The whole journey was silent, inside the flying boat nobody said a word.
Mo Tianliao was acutely aware of his misdeed and did not dare speak. Qingtong leaned against the tiger and soon fell asleep. The big tiger, being a cushion, did not need to speak.
Thirty thousand li could not be covered in a day, it was chilly, and there were always evil things wandering around at night. The way was not safe, so it was necessary to find a cultivator’s town to rest. He didn’t know for sure how many towns were in this direction. Mo Tianliao took notice of the time and sped up the boat, he wanted to make it to Yijin before the sun set.
Most cultivator towns were unaffiliated but they had shops run by the various major sects. If Mo Tianliao remembered correctly, this small city named Yijin had a powerful city-wide protection array. Violence was not allowed inside the city, those who did not heed this rule would be expelled by the array. It was the perfect place to spend the night, but more importantly, the city may have the information he needs.
The flying boat landed outside the city. Mo Tianliao walked over and tried to pick up the sleeping man. His outstretched hand abruptly stopped 3 inches away from Master.
Master hadn’t yet forgiven his recent sexual harassment, if he tried to hold him again, he would certainly be beaten up even worse. Mo Tianliao touched his healed face and looked at the deeply slumbering beauty. Half of that handsome face was buried in the tiger’s thick fur. He was sleeping so peacefully and deeply, his cheeks gently flushed, that it was impossible to want to disturb his restful sleep.
Mo Tianliao grit his teeth. Forget it, even if his face got scratched into wood shavings again, he could take it. He placed his hands behind Master’s back and hugged the man. The beautiful eyes opened slowly, looking sleepy, then looked at him quietly.
“You’re awake…” Mo Tianliao whispered, he was pushed away before he could retract his outstretched arms.
Qingtong stood up and looked left and right. “Where are we?” The big tiger looked up groggily, when he saw Master had risen, he also stood up, yawning widely.
“Yijin,” said Mo Tianliao, storing the flying boat and pointing to the inscription on top of the city wall. “We have been here before; do you remember it?”
The city of Yijin, its name derived from peaceful rest and guiding light. It was a place where people from all walks of life, both good and bad, gathered, yet it was surprisingly safe, therefore, it was also a hub for gathering and trading all kinds of information. Secrets such as the discovery of a hidden treasure, the sale of magical items, secret intelligence regarding the sects, and various other hidden information could be found here.
Qingtong snorted, it was unclear whether he remembered or not, then led the big tiger into the city.
Walking with a Demonic Beast was a symbol of strength. The passers-by all looked with envious eyes at the plump and sturdy tiger walking behind the beauty. Such a fierce Demonic Beast, no one would believe that it hadn’t formed a blood contract. Wasn’t that tiger as docile as a cat, ceaselessly rubbing against its master’s leg?
Mo Tianliao followed the two and did not say anything. He looked this way and that, there were many small stalls along the road. One stall was painted with the Taiji diagram, its banner read “Fortune Telling”. Behind it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Seeing Mo Tianliao, he began to call, “Sir, let me predict your future and see when you can ascend.”
“How much?” Mo Tianliao stopped at the stall.
“The price entirely depends on what sir wants to find out,” the cultivator said casually.
Mo Tianliao narrowed his eyes and turned to leave. These so-called “fortune-telling” stalls were actually spies selling information. As long as enough lingshi changed hands, anything could be found out. He lifted his gaze and saw Master looking at him from not too far away, he hastened to follow. Once he drew near, Master continued walking.
Mo Tianliao touched his nose, walked a few steps and stood in front of Master. “Master…”
Qingtong looked at him coldly.
“Master, we’ve passed it.” Mo Tianliao pointed to the inn in the opposite direction. If they kept following Master, soon they would be out of the city.
“Humph, this excellency knows that, of course,” Qingtong said coldly, turned and headed for the inn.
This was the largest inn in Yijin City, the price was very high. Qingtong asked for a first class room and a regular room. He threw the plaque for the regular room into Mo Tianliao’s face, turned and went upstairs. The big tiger leapt up to follow and was kicked back.
The disciples looked at each other and went to their room despondently.
The room was relatively simple, with only a wooden bed and table, though a cultivator wouldn’t mind, it was merely a place to meditate for a night. After helping the big tiger settle down, Mo Tianliao got ready to head out again.
“Shidi, where are you going?” The big tiger jumped out of bed and became Meng Hu shixiong.
“I’m going to buy some fried fish for Master,” Mo Tianliao lied smoothly without blinking an eye. “Shixiong, do you want anything to eat?”
