Small Pond Town

Small Pond Town.

Jiang Ming entered the town and found that quite a few people lived there. Houses and shops lined the streets, while hawkers and peddlers on both sides cried out without pause. The whole place was lively, bustling, and full of life.

Seeing how vibrant the town was, with pedestrians looking spirited rather than listless, Jiang Ming found no sign whatsoever of demon foxes invading. Presumably, Six-Tails, who had been wounded by Shangguan Ce, was still hiding from place to place with Three-Tails and had not yet reached Small Pond Town. All he needed to do was see the Full Moon Well. Still, he was curious—what would he see in it on the night of a full moon?

Though he had traveled by sword these past few days, hunting wild beasts when hungry and drinking mountain spring water when thirsty, it had not truly been difficult. Even so, Jiang Ming had become rather travel-worn. Before visiting the Full Moon Well in Small Pond Town, he needed to eat and drink his fill. He decided to find a restaurant, order a few dishes, and have a proper meal. He could also wash up and freshen himself. After all, those bats at Kong Sang Mountain had disgusted him terribly. Just thinking about them now—ugh. Disgusting!

He arrived at a restaurant called Customers Welcome Inn. The moment he stepped inside, an exceedingly enthusiastic waiter hurried over to greet him. After a brief exchange, Jiang Ming was arranged into a fine room in the rear courtyard. Once he had washed up and changed into clean, handsome clothes, he went to the front courtyard, found a seat by the window, and had the waiter bring out several house specialties.

After a while, the waiter served several plates of stir-fried dishes. Just as Jiang Ming was about to pick up his chopsticks and enjoy the food, a voice abruptly interrupted him. It carried both anxiety and urgency. "Ah, young man, dark clouds hang over your head, your brow has turned black, and your face bears the aura of death. Disaster is at hand!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ming set down his chopsticks and looked for the source of the voice. An old man had suddenly appeared beside his table, holding a bamboo pole with a white cloth banner hanging from it. Four words were written upon it: Immortal Guides the Way. His beard and hair were entirely white, and his face was plain and ordinary, yet he somehow resembled a lofty cultivator who had attained the Dao. At first glance, he inspired a degree of respect. Beside him stood a little girl around five or six years old, with two braids and a lively, adorable appearance.

If those words had been spoken in Jiang Ming's previous life, absolutely no one would have believed them. Nine and a half out of ten people who said such things were frauds, and even the remaining half only knew enough to fool people. But this was the world of Zhu Xian. There was only one person who would say such things while traveling with a little girl: Zhou Yi Xian.

Speaking of Zhou Yi Xian, Jiang Ming believed that he might be the 13th Generation Successor of Ancestor Qing Yunzi—the successor of the missing branch among Qing Yun Zi's ten great disciples. After all, Qing Yun Zi, the founding ancestor of Qingyun Sect, had originally been a wandering physiognomist. He had spent half his life down on his luck, traveling everywhere. When he passed Qingyun Mountain, he discovered that it was a treasure land of excellent feng shui. Thus, he climbed the mountain to cultivate the Dao and obtained a Nameless Ancient Scroll in a hidden cave. Only after achieving success in cultivation did he establish his sect.

Moreover, Zhou Yi Xian had claimed more than once that he was connected to Qingyun. In particular, the books on physiognomy he had given Zhou Xiao Huan—Nine Calculations of Fate and Jade Pillar Physiognomy—had been described by him as teachings passed down by their ancestor Qing Yun Zi. This showed just how deep his connection to Qingyun was.

Jiang Ming knew that Zhou Yi Xian could be called the "Zhu Xian Encyclopedia." There was almost nothing he did not know. Even Dao Xuan had praised his Escape Technique, saying, "When it comes to such an extraordinary art, I fear no one else in the world can surpass you."

Jiang Ming was quite interested in the Escape Technique. After all, it was a form of arcane arts and divination. Zhou Yi Xian stood beside his table, staring at him with an expression that said calamity was about to befall him. Just as Zhou Yi Xian was about to say something more, Jiang Ming suddenly interrupted him.

