Visitor from Changlin

Li Weiyi stood straight at the prow as the river wind howled around him, gazing toward distant Jiu Li City. Its walls were pitch-black and towering, while dozens of enemy-watchtowers several times taller than the walls stood upon the vast plains beyond the city. Armored soldiers rode flying birds out from the towers from time to time, vanishing into the clouds.

Along both banks of the great river beneath the towers, all manner of houses and grand residences clustered together, stretching for dozens of li. This was the outskirts of Jiu Li City, home to no fewer residents than the city itself.

Here, the Sui River split into four tributaries, flowing into the city through its four gates—Cangli Gate, Chili Gate, Moli Gate, and Qingli Gate. In addition, a twelve-zhang-wide moat had been excavated to draw in the river water and encircle the city in defense.

The moat, city walls, watchtowers, and even the entire main city of Jiu Li were all shrouded beneath layer upon layer of gauzy light screens.

These Light Veils varied in depth and flickered unpredictably, resembling the auroras that appeared only at Earth's Arctic and Antarctic. They rose from the ground and reached up into the clouds, capable of withstanding large-scale assaults by departed spirits and baleful demons.

The docks were packed with vessels of every size and kind, their masts and wind-flags dense as a forest.

After disembarking.

Li Ling was surrounded like the moon amid a host of stars. Most of them knew one another, laughing and chatting merrily. Some asked with concern about the dangers of the journey, some offered praise and compliments, while others suggested heading to Heavenly Pavilion that evening to welcome her and wash away the dust of travel.

These outstanding young talents were the absolute cream of the crop in an entire province. Some possessed deep reserves of dharma power, some had extraordinary mind power, and some were Pure Immortal Bodies. Not one was ordinary, and each was attended by servants and maidservants.

Li Weiyi looked them over and noticed that the old servants following these people all had eyes that shone like torches. Strands of dharma mist seeped from the pores of their skin—a sign of dharma power spilling over, which only appeared upon reaching the seventh spring at Spring Surge Peak.

Those able to follow such favored children of heaven were no ordinary servants; they held a certain status even within their families.

He searched around but saw neither Gao Huan nor Cai Yutong and the others.

Cangli naturally noticed Li Weiyi and nodded at him from afar. He had intended to come over and show some concern, but his friends laughed, shoved him along, and egged him on as they headed into the city. Left with no choice, he instructed an old servant at his side to receive them.

Li Ling had already been swallowed by the bustling crowd, gradually disappearing in the direction of the city gate.

The old servant Cangli had sent to receive them was not particularly old, only around fifty. His name was Li Qi, and he was unexpectedly an old acquaintance of Zhao Zhizhuo from their younger days. However, the former had already reached the seventh spring.

He said, "Tonight, the Young Tribe Leader and the others will certainly be going to Heavenly Pavilion to welcome Fourth Miss and wash away the dust of her journey. That is the most luxurious, most romantic place in Jiu Li City. Only children of great clans and top martial cultivators can afford to spend there. Brother Zhao went there in those days as well, so you should know something about it. The Young Tribe Leader gave orders just now that all of you may come along."

Li Qi did not know that Li Weiyi had once done the Cangli Tribe a favor. He merely thought the Young Tribe Leader was being overly generous and friendly. Yet in certain settings, if people who ought not to be there showed up, it would cause all sorts of awkwardness. Thus, though his words sounded like an invitation, every sentence was telling the people before him not to go.

As a servant, he could only put it tactfully. He could not be too blunt.

Li Weiyi had never wanted to become too deeply entangled with the Cangli Tribe, and he knew even more clearly that he was not yet qualified to touch that sort of extravagant romance. People from different worlds should not force themselves to fit in; the only one who would lose face was himself.

He understood the ways of the world. Thus, when Zhao Zhizhuo shot him an angry look, he smiled and waved his hand. "We can't go. We commoners in plain clothes and muddy boots wouldn't dare visit a place meant for grand occasions. Wouldn't going there only make the Young Tribe Leader lose face?"

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Li Qi's eyes, unnoticed by anyone. Young people who knew when to advance and when to retreat were far more likable.

