"Stead cakes, hot stead cakes."
"Braised offal, braised offal..."
"Selling wonton here."
Among the crowd of vendors, a bamboo skewer full of sugar-coated haws swayed through the street and was stopped by a man and a woman. The man, dressed in a Daoist robe, handed over two copper coins without saying a word, took a skewer of sugar-coated haws, and the vendor wasted no ti, carrying his bamboo sticks onward.
The girl shyly but joyfully tasted the sugar-coated haws.
This was rely a small street scene in Nankuo County.
The real commotion was at the other end, outside the county governnt.
Drumbeats resounded; the grievance drum was beaten until it dented and bounced back. An elderly, well-dressed man in his fifties knocked his head to the ground as soon as the County Magistrate appeared.
"This humble citizen, Shou Ao Jia, has had his youngest daughter go missing for two days. I earnestly request the County Magistrate to help in finding her!"
Surrounding the scene were three circles of townspeople, many recognizing the old man as the reputable Shou Yuanwai, known for his benevolence, sparking a flurry of discussions.
"Shou Yuanwai... he... alas, good n don't always get their due."
"His daughter is unfortunate too, frail and sickly since childhood. Not long ago, a wandering doctor treated her, she had just begun to recover, and a marriage was arranged, then she was abducted. It's said her fiancé's family is frantic."
"Anyone would be anxious in this situation. Alas, it's been two days; fearing she might not be found."
Before long, an officer arrived to escort Shou Ao Jia inside, dispersing the onlookers, but unable to quell the escalating gossip.
Clear-minded people understood that a wealthy family like the Shous would discreetly search and anticipate a ransom demand when the young lady went missing. Going to the governnt openly to drum for grievances after two days ant they were looking for a corpse.
The disappearance of Shou Yuanwai's daughter spread like wildfire; gossip was inescapable on every street and alley, even more so in teahouses and taverns.
In tis of chaos, such heartrending stories kept erging.
Upon entering the town, Chen Yi and Yin Tingxue found a teahouse to rest, ordered three or four dishes, and while slowly enjoying them, they eavesdropped on the discussions within.
Places with a constant flow of people were always good for gathering information, regardless of its truth.
A group of porters, having had so liquor, loudly stated, "In tis like these, no hope of finding her anywhere."
"Golden belts for murder and arson, no remains for bridge builders and road repairers. Impossible to find her... I say, if the drum weren't sounded, they might at least preserve their reputation, avoiding gossip behind their backs."
"Hey, aren't you gossiping right now?"
"Guarding against people like , of course."
"Stop with the cold remarks, life and death are significant." Soone sighed. Although she wasn't dead, two days missing felt as good as dead to people. "The Shou family wants to see her alive or retrieve her body; otherwise, they'll just spin tales of an Immortal descending, taking her to the mountains to practice Taoism."
"Indeed, people are saying an Immortal took her away."
Yin Tingxue grasped the vegetables, silently eating, discomforted by the conversation.
Chen Yi, beside her, stayed silent, his expression unchanged; he had wandered Jianghu long enough to see such matters often.
The teahouse continued its idle chatter.
"Speaking of Immortals, have you heard an Immortal ca from Jiangxi?"
"Isn't that a wandering Taoist? Rumors of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Hero Conference—various Daoists attended."
"A true Immortal! Traveling with a crane, enlightening beasts, vanquishing demons, holding a white lotus, ard with Taoist Skill, and bearing a long sword on his back. It's said he ca from Yin Sword Mountain, nad Lu."
The words reached Chen Yi's ears, his brow slightly furrowed.
Jiangxi, Yin Sword Mountain, and the surna Lu… it certainly was Lu Ying whom they spoke of. Their paths diverged, yet both were nearing Dragon and Tiger Mountain, perhaps just a step apart.
Looking at the Immortal rumors, had Lu Ying gained so divine fate?
Chen Yi contemplated, thoughts tangled, his chopsticks slowed.
Having eaten while listening to the lively chatter of travelers, nearly an hour passed; Yin Tingxue beside him had already taken out a book to read. Chen Yi returned to his senses, a third of the dishes still remained.
After so thought, he decided to hasten to Dragon and Tiger Mountain without further delay and called to settle the bill.
The waiter saw the leftover dishes and brought a food box to pack them up, when suddenly soone shouted from outside.
"Wait a mont, esteed guests, spare so leftovers for a poor soul."
A beggar, shabby and pitiable, appeared from nowhere outside the door.
The beggar clasped his hands, a grin on his face. Seeing no reply, he pointed to the leftovers on the table. "Be kind; you can't finish it all, what's wrong with sparing a bit for ?"
Chen Yi stood still, Yin Tingxue was about to nod in agreent, but Chen Yi grinned, declining, "I simply dislike wasting food."
Saying that, he took the food box from the waiter, swiftly packing the food with his chopsticks.
"You!"
The beggar's face stiffened, pointing his finger.
But the grand Daoist tidied up, took the young Taoist by his side, and swaggered off.
The surrounding patrons saw this and murmured among themselves,
"That fortune teller is stingy, not even leaving a scrap."
"Don't be generous with others' things, it's not easy to earn a living."
"Everyone knows it's hard, but stingy is stingy. Hey, I've so leftovers for you."
One patron wanted to extend kindness, yet the beggar vanished without a trace, leaving him nowhere to be found.
....
The mighty river surged on, its water vast and expansive. A large ship slowly departed, with Chen Yi and Yin Tingxue renting a cabin within.
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