Zhouque City

In his Previous Life, Xu Zimo had heard that extraordinary woman was called Situ Yunqing, but he had never met her at the time, only occasionally hearing of her in other people's idle chatter.

Xu Zimo's Previous Life had been rather dramatic as well. In the early days, as the Crown Prince of the entire True Martial Sacred Sect, he had been someone everyone wanted to kneel and fawn over.

But after Chu Yang cast him into Youlong Ravine, and his father went white-haired overnight and withdrew into the mountains and forests—

Without the True Martial Sacred Sect's support, Xu Zimo's status fell from the clouds in an instant. Those people he had never cared about later became people beyond his reach.

Xu Zimo had long wanted to establish his own power, but Shili Changkong alone was somewhat too busy to handle it all.

Moreover, he needed to consider what form that power should take.

If the power remained hidden in the shadows, he could not possibly keep paying for everyone's daily expenses himself.

Xu Zimo envisioned placing the power out in the open, appearing in the form of a restaurant.

That way, the power could sustain itself, and restaurants were among the best channels for gathering intelligence.

Many people discussed major events from recent days while eating and drinking.

Xu Zimo did not need the power he created to provide him with particularly secret information, but news from remote regions also had to reach him at the first possible moment.

If the Situ Yunqing before him was the same person he had heard of in his Previous Life, then she had the ability to manage his power for him.

Xu Zimo was considering how he could lure her over—and make her willing to come.

"Zhouque City is up ahead. Let's rest in the city for the night," Xu Zimo suggested.

Everyone nodded. Then Xu Zimo climbed into the carriage and entered its cabin, leaving the few people present stunned.

Xiao Guizi immediately came to his senses and said to Situ Yunqing, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and go keep our Senior Brother company."

Situ Yunqing glanced at the others, then silently entered the carriage cabin.

The maid at the side wanted to say something, but after seeing Lin Ruhu's ferocious gaze, she hurriedly retreated to one side.

The carriage rolled forward slowly. A faint fragrance lingered in the cabin. Xu Zimo rested his head on Situ Yunqing's lap, then closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Zhouque City loomed indistinctly in the distance, like a colossal beast of steel lying quietly upon the earth.

Situ Yunqing silently watched the sleeping Xu Zimo, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Xu Zimo was not the type with swordlike brows and starry eyes who could make hearts race at first sight.

But he was the sort who grew more appealing the longer one looked. When he smiled, he had a slightly roguish air, giving people the feeling of a bad boy.

Situ Yunqing pursed her lips, extended her right hand, and gently poked Xu Zimo's cheek with her index finger. Then, for some reason, she suddenly smiled knowingly.

"Do you want to have a deeper exchange with me?" Xu Zimo suddenly opened his eyes and asked blandly.

Situ Yunqing jumped in fright. Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she lowered her head without speaking.

"If you ask me, don't go back to that Situ Family. I happen to be short a maid to warm my bed," Xu Zimo said casually.

"Thank you for thinking highly of me, Young Master, but unfortunately Yunqing is not blessed with such fortune," Situ Yunqing replied calmly after composing herself.

"You needn't refuse so quickly." Xu Zimo smiled. "Do you think the Situ Family will welcome you?"

"What do you mean, Young Master?" Situ Yunqing asked hesitantly.

"You don't really think this robbery was merely an accident, do you?" Xu Zimo asked cryptically.

Situ Yunqing's expression changed. She was naturally intelligent and immediately thought of the worst possible outcome.

The struggle for power within great families was especially brutal. If the Situ Family acknowledged Situ Yunqing's identity as an illegitimate daughter, then she would naturally receive a share of the Situ Family's assets in the future.

She could even contend for the position of heir to the family head someday.

No one wished for a rival to appear out of thin air, so many members of the Situ Family surely did not want to see Situ Yunqing arrive.

"If you don't believe me, let's make a bet," Xu Zimo said with a smile.

"Bet on what?" Situ Yunqing asked curiously.

"Once we enter Zhouque City, someone will definitely come looking for trouble," Xu Zimo said. "Because I ruined their plan. We're probably under someone's surveillance even now."

"I won't bet," Situ Yunqing shook her head, because she herself agreed with Xu Zimo's assessment.

"How boring." Xu Zimo yawned and stretched, then burrowed his head further into Situ Yunqing's embrace and went back to sleep.

The closer they drew to Zhouque City, the more people gradually appeared around them. The carriage ambled all the way into the city.

The central street, paved with bluestone, was bustling with activity. People came and went, while steaming snacks on either side of the road gave off tempting aromas amid the vendors' cries.

"My father sent someone to fetch me. I should leave now," Situ Yunqing softly said as she woke the sleeping Xu Zimo.

At that moment, a group of soldiers clad in blue leather armor stood before the carriage. Their leader was a ruddy-faced old man.

"Miss Yunqing, my surname is Tian. I am the master's guard, and the master sent me to receive you," the old man said kindly.

"Then I'll trouble you, Uncle Tian." Situ Yunqing nodded.

Uncle Tian's gaze narrowed slightly as he watched Xu Zimo descend from the carriage cabin. "Is this Miss Yunqing's friend?"

"You carry on with your conversation. I'm just passing through." Xu Zimo waved his hand, then said to Lin Ruhu and the other, "Let's find an inn first."

Situ Yunqing had originally wanted to invite Xu Zimo to stay at the Situ Family residence, but after thinking it over, she decided against it.

After all, she could barely protect herself. She did not know how the Situ Family would react to her arrival.

"Linjiang Restaurant." Xu Zimo looked at the signboard before him. "This one will do."

The three entered the restaurant. Xiao Guizi tossed the silver pouch at his waist onto the table with a clang and shouted, "Shopkeeper, do you still have rooms?"

The restaurant's shopkeeper wore a hat and had a thin mustache. He hurried forward and said with a smile, "We have plenty of guest rooms. What kind would the honored guests like?"

"I want three rooms facing the street, with north-south ventilation, where we can see both the sunrise and sunset," Xiao Guizi said, holding up three fingers.

"Certainly. Will the honored guests dine in their rooms, or downstairs?" the shopkeeper asked attentively.

"Downstairs. Otherwise, if a fight breaks out later, the rooms will be difficult to clean up," Xu Zimo said out of the blue.

The shopkeeper looked utterly puzzled, but did not ask further and went to prepare the food.

Xu Zimo and the others ordered a pot of wine. As they drank, three men emerged.