A mistaken assumption

Looks like that fellow has been keeping an eye on me all along...

At that thought, Yi Shuyuan gained a little more respect for Chu Hang. The man had clearly seen something last time, yet had managed to hold back this long without coming to find him.

Still, the kindness Chu Hang had shown in directing that child to him was enough for Yi Shuyuan to decide that, given the chance, he would seek Chu Hang out for a chat himself.

With that thought, Yi Shuyuan beckoned toward the Library. The ebony and books on the desk instantly rose into the air, then flew into his hands. Once he had put them away, he left the Library.

Time to eat first. I'll splurge today and go to the Tongxin Pavilion to satisfy my appetite.

It had to be said that Yi Shuyuan's work afforded him remarkable freedom. It was not even mealtime yet, but no one stopped him from going out. Before long, he arrived at the entrance to the Tongxin Pavilion, diagonally across from the County Office.

The morning market bustled along the street. Most vendors who had come into town early to sell mountain produce and farm goods were packing up their stalls. People streamed to and fro, but few entered the restaurants; it was not time to eat yet, after all.

Outside the Tongxin Pavilion, a waiter spotted Yi Shuyuan and immediately greeted him warmly.

"Mr. Yi, you're here! Please, come inside!"

The breakfast guests had left, and noon had yet to arrive, making this a quiet stretch for the restaurants and taverns. The proprietor was recording accounts while flicking his abacus beads. Hearing the call outside, he turned to greet Yi Shuyuan with a smile.

"Mr. Yi, you've finally come to our humble establishment! I was beginning to think our dishes weren't to your taste!"

Yi Shuyuan smiled at that. This proprietor certainly knew how to draw people closer.

"Hahaha, you're worrying too much. My purse was simply feeling rather bashful. See? I've come as soon as I received my pay."

The proprietor's smile grew even brighter.

"What are you saying, Mr. Yi? If you come here to dine, we must offer you a few dishes on the house! Would you like a seat upstairs today?"

Yi Shuyuan glanced around the main hall. Hardly anyone was eating there, so he naturally nodded and prepared to go upstairs.

"Upstairs, then."

The waiter beside him called toward the staircase.

"One guest for the upstairs seating-"

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the proprietor, Yi Shuyuan followed the waiter upstairs. Only two tables were occupied there, one beside the staircase and the other by a window.

Yi Shuyuan glanced around a few times, then accompanied the waiter to a window.

"Mr. Yi, have a seat and enjoy the street view. I'll pour you some tea. Our Tongxin Pavilion's Eight Delicacies, steamed meat patties, braised seasonal fish, stir-fried fresh bamboo shoots, and pigeon soup are all delicious. If there's anything else you'd like, just name the dish. If our kitchen knows it, we can make it! Please, have some tea first!"

The waiter was clearly well practiced at his work. As he listed dishes and offered recommendations, he poured the tea and handed it to Yi Shuyuan.

"Mm, then I'll have the stuffed lamb tripe, braised seasonal fish, stir-fried fresh bamboo shoots, and pigeon soup. A pot of wine, too."

"Certainly! Please wait a moment, sir. I'll have the kitchen start right away!"

The waiter went downstairs cheerfully.

Yi Shuyuan had ordered wine after all. Ever since drinking with the Mountain God up in the mountains, he had found its flavor hard to forget. Though the County Office discouraged drinking during the day for fear it would interfere with official duties, Yi Shuyuan believed that, as he was now, one pot of wine was hardly enough to lay him low.

Sipping his tea, Yi Shuyuan gazed out at the street. People moved ceaselessly along this busiest thoroughfare in Yuanjiang County, both locals and visitors from elsewhere.

As one of the county towns along the E River waterway, Yuanjiang County was no major hub, but it had a fairly decent wharf outside town where many passing boats occasionally stopped.

Thus, unfamiliar faces could always be seen on Yuanjiang County's streets, and accents from distant places could always be heard.

Yi Shuyuan's eyes gradually grew unfocused, as though his gaze had extended and spread across the entire street. The diverse streams of people seemed to blur in his eyes, becoming colors of varying shapes, interwoven into a scroll painting of the bustling human world.

His gaze slowly drew back and regained its focus. Yi Shuyuan lowered his eyes to the teacup in his hand and swirled it gently. The water and tea leaves inside slowly turned with the movement.

"Ah, this human world..."

The tea swirled slowly within the cup. As Yi Shuyuan watched it, he seemed to drift into a reverie again.

Suddenly, Yi Shuyuan sensed something and looked out the window. On the lengthwise branch of the three-way intersection, a figure seemed to be heading toward the County Office. It was Wu Minggao's nephew, Chu Hang.

Yi Shuyuan brought his true qi into resonance with his own spiritual qi and spoke softly in that direction.

"Brother Chu, if you have nothing pressing to do, come to the Tongxin Pavilion for a chat."

Chu Hang visibly froze at the intersection. First, he instinctively looked around, then registered the meaning of those words and looked up toward the Tongxin Pavilion diagonally across the street. At a second-floor window, he saw a somewhat familiar figure.

From that far away? Yet it sounded as though he were speaking right beside me?

