Shang Family

Reality proves that those who can talk are not necessarily Yao Beasts; they might just be parrots.

"What kind of Yao Bird is this!"

Lu Yang flew into a rage. A suction force appeared in his palm, instantly pulling the parrot over. The parrot didn't even have a chance to react before it was captured.

The Township Chief could also do this, but he thought this was some Qi Refining Realm or Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beast and didn't dare to.

"Yao Beast! There's a Yao Beast!" the parrot chirped incessantly.

Tao Yaoye heard the commotion in the room and hurried over to check, feeling much like Lu Yang.

Completing the mission was a good thing, and not having to fight was also a good thing, but the problem was that they had come all the way from the Dao Seeking Sect, spending three days on a Flying Boat, just to catch a parrot?

How was she supposed to write the mission report? People would laugh at her.

The people of Taiping Township had little experience and didn't recognize this kind of bird from the depths of the rainforest, but Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye did. This was the most basic knowledge in the Dao Seeking Sect.

"As expected of a Daoist priest, easily capturing the Yao Bird!" The Township Chief and others, upon learning that the parrot had been caught, praised Lu Yang, saying his cultivation was profound.

The two were helpless and patiently explained to everyone that this was a very common bird, just not often seen in the northern part of the continent.

"This parrot... or rather, the Yao Bird as you call it, is best at imitating human speech."

"Imitating human speech, imitating human speech," the parrot kept chirping beside them. Lu Yang pinched the parrot's beak and continued to explain to everyone.

"It calls Zhang Guanjia a monster, not because it wants to call him that, but because it heard Feng the Tailor call 'monster' before, and it just learned it. When it met Zhang Guanjia, it happened to repeat it."

Zhang Guanjia breathed a sigh of relief. As expected of a Dao Seeking Sect disciple, he had cleared his name as soon as he arrived.

"Similarly, when it shouts, 'Who are you? Where is Zhang Guanjia?' it's the same. It doesn't understand the meaning of the sentence; it just heard it somewhere and repeats it meaninglessly."

"Damn it, this broken bird. Watch me kill it," Zhang Guanjia said, feeling enraged at the sight of the parrot.

Lu Yang raised his hand, stopping Zhang Guanjia: "This place is separated from the rainforest by half a continent. This bird certainly didn't fly here on its own; it must have been brought here by someone."

"Aside from someone being bored enough to bring this parrot, which has no use other than being a novelty, across half a continent, only the Falling Gold Coin Merchant Association would do something like this on purpose."

"Is there a Falling Gold Coin Merchant Association here?"

The Township Chief shook his head: "Merchant associations wouldn't open in our poor, remote little place. However, there is one in Quhe County, located in the most prosperous area, with a constant stream of customers. It's possible someone bought it from the merchant association, and the parrot accidentally escaped."

As for the parrot escaping directly from the Falling Gold Coin Merchant Association, that was absolutely impossible.

Lu Yang asked again, "This bird has been circling around Taiping Township for twenty days and hasn't gone anywhere else. Perhaps its owner is here. I wonder if the Township Chief has any ideas?"

The Township Chief thought for a long time before saying, "Everyone in our township knows about the Yao Bird. If there's anyone who might not know, it would be the Shang Family in the east."

"The Shang Family rarely goes out and is unwilling to talk to people. It's said that the Shang Family head is also a cultivator who suffered setbacks in his youth, causing his cultivation to plummet. Since then, he has lost his desire for cultivation and has lived in seclusion here."

"The Shang Family's wealth is also considerable; they are the local richest family. If they bought the Yao Bird from the Falling Gold Coin Merchant Association, it would make sense."

"If that's the case, then let's go ask the Shang Family."

Taiping Township wasn't big, and the three of them and the bird quickly arrived at the Shang Family's door.

After a series of knocks, someone quickly opened the door. It was a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache, dressed in a Confucian robe, looking refined and cultured.

"Oh, it's the Township Chief. I wonder who these two are? I'll report it to the master," the mustached man said.

Lu Yang pinched the parrot's wings, like he was carrying a chicken to be slaughtered during the New Year: "We accidentally found this parrot. After asking around, we thought it might belong to the Shang Family, so we came to inquire."

The mustached man first saw Tao Yaoye and was surprised. He had never seen a woman as beautiful as Tao Yaoye.

He then looked at the green parrot, revealing a joyful smile: "So that's how it is. Thank you both, young heroes. This should be our young lady's parrot. Ever since the parrot was lost, she has been depressed all day, making it very difficult for us servants."

"The young lady will be so happy to know that the parrot has been found."

The Township Chief tilted his head and whispered, "He's the Shang Family's steward, surnamed Zhang. He's the one who always opens the door for me whenever I come to the Shang Family."

Steward Zhang hurried off to report and quickly received a reply.

"The master invites the three of you in."

Passing through the screen door, through the outer courtyard, from the second gate to the corridor and then to the main house, they finally met the Shang Family head.

The Shang Family head was portly, with a gloomy expression on his face that kept people at a distance, unwilling to engage in much conversation. However, upon seeing the Township Chief, it was clear that he was quite happy.

"Brother Huang, it's been a long time."

The Township Chief's surname was Huang.

The two clasped their hands in greeting.

The Shang Family head examined the parrot for a moment and nodded: "Yes, there's no mistake. This is what my daughter bought from the Falling Gold Coin Merchant Association in the county. At the time, I thought this broken bird wasn't worth much, but the merchant association was asking for the sky. My daughter refused to give in and insisted on buying it, so I had to let her have her way."

"Steward Zhang, take the two young heroes to see Xiao Yuan."

"Yes, Master."

Steward Zhang made a gesture of invitation and beckoned a maid to bring tea and water for the Shang Family head and Huang Township Chief.

On the way, Tao Yaoye casually asked, "How long has Steward Zhang been with the Shang Family?"

Steward Zhang respectfully said, "The master saved me on his way into seclusion. Since then, I have been serving the master. Counting the time, it has been twenty years. The young lady wasn't even born then."

"So, the young lady Shang and you must have a very good relationship."

"To be honest, young heroes, I watched the young lady grow up. I have no children of my own, so I treat the young lady as my own daughter. The young lady is depressed all day, and it pains me, as her steward, to see it."

Lu Yang suddenly asked, "Were you there when the parrot was lost?"

Steward Zhang sighed, his tone filled with self-reproach, "I was distracted at the time and didn't notice the parrot flying away. If I had paid more attention, I certainly wouldn't have let Miss Tao Yaoye be so upset. It was my dereliction of duty."

Lu Yang responded with an "oh" and said nothing more.

Steward Zhang knocked three times lightly and said unhurriedly, "Miss Tao Yaoye, the parrot that escaped has been found. Two young heroes traveling the pugilistic world brought it back."

A voice came from the room: "Then let them in."

"Yes."

Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye opened the door. Miss Shang Family leaned against the window, quietly reading a book. The evening sunlight shone on her hair, as if time had stopped, creating a static beauty.

In Taiping Township, countless young men were infatuated with Miss Shang Family.

Lu Yang kindly reminded her, "Reading in the sunlight is bad for your eyes, especially in the evening. Light a lamp; it's not like your father is short on money."