Changling County

"Have you heard? The main peak of Taiyi Mountain, dozens of miles from our Changling County... vanished into thin air under the midday sun!"

"Is that true?!"

"Absolutely! Those farmers tilling the fields saw it with their own eyes!"

The young attendant wiped the table while gesturing mysteriously with his left hand. "At that moment, a thick fog covered the mountain, and the sea of clouds churned, like a celestial anomaly. The farmers had to stop their work. But when the mist cleared, the towering main peak of Taiyi Mountain had already disappeared from sight!"

"Legend has it that the newly emerged Taiyi Immortal Sect, seeing that the mortal realm was safe, returned to their mountain and went into seclusion once more."

"Huh? I heard it was called the Supreme Great Dao Immortal Sect?"

"It was clearly the Heaven-Piercing Profound Myriad Things Return to One Supreme Enlightenment Sacred Sect! Your news is really out of date."

"Alas! What a pity. If I had known earlier, I should have gone to Taiyi Mountain to try my luck. If I could have met an immortal... that would truly be a blessing for three lifetimes!"

The slightly noisy sounds echoed ceaselessly inside and outside the wine shop.

Regarding the sudden disappearance of Taiyi Mountain, people naturally chattered about it, with all sorts of rumors circulating.

But for Lin Tianlu, who was also sitting in the wine shop, this topic made him feel rather conflicted.

I'm still from the Self-Guarding Sect.

It's just a bare mountaintop with a few more weeds. How did these people blindly invent so many flowery sect names?

However--

He still breathed a sigh of relief.

"Such a huge commotion was made, but thankfully, no one except Hua Shuya knows I came down from the mountain."

And Hua Shuya was clearly not one to gossip, so she hadn't spread the matter around carelessly.

But that Taiyi Mountain...

It had disappeared so suddenly that even he was completely bewildered.

By the time Hua Shuya also noticed something was wrong, that girl mistakenly thought he had used immortal means to take away the mountain peak. She looked at him with sparkling eyes the entire way.

He patiently explained, but she instead put on a "I understand, I understand" expression, which truly gave him a headache.

"Customer! What would you like?"

A young attendant quickly approached with a fawning smile, though his eyes held a hint of surprise.

He had worked in this wine shop for over ten years and served countless customers. The scholar before him was covered in dust, his white robes slightly yellowed, clearly a destitute individual. Yet, looking at his face, he inexplicably had a gentle aura that made people feel close, his demeanor ethereal and unfathomable, as if he were a person of extraordinary status.

Strange, strange!

The attendant was filled with suspicion.

Lin Tianlu put aside his thoughts, pondered for a moment, and said, "A cup of clear wine, and a few plates of snacks."

"Certainly!"

The attendant quickly responded, not losing his politeness despite Lin Tianlu's dirty and worn clothing.

Not long after, several dishes and wine cups were served one by one.

Lin Tianlu picked up his chopsticks and looked at the steaming hot dishes on the table, sighing with emotion.

Unknowingly, he hadn't eaten anything for half a month.

In the first two days on the mountain, he had panicked and worried about it for a while, but as he slowly got used to it, he forgot to consider food.

But no matter what, he could finally calm down and have a proper meal.

Although he missed cola and burgers more right now.

A "finger-licking good" original recipe chicken would be even better.

"..."

Just as Lin Tianlu was about to put the pickled beef into his mouth, he hesitated for a moment, quietly put down his chopsticks, and looked towards the door with a smile.

A short figure quickly retreated back to the door.

"No need to hide. Sit down and have a good meal."

"...Really, really?"

The child timidly poked half his head out again.

Lin Tianlu smiled, "Of course, a scholar would never lie."

The child hesitated and deliberated for a long time, then secretly glanced at the other people in the shop. Seeing that no one had noticed his presence, he sneakily slipped into the shop.

Judging by his appearance, he was no more than ten years old, covered in dirt, his clothes full of worn patches, clearly a pitiable child begging for survival in the streets.

"Eat."

Lin Tianlu picked up his wine cup and took a sip.

This wine... was quite bland.

A few drops of white wine mixed into boiled water?

The child swallowed, quickly wiped his hands, and unable to resist the temptation of food, began to eat cautiously.

Perhaps sensing his guard was down, the child ate ravenously, clearly famished.

Lin Tianlu glanced at the child's neck and wrists, catching sight of wounds that hadn't fully healed, and sighed inwardly.

The world he'd transmigrated into didn't seem peaceful... or rather, no matter the era or how prosperous it was, such impoverished families would always exist.

As he ate quietly, the young waiter who had served the food approached with a troubled expression.

"Sir, this child..."

