will find it hard to believe," the green-robed cultivator said, his face wrinkled in distress.

The white-robed cultivator thought for a moment and said, "Then we shall delay the report. Once the seekers return empty-handed and the truth is laid bare, the Master will naturally believe it."

"You are truly cautious," the green-robed cultivator remarked. "Your observations are keen and your thoughts are clear—except for the fact that you are a bit cowardly when things happen."

The white-robed cultivator was speechless. "If you’re going to compliment me, you could have left out that last part."

The green-robed cultivator laughed, then asked, "If Master Jiang is a young marquis, does that not mean the Marquis is also an immortal?"

The white-robed cultivator paused, pondering, "That is beyond my ability to fathom. It is plausible that Master Jiang is an immortal and his father is one too. But if Master Jiang is an immortal born into a mortal body, then perhaps it does not matter."

"Regardless," the green-robed cultivator said, "by sticking with Master Jiang, our future achievements will surely be limitless. If we can receive even a casual favor from him, we might be able to break through our bottlenecks and stand at a higher level." He added quite arrogantly, "At that time, never mind killing one person from the Qingxuan Bureau—what would it matter if we faced the entire organization?"

"Do not harbor such thoughts," the white-robed cultivator warned. "We must do exactly as Master Jiang says. We cannot rely on him to act recklessly. If we offend him because of this, we may never find salvation."

"You need not be so cautious," the green-robed cultivator countered. "As it stands, we are destined not to be friends with the Qingxuan Bureau. We must be prepared, and more importantly, we must not bring shame upon Master Jiang."

Jiang Wang was unaware of what the two cultivators were discussing. In the past, he had been forbidden from leaving the mansion because the City God Temple Fair was too crowded, and he never had the chance to sneak out.

This would be his first time witnessing the spectacle of the fair. He could not help but feel a sense of anticipation. However, he could only watch from Qixia Street; until his Night Wanderer spirit fully recovered, he would not take another step outside.

When the old steward and Zhao Si returned, they had both changed into new clothes. The fair would not officially begin until the Hour of the Rooster, and two hours passed quickly.

The green-robed cultivator carried the rattan chair, the white-robed cultivator and Xiao Yu walked on either side of Jiang Wang, the old steward followed at the end, and Zhao Si naturally ran ahead. He even carried a basket on his back containing brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. To him, the grandeur of the fair was the perfect subject for his paintings.

Zhao Si had long since scouted the best viewing spot and, after a casual greeting, vanished into the crowd. The white-robed cultivator followed to protect Xiao Yu as she explored the fair, while Jiang Wang reclined on the rattan chair placed at the entrance of Qixia Street, with the old steward and the green-robed cultivator by his side.

Lanterns bright as day hung throughout Panlan Street, and the storefronts on both sides were similarly adorned. The crowds were surging and noisy. Street performers displayed skills that left the common folk in awe, and various cries emanated from the stalls lined up one after another. High above, several giant wooden kites painted with the image of the City God seemed to overlook the entire city.

Watching Xiao Yu weave through the crowd, wearing a truly genuine smile, Jiang Wang also curled his lips into a smile.

Constable Zhou was nearby and, noticing Jiang Wang, stepped forward to offer a salute. "Young Marquis."

Jiang Wang nodded. "Constable Zhou, why are you still wearing your official uniform while attending the fair?"

Constable Zhou gave a bitter smile. "I have no time for the fair. I don't know what happened last night, but the Du family has completely vacated, and most of South City Alley was destroyed. The people are crying out in distress, and the Garrison Office simply does not have the funds to repair the streets and rebuild the houses."

Jiang Wang was stunned, then revealed an awkward smile. He coughed lightly and said, "My mansion will cover the costs to rebuild South City Alley. The losses suffered by the shopkeepers will also be compensated by my household." He turned to the old steward and added, "Constable Zhou, please go with Uncle Tong to the mansion to collect the funds."

Constable Zhou was shocked and overwhelmed with gratitude. "The Young Marquis is truly a benevolent soul! I will certainly report this to the Garrison Commander so that you may receive the highest honor, and let all the world remember your kindness."

Jiang Wang said awkwardly, "No, no need. It is only what I should do."

Constable Zhou left with the old steward. The green-robed cultivator, knowing that Master Jiang had encountered Feng Linghuai in South City Alley and realizing that it was likely Master Jiang who had destroyed it, felt a strange sensation as he watched this unfold.

Shu Ni and Ning Shisi also arrived at the fair and headed straight for Jiang Wang.

"You are certainly a strange one. Are you attending the fair, or just watching it?"

Qixia Street was empty, save for the hanging lanterns. Jiang Wang lay on his rattan chair, as if separated from the liveliness of Panlan Street by a wall.

Shu Ni crossed her arms. "We didn't find the demon, but you must keep your word. An immortal has appeared in Qixia Street, your mansion holds the most power in Hun City, and you just happen to live here. If you keep beating around the bush, I will pester you every single day."

The green-robed cultivator grew nervous. She had spoken so clearly; what if she realized something? He was already prepared to draw his sword the moment Shu Ni guessed Master Jiang’s true identity.

Ning Shisi said, "Junior Sister, do not be like this. We did not finish our task, so how can we expect Master Jiang to fulfill his promise? Besides, the search for immortality cannot be rushed; it is better to plan carefully."

Jiang Wang immediately interjected, "That is exactly right. What I promised, I will do. But since you have not completed what you promised me, let us not speak of this further, lest it damage our friendship. Look at how lively the fair is; you should go and enjoy yourselves."

Shu Ni glared at Ning Shisi and said coldly to Jiang Wang, "I don't trust you. Even if we didn't find the demon, we searched diligently. You must do something tangible to make me believe you can actually keep your word."

Jiang Wang said, "I have actually always been curious. You must have your own methods for seeking immortals; why must you seek help from others? Is it true that finding an immortal is something that can be achieved just by having more people? If that were the case, Hun City would be full of cultivators long ago, and there would be no need to seek local help."

Ning Shisi replied, "Traces of immortals are hard to find; there is no such thing as a method. Otherwise, hundreds of immortals would have been found long ago. The only way to find them is to never miss any natural phenomena and to slowly explore the areas where they occur."

"Furthermore, while seeking immortals is important, we cannot abandon all other duties across the entire Sui Kingdom. Whether it is the looming threat from the West Qin or the rampaging demons, cultivators are needed everywhere. Seeking help locally is merely an attempt to find clues more quickly."

Jiang Wang was taken aback. "So, it’s just like a blind person crossing a river, relying entirely on luck?"

Ning Shisi gave a wry smile. "Though the analogy is slightly off, it is indeed a matter of luck."