Chapter 612
Speaking to the Shopkeeper
Seeing his relieved expression, Mu Wansu couldn't help but smile and scold him playfully.
"Come on! Your sudden politeness makes me feel uncomfortable and gives me the creeps. I preferred the way you were hitting people earlier."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan couldn't help but smile and nodded happily.
"Okay, then I won't stand on ceremony with you anymore."
The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed again.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Jiang Xuan got up to take his leave.
He walked to the bamboo basket, gently patted Luo Luo's sleeping head, and gave Mu Wansu his final instructions.
"When she wakes up, tell her to face reality bravely."
Her mother... may have gone to a very far place.
But life must go on. Having lost her mother, she should strive even harder to grow up quickly and live a good life.
Mu Wansu looked at Jiang Xuan speechlessly, finding the words of "comfort" rather unconvincing.
"What are you saying? She's so young, how can she understand?"
Jiang Xuan's gaze was deep as he spoke calmly.
"It's okay if she doesn't understand, but she needs to understand the principles."
Some pain cannot be avoided; one can only face it.
After saying that, he didn't say anything more. He turned around and stepped down from the imperial carriage. As if he were carrying a dead dog, he picked up Lu Shaoyun, who was still unconscious on the ground, and casually slung him over his shoulder.
Mu Wansu followed behind, watching his rough actions, and couldn't help but remind him.
"Hey! Take it easy, don't actually kill him. His father is still a problem."
Jiang Xuan didn't turn his head, but simply waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.
"Don't worry, I will take good care of him."
Wang Lin watched Jiang Xuan carrying Lu Shaoyun away, his face still filled with worry, and said to Mu Wansu.
"Shopkeeper, won't Young Master Jiang Xuan get himself into even bigger trouble by taking this trouble with him?"
Mu Wansu gazed at the direction where Jiang Xuan disappeared at the end of the official road, gently shook her head, and spoke with a hint of complexity in her voice.
"His troubles have never been few. In comparison, I'm more worried that if Lu Shaoyun falls into his hands, he might 'take care' of him to the point of wishing he were dead..."
Wang Lin, recalling Jiang Xuan's ruthless and decisive style of action, nodded in deep agreement and smiled wryly.
"Given Young Master Jiang Xuan's personality... it's quite possible."
This man cannot be judged by ordinary standards.
……
As dusk approached, Jiang Xuan finally caught sight of the ancient and magnificent city walls of Huanglong City.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the massive city bricks were tinged with a magnificent orange-red hue, making them appear exceptionally grand. The city gate was bustling with activity, a constant stream of vehicles, pedestrians, and merchants, creating a vibrant and prosperous scene.
Lu Shaoyun, who was on his shoulder, was awakened by the jolting and pain.
He groggily opened his swollen eyes, and when he saw that the person holding him was none other than the ruthless Jiang Xuan, he was terrified and about to scream.
"Snapped!"
A crisp slap cut short his scream.
Jiang Xuan stared at him coldly, his eyes devoid of any emotion, only filled with icy killing intent.
"If you dare to make another sound, I'll cut out your tongue. Be a good girl and follow me. Once I leave Huanglong City, I'll naturally give you your freedom."
Lu Shaoyun trembled at the murderous intent in Jiang Xuan's eyes, and tears and snot almost flowed out again. He covered his burning cheeks, looked at Jiang Xuan in fear, and said in a trembling voice.
"What...what do you want? I'm warning you, my father..."
"Your father is Lu Tianzhao, the deacon elder of the Shidingzhai headquarters in the Forbidden City."
Jiang Xuan interrupted him impatiently.
"You've said this many times already. Listen, I have no interest in killing you, but if you disobey me, I don't mind making you suffer a little."
Also, let me remind you, while you were unconscious, I gave you a little something. Without my secret antidote, you would have suffered agonizing sores all over your body for seven days and seven nights before dying. If you don't believe me, try circulating your internal energy and sensing your dantian. Can you feel a faint, almost imperceptible, chilling aura there?
Upon hearing this, Lu Shaoyun's face turned deathly pale. He immediately followed the instructions and secretly circulated his internal energy to sense his surroundings. Sure enough, he felt that there was indeed a faint, almost imperceptible, cold aura swirling in his dantian!
In reality, this was merely a deception created by Jiang Xuan using his own spiritual energy to fool people. But how could a spoiled brat like Lu Shaoyun tell the difference? He was immediately terrified and believed Jiang Xuan's words to the core!