"You are Zhou Yi Xian and Zhou Xiao Huan, correct? Jiang Ming of Qingyun Sect's Da Zhu Peak lineage greets you, sir." Before Zhou Yi Xian could react, Jiang Ming turned and cupped his hands toward him in greeting.

Zhou Yi Xian's expression changed dramatically. He looked as though he had seen a ghost, his face filled with disbelief. He then said to Jiang Ming, "You know us? ...No, that cannot be right. How could a Qingyun Sect disciple know this old man? That should be impossible! This is our first meeting, isn't it?"

"Please, have a seat. Your granddaughter must be hungry as well. I have food and wine here. If you do not mind, you may join me." Jiang Ming ignored Zhou Yi Xian's surprise and simply invited him and his granddaughter Xiao Huan to sit.

"Then I shall not stand on ceremony." Seeing that Jiang Ming did not answer him directly but instead invited him to sit, Zhou Yi Xian glanced at Xiao Huan. Unafraid, he led her calmly to the seats opposite Jiang Ming. Looking at the untouched food and wine on the table, his face was full of longing.

Once Zhou Yi Xian sat down, Jiang Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They say that when you eat someone's food, you are bound to be lenient; when you take someone's money, you are bound to help. I'll treat you to a meal, sweet-talk you afterward, give you some money, then make my request. Won't you obediently take the money and do the job?

"Eat first. We can discuss any questions after the meal." Jiang Ming no longer looked at Zhou Yi Xian. He picked up his chopsticks again and began eating heartily, paying no heed to his own image.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi Xian quickly pulled Xiao Huan along, served her some dishes, and joined the meal. Half an hour later, after they had finished eating, Zhou Yi Xian and Jiang Ming began staring at each other.

Unable to endure Jiang Ming's gaze any longer, Zhou Yi Xian had no choice but to speak first. "Boy, can you talk now? If you keep silent, this old man is leaving."

"How I know you is not important. What is important is that I have this... and I would like to ask you for a small favor." Jiang Ming took out a large sum of money from his Storage Ring, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Zhou Yi Xian.

The instant Zhou Yi Xian saw the large pile of money pushed his way, he froze. His eyes gleamed red, and he looked barely able to restrain himself, yet his mouth said, "How could I possibly accept that? Go on, then. What favor do you want this great immortal to do for you?"

"I want a map showing the distribution of all kinds of spiritual beasts and exotic beasts, and... your Escape Technique." Jiang Ming made it sound as simple as lifting a finger. Ignoring Zhou Yi Xian's horrified old face, he sat calmly in his chair.

"You know this old man so well? You even know that I possess an Escape Technique?" Zhou Yi Xian's expression shifted slightly. He gave Zhou Xiao Huan a meaningful look, then grabbed his granddaughter's hand, clearly prepared to flee at any moment.

Seeing Zhou Yi Xian's surprise and that he was preparing to use his Escape Technique to flee the restaurant, Jiang Ming released a massive sword intent that locked onto him. Yet he said, "Sir, I bear no ill intentions. I have merely always been curious about spiritual beasts, exotic beasts, and strange arts. I only wish to broaden my knowledge and learn a little. Please, for the sake that we share the same ancestor, grant this small request of mine. Naturally, the reward will not be small. Xiao Huan has followed you wandering everywhere at such a young age. She must have suffered quite a bit, hasn't she?"

Though Zhou Xiao Huan was young, she had traveled far and wide through the martial world with Zhou Yi Xian since childhood and had seen much. She had also studied physiognomy from an early age and attained considerable skill. She immediately said to Zhou Yi Xian, "Grandpa, I think this big brother is not a bad person. He has 'large, bright, rounded eyes, graceful brows, a rounded nose tip, and full cheekbones.' Besides, that shabby Escape Technique of yours often cannot even control its direction. There is nothing special about it, much less those ferocious spiritual beasts..."

"...Mm... then... all right." Seeing Jiang Ming speak so sincerely, hearing his granddaughter Zhou Xiao Huan say that Jiang Ming's features did not belong to a bad man, and knowing that his shabby Escape Technique truly was nothing remarkable, Zhou Yi Xian agreed to Jiang Ming's request.