Li Weiyi said, "But since the Young Tribe Leader has invited us, if we do not go, I'm afraid Elder Li will have a hard time explaining it. How about this? Convert it into silver coins, and we'll find somewhere to eat and stay for the night ourselves. Old Zhao, if all of us went to Heavenly Pavilion, how much would it cost?"

Zhao Zhizhuo caught on at once. "All of us? At the very least... a thousand silver coins!"

Li Weiyi looked at Li Qi with a smile.

After taking a brocade pouch containing a thousand silver coins from the displeased Li Qi, none of them felt the slightest bit happy.

"First respect fine clothes, then respect the man! I understand. Another day, we'll all get ourselves better clothes." Zhao Meng had kept his upper body bare. With his build, his clothes could only be specially tailored.

Zhao Zhizhuo recalled many events from the past and let out a long sigh. "How could it just be a matter of clothes?"

On the ship, Li Weiyi had discussed matters with Coffin Senior. The latter's advice was:

Do not move into the city proper for now.

Before their funds became substantial enough, they should not buy a residence either. They could first rent a large house in a prosperous area of the outskirts near the city proper. The density of heaven-and-earth dharma there would not be much inferior to that within the city, while the price would be far cheaper.

After Li Weiyi proposed renting a residence, Zhao Zhizhuo agreed completely.

He said, "Within the city proper, we won't suffer attacks from departed spirits and baleful demons. It seems safer, but it also makes it easier for people we cannot afford to provoke to set their eyes on us."

"The outskirts are somewhat more dangerous and full of all sorts of people, but what truly formidable figure would live in the outskirts? So even if someone targets us, we'll have some ability to deal with it."

"Taking ten thousand steps back, even if we encounter a large-scale assault by departed spirits, as long as we live close enough to the city proper, we can flee into the city at once."

Zhao Zhizhuo knew that Li Weiyi did not dare become too deeply involved with Cangli and Li Ling, nor did he wish to borrow the Cangli Tribe's power. Therefore, he considered the best solution based entirely on their own strength.

Over the next two days, Zhao Meng and Zhao Zhizhuo scoured the southern district of the outskirts before finally settling on a residence.

The front and rear courtyards combined covered three mu, with more than ten rooms. It was only several hundred zhang from the moat and stood in a bustling area of the outskirts. Everyone was satisfied in every regard—except the price.

The monthly rent was as high as one thousand three hundred silver coins.

All the money Li Weiyi had on him was enough for less than a year's rent.

There was no helping it. With Old Meng's six-meter-tall frame, as well as the two Deformed Race members, Old Liu and Old Guan, if the courtyard were any smaller, there would be no room for everyone to practice martial arts.

Li Weiyi had not been idle either. Over those two days, he made three trips into the city proper, spending three thousand silver coins at three separate places to purchase three Spring Breaking Needles.

The price was simply outrageous.

If not for suppressing the Evil Camel Bell and urgently charging toward the Fifth Spring, he truly would not have wanted to waste such money.

When Zhao Zhizhuo brought Old Liu and Old Guan back from buying all sorts of household goods and food, Li Weiyi was sitting on a chair beneath an old poplar tree in the front courtyard that took two people to encircle, counting money. At times his brow was tightly furrowed; at others, he sat motionless in thought.

Knock, knock!

Someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Old Liu hurriedly set down the various items and went to open it.

When he opened the gate and saw the three figures standing outside, Old Liu's face showed astonishment. Unable to communicate with them, he had no idea how to begin asking questions.

The man at the head of the group outside appeared to be in his forties or fifties. Fair-faced and beardless, he looked like a scholar. Though the years had worn him down, one could still see that he must have been extraordinarily handsome in his youth.

"Changlin Gang Banner Master Shi Chuan Yu, here to pay respects to the master of this residence." The scholar was exceedingly courteous, a genial smile on his face as he clasped his hands and bowed to Old Liu as well.

Li Weiyi put away the coins and strode quickly to the entrance, smiling. "The master of this residence is my Senior Brother. May I ask what brings you here?"