Chu Hang's astonishment lasted only an instant. Delight soon appeared on his face, and he hurried toward the Tongxin Pavilion.

A little while later, Chu Hang came upstairs and approached the window.

"When Mr. Yi invites me, how could I dare refuse?"

"Let's dispense with the courtesies. Sit down. I've already ordered. We'll have the waiter bring another set of bowls and chopsticks in a moment, and call this lunch."

"Hahahaha, wonderful!"

As Chu Hang answered, he took a teacup and poured himself some tea. After just a small sip, he immediately voiced his praise.

"Excellent tea! You must have ordered the Tongxin Pavilion's Upper Plum Spring Tea, Mr. Yi?"

Yi Shuyuan smiled without saying anything. This tea was provided free at every table in the Tongxin Pavilion. It certainly was not Upper Plum Spring Tea.

"Brother Chu, you were the one who told that child to ask me about his mother, weren't you?"

"Er, did I cause you trouble, sir?"

Chu Hang looked a little embarrassed. He had thought the child did not know him, but now that he considered it, even if the child truly did not, that hardly meant Mr. Yi would not know.

"I thought he was rather pitiful, and felt that perhaps you might know something others didn't, Mr. Yi, so I told him to ask you. After all, people were saying his mother might already have..."

Having witnessed the strange incident of Yi Shuyuan visiting the City God Temple with his own eyes, Chu Hang felt that Yi Shuyuan ought to know whether the child's mother had passed away.

Yi Shuyuan froze at those words. Well, well, you've got quite a few little schemes tucked away! If that child's mother really had died, wouldn't that have left me to play the 'villain'?

"By the way, Mr. Yi, that child's mother-just what..."

"Don't worry. His mother is fine!"

Yi Shuyuan's reply carried a note of irritation.

"Oh, oh, that's good!"

"Here come the dishes-"

At that moment, the waiter's loud call came from the staircase. He hurried over carrying a tray, then set the dishes down.

"Stuffed lamb tripe, stir-fried fresh bamboo shoots, pigeon soup, and a pot of wine. Please begin, gentlemen. They're still preparing the fish! Mr. Yi, you'll need to cut open the stuffed lamb tripe with a knife. Shall I help you?"

"No need. Go about your work!"

"Certainly!"

The waiter left with his tray, while Yi Shuyuan's attention had already been captured by the food. The stir-fried bamboo shoots and soup looked fairly standard, but the stuffed tripe was not a whole stomach. It seemed that a lamb's stomach had been cut into several sheets, each wrapped into a bowl-sized parcel like this one.

Yi Shuyuan picked up the small knife the waiter had left and cut open the tripe parcel tied with fine hemp cord. Lamb, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and fried tofu puffs spilled out with the juices, and a rich, savory fragrance rose with the steam.

That smells wonderful!

"Brother Chu, whatever you have to say can wait. Let's pick up our chopsticks and eat."

"Er, all right. I'll pour you some wine!"

Yi Shuyuan could not bother with anything else now. He went straight to the food with his chopsticks. After several mouthfuls, he took a sip of wine midway through chewing. Savory richness and mellow depth tumbled together in his mouth, and a touch of intoxicated delight appeared on his face.

The mortal world really is the best. How could immortal cultivators hidden away in deep mountains and ancient forests enjoy freedom like this?

Chu Hang had initially had no interest in eating, but seeing how much Yi Shuyuan enjoyed his meal, he could not help swallowing and began to eat as well.

Only after three rounds of wine and a sampling of all the dishes did Yi Shuyuan emerge from his irresistible absorption in the food's flavors. He looked across at Chu Hang, who was heartily stuffing his mouth.

Seemingly feeling that he had grown closer to Yi Shuyuan, Chu Hang swallowed his food, hesitated, then finally spoke the words he had long wanted to say.

"Mr. Yi, you went to the City God Temple that day, didn't you?"

Yi Shuyuan held a cup of wine and swirled it gently, as though sensing the movement of the wine within. He nodded, then replied without answering the question.

"You seem to have something weighing on your mind, Brother Chu. Speak freely."

Chu Hang suddenly felt a little nervous. He seemed to hesitate briefly before giving voice to what was in his heart.

"Mr. Yi, I know you're no ordinary person. Let me tell you about some strange things. I've kept this buried in my heart for a long time. Er, please don't tell my uncle..."

Once he realized that Yi Shuyuan might have gone to meet the City God that day, and had even been personally seen out by him, Chu Hang understood that Yi Shuyuan was far more than someone who could merely see ghosts and gods. He had repeatedly considered how to grow closer to Yi Shuyuan, but everyone at the County Office had been busy lately, and he had not wanted to disturb him.

Yi Shuyuan perked up a little. There really is something serious?

Previously, Yi Shuyuan had thought Chu Hang might have accidentally seen him meeting ghosts and gods. Based on his impression of the man, he had assumed Chu Hang either wanted to cozy up to him to satisfy his curiosity or hoped to seek supernatural aid for the imperial examinations or something of the sort. In any case, he had expected nothing serious. It turned out he had thought down the wrong path.