Putting on an act

"Um..."

"Verdant Green Maiden?"

Li Yu stood by the covered walkway and called softly to her.

Verdant Green Maiden turned toward him, narrowing her eyes.

Seeing his cautious expression, she could not help frowning. "What's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly so afraid of me? Do you think... what I just did wasn't quite what you expected of a goddess? So now you feel as though your illusions have been shattered?"

Li Yu nodded at her words.

"A little."

"Hey, you actually admitted it?"

Verdant Green Maiden raised an eyebrow.

Somewhat helpless, Li Yu signaled to Li Zhengyan with his eyes.

Li Zhengyan nodded and approached with a blanket in his arms.

"Master, here..."

Verdant Green Maiden smiled and accepted the blanket Li Zhengyan brought her, then said to Li Yu, "Li Yu, go outside and see if there's anyone suspicious out there."

Hearing this, Li Yu frowned instead. "Anyone suspicious?"

"Yes."

Verdant Green Maiden nodded.

Li Yu considered it for a moment.

"All right."

"I'll send someone to check."

There were not many people he could command, but anyone who answered his call was someone he could trust.

Li Yu sent someone to make a few rounds outside, and sure enough, they discovered Hou Moch'en Liyong wandering nearby in his Daoist robes.

He stood out quite a bit.

He was even holding up a banner and seemed to be calling out.

Upon seeing him, the subordinate immediately returned to report.

"A Daoist?"

Li Yu frowned.

Surely there was nothing wrong with someone simply being a Daoist.

His Majesty of the Zhao Song revered the Daoist sect.

Who knew how many Daoists there were throughout Kaifeng Prefecture? Encountering one here was perfectly normal.

Verdant Green Maiden laughed when she heard this and nodded. "That's him!"

"Him?"

Li Yu looked