"Bring two more plates of food, and add a steamed bun," Lin Tianlu said with a slight smile, taking out some broken silver from his pocket. "More meat."

The waiter's eyes lit up, and he bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Taking the silver, the waiter excitedly hurried towards the kitchen.

The beggar child stared blankly at the waiter's retreating back, lost in thought, even forgetting to chew the food in his mouth.

"Are you looking at the money, or the person?" Lin Tianlu suddenly asked.

The child blinked and whispered, "He wouldn't let me near the restaurant before."

Lin Tianlu smiled calmly. "That's his job. If beggars disturb other customers, he'll be the one punished."

The child lowered his head and remained silent.

Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled.

He wasn't planning to lecture a beggar child on life's great philosophies or offer guidance. Without money, it was all meaningless. Anything he said would just be pretty words that only moved himself.

"Child, this meal isn't free," Lin Tianlu said, seeing the child tremble. He quickly continued, "But if you can answer a few small questions for me, I'll treat you to this meal."

The child swallowed the food in his mouth and quickly asked, "What do you want to know, sir?!"

"In this world, do immortal cultivation sects exist?"

"Im... immortal cultivation sects?" The child looked utterly bewildered and shook his head. "I don't know. I've never heard anyone talk about them... at most, they're just topics of casual conversation."

Only existing in folk legends?

If that's the case, then the reason my predecessor and Hua Shuya went to Taiyi Mountain was simply to try their luck.

Perhaps this world has no trace of immortals?

Lin Tianlu considered for a moment and continued, "Then, in this world, are there any spirits, demons, malevolent gods, or mountain monsters?"

The child shook his head again, but then nodded with uncertainty.

"What do you mean?"

"I, I'm not sure," the child said, clutching his hands. "I haven't encountered any vengeful spirits or fierce ghosts. I've only heard about them from adults... but it's different from immortal sects. When those adults talked about these things, they sounded very serious, and... it seems there have been murder cases in town."

"Have there really been deaths?"

"Just a few days ago... a concubine died in Steward Li's house on East Street," the child whispered. "I happened to pass by and take a look. The concubine's body was placed in the ancestral hall, covered with a white cloth. Many Taoist priests were performing rituals to ward off evil spirits, and it looked very mysterious."

Lin Tianlu mused.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the restaurant shifted. The previously noisy environment became much quieter.

Lin Tianlu turned his head and saw a beautiful figure quietly enter the establishment.

The charming and radiant face belonged to Hua Shuya, whom he had parted with not long ago. She had shed her outer robe, revealing a graceful and well-proportioned figure, her beauty exquisite and flawless, her smile gentle. The noble aura she exuded caused many nearby customers to look on in admiration.

The young woman gracefully approached the table and bowed to Lin Tianlu.

"I apologize for disturbing your meal, Senior. It was thoughtless of me."

"No need for formalities. I wasn't hungry," Lin Tianlu said with a smile, finishing his drink and rising. "The families of those murdered farmers..."

"I have already made arrangements. Each household has been compensated with a hundred taels of silver, twenty bolts of silk, and provisions. For their children, I have contacted local schools to provide them with the opportunity to learn and read."

"Cough..."

Lin Tianlu nearly choked. He looked at the young woman before him with utter astonishment.

This isn't just kindness; this girl... she's a real rich woman!

Although he had only just arrived in Changling County, he had observed the local prices along the way. One tael of silver could probably cover food and drink at this restaurant for several months.

The beggar child beside them was equally stunned, frozen in shock.

This money... he probably couldn't save it in three lifetimes of begging.

Hua Shuya looked at him with some confusion. "Senior, is my compensation not adequate?"

"It's more than enough! More than enough!"

Lin Tianlu exclaimed, "I had no idea you were... from such a well-off family."

"I am merely fortunate to have the blessings of my ancestors. I am truly ashamed."

Hua Shuya quickly glanced at the beggar child by the table. "Senior, this child is..."

"Just treating him to a meal."

"I see."

With a gentle smile, she leaned forward and patted the child's head. "It is your good fortune to receive the attention of an immortal. Take this money and buy yourself some new clothes later."

Speaking, she took out a silver ingot from her embrace and stuffed it into the child's tattered cloth pocket.

Before the stunned beggar could snap out of his daze, Hua Shuya smiled and waved goodbye, leaving the restaurant with Lin Tianlu under everyone's astonished gaze.

"..."

The child dazedly pressed the bulging pocket in his embrace, unable to recover for a long time.

"Immortal...?"

Clutching the silver ingot in his embrace tightly, he remained silent for a long while before finally taking it out and slamming it on the table.

"Shop... shopkeeper! I want to exchange this money for... grain!"

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