"You...you actually poisoned me?! How ruthless of you!"
Lu Shaoyun was both shocked and furious, his voice trembling.
Jiang Xuan was too lazy to explain to him, and simply said indifferently.
"So, if you want to live, you'd better obey. Once I've safely left Huanglong City, I'll give you the antidote."
"Where...where are you taking me? What are you going to do in Huanglong City?"
Lu Shaoyun pressed for answers in terror, feeling like a fish on a chopping board, his life and death entirely in the other person's hands.
Jiang Xuan ignored him and simply carried him toward the massive city gate of Huanglong City.
Seeing that he did not answer, Lu Shaoyun became even more anxious and fearful, and could not help but speak again, her voice filled with sobs and anger.
"Speak up! What do you want?! I'm warning you, if I die, my father will never let you off the hook! Our Lu family..."
"Oh."
Jiang Xuan didn't turn his head, but simply replied with a single word.
That "oh" seemed to carry endless indifference and disdain, instantly shutting down all of Lu Shaoyun's threats and anger, leaving him feeling a deep sense of powerlessness and despair.
He found that all his advantages, in the face of his family background, the ruthlessness and mysterious methods of his opponent, seemed so pale and laughable.
He could only be led by Jiang Xuan like a lamb to the slaughter, step by step, toward that huge city, his heart filled with fear, anger, and unprecedented regret.
That "oh" seemed to carry endless indifference and disdain, instantly shutting down all of Lu Shaoyun's threats and anger, leaving him feeling a deep sense of powerlessness and despair.
He found that all his advantages, in the face of his family background, the ruthlessness and mysterious methods of his opponent, seemed so pale and laughable.
He could only be dragged along by Jiang Xuan like a lamb to the slaughter, step by step, towards that enormous city, his heart filled with fear, anger, and unprecedented regret. Stepping into Huanglong City, a bustling and prosperous atmosphere immediately enveloped him. The streets were wide and clean, paved with smooth bluestone slabs, lined with shops on both sides, their banners fluttering. Pedestrians thronged shoulder to shoulder, carriages and horses moved about, the cries of vendors, laughter, and the rumble of wheels blending into a lively symphony of urban life. Its prosperity was in no way inferior to Yanxia City in the southwestern province.
Jiang Xuan, like a true tourist, slowed down his pace and looked around the scenery on both sides of the street with great interest, occasionally pausing for a moment in front of some vendors selling local snacks or novelties.
He looked relaxed, seemingly having completely forgotten that there was a living person "hanging" on his shoulder and countless potential dangers behind him.
Following behind him, Lu Shaoyun's face was ashen, alternating between pale and flushed, his eyes shifting between light and dark.
He had to endure the pain all over his body, and he was constantly worried about the so-called "poison" taking effect. What was even more frustrating was that he had to follow his enemy, who had beaten him up, like a lackey. This sense of humiliation was driving him crazy.
He tried to speak several times, but when he met Jiang Xuan's occasional, calm yet warning gaze, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and could only suppress his endless resentment and follow silently.
After walking for a while, Jiang Xuan suddenly uttered two words softly, as if talking to himself.
"interesting."
Lu Shaoyun's ears twitched, and he couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"What's interesting?"
Jiang Xuan seemed not to have heard his question at all. His gaze swept over a certain spot on the street corner, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips as he continued to stroll forward.
Lu Shaoyun was met with a setback, which made him even more resentful, but he could only suppress his anger and grit his teeth to keep up.
He was filled with regret at that moment. Why had he provoked this evil star in the first place? He had only brought shame upon himself and ended up in a situation where his life and death were not in his own hands.
Unbeknownst to them, from the moment they stepped through the gates of Huanglong City, more than one pair of eyes had been watching them from the shadows.
Intangible messages are rapidly transmitted through special channels.
"The target has entered the city, accompanied by an unidentified person who is currently being investigated."
"Keep a close eye on the target and ascertain the details of his companions. Repeat, the target is extremely dangerous. Without orders, do not act rashly or alert him!"
……
Jiang Xuan led Lu Shaoyun to an inn called "Juxiang".
This inn is quite large and decorated in a rather grand style.
Jiang Xuan walked straight to the counter and spoke to the shopkeeper.
"I need two adjacent rooms on the first floor, and they need to be quiet."
Seeing Jiang Xuan's extraordinary demeanor, the innkeeper readily agreed and quickly arranged a room for him.