Shi Chuan Yu bowed again with a smile. "We live in this area as well. From now on, we'll be neighbors. Since you've moved into a new home, naturally we had to come offer our congratulations. A small token of regard—please accept it."

Shi Chuan Yu gave a meaningful look.

The two gang members behind him, each carrying gifts tied with red strings, walked straight through the courtyard gate.

Beneath the old poplar tree, Zhao Meng, the master of the residence, began conversing with Shi Chuan Yu.

The two chatted merrily.

Only when the time was ripe did Shi Chuan Yu turn serious. "You've only just arrived, so perhaps you don't know. Outside the city is nothing like inside it. It is often attacked by Departed Spirit Fiends. When things get bad, hundreds or even thousands of residents may die in a single night. Fortunately, we have a group of powerful Martial Cultivators who swiftly banded together and formed gangs, allowing us to withstand these dangers from beyond."

"The safety of this district falls under the responsibility of our Changlin Gang."

"But running a gang costs money. And when fighting Departed Spirit Fiends, quite a few of our members are killed or wounded. Medical expenses and settlement money for their families are unavoidable."

"So whether they are merchants or residents, everyone living in this district contributes a little money and grain each month, allowing us to keep operating and protect everyone better."

Zhao Meng understood. They had come to collect protection money. "When we rented this residence, we already paid city defense silver. Shouldn't attacks by Departed Spirit Fiends be handled by the City Defense Camp?"

Shi Chuan Yu laughed loudly. "The City Defense Camp is chiefly responsible for the city district itself. If they truly did their utmost, how could the outskirts be as chaotic as they are now? In truth, the gangs that emerged in response to the times all have the backing of the City Defense Camp or great families. By the way, Brother Zhao, how long do you intend to rent this place?"

"Let's rent it for one month first," Zhao Meng said.

"Since it's a short-term rental, we'll waive the Departed Spirit silver and Fiend silver. Times are hard for everyone. Come to the Changlin Gang for tea tomorrow. My treat."

Shi Chuan Yu and the two gang members took their leave. As they waved goodbye, they repeatedly told Zhao Meng not to see them out any farther.

After seeing them off and closing the gate, Zhao Meng felt that something was very wrong. Unease filled his heart as he asked Zhao Zhizhuo, "Are local gangs all this polite? Why do I have such a bad feeling?"

Zhao Zhizhuo's expression was extremely grim. "He didn't come to collect protection money. Perhaps he came to scout the place and probe our strength."

"You mean the Changlin Gang thinks we're outsiders without any backing, and they're planning to swallow us whole?" Li Weiyi asked.

Zhao Zhizhuo nodded. "That's what I think. Since they came to visit, it means they investigated us. If they had collected protection money, we could sleep soundly tonight. Since they didn't, I truly won't be able to sleep."

The three members of the Changlin Gang walked along a bustling street thronged with traffic.

A gang member who had opened four springs behind Shi Chuan Yu could not help asking, "Banner Master, are we really not collecting their Departed Spirit silver and Fiend silver? Those gifts may not be worth much, but our Changlin Gang isn't some charitable hall."

Shi Chuan Yu muttered to himself, "Those two have heavy accents. They should be refugees who fled here from another prefecture, and they won't have any foundation in Lizhou. If they can afford over a thousand silver a month in rent, they definitely have some wealth. What a fat sheep!"

Another gang member who had opened four springs said, "That Zhao fellow is built like a man six meters tall. His combat strength is likely no trifling matter."

Shi Chuan Yu snorted disdainfully. "All show and no substance. I clasped his hand earlier—he hasn't cultivated any dharma power. No matter how big he is, he can only do hard labor. Tonight, give them a proper send-off. Make it look like they were attacked by vicious insects. It has nothing to do with our Changlin Gang."

"From now on, keep anyone who comes out of that residence under control. There must be no accidents."

An old man who had opened six springs approached from the opposite direction and bowed to Shi Chuan Yu. "Banner Master, Eldest Miss Yang has arrived. The Gang Leader wants you to hurry over. It seems to be something very important."