Settling Down

The master and disciple entered Chaoge City through the southern gate. It was the greatest city in the land. 😲♖ 爪 🎁🔥

This was Lu Chuan's second time in Chaoge, and he wasn't in a hurry this time, so he could take a good look around this magnificent city.

Chaoge was enormous.

Judging by the towering walls, Lu Chuan estimated they were at least eighteen meters high, or about six zhang in ancient units.

The city was so vast that each side had nine gates, arranged in a pattern of one large opening flanked by two smaller ones.

High officials and nobles used the middle gate, while ordinary folk went through the two on either side.

The soldiers at the gate checked Lu Chuan's small bundle, then let the two of them into the city.

Inside the bundle were only the two coarse-cloth garments Lu Chuan had secretly taken with him when he decided to run away from home. They were neither valuable nor fine.

The passage through the gate was deep and dim. At its far end, the exit looked like a small, glowing opening.

Walking through it was like passing through a short tunnel. That alone gave some idea of how sturdy the city walls were.

Before they had even entered the city proper, Lu Chuan's ears were already abuzz with the cries of hawkers and vendors.

He couldn't help looking up again at the Royal Palace, which stood at the very heart of Chaoge City and was its most magnificent building.

But he still couldn't see anything.

Without Shen Gongbao sharing his "sight," he could see neither Yin Shang's National Destiny Black Bird nor that strange red glow.

But this time, Shen Gongbao didn't need to tell him who the demonic glow in the palace belonged to. Aside from the Nine-Tailed Fox possessing Daji, there was no one else it could be. «-(¯`v´¯)-« »-(¯`v´¯)-»

What puzzled Lu Chuan, though, was something else.

From what Shen Gongbao had said, his relationship with his fellow disciples at Yuxu wasn't especially close, but at least it had been normal.

On the day Jiang Ziya got married, Shen Gongbao had traveled a thousand miles to congratulate him and bring a gift. Today, he had even grown angry when King Zhou burned the sword Yun Zhongzi had presented.

He also seemed to know that the Investiture of the Gods Catastrophe was approaching.

If he knew the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation was coming, why would he later fall out with the Exposition Sect and become Jiang Ziya's sworn enemy?

"Strange!"

Lu Chuan muttered to himself, then hurried to catch up with Shen Gongbao.

Entertainment in this world was extremely limited, and there were no electronic devices. People's routines followed the old saying: "Work at sunrise and rest at sunset."

Everyone went to bed early, so of course they rose early too.

"Master, where are we going?"

After entering the city, Lu Chuan looked this way and that, but Shen Gongbao didn't spare the sights a glance. He simply strode onward.

"To eat!"

"So you're hungry, Master?" Lu Chuan asked with a grin.

"Your master attained the Dao long ago. I have no need to eat mortal food."

Shen Gongbao glanced at Lu Chuan's stomach. "But aren't you hungry?"

Lu Chuan hurriedly nodded. "I am!"

"Then come with me."

Shen Gongbao strode ahead, and Lu Chuan quickly followed. Before long, they arrived at a tavern.

There were no tables inside, only long, narrow dining benches. Seven or eight patrons sat on cushions, and most of the seats were still empty.

"Reverend, what would you like to eat?"

The waiter hurried over with a smile, his eyes on Shen Gongbao's Daoist robe.

Lu Chuan eyed the plates of meat on the other diners' tables and couldn't help swallowing.

"Two bowls of morning tea, four steamed buns, and two plates of vegetarian dishes," Shen Gongbao said, taking a seat by one of the benches.

"Certainly, Reverend. Just a moment. It'll be right out."

The waiter turned and left.

"Master, what did you say? Vegetarian food?" Lu Chuan asked in a hurry.

"Cultivating the Dao means cultivating both body and mind. If you can't even overcome a little craving for food, what kind of Dao are you going to cultivate?" Shen Gongbao said mildly. "At the beginning of your training, eating vegetarian food can help you clear your mind, curb your desires, and put aside distracting thoughts so you can cultivate more effectively. Understand?"

"I understand," Lu Chuan replied.

Jiang Ziya had eaten vegetarian food at Song Mansion, too. Among the disciples of the Exposition Sect, those who didn't eat simply didn't eat, while those who did mostly ate vegetarian food.

If it was good for cultivation, then he'd avoid meat when he could. It looked like he'd have to become a vegetarian from now on. If he couldn't even manage that, he could forget about cultivating the Dao or becoming an immortal.

After the meal, Shen Gongbao went to the counter and asked, "Shopkeeper, may I ask if there are any houses for sale nearby?"

"Houses?"

The shopkeeper paused, then thought it over. "Reverend, there aren't any houses for sale, but there's a shop nearby that can't stay in business and is about to be transferred."

"Where?"

The shopkeeper smiled. "Not far from here. Turn left outside, and it's the seventh shop."

"Thank you." Shen Gongbao added, "And how much is the bill? Sorry for the trouble, but please calculate it so I can settle up."

The shopkeeper glanced over and smiled. "Two steamed buns are one qian, each plate of vegetarian food is two qian, and each cup of morning tea is one qian. That's eight qian altogether."

Shen Gongbao nodded, pulled eight copper coins from his sleeve, and set them on the counter.

Then he turned back to Lu Chuan. "When you're finished, come find me on the left."

Lu Chuan was a little surprised, but nodded. He watched Shen Gongbao leave and head left.

"What's he gone to do?"

Lu Chuan was puzzled, but since Shen Gongbao had paid the bill before leaving, there was no need to worry.

"Shopkeeper, what did my master go to do?" Lu Chuan asked as he ate.

The shopkeeper was around forty and dressed in brocade. He looked well off; he was clearly a man of wealth and status.

"He was just asking whether there were any houses for sale around here," the shopkeeper replied.

"A house? What does he want one for?"

Lu Chuan was baffled. Shen Gongbao really was hard to read; he never knew what to expect.

He'd thought they were only going to spend a couple of days in Chaoge. He hadn't expected Shen Gongbao to suddenly want to buy a house. Was he planning to settle down in Chaoge?

After breakfast, Lu Chuan left the tavern and followed the shopkeeper's directions. He passed six shops to the left and found Shen Gongbao.

The shop wasn't very large. It sold wooden carvings, and the shelves were filled with all kinds of little carved figures—birds, beasts, insects, and fish.

A small courtyard with three rooms stood behind it.

When Lu Chuan went in, Shen Gongbao was paying. The owner was a middle-aged man in plain cloth clothing, with a simple, honest air about him. A little girl of eight or nine stood beside him.

The shop and all its wares changed hands for three hundred taels of silver.

"Wait..."

Just as Shen Gongbao was handing over the silver and receiving the deed from the owner, he suddenly spoke.

"Reverend, we've already agreed on the price. You can't back out now."

At that, Shen Gongbao handed over the silver and took the deed, smiling. "I'm not backing out. I'm just saying that from this moment on, we're even. The money and goods have changed hands."

"Very well!"

The owner nodded, then hurried off with his daughter. He had already packed up in preparation for the transfer.

The two of them watched the father and daughter leave. Lu Chuan asked, "Master, why did you buy this shop?"

"Your master has his reasons. You'll understand in time. Starting today, we'll settle down here in Chaoge."

Shen Gongbao said, "Next, I'll teach you military strategy, martial arts, and Daoist arts. You must study hard and prepare for what lies ahead..."

"Military strategy?" Lu Chuan asked. "Master, I can understand learning martial arts and Daoist arts, but isn't military strategy for leading troops into battle? What do I need it for?"

"Just learn it because I told you to."