Jiang Xuan took the key, led Lu Shaoyun to the door of one of the rooms, pushed open the door, casually tossed him inside, and gave him instructions in a flat tone.
"I'm going into seclusion for a few days. You'd better stay in the next room and don't go anywhere. If you wander off and die from the poison, you'll be responsible for the consequences."
After saying that, he didn't give Lu Shaoyun any chance to speak at all.
The door slammed shut with a bang, and a simple spiritual energy restriction was placed on the outside.
Lu Shaoyun was thrown to the ground, wincing in pain. He stared at the closed door, trembling with rage, cursing wildly in his mind.
"Jiang Xuan! You've gone too far! You've gone absolutely too far!"
He had never suffered such humiliation since he was a child.
After letting out a few low growls in a fit of rage, the intense emotional turmoil aggravated his injuries, causing him to cough again. He slumped to the ground, panting for a while, before gradually calming down. He knew that anger alone wouldn't solve the problem. Hoping Jiang Xuan would take pity on him and let him go? Absolutely not! He had to save himself!
A ruthless and resolute glint flashed in his eyes. He struggled to his feet, walked to the desk in the room, spread out the paper, picked up the brush, and began to write furiously.
He embellished his account of his ordeal and Jiang Xuan's "misdeeds" in his writing. Finally, he emphasized his identity—the son of Lu Tianzhao, the elder deacon of the Shidingzhai headquarters in the Forbidden City! He then requested that whoever received the letter immediately try to contact his acquaintances at the Shidingzhai branch in Huanglong City, or directly notify his father, to come to his rescue!
He carefully sealed the letter with sealing wax, then walked to the door, removed the not-so-strong restriction left by Jiang Xuan, and cautiously opened a crack in the door. He looked around and just happened to see an innkeeper passing by.
He quickly beckoned the waiter over, stuffed the sealed letter into his hand, and then swiftly slipped him a few gleaming gold coins. He lowered his voice and spoke with a hint of urgency and command.
"Deliver this letter to the Shidingzhai branch in Huanglong City as quickly as possible, and personally hand it to Manager Li Tianbao! Tell him it's a letter from me, Lu Shaoyun! There will be a generous reward after it's done!"
Looking at the heavy gold coins in his hand and hearing the words "Shidingzhai" and "Manager Li," the waiter's face immediately showed surprise and awe, and he hurriedly nodded and bowed to assure them.
"Rest assured, young master! I will deliver it as soon as possible!"
After saying this, he carefully put away the letter and the gold coins and left in a hurry.
As Lu Shaoyun watched the waiter's departing figure, he breathed a long sigh of relief, and hope rekindled in his eyes.
He returned to his room, closed the door, and began to wait anxiously and expectantly.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, footsteps and voices came from outside the room. Then, there was a knock on the door.
Lu Shaoyun was overjoyed and quickly went to open the door.
Several well-dressed and distinguished men stood outside the door, surrounding an elderly man in a silk robe, with a prosperous face and shrewd eyes.
When the old man saw Lu Shaoyun, although a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw Lu Shaoyun's bruised and swollen face, he immediately put on a warm smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Oh dear! It really is Nephew Lu! I am Li Tianbao. I came here immediately after receiving your letter! What trouble have you encountered, Nephew?"
……
Meanwhile, Jiang Xuan's room was completely empty. A section of the floor in the corner of the room had been silently lifted, revealing a hole just big enough for one person to pass through. Then, with a soft "click," it closed up perfectly again, leaving almost no trace on the surface.
……
As night deepens, the city lights begin to illuminate the night.
Diagonally opposite Juxiang Inn, in a private room on the second floor of a seemingly ordinary teahouse.
A man wearing a bamboo hat, his face obscured, sat by the window, his gaze fixed on the Juxiang Inn across the street through the gap in the bamboo curtain. A slender young man with shrewd eyes stood bowing beside him, reporting in a low voice.
"...It has been confirmed that the young man who followed the target into the inn is named Lu Shaoyun."
His father, Lu Tianzhao, was a powerful elder in the Shidingzhai headquarters of the Forbidden City. The Lu family itself was considered a well-established, middle-class family within the Forbidden City.
The man in the straw hat tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his voice tinged with surprise.
"Shi Ding Zhai? The Lu family? How did they get involved? Could it be that Lu Shaoyun and the target are old acquaintances? Or... does the Lu family also want to get involved?"
Just then, another slightly overweight and agile man strode into the private room and whispered his report.
"Boss, I just received an inside message." (End of Chapter)