When he heard the word food, Meng Hu brightened up. “I’ll leave it up to you, just as long as it’s tasty meat.”
Mo Tianliao smirked, rubbed his shixiong’s head and headed out of the inn.
Meng Hu turned back into a big tiger, jumped into bed and stomped on it. His striped tail that swung around suddenly became stiff. Just now, shidi had touched his head again! Just who was the senior brother?! That won’t do. Tonight, we’ll have a long and proper talk about respecting one’s elders!
After going out of the inn, Mo Tianliao observed several fortune-telling stalls very carefully. Finally, he stopped in front of a Foundation Establishment cultivator sporting a long beard, took out one mid-grade lingshi and put it on the table. “I heard there was a ‘Hundred Rumours Pavilion’ in the city, is it still here?”
The cultivator put the lingshi into his sleeve, touched his beard and said, “Of course it’s still here, but the price cannot compare with that of my stall.”
However, there was some news that could not be obtained from these types of stalls. The cultivator led Mo Tianliao to a back alley and a shop without a plaque. Mo Tianliao put on his black cloak, covering his face, and went straight in.
“Come in please, sir.” The receptionist saw the bearded cultivator and they nodded at each other. He led Mo Tianliao into an inner room where a bearded and white-haired Golden Core cultivator sat. On the table was a tray with a neat row of jade slips.
Mo Tianliao sat down at the table and glanced at the patterns on the jade slips. The original roaring flame design had been replaced by an odd eagle head. His look darkened when he saw it. The Hundred Rumours Pavilion, which had been originally his, could now be found in a city frequented by both Demonic and Righteous cultivators and sold news back and forth between these two major powers. No sooner has the person gone away than the tea cools down.
“I want to know the whereabouts of the divine weapon forged by Lord Duantian,” Mo Tianliao said in a whisper.
“One hundred mid-grade lingshi will get you a general direction; three hundred mid-grade lingshi will get you an exact place; five hundred mid-grade lingshi will get you the reason for the location.” The Golden Core cultivator pushed an empty tray towards him.
The rules hadn’t changed and the price hadn’t increased. Mo Tianliao took out fifty pieces of top-grade lingshi and put them in the tray. Fortunately, his cat didn’t like to count so there was some extra in the bag of lingshi he had given him, otherwise, he really wouldn’t have had any money for inquiries.
“Three hundred years ago, the divine weapon was born into this world, it had been in possession of Elder Ding from Liuyun Sect…” After counting the lingshi, the man slowly began to speak.
Elder Ding, the father of Ding Zijin who they had met on the way, was a Master craftsman by the name of Ding Hu. It was common knowledge that the divine weapon was not yet finished, and it was hoped that Master Ding could complete the work. Yet, Ding Hu had painstakingly studied it for hundreds of years, but had not been able to come up with a solution. It was then stolen by the best thief in the Taixuan continent.
Since then, it had been circulating among the major markets and had also been bought by major sects, but since there were no suitable craftsmen, it had been sold again. The divine weapon was incomplete and was of no use at all. Now it was no longer sold in the markets of the Righteous Path, it had gone to the Demonic cultivators.
“In seven days, it will be sold at the auction house in the Demonic city of Bahuang. If you are interested, little friend, you can go and take a look.” Once the Golden Core cultivator had concluded, he smiled and was silent.
Bahuang City… Mo Tianliao’s eyebrows rose, Taishi, that tool, was unexpectedly already impossible to sell.
By the time he came out of the Hundred Rumours Pavilion, the moon had already reached its zenith and there was nowhere to buy fried fish and roasted goat legs. Mo Tianliao stumbled back to the inn. The big tiger slept soundly in the room; his snores could be heard from a great distance. Mo Tianliao looked towards the room upstairs, feeling somewhat anxious. He went up to take a look.
Given the city-wide protection array, the rooms had no barriers. Mo Tianliao jumped through the window silently. He stood in front of the bed looking at the person who lay there. Slender fingers, like a jade carving, shone coldly white in the moonlight; he could not help reaching out and tucking the cold arm into the bed. The slender fingers suddenly lifted, five sharp claws grew out of the round fingertips, Mo Tianliao was so frightened his hair stood on end.
“Evil disciple, what are you doing?”
Master: What are you doing in your Master’s room in the middle of the night?
Carpenter: The night is long but I’m in no mood for sleeping
Master: Then how about we do something more interesting?!
Master: *rips* *tears* The texture of the back is not as good as that of the face
Unedited, please point out any mistakes
😏 The night is long but I’m in no mood for sleeping 😏 MTL you scoundrel!
Thank you Juri for the ko-